OF LA PEROUSE. <\VJ 



our paddlers we had a Papua, or New Guinea 

 man, who had the dexterity to ftrike feveral. 

 Standing at the fore-part of the canoe, and hold- 

 ing in his hand a dart of bamboo armed with an 

 iron point, he threw it with force as foon as he 

 perceived any nth; the dart, by reafon of its 

 lightnefs, immediately role up from the water in 

 the fame direction, fo that after having pene- 

 trated to a great depth it came back to the Pa- 

 pua man, who rarely failed to lay hold of it 

 again, although we Hill kept going on. 



When we had got three kilometers from the 

 town, we admired the charming Situation of a 

 country-houfe belonging to the Governor, at the 

 foot of the mountains, the chain of which ter- 

 minates by a gentle declivity, at no great dif- 

 tance from the roadftead. 



A fmall houfe, inhabited by natives, erected 

 half way from the coaft, and furrounded by 

 clove and plantain trees, added in no fmall de- 

 gree to the beauty of the landfcape. 



The bottom had become exceedingly fhoal ; 

 and although our canoe drew fcarcely more than 

 two decimeters of water, we were neverthelefs 

 obliged to keep farther off the coafl, in order 

 to avoid touching on the rocks. 



After having pafled fome nfhing-places, we 

 landed upwards of a myriameter from the town on 

 the right hand fhore, near a houfe, the matter of 



vol. I. z which 



