178 CAPTAIN DUMONT b'uRVILLE. 



on a plank, in return for cocoa-nuts, a stone axe, and 

 some shells. These natives appeared to be unarmed ; 

 by signs they invited the Frenchmen to visit them on 

 shore. D'Urville was now anxious to determine 

 whether, as represented by his charts,* a passage 

 existed between this portion of the " Louisiade of 

 Bougainville," and what was then considered to be 

 the south-east extremity of New Guinea, in the 

 neighbourhood of Cape Eodney. Next day, how- 

 ever (28th), a high chain of mountains was seen to 

 occupy the space assigned to the supposed passage. 

 On the 29th, a barrier reef was found extending to 

 the eastward in the direction of the coast Une ; they 

 were unable clearly to identify Cape Rodney and 

 Point Hood, of the English charts. In the evening 

 D'Urville saw a chain of high mountains which he 

 named Mount Astrolabe, and a well marked head- 

 land (Cape Passy) beyond which the coast appeared 

 to trend to the northward. The expedition now 

 shaped a course for Torres Strait, having in seven 

 days made a " running survey" extending over a 

 space of 450 miles in length, without anchoring or 

 communicating with the inhabitants.^ 



* This matter had been' discussed by the Russian Admiral 

 Krusenstern ; see " Recueil de Memoires Hydrographiques pour 

 servir d' analyse et d'explication a 1' Atlas de I'Ocean Pacifique," 

 p. 60. Also in his Atlas, a general chart of the Pacific Ocean, 

 and two Others of New Guinea, and the Louisiade Archipelago, 

 published in 1824. 



f Voyage au Pole Sud et dsns I'Oceanie sur les corvettes 



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