HOSTILE AND TREACHEROUS NATIVES. 



459 



On the coast of New Britain, at an uninhabited spot which 

 Bougainville named Port Prastin, he obtained a supply of inferior 

 provisions, such as thatch-palms, cabbage-trees, and mangle 

 apples. A species of aromatic ivy was likewise found, in which 

 the physicians discovered anti-scorbutic properties ; and a store 

 of it was therefore laid in. An immense cascade, which fur- 

 nished the vessels with fresh water, is enthusiastically described 

 by Bougainville. After a stay of eight days at Port Praslin, 



CASCADE AT PORT PRASLIN. 



during which time the heavens were black with continual tem- 

 pests, the vessels profited by a change of wind and continued 

 their westerly course. The field-tents were cut up, and trousers 

 made from them were distributed to the two ships' companies. 

 Another ounce was taken from the daily allowance of bread. 

 From time to time canoes would shoot out from the coast of New 

 Britain ; but the hostility and treachery of the natives rendered 

 all efforts to obtain food from them unavailing. 



On the 1st of September, Bougainville made the island of 

 Boero, one of the Moluccas, where he knew the Dutch had a small 

 factory and a weak garrison. All his men were now sick, without 

 exception. The provisions remaining were so nauseous that, 

 as he says, "the hardest moments of the sad days we passed 

 were those when the bell gave us notice to take in this disgusting 

 and unwholesome food. But now our misery was to have an end. 

 Ever since midnight a pleasant scent exhaled from the aromatic 



