Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/117

Jan.] ilands they oberved everal boats, amongt the crews of which there were many perons who wore European tuffs and pieces of cloth in their dres; they even ditinguihed ome who were clothed in the uniform of the French Marine. Thee people hung out the white flag as a ignal for the Englih to approach; but though Commodore Hunter was very deirous of doing it, he found it impracticable, on account of the contrary currents and winds, and the danger to which the numerous hoals would have expoed them.

Commodore Hunter had often een M. de la Péroue at Botany Bay, and lived upon terms of intimacy with him. He had learnt from him that his intention was to pas through the Straits of St. George, after leaving Botany Bay, and from thence to direct his coure to the northward. He does not doubt that the Atrolabe and Bouole were cat away upon the above-mentioned ilands, in conequence of the calms and trong currents that prevail in thoe parts. He has informed me that he has been carried by them ix hundred miles to the eatward in the pace of ten days; as he knew from repeated obervations of the longitude, from the time-keepers, and from the bearings of the land. In a word, Commodore Hunter, whom I aw at Batavia in the coure of my lat voyage, appeared to me to be