Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/269

] for the land. A wind at south-east carried us to the north-west, at the distance of seven hundred toises, from the reefs, which deny all access to the shore, whence they are distant by about 2,500 toises. We expected to find some opening which would allow us to anchor under the shelter of this barrier, against which the waves dashed in a dreadful manner.

A considerable body of smoke which rose at the foot of the hill, at a little distance from the shore, indicated the presence of the natives.

From noon, when we found the latitude 22° 6′ 58″ south, and the longitude 163° 34′ 36″ east, we had proceeded nearly 10,000 toises to the north-west, when we observed, between two reefs a large opening, which seemed likely to afford us an entrance to an anchoring place near the shore. But unfortunately the day was too far gone, and the sea too much agitated, to allow us to send a boat to sound this entrance. We regretted much that we were precluded from enjoying the calm which prevailed behind this rampart, against which the waves made unavailing efforts.

Hills, almost wholly denuded of vegetation, rose like an amphitheatre towards the principal chain of mountains, which appeared to be, at least, nine hundred toises in perpendicular height, and their direction still towards the north-west. We there