Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/270

248 there found three ranges of mountains of different degrees of elevation, and we observed hollows, apparently formed by the fall of the rains, and which were continued to the summits of the most arid mountains.

Behind those high mountains, we saw perhaps 20,000 toises within the land, which towered above all the rest, and appeared to be, at least, 1,200 toises in perpendicular elevation.

From the middle of one of those ravines or hollows, issued a torrent which we disinguished perfectly by the whiteness of its foaming waters; although we were very distant from it.

The cold on those heights, undoubtedly render it necessary for the natives to warm themselves. We saw many large fires, which they had kindled, while we beat about the offing in the night.

22d. On account of the faintness of the breeze, we could not make the reefs till noon, when we found ourselves in 21° 51′ south lat. and 163° 8′ east long. We steered along the reefs till night, without finding the least opening.

New Caledonia presents a more charming appearance than the old country of that name: for we saw some trees growing in the bottoms of the ravines with which those hills are furrowed.

A fire kindled on shore, indicated that those arid tracts of land are not wholly destitute of in- habitants,