Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/272

250 Three natives who formed another group, stood very near two fires, which they had kindled.

By the help of a good spy-glass, we saw that they were entirely naked. They did not seem inclined to come off to us in their canoes. Besides, the reefs rendered it impossible for them to reach our ship.

24th. A strong breeze at south-west obliged us to tack; and we found ourselves almost at the same place as on the preceding day. The land was covered with a fog, which had always accompanied south-west winds.

We found the ship to be in 21° 46′ of south latitude, and 162° 46′ of east longitude, when we thought we saw between the reefs an opening which might afford us a passage; but how could we ascertain that fact, when the wind was blowing so strong a gale?

25th. As soon as the wind shifted to the south, the fog was entirely dissipated. The winds which brought the cold into those latitudes, forced the air, when the sun was withdrawn, to part with the redundant water, which it had held in solution during the day. Hence some large drops of very cold water then fell, at a great distance from each other.

For the two last days, we had made no con- siderable