Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/276

254 161° 10′ 36″ east, we had on the east 22° north, a little island, distant 1,000 toises.

Another island bore from us north 80 degrees west, at the distance of about 8,000 toises. Those two islands were connected together by reefs.

We saw other lands, bearing north 28° east.

A fire, on the little island nearest us, not far from a rivulet descending from a mountain, indicated that those little spots of land were frequented by the natives.

The strong gusts of wind which blew in the night, would have greatly embarrassed us in any other situation; but, under shelter of the islands and reefs, it was easy for us to beat about during the night.

June 30. Some little islands towards the east, seemed to terminate this little archipelago. Their elevation gradually diminished, in proportion to their distance from New Caledonia. They seemed indeed to be only a continuation of the mountains of that large island; their bases being covered by the sea, and their summits rising above it, and forming so many little islands. The gradual diminution of the height of those mountains, makes it reasonable to suppose that in those seas, shoals extending to a great distance, contribute to augment the dangers of navigation. In the se- quel,