Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/277

] quel, we shall see that this supposition is by no means destitute of foundation.

We directed our course to the north-west, very near the reefs, which precluded our access to the little islands.

The Commander informed the captain of the Esperance, that in case of separation, the two ships should rendezvous at port Pralin or Carteret harbour.

Our latitude at noon was 19° 28′ 10″ south, and our longitude 160° 36′ 12″ east; the most northerly of the little islands bearing east, at the distance of 8,000 toises.

We came in sight of a chain of reefs, which extended as far as the eye could reach, towards N.W. ½ N. in some places forming bights, by taking a westerly direction. With the wind at E.S.E. it was easy for us to follow all the windings of those reefs. In the afternoon, we steered parallel to them for nearly 20,000 toises and then thought that we saw their extremity. We were already felicitating ourselves with having terminated this dangerous and troublesome navigation, and entering into an open sea, when the watch announced shoals and a succession of reefs, in the direction of N.N.W. It was now too late in the day to intangle ourselves among them, and we worked to windward during the night. A booby