Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/289

] we frequently sounded without finding any bottom.

14th. The Esperance, about three o'clock in the morning, made signals, which produced a lively sensation on board of our ship. We believed that they indicated some danger; but they were merely intended to give us notice that she had soundings, in forty-two fathoms. We stood off a little from the land, and at day-light steered close along shore. The chain of mountains then began to subside.

Some little islands, detached from Bougainville Island, were connected together by reefs, on which we saw the waves beating. But these were not the only dangers on that coast: sunken rocks formed shoals, which followed the same direction. Those coral banks were doubtless covered with fish; for we saw many sea-birds hovering over them in quest of their prey.

A canoe, manned by six natives, was behind the little islands the nearest to our ship; but, as we were making great way, we very soon passed them.

That part of Bougainville Island which was now in sight, seemed to be much more populous than what we had hitherto seen. The fine plantations of cocoa-nut trees which bordered the coast,