Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/320

296 28th. We continued to direct our course towards the Admiralty Islands, where Commodore Hunter, according to the account of two French captains, believed that he saw the wreck of the unfortunate expedition of La Perouse; and we steered for the most southerly of the little group. Like most of the islands in the South Seas, this is bordered by reefs at a small distance from the beach.

A line of fifty toises in length did not reach the bottom; although we were but 1,000 toises from the land.

We observed towards the S.W. some canoes proceeding along shore, within the reefs; but none of them seemed desirous of getting clear of the reefs, in order to come towards us. We also distinguished some groups of natives, upon the most advanced points of land, in order that they might have the better view of our ships.

A large tree standing above the breakers, was taken by some for the wreck of a ship; but the branches and roots which were distinctly seen, left no doubt that it was a tree, which had been detached from the coast.

The Commander sent an officer on board the Esperance, to concert with the captain the researches which it would be proper to make at the Admiralty Islands, agreeable to the intelligence which