Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/372

344 too well founded. His body had remained at the bottom of the water all that time; but, about half an hour past two in the afternoon, it was seen floating near the ship. This small distance from the place where he had fallen into the sea seemed to prove, contrary to the opinion of most of the Europeans settled at Amboyna, that the rapidity of the currents in the road is confined to the surface merely, and does not reach the bottom, a circumstance which, for other reasons, appears to me very probable. In fact the currents are determined by the tides, pouring their waters into and out of the road, only to restore their equilibrium, which, in these circumstances, is disturbed to but a small depth from the surface.

This young man was much regretted by all the ship's company. Many exclaimed against the carelessness of those, who had had the charge of him in his early years, in neglecting to instruct him in swimming. A few lessons in that art would have saved the lad's life; and it is to be wished that his fate may serve as an example to others; for I have observed with astonishment, that many of the sailors cannot swim.

Our observatory was this day established, in the western part of the town. As it could not be seen from the ship, it was found inconvenient to be