Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/400

372 ness, decoyed the fish by torches held near the surface of the water. Pieces of wood, supported by the levers of the double outrigger of the canoe produced a very clear flame. One of the fishermen attended those torches, and carefully diffused their light, which it was easy for him to do, by only letting bits of the flaming wood fall into the water; while others were employed in encircling with their nets, the fishes collected from afar by this brilliant light: we did not hesitate to conclude, from what we observed, that those islanders were very skilful fishermen.

Very early in the morning of the 30th, we set out to survey the other shore of the road. It was necessary for us to go about 3,000 toises by water, and this transit was dangerous in a canoe, whose outriggers were not sufficiently strong to preserve the equilibrium of the vessel, when loaded with so great a weight. We were anxious to visit those places which we had not yet viewed; and we went on board without knowing all the danger of our enterprize. But presently we saw one of the outriggers dip under the water, when one of us leaned a little, and without the greatest care we should have been overset. If this accident had happened, towards the middle of the road, it would have been difficult, on account of the rapidity of the current, even for the most ex- pert