Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/401

] pert swimmer of our number, to have reached the shore. The danger diminished as we approached the place where we wished to land. But we were much astonished at the imprudence of one of the people belonging to the Esperance, who, although he could not swim, and was certain of being drowned, if we had been overset, several times deranged the equilibrium of our little vessel. At last, however, we got on shore.

The coast was there covered with the shrub called scævola lobelia. It delights in such a situation; and I also found it in New Ireland.

At high water, the sea washed the root of the beautiful tree whose denomination, heritiera, recalled the name of one of our most able botanists, Citizen l'Heritier.

In proceeding westward I found, among the shells upon the beach, some lavas very porous, but yet too heavy to swim in water. As I had not observed, in the inland parts of the island, any stones which had been subjected to the action of fire, it seems reasonable to suppose, that those had been brought into their present situation, by the waters, agitated by some volcanic eruption; for earthquakes are frequent in those parts, and the inhabitants still mention with dread, one, among others, which, twelve years before our arrival in their island, had been attended with great devasta-