Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/414

386 near 5,000 toises from the town, when we passed a point of land, beyond which the road extends itself greatly towards the north.

A fresh breeze from the south-east impeded our progress, and drove the waves against our slight vessel, which proved very inconvenient.

At the same time, a large boat, loaded with water for the Esperance, came out of the creek, into which runs a river which affords that article to the shipping. They bring the water from that great distance, because it is much more easily obtained there than near the town, where, however, the water is also very good.

The current occasioned by the return of the tide opposed our course; but our boatmen redoubled their efforts, and we at last reached the end of that long branch of the road.

We walked for some time under the shade of nutmeg trees, which, as well as the young plants, were much more numerous there, than in any other part of the country which we had hitherto visited.

The Commander's son was here in the midst of his relations. We were near the house of one of his cousins, who was a native of the island; and there we behoved to dine after their manner. Fish, bread, sago, rice, and some fruits, formed our repast. As we were not served with spoons, we