Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/420

392 tide, and compensate the lee-way, which was occasioned by the force of the current. Near the extremity of the road, a great number of dolphins (delphinus delphis), darting rapidly through the water, passed us at so small a distance, as to make such of us as could not swim, seriously afraid that we should be overset.

We immediately landed near a little habitation, situated near one of the finest parts of the island.

The fishermen on the other side had provided us abundantly with their article, which one of our number had a mind to dress, after the fashion of the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, who use the milk of the cocoa-nut as their only sauce. To this dish, so much praised by Captain Cook, he made an addition of pimento. We had the satisfaction to observe, that this composition was extremely agreeable to our hosts, to whom it was unknown; and they cheerfully furnished our guides with every thing necessary to succeed compleatly in preparing it. He who gave directions for the composition of this excellent mess, acquired among the inhabitants the reputation of being a very good cook; and we were much diverted by their perpetually asking us, if he was not the chief cook on board of our ship.

In the vicinity of this cottage, I admired the beauties