Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/462

434 discovered by Lewen in 1622; being a low land, extending from N.W. to S.W.

At six o'clock we tried, E. ¼ S.E. and when we came within 5,000 toises of the coast, we followed its direction towards the S.E. A very strong gale at W.N.W. drove us at the rate of 15,400 toises in the hour.

The interior country was interspersed with sandy downs, which had the appearance of the greatest sterility. Those small hills, scattered on a flat country, looked at a distance like little islands. In the intervals which separated them were some shrubs, the blackish foliage of which, indicated a state of suffering.

The peaked rocks, which rose in the midst of those sandy plains, the explained formation of the downs, the bases of which were doubtless composed of other rocks of the same nature, but of forms more favourable to the accumulation of the sand by the winds.

Fresh water must be scarce in such sandy regions, where that which falls from the clouds doubtless penetrates to great depths, without meeting with strata to stop their progress.

This morning our blacksmith was found dead

in