Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/467

] At noon, being in latitude 34° 48′ south, and longitude 116° 52′ east, we saw, within the land, N. 4° W. a mountain more elevated than any which we had observed, on the preceding days. Being isolated amidst vast plains of sand, it produced a very picturesque effect, and appeared to be about 25,500 toises distant from the coast. Its shattered summit exposed to view many irregular peaks, most of them perpendicular. Such peaks indeed extended over the whole mountain, which stretched 7,000 toises from east to west. This configuration left no room to doubt, that the rocks of which it consisted were not extremely hard.

We had not yet seen the least indication of inhabitants, since we began to coast those sterile shores. It was to be supposed, that some springs of fresh water would attract them to the base of that mountain; and accordingly the smoke of two fires, which they had kindled, convinced us of their presence.

About half past four o'clock P.M. after having doubled a cape terminated by some rocks near the shore, we came abreast of a bay as wide as that which we had seen in the morning, but not reaching so far into the land. The surrounding land was generally very low; but we observed, towards its eastern part, some little hills detached from