Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/500

466 ful upon the land, we experienced a very keen cold in the night.

As soon as day began to dawn, we divided ourselves into two parties. That which I accompanied advanced towards the north, and the other towards the north-west.

Directing our steps by the compass, we had proceeded at least 5,100 toises across plains of calcareous sand, heaped up in different places, when we arrived in a very narrow bottom, where the verdure of the plants formed a very pleasing contrast with the dismal places we had traversed, and they grew in a very rich soil. There we saw some cavities which afforded us a little fresh water, but they were too distant to be of any use to the ships.

Continuing our route, I observed in the midst of those sands, some rocks of a calcareous nature, where I collected some fine plants, which still resisted the aridity of the soil. Among the great number of the tribe of the protea, which I observed there, I shall mention two species of banksia, which I call banksia repens, and banksia nivea.

The first has a creeping stalk, thickly covered with reddish down, terminated by flowers joined together in a conical form.

The leaves are pinnatifid, and when very young, are