Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/509

] them, in order to know their manner of subsistence, and to ask them for some food; for he was violently tormented with hunger; but they always fled, when he was advancing towards them. They frequently set fire to the dried grass which was diffused over the sand. In that climate, men not being under the necessity of wearing cloaths, they were all absolutely naked.

Some cazoards and kangarous of the large species, were the only animals seen by Riche. Although in a state of weakness, he had carried for two days a numerous collection of very interesting productions; but, during the third day, his strength sunk so rapidly, that it was with great difficulty he could trail himself along the shore, in quest of the ships, and in those circumstances, he was obliged to abandon his whole collection, not being able to reserve even the most precious articles.

As soon as he had a little recovered his strength, we conveyed him towards the ships. It was to little purpose that we made the signals agreed upon to announce our success. Every one was so convinced before hand of the inutility of our researches, that they did not understand the meaning of them, till we had come close to the ships, and Riche was seen in the midst of us. The horrible situation in which he would have been, if