Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/121

] we saw a little rivulet, which runs into the sea; and at a little distance from it, in a perpendicular cliff, we observed a large patch of earth, of a tolerably deep red colour, perhaps a sort of clay, which appeared incrusted by the calcareous stone.

On the 23d, about nine in the evening, we entered the Torrid Zone, in the longitude of 184° east. This was the fourth time of our passing the Tropic of Capricorn.

24th. The next day, at one o'clock in the afternoon, we made Eooa, one of the Friendly Islands, bearing from us north-west, distant about fourteen leagues; and it was not long before we had a pretty near view of it. The beautiful verdure with which it was every where covered, proclaimed the fertility of the soil. The land is of a moderate height.

It was half after six when we brought to, to wait for the Esperance, and we spent the night in plying to windward.

On the 25th, at seven o'clock in the morning, we were about six leagues only from Tongataboo, and yet we could not easily distinguish it, because the land is so low. We soon got pretty near in with the eastern coast, standing toward the north and north-west, that we might not miss the opening that leads to the harbour, which is to be entered only by passing between