Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/129

] We desired all the natives to go ashore before night, for several had not come for the purpose of satisfying their curiosity merely, or selling us their goods; as we soon discovered that they had stolen several articles from us. All the canoes, however, were gone, and there were still six of the islanders left on board; who, having no means of getting on shore but by swimming, requested us to let them pass the night upon deck, one excepted, who chose rather to swim ashore, though we were a mile from the nearest land. We admired the facility with which he executed all his movements. He swam constantly on the belly, his neck being entirely out of water, and making very short strokes with his left hand, which he kept constantly before him, while he gave a great spread to his right hand, which he carried to the thigh on the same side at every stroke. The body was at the same time a little inclined to the left, which increased the rapidity, with which it cut the water. I never saw an European swim with such confidence, or with such speed.