Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/230

190 within a thousand toises of the reefs bordering that island. The foot of the mountains on this side are washed by the sea, and they are likewise more steep here than on the western shore, which we coasted along the year before.

We saw a fine cascade, the water of which, after having disappeared several times in deep gullies, came tumbling into the sea; and we admired the picturesque effect of the torrents, which we perceived toward the south-west, their waters white with foam producing an agreeable contrast to the dusky verdure of these high lands.

During the night we continued plying to windward, endeavouring to maintain our station against the currents, that we might be in a situation to come to an anchor the next day.

19th. As soon as day-light appeared we approached within 800 toises of the reefs, along which we ran, in order to find the opening through which we were to reach the anchoring place; but it blew very hard from the south-south-east, and we had already fallen to leeward, when we distinguished the opening in the reefs. Though we were pretty near the shore, we did not perceive Observatory Island, which left us for some time doubtful whether we were opposite the place where Captain Cook anchored in 1774; and accordingly we put about, to get more to the