Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/261

] they had brought as a present for us. They leaped into the water several times to bring them to us, but we were driven in a westerly direction by a strong current, and could not stop to receive those marks of reconciliation.

I went on shore next day very near the watering place at the same time that the General arrived there. The guard was stronger than the day before, in order the better to keep the islanders in awe. It was feared after what had passed the preceding day, they might attempt to poison the water with which we were going to fill our casks, and it was thought necessary, according to the opinion of our Chief Surgeon, to try the experiment on a goose; but it was attended with no bad effects. Indeed, several of our sailors would not wait for the result of that proof, but, being very thirsty, had already drank of the water even before the commencement of the experiment.

The inhabitants having approached our place of landing, lines were drawn on the sand, the limits of which they were forbidden to pass, and we had the satisfaction to observe that they submitted peaceably to those orders. We gave to most of them pieces of biscuit, which they begged by extending one hand, whilst with the other they pointed to their bellies, which were naturally very flat, but the muscles of which they contract-