Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/329

] About ten in the morning four canoes came off the shore and advanced to within about four hundred yards of our ship, but we could not wait for their nearer approach, as we were obliged to continue our course to double a cape which would have interrupted some nautical observations we intended to make.

At noon we were in 10° 33′ S. lat. and 158° 57′ E. long. and we saw the sea breaking with great violence against Cape Philip, which is a very rugged point. We doubled it about four P.M. and soon after perceived a large bay, the shores of which appeared to be very populous. We saw several sheds under which the inhabitants had put their canoes to shelter them from the weather, and observed cottages in every part even to the summits of the highest mountains.

Soon after the savages launched five canoes, and sailed towards us. They all kept within call except one man, who, mounted in a catimarron canoe, came much nearer the stern of our vessel, to receive some pieces of red cloth which we had thrown into the sea. His behaviour indicated the greatest mistrust. He kept his eyes fixed on us, none of our motions ecscaped him, and at the same time he had the dexterity to catch every article that we threw him. The appearance of this native, seated upon a few planks, beat about