Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/342

284 come so accustomed to danger, that myself, as well as several others of our company, went to bed at our usual hour, and slept as soundly as if we had been in a state of the most perfect security.

17th. The coasts, along which we had hitherto ranged to the northward of the islands, were intercepted by a great number of channels. We had seen many habitations in this numerous collection of islands, but not one of the natives. On the 20th, being in latitude 10° 8′ S. long. 149° 37′ east, and sailing at a small distance northward of a cluster of small islands, we observed fifteen of the natives coming out of their huts. Three of them immediately entered a canoe, and made towards us, but we sailed so fast, that they were not able to come up with our vessels.

Another canoe soon appeared near the westernmoft island of the group; it was much larger than the former, and carried an almost square sail, which being immediately loosed, it soon came very near to us, but all our endeavours to persuade the men to come alongside of our vessel were in vain. They afterwards made towards the Esperance, and having approached within a small distance of her, drew in their sail, and would not come nearer; our vessels were then lying to. Citizen Legrand, being very desirous of an inter-