Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/363

] coast near our anchoring station, had provided for the safety of their women and children, by conducting them, before their departure from the island, into the villages in the heart of the country. The road-stead where our vessels lay is called by the natives Boni-Sainé. It is distant about 5,130 toises to the eastward of Ravak, and formed by the coast of Waygiou and a small island called by the natives Boni, which was eastward of our station. We were here almost under the Equator, our latitude being found by observation 38″ S. Our longitude was 128° 53′ E.

We took in our water towards the extremity of the road-stead, at a pretty large river, into which our boats could enter more than 500 toises from its mouth at low water, and twice as far at high water.

The thermometer, as observed on board, did not rise higher than 24°, undoubtedly in consequence of the abundant rains.

The barometer varied only from 28 inches 1 line to 28 inches 1½ line.

The variation of the magnetic needle was 1° 14′ E.

The breezes were very slight, and varied only from S.S.E. to S.W.

On the 28th we sailed from Waygiou, and