Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/57

] A paroquet, of the species figured in Plate X. which I shall describe presently, flew by us, and pitched on the ground at a little distance. Immediately two of the young savages set off to catch it, and were on the point of putting their hands upon it, when the bird took wing.

It may be presumed, that there are no snakes at Diemen's Cape, the bite of which is to be dreaded: at least, if there be any such, the natives well know how to distinguish them. They pointed out one to us, gliding through the grass very near them, yet they did not appear to be under the least apprehension from it.

At length they brought us near the place, where we had anchored the year before. The oldest of them was very thirsty; and immediately made one of the youths fetch him an oyster-shell, to serve as a cup, which he emptied several times before his thirst was quenched.

As we were very near the garden, which had been formed the preceding year by Citizen Lahaye, gardener to the expedition, we resolved to visit it, and took the opportunity, when the savages had seated themselves. We wished to leave them with our two sailors, lest they should go and do any injury to such vegetables as might have succeeded; but one of them was resolved to accompany us. He examined attentively the plants in