Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/65

] ed at first extremely surprized, and stopped short for a moment. She then went up to it with us, and, after having considered it attentively, named to us the different parts, pointing them out at the same time with the hand.

Soon after we arrived at the entrance of Port Dentrecasteaux.

Two of the young girls followed the different windings of the shore without mistrust, at a distance from the other natives, with three of our sailors, when these took the opportunity of one of the most retired places, to treat them with a degree of freedom, which was received in a very different manner from what they had hoped. The young women immediately fled to the rocks most advanced into the sea, and appeared ready to leap into it, and swim away, if our men had followed them. They presently repaired to the place, where we were assembled with the other savages; but it seems they did not disclose this adventure, for the most perfect harmony continued to prevail between us.

Wishing to know whether these islanders were expert swimmers, one of our officers jumped into the water, and dived several times; but it was in vain that he invited them to follow his example. They are very good divers, however, as we had afterwards an opportunity of seeing, for it is by diving