Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/84

64 procure fish, we had reason to presume that they had no fish-hooks: accordingly we gave them some of ours, and taught them how to use them, congratulating ourselves at having supplied them with the means of diminishing one of the most fatiguing employments of the women.

These savages were much surprised at seeing us kindle the spongy bark of the eucalyptus resinifera in the focus of a burning glass. He who appeared the most intelligent among them, desirous of trying the effects of the lens himself, threw the converging rays of the sun upon his thigh by its means; but the pain he felt, took from him all inclination of repeating the experiment.

We let one of the natives see our ships through a good perspective-glass, and he soon yielded to our solicitations, to go on board the Recherche in one of our boats. He went up the side with an air of confidence, and examined the inside of the ship with much attention. His looks were then directed chiefly to such objects as might serve for food. Led by the similitude in shape, between the black swans of Cape Diemen and the geese of Guinea, which he saw on board, he asked for one, giving us to understand that it was to eat. When he came opposite to our hen-coops, he appeared struck with the beauty of a very