we approached nearer, we heard them calling to one another.
Having pa fled the north end of Aurora, we flood
to the fouthward along its weftern coaft, as far as the wind
wpuld permit, which blew more foutherly than eafterly.
We had only thkadvantage, that being flieltered by the
land on aril fidbs, the water was remarkably fmooth, though
the gale continued. The ifland which M. de Bougainville
named the Ifle of Lepers, was right a-head of us, and we
pafled the day in tacking between it and Aurora. At four
o clock in the afternoon, we approached within a mile and
a half of the former, and in fpite. of the clouds which
retted on its heights, faw fo much of the lower grounds,
that we. had reafon to think it a very fertile ifland. The
place where we approached it was very fteep, nor could we
find bottom with one hundred and twenty fathoms. However,
the north eaft point was lower, and covered with all
forts of trees, The palms in particular , were innumerable,
and to our furprize grew on the hills, where we had never
feen them in other iflands. Several confiderable cafcades
ruflied down the precipices into the fea, amidft fhrubberies
which formed as rich an ornament as in the landfcapes of
Dufky Bay. Having put about, we obferved a turtle fleeping
on the water, which the violence of the wind did not Teem
to affeS. We tacked all night in order to gain to the fouthward,
being defirous of palling between the Ifle of Lepers
Aurora. We came clofe under the former again at
eight in the morning. Having put abour, a fmall canoe
ventured out with a Angle man in it. We made a Ihort Tudday '9‘
trip, and returned towards the Ihore, where three men in
another canoe were preparing to come to us. Several people
fat on the rocks and projecting bluff points. Some were
blackened from the head downwards, as far as the breaft ;
they had fomething white on their heads, but went naked,
with a rope about the waift. Only one of them had a
cloth acrofs one fhoulder, which came under the oppofite
arm like a fcarf, and then round his loins it feemed to
be of a dirty white with a reddifh border. All thefe people
were of a dark brown colour, and armed with bows
and long arrows. Thofe who came off in canoes, came
very near us, talking loud and unintelligibly for fome time, '
but conftantly refufed to come on board. Having been
obliged to put about the (hip, they left us, and returned to
their countrymen on fhore. In feveral places we obferved
reeds like hurdles, Handing up between the rocks, which
feemed to be fo placed in order to catch filh.
We now approached the ifle of Aurora, where we obferved
a fine beach, and the moll lux-uriant vegetation that
can be conceived. The whole country was woody ; num-
berlefs climbers ran up the higheft trees, and forming garlands
and feftoons between them, embellifhed the fcene.
A neat plantation fenced with reeds, flood on the flope of
the hill, and a beautiful cafcade poured down through the
; V ol. IT. D d adja