Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/198

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186
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1792.

which I had made on my laſt excurſion. In thoſe parts of the country which I examined in the afternoon, I found ſeveral plants of the tribe of orchis, ſome of which I gave to be copied by the painter.

The fiſhing nets were regularly ſent out every evening, and abundance of fiſh was taken. The meals we now made on board contraſted very ſtrikingly with thoſe we had been obliged to put up with during our paſſage.

I muſt here remark, that thoſe of our company who were engaged in the purſuit of natural hiſtory, were not permitted to take with them, on their excurſions, the ſmalleſt quantity of that allowance of freſh proviſions which we claimed as our right: ſhip's biſcuit, cheeſe, brandy, and ſometimes a little ſalted bacon, was all that was provided for us. The reaſons we alledged were ſufficient to evince the juſtice of our demand; nevertheleſs, we had no other proviſions allowed us on theſe occaſions, during the whole courſe of our expedition. I ſhould have paſſed over this circumſtance in ſilence, had I not thought that it might afford a uſeful hint to perſons employed in the ſame purſuit, who may hereafter be engaged in ſuch expeditions.

May 1ſt. I reſolved to examine the other coaſt of the harbour to the eaſtward. The bottom was

here