Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/225

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May.]
OF LA PEROUSE.
205

the thickeſt part of the woods. Their tracks generally terminate at ſome rivulet.

Having exhauſted our ſtock of proviſions, we were compelled to endeavour to reach the ſhips before night. We wandered about the woods a long time before we arrived at the north-eaſt extremity of the harbour, from whence we had a diſtant view of our veſſels. It was not without great difficulty that we reached the place where they rode at anchor, as we had to paſs through many very rugged grounds.

12th. The whole day was hardly ſufficient for me to prepare and deſcribe what I had collected on our laſt excurſion.

Having left ſome of my ſpecimens which could not be preſerved without being daily attended to, in the care of one of the ſervants, who remained on board during my abſence; I had the ſatisfaction to find them in good condition.

Citizen Riche found ſome human bones amongſt the aſhes of a fire made by the natives. Several bones of the pelvis he diſcovered by their form to have been part of the ſkeleton of a young woman: ſome of them were ſtill covered with pieces of broiled fleſh. I am, however, ſcrupulous of ranking the natives of this country with the cannibals: I rather ſuppoſe that they have the cuſtom of burning the bodies of their dead;

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