ſions; and as they had no one to ſupport their right, the queſtion was ſoon decided againſt them, contrary to every idea of juſtice. I muſt add, that though the perſons who had the charge of providing for our table were frequently changed, they all adhered with the utmoſt punctuality to the dictates of this inequitable decree.
It was already night when our boat came to fetch us. Riche was obliged to avail himſelf of the opportunity; otherwiſe he would have been under the neceſſity of remaining on ſhore. He was, however, compelled to ſtay for the night on board of the Recherche, although it was of great conſequence to him to return to the Eſperance, as the preparation of the ſpecimens which he had collected, required to be immediately attended to.
20th. A ſmall iſland, ſituated S. 42° W. about 2,500 toiſes from our anchoring ſtation, had been denominated Partridge Iſland by ſome of our crew who diſcovered it. Citizen Riche and myſelf ſpent the following day upon the iſland; but inſtead of partridges we found a great number of quails there. Whether thoſe who had firſt viſited it had taken the one fowl for the other, or whether the partridges had ſince left the iſland, I muſt leave undecided.
This ſmall iſland is upwards of 100 toiſes in length, and ſituated in 43° 23′ 30″ S. lat. The
