Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/50

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40
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1791.

morning, the Eſperance intimated to us by a ſignal, that land was eſpied.

Towards noon we reckoned ourſelves to be at the diſtance of about 71,800 toiſes from the peak of Teneriffe, which bore S.E.S. raiſing its head majeſtically above the clouds.

At the cloſe of the evening we were not more than about 10,260 toiſes diſtant from the north-eaſt point of the iſland. We ſhifted with the fore and main top-fails every three hours, whilſt we expected the dawn. As ſoon as it appeared, we made towards the iſland, coaſting along at the diſtance of 500 toiſes.

About half an hour after nine in the morning, we caſt anchor in the road of St. Croix, in a muddy bottom of black ſand, about fifteen toiſes in depth.

The French Conſul, Citizen Fontpertuis, waited immediately upon our Commander, with an offer of his ſervices in furniſhing us with whatever we might want for the proſecution of our expedition.

I went on ſhore in the afternoon, to take a view of the environs of the town. Although the ſeaſon was conſiderably advanced, the reflection of the rays of the ſun from the volcanic ſtones, produced a degree of heat that was the more oppreſſive as the air was perfectly calm.

I ob-