t down into the boat along-side the canoe, from whence,
leaning over the gunnel, he complied with the wish of the old beau, to
his infinite satisfaction. In addition to the consequences which our
sanguine hopes led us to expect from this dawning of cordiality, it
affords proof, that the beard is considered by this people more as an
incumbrance than a mark of dignity.

CHAPTER XII.

The Departure of the French from Botany Bay; and the Return of the
'Supply' from Norfolk Island; with a Discovery made by Lieutenant Ball
on his Passage to it.

About the middle of the month our good friends the French departed from
Botany Bay, in prosecution of their voyage. During their stay in that
port, the officers of the two nations had frequent opportunities of
testifying their mutual regard by visits, and every interchange of
friendship and esteem. These ships sailed from France, by order of
the King, on the 1st of August, 1785, under the command of Monsieur
De Perrouse, an officer whose eminent qualifications, we had reason
to think, entitle him to fill the highest stations. In England,
particularly, he ought long to be remembered with admiration and
gratitude, for the humanity which marked his conduct, when ordered to
destroy our settlement at Hudson's Bay, in the last war. His second
in command was the Chevalier Clonard, an officer also of distinguished
merit.

In the course of the voyage these ships had been so unfortunate as
to lose a boat, with many men and officers in her, off the west of
California; and afterwards met with an accident still more to be
regretted, at an island in the Pacific Ocean, discovered by Monsieur
Bougainville, in the latitude of 14 deg 19 min south, longitude 173 deg
3 min 20 sec east of Paris. Here they had the misfortune to have no less
than thirteen of their crews, among whom was the officer at that time
second in command, cut off by the natives, and many more desperately
wounded. To what cause this cruel event was to be attributed, they knew
not, as they were about to quit the island after having lived with the
Indians in the greatest harmony for several weeks; and exchanged, during
the time, their European commodities for the produce of the place, which
they describe as filled with a race of people remarkable for beauty and
comeliness; and abounding in refreshments of all kinds.

It was no less gratifying to an English ear, than honourable to Monsieur
De Perrouse, to witness the feel