ing manner in which he always mentioned
the name and talents of Captain Cook. That illustrious circumnavigator
had, he said, left nothing to those who might follow in his track to
describe, or fill up. As I found, in the course of conversation, that
the French ships had touched at the Sandwich Islands, I asked M. De
Perrouse what reception he had met with there. His answer deserves to be
known: "During the whole of our voyage in the South Seas, the people of
the Sandwich Islands were the only Indians who never gave us cause of
complaint. They furnished us liberally with provisions, and administered
cheerfully to all our wants." It may not be improper to remark, that
Owhyee was not one of the islands visited by this gentleman.

In the short stay made by these ships at Botany Bay, an Abbe, one of
the naturalists on board, died, and was buried on the north shore. The
French had hardly departed, when the natives pulled down a small board,
which had been placed over the spot where the corpse was interred, and
defaced everything around. On being informed of it, the Governor sent
a party over with orders to affix a plate of copper on a tree near the
place, with the following inscription on it, which is a copy of what was
written on the board:

Hic jacet L. RECEVEUR,
E.F.F. minnibus Galliae, Sacerdos, Physicus, in
circumnavigatione mundi, Duce De La Perrouse.
Obiit die 17 Februarii, anno 1788.

This mark of respectful attention was more particularly due, from M. De
Perrouse having, when at Kamschatka, paid a similar tribute of gratitude
to the memory of Captain Clarke, whose tomb was found in nearly as
ruinous a state as that of the Abbe.

Like ourselves, the French found it necessary, more than once, to
chastise a spirit of rapine and intrusion which prevailed among the
Indians around the Bay. The menace of pointing a musquet to them was
frequently used; and in one or two instances it was fired off, though
without being attended with fatal consequences. Indeed the French
commandant, both from a regard to the orders of his Court as well as to
our quiet and security, shewed a moderation and forbearance on this head
highly becoming.

On the 20th of March, the 'Supply' arrived from Norfolk Island, after
having safely landed Lieutenant King and his little garrison. The
pine-trees growing there are described to be of a growth and height
superior, perhaps, to any in the world. But the difficulty of bringing