largeſt ſpecies of that genus, floating upon the ſurface of the water: they had undoubtedly been detached from the rocks that bound the coaſt of that large iſland. This fucus, which is ſeveral yards in length, is provided with ſmall bladders filled with air at the extremities of its higheſt leaves, whereby it is enabled in its growth to take a direction towards the ſurface of the water.
About five o'clock in the evening we were ſurrounded by a great number of whales, which came within a hundred yards of our ſhip. The Anglo-Americans, who ſometimes viſit theſe ſeas in order to fiſh for the whales, are more than indemnified for the expences of their equipment by the profits from the oil which they carry home.
The depoſitions of the Captains Magon Lépinay and Préaudet, had determined our Commander to endeavour to reach the Admiralty Iſlands as ſoon as poſſible, thinking that, after paſſing along the north coaſt of New Holland, we ſhould be able to arrive there before the return of the eaſtern monſoon. We had, however, made as yet but very little way, being, on the 6th of March, only in 44° E. lon. The apprehenſion of being detained at the Molucca Iſlands during the whole time of the eaſt monſoon, which was expected to ſet in during the month of March, induced him
to
