were ſtill at a great diſtance from the ſhips, and it was not before half an hour after nine o'clock that we arrived at the tents of obſervation, from whence we were ſoon conveyed on board.
5th. I remained on board during the greater part of the two following days, and employed myſelf with ſtuffing the ſkins of a variety of rare birds, and deſcribing the natural curioſities which I had collected.
The want of room in our veſſel put me under the neceſſity of drying the plants, which I had preſerved in paper, at the fire. As my cabin was already full, I had no other place where I could depoſit ſome of my ſpecimens of plants that had not got perfectly dry than the great cabin. Dauribeau, who acted as firſt lieutenant, thought that this place ought not to be lumbered with ſuch uſeleſs things as natural curioſities, and ordered my two preſſes, with the plants they contained, to be turned out. I was obliged to appeal to the Commander, who annulled this act of authority, and ordered that the preſſes ſhould remain where I had placed them.
At low water we ſound a variety of curious ſhells on the ſhore. This harbour afforded us great plenty of very fine oyſters.
The eaſt coaſt of the harbour contained a quantity of pyrites in cryſtals of various forms.
We
