July.]
OF LA PEROUSE.
291
CHAP. VII.
Departure from Cartaret Harbour—On that Occasion the Esperance loses an Anchor—Passage through St. George's Channel—View of the Portland Islands—Different Interviews with the Natives of the Admiralty Islands—Their fantastical Fashion—Despotism of their Chiefs—Canoes—Astonishing rapidity of their Motion—View of the Hermit Islands—Their Inhabitants—View of the Exchequer Islands—A New Island—A Water Spout—View of New Guinea—Passage through Pitt Strait—Singular Effects of the Tides—Ravages of the Scurvy—Anchor at Amboyna.
On the 24th of July about 11 A.M. we set sail from Carteret harbour, and took advantage of a gentle breeze at south-east, to pass through the north-west opening, between Cocos Island and New Ireland.
The current set to the W.N.W. and at noon we were 5,000 toises W.N.W. of our anchoring place.
The Esperance, not having hove up her anchor in time to profit by this breeze, a calm succeeded almost as soon as she set her sails, and the current drove her towards the breakers, on the star-
board
