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[Page 2]
Isles des Navigateurs Friendly Isles & Norfolk Isle from whence he came on this Coast.
at the Island Maorena one of the Isles des navigateurs Lat. 14..19. S. Long 173.00.20 E of Paris he was so unfortunate as to lose M. de Langle Cap.t of the Astrolabe 8 officers 4 men & one boy who were killd by the natives who wounded many more of his Crew which accident happend as Follows.
The two ships had been some days at this Island & had been on very Good terms with the natives who had furnished them with every article of Stock in the greatest profusion but he had found it very necessary to be upon his guard against a treacherous disposition which he observd in them, when every thing was ready for their Departure & the ships under weigh M. de Langle requested leave to take another Turn of Water which M. de Pays consented to with as much reluctance as M De L. sellected it with Earnestness.
as the Longboats were not hoisted in they were sent on the service with two other boats to attend them under the direction of the unfortunate de Langle, the Ships were lying too & a strong current set them round a Point out of sight of the Place where the Boats were to Land.
When the Boats landed the People were as usual surronded [surrounded] by the Natives who did not immediately discover any hostile intentions unfortunately the Sailors had sufferd the Long boats to take the ground in using