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[Page 649]

545
April 1771   Cape of Good Hope

the Indian whoom he brought from thence was known on board his Ship by the name of Tootavee  a plain corruption of Bougainville  with whoom it may be suppos'd he meant to change names according to his Custom  this man is now at L'Isle de France  from whence a Large ship is very soon to Sail & carry him back to his own countrey where she is to make a settlement  in doing which she must Necessarily follow the Tract of Abel Jansen Tasman & consequently if she does not discover Cooks Streights  which in all probability she will do, will of course must make several discoveries on the Coast of New Zealand  Thus much the French who were here made no secret of  How necessary then will it be for us to publish an account of our voyage as soon as possible after our arrival if we mean that our own Countrey shall have the Honour of our Discoveries  Should the French have publishd an account of Mr De Bougainvilles voyage

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