IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) '^^ ^ ^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 ■ 50 ! -- IIIM llllim 1.4 llllil.6 <^ 7 ^^ A^? >/ >..^- ^ ^'^? ^; Hiotographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ .x^ ^ \ ■% •^ •s^ :\ \ ;\ ^^^ '^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Instituta for Historical IVIicroreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographxally unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D □ D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; The to tl L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. I.es details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes n Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes r~TI Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ The pos oft film Ori( beg the sior oth( first sior or il Pages d6color6es, tachet6es ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages ddtach^es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti indgale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages detached/ r^ Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ The shal TIN whi Mai diff( enti beg righ reqi met Paries wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partieliement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmdes d nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X 7 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X lire details lies du modifier ger une filmage The copy fiSmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iteeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaira f ilm6 fut reproduit grAce k la gAnArositA de: La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de I'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. ides Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the bacit cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimis sont film6s en commengant pai le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". ire Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent dtre fiimis A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reprod'lt en un seul clichd, il est filmd d partir da I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. ly errata 9d to nt ne pelure, igon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 K. ■ ■SV*"' „ •^■ i»<^ •■•^ VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, IN THE YEARS 1785, 1786, 1787, AND 1788, % /. F, G. DE LA PEROUSE : PUBLISHED Conformably to the decree or thj NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, OF THE 22° OF APRIL, 1791, AND EDITED BT M. L. A. MILETAiUREAU, BRIGADIER GENERAL IN TH2 CORPS OT ENGINEERS, DIRECTOR OF FORTIFICATIONS, EX-CONSTITUENT, AND MEMBER OF SEVERAL LITERARY SOCIETIES AT TXKIS, IN THREE VOLUMES. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. VOL. I. LONDON : J»R1NTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL's CHURCH YARD. 17i)8. #« 5'2 3i7 ADVERTISEMENT OF THE ENGLISH EDITOR. 1 HE voyages of our various circumnaviga- tors, efpecially of the immortal Cook, have excited an almofl univerfal intereft in the perufal of voyages and travels ; and we con- ceive that the narrative of a fcientific expe- dition, fitted out exprcfsly for the purpofe of verifying and completing the difcoveries of the Englifh, by a nation the fecond in maritime importance, and inferior to none in philofophy and the arts, has a very valid claim to the notice of the Britiih public. The total lofs of the frigates Boussole and Astrolabe, together with their able A 2 com- ( iv ) commander La Perouse, and the 'rc<\ of the officers and men of feienrr' tjiat. were ailoeiated with h'vn in tiic baiTirdcQs' office oi cXpioriiig unknown cuiu.,-, nC'/iiJiirily renders this work lefs perfect than it \vui*iu o'cherwife have been, as well in refpecl to matter as arrangement : feveral curious par- ticulars are given in diflinel memoirs, which might, in the opinion of fome, have ap- peared to more advantage in a conti- nued narrative ; and rcLitive to other cir- cumflanccs there are only loofe memo- randa, which were probably intended as the bafis of elaborate diflertations. We did not, however,, think qurfelves at liberty to omit or abbreviate any thing, or to alter its form or place; in nU-refpects^ therefore, this travjla^ dion is an exact copy, of the orlginaU ./,, .. If any difference be perceived in the Ayle of the feveral parts of the tranflation, it is partly to be attributed to the imavoidable necefsity, occafioned by competitiop, of bringing the work ( V ) work before the public witb tbe leaft pofsiblfe delay, in confequencc of whicb, more tban one gentleman has been employed : as, how- ever, in the original work, the narrative and the various political and fcicntlfic docu- ments, are written by the rcfpe61ive perfons embarked in the expedition who were en- trufted with the care of the various depart- ments, the variety in the flyle of the tranflation may be principally afcribed to the want of uniformity in the ftyle of the original. A few occafional and immaterial errors and irregularities may very pofsibly have efcaped the ftri6teft attention ; but efpecial care has been taken to enfure the accuracy of the naviral parts, and of the fcientific memoirs on fubjedls of natural hiflory and geography. With refpe6l to the plates, we have thought ourfelves fully juftified in the omifsionofa few which were either duplicates of thofe given, A3 Qt ( vi ) or copies from Englifli voyages, for the pur- pofes of comparifonor minute amplification, and by fo doing, we have been enabled to ri'diice the price of the work, without de- ducting in any degree from its real utl- lity. In regard to Longitude, we have uni- formly retained that which is deduced from the meridian of Paris ; our readers can, {f neceffary, reduce it to longitude from Green- wich, by adding or dedudling 2* 20' 15", according as it is caft or well refpe6lively. We have alfo retained the French weights and mcafurcs ; thefe the reader can reduce to the Englifli ftandard, the Paris pound avoir [poi Englifh 25; the Paris foot 12*798 of our inches, and the French toifc 6 Paris feet. •^ CON- CONTENTS or Tin: riRST voiami:. Thd Fnncli Kiliior's Pnfacr • page i. P rcU mina ri/ DiJ'cou rjc of the French Ed/tor p. i ;. Dccrte of tlit Xufioniil /{//Irnhh/^ the i)fh Fe- bruary \']^)\i for Jilting out the Ships (It'- /igncd to ^0 in Svarch of La Pcroufc p. 59. Decree of the ^'jtional A(fcjnh\\i^ the 22 J Jpril 1791, concerning the printing fhs Journal^ Accounts^ and Charts^ J'tnt ijjj La Pcrouf<\ of his Voyage as far as Botany Bay p, 61. Memoir, or Note of the King, containing par- ticular Injlructions to At. Dc La PirouJCt Captain in the Navy, ccnunanding the Irri- gates La Bouffblc, and LAftrolabe p. 62. Firft Part. Plan of the Voyage - P« 63. Second Part. Objects relating to Policy and Com- ??ierce - - - p. 8r. Third Part. Operations relating to Aftro7iomy, to Geography, to Navigation, to Natural Phi- lofophy, and to the different Branches of Na- tural Hijtory - - P* 95* Fourth Part. Of the Conduct to he objerved zcith the Natives of the Countries tchere the two Frigates may ■make a Landing p. 104. Fifth Part. Prccaitioiis to be taken for pre- ferviiig the Ilcaltk of the Crcu.'s. p. no. Extract I viii * CONTENTS. I'll tract from M. Da La Pcroufts general Iw llrucliuns 1 1 K(f/i'\- (i(ni*raj)ltical U)id Jli/loricaly to be added to the Kir}}f\s' AJerwtr of purticuUir InjtruC' tion to M. De La Ptronfe, SouiJierd Atlayitic. Ocean - - - p. 1 1 8. Great S'ntlh Sea - • P* ^39* Credit Eijtiaforial Ocean - p. 153. Great Northern Ocean - - p. 185. Letter from M. Le Marcchal De CaQric.f tii M De Condorcef, perpetual Secretary of the Acadcimj of Sciences - p. 221. Memoir drawn 7/p hy the Academy of ScienceHy far I lie l[fe and Direction of the Scientific Perjons embarked under fiie Orders of M. De La Per oil fe Geometry^ Aflfonorny, hUciianics Fhyfics . - . P P' P- P" P 222. 224. 226. 231. 232. P- 234- P- 235- p. 238. p. 241 Che mi fry - • . Anatoi.'iy _ - . Zoology ... Minerato^^y - - . Botany . - . Obfervalions of /»/. Bnache ^ucftions propofed by the Society of Medicine, to the Gentlemen who are to accompany M. De La Peroufe on tiie intended Voyage^ read in the Sitting of (lie Z^f of May^ '^"i^S- P- 249- § I ft. Anatomy y Phyfiology . - ibid. 2 § 2(1. I V W CONTENTS. IX § 2cl. IIj/f;i('ine - - P- ^55» § 3cl. 0/ J)iJ'titfi% - • P- "258, § 4tli. Of the Materia Mtdica - p. 261. § 3tli. Sia'iicjy - - - p. 264. Sketch 0/ E.rpt'r/fnents to ic >nadi for prrl'i nin^ the Wafer on Shin-board J'rom Curnt/jtior/^ conimuiiicalcd tc^ M. Dc La PlraiiJ'c Ay the Abbe Tr/I i''y of the Acadt'iny of 'Stiences^und of the Society of Medicine - p. 267. Memoir for dinciini^ the Gardener in the Oc- cupation:; and Duty of Lis Voua^c rvu?id th: IVorldy by M. Thouin, f.rf Gardener of Ike Botanical Garden - - p. 276. Inventory of the Merchandize and L^feds en- barked on beard tlie Ships urJer the Ordfrr: of M. De La Perouj'e^ for fna.kin^ Freferds and Exchanges'. - - p. 3ir. A Stivimay Account of Injtraments of A fro no- viy, of Navigation, of Natural Philofoyhy, of CJieyniJiry^ avA others, for the Ufe of t.'te Scientific Perfons and Artijls eiriplcy^d in tiic Voyage of Difcoveries. - - p. 321. A Catalo^ve of Buoks of Voya'^es,, of Afrcio- viy, of Navigation, of Natural Philofcply^ and others, co7i/ii^ned to K. De La Pcrovfe, for the Ufe of the Officers and Scientific Men embarked under his Orders - P- 3^^. A Lijt of the Names of tlie Officers, Scientific Men, Artifis and Saihrs embarked in the Ft i gates y\ % 1 X CONTENTS. Fri^afcs La Boujole and V Ajirolahe^ wn- der the Orders of M. De La Peroufc. Julij 1785. - - • p. 330. Narrative of an Literefting Voyage in the Fri- gate the PiinceJJa^ from Manilla to 6an Blaz^ by F, A. Maurelle - * p- 340. Extract from the Narrative of a Voyage madj in 1779, by F, A. MaJirelle, f d if covering the IVeJi Coaji of North America' p. 410. CHAPTER I. Object of the Armament of the tttfo Frigates — tSlay in the Road ofBreJi — P a£ ge from Brejl to Madeira and Tencriffe — Stay at thoj'c tico //lands — A Journey to the Peak — Arrival at Trinidada — We put in at the I (land of St. Catherine upon the Coaft / Brajil p. 441 CHAPTER T. Defcription of the Ifland of « '. Catherine — Ob- fervations and Events dur, g our Stay — De- parture from St. Cathe ne's — Arrival at Conception - - - p. 480. CHAPTEJ^ HI. I 4 Defcription of Conception-^— Manners and Cuf toins of the Inhabitants — Departure from Talc- Qguana — At' rival at Eafler Ijland p. 509. I LIST ,.^'# ■f tIST OF THE PLATES IN THE THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. Page. Portrait of La Peroufe, to face title. Chart of the track of Don Maurelle 352 Chart of the Great Ocean, or South Sea, ^^i DrciXca cf the inhabitants of La Conception, ^li to VOL. IL Chart of difcoveries in the Sea of Tartar/, View of the anchorage of Mowee, Chart of the north-weft coaft of America, Views of the north-weft coaft, (plate i) Plan of Port des Fran^ais, vihipwreck of the two Shallops, View of the filhcry at Port des Fran9ais, Blackbird of Port des Fra«9ais, Drefs of the inhabitants of Port des Fran^ais Views of the north-weft coaft, (plate 2) Echinus Marinus, Great ^ez Urchin of the north-weft coicft. Views of th^ north-weft coaft, (plate 3) Male and fem: •€ partridge of California) Bee eater of California, View of Macao, Paflage Boat of Manilla^ View of Cavite Fiftiing raft of Manilla, Dreffes of the inhabitants of Manilla, Formofan boat Japanele boat. Inhabitants of the Baie de Langle, Dreffes of the inhabitants of the Baie de Langle, Plan of the Baie de Caftries, Burying place in the Baie de Caftries, View of Company's Land, VOL. in. Maflfacre of De Langle, Lamanon, &c. Chart of navigators inands,Part I. Ditto. Ditto. Part "~ Flan of the Ifland of Maouna, Map of Eafter Ifland, Inhabitants and monuments of Eafter Ifland^ Woman of Port des Fran^ais, Infefts, Manners of the inhabitants of the Baie de Caftries, Terebratulae, or Poulettes, Liane of Chili, {E3>The Binder is reguefled to place the nautical tablet at the end of the third votumci asA to guard the large plates. ERRATA. face title. 58 67 80 9+ 114 120 128 J 70 172 176 192 202 204 286 291 30a 322 330 336 362 404 404 428 643 430 to face title. ^ > to face each other 126 12S 183 »95 202 224 240 298 446 M m j,»^ ERRATA. page 74lincioth from bottom, bottom. 12 3I ine rom for bafin read bafon. for north read north-eaft. 135 line II from bottom, for north-north-well read weft-north-weft. 136 line 2 from bottom, for half eaft read half north-eaft. 149 line 6 from bottom, for 2° 30' eaft i:ead 2** 3' north-eaft. 227 bottom line, the letters in the word equator are de- ranged. 236 line 10 from top, after the word fea add a comma. 248 line 3 from bottom, for reagents read re-agents, 249 line at top of the page, for reagents read re-agents; 291 line 1 1 from top, divide illformed by a hyphen, 345 line 15 add a comma after the word which. 394 line 1 1 from bottom, for 5 degrees diftant read 5 leagues diftant. ' '. '''='- 397 line 9 from top, for longitude eaft of Paris read weft of Paris. . ^. . .;.; . . '; •I ■ I THE H l THE FRENCH EDITOR'S PREFACE. ■ r 'HE .1. THE public, iiimilianzed with the melancholy reflection of the lots ot' the f.vo lliips in the unfortunate expedition commanded by LaPc- roufe, will be furprized at the publication of the journal of his voyage. The decree of the con- ftituent aflembly, which ordered the engraving of the charts and the printing of the journals lent home by this navigator, might have announced, however, that we were not entirely deprived of the benefits of his voyage. I lis forefight made him not only take advantage of, but leek for every opportunity offending his journals to Eu- rope. It is to be regretted, that the felf-lovc of the icicntific perfons embarked along with him did not allow them, in like manner, to difpatch to their country all the fruits of their labours ; we fliould not in that cafe have had to regret the ahiioft total lofs of them. La Peroufe, occupied with the difficult and numerous details, which the command of an expedition, as important as dangerous, mull neceilarily include, forced at every fhep to judge and forefee, and confequently to modify his ideas according to circumftances, (lould not collect with order, or arrancic with Vol. I. B method, I. m a THE FRENCH EDITOR*S PREFACE. method, the materials from wliicli he was tu compofe a hiflory of his voyage. Tiiefo mate- rials mult neccirarily appear fliil more confurcd and mjiplaced to the vii-v,' of an editor, who was perfonally a ftrangcr to the voyage. As nothing which may contribute to cxtcnc} the i)r»)grci: of the human mind ouglit to be nc2;lected i a voyacrcs of difcoverv, fcientinc men and artiils form, an cfiential part in fuch expe- dilions : upon their return, each arranges his own materials^ and gives to the particular objed; of his ftudy thac degree of porfeclion, of which it is fufceptible; from the ,,.il-underflood connection of thefc diderent parts refuks a com[)lete rela- tion, whe e all is contained, and each in its pro- per place. In this inflance, by an unexampled fatality, our new argonauts have all j.criPncd ; and, it has fallen to my lot, alone, by collecting wliat- ever has efcaped the w'reck,- to fu[)ply that accu- rate and forcible repreisntation of the n.ivigators, who would not have exprelfed any thing, but wliat they themfelvcs liad experienced. In giving way, not v/ithout reluctance, to the felicitation?, which made me undertaP:e this pain • ful thouph honourable talk. I did not deceive myfelf with refpec; to the difficulties, which I mufc necefiarily have to encounter in a work, all the parts of wdiich it was not eafy equally to com- prife and to adjuft. The Uors, 's but M 0 the -^^^^B pain • ^fl .'ccive ich I -1 1 k, all 1 corn- '1 Thf THE FRENCH EDITOR S rRLFACE, 3 The juiblic will undoubtedly regret wiih nK\ that the Kx-miniller of marine Fleurieu, at tlii^ time mcml)er of the national iinlitute, atid of tlie boarel of lonL'Jtude, inilructed as he is in fubjects of this juaturc, of fuch rare and difliii- guilhed talents, and who would willingly have taken upon himfelf the editing of this work, wai3 forced, by circumflanccs, to rclinquilh it. The fame intereft which induced me to mani- t'cft, in the tribune of the conftitucnt allemhly, a ilrong zeal for the jrviblication of this voyage, for the profit of the much eileemed widow of La I^Toule, occafioned me to endeavour to direct ihc chioice of the government to a naval ofllcer, capable of fupjjl)ing the place of him, who had b'jcn at firjl appointed to the undertaking. But France had already loft m<>ft of f.cr eminent lea ofiicers and the reft were either on fcrvice, or liad voluntarily wi'.hdriiwn themlelvcs : it was only in tlie power of the minifier to apj)oint a man, who liad at leaft apj^lied himfelf to the ftudy of na- tural hiftory and mathematic?, an efiential quah- fication for fuch a work. The choice of a man, who ftiouid poffefs in a preferable degree this kind of knowledge, was, befides, coiiformable to the intention of La Peroufe; for he wrote to one ot his f^-icnds nearly in thtfe words. " If my journal lliould be printed before my return, let care be taken not to entruft it to a man of B 2 Lturs 4'il < 1* -w^^ '''"^M ,: A I I It .?.' 4 THE FRENCH LDITOR's PREFACE. letters, who will facrificc to the turning of a phrafc the proper word, which may appear harlh and barbarous to him, but which the I'eaman and the man of fciencc would prefer, and will look for in vain -, or, perhaps, laying afide all the nau- tical and aflronomical details, and dellrous of making of it an intereiling romance, he will commit errours, for want of knowledge which his education may not have permitted him to ac* quire, errours which will prove fatal to my fuc- ceflbrs; but choofe an editor verfcd in mathema- tical knowledge, who maybe capable of calculating, of combining my data with thofe of other navi-. gators, of correcting the errours which may have efcaped me, and not commit others himfelf. Such an editor will dive to the bottom ; he will fupprefs nothing eiTential ; he will give the tech- nical details in a rough unpoliflied flyle, but con- cifely and like a learnan, and he will perform his tafk well, by publilhing the work as I fliould have wilhed to do it myfelf." This defire having confiantly ferved me as a rule, I declare to thofe who, in reading, have no other objeft than amufement, that they ought not to proceed further ; I have not laboured for them, but only for feamen and men of fcience. It has been my endeavour in a work, the mat- tei of which is more important than the form, an4 t-M n> Ight an4 f ^4 .4 tHE FRENCH EDITOR S PREFACE. $ and of wliicli the bcft praife will be fidelity in the relation oftlidls, and accuracy in exprefflon, to be clear and concile j I have made no lacrifice to grace at the expcncc of truth: this confcflion is my cxcufc, at the fame time that it bcfpcaks the induls^encc of the reader. It is with this view, that I have rcligioufly re- fpcclcd the character of ftyle in each author, in mccrly fubjccting their memoirs to the known rules of language ; but when an idea has pre- fentcd itfelf to mc, which might ferve as a connection to others, an expreflion which might render an image more perfect, or more obvious, or give to a phrafe more harmony without altering its import, I have confidered myfelf at liberty to employ it. The work about to be prefented to the reader woulc' doubtlcfs have been more valuable, had it proceeded from the pen of the cx-minifler Fleurieu, who might have enriched it by his profound knowledge : I ought, however, to make it known, that I have coniulted him as often as I have been at a lofs, and I have always found in him that complaifance and modefty, which arc the infeparable companions of real talent and fcience. If to collect, to difpoie, to arrange methodi- cally all the parts of a work like this, were a diffi- cult entcrprize, the particulars relating to itspub- B 3 licatioa, SI r m I .1 I I f .« J; I- 1 \\- 6 THE FRE^'c^ editor's prepack. Heat!'".'';, tlie toil-:, the rcfearchcs, and inquiries, wliifht. e moft iictlvezcal alone could go througli, and unfurcfeen obftaclcs, appeared to render it iir;practlcabic. The decree for its being printed was pafled in the year 1791, and nothing was bcgiwi in 1793, the period at which I was entruded with it. A paper monxy every day decreafing in ^'a• Jue, occafioned the barc;ains and as;recments with the artifts and printers to be l)roken almod as toon as made, or induced ihcni to oppofc rny cflorts with a difcouraging inert nefs, tourided upon the hope of better times ; public opinion bor- dering on madnefs, which tlien forced men to r.C-ommodate to the times, in oppofition to the truth of hiftory, the appellations and cuf- toms of other times, con.pelled me to re- main inactive during more than a year; after all this, a new paper money, and the embarrafsments of tlie government when fpecie re-appeared, have been the phyfical and mural caufes of the hin- drance I have met with. To cnalile me to reconcile the difficulties of editing, which arofe out of the circumftances of the moment, I was flrongly importuned to write the voyage in the third perlbn. Thus becoming the hiflorian, and appropriating to myfelf the materials of this work, i fliould have thrown I the U-; •own the THE FRENCH EDITOR S PREFACE. 7 Ihc navigator into tlic back ground : this pro- pofal did not gain upon my felf-love ; I facriliced it to the intorcfl which is always inlpiivd by a man wiio rchitcs his own feelings, who dcfrribe? the dithcultics of his own fituations, and who makes you a partaker in his pleafurcs and pains. If circuinftances have furrounded mc with ob- flacles during my labour, the rjfult will prove, at Icaft, that government has not ceafcd to pro- tect the fcienccs and the art?, during the moft aflonifhing of revolutions, which has raifed up aG;ainil: it a war lis rreneral as burdetifome. ^J CD 1 have explained the nature and diflicultics of my labour; I vvill now fpeak of the form of the work, of its tliftribution, and of the care taken in the execution of it. The title of Voyage round the World, wliicU I have given it, although ftriv^lly fpeaking it could not have been acquired but by the return of La Peroufe into one of tiie ports of France, will neverthclefs not be contefted, becaufe we may confider a Voyage round the Wodd as terminated, when, departing from Europe, we arrive at China, after having doubled Cape Horn, and crolied the South Sea : befides, the events tliat occurred during their year's voyr.ge, after their arrival at China, were more itrikinq; and hazardous, than a mere return to Europe. 'in f B 4 Th« # i ^l» •1* ■■> ,■,* ii ^ i'« 5 1.^ ft 1 •( ? II E 'iwl 8 THE FRENCH EDITOr's PREFACE. The work, confifting of four volumes in 8vo» and of an athib in 4to, is divided in the following manner. The fud volume contains all the preliminary articles relative to the expedition; I have only added to them the tranflation of a Si)anifh voy- age, the manufcript of which was tranlmitted by La Pcroiiff, and which I thought I could not place any where elfe, without rendering the vo- lumes too unequal. A celebrated author rcfcuCd from oblivion the inay calling out, " 77//.y zvaVi Ji/irrgney here is the enemy T The fociety of natural hiilory at Paris, had the me- rit of fixing the attention of the reprefentatives of the nation upon the expedition of La Pe- roufe, by the petition it prefented the 2 2d of January, 1791. The aflembly loft no time in taking it into confideration, though they were then engaged in very important bufmefs. The two decrees which palled in confequence, as honourable to the aflembly as to thofe who vere the objecl of them, are placed at the head of the work ; they breathe humanity and fen- fibility, aiid will for ever fay to thofe who are willing to tread in the fteps of La Peroufe, " \Micn you Ihall have finifhed your career through all furrounding dangers, though you ihould I :cai: a detailed enumeration, which may be foumi elfewlierc, but fiiall limit mylelt to the giving a complete chronological lift of the navigators, to whom \\c owe dilcoveries in the South Sea. Years. Magellan', a Portu^uefc, in the fervice oF Spain, 1519 Garcia de Loafs or J^oavoA, ditto, ditto, 1525 Alphonso de Sala/,ar, a Spaniard, 1525 Alvar Savaedra, ditto, 1526 Ferdinand Grijalva, and Alvaredo, dittOj 1537 GaetaNj ditto, 1542 Alvaji liich ;lfto the the ^•* A .!■!: ■Si' PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. Alvar de MENDANA,a Spaniard, Juan Fernandez, ditto, DfiAKE, an Englifliman, Thomas Cav£NDi«;h, ditto, Sir Richard Hawkins, ditto, Alvar de Mend an a, a Spaniard, Oliviea de Noort, a Dutchman, p£DRo Fernandez de Quiros, and Lui« Vaes de Torrez, Spaniards, Geouge Spilberg, a Dutchman, Le Maire and ScHOU'i en, Dutchmen, L'Hermite, a Dutchman, Abel Tasman, ditto, Antoine la Roche, a Frenchman, Cowley, an Enghfhman, Dam PIER, ditto, Davis, ditto, John Strong, ditto, Gemelli Carreri, a Neapoh'tan, Beauchene Gouin, a Frenchman, William Funnell, an Enghihman, Woods Rogers, ditto, Louis Feuille'e, a Frenchman, Fre'zier, ditto, Gentil de la Barbinais, ditto, John Clipperton and George Shelvocke Engh"{hmen, RocGEWEiN, a Dutchman, : Anson, an Englifhman, Le Hen-Brignon, a Frenchman, Byron, an Englifhman, Wa Engli LLis, ditto. 'arte RET, ditto, Vol. L 17 1567 1576 1577 1586 159+ 1595 159'i 1606 1614 161O 1623 1642 1^75 1683 1687 1687 1689 1693 1699 1703 J 708 1708 1712 1715 1719 1722 1764, 1766 R CI ii M ^ V i*' ':;«■ I 'Jr'y , •ni /■J ii .•,0 ,0 '41" ■•4' '• j8 5RELIMI1TARY DISCOURSE. Page's, a Frenchman, 1766 Bougainville, ditto, 176^ Cook, an Englifhman, ^7^9 SuRViLLE, a PVenchman, 1769 Marion and du Clesm^ur, Frenchmen^ 177X Cook, an Englifhman, 177.2 Cook, CLERKE,and Gore, Englifhmen, 1775 The lafl voyage of Cook was fcarcely mad? known, by the tragical end of the ijluflri'^us chief of the e:rpedition, when France, availing herfelf of the leifure afforded by a peace which fhe had juft concluded, confidered it as a duty annexed to her rank among the principal maritime powers^ and ftill more to her zeal and abilities for the ad- vancement of fcience, to plan a voyage of difcovcr ry, in order to concur in perfeding the knowledge of the globe, which we have folong inhabited, if our acquaintance with it be this day advanced ; if the pofition of every one of its known parts be henceforward afcertained ; in (hort, if every ftcp we take bring us nearer to the defired objed ; we owe it to theprogrefs of aftronomy. This affords us, in the diltance of flars, the movements of which are accurately determined, fixed bafes, that enable us tp determine the longitude in the midft of an immenfe ocean, with a precifion fufT^cient for the fafety of navigation, previous to which we wera obliged to fubftitute an ahnoft arbitrary approx- imation, which expofed us to the greatefl miflakes* By fhefc eftablifhed aflronomical truths, we arc hencefojfward I .'|l m 'EU^. 1766 1769 1769 177,2 f mad? us chief herfelf (he had lexed to powers,, the ad- difcovcr owledge Ited. if iced; if parts be ery ftep objeQ: ; 5 affords )f which enable of an for the e wer« pprox- iftake5« we arc fojward PfeELlMINAHY DISCOITRSE. 19 henceforward aflured of the fruits of our expedi- tions, and the fliture perfedlon of Geography. There exift means no doubt of haftening this happy lelult, and this is the proper place to throw out fome ideas upon fo important an object. — The means might be agreed upon in. a Congrefs formed by tiie agents of the principal maritime powers, willing to participate in the glory of fuch an enrcrpnze. The Congrefs, compofed of aftronomers, hy- drographers, and navigators, ftiould begin by drawing up an account of all the ancient dilco- veries, that have hitherto been left unverified j an account of all the parts of the globe where there are Hill difcoveries to be made or completed, or any further particulars to be inquired into; ano- ther object of their attention fliould be to obtain a table of the feafons, of the prevailing winds, of the monfoons, currents, refrefliments, and fuccour |o be hoped for in every latitude of the two he- milpheres. Recording to this arrangement, general inilruc^ tions ftiould be drawn up for the ufe of the com- manders in each expiedition ; and to prevent the ufelefs trouble of many projedts, tending to th^ {kme end ; the whole of the dlicoverics to b« made fliould be divided iimong the maritime powers of Europe, regard being had to tlie pof- C z fefllons it. II V'- if: -i^i 'M ; :>', . ft /ii 20 PRELIMINARY DISCOCRSit. feflions and eftablifhments, which might refpcc- tivcly facilitate the enterprizes of each nation. ' If England, Spain, Holland, Portugal, Ruflia, the United States of America, and France, would defray the expencc of an expedition every three years, we might be certain, that in lefs than twenty years geography would attain its utmofl limits. Undoubtedly France would have continued t^ favour the progrefs of geography, if, for fomc time pad, intcrefts of far greater importance, and an cxj:>cnrive war to fupport thefc interefls, had not wholly occupied her, and contraded all her cxer* tions ; but peace, by recalling, in a great meafure, the attention of government to the fciences and arts, promifes us new expeditions for their be- nefit. When thefe enterprizes are taken up in an enlarged view, all the fciences are gainers by them. Although the- philofopher be in a great meafure ilationary, the great refults of voyages become not lefs a part of his domain ; ready in coUeding the obfervations of the navigator, he poflelTes himfelf of his ideas, unfolds them, and by ana- lyzing and clafllngthe fenfations which have given birth to them, conneds them to the general fyftem, thus communicating new life to every part of Icience, < . If "rr refpec- on. Ruflia, , would :y three fs than utmod lucd to mc time and an had not er cxer- neafure, ices and icir be- in an Dy them, meafurc become olledting pofTeffes by ana- ve given fyftem, part of If PRtLlMIN/^.nV DISCOURSE. «t If navigation, thus enlarged, may be exp<.«fted to contribute powerfully to extend the limits ot the human undcrdanding, it is the part of govern- ment, with this view, to excite the exertions of ability, to reward its fui- nions upon other fubjcds, unconnected with the great bufinefs in hand. This plan would naturally involve the exami- nation of fome important quedion^i in geography, And efpecially that of an univerfal meridian ; ibr there is not a geograplier, w!io has not experienced the inconvenience of the variety of meridian''^. It is nccelfan to be perjx-ttially on our guard agj^init miftakcsj the fmailefl comparifon to eftablllh be- tween the meridians renderino; it ncceflarv to add or fubtra(51:. This evil comes from navio-itor'. o having each employed, in the formation of their charts, the meridian adopted by their nation, aid they have often adopted a peculiar cac for themfelves. On the other hand^ fome, to mark their longitudes, have taken their departure from the weft ; others from the eaft, coiint'n^^; to '^^)o degrees. The reft, and thofe the greate;- number j^m.ong the .moderns, have divided their longitudes C 3 intQ "^1 * V i\irth to indard. as wc newly* ae pro- ^d, like iinifor- g their ble for ices in ts and m that of the world ? lit this d ufe- miilion uld be arifing from .'if from its application to the divifion of the circle, and of time. ' ' AVhat nation better than France could henre* forward by her influence, as extended as powerful, realize the plan of this congrefs ? As great in her enterprizcs as in her conceptions, in her operations as in her views, flie had determined, as I have laid, to order a voyage of difcovery ; the plan drawn up was adopted by the government 5 the prelimi- nary inftrudions will prove, that it was as vafh as /kilfully conceived in its extent, and in its details, ^n able chief was necefTary for commanding the expedition; La P^roufe was chofen. }-Jis toils and his conflant fuccefs in the navy had inured him to every fpecies of danger, and pointed him out as more proper than any one elfe, to follow the difficult and dangerous courfe of a long navigation upon unknown Teas, and in the midfl of coun- tries inhabited by barbarous people. On this fubjedt a few particulars are offered to the reader, concerning the life of this illultrious but unfor- tunate officer. Jean -Francois Galaup de La Pl^roufe, dwf{Tff- cadre^^z.% born at Albi, in 1741. Entering at a very early age into the marine fchool, his en- ihufiafm was firfl excited by the example of thofe celebrated navigators, v;hc had done honour to their countr}% and he took from that time the Fcfolution 19 walk in their 'PS I, I 2' »..'. I onb 1: ) I. ': a8 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. only able to advance in this difficult road by flow degrees, he prepared hinifelf, by previoufly ftudy- ingtheir works, hereafter tocqual them. He united, at a very early period, experience with theory ; lie had been eighteen years at Tea when the com- inand of the lafli expedition was intruded to him. He entered as midfliipman, the 19th of No- vember, 1756, and ferved five years at fea, during thaj: war, the firft four on board le Celcbre, la Pompne, le Zephyr, le Cerf, and the fifth on board le Forqiidable, commanded by Saint-Andre du Verger, This fliip made one in the fquadron, under the orders pf Marfiial de Conflans, when it wa? met off Belle Ifle by the Englifh fquadron. Le Magnifique, le Heros, Ic Formidable, compofing the rear-divifion, were attacked and furrounded by eight or ten Englifli (liips. The fight began, and foon became general ; it was fo terrible, that eight men of war, Englilh or French, were fank during the adion, or ran upon the French coafts, where they were obliged to be burnt. Le Formidable, more royghly handled than the reft, was the only one taken, after a vigorous refiftance. La Peroufe conduced himfelf with great bravery in this afl^on, in v/hich he was feverely wounded. Reftored again to his countr}% he ferved in the fame capacity, three years longer, on board le Robufte, where he difi:ingui(hed himfelf on many occafions i by flow y fludy- e united, theory ; :he com- to him. of No- at fea, )oard le and the ided by e one in rflial de by the [eros, le n, were Englifli general ; Epglilh , or ran obliged roughly t taken, iduded ion, in i in the Doard le >n many :alIons ^ PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE,' !») occafions ; and his e'-owing merit began to draw upon him the eyes of his fuperior officers. The firll of Oftober, 1764, he was promoted to the rank of enftigne de va{ffeaii. A man of a lets adtive difpofition would have availed himfelf of the indulgence of the peace, but his ardour for the profeflion allowed him no repofe. To judge of his unwearied aiflivity, ft is fufHcient to fketch a flight pidurc of his naval life, from this epoch to 1777. He ferved ' ^ Jn 1 765, on board the flute I'Adour ; 1766, onboard the flute Ic Gave; 1 767, as commander of the flute I'AdoUr ; 1768, as commander of la Dorothce; 1769, as commander of le Bugalet; 1 77 1, on board la Belle-Poulc i 1772, Ibid. 1773/ •'774' commanding the flute la Seine ?-c Ie«i 1 775' >Deux-Amis, off the coail of Malabar ; i776» 1777. lieutenant from the 4thof April, 1777. In the year 1778 the war broke out again be- tween France and England; hofliJitics com- menced, the I', th of June, by an cnearcmcnt with la Belle-Poule. In X779, La Peroufe commanded L'Am.azone, one of the flilps in the fquadron of D'Eftain^^; Defirous of covering the defceni: of the troops, at the i'T I m i »;■■ ■ iitf. >■■•' , { MW 'IIP th© Iflaod of Grcn^, he ^fichored withk piftalr Hiot of an Englifh battery. During the battle ber tween this fquadron and that of admiral Byron, lie was fixed upon to carry the orders of the eom- mander in chief along the line. A^er this he look, on the coaft of New England, the Ariel frigate, and CQntrit?uted tq the c^^tujse qf thf Experiment. Being made a captain the 4th of April, 1780^ h(? commanded the frigate L'Aftrce, when, being oij a cruize with L'Hermione, commanded by captain La Touche, he fought anobftinate battle, on the 21(1 of July, with fix EngliH:! fhips of war, fix leagues from the North Cape of the Ille Royalc. Five of thefe fliips, the Allegiance, of twenty- four guns, the Vernon, of the fame force, the Charleflown, of twenty-eight, the Jack, of four- teen, and the Vulture, of twenty, formed a line to receive him ; the fixth, the Thompfon, of eighteen, remained out of gun (hot. The two frigates bore down together upon the enemy, under a crowd of fail ; it was feven o'clock, in the evening, when theyfired the firftftiot. They ranged along to leeward of the EngUfh line, iq Ofider to cut oiF their retreat. The Thompfon remained all the time to windward. The two frigates manceuvred with fo much fkiU, that they thrtw the little EnghCh fquadron into diforder i in about half an hour the Charlellown frigate, z com- ■■■■ m piftalr at tie ber Byron, he eonii- this he he Ariel ' of thp [780^ he eing oil -^captain , on the ■var, fix Royalc. twQnty- rce, the of four- 1 a line fon, of he two enemy, ock, in They line, iq Dmpfon he two at they ibrder i frigate, com- PRELIMINARY DISGOURSE. "^I Commodore, and the Jack, were forced to fur- render, and the three other veflels would have experienced the fame fate, if the night had not concealed them from the purfuit of the frigates. The following year the French government formed the projeifl of taking and dellroying the eflahlilhments of the Englilh in Hudlbn's Bay. La Peroufe appeared a proper officer to accom- plilli this troublefome million, in a dangerous ica ; he received his orders to quit Cape Frangois the 31(1 of May, 1782. He commanded the Sceptre, of 64 guns, and was followed by the two frigates L'Aftree and L*Engageantc, of 36 guns each, commanded by captains de Langle and La Jaille; the land forces on board tiiere fhips confided of two hundred and fifty infantry, forty artillery men, four field pieces, two moi'tars, and three hundred bombs. The 1 7th of July, he made Refolution Ifland i but no fooner had he penetrated twenty-f^ive leagues into Hudfon's Straits than he found his fhips entangled with ice, from whlcli ho received confiderable damage. The 30th, after having ftruggled incedantly sigainft obftacles of every kind, he made Cape Walfmgham, fituate in the moft wefteriy part of the Straits. In order to arrive Aocedily at Prince of Wales's Fort, which he had propoled fwft to attack, he had not a moment to lofe, the K m iff nsour M I f 'i' I. .."■* I-; "M .'V,. r m 'M-::' 32 fKELlMliTAKY DfSCOURSE. rigour cf the feafon obliging all vcfTcIs to quit this fca at the beginning of September; but no fooner had thfcy entered Hudfon's Ba)s than they niet with thick fogs : and on the 3d of Anguft, it the firft: clearing up of the weather, he found himfelf furroundcd with ice as far as he could fee, which obliged him to lie to. Neverthelefs he over- came thefc obllaclcs, and on the Sth^ in the even- ing, having difcovered the flag on Prince of Wales's Fort, the French fhip^s ran by their lead within a leainie and a half of it, and anchored in eighteen fathom water, muddy ground. An oliicer, font to reconnoVitrc the approaches to the fort, brought word, tliat the ihips might bring up, with their guns to bear on it, at a very little difuuice. La Peroufe, making no doubt, that the Sceptre alone could eafily reduce the enemy Ihould they refift, prepared for efFcifl- ing a defcent during the night. Although counterafted by the tide and the darknefs, the boats unoppofed approached within three quarters of a league of the fort. La Pevoufe, feeing no di pofition for defence, although the fort ap- peared to him capable of a vigorous one, fent a iummons to the enemy j the gates were opened; the governor and g-.rrubn furrcndered at dii- cret^'on. This part of his orders being executed, he failed the nth of Augail for Fort- York i he expe- rienced I ^1 il^ M ^'^lilc to quit but na an they Aiigiifl, i found uld fee, be ovcr- le cven- incc of eir lead iored in I. An s to the t bring a very doubt, CO the efFcd- : hough s, the uarters ing no It ap- fent a Dened ; It dif- s failed expe- •icnced ^,^ PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 3^ rienccd Rill grcatL*r difficulties tu get there, than any he hatl yet met vvitii in this cx])cdition ; he ran, in fix or fevcn fathom water, along a coafl fcattcrcd over with rock^j. Alier having run the greatcfl riiks, the Sceptre and the two frigates difcovered the entrance of Nclfon's River, and anchored, the cothof Auguil, about live leagues from land. La Peroufe had taken three decked bovits at Prince of Wales's Fort; he feat them with the Sce])tre's yawl to gain information of Hayes's kiver, near which Fort York is filuated. The 2i{ldf Auguft, the troops embarked in the boats ; and La Peroufe, having nothing to fear from the enemy by fea, thought proper to fuper- intend their debarkatiork. Hayes's Ifland, on which flood Fort York, is fituate at the mouth of a great river, which it divides into two branches j that which pafies be- fore tlie fort, is called Hayes's River, and die other Nelfon's River. The French commander knew, that all the means of defence were erect- ed upon the firll ; there was befides one ot the Hudlbn's Bay Company's veiiels, carrying rwenty-fivc nine pounders, anchored at the mouth. He refolved to pufli up by Nelfon's River, iilthough his troops had on this fide to march :^bout four leagues j but he obtained the advan- tage of rendering the batterie?, which were placed upon Hayes's River, ulelefs. Vol. I. I) Thcv {\ I f 1 41 iii i4 ■ 'h ■ '> hi :^fdi "f:\ 34 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. They arrived the 2ifl, in the evening, at the mouth of Nelfon's River, with two hundred and fifty men, with the mortars and guns, andprovi- fion for eight days, in order not to be compelled to have recourfe to the fhips, with which it was dif- ficult to communicate. La Peroufe gave orders for the boats to anchor in three fathom, at the entrance of the river, and he advanced in his boat, with De Langle, the fecond in the ex- pedition, Roftaing, the commander of the troops, and Monneron, the captain of engineers, in order to found the river, and infpedl its banks, where it was feared the enemy might have raifed fome works of defence. They difcovered, that the bank was not of eafy accels ; the fmallefl boats could only get within two hundred yards of it, and that the in- tervening ground was a foft mud. He then thought it proper to wait for day, and remain at anchor : but the ebb running out much fafter than they had expedted, the boats were dif- covered to be aground at three o'clock in the morning. Exafperated rather than difcouragcd by this accident the troops debarked, and, after having walked near a mile up to the mid-leg in mud, they arrived in a meadow, where they drew up in order of battle ; thence they marched towards a wood, where they expedcd to find a dry path which ;, at the Ted and id provi- pelled to was dif- 'c orders , at the d in his the ex- of the ngineersj fpeft its ly might 5 not of only get it the in- He then emain at ch fafter were dif* k in the by this :cr having in mud, rew up in towards a dry path which PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. ^^3' which mij^ht lead them towards the Fort. None was found, and the whole day was employed in fceking for that which did not exift. La Peroufe ordered Monncron, the captain of engineers to trace out one, by the compafs» through the middle of the wood. This difficult labour being executed, ferved only to make it evident, that there were two leagues of marChy ground to crofs, in doing which the troops would often fink up to the knees. A Ivard gale of wind coming on, in the night, obliged the anxious Peroufe to rejoin his fliips. He reached the fea fide with all hafle; but the llorm continuing, he could not get aboard. The next morning he took advantage of a lull, and found means to get on board an hour before a fecond gale. An officer, who fet off at the fame time, was wrecked, but, together with the crew, had the good fortune to get on Ihore ; yet he was unable to return on board in lefs than three days, naked and almofl: dead with hunger. The Engageante and the Aflree loft two anchors each in the fecond gale. However, the troops arrived before the fort the 24th in the morning, after a very fatiguing; march, and it furrendered at the firfl: fummons. La Peroufe caufed the fort to be demoliflicd, and gave orders to the troops to re-embark without delay. 0 2 Till 'H «»i ', ( rf/i '^1 ,^lil I m liiiii!"/ 36 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSK. This lafl order was fruftratcd by another flrong gale of wind, which cx]X)fcd the Engageante to imminent danger; her tliird anchor broke, as well as the tiller, and her long-boat was loft. The Sceptre loft alfo her long-boat, yawl, and anchor. At length the fine weather returned, and the troops re-embarked. La Peroufe having the go- vernors of Prince of Wales and York Forts on board, fet fail, in order to quit a coaft aban- doned to ice and tempcfts, where his military fuccefs, though unoppofed by the flightefl re- Cftance, yet neverthelefs had been preceded by fo many difficulties, fatigues, and dangefs. If La Peroufe, as a military man, were obliged, in conformity with rigorous orders, to deftroy the pofleflions of his enemies, he did not forget, at the fame time, the refped that was due to mis- fortune. Having known, that at his approach the Englifli had fled into the woods, and that his departure, on account of the deftruftion of their fettlements, would expofe them to die with hun- ger, or fall defencelefs into the hands of the fa- vages, he had the humanity to leave them pro- vifion and arms. Can there be, on this fubjen of the required, i cofl me : this mo- rument of nemory a ters from France^ )eing ex- occupied e unable the fate rs. The accounts aflembly, roufe's let.- 88. by PRELIMI5?ARY mSCOURSE. 43 by means of the members of the focitity of na- tural hiftory. *' During two years," faid they, •' France has " in vain expeded the return of M. Dc f.a P6- ** roufe; and thofe who intereft themlclves in ** his perfon, and in his difcoveries, have no " knowledge of his fate. Alas ! their appre* " henfions are perhaps more frightful than his " adtual fufferings ; and probably he has only •* efcaped death, to be delivered up to the con- ** tinued torments, of a hope, always renewed, " and always difappointed ; perhaps he has been " caft away upon fome one of thofe illands of " the South Sea, whence he flrctches out his arms ** towards his country, and fruitiefsly expects a " deliverer. " It is not for objects frivolous ifi their nature, " for his own advantage, that M. De La Peroufe has braved dangers of every kind : the gene- rous nation, which was to gather the fruit of his toils, owes him alfo its intereft and irs fuc- cour. " Already have wc learned the lofs of feveral of his companions, fwallowcd up by the wavc^, or malTacred by the favages : cherifli the little hope, which remains of gathering together thofe of our brothers, who may have clcaped <* the fury of the billows, or the rage of can- *' nibalsj let tjicrn return to pur fliore^, though *' they 4( <( tc << <( (( <( « m III ill. '.' ., pi i:o%% \; !Vi ■r'fv i|; „ , 'f'f'il i' :-„'* 44 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. ^* they fhould die with joy at feeing their country ^' free." The rcqueft of the focicty of natural hiftorj', received with the mofl lively intereft, was followe4 up by a law, ordering two frigates to be imnicdir atcly fitted out in fearch of La Peroufe. The reafons upon which the decree was found* ed, even the wording of the report, evinced what a tender and afFedling concern our navigators had infpired ; and the eagernefs with which, in the de- fire of recovering them, the firll glimpfe of hopp was entertained, without thinking of the great facrifices the purfuit required. '* For a long while our ardent wifiies have ** called for M. De La Peroufe, and the compa- *' nions of his glorious, but too probably unfor* " tunate voyage. ** The fociety of naturalifls of this capital is *' come to tear the veil, which you were afraid to ** raifcj the grief of which it has given the ex- " ample is become univerfal, and you appeared ** to receive with tranfport the idea which it fug- " geftcd of fending out veflels in fearch of M. Dc " La Peroufe, " You have ordered your committees of ma~ " rlnc, of agriculture, and of commerce, to prc- « a « font to you their thoughts upon this intcrefling fubjcvft : the fentimcnt which appeared to ao**. our opinion. ^ imcn tuate you has alfo didatcd <( <.i m <. • country hiftorj', followe4 immcdir iS found- ced what ttors had 1 the dc- of hopQ he great les have compa- y unfor* zapital is afraid to the ex- ippearec^ 1 it fijg- )f M. Dc of ma- to pre- tcrefling to acv. \ PAELIMINARY DISCOURSE^ 4^ *• We have hardly the confolation to doubt *' that M. De La Peroufe has experienced fome ** great misfortune. ** We cannot reafonably hope, that his vefTels *' at this moment plough the furface of the feas : ** either this navigator and his companions arc no " more ; or elfe, thrown upon fome frightful ** (horc, loll in the immenfity of unknown feas, *' and confined in the extremities of the world, ** they perhaps ftruggle againft the climate, " againft wild beafts, a linfr. men, againft nature* " and call their country to their aid, which can " only form a guefs concerning their mifery. *' Poffibly they have been thrown upon fome un- " explored unknown coaft, upon fome barren " rock ; there, if they have met with a hof- " pitable people, they yet live, and implore yOur " afiiftance ; or if they have only met with A ■' defert, perhaps wild fruits, (hell fifli, fuftaiii " their exiftence: fixed to the fliore, their *' looks lofe thcmiclves in diftance upon the fea^ " in endeavouring to difcover the happy lails, *' which might reftore tiiem to France, to their *' relations, to their friends. " Compelled to catch at an idea, which is *' perhaps only a confoling error, you arc de- firous without doubt as v/e are to })rcfer this conjcdlurc to the hopelefs idea of their total !ofs : it is that which the fociety of naturalifts '' 01 M it «• *' 1 ii ■ •'' i I 1 '-! 'V . 1 . ' *,' I :■: J. 1 ill '^i I ']( >^'. 'i\ ■'h-uiii'U, -t'/lf '•■!" ■■■' #"' ,U. '. .,111 ■■ hi m .1 ■/,«:' ' 46 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. *' of Piis came to prcfcnt to you j it is^hat '' whicli M. Dc La Bordebad offered to every feel- " ing heart, in a memoir to the academy of " fcicnccs. ** But if this idea touch you, if it ftrike " you, you cannot henceforward give yourfelves " up to an impotent regret ; humanity demands *' of us to fly to the afTiftance of our brethren. " A'as ! where look for them ? Whom (hall wc " alk concerning their condition ? Can we ex- *' plore all the coafls of a fea almoft unknown ? " Can we touch at all the iflands of thofe im- " menfe archipelagoes, which offer fo many dan- " gers to navigators ? Can all the gulfs be exa- " mined, all the bays penetrated ? And even if " we Ihould be fortunate enough to touch at the " illand which conceals them, may we not even " then, perhaps, fail to dilcover them ? " Without doubt the difficulties are great, fuc- " cefs is Icarcely to be expe<5led : but the motive for the enterprize is powerful ; it is poffible, that our brothers may yet be alive, we may yet re- *' ftore them to their country ^ and hence we are " not permitted to reject the temptation of a re- " fearch, which cannot but do us honour. It is " our duty to (how this concern for men, who " have thus devoted themfelves ; we owe it to ** the fciences, which await the fruits of their re- " fearch ; and that which ought to increafe this <« u i( concern i it is^hat every feel- ad c my of it {Irike yourfelves ' demands •ethren. n (hall we n we ex- nknown ? thofe im- lany dan- is be exa- id even if ich at the not even reat, fuc- le motive ible, that y yet re- ce we are 1 of a re- |ur. It is len, who Dwe it to their re- rcafe this concern PRELIMINARY DISCOURSK. 47 concern Is, that M. De La Pcroufc was not one of thofe adventurers, who catch at great enter- prizes, wb.ether for the purpofc of advancing their charaders or fortune; he was not even ambitious of commanding the expedition en- trudcd to him, he wilhed to have been able to decline it ; and even wlien lie accepted the command, his friends knew he did but rellgn himielf. Happily we know the courte, tiiat it; is neceiTary to follow in fo painful a rcfearch ; happily we can put into the hands of tiiofe, who are to be charged with this affecling mif- fion, the clue of the perilous labyrinth. " The propofal of a fearch, which humanity commands, cannot be brought to this tribune to be combated by parhmony, or difcufled by cool reafon, when it ought to be judged by fentiment. ** This expedition will be the moft glorious re- cort'penfe to M.De La Perouie, or to his me- mory, with which you can honour his labours, his facrificcs, or his misfortunes. " By ads like thefc a nation is illullraied; and the fentimcnts of humanity which prompt tlicm, will charaderizc our age. It is no longer for the purpofe of invafion and ravage, that the European penetrates into the moft diflant lati- tudes, but to carry thicher enjoyments and be- nefits ; no longer to fteal away the corrupting " mctais. i ''if .. ' ',•3 I1 %'M ■n \ i I r ■ 1 "'/("■ifflji!,, /■'i 48 Preliminary discourse. " metals, but to obtain thofe ufcful vegetables, •' which may render the life of man more com- " fortable and eafy. In ihort, there will be (cen, •* and lavage nations will not behold it unmoved, " there will be feen, at the extremities of the *' world, pious navigators, inquiring with concern " about the fate of their brothers, of men and of " deferts, of caves, of rocks, and even of barren *' fands : there will be feen on the moii treacherous " feas, i/i the windings of the moil dangerous " archipelagoes around all thofc iflands peopled by *' cannibals, men wandering in fearch of other " men to throw themfelves into their arms, to fuc- " couraid to fav^'* them." TIi: fiiips lent out in fearch of La Pcroufe had fcarcciy failed, wht^n a rumour was fpread, that a Dutch capt-ain, pacing by the Admiralty iflands to the weft of New Ireland, perceived a canoe-, containing natives of that place, who appeared to him to be clothed in the unitorm of the French iiavy. General d'iLntrccafteaux, who commanded this *^«MtMa«<» tWf «, to fuc- )ure had ad, that y illands canoe-, ipp eared : Frencli ided this ofGood t ; not • Lcnticity a fingle oute to ng been ,s fearch io I % .^ PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 4^ in the order prcfcribed by his inftrudions, and completely fulfilled them all* without being able to obtain the fmalleft information, or acquire any thing like probability concerning the fate of our unfortunate navigator. There were various conjedurcs in t'rance as to the caufe of his lofs : fome perfons, unacquainted with the track he had to fblloW from Botany Bay, which is traced in his laft letter, have advanced, that his (hips had been caught in the ice, and that La Peroufc, and all his compa- nions, had pcrifhed by the mod horrible of deaths i others have given out, that during his paflage to the IJle de France^ towards the end of 1788, he had been the vidim of that violent hurricane, which proved fo fatal to the Venus fri- gate, which was never heard of afterwards, and which totally difmaftcd the Refolution frigate. Although we cannot deny the aflertion of thcfe lad perfons, we ought not on the other hand to admit it without proof* If this be not true^ La Peroufe has mofl likely periflied by ftrcfs of weather on one of then umberlefs reefs of rocks, with which the archipelagoes, that he had ftill to explore, have been actually found by General d'Entrecaftcaux to abound. The manner in which the two frigates have alsyays failed, being conftantly within hail of each other, would have involved both of them in the famdvfate; they would have experi- . 11 m *4. I' ■ "*' g Vol. I. £ exiced 'wf ;^'(a 1 ; >*: . '^% •"/^'t ■♦.'"!'' li .L:l :l. I 5^ PRTILIMIKARY DISCOURSE OF cncctl the misfortune which they fo narrowly ef- caped on the 6th of Nov. 1786, and would have foundered before they could reach any land. The only hope which could remain would be, that thoy had been wrecked upon the coafts of fome unin- habited ifland ; in this cafe, perhaps, a few indi- viduals may ftill exift upon one of the innu- merable iflands of thcTc archipelagoes. At a diftance from every ufual courfe they might have been overlooked in the fearch, and might only be able to fee their country again by the acci- dental arrival of fome vcflcl, all means of build- ing one being probably wanting. We neverthclcfs cannot but obferve, that the lavages make very long runs in fimple canoes ; and we may judge, by the infpedlion of the chart, that if the fliip had been loft on a dcfert ifland, or one inhabited by favages, who had fpared the re- mainder of the crews, they would have been able, in the courle of nine years, to arrive, by degrees, in ;i country, whence Ibme tidings of them might have been received ; for it isprobablCj that they would have attempted every thing, to get out of a ftatc of arixiety and folitude worfe than death. If then wc "be not bereft of all hope, at Icaft that which remains is very feeble. A navigator has r.iilrtcd, that he had feen figns of the wreck of La PiTOufc; the reader may judge of the confidence that he merits, by his depofition, t^'hich I (hall quote 2. literally. Dwly ef- Id have J. The iiat they e unin- 2W indi- e innu- At a rht have Tht only [he acci- ►f build- that the canoes ; he chart> fland, or the rc- en able. Trees, in might lat they et out of in death, caft that ator has :k of La )nfidence all quote literally. n 'M M ■ it i PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 5 I liLeraily, without any other obfervation than com- paring the author with himfclf, and placing hi* (loiy by the lide of Bougainville's relation. Extract from the minuter of the jujUce of peace of the town and eommune of Morlaix. " George Bowen, captain of the fliip Albemarle, bound from Bombay to London, and carried into Morlaix, being examined whether he had had any information concerning La Peroufe, who failed from France on a voyage round the world, an- fwered, that in December, 1791, he himfelf per- ceived, on his return from Port Jackfon to Bombay, upon the coaft of New Georgia*, in the eaftern ocean, pieces of the wreck of a fliip floating upon the water-)-, and which he judged to be or French conftrudion; that he had not been on fliore, but that the natives of the countiy came on board him ; that he could not underftand their language, but by their figns he had comprehended, that a • Reconnoitred by Shortland, lieutenant in the Englifh ravy, in 1788; but partly difcovered by Bougainville, cap- tain in the French navy, in 1768, and ftill more by Survillc, captain of a Ihip in the India Company's fervice, who callad it the land of the Arfacides. (Ft: Ed.) f La Peroufe could only have been loft in 1788. I leave thofe who know the eiFefls of waves of the fea upon a velTel wrecked, to judge whether tiefe pieces of wreck could be ftill floating upon the water at the end of ..December, 1791. — (Fr. Ed.) \ £ % fhip ■^;^. .''1 1 h I. laS \.\. ■■'iHtlii'' i "H tl I'RLLIMINARY DlbCOURSE. ^lip had touched on their coafts j that the natives knew the ufc of many implements of iron, concern- ing which they were very curious j and that he had exchanged with them feveral articles of iron and glais ware, for bows ; that with refpcd to the cha- ra'^er of thefe Indians , they appeared to him paci- fic*, and better informed than the inhabitants of Gtaheite, fmce they had a pcrfetfl knowledge of works in iron, and their canoes were built in a fuperior manner ; that when the natives were on board his (hip, he had not yet difcovcrcd the wreck in qucftion, and that failing along the coaft, he perceived it by the help of a great fire lighted upon the land near the middle of the night-j- of the 30th December, 1791; that without this fire he had probably run upon the rocks of Cape Deception. The deponent declares, that in all tliis quarter of the coaft of New Georgia he remarked a great number of huts or cabins ; that thefe Indians were of a robuft flature, and of a mild difpofition. ''4 I U ::!!(' ".I.I •?1' ''I .J(!lv: :|M|>.i||l m • Thefe Indians, characlerized as pacific, attacked the boats Bougainville had fent on fhore to fetch water, as foon as thry had entered Choifeul Bay. ("Fy. Ed.) f It is undoubtedly furpri'ieces of e part of umftances- flze, and ceived at Fr. Ed.) whence Mi •1 •Y. PRF.LIMINARY DISCOURSE. f^ whence he prcfumcs, that if M. De La Poroufc or any of his crew be on fliorc there, dicy may ftill be alive* \ and that lie knows, that all the fhip-; which have navigated thefe coalls arethofc of Bou- gainville— the Alexander — the Fricndlhip, of Lon- don— iM. De La Poroufe — and the deponent ; that in con!b([uencc he prcrumcd the pieces of wreck to be the remains of M. De La Peroufe's (hip-f- ; fincc the Alexander foundered in the Straits of Macafler, and the Friendlhip arrived fafe in an Englilh port. On being afked whether he had feen any clothes upon the natives which denoted them to have had communication with Europeans, he anlwered, that the people were naked ; that the climate is ver}' hot ; and that by tlveir figns he difcovcred, that they had previoufly feen fliips ; that he perceived in the polieflion of thefe Indians fifhing nets, the threads oi whicli were flax, and the me/hes of European manufacture;]; ; that out • Bougainville, oblrgej to repel by force the aittack c^'i thefe Indians, poffefiied himfelf of two of their cauoes, in which he found, among other thing?, the jaw of a maji half broiled, an evident proof that they were cannibals. (Fr. E;i ) t The Englifh captain ceafes to give it a« a certainty^ that the pieces of wreck he perceived were the remains of J.a Peroufe's ftiip ; it now becomes fimply a prefumption.— (Fr. Ed.) \ Bougainville found in the canoes which fell into hi^ h.'inJs, nets with very fine meflies, fkilfujiy woven ; it is pro- bable, that the perfeftion of their c.^ntbiiaion Iri Ciptairi i»j ''Pi % Jjbwen into a midake. (Fr. EJ.) oX J* ft ■fit ■; ;'M« m I i \': . ■|: T d' ■■ , k i ■ 'i' ?: : ''< ■ J!" i) 4 j ' i 1 ri li 54 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE OF of curiofity he took a piece of it, from which it would be eafy to difcover that the materials and the workmanfhip were European.** Such is at this time the only information we are in pofleffion of concerning the fate of our naviga- tor. The public indications ftill in exiftence of the track he followed, and of the places he examined, are the medals flruck on occafion of his voyage, and left or diflributed by La Peroufe during the courfe of it. He took out with him about a hundred offilverand bronze, and fix hundred others of different kinds. As we know the route which he had ftill to perform, thefe medals may one day point out to us nearly in what fpot his misfortune interrupted it. The medal relative to the voyage, becoming an hiftorical monument, and being liable to be found again one day by other navigators, I cannot refrain from making it known, though I have not thought proper to have it engraved ; on one fide is the effigy of the king with the common infcription ; the reverfe bears the following infcription encircled by two brandies of olive tied together by a rib- band : — Les Fregate! liu roi de France, la Boujfole et V Ajlrolahe, com' mandies par M. M. De La Peroufe et Dc Langky parties (itt Port de Brejl en Juin 1785. THe King of France's frigates the Bouflble and Aftrolabe^ commanded by De La Peroufe and De Langle, failed from tj^e port of Brrft, in June; 178;. Sq which it erials and )n we are ir naviga- iftence of places he cafion of a Peroufe out with e, and fix we know rm, thefe y in what sming an be found ot refrain thought e is the cription ; encircled a rib- olabe, com' parties dt/i Aftrolabe^ ailed from So PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 5^ So many precautions taken for the fuccefs of a great expedition, the expcncc it occafions, and the troubles and the evils it draws after it, will occafion many prejudiced and fyitematlc perfons to doubt whether thelc pains and cares be compenfatcd by the reciprocal utility, which mankind find in voyages of diicovery.— Although I might queftion ^he utility of introduc- ing domedic animals, and a few farinaceous plants among favages, compared with the evils whicJi refult to them, from the falfe or fuperficial notions that our principles fugged to tJiem, and from the fudden communication of our uianners and our cuftoms ; I fay, that after having given them de- tached notions, which they know not how either to extend or to apply, vegetables and animals which they neither preferve nor perpetuate, then to leave them to themielves, is to give them the knowledge and defire of gratifications which the^' cannot procure, and thereby to promote their ui.i- happinefs: but toraife them by degrees with tbj view to civilize them, to make orderly colonii;^ before we make a poUlhed people of them, and not to give them new ^yants and new ways of acling, without the means of providing for the one, and beneficially ferving themfelves by the other i is to prepare and to fecure to their pofterity the happ^. fruits of the expanfion of the human faculties. If we, as well as they, may fuffer fonie incoa v<.mienccs from our communicatious with them, E 4 V hrr I I, , 't»^j I 1 ■■■A '. HI 1 > \ .,. „., •^ i'"W "'!-i>iii i:"l ' 'k (iii ■ ■.,'t I 1 '•h\ M. 'III ,*i /li;. ^li 56 PRELTMINARY DISCOURSE. when our refpeftive fituations are fo different, yet the great advantages that the arts and fciences re- ceive from voyages of difcovery, cannot reafonably be contefted. It is the nature of civilized man to enlarge the fphere of his knowledge and enjoy- ments, by the advance of his undcrflanding and the enlargement of his defires. The navigator, as he proceeds, difcovers new and ufeful produ(5i:ions ; determines the fituat ion of different places, thus giving fccurity to his own route and th^t of others; learns to judge his fellow-creatures by a greater number of comparifons ; and every pro- greflive movement he makes is a ftep towards the knowledge of man and of nature. It is grand, it is beautiful, to incur expences, and to run rifks, for the wants of fociety at large, and the growth of true riches. If fome philofophers have difapproved of voyages in general, becaufe expeditions undertaken with ambitious and interefted views have been followed by afts of barbarity, it is becaufe thefe have been confounded with voyages of difcovery, which have had for their objed to carry benefits to our fel- low creatures, and to enlarge the field of fcience, Thefe benefits, we Ihall perhaps be told, are the price of their blood j becaufe they cannot be kept within bounds, without employing againfl them a force, which, becoming deftru^live to the naviga- tors themfelves, occafions a double crime in the -yes of philofophy and of pat^ir?. Let irent, yet ences re- safonably 3 man to d enjoy- iing and igator, as lu(5tions ; :es, thus . th^t of tures by irery pro- ^ards the grand, it un rilks, rowth of f PRELIMINARV DISCOURSE, 57 Let us confult the navigators known by their moderation •, their accounts prove to us, that, by employing the means which prudence diftates, it is cafy to reftrain the favagcs by the mere difplay offeree : quickly attached by benefits to naviga- tors whom they relpccl, they are fufceptible of gratitude, and confequently of every other fenti- nient. We mud, however, do juftice to the motive which has mifled thefe philolbphers : this refpec- table motive is humanity; we ought therefore to he of one opinion henceforward, from the condu(ft of our navigator?, feeing their extreme care and caution for the life of favages, who deflroy each other upon the ilight^ft pretexts ; the ferocity of thefe laft foftened by civilization ; and the im- menfe oviantity of blood fpared by the abolitioa of hu nrn facrifices, fo revolting, and fo gene- rally {p*^ac throughput favage nations. * .' si VOYAGE «^_ .11 . ■ ' ■1 1 1 ! j i\ , ' 1 Wf% : »< 1 , !|ii'^ ,t' (1 •f ' «> ' . 4 VO Y AGE ROUND THE WORLD, IN THE YEARS 17S5, I7S6, I7S7, AND IjSS. Dccrei" of the Xafional JJJifnb/u, vf the Qth 0/ Fi'bruan/, 1791. THE National Aflembly, after hnvino; heard its united committees ot agriculture, t>£ commerce, and of marine, decrees. That the King be entreated to give orders to aU amballadors, refidents, confuls, and national agent*, at the courts of foreign powers, that they may en^asce thufe different fovereii^ns, in the name of humanity, and of the arts and fciences, to charge all navigators and agents whatfoever, their fub- jeds, in whatever place they may be, but efpe- cially in the foutherly part of the South Sea, to make inquiry after the two French frigates Lu Bouffhle and VAjtrolabe, commanded by M. De La Peroufe, as well as after their crews, and to ob- tain every information, which may afcertain their exifbence or their fhipwreck ; fo that in cafe M. De La Peroufe and his companions fhould be found, AO matter in wliat place, there be given to them every ' • i\\ 41 v.lil m M i I 'I :m % 4'- i» .:i! :fr^ iiff ■'!« ,;i-i Jlir (O lA PEROUSE's VOYAGE every affifbincc, and all means procured for them, that they maybe enabled to return to their country with whatever may belong to them ; the National Affcmbly engaging to indemnify, and even to re- compenfe, according to the importance of the fervice, whomfoever Ihall lend them fuccour, obtain news concerning them, or only reftorc to France whatfoever papers and other effefts may have belonged to thefe navigators in their expedi- tion. It is further decreed, that the King be entreated to direct, that one or more veflels be equipped, and fcveral learjied and experienced perfons, natu- ralifts, and draughtfmen embarked therein, to the commanders of which may be given in charge tlie double miflion, to fearch after M. De La Peroufe, according to the documents, inftrudlions, and or- ders, that (hall be given to them, and alfo at the lame time to make inquiries relative to the fcienccs and to commerce, taking every meafure inde- pendantly of the purfuit after M, De La Peroufe, and even after having met with him, or obtained news concerning him, to render this expedition ufeful and advantageous to navigation, to geogra- phy, to commerce, and to the arts and fcicnces. Compared with the original, by us PreAdent and Secre- taries of the National Affembly. (Signed) DUPORT, Prefident. LIORE, } Secretaries BOUSSION, j i>ecretaries. Paris, 24.th February, 1791. Decree W M ROUND THE WORLD, 6l )r them, country 'J'ational n to re- of the fuccour, ' rcftorc ;fts may cxpedi- ntreated :juipped, IS, natu- re, to the large tlie Peroufe, and or- fo at the fcienccs re inde- Peroufe, btained pedition geogra- lences. nd Secre- ^refident. ;tarles. Decree m Decree of the Xational AffemhUf, of the iid of April, 1791. The National Aflembly decrees, that the ac- counts and charts lent by M. De La Peroufe, ot that part of his voyage as far as Botany Bay, fnall l.c printed and engraved at the expence of the nation, and that this expence Ihall be defrayed out of the fund of two millions, ordered by the 14th article of the decree of the 3d of Augufl^ 179°' Decrees, that as foon as the edition Ihall be completed, and that as many copies are taken from them as the King would like to difpofe of, the furplus fliall be fent to Mad. De La Peroule, with a copy of the Decree, as a teftimony of their fatisfadlion for the exertions of M. De La Peroufe for the public welfare, and for the incrcafc of human knowledge and ufeful difcover}\ Decrees, that M. De La Peroufe Ihall remain on the lift of naval commiflioned officers until the return of the (hips in fearch of him ; and that his pay (hall continue to be received by his wife, according to the difpofition that he had made be- fore his departure. Compared with the original, by us PreHdent and Secre- taries of the National Aflembly. (Signed) REUBELL, Prefident. GOUPIL-PREFELN, "\ MOUGINS-ROQUEFORT, ^'Secretaries. ROGER, ) Paris, 25th April, j-91. NOTE !" r,:\ 1 ' j'»l I .. ^! 62 lA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE NOTE OF THE KING, I 111 ■■■/l\ rJli ''.'■ *(•' '■ ,.4 ■I ■', ;,; J ■ii Wnl li "1 |l3f .'U I in;' T*? fcrvc as a particula?' injiruction to the Sieur De La Pcroufe, captain of the navy^ com- mandhig the frigates La Boufi'ole and VAJtro- lahe. (26 JUNE, 1785.) HIS Majefty having caufed to be cquipp'ed, at the port of Breft, the frigates La Bouflble, com- manded by the Sieur De La Pcroufe, and L'Af- trolabe, by the Sieur D L angle, captains of the navy, to be employed in a voyage of difcovery, is about to make known to the Sieur De La Pe- roufe, to whom he has given the command in chief of thefe two vefTels, the fervice he will have to perform, in the important expedition, which ho has confided to his care. The different objeds which his Majefty has had in view in commanding this voyage, have ren- dered it nccclfary, that the prefent inftrudion fhould be divided, into feveral parts, in order that it may explain more clearly to the Sieur De La Pe- roufc the particular intentions of his Majefty, upon every one of the objedls that will engage his at- tention. The firft part will contain the route or plan of his voyage, according to the order of the difcove- ries it is rn contemplation to make or to carry to perfedion ; tiXi'i"ii'"f' I '!■' riMsMVt •»'>-' 1 i j • ?1 '^1 'I ROUND THE WORLD. 6^ perre<5lion ; and there will be joined to it a collec- tion of geographical and hiftorical notes, which may guide him in the various inquiries, to which he will devote himfclf. The fecond part will treat of the objeds relating to policy and to commerce. The third will explain the operations relative to aflronomy, to geography, to navigation, to natu- ral philofophy, and to the different branches of natural hiftory, and will regulate the labours of the aftronomers, natural philofophers, naturalifts, fcientific perfons, and artifts employed in the ex- pedition. The fourth part will prefcribe to the Sieur De La Peroufe, the condudl it will be ncceflary for him to purfue, with the favage people and the natives of the different countries which he will have op- portunities of difcovering or vifiting. The fifth and laft will point out to him the pre- cautions he will be required to take, to prefervc the health of his crews. FIRST PART. Plan of the Voyage. The Sieur De La Peroufe will fail from Breft Road, as fpon as every preparation fliall have been made. : He :9 1 'nil ■'",,, Ml i;n; ' I-l '!■ I M' I it 64 LA I>EROrSE*S VOYAGE- He will touch fucceffively at Funchal, in the ifland of Madeira; and atPraya, in that of St. Jago. He will provide himfclf with fome caflcs of wine in the firft port, and complete his water and wood in the laft, where he may alfo procure himfelf fomc refre(hments. He will obferve, how- everi with regard to Praya, that he ought to make the fhorteft poflible (lay there, bccaufe the climate is very unhealthy at the feafon when he will reach it. He will crofs the line in the 29th or 3Cth de- gree of weft longitude from the meridian of Paris ; and if the wind fliould permit him, he will try to reconnoitre Penned© de fan Pedro f/cc note z) and to afcertain its pofition. He will examine the iiland of Trinidad, (noles 10 & 11) will anchor there, and may wood and water, as well as fulfil there a particular objed of. bis inftru(fVions. In leaving this ifland he will run into the lati* tude of Ijle Grande de la Roche (note 1 9^ i he will follow the parallels of 44° and 45° to 50 de- grees of longitude, in 35 degrees of weft longi- tude, and he will give up the fearch of this ifland if he have not met with it when he fliall have reached that meridian. If he fhould prefer mak- ing it from the weftward, he will neverthelefs keep between the above-mentioned meridians. He will run afterwards into the latitude of Terre de la llochCy called by Cook the IJland ff^t-»l«F>03g*^l*WiW**T'4.*^^-M>tf-i*fcri- .. in i\\c of St. ; caflts i water :)rocure ;, how- jght to .ufe the hen he oth dc- f Paris ; ;vill try tiote zj 1 le lati- ^J } he 5ode- longi" s ifland have r mak- fs keep tude of IJland of ROUND tHF. V/ORLDi 6^ of GfO}\s;iai m the f;4th degree of fouth latitude. He will make the north well; end of it, and will particularly examine the fouthcru coafl, which has not yet been vlfitcd* Thence he will look out for Sandwich Land^ (note 2i) in about 57 degrees fouth latitude: he will obferve, that captain Cook could only in- i])ecl fome points on the weft fide of this land, and that the extent of it towards the eaft and to the fouth is unknown. He will examine particu- larly the eaft coaft., in order afterwards to run dovvn the fouth fide, and double that end of it, if the ice do not oppofe an invincible obftaclc to his purfuits. When he is aflured of the extent of this land to the eaft and the fouth, he will fliape his courfe to make Sfaten Landy double Cape Horn, and an- chor in Chriftmas Sound, on the fouth-weft coaft of Terra del Fucgo, where he will provide himfelf with wood and water; but if he finds it toodif- cult to beat to the weft ward, by realbn of the winds which ufually prevail in this part, and the currents which fometimes run ftrong to the caft'^ ward, he will ftand for the coaft of Brazil in the latitude he can beft make it ; run along this land with variable wdnds or land breezes, and may even touch at Falkland's Illands, which offer refources of different kinds. He will afterwards pais Strait le MairCi or double the eaft end of Staten Land to Vol J, F rsach * rV. i'1 #t '.'1 * r -f 'i ■m ^^ "'r'»!ri i I "' I Jl ":'r. «i l^ ly .' ,:J| III lis J"' ■I' 60 LA PliROUSh S VOYACK reach Chrillmas Sound, which, in any cafe, muft be the firft rendezvous of his Majefl:y*s (hips in cafe of feparatioii. In quitting Chridnias Sound he will fliapc his courfe fo as to pafs the meridian of 85 deg. weft, in the latitude of 57 degrees fouth, and he will keep in this parallel to 95 degrees of longitude, to look for Drake's Port and Ifland fnofe 23^. He will afterwards crofs the meridian of 105 deg. in the parallel of 38 dcg., in which he will keep to 1 15 deg. of longitude, endeavouring to find an ifland faid to be difcovered by the Spaniards, in 1714 fiiotc 25^, in 38 deg. of latitude, between the 108th and iioth meridian. After this fearch, he will get into the latitude of 27** 5' upon the meridian of 108 degrees weft, to look in this parallel for Eajler JJland, fituate in 112** 8' of longitude. He will anchor there to fulfil the particular objeft, which will be prefcribed in the fecond part of the prefent inftrudions. From this ifland he will return to the latitude of 32 deg. on the meridian of 1 20 deg. weft, and he will keep In that parallel to 135 deg. of longi- tude, to find land feen by the Spaniards in 1773 (note 27/ At this point of 135 dcg. of longitude, and 320! latitude, the two frigates are to part company. — The firft will ftand on to the intermediate paral- lel between 1 6 and 1 7 deg. , and ivill keep in it from thr c, mufb (hips in lapc his g. weft, 1 he will tude, to of 105 A'ill keep 3 find an iards, in between .titude of weft, to ituate in :here to efcribed t)ns. latitude t, and he )f longi- in 1773 id 32 ot [pany. — [c paral- it from thr i'>,y ROUN» THF. W0HLI>. C'/ ihc 135th to the i50[h meridian weft from Paris, whence Hie will ftccr for the ifland of Otaheite. The interval from the i6th to the 17th degree of latitude, on a fpacc of 25 degrees in longitude, tiot having been vifitcd by any modern navigators^ being fcattered over with low iilands, it is poifible that the fhip which follows the above-mentioned track will meet with new iflands, which maybein- liabited, as are nioft of the low illands in thcfe feas. At the fame time the fecond frigate, going from the fame point of 32 degrees of latitude, and 135 of longitude, will get into 25° 12' fouth latitude, and try to keep in this parallel, begin- ning in the 131ft or 132CI degree of longitude. This frigate will look out for Pitcairn Ifland, dif- covered, in 1 767, by Carteret, and fituate in 25° 1 2' of fouth latitude. The longitude of this ifland is yet uncertain, becaufe this navigator had no means of afcertaining it by obfervatiori. It is much to be defired it might be determined with precifion, becaufe the pofition of this ifland, if well known, might ferve gradually to rcdify that of other iflands or lands difcovercd fubfequently by Carteret. In quitting Pitcairn Ifland, the fecond vefTel will fland to the weftward, and afterwards to the north-weft, to look fuccefHvely for the iflands of the Incarnation, of St. John the Baptift, of St. Elmo, of F 2 the 4: » ■ m ii M, i ' ii ^''i «! i\'^ m %iM 68 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE the QiKitro Coronadas, of St. Michael, and of the Converfion of St. Paul, difcovered by Qulros, in i6o6y{nott' 2S), which it is fuppofed may be fituatc to the fouth-caft of Otaheife, and which have not been feen, or even fought for, by the navigators of tliis century. The fccond (liip will thus, by a north- weft courfe, arrive at 150 degrees weft longitude, and at 19 degrees of latitude, whence fhe will proceed to Otaheite. It is to be prefumed, that the two frigates may be there towards the latter end of April. That ifland will be the fecond rendezvous of the king's jQiips, in cafe of feparation. They will, in the firft place, ap.chor in the bay of Oheitepeha, fitu- ate at the north-eaft part of the ifland called 7\'a?'abo2{, or Otnheiie-ete, which is found to windward of the bay of Matavai, fituate at the north point, or Point Venus; and they will after- wards put into this latter place, in order to pro- cure at thofe two different anchorages, with greater facility, fuch refreftiments as they may ftand in need of. The Sieur De La Peroufe will leave Otaheite after a month's ftay. He may, in his way, vifit Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha, Bolabola, and others .of the Society Illands, to procure the remaining fup- plies of provifion, to provide thefe iflandswith Eu- ropean articles, ferviceable to their inhabitants, and to fow feeds, . plant vegetables, trees, &c. which i ■I i of the iros, in : fituatc ive not itors of I north- igitude, [he will tes may . That e king's , in the ha, (itu- 1 called Dund to at the ill after- to pro- II greater {land in Itaheite fay, vifit d others ling fup- dthEu- ibitants, ;es, &c. which ROUND THK WORLD. 6g ivhich niviy in time prefent new refources to Euro- pean navigators croffing this ocean. In quitting the Society Iflands, he will ftccr a north-wefl: courfe to get into the latitude of the Ifland of St. Bernard of^Quiros ffiote 28), about the 1 1 th degree. He will not proceed in his fcarch for this ifland further than from 158 to 162 degrees of longitude ; and from t\\c latitude of 1 1 degrees he will ftand to the north-weft, till he gets into the 5th degree of fouth latitude, and between the i66th and 167th degrees of longitude j he will then fliape his courfe to the fouth-weft, to crofs, in this diredlion, the part of the fea fituate to the north of the archipelago of the Friendly Hies, where it is probable he will meet, according to the reports of the natives of thofe iflands, with a great many others, in all likelihood inhabited, and which have not yet been vifited by F],uropcans. It would be deniable if he could again find the ifland of the BtdUf yacion of Quiros, vvhich he ftiould look for between the parallels of 1 1 and 1 1 1 degrees from the 169th degree of longitude, up to the lyifl, and fucceftiv'dy the Navigators Iflands of Bougainville, likewifc he will go to the Friendly Iflands to procure refrelliments, Upon leaving the Friendly Iflands, he will get Into the latitude of the I/le of Fints, lituatc at the fouth-eaft: point of New Caledonia (note 29); lind after having made it, lie will coafl it we fieri v. 5r !*■ ':Y.\ t • ti- ■ ; ■• li '0 ■m F 3 t€> 111 # ;■':*'■' r' d 1 1 !;r ■''.ell 1 1 Ul: 1 J ■ '1 ,4 •^'i' hi ■ ■Kill 70 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE to afcertain whether this land be all one ifland, or formed of many iflands. If, after having run down the fouth-weft coafl of New Caledonia, he can make Queen Charlotte's Iflands, he will try to reconnoitre the ifland of Santa Cruz of Mendana ffioie 30), and determine its extent to the fouth. But if the wind Ihould not allow of this courfc, he will make for the Deliverance Iflands, at the caft point of the Tcrre des Arfacides^ difcovered, in 1769, by Surville (note o^z)-, he will run along the fouth coaft, which neither this navigator^ nor any other, has examined, and he will fatisfy him- felf whether, as is probable, thefe lands do not form a group of iflands, which he will try to particularize. It is to be prefumed, that they are peopled on the coafts to the fouth, as we know thofe to the north are ; perhaps he may procure there fome refrefliments. He will endeavour, in like manner, to examine an ifland to the north -weft of the Terre des Arfa' cldes, the eaftern coall of which was feen by Bougainville in ijOS; but he will purfue this re- fcarch no farther than to be able without difficulty afterwards, to make Cape Deliverance on the fouth-eaft point of Lo2i{/i(jde fnote ^^)', and, before reaching this ca|:>e, he will examine, if he can, the eaft coaft of this land. From <'i(iHii ^ land, Oi sft coaft arlotte's ifland of ^termine 3 courfc, t the caft ^ered, in in along Ltor^ nor sfy him- do not 1 try to they ire ve know procure examine es Arfa^ een by this re- ifficuhy on the and, ROUND THE WORLD. yj From Cape Deliverance he will ftcer a coiirfe fot Endeavour Straits (note 34), and will, in thefe flraits, try to afcertain whetlicr the land of Loui- fiade'b^ contiguous to that of New Guinea; and he will examine all this part of the coaft, from Cape Deliverance to the iiland of St. Bartholomew, cad north-eaft of Cape Wallh, of which we have at prefent but a very imperfe<5l knowledge. It is much to be wilbed that he could infpcfl the Gulf of Carpentaria (note 'i^^)r, but he will have to obferve, that the north-weft monfoon, to the fouth of the line, begins about the 15th of November, and that the limits of this monfoon are not fo fixed, that they may not fometimes ex- tend themfelves beyond the loth degree of fouth latitude. It is therefore important, that he obferve the greateft diligence in this part of his furvey, and that he pay attention to combine the Icngtli of his courfe, and rate of his faili^^g, fo as to have rcpaffcd the longitude of the fouth-weft point of the Ifland of Timor, before the 20th of November, If, contrary to all appearance, it Ihould have been impoflible for him to have procured refrelh- ments, wood, and water, in the places he had touche4 at after his departure from the Friendly Ifles, which may be fuppofed to have been about the 15th of July, he will ftop at Prince's Ifland, at the entrance of the Straits of Sunda, near the weflcrn point of the ifland of Java. F 4 pa % ; V- «'l i\ f llr''-^ f; t;- jj '""lift ' Ti| k"! Mr i If?: "'■ 1 1 ,:[''' i 7a LA PEROUSE's voyage On leaving Prince's Ifland, or if he have not been forced to put in there, in quitting the channel to the north of New Ploliand fnole 35), he will direct his courfe fo as to infped the fouth coaffc of this land, and he will begin this examination as high up towards the equator as ♦ihe winds will permit him. He will furvey the wefl coaft, and infpeft more particularly the fouthern coaft, of which the greateft part has never been explored, and he will approach to the fouth of Van-Dicmen^s Land (note 36), at Adventure Bay, or at Frederick Henry Bay ; thence he will make for Cook's Straits, and anchor at Queen Charlotte's Sound, fituate in the ftrait between the two iflands whic'^ form New Zealand. This port will be the third ren- dezvous for the frigates in cafe of feparation. He will repair his fliips there, and provide himfelf with refreflmients, wood, and water. . ,. It may be prefumed he can fail from this port at the begirming of March, 1787. In going out of Cook's Straits, or New Zealand Straits, he will ftand for, and remain between, the parallels of 41 & 42 degrees, as far as the 130th de- . gree of weft longitude. When he fliail have reached this longitude, he will ftand to the north, in order to get to windward, and into the latitude of the Marqueias iflands of Mendoza (note 38) j to fup- ply the wants of his fhips, he will put into the port of Maiire (k Dios of Mc?idana, on the weftern m M R lot been innel to he will coaft of at'on as lids will aft, and :oaft, of xplored, )k'men^s Tederick s Straits, 1, fituate icl^ form hird ren- ion. He himfelf his port Zealand ecn, the 30th de- s reached in order ie of the to fup- into the on the weftern ROUND THE WORLD. 73 tveilern coaft of the ifle Sarita C/ariJiinia (Cook's Refolution'sBay) ; this port will be the fourth ren- dezvous in cafe of feparation. It may be prefumed that this paflagc will take up two months, and that he will be ready to fiiil igain about the 15th of May. If, in failing from the Marquesas illands of Men- doza, the winds fhould be fuiHciently favourable for him, to make, at Icaft, a northerly courfe, lie might reconnoitre Ibme of the illands to the eaft of the group of Sandwich Ille? ffiote 40): he will afterwards repair to thefe laft, where he may take a fupply of provifion, but he will not ftay there. He will fail, as foon as he can, to make the north-weft coaft of America; and to this effed he will ftand to the northward, as far as 30 degrees, to get out of the trade winds, and that he may make the above coaft in 36° 20' at Piuita dc Plnos, to the fouth of Port Monterey, of which the mountains [ovfierraj of Santa Lucia, are the marks. It is probable, that he may arrive at this coaft about the loth or 15th of July (note ^i). He will particularly endeavour to reconnoitre thofe parts which have not been examined by captain Cook, and of which the relations of Ruf- fian and Spanifh navigators have given no idea. He will obferve, with the greateft care, whether, in W. :-n 1* (? 1- M '■m \ . ,ikSJ « i)>« ■ " M ,;lf' I ■*. "I 74 LA PEROUSE & VOYAGE in thofe parts not yet known, fome river may not be found, fome confined gulf, which may, by means of the interior lakes, open a communica- tion with fome part of Hudfon's Bay. He will pufh his enquiries to Be hr lag's Bay, and to Mount St. Elias, and will infpedl the port.^ Bucarelli and Los Itemedios, difcovcred, in 1775, by the Spaniards. Prince William's Sound, and Cook's River, hav- ing been fufiicicntly explored, he will not make a point of vifiting them ; but after making Mount St. Elias, he will fleer a eourle lor the Sliumagin lilands, near the peninfuJa of Alaflika. He will afterwards examine the archipelago of the Aleidian Illands (note 42), and fucceffively the two groups of iflands to the weft of the for- , mer, concerning the true pofition and the number of which we are uninformed, and which altogether confhitute,. with the coafts of Afia and America, the great northern balin or gulf. When this examirjation is completed, he will put into the port of Avnffcha (note 43), or St. Peter and St, Paul, at the ibuth-eaftcrn extremity of the peninfuia of Kamtfchatka. He will try to be there about the 15th or 20th of September ; and this port will be the fifth ren- dezvous in cafe of feparation. He will diligently provide for the wants of his Oiips there, and will sain the neceffarv informa- tion 0 may not nay, by munica- fs Bay, he port; in 1775, /er, hav- make a ; Mount lumagia ilago of ceffively the for- number together America, he will i, or St. :tremity or 20th fth ren- 5 of his ifonna- tlon -i& I ROUND THE WORLD. 75 tion fo as to be fure of finding provilion there when he comes agp.in in 17 85. He will fo arrange his operations as to be ready to fail in the firft ten days of 0(5lober. He will coaft along and examine all the Kurile Iflands (note 44), the north-eaft coaft, tlie eafl: and the fouth of Japan; and, according as the feafon advances, and he may find the winds more or left favourable, th« feas more or lefs difficult, he will extend his refcarches to the iflands on the caft and the fouth of Japan, and to the iflands of Lekeyo, as far as Formofa. Whon he ftiall havecompleted this examination, he will put into Macao and Canton, or Manilla, according to circumflances. This port will be the fixth rendezvous in cafe of feparation. It is prefumed-, thai! he ought to be there tow^ards the end of the year 1 787. He will get his fliips repaired and vifluallcd, and will wait in port- tl^ rettrrn of the fouth- weft monfoon-, whkh commonly fets in about the beginnicg of March. He may, notwith- ftanding, dcla" his departure till the firft of April, if his crews have need of Ibngcr reft, and if, after the infor-mation he fhall have gained, he think the navigation northward would be too hazardous before this period. What- ' II i 1 ■ ■ , , . f •iWINllllii IH f ' Wi ,,, ■ ■ M^'i o 76 LA PEROUSE's voyage Whatever may be the length of his flay, he will fliape his courfc in quitting this port, t pafs the ftraits, which feparate the ifland of Fo:- mofa from the coafl of China, or between this jlland and thofe which lie to the eaft. He will examine with care the weft coaft oF Corea, and infpcd the gulf of Hoan-hay, taking care not to ftand in fo far as to prevent him from weathering the fouth coafl of Corea, with a fouth-weft, or foutherly wind. He will afterwards examine the eaflern . coaft of this peninfula, that of Tartary, where the pearl fifhery is carried on, and that of Japan, on the other fide. All theCe coafts are abfolutely unknown to Europeans. - ,. He will pafs the ftraits of Teffoy^, and explore the land known by the name of JefTo (note 45^, and that which the Dutch- have denominated. Statcn Land, and the Ruffians, Nadezda Ifland, about which there are at prefcnt only confufed ideas, from fome ancient accounts which the Dutch Eaft India, .Company ■ have . fuffercd to tranfpire, but the accuracy of which has not been afcertained. . ,. • He will finifli his obfervations upon fuch of the Kurile Iflands (iiote^^Ji ^s he rnay not have been able to vifit in the preceding month ot Novembfr, in coming from Avatfcha to Macao, He . y M Hiotographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 I/. ¥ ,>,l I;!; i \ 1 u iVi : "II- ■"'ii ;!.! ^^ ■iim^ilir •If LA P£R0USE*S VOYAGE Although the courfe of the Sieur De La Pc- roufc is thus traced by the prefent in{lrudtion> and his going into the various ports, and his flay there are pointed out, his Majefty does not mean to have it underftood, that he Ihould in- variably fubjed himfelf to this plan. All the calculations here prefented ought to be govern- ed by the circumftances of his navigation, the condition of his crews, of his provifion, and his (hips, as. well as by the events of his voyage, and accidents which it is not poflible to forefee. All thefe caufes may more or lefs produce a change in the plan of his operations ; and the objed of the prefent inftrudlions is only to make known to the Sieur De La Peroufe the difcoveries which remain to be made, or to be perfected, in the different parts of the globe, and the courfe which appeared convenient to be followed : ;that he might proceed with order, in his various refearches, in combining his dhfferent routes, and the periods of his going into harbour, with the feafons, with the predominant or periodical winds, in every latitude he has to go through. His Majefty, relying therefore on the experience and judgment of the Sieur De La Peroufe, authorizes him to make the changes which may appear to him ne- ceflarv, in the cafes which have not been fore- feen, i ROUND THE WORLD. 8l fecn, provided he ke.p as near as pofiiblc to the plan which is traced out to him ; and con- form himfelf efpecially to that which will be prefcribed in the other parts of thcfe inftrudluns. • . SECOND PART. Objects relating to Poli'ci/ aiul Commci\"ir-»va '' .1' ■> '('in Yt i •■ \.\ -■< mi [W. ■: ^ ' \ t. 'i ' !»■ I h -^- '■ 4 t '"'.a. « ki umi i ' .''■'/■ ;1 :'!' . '.•!'. ; I •'^ 'Hi! Id! ■ 82 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE information, relpe^ling the forces, that the crown of Portugal keeps there, refpcdling the commerce carried on there, by the Engli(h, and other na- tions, and the great objedls concerning which it may be intcrefling to be informed. 2ndly. Ho will fatisfy himfclf whether the Englifli have entirely evacuated the Ifland of Trini- dad ; whether the Portuguefe be eftablilhed there; .'uui in what confifls the eftablilhment the latter mav have formed there fince the evacuation. 3dly. If he fliould happen to fall in with the Ijlc Grande of la Roche, he will examine whether it contain any commodious and fafe port, where wood and water are to be procured ; what facility it can offer to form an eftablilhment, in cafe the whale-fifliery might draw French adventurers into the Southern Atlantic Ocean ; whether there be any part which might be advantageoufly fortified, and kept by a fmall number of troops, a poft, in (hort, convenient for an eftablilliment, fo far off from fuccour and the proteftion of the mo- ther countrv. 4thly. He will examine the Ifland of Georgia,wlth the fame views ; but it is probable, that this ifland, being fituate under a higher latitude, holds out Jefs facility than might be expefted from the po- lition oi Ijle Grander, and that the ice, which obftructs the lea during a part of the year in the vicinage of Georgin, would throw great ob- flacles ROUND THE WORLD. 83 fiacles in th^ way of ordinary navigation ; and would intimidate the filhcrmen from making tlii^ illand a point of rendezvous and retreat. 5thly. The iflands of the great equatorial ocean will offer but few obfervations to be made relative to policy and commerce. Their diflance feems likely to prohibit the nations of Europe from forming eftablifliments there : and Spain only could have any intereft in occupying iflands, which, being feated at nearly an equal diftancc from her poflTeflions in America and Afia, might become places of fheltcr and refrefliment, for her trading (hips which traverfe the great ocean. However that may be, the Sieur De La Peroufe will principally attend to the climate and the productions of every kind, in the different iflands of this ocean, where he may land, to learn the manners and cufloms of the natives, their reli- gion, the form of their government, their man- ner of making war, their weapons, their veifels, the diftinflive character of each tribe, whatever they may have in common with other favage na- tions, as well as with civilized people, and prin- cipally for what each in particular is remarkable. Of thofe iflands where the Europeans have al- ready been he will endeavour to^[earn, whether the natives of the country have "diftinguilhed the different nations which have vlfitcd them. And he will try to get out of them what opi- G 2 nion i II ! rv'i m )W . > t 1 [f^: •i i m .••^Hw*,i| I n/ll , H .,";% :"i 'Iff ^1 I "'*• £4 LA M:R0USF.*5> VOYAGIi nion tlicy may have of cac!i of them in par- ticular. He will inquire what ufc they have made of the diiTcrcnt merchandize, of the metals, the tools, the Huffs, and the other things, which the Europeans have carried them. He will in- form himfelf whether the cattle and other ani- mals, which captain Cook left upon fomc of the iilands, have multiplied, what grain, what herbs from Europe have beft fucceeded, what method the iflanders have practifcd for their cultivation, and to what ufe they have turned their produce. Every where in fhort, he will examine what has been related by fuch navigators as have publiflied accounts of thofe iflands, and he will principally endeavour to remark what may have efcaped the refearches of his predeceflbrs. During his flay at Eafter Ifland, he will fatisfy himfelf, whether the population decreafe there, as there is room to prefume, after the obfervations and the opinion of captain Cook. On pafling to the ifland of Huaheine, he will ilrive to make acquaintance with Omai, that iflandcr whom the Englifh navigator eftablifhed there on his third voyage ; he will learn from him what treat n-ycnt he met with from his coun- trymen, after the departure of the Englilh, and ' what ufe he has himfelf made of the lights and knowledge which he muft neceflarily have acquired during his flay in Europe, for the fcrvice, benefit, 'and melioration of his countryr 6thly. If in par- m y have M metals, M , which m m\\ in* fl cr ani- 9 of the m t herbs 1 method | ivation, | >roduce. | hat has I ■- abliilied i ncipally ; iped the ' ROUND THE WORLD. 8^ 6thly. If during the infpe^flion and examuiation he "viU make of the inlands of the great cqiuUo- irjtl ocean, and the coafts of the continents, he ill v: id iri'.xt v.'irh any (liip at fea, belonging t) ionic otlici power, he will condudl himfclf to\v;uvl:> thQ commander of fuch fliip, with all the politencfs e(labii(hed and agreed upon, be- tween polillied and friendly nations ; and if he meet with fuch in fome port belonging to a people confidered as Hivaarc, he will concert meaiures with the captain of the flrange veflel, forefteclually pre- venting all manner of difpute, all altercation be- tween the crews of the two nations, which might beaOiore together, and to lend each other mutUa! affiftance, in cafe either might be attacked by the' iflanders or fava2;cs. h; ; ' 7thly. In the vifit he wll] make to New. t?ale- donia, Queen Charlotte's Iflan'ds, and' tHe Land of the Arfacic s, and that df Lbuifiade, h'e'wili carefully examine the produdli6ns of thele cbb'n-^ tries, which, being fituate lihdcir th6 torrid i'.bne,' and in the' fame latitudes- as Perui may open a new field of fpecidation in commerce; and, Vvifhi. out giving way to the reports, undoubtedly ex- aggerated, which thfe ancient- Spanilh navigators' have made of the fertility, and thd riches oflbrwa' of the illands, wbieh they difcVcrcd in t-lVis- part of the world, he will only oblcrvc, thai die reconciliation of various accounts, founded G 3 iipon i*r\iii^ Vtf, r- -w. i ',1 ■• i i'-l ^., hi J I »■ I; %4 :i„ ! 'I 86 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE upon geographical combinations, and upon the knowledge and information which modern voy- ages have procured, give room to think, th^t the land difcovered, in the one part, in 1768, by- Bougainville, and in the other, in 1769, by Surville, may be the illands difcovered in 1567, by Mendana, and known lince by the name .f)i SolomoiC s IJlands ; which name was given them in after-times, by the idea whether true or falfe that was entertained of their riches. He will examine with fimilar attention the northern and weflern coafls of New Holland, and, particularly, that part of thofe coafls which, lying under the torrid zone, may participate in the produdions common to places in the fame latitudes. Sthly. He will not have the fame inquiries to make at the iflands of New Zealand, which the accounts of Englifli navigators have very fully ma,de known. But during his ftay in Queen Charlotte's Sound, he will* er 'flavour to dif- cover, whether England have x med, or pro- jedled any eftablifhments upon thefe iflands ; and in cafe he (hould learn that any has been formed, he will endeavour to viiit them and obtain information of the ftate of it, and of the ftrength and objedl of fucb cflablifhment. pthly. If, in the refearches he will make in the jiorth-wefl coafl of America, he meet with, in . - ' fome I- ^* ROUND THK WORLO. 87 lomc points thereof, forts or faftorics, belonging to his Catholic Majefty, he will fcduloufly avoid cveiy thing which may give umbrage to the governors of thofc eftablilbments ; and he will make ufe of the ties of blood and friendlhip, which unite the two fovereigns fo clofely, in or- der to procure, by thcfe means, all the aflfiflance and refrelhments of which he may ftand in need, and with which the country may be in a condi- tion to furnilh him. It appears, that Spain has had the intention of extending its title of poflcflion as far as the Port lie los Iiemetlio.9, about the 57th degree and a quarter of latitude ; but there is nothing which gives aflurance, that, in ordering it to be in- fpefted in the year 1775, flie has formed any cftablifhment there, any more than at the Port of Bucarelli, fituate about two degrees lels north- ward. As far as it is pollible to judge by the defcriptions of this country, which have made their way into France, the adlual pofleffion of Spain does not extend beyond St. Dic^o^ and Monterey^ where flie has raifed little forts, and guarded them by detachments drawn from Cali- fornia, or New Mexico. The Sieur De La Peroufe will endeavour to obtain the knowledge of the condition, the ftrength, the objed of thefe eftablifhments, and to apprize himfelf, whether thcfe be the only G 4- «ne§ ! ■ , i*,i i •I' I • l.i. I '•»•'» if ■'i Hf(^'i' m ^|B'-' ivi ^Bi ; '-' ' if ^^Wl 1 p."";; J ''■■'■ '5- J :'■] ";i| ■•■*1 '■ ■ -i 1 |r'! .ii 33 LA phrouse's voyage ones that Si)ain has formed upon thcfe coafis. He v/ill examine, in like manner, at what latitude might be begun the procuring of furs and fkins; what quantity the American Indiana could furnifh ; what merchandize, what objects would be the mod eligible for the traffic of peltry ; what conveniences might be found for forming an eftablifhment upon this coafl", in cafe of thia new commerce prefenting fufficient advantage to the French merchants, to induce them to engage themfclves in it, in the hope of exporting thefc furs to China, where we arc allured they find a ready fale. He will, in like manner, endeavour to gain a knowledge of what kind of ikins may be pur- chafed, and if thofe of the otter, which bear the hlgheft value in Afia, where they are much fought after, be the mofl common in America. He will take care to bring to France fpecimens of all the different furs, which he may have been able to procure : and as he will have occafion in the courfe of his voyage to put into Chma, and perhaps to touch at Japan, what fpecies of fkins in thefe two empires have the mofl eafy, mofl certain, and moll lucrative fale, and what be- nefit France might promife itfelf from this branch of commerce. In fliort, he will try, during his ilay on the coafl^s of America, to difcover whe- ther tlic Hudfon's Bay ellablifhments, the forts or '■ III KOUNT> THE WORf.n. 89 pr faftories of the interior, or any proriritrc of :he United States, have opened, hy the mciiium. of the Wiuuiering lavages, any cnninmniration of commerce or barter, witii tltc people of the weft coaft. lothly. It is probable, that in \ ifiting th<; Aleu- tian iflanus, and the other groupcs lituate to tlic fouth of the large northern Archipehigo, he will meet with foilic RiiiTian eftablifhmentsor factories. He will endeavour to learn their conftitutlon, their flrcngth, their object; what is the navigation of the Ruflians in thefe leas, what thips, what men they employ there j how far tliey extend their com- merce, as alfo whether there be any of thefe iflknds which acknowledge the dominion of Ruflia, or all be independent; in fine, whether the Ruf- fians have not by fmaU degrees ftrefc^hed tffeipc . felves to the vefy continent of America. ■* ' '■" ' I le will profit by his flay in the port of Avatfcha, to increafe the knowledge to be acquired in tliefe particufars, and to prdcafe for himfelf at the fame time, if it be polfible, Whatever infor- mation he rhay need reifpe^mg 'tfie Kurilc Ifles; the land of Jefib, and the im|5?re of Japan. i iithly. Pic will malce liis cxam'i nations of the Kurile Ifles, and of the land of Jellb, with pru- dence and circumfpection, as much in confidera- tion of that which concerns his navigation in a A:a ■'■*'. t\ J :: ::U » >' s ., f li \ \ ■v/l l.l ' It 93 LA PEHOUSE's voyage Tea which is not known to Europeans, and which paflcs for tempcftuous, as in the communication which he may have with the inhabitants of thcfe iflands and lands, whole character and manners mud neceflarily have fome conformity with thofe of the Japanefe, who may have lubjugated part of them, and hold communication with the others. He will fee by the geographical and hiftorical notes joined to the prefent inftruction, thatRuflia does not extend her dominion further than to thofe of the Kurile Ides, the nearcft to Kamt- fchatka ; and he will examine, whether, in the number of foutherly and independent iflcs, there be not one remaining, upon which, in the fuppo- fition of a commerce in /kins and furs to be opened with France, it would be poflible to form an eftablifhment, or factory, which might be ren- dered fecure from any infult on the part of the illanders. 1 2thly. With rega,rd to Japan, he will endea- vour to reconnoitre and infpett the north eafl, and the eafl coaft, and go on (hore in fome one of its ports, in ordpr,jl|o fatisfy himfelf whether its government in r^f^lity oppofe any invincible ob- ftacle to every ellablifhment, to every introdudion of commerce or barter with Europeans, and whc« ther by the enticement of furs, which arc an objeA of utility and luxury to the Japanefe, it would liot ht poflible to prevail on the porto of the eaft or H ROUND THE WORLD. 9I or north-cad coaft, to admit (hips, which fliould bring furs, and receive in exchange teas, lilks, and other productions of their foil, and the works of their manufii(flure i perhaps the prohi- bitory laws of this empire, which all the accounts of this country fpcak of as fo fevere, are not in force on the coafts to the north-'>r»u. and cad, with fo much rigour as at Nangaiaki and the ibuth coaft, places too near the capital to expect any relaxation in them. i3thly. During the time the Sicur Dc La Pc- roufc is at Macao, he will take the ncccflary raeafures to obtain the convenience of wintering at Canton. He will addrefs himielf for this purpofc to the Sicur Vieillard, his Majcfty's conful at China, and he will charge ^^him to take fuch mcafures with the Chinefe government, as will be proper to fucceed therein. He will take ad- vantage of his ftay in this port, to inform himfelf exactly and in detail of the prcfent ftatc of the commerce of the European nations at Canton ; and he will inquire into this important object, imder all the points of view, in which it may be interefting to be informed. He will gain every information which may be ufeful to him in his future navigation in the feas to the north of China, upon the coafts of Corea,and of Eaftern Tartary, and of all the lands or iflands which remain to be infpcctcd in thefe parts. ' t' i Ml '4 > "l ,/ . W, '^bi "ni 'm il m !* •'si I . I-- ■ ■|'!«^v,,. ^!, I fH.vl 92 LA I»EROUSE*S VOYAGE parts. He will not neglect, if it be poflibic, to procure a Chinefe and Japanefe interpreter, and a Ruffian interpreter for his fecond call at Avatfcha; he will bargain with them for the time he may keep them in the fcrvice of the fl\ip, and on his return, will land them at Mindanao, or at the Moluccas. *'' " • • • I4thly. It is ncccflary he be informed, that the Japanefe pirates are fometrimcs very numerous in the fea comprifcd between' Japan, Corea, and Tartary. Their weakncfs requires no other pre- caution on his part, than being on his guard during the nigh*, to prevent a furprife on theirs i but it will not be ufelefs, that he fhould endeavour to fpeak to one cf them, and engage him by p)e- fents and promifes of rccompence, to pilot hi? Majefty's fhips, in his furveyof Jeflb, of vyhich it is believed one part is tinder the dominion of Japan ; in the pafiage through the Straits of Teflby, which the Japanefe muft neceffarily know; and in the exploring of fuclt of the Kurile Hies, as they may be in the habit of" frequenting. This fame pilot may be equally ferviceable in viliting fome port on the weft' coaft of Japan, in cafe cir- cumftances Ihould not have allowed a landing at any point of the eaft or north-eaft coaft. But whatever ufe the Siear De La Peroufe may make of the laid pilot, he muft not give up to his ad- vice and fuggcftions, but with the moft cautious refcrve, ROUND THfc WORLD. f*3 ?, refcrvc. It is proper alfo, that he fliould engage, if he can, fonic fifliermen of the Kurile lllos, to fervc him as pilots for fiich of thofe ilhinds as border on Kamtfchatka. The Sieur De La P^roufe will thus, in ftandinn; again to the northward, endeavour to complete his knowledge of the iflands, which he could not make in coming from Avatfcha to Macao, and to com- pcnfate on the weft coaft of Japan, for what he he had not been able to efted upon the caft and north-eafl" coaft. The reconnoitring; of the caafls of Corcaand of Chinefe Tartary ought to be made with much prudence and circumfpection. The Sieur De La Pcroufe is not ignorant, that the Chinefe govern- ment is very diftruftful : he fliould in confcquencc avoid hoiftinghis colours, or making himfelf known, nor fhould he permit any thing to be done, which might excite upon thefe coafts the inquietude of that government, left the effects of it fliould be felt by the French ftiips which trade to CJanton. i5thly. In exploring the Caroline Iflands, which are fcarcely known but by name to moft of the na- tions of Europe, the Sieur De La Peroufe will en> deavour to learn whether the Spaniards, as they have frequently projected, have yet formed any eftabhfliment there. He will obtain the knowledge of the produc- tiODs of thefa iflands, and of all thofe which he may ' -mi ■'in . . . ' ■ «u ■m ' i'il' m ^i ■11 ■ p "h- \ I , ir i I U i ri.i : \>t ' ''111 •'*|. 94 tA perouse's voyage may have been able to difcover to the north-eaft, and to the weft-fouth-weft of the Marian, or Ladrone Iflands. i6thly. In the flay which he will make at Ti- nian, one of the Marian Iflands, he will obtain in- formation concerning the eftablilhments, the forces, and the commerce of the Spaniards in that archipelago and its environs. He will make the fame inquiries at Mindanao, in order to know, as much as he can, the poHtical^ military, and commercial ftate of this nation in the Philippines. lythly. During the Hay he will make at the Moluccas, he will negled nothing with refpect to the information to be obtained concerning the Situation and the commerce of the Dutch in thefe iflands. He will ftudy particularly to learn the advantages which the Englifli derive in their com- merce from the liberty this power has obtained, by its la(t treaty of peace with Holland, of na- vigating and trafficking in the whole extent of the Afiatic leas, and he will endeavour to learn what ufe England has made of this liberty, and whe- ther flie have already gone fo far as to open by i^ this way any new branch of commerce in this part of the world. 1 8thly . If the Sleur De La Peroufe put into the Cape of Good Hope, he will obtain precife in- formation concerning the prefent fituation of that colonv» •,:.-^ ROUND THE WORLD. 95 colony, the forces that Holland or the Dutc^l Eaft India Company keep there fincc the peace, and the ftate of the new and old fortifications which defend the town, and protect the an- chorage. ipthly. Generally in all the illands, and in all the ports of the continent, occupied or frequented l)y the Europeans, where he may land, he will with pru- dence, as much as the time he flays, and circuni- flances will permit, make every inquiry which may enable him to communicate in detail the nature and the extent of the commerce of each nation, the forces both by land and by fea that each keeps in them, the connections of intereft or friendlhip y/hich may exifl between each and the chiefs or natives of the country where they have their eftablifhments, and generally all tiiat can intereft either policy or commerce. :>•"! ^'■m '■ "r'^ia 1 ■ ' I *■■.); 1:^' ..:^ : m TFIIRD PART. Operations relating to AJironomy^ to Geograph:^ to Navigation^ to Natural Philofophy^ and to the different Branches of Natural Jlijlorij, I ft. HIS Majefty having appointed two aftro- nomers to be employed under the orders of the Sieur De La Peroufe, in the expedition which he has confided to him, and his two frigates being provided ! ' < \\ i K '' * .1" ! 96 LA peroitse's voyage provided with ill the inftruments of aftronomy and navigation, of which ufe can be made ci- ther by Tea or land, he will take care in the courfe of the voyage, tha{ one or other of them makes all the aftronomical obfervations which may ap- pear to him of any utility. The object of the greatcft impchance to the fafcty of navigation is, to fix with precifioA the latitudes and lotigitudes of the places where he may land, and of thofe within fight of which he may pafs. With this view he will recommend to the aftronomer employed on board each frigate, to obfet\*e with the greateft exadnefs the movement of the time-keepers, and take advantage of every favourable circumftance for verifying, on ihorc, whether they have kept good tim.c daring the run, and to confirm by obfervation the change which m^y have happened in their daily move- ment, in order to keep an account of the change, fo as to determine, with greater precifion, the longitude of tlic iilands, the capes, or other re- markable points, which he may have obferved and laid down iji the interval of the two veri- fications. As often as the flate of the fky will permit him, he will order lunar obfervations to be taken, with the intlruments for that purpofe, to detcimine the longitude of the Ihip, and to compare it \\ith that which the time-keeper.^ indicate ■ i . i KOITND THE WORLD,- ^7 Indicate at the fame point of time : he wilt take care to multiply the obfervations of each kind, fo that the mean rcfuii: between difFerent opera- tions may procure a more precife determination. Whenever he pafTes within fight of any illand or land, st which he does not propofe to go on (liore, he will be fure to keep himfclf as much as poflible 6n its parallel at the time when obfer- vations are made of the meridian height of the fun, or of any (lar, from which to calculate the latitude of the fliip ; and he will keep under the i'ame meridian while obfervations are making to determine the longitude. Thus he will avoid all error of pofition, and reckoning, which may injure the exadnefs of the determination. He will caufe daily obfervations to be made, when the weather will permit, of the variation and dip of the magnetic needle. As foon as he arrives in any port, he will make choice of a commodious fpot of ground to pitch his tents, and fet up his portable obfervatory, with which he is provided, and he fliould place a guard over it. Independently of the obfervations relative to the determination of latitudes and longitudes, for which there will be employed 6very kind of method known or pradifed, and of thofe for knowing the variation of the compafs, he will not fail to obfer\'e every celeflial phenomenon which Vol. I. H may 1... ■. „ f t^f 11 . ;■ !^« t k: . :. m. J . un m ). , I ■■ 'V;s| :,;• ' I !'::f 98^ tA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE may be perceived j and on all occafions he wilt obtain for the two aftronomers alt the affiftance which may afiiirc the iiiccefs of their operations. His Majcfty is perfuaded, that the officers and the naval cadets, employed in the two frigates, will zcaloufly endeavour to make, in concert with the aftronomers, every obfervation whicli may have any ufeful connexion with navigation i and that thefe laft pcrfons, on their part, will be ca2:er to communicate on the carlicft occafions the fruits of their ftudies, and that theoretical knowledge, which may contribute to carry the nautical art to perfedion. The Sieur De La Pcroufe muft caufc a double journal to be kept on board each frigate, in which muft be entered, day by day, as well by fea as by land, the aftronomical obfervations, thofe rela- tive to the employment of the time pieces and all others. Thefe obfervations will be inferted in the rough in the log-book, that is to fay, in it ivill be fimply written the quantity of degrees, •minutes, &c. given by the inftrument at the moment of obfervation, without any calculation, and in pointing out only the known error of the inftrument, of which ufe will be made, if it have been afcertained by the accuftomed verifications, Each of the aftronomers lliould keep one oi thefe journals, and the other Ihould remain in the hands of each captain. Th^ I 1^ navf T coafl tob< with ierve ROUND THE WORLD. 99 The aftronomer will befides keep a fecond jour- nal, wherein he fliould in like manner infert, day by day, all the obfervations which he may have made, to which he will join for every operation, all the calculations which necefHirily lead to the lafl refult. At the end of the voyage the Sieur De La Pe- roufe Ihould have the two journals depofited in his hands, which fliall have been kept by the aftronomers, after they have been certified as true, and figned. 2ndly. When the Sieur De La Peroufe fhall land at thofc ports, which it may be interefting to be acquainted with, in a military point of view, he will obtain that knowledge through the chief engineer, who will give him a circumftantial report of the remarks he may have made, and of the plans which it may have been in his power to lay down. The Sieur De La Peroufe is to order exafh charts to be drawn of all the coafls and iilands he fhall have infpefted ; and if they have been previoufly known he mud verify the exadnefs of the dcfcription and of the charts, which other navigators fliall have given of them. To this effeft, whenever he navigates along a coafl, or in fight of iflands, he mufl caufe them to be furveyed very exaftly with a quadrant, or with an azimuth compafs 3 and he fliould ob- ferve, that the furveys, on which the mod re- II 2. IJance :t>:i ''i ^'' ': r'{ t i|- *i! ;,. Ill t#; t:^ m 'i^ U' 4 '■4 ( 1 / "II- loo LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE liance may be had for the conftrudion of charts, are thofe by which a cape or any remarkable objc(ft can be laid down by means of another. He will employ the ofFicci's of the two frigates, and the geographic engineer, to lay down, with care, the plans of coafts, bays, ports, and an- chorages, which he fliall be within reach of explor- ing ; and to each plan he muft add an inftrudion, containing every thing relative to the appearance and bearings of the land, the marks for failing in find out of the harbours, the pro})cr births for anchoring, or mooring, and the beft place for watering; the foundings, the quality of the bottom, the dangers, rocks, and flioals, the pre- dominant winds, the trade winds, the monfoons, the time they laft, and the period of their chang- ina: ; in fliort, all the nautical details which it may be ufeful to make known to navigators. All the plans of countries, of coafts, and of ports, muil be made in duplicates; one of them mufi be dcpofiLcd in the hands of each captain; and at the end of the voyage the Sieur De La Peroufe Ihould take into his polTeffion all the charts and plans, and the inftruCiions relating to them. His Majefty leaves it to him to fix the period Tit which he will order the decked boats to be put together, which are em.barked in pieces on board each frigate ; ho will perhaps do this during ROUND Till WORLD. lOJ during his (lay at Otaheitc. Thclc boats may be employed very uicfully in followiiiT, tlic fri- gates, whether in vifiiing the arciiipelagoc?, lituatc in the great equatorial ocean, or for ex- ploring in detail the parts of a coaft, and in found- ing the bays, the ports, the palfages, and, in fliort, for facilitating every fearcli or inquiry, which requires a veifcl drawing but little water, and capable of carrying a few days provifion for its crew. 3dly. The naturalifts appointed to make, dur- ing their voyage, obfervations peculiar to thei^ fludies, will be employed each of them in thofc departments of natural hiftory, with which they are beft acquainted. The SieurDe La Pcroufe fhould, in confequence, prefcribe to them the refearches which they will have to make, and fliould dillribute to them the jnftruments and apparatus appropriate thereto. He Ihould be attentive, in the diftribution of the bufmefs, not to employ any individual on two different fubje(5ls, fo that the zeal and the intel- ligence of every one of the learned perfons on board, may have their entire effcvfl-in promoting the general fuccefs of the expedition. He fliould communicate to them the memorial of the academy of fcicnces, in v/hich this iocic- ty points out the particular obfervations, to which jt would defire the profelTors of ijatural phiiofo- H 3 phy •■I i - ■ . I: ^ V'd li.^ i ^>\. ,,,.MP^ :*! t> ■■J 1 b -I , ""/i; •v/i I i m%, !•♦. 101 LA PEROUSIi S VOV ARE phy and natural hiftory attend to during the voyage ; and he fliould recommend them to concur, every one in what may concern him, and according to circumftances, in fulfilling the ob- jc(fts pointed out in this memorial. He mufl in like manner communicate to the furgeon of each frigate the memorial of the fociety of medicine, in order that both may make fuch obfervations as will fulfil the wifhes of this fociety. The Sleur De La Peroufe, in the courfe of his voyages, and his flay in port, mufl caufe a journal to be kept on board each fhip, of all the ob- fervations relative to the wind and weather, the currents, the variations of the atmofphere, and all that concerns meteorology. During his flay in harbour, he fhould caufe ob- fervations to be made on the genius, the cha- racter, the manners, the cuftoms, the tempera- ment, the language, the government, and the num- ber of the inhabitants. He fhould have the foil and the produftions of the diflerent countries examined, and every thing which relates to mineralogy. He fhould have the natural curiofitics collecflcd, as well terreflrial as marine -, he will have them clafTed in their order, and have a defcriptive cata- logue for each fpecies, in which ought to be mea" ROUND Tiin WORLD. I03 mcnuoncd the places where they have been found, the ufe which the natives of the country make of them, and, if they be plants, of the virtues which they attribute to them. 1 Ic fliould in like manner coUeft and clafs the clothes, the arms, the ornaments, the pieces of turni- turc, the implements, the mufical inflruments, and all the cffcdls ufcd by the different people he may vifit; and each objed ought to have a ticket or label on it, with a number correfponding with that of the catalogue. He will get drawn, by the draughtfmon em- barked in the two frigates, all the views of the land, and the remarkable fituations, portraits of the natives of the different countries, their man- ner of drefs, their ceremonies, their paftimes, their edifices, their veffels, and all the productions of the earth and of the fca, if the drawings of theic different objects (liould appear to him of any ufe, in facilitating the comprehenlion of the defcrip- tions the fcientific men have made of them. All the drawings which Ihall have been made in the voyage, all the cafes containing the natural curio- fities, as well as their defcriptions, and the col- icftion of aftronomical obfervations, fliould be put into the hands of the Sieur De La Peroufe, at the end of the voyage, and no one of the men of fcicnce, or artiils, will be allowed to rcfcrve for H 4 himfeU" f ^1 ^ i u N ,, ^'/ ii T f04 LA ?EROirsE*S VOYAGE himfdf, or for another, any of the fpccimcns of natural hiftory, or other obJe(fls, vvliich the Sieur De La Pcroulc '^'^ all have deemed dcferving to be cornprizcd in the cuilc^ion dcflined for his Ma- jefby. 4tbly. Before his return to the port of Brcft, at the end of the voyage, or before his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, in cafe he fhouid put in there, the Sleur De La Peroufc fliall caufe to be put into his hands all the journals of the voyage which (hall have been kept on board the two fri- gates by the officers and marine cadets, by the aflronomers, fcientitic men, and artifts, by the pilots, and by all other perfons. He muft enjoin them to keep a flrift lilence relative to the objedt of the voyage, and the difcoveries which may have been made, and he muft demand a promife of them to this effedt 5 he muft affure them, more- over, that their journals and papers will be re- ft ored to them. M ri\4 " !, '■ J .•'lit.- I , FOURTH PART. 0/ the Conduct to be obferved with the Natives of the CoitntrieSy ivhere the two Frigates may make a Landing. THE accounts of all the yoyagcrii, who have picccded the Sicur Uc La Peroufe in the feas which ROUND THE VOYAOK. lOJ which he is about to traveric, have informed him beforehand ot the charader and manners of part of the different people with whom he may have to communicate, as well in the idands of the great ocean, as upon the coalis of the north-wefl of America. His Majefty doubts not but thit, ijnprovcd by the reading of fuch authors, he will make a point of imitating iIk j'ood condudl of fome of thofc navigators, and of u\ oiding the fi\ults of others who have preceded him. Upon his arrival in any country, he (hould feek to conciliate the chiefs or principal men, as w<'U by marks of good will as by prefcnts , and he muft afl'ure himfelf of the refouiccs which he m,'- lind upon the fpot iw: fupplying the wants ot his ilups. He fliould employ all honourable means to form connedtions with the natives of the coun- try. He lliould leek to difcoverwhat arc the mcr- chaadizcs or objedii oi Europe to which they ap- pear to attach the greatell value, and he ought to compofe an afTortment which will be agreeable to them, and whicb. may invite them to make exchanges. He will feel the neceflity of putting in ufc all ihe precautions which prudence may fugged, to maintain his fuperiority over the multitude, wiih- 5 out A f I M 11 .'■ ,1:1 m j;^ I >' 4 4^; ^■h^ *.i i i if'*'i I J ■•' 1,1 •'In- ■ -if 1 ir" ic6 LA pr.RorsE*s voyage out being obliged to employ force j and whatever flattering reception he may meet with from the favagcs, it is important that he ihould always ihew himfelf in a ftate of defence, bccaufe it would be to be feared, that his fccurity might engage theni to furprifc him. Upon no occafion muil he fend a boat afhore, unlefs it be fumiflicd with its fwivels, lireiocks, {words, pikes, and a fufficient quantity of ammu- nition ; it mull alfo be commanded by an officer, who fhould be ordered never to lofe fight of the boat committed to his care, and always to leave fome men in it for its protection. He mufl permit no perfon either among the officers or crew to lleep afhore upon any account but that of fervice ; and thofe whofe funftions oblige them lb to do, muft retire before night into the tents pitched afhore^ which ferve as obferva- tories or magazines. He mufl place a guard there, where an officer ought always to flecp, to maintain good order among the failors and ioldiers attached to that duty, and to prevent, by an ac- tive and continued watchfulnefs, any attack or enter prize of the favages. He will take care to anchor his Majefty's frigates within reach to proted the eflablifliment ; and he fhould give orders to the officer, who may be on guard, concerning the fignals which the latter will have to make in cafe of alarm, 4 ^^^^ ■■5J W. ,t alhorc, firelocks, f ammu- in officer, it of the s to leave v's friGiatcs t ; and hu nay be on latter will ROUND THE WORLD. I07 As foon as thefe difpofitions are made, he fliould employ himfelf in providing for the fubfiflence of his crews and the other wants of the fhips ; and after having made a choice as to quantity of his commodities, implements, and goods of every kind, with which the two frigates are furniflied, he fhoiild form a magazine aOiore, under the pro- te<5lion of a guard ; but, as he is informed, that in general the iflanders of the great ocean have an irrefiflible inclination to theft, he muft take care not to tempt them by the fight of too great a number of objeds coUedied together in one place, but to carry every day on fliore only the effects which may be employed in exchange during the courfe of that day. He will regulate the value of thefe exchanges, and he will never allow any one to furpafs the price which fliall be fixed on each article of trade, left by agreeing, in the commencement of their dealings, to too high a price for the articles which he would procure, the natives might refufe to fell more afterwards at a fmaller price. He mufc eftablifh only one magazine for the two frigates ^ and to preferve good order there and prevent all abufes, he muft fpecially charge an officer to treat with the favages, and fingle out the petty officers or other perlbns who will be re- quired to perform, under his orders, the fervice of ihe magazine. No ,V "t' I'":'' U:>: m < Am 1' *..-it' » -M ' AT >\ s mi- ■WWif 1^! \ 'P4^n ] fwp! i ^^ ' hi 2aS LA perouse's voyage No officer, or other perfon of the flafF, or of the crews, can be allowed, under any pretence what- ever, to barter any thing, if the Sieur De La P'irouic have not given him exprefs permiflion, and have not regulated the rate of exchange. If any one of the people of either crew fliould conceal any article belonging to the l"hips, or any part of the merchandize intended for ex- change, the Sieur De La Peroufe mufl order him to be punillied according to the feverity of the •laws -y and he fhould punifli flill more fevercly thole who, being in the fervice of the magazine, iLall liave abufed his confidence, and have fecreted , cffc'i^is to traffic with, fraudulently. He will recommend lo every perfon among tr j crews, to live in a good underflanding with the natives, to endeavour to conciliate their friend- fliip by a proper way of ading and refpecl ; and lie mull forbid them, under pain of the mod ri- gorcas punifliments, ever to employ force for taking from the inhabitants what they may not be willing to part with. The Sieur De La Peroufe, on every occafiorij will a(ft with great mildnefs and humanity towards the different people he may have any intercourfc with during his voyage. He will apply himtllf zealoufly and with inte- reft about all the means which may mehorate their condition, in procuring their country vegetables, fruit?} or of the ce what- ir De La Tmiflion, ige. VV fllQUld [hips, or L for ex- )rder him ty of the ; fevercly nagazine, e fecreted , mong tr J with the ir friend - >ecl ; and mofl ri- force for may not occafiorij y towards itercourlc 'ith intc- ratc their L'getablcs, fruitS) 4 ROrND THE WORLD. I09 fruits, and trees, iifeful in Europe ; In teaching theui how to fow and cultivate them ; in ac- quainting them with the ufe they ought to make of thefc prefents, the objccl of which is to mul- tiply iipon their foil the produi5lions ncccilary to a people who draw almoil all their food from the earth. If imperious circumftanccs, which it is prudent to forefee in (o long an expedition, Ihould ever oblige the Sieur De La Peroufe to avail himltlf of the fuperiority of his weapons over thofe of a fivage people, in order to obtain the neceilaries of life, in fpite of their oppolition, fuch as fubfifl:- cnce, v/ater, and wood, he ought not to ufe force but with the greateft moderation, and Ihould pu- ni(li thofe of his people with extreme rigour who go beyond thefe orders. In all other cales, if he cannot obtain the good will of the favages by a kind treatment, he Ihould endeavour to con0.rain them by fear and threats, and fliould not have recourfe to arms but in the lad extremity, only for defence, and in cafes where moderation mi*7ht decidedly riik the fafety of the fiiips, and the lives of French, whofe prefervation is committed to liir. care. His Majefly will look upon it a:, cue. of the mod fuccelsful parts of the expedition, tliat it may be terminated finolc man. \v ithout coftino; the lifr^ofa 'to l v:i m ■ vm . ■ ■"■ ft J. I FIFTH r J". • ■ 1 i 1 i ,; r t' ^' 1 ■ i ■ '"'ft ^ ■■ ,1) 1 ^ lltl r '' m 1 i f. >M 1 mill 3 i liiii n ^>i7^ m I » no LA PEROUSe's voyage FIFTH PART. Precautions to be taken for preferving the Health of the Crews, THE Sieur De La Peroufe knowing the inten- tion of his Majelly with regard to the condud he fhould obferve towards the favage nations, and the wifh his Majefty has, that the vifit of French- men, far from being a misfortune to thele people, may, on the contrary, procure them advantages of which they are deprived, will certainly forefce what particular care he ought to pay to the pre- fervation of the crews employed in the expedition which his Majefty has trufted to his condu6t. The {hips under his orders are abundantly pro- vided with every aid which can prevent the dif- cafes of the fea, or arrefl their progrefs, as well as with thofe which are intended as fubftitutes for ordinary diet, and to corred its bad efFed. He will keep a watchful eye, that thofe various helps and fuccours are ufed properly, and in due mea- furej and will be extremely vigilant concerning the various refources, which the different ports into which he puts may offer him, for procuring re- frefliments and wholefome aliments for his crews, in order to repair the effeds of a long ufe of fait meats. ^ His e Health he inten- nduft he ions, and F French- 'q people, :lvantages ily forefce the pre- xpedition dua. Liitly pro- the dif- as well as tutes for eft. He ous helps due mea- ^ncerning ports into Liring re- lis crews, e of fait I ROl'ND THE WORLD. lit His Majefty confides in tlic prudence of the Sicur De LaPeroufeas to the form which may ap- pear to him the mofh convenient to be eftahHihtfl on board the two frigates for the flowagc of tl.e Ihip's provifion in the hold. He ihould take care to infped and air, while he remains in port, fuch parts of the fliip's (lores as evince a tendency to decay, the progrefs of which may be flopped by this precaution. He will neglefl no opportunity to procure frefli fi(h for his crews, and to renew his falted provi- fion by the means which have been put within his power, and in making ufe of the method which has been pradtifed with fuccefs by the navigators of later times who have travcrfed the great ocean. The SieurDe LaPeroufc is not uninformed, that one of the precautions, which contribute the mod eiFicacioufly to preferve the health of the feamen, is the continual attention to keep the Ihips and crews extremely clean. He will make ufe to this effecV. of all the known means, fuch as ventilators, fumigations, and per- himcs, to renew and purify the air of the holds H.tl '.Ji s 1 Si: ,r^ 111 l:i Jill:' i '-I XH , ,* LA TERO j^E 4 VOYAGE quantity of merchandize of every kind which conv poles the aiTortment, accommodated to the fancy of the illandcrs, with whom he will have occafioi^ to trade. But in communicating to the French commander the places for refrefhment and repofi^ ihat have already been frequented, attention is had to diredl him to arrive there by tracks, which have not hitherto been followed ; and in the num- ber of merchandize?, with which he has been fur- niilied, it has not been neglecfted to put up many of kinds which are not yet known in ihe illands he may touch at, in order that the natives of the country may know, that the nation which brings them, is a new nation to them, and one by which they have not yet been vifited. Different elements of calculation have been employed to eftimatc the duration of time in per- formins; the different runs. In the common fail- ing in open feas, it is fuppofed that the fliips with trade winds might run thirty leagues in 24 hours; twenty-five leagues only have been allowed to the i'ame fpace of time, for thofe parts where pru- dence requires the fliips fliould lie to a part ot the night ; twenty leagues only where the Ihip^ are on difcovery : and in this laft cafe, a cer- tain number of days are added for the time which is loft in reconnoitring and infpedting a coaft. It is from thefe data, that the time neceffary for mak- ing the runs, and remaining in port, has been «{limated ; but all thefe calculations may be in- lluenced by the circumftances of the fl^iips, tht events of the voyage, and unforefeen accidentv The total duration of the voyage will necet- farily exceed four years ; it would be impoflible in a fmaller fpace of time to fulfil all the obie& his Majefty has in view. The periodical returns C>f the different monfoons in the fame time, ta the i I This ditic' four total cuhu by t, Ihip thcr, of cv years wliicl point of M cure, The 1 two n Id's \\ will b If, and c\ all the roufe attenij the wc tions c The which the In \§i. :h com- ic fancy occafion I French ,d rcpofe mtion is s, which he num- 3een fur- put M\) .nown in that the he nation :hcm, and ; ifited. lave been me in per- nmon fail- Ihips with 24 hours; wed to the here pru- a part ot the Ihips |afe, a cei- ime which coaft. h •y for mak- has been lay be in- ihips, the accident^ [will necel- impoflibk [the object Gal returns le time, to the ROUND THK WORLD. It^ the north and fouth of the Hne, are data to wiiich the courfe is necclfarily fubje(5ted, and which inlinitely oppofe the navigation in the neighbouring feas of the archij)elagoes, and of the continent of Alia, by the obhgation the na- vigator tinds himlelf under of going into each tnu'l of lea, only when the winds are favourable. This confideration of the monfoons has required dirtercnt combinations, to accommodate the courlcs to it, without greatly augmenting the total duration of the voyage, lb that each parti- cular run Ihould not exceed the limits prefcribed by the quantity o( wood and water, which each Ihip can carry for her complement of men. Fur- ther, his Majeily's Ihips are furniflied with flores of every kind, more than ibfficient to laft a four years voyage, in adding the accidental refourcea which the accounts of modern navigators have pointed out, and which the forefight and adlivity of M. De La Peroufe will inftru<5t him how to pro- cure, at the different places where he may put in. The lall voyage of captain Cook lafted four years, two months, and twenty-two days ; and his vcf- fels were not provided as thofe of his Majefly will be. If, as there is reafon to expedl from the zeal and capacity of the commander of the expedition, all the objei^ls pointeti out in his inftrudions fhall have been fulfilled, the voyage of M. De La Pe- roufe will leave hereafter to navigators, who would attempt difcoveries, only the merit of giving to the wodd more circumflantial details of ibme por- tions of the globe. There remains to be made known the fteps which have been followed in the conilrudtion of the hydrographic charts, which will be put into ! ' I 2 the f >i] ^1 'hi ^ r ' all «•■%: ^m ■ ii W' i 1 -lit' ' ;'■«' ' !■ ■ I •' M li I : 1 :l I ■ '*: lii ,,■1- jtlij •|;|1 1 r ^, S'ljii .:,l:,^ ' ^ illiil . iii'li ill' 1 w r'H , , ■ , fl 1 III 11^ LA PEROUSE's VOYAeE the Iwinds of the commanders of the (hips, after his Majerty fhall have approved of them. Firft a chart of the fouthern ocean has been prepared, upon which are traced, from the journals of navigators, tlie courfes which have led them to difcovcrics ; and thofe are pointed out which yet remain to be made or verified. This chart lias been conftrudled from the beft French, Spanilh, EngliHi, and Dutch charts; and it has been fub- jedled to aftronomical obfervations, by which the pofitions of the principal points of the continents and illands have been determined. Tlie extent of the great ocean, commonly called the South Sea, or Pacific Ocean, has nc- ccffitated the divifion of it into three bands or zones, of which the firfl: contains the Aultral Ocean, or the fpace contained between the an- tar6tic circle, and the tr6pic of Capricorn. The fecond, the great Equatorial Ocean, or in- terval comprized between the two tropics. The third and lafl, the great Boreal Ocean, or the feas enclofed between the tropic of Cancer, and the arftic circle. As the courfes of M. De La Peroufe will not carry him beyond the fixtieth parallel of north and fouth latitude, it has been thought ufelefs to trace, on the charts prepared for his voyage, either the great Polar Boreal Ocean, or the great Polar Auftral Ocean. To accomplifli the laying down the chart of the Great Ocean, the journals of all the naviga- tors of this century, and of thofe of anterior pe- riods, who have navigated this fea, have been confulted. The plans of the details which they have given have been confulted, and by reducing their Icaie, they have been made to enter into this general ■'^M ROUND THE WORLD. II 7 iTcncrnl chart. The known tracks of all navi* oators, ancient and modern, arc traced thereon, in order to place under one point of view, the re- cent difcoveries, with thofe of former periods, and to prove in certain cafes, their identity. This general chart of the Great Ocean is the rcfult of all that navigators and geographers have produced up to this time. It will not be endea- voured to reprefent here in detail the various materials, which have been examined, and em- ployed j the mere enumeration would require a volume. All that remains to be done is, to join to. the King's inftruflions to M. De La Pcroufc a few geographical and hiflorical notes, upon feme parts which require to be more particu- larized, and there will be added to the two charts of the Southf^rn Atlantic Ocean and Great Oceany a colleClion of thirty-feven other charts, or ori- ginal manufcript plans, of the leaft frequented parts of thole feas. Extract from M. De La Plroiife's getieral In- Jiructions. 26th June, 17S5, HIS Majefly authorizes the Sieur De La Pe- roufe to grant fome months pay to the crews as a bounty, the quantity of which he will re- gulate according to circumftances : he will only obfcrvc, that the fum of fuch oounh>s, during the whole voyage, mufl not exceed one year's pay. Befides thefe bounties, which he will grant I 3 according 'if -*t ■i» J I 1 . 1 ?! ¥'^ ll8 LA PEROUSF/s VOYACR according to merit to the petty officers, failors, and foldicrs, he will give the two crews to undcr- fland, that it is the intention of his Majefty, that the pay of thofe who fliould die during the voyage, reckoning from the day of their deceafc, (hould be thrown into a mafs, to be diflribiitcd in gratification to the people compofing that crew, of whom the dcceafcd man made one ; and that the pay acquired unto the day of his death be accounted for to his family, as well as the va- lue of his clothes, if ihcy Ihould have becndiftri- buted, NOTES, GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL, To be added to fhcKing's Memoir Jcrx'hig os apar- ticidar injt ruction to Monficur De La Peroiifc^ Captain in the Kavij, commanding the Frigates La Boiiffolc, and. L'Ajirolahe. Southern Altantic OrEAN. Note I. The three funken rocks ^ fituatc to the fouth-fouth-weft of the ifland of St. Jag", one of the Cape de Verd iflands, as well as the French Beacon, and the breakers feen by the Caifar, in 1730* to the fouth-fouth-cafl of the jame ifland, are laid down after the Englifli chart ROUND THK WORLD. II9 of the Atlantic ocean, publilhed at London, ia lyyy, in four flieets *. 2. Peuncdo dc San Pedro. Its latitude, 0055' north, is conformable to that which Monficur DiiprC'S afiirnis to have obfcrved in 1750, in the riiip i.c Roiiillc. See Le Difcours du Neptune Orienfal of Monfieur Daprcs. He fixes its longitude at 29^^ o' weft of Paris, and he deduces it from the ditference of longitude known between the illand of Afcenlion and Pennedo, which he fixes at 1 2° 40'. But Monf. Dapres then calculated from an ob- fervation made in 1 754 by the Abbe De La Caille, that the illand of Afcenfion was in 15° 19' weft longitude; and as this longitude, verified and fixed by the obfervations of captain Cook, is 160 54', (fecond Voyage, vol. 2, page 276 of the original) it thence refults, that in admitting the difference of meridians, fuch as Monf. Dapres gives, between Pennedo de S. Pedro and the Ifland of Afcenfion, the longitude of Pennedo ought to be 29° 34' weft of Paris, and is that which has been adopted in the chart put into the hands of Monf. De La Peroufe. * This chart, for the part comprlfcd between the 14th and 47th degree of north latitude, is the copy and tranflation of that which was drawn up and publiflied by Fleurieu, and which] is added to his Foyage a differcntcs parties du inondc, Cc. Paris, impri?ncrie rojak, 1773,2 vol. quarto. (Fr.Ed.) I 4 Adc- J^ ! s ( ffT|f > w^ ' l^ » ' * •i 1 1 JM ii:1- 120 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE A defcription of Pennedo is found in Monf. DsLprh's Difcoiirs du Neplutie Ortoital, p. 189. 3, ThcJJwals and banks near the Line are placed after the inftrudion of the Neptune Orien- tal, page 9. The little IJle de Sable, or IJland of St. Paul, which was feen in the fame track, in 1 761, by the fhip le Vaillant, commanded by M. Bouvet, is laid down from Sailing Directions for the Eajl Indies, London, 1781, page 7. This pofition is con- formable, as to latitude, to that which has been given it upon the general chart, which is joined to the relation of the third voyage of captain Cook, o^ 25' fouth, but it differs in 35' as to longitude. Its longitude weft from Paris would be 21025', according to the Sailing Directions, which give it after the journal of M. Bouvet, but it is carried to 20° 45', in order that it may agree with the cor- redlion of Pennedo. See note 2. 5. IJland of Fernando de Noro7iha. This ifland is laid down conformably to the latitude and the longitude determined by captain Cook, Latitude - - - 3° 53' o" fouth. Longitude - - - 34 53 50 weft of Paris. See Cook's fecond. Voyage, vol. II, pages 278 and ^79 of the original. The diftance of this ifland from the ncareft part of the coaft of Brazil being fixed between fixty an(^ HOUND THE WORLD. I2X and fcventy leagues, according to the Portuguefe journals and the Spanilh chart of South America, publilhed by Cruz Cano y Olmedilla, in eight (heets, in 1775, the longitude of the coafl of Brazil may be confidered as determined ; and it has been made to conform to that of the Ifland of Noronha, by giving it 2 deg. | of difference to the weft. 6. The IJlandof St. Matthew was recognifed in 1725 by Garcia de Loaes or Loayfa, a Portuguefe captain, but it had been difcoyered 87 years be- fore that period. (Tratado dos Defcubrimentos^ isc. de Galvao, Lifbon, 1731, page 66.) It is placed according to the general chart of Cook's third Voyai^e. The pofition is uncertain, and that celebrated navigator has regr^rtted not having it in his power to determine it. — See Cook's fecond Voyage, vol. II, page 276 of the original. 7. The latitudes and the longitudes of the IJland of Fernando Po, Piince' s IJland, St. Thomas, and Annobon, are fixed, according to the obfervations made in 1779, by Don Varella, an olHcer in the Spaniih navy, as follows : Ifland of Fernando Po, C Latitude 3^ 28' north, St. Charles's Road, t Long. 6 30 well of Paris. Prince's Ifland, at the V Latitude i port - - - . I Longit. 5 St. Thomas's Ifland, C Latitude o at the port - - \ Longit. 4 Annobon Ifland, at the ^ Latitude i jiorth coaft Longit. 39 north. 2 weft. 20 north. 34 wefl:. 25 fouth, 25 well. According 1 !- rm if. ■i-'] i:: ■ ^y- : 1'P^ fit ■ \l Jl:''t|l"'l! I '- '>''t i'Sili i it i-, . Ik;,; .! ■■: : Ml LA PEROUSK S VOYAGE According to thefe lor Jtudes, thofe of Cape Verd, of Sierra Leona, the Iflcs dc Los, and of the Cape of Good Hope, where obfervations have in like manner been made, the pofitions of the different points have been regulated from the well coaft of Africa. 8. Afccnjion IJland, is laid down from the ob- fervations of Captain Cook : */fjji r 1- -n 1 C Latitude 8° o' Middle of the ifland < ^ , <, ^ r. . t Longit. i6 50 well of Pans. (Cook's fecond voyage^ vol. II, page 276 of the original.) According to the Abbe De La Caiile, the lati- tude would be only 7° 57', and the longitude, deduced from an emerfion of the firft fatellite of Jupiter, 16° 17', (fee Memoires de T Academic des Sciences for the year 1754, page 129) but it has been thought neceflary to adhere to the de- terminations of Cook, which are the refults of a great number of obfervations. There is to be found in the account of the fecond voyage (loco citato) a very particular defcription of Afcenfion ifland. 9. The IJland of St. Helena is alfo placed after the obfervations of Cook and thofe of Halley. Latitude 16° o' fouth, according to Hallev, At Foit James X Longit. 8. 1 1 weft of Paris, according to rjLatitude 10" X Longit. 8. L Cook. (Cook's fecond Voyage, vol, II, page 270 of the original.) 4 Accord irg ■ i ROUND THE WORLD. I23 ' According to Mr. Maflcelyne, aftronomer-royal at Greenwich, the latitude of the ifland of St. Helena is 15° 55', and its longitude, deduced from an obfervation made by him of the firft fatel- lite of Jupiter, would be 8° 9'. — (Britifh Mariner's Guide, 1763, in quarto.) 10. I/land of Trinidad. This ifland is placed, from its diftance to Cape Frio, on he coaft of Brazil, iuch as it is given by Monf. Dapres, [Difcoiirs du Neptune Oriental, page 10) from which it refults : , „ C Latitude 20° 25' fouth. ISorth coaft, \ a en - t Longit. 32 15 welt ot Pans. Ifle dos Picos is laid down according to the Dutch charts, fubjeding its pofition to that of Trinidad. 11. IJlands of Marfin-Vas, Thefc are three rocks which lie refpeftively to each other north and fouth, except the moft northerly, which is a little more to the weflward ; they do not occupy more than a mile in extent. — (Extract: from the Original Journal of Halle}/, printed in ihQ Collect io7i of Voyages in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, l\ij A. Dairy tuple, London, 1775, in quarto, page j-t^.) In the Journal de M. Lozicr Bouvet, (printed in French, ibid, page 7 of this journal) it is faid, that the fmall iflands of Martin Vas arc at eight leagues diftance, and bear ead i north of the If and of Trinidad. Their latitude is the fame as that pf this ifland, 12. The ') 'i !( »*■■ i-i '^^^-■^ m !h- -v/!' ■' ir'W 111' * > f }■" 1 ^ H 1 r 1 , 1 ■' i 1 ' I lii . i '. u4 124 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE 1 2. The I/land ofjfcejicaoii, on the coafl of Bra^ zil, is placed according to the notes of M. Daprcs, page 9 of Dif tours du Neptune Oriental: Latitude - - zo'^ 25' fouth Longitude - - 38 o weft of Paris. This pofition fuppofes, that its diflance from Cape Frio is 120 leagues, as M. Dapres fhews (ibid page 9). 1 3 . Hock dif covered in 1692, andfunken rock in 1701. Thefe dangers are placed after Mr. Dal- rymple's chart of the South Sea, which is to be found at the end of the work cited in the 1 1 th note. 14. IJlajid Saxenhiirgh. This illand was difcover- cd in 1670 by John Lindeflz Lindeman,a Dutch- man, in 30^* of fouth latitude, and about 22 de- grees of weft longitude from Paris, being aware of the change made in the pofition of the other iHands in the {^.mo, track of fea, with which navigators were led to place it by the bearings and diftances of their reckonings. — See Navigatiojis mix Terres Aiif- tralesy by the Prefident De BroiTes, vol. H, page 48. ' 15. Kattendyke is laid down according to Dal- rymple's chart belonging to the work cited in the 1 1 th note, and from the general chart of Cook's third Voyage. 16. IJlandsofTriJland'Aciinha. The rule fol- lowed for laying down thefe illand s is from the jnftrudion of M. Dapres (page 10 of Neptune Oriental) which fixes the latitude of them between it XOITND THE WORtD. I25 37^ 10' and 37^ 45'routh, and their longitude at 16^ 30' or 17 degrees weft of Paris, from a mean refult between the different courfes of feveral (hipSy which point out 34 degrees for the difference of longitude between thefe iflands and the Cape of Good Hope, which is 1 6° 3' 45" eaft of Paris. Halley fays, in his journal, that he has de- termined the latitude of the moft fouthcrly of thefe iflands to be 37" 25'fouth. — See page 41 of Ills journal in the work of Mr. Dalrymple, cited in note II. A defcription of thefe iflands is to be found fufficiently particularized in the inftrucflions of Xcplune Oriental^ by M. Dapres, page 10. Befide the anchorage of the north of the prin- cipal of the iflands of Triftan d'Acunha, marked in the chart put into the hands of M. De La Pe- roufe, it is further known (from the report of a navigator worthy of credit, whence the follow- ing particulars are learnt) that there is a kind of port or haven to the eaft of the fouthern point : this port is not vifible in running down the coaft, becaufe it is concealed from the view by great canes or reeds, which being thrown down and lying upon the furface of the water, crofs each other by certain winds, and totally maflc the en- trance of the port ; it may be half a mile in breadth. by three quarters of a mile in length ; its figure is very nearly that of a horfe ftioe. The water is found to ■ .tit'i. :|^ I*, fl f. 'iff 1 1 »*, M .'t'.'v J ■ Mil ■■IP hi- i-1' m 't Mil, 126 LA PEROUSE's voyage to be twenty-eight fathoms in the middle of the entrance, and fourteen near the fhore -, the depth of water is alfo fourteen fathom in the middle of the length, and ten fathom only at the head of the harbour ; the bottom is a black fand, and good holding ground. It is neceffary to obferve,that the fouthem point, that is to fay, that of the fouth weft of the ifland, is terminated by fome rocks or breakers, which run out near a quarter of a mile ; they are not laid down uponthe chart delivered toM. De LaPeroufe, becaufe it is a copy, without the leaft alteration, of the only plan known of thefe iflands, upon which thefe breakers are not laid down. 17. Ijland of Diego d' Alvarez. It is laid down after the general chart of Cook's Third Voijage, and by the illands of Triftan d'Acunha, preferving the bearing and diftance which this chart gives it from thefe lafl iflands. Latitude - - 38*^ 53' fouth. Longitude - - 13 o well of Paris. 1 8. Gougli's Ijland. So called from the name of an Englifli Eaft India Captain, who difcoveied it in 1715. In the New Directory for the Eafi Indies^ by W. Herbert, W. Nicholfon, and others, (5th edition, 1780, pages 371 and 372) it ap- pears, that Gough Illand is a high land, fituate in 40° 15' fouth latitude, and 1° 57' to the wefl of Greenwich, or 4^ 1 7' to the wefl of Paris. Cap- tain I point, : ifland, which lot laid 'eroufc, Ltion, of II which :i ROUND THE WORLD. flj tain Vincent, commanding the Ofterley, a fliip be- longing to the fame Company, aUb made Gough Ifland in 1758, in the latitude pointed out by him who difcovered it ; but he believes, according to his reckoning, that in placing it in i" 57' weft of Greenwich, it is carried a few degrees too far to the eaft. This illand is not known to French navigators, but, as it may be fallen in with by fliips, which, willing to go diredly to the Indies or to China, early in the feafon, without touching at the Cape of Good Hope, might keep in higher latitudes, in order afterwards to make the iflands of Saint Paul •ind Amfte'"dam, it will, without doubt, appear inte- rerting to determine its true pofition, and it h to be wiilied, that M. De La Perouie, who has the means of doing it, may be near enougli to give it his attention. 1 9. Ijle Grande of La Roche. This ifland i?. only to be placed by conjefture from the following account, which has been extracted and tranflatcd from the Span i Hi work entitled Defer ipcion geo- grapJiica y derrotero de la Region avjiral Ma- gallanieo, etc. par el Capltan don Franeifco de Seixas y Lovera; en Madrid, 1690 in ^to; fol. 29. " In the month of May, 1675, Anthony De I.a Roche, a Frenchman by birth*, then in the fer- A.I it VIQX * It is furely by mlftake that captain Cook, in the gene- ral intra Llu(fti on to his fecond Voyage, page xv. of the origi- nal. m ; M 'M ■% % -^ ■m ) >•< i'tm\ 1 I .-.<* .m 1 H; ; '. 1,1 ' ■ ■! ■':M .): I If' I ■< ■I'm '•V\ :i i- 128 LA PEROirSE*S VOTAGfi •« vice of the Englifh, returning from the ifland " of Chiloe, on the coaft of Chili, having doubled ** Cape Horn, and wilhing to enter into the South «' Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of le Maire, (it was " not known then that there was a channel to the «« eaft of Staten-Land) met with flrong wefterly •' winds and rapid currents, which carried him fo " far to tlie eaftward, that it was impolTible for " him to get hold of the land which forms the «' Strait of Magellan. The month of May was •* already far advanced ; the winter was beginning " in thefe climates, and la Roche began to de- fpair with regard to his voyage. His uneafinefs grew greater ftill when he faw unknown land " before him to the eaftward* ; he did all he could to approach and furvey it, and he fucceeded in fetching a bay, in which he anchored near a cape or a point of land, which ftretched to the *' fouth-eaft. Here he found twenty -eight, thirty, " and forty fathom water, fandy and rocky bot^ " torn : he diftinguilhed on the land, not far from " the coaft, fome mountains covered with fnow : *' h.e was expofed to very fqually weather, and nal, in fpeaking of Anthony La, Roche, reprefents him as an Englijb Merchant. 1 vol. z« 4to. Sec alfo A'sa-w Orkii- Bafileae, 1555, in fol. page 226 and following. K 2 ficcelfary \ -': . . :.1 w' i .':i ■Id lit ,; I if' I i ;;••'! ■>)H t t: 1 i^« J i Jji LA ri;n<1usr/s vovagil fiec^flary to obluve, tlin.t Vcfpucius, in fpcaking frf his courfe, piid no attention to the variation o( 4hc compafs, which, at the time of his voyage, tnuft needs have been, in thefc fcas, from 19 to 20 degrees eafl, and therefore this, which he calls a fouth-eaft coaft, ought to be confidcrcd as having been in fatft nearly a fouth-fouth-eaft courfe : con- feqtiently, on departing from the coaft of Bra- zil, in 32° o' of latitude, to crofs the parallel of 52" o' by a fouth-fouth-eaft courfe, the point of fed ion is found at about 44* o' to the weft of Paris, that is to fay a little to the weft of the fneridian, under which Ifle Grande is fuppofed to lie, and 140 leagues, or thereabouts, fouth, a little tveftward of this ifland. Vefpucius, being in this pofition, the third of April, was overtaken by a gale of wind, which obliged him to run under bare poles 5 he continued to run in this way till the 7th, ivhen he fell in with new land, which he coafted for the fpace of twenty leagues ; it appeared to him to be of difficult accefs, without harboui and without inhabitants. Seamen will agree, without any ftretch of imagination, on the probability, that during the four days that Vefpucius was driven to the northward by a violent fouth-wcft wind, he might run, though under bare poles, thirty-five leagues in every twenty-four hours ; and that he might confequently be driven as far as 45° o' of latitude, having fet out at 52° o'. What may ion o( ^oyagc, 19 to ; calls a having c : con- oi Bra- rallel of )oint of weft of t of the pofed to 1, a little g in this en by a ider bare the 7 th, coafted learcd to )0ui and without [ity, that riven to ind, he .irty-five that he What may ROUND THE WORLD. X33 may give to this opinion confidcrable weight is, that Vcfpucius faid, that in quitting the new land he judgal himfelf to be thirteen hundred leagues from the coaft of Ethiopia (from Sierra Lcona) where he landed the tenth of May following, and that to arrive there he conflantly fleered between a north and north-eaft courfe, therefore, Sierra Leona lies north-north -eaft two or three degrees cad of Ifle Grande, (according to its pofition in tiic chart given to M. Dc La Peroufe) and at twelve or thirteen hundred leagues diftance. After all, no ifland is known at this diftance from the coaft of Ethiopia, and in the diredion of north- north-eaft and fouth-fouth-weft, which can preient an uninterrupted continuance of twenty leagues of coaft i and as the veracity of Vefpucius, upon a faft of this nature, cannot be fufpecled, his tefti- mony ought to be regarded as an ancient proof of the exiftence of Ifle Grande, confirmed by the more recent accounts of Anthony De La Roche. 20. Terre or IJland of La Boche, by Cook deno- minated Georgia IJland. The preceding note has fliewn the epoch and the circumftances of the dif- covery of this ifland by Anthony De La Roche; but the relation that Seixas has left us does not point out the latitude ; wc only know that, to come from this land to Ifle Grande, which La Roche fell in with in 45° o', he ran twenty-four hours to the north-weft, and that a ftrong foutherly wind haci K 3 blown w ^ i 't% ' t It, ' ^*-t , ,f' 1 0 U-- f'M ^ 'i I i i :'' 1 m ■ I'M - n ■iis \ '11 til , "I'd' ■ ■ 1' ■I'll'" r 1 ; ■ 1 ' / tar' ;. 1- ' ! ii ii t34 LA PEROUSt's VOYAGE blown him for three days to the northward ; but it cannot be doubted, that the firft ifland or land which he difcovered was to the eaflward of Staten Ijland, and that this fame iiland had been re-difcovered,in 1 756, by M. Duclos Guyot, before captain Cook noticed it in 1775, and had deter- mined its polltion. M. Duclos Guyot, of St. Malo, commanded the Spanifh velTel the Lion, returning from Lima. He doubled Cape Horn, entered the Southern Atlantic Ocean and found himfelf to the eaftward of Staten Ifland. " The 28th of June, 1756,'* fays M. Duclos Guyot, " at nine o'clock in the morning, we thought we faw land ahead, though very dif- tant, appearing like clouds, and of an extraordi- nary height ; at that time we were ftanding " to the north-north-eaft. The hazinefs of the '* weather did not allow us to convince ourfelves of it i moreover, not fufpeding we could be nearer any land than the Malouines, which, accord- " ing \o our reckoning, bore weft-north-weft, " diftant 135 leagues, and finding ourfelves at noon to be in c^'^ 10' latitude by obfervation, andjn 52° 10' longitude, well of Paris, by our ** reckoning, we continued our courfe without regard to land. The 29th at noon having gotten fight of a little ifland before us, we put about, ^* and founded three hundred fathom, no ground. « At it. <( 1 n u kllr ''■ 'i III ■i'a m I 'if 138 LA PEROUSE's VOYAGE Guyot reduces to 40° 30' for the mod eafterly part he faw ; and he fixes the latitude of the moft fouthcrly part at 54"* 20'. Captain Cook lays down the Ifle de Saint Pierre {ox Georgia as he calls it) between 53"" 57' and 54° 57' of latitude, and between 40° 33' and 37° 54' longitude weft from Paris. (Cook's fecond voyage, vol. 11, page 218 of the original) It may be feen, that the pofition which M.Duclos Guyot affigned to this fame land is not very defedive, although he was unprovide with the neceflary means for determining the longitude with preci- fion; his error arifes from the length of the ifland only from eaft to weft, and there is no navigator who ought not to meet with it after the pofition he has given to it, efpecially if it be fought on the weft fide ; his error confifted in laying it down about*' 30 leagues too much to the weftward. M. l^uclos Guyot, in terminating what con- cerns his Ilie de Saint Pierre, fays, " thefe arc our beft authejiticated remarks, and we do not doubt, although we cannot afifert it pofitively, that there is other land to the ea/iivard of that which we have feen : every thing demonftrates it i fea-weeds, ice, fi flies, trees, and birds." — It was in the year 1756, that he exprefled-himfelf in this manner. 21. Samhvich Land., difcovered in 1775. It is placed on the chart from the journal and the cal- culation ROUND THE WORLD. I39 culatlon of captain Cook. See his fecond voyage, vol. II, page 222 and following, in the original. This land calls to recollection the Gulf of San Sebaftiano, and the land marked upon the ancient chart, fouth and fouth-eall of the Ttrre De La lioche. 22. Chriftmas Sound, upon the fouth-weft-coail of Terra del Fuego. See the chart and the jour- nal of Cook's lecond voyage, vol. ii, pages 277 and 1 98 of the original. f GREAT SOUTH SEA. 23. Drake's Ifland and Harbour, placed by geographers at a hundred and eighty, or two hundred leagues weft-fouth-weft of Cape Horn. There have been many accounts of Sir Francis Drake's voyage round the world, publiflied in England : they differ eflentially, one from the other, refpeding the pofition of the lands dif- covered by this celebrated navigator, after his paflage through the Straits of Magellan. According to the moll ancient of thefe ac- counts (that of Hackluyt, publilhed in his col- lection of voyages by EngUJlivien^ i) after Drake's fquadron was out of the Straits of Magellan, * The principal navigations, voyages, trafEques, and difcoveries of the Englilh nation, &c, London, 1598, 99, 1600; in fol. Vol. Ill, page 74.4. and 1?7-,'?i. .•.i- m- •i >i :- '1 ■'!'■ i '> ^1 I'i* 140 LA PEROUSh'b VOYAGE and had paflltl into thcvSouth Sea, the 6th of Sc])^ timber, 1578, his fhips flood to the north-well, for three days, after which the wind blew from the north-eafb with fo much violence, that they could only make a wefl-fouth-wefl courfc j they continued this courfe for the fpace of ten or twelve days, not having been able to carry much canvafs ; the heavinefs of the gale then obliged them to furl all, and they lay to under bare poles till the 24th of September. The fame day one of the fliips of the fleet parted company, the wind, which became more moderate, allowed the others to carry a little fail ; they flood to the north cafl feven days. They then difcovered fome iflands, towards which they flood in order to come to an anchor; but the weather frultratcd their purpofe: the wind (hifted to the north-wefl, and they made a weft-fouth-weft courfe. The day following, the ifl of Odober, the weather being very bad, a fecond fhip parted from the fleet, and the admiral was left alone. Drake ran then to 57 deg. of latitude, where he anchored, in the harbour of an ifland, within gunfhot of the Ihore, in twenty fathom water. He flaid there three or four days j and the wind having flown round to the fouth, he weighed anchor, and ftood to the northward, for the fpace of two days. He then difcovered a little ifland, inhabited, under which he lay to, in order to fend ROUNt) THE VVORLD.' 14! lend a boat off, which returned with a great many birds, feals, ^c. Another account pubHflied by Purchas, in his nackluytiis pojlhumus*, is thus cxprcfled. The 7th of September, 1578, Drake was over- taken by a tempefl, which drove him from the weft entrance of the Straits of Magellan, more than two hundred leagues in longitude, and car- ried him a degree to the fouth of the ftraits. Thence he ran to the 57th degree of fouth lati* tude, where he met with a number of iflands, among which he anchored, and which furnilhed him with very good water, and excellent herbs. He difcovered another bay, where he found naked inhabitants, who ufed canoes, and held communications from one iHand to another; he made feveral exchanges with them. At length, quitting this bay,and ftanding to the northward, he, on the 3d of Occobcr-j-, met with three iilands, of which one was remarkable for t'le prodigious quantity of birds he tound there, nnd which furpafs, fays the narrator, whatever can be conceived, Stc. "^ IIackln\ius pnj^himus, or Purchas hib Pilgrims, &c. Lon- tinn, 1625, in fol. \'ol. I, page 50, of the Circum-naviga- '.K'ni ui" the Globe. I This (late is evicicntly falfe : it i: probable that it is a {.'lult in the printing of the origm^il ; and that it is neceflary" ts p.-aJ the 30th, inilcad of the 3d. The "If f'H m ■^lm I , ... I : ;■' 't«' i' ""f "i. III -""'III' l«:U 1 { I i •Ji !2 ,r fc ■ ■■■ If ' 14Z tA PRROUSE*S VoVagE The third relation is that of Francis Fletcher*, employed in the expedition, and aboard the fame (hip with Drake, in quality of chaplain. This is conformable but in a fmall degree with the two former ; but it is the account of an eye witnefs, of a man who ought not to be devoid of inflrudion ; on the other hand we are igno- rant as to the authority on which the oUiers are founded ; and as an ocular witnefs, Fletcher appeared to us to deferve mod belief: befides, we find in his recital a concordance as to fads, a narrative regularly followed up by the events of Drake's voyage, which are not met with in the two other accounts. According to Fletcher, in the beginning of September, 1578, Drake was near the opening of the Straits of Magellan, in the South Sea: arrived at this point, he faw nothing but iflands, among which it was impoflible for him to dif- tinguiih the real channel. He anchored at one of the iflands on the fouth fide ; he went him- felf, in a boat for difcovery, and he fatisfied him- felf, that the pafTage was open to the north. After having vifited this ifland, and converfed with the inhabitants, he put to fea again, and on the 6 th of September he was clear of the • T/je nvcrU evcotnpajfed by Sir Francis Drake, colleSled out of the Notes of Mr. Francis Fletcher y preacher in this emplomsnt, and others f ijc. London, Nic. Bourne, 1652, in 4to. land. ^ ,:h^ ROUND THE WORLD. I4J land. He much regretted not having been abl« to land at the laft of the points which he dif- covered in entering into the South Sea ; he dc- iircd to leave a" teflimony there of his having taken poflcflion of it j but he faw no place pro- per to difembark at, and the wind did not allow him to wait. The 7th he was overtaken by a violent tem- peft, which occafioned him to be drifted to the ibuth, as far as 57 degrees of latitude, without his being able to difcover any land: here one of rhe (hips parted from the fleet. The weather afterwards allowed him to (land to the northward, and, the 7th of OAober he :inchored in a bay, a little to the north of this lame point (which muft be Cape Pillar,) where, the 7 th of September, he regretted not being able to leave fome proof that he had taken pofleffion of the fpot. A fecond gale of wind drove him from this anchorage, where he left his anchors ; at this time the rear admiral parted company in the gale, re- entered the flraits, and getting again into the At- lantic Ocean, arrived in England the 2nd of June ibllowing: this circumflance occafioned him to give to the anchorage ground, which he quitted, tJie name of Bay of the Separation of Friends. Drake drifted, this fecond time, as far as 55 de- grees of latitude ; and, in this parallel, he found I himfclf, * «■> • M \rr^ _ [| ■< -• • 1 ' i 1 1 , .' 1 ■}' ' i i i ''1- ! ' ■) P^l If ;,-'iR I 1 ;'■ 1 r i 1 t if- !; i; '■: I i *'' ' k ■ 'i ;>i ; ijl' 1 1! 144 ' LA PKROUsfe S VOYAGE himfelf, Co fays tlie account, among the iflamls (ituate to the fouth of America, of which men- tion had been made as foon as he entered into the Great Sea, and which form, with the conti- nent, the outlet of the flraits. He anchored at thefe iflands, and got two days re II : he filled water, and found herbs, the ufe of which was highly falutary to his crew. A third gale forced him to fca : it was inij^of- fible he could carry any fail, and the coaft, to leeward, prefented nothing but rocks and dan- gers. Happily, at fome leagues to the fouthward of the former anchorage, he fucceedcd fo far as to find another, ftill among the fame iHands. It was here that he! faw the natives of theie places faihng from one ifland to another, with their wives and children ; and he made fome exchanges by way of traffic with them. After three days, a fotirth gale furprizcd him at anchor, and forced him to cut the cable. He gave himfelf up to the fea again, until at laft, fays Fletcher, the 28th of Oftoberj "we reached the ** moft foutherly parts of thefe iflands, and thus " difcovered the extremity of America, the near- ** eft to the pole." This extremity, adds he, is fituate near to the 56th degree of latitude, {it is Cape Horn): beyond it there exills no con- tinent, no ifland i here the two feas me&t. 4 Drake ??• ■■f W/J ROtTNt) THE WORLD, I45 Drake gave all the iflands which he had i'ccn. after his paflage through the ftraits, even to ihc mod foutherly, the name of Elizabeth ides fflarids. Fletcher obfcrves, that, at this laft ifland, there were only two hours night i and as the fun was then fcven degrees from the tropic of Capricorn, it may be concluded, fays he, that the day that this luminary pafles the tropical circle, there ought to be no night. This conclufion proves^ that Fletcher was very ignorant of aftronomy : all the world knows, that> to have no night, the day of the folftice, it is ncceflary to be fituatc under the polar circle, that is to fay, at 66^ 32'j and Fletcher has juft ftiid, that he Was only at 56 degrees of latitude. It is notwith- ftanding from this error, that fome geographers have been led, to place the land, thus difcovercd bv Drake, under the antarctic circle. Drake, after being two days at this lad an- chorage, made fail diredly to the north-well ; and, the following day, he met with two iflands very abundant in birds : he (lopped there a little time 5 and the ifl of November he purl'ued his courfe to the north-weft, &c. After having examined, with attention, the fadls which Fletcher's narrative furnilhes, it is impoflible to do otherwife than conclude, that the land, which geographers have called Di^ake's Landf is only the wefterly part of the Terra Vol. I. L del fl.'" I'/e-H i^n 1 ■i ^-% r- 1 -•> , •£ t ;, ^ il ' !*-:<, .^i:i }t 1 1^^', 'iii t 1 ''. '■ ! !■ ! I r. |.|6 I A Pr.ROUSE*S VOYAGE del Fnegn ; that, the 28th of Odlobcr, Drake arrived at the iflands of Cape Horn ; and that, the next day, flanding again to the north- weft, he met with fome of thofe numberlcl; iflands, which compofe the archipelago of the Terra del Fiics^o. Although it may thus appear to be proved, that ihe pretended Drake's Land does not cxiil, there has been an unwillingnefs, notwitliflanding, to efface it from the charts : almoft all the gen- graphcrs, except thofe who have carried it either to 60 degrees of latitude, or under the polar circle, have placed it about a hundred and eighty leagues to the weft-fouth-weft of Cape Horn, or 10 degrees to the weft of the longitude of the mouth of the ftrait, and in the 57th dcg, of fouth latitude. It is not to be doubted, but that, if the wea- ther fhould favour M. De La Peroufe, he will one day furnifti a verification, which will be ufeful in deftroying a geographic error without its recurring again. Cook, in 1769, and Fur- neaux, in 1775, followed tracks, which, if this Drake's Land exifted at the place which geogra- phers have affigned. it, would have put it in the power of thefe navigators, if not of feeing it, at leaft of obferving fome fign, fome indication of land ; and it is well known, that neither one nor the other perceived any. .24. Tare proved, Dt cxift, landing, the gen- it eitlKV he polar .Ired and of Cape longitude 57 th dcg. ROUND THE WOULD. I47 24. Tcrrc (/(' Theodore Gerard. Theodore Gerard, one of the firfl: Dutch navigators, who liave made a voyage in the Great Ocean, was carried by a ftorm, in 1599, as far as 64 degrees of fouth latituile, where he difcovered a moun- tainous land, covered with fnovv, the afpcd of which appeared to liim the fame as that of Nor- way* : it is placed 16 degrees to the wed of the meridian of Cape Horn. 25. Land liiid to have been fecn by the Spa- niards, in I 7 1 4. To }irove the exigence, and pretty nearly fix the polition of this land, the annexed account has been followed, taken from a " Memoire pour la France, fervant a la D^jcouverte des Terres Auf- tralcs," by a Teaman 6f Saint Malo, named Ber- nard Dc La Harpe'-f . " In 1714, the captain of a Spanifli brigan- " tine left Callao to go to the ifland of Chiloe, " and being in 3S degrees of fouth latitude, and " at live hundred and fifty leagues (Spanifli, 17;. " to a degree) to the wefl of Chili, difcovered an elevated land that he coafled a whole day j f: % u * T>a]rymlk''s HiftoricalCoUeBion rtf Voyages, and Difcoverics London, 1770, in 410, vol. I, page 94. t Pruned at Rcnnes, chez Vatar, 1 5 pages in 410. See ^\\o the Mt'moire de Pingr'.y fur le choix et Vet at dc lieux pour ie ppjptgc dc Tenus du -^ Jttin 1769; Paris, Cavelier, 1767, 4to. (i ' he .K: W% i 1 ■.: I ;f; (1 r^ : I'; - ■ 1 JM •■' ! i C( «C <( £R0USe's voyage he judged by the fires he obferved during tlie night, that it mufh be inhabited. Contrary winds having obliged him to put in at Concep- ttoiiy he found there a fhip called the Fran- gaisy commanded by M. Du Frefne- Marion, who affirms he has feert the journal of the Spa- nifli captain, and has read the fa(5t which has " juft been related." Thele iilands are placed on the chart of the Great South Sea, in 38 degrees of fouth latitude, and between 108 and 109 degrees of weft lon- gitude. This pofition agrees with the opinion of captain Cook. See his feqond voyage, vol. II, page 274, of the original. Thefe iilands call to recollection the dif- covery attributed to Juan Fernandez, a SpaniHi pilot, under the name of Terres De Juan Per- nandezy which the charts lay down to the weft of Chili. This navigator died without havin.i; pointed out the latitude and longitude of his difcovery : it is only known, that, about the year 1576, he ran 40 deg. to the weft of the coafc of Chili, having fteered weft, and fouth-wed, and after a month and half of navigation, he reached aland, which he defcribed as being a vaft continent. This diftance of 40 degrees of lon- gitude, to the weft of the coafts of Chili, is no: far removed from that, where the land laid to have been difcovered by the Spaniards, in 1714- ROUND THE WORLD. I49 is placed. See, for the land feen by Juan Fer- nandez, Dalrymple*s Hiflorical Collctflion of Voyages and Difcoverics, vol. I, page 53; and the Voyages tranflated from Dalrymple by M. De Freville, page 125. 26. Ifle De Paque, or Eaftcr liland. This ifland, difcovered in 1722, by Roggeweln, a Dutchman, was Icen and vlfited, in 1774, by captain Cook, who determined the pofition of it. See his fecond voyage, vol. i, page 276, of the original. The Spaniards touched at Eafler Illand, the i6th of November, 1770, and called it San Carlos^ or Saint Charles. There is added to the colledlion of charts, with which M. De La Pe- roufe is furniflied, the plan which the Spanifli fhips had taken of this ifland, round which their boats made a tour. They place it in 27° 6' fouth ladtude, and 268'' 19' from the meridian of Tene- riffe, or 1 10° 41' weft of Paris; that is to fay, they have carried it too far to the eaft, by about one degree and half. The variation of the compafs there, according io the Spaniards, in 1770, was 2° 30' caft. 27. Iflands faid to have been feen by the Spa- niards, in 1773, in 32 degrees of fouth latitude, and 130 degrees weft of Paris. This pofition is the fame which is given from t!ie account of M. Croizet, captain of a P'rench L 3 ihips ^'V ' '^ (i .,:■:? ':i \ r-il m MM i I iA i ill ) '' IM m P|; ■,:.M ISO LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE iTiip; and is that which captain Cook had adopt- ed. See his fecond voyage, vol. II, page 267, of the original. It appears, however, that this pofition may be difputed i and upon the following grounds : It was at their return from Otaheite, in 1773, that the Spanlfh fliips difcovered the iHands fitu- ate in 32 degrees of latitude; and it is highly probable, that the longitude they afllgned to thefe iflands, (with which M. Croizet had been acquainted) is affcfted with the fame error they made as to the longitude they affigned to Otaheite. By the extratfl of their voyage to this iHand, communicated to one of M. Survillc's officers, during their flay at Lima, it may be feen, that the Spaniards have placed the ifland of Otaheu«. -, which they called Ijla D'Amat*, in 1^° 2(^ -at' .ide, and in 233*^32' of longitude -eaft from the meridian of Tcneriffe, which an- fwers to 145° 28' of longitude weft of Paris. Now the longitude of this ifland has been detei- mined, by the numerous obfervations of captain Cook and the Englilh aftronomers, at 151^ 52' weft of Paris : the pofition given by the Spa- niards is thus an error of 6° 24' towards tl;c eaft. * From the name of the Vice-roy of Peru, who ordered the expedition. If -"X. 15^ ROUKD THE WORLD. If the longitude of the iflands difcover^d, at 32 degrees of latitude, be affedled by the fame miftake, they ought to be laid down in 136® 24' weft of Paris, inftead of 130 degrees, very near- ly under the fame meridian that Pitcairn IHand is placed. It is obfervable, neverthelefs, that captain ^ iok has followed this meridian in his fecond voyage, without perceiving any thing; he per- ceived nothing in his firfl voyage in croffing the parallels of 128 and 129 degrees of longitude: but there is flill between thefe two courfes a fpace of eight degrees, from eaft to weft, not failed through, in which it is to be hoped the iflands difcoveredby the Spaniards, in 1773, ^^S^ degrees of latitude, may be again feen. A general remark may be made, that all the ancient difcoveries of the Spaniards, and which there have been opportunities to verify, have been found fituate much farther to the weft than they had reprefented them to be ; and up to the prefent time their modern difcoveries in the Great Ocean ap]_)car affeded by an error on the fame fide. Captain Cook being in the latitude of thefe iflands, and very near under the meridian th.ey are wont to be placed on after the corrc(5lioi> above pointed out, that is to fay, 3.:!^ 30' lali- tude, and 133° 40' w^eft of the meridian of L 4 (jrecuwicii. 't>\i ?i.'t»S| I '" 0 ] ;i [i t, -J f */!■ 'V./h *./ I n 'T 1'; ■■ <}i I 1^ ni Is ■■« 152 LA pfrousl's voyage Greenwich, or 136" weft of Paris, makes an ob« fcrvation deferving mention. ** This day, fays he, (iid July, 1773,) was ** remarkable, by our not feeing a fmgle bird. ** Not one had pafled fmce we left; the land, ** (New Zealand) without feeing fome of the fol- <' lowing birds, viz. albatrofles, Iheerwaters, pin- ** tadoes, blue petrels, and Port Egmont hens. ** But thefe frequent every part of the Southern ** Ocean in the higher latitudes ; not a bird, nor •* any other thing was fcen, that could induce us ** to think that we had ever been in the neigh- ** bourhood of any land." (Cook's fecond voyage, vol. I, page 135, of the original.) This obfervatlon might induce a belief, that there is but little hope to find the illands or land feen by the Spaniards in 32 degrees of latitude, in looking for them in the longitude of 136 degrees well of Paris, fmce captain Cook being under this meridian, and nearly in the fuppofed parallel of thefe iflands, faw not a bird, not a figa of land. There is no foundation, however, for calling their exifccnce in queflion ; and after having given the realbns which leave a great un- certainty upon their true pofition, there remains only to rely on M. De La Peroufe for taking thefe reafons into confideration, in the refearch he will make after them. It mufl be obferved, in concluding this article, that it is very probable they •ROUND THE WOULD. I53 they are more weftward than 136^ c weft of Paris, fince the Spaniards fell in with them in coming from Otaheite to Peru : and it would have been neccflary, that they fhould make more than a good fouth-eaft courfe, with the trade winds fouth of the line, in order that they (hould run down 22° o' of eaft longitude, wliiJc making only 14^ degrees of latitude. (A-~'''-i .^■Sf GREAT EQUATORIAL OCEAN. 28. Iflands of the South Sea, or of the Great Equatorial Ocean, between the 26th, and the loth degree of fouth latitude, and the fpace cora- prifed between the 130th degree of longitude, weft, and the 170th eaft of Pari;'. For all the iflands contained within thefe li- mits there is occafion only to refer M. De La Peroufe to the accounts of the voyages of By- ron, Bougainville, Carteret, Wallis, Furncaux, and Cook; he will find in them all the geogra- phical, phyfical, and hiftorical details, which may be ufcful to him in fearching for foms of thefe iflands, and in the ftay that he may be dif- pofeJ to make there. AVith regard to the an- ciently difcovered iflands in the fame feas, by Mcndana, in 1567, and 1595, Quiros and Tor- rez, in 1606, Le Maire and Schouten, in 161 6, Abel Tafman, 'm 1642, and Roggewein, in 1722, they % IP !fc ■':,t i 'W ;i 1 '^'i k 1$' ' . -•1 ;i: 154 LA PEROUSE's voyage they have all been inferted in the chart of the Great Equatorial Ocean, which has been delivered to M. De La Peroufe for his voyage, conform- ably to the indications which may be drawn from the original narratives publifhed concerning the difcoveries of thefe navigators. The pofitions given to them on the chart differ much, how- ever, from thofe which had been affigned from thofc very narratives ; but the proved identity of fome of thefe iilands with thofc which have been recognized by modern navigators, having contributed to reftify many of the ancient de- terminations, ufe has bech made of fome of thefe re^fVified points, as foundations to corred one after another, and, at lead in part, the pofitions of fome other anciently difcovered iflands, which have not y^t been again found : there are however, many refpecling which great uncertainty remains, becaufe the journals of an- cient' navigators are fo devoid of obfervations and of dates, fo flerile in nautical fadls, that there can often be drawn from them only un- fatisfadory conjedlures ; their filence about the jnoft interefting circumftances of the voyage iome- times deprives the geographer of all means of combination, of all comparifon with other jour- nals, whence lights might be drawn as a guidance through the obfcurity. Tlic ll M ■f : ROUND THE WORLD. I55 Tlie courfes indicated, and the difcoverics made by thefe ancient navigators, will here be fumma- rily traced, as far as they can be deduced from the relations which have appeared to merit the mod confidence. It is much to be defircd, that chance and happy combinations may enable his Ma- jcfty's fliips to meet fome of the iflands thuslofl to navigation ; which, while offering them, in the courfe of their difcoveries, refources in the ncceflaries of life and refreiliments, mav alfo contribute to the extenfion of human knowledge. I. J'/ie Vol/ age of Magellan^, {i c,i().) From the flrait to which this navigator gave his name, he flood weft-north-weil as far as the equator, which he crofled at 9858 miles from the ftrai*", and near the 170th degree of longitude eaftfrom Paris ; in this long run he difcovered only two little defert iflands, at the diftance of 200 leagues from each other, viz. San Pedro, in 18 or 19 degrees of fouth latitude ; de los Tiburons, in 14 or 15 degrees of fouth latitude. Thefe iflands which Magellan called by a general name Unhappy //lands', areftill unknown; and they are not marked upon the chart of the Great Equatorial * See the voyage and navigation from the Molucca Jflands, by the Spaniards, delcribed by Anthony Pigaphct- I'i i Rainufio's Colledion , Dicaa'as da Jjia, — Je Barros r Cento i^-— Navigations aux icrrcs auflrrJcs, by De BroJP:( y — Palryniple's Hiftorical Colleclion, anJ others. 4. Ocean V I I ■ M \ \ ^ ■i ti I A »1 '.1 St.!* m 'i'i%«\\ . ill ';!']!■ ;C*I ' lull 1 "4 i rsi 1. 111 '1 ■,* 156 LA ?EROUSE*S VOYAGE Ocean, becaufe their pofition is not pointed out in a manner fufficiently precife. Of all the iflands difcovered fince Magellan, there is only Cook's ASavage JJland, and Bougainville's Enfant Perdif, which can reprcfent to us the two Unhappy IJlands: they are 200 leagues from each other, like thefe, and nearly in their latitude} Savage Ifland is in 19° I ' latitude, and 172° 30' weft longitude from the meridian of Paris : U Enfant Perdu, in 14° 6' of latitude, and 179" z' eaft longitude. 2. The Voyage of Mendana*, i^S^l-) F^oi^ Callao, a port of Lima, Mendana ftood to the weftward, and made a run of 1450 leagues, (Spa- nifli of 1 ji to a degree) without finding land. He difcovered then : Jefus Ifland, a fmall one, inhabited, latitude fouth, 6° 15'. Candlemas Shoals, a reef of rocks with many little iflands; the middle in 6° 15' of fouth lati- tude, and 170 leagues from Jefus Ifland. Ifabella Ifland, 95 leagues in length, and 20 in breadth, of which the fouth-eaft point is in 9^ o' of latitude, and the north-weft in 7° 30'. They anchored in a harbour which is on the north * Geographia Indiana de Herrera. — ^^Hijforia de las India;, Lopes V2i%.^^—^N alligations aux ierres aujirales, by De Broffes. — — Dalrymple's Hiflorical CoWt^Ciow.'^Dccciivertes dans .i msr du Sudy etc. ROUND THE WORLD." t^J fide, and a brigantinc, which was fent thence on difcovery, found the iflands following: Malaita, thus called by the Indians, a large ifland, fourteen leagues eaftward of a great bay, in 8 degrees of latitude. La Galera, a little ifland of five leagues cir- cumference, furrounded by reefs. Buona-Vifta, twelve leagues in circumference, in 9° 30' of latitude. La Florida, twenty-five leagues in circum- ference, in 9° 30' of latitude. San Dimas, '\ forming a chain which ex- Saint Germain, V tends eaft and weft with Flo- La Guadelupa, } rida. Sefarga, in 9° 30' of latitude, a round ifland, of eight leagues circumference, with a volcano in the middle. Guadalcanar, a very extenfive land, with a good harbour. Saint George, near IfabcUa Ilk ad, from which it is feparated only by a channel ; a good har- bour, and pearls were found there. Saint Chriftopher, a narrow and mountainous ifland, with a good harbour, in n degrees of latitude. ^ two little iflands to the Saint Catherine, f eaft of St. Chriftopher, three Saint Anne, (leagues diftant from each other. it ) !' There II - ' ■ -il ^/f-ii;' m^n ■M\ j. : : , ,' Pj 1 .i : I 'Hi;;! ^ri' 4:. : I' 5' tli 1 158 lA perouse's voyage There is a good harbour on the caflcrn Ihorc of the latter. Bcfidc thefc idands, cited in the relation of Chriftophcr Suarez Dc Figueroa, many others are to be found, named in the defcriptions of Herrera, and De Bry, and which may be k^n alfo upon ancient charts; fuch as Saint Nicolas, Arrccifes, Saint Mark, Saint Jerome, &c. All thefe iflands, fince known under the name of Solomoii's Jjlands^ ajvpear to be the Tcrres Des Arfacidcs, difcovered by Survillc, comm;uid- ing the fliip Saint -Jean- Baptiflc, in 1769. 3d. Menda7ufsJecondvojjage*y (anno 1596.) From Payta, o\\ the coaft of Peru, he fleered weft, as far as 1000 leagues from the coafl-, without feeing land. Difcovery was then made, as follows : The Marquefas of Mendoca, between nine and ten degrees of fouth latitude, four iflands which were called La Magdaletia, San Fedro, La Do- muu'cay and Sanla Clirijlina ; in the wcftern part of this laft was found a good harbour, which was called Madre de Dios. (They have been again found in 1774 by capt. Cook.) The iflands of San Bernardo in 10° 43' latitude, and 1400 leagues from Lima, four little low iflands, * Na^i^'igatiotis aux ierre.s auftrahs,' ——Dn-owvcrtes dans le Mcr an Sud. -HiHorieal Golleflion* fand 1,. ROUND THE WORLD. J y) HukIv, and defeiulcd bv a reef of rocks. The circuit round all of them may be eight leagues. (It appears that thefe are the fame idands which were feen in i 765 by commodore Byron, who de- nominated them I/lands of Danger ; and it is after the reckoning of his courfe that they have been laid down in the chart in 10^ 51' of latitude, and 1690 30' of wed longitude from Paris.) La Solitaria, in 10° 40' of latitude, and 1535 leagues from Lima, a little round ifland, a league in circuit. — (It has not been feen fince, but its pofition, deduced from itsdiflance from the iilands of San Bernardo and Santa Cruz, appears fufficicntly cxad ; it is m 10^ 40' latitude, and 178^ 20' well longitude.) The iilandofSanta Cruz, a large iriand, with a good harbour for anchoring, in 10' 20' of latitude, and at 1850 leagues from Lima. It was again feen in 1768 by captain Carteret, who called it Egmont J/laud,m:ik\ng a part of Queen Charlotte's Iflandsj and it is according to the track of this navigator, that it has been laid down in the chart in eleven degrees of latitude, and i6i<3 ^^' of eaft longi- tude. 4th. Voyage of ^uiros andTorrez, (anno 1606.) From Callao, they fteered fouth-wefl and well as far as a thoufand leagues from the coafhof Peru, without feeing land. They difcovercd afterwards as follow ; Eiicar* •1 •;" 11! '»: fij Ha I, r^ } Ik . . r' \ i.:- '"'f 0 , ^ ' 1' if, ' . i^ -if'i-' .' UuiW. i6o LA plrouse's voyage EncarnacinUi in 25° of fouth latitude, and at t thouf'and leagues from Peru, a little ifland four leagues round, and fo low, that it is fcarcely per- ceptible above the water. San Juan BaptiflOy an ifland twelve leagues in circumference, very high land, two days and a half fail from Encarnacion Ifland, to the wefl« ward. San ElinOy fix days fliil from San Juan Bap- tifta; an ifland tliirty leagues in circumference, furroundcd by a reef of coral; the middle of the ifland is covered by the fca. Las Qua fro Coronas. Four inacceflible iflands, a day*s fail from San Elmo. San Mi^ucl^ at four leagues diftance from Quatro Coronas, to the weft-north-wefl: ; it is ten leagues in circumference, and lies north and fouth. La Converjion dc San PdiilOy to the wefl- north -weft of San Miguel, half a day*s fail. La DezanOy four days fail from Convcrflon dc San Paulo ; about the latitude of 18° 40' La Sagatariay one day's fail from Dezana; a large ifland, the north-weft point of which is in 1 7° 40' of latitude. Information was gained at this ifland, tliat there was other land to the weft- ward . There Is great reafon to believe, that the Saga- taria of Quiros is the fame ifland as Otaheite : 5 the 'f' Round the world. iCi \\\ii latitude, the bearing of the coiifl:, that was Vun down the hind I'poken of, to the well of the S.igatariii, perfectly agree with the ifland of Otaheite. La Dezana, of Quiros, will, in confe- qucncc, be the ifland of Ofnaburg of Wallis, the Boudoir of Bougainville, the Ifland Maitea of Cook, ewaft-fouth-eafL* of Otaheite. For the other iflands which precede La De- zana, it appears, that they liave not yet been known. Cook thinks that Fitcairn Ifland, dif- covcrcd by Carteret, is the Ifland of- San Juan Eai)tin:a, of Quiros; but the difference of fize docs not permit the adoption of that opinion. San Juan Baptiila is twelve leagues in circum- ference, and Pitcairn is only three: befidcs,^ the tliftance of a thoufand leagues, from the Encar- * It may be fccn by thefe dlfrovcrles of Quiros, that there mud be a chain of confiderable ifiands fouth-routh-ean:, and fouth-caft of Otaheite, which may Itretch much further to the fouthward, even to the 3 2d degree, where wc know the Spaniard^; faw iflands in 1773. If very ancient charts nii?ht be cited at this time, and regard paid to them, a bdief might be entertained that the contineul which they reprefent to have been difcovcred by Fernand Galiego, and extending itfelf to the wcll-north-weft, and north-wcil from Cape Horn, to New Guinea ; is nothing clfe than tliis chain of iilands, which extend further in the fouth-eaft, than the point where the difcoveries of Qiiiroi commenced ; it would be found further weft, than the firft track of captain Cook, in a fpacc of fca which has not been vjfited ia thefe latter times. Vol. L M nacion it 41 vr ' ij '-fH 1 ! M^ i..v:h.: t i '. ■■ >"v ts' m m :! I i 162 LA fEROrSE*S VOYAGE nacion of Quiros to the coafts of Peru, would place this ifland io the well of Pitcairn, by fome degrees, and To much more the Ifland of San Juan Baptifta ; which is two days fail to the wel: of Encarnacion, as before fliown. It is to be ob-= ferved, that the Marqucfas of Mendoca, which, are placed at 6" o' to the weft of Pitcairn, were pointed out by Mendana as at 1000 league-, from the coaft of Peru. According to Dalrymple [Ilijiorical Collection^ voL I, page 5,) the Ifland of San Juan Bap tifta, xvould be in 26° o' of latitude, and that of Sai> Elmo, in 28° o'.- However it may bc\ it is in the fouth-eaft of Otaheite, that the an- cient illands of Quiros muft be looked for. Taking his departure from Sagataria, and con- tinuing his courfc to the weft, Quiros difcovered the following iflands. La Fifgiliva, two days, or two days and half fail from Sagataria. It was perceived in the north- eaftj but being too flir to leeward, they could not land there. El Fcregri7io, one day's fail from LaFugitiva. Here alio they did not land on account of the wind. (It ii not very eafy to know where to place thcfe two iilands, unlcfs they are fuppofed to be fome of the Society Iflands, or others yet un^ known, north-euft of thofe). ' ) ROUND THE WORLD. 1 6^ San Bernardo, fix days fail from the Ifland of Peregrino, and in lo" 30' fouth latitude ; a level illand, fix leagues in circumference) and of which a fait water lake, or ihe fea, occupies the centre. . (This ifland muft not be confounded with thofe of San Bernardo, difcovered by Mendana, and which were four in number. Moreover, Quiros, in a memorial prefentcd to Philip the Third, King of Spain, makes no mention of the hland of San Bernardo, and he cites Nuejlra St'nora Del Socorro^ as the name of the Ifland vvhich immediately follows Peregrino : it ap* peared uninhabitable). (rcntc llcrmcfa^ or Handfome Nation, fcven days fail from the liland of San Bernardo, and in the fame latitude as Mendana's Ifland of Santa Cruz, viz. in 1 1° o' fcuth latitude : fix leagues in circumference, on which the inhabi- tants were the faireft and handfomeft to be fcen 111 thofe feas ; the women in particular were of iare beauty, and clothed in a light covering. In the above cited memorial of Quiros, the name of Gente Hermofa is not to be found, but inflead of it, that of Monterey, who was viceroy of Mexico). TauinogOj at tliirty-thrce days fail from thg Ifland of the Handfome Nation, and almoft in the parallel of the Ifland of Santa Cruz: it is a '^onfiderably large ifland, where were found wood, M z water. .^' TV ■'-i!-v I -if ■ 1^4 LA rEROUSE*S V^YAct Water, and rcfrcniiTicnts, with very peaccabM inhabitants. (There it was learnt, as well as from an Indian, who was taken from the place «ind carried to Mexico, that there were many iflands furrounding it, fuch as Chicayana, Gua}?-- topo, Mccarailay, Fonofono, Pilen, Naupau, &c. which have not been fcen fmce by any naviga- tor. It is remarked that, in the run from the Ifland of the Handfome Nation to Taumago, there were almoft always prefages of land, fuch as a great quantity of pumice ftonc, and numerous jlocks of birds). Tuco])ia^ fix days fiil from Taumago^ and in 11" o' oi fouth latitude : in coafting along this iiland, whei'e they could not go aihore, it was learnt from the inhabitants, that there was much land to the fouth, fail was made accordingly to that quarter to look for it. Nucjlva Scnora Dc La Ijiz, c. high land, at 14" 30' fouth latitude. (This ifland appears to be tlie peak of VEtoilc, to the north of the gr ^at Cijclades of M. De Bougainville). Tlcrra Del Efpiritu Santo, and Harbour of juii J'cra Cruz. This land, which was the ex- tremity of the voyage of Quiros, has been llncc found by M. De Bougainville, who called it LiS Grandis Cyclndcs', and afterwards by captain Cook, \^'llo named it the New Ilehridcs. This lafl luas prcfervcd in the north, the- name of Tierni Dd if ^ .1 1^ 11 as place many }uay- 1, &c. ROUND THE WORLD. l6j Del E/pirifii Sa)ifo. On leaving this land, Quiros made Tail tor New S])ain, or Mexico, wliere he £.rrivcd vvitliout making any other intereiling difcoveries : but Torrez, who was feparatcd from the fleet, flood to the wcflward, antl palled be- tween New Flolland and New Guinea, in the fame manner as captain Cook has fmce done in the Endeavour. cjth. J'oyai^c of Le Ma I re and Schout.cn* (anno 1616). From the Ille of Juan Fernandez, where thcfe navigators went on ihore, after liaving dii- covered the Straits of Le Maire, and been the firfh to double Cape Horn, they ftood to tlie wcft-north- wefl 925 leagues from the coaft of l^^'-u, without feeing land ; then were difcovered as follows : Ilond Etland, or Ifland of D^gs, in 15^ 12' fouth latitude, and at 925 Dutch leagues ( 1 5 to a. degree) from the coaft of Peru, a little ifland about three lea2;ues in circumference, but io Hat that it is in part overflowed at high water. Sondrc-grond, or Bottomdefs Ifland, in i ^"^ 13' of latitude, and at 100 leagues weft of the Ifland of Dogs, inhabited, and of 20 leagues circumference. According to the relation of Le Maire, its latitudu^ would be 14" '2)S''> inflead of 13^ 13 > which the relation of Schouten gives. * Diarium -vel Dcfcvipiio Itlncrh fuJli a Cu.ill. Schoittenio. — Mirsir ccj} ct ivfjl-indiad, etc. — Speculum crieutalis otciikutalif- que Nuvigat. etc. — Navigations aux Tevrcs Aufiraks. — Hill rica} Collection, dec. — Dccou^'ertes dans la Mtr cu Sud, etc. M 3 irakr- ■rnRV ■^;| lif -^ ■t ■» 1! ■:;|: •i 5^ r ^1' V : ^ ': ^ If f:^^u 'SiJi j |i 1.. (l|(:' I -,* lifi^ l66 LA PEROUSf/s VOYAGK Waierland, in latitude 14° 46', and 15 leagues from Botlomlefs Ifland. Water was found there, and a fpccies of crelles, but it did not appear to bo inhabited. IJhjegcn, or the Itland of Flies, in 1 5^^ 30' of lati- tude, and 20 leagues from Waterland \ a low iHand, inhabited, where the vifitors were aflailcd by a pro- digious number of flies. The Ijland of Cocoas^ in latitude 16'' 10' fouth, twenty-three days fail from the Illand of Flies ; a high ifland, appearing like a folitary mountain, well peopled, and covered with cocoa nut trees. The Jjland of Traitors^ in 16^ 3' of latitude, and twoleaguestothefouthward of the Ifland of Cocoas; the land flat and inhabited. Thefe lad two illands were feen again in 1767, by captain Wallis, who gave the name of Boicawen to the Iflaud of Cocoas, and that of Kcppel to the Ifland of Traitor? ; he found the firft in 15° 50' fouth latitude, and tlie fecond in i^'' 55', which makes a difference only of 15 minutes from the latitude given by Le Maire and Schouten. , It is remarked, that, on the evening preceding their arrival at thefe iflands, Le Maire and Schou- ten met with a canoe fllled with Indians, failing to ihc fouthward, a circum.ftance which indicates, that there are other iflands in that direcftion. Goede-JIoop^ov the Ifland of Good Hope, in the fame parallel as the Ifland of Cocoas, and thirty kagucs day 1 from none Cgcod :m 'N M ■ ' f ROUND THE WORLD. l6/ leagues to the weftward : an Inhabited ifland, about two leagues in length from north to foutb. lloorn Eilancb, in latitude 14° 56', and about I (^ijo leagues from the coafl: of Peru ; two iflands iituate within gun fliot of each other, and inha- bited ; with a good haven at the fouthcrn ex- tremity of the larger one : every fort of refrelh- ment was found there. At a hundred and fifty-five leagues from the Hoorn Iflands, thirteen days after having quitted them, and in 4 degrees of fouth latitude, figns of land were obferved. Tlien Four fmall iflands, furrounded by fand banks and flioals, and inhabited, in 4° 30', and five days before making that part of New Guinea which is now called Ne>v Ireland. Twelve or thirteen iflands occupying about half a league from fouth-eaft to north- wefl:, three days before reaching New Guinea. Three low iflands, covered with trees, and named in confequence Groen Ellands, (Green Iflands) one day before reaching New Guinea. Sight of the Ifland of St. John, New Guinea^ or eaftern coaft of New Ireland, diflant, by dead reckoning, 1840 Dutch leagues from the coaft of Peru, N. B. Of all the iflands feen in this voyage, none have been fince found out, except thofe of Cocoas and Traitors, which have been vifited by M4 Waliisj ;'--.i • *.. ■I 1| if f! M m l63 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Wallls; they arc laid down upon the chart from tlic journal of this navigator, and the diflance of alj the others regulated from that of thcfe two inlands. 6th. Voi/ai:!;e of JhelTaf ma??,* (anno 164.2). From Eat a via, Tafman touched at the Iflc of France, theri called Mauritius : thence (leering to tlic ibuthward, as far as 40 or 41 degrees of fouth latitude, and afterwards to the cailward, as far as the 163d degree of longitude from the meridian of Tcneriffe, or 1 44° eaft of the meridian of Paris, the meridian ofTeneriffe being 19" o' weft of the former, he difcovered as folUmvs : The land which was called V(i?t i)zV Wf7/',y, la 42"* 25' fouth latitude and 163" o' of longitude from the meridian of Teneriffe. He anchored in a bay which received the name of Frederic Henrr, in 43° 10' of latitude, and i6y° 5^ of longitude. Another high and mountainous land, which was called New Zealand, in 42" ic' latitude, and 188° 28' longitude, he anchored in a great bay, fituate in 40° 49' latitude, and 191° 41' longitude : tne conduft of tlie natives of the country gave cccafion to call it Affaffins Bay. A groure of illands, called the Three Kings, in 34^ 12' fouth latitude, and 190° 40' longitude, * Ouil en nh'unv coji hidien, etc. (i err F. I'atafjK—Na'vigatuns aux Terrcs Auftraks. — iliHoiical Colle(^UOn.'^Z>{Vc/<'v't/Vt'i i'u^ni ili:; : P I ROUND THE won LP. ] 6() They were found at tlic end and to the wcflward of a length of coail, wiiich was run down fioni Aliaffins Bay. 77/ f- IjUnidof P\/lllitayfs\ or Wild Ducks, In lati- tude 22^ 35', and longitude 204° 15'; a high and flccp ifland, of two or three leagues in circuit. Amjkrdain IjlaiuU in latitude 2 \' 20', and longi- tude 223'^ 9' ; alow and ilat iiland, the inhabitants of which were holpitable and benevolent. (This is (he Tongataboo Ifland of captain Cook, one of the Friendly Ifles). Ijland of Middlehurg^ a high and inhabited ifland to the S. E. of AniRcrdam. It is the Eooa of Cook. Ui'lardam, Kawokohi, and Jloilcrdam, in- habited and cultivated iilands, in 20° 15' of lati- tude, and 206° 19' of longitude. (The natives give to the latter iiland the nan.ie oi AnrLUnwoka, which captain Cook has retained). Prince IVitlianis IJUindsy and the Sliallows of Heemfkirck, in i';;" 19' of latitude, and 201" -^^^ of loDgit'ide : thefe aic eighteen or twenty little n'laiivis ii^riound-d. by ihoals and reefs of lucks, ThcIJlands ofOnlcui^Java, in latitude 3' 2', and, by dead reckoning, 90 Dutch leagues from the part of New Guinea called, at [JrefenL new Ireland: it is a clufter of twenlv-two little iHands. 'Jheljlunds of Murtli. Ihrce days fail from the pre* 'r. t'^ '« % #: \ i-y ( J f ^ i i'i ■ \ 1 ' 1 1 * 1' f '.; ' i ^ iJ 'I +r */l :t' ■■'{..H: ! . lii 170 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE preceding. Another clufter of fourteen or fifteen little inhabited illes, and which had before been Icen by Lc Maire and Schouten. lyie Grecni Jjhtnds. Four d^iys fail from tlir preceding, and one day's fail before arriving ai St. John's Ifland The Ijland of St. John, St, Marys Cape. On the eafliern coaft of N cw M Guinea (now New Ireland) in latitude 4'' 30', aiu} longitude 171°; thence {landing to the north- weft along the coaft of New Ireland, paffing tlu' Iflands of Anthony Cave, of Garet Dennis, &c, then to the fouthward and weftward along the northern coaft of New Guinea. All the lands and all the iilands feen in thi= voyage have been (qqw again in our times, and found in the pofition which Tafman had afligncd them ; they are laid down in the chart accordin;:; to the tracks and obfervations of modern navi- tors. 7. Voijage of Roggezvein^ (anno 1722). From the Ifland of Juan Fernandez, Roggewein failed to the wcft-north-weft, with the intention of making Davis's Land^ which he did not find. He difcovered Eajter Ijland. In 27'' 4 of fouth latitude, and 265° 42' of eaft Jongitude from the meridan of * 'Expedition Je trcis VaiJfeauXt •! M\ W t * ' 1 ;r< ."Si 1 1 • 1 1 It- < •- ' : t . \- ' ^* ff '' 1 !■"■ ■ 172 tA perousk's vovagk which are from four to ten leagues in circum^ fcrencc. (Rogg;ewein loft a velfel there, a cir- cumftance which occafioned him to give the title of Mifchievous to one of thefe iflands : tvvootlim were called the Two Brothers, and another the Sifter : five men of the crew remained there, who deferted and were left behind. There is reafon to believe, that thefe iflands are the lame as thofe of Pallifcr, difcovcred by Cook in his fecond voyage, and the EnglilL navigator is of the fame opinion. Sec Cook's fecond voyage, vol. I, page 315, and following,). Aurora IJlaiuU eight leagues weft of the MIJ- cldcvous Ijlands ; a little ifland of four leagues in circumference, which has not yet been recognized. l'('f/)cr Ijlaud, a low ifland, twelve leagues in circumference, difcovered the fame day as Aurora Jlland, and which is equally unknown at prefcni. The Labi/rinthi a group of illands, to i\w' number of fix, of a charming appearance, whitii iire together of about thirty leagues extent; they are twenty-five leagues to the weftwarcl of Mifchievous. The Dutch narrative of (he voyage makes no mention of the Labyrinth, but an inaccefTible ifland, which it lays down in 13* 17' fouth latitude. There is reafon to be- lieve, that thefe are the iflands (ittn fince by com- modore Byron, and which he has named Prince of W^es* s Iflands). Recreatioi^y I . ROUND THE WORLD. lyjf Hecrea/ioHy in 15'' 47' fouth latitude, accord- ins to the Dutch account, or 16^ o' according to tiic French account j an inhabited iiland, twelve leagues in circumference, high above the lea, and covered with great trees : refreflimcnts were lound there. (It is laid down, in the chart, in lon- gitude 153° 20' weft of Paris, by taking the me- dium of the differences of longitude between this ifland, Eafter Ifland, and New Britain, or New Ireland, fuch as refult from the chart which accompanies the Dutch edition of this voyag-c. This ifland has not yet been iccn again). Buumans Ijlauds; in i^'' o' ibuth latitude, accordincT to the Dutch chart above mentioned, and 12° o' according to the French: thefe are numerous iflands of ten, fifteen, and twenty leagues in circumference, and have excellent an- chorages, and mild pacific inhabitants. (They are laid down, in the chart, in 15^ of latitude, con- formably to the Dutch chart, and nearly in longi- tude 173'' weft of Paris, from the difference of longitude that the fame Dutch chart gives be- tween thefe iflands and New Britain). Solitary IJland, called Single Ifland in the Englifh charts, in latitude 13° 41' according to the. Dutch account, and a day and a half's fail to the weft from Bauman's Iflands, or about thirty leagues. (It appears like two iflands, and it might be conjedurcd to be the Iflands of Cocoas and 5 Traitors l^ 4 :■ f f' 1 ' ,..'■ =i ;l IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) v.. 1.0 I.I 1.25 IM IM lis IS. 1^ Wk* 12.2 !!: 1^ 112.0 V] <^ /a ^3 / %. % Pi <.°> % oy ^^>t> ^% Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST r^AIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 (/. f I K<. fi'i ""^\ l^-Wh mi"^ i 174 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE Traitors of Le Maire and Schoutcn. But t],e difference of latitude forbids the adopting this opinion). Tienhoven and Gronin^eji, two confiderahle iflands, fcen fome days after having quitted Single Ifland. Tienhoven was coafted along during an entire day without feeing its termination ; it ap- peared to extend itfelf in a femi-circle towards Groningen. Neither the Dutch account nor its chart make mention of thcfe two iflands ; and tiie French account, which fpeaksof them, points out neither their latitude, nor their diftance from any other land, ib that it is not poflible to afiiga them any place in the chart. 29. Neiv Caledonia. It does not appear, that the ancient navigators had any knowledge of this ifland. M. Dc La Peroufe is referred to the par- ticulars given of it by capt. Cook, who difcovered it in his lecond voyage. See his fecond voyage, vol. II, page 103, and following, of the original, and the chart which relates to his difcovery. 30. The JJland ofSanla Cruz, an ifland difco- vered by him, in his fecond voyage, in 1595? or Egmont and Queen Charlotte's Iflands, vifited by Carteret in 1767. ?iQ.Q\.\\Q Navigations aux Terres Aujirales of the prefident de BroflTes, vol. I, page 249, and following ; Dalrymple's Hiflorical CoUedtion, vol. I, page 57, and following, and page 185; Dccouvertes dans la Mcr du Sud; Hawkef- '7i ROUND THE WORLD. jhiawkcfworth's Colleftion, Carteret's Voyage, vol. I, page 568, and following. 31. I'it'rra del Efjnritu-Santo^ of Quiros, dlf- covcred in 1606, or Great Cycladcs of Bougainville, i!i 1768, and New Hebrides of Cook, in 1 774. See Xavii^allons aux Tcrres Ait/b-alcs, by de BrofTes, vol. I, page 306, and following; vol. II, page 24^, and page 348 and following — An Hiftorical Collcdion, by Dairy mple, vol. I, page 95, and following, and page 203, and page i of the Ddii^'-'Decouvertcs dans la Mcr dii Slid, page 201, and following, and page /^i']—Voi/ai:;e de Boiigdinville, ^:igG 242, and following ;— Cook's kcond voyage, vol. II, page 23, and following, of the original, and thc'chart of the New Hebrides, iol. II, page 25, ibid. All this part has been laid down on the chart of the Great Equatorial Ocean, from the journal and obicivations of captain Cook. 32. Terrc des ArJacideSj difcoveredby Surville in 1769. Surville* had the firfl fight of this land the 7 th ©f Odober, 1 769 ; it appeared to him very high and woody. At the time of the difcovery the lati- tude of the Ihipwas 6° 57' fouth, and its longi- tude by account 152'' 28' eaflof Paris : but this longitude, correded by that of New Zealand, determined by captain Cook, where Surville ^ Extracled from the manufcript journal of M. De Surville. touched, f \ ,1 I' 1 .1. 'N' ii..':'^i • t' m i ! H tl .1 ir ■'- » ' .t, i ■ v :iiiit Ir! T^Hffl -f : ■' ' v k •• A ' . ■ :^f .^?| ''■ ' "*i" ' t '' 1 -Cr j •(- f ' , ■■ ';|| 1| M r- '■ ill ^f ' ^ ' ^S^iulfl ;^' xIhI ^'' ■ 1 ' = if ■ f i ■i H HI i|rr, ' i I'liffl 176 lA rr.rvOrsE*s voyage toucl-.cd, ought to be 153 " 45' at the place of his lane I -fall, which is a lew leagues only north- well: of liis Port Prallin. He lailcd along the coaft in the direflion of eafl-foulh caft, and found a harbour formed by an aflemblage of iflands, where he anchored, to wliich he gave the name of Port Prajlin. In \m way to this harbour, after he had difcovered land, lie met with a great number of little iflands, which appeared, at firft fight, to make part of the continent, but he found them afterwards to be little iflands at three leagues dlilance from the main land*; Friday, the 13th, he anchored in Port Praflin, of which he has given a plan -j- : the iflands which form it were covered with trees, and at high water were partly inundated. The natives of the country fliewed great diftrufl; and after having given the French to underftand, by figns, that water might be had at a certain place, wdiich they pointed out at the bottom of the harbour, they drew them thither that they mio;ht fall into an ambufcade. A brifk en2;a2;e- mcnt enfued, when Surville's people re-embarkcd * The difFerent views of thefe coafts, fuch as they were taken from the fiiip's deck, and the complete Journal of Survillc, may be fee n in the DUcuijertes iks Fran^ais en 1768 ft 1769, dans h SuJ-Ej} ik ia Nouislk Gui'icc, tJc, Pnri:, imprirnerie rcA'ale, 1750. t Ibid. m ROUND THE WORLD. tJJ in theii* boats, many of them being wounded, and thirty or forty of the favages killed. The people who inhabit thefe countries are in general of the negro fpecies ; they have woolly black hair, flat nofes, and thick lips. They powder their heads with lime* which, without doubt, burns their hair, and makes it appear red. The cuftom of thus powdering themfelves has been remarked, by M. de Bougainville, of the people who inhabit Baie de Choifeul^ on the north-weftern part of this continent. They have bracelets of (hells for ornaments, and they wear intire (hells round their necks, and girdles of human teeth (without doubt thofe of their ene- mies whom they have made prifoners of warl ; the- greater part have a large hole bored in their ears, and through the cartilage of the nofe, from which are fufpended bunches of flowersx Their weapons are lances from eight to nine feet in length, clubs, or bludgeons, of the fame materials, bows and reed arrows of forty or forty-four inches in length, the points of which ate tipped with a (harp bone ; they carry a (hield made of ruflies and the bark of a tree, two or three feet long and one broad. Their canoes are very light, and are from fifteen, or twenty^five, to fixty-five feet in length. The feams are covered with a kind of cement, which renders them impenetrable to the water. Surville could obtain no fupplies from thefe Vol. I. K peop; i:;l $:-^}-^^ ^^ w ' ■M ■4i ; 1 t m "■ * r H .^■■■^i ^:i;. m :.v- ml m .1'"'' I'.'iS' 'ij M 1 i! 17$ LA PETlorSE's VOYAdE people. He only got poirJ^flion of a young favagc, of thirteen or fourteen years old, whom he dc- figned to make ufe of as an interpreter, in the profecution of his difcovcrics. He left Port Praflin the twcnty-firft of Oclo- bcr, and continued to ftretch along the land to- wards the eaft-fouth-cafl, and afterwards towards the fouth-eafl. In many places he lofl fight of the coaft, and could perceive no land in thefc intervals; he thence concludes, with reafon, that the chafms, or openings, are bays, very deep gulfs, or channels, which, dividing the land into many iflands, form an archipelago. In his way many canoes came off from the fliore, anci went on board him. H^ made numerous pre- fents to the favages, but every where obferved marks of the greateft diflruft. Thefe people are great thieves, like all the inhabitants in the ifland? of the Great Equatorial Ocean. Surville obferved, that the young Indian, whom he had brought from Port Praflin, could not make himfelf underftood by the inhabitants of the coafl. and that he was in great fear of them, a circum- flance which induced Surville to believe that this land was of great extent, and that the people of the different iflands in this archipelago have no communication with each other but to make war. i ,.M When he had reached the ifland, which lie t - 1 called ■I • ^1 4 , :?. J • 1i '■ 5 1 : (■■■ ^1 : '■ 4: ' J'; r 'Jf 181 LA PEROUSE's voyage deemed authentic, or fufFK icntly detailed, conrcm- ing this part of the greatcfl iiland in the world. M. De La Peroufc is referred tf the l'ni/r/ge\' de Dampiei\ for the northern coafl, fome parts of which this exaift navigator has reconnoitred ; and to Navigations aux Terrcs Aujlralas^ by the prc- fident de BrofTes, vol. II, page 438, for the north and wedern coaft, and vol. I, page 426, and following, for the difcoveries of the Dutch in New Holland. There is added to the collodion of manufcript charts, put into M. De LaPeroufe's hands, a copy of that which is referred to by the prefident de Brolfes, and which contains the examinations and difcoveries the Dutch made of part of the weilern coafl:, The foundings too are added, and parti- culars extraded from the journals of the Englilli navigators, who have been there more recently. 36. iSo2ith of Van Dicmens Land, a part of the fouth of New Holland. See, in the hiftory of captain Cook's fecond voyage, what has been faid by captain Furneaux, who was there in the month of February, 1773, (vol. I, page 107, and following, of the original). See alfo captain Cook's third voyage, vol. I, page 91 of the original. 37. Jjland of New Zealand. This land was dlf- covered, in 164.2, by AbclTafman, a Dutchman: but as the details which he has given are in no :^^> ROUND TUE WORLD. I S J refpccfl circnmdantlal, it would be ufclefs to re- peat them, and Captain Cook's voyages leave nothing wanting on this head : See Havvkelworth's Colledion, vol. II, page 281, and following, of the original (Cook's Voyage) ; Captain Cook's ' fccond voyage, vol. I, page 69 of the original, ibid, page 225, and tollowing, vol. 11, page 146, and following; Cook's third voyage, vol. I, page 118, and following, of the original. In thefe works are to be found, independently of defcriptions and aftronomical and nautical ob- Icrvations, all the charts and particular plans which have been confl.ru(fled by the Englifh na* vigators. 38. Marquis of Mcndozci's //lands, difcovered, in 1595, by Alvar Mendana, a Spaniard: See in note 28 Mendana's fccond voyage. Thefe if] and s were again difcovered in 1774, by captain Cook, and nothing better can be done, than to refer to his account for all that concerns their defcription and their gcographi* cal pofition. (Cook's fecond voyage, vol. I, page 297, and following, of the original). 39. Ijles of Nublada, Bocca-Fartiday and others, on the eaft-fouth-eaft of Sandwich Iflands. It is believed that Juan Gaetano, a Spaniard, 3s the firfl navigator, who had a knowledge of ilicfe iilands, in 1542. N 4 He > 1. ■ i k: .fit " V. t 1! 1 ■% • ■ i", - ti .:i 'I ■ 1 I 184 LA PEROUSE's voyage He left Porto-Santo, near Port Nativity, on th^ coafl of Mexico, about lo"* of north latitude. He difcovered fucceflively the iflands Nublada, Rocca-Partida, and 200 leagues weftward of thi* laft, a bank, in 13 or 14 degrees north latitude, upon which he found but feven fathoms water. Continuing his courfe to the weftward, he met with fome other iflands lying to the weft of the Sandwich Iflcs. [RaccoUe di Navigationi e Vi'Jggi da Ramu/tOy vol. I, page 375). The iflands difcovered by Gaetano have been laid down on the chart of the Great Equatorial Ocean, with which M. De La Peroufe is fur- nilhed, according to that of Anfon's voyage, which Anfon had copied from one he found on board the Manilla galleon when he captured it. 40. Sandivich JJlands, difcovered by captaiq Cook, in his third voyage, in J 778. Although the courfes of the Spanifli galleons would readily enable thefe veflTcls to examin-' iflands fituate between the 19th and 20th north parallels, yet it does not appear, that, in any period, the Spaniards have had 4 knowledge of them. They offer an excellent port for their fliips, which trade from Afia to America over the Great Equatorial Ocean j and it is not likely, that they would liave Fie^lciled forming an eftabliniment Oil 3'M ■> I ROUND THE WORLD. 18 on iflands fo advantageouily fituiitod for com- munication between the two continents. Wc owe all the particulars that we pollcfs concerning thefe iflands to captain Cook and captain King. Sec Cook's third voyage, vol. II, page 1 90, and following, 525 and following, and page the ifl, iind following, of the 3d vol. in the original. GREAT NORTHERN OCEAN. 41. North weft cooft of America^ from Port Monterey i fituate in about 36° 42' of north latitude^ to the Aleutian Iftes. In 1769 and 1770 the Spaniards ordered Port Monterey to be examined, as well as that of San Diego, which is more to the fouthward ; they raifed little forts there, and formed a kind of efta- bliihmcnt, fearing that fome foreign power might extend its views to coafts which, though in the neighbourhood of the pofleflions of the Crown of 3pain, appeared not to belong to it. The expedition was ordered by the marquis dc Croix, viceroy of New Spain, prepared by Don Jofeph dc Galvez, intendant of the army, vifitor general of the kingdom, and executed by Gafpar de Portola, captain of dragoons, commander of the troops, and by the packet-boats the San- V^ados and the San-Antonio, comaianded by Don Vicente ) .f" \u v» / . • I , J. « I .* < I w : -Ml 1 .:.i I , « 4i; .i ii' iS6 LA I'ERol'se's voyagi: Vicente Vila, pilot of the royal navy, and Don Juan Perez, pilot for the navigation of the Phi- lippines. The journal of this voyage has been p-inted in Spanifli, at the printing-office of the government cf New Spain. It is faid in this work, that the conflan^v of the north and north-weft winds, which predomi- nate to the northward of California almoft uii the year, oppofes great difficulties to all fhips which would run to the north-weft coafts of America. The country to the north of the peninfula of California is, from the fame authority, tolerably fertile, and the natives very tradable. The Spaniards fpent more than a year in find- ing again the port of Monterey, Ithough they ought to have been well acquaints with its po- lition, fmce it had been difcovered, n 1602, by the general Vifcaino, commandant o) a fquadron, which Philip the Third ordered to e fitted out for the difcovery and reconnoitring )f the coafls to the north of California. After ^ -^at fatigues, and long refearches by fea and by land, they fuc- ceeded at length in difcovering it anew in 1770, nearly in the parallel that Vifcaino had pointed out in the relation of his difcoveries. According to the obfervations made by the Spaniards in 1770, the Port of Monterey is fitu- 4 ate ';r'J ROUND THE WORLD, 187 ntc in latitude 36° 40'*, immediately to the northward of the chain of mountains, (or Sierra) of Santa-Lucia. It is a vaft bay, much refembling that of Cadiz, with anchorage in four, fix, or eight fathom wa- ter, according as the anchor is let go nearer to or farther from the fliore : it is good holding ground, fine fand. An interval of fome years elapfed without any profecution of thefe northern difco- vcries by Spain. The entrance and the fucceflive runs of numerous Englifli (hips in the Great Ocean, at length roufed its attention ; and in 1775, the viceroy of Mexico, Don Antonio Maria Bucarelli, ordered an armament t* proceed in the infpedtion of the north-weft coafts of America, as far as 65°. Three fmall (hips were employed in this enterprize, which was entrufted to Don Juan de Ayala. The Hon. Daines Barrington tranllated into EngUflithe journal of Francifco Antonio Maurelle, pilot of the fecond fliip, commanded by Don. J. F. De La Bo- dega, and has printed it in his Mifcellanies (I^on- don, 1 78 1, in 4to.) It is from the tranflation of Mr. Barrington, that the following abftrad of the voyage of the Spaniards is taken. * In the voyage that the Spaniards made, in 1775, '^ ^^^^ northern coaft of California, which is related hereafter, they fixed the latitude of the Port of Monterey at 36^ 44.' j.orth. They \i I 'J \.4i \ %\ ly ij'ii I'll i .,1 ^ ; lS8 LA PEROUSF.'s VOYAGE They failed from San Bias* the 17th of March, 1775, meeting with contrary winds du- ring the firft part of their voyage ; and the 2 1 ft of May, after a confultation of all the officers, it was decided, that they fhould afcend as high as the 43d degree of latitude, rather than put into the Port of Monterey. This decifion was founded upon the hope of finding at this height the en- trance of Martin d'Aguilar-j-, difcovercd in 1603, where water might be had, and the (hips refitted. (In fome charts this entrance is laid down in 45 degrees). The 7th of June, in latitude 41° 30', although (lill at a conficjerable diftance from l;;nd, they diflingui filed a long range of coaft, which ex- tended from the fouth-wefl to the north-eaft j a calm prevented them from getting near it. The 8th, they perceived the land much more diftindlly at nine leagues diftance ; the currents, according to their obfervation, had carried them to the fouthward twenty-nine minutes in twenty- four hours, The 9th they entered a harbour, whicli they called Trinidad ^ fituate in 41° 7' ob- * On the coaflof New Galllci.i, a province of Mexico, at the entrance of the Vermillion Sea. f M. Dc La Peroufe will fir.'' in the Co;iJideraiious gtogrc- fhiqufs U phyjiques of Philip Buache, all the information that can be had relative to this entrance of Aguilar, and to that of Fuca, mention of which is made in this journal. fervcd I , HOUND THE WORLD. iSp ferVed latitude, and 19° 4 to the wcftward of Sun Bias. The Spaniards fpeak highly of the country, and Its inhabitants. Thefe Americans paint their bo- dies black and blue, aiid they have nearly the lame cuftoms, and ufe the fame weapons as thofe whofe defcription is found in the account of tl*e third voyage of captain Cook, when he vifited the north-weft coaft of America. We are not in polTefTion of any chart of this harbour, biat the journal informs us, that it was drawn by Don Bruno Heceta, J. F. De La Bodega, and F. An- tonio Maurclle, the author of the narrative. It is there faid, that although the harbour is repre- fented as open, yet it is to be underftood, that it is fheltercd on the fouth-weft, as well as on the north-north-eaft, and eaft. On the weftern part is a hill, fifty fathoms in height, contiguous to the northern coaft, on which is lituate another of twenty fathoms, each of them offering a fafe (belter, not only againft the winds, but even againft an enemy. At the entrance of the harbour is a little ifland of confiderable height, quite barren ; and the two fides of the coaft are fkirted with high rocks, which offer an eafy landing, velTels being able to go fo near them, that a communication may be formed with the land by a ladder. Near the flat part of the Hiore arc feveral fmaller rocks, which i' ''•1. ■■•>'; I -V:' fi % m i i Hi ' \' ' !;■!■ ' ' fi "1 i; iMi 190 LA PEROVSe's VOYAGg which flielter a veflel at anchor from the fouth- caft and fouth-wefl: winds. The tides are as regular there as in the feas and on the coafts of Europe. The Spaniards, during their ftay, tried to go in a boat up a river, which runs from the north- eaft to the fouth-weft, and which they had difco- vered from the fummit of a mountain: they found that the mouth was larger than neceflary for the difcharge of its own waters, which loft themfelves in the fand on the fhorc ; being, however, unabic to afcend it at low water, they traced its banks on foot for the fpace of a league, and fmnd it to be in moll: places twenty t'cet in bicadth, and five in depth. They denominated it Bio de las Tor- tolas (the River of Turtle Doves *) becaufe on their arrival they perceived a great many of thefe, as well as of other birds. They found fome plants and fruits upon the ikirts of the mountains, and in the vicinity of the harbour. They quitted the port of Trinidad, the 19th of June, with a north-weft wind, which had pre- vailed during their whole flay at the place. It appears, that Don Juan Pcrez-f, one of the offi- cers of the fquadron, had already been employed in fonic * Mr. Barrington tranflates it Pigeon^ s Ri'ver. ■ t This Don Juan Perez is, without doubt, the pilot of the Philippines, employed in the expedition undertaken in 1769, but •rCn '.'«: DUth- LS and to go [lorth- difco- found •or the nfelves unable nks on ; to be nd five 's Tor- pn their lefe, as ion the of the 9th of pre- he ofli- )yed in feme )t of the but ROUND tHE WORLD. 19! fome dilcoveries to the northward, of which no infor- mation is given ; for, whether he were a;-£. in, :f T .-.I :1 ■ ■' < .-mi: mim Ipi LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE The 1 1 th they got light of it at twelve leagues diftancCi The nth at night they were only a leagt.ie from it. They diflinguiflied numerous little ifles and mountains covered with fnow; they faw alfo a barren little illand of only half a league in circuit, which they named I/land of Dolores. In this pofition they eftimated then* latitude at 47° 39', longitude zi"* 33' weft from the meridian of San Bias. The 13th they anchored on the coaft In 30 fathoms water, two leagues and a half from the land, to wait for one of the (hips which had fallen aftern, lat. 47° 28', and 21" 34' to the weft of San Bias. They fet fail again in the evening ; and when the fquadron was collefted together they anchored again in eight fathom, lat. 47° 21', and long. 21' 19' weft of the meridian from which they fet out. The natives of the country appeared in great numbers in their canoes, and even went aboard the Spanifti (hips. They were prefented, in ex- change for the Ikins that they brought, with arti- cles of copper and bits of this metal, on which they appeared to fet the greateft value j they ex- prefled their defire for thefe, by pointing to the googings of the rudder. The Spaniards were defirous of going afliore for wood and water, but the Americans, who had 5 placed ■I k 'tt'l I ROUND THE WORLD. I93 placed theinfclvcs in ambLifcade, wounded many among them -, and on the fide of the natives a coaCiderable number were killed. The Spaniards a^ain put to Tea, the v.'inds continuing to blow from tlie north -wed and north. On the firfh of Auguir came on a thick fog, they therefore flood off from the coafl. On the fifth, winds from the fouth-cafi:. On the 13th, a change in the colour of tlie fea; vafl numbers of fea oranges, and many birds. The (igns of land became more numerous on die 14th and 15th: they then reckoned them- lelvcsin latitude 56° 8', 154 leagues* well: ward of the continent, and only lixty leagues from an ifland, which was laid down (lays the journal) upon their chart, and which Maurelle reprefents as the projecting point of an archipelago, fituate upon the fame parallel. It appears, that the chart in queilion is that of Don Juan Perez -j-, who had already, as has been faid, made a voyage to the north, but there is nothing further known of this * Of 17 and a half to a degree. t It fcems that Don Juaa Perez could not pcfTibly have r.n/ pra(.^ical knowledge of the country or feas to the north ; for, in the expedition cf 1769, in which he was employed, tlie Spaniards had afcended only to Monterey, fituate in lat. 36'^ 40' or 44.'. Vol. I. O ifland. ^ ': i IT. ■■I V -Mi "fi", Ul li' • 1 k*(l2' J- % -"'I ,f' ■ "i.l ^,1 :l' ', i- ' ■ !'s| If if-:':** W ■ 104 ^-^ perouse's VOYAr.E iiland. It is not Hiid in the journal whether it were to the eaflward or to the vveflward of the jliip. It is, however, very probable, that Mau* relle rjjoke of fome iiland bordering on the pcnin- liila of Alaflika, fuch as Cook's Trinity Ifland. and that he confidered Alaflika, and all the iflandi which are in its neighbourhood, as forming an archipelago. This appeared to be the opinion ot the Ruflians before the difcoveries of Cook threw light upon that part of America. The 1 6th, at noon, the Si)aniards difcovercd land in the north-weft; and a little time after, it ap- peared open to the north-eaft, and prcfented to the view fevcral capes and mountains, among which was one, eminently overtopping all the others : it is (fays the author of the journal) of an immenfe heig-ht, its fummit inclines confider- ably on one fide, and its form is the moft beau- tiful and moft regular that was ever beheld ; it is infulated, being detached from a chain of other mountain'^. The fummit was at the time cover- eel with fnow ; below were feveral large bare l])aces, which extended to the middle of its fides, and from tliis height, to its bafe, the furface was covered .with trees of the fame kinds as thofc w hicli had been feen at Trinity Harbour. The Spaniards gave the name of Sa?i Jacinto (Saint Hyacinth) to this iHand ; and the cape, hImcIi terminates it on the fide next to the fea, was I called ROUND TllE WORLD. Ig^ rnllcJ Del Efiga?ino, (Cape Deceit). The journal {jlaces the mountain and the cape in latitude 57" z\ and the author adds that, by two obtervations repeated at the diftance of a mile, it was con- cluded that they were 34° 12' weft of the meri- dian of San Bias ; but he leaves every thing in the chirk as to the means made ufe of for afcertaininix the longitude. It is, however, from the pofition of this cape, that all the other points of the coafl, as mentioned, have been laid down upon the chart of the voyage which accompanies the journal. (Mr. Barrington, who obtained a copy of the journal, and tranflated it, could not procure the chart). The 1 7th of Augufl a taint breeze from the foutli ?J!o',ved the Spaniards to enter a bay in latitude ff 1 1', and 34^ 1 2' wefl of San felas. This bay is three leagues wide at its entrance, and is protected on the fouth fide by Cape del Enganno. Upon the coaft oppofite to this cape, they difcovered a harbour, the mouth of which was more than a league acrofs, flieltercd from all except loutherly ■vinds. They furveyed the whole curve 9f the bay, at a little duliance from the coaft, and never found lefs than fifty fathoms water j but the mountains running to the very edges, they could difcover no beach proper to land at. They dif- tinguilhed neverthelefs a fmall river, but as it was night, could not get nearer tQ infped it, they O 2. therefore -I I 1' %n '■i t4. ■m i W'?-'- *i *!* ^f ■ ; ■ '^i 1 1; M ' 196 LA PEROUSE's VOYAGE therefore let go the anchor in fixty-fix fathom water, clayey bottom. They called this bay De Guada/upa. When they were getting under way on the 1 8th, they faw two canoes, each containing four Americans, two men, and two women, who ap- peared unwilling to approach near the fhips, bur made figns to the Spaniards to go on (hore. — The navigators continued failing along the coall with a wind to the north-wefl till nine o'clock in the morning, when they entered another har- bour not fo large as the former, but the environ; of which appeared to offer more refources to na- vigators: a flrcam eight or "tea feet wide empties itfelf into it ; and a continued chain of lofty i/lands very near each other prote6ts it from almoft every wind. They anchored there in eighteen fathom water, fandy bottom, about piftol (hot from the Ihore ; they faw upon the bank of the river a high building, and a wooden parapet, fup- ported by ftakcs driven into the ground ; the/ diflinguilhed ten Indians there, befides women and children. They called this harbour De Los Remedios (Re- medies) and found it to be fituate in lat. 57* t8', and 34" 12' weft of the meridian of San Bias. They erected a crofs on the fliore, and cut another in the rock, and performed the ceremony of ''■ IJ: ROUND TIIK WORLD. 19^ of taking poficfTion of the country, conformably to their inftrndions. They then made clioice of, and marked out, a place for taking in wood and water. During all this time the Americans did not quit their parapet ; but as foon as the Sj^aniards liad retired, the Indians tore down the crols which had been fet up, and p'anttd it in the iame manner before their houfe, and made figns, by opening and extending their arms, tliat they liad taken poflelTion of that fymbol. The 19th, the Spaniards having gone on fliorc to take in wood and water, the Americans Ihcwed themfelves on the other fide of the river; ihev were unarmed, and carried a white leaf at the end of a pole. The Spaniards made figns to thcni, that they were only come to take in water: upon which the chief of the Indians, judging the figns implied, that they were thirfly, advanced into the middle of the brook, lu^lding in his hand a cup filled with water, as alio forne dried fiih, which were received by a Spaniard, and prel'entcd by him to their commander, who in return font to the Americans fome glafs beads and bits ot cloth. They llgnified that thele prefents did not pleafe them ; but infilled, by figns, that others ihould be fent to them, when, up.on tire refui'al of the Spaniards, they menaced them with long lances, armed at the point with ibarpencd dones, O J The ' st 1 ' i ' ■ a 4' ■h! J 'i' »f' ^M :r fi; 19S r A rERorsi.'s voyagk The Spaniards contciitctl thcmfclvcs with rfmaln* ing on tlicir guard ; and when the Indians iouwi they had no mind to attack, them, tiicy retired. Wood and water fo much wanted were j^'ocurcii. The mouth of the river atibrd.s a vc-ry am[)Io fupply of filh ; the country is covered with firs, as at Port Trinity ; the inliabitants are clothed in tlie fame nwnner, and Hkc them wear a bonnet over tlieirliair winch covers the wliole head. Ihc Spaniards judpcd from many particulars, that the favages of this country Imve a iort of civilization. Tiie cold was excefiivc, the rain abundant, nnd the fogs veiy thick. They never perceived the fun during the three days that they palled in the harbour of Los Remedios. They cjuitted it the ziflof Augufl', and flood to the northward, with the wind from the fouth-c:ill, The 22d, latitude 57" i3'. They ran into the 58th degree of latitude in vifiting this coaft, where they made no difcovery; and they concluded that all the ftraits, or fup- poled entrances, had no exiftence. Sicknefs bad made confiderable ravages among the crews t()r fome time, and as its fatal eftecfts augmented every day, they deemed it impoflible to pulli their inquiries to a higher latitude, but giving up the enterprize, they made fail to the fouth-eall. The 24th Auguft, being in latitude 57" ij'y \hey doubled a cape, and entered into a great t>ay, ' ^ i 0 ROUND THI' WORLD. 1 99 bay, where llicy dilcovcred an arm o( tlic lea to the norilnvard : tlicy experienced very troubldbnie told weather; but the fca u is quiu fmooth, and the (liips in perfe(il Tafct-v from afiy wind. The anchorage is good, and the fre(h water a- bi:ndanr, either from the lakes or the rivers, afford - ii.g plenty of filli. They had the bay examined by means of one of the i'chooners, and they drop- ped their anchor at the entrance of the arm of the fell, in 20 fathom wator, in a buttom of foft mud. This harbour was cahed Jii/carc/li\ after the name of the viceroy of Mexico: a milder climate was cx])crienccd here than in latitudes not fo high ; and this difference was imputed to the volcanoes which are found in the neighbourhood of this harbour, and the fires of which arc perceived in tho jiight, though at a very confiderablc diftance. The Spaniards took pofleHion of the country in the name of his Catholic Majelly, and they provided themfclves w^th water and wood. They imagined, from the ruins of a hut, and by other marks, that the country was inhabited, but they faw not one inhabitant, By two obfervations made on different days, they fixed the latitude of Bucarelli at SS" ^7'> and its longitude at 32° 9' weft of the meridian of San Bias. The mountains in the environs of this har- bour are covered with trees of the f;ime fpecies m •1 ' 4> 04 as 'l!h T. i\ It* •H'l I U I. i . J.. "1 •. \ V w* ;^ i'i ' 'li^li ' ^ J y/>' '! f V-' ;^L; 205 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE it"i as tho'e which are found in the lefs northerly parts of this coaft. At the diftance of fix leagues was perceived an ifland of a moderate heignt, which they called San Carlos. They fet fail again on the 29th, with the wind at north, blowing pretty frefh, but at noon a calm fucceeded, and they found themfelvesabreaft of a very low and barren ijfland ; it is fkirted with rocks to the eail and wefl:. They anchored in 22 fathoms water, and about two leagues diftance from the liland of San Carlos. In this poiltion, a cape v/as difcovered at the diftance of four or five leagues, which was called Cape Suint yhtgiijiin. In going from iK\s cape, the coafh flretches to the caft as far as the eye can reach it. The force of thefe two currents, which in this place run in oppofite directions, was fo violent, that it was not polTible to found : and as thefe cur- rents appeared to follow and depend on the tides, it was concluded that the opening perceived in the land might be a river, or that at leaft this entrance had no communication but with the Great North- ern Ocean. Cape Saint Auguflin is fituated in about 55* latitude. As the feafon was not yet advanced, the zeal of the Spaniards began to revive; and with the view It i' . s ROUND TrtE WORLD. 201 view of fulfilling the intentions of his Catholic IVhijcfly exprefled in their inflrudions, they deter- mined to attempt to get again to the northward. The zStli of Augufl, the wind was variable, they availed themfelves of it to approach the coad, and they found there, as they cxpeded, the winds from the fouth-weft. The 29th and 30th, wind fouth, veering towards the fouth-weft, in fudden and violent Iqualls, fea running high, till the firfl of September; they were carried, during this interval, as far as latitude 56'' 50'. In the beginning of September the wine's were va- riable; but the 6th they fettled in the foutli-wed;, and blew a violent ftorm. Tlic 7th, the wind Juving fhifted to the north, they flood in for the land again, in latitude 55 deg. ; the crews were worn out with fatigue, and fcarcely could they find one man, in cither of the veircls,ablc to affifl.' in working the fiiip with the officers, who were obliged to uipply the want of failors : every idea of profeciiting the dif- coveries to the northward was now abandoned. The nth, in latitude 53° 54', land was fee n at eight or nine leagues diftance: they kept a fuf- ficient ofrino; to be in no dan<:rcr of gettinfa: em- bayed, and yet near enough not to lofe fight of it; but it was impofilble to make any obfervation on the coafts. It was only in latitude 47° 3", that, failino; at the diflance of a mile from the land, the capes, the creeks, and other remarkable points could be diilinguifhcd in fuch a manner as •m, % :\ ■ ^ , '^i. f r ' .^■'i'i ' y'l rir, H>' if 'r 'ill rj ■ i ' 202 LA PEROUSES VOYAGE as to be laid down upon the chart they were coi:- ftru cling. The 20th, they were half a league from the coafl, prccifcly in the fame fituat ion they had been in, the 13th of July preceding, but it was dif- covered that there was a difference of fevenicen leagues (Spanifli) between the longitudes, by ac- count of thcfe two periods ot lune. The 2 2d, with the wind at north-wcfl:, tli^v diredled their courfe to fetch Port Monterey. The 24th, land was {(^tn in latitude 45 ° 27', and they coaftcd it within cannon fnot. They lav to during the night, becaufe they reckoned thcmlclvc?, in the fuppofed latitude of the entrance of Martin d'Aguilar, the exiftencc and pofition of which they willied to verify. This refearch was con- tinued as far as the parallel of 45'' 50', and 20' 4 to the weft of San Bias. Arrived at this k^ titude and longitude, a cape was difcovered rc- fembling a round table, which they called Cape Mezan', beyond which the coaft runs away to the fouth-weft- Ten fmall ifjands were perceived, andfome illets almoft level with the water, whence it may be concluded, that, if the entrance or river of Martin d'Aguilar exifted in tliis part, it could not have efcaped a refearch made fo near to t!u' "coaft : the author of the journal agrees, however, tlilt d'Aguilar had pointed out the latitude ot 43 degrees for the cntmnce of his river ; but 1-' obfcrve^. k. i ; J.xl fvOUND THE WORLD. 203 obfcrvcs, that the inflriimcnts of which this ancient navigator mull have made ufc, in 1603, could not but be very defeftivc, and that he ought not to rely upon the Jatitudc he affigncd to the en- trance. It may be luppoied, adds he, that d'Aguilar has pointed out too northerly a lati- tude, and that we might have found his river, at 42", or below; yet, it is fcarcely to be hoped, lincc, except fifty minutes or thereabouts, this part of the coad has been vifited. The Spaniards, in returning to Monterey, again fought for the harbour of San Francifco, and having found it in latitude 38° 18', they entered a bay flieltercd from the north and fouth- wcft, whence they diftinguiflied the mouth of a great river, and, a little higher, a large harbour of which the form was that of a bafon. They judged that this might be the harbour of San Francifco, which the llijloirc De La Californie places in 38° 4; but the roughnefs of the fea did not allow them to enter it : they doubted, however, on examining it nearer, whether it were Port San Francifco, becaufc they faw no inha- bitants, and did not perceive the little iflands defcribed to be oppofite to it. In this ftate of uncertainty they let go the anchor near one of the two points, or capes, which form the entrance pf the harbour, and they called that point near which ■ * 1' ^M 4i_ '>*rs Ifi't ia' ': ! P l-il* ; ' 1^ «■ !! 204 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE which they anchored, and which is the northern, moft, Punfa Dc Arenas, (Sandy Point.) The natives of the country foon prefented themfelves on both fides of the harbour, and rowed from one fide to the other in their canoes ; two of thefe canoes left the reft, and came along fide the (liipsj thofe who went on board carried with them, and offered plumes of feathers, in the form of aigrettes, aad garlands, and a box filled wltli feeds, refembling nuts in tafte, which they ex- changed for glafs beads, looking glalTes, and fcraps of cloth. ■ Thefe Indians are tall and ftrong: their colour is that of all the people on this coaft. Their pro. ceedings had an air of gencrofity^ for they ap- peared not to expcd any return for the prefents they made, and this was a conduct which the Spaniards had not before met with among any of the tribes they had had an opportunity of vifiting. Sicknefs had made too great a progrefs among the crews, to allovv them to (lay and minutely examine the harbour, and to take its foundings; and as they could not perfliade themfelves that it was the harbour of San Francifco, it was named Port De La Bodega. It is certain, that this harbour is the (anic that Drake had difcovered on the 17th of June, 1579) the '■ ; k T-mm ROUND THE WORLD. 20 1? the latitude of which he fixed at 38" 30'. The account he gives of the inhabitants agrees with the recent report of the S[)aniards. Thefe fix the latitude of their Port Dc La Bodega at 38* 18', and its longitude at 18" 4' to the welt of San Bias. The latitude pointed out by Drake differs only in 12' from that of tlie Spaniards; and for the time ^vhen he obferved, and the inftruments which he made ufe of, it may be contidered as exact. Mr. Harrington, with reafon, reproaches the Spa:iiards for not having pireferved to this harbour the name of the brave Jieretlc who firft difcovered the coafts of the north-weft part of America, of which he had taken poffeflion in behalf of the crown of England, and to which he had given the name of Xe:o /llbi'o?i. The 4th of October, the Spaniards qui -ted the port of Sir Francis Drake, with the firft of the flood, the dire^flion of which was contrary to the current of the river. Thefe two powers ading cppofitc ways, the waves, driven up on both fides, rofe to fuch a height, that they en- tirely covered the (hip, and ftove the boat to pieces, which was iaflied alongfide. The eiir trance of this harbour is not deep enough for s ihip at anchor to refift the impulfe and tlie fvvell of the fea,. when the tide and the current of the river fire in oppofiiion. The author of the jour- nal V: '$' ^^ ^■^m'. M'i jr /J ■St! %\\ f:i\ M I i ■• I .-■'V! ic6 LA PEROUSk's VOYAOK iial fays, that, if they liad been previoufly iiiform* ed as to thefe circumilanccs, cither they would have kept their firll anchorage, or have taken another further from the entrance of the lia- ven. In every part they founded, they found an equal deptli. Don Maurellc affirms, that 11 is caty to get into the harbour with nortli- wefterly winds, which })redominate upon this coail y but he thinks, that it would be necelfary for any one wilhing to go out with the fame winds, to anchor at a greater diflance from tin* points ; and he adds, that this precaution would be fuperfluous when the winds are fettled at fouth-well, eaft, or fouth. The mountains bordering on the fea are ab- folutely barren; but thofe of the interior appear to be covered with trees : the plains exhibit verdure, and feem to invite cultivation. The account publilhed by Drake lays, that he called this country New Albion for two reafons; the firft, becaufe by the nature of the banks andi white rocks, which edge the coaft, it prcfents the fame afpe(fl as England : the fecond, becaufe it was jufl: and reafonable, that this land fliould bear the name of the country of the firft navi- gator who had difcovered it. The Spaniards, as it has been faid, quitted brake's Harbour, the 4th of Oclobci', and after liaving doubled the ca]x^, which they called Del fvOUND THE WORLt>. XOf Del Cordon^ and which forms the entrance of the harbour with that of Las Arenas^ tliey made livil to the fouth-fouth-weft, with a moderate wind. They fteered afterwards to the weft, to make a cape, which was feen to the fouthward, iit the diftance of about five leagues. The 5th, they failed near the little iflands which arc fituate to the weft, and abreaft of the harbour they had juft quitted. The 7th, they anchored in Port Monterey, in three fathoms water, fandy bottom. They deter- mined its latitude to be 36'' 44'^, and longitude 17 deg. to the weft of San Bias. The lirft of November they left this port. The fourth, at noon, with a fair wind at north- well, they continvK-d their courfe to the fouth- ward, until he 13th of the fame month, when they had fight of the coaft of California j and they followed it as far as Cape S. Lucar, whicli they doubled the 16th at fix o'clock in the even- ing. They fuppofed this cape to be in latitude 22° 49', and 5 deg. to the weft of the meridian of San Bias. The fame day, the i6th, they got fight of the Iflands TroiS'MarieSf and, the 20tli at night, * The pilots employed in the expedition of 1769 — 70 *?termined this latitude to be 36^ 40', r:. the\ u * : M i \! ^ 208 LA PEROUSF/s voyage they re -entered the port of San Bias, whence they had departed 260 days before. In order to trace the north -weft coaft of Ame- rica, upon the chart of the Great Boreal Ocean, with which M. De La Peroufe is fumiflied, it has been a rule to regulate the geographical po- fitions given by the Spaniards, by combining them with thofe of captain Cook, which have ferved to rc6lify the former in thofe parts not within reach of bcinic vifited, and of which the Soa- niards had but a tranfient view. To the chart of the Great Equatorial Ocean are added par- ticular charts of certain portions of coafts, and plans of harbours and bays, different, in many refpe61:s, from thofe which have been given, for the fame parts, in the relation of captain Cook's third voyage. M. De I.a Peroufe may have an opportunity of afcertaining which of thefe plans are drawn in the mofh accurate manner. There is no certainty yet, whether that portion of America, which extends itfclf in a projecting point towards the fouth-weft, be an ifland, or a peninfula. The Ruffian charts, that of Stshlin la jjarticular*, reprefents all the lands, comprifed under the name of Alafhka, as a great iiland, feparated from the continent by a chan- * An Account of the new northern Archipelago, lately (tifcovcred by the Rufiians, in the Seas of Kamtfchatka, and Anadir, t'cc. London, 1774, in os^avo. 2 nel 'M tlOUND THE WORLD.' 20^ hel forty leagues wide, with many fmaller iflands to the north and north-eaft of Aladika. Captain Cook has vifited the coaft, fufficiently near in thole parts which he has reconnoitred to be cer- tain that it is not interrupted, or divided by channels, and that the continent ftretches itfelf, at Icafl, to the vicinity of the ifland of Shu- magin. But he fufpedls the exiftence of a (Irait to the north-north-weft of the ifland Ha- libut, which would feparate the Peninfula of AlaHika from another portion of land fituate in the fouth-weft, and defignated upon the chart under the name of the IJland of Oonemak. M. De La Peroufe is referred to captain Cook*s Third Voyagey (vol. II, pages 403, and 488, of the original), and to the charts that are join- ed to it, as well as to thofe which make a part of the manufcript collcdion. 42. Aleutian, or Fox Ijlands, and other iflandc which are fuppofed to be lituate to the weft, weft-fouth-weft, and weft-north-weft of them. Captain Cook has only vifited the iflands of OonalaQika, (part of the Fox Iflands), and the ftrait between thefe iflands, with a few of the harbours which belong to them. With regard to the other iflands of this clufter, and of thofs of oMier clufters, fltuate more to the weftward. Vol. I. P we '^^ ' 1 t :41- h t, :•*■ » I .'•/ I'" 2IC LA PEROrSE S VOYAOE we have no knowledge but by the accounts of the RufTuins, .and they arc too incxadt to deferve any confidence. M. l)e La Pcroufe ought to regard them only as a nomenclature, and to look after thefe iflaiids with the fame precaution, as if they were abfo- lutely unknown. He will find all thefe accounts collected in the work of Mr. Coxe, the title ot which i?, " Difcoveriei of the Riifhansi" and in the chart joined to this work, which gives all the difcoveries of that nation to the eaftward of Kamtfchatka. See pages 149, 194, cf thr^ tranf- lation. 43. T/ie Harbour of Avatfchtty or Saint Pt- ter and Saint Paul, at the extremity of the Pcninfula of Kamtfchatka. To the coUeftion of manufcript charts, deli- vered to M. De La Peroufe, io added, a particu- Jar plan of this port, upon a large fcale, different from that which is found in captain Cook*s third voyage, to which, however, he is referred for the nautical and oth(^r particulars which may be ufeful to him, when he touches at that port. Sec Cook's Third Voyage, vol. II [, page 185, and following, page 284, and following. 44. Kiirite Jjlands. Captain Gore, who fucceeded captains Cook, andClerkc, in the command, towards the end of the third ' 'tl' ■ i llOLND TliF, U'OKLP. 'ill third vo).iG;e made by the JLn^^,lifh in the Great' Northern Ocean, vifited none of the Kurile Ifles, and before which he pailuJ, coalling along the eaft fide ot them. If Muller may be bcheved*, it would appear that Vi^o, or fi;//by is tiie name that the japanefe give to all the iflands that the RufTians cieiignate under that of Kii?'il//a\ or K'(?-i!;s. The firii: of thefe ifland?, the moft northerly, is but a Ihort dil'tance from tlie Ibuth point of Kamt- ichatka-l*: it is two or tliree hours row from one to the other; and it may be prefumed, after the accounts given of them, that the illands neareft to Kamtlbhatka only are tributary to Ruffia ; and that thofe which lie more to the fouthward are independent of it. Muller de- (ignates all thefe iflands in the following order, commencing with the moft northerly. 1. SchiimffcJnt. 2. Piiriamifchiir, at two or three hours dif' tance from the firft. 3. Mufchu, or Ouikidan^ half a days journey from the fecond. 4. Ujachkupa, wefterly of the three former^ and at fome diftance from the firft. 5. Sirinki, over againft the flrait w^iich fepa- rates the fecond from the third. * Voyages ct Decowverfes dcs "Ruffes. t Called Lopatka Point. P % 6. j\.U' \ ■ •» ■ k'Mv^ If i • ' ' If !• » , >, i t 1 I Lt 212 LA PEROUSE S VoYAGK 6. KitJiumhca^ a little uninhabited ifland to iJi^ font h -wed of the fifth. 7. ylrattinoLulufiy uninhabited, a vokano. 8. Siajhutan^ a few inhabitants; but tholb of the neighbouring iflands alfcmble there, for the I)urj">ofes of traffic. 9. Ikarmay a little defcrt ifland, to thevvefl of the eighth. 10. MafchautfcJh a little defert ifland, to the fouth-weft of the ninth. 7 1 . If^aitu, another defcrt ifland, to the fouth- cafl of the eighth. 12. Scho/i()ki\ a days fail from the eighth. 13. Motogo, a little iflanil to the fouth. Ibid. N. B. Between 34. ASekafclioxva, 15. Ufchifchir, 16. Kitui, thefe three iflands the currents are very rapid^ and the fea rifes to a great height. 17. Schimitfchir^ inhabited. 18. Tyi'/tirpui, remarkable for a high moun- tain. 19. IliirpUy a large ifland, well peopled, co- vered with great forefts: bears^ and other fpecies of animals are found there. It contains feveral anchorages and rivers, into which Ihips may re- tire for fifcty. It is believed, that the inhabi* tants of this ifland are independent of Ruflia, and acknowledge no oth-er dominion. 20. Un(l\ mV\:l' •' i-» *: :o i\\i ROrND THE WORLD. 2 1^ 20. Uru/K I am alTurccl, fays Mullcr, (luit the inhabitants of this iilancl are indcpcn- vlcnt. 21. Kuuafclur. This iilancl is the largcfl of all ihofc wliich have been mentioned, and its poi)Li- liition is p;rcat. 22. Mat maty or Maffinnaly tlie lad iiland, and the largcft of all. The capital tovv n of the fame name, Matmai, isfituate on the fea ihorc;on the fouth-wcll fide ; it was built a.'-.d is inhabited by the Japancfe: it is a fortified place, furniihed with artillery, and defended by a numerous gar- fifon. The ifland of Matmai is the place of exile for perfons of diflindion at J^pan: it is fepa- rated from that empire by only a narrow channel, but which is confidered as dangerous, becaufe the capes, which project on both fides, render i\\c navigation difficult. The Englifli, in Cook's third voyage, have taken no notice but of the firfl and fecond of the Kuriles, yet they have colleded, from the clergyman of Paratounka, particulars intercfting in a confiderable degree concerning thefe iflands in general, and fome of them efpeciaily. It appears, that the domination of the Ruf- fians does not extend beyond the iiland of Uf- chifchir, the fifteenth named, and that all thofe which follow it are independent. Tiic ptople of P 3 • ■ thefe m ♦I* If PlM'li ■'llll \ . ¥%:t ai4 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE thefe iflands pafs for being fenfible to friendfliip, bofpl table, humane, and generous. See Cook's Third Voyage, vol. Ill, page 378, of the ori- ginal. Confult alfo the Confiderations geogra- phiqucs et phyfiques of Philip Buache, page c^i^^ and others. 45 The Land of Yefo, or Jeffb. It has been {hewn in the preceding note, that the Japanefe con- found this coaft or land with the K^rile Iflands; but it is generally believed, that it ought to be diflinguiflied from them. Cook's voyage has thrown no light upon this matter; it even ap- pears, that, to conftrudl the general chart of his voyage in this part, the old known charts have only been copied. For the Land of Jeflb, may be confulted the va- rious accounts collecled by Philip Buache, who ]ias inferted them in his Confiderations Geogra- phiqucs Si^ PJnjJiqucs, page 75, and following. See alfo the cliarts belono-ino- to this work, and a feries of views drawn by the Dutch, while they were examining a part of it, in 1643. To the collcL^ioa with v^'hich M. De La Pc- roufe is furnifhcd, is added the copy of the cliart drawn by the Dutch, which details all the particulars of their djfcoveries. 46. I'h'j cafiern coajl of Japan. In Cook's tliird voyage is a cliart ol a finall part of this coau, and the nautical obfcrvations which re- late endQiip, ? Cook's the ori- geogra- las been lefe con- Iflands ; ht to be age has :ven ap- rt of his Its have the va- [le, who jc.ogra- lllowing. and a lie they La Fc- of the all the Cook's of this ch re- iatc ROUND THE WORLD. 21^ late to it. (Vol. IIL page 397, and following, of the original). See alio the chart comprlled in the cclledion furniflied to M. De La Peroufe. 4y. Lekeyo Ijlamls, to the fouth-weft of japan; Philip Buaclie has given, in his Conji- deraiions Gcc^i'aphiqncs tV Phi)fiqntSy (p^g*^ 130,) extrads from all the letters the mifTion- aries have written relative to thefe iflands, con- cerning which there is but little known at pre- fent. See alfo the Lettres E'dijiantes. 48. A large IJland, peopled and rich, laid to have been difcovered by the Spaniards towards the year 1600. In the Philofophical Tranfa<5lions of the Royal Society for the year 1674, No. 109, vol. '9, page 201, paragraph 11, is to be found the following note concernins; this ifland : " That in the " South Sea, at the 37! deg. northern latitude, " and about 400 Spanilh, or 343 Dutch, miles, that is, 28 deg. longitude eaft of Japdn, there lay a very great and high ifland, inhabited by a white, handiom, kind and civilized people, exceeding opulent in gold and filvcr, as had been experimented many years fincc l^y a Spa- nilh fhip failing from the MauiUes to Xciv Spainc ; infomuch that the King of Spain in the year 1610, or 161 1, for further difcoveiy, and to take polleflion of the fame, lent out a fliip from Acaputco to Japan ; which by ill J' 4 (( a ti a a a (( (( i( f< '* conducv ■ ^M%\ ^' il I fiiii ■. ^ si6 lA perouse's voyage " r-onduct proved fuccefslefs: fince which tlma « the profecution of that clilcover^ had bcc^j f' negleaed." SUPPLEMENT. 49. Caroline IJlands. A particular chart is coi> flruded of thefe iflands from that of Father Can- tova, and the accounts of other miflionaries, which have been coHeded in the way of an extraft, as a fupplement to the Hijioire des Navigations aux Terres anftrales of the prefident de Brolfes. yVol II, page 443, and following,. 50. Ijland to the fouth^ between Mindanao and the Moluccas. See, for all this part, capiab\ Forjler'^s Voyage to New Guinea. M. De La Peroufe will find, in his colledioa of charts, a particular one oftheftraits ofWay- gew and New Guinea, and a chart of the weft part of New Guinea, with the iflands of Arrow, and part of that of Ceram. Thefe charts may be ufeful, in cafe contrary winds fliould oblige hirn to fail through there flraits. M. De La Peroufe may alfo confult a chart to be found in vol, II, page 310, of the Hijioire dcs Navigations aiix Terres aujirales, under the title of Carte des Ijles des Papons, copied from the original of Mr. Italic Tirion, a Dutchman, Ml. HHI ROUND THE WORLD. HIJ All this part agrees with what captain ForRer has publiOied on it fince. 51. Straits to the eaji amltccjl of the JJlniid of Timor. M. DeLa Peroufe will find, in the account of Dampier's voyages, inftruftions which may iervc as a guide to his Ihips in failing through which- ever of thefc (Iraits circumflances and the wind niay induce him to prefer. In the coUedion which has been put into his pof- feflion, there have been introduced particular ])ians of thepafrages,fuchastheftraitsofAllofs,ofL()mbock, of Solor, of Sapy, and others among the fouthern iflands of the archipelago of Afia, which are but little frequented by European navigators. M. De La Peroufe will take notice, ihat the fouthern and eaftern coafls of the ifland of Sum- bava, or Combava, have not yet been examined. 52. For the IJle de France ^ and the Cape of Good Hope, he is referred to the Nc()tunc Oricn- till of M. Dapres, and to the inflruclions thereto joined. 53. Jfiands of Marfeveen K Denia. Thefe arc two little iilands know'n by the Dutch, whither they fend, it is faid, for wood ; the fituation oi tlicm is nevertlielcfs undetermined. Captain Cook regretted noc having it in his power to fcarcli after thefe iflands. (Second voyage, vol. li, pages 244 and 246 of the original). They are laid down upon the chart of the South Sea, * V • ". i Jl .,|l t If 11*: ' A ' ■ 218 LA PEROUSE's voyage Sea, conformably to the pofition which Cook's third f^oj/agc has given them on the general chart; that is to fay, Ma?fevee?i, the mofl northerly of the two illands, in 40 degrees and a half fouth latitude, and at two degrees and three quarters to the caftward of the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope ; and Denia in 41 degrees of latitude, and three degrees to the eaftward of the Cape; but it may be obferved, that on Halley's variation chart they are placed at 41 degrees and a half of latitude, and 4 degrees eafl of the meridian of the Cape. ^ 54. Cape (or ijle) Circumclfioni difcovcred the firfl of January, 1739, by M. Dc Lozlcr Bouvct. This navigator took hisdeparture from the Ifland of Saint Catherine, on the coaft of Brazil. He uicd the chart of Pi'ctcr Gooz, who places this ifland in 333 degrees of longitude, reckoning from the Ifland of Tencriflc, which corrcfponds with 46 degrees weft of the meridian of Paris. His courfe correfted, from the Ifland of Saint Catherine to Cape Circumcifion, gives 53 degrees three quarters difference of longitude to the eaft; and lie thence concluded the longitude of this cape to be from 26 to 27 degrees of longitude from Teneriffe ; that IS to fay, tj-om 7 to 8 degrees eaft of Paris. But the longitude of the place whence M. Bou- vct took his depart-urc, viz. that of S. Catherine, •yvas erroneous by 4 degrees; for this longitude. ■ if I n 1 ^'ii'i' FM^l] ¥ I I! i'" ,^i I i ^rt:i'^'-,: tio LA perouse's voyage of meridian which refults from the calculations of the courfes of M. Bouvet, from the Ifliind of S, Catherine to Cape Circumcifion, without pretend- ing to maintain, however, that the reckoning kcpr by this navigator is exempt from error. The Cape is confequently laid down, upon the cb.art of the South Sea, at three degrees three quarters eafl from Paris. According to this pofition, founded on the rea- fons deduced as above, it is no longer a matter of furprife, that if, as ihere is every reafon to believe, there be fuch a place as the Cape (or Ifland) of Circumcifion, it ("hould have efcaped the refearchci of captains Cook and Furneaux, fmce the firll, in his track from the weftward, did not get Into the latitude of this cape, which is fituate upon the parallel of 54° fouth, till he was only at abouL eight degrees eafl: of Greenwich, or five degrees two-thirds eafl: of Paris ; and the fecond did noc get into the latitude till he was only at ten degree? and a half from Greenwich, or eight from Paris; both of them therefore mufb have run beyond it. wlieii they got into its parallel. iiil'iii it'' ■ . : LETTER. L villi''?' Hound the world. 221 LETTER I'rom M. Le Manchal De Cafrics to M. de Con^ dorcefy perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Sir, Verfailles, March 17S5. THE King having come to the refolution to employ two of his frigates in a voyage, which may at the fame time realize objeds beneficial for his fervice, and furnifli more extenfive' means of per- fecting the knowledge and the defcription of the terreftrial globe, I could wifli the academy of Iciences would caufe to be drawn up a me- moir, detailing dillindly and at fome length the different phyfical, aftronomical, geographical, and other obiervations, which may be thought moft convenient and important to be made, as well by Tea ia the courfe of the voyage, as upon the lands or iflands which may be touched at. To diredt the views of the academy to the plan which it may adopt in this reipedt, I am to inform you. Sir, that the (hips of his Majefty will have orders to proceed as far to the north and fouth as the fixtieth p?.rallel, and that they will traverfe the entire circumference of the globe, in refpedt to its longitude. The academy, therefore, may in- clude in its fpeculation nearly tlic totality of the ^ ' known '. .i * / » \ 222 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE known coads or iflands, and the whole extent of the furfacc of the lea on both fides, comprehended between the two great malTes of land which form the continents. By inviting the academy to engage in a labour which will prove fo very agreeable to the King, you may aiTure yourfelf. Sir, that the greateft attention will be paid to fuch obfervations and experiments as the academy may point out, and that the greateft exertions will be made to comply entirely with its wilhes, as far the circum- ftances of the voyage will allow the performing of operations of this nature. It will afford pleal'ure to his Majefty to learn, that the erudition of the academy concurs with the love of glory and the zeal which animate the officers of his navy ; and he cannot but anticipate the greateft advantages in the probable advancement of the fciences, from an expedition of which the principal objed is to further their progrefs. |l'-''ii''iiP" MEMOIR Drawn up by the Academy of Sciences y for the life and direction of the learned and fcieniific perfons embarked vinder the orders of M. Dc La Perouie. ; i i M. le Marechal De Caftries having, by direftion ©f the King, demanded of the academy a memoir, which l!i!ii « /> •» ROLND THE WORLD. which might point out fuch oblcrvations as ii Ihould judge the moft neccflary to be made in the intended voyage round the world, under- taken for the progrefs of the fciences, the acadcniv accordingly has commiiTioncd each of its firft pen- honaries of the different claiies to colleft the par- ticular memoirs furnilhed by the various nicjnbers of his refpe6live clafs ; and moreover has cauleil tiiefe memoirs to be arranged and reduced into proper form by four commiiVaries, and is anxious to lay the general refult as foon as pofTible before the minifler, as a proof of the ardent wifh it feels to concur, by its zeal and its care, in the execu- tion of an undertaking, the fuccei's of which will contribute equally to the glory of the monarch, to that of the nation, and to the advancement of the Iciences. To throw as much order and perfpicuity as pofiible into this fummarv, the academy has judged it proper to alTemble, under one point of view, the obfervations relative to various branches of fcience, which refemble each other in the nature of their obje6t, although cultivated by different chfles. Such are the obfervations which relate to the ftudies in which the claffes of geometry, aftro- nomy, and mechanics are engaged. Thefe obfer- vations may be placed with the more propriety at the head of this memoir, as they are connedcd ^ith cofmography, and have by that means a more direa I. ■■'> ■ mm.-' .>t *: . ''il 1 i ■■■■^^:■ ^ I f§#^t '■lib' 1111 !.i> ; ■ ^1 ■ r 224 LA PERousi:*s VOYA61; dirccl relation to the principal ohjed of the voynf^fl to be undertaken by order of his Majefty. GEOMETRY, ASTRONOAIY, MECHANICS. ONE of the moft interefling rcfearchcs, which the navigators can be at prefent employed in niakino;, is that which relates to the afcertainingr of the length of the pendulum, vibrating feconds, in different latitudes. The indu6lions which have hitherto been drawn from this inftrument, to de- termine the variations of gravity, reft on a very limited number of operations, made by different obfervers, and with different inftruments ; and this want of uniformity in the operations mud have a neceffary influence on the certitude of the confequences deduced from the comparifon of the refults. It is evident, that a collective number of opera- tions of this kind, performed with care, by the lame perfons, and with the fame inftruments, is much w^anted ; and the academy cannot too ear- neftiy recommend to the navigators, to profecute this inquiry with all the exactnefs poffible in every place they may put into on their voyage. The determination of the longitudes will be neceffarily one of the principal points, to which the navigators will direct their attention j in order, however, that ftill greater advantages may be ob* taincd ROUND THE WORLD. ilg talncd from their refcarches on this head, the aca- dcmv recommends to them to prcfcrve the origi- nal calculations from the obfcrvations of longi- tude, by the diflance of the moon from different ftars, as in the event of any aftronomer's here- after correding the elements which fliould have fcrved to determine the longitudes in queftion, this correction may be alfo employed, in its turn, to rectify the calculations of thefe fame lonsiitudes. The navigators, being furnifhed with epheme- rides, know beforehand the moment of the dif- ferent eclipfes which will happen during the courfe of their voyage, as well as the places where they will be vifible. The academy requefts of them not to limit their obfervations to the inftants of the commencement or the end of thefe eclipfes, but to defignate the fituation of the horns in the molt particular manner poffible. The phenomenon of the tides is a fubject too nearly allied to navigation not to engage parti- cularly the attention of the voyagers. What ap- pears to be mofl neceflary in this inveftigation is, to obferve with care the double tides of each day. The academy thinks it expedient further to re- mark, that there are no accurate obfervations ex- tant relative to the tides onthe wefl coad of Africa, or on that of America, any more than to thofe onthecoafts of the Moluccas and Philippine IHands. Vol. I. Q With 4 '1^ > i; ( i ''•|w5|| hi 1^^ i|wi||r|i] , i^lj ; 'f ^ 2z(j LA PEROUSIi's VOtAGF, With regard to any obfcrvations to be m?.c!e pertaining to geography, they will be directed con- torniably to the plan which has been pointed out to the navigators by his Majefly. The academy have only to fubjoin a copy of fomc remarks, which have been drawn up for tlie purpofe by M. Buache, its geographic afib- ciatc< rMYSICS. • AMONG the great variety of objedls which the (ludy of phyfics comprehends, it is peculiarly in- cumbent on the navigators to dired their atten- tion to fuch as are governed by a regular caufe, but the intenfity of which is neverthclefs fubjcd to variations, which can only be determined by conne<5lecl and multiplied obfervations. Of this nature is the variation of the compafs. Obfervations on the variations of the needle making a principal part of the means of diredion, which will be employed by the navigators, the academy, on this head, judges it fufficient to re* commend to them to obferve, by the help of the accurate inftruments with which they will be fur- niflied, the diurnal variations of the needle, while they make any flay on land. It has been difcovered by fome obfervations firft made at Breft, at Cadiz, at Teneriffe, and at Goree, on the coaft of Africa, and afterwards at Bred, nOL'Xn THE U'ORLI). 22/ l^rcfi:, and ut Guiuhiloupe, that the intcnfcnefs of the magnetic force of the needle was vifibly the fame in thefc different places. The academy withes the navigators to repeat thefe obfervations in a larger extent of countr)', calculating the magnetic force by the continuance of the ofcilla* tions of a good dipping needle. The obll-rvations in quefllon cannot be Very corrcft, unlefs they Ihould be made on lliorc, or in roadileads. However it will not be amifs to try them alfo at fea, in very calm weather^ when it is poflible they may atford refults fuffi- cicntly exaft. It is recommended alio, as a matter of the grcateft importance, to pfove the magnetic force in thofe points where the inclina- tion is the greateft, and in thofe where it is the linallefl. The navigators are alfo defired to obferve, with the utmoft care, the dip of the needle in all fuch places as the (hips may touch at, and even at fea when the weather will permit it. In this Uil cafe, it will be n^celTary to keep minutes of the uncertainty of the obfervations, and alfo to affign to them, as nearly as poflible, the degree of precifion. Tl:e academy further invites the navigators, to keep an accurate journal of the rife or fall of ihe barometer in the neighbourhood of the Ti ator, at different hours of the day, in order Q 2 to » I. V h, VK 228 LA PEROUSE's voyage to difcover, if poffible, that quantity of the va* nations of this inftrument which is produced by the adion of the fun and moon, this quantity being then at its 7naximum, whilll the variations produced by the ordinary caufes are at their vii- nimum. It is unncceffary to add, that thefe dehcate obfcrvations require to be made on land, and with the nicefl precautions. The navigators may alfo afcertain the truth of a report, pretty commonly credited, that the mercury rifcs an inch higher in the barometer on the weft coaft of America than on the eaft coaft. The ftate of the atmofphere, and its continual variations, the noticing of which is an objeft ot the higheft importance in a voyage by fea, will moreover furnifh the navigators with a detail of meteorological refearches, interefting from the frequently oppofite diredlions of the upper winds, compared with thofc which blow near the furface of the fea. As the navigators carry out with them a certain number of fmall aeroftatic balloons, the academy recommends the making ufe of them in order to afcertain the height where the winds which blow in the lower part of the atmofphere change their diredion, as well as the courfe of thofe diredions. Thefe obfervations require particular attention in all places where the trade winds prevail, and HOI^ND THE WORLD. 2^9 and it "Would be curious and intcrefling, to trace the connexion which thefe winds have with thofe in the, upper region of the air. As the fluid on which the navigators are about to float will attract their attention by the divers currents they will find in it, they are invited to lay before the academy, on their return, an abftract of their important labours for afcertain- ino' the currents in different parts of the globe, by comparing the courfe, determined by the ordi- nary means, with the courfe computed by the obfervation of the longitude and latitude. Befides the efFcds which are in the ordinary courfe of nature, the navigators may find opportu- nities of obierving phenomer^a which onjy prefent themfelves at intervals, fuch as certain meteors, and, among others, the aurora bor-ealib and aiiRra- lis. The academy recommends the observing the height and amplitude of thefe auroras. There is a difference of opinion c.ncerning the caufe which produces water fp^uts : fome attri- bute them to eledriclty, others confider them as the effefl of a whirling motion contra..' ted by a mafs of .air *. The navigator^ would Jo well * According to rhis lafl hypothefis, the centrll'.igal force of* the particles of air at a diilance from the axis of rotation mufl diminilh the prefTure of thofe wliich arc placed near that axis, force them to let go the water which th"y held Q.J in !, iii * W * -. ■ ^ it! ' ■■•li ■■.■ i> 1 ■ ( • ? . ifv- VM 5.30 LA PEROUSE's VOYAOR well to obferve aUentivcl)^ all the circiimflanccs ^yhich may conduce to the explication of tliis fingular phenomenon. The navigators will have it in their povv'er to make a i^um^er of experiments upon the tempe- rature of the fea, and upon its faltnefs in different latitudes, and at diiferent depths, the fpecific weight of its waters, with its different degrees of bitternefs, according to the diflance more or lefs from the coafts. The academy alio wiflies them not to neglcd the compariion of the tempera- ture at a certain depth, with that of the iluid taken near its furface. It will be proper alfo, that the navigators take all opportunities to obferve the temperature in any holes dug in the ejirth, or excavations which they may meet with, as well as that of fprings and deep pits. in dlflblution, and occafion a cloud, the form of wliich will he nearly that of u revolving i'olid fjolit/c de re-vrJufioi,) the fmall drops of which will quickly difpcrfe themfelvesby the pffeft of i\\e centrifugal force. The prefTure of the air of the atmofphere not being di- niniflicd in the dircftion of the axis of rotation, the air mull perpetually renew itfelf, making its way by the two extre- tremities of this axis, and, by the diminution of the preiTure, keep up in the inferior a continual precipitation of water, ";vhich will laft as long as tlie whirling movement, the abundance of which will depend on the fwiftnefs of the inovement, and on the mafs of air which it afFcifls. Seamen ROUND THE WORLD. 23I Seamen have diftinguiflied the flat pieces of jce, which cover certain parts of the fea, from the thick malfes, which refemble iflands, and ap- pear like floating mountains. It is much to be wilhed, that a well conneded examination of the circumftances relative to thefe two kinds of ice may furnilh room for conjefturcs concerning their formation. The hght which fliines fometlmes upon the furface of the fea has been attributed to the ap- pearance of a multitude of fmall luminous ani- mals; but as this light is vifible in everyplace where the fea is put in motion, it will be ne- ccffary to examine this phenomenon more circum^ ilantially, if poflible, than has hitherto been done, ill order to difcover, whether the brightnefs in Gueftion may not be traced to Ibme other caufe, ''ii ., 'i • CHEMISTRY, THE folution of the under recited qucflion would be of ufe to throw light upon the theory of gafles : is the air purer, or does it contain more vital air on the furface of confiderable tracks of fea than elfewhere, as Mr. Ingen-Houfz thought be reiAarked upon the fea which waflies the coafts of England ? and in cafe the experiment be ve- rified, a trial may be made, whether the refult be the fame in the open fea as on the coafls, where Q 4 largq 'I'^'-'.l ; If 1^ _„ Ji'. l' . , iil€ r :i. ''( I II- ww^ %mmm ■'! :* , : H 1i' '!■ • 232 LA TEROUSE's voyage large quantities of fea-wrack, and different plants, which cover its furface, are met with. It appears now fuificiently evident, that feda- live fait is found naturally in the water of fome lakes, fuch as that of Monte-Rotondo in Italy. This circumftance is not, perhaps, peculiar to that lake ; and it remains ftill an obje(5t of in- quiry for the navigators, in cafe they lliould vifit the interior of any countries, where they may have occafion to land. If they fliould hap- pen to meet with any mineral alkali, they are defired to examine the fubftances of which it is compounded, its diftance with refpe ',. t If V t 0 # a I m smt\ if ' f f^4 tA peAousb's voyage ftruded upon the bare report of the inhabitants of fome of thefe iflancis, who were caflby a tempeft upon the coafl of the Tlland of Guam, and whom father Cantova examined concerning the fituatioi> of thefe iflands -, they have efcaped the obferva- tions of navigators, becaufe in their run they di- reded their courfe towards the Mand of Guam, which is more to the north. That part of this ocean which is to the north- eafl of the Ladrones, or to the eaft of Japan, is equally unknown; we have only indications of there being a good number of iflands of fome im- portance, and among others, a pretty confiderable ifland is faid to be fituate at about three hundred leagues to the eail of Japan, to which- its inhabi- tants refort for the purpofes of trade. The land of JeflTo, to the north of Japan, does not appear to be the fame as the Ruffians and Englilh have reprefented it. The information which Cook's laft voyage gives us refpeding the eaflern coaft of Japan leads us to think, that the cliart of the difcovery of Jeflb, made by the Dutch veflel the Kaftricum, is tolerably corred; but the Dutch have only difcovered part of this land, which may therefore be worthy of further invefligation. 3dlyv Upon the weft coafl of America, to the north of California, it is more than probable that the Baver cJ Mi.vrtin d'Aguilar, in 43. degrees of lati- ' tude» ROUND THE WORLD. 245 tude, will be again difcovered. Martin d^AguIIar was one of the pilots of Sebaftian Vifcaino, whofe voyage on this coafl is one of the mod intereftiiig that has been made. It is much to be wiflied, that fome information could be obtained of the peoj.^e in the interior of the countries to the north of California ; and, upon this poijit, Carver's Travels may be con- fuited, and even the letter of Admiral De Fuaite^ however it may have been cried down^ It is alio defirable that, in returning horn?, the navigators may explore the Iflands of Denia and Marfeeven, fituate to tiie fouth of the Cape of Good Hope, aiid whither the Dutch fend to fe:tch wood, &c. If it be int£udeid to fail towards the fouth pole, with a view to anv inveftigations in natural hiftory, it would be \ ■ c to fleer to the fouth- wcft of the Cape of Goo(^ Hope, aijd of Cape Horn. In the firft caCe, Cape Circuaicifion might be found again, in the longitude that M. Le Mon* nier has afligned to it, that is, between three and four degrees of longitude to the eaft of the me- ridian of Paris; this pofition is indicated bv jother obfervations independent of thofe of M. Lc Monnier. In the latter cafe, the iflands and har- hour where Drake landed might again be brought into notice. ■:\^<-, t t:- J 11^"'- ' .'■ *' ' ' ■ 'i'\ '■■■-> t ■ , 1 • 1- ■ R3 Tii; (^ ; -^v. h J: ' \.\ >4 r !■ ;^■•'^,i ! M Fi, ... , ''f' .'Mi^ I46 LA PEROUSE's voyage The navigators are alfo defired to notice the names which the inhabitants themfclves give to the iilands they may difcover, and endeavour to procure a vocabulary of the different names given by thofe inlanders to the moil remarkable objeds, and thofe which are of moll neceflary ufe. EXAMINATION OF THE NATURE OF THE AIR. The analyfis of the atmofpheric air, and its degree of falubrity, in different fhores and latitudes, and at different elevations, is an objctfl fo much the more interefling, as there have hitherto been no accurate experiments on this fubjed, and as we are igoorant whether the nature and compofition of the air be the fame in different parts of the world and at different elevations. The ted of nitrous air appears to be the mofl firnple and the mofl fure. M. Lavoifier, in a memoir, printed in the colledion of 1782, has (hewn, that, pro- vided more nitrous air be ernployed than is neceffary for faturation, it will be always eafy to afcertain, by a fimple calculation, the quan- tity of vital air contained in a given quantity of atmofpherical air. A principal requifite in experiments of this kind is the procuring of nitrous air as nearly as poflible pure. That which is produced from the folution of mercury by the nitrous acid is the purefl of all j but for want of it, that which is ob- tained HOrND THB WORLD. 2^ tained by means of iron may be ufed without in- •convcnicnce. The firfl thing to be done is to introduce two hundred parts of nitrous air into the cudi- ometer, then add a hundred parts of tlic iJr on which the experiment is to be made, and obferve the number of parts which remain after ablorption. The number obtained by fubtrading the re- mainder from the fum of the two airs, multi- plying this refuk by forty, and dividing the pro- duct by a hundred and nine, will cxprefs the quantity of vital air contained in a hundred parts of the air examined. Jt will be proper to keep a memorandum of the height of the barometer and thermometer. SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF THE AIR. It being a part of the plan of the navigators to take on board the frigates an air-pump, we think it would be advifabie to add to it a globe of glafs, capable of being adapted to it, which might thus be exhatafled of the air, and afterwards lilled with it. By noting the dif- ference of weigiit between this globe or matrals when empty and when filled with air, the specific gravity of the atmofphere, in dilTcfent lauiud:;, will be obtained. It is of particular moment to obferve with the greateft care the heig! t of the barometer and thermometer, during each ol tlx-ie crperations. R4 To )■■'' m 1 ' '...X ' 7* I -■■■'^mi h A \ ■A : m. ft . ';■-»►:' ( ('■ .-t. ij ■ f i I ■'.'?■ ■■ f ■ .' .y ■t;;- t -r *^ ^j^ ^- I i"] '■■( ''< V: m i,;ii'1 i'l! .'>>. 448 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE To make experiments of this nature, the navi- gators arc luppofed to have in their polTeffion a very exadl pair of fcales, which will give the weight with nicety and precifion to half a grain. EXAMINATION OF WATERS. The abbe Chappe, in his voyage to California, determined the fpecific gravity of fea water, in a great variety of places, and thence have refultecj a number of interefting dedudions with refpcft to the degree of faltnefs which it poffefles. M. De Caflini pubHflied the refult of thefe experiments from the notes which he found in the manufcripts of the abbe Chappe. It is of importance to purfue thefe experiments, as an opportunity now offers for determining, fo to fpeak, in one fingle voyage, the degree of faltnefs fpund in almoft every fea. The navigators will require for this purpofe a very accurate hydrometer, conftrudted upon the principles of Farenheit, and fimilar to that which M. I^avoifier dir^dted to be made for the abbe Chappe. The fame inflrument may be em- ployed for afcertaining the fpecific gravity of the water of lakes, rivers, and fprings^ and by joining thereunto fome experiments made mil} reagents, an idea may be formed both of the quality, and of the quantity of falts contained in thofe waters. When M' HOVND THE WORLD. 249 When after the experiments by regcants and tpc- cific gravity, the water fliall appear to contain any thino- remarkable, a portion of it may be evapo- rated, and the refiduum laid by, carefully labelled, in order to be examined on the return of the voyagers, QUESTIONS Propo/cd bij the Society of Medicine to the gen- tlemen who are to accompany M. De Lal-e- roufe on the intended voyage, read in the fitting of the 31ft of May y 1785. Every thing which relates to natural hiflory and to natural philofophy, in the voyage about to be undertaKen round the world, mull neceliarily in- tcrcfl the fcience of medicine, and contribute to its advancements but the fociety of medicine rather wifhes to confine its views to the objet^ls Vvhich particularly concern the fclence. As the queftions to be propofed are pretty numerous, we Ihall prefent them here under titles which will form ^Q many heads of medical enquiry. .r.•^:.^,' " .^if; § I. ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY. ^Structure of the Jnnnan body, and tJic fitnclions Qf its organs. Moft voyagers have written upon the general form and ftruclure of the bodies of the inhabitants 9bferved by them in ditlercnl; countries; their de- fcriptions. ii ■•" 8 M "I I I ' « iii^ J f- iii 250 LA PEROrSE's VOYACe fcriptions, however, are now well known to be filled with exaggeration and errors. We have every reafon to exped greater accuracy from the fcientific gentlemen who accompany M. De La Peroiife, and they are requefled to notice the fol- lowing objefls with particular attention. I ft. The ordinary ftrufture of men and wo- men ; the great and the fmall diameter of the head ; the length of the fupcrior and inferior ex- tremities meafured from the joint of the arm to the extremity of the middle finger; from the thigh to the extremity of the great or fecond toe; the circumference of the pelvis ; the width of the cheft ; that of the (lioulders ; the height of the vertebral column, meaiured from the firft vertebra of the neck to the facrum : thefe proportions are taken according to the divifions of painters. 2ndly. The form and colour of the fkin and its different regions ; the fame with refped to the hair and nails. 3dly. The particular form of the head or crani- um, that of the face, and efpecially of the forehead, of the nofe, eyes, ears, mouth, chin, teeth, tongue, with the hair of the head and of the beard. 4thly. Thefe different parts of the body are thofe which the natives are accuftomed to deform by holes, incifions, and by extraneous fubflances which they infert into them, as well as by oik and HOUND THE WORLD. 2^1 and by colours prepared with ochres or vegetable juices. It may be ufeful to defcribe minutely the pro- cefles by which the favagcs imprint thcfc IndcHblc marks in their ficin; the fubftances they make ufc offer this purpole ; how they prepare and apply them ; the age and the circumftances in which they pradice this operation, and above all, the alterations, local deformities, or other efledls pro- duced thereby upon each individual. 5thly. The defcd, the excefs, or the different conformation of the parts of the body, as the elon- gation or flattening of the forehead, the dilatation or narrowing of the nofe, the extent of the mouth, and of the ears, whether thcfe differences be uni- formly the cffeft of the natural organization, or produced by particular praflices. Dampier af- firms, that the inhabitants of Van Diemcn's Land i^re deficient in two of their teeth : Is this a na- tural or artificial defed ? It is thus that the double mouth of the inhabitants of America, in the vicinity of Prince William's Sound, oblerved by captain Cook*s men, is the effe^l of a tranfverfc incifion made beneath the lower lip. The pecu- liarities of the apron in women, the prodigious lengthening of the fcrotum, and the brown fpot upon the backs of children, obferved in many parts of America — do they really exift, and are they the produdion of nature ? Wc ', ' ■' ', ' ' • if! u .; f 'I ■ I A !.,i;, '!• M ■ If I'S'- B'lSS . .'' mm t ; ,'l!l '1- < ' ■ 1 '. :i;'- 252 LA perouse's voyage Wc yet know very little relative to the u^n* of the two hands indifferently. The queflioii which regards ambidexterity, or the preference uc give to one hand over the other, has not yet fuffi- ciently occupied the attention of naturalifls ; it is therefore important to examine whether the people which may be vifited make a like ufe of both their hands in working, or whether they employ one in preference, and whether the pre-eminence of the right, among polilhed nations, be not the cffed of prejudice. It would be alfo of ufe to difcover whether, uiiong the people who are accuflomcd to go naked, there are not fomc who can ufe iheiv feet with as much dexterity as their hands, and for the fame purpofcs, 6thly. We have yet had no well-eftabliflied ac- counts refpecting the comparative flrength of dif- ferent men : it would be well to make ej^periments on the burdens carried by the inhabitants of thofe countries where nature has not been debili- tated by effeminacy and the various cufloms ad- mitted into poiiflied nations, together with the Ipace which they can pafs inf a limited time, either by walking or by running. ythly. The nature of the fenfe of fight, of heart ing, of fmelling, may furnifli fome important facts with refpect to the vigour or the imbecillity of their organs. Much has been faid of the acute- nefs of the fenfe of fmelling in favagc tribes i it would 4 H *orND THE WORLD. 253 would be curious to verify this matter, and to dvl'covcr whether in the individual, in whom this refined faculty cxifts,it have not a tendency to im- pair the energy of fome other fenfe. Sthly. The voice, the greater or lefs diftinctnefs of articulation, are important fubjects for exami- nation, as well as the expreffions of joy, of plea- iure, and of pain. 9thly. The age of puberty in men and women. Whether the latter be in all climates fubjed to the periodical evacuation ? Whether its quantity be influenced by climate, and what is the period of its ceffation ? What is their condition during preg- nancy ? Are they delivered witheafe or difficulty ? Do they fland in need of help in this operation ? Do they tie the umbilical cord ? Is this operatioa performed before or after the coming away of tha placenta? Do they fwaddle their children, or what means do they adopt for {upplying the place of Twaddling clothes ? Have they any particular pradice in the treatment of new-born children, fuch as moulding or (haping the head, and wafh- ing them ? Do the mothers themfelves fuckle them, and to what age ? And arc there m-ore males than females born ? lothiy. What proportion of children die from birth to the age of puberty, and what in general is the length of the life of men in the different climates ? ♦^ nthlv. ^■■'VMi '■* ' i-m 'I : jM #1 ;;T i'i' ^■^m: ' ■-'. i' ./ 1; i >\ ^54 LX PfcROUSE*S VOVACE 1 ithly. The quicknci's or ilownefs of the pulfe compared to t^ut of Europeans, which is nearly that of fixt}'- live orl'cventy pulfations in a minute. i2thly. The affinity which the colour of the ikin has to that of the humours. The fpcrmatic fluid of men more or lefs tawny, the cerebral pulp, and the blood, have they any correfpondencc with the colour of their fkin ? Does this colour vary among the blacks in any individuals, fach as the white negroes, the pale, wan negroes, &c. ? Is this variation produced by dileafc, or from a con- flit ution changed by the influence of climate, as is thought to be the cafe with regard to negroes tranfplantcd into cold countries ? i3thly. Are there in America men to be found whofe breads contain milk in fufficient quantity to fuckle children, as has been reported ? What opinion is to be formed of the hermaphrodites of Louifiana ? Does the favage life render the incli- nation of the fexes periodical among many tribes? Is it true that certain natives of America caufe their virile member to be flung with infeds, in order to excite in it a confiderable fwtlling. i4tMy. We (hall take no notice here of giants, pigmies, men with tails, &c. becaufe thefe pre- tended extravagancies of nature were never feen, unlefs by prejudiced or ignorant voyagers, or be- caufe they never exillcd unlefs in their wild inia- <^ations> § II. . ! ROUND THE WORL^. 25j §11. HYGIEINE. Of the aivt xcafer, alhnejits^ habifationSi cloth* ingy cxcrcijes, and t/w pajfwns, as fa?' as they concern the healtii of men, THIS part of medicine prcfcnts the largeft field of obfervution to the voyagers ; but it is one of thofe concerning which there are fewer queftions to propofe, becaufe in general thefe things of courfe come under their notice. The following articles, however, claim particular confideration : ifl:. The nature of the air in the different places tried by the eudiometer ; its highcd and iowefl temperature in the fun and f' ."• • ' ' v'^..^SJ humidity, weight, elaftlclty, and k^ — i! (late, meafured by the diticrcnt clcdrometc*?, and efpecially by that of M. Do Siuflure ; the diviiion of the feafons J the prcv..;-inj^ winds, or their variations ; the nature of meteors, as fnow, hail, rain, thunder, hurricanes, fea and land water- fpouts J the change of the air by vapours, or by the emanations from vegetables, comparing, accord- ing to the experiments of Ingenhoulz, the fluids which exhale from their different parts expofcd to the fliade or to the fun, particularly of thofe which are faid to be noxious to animals or plants in their neighbourhood. 5 2dly . i; I I a, , 1 ;"• % r^tl f^ MlwW^ •tl -; wa :ii t.; I ai «l in ■a ^ I^HI .(' 156 LA PEROt;SK*S VOYACii 2ndly. It will be of advantage to analyfe ttifl fca water at different depths, nearer or further from the fliorc ; alio frelh water and brackidi, with the nature of the falts tlicy contain. For this purpofc, the principal r»-agents pointed out by Bergman are recommended, and efpecially eva- poration ; the water drunk by the inlanders, and the different ufes they apply it to ; mineral waters, cold or hot; favftitious beverages, fweet or fer- mented ; the manner of preparing them ; the ve- getable or animal fubllances of which they are com- pofed ; their effecls; and, above all, of the /uiva, a liquor prepared from a root, in the iflands of the South Sea, to which Anderfon at tributes a ftupifying quality, and the property of drying up the fluids, fo as to occafion the ikin to fall off in fcales from thole who drink of it to excels. 3dly. The food. Do the inhabitants of the dif- ferent countries wdiich may be vifited, fupport themfeives with vegetable or animal diet, or with both ? Do they feaibn their victuals ? What pre- paratory operations does their food undergo ? Do they make regular meals, and do they eat fparinglr or in abundance ? Do they ufe fait with their vic- tuals ? What compariibn may be made between the roots, fruits, &c. which fcrvc them for food, and our ves:etable5 ? What are the farinaceous ilibftances they uic ? What fpecies of fern is that containing a gelatinous fubllance, which is ufed 4 for ROUND TIIK WORLD. 2^7 tor food by the inhabitants of New Zealand ? Have they no aliment in the form of powder, upon which they feed during their voyages ? From what plant is it procured, and what procefs does it undergo in the preparation ? Are there not ve- getable fubftances to be foimd by diligent fearcli, unknown to the natives, and which may be ufcd for food ? May there not be fome vegetables from which a faccharine fubftance might be obtained, r.nalagous to that of the fugar-cane, and with more facility and lefs expence ? 4thly. The habitations, their form, extent, openings, expofure, the foil on which they are fituate, the materials of which they are con- ftructed, the nature of the (belter they afford, their drynefs or humidity ; whether the inh.abitants re- tire within them during the night, and through- out the whole year, or only at certain feafons ; how much of the day they fpend in them ; in what number they collect together in them, with regard to the fpace occupied ; whether they flecp on beds, on mats, or upon the ground; and whether there be not fome illanders who have no habitation, and who live always in the open air : the forms and materials of their clothing, &c. All thefe fbould be objects of inquiry. 5thly. The occupations of the two fexes, their tabours, exercifes ; in what refpedt they prelVrve or impair the health of the inhabitants. Vol. I. S 6thly. I k:.. -«. :l 1 I It ' 1 •/ll rt '^iS tA PEROUSE*S VOVACfe 6tlily. The pafTions, manners, prevailing ck^ taiflcr of each nation ; the pradtices made ule of to promote the fecretion of different humours, as that of chewing tobacco, betel, or any ana- logous fubftance, or fmoking, ufing. fridlion?, unctions, baths cold or hot, vapours dry or moili, with the influence of thefe various ufages, and particularly of the oily un(5lions and of tntooinoj upon the pcrfpiration. § III. OF DISEASE^. THE difeafes peculiar to the cliniates which ulll be vifited, may furnidi important obfcrva- tions. Cook and Anderfon have noticed, al- though with but few particulars, tliofe which pre- vailed in the Friendly and Society Iflands. They obferved in the inhabitants of the former a blindnefs which w.'ts owing to an imperfe<5bion oi the cornea ; tetters, and other herpetic eruptions, which leave fpots upon the fkin, and affeft ens half of the natives ; large dangerous ulcers, of a corrofive nature, often occAfioning the lofs of the nofe ; indurated fwellings, fo as to be without feeling, of the arms and legs > and tumours of the tefticles. Anderfon, from whom thefe obferva- tion are quoted, has pointed out live or fix diforders he faw at Otaheite; but has only fpoken ;it large of the droply, the Jefa'ff or indurated nvelling, and the venereal difeafe, which the crew of cr.pt, Cook c;vr;ied thither in liis two former vifit;. V kbUi^I) THE WORLD. t^g It jippears that the diibrders to vvliich the iflahders are mofl liable are thofe of the fkin. Although Aridcrfon favv no fick in their beds, and though the ifland'-^rs of the South Sea for the mod part negledt to treat their diforders in any- regular vvaV) the navigators are requefted to attend carefully to the following particulars, fe- vcral of which relate to diforders confidered as new in our climates i ifl. Are there any acute difeafeS Or fevers among thefe iflanders ? Andedbn has only men- tioned chronical ones. Among the former are there any eruptive diforders ? Does the fmall-pox exift there ? V/hat are the circumflances of its progrefs, and what ravages does it make ? Do the people, who may be vifited, know any thing of inoculation ? Is there any climate where this difeafe is endeniical ? Are the people attacked with contagious or epidemical diftempers ? Ha 'c :hey experienced the fcourge of the plague ? Ars the children fubjecl to the tetanus, and to the Croup ? An acci^ate defcription of all the dif* orders of this clafs is requefted^ and more efpecially what relates to *-'\eir crifis, and what affinity they bear in their progrefs and nature to the fame maladies in our climates^ 2dly. Among the chronic diforders which ptcvail :n the South Sea, thofe of the flcin appear to be the mofl common. To what may the great number Si V w , ■ ^'' « ' V t jcft to illnefs, anJ particularly convulfions, during dentition ^ 6thly. Are there certain men or women particu- larly appointed to take care of the Tick ? WhvA remedies and what methods of treatment do they adopt: Are there any hofpitals, or do they feparate certain claflcs of difeafcd perfons from fociety ? § IV. OF TflE MATERIA MEDICA. IT appears, according to the relation of Ander- fon, that the priefts are the only inhabitants of the South Sea Iflands who take upon themfelves the diarge of curing the lick, and that for this pur- pofe they make ufe of certain juices of herbs, but he gives no defcription of thefe plants, or of the other prefervativcs to which they have recourfe againft diforders of the Ikin, ulcers, fwellingc, dropfies, &c. The women recover themfelves from the effects of child-birth, according to this naturalift, by fitting upon warm ftones, wrapj)ed up in two pieces of cloth, between which they lay a ipecies of muftard ; this remedy makes thein fwcat profufely, it does not fuccced however with venereal patients. Thefe peo])le therefore have Inii an imperfcd knowledge of the virtues contained in the remedies which nature offers them ; they are even unacquainted with any thing which can operate as an emetic. It remains for the naviga- tors therefore to make experiments on the qua- S 3 litis': ■■■' k' 262 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE lities of plants, to aicertain their tafle, and obtain knowledge relative to their 01 iier phyfical proper- ties, jjot only in the iflands of the South Sea, bir in all other countries where they may land. For this purpofp the following particulars arc rccom. mended to their attention. I ft. Examine the tafte, the fmell of the root«, woods, barks, leaves, flowers, frukis, and fced^ of the vegetables in the countries but little known, and compare them wjth the different vcg'tabic fubftances employed in Europe as medicines, and xpake fimilar experiments upon the fap which ex- udes from trees, as well as upon animal fubftancc^. 2dly, Qbferve the different remedies which are supplied in hot countries to the dileafes which afflid the inhabitants, and defcribe even the fii perftitious ceremonies wjiich are often the only me. cjicine knowq amongfl barbarous nations. 3dly. Xry ^^^^ effect of decodions of Ibmc of the emollient, aromatic, and acrid plants, in thofe diforders of the ikin to which the inhabitants are liable. 4thly. Let niercury be applied in frlclion in cafes of the venereal diicafe, among the inhabitants of the South Sea Iflands, and let them be aflifled with the means to rid themfelves of this cruel fcourge ; above all obferve the effedts of mercury ppoi^ thefe people. 4- En= J ROUND THE WORLD. 263 ^thly. Endeavour to dilcover whether fomc fu- dorlHc vegetables of thcfe iflands may not have an anti-venereal virtue, fuch as, particularly, the lobelia J\/iyhillitica frapufitiu?n Amcricanumjlore dihii^ caru'eoj, aad the celajirus intrmis, of Linncus. 6thly. Examine whether there do not exifl in fomc of the hot countries, plants analogous 's.o the cinchona, fimarouba, ipecacuanha, camphor, opium, &:c . and v/hether the iflands contain any emetic or [jurgative.plants likely to be of ufo. ythly Get information, and make obfervations on the properties of the anacardium, which in Loui- fiana is reputed to be a cure for infanity; on the virtue of the tflephium, and of the gramen mari* nuuiy or lea herb, which the Greenlanders prefer to fcurvy-grafs for the cur of the fcurvy ; upon the cortex winteranus, the root of Belaage*, of Columbo-f, and that of Juan Lopez j". Stilly. Endeavour to learn which are the tribes that paifon their arrows, what fubftanccs they ufe for this purpofe; the nature, the defcription of the plants from which they f^xtrad the venomous juice, and efpecially the i^niedies they admi- nifter to prevent the deleterious effeds of it: inform yourfelves alfo whether fi^lt and fugat may * At Madagafcar, f Ifland of Ceylon. J Coall of Mofambique« »> V »<." it S 4 b^ :i 264 LA FEROUSE's voyage be confidercd as an antidote againft the wounds made by thefe arrows, as there is fome reaibn to think, from the experiments of Condamine. 9thly. Take notice of the animals, and efpecially ferpents and venomous fi(h, and endeavour to find out the caufe on which this dangerous property depends in the latter, and if there be any means by which it may be prevented. lothly. Inform yourfelves carefully of the reme- dies, internal or external, which are efleemed fpeci- fics in the difeafes of the different people ; defcribe the nature of thefe fpecifics, the manner of preparing and taking them, their dofes, their effeds, and the period of the difeafe during which they are taken or applied : it is by this means we have learned from the Peruvians the valuable properties of the cinchona. 1 1 thiy. CoUedt in a particular herbal, and difhindl from that of botany, fuch plants, or parts of plants, as are ufed for aliments, remedies, or poifons, in the various countries which may- be explored. § V. SURGERY. Of difeafes and chiriirgical operations. ANDERSON remarks, that iurgery has made a greater progrets among the iflanders than medi- cin«^ ROUND THE WOR!, n. 26 q cine, as mud necefilirily be the av.'c among a people fubjeft to few difcafcs, but liable, In com- inon with all men, to external accidents. Cap- tain Cook makes mention of a woman of Lc- fooga, in New Zealand, who performed th.e of- fice of an oculift: flic drcfied the eyes of a child with two wooden probes, which fiie rubbed upon their membranes, even till the blood ran. It ap- pears that the natives of the Friendly Iflands have no great dread of wounds, lince they inflift them on their own heads voluntarily to exprefs their grief ; they alfo cut off the little finger witli an axe made of ftone when they arc ill, and one of the joints of the fame finger when their chiefs are fo. Many of thcfe iflar.ders are obfcrved to have a little fins;er wanting on one hand, or even on both. This pradice i?, doubtlefs, allied to their fuperilition : they alfo make inci lions in dif- ferent parts of the body, and efpeclally in the leg*. Anderfon further remarks, that they are very bad furgcons, as he faw an arm awkwaidly amputated, and adiiloc»tion of the fame part, which was not ri'duced many months afiervvards. Neverthelefs, thefe iflandeis, according to him, can judge when wounds are mortal, and know how to apply fplints to fraftured limbs : they can moreover introduce into v,'ounds where there are fpllntered bones, a piece of wood to fupply the ]>lace of bones brought avvviy ; and Anderfon faw cicatrices from the P- ^M Jfe.' Ml ■'^I ^d U:^\ -If :<>h » I- i ' I, •t ■ ill 266 lA f F.ROUSr/s VOYAGf the tlimH: of a pike, which evinced the cure of ivouncis tliat vvouUl have been tlioiighi mm-. tal in Europe. Lalliy, the clafs of men in Ota. licite, that are called tahoiiUy make an incilion on the prepuce of influits, which operation thcv per- form at one ftrokc with the tooth of a In ark ; they cure the fwellinj^ which iupervcnes, by ap- plying hot fconcs to the part. The fafts which ixppcar important to be collcifted relative to this part of furgery, may be reduced to the fob lov\ing: 111, Ave diflocations, fracflures, ruptua-s, and chirurgical maladies in general, very common among people who live in a (late of nature ? 2dly. What means do they employ for curing thefe different diforders ? ^dly, Have they particular inftrumcnts ? Oi what form are they, of what materials, and ho'.v \ifed? Let fome be purchafed, and a coUedici made of them. 4thly. Are circumcifion and inlibulatlon pric- tifed ? If fo, how arc the operations performed ? 5thly, Are there. any men or women to whom the feparate care is delegated of treating particular chirurgical diforders, as thofe of the eyes, the cars, the teeth, the fkin, child-bearing ? 6thly.What are the form and nature of the wea- pons they make ufe of in their battles j thofe ot tlut ROUND THE WORLD. 267 the wounds they iiillict, and the manner in which they treat and cure them ? At the Louvre, the 31(1 of May, 1785. (Signed) Mauduyt, Vicq-D'Azvr, Dii Fo U R C R 0 Y , .V Tn 0 V l\ E T, I certify the prcfent copy to be conforuiiiblc to thp original lodged in the office of the llcrctary oi the lociety of medicine, from wliich 1 receive^ directions to forward it with all fpeed to the Mi- j)ifler of Marine. (Signed) Vicq-D'Azyr, Perpetual Secretary. 71 .'t^l SKETCH Of experiments fo be ?nade for prefcrilng the ivatcr on Jhip-boiird from corruption, commit- nicaled to AI. l)c La Peroiifcy captain of the navi/i about to make a voyage round the zvorld, 1)1/ Mr V Abbe Tejier, of the academy of fcicnces, and of the fociety of medicine. One of the greateft inconveniences attending navigation is the corruption of fredi water in long voyages. Different means have been propofed for avoiding this evil : the objedt of fome of them has been to render fea water potable, which would un- doubtedly be advantageous under many circum- ftances, but the proceffes have been found to be expenfive and troublefome : others confided in prep;^;^tions which tended to prevent the cor- ruptioa % i^: V- 1^ •J IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) h .% % .•v^^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 28 12.5 2.2 11.8 U 1^ V] >> 0 / # '/// m w Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WSST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 i. I 1 •' i; ^<^' I Sill' L fii' ■' i68 LA perouse's voyage ruption of the frefli water ; this lafl appears to be the mcfl fimplc, bccaufe it neither re- quires labour during the voyage, nor the con^ vcyance of fuel. I do not examine whether many of the exj}cri- mcnts formerly propofed relative to this ufefulob- jed have been made with that fcrupulous atten- tion, which a difmterefled and fincere defire to afcertaln a point fo valuable to mankind ought to prefcribe. The voyage of M. De La Peroure round the world offers the moft favourable op- portunity for making experiments of this kind. He will neccffarily fail through every latitude 3 the love of truth and fclence animates him ; his own knowledge and experience will be united to thofe of the natural philofophers who accompany him j the refult, which he will prefent on his retunij may therefore be relied on. It is with this view, that I have here laid down a iketch of experiments, fimple and complicated, fome of which it appears to me have not jet been tried. From all that I have perufed in the writings of navigators, and from con verfat ions with a great many naval officers, it a])pears, that the water taken on fiiip-board corrupts only becaufe in- fects form in it, which, in certain degrees of lati- tude, where the temperature is very warm, hatch, die^ aiKl putrify. Tliefe infcds owe their birth 2 to ROUND THE WOULD. ■269 to egg'> depofited either in the water before it is fliipped, or in the cafks containing it. Water that is taken on board during winter, or that U drawn from fprings, is Icfs fufceptible of corrup- tion than that which is (hipped in fummer, or than that taken from rivers; thefe dift'erences de» pend on the infeds which depofit their eggs al- ways in fummer, and in certain waters, rather tliari in others; it is known alfo, that wood often fcr\'es as a nidus to the eggs of thefe animal? ; it is poflible, therefore, that thefe eggs may cxift in the wood of which the calks are made. I confider it of importance to be allured how far this may be a fad:. In confequence, I am of opinion firft, that the water alone (hould undergo Ibme preparation ; next, that the calks alone Ihould undergo one ; and laftly, that the water and the calks jointly Ihould undergo a preparation. It will be difcovered by thefe means, whether the eggs arc all in the water, or all in the calks; perhaps they penetrate into thefe latter only during the voyage. The following experiments will further determine thiii, and point out the bed prcfervative. The firft care is to be fatisficti of the ii.itc of the frcdi water wh^n embarked, by examining its weight with the hydroftaticpl balance, its temp^'rature with the thermometer, its purity or divifibility, by the facility with which it boil, dry pulfc and r^ f,jJt!| 27© i}\ tA PEROrss's VOTA.-JE and diffolves foap : the fpring or the nvcr when:* the Wiiter is taken (hould be noted down, a^ well as the hour of the day, and the feafon of the year. The individual hj'droflatical balance and thermometer, employed in this experiment, fhould be thofc taken on board, as well as par- cels of the fame pulfo, and of the fame foap to be ufcd in other fimilar experiments. While at fea, choofe twenty hogflieads, or cafks, each of equal capacity, and in all refpefts like thofc which will contain the reft of the frefh water ; this number of cafks, for experiments, ought noi: to excite furprize or alarm, when it is con- iidcred, that the water preferred in them will all be drunk in the courfe of the run ; that in any cafe it will not be inferior in quality to the ordi^ nary fliipped water, and that it may be dedudled from the quantity of cafks propofed to be car* tied out. The cafks for the experiments mud be made of the fame wood, and hooped the fame j they muft be placed in the fame part of the fhip as the others are, and without any particular pre-* caution. Firjt experiment. The water w^ith which two of the cafks are filled, muft be previoufly ex- pofed to the fire, where it muft be boiled for hall an hour ; there ivre no infecfts eggs can bear this licat without perilhing. This method, fimple as it is, has never been made ufc of as far as I knowi ROUX» THE WORLDi %Jt knoT ; the (iiilors arc in the pmdice of partially liuing this, by fometimes throwing rtd hot balls into the water which they take at certain water- ing places. Upon one of the calks may be put No. I, E. R. and upon the other No. 2. E. B. that is^ to lliy, cau bouiUie (boiled water). Second c.rpcrimvnt. The infide of two cafks muft be impregnated with quick lime, diflblved in boiling water, and this operation repeated two or three times j for this purpofe, the brufli ufed muft be prefled ftrongly againft the joints, in order that the lime water may infinuatc itfelf the fur- ther into them : it will be eafily conceived, that this foaking can only take place, when the calks have r>ot both their bottoms in, and that it is ne- celiary to impregnate in the fame manner the inner fide of the flaves which form the fecond head before it is replaced, The barrels muft then be filled with water, which has not been boiled/ Thefc may be marked on one. No. i. E. C. S. and on the other, No. 2. E. C. S. that is to fay, tan chaulce Jimplement (limple limed water)* Third experiment. This will confift in com- bining both the former: two barrels, with their inner furfaces previoully impregnated with lime, filled with boiled water, as in the preceding cafe. Upon one put No. i . E. B. C. and on the other, No. 2. E. B. C. that is to fay, eau bouiUie^ diaulce, (boiled water limed). J Fourth Af "■ ./ ■(. i 'i ^ ' - ! ^ PJ 't "^ 1 i(i,!jj m ('IT % It 11 » LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE Fourth experiment. Two other barrels, beln^» o equally impregnated with lime, are to be filled with boiled water, to which add fpirit of vitriol, in the proportion of four ounces to two hundred and fifty pints of water, Paris meafure. On one put No. I. E. B. C. V. and on the other. No. 2. E. B. C. V. that is to fay, eau houiliiet chaulcc, vitriolifte (boiled water, limed, and vitriolated). Fifth exfyeriment. It will be fufficient to put into two other barrels, frelli water, without having made it boil, mixing four ounces of oil of vi- triol, with two hundred and fifty pints of water;- neithei' lliould thcie barrels have been made to imbibe the lime. Upon one put No. I.E. S. V. and upon the other. No. 2. E. S. V. that is to lay, eau Jimple vitriolijec (fimple vitiiolated wa^er). Sixth experiment. Two barrels will contain lioilcd water, to which mud be added four ounce'^ of fpirit of vitriol, without any other prepara- tion. Upon one put No. i . E. B. V. and upon the other. No. 2. E. B. V. that is to fay, eau bouilUc, vitriolijccy (boiled water, vitriolated). Seventh experiment. Two caiks are to be co- vered OTcr on their outfides with tar, which are io be filled with boiled water, without their having been impregnated with lime within. Up- on the one, put No. i. E. B. G. E. and upon the ether. No. 2. E. B. G. E. that is to fay, eau ROUND THE WORLD. 273 eau bouiliie, goudronfiie extcricuremejity (boiled water, tarred on the outfide). Eighth experiment. 'Two cafks are to be im- pregnated with lime, as in the fecond, third, and fourth experiments, filled with boiled water, and alfo tarred on the outfide. Upon one put No. I. E. B. C. G. and upon the other, No. 2. £. B. C. G. that is to fay, eau bouiliie^ chaulee^ gou- dronnee, (boiled water, limed, and tarred). Ninth experiment. Only tar two cafks on the outfide, and let them be filled with fimple water, which has not been boiled. Upon one put No. I. E. S. G. E. and upon the other. No. 2. E. S. G. E. that is to fay, eau Jimplc, gou- ikonnce extcrieurcmenty (fimple water, tarred on the outfide). Tenth experiment. Fill two cafks with fimple water, without making them undergo any pre- paration either within or without, This experi- ment is a flandard of comparifonfor all the others. It is to M* Dc La Peyre, furgeon in the nav)', that the idea of impregnating the caft.s in- ternally with lime belongs. I took the hint of the procefs from him, which I have varied and correded, as much as I thought necelfary. The addition of the fpirit of vitriol to the water has been known a long time. It is necefTary to obferve, not to boil the wa- ter before the cafks are ready to receive it, and Vol. I. T then i-r^X- ^ m ■m m .• M^. i^ >i if/^i'iw 'lil I 'Mm -'■74 LA PLROl'SE S VOYAGE then to fill ihcm as foori afterwards as poffible. \t' any time were lofl, other inre(^s might depofit their eggs, to the fruflration of the experiment. It is obvious that all the cafks Ihould be clofely bunged up. When from the heat, the refl of the fliip's water fhall begin to corrupt, every one of the experimental cafks Ihould be examined at the fame time. All of them fliould be tafted, and exa- mined whether they have any fmell ; the tranf- parency of the water fhould be noticed; it fhould be weighed in the hydroftatical balance; a ther- mometer fhould be introduced into the cafks, to afcertain their temperature; an equal quan- tity of dry pullb, fuch as had been made ufe of for the fame purpofe before failing, and which Ihall have been preferved for this purpofe, fliould be boiled in them ; and, lafhly, an equal quantity of foap, fuch as has already been ufed, fliould be difTolvcd in equal quantities of water from every one of them. It will be nccefTary to obferve, with great at- tention, vvhether infeds be formed in them, and of what fpecies they are ; and to watch their meta- niorphofes, and tlic gradations of corruption and putfelaclion in the water: it will be proper even 10 preferve ron:o of thefe infecls in brandy, fo as to brin"; tlicm bauk to France. If kOUND THE WORLD. 27^ If tiic wants of the fhips companies will allofv of it, the other calks remaining of the ten ex- periments, fliould not be touched before arriving 'in a different climate, and in jlnotiicr latitude where the common water will corrupt} in this fe- cond cafe, they mull be examined as in the former. An exad account muft be kept, in the form of a legal depofition, of all that may happen, or be remarked in thcfe experiments. This depo- fition will be figned by M. De La Pcroufe, by his officers, and by the natural philofophers who will be on board. If this plan of exp(?rimcnts be deemed inte- rcfting, it will be conceived how fnuch it is to be defired, that each of the Hiips M. De La Peroufc will command may repeat it at the fame timej they riiay feparate and run through different tracks; double obfervations will recipro- cally confirm each other, and carry the thing to a demonftration : there ought to be the 'a rea- fon to objed to it, as the water of the expe- riments will be as good as the other, and it will not occupy an ufelefs place in the lliips, fince it may be drunk. I requeft M. fie La Peroufe to fign two copies of this Iketch, which will be figned by myfelf j he will keep one, and I the other.j this will be a tefti- mony of the engagement he enters into with the public, to take upon himfelf experiments, which T 2 may •it .11 ; if. i • 4 i n M '\m- ( J-: ,VI| /'I li <» '1-f l|;Vi, mi ■ 'j'w 276 LA PEROUSe's voyage may turn to the advantage of navigation : at kail the}' are propofed with this intention. Rambouillet, the 19th of • May, lyS^j, (Signed) Teflier, and La Perour«^ MEMOIR For directing the gardener in the occupat'wm and^duty of his voyage round the zvorld^ by M, Thouin, firjl gardener of the botanical garden, La The miffion of the gardener, who will accompany M. De La Peroufe in his expedition, having for its objedt the carrying fuch vegetable produdions of Europe to the inhabitants of the places he vifits, as may be ufeful to them, and to bring bapk from thofe various countries the vegetables proper for enriching Europe j it has been thought proper to divide this memoir into two parts. FIRST PART. Choice^ nature and culture of the vegetable! which may be tranfpor ted from France. Of all the prefents which the munificence of the King would make to the inhabitants of the newly difcovercd countries, vegetables fit for the nourilh- ROU.,D THE WORLD. 277 Tiourllliment of man are, without difputc, thofe which will procure them the mofl Lifting benefits^ ind the moft proper to promote their happiiicfs. The choice of thcfe vegetables ought to be made from among our leguminous plants, and our moft valuable fruit trees -, the roots and fruits which ftand in need of no preparation previous to their ufe ought to obtain the firft confidera- tion, and thofe which only require cooking with- out moifture (hould obtain the fecond. It is within thefe limits wefliould confine the prefents about to be made to a people, who, not having convenient veflels for boiling their food, could make no ufe of herbs and fruits which required iuch preparation. It is under thefe confiderations that the lifts have been formed, which are to be found at the end of this paper. It is neceflary ftill to obferve, in order to di- minllh the expence of the purchafe, not to carry out the feeds of thole kinds of vegetables which arc only preferved by a careful and delicate culture. Thefe feeds, left to themfelves in cli- mates fo different from thofe they have been ac- cuftomed to, or at moft to a rude culture, would ioon return to their primitive ftate, and there- fore only ferve to encumber the ftiip. The choice being refolved on, it is proper to (l<:terniine in what way it will be moft profitable to convey thefe vegetables. T 3 There i^:-> t , . J-. k^ 1 ■ ^ B^SL^C V, \m 278 LA PEROUSE's voyage Tlierc cannot be a doubt but the flatc of iced, at the fame time that it is the leaft ex pen five in the purchafc, is the mod convenient for carriage; it is ulfo tlie mod fure in general, for multiplying the produdions of one climate in another ; but it requires a ciioicc in the feeds, attention for their prefervation during the voyage, and pains to fow them advantagcoufly in the different places to which they are dcflined. ;•;; ^t. The moil fcrupulous attention mufl: be had not to purchafc any but the lafl year's produce, well grown, and which are perfedlly found : thofe which appear fhrivelled, or eaten into by infe(^s, muft be carefully excluded, not only as ufelefs, but alfo as injurious to the others. The feeds thus chofen will be divided into two parts : the firft comprehending all thofc which only need to be defended from the con- tacV. of the air, and from moifture, in order to their prefervation ; llic fecond will be compofed of all the (\i'in "-^.m \-t\A 1 i A 284 LA PEROUSe's VOYAGE purchare only young plants, and fuch as are branchy to the end of their ftalk. Care mud be taken that they are healthy, vigorous, and their grafts are as near as poffible to their roots. When as many are colle(fted as it is pofTible to put into one box, they muft be packed up as follows At the bottom of the box, and upon the hole: bored for the running off of the water, mud be placed fmall tiles to prevent the earth from bsing wafhed away by the waterings ; after that there muft be laid down abed of fliff earth, three inches in depth, preficd lightly down. It is upon this bed, that the firft ft' je of young trees, thofen from among the iargeft, mull be LiiJ, and efpeciaJly thofe which, like fig- trees, vines cherry-trees, &:c. arc not liable to injury from their ftems being dec[)ly buried 3 (he clqds of earth which are taken out of the pots with thele plants muft be laid together, as clofe as pofliblf, and the fpaces filled up with earth, eompofcd of heath mould, which muft be prelil-d and fpread as well as pofTible, fo that this firft rank may form one folid mafs ; a bed of heath mouki of two inches depth muft cover the firli llage. The arrangement of the fccond muft bo managed in the fame manner. It ought to hi: difpofed as the firft, clod muft be laid againli clod, the ftcms of the highetl: in the mitldlc, and by gradation the lovvcfl towards the edges, all the >ft ■;f .'I ROUND THE WORLD. 12.S. tlie Interfticcs mull then be filled up with lieatli fand, without regarding the burying the ftems of the trees in the under bed, provided throe or four of their (hoots are above ground. Laflily, the whole niafs muft be comprelTed, either by beating the box againfl the ground, or by forcing it down with the hand, fo that no vacancies may remain, and neither the jolting of carriages, nor the rolling of the (hip occafion any derangement. • In order to be ftill more fure of this advantage, a bed of mofs might be laid on the furfacc of tiie upper bed, and that again covered with frelh wheat ftraw, both together of the thicknefs of an inch and a half, which might be kept dowu by a frame crolTmg the box between the ftems of the young trees, without touching them, and nailed upon two ledges, fixed in the inCde, the length of the two fides. The plantation being thus finl(hed, the trees muft be pruned in fiich a manner, that the branches, the neareft to tlie wire work, will be about an inch or two from it ; afterwards the whole mafs of this box muft be well watered, and, a few days afterwards, it may be fent off to Breft by the carriers. In order to diminifh the lofs of the moifture in the box, which it will be impolTible to renew during a journey of twelve or fifteen days, it will be proper to clofs the lateral (butters, but to leave 1 • , "Wt i " • ' '^ffi' , IfW ' 1 1: : ^'^ ¥i 11 r ' *iv: n Hili HiH> V ' ^HH m'? ml* Ira wWm m> .ttS ^B; IMBl ^K> iN^B V u .^K jJluH K^ x^ff 1^1 ^m'^ J|.Jn my Mam 1« i \ ' if fei 4- 2S6 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE leave the two fmall ones at the extremities open, fo that the air may be renewed, and the plants prcfervcd from decay. On the arrival of the boxes at Breft, the firft care of the gardener fliould be to open them, to raiie the wire lattice, and to cut away the abortive flioots j afterwards he Ihould probe the earth to examine its ftate of moifture, and to remedy any little difturbancc the carriage might have occafioned. After the privation of free air that thefe trees will have experienC|jd, it will not be prudent to cxpofe them fuddenly to the fun; it will be more adviieable to defend them from it, either by placing the boxes in the (hade, or by covering them with canvafs for a few days. The care of the boxes, and nurfmg of the trees, during the voyage, will be confined to the water- ing them, as often as neceflary, and preferving them from extreme heat as well as from great cold, either by covering them with canvas during the day, and giving them as much air as poflible during the night, or putting them down between decks in the cold latitudes ; befides a little ufe of the pruning knife may be neceffary to fliorten, now and then, the too vigorous among them which might hurt their neighbours. The trees, arrived at the place of deftination, mult be taken out of the boxes, with the earth about the roots, in the mod careful manner polTible, 'Uii ROUND THE WORLD. 287 pofllblc, and planted in fuch afpcdts, and in fuch foil, as will bed agree with cach^of them; and tlrring his ftay the gardener will watch over their prefervation. If the whole of the package be not intended for the fame place, he will only take out of the box fuch individual plants as he pro- pofes to fet, and will fill their places with fuch producftions from the country as he may think ufeful to Europe. The judgment of the gardener muft be relied on for making the natives of the place underftand, that thefe trees are prefents, and that they ought to watch them carefully on account of the benefit they will derive from them. This is neady all that can be faid concerning the firft part of the gardener's commillion : we fliall now fpcak of the fecond. SECOND PART. Of the gathering fuch vegetables as may Or ufeful to Europe, and of their prefervation during tJie voyage. THESE colledions fiiould comprife, ifl:, The feeds, 2dly, the bulbs and flcQiy roots of vivacious plants, 3dly, the faplings of interefting tree:, the feeds of which are not to be procured. The feeds (hould be harvefted v.hcn there is a choice of than to be had, and in their perfect rrjaturity ; but as it often happens, that the Ihort flav ■ r iit^4fe -}-H'' 1 i i |V'S '^H jj' ij f mk IBH 2R8 lA PEROtJSE*S VOYAfiE flay made on an illand leaves no opportunity t(7 delay the gathering of feeds which arc not per- fet5tly ripe, while it is neceffary, neverthelefs, not ti difpenfe with the gathering them 5 there is an advantageous mode of proceeding, but in fuch a cafe an indifpenfable precaution is to be ob« ierved. - The herbaceous plants* of which the feeds arc found to be not above three parts, or even two thirds ripe, it will be neceflary to have them plucked up by their roots, afterwards tied in trufles, and in that form conveyed to the (hip, where they mufl be fufpended in a place de- fended from the fun and from moifture ; there cannot be a doubt, but that a part of the feeds of thefe plants will ripen in the fpace of fix or eight days ; they may then be gathered and put up. If it fhould happen, that fome interefling plants, from which it is ardently defired to ob- tain feed, be found at a period when their feed is but juft fecundated, there is no occafion to defpair of fucceeding. In this cafe, it is pro- per to take up the plants with the roots, and the clods of earth about them, and to plant them in bafkets. Thefe bafkets fhould be clofed with their own covers, or with mats, for the firft few days; the plants fhould be watered night and morn- ing, and by degrees uncovered j the ripening of the ^ feeds >i .;i ROUND THE WORLD. 289 feeds will thus be effefted during the voyage,, and there will be no caufc to regret having loft: an opportunity, which might never again occur, of procuring to Europe a precious vegetable. If, through good fortune, perfedlly ripe feed be met with, flill the manner of gathering it in is not a matter of indifference, with refped to its prefervation. Not only does it require care to avoid fliaking out the feeds, but it is neceflary alfo to gather them in their chaff and with their peduncules. Thofe which grow in hufks, pods, and capfules, will remain in their feed-veffeb which it will be even neceffary to tie, in order that they may not open during the voyage ; the fame will be neceffary with regard to cones, and in general all dry fruits. The fmall feeds which grow in fpikes, in panicles, in whorls, and in bunches, mull be gathered quite entire with ftalks of five or fix inches long, and twifled different ways, in order to intercept all external communication of the air with the germ of the feeds. To preferve feeds during fo long a voyage, and in fuch different latitudes, requires indilpenfable precautions. It is certain, that feeds left in their cups and capfules will keep better than others ; but it is requifite, that they be very dry, as well as the other parts about them, and that afterwards they be freed from infe(fls, and the eggs of infeds, Vol. i, U ~ v.'hjch I, t* 1' . • fi liii. Ik r 11:' - ^;,<, tiff 290 LA PEROUSE's voyage which might be hatched during the voyage, and devour the feeds without being perceived. Some hours of expofition to an ardent fun will fuffice to produce the firfl: effcd ; and if imperceptible in- fers be fufpefted, or eggs (hut up in the cover- ings of the feeds, by taking the precaution to place them under a bell in which a little fulphur is lighted, the vapour will kill them in a few minutes. AlTured that the feeds da not contain a fuperabundant moifture, or infers, they may be folded up, each fpecies by itfelf, in ftrong paper which has not been fized. Upon each of thefe packets muft be put a number, cor- refponding with a fample of the plant, or tree, from whirji the feed has been gathered ; after- wards thefe different packets muift be ranged in a tin box, preffing them as clofe as poffible, as much to fave room, as to prevent the effeft of the rolling of the fhip, when by not being well confined, they might rub together and deftroy each other. The box filled, and fhut clofe with its lid, (hould be foldered as it were hermetically; and the article it contains fuperfcribed thereon, as, for example : " Seeds gathered from fuch a period to Juch a period, in fuch a place''* When feveral boxes like this are gotten together, they are to be packed up in a flrong wooden chefl, which mufl be covered with oil-fkin, with . - ' a ticket^ < 21 ROUND THE WORLD. 2QI a ticket, or label, like the former, on the out- fidc. The naked, or Uncovered feeds, of the bulk of hazel nuts and above, will require another preparation. It is proper, inimediatcly after they are gathered, to leave them expofed to a free air, in a fafc place, during a convenient time, to fvveat out the too abundant nioiflure they may contain, and at the fame time to perfect their maturity : after which they mud be examined, in order to rejcd the iliformcd, the abortive, or thofc perforated by infedls. There mud then be difpofed at the bottom of a tin box, of a fufficient fize to hold twice the quantity of the feeds, a bed of earth one finger thick ; upon this firmly fix a bed of feeds, kept at fome lines diftance one from another, thefe feeds mud again be covered with fix lines of earth, and another bed of feeds difpofed thereon as before ; and io continue one after another, till within a fingers breadth of the upper part of the box, which muft be left to admit the lad ftratum of earth, and this ought to be drongly prefled down by the lid, which mud afterwards be foldered. The mould ufed for this operation fliould be neither too dry nor too moid, but fuch as is found on the furface of the earth, when it has not rained for eight or ten days. Too dry, it might iibforb the moidure necefiary to preUrve the V z feeds i \k"i m Tl<)a LA 1»I-R0USE S VOYACE fc'ctls ; too wet it would occafion them to rot. It is on the jufk medium between theie two ex. tremes, and proportionally to the nature of the feeds, that the fuccefs of this kind cf package depends. There is no need to mention, that it is nccef- fury, after foldering the box, to put a ticket upon it, fignifying what is contained in it, and cor- refponding with the herbal and with the gardener's journal ; the importance of this precaution is too obvious. The naked feeds of a finall fize, below that of a pea, may be put at random with the earth, without obfcrving any regularity with refpe(^ to beds or layers, but in all the other particulars arranged as the preceding. The feeds inclofcd in flefhy calices, in berries, or in pulj^y fruits, fuch as figs, goofeberrics, apples, peaciies, &c. ought to be taken thereout when the fruit begins to rot, a fign of the per- fcft maturity of the feed ; they are to be fpread out to the open air, after which they may be ihut lip In tin boxes, with earth, as has been before di recited. To yary the chance, and leave nothing to hazard, It might, perhaps, be fuitable to pack up a portion of each fpecies of thofe feeds whidi come enclofcd in capfules, pods, &c. with earth, ftnd in the lame manner as directed for naked feeds. RousD Tin-: WORLD. 29^, keels. Tins precaution might, above all, be very fit to be taken in the li.jrvelt or Teed time of the be- ginning of the vo\ige: tlic |/rocetVcs for prcfcrving the feeds cannot be lo'^ mucli varied during lb long a voyage. So far, all the boxes whicli have been recom- mended to be fealed up as fall as they are filled, ought not to be opened in any cafe until after the period of arrival in France, when it may be thought proper to fowthe feeds: they will require no other care during the voyage than to be difpoled of in a part of the (liip the lead expoled to variations of atmofphere; they ought, however, to be prcfcrved from too much moiflure, and above all, from too much drought. Among the feeds, there is no certainty, that there do not exifl: many the germination of which it is impoffible to retard, fuch as thoie of the palm- tree, the myrtle, the (lellated plants, and in general allthofe the feeds of which are filled with a horny fubftance, and which have but a very fmall embryo lodged in a little cavity ; thcic fLimilies arc nume- rous in fine trees, the greatefl pait ufeful. The very fmall fuccefs met with in the feeds of theie trees, which have beei brought to us with nu- merous precautions, appear to prove this impof- fibility ; it is expedient then to employ other means for procuring thefc interefting objects. We think it would be proper to fow rhe feeds at the U 3 fa mi? im- n ■V If,?; ' ^ 194 LA PEROUSe's voyage fame time as they are gathered. For this piirpoie it would be neceffary to have a cafe, the dimen- fions of which may be made proportional to the quantity of feed intended to be put into it, hut which muft not have lefs than twenty inclies of depth. This cafe muft be filled with a IHit and rich mould, taken from a fpot covered with grafs, at the time it is wanted; the feeds muft b^ fown very near each other, at different depths ^ the largefl, fuch as the cocoas of the Maldivia Iflands, in eight inches depth, and the moft de- licate in four lines. There muft be a fpace left of about two inches, between the earth and the fuperior edge of the cafe, to add a bed of mofs, which muft be confined by four or fivecrofsfticks, nailed on the edges of the cafe to fecure the mafs againft the rolling of the fliip. The fowings, made in cafes or troughs after this m.anner, muft be fur- ther proteded from the ravages of rats, and other domeftic animals of the Iliip, during the voyage, by a range of hoops fixed acrofs the top, and in- terwoven or plaited with iron wire. The care and cultivation of thefc feeds will confift in keep- ing the earth of the cafes, by waterings, in a flate of moifture favourable to the germination of the feeds, in preferving them from the fcorching rays of the fun, by covering them in the day-time with a coarfe canvas, and above all, by preferving them from the col^l in thofe climates whese the froils might ROUND THE WORLD. 295 tnight give reafon to dread their effefts, by con- veying them to thofe parts of the fliip where they would be mofl fafe ; and laflly, by keeping down the mofl voracious plants which might injure the mofl delicate ones : two little doors made at the two ends of the wire grating, will facilitate the means of performing this operation as often as is found necelfary. It has all along been prefumed, that the gar- dener, commifTioned with the colleding vegetables, would find ripe feeds, or thofe nearly ripe ; but it may happen, that he may meet with neither one nor the other, and being in a fituation where he cannot take up the individuals in their kind, fee nimfelf in the fad neceflity of quitting a fpot with- out being able to fliew to Europe a fingle article of its productions : in a cafe like this, there is a refource remaining, which he may make ufe of, under even the moft unfavourable circumftances. Every body knows, that the feeds of vegetables fall as fill as they ripen, and that many are wafiied by the rain-waters into the low places, or are car- ried by the winds to the Ikirts of woods : in ga- thering with a bcfom, in thefe different places, a bulk of fome cubic feet of earth, taken from a confiderable furface, there will be a certainty of colleding a great many feeds of indigenous plants ; and thefe earths, enclofed in troughs or boxes, alter having been properly dried, will preferve the U4 feed h-A it: ■ls>* /' w 296 LA PF.ROUSE's voyage feed till his arrival in Europe. We have had proof of this in that which has been fent by M. Aublet from Cayenne, This traveller had embarked three- fcore cafes, filled with trees and precious plants from that colony ; the trees died on the way ; but the foil in which they had been planted, being fprcad over a large furface of hot-beds, and co- vered with frames, produced a great number of plants, many of which are flill preferved in our ■ gardens. Such means may therefore be ufed with the certainty of fuccefs ; it is indeed the only one, in certain cafes, by which fome fpecies of plants can be had. The parts of fru deification of plants of the family of ferns, mufhrooms, &c. are fcarcely known j flill lefs known are the feeds of thefe plants. Hitherto the attempts to fend the flems with roots to Europe, have been unattended with fuccefs ; it is probable, that in gather- ing up the earth where thefe plants grow, and mixing with it their leaves in different flates, germs may be obtained, which, if well managed in their firfl openings or expanfion, might afford us interefling plants. For this purpofe, it is re- quifite, that the gardener, charged with the duty of fending thefe things to Europe, fliould pay the greateft attention to note in his journal, the nature of the foil he has colleded, its expofition or afpeft, the ^r.ki ROUND THE WORLD, 297 the degree of moifture ordrynefs, and laflly, whe- ther he took it up in a woody or open place. To fave room as much as jioflible, and to profit to the utmoft from the fowing bare feeds, the mould which accompanies them muft be cho- fen in the manner before direfted, rather than taken at random, a circumflance which will re- quire additional attention flill, but will procure a further advantage alfo. To terminate, in Ihort, all that remains to be faid on the fending feeds here, we will endeavour to eflablifli the proportions in which every one ought to be gathered. It is not to be doubted, that the trees ant\ plants which may be ufeful in Europe for the food of its inhabitants ought to hold the fir ft rank in eftima- tion ; fuch as that fpecies of fern the root of which ferves the natives of New Zealand for aliment. The plants of ufe in the arts ought to hold the fecond s furli as may conduce to the decorations of our gardens, the third ; and, laftly, the fourth will comprife the plants which are only proper to have a place in the botanical gardens. The quan- tity colledled fhould alfo be proportioned to the climate in which it is done. In countries where the temperature is analogous to that of Europe, no rifque is run in gathering a great abundance, becaufe it will be eafy to make ufe of thofe feeds which require fowing in the open ground ; and their ( 1 ■t ' * i ^;-.: ^^ %' I W' '■' *i 298 LA PEROUSE's voyage their quantity will afford the means of multiplying them in every province in France, Thofe in countries more warm ought to be gathered in Imaller quantit)^ becaufe thefe feeds ftanding in need of hot-beds and frames, and of being con- fined, in order to raife them, only a very few can bepreferved, unlefs it were defired to fend them to our colonies of the Antilles or of India j in that cafe, it is neceflary, that the cultivation of thefc objedls fliould be made fufceptiblc of other ad- vantages. Another obfervation not lefs important is, to colledl a greater quantity of each fpecies of feeds in the lafl years of the voyage than in the jfirft i becaufe it is poffible, that in fpite of all the pains, a part of the feeds gathered or fown in the commencement of the voyage will become im- poveriflied before the return to Europe, and that there will be a great deal of every kind not in a condition to grow, while the harveftings of the lafl. years of the voyage will be infinitely better. If the touching at fome of the European fet- tlements flionld be forefeen, it would be advife- able that the gardener made his difpofitions before hand, to depofit there a bale of little packets ot every fpecies of feeds which he may have chofcn, and that he join thereto a duplicate of his herbal, of which the numbers will corrcfpond with thole he affixes to the little bags of feeds he brings back to Europe. The articles thus fent may be con- tained ROUND THE WORLD, 295 tallied in tin boxes, enclofcd in oil-cloth, and ad- (IrefTed to M. Le Marechal de Cailrics, for tiie King's gardens. „•, :.i 1,1 The carriage of bulb,?, bulhou<{ root.s\ flcjhy roots of vivacious plants, and their cultivation dur- ing the voyage. There cannot be a doubt, but that, if thefe plants be met with in their ilate of repofe, that is, when their fructification is completed, and their flems diied, it is the mod favourable feafon for takings them out of the ground ; they ftand in need of no other care afterwards than to be picked from their dead branches, and that part of their cover- ing which might be impregnated with the moifturc of the air, and occaiion the rotting of the bulbs; cxpofed to the rays of the fun for a few days they will have parted with the perfpirable moiflurc, and may be put up in boxes, layer above layer, with fine fand, and efpeciaily that which is div. If thefe plants are only met with in full vege- tation, it will be requiiite to dig tr.em up with a clump of mould about the roots, and plant them in baikets, tlius cultivating them till their ftalks are dead, wlien they may be drawn out v/ithout rilk. By taking the precautions pointed out in the preceding article, their prefervaticn may be ef- fected. ^ Thef Juts 2 do. Fruits of Herbs. /^Melons of different kinds, 6 litrgns, V Water-melons, red and 1 , Seeds of< white. J /Artichokes, white and violet, 4 do. ^Guinea Pepper. - • i do. X 3 J-IeRbs. r ; ^M 111 t.,ii( ffl 'I » > ■iol 3IO 1 1 Pi ^' 1 i li li LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE Herbs. r Celery, of different varieties, i biifhd, Chervil - - - f tlo. Creffes (alenois) - i do. Parfle}^ of different varieties, 4 litrons, Seeds of ^ f^-^f " (SoWen) - i do. Sorrel - - - i do. Lettuce (cabbage) - I bulhel, Lettuce (roman) - | do. Small lettuce for cutting, i do. l Endive, or wild fuccory, i do. Roots. Onions, white and red - i do. Turnips of different varieties • 2 do. Radifhes of different fpecies 6 litrons, Turnip rooted radiflies, black and white, 2* do. Garlick - ^ - i do. Efchalots r ^ n - I do. SECOND DIVISION, Siihjiances which need Jio other preparation for' ' eating than to be roajied. . \ Roots. '-. Potatoes Carrots of divers varieties 1 litron. 2 bufhels, Chiroui I ROUND ' FHE WORLD. 311 Chiroui m m 3 litrons. Parfnips m •• T bulhel. Salfafy (Spanifh) •• m I do. Salfafy (white) - i do. 3eet-root (red, white, and yellow,) 3 bufhels. To be bought at Breft. Farinaceous Seeds. ^Wheat of different fpecies 8 bufliels. Maize of different varieties 4 do. Buck wheat, or black corn 4 do. < Piedmont rice - 4 do. Barley of different fpccies 4 do. Oats of different varieties 2 do. s,Rye - - 4 do. ^HIRD DIVISION. Productions tvhic/i are not eatable nnlej's boiled^ and on that account are proper onlij for thofe people ivho have convenient ve^ffels for cooking them. Peafe of different fpecies Kidney beans of different fpecies . Garden beans of different varieties Lentils of the large fpecies Chich-peas, white and red Lupines - . - 'X4 ■ V 1 -■ . 6 bufliels. ' li 6 ditto. 3 ^0- iii 2 do. HI I do. iff 2 htrons. Vetches 1 . - i \ \-' ' ) ;.ll r .*'i !>ii I 312 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Vetches, white and black Fenugreek - . , White mullard The egg-plant - - - Cabbages, white Cabbages, red m Citrul, or Pompion )- Cucumber - - - Gourd - - - - Calebafli gourd r Ori.ch - - - Chard-beet - - - Tobacco - . - 2 ditto. I do. I do. fdo. I bufliel. I do. I do. I litron. I ditto. 1 ditto. I bulhel. I do, + of a litron. Note. — It will be proper to divide this aflbrt- ment of feeds into four equal parts, every one of which muft be enclofed in a box, not to be opened but at the time of fowing, in order to avoid the inconvenience of letting the air get at fuch feeds as are not to be fown for many months, and even a year after they are gathered. Enumeration of vegetables tohich ought to be conveyed in their natural Jiate. Fruit Trees and Shrubs. I Apple tree — red calville. 1 Apple tree — white. 2 Apple trees — true rennet. 2 Apple ti :\ 'A -ROUND THE WORLD. 313 2 Apple trees — (Vapis. 1 Pear tree — Englifh bcurre. 2 Pear trees — bon-chrctien. 2 Pear trees — craflan. 2 Pear trees — Saint-Germain. 4 Vines — golden chaflclas. 4 Vines — muicuciine. 2 Vines — railin de Corinttie. 2 Peacii trees — groflc mignonne 1 Nedarine tree. 2 Plumb trees — reine claude, 1 Plumb tree — mirabelle. 2 Plumb trees — large damafcene of Toun, 2 Apricot trees — common. 2 Peach apricot trees. 3 Fig trees — white. 2 Fig trees — angelique. 2 Fig trees — violet. 2 Cherry trees — Montmorency. 2 Black heart cherry trees. 2 White heart cherry trees. 2 Olive trees — true. 2 Quince trees — Portugal. 1 Mulberry tree — black. 2 Garden chefnut trees. 1 Nut tree — tender fhell. 1 Almond tree — tender Ihell. 2 Rafpberry bufhes — Maltefe. Legu" I'i '•ill 1 '■ -tA ■■"'ll . "\ I ■' 2S»iB;.' ■'"if* 1^ mi 4 3H J.A PEROUSE*S VOYAGIi Leguminous Plants. 'To be had at Brc :U. Potatoes of difTerent varieties Jerufalem artichoke Garhck - i. Efchalots « - - Weft-India fweet potatoes and yams, to be U- Jcen in at the Cape de Verd Illands, or at the Cape pf Good Hope, or in North America. Shrubs for Pleasure. Rofes — hundred leaved. Lilacs. Tuberofes. INVENTORY ' '^ ROUND THK WORLD, 3 '5 J Furniflied by the Port of Brcft. INVENTORY Of the merchandize and effects embarked on board the Jliips wider the orders of M, De La Pc^ roufe^ for 7naking prefents and exchanges^ IRON in bar Iron in plates Iron nails of different fizes Packets of iron wire Copper in (heets - . Packets of copper wire - ( Lead in flieets Clothes of different kinds Nets for fifliing - &c. &c. &c. &c. platchets of different fizes and adzes Joiners chiffels and gouges Carpenters augurs - - , - Iron hammers and malls • - - Iron wedges to cleave wood Lon[^ laws, framed Long faws, unframed Hand faws _ _ - - Pincers round and flat, and others to draw i nails - - -. - - 3 Knives 2000 2500 50 700 500 600 1000 him.- i - >; 1^ ^'&^i M lA.. n-.*, -.g * » l\ • "l t' :«:, 1^ m m ;r i f 'r '"3 (^ m 316 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE Knls^es of different forts and fizes Pruning knives - - - Pairs of fc iffars for taylors, and others Steel files - - - - Rafpers of wood - - - Packets of brafs wire aflbrted, weighing Giinlcts, or borers Wimbles with their bits Filhing hooks - - - Needles of different (izcs Pins aflbrted - - - Looking glafles framed of different fizes Drinking glaffes with feet Water bottles - - - Cups and faucers of India porcelain, co loured and gilt - - - China bowls, idem - - - Bugles, or beads of coloured glafs, afforted ) packets Glafs rings in colours 600 Goblets 100 Ewers 600 Plates 100 Diflies Tinder boxes Flints for tinder boxes Amadou (a tinder made from the fungi ^ of trees) lbs. - - - - 3 7000 150 1000 2400 1200 lbs. ^00 1000 100 9000 50,000 1,000,000 600 1800 200 } i 200 50 400 2000 Of pewter. 1000 30,000 200 Glue 2 ROUND THE WORLD. 317 5^ 102 12 Glue, pounds - - - - 200 Copper pots for the glue - - - ^o Ringing bells of two kinds, packets - 24 Combs, of wood, bone, and horn - 2600 Blowing bellows - - - . 24 German organs, large ... 4 Serinets, or fmall organs - - - 12 Dragoons* helmets in copper, with plumes ■) and horfe-hair tails - - - j Gorgets of poliflied copper Cafle-tetes in polifhed copper Medals in filver, or bronze, the King's ef- figy, with the infcription bearing the names of the fliips, and the epoch ofr 100 the voyage, fome with chains of the fame metal, and fome without chains Odier medals, in filver or bronze, with th^ King's effigy Buttons of coloured glafs, fct in copper, | gilt, tranfparent and fparkling, dozens -i Buttons gilt, filvered, and of poiiihed cop- 7 per, dozens _ _ . _ > Vermillion, packets - . - 2000 Feathers red, yellow, and white, bunched, ) aigretted in plumes, &c. to the amount r iioo of French livres ^ - - ^ Artificial flowers, to the value of livres 300 Fine } 600 96 " ■'}• ."iv 4 ■ 'rv ik' ii I if'^ >50oo ^l^ LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Fine jewellery, confifllng of rows of beads/ white, coloured, (Iripcd, changeable and rcflcding J of car-rings fliapcd like pears, and like girandoles of divers colours and divers faihions ; of necklaces, bracelets, and medallions, to wear about the neck in various forms and colours ; of rings of difiercnt faihions, fpying glafles mounted in wood, in copper, and in fifli fkin, to the value of livres Toys and common jewellery, confiding of'' magic lanterns, flint-glals bottles, fmooth and diamond like, gilt and coloured j gilt nails, convex glaffes, multiplying glafles ; whiftles in bone and wood ; et- wees of bone, engraved, in open work, in imitation of lace, and plain; others in pafleboard, painted and varniflied; hearts and rings fet with flones ; knight's ^ crofles, ear-rings, counterr^ kc. to the value of livres - « j Tinfd, confiding of galloons, net-work, in Spanifli points, Brandenburghs, &c. in gold, in filver, and in coloured foil, for livres - .. Gauzes, gold and filver, with wavy colours, i cnfauxy to the value of livres •> Silk ribbands of diiferent colours, ells 1200 Flowered } 90^ •2800 QO ROUND THE WORLD. 319 Flowercxl filk Huffs, damafked, clouded, &c. in remnants, ells Calamancoes, in different flripes and co- } ] 312 lours, - - - ells Coloured fiik handkerchiefs Linen handkerchiefs, coloured Common cloths, icrges, knittings, and flan- nel of different colours, ells Scarlet cloth, Dutch fcarlet ; 1 Red fringes ells dls ells 100 200 500 1200 100 25 200 iz 130 850 Scarlet coats - - - "^ Serge, red, white, and blue, ells Blankets - - - • Linen cloth ftripcd, blue and white, ells Printed callicoes of different patterns, with ) large flowers, in remnants, ells - j Muflin, in remnants, ells - 100 White linen, in remnants, ells - 500 Red tape, pieces - - - 72 Thread of different colours, ikeins - 1200 Flock-paper, of different colours, large patterns, So rolls, of nine ells each. Flowered paper, 80 quires. An affortment of garden feeds of the various i:inds (befide thofe enumerated by the Sieur Thouin, firft gardener of the royal botanical gar- i-n) to the value of about 400 livres. The total of the merchandize embarked for pre- '-■i^-t? and exchanges amounts to 38,365 livres : 5 And JA ;♦ ' '. * I i ,t» ■■»!■ ..a 320 m LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE AikI the particulars recommended by the Sicur Thouin in feeds, in trees, fhrubs and plants, to 2,330 livres. The total of the inflruments of aflronomy, of navigation, of phyfics*, &c. and of books bought in France, amounts to 1 7,034 livres. There have been expended in England for dif- ferent articles, about 6000 livres. There has alfo been a confidcrable flock of cflTence of fprucc embarked in the fhips, as well as of malt for making beer, with other preferva- tives againfl the fcurvy. The provifions of this nature, and other objc(fts dcfigned to prefcrve the health of the fhip's companies, may be valued at 30,000 livres. The extraordinary cxpcnces of fitting out for thi^ voyage, including in the calculation the extra va- lue of the provifion, occafioned by its fupcrior quality, will not exceed 150,000 livres. (The table of the perfons of fciencc, and of the artifls embarked for the expedition, is not included herein). i^ * Not comprifing the three quadrants which have been lent by aftronomcrs. I A SUMMARY ROUND THE WORLD. A SUMMARY ACCOUNT S2t 0/ flic inftntmcjits of ajlronnmy^ of navis^cL- tion, of natural philofoplii/, of chtnu'jtrUy and others, for tlic life of the fcienf(fic ptr- fans and art (/is tmp toyed in the voyage of difcoveries. ASTRONOMY AND NAVIGATION. THREE aftronomlcal quadrants. An inltrumcnt for obferving the tranfit of planets. Three aftronomlcal time -keepers, and two cal- culators. Several aftronomlcal telefcopes, night tclef- copes, and prifm telefcopes. Five time keepers. An Englilli pocket watch, or chronometer, for the longitudes. Four refleding circles, by M. de Borda, to ob- ferve the heights and diftances of the ftars. Three Engliih fextants for the fame ufe. Four theodolites, or graphometers, with and without telefcopes, to meafure the angles on land, and conftrud plans. Two affortments o«f chains and of ftaves for the fame ufe. \ Vol. L Y Afteel 1 H l* i.A^ m H^9i^ j'^^ffiMil- il^^^aM ^^^ffipM- w ^mPaI'I . ^H'fi^^S^ ^ '^H San WSa^S^'-^'''^'' iSif' wBn |^W'3R>apJ'' r'V'' ■'. ^mM" jffl3j ■»,;{'>'■ ■ JpMlil ]\%: ■BWHI^m! '^Jtif-iifMt ■ IHBWSa'i|Mgtai|^BJjgiifaff'- wiyfofMj^P''' ' ' ' n m^mSm- 322 LA PRR')USE's voyage A ftecl fathom rod, with its fcale, the fame which fcrved for the mcafure of a degree of the meridian at Peru. Divers inftruments for meafuring the length of the pendulum. Two Englilli compafles for obferving the va- liation of the niagiictic needle. Two dipping compafics lent by the EngliOi board of longitude, the fame which were ufcdin captain Cook's L*{'c voyage. A compafs of the fame nature executed by M. Le Dru. Several other compafles of different ufes, fuch as miners compafles, and others. Several fuitably chofen magnetic bars, in their cafes, to retouch the compafs needles in cafe of necefiity. Several (and glafles, half hour and half mi- nute. A fuitable cheft, with all the tools in clock and watch-making, and others for repairing the inftruments, for the uie of the clock and watch- maker embarked in the expedition. Several cafes of mathematical inftruments, for the ufe of- the aftronomers and engineers, and other inftruments fuitably chofen for defigns and dnuv- i^S- >IATURAL 'if It ROUND THE WORLD. 3''3 NATURAL PHILOSOPHY AND CHEMISTRY. An air pump, double barrelled, with all its ap- paratus. A plate eleflrical machine of fifteen inches with all its acceflbries. A great number of barometers, thermometers, and hygrometers, of different kinds, for making various experiments. A concave burning mirror, of a foot diameter. Two univerfal microfcopes of Dellebarre's inven- tion, with their micrometers. A great number of compound magnifying lenfcs with three and four glaflcs, and iimple lenfes. Two machines for meafuring the depth of the fea. A machine to afcertain the temperature of the fea and its faltnefs at different depths. Several hydrometers. Several aerometers. A large linen balloon lined with jofeph-paper^ twenty-lix feet high and twenty-two and a halt ia diameter. Three paper balloons, and three of ox gut.* Two fcaphanders. An hydroftatical balance with all its acceffories. Phofphoric bougies. ' * Gold bcaiers leaves are made of thij Vrhen duly pre" pared. T. ■ Y 2 Ai; 1 . .. lit" 11 :i !• ill 4 '■^•r:. ;. 11 t;i' a 324 LA PEROirsE's VOYAGE An eudiometer, by Volta. An eudiometer, by Fontana. A chemical apparatus. A pneumatic apparatus, by Rouland. A reverberatory furnace. An affortment of retorts, matrafles, crucible?, and other utenfils of chemiftry. A filver bowl for the chemical operations. A compleat affortment of acids, of alkalies, of vinegars, of lime, and other obje CEuvres d'Hiftoire naturelle, by Charles Bonnet. Sur la Formation des Montagnes, by M. Pallas. Meinoire pour railcmblcr les Curiofites d'Fiiltoire naturelle. Tableau phyfico-meteorologiquc, for the obilr-' vations to be made in the vovao;c. Conftruction de Thermometres. Pliftory of the winds, by Biicon. Y 4 P^Jiquirics IH. ■ (■'('•!M''''iil ^^jpiii 'if' iiii' '(; \. i ;■*' iW' m f . ; 'ii J# 328 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Enquiries concerning the modincations of the at- mofphere. Flux and reflux of the Tea, by Deflandes. Voflius, Sur Ifs courans. Peyfonnel, on currents and corals. Hygrometrie, by M. De Saufilire. Eil'ay on hygrometry. Refiftancc of fluids, by Boflfut. Hales's Jnfl;ru6tions concerning the rendering fea- water frefli. Difcovery of the ventilator by Hales. Means of preferving the health of fliip's crews. Difeafes of fea-taring people, by M. Poiflbnier De^perrieres. Advice concerning the conveyance of trees, plants, &c. by fea. Treatife on vegetation, by Muilel. Philolophical letters upon falts, by Bourguet. Syftema naturce, auctorc Linnaso. Linnjei genera et fyjlema plantarum. LinnjEi Philofoohia botanica. Linnasi Suppiemcnliim. Forflier, Genera plantarum. Plumier, Plantarum genera. Adanfon, Familitis of plants. Th *'fau rus %cy la n iciis. Jlerhariiim Amboinenfc. Thunberg, Flora Japonica. Burmanni Plantse Africanse. Bf'rgii Piantis Capenfcs. Pifo !.i*'i ROUND THE WORLD. 329 Plfo et Marcgravius, hiftorlic Indiie. Dillcnii llijioria Mufcorum. Klein, Animal kingdom. Forfkal, Dcfcripiio animalium. Lettre fur les animaux, by Leroi. Pallas, Spkilegia zoo log lea. Pallas, Mifcellanca zoologica. Ornithologie de Briffon. Derham's Synopfts of birds. Gouan*s Hiftory of fifhes. The art of filhing. Conchyliologie de Dargenville. Conchyliologie fluviatile. Klein, Sur les ourfins. Pallas, Elcuclms zoophytorinn. Fabricii Elementa cntomologue, Fal'ricii Genera infectorum. Fahricii Species injectorinn. MuUer, De verinibiis terrejirihus. Dictionnaire de chymie. Chemiilry by M. De Fourcroy. Cryftallographie de M. Rome de Lille. Eflay upon a theory of cryftals. The Works of Hcnckel. • of Dubofe d' Antic. of Marcotte. Carte mineralogique, by Guettard. Origine des langues, par Court de Gebelln. Encyclopedic. Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences. X A LIST f ! I ■III (?' r 4' ,->. ^f ,\ 3.;o LA PE ROUSE 5 VOYAHE WM i m m'f A LIST OF THE NAMES Of tJic ofiu-iT.v, fncntijic vicn, (irfiJI.;^ and failors embarked on board llie frii^a/cs- jm Boiijjhle and Vyljlrolabe, iiiulcr the orders of 7)1. Dc La Pcroiife. JULY 1735. LA BOUSSOLE. Mcflh. De La Pe'rouse, capital ne de vaij/iauy com- mander in chief, employed as chef de divijion^ and made cJief d'efcadre^ the 2d of Novem- ber, 1786. IJei(fcnaiis. De Clonarp, made capitaine de irilffeau. d'Escures. Enjeit^nes. Boutin, made lieutenant de vai/Jlau, the ifc of May, 1786, and /7;c/;"ar, the 14th of April, 1788. DE Pi ERR EVERT. Colt n e t, lieutenant de f reseat e^ made fous-Ucn- tenant de vaijjeau^ the ifi of May, 1786. (iardes de la Marine. TvTel de Saint-Ci'.ran, put on fliorc at Ma- nilhi, the i6thof April, 17S7. DE MoNTARNAL. PE ill HOUND THE WORLD. t)E RouxDarp.aud, volunteer, mule ircve dv la marine^ the lil of January, 1786, and Ueii- tcmint de va[fjhau^ the 14th of April, 1786. Frederic Broldou, volunteer, made Ucvle- nant dc vaijfcaji^ the ift ofAuguR, 1786. E?)ginef}'s, fcieiiiijic men, and arfijis. PE MoNNERON, Captain of the corps of engi- neers, engineer in chief. Bernizet, geographical engineer. Roll IN, engaged as furgeon-major. Lepaute Dace let, of the academy of fciences, prufefibr of the military fcliool, and aftronomer. DE Lamanon, natural pliilofopher, minera- logift, and nieteorolugift. L'abbe'' Mong'es, regular canon of the French church, naturalifi, performing the functions of chaplain. Duche' de Vancy, draughtfman of figures and landfcape?. pR E V OS T L E J E u N e , botan ical draught fman. Collignon, botanical gardener, GuERY, clock-maker. Warrant Officers. Jacques Darris, premier maitre dUquipage. E'tienne Lormier, idem. Vincent le Fur, maitre d' equipage. Je'rome Laprise Mouton, m^xdc foils -lieute- nant de vaijeaii, Fran(;ois H.: ■1. -^ ■4:4 J- y-^*"" •» ^ •T LA PF.ROUSE S VOYAOF- Francois Tayer, coritre-muitt'C. Francjois Ropars, idem. Jean-Michel Le Bec, quartier-yiiaifre. J E A N - B A p r I s T E L E M A 11 R E , fecowl pHoff. Eu TROPE Faure, aide-pilot e. Gunners and fujilcers. Pierre Talin, pay-mafler ferjeant of marines, premier-ma it re camninicr. Edme-Fran(^ois-Matthieu LiviERRE, fer- gent eanonnier. Antoine Flhire, corporal. Francois Diege, fufilecr. George Fleury, idem. Jean Bolet, idevi. Pierre Lieutot, idern. E'tienne DuTERTRE, drummcr. Carpenters^ caulkers, and fail makers. Pierre Ch a rron, mafler carpenter. Jean-Baptiste-Francois Soude^ carpenter's mate. Andre' CiiAUVE, idem. Pierre Meschin, mailer caulker* Claude Nevin, caulker's mate. Jean Faudil, idem. Alexandre Moreau, idem. J a c Q u e s Fr A N c H E T E A u, maflcr fail maker. Andre' Verrier, fail maker's mate. Laurent Point el, idem. Topmen, vip'f- ROUND THE WORLD. TopmcHi Jh'crjmcn^ and Jailors. \33 GUILLAUME DURAND. JEAN* Mas son. JACf^UKS POCHIC. ] L' L I K N H E I, L E t . I RAN9OIS GoR IN. I'RAN^C 01 S L HOST IS |f.an-i\4arie Dreau. 7\lain Marzin. Corentin Jers. Louis Plemer. Francois Gloahec. Joseph le Has. Joseph Plevin. Jean Daran. Jean Donety. ?A1 Pierre Bretaud. Jean Frichoux. Guillal'meStephav. Pierrk-Marie Las- thnnec. Jean Gohonnec. Yves Le Bihan. Jean Luco. J UL OSEPH Ber. TELE Jean Magneur. Jean Francois Du- QUESNE. JuLiEN Robert. Pierre Bonny. Chaiil.es le Due. An B dre'-Marie LE RICE. ERTRAND IJAKIEL D. B Jean Garnier. Louis le Bot. Alain Abgral. Charles-Ant. Chau- VRV. Pierre Aciiard. GuillaumePichard. Hilarion-Marie No- ret. Jean-Pierre Ch£- VREUIL. Quarter siomcrs. Ce'sar-Augustin De RoziER Michel-Berrin. Francois-Joseph Vautron. Andre' Roth. Jean Blondeau. Michel Niterhof- fer. Pierre Prieur. Marens Chaub. Jean-Pierre Fkai- chot. Pierre Guillemin. Jean Gillet. Joseph Rayes. Super-- .^'^r^ 'IfHRI ''M 1 ! [m Hi?' ' mi! 334 tA PnROUSE S VOVAOB JSupcrn n mcraric.'s. Ji'AN QuK RKNNEUR, coafting pilot* Jacqu'.s f. k Cau, fccond furgcon. JiiAN Lou VIC. Is I, firfl: clerk. Simon M o l l a n d , cooper. Joseph Vanneau, baker. Jean-Pie r r e J ) v k and, mailer armourer. Jean-Marie Bleas, blacklmith. Rene'-Marie Cosquet, mailer carpenter, Jacques Quinion, cook. m Dovicjlics, Pierre Cazaurant. Jeane-Fr AN901S BisA- HON. Rene De St. Maurice. Benjamin, (a negro]. Francois Bretel. Michel Siron. Louis David. Supplement. GuYET DE LA ViLLENEUvE, takcfi OH board at Manilla, the 7th of April, 1787. \|ean-Ckarles Massepin, fufiieer Dominique Champion, idem. Pierre Lebis, idem. Jean Jugon, ideiii. Pierre Motte, idem. Six Chineie Tailors. L'ASTROLABE ROUND THE WORLD, I/ASTROLAPiE. /^ ^ * Mcirrs. DE L ANGLE, cajulauie (le va[(feau, commanclen LlciiU iiant. Dr. Monti, made capiUtinc dc vat'/ffan. E/ffcig/ics. Freton de Vaujuas. Daigremont. PE LA BoRDE Marciiainville, rupcmunie- rary. Blondela, lic'itcnant dc frci^atc. Gardes de la Marine. DK LA BoRDE Bo U TER VI L LI ER S, maclc HcU' tenant de vai/J'eaiiy the firfl: of May, 1786. Law De Lauriston, idem. Raxi De Flassan, fupernumcrary, made lieu- ienant de vaijjeau^ the firil of May, 1786. Scientific incn and artiJIs. MoNGE, profefibr of the military fchool, aflro- noiner, fet onlhore at Teneritfe, the 29th of Augull, 1785. On La Marti Ni'EREjdodor of phyfic, botanifc. OuFRESNE, naturalift. Le ''■ 11 IJ ^^ t: *( \wm " ■' ■ ''At If il* 336 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Lp: P'kre Receveur, of the order of cordcli- ers, naturalid, and performing the fundions of chaplain. Prevost, (the uncle) botanical draughtfman. Lavaux, furgeon in ordinary of the navy. Lesseps, vice-conful of Ruffia, interpreter; fct on Ihore at Kamtfchatka, and commiffioned to carry the difpatches of M. De La Pcroufe to Paris. Warrant officers. Francois Lamar e, maitrc d' equipage, FRAN90 IS Marie Audignon, idem, fupernu- merary. Se'bastien Rolland, confre-maitre, Guillaume-Marie Gaudebert, idem. Math ur IN Le'on, premier pilote. A D R I E N D E M A V E L , feCOlld pHotC, Pierre Brossard, aide-pilote, msidc /o us- lieu- tenant de vaijjeaii. Jean L'Aine', aide pilote. Gunners, Jean Gaulin, ferjeant of marines, maitre ca- nonnier. Le'onard Sou las, corporal, fecond cauonuicr. Jacques Morel, aide-canonnier, Pierre Chauvin, idem, Pierre Philiby, idem, Francois Saulot, idem, Chris- ROU^D THE WORLD. 337 CHRISTOPHEGlLBERT,COrporal,flfzV/^-rc7«0?272/er. Jean Pierre Huguet, drummer, idem. Carpenters^ caiilkerSy and fail makers. Robert-Marie le Gal, mailer carpenter. Jean Berny, carpenter's mate. FRAN901S BiziEu, idem. Jean Le Cam, idem. JEAN-FRAN901S Paul, mailer caulker. Louis Mevel, idem. Jean Grosset, mafter failmaker. Olivier Creachadec, failmaker's mate. Yves Quelenec, mafter caulker. FRAN901S Leboucher, caulker's mate. Bastien Taniou, boatfwain's mate. Yves Bourhis, failmaker's mate. Topmeuy Jteerfmeuy and failors. , i -m : ^ti^:^^^ ' ■ V i Louis Alles. Pierre-Marie Rio. Jean Moal. Joseph le Quellec. guillaume duques- NE. Charles-Jacques- Antoine Riou. Francois le Locat. YvE3*Louis Garan- D£L. Cilles Henry. Vol. I. Z GOULVEN TaRREAU. Jean-Marie Basset, fet on fliore at Macao, in China, 19 Jan. 1787. Pierre-Mari£-Fid'*e- LE PaUGAM. Jean-Louis Bellec. Joseph le Blois. Jean-Marie Leta- naff. Guillaume-Lam- bert Nicole. Ber- I • 'kl f I . ''■ <» . 1 cHiHEni 1 ^^^W^SMHHPi' ImMHw Wmm jtujjfj^^''} f^K^- ^9h^' I^Bi mm 1 m Hi 4:: f 'IP yii I 338 LA PEROVse's Bertrand Leis- SEIGUE. julien ruelland. Jean le Bris. Denis le Cors. Jean le Guyader. Pierre Banniou. Joseph Richebecq^ fivAN^ois - Marie Vautignv. Yves Hamon. Jean Hamon. Claude Lorgi. Jean Bernard. Jean Gourmelon, VOYAGE Alain Cre'e, defcrtcd at Conception, in Chili, March the 14th, iy86. Jean Monens. Louis Mezon. Guillaume Quedec, Pierre Fouache. Jean Redellec. Guillaume Autret. pRA-'^OiS i'ERET. Mathurin Causiau. Guillaume Richard. Laurent Robin. JuLiEN Masse'. Jean -Thomas An- DRIEUX. CoDERANT LeNDE- BERT. Jean-Gautier Plu- MEUR. Julien le Penn. Francois Bignon. Pierre Rabier. Quarter gunners. Pierre Guimard. Louis David. Joseph Fretch. Louis Span, deferted at Conception, the 14th of March, 1786. Chre'tien Thomas. Jean-Baptiste Pli- ner. Super n u m era n'es. Francois Querre', coafking pilot. Jean Guillou, furgcon. Jean-Marie Kermel, purfer's flcward, died of the efte(5t of a wound from a mufquet, the ^ ch of September, 1787. * Pierre ROUND THE WORLD. Pierre Canevet, cooper. Rene' Richard, butcher. Nicolas Boucher, baker. Jacques Le Rand, armourer. Francois-Marie Omnes, blackfmith. Francois Mordelle, cabin-boy. ^3? *\ Domejiics. Yves Riou, fet on fhore at Tenerlffq the 30th of Auguft, 1785. Simon-Georges Deveau. Jean Geraud. Jean Sol, died the nth of Auguft, 1786. Jean-Louis Droux, fet on (horc at Macao, the I ft of February, 1.787. Francois Potorelle, Joseph Hereai Suf .ement. DuPAc DE Bellegarde, gurdc cle la marine, made lieutenant de vaijjeau, the 4th of Auguft, 1786, from the flute the Marechal de CajirieSf embarked at Macao the ift of January, 1787, LE Gobi en, garde de la marine, made lieu- tenant de vaijjeau the 5th of March, 1788, from la Subtile^ embarked at Manilla the 8th of April, 1787. PitRRE Desluches, fufilccr, Miqhel-E'tienne Philippe, idev}. % % ■ ■ "' Tranj» r} "■ n'C :n . '""i m :f < ^^^i.M rtf i ■ * ;40 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Francois Marin, idem. Six Chinefe failors, embarked at Macao. :»f -, ^ '4f , -J NARRATIVE 0/ an interejting voyage * in the frigate La Prince/a^ from Manilla to San Blazf^ k ' 1780, and 1781, As foon as I arrived at Manilla, the command- er of the frigate which had carried me thither, landed the marine forces he had brought with him, ftationed them at Cavite J to defend it, and appointed me major of thofe troops. He Ordered me at the fame time to draw the plan of that port and its environs. The objed of this was to determine on the moft favourable fituaticn for placing the vefTels defigned to oppofe thv, landing of an enemy. * The Spaniih originals of chis narrative, and of the ex- trafr following, were fent by M. De La Peroufe ; the tranf- lation is the work of A. G. Pingre, and the correfpondin"; chart, conflrufted according to this narrative, and the ancient journals, is the performance of Buache, member of the national inflitute. CFr. Ed.) ■\ Manilla, in the ifland of Luconia, is the capital of the Phillppiftes : San Blaz is a feaport, on the weftern coall of Mexico. X Cavite is a port three leagues from Manilla* The 541 ROUND THF WORLD. The governor fitted out the frigate la Princefa, for an expedition which he confidered neceiTary to be Rept a fecret. When the Ihip was ready to put to fea, I very unawares received orders to take the command of it. My furprize at this unexpected appointment, the ignorance I was in with refpedt to the objedl of the expedition, the fear of feeing my miffion interrupted, (hould there be a neceflity for an engagement, were to me the fource of a thoufand difquietudes : but the go- vernor reprefented to me, that the expedition would do me fo much the more honour, as the objeft was the more intereftingj that if the enemy Ihould purfue me, a thing-he woilid not fail to do, the fkill and adivity of my manoeuvres would be a proof of my capacity; and that, in (hort, the fuccefs of the expedition would be of great advantage to our Sovereign. Thefe expreffions fo powerfully incited me, that I confidered my- felf honoured by the governor*s felefting me for an expedition like this, in fuch critical circum- ftances. I accepted the command, and put to fea the 24th of Auguft, after having received a fealed packet from government, which contain- ed the inflru<5lions and orders I was to follow, and the port to which I was direded to repair. 1 was not to open this packet till I fliould be at twelve leagues diftance from Gavite. Z3 The t ■W t •'.. ■ -. '♦' ' I-.. if' "V : f::" n 542' LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE i ¥ hi ^p > The 25th, being at the prefcribed diftancc, I opened the packet. I was enjoined to make the port of Sifiran*, where I fhouid wait the farther orders of government, keeping myfelf always on guard, ready to repel the attack of the enemy, who would, doubtlefs, attempt to intercept me, fliould they come with a hoftile armament to Manilla, The winds died away, and, becoming contrary, prevented my getting out of the paflage between the illands. I ftill kept my courfe, working as much as poffible to windward ; but I could not get the better of the current, which forcibly car- ried me back, coming from the point of Efcar- feo-f-, which I found impoflible to double. I was therefore obliged to anchor on the 29th, at two o'clock in the morning, near this point, op- pofite the harbour of Galeras, in twenty-five fa- thoms over a fandy bottom. The 30th, at half after three in the morning, the wind changed to the weft ; but it was fo vio- lent, that the fhip drove from her anchors. I was * Sifiran is a port on the eaft coaft of Luconia, almoft im- mediately oppofite to Manilla, being but 16 minutes more foutherly than that city. t This point, the Porto de las Galeras, the Iflands of Tiaco and San Bernardo, are fituate in the channel or ftralt, which feparates the Ifland of Luconia from the other Philip- pines. defiroub ROUND THE WORLD. 345 dcfirous of getting under fail, but the (Irength of the current prevented me, drifting me aUb to- wards the harbour. I was in ten fathoms water, and let go an anchor which would not hold, owing to the current and the wind which frelh- ened more and more, infomuch that I foon found myfelf in onW five fathoms water. I dropped another anchor, and with the help of the (heet anchor, which I inftantly let go, I increafed my diftance from the Ihore, which was little more than the fhip's length from me: and although I dill lay within the point of Alagican, which forms the port of Galleras, I could, notwithftanding, get under way, but it was at ^he cxpence of leaving one bovver anchor, the iheet anchor, two bower cables, and a Iheet cable, entangled in the rocks*. At nine o'clock in the morning, I doubled the point; and though the wind had moderated in palling to the third quar' terf , neverthelefs, by a prefs of fail, I reached * Much is abridged here, as well becaufe the detail would be immaterial and tedious, as becaufe there are fome paf- fages that I do not underftand, either for want of compre- henfion on my part, which, however, I do not take to be the cafe ; or from the fault of the copier in having muti- lated the original. t The Spaniards divide the horizon into 4 quarters; the firft extends from the north to the eaft, the fecond from caft to fouth, the third from fouch to weft ; and the fourth from 'Veil t» north. Z 4 an 3 ij ; . ^utP «•«. [^^'^'^ ;44 LA PEROrSE S VOYAGE lit ; ..' ti an anchorage the 31ft, at eight o'clock In the evening, under flielter of the ifland Tiaco, fo as to be able to get out the next day. The I ft of September I fet fail again, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, I was a quarter of a league to the northward of San Bernardo. Thence I fhaped my courfe for paffing between the lilands Catanduanes*^ and Luconia; as this courfe would condudt me the narroweft paflage between the breakers and that ifland, I lay to at ten o'clock, and I found myfelf on the 2d, at day break, at two leagues diftance from Ca- tanduanes. I made all the fail I could, and at half after eleven, I had reached its moft north- wefterly point, and I paffed within a very Httle diftance from the illets clofe to that point. Thence I ran to the weft-fouth-weft, and to the weft, keeping my wind to gain Sifiran. I nearly reached the port about fix o'clock in the even- ing. I ftood off and on all night : the next day, the 3d, I anchored at two o'clock in the after- noon, and moored the frigate in the beft manner I could, in expedation of the final orders which were to be fent me. On my arrival, I began to exercife the crew in every thing which might contribute to our * This ifiand is fituate over againft the moft fouth-eafl- erly part of the Ifland of Luconia, its northerly point h iilnioll upon the fiime parjillel as Sifiran. defence ■J. ROUND THE WORLD. 345 defence in cafe of attack, fo that if fuch an event had taken place, all "were fufficiently ex- perienced in the ufe of arms. I wrote alfo to the governor, to apprize him of my arrival at Sifiran, and to defire his final orders. Siiiran is fituate in the vicinity of very, high mountains, which render the air extremely damp, and appear to be the caufc of the continual hurricanes which I experienced during my flay in this port. The conflant wet weather alfo oc- cafioned difeafes amongft my crew, of which one feaman died. We were thirty or thirty five leagues from the neareft inhabited parts, to communicate with which it was neceflary to climb over fleep moun- tains, infefted with favages, which rendered the communication very difficult. In confequence, I met with the greateft difficulty in procuring fome few of the refrefhments which I thought would be ufeful to us, in the courfe of fo long a vo)'age. .;• For replacing the two bower cables and the Iheet cable that I had loft, I requefted of the alcade (or commandant) of the province, to order new ones to be made; he did fo, and fent them to me as foon as they were finiflied. I de- fired alfo a fupply of anchors; there was not one however to be found, to his knowledge, in ther whole extent of his jurifdidion. On '711 ; I'M '^ • I:: ill 546 LA PEROUSE*S VOrAGR On the 1 0th of November, an officer came on board, and put into my hands a large box, con- taining fome difpatchcs relating to his Majefty's fervice. I'he governor general gave mc orders to carry this box with all poflfible hafte to his excellency the viceroy of Mexico; and for that end to make fail for the Port of San Blaz, or Acapulco, according as I fhould find it moft ex- pedient. I immediately made preparations for this voyage, but two fucceffive tempefts would not allow me to enter on it, before the 21ft of November. To fail, from the Philippines to Mexico, it is necelfary to begin the voyage in June: the wefterly winds, which then blow, carry the Ihips to the eafl of the Marian Iflands: in every other feafon the navigation is fcarcely pradlicable. I therefore confidered myfelf as gomg to un- dertake a voyage abfolutely new, over tracks of the ocean almoft unknown till that time. And admitting it may have happened, that fome na- vigator has lield a courfe in fome meafure ana- logous to my own, is it likely he would have had the fame winds I would he have fleered the fame courfes ? would he have run through the fame parallels, the fame meridians as I did ? I may therefore conclude, that the track I purfued J.ad never been traced before by any navigator. i '1.' 1° As t''h ROUND THE WORLt)< 347 As I had nothing more at heart than to ex- ecute faithfully the orders I had received, and to render my expedition of advantage to his Ma- jelty's fervice, and conducive to the Welflirc of his fubjeds, I was animated by this fcntimont, to overlook the apprehenfioiis I felt from my abfolutc ignorance as to the ccurfe I was going to take. My knowledge from experience ex- tended no farther than to New Britain ; and, even in this run, I met with a multitude of iflands, of v.liich there did not exift the fmallelt veftige in any of our charts. M. De Bougainville, who failed from the eaft of New Guinea as far as the Cape of Good Hope in the fame ifland, only gives us the po- fition of two little iflands, which he named Lcs Anachorltcs^ and of a group of other little low iflands, to which he gave the name of Mille IJles*. He has undoubtedly placed them in their true latitude: but exclufivc of thefe iflands, not a day palled wherein 1 did not difcover others, with which I found myfelf furroundcd, as my chart will evince, to the fatisfaftion of every one who infpefts it. The only point I had to attend to, and which, in fa■ u-^mb J.J i m »|l 1 HI m ^^iffij qgt ]wlf^|HwHj j ^1 9H f 1^4X199 ItAV mBt feBJIi^gfMMl f,«i HJ^IbvmM )M ^mIbhUMI ^^Sm ^^Sre'sl^i'^ffi fWm ijB||WMa»y tf'flX '^^Bfl^si mK'^Rm I'f'WB fcBHr^S MK iuSH iil K^9 m i 348 LA PEROUSE's VoYAOR employ the mod fcrupulous atfcntion, and t(j cxercife th'^ mofl a6\ivc vigilance during the whole courfe of our navigation, Co that I might acquit myfelf ruccclsfully of the commifiion with which I was iiitruflcd, in defpite of the continual ob- flaclcs I (hould have to encounter. Had I been difpatched from a port where I could have furnilhcd myfelf with eveiy thing iiecellary for fo long a voyage, I fhouid have ef- capcd the anguilh excited by numerous diftreflcs. My crew were attacked with difcafes more or Icls fcvcre, the provifion, limited precifcly to a fix months voyage, was for the moft part found to be eaten into by infeds, and rotten; the water was limited to fcventy pipes and forty barrels, a provifion, confidcring the wafle, infufficient for a voyage of fo long duration; and the cordage of the Iliip was ibch, that it broke at the firft mo- ment of our attempting to make ufe of it. i hjjd dclired the alcade to furnifh me with fomc tar, of which we were abfolutely in want, but none was to be found in the province : I was obliged to fupply its place with pitch. Though all thcfc rcafons tended to diminifli my hopes, my zeal for tiie King's fervice fuffered no abate- ment; and I prepared my mind to encounter all the calamities with which the nature of our pro- vifion, and the ftate of our rigging fo plainly threacencd me. 5 De- I KOUND TKE WORLD. c49 i; Departure from the Port of Si/fraii, ftuatc on the eajhrn conjt of the Jjland of Luco- niUf in 14° 20' vort/i- latitude j 126' ^j\! ut^/i of Cabo San Ltic(ny inCalfoni'ni, xn" 10' eaji of PariSf aful 20' zccjt if Sau Bcr- nardo, in the mouth of the Jl rail. I put to Tea on the 2 1(1 of November, with fine breezes from the caft-north-eafi:, and caft, which in a little time became flrung; and as they were diredly contrary, I ran upon dilTcrent tacks to get to the northward, and clear the Ifland of Catanduanes. Thefe winds carried me to the latitude 16°. 14', which I found by obfcrvation on the 30th. I then bore away to the fouth- fouth-eaft, and faw the ifland again on the 31I of Decemberj it bore from me fouth-cafl by fouth, diftant five leagues. I concluded, that the cur- rents* had drifted me 2° 26' to the weft, not- v.ithflanding the correcftion which 1 had made of my north-north-weft: courfe. In this i)ofttion where I was delayed by the winds, which did not allow me to fteer to the fouth-eaft, I was further * Befides the currents, the leeway had, without doubt, much influenced the diredlicn of the courfe : hut it was ap- parently upon the reckoning of tliis leeway that the courfe iiad been correfted. obftrudled Mii: . <■( t. I. '■1 ■t <, i SM^nl wS\ H f ' HP i 350 LA peroitse's voyage obfl:ru(5led by a heavy and mountainous fea, and by winds extremely boifterous, which obliged me often to lie to under the for^fail, fuffering every poflible difficulty to get to windward, (o as to be able to continue my voyage. The 9th of December, after having made fe- veral boards, I found myfelf agam in fight of Catanduanes, and took my lafl departure from it ; the mofl foutherly point oi" the ifland bear- ing weft-north-weft 3 deg. weft, diftant ten or twelve leagues; which put me in 13" 24' latitude, and 122° 26' longitude eaft of Paris, 46' eaft of San Bernardo. We had then tolerably frefh breezes from the fouthward and weft ward; I took the advantage of them, to run to the eaftward till the 14th of December, when the winds veered again to the eaft-north-eaft, eaft, and eaft-fouth-eaft. Thefc changes obliged me to run to the fouthward, keeping clofe to the wind. The 1 8th, according to one of the charts by which I fhaped my courfe, I ought to hav^ been to the eaftvvard of the Ifland called 77/6' Martyr, at feven leagues diftance; and between the 20th, and 21ft, I ought to have paffed by that called The Trimigle: but by another chart, I was on the 19th in the proximity of the Ifland of Yap, or the Great Caroline; and on the 20th, abreaft of the Iflands of Pclew, without having fight of any of thefc KOttND THE WORLD. 55I thefeiilands : but the Ihort and heavy Tea we here met withf could only be owhig to the proximity of the Caroline Iflands, or New Philippines, iuch as they arc placed upon the French chart. The 29th, I croiFcd the line, and pafTcd into the fouthern hemifphere. The winds then blew from the fouthward and weflward : they were tolerably brifk, but interruDted by frequent calms, which incommoded us much by the exceffivc beats they occafioned. I then (leered to the ealt- ward, not lofing fight however of the defign I had to get by degrees to the fouthward, in order to fall in with the wefterly winds, which might be expedled to prevail in high latitudes. While (leering this courfe, we remarked a great many large trunks of trees, birds of diifercnt fpecies, boobies, and others called dominicos. In this fame courfe I propofed to explore the Mille Ijles^ the mofl northerly and eafterly of which Bougainville places in his chait in i* lo' fouth, and * to the eafl of Paris. I Taw them accordingly on the 7th of January, they extended from 38 degrees of the fecond quarter, to nine degrees of the third -j-. The latitude of that, * The longitude is blank in the manufcript ; it is lyf 30', according to Bougainville's chare. In other refpeds., the Milk IJles are obvioufly the fame as his Echiquier. I That is, they extend from the eaft 38 degrees fouth, to Uie fouth nine degrees weft. ii; m ) t ■>,k -rii €• 352 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE which was the mofl to the north-eaft, was found to accord precifely with that which the chart gave it ; but its longitude was, according to my ftatement, 141° 12' to the eaft of Paris. I determined to coafl along thefe iflands at as little diftance from them as pofTible. I took an infinite number of bearings, which, combined with the way the frigate made, enabled me to determine, with the greatefl accuracy, the polition of twenty-nine of thefe iflands which we had difcovered. There are in all probability many others in this fouthern quarter, of which we were not able to get light. It is not poflible to delineate on the charts the extent of each of thef^ iflands, fome of which fcarcely reach a league in length. All are low, and covered with trees ; fome of them furroundcd with reefs which join them to conti- guous iflands. The fca breaks over thefe reefs, and they are only fecn a little way off. I drew nearer and nearer to thefe iflands, fo as to fiiil by them at the dillancc of only two miles fi-om the moft northerly. At feven o'clock in the evening I difcovered a great number of fires on the mofh eailerly of the iflands, and could not withold my aftonifliment on finding fuch fmiiU parcels of land inhabited. Quitting thefe iflands, I ordered the fliip to be fleered eaft by north ; and on the 8th of the month [January] we difcovered to the fouth, three degrees J- V' h^ H I'MKs Strait ' Jpi,V- 4^ ^i^m//"""^ i ;6, ,, .ik/Ji-irork ■ S' """■^"q^'i Uffltp; / r 11 ^afl^ IS # ;.'''^ ./ il''<. "■#; on'*" ^«r/^ ■fji'hf'al CJJeliffraTxv VJCATOR8 Zeonf o)n/. SavatffJ. Oonf'ivAi/iif f:' '<$• „ , ,/,hV'- • ^■'^''^'''AuntfiiHimd I. \' Palnie"ff'"'i:- . . , tt> Holland o Heryey!f\B. f jft iiermittv Theilonk. Q\ W \khks Strait • ki«/y Sti- KurAib" OtoiufJiivfi f.'lkhnMt'/iiiii' Hank of' .Uf/hioiui ' orleJlontteur 01' MaiireUt> * ♦ ^^ r.^ni'xll^ 1 (*'' ^' ..'■•• ^' on'*' Providfnee •X'hannfi ■(J'fit/tfrv ■ » Diana J7ival (' JJe/ii'ivxmce SwtiUowl . TlllHV ,,"1 r^ <■/ -. J'x Ea (,' Soniiwicfi t f. _' ^ Yt'tiyi'/ani/ //ol(>Ofnl. ^ (' f'i'niiiiufX- „| ^., \V» . %A'ort/uuiil<,i/,mdI. '=^; %L Ki'p/'i I /ij'(:. .•■■/ ' KS \ 'Jia/iit'M ,;^^ CWrr/i v//V>rt /. ^'Siif(\ oiijtit). ;{• A 1. 1 DOM A Afv;-/!^./ Holland /hntbl^l'l'' S' (Utt/.^J/oK.ftif '33jn,(' J/or/on - -t- - ■ T)'0()ic of (aj <'./l\n^n iolitaryJ. .C Chit'^MMIfti'ii> I .V,. \l(n KuV.at'o'k" \Makur. U(lllh,rfsJ J.. \ Byrons J . / of a j)aj't of tlio \ i\vilV.X^ VXV\¥\V lo the Kaft ^.'SoiitJiEaft of \'K]V 67'/. \K. i I ,i///ii7//// ////' tnirA- <>/ '/ifS/iimi/h /'ru;afe: lit I'rinci'sa roninuuuii'd hy , iiiKv AiHoiiio Maiiiolle ■ till- Jinn A- or' .UeihJami •thltr OlMaiirefle f'rl. iteivtJ J\, J.(hiiti\U'ii'tes r ', ,',. •fmillou'I. i.iAutpni' -* ' J^' pf/iyenvuv *'*f , 0 .tVH',/v.r.')' ■ '' tltl)H.t/l/l - /// ///>/ ;/?/ '.(hceu- /. t'/ii'rryj. Mtizr-J. (VMi/«it,/l,mA- , Solitary 1. J\iii-fi\Ji/ioh T- . . ^- J'k iff i'Ktoi/e Uorra dil fl ;. i , Eapn-itu Santo \^": ^ V ^"'""■' ^ .-^'(» rJ/li/i/linfj/' ^II^XiI/Ii/hii/i / Rofn/, t'Knfitnt /h-iifii y/trn/. \' fraf/ififl. ''/ff>pc / r ejee J: ir S> 1^ ,\.*l'lC,.1TOHS Oyolam m^ '*/ *^ Opnim Afaonna Tratonfl. IIIJIIKIDKS /)i.yT!ism in i;4;i ^-, * Mo///;//,/ .iWn /'yjltiiffi in jjfi<).-^'-'-'.i jjji-omanoti Itmnri TanmJ^ tf-rrc/io/i (onso//>//t ' * i»-.///it^r//t/tf ^;y^ (Vnrrn iiti^ry /. .4/uintrm Tiitti,/. * V t>ytAi' /I r/iW. C AMIJOM A "X ^. 'on'iiii/itiii ■: -..eJoi' J'l/ii.i ' .ttitttJtiirs /Ofe or ■In r/noA-'tii .. V II 1 1-; X D I. Y ■■ J ■ i s I i: s Jonoa/i//>ot/ lft#V „ ■ ' 'AtHtO /'//shut ../• , 1 .I'o/a/. ' Sai'ittfi^ /. Tropir of Cnpricorji ! Thr n/trtu'.i- />/ /.'•/tf/n/r /ai(/fr///ifr/ f//v ' ////',)>■ n/ftf/i tirrc jvvw /f' Maurcllf UiMlehyii.,- 1 "f '•;] ' degrees ca two ifletSj evening; of the Rortlr I found tl (licm by ibnt four to the fo tiiftanceol Monks). From 1 cape of Is iuul the d illands to <.iav, and moil weft all poflibl fit nation, J can be leagues \o in propor tend then lerably hi Tents the four othej * It is m doubt, to rt «:ifc ; all th, the weft of Vol, ] ROUND THE WORLD. 5^3 tlf^vces caft, at the cUftance of five or fix lea2;ues, two ifletS) which 1 named the Hcrmitanos -, the cveahig of the lame day we law the Anchorets to the northward and wcflward, diftant five miles : I found them prccifely in the latitude afligned to tlicm by Bougainville. We Taw at the fame in- Itant four fmall iflands to the eaftward : I had palled to the fouthward of them at midnight, at the tlifiance of a league -, I named them Monagos (the Monks). From this fliore I bore away for the north cape of New Britain; but, on the loth, fcarcely had the day appeared, when I difcovered other iflands to the ibuth-fouth-eail*. I ran the fame fe i 5 ; I V ' 354 }. .\ rr, rouse's voyage furccfTion : tlicv are covered with trees ; tlicflior? is hold, rind free from reefs : I doubt not, but m the channels which Icparate thefe illands, gooj anch.ora2;e may be i'oiind, where Iliips might be fufficiemiv Ibcltered from the fea and the winJs. Tl'ie ^'ihabitants of thefe iflands lecing mc on the I I til, at the diilance of two miles from their moil c;iucrly point, ajiproached in their canoes, to t!;e number of twelve, befide many others which 0.'\:\ not put off. Curious to know wliat was tlio clu\racler of tliefe iilanders, 1 brought to; they came clofe alon2;(ide, but would not-, come en b(^ard ; tl'icv only entreated us with great earncll- U'zi's to give them fome food, and ])relicd us tc o-o [Miil anclior between their iflands. Some cocoa-nuts were thrown to tliem from the frigate and a few pieces of bifcuit, which they fcraniblei! for with avidiix', and almod fought with each oilier to obtain them ; Init when they perceived at the poop a net containing Ibme garden iluii'. rl-.t'^- n':-Aj every eftovt with long hatchets to gci it into ih-jir polll-inon. All this was a con- viixing proof of ilie Wid condition in which they ,ive(l : \o tar, therefore, from expecting rcfrclh- mcnt 'r uii tliefc iflanders, I liiw they had more i:e;cd Oi' k themlelves than I had. I was there- tore, f;o,n necefllty, obliged to abandon thcni to liicir miserable lot. 1 could oblerve nodillucncc IctAeeu L'^eui and the negroes of Guinea : colour, hail, ilorTND T)IE WORLD. 3-^ t.air, Hp3, and eyes, all a])pcavc,l alike In every piirt. l^A'ery weapon ihele ]>eople had were darts or arrows, without bows for ihooting them ; they were armed at the point with very clumfy flints : they had alfo fome filhing net?, vvhich furnilhed them doubtlefs with the principal food on which they fiibiilled. Purfuing my courfe on leavhig tliis iiland, which I named Don JoJ'cph Btifco, ] dilcovered in the evening of the fame day lix otiiers. To the more weftcrly of the two the fuvtiicft to the foiith I o;avc the name of S(vi AliiTuct, and to the more eaderJy, that of Jc/us' Maria. Their coails are undoubtedly more extended than { had concluded trom the bearin;?3 1 could take ; for their mountains are very lofty, and the diftancc T was from them did not allow nie to take in all the extent of thefe coalls. I at the faille time ran ah.)ng the coaRs of two other illands, at the diltancc of two miles: I o;ave to the more weHierly.the name ot Saii-Gabricl^ and 10 tlie more caftcrly of San-Juiphitcl : between thefe and the two preceding there were two \ ery fniallones; that to the north called Ija.' Ba:ra{[Am Iiland); a nel, that to the fouth Ijla dc llorno [Oven //land) ; and then ileering to the callward, 1 found niyiclf at midnigiit to the northward o: three ifiands, which J called Trc:^- Jioj/s (the Three Kinoc^ A a z Tii- ;;fi,! >i''li I': ■fk.V ''^ ^v \\' I •'ill ( 11 M H'- 'V ■*; 111 ■^i « I, I'M .vf,; ") ! i 35^'^ I-A PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Tl;c I2tli I piifTcJ a very little illct, bc;ir:i!o- fouth 38 well, ilillaat fix. leagues. The fame day at halt" pail one in the at"ternoon we defwiied anoiher ifland to the north-eaft, thrcc> degrees ealt, at the diftance of eight ornine leagues. It oflfered to our view a very h'gh mountaiti, and iufpecling it to be the Hland of Matthias, which the Lrcnch chart places to the north of New Britain, I ileered to the eaft-north-cafl:, that I might get near to it, and fatisfy myfelf as to its fituationv At fix o'clock in the evening the mountain bore from us north 22 degrees, diflant from fix to feven leagues ; and its fituation, de- termined after our bearings, left no reafon to doubt, but that it was the liland of Matthias. 1 continued to fail in the fame diredion, wifh the defign to get a fight of the /Jle Oragctife, (StOimy Ifland), placed more to the eaft upon th? French chart. This ifland is certainly properly named : all the night we experienced heavy gufts of wind and u high fea. Yet on the 13th, not- withftanding the fogs, and the frequent fliowers of rain, which began from the firft dawn, we dif- covered, to the north-weft by north, at feven leagues diftancc, another ifland, which appeared to us fmaller than the Ifle Orageufe is reprei'ented upon the chart ; but its diflance, added to the circumftancc of the horizon being far from clear, might ROUND TIIK WOIILD. 357 ini;j,Iit make it fccm hnallcr to us tluiii it was in reality. 1 tit kill jiulgccl this to be the Iflc Ora- fTcufc, or a little iflanci very near to it. Since, aecordinsj; lo Dur bearings and diflanccs, I tbund the foutli point oftlie Ifland Matthias, wa;^ ill latitude i^ 23', ancl that the French chart places it in 2" 10', 1 tliouj^lu I ought to gi"w up the laii, and I have placed the illand upon my chart in the latitude concluded on from the ob- iervation I had jull made at noon, and w lich I believe very exact *. I pro})ortionally corrected the latitude of lile Oragcule. The pofition of thele two iflands, lb near one to the other, has, no doubt, been fubject to the fame miflake. Comparing my longitude by account of the Ifland of Matthias, 144 20' call from Paris, with that of 1430 3 r'^ which is given to it upon the chart-}-, I found that my (late of it, according to the chart, was in an error 1^ 15' towards the weft. Suppofing, that thofe who difcovered this ifland had exactly fixed its diflancc from * The latitude of the fouth point of the Illand of Matthias is 1° 38 upon Bougainville's chart. f The longitude of the fame point is, upon the fame chart, 14.5'-' 10'. The lllc Orageafe is rcprefcnted on it double, the middle of the more eafterly ifland is there i" 45' lat. and HS*^ 37' longitude. Boagaiu\illc fa w the fe i. lands, but he paid no attention to them. A a -; Cape -It I- I- , r' f <'N ;t,' • :!i''f '■.r. I :''il' ""'i l^i i 15 '' 1 '■■4k I,. " i ' 1 '^ m. < '!>.. 0 -r m \ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A {./ ,% ,v A^ O 1.0 I.I ■ 30 "^^ "^ Ilii 112.0 1.25 i 1.4 III 1.6 <^ /] 7 /A '•^# O 7 Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ <^.^ !> -ij^S LA perouse's voyage Cap de Bonne Efpcrance of New Guinea*, I corrccled the longitude 143° 39' eaft of Paris, that I had obtained at noon, againfb that of 144° 54', wlilch refulted from t'.e longitude of lilc Matthias. I diftributed this feafonable corrcdion over the pofition of the illands I had precedently difcovered. I fixed therefore my new point of departure in longitude 144° 54'. The fame day, the 1 3th of January, we had fight of a large coail: : the horizon in the fouth, both to the caft and weft, was loaded with heavy clouds, with fogs, and tornadoes. If the weather cleared up, it was but for a mo- ment, it changed again, infomuch that it \v:i5 impofTible to diftinguKh what land I liiw. I be- lieve, neverthelefs, that it was the coaft of New Britain, as well becaul'e that the following days \vc continued to difcovcr parts of land which could only belong to a large ifland, or a continent, as that in coafting thefe lands we diilinguKhed very high mountains, fuch as are very rarely feen in fmall illands. The 14th, in the afternoon, we law to the fouth-weil a very lofty mountain, and a coaft which extended a good Vv-ay to the eaftv/ard and * Modern navig.itors would rather be governed ns to the diftance of this iHand from Cap Saint George, the geo- graphic pofition of wiiich is better determined , than that of Gpp de ijonne Efpcrance of New Guinea. 2 well- I: ROUND THE WORLD. ^ t^g vvcflward. There was no doubt but tliis was part of the coaft of New Britain. I could not allure niyfelf of its exact bearing, being at the diftance of twelve leagues froui it. I palled at the laa:e time near three iflands, which bore from me ibuth by weft. The mod northerly, Which I called >San FrancifcOy was at two leagues and a half diftance; that in the middle, I called San Jo/cpho, and the third San Antonio : tlie lad was k\Qn leagues and a half diflant. After having palled them, we Taw at midnight a little iiland bearing eaft by fouth lo degrees ; I called it Sun Pedro. The i5th we law two illands ; at noon they bore fouth-weft eight degrees Ibuth, diflant ten leagues. The more wellerly was called San Laurenty the more cafterly San lUax. From the 15th to the 17th, the winds were light and variable, between the north and ueft. : on the 17th, we got fight of a fmaU ifland, which I named San lacinto ; it bore from us well 32 degrees fouth, at the diftance of ten leagues. The 1 8th w^e difcovcrcd, at eight miles diicancc, three other illands, one of which lay north and fouth : the moft w^efterly was named San Rofa ; the large one Ijla del Refugio ; and the fmall one, very near to the former, La Madelcua. T\\q fame day we law, to the fouth-weft of the IHa del A a 4 Refugio, f- ' '"'ft ''I ;■•! " ™ ■ III '' Ik) ' 1 .• 3 1 lit ■■ .;*' 360 LA PEROUSE's VOtAGE Refugio, a coad covered with very high moun- tains ; I fuppofed I might be at twelve Icagiu-s diftancc from the fhorc, its extremities bore north 65 degrees eail, and fouth 65 wefti this is the only means I had to determine the pofition oi this illand. I doubted at firfl whether this land did not make part of New Britain; but 1 was af- terwards alTured that it was the ifland of Sai'nf. Jeaiiy which the French chart reprefents as a large ifland, and which it places in the parallel where I obferved it *; fo much the more was I aflured of this, as we had feen an infinite number of little iflands fince that of Matthias, and we had feen none the latitude of which and diftance from the Ifland of Matthias could occafion it to be taken for the Ifland of Saint Jean. The 19th at fun rife we faw, at the diflance of fix leagues, two very low iflands, both of which ran north-weft and fouth-eafl ; they were (cpa- rated by a very narrow channel, which was open * It is 4efirabl'^ to know wliat was this French chart by ■which our navigator diret^cd his courfe. The Ifle Saint jean IS placed, according to a chart by Fleurieu, in 3° 45' of lati- tude, 1 50*^32' to the eaft of Paris; but according to the Voyage of Carteret, (French edition in 4to) the chart of which is on a larger fcale, the latitude is 4^^ 19', the longitude 153° 3' caft of Greenwich, 1 50° 43' eaft of Paris. Carteret had had a fight of this ifland. The author of Dtcowvertes des Fran^ais, page 286, is decidedly for 4® o' of latitude, and 151° 30 tall of Paris. to ROUND THE WOULD. ^6 1 to the fouth wefl ; we named them Las Cai- wans. The dime day at fun-fct we had fight, to the foiUh, of two iflands ; the more northerly was very imail ; I named it Sanla Anna, and tiie otlicr Santa Barba ; accordnigto our bearings the coafl of the latter was fcvcn miles in length. The 20th at day break the middle of a great iiland, to which I gave the name of Don Manuel Florea, bore fouth 5 deg. welt, thirteen leagues diftant; a pretty high mountain was remarked on it 5 its coaft appeared to us to lie eafl-fouth-eaft, and weft- north- weft to the extent of fix leagues. At eight o'clock in the morning we had a view of nine iflets, which I did not doubt of being L'Ontong-Java of the French chart. The lati- tude of thefe ifles is precifely the fame as that wliich is given to the centre of Ontong- Java upon the chart. I ran direftly down for them, that I might get as near them as poflible ; and I ob- fervcd they wxre furrounded by a fand bank which could only be difcerned at the diftance of two miles from the (liore. Near the edges of this bank here and there, at a little diftance from each other, may be feen above water feveral little rocks, not far from the bank itfelf. On the fouth fide of this bank there is a nar- row opening, abreaft of which we found the latitude 4° 53' ; we were only at two cables length I diftance At m ■I-. ^1 . ^. % >',. 362 LA PCROUSE's voyage dillance from this entrance j it leads to a gulf where the fca is i)crfc(:lly fmooth, and where a feciire harbour may be found, if it be required to fl.iy to take in wood and water. This gulf is Ihd-tercd to the north by the ifletb ; we gave it the name of Piurta la Princefa. An exaft ac- count of this harbour is given on our chart ; we pafled by it near enough to anfvver for the ex- a(ftnefs with which it is drawn*. From thefe illets, which are not a mile from one another, came out more than fixty canoes, which approached us within lefs than a mu/ket fliot ; but as the wind was favourable, I did not * Ontong-Java (or Jaba, it is the fame thing to the Spa- niards) was difcovered, we are told, in 1616, by Le Mairc and Schoutcn. They counted 1 2 or 13 iflands ; but they hiul by no means fo favourable an opportunity of reconnoitrin!; them clofely as our navigator. At a diftance they could not have perceived the very low flips of land, which joined two parts of the fame ifland, and of one ifland only they made two. In 1767, Carter difcovered in thefe fame feas nine iflands, v/hich he believed to be the Ontong-Java of Schoutcn. Thefe ifiands extended from north-weft by welt, to fouth-caft by caft, for the fpace of about fifteen leagues, and one among them is very extenfive ; whereas Ontong- Java has not three leagues of extent, and all the iflands which co.Tipofe It arc very fmall. Notwithftanding all thi^s we fhall endeavour to prove, that the nine iflands of our na vigator, thofe of Carteret, and thofe of Le Maire and Schoutcn, are only one and the fame group, different fioiii the Ontong-java of Taiinan. think ROUND THE WORLD. 365 think I ought to lofc time in waiting for them. I rilled my Tails and ftood on my courfe, and they returned to their iflets, upon which it ap- peared to me impofTible that human creatures could fubfift. We faw a pretty conliderablc num- ber of palm trees, which, without doubt, pro- duced them fruit, and this with the fupply from fifliing enabled thefe creatures to drag on a mife- mble life. After having quitted Ontong-Java, I conti- nued my courfe with gentle and favourable winds during the day, but violent through the night, which obliged me to keep a good look-out, and to recommend an equal vigilance to my officers, and fhip's company. They eafily conceived the greatnefs of the rifkswe runj in conkquence, no looner did an objeifl prefent itfelf in the hori- zon, than it was announced ; the illand was feen, and the dansier was avoided. I failed on till the 2 2d, without havinpr the fight of any land j but that fame day, the night being dark, we heard at ten o'clock a frightful roaring in the north-eaft, and we law, broad on the fhip's quarter, and at no great diftance, the lea quite white with foam. I was obliged to ftand to the fouth-weft, until we ceafed to hear the noife of this flioal, which I named Lc Ronjlcur* * Fleurieu thinks that this Ronfleur is the fame roclc as the Candlemas Shoals ofMendana, which is not very improbable. (the Pfis| .Tiki ^Il 364 LA PEROUSli's VOYAGF. (the Snorer) ; I afieiwards laid the fliip's head to the eaftward as it was before. If tlic divers incidents which coiinteraifled my voyage be confidered, an idea may be ealily form- ed of the conRancy with which I have invariably aimed at two objeds equally indifpenfable, and yet greatly oppofed, the one to the other. My commiflTion demanded celerity, and in confequcnce obliged me to crowd fail without lofing an inilain. On tlic other hand, the tornadoes under the line only take place in the night ; the winds frefliea then extremely, render tlic air dark and gloomy, and lance forth thunder and lightning. Thcfe winds were .all day almoft calm : I could there- fore only avail myfelf of the night to make any progrefs. I met with land during the day, I met with it alfo during the night. Prudence without doubt would have didated to me not to expofe myfelf to dangers, which might in an inilant fruftrate the defign of my voyage ; but yielding too much to its fway would alio have occalloned a delay irreparably prejudicial to the objedl of my commifTion. I took therefore the refolution to fupply the defed: of an idle caution, by oppo- fing the molt adive vigilance to all the obfta- cles which might threateningly intervene, and to avail myfelf oi the winds, as often as they fliould be favourable. The remaining pat't of January the winds were faint, -m^^ ' ' ■' I nouxn THE woni.D* 36; f.iint, Tind blew between the nortli-north-weft and the north-eall; I could folluvv no other tlian an eafterly courfc, or within tvvo points of it. J therefore made fouthing in my latitudes, without it being poflible for me to get to the northward, the wind coming conflantly from that quarter, except a few puffs which blew from the well and from the caft, and of which I took advantage, in order to near the line ; but the calms were fo frequent, that the longeil run I ever made in twenty-four hours was feventy miles. From the beginning of February the calms were more conftant; from the 6th to the 17th, our greateft day*s run was forty miles ; it was commonly but from twelve to fifteen miles. Thefe calms retarded me greatly ; it was in vain I drove topafs to the northward of the line, hoping to get to the weftward of the fiats or fhoals of Saint Bar- thelemi * : the light winds from the north, from the north-north-wefl, and from the nor''.-north- eaft, forced me to follow fo weflerly a coi - e, that I loft in longitude the eafting 1 had gained, at the price of riiks fo multiplied. Thefe reafons in- duced me to ftand a^ain upon a north -eafterly courfe, hoping that a wind from the eaftward I .«»■* if-;" Vi i ■^ .!; 1. ■4 ,•< it"- t.'ii' •Here it is guefs; the manufcript affording no intelli- gible fenfe ; I believe, however, I have guefled pretty right. might 366 LA PEROrSE*S VOYAC.E might prefcntly facilitate my crofTing to the north- ward o^^ the Hne. As my voyage was fo much prolonged, I had had, from the 20th oi" January, the precaution to rerrcnch two ounces ot bread of the ordinary al- lowance ol' thofe who compofed my crew, bcfidcs one ounce leHened in every pound from the (irll inflant of our embarkation ; but on the 1 6th of February, feeing the weather grew no better, and conhdering that we had only been vidualled for fix months; that feventy pipes and forty barrels of Vv^ater, which hvad been niip])ed on board us, did not fufFice, or fcarcely, for that Ipace of time -, that at the place where 1 then was, 3'' 32' louth latitude, and 174'' 8' longitude eafl of Paris, there remained fcarcely three months provilion, and a very infufficient quantity of water, I con- cluded I was juflifiable in flill diminifhing the al- lowance, which I did, reducing it from this day to two- thirds. A circamftance which further incrcafed ourdif- trcfs, was the innumerable quantity of cockroaches* with which our fliip was infefted. The bifcuit ^I'hc cockroach, cancrelas, orkakerlaque, is a coleopterous infci'l, very miicli re (cmbling the chafFer or May-bug, but larger and flatter ; it foils and devours every thing. Ii is called, as we are told, rai'cf ia the Antilles; the cancrelas of the Ifle de France, however, appears larger than the ravet of Saint Domingo ; it 1=; ncvcrthclcfs as great a torment. weighed noUND THK VVORLDT. ' ^6f weighed inuchlcli than when it was fliipped : hut that whicli thl'coumgcd mc the molt, was the con- dition of our vvatcr-calks; we often found thcin cinptv, and not only hatl the water entirely rua out oi' fomc of them, hut others were wholly unfit for fervicc ; tliefe depredators hatl perforated the ihvcs with holes, into which two finoers mio-lu be ;n.lmitted. Taking all thcfc occurrences into my mofl: ie- rious confidcration, I iud! ^"'1 1. i .. -x :68 LA PERorsn's vovaoe otcalloncd mc to lolc all hope of putting In at SMlonion's Iflamls, ;uul even of getting a liuht of Ihcm. Being then in hititiule 12" f uth» I was compelled to take the refoliition of getting farther into the fouthern hemifphere, being pcrfuadcd that we Ihould meet with fome iflands, at which we might relieve the extreme icarcity wc were re- duced to ; and hoping, at the fame time, thai after having run down 20 or 22 degrees of lati- tude, we Ihould meet with favourable winds for making to the eallward, a circumftance which I could not promife mylelf in failing to the nortli- ward, unlefs I pullicd on to 44 or 46 degrees, bv keeping conllantly clofe to the wind, which would have made me lofe a vafl deal of time ; and evcii in adopting this courfe it would ilill have been neceflary to put in at the Marians. After thefe refledions, and others which inccl- fantly tormented me, I took the refolution to lay the Ihip's head to the fouthward and eaflward, fleering fuch courfes as the cafterly winds might allow mc to follow. The 26th of February 1 Ikw a fmall illand j I ran down upon it, in hopes of cafling anchor, and taking in water. The crew were overjoyed ; it feemed to them as if this illand were to put an end to all their wants and fufferings ; their preient mirth equalled the dil- trefs they had been in, but it was of fhorter du- ration : getting within the diftance of two miles, ig 111 at liulu of h, I was g farlb.cr icrluiulcd at which were rc- imc, thai :s of lati- winds for :e which I the nortli- icgrccs, by hich wouUl ; and eve:: have been ,'hich inccl- ition to lay eaftward, mds might February I |t, in hopes Iter. The Im as if this wants and id the dif- llhorter du- two mi^^^ ^()C) .1 norsn Tin-, Vvorlp. tve faw clearly not only that there was no anchor- age, but that even a nii[)'s boat could not land. The ifi.uul was in the ut mod degree barren ; upon its mountain, which wis not Imall, a lin;T;le trco was not to be loen. From the l/ittcrncfb of our difappointmcnt, we called it Amarp^ura. On the 27th, \vc difcovcrcd an ifland fp,lit a- head J upon it was a very high mountain, the fop of which appeared burnt, but its flopc, being co- vered with trees, prefented an agreeable verdure. We could diftinguifli a great many cocoa-nut hVLS upon it; they increafed the dcfirc I had to put in there, but the faintnefs of the wind prevented nif from going nearer than a league's diiiancc towards the weft (idc of it. From that HJo, lunvevcr, came out many canoes, with Cocoa-nuts and ba- nanas : the trade of barter began immediately. The Indians, full of confidence in us, came on board ; the cne who had authority over the reft cxprefledthe tendercft friendfliipfor us; he danced upon the deck, and fang fcveral fongs : among other prefcnts, he gave me a fort of large counter- pane, refembling blotting-paper, but compofed of two or three kinds of leaves, interwoven one upon the other, fo as to give more ftrength to the com- pofition. I was not behind him in civility, and he withdrew well fatisfied. He told me, that thi? ifland was called Latt^ ; that he was the chief of it J that it was fertile in fruits of different kinds. Vol, I, Bb abounded II':' si ■ 'v$' I t 7- ■M if . ■*'. t '\ . ;!'■ ■ '4- ■i^ ?>i'i ,>», 11 370 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGl* abounded in frefh water, and that I might find gootl anchoring ground. This intelligence gave nic much pleaiure ; but in reality i law no' place where I could lie in fafety. In the flretches we made round the ifland for a commodious anchor- age, we dil'covcred to the -eafl- north -eaft, at the dillancc of twelve leagues, other ifland<, lefs high, but of greater extent, leaving feveral ciiannels be- tween them ; the wind was faint, bvi favourable for approaching them. The perfpe6:ive of thcle iilands promifed me abundance of relief; I bore down upon them. Calnin, and now and then light contrary wind;;, which I had had from the iirll of March, kifted many days ; but at length, on the 4th, after fe- veral tacks, I ran up a fmall c itrance which thefe iflands form to the north-wc z, and anchored in forty-five fathoms water, a (hOi diftance from the land. From our anchorage mij itbefeen, withia the gulf, houfes and abund? t plantations of banana and cocoa trees, vCiV 11: ^crng appearances of vratcr, and tliis lad v^'as ncai ^. our hearts. la ihort, wc perceived, in the midft of this group of ifland?, divers harbours where lliips might belhel- tered irom fca and wind, fo that we perfuaded ourfelves we were verging to the end of our wrctchcdnefs. The evening of the fame day we dragged our anchor, and as wc deepened our water fuddcnly and ROUNt) THE \V0Rtl5. 37I tind confiderably I got an offing while heaving the anchor in fight) lb that it might be ready to let go again. As foon as it was hove up, T tacked again for the port, and on the 5th, at day break, I anchored in thirty-eight vares, (about twenty- three fathoms*) fandy and flony bottom, two cables length from the Ihore, in the creek where the day before I had feen houfes. In the courfe of the time I loft in getting clofe to thefe iflands, there came every day alongficle of us from fifty to a hundred Cannes, bringing us hogs, fowls, bananas, cocoas, potatoes, which had the tafte of pap -f j fome of thefe potatoes were five vares (fifteen feet) in length, and their thick- nefs equalled that of the thigh of a man of a fail fize ; the fmalleft weighed three pounds. They offered us alfo cloths woven from the bark of a palm-tree, others of a finer make, and laftly, thofe cloaks or counterpanes refembling blotting paper, of which I have already fpoken ; they let the higheft value themfelves upon thefe counterpanes. All this traffic was carried on over the fnip's quar- ter. The iflanders, in exchange for their fruits, '■' ' ■' i. til f^- ■^r-' m.\ i<,i • But I believe it ought to be thirty-eight fathoms. t The Spanish word popa, or papa, fignifies a fpecies of panada made with milk, which is given as food to youuj children. It is allowable to fufpedl an ejfaggeration with re- gard to the reputed length of thefe patates, Bh i, and '■»1 w> u I ^' i ^Jt ' /.A TiiROUSE'S VOYAGfi a'ld tlic produce of llieir manufa(5lures, dcfircd l'> Imvc IkUcIicu-., Lixc:=, and other cutting inflru- r.icntsj hut I ioibad, under the fevered pcnal- Uc'-y tiie giving any to them, and I have rcalbn to bilicve my injui'ictions were obeyed. They were therefore obli^^cd ro be contented with fcraps oi rlolh and flulfs. My people cut their fliirts, thclr frowfcrs, tlicir jackets to pieces, and with thefe little rolh cr bandages they procured themfelves bog:, and other refrcfhments. On account of this provifiun, 1" wholly fufpended the allowance of meat, and reduced that of the bread to on€ half. The Indians who came on boarci prelled me. riii:ch to q-q into tire middle of their archinehfi-o ; each of them fnewed me his ifland, and aliurcd me, that I Ihould find water and every thing of ^'i-luch I l:-ad need : the cquisy or captains, mani- fefted the ilrongell friendship for me' as they ar- rived, an<.l I endeavoured not t.o be behind-hand with tlicni. Many of iheni fat at my table ; but they ate only their own fruits. I conceived thefe Indians were divided into numerous cafls or tribes, feeing. how many of thefe equis bore authority > vet I obferved, on the other hand, a good undc:- itanding and affability among them. We had vints alfo from the women; tlicii' countenances did not appear at all difagreeable to us. Their clothing confided in a fpecies of pet- ticoat,' which encircled their waid to the knees ^' -. - ^ z ■- the [So LA PEROL'SE S VOYAr.R ■J I -1. "k I id Indians, but it was fo brackilh and bad tliat wc were obliged to renounce the idea of fliippino it for ulc. The fame day I paid a fccond vifit to the Kino- and Queen, who never failed to fend me, every evening, an abundant quantity of broiled potatoes, they having without doubt obligingly confidercd the number of perfons I had to feed on board. As foon as I was convinced of the inf-ilubritv of the w^ter fo near the fliore, and had no ho])c of obtaining it at any rcafonable diftance by the fame means, owing to the proximity of a rifing moun- tain, I weighed anchor, and dropped it in anotlu'r Viay a league and a half or two leagues off. As foon as one of the anchors was out of the ground, its cable, which was ufed for the firfl time, abfo- Jutely gave wn\', the flrands v;hich compofcd it having all broken in two ; the cable was found en- tirely rotten throughout its whole length, and un- fit for fervice. J fwcpt for the. anchor but in vain. I could not remain there a long time, and the depth, of the water left no hope of our being able to recover it again eafdy. The new bay was perfedly fbeltercd from gales of wind and from the fea ; I experienced this a few clays after ; for though it was very bad weather at fea, blowing from the north and north-weft, we fv:;lt no effects from it othcrwifc than by a kw puffs m ROUND THE WORLD. tS? fwffi which reached us in that dlrcc^tion. T au- thored in tliirty two tathonis, over a llmdy and iKiny bottom; the banks vviiich form tlio harbour from the north fide delcnucd us; all around ihc bottom was rocky. On the 9th we began to water; it was only five vares dillant from the Ihore. The work went on fader than I expei5\ed, the equis having ordered their Indians to roll our caflcs; but when the Tubou came, no perfon but himfelf durll give any order. On the loth, nth, and litli, we fliipped all the water we intended to take in ; an infiniie number of canoes came neverthelefs to the iriL>aLc to make exchanges, and their confidence in us was fuch that many llept and palled the whole riighfc on board. On the laft of thefe days, the King invited me to an entertainment which he had prepared to give me ; upon going on Ihore on the 1 2th, I faw, in the thicket or wood, a large open fpacc which had been dcfignedJy cleared, inlbmuch that there did not re- fnain afmgle piece of a trunk ftanding. A little af- ter the Indians, tv/o by two, repaired to the Tubou*s houfe, carrying upon their lliouIder5 long poles, from which hung a great many potatoe:, bananas, cocoas and filh; the Tubou diredlcd them to carry' thefc to the newly laid out camp, and they made of ihem a heap in a cubic form, two varjs ia ^ciglit. The • r V 1.' ■ k I- ['A U- Pl 382 LA l»F.ftOrsr/s V0YA<5R The cquisaPitl the venerable old men condiiclrcl the Tuhoii to mc as before, who took mc by the hand, and led me to the ne,\v]y formed circle, all the way attended by two tliouihnd Indians. \\c I'at down iijwn carpets of palm leaves prepared cx- prcfsly tor the purpofe; all the people wer^ al- lowed to ilo as much, but always prefeiTini; a dif- tinftion between the cads or families, the one nut beinpj permitted to intermix with the other. The King then made me an ofler of all tlicfc fruits, and onr long btmt was accordingly tilled with them. The porters being returned to their rcffjedlivc pofls, a profound filence was obfervt-d while the King fpoke ; tliofe whot'c age or dignity had given them the right to be feated nearefl the King, repeated didindlly all liis words. I knew not to what all this tended, but ncvcr- thelefs I ordered thofe of my foldiers who had tiie firft pilot at their head, to be ready to difchargc their muikets and pillols if they perceived any hoftile movement. There now advanced from the ranks a robuft young man, his left hand upon his bread, and {Iriking that elbow with his right hand. He made a thouiand gambols upon the place oppofite to the groups who were not of his tribe. One from among thefe laft having prefented himlelf to notice by the lame geilures, the two began to wKfUc, clofing in with each other, body to body, At Hi ROUND THr, WORLD. ^Pj bocly, thrufting and pulling backwards ami for- wards in all dircdions, vviib \o much animofity, ih;it their veins and niu, Vs appeared inflated to an extreme degree. At length, one of the com- batants fell down fo violently, that I, it the in- ftant, believed he never would liave riicn again ; he did get up however, but covered all over with duft, and lb aballied, that he retired without once daring to turn his head. The conqueror then came up to do homage to the King, and thofe of his tribe commenced a fong, but 1 could not difcern from their manner whether it was in honour of the vidor, or to (hame the vancjuilhed. Thefc wredling combats laftcd two hours, ono of the antagonifts had his arm broken j I faw others receive terrible blows. While the flru2;2;lc laftcd, other champions advanced in the ring, their fifts wrapped round with large cords, ferving them as a kind of gauntlet, anciently ufed by. the athietae. This fpecies of combat wa> much more terrible than the wreftling : as foon as the conflid commenced, the combatants flruck each other on the forehead, eye-brows, cheeks, ou every part of the face ; and thofe who received thele formidable fbrokes, became more impetuous and enraged : 1 faw lome irrecoverably felled by. the very firft blow they received. The fpefbators throughout looked upon thefe combatants with a certain portion of refped, but all were not pro- m.ifcuoully admitted as champions. The im ■f iq 5§4 LA PIiR0rsfi*S VOYAGE The women, thofe cfpscially who ivaltcd upon the Q'jeen, were fpcclators of this tournament. I faw that iex in a ditrerent and fuperior light to that in which I had before beheld them : I had before not confidered them as difagreeable; but, on this day, they were adorned with all their bed; attire, having their mantles adjufted in neat plaits and folds, and becomingly attached by a knot over the left fiioulder. I'hey wore garlands, or wreathe on the head, and chaplets of large glafs bca;l3 round their necks, tlie hair was pleafingly dif- pofed in t relies, and the whole perfon perfu!::cd with an oil of an agreeable odour ; above all, tlie fkin was fo exquifitely clean, that they would net have fuffered the fmallefc particle of dufl to re- main upon it a moment. They Itrove to engage my v;hoIe attention, and I may be allowed to fay, they did not appear the lefs at trading on that account. The King gave orders that certain women flioulJ fight with their fifes as v/ell as the menj and they did it with fo much fury, that they would not have left a tooth in each others head, haH they not been fcparated now and then. This fight touched irx to the very foul : I begged the King to put an end to the combat 5 he acceded to my rcqueit, and all of them did me honour for the compaffion, 1 had fiiewn to thcfe young fc- maies, . • The %:i; >) ROUND THii tVORLD. - 3S5 The tubou afterwards direded an old woman to ling for our entertainment : from her neck was fufpended a tin cruet, (probably to contain fome fluid required to moiilen her mouth and throat). Slie never ceafed linging for half an hour together in one ilrain, accompanying her long with ac- tions and gefturcs, which might have made her pal's for an a^^lrels declaiming on a theatre. The diverfion ended, we returned to the kinp'> houfe : I found the queen there ready to receive mc, which flie did with her accullomcd figns ot benevolence. I alked her why fiic was not at the entertainment ; fhe anlwercd me by faying, tlicftf fort of combats were far from agreeable to her. The ties of friendHiip now became ilronger than ever, inlbmuch, that the tubou called me his lioxa^ that is to fay, his (on. I prefently took leave of him and .of the queen, and returned 911 board my fliip. The fliore all the way was co- vered with Indians, who offered thoufands of ca- relfes and kin^nefles to my people for having condefcended to be prefent at their fpedaclc. The conquerors took me upon their Ihoulders, and lifted me iiito my long boat. The tijbou, who from his houfe faw the crowd, and well knew hoyv much I fufFered when the Indians mixed with my people, ordered his captains to drive away the intruders, and he fell into fuch a paflion on the ^ccafioii, as to cpme out, with a great flick in his Vol. I. C c hand. [if 'l*flCT(Ml '1^ r. 1' i ■l,U , ' i , 'i' ft,- . ^iVim IM^ if ■ I I! iti 2,26 LA perouse's vovace hand, (Iriking all thofe who fell in his way. Thcf fled into the woods, except two, more roughly handled than the reft, who were left for dead upon the fpot ; I am at a lots to know whether they re- covered or not. Every thing was in readinefs for our putting to Tea, and I refolved to do fo ^^n the thirteenth, had not a gale of wind from the north and from the north-weft fprung up, blowing dire(!lly into the paflage through which I was to go out. The wind grew ftronger and ftronger, and yet at our an- chorage the fea was fcarcely rougher than com- mon ; but notwithftanding all that, and though .1 had three anchors down, the Iheet cable gave way, and I remained riding by the hope^y and the fmall bower. On the 15th, the wind fell, but while I was preparing to get under way to fea, the cable of the hope broke, fo that I had only the fmall bower anchor to hold my fliip. Thefe accidents, added to the difappointments I had met with in the courfe of my voyage, deeply difconcerted me. All my cables were rotten, as well as all thehaliards, flieets, tacks, braces, and lifts, in a word all the cordage of the fhip-j-. This bad ftate of my rig- ring \i * This is the name of an anchor in Spain. f A long detail of the damage and accidents of the (hip 5 trickling and rigging is paflcd over, as well as an cndlefsli'^ of ROUND THE WORLD. 387 ring left me in the fad expedlation of lofing my lad anchor; under fuch an occurrence, nothing but certain ruin was to be expedled in fo diilant a clime. To fupply the firft prefTmg necefTity, I had a cable carried to the neareft rock ; it ferved conjointly with my remaining anchor to hold my fliip for the time. I employed people alfo to en- deavour to fweep for the two loft anchors ; they laboured at the work, for twenty-four hours with- out efteft, the water was too deep. The uncarinefs of mind with which I was af- flifted, prevented my yielding to an invitation from the tubou to be prefent at an entertainment finiilar to that which he had given before; but this prince who called me his fun, and who with- out doubt loved me almofl as much as if I had really been fo nearly allied to him, never failed to fend me every evening two bafkets of roots, fome fowls, and fome fifh. He ordered all the provifion, wh''.-h had been amafled for this in- tended fecond great fete, to be brought to me ; he came himfelf often on board the frigate, he dined with me feveral titnes, and took his after- noon's nap on board. On the 1 6th I tried to get out; the wind not being fair, I pUed to windward, and though cf complaints of the author, which could not be amufing to the reader ; befides, there are a great many faults m the manufcript, and I am not fufficicn:!/ IkiUed i|a nautical phrafeology to correi^ them all. I; ■ ' ■•^;*^;;P ■«;■" m m 't :,.f 388 LA PEROUSe's voyage the current counteracted my way, and the paffao-c was fo narrow that I had fcarce room to tack, I found myfelf on my lafl ftretch to windward of all the points; but a violent fquall taking me a-head, drove nie down towards the rocks he- tvvccn which I was failing. I found myfelf now more diftrcfTcd than ever: I had no other cosrfe to take than to return to my old harbour, to let go the anchor, and immediately carry a cable to land to hold me in the beft manner poflible. On the 1 8th I fent my firfl pilot in the boat to jound another channel, (heltercd, it is true, by many iflands, but which notwithftanding allowed us an eafy outlet l)y means of the wind which then prevailed. The pilot, w^hen returned, af- fured us that in the whole channel the bottom ivas good, free from banks, and the palTage wide enough to tack, if neceffary. I prepared, there- fore, to go out the day following, viz. the 19th; and on thr.i day at two in the afternoon I had gotten clear of all the iflands ; in my fituation it was w^hat I defircd the mofl. The Indians and the tubou did not expeft this reparation ; it was without doubt affeding to them; the king and the queen took leave of mc with the ftrongefl demonftrations of forrow, and the Indians in their canoes accompanied us till wq were out of their archipelago. This |f.: I • '. f ', , ROUND THE WORLD.. .389 This 1.j,;bour, which I named FJ Bcfii^io^ Is formed by tlircc confidcrably large ifbnd.i, and by many other fmaller ones. I gave to the whole chider the name of Don Marliii dc Maijoj\^(t. The harbour Is fituatc in i S'' 36' louth, and 179° ^z eaft of Paris. The fatcfl: flicltcr i-^> to be found in it from all weatlicrs ; the winds may blow in vain with the grcarcH: fury, tlic fea will not be the lefs calm; even a hurricane would not be felt. In going out between thefc iflands, whether by the channel to the north-weft, or by that to the iouth-weft, there is water of fifty-five fathoms, with a flinty, ftony, or gravelly bottom. The fame bottom goes all the way to the centre of the^ gulf, two cables length from tJie land, where the depth is but thirty-five or forty fa- thoms; the water flioals even to twelve or fifteen fathoms in fomc of the creeks. There are in this place neither flioals nor reefs, it is ncccflary, however, to choofe an anch.oracrc with the lead going, becaufe in fome coves the bo.noin is ii; part earth*, and part fand. The fertility of the land is fuch, tliat its culti- vation cannot fail to i:>romirG a favourable hai'vcif . Every where are fecn an end lefs nuiiiber of cocoa- nut trees, beautiful banana trees, ranged in lines with the greatefl order, numerous plantation* o{ "'J * ^ m fmn %' ' t ■ *: ii',1 * 3iuould it not he red, infter.d of .v..-// .^ C C 3 pptatCK"' 3 I, Pi'' i Krf li 390 LA perouse's voyage potatoes, as may be conceived from the great quantities fent to us on board every day ; other roots very fweet, and nearly of the fame fpecie-, alfo abound there. Lime trees, fugar canes, fruirs nearly refembling apples, oranges, and fliad- docks. In a word, two or three equis having once condudled me into a fertile part of the country, I admired the order with which every thing was difpofed ; no weeds were fuffered to grow between the plants : their roads too were kept in rtpair with a diligence deferving imitation by the mofl civilized nations. Noticing the zeal they evinced for agriculture, I gave them Ibme garden beans fome maize, fome feeds of pimento, and of rice; explaining to them their ufes, and afTuring them, that they would grow and profper in their fo much better foil. They alfo cultivate fhrubs, ranged in the fame order as the banana trees, the bark of which fervc.-> them for weaving their cloaks or counterpanes ; they make of it alfo a fort of petticoat. The condudl: of thefe Indians, during the whole time of our flay in their harbour, tcflifies the confidence they repofed in us : it was not in my power to fliew the fame for them. I never went on Ibore but with an armed d;»:icament, which infpiied them with terror, in confequence they jiever m iii'/ ROUND THE WORLD. 39I never gave us any ground to complain, if it were not from their inclination to (leal, a pafTion which the Indians cannot furmount. Every time they came on board, clothes, iron-work, v/hatever fell in their way, they confidered as lawful prize. They drew out through the port-holes, or the windows, whatever was within their reach. They thieved even to the very chain of the rudder : I made my complaints to the king ; he gave me permiflion to kill whomfoever I fliould dctcd in the a(^ ; and I was allured he had himfelf diicovercd and pu- nilhed with death the authors of the complained of theft. Our vigilance was neceilarily called into aftion; we furprifed the iflanders driving to tear away the new rudder chains j we fired a piftol at them, one of them fell dead on the occafion, and this was an awful leflbn for thofe who were ei- ther on board, or alongfidc of the frigate ; they faid to themfelves, or to one another c/iito (robber) fa»2a (death). I did all in my power t® difcover whether they had any fort of religion, whether they worfliipped any creature or falfe god; we faw^ nothing which could make us even fufpetSl any adoration of this nature. We eafdy pronounced the words of their lan- guage, they pronounced thofe of ours alfo equally eafy ; a Itay of a few months would have enabled US tQ make ufe of either indifferently. If my C c 4 misfgr- vi |j»;:: ■i \ 1 i ■':'■ ■ '.i 1 '"i\.. ■I*' 1 . ■ %■ t 1 ( A 'y-^ 'i ]■■ It • ^; 1| 'i i i fHiS^' ^' I !■■' k'' .,,'1 6 .0 |f^.j Is * 1 S .WM. 'Jo!' H Hi 5{r)2 LA PER6USE*S VOYAGE misfortunes had not wholly abforbed my mind, I fliould have colleded together numerous words of their tongue, which might have ferved as a voca- bulary for holding a convcrfation with thefe In- dians. In the few interviews I had with them, I got the names of all the parts of the human body, and of the cardinal numbers up to ten. They afTured me, that two frigates had touched and rcfrcflied at their iflands, that the captains, with five or fix officers each, had flcpt on fhore; that they had received from them chaplcts of glafs bt.ads, fome hatchets •*'", and adzes. On the 1 6th of March, when I was getting ready to depart, they told me, that two (hips iimilar to my own were then making fail to the north-weft ; and they enumerated fo many parti- culars of the fafl, that it was impoflible to doubt the truth of it. The cquis commonly wear a mother-of-pearl flicU about the neck : they have the little finger of both hands cut off clofc to the root. The tubou endeavoured in every pofTible way to engage mc to retire with the frigate to the place of his ufual abode, where he urged, that I * It may be concluded fiohi this that the frigates vcrc Fpanifh, and probably alfo the two vcffels about to be fpoken of. lliodd I ' 1 ROUKD THE WORLD. 393 Hioulcl find a much greater plcnly of c:;tahlcs. ] fhoukl certainly liavc accepted liis iirlt invitation in the profpcct of finding better fhclter, and more cfpccially for the greater iacilities the change of- fered for putting my rigging in order, which cir- cumflance other Indians as well as he did not fail to hold up to mc and allure mu of, hut the nature of my commiiTion did not permit me to follow my own inclination. Durins; the Ihort ftav 1 made in this harbour, T was not able to diicovcr what were prccifcly the funiftions ot t\\c 'jquis, how tlicy wore dirtributcd, of what nature was tiic authority of the tuhou, or how far his j-jo-wcr extended. Thv lafl days in particular of my remaining in pr^t my chagrin was fuch, that 1 (houa.]-!t of nothinr;elfe but how I Ihould put to fea a^^ain. Othcrwifc it may be afiirmcd with truth that, except for the fad acci- dent of parting ni)' cables, which expofed me to a thouland danjiers, I ihould never have made a more happy flay in port ; fuice bcfides a fufficient provillon of water, and the repairing tvventy-fivc pipes empty and unfit forufe, we found more re- freihment for the crew, tlian we could have had in our own harbours : there was confecjuently no caufc to rc2:ret the lialf allowance whicli I ceafed to diflribute ; there was a fuperlluous provi- fion for many days : the fcorbutic, who by the fiirgcon's report w^rc in a defperate fiatc,* reco- 2 vcrcd I i ''1% M 'W ■lie ■'. -'V '%■ r:.: ^94 ^''^ PEROUSE S VOYAGE vcred their hcultli while there. We, in fliort,mcc with a prince fo much dilpofed in our favour, that he unccufin^ly clalpcd me in his arms, offering nK at the fame time every thiyg he had at hi^ command. h '• H Vi ;, M p' l' ■' i !4 I III Dcparturcfrnm Port Ifrfiigioy in the JJlamis of Don Martin de Mai/orffa, in latitude i^^ i,)i' fouthy and 179^ 52' caji of Paris. The 20th of March, having gotten clearofalltl'.c iflands, 1 kept clofc hauled with the \\ ind from the caft-north-cari:, running to the foutli -caft, or to the points of the compafs neareft. In this courfc we difcovered, bearing fouth 60° 30' eall, a vtrv elevated ifland, diftant fifteen or fixteen leagues: and at fun-fct, three other iilands were viable, ex- tendins; from the fouth to the weft-fouth-weil, five degrees weft, and five degrees diftant from the moft eafterly. This view obliged me to put about at iiinc o'clock at night. At one o'clock I again tacked to the fouthward, to get near to thefe iHands. We perceived in the iflands neareft to us above forty-eight fires. The 21ft, at fun-rife, we counted ten ifiands on the ftarboard hand, and fix on the larboard ; we crolTed to the fouthward of them by the largo channels tliey form between tliem. We law none a-IiCad Is It '/i nOUNP THE WORLD. 39/^ a-head of us until arrived in a vaft p;ulf \vc dif- rovcrcd, at the dilhincc of about five or fix leagues, aa infinite number of iilands, which delcribcd a rircumference to a creat extent, the centre of which we occupied. In crofHng; one of the llraits formed by thcfe illands, we faw the bottom ; by the lead we had five fathoms, but for an inllant only ; the moment afterwards the depth increaled. Seeing myfelf furrounded by io many low illands, or little iflcts, which left numerous chan- nels between them, I attempted to get out by Ibme one of fhefc openings; but on approaching them wefound themobflruded by furious breakers, which did not allow me to get out to the Ibuth- ward. I refolved to" ftand to the wcdward to- wards that very lofty illand we had feen the day before at a great diftance. I did not doubt but I Ihould be able in its ^clnity to explore a way out of this archipelago. As foon as the fun rofe, various canoes ar- rived fucceffively after each other, loaded with the fame fruits and provifion as thofe of the illands I had juft quitted. The marketing be- gan ', (hreds of cloth were the price of their com- modities. The tubou of thefe iflands fent me two hogs, and fome cocoas : he invited me to go to the illand wheie he refided. He came afterwards himfelf I 1 < \ ■«!< % "-■ ■ I r. :<-:^!i#«!:i M'h W '- ■ 396 LA rii rouse's voyage himfclf aboard ; lie afllirccl nic, that he vvoultl give mc the plcalure of a game at wrcflling, and that he would dirc(ft a pile oFpotatoes to be made for mc as high as my mad. lie appeared to he jealous of the favourable reception we had met with from the tubou of Mayorga. I gave him reafon to hope, that I would fatisfy him as foon as I fliould get to the iHands a head of us: I^ut they all agreed in telling us, that the paffage was fliut up by fand banks, ai^l rcvfs, and that on the contrary, 1 might find a good bot- tom in iTecring my couri'e by the tubou's iiland and the high one towarch which my jliip's head lay. Although every one tcRificd, that this great ^qui.was tlic fovereip,n of forty-eight ifla.Kh., which they natneil even very didine^tively, yet I could not perceive, that they manifefled the fame reverence, the fame rcfpect for him, as were fhcwn to the tubou of Refugio Ifland. Nofoon- cr was he on board, than he put his niother-ol- pcarl fhcll about my neck, in token of flricl friendOiip; and after having pafled five or fix hours on board, he retired within one of the iilands, hoping I fliould give him the meeting the next day. I coafled many of thcfc (lioals, and at fun- [t^t I was fix leagues to the cadward of Saint Chrif. m '4 »i ^if« R 't u)phtr*, cKar of all the little luw iflaiuls : hur as the wirid fVcllicncc! f'loni tlic oafl, 1 kept all :iu?;ht under very little lail, that I might not ex- pofc inyldf to run imiuvarei upun one ot" ihc iflets. I gave to all this group <>{" iflaiuls the name of Don Jofcpli Di' ddlvcx. The Ibuthern cape of the iflandof tlie tubf)u, lies in 19" 39' of lati tude, and 179° 30' of lon^i-Zuude eaft of Paris. The 2 2(1, at day break, I crowded fail, run- ning clofe u]ion a wind to lIi. fouth, or as near as T could lie; and in foUowinfi; this courfc we faw before us two iilands, which I named Las Cidchras, The Snakes ; within them was difcover- cd a great funken rock, tlie breakers on which we obfervedat a great diftar.cc; it was five leagues from us. • The winds were moftlv from the eaft, inclinino to the north -caft. Driven forward liy them we con- tinued our voyage with a more compofed mind, beino; delivered from the danrrers to which we had been cxpofed, fometimcs by iflands, fome- timcs by fhoals. We faw nothing till the 24th, but this day wc difcovcfed (to tlie fouthwarci and wcftward,) at the diftance of feven leagues, a r W (■ if m ■Mi'' ' i'i' ■rtHI fft * What ifiand of Saint Chridonher is th'n? I5 it the lofty ifland of which he lias fpoken, and to which he gave this name ? He ftiould have ialbrm^d us. fmall m w. i • 398 XA- PKROUSE*S VOVAGE fn-.all ifland by itTelf, which I named La Soht. The 27th, we perceived another to the wcfl- fouth-wefl;, three degrees weft, at the diftance of ten leagues. I gave it the name of Vafquez, The night between the 27th and 28th, the wind became violent, and the fea very high. At midnight I w -^ obliged to bring to till day break : the weather then grew fcrene, and I Hood to the weftward, with a light breeze from the north- caft. The 29th, finding myfclf in 25° 52' foiith la- titude, and as I liippofed in 179° 17' to the eaft of Paris, the wind veered to the weflward : 1 r.vailed myfelf of it by fleering fouth-eafl-by- eaft, defirous to get more to the fouthward, at the fame time to make eafting in my longitude. I followed this courfe till the 3d of April, when, in 30" o' of latitude, and 174** 22' longitude wefl of Paris, the wind became almofl entirely calm. Thus circumflanced, and upon continual com- plaints being made that the fhip's bread was not eatable, I reiblved to look at it myfelf. When 1 faw the ftate it was in, I could not but confider myfelf as placed in the mofl dreadful fituation, to which any human being could be reduced, who fails in unknown feas, without hope of any fuccour. I never can look back to that fad mo- ment, but the rccolledion of the affliding pic- ture iiL liOUND THE WORLD. ^^99 ture, which then flruck my fight, again rends my licart in pieces. I can declare with confidence, that if God had not kipported me in that for- rowful and trying fituation, T fliould have funk into die deepeft delpair, lecing no profped whatever ct' continuing our voyage. 1 called Don Jolcph Vafquez, the firft pilot, tome, Don Juan D*Echeverria, the fecond; as alio all the warrant officers; and I appointed Don Pedro Carvajal, the furgeon, to make the writ- ten report of the council we were going to hold, and of the deliberations which might be taken thereon. I led them one by one into the bread room. We there found millions of cockroaches : it is ne- ceflkry a man (hould have feen them with his own eyes, to have an idea of the number of thefc infeds. Thefe pefts had fo much infeiled the fhip, that the holy father, who officiated as chaplain, was obliged to have recourfe to exor- cifms more than once. For my own part, I had the precaution to diftribute in the cabins, bread rooms, and in every part of the (hip, pots* fmeared on the infide with honey mixed with. fugar : every day brought me a bucketful of thefe infeds. I confumed in this manner almofl all ♦ In the text, /pitting pou are made ufe of. ^IPT wfP 1 I i i:5>:ikM^ I-'!, ■ I t:0 ^ 'S * vd':m »v li:-^? ■ ^|. 11; II- 400 LA PEROUSE's voyage all my honc)% and their number did not appear diminiihcd. Tlie bread, at firll opening the room, feemed untouched j but near the partitions, all the bif- cuit had difappeared, and the floor prelented no- thing but a rnafs of bran and dull. In regard to the diminution of the allowance which I had ordered on the i6th of February, and to the retrenchment of an ounce in every pound, which had been made even from our firft departure from Slfnan, there ought ftill to have remained three hundred and twenty-nine arrobes* of bread, with- out counting the other provifion, which were in plenty enough : but on that unhappy day I faw tnyfelf reduced to two large binns of duft rather than bread 'f. I ordered the three calks of re- ferve to be opened, which had been well hooped '«nd pitched in the leams : they fliewed no appear- ance of having ever held any breads they were filled with cockroaches only. I immediately took the precaution to pick out all the bread poflible, and to lock it up in the arm chefts, and in that which contained the fliip's cplours. It was weiizlied, and was found to be iit'- * The -arrobe weighs twenty-five pounds ; the pound i- 16 ounces. t Much is abridivcd here from the originaL Icrty il ROUND THE WORLD. 4O1 forty arrobcs. In the next plac , I ordered the potatoes which the (hip's crew might have, to be colledcd together : but as it was fifteen days fince the provifion had been given out, there could fcarcely be two bafkets full colleded. Thirdly, I ordered all the hogs to be killed, as alfo all thfe other animals, except fome few fowls defigned for the ufe of the Tick. I kept for the fame fer- vice, too, what little honey remained out of the (lock I laid in at Sifiran. The fourth precaution I thought it neceflary to take, was inftantly to fufpend even the allowance of bread, and to dif- tribute to every one of the crew, a fmall ration of the potatoes, with which I had fupplied my- felf from the Indians, three ounces of pork, and one of rice. I had no other objecEl in all this but to preferve their IK'es, till I (hould be in a condition to affc* ! them greater fuccour. Laftly, I refolved to fhare with them my own provifion, referving for the laft refource the two chefhs, which I confidered as facred. After having taken all thefe refolutions, I held 1 council with the officers I have before men- tioned. I reprefented to them what I had done fince the 20th of January, what bread there ought to have remained in (lore, and what actually did remain. I told them, that I fhould the more readily communicate to them the*precautions I intended '0 take, as they had themfelves been {'jbjeded Vol. L D d to mF^ m ' : ^rU'^'l i i * * .J i , • M.\A 1SH! *4 lii a^ l. ^ t'Hbi' i :!' ,31 ^ 'I iHi •I 402 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE to the retrenchments which I had believed it neceffary to make, retrenchments which had oc- aifioned my being confidered as a tyrant, as having an unfeeling heart, as a man who had thrown oif every fentiment-of humanity; that we were then feventeen hundred and fixty leagues from Peru, twelve hundred and forty from Guam, in the Marians ; that the winds would be favourable for following either of thefe routes, except fome calms or contrarieties, which alvvavi might be expelled in fuch voyages; that they had the flate of the provifion under their own eyes; in fhort, I begged of them to declare what they would do, if they had the command of a fiiip under fimilar circumftances. Tliey all una- nimoufly anfwered, that death only could be worfe than the condition we were then in ; that of the two routes propofed, although neither the one nor the other held out much hope of fafety, yet, that it was not poflible to difpenfe with the preference for the Marians, trying at the fame time if fome relief might not be had at the iilands of Martin De Mayorga, concluding that we had not provifion for a month. The firfr and fecond pilot fupported all that had been re- ])rerentcd to me ; I myfelf being perfuaded that their advice was the beft, but above all, being un^ willing to contribute tQ the lofs of fo many un- fortunate perlbns, or' obftinatcly to oppofe what appeared ^ * what fervices would not this navigator render to geo- .:;raphy, if he thought proper to communic&ie his difcove- fifi to the public '• ' ^M llbUND THE WORLD. 4O3 - appeared to me to be mofl for the intereft of the king, gave orders for ftecring to the northward, with a view of getting forty leagues to the eaftward of the iflands at which I had already touched, and where I hoped ftill to find fonie refrefhments. This refolution I did not take, however, without a fenfation more painful than that which accompanied the infpedlion of the bread and other provificn : I would have pre- ferred death to (landing again to the northward ; and if I had not allowed myfelf to be didated to by calm reafon, I had taken the mad refolution to have purfued our voyage to the eaftward. The calmnefs of my mind now forfook me ; I was far from experiencing that tranquillity of foul, with which I have often endured an infinity of vexations and crofles in the very dangerous voyages I have undertaken for making new dif- coverics*. The refledion^ that we could not take any other ftep, was not fufficient to pacify me, efpecially when I recollededi that this dif- covery of our wretched condition took place juft as we had overcome the difficulties of our navigation, when in fhort we liad reached a latitude in which we could rely on favoura- ,1 ..,.ij. 1 i' 1 4'' I i\ v. 1 f^' * ■ i:-'. V n i <';,i. 1. * ^''$ I ■f|fr) 1 .. Dd hh n: 't^i vr;t^,d HHaib; -.f. 11 4.04 LA PEROVSE S VOYASE ble winds, fuch as I counted on for fpeedily and fuccefsfuUy completing our voyage. It is cer- tain, however, that if the idea had occurred V) me a fortnight later, of looking myfeif into the ftate of our provifion, our greated hope remain- ing woulJ have been only to breathe on fome defert ifland, had we met with fuch a one. And in our aftual fituation, if the rcfrefhments the Indians furnilhed us with had been lefs abun- dant, there would have been no other courfe left me, but to have fought the firft land whithc: we might betake ourfelves as to a refuge. It was then, in truth, an interference of providence, by which we found the iflands of Mayorga, whence we had drawn fuch powerful and timely relief. With variable winds, which blew from evciy point in the horizon from the 4th of April, I continued my courfe to the north, or as nearly (o as I could between that point and the eaft. The 9th a breeze from the fouth-eaftto the north- eaft began to prevail : I took advantage of it to get forty jeagues to the eaft ward of the iflands, in order to find them the more eafily, in follow- ing their parallel* On the 1 6th the wind moderated, the i8th il; frefliened, accompanied with dark clouds and heavy rains i we were obliged to lie to all tlif night. At day-break we ran down towards the iflands, but the current had carried us fome minutes to ;edily und It is cer- curred to into the >e remain- i on feme 3nc. And iments the lefs abun- courfe left nd whither ge. It wai vidence, by [ga, whence ;ly relief. from evciy of April, I as nearly fo caft. The the north- re of it to the iflands, , in follow- ROUND THR WORLD. 4O5 to the northward ; the bad weather prevented us from taking any obfervation ; thefe illands be- fides being very low, we did not perceive them. We faw to the north-weft the ifland which is to tue fouth-weft feven degrees fouth of the ifland of Latte, and being nearer it, we made Lattc at the diftance of fix leagues. It thence refulted, that my reckoning was thirty miles aftern of the fliip, and confequently that we had palled be* tween the two groups of iflands, De Galvcz and De Mayorga, at a little diflance from both, but which the continued fogs, and a cloudy iky, had prevented us from feeing. As the only hope which fupported my failors was to be able to gain the iflands of Mayorga, I hauled my wind as clofe as pofl[ible, and reefed my top-fails, but the fea was high, the wind violent, and the night dark; I was therefore obliged to give up the idea of making thefe iflands, perfuaded, that I could not approach them ^which befides was very doubtful) without lofing many days. My crew, however, grew difheartened at the un- happy ftate they faw themfelves in ; their weak* nefs was fo great that, in order to hoift a top-fail, it was often necefliiry the men from the forecaftle and the quarter deck fliould muttially aflift each other. The mofl rigorous diet of an hofpital Could not have enfeebled them more. To raife their Spirits, I defired them to confider, that by the D d 3 cpurfc '-.•.U 1 \;. t' f J , It «, ;i f ^ |E||i|| RjJr V .1^ 1. T! ■5i'i 406 LA PEROUSE's voyage courfe we held, we (liould infallibly fall in with other iflands, where they might recruit their flrength ; that the winds were favourable, and that we advanced with flowing fheets every da'- .towards the termination of our fufferings. Thele reafons compofed them, they took patience. , On the zift, we difcovered to the north-north- , caft, and to the eafl-north-eaft, two iflands, whicli I named Confolacion^ becaufe my c/ew derived i comfort from them, being thence provided with fweet potatoes, pigs, cocoa-nuts, bananas and, : fowls, which the natives brought us, during! the thirty hours I remained on their fliore. Ifi ,, the weather had been a little lefs unfavourable,] ] our fupplies had been more abundant ; the crew, .however, by barter and exchange, in which their clothes were fo little fpared as to endanger their] ,Ilripping themfelves naked., m^de provifion for jinore than eight days 3 our failors again, recovered] , their ftrength, and were in .a better condition to] .fupport the greatefl misfortune that yet awaitedj them. .^' . As on our approach to the ifland we faw :C %■ '^i' It ; ^r1 '! ■ i' If, B,. 4.16 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE the wind Ihiftcd to the 2d quarter (between the eaft and the fouth) and became fo violent, that 1 was obliged for two days to !ic to. The 5th of Augufl the wind came to the north- well ; I ftcered to the eafl-by-fouth until the 13th. In this interval the winds blew from all points of the compafs, and fixed at laft in the fecond and tirft quarter. I availed myfelf as much as polTible of its variations to get forward to the eaftward. The 30th I was in latitude 37° 5' north, and I reckoned myfelf in 144° 1 7' longitude weft from Paris, and at 260 leagues diftance from Cape Mendocino. The winds fixed then in the fourth quarter ; I flood to the eaftward until the 3d of September, when we faw fea-weed, ard trunks of fir trees floating upon the water, the firft fign of the proximity of the northern coafts of California. To approach them I fteered to the eaft-fouth- caft. On the 4th the fea changed colour : and tht liglit of fome fmail birds confirmed to us, that wc were not far from land, and that in a fliort tim- we (liould get fight of it. On the 8th, I was off Point Pedernal (or Gun Flints), at the diftance of five leagues. Thefe bearings placed me in longitude 123^ 3' weft of Paris, I reckoned myfelf in 130^ 34', mv my 1 I H «lOUND THE WORLD, 41^ my reckoning was therefore wrong by 122 leagues, which I made myfelf too much to the weft. After getting fight of this point, I made for Cape San-Lucar. In my courfe to the caft of the Ifland of Guadelupa, at the diftance of eight leagues, I had fome days of calm weather, after which I got figlit of Morne Saint Lazare, and the 2 2d I was near Cape San-Lucar. On the 25th, after iome cahns, during which I had a fis!;ht of the land of this ca. j, there came on a terrible hurricane, which in the fpace of fix hours flew round from the north and eaft, to the fouth, with fuch fury that, notwithftanding the heavy fea that headed u;;, we ran feven miles and :i half an hour under the fore fail. There is no doubt but we fliould have been difmalled, if the tempeft had lafted a little while longer. The fame dav, when the hurricane had- Tub- Tided, I fet every fail and flood for the Maria Iflands. I doubled them on the 2 6fh and 27th, r.t night, and anchored in the road of San-Blas, in latitude 21*^30', longitude 134^ 54'eaft of Manilla, and 107° 6' weft of Paris. I have had the happmefs to bring my crew home fafe and found, in fpite of the horrible havock the cockroaches had made in our provlfion, and he wretched nefs which was the coafequence of it -, having loft but two men, one of whom died in the harbour of Sifiran before our Vol. I. E e ckparturc^ . \V •Hi./ ii-;- ^f J' -It; % .1 V \ i('v |:^ \ ■ 4lS LA PERorSE's VOYAGE departure, and the other was attacked with a phthifis when he embarked *. San-Blas, the 27th of September, 1781, On board the frigate the Princelfa. F. A. MAURELLE. EXTRACT From the narrative of a voyage viade in 1779, by Don Francisco-Antonio Maztrelie, enjign of a frigate, in the fervice of the King of Spain, for difcovering the zvejt coaft of North Ame- rica. Within ft few 5'ears the Spaniards have undo taken three voyages for examining the weft coafls of North America. In the firft, Don Juan Perez, chief pilot, afcended as high as 55 deg. of lati- tude ; and, upon his return, he twice reconnoitred the coaft between this point and the port of Mon- terey, Francis the na\ de la B( fkctchei :ell intc Daines ] Knglifh of his th ;rodudi in thefe nlfehooc that thi: •Ahere h captain ] aifation Maurelle * I liave ncrt been difpofed to add afiy remark to thr narrative of this voyage, which is intltled intfrefiing by Maurelle: but as in hydrography fome fervice is derived from the moft incxaft journals, notwithftanding the too fc- vere jnd'^me^t agaiaft this by La Peroufe in the cxtraft of ills correfpondence, in the lad volume, I have thoDght it might become ufeful to fome navigator?, or throvv light upon foroe geographical difcufiion". (Fr. FJ.) ROUND THE WORLD. 4I9 The fecond voyage is of the date of 1775, and for this purpofe a frigate and a fchooner were fitted out. The fchooner was commanded by Don Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, a lieutenant in the navy. Don Maurelle, who accompanied Don de la Bodega, and who was then but fecond pilot, fketched a relation of this expedition. A copy of it iell into the hands of the Engliih, and the Hon. Daines Barrington has publifhed it, tranflated into Englilh ; ca[)tain Cook mentions it in the account of his third voyage ; but captain Dixon, in the in- trodudlion to the narrative of the voyage he made in thefe feas, accufes Don Maurelle of manifell hlfehood ; it is inconteftible, according to him, that this officer has never been in thofe tracks where he is faid to boafl of having made what captain Dixon colls fruit Icfs refearches. Theac- ciifation is ftrong ; if it be well founded, Don Maurelle certainly merits no confidence. He lays, " We now attempted to find out the ftrait " of Admiral Fuentes, though as yet we had not " difcovered the archipelago of St. Lazarus, " through which he is faid to have failed. With " this intent, we fearched every bay a?id recefs " on the coafl, and failed round every headlcTid^ " king to in the nighty that we might not lofe " fight of this entrance. After thefe pains taken, " and being favoured by a riOrth-uceft wind, it " may be pronounced that no fuch flraits are to E e 2 *' bf 1 1 • 1 \ '•■ i ■ -i ■ Hi . I I ]l IIH W.» f-'i: 'f rk *>' i hi '•'^'i' ^i f ■if Si'/ 4.iO LA PEROUbE S VOVAGK " be found *." Captain Dixon next proccedi; to f'ly^ fpoaking of Queen Charlotte's Iflands, " Tiic *' fitiuuion of thefc iflands, viz. from 54 degrees " 20 min. to 51 deg. 56 min. north latitude, and '' from 130 to 133 deg. 30 min. weft longitude, " evidently fliews that they are the archipelago " of St. Lazarus." But is it fully proved, that what captain Dixon calls !duecn Charlotte s I/lamL, is really a group of many iflands ? We arc told, that " there is every reafon to believe it, bv '' confidering the great number of fmall ilraits " which have been feen in ranging along the " coaft." But thefe fmall flraits may be nothing clfe than creeks ; no one of them has been pene- trated into. Captain Dixon had other affliirs to attend to j his object was not to make difcovc- lics, but to purchafe fine furs cheap, and to fell them dear at China. Befides, he is not the au- thor of the narrative ; it is, fays the introduclion, by a perfon as little praAifed in the literary career, as accuflomed to a maritime life. But captain Dixon tells us, in the fame introduclion, that he has carefully correded whatever relates to naviga- tion. All, without doubt, is very well corredeci j but to fupport the erroneous opinion, which people appear to be in, oi the reality of th? difcoveries of Admiral Fuentes, it is not necclfary * " See Barrington's Mifcellanies, page 508." irocceds to luls, " The 54 degrees titudc, and longitude, archipelago roved, that 'tcsIjUinds, ? We arc elieve it, by Imall ftrait^ y along the y be nothing s been pene- her affairs to fiake difcovc- ., and to icU not the an- introduclion, iterary career, But captain ^lon, that be ,tes to naviga- ell corredeci : inion, which ■eality of th? not necelTary lage 508. to HOUND THE WORLD. 42I to tax with impofturc a navigator, who had no other view than to make new diltoveries. The difcoveries made by Maurcllc in the fecond 6Xj)edition extended to the 38tli degree of lati-" tude. Don Maurellc particulariled them upon a chart, which probably has not fallen into the hands of the EngliHi : the Spaniards will publilh it perhaps, and then the difcoveries of MaurelU; may be combined with thofe oi Cook and Dixon. Don de la Bodega and Maurellc difcovered,' among the reft, in iat. ^f i8', the entrance into a harbour which they fu]:)pofed to be a very good one i they gave to this entrance or opening the name of Paffligio de Bucareiti, in honour of friar Don Antonio-Maria Bucarelli y Urfua, vice- roy of Mexico, who fpared nothing which de- pended on him to facilitate the fuccefs of thefc expeditions. They difcovered two very good har- bours alfo, that of Guadelupa, in 57° 1 1 •, and that of Los Remedios, m 57° 18'. Cook, in his third voyage, in 1778, had a view of thefe harbours, but he did not put into them. The King of Spain gave orders for a third expe- pedition, in 1777 > it was intended to complete the examination of the north -weft coaft of Ame- rica, from the 58th degree to the 70th. Don Bu-" carelli -fitted out two frigates. Don Ignacio Ar- teaga, a lieutenant ia the navy, commanded the* prince/la ; La Favorita was under the orders of E e 3 Don I i w •^;t|*( ■ r n ' ' 'i ^^'■^'■^■'m r:.i »«.|Llir I ,- : ■ ; li If. .c. 42Z LA PEROUSE's voyage pon de la Bodega, who took Don Maurclle for fecond captain, then enfeigne de fregafe. They agreed to rendezvous firft at the entrance of Buca- relli, where they were to take in wood and water, $:c. On the nth of February, 1779, they left the harbour of San Bias, which they place in lut. ;|i'' 2°' r^o''t^> ^J^d ^^^Z' ^^l" ^' weft of Paris. They arrived, the 3d of May, at the entrance of ^ucarelli, tlie geographic fituation of which, accord- ing to them, is in 55° 18' north, and 139'* 15' weft of Paris. There does not : ppear to be a ground for queflioning the exadnefs of the latitude of Don Maurelle -, fo much cannot be faid of his longi- tudes, vv'hich probably were not determined by qbfervatipn, but by account. According to a furvey made by captain Cook the preceding year, on the coafts adjacent to the entrance of Bucarelli, this entrance ought to be very nearly 227° to the eaft of Greenwich, or 133° one-third to the weft of Paris. Bucarelli's entrance introduced the Spaniards into a vaft gulf ; they anchored there the third of May, in a harbour, than which, they fay, there Is not a finer in Europe ; they gave it the name of Puerta de la Cruz. On the 1 8th of May Don Maurelle was dif- patched with two long boats to make the tour of |lie gulf. In ROUND THE WORLD. 423 In this ex]x;dition, which he did not finilli till the 1 2th of June, he furveycd all the capes, all th iflunds, all the principal parts of the great gulf; he delineated all the creeks, all the bays, and all the particular harbours. Every one of thefe bays, every one of thefc har- bours, fays he, arc good and fafc. He gave names to all thefe places ; and afterwards laid down an cxtcnfive and very exadt plan of the whole of the great gulf: it is much to be wifhed this plan was publilhed, as well as the chart Don Maurelle conflrucfted of the coafts and the iflands that the Spaniards difcovered in the courfe of their expe- dition. The chart, however, would be lefs eflen- tial than the plan, the fame coafts having been vifited by Cook the preceding year; but fome particulars might be found in it which may have efcaped the Engliih argonaut, Don Maurelle met with very few habitations in his expedition ; he faw but one village, (ituate at the top of a high hill ; it was not to be afcended but by a flight of ftcps, or rather by a wooden ladder ; it the foot flipped you fell down the pre- cipice. The Spaniards were not a long time in the harbour of La Cruz without receiving a vifit from the Indians in its neighbourhood. Bartering took place ; the Indians gave their peltry, and E e 4 various I .•' /F« f' 1 ]■ 1 [■ Ji t 4 m-1^ % :♦!■■ W^ 424 lA PEROrsi: 5 VOYAGE various trifles, for glafs beads, bits of old iron, &c. By this traffic the Spaniards were enabled to gain a fufiicicnt'y exa(fl knowledge of their geniu.s, of their oftlnfive and defenfivc arms, of their ma- nufa(5lurf!-s, &c. Their colour is a clear olive; many among them have, however, a perfectly white fkin : their counte- nance is well proportioned in all its parts. They are robuft, courageous, arrogant, and warlike. They clothe themfelves in. one or two undrefled fkins (with the fur apparently) ; thefe are the fkins of otters, of fea wolves, of bcnades (a fpecies of deer), of bears, or other animals, which they take In hunting. Thefe drefTes cover them from the neck to the middle of the leg; there are, however, rnany among tlicm who wear boots of fmooth fkin, refembling Engliih boots, only that thofc of the Indians open before, and are laced tight with a ftring. They wear hats woven from the fine bark of trees, the form of which refembles that of a funnel, or a cone. At the wrifts they hive bracelets of copper or iron, or for want of thefe metals, the fins of whales ; and round the neck, necklaces of fmall fragments of bones ot 5nic3, and other animals, and even copper collars of the bignefs of two fingers. They wear in their cars pendants of mother of pearl, or flat pieces of topper, on - which is cmbofTcd a refin of a topa/i • colour^ HOUND THE WORLD. 42; colour, nnd which are accompanied with jet heads. Their licad of hair is \on\x uiid tliick, niid they make life of a comb, very like our*^, tu hoUl it top;ether in a fmall cjueue from the mitldle to the extremity ; a narrow ribbon of coarlc fmcn, woven for this piirpole, i'erves as a Hga- incnt. They wear alfo, as a covering, a fpccles of fcarfs* a vare and half long -j- and one vare broad, woven as the peillons J of Peru ; all around it hangs a fringe half a quarter of a vare broad, the thread of which is regularly twiftcd. The women give proofs of their modelly and decency by their drefs. Their phyfiognomy is agreeable, their colour frcHi, their cheeks ver- millioned, and their hair long ; they plait it toge- ther in one long trefs. They wear a long robe of a fmooth fkin tied round the loins, like that of^a nun ; it covers them from the neck as low as the feet ; the flecves reach down to the wriils. Upon its longitude 149* 20'. The charts reprefent an ifland in the vi- cinity of this cape : the point of this illand near- eft to the cape bore north i8 degrees weft, diftant five leagues. From this cape the coaft runs away to the north, inclining a little towards the north-weft : tliey diftinguiflied in this part feveral large bays, where they think there may be well ftieltered harbours. The ifland, fays Don Maurellc, is larger than it is reprefented upon the charts : the Spaniards being only half a league from it, difcovered a Ihoal to the fouth-weft* * All the latitudes are to the north, the longitudes to the weft of London. It has already been remarked, that thefe longitudes could not be depended upon. Vol. I. Ff The ,1' Vfl ' ■ 1^"' ; 1 ._;..,;,,. ■5 '« . \ " . 5 ■ ■1.' •If i ■I ..1 W K ■1 ' -tf; ■ 1 1 !■ ^ 434 I-A PEUOirSE S VOYACE " The 1 8th, they got fight of a vaft gulf, td the weft of Cape Saint Elias; this gulf is ten leagues in cicpth. The 20th, they were boaalcd by two canoes of a fingular confbrudlion ; very thin boards or planks form the wood work ; their planks are attached to each other by moderately flrong cords, and yet leave void fpaces between them ; fo that without the lining, this would form an exadt fkeleton of a canoe. This fkelcton is furrounded every where with the fkins of ani- mals, leaving in the upper part only a round opening; the borders of thefe fkins ferving as a girdle, are faflened round the body of him who manages the canoe ; and that the water may not enter it by this opening, the conductor puts on a ikirt made of bladders, fewed very exadlly and clofely together, and conveniently tied upon the borders of the opening. We may conceive thefc boats to be extremely light : their form is ex- adly that of a harp ; their prow has the fame curve as the bridge whereon the ftrings of the harp are faftened. The Indians, who navigated thefc canoes, were clothed in fkin jackets, which fufticiently defended them from cold ; their hats rel'cmblcd thofe of the inhabitants of Port Buca« relli; large glafs beads hung from their cars. Their filhing inflrumcnts are darts worked to ex- treme nicenci's as if a lathe, a large pole, a blown up noUKD THE WORLt>. ^^^ up bladder, a harpoon the point of which is bone, and a long cord made of the entrails of animals, and conveniently twifled. They dart the harpoon at the otter, or fca wolf: the ani- mal thus flruck endeavours to dive, but the bladder will not allow him ; and the Indian prc- fently draws him within his reach. The young Indians taken on board at BucarcUi were dcfirous of communicating with thefc : they did not, however, underftand one another. Thefe two canoes engaged the Spaniards to put in at the neighbouring coaft : they anchored there the 20th of July, at midnight ; but early the next day they gained a creek then bearing north of them, at a league didancc. They were flielter- ed from the north-weft, the north, and foon to the fouth : a little further in, they would have been fecure from every wind. This harbour, to which they gave the name of Puerta San JagOy lies in latitude 60° 13', and longitude 157° 52'. To fatisfy themfelves whether they were near an illand or a continent, they fent off the long boat, which, after having (ailed fix or feven leagues to the north-north -weft, reported, that the coaft then trended towards the eaft; whence they concluded, that tlie land near which they anchored was an ifland*. Sis • On a ferious examination, this harbour I think ifi tear Cape Hinchinbroke. Cook made no obiC.vaaon upon F f z tha Hi- M^ flfii I ; I!! 1. ■ I ,.,!!» 1 " V ■ U '- 43*5 tA PEROUSE's" V0YA6E Six canoes of Indians, cacli canoe twentv-fix cu- bits long, and four broad, lined with white fkins, othcrwife of a conllrudlion nearly rcfembling that of European boats, paid a viilt to the Spaniard*;. Before they drew very near they hoifted three flags, the firfl: of a carnation colour, the fecond white, and the third blucj but they flruck them before they came up alongfide the (hip. They were accompanied by two women, whofe fex is diftlnguiflied by glafs beads or other baubles hanging from both fides of the mouth. In other refpedls they are habited nearly in the fame man- ner as the women of Port BucareUi. The commandant had been once a fifliing in the long boat, be filled it in a fliort time with a fifli agreeable in flavour, which they called pargo midato : but the fiih which abounds the mod in thefe feas, is the falmon; the pa?'g,9 mulato is only plentiful at the bottom of the fmall creeks upon the (hore. The Indians, who inhabit this country, are robuft, tall in ftature, and large in proportion > the environs of this cape, any more than captain Dixon. The long boat might have penetrated into the bay, which 16 called Rofe Bay, upon Dixon's chart ; and feeing it en- tirely ihut up to the eaft, it might have continued its courfe towards the coaft, ftretching along to the north-north-weft. 1 think further, that the tranfcriber may have writcen 157* 52' for the longitude, inftead of 153° 52': the manufaipt abounds in faults. they i ROUND THE WORLD. 437 they arc Induflrious, and difpofcd to thieving. The copper points, -with which all their arrows nre tipped, inclined the Spaniards to think they had mines of this metal in their country. The 28th of July, our navigators weiglied an- chor, to fail round a point which they fa.v to the fouth-wefl, 5 degrees fouth, at the dilhmce of II leagues, (probably the fouth point of Mon- tagu Ifland). They were defirous of keeping the land in fight, but the rain, and the fogs, would not always let them. The 30th they lay to until the next day, when they difcovered themfelves to be near a clufter of illands which extended from the fouth- fouth-wefb to the fouth-fonth-caft : they anchored the ift of Auguft to the fouth of one of thefe iHands, which they named I/la de Beg/a ; they place it in 155° 52' of longitude, by account, and 59° 8' of latitude, by obfcrvation *. Don Maurclle believes, that tliefe ifiajads form that which, upon * Upon i\\e chart of Prince William's Soand (tHird volume of Cook's third voyage) there is a place where we may fuppofc the group of iilanJs of which the Ifia de Regla makes apart; it is to the ioath-vcrt of Montaf!;u Illand, about lat. 59^ 8' and 210'^ 30' cj 40' longitude call from Greenwich, or 151° 40 to 50' to the weft of Paris. Cov)k paffed about 15 leagues to the wffhvard of thcfe if.ands ; Dixon as much to the caflward c,f them : thefo iflands maybe too low to be feen at this diftancej th?/ may uhp j)« jnore to the w^ftward than is imagined, Ffj Pellln's 'I >\ r ,1. [!p-|l*i| ■1 m^" 1 1 ■ * -1 1 ^38 t\ p'erouse's voyage Bcllin*s chart, engraved in 1766, is called Cape de Saint Erynogc^nc : the latitude is the fame. The Ruffians, obferving this group a great way off,did not difcern the intermediate channels which divide it into many iflands, but took it for a point of firm land. Towards the fouth of the Ifla de Regla are many other iflands. The 3d of Augufl, the fky being clear, there was feen to the north -weft 7 degrees north, at the diftancc of more than twenty leagues, a mountain certainly higher than the Peak of Te- neriffe, quite covered with fnow. In the evening, by twilight, it was obferved to vomit torrents of thick fmokc : the crater from which this fmokc ifliied was a little more to the eaft than the fummit of the mountain, It was judged to be a volcano. Near this mountain another prcfented itfelf to view, very high alfo, upon which no remains of fnow were feen ; this bore wefl-north-weft 8 de- grees weft, diftant fifteen leagues. Afterwards two others were feen, the largeft of which was fet to the wcft-fouth-weft 4 degrees fouth, at the diftance of thirteen leagues: thefe two, although high, were much lefs fo than the pre- ceding, and yet they were totally covered with fnow. On the Ifla de Regla were found many fmall cabins or huts, fea wolves, nearly flayed, a great i) umber of birds heads, but not one inhabitant. 2 After ROUND THE WOULD. 439 After a Hay of two or three clays, a canoe appeared ort'oncof the neighbouring points j the Indians uttered ibirie words, but they would not come alorigfidc tlic frigates. The expedition of the Spaniards terminated at this iiland. They quitted it on the ythof Auguft, and came to anchor at San Bias, the 27th of No- vember. From Cape Saint-Klias to the IHa de Regla, they took, with the mofi: fcrupulous ex- adnefs, the bearings of all the iflands, capes, and bays, which they law ; but the winds and the currents, very frequent and very violent in thefc feas, drove them off the coafls oftener than they defired, and prejudiced the accuracy of their reckoning. Nevcrthelefs, if they publifh the chart they have conflrucled according to their bearings, their obfervations, joined to thofe oF captain Cook, of La Peroufe, and captain Dixon, will contribute not a little to improve the geography of this part of the toafl of North America. ■^ m t m: ♦i End of the Preliminary Part, .5 ' !i ; •■r' Ff-^ YOYAQE J.A PEROUSE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD PURING THE YEARS 1785, 178G, 1787 and 1783. 1 ^Ff^fW f?' |i : !:■ »■ .■ i ■ i i.;- M i CHAPTER |. Object of the armament of the t:co frigates — S/ay in the road of Brcjl — PaJJ'age from Brejl to Madeira and Teneriffe — Stay at thofc two iflands — A journey to the Peulc — Arrival at Trinidadq — We put in at the I/land of St. Ca- therine zfpon the coajt of BrafU. THE ancient fpirit of difcovery appeared to be entirely extinct. The voyage made by Ellis, in 1747, to Hudlbn's Bay, did not anAver the expc(5tations of thofe who advanced money for the adventure. On the i ft of January, 17391 ftiptain Bouvet imagined that he favv land in 54° fouth j but it now appears probable that it was only a field of ice ; and by this millake the progrcfs of geography was materially impeded. The fyllem-riiakcrs, who fit down in their clofcts, and there draw the figures of lai.ds and iilanJs cun- flit t'S- I- ^::- 442 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE concluded that the fuppofed Cape of Clrcum- cifioii was the northern point of a fouthern con- tinent, the exiftence of which feemed to them demonftrable as neceflary to the equiHbrium of the globe *. Thcfc * The partizans of the exirtence of a Southern Continent -will, no doubt, confider the allertion of De La Peroufe ;is hazarded. Ncverthelefs, without pretending that Cape Circumcifion, difcovered by Bouvet, rather belongs to an jmmenfe field of ice*, than to an ifland ; without refolving the idle problem of the exiftence of a Souinern Continent, which can only be fituated in a latitude that muft keep it for evrr infulated from the reft of the globe, I will venture to fay" that Cook's firfl: voyages towards the South Pole have fufficiently decided the queftion : and that Le Monnier's differtation t^ prove that Cook did not feek Cape Circum- cihon in its true longitude has loll all its importance f. While making my profertJon of faith in that rcfpeft — while con- feillng that I believe in the exiftence of a Southern Conti- nent, I do not think at the fame time that it is neceflary to the equilibrium of the ;^lobe. Of what confequcnce, indeed, could he the weight of fo fmall a protuberance to fo enormous a mafs as the globe, in which the fmalleft difference of internal homogeneity would be a fufficient compenfation for fuperficial fclidity. Although captain Cook hopes that hejhallhear tio more 0/ « SoiuLern Continent \, it will, perhaps, be advifeable, fome cen- * Captain Coc?: having gone very far to tlie fouthward of the Uni riif.ovcred by Bouvet, it is clt;arly impoflible that Cape Circumcifion can fcilong to a Southern Continent. f %tz the Mei/iches dc VAcaihvnc DfsSciences de Paris, of the year 1776, pnje 665; of the year 1779, T'^S'^ ^^' ^cc alfo Cook't fecond end third raya^es, X Cc-- 444 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE In 1 771, M. de Kerguelen was fent upon a voyage towards tiie Southern Continent, the ex- idence of which at that time no geographer ven- tured to dapute. In the month of December of the lame year, he got fight of an ifland, but was prevented from exploring it completely by the badnefs of the weather. Fi.ll of the ideas of all the learned men in Europe, he made no doubt of his having perceived one of the capes of the Southern Contiiicnt ; and (n '^ager was he to bring home the news, that he did not delay his return a fingle moment. He was received in France like another Columbus ^ and immediately after a Il]ip of the line and a frigate were equipped to continue fo important a difcovery. This extra- ordiiKuy choice of vcfTels v/ould c^Ione fufHce to fliew that enthufiafm fuperfedes all reafon and rcfletflion. M. de Kerguelen received orders to go and make a lurvey of the fuppofed continent lie had difcovcrcd. The bad fuccefs of his fecond voyage is well known j but even captain Cook, the moxl ffiilful of navigators, would not have fuccecdcd in fuch an enterprlzc with a fhip of 64 guns, a frigate of 32, and a crew of feven hundred men ; perhaps, indeed, he would not have accepted fuch a command, or would have procured the adoption of other ideas. However this may be, M. de Kerguelen returned to France with no better information than before; and all idea of farther; ..I m HOUND THE World; 445 farther dilcoverles was laid aficle. The King died in the courfe of this lall expedition. The war of 1778, direded the views of the nation to far different objcds ; but we did not forget that our enemies had the Refolution and Difcovery at fea, and that captain Cook, by labouring for the cx- tcniion of human knowledi2;c, had a claim to the tricndlhip of every country in the univerfe*. The principal end of the war of 1778 was to fecure the tranquillity of the feas ; and that end was attained by the peace of 1783. The fame ipirit that made us take up arms in order tliat the flags of the nations, the lead powerful at fea, Ihould be refpe6led as much as thofe of France and England, neceflarily dircftcd itfelf during the peace to whatever might tend to the general be- nefit of mankind. The fcienccs, by foftcning the * Every thing concurs here to make mc record a fail equally glorious to the French, and to hiui, who in the midll of a war politically necelTary, became the objeil of it. At the commencement of hoftilities againft England, in 1778, an order was given to all French Ihip^^ that might fall in with the Refolution and Difcovery, commanded Ij/ captain Cook, to let them pafs freely without cxiimining them; and, far from treating them as enemies, to furnifn them with all afliftance of which they might (land in need. It is thus that a great nation (hews a religious re^pe(^ fur the progrefs of the fcienccs, and of ufcful difcoveri.;i. (Fr. FJ.\ manner!? :iv 446 LA perouse's voyage manners of men, have, perhaps, contributed even more than good laws to the happinefs of fociety. The voyages of diilerent Englllli navigators, while extending human knowledge, del'crved the juft admiration of the whole world. All Europe accordingly fet the highed value upon captain Cook's talents, and upon the firm temper of his mind. But in fo vafi: a field there will be room to acquire frefii knowledge for centuries to come — coafLs to furvey ; plants, trees, fifli, and birds to defcribe ; minerals and volcanoes to ob- ferve ; nations to ftudy, and perhaps to render more happy, fince a farinaceous plant, or a new fpecies of fruit, muft be inefi:imable benefits to the inhabitants of the iilands in the South Sea*. Thefc ,14 V. '.. * Can the benefit derived from a new farinaceous plant, or a new fruit, or even the introdudlion of domeftic animals, be compared to the fum of evil which thofe people will find to refult from the adoption of European cultoms and manners ? After examining this problem in a philofophlcal, political, and even a religious point of view ; after enquiring what they pcffcfn, witli the conviftion we mufl: naturally feel that their defire of more can only be produced by knowledge they at prefcnt have not ; we fhall conclude, I think, by ardently wiOiing that they may long enjoy their happinefs, and that unalterable tranquillity which is founded upon content of mind, an imreilrained enjoyment of thefentiments of the heart, and the obfervance of laws derived from nature her ft] f. The HOUND TUt WORLD. 44 ^^ Tliefe different reflections iug^efted the project of a voyage round the world; and fcicntific men of all defcriptions were enrolled in the expedition. • I The following piflbges, extraftcd from Cook''s third -voyo^r, give powerful fupport to my opinion. '• When the Adventure arrived firll at Queen Charlotte's Sound, m 1773, Mr. Bayley fixed upon this place for niak-» ing his obfervation? ; and he and the people with him, at their leifure hours, planted fevcral fpots with Engliih garden feeds. Not the leaft vcftige of thcfe now remained. Thougli theNcvV Zealandersare fond of potatoes, it was evident that they had noftakcn the trouble to plant a fmgle one (much lefs any other of the articles which we had introduced) and if it were no: for the difnculty of clearing the ground where potatoes had been once planted, there would not have been any now remaining, fii-r I. /ii,-,t ,f. /V,it,i *St Si/>-i.rtix^->«^- t — . the ihinicn.< .2 ' r/«/;/« 5-./?,/ St lUirlhi'h'fiiiW .''--f- J a .M* \l,il,-liito , , h;rcoiii>ir.f St hiTTf %. i.i (o 2«t lU r I. »■ 'UA ^^ ■ had been made ufe of by the celebrated Vol. I ^>g captain I }-;: .1 t ///, M.ro/.m of (;nT,Mvi..|, ,.• ■,/,,„ ,,; „^^^ I.I It /u /,,■„..,, r ^ '"''"''''•,,. .,^ i^unT'' '"'■"'"■x^-^J f.-i/y . '■••1'!' ' ■ ,, ll.,l,h„ll'' \yb3^S'- /I.I .V /; FT '/I New "vl alfdinna l\U;iri -/v, f\ t n O L L A N JJ S lili\iirn.i '< P,'i'/r^(\-^''-'''"""'^'''''' "-WTv /T ■(; Ri: AT OCMA^ (ui S O I'T \i S F. A ('i>n/!>/'//ni/>h' f(>t/ii .V Mnint ol'llir Vo_vat!;r of l>i(<'<>v«iv /■'i-i /i<-/i /'rii/f/fis LA .lii'r.SSfM.KA- <: A.STU03.AJ5 1 V-ii I I I ■ i I 1 1 f I /[ n I • r ! Lj I I I'M M 1 141 .. I'l ! I 1 I'll in jiiLUJ-ii 1 P 1 i-i-p u.141 n Tin /.,>/i,/i/ut/f A'u.*/ •.'»'<' ^''■''''''' rariH, t«<> t'ril'i "^^"■•"''•:'Av/y.;.f/v>,.^.^,.;,j_..^ ,^., Ill i> J I 1 T-1 , . rt I . , . ■ t T-.-T- T (XI Unit y^»>i t!/- '^I'liiiO'i^ T A %. , .'/-./■,/.. -Li. (HI ■ •'"■liiiiiiilfMll.f I'' ll.ilihiil I' ■'•'"'"('iX^. \ 1,'lilHitt * () K T / L.llin.lDOHi 'llil.t llltMII a on I'l^ IH' '' ^J- 1 'III Miliiii f'.r/tllllillhf \ HWliltl I.IIX -^Wt^ Sor/ It \ ii-i} »/A.// /fc//// /'••itS'lniiii'i U, III. in 'OtiH r- - »/.ii,/,irt,i .\:>\.-i n» I (11 inr V. AT oc \\\y^ S (s i'T \i S 1-: A ('o/i/!>/;-//i//>/\ /('//(t 'llic N'ovaPT of Difi'ovirv oftlic /■'n/K'/i /'r/i/f //!.■>■ l-.S.S(>.I.K,1- (.' ASTUOJ-AISV, /'// f/ii Mi.'rs Hiiu j.i I I I II 1 I iinTT-'niMi .,rpT;!|.uiL| i , i i-.V-^ i.'m /.l>ttl/i/lll/<^ ///!'/ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I us ISA Ui ia|2. 2.0 140 1.8 L25 111114 mil 1.6 <^ /: ^ /^ /'^ y Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS 80 (716) 872-4503 >" \ ^ \\ ^ O' 27 45» 0. 2 37 3^ 0. 27 44, 2. 3 37 393 5- 27 45> 4- 4 37 5i» 5- 27 44, 0. 5 38 05, 0, 27 42, 0. 6 0 6, 27 42, I. 7 38 36* 7- 27 42, I. 8 38 49. 3- 0 0. 9 39 o3> O' 27 48, 8. 10 39 i3> 6, ^7 42, 5. II 39 27, 0, ftopped. J2 P P. 0 36, 6. 13 0 p. 0 36. 4- • All the time-keepers embarked on board the two fri- gates were invented and conftruded by Ferdinand Berthoud, wh9 diftjnguiflied them by numbers, (Fr, ^d.J The !■; >i ROUND THE WORLD. 455 The weftcrly winds kept us in the road till the ift of Auguft. The weather in the mean time be- ing foggy with Hiowers of rain, I was afraid that the humidity might affed the health of our crews. In the fpace of nineteen days however we only landed a fingle man with a fever ; hut we dif- covered that fix failors and a foldier, infcded with the venereal difeafc, had efcaped the examination of our furgeons. I failed from Breft Road on the ift of Auguft. Nothing interefting occurred during the run to Madeira, where we anchored on the 13th. The wind had been conftantly fair, a circumftance high- ly neceffary to (hips which, being too much by the head, fteered very ill. M. De Lamenon ob- ferved the luminous particles in the fta water, which, in my opinion, proceed from the diflblu- tion of marine bodies. If this light v. ere pro- duced by infefts, as many natural philofophers affirm, they would not be fpr^^ad with fuch pro- fufion from the pole to the -.^aator, but would affedl: particular climates*. Before * After the refult of the experiments prefented by Rl- gaud, in 1768, to the academy of fciences, it u inipi>lT.ble to doubt the exiflence of pohpi, or luminous animals iii the fea. I do not know upon what La Peroufe can ground an afTertion, combated by Godeheau, who obfervcd at the Mal- dives, and on the Coaft of Malabar, places wheie the I'ca is more luminous than in the latitudes of which our navi- G g ^ g.itof . 7 Ipl ' 11: 1/' I : ■ : t % i. (If I ft ml 45^ LA PEROrSE's VOYAGE Before wc were well at an anchor, Mr. Jolin- fton, an Krigli fn nicrcliant, fent a boat laden with fruit on board of my Ihip. Several letters of recoainienclation to that gentleman from London had preceded me, and furprized me much, as I was entirely unacquainted with the i)errons by whom they were written. The reception given us by Mr. Johndon was fo kind, that we could not have cxpcdled a better from our relations, or our bell friends. After having paid our refpefts to the governor, wc went to dine at his houfe. The next day we breakfafted at the charming country feat of Mr. Murray, the EngliQi conful, and returned to town to dine with M. Montero, Chai'gc dcs Affaires of the French coniiilate. During the whole of that day, wc enjoyed all gator is fpeaklng, that the water v/as covered with little living luminous animals, emitting a kind of eily liquor, which floated on the furtace, and ditFufed, when agitated, a phofphoric light. I believe then in the exillence of thefe animals, which is maintained by Nollot, Roy, Vianelli, Grifellini, Sec. I alfo think that the phofplioric oil of certain filhes, being carried to tlic furface of the vv^atcr, produces in part that light which is perceptible 'v.\ every fca. I can adduce in fuppcrt of my opinion the effect of the oil of the bonetta, which becomes luminous when fliaken. Former's obfervaiions on the phofpIioric light of fea water, at the cad of Cor'X'j fccond 'voyagt , and thofe of Lalande, in the Jouinal des Sauans, ^"JJJ, may alfo be confulttd. (Fr, Ed), the 11 ROUND THE WORLD. 4177 the plcafnrc that the men: fclcd company, and the kindcd attentions can afibrJ, and were at the fame time liighly delighted vvitli the fitu- ation of Mr. Murray's villa. Our eyes could only be drawn off the beauties of the i)rofj)C(^ by the conful's three ])rctty nieces, who came to prove to us that nothing was wanting in that enchanting abode. But for the imperious cir- cumftances in wjiich we were placed, nothing would have been more agreeable to us than to pafs a few days at Madeira, where we uerc wel- comed in fo obliging a manner ; but the object of our putting in there could not be attained. The Englifli having raifed the price of wine to an cxceflive height, we (hould not have been able to procure any for Icfs than thirteen or fourteen hundred livres per cafk, containing four barrels ; the fame quantity at Teneriffe, cofting only fix- hundred livres. I therefore ordered every thing to be prepared for failing on the following day, namely, the i6th of Auguft. The fea breeze did not give over blowing till fix o'clock in the evening, and immediately after we got under way. I had received another prefent from Mr. Johnfton confiding of rum, preferved citron, a hundred bottles of Malmfey Madeira, a barrel of dry wine, and a prodigious quantity of fruit. From my arrival at Madeira, every moment of my Iff 'I' '^WKil •«$■' i. ■n t :\. v,l] ^! rM 4j;8 la PEROITSF.'S VOYACE my Aay was marked b) tlic mod polite attentions ou his })art. Our run to TcncriHc took unly ilucc days. We anchored tlierc on the 1910, at tlvvc o'clock in the afternoon. On the iSlIi, in the moinin^, I got fight of Salvage Ifland, antl ran down the cart fide of it, at the diilance of about half a league. The coail is fafc j luid alihoue?,h 1 haj no opportunity of founding, 1 am convinced that there is a hundred fatiioms water, at a cable's length from the land. This ifland, on vviiich there is not a fingle tree, is entirely parched up. It appears formed of different flrata of lava, and other volcanic matter. We took fcveral bearingrs of it, in order to determine its polition. The different obfcrvations of McfHeurs De Fleurieu, Verdun, and Borda, are perfectly fatis- fa<^ory as to the iflands of Madeira, the Salvages, and Tencriffe. Ours had confcquently no other objedl than that of afcertaining the truth of our inftruments, and the rate of going of our time- keepers, which had been determined at Breft by M. Dagelet, fuiikiently well for us to depend upon the icnL;,tfude they might give for feveral days together. Our making the ifland of Ma- deira, afforded us an excellent opportunity of judging of the degree of prcjificn \vc had a right to expedl from them. The iongicude t'.iat we obfervcd HOUND THE WORLP. 4^9 obfcrvcd within fight of land, reduced to tliat of Fiinclial Bay, only diflered three minutes of a degree irom that which had been determined by M. Borda. The Ihort flay we made at that ifland did not permit us to fet up an ohfervatory. Mcllicurs Dagclet, D'Efcures, and Boutin, took only a few bearings from our anchorage, of which I had no plan laid down, becaufe it is to be found in a va- riety of printed voyages. On the iSth of Au- guft we employed ourfelves in taking bearings of the Salvages, of which I think I may venture to fix th€ well longitude at i8° 13', and the north latitude at 30° 8' 15". As foon as I arrived at Tcncriffe, I employed myfelf in the ereftion of an obfcrvatory on (liore. Our inftruments were placed in it on the 2 2d of Auguft, and we determined the rate of going of our aftronomical clocks, by correfponding alti- tudes of the fun and (tars, in order to alcertain as fpeedily as poffiblc the movement of the time- keepers on board the two Ihips. All thefe details will be found at the end of the work. The re- fult of our obfcrvations (hewed that the error of No. 19, was only a lofs of i8''fmce July 13, the laft day of our obfcrvations at Breft ; and that our fmaller time-keepers. No. 29, and No. 25, had alio lofl time, the firft 1' o", 7, and the fecond only 28''. Thus, in the fpace of forty-three days, the 1, ' W 460 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE the greateft error was only a quarter of a degree in longitude. After feveral days of obfervation and regular comparifons, we fettled the new daily rate of the above time-keepers. M. Dagelet found that No. 19, gained 2", c^^, in twenty- four hours, and that Nos. 29, and 25, gained re- fpeclively 3'', 6, and o", 8, in the fanic fpacc of time. It was from thefe elci ents that he drew up the table of their apparent movements, regard being had to the corre(5lions which are required by the variations refulting from the effect of the temperature of the air, acceding to the different degrees of the thermometer, and of the arcs of the balance wheel. M. Dagelet had fome doubts concerning the manner of conftrudling the table of variation for No. 9, upon the few data fur- nifhed by the expei nents made at Paris. He confequently j urged lat it would be highly ad- vantageous to thofe w 0 ufe time-keepers at fea, if a greater number tf experiments were made, and if fewer terms w re left to be calculated in the interpolations he was obliged to make, in or- der to obtain thofe data, efpecially if the arcs of the balance wheel enter into this kind of correc- tion. In that cafe a table with a double entry would be required, and doubts would remain con- cerning the manner in which the ordinates of the curve ought to vary. He made experirxients with the fimple pendulum on the 27th, aSih, and 29th ROUND THE WORLD. - 461 29th of Auguft, and obferved the number of ofcillations in a given time, in order to deter- mine the force of the gravitation of bodies in dif- ferent latitudes. Several obfervations were made relative to the latitude and longitude at Santa Cruz in Teneriffe, the pofition of which we think may be fixed at 18" 36' 30" wefl longitude, and 28° 27' 30'' north latitude. At length we termi- nated our labours by experiments on the dipping compafs. We foun<] llLtle agreement in the re- fults, and we only iniert them to prove how far this kind of inftrumcnt is flili from the point of perfeiflion neccflary to procure it the conf.dencc of obfervers. Wc prcfumc, however, that the quantity of iron Vv-ith which all the foil of the Illand of Teneriffe is impregnated, contributed not a little to the enormous differences we re- marked. Thefe various refults will be found, as I have already faid, at the end of tlie work. On the morning of the 30th of Augufl, I failed with a frelh. breeze from tlie north-nortli-eaft. We had taken lixty pipes of wine on board of each (hip, which obliged us to unPiow half our hold in order to come at the empty cafks which were deflined to contain it. This bufmefs oc- cupied us ten days. It is true that the principal delay was occafioned by the tardinefs of the mer- chants who furnilhed the wine, which came from Oratuva, ',m^' III kx u ( ; 46a tA perouse's voyage Oratuva, a fmall town fituated on the other fide of the ifland. I have already given an account of the manner in which our aflronomers had employed their time. Our naturalifts widiing alfo to avail themfelve^ of our flay in the road of Santa Cruz, fet off for the peak, accompanied by feveral officers of the two fliips. M. De La Martiniere botanized on the way, and found feveral curious plants. M. De I.a Martiniere meafured the height of the peak with his barometer which fell upon the fummit of the mountain to iS inches, four lines, and-'^. By an obfervation made at the fame inftant at Santa Cruz, it was at 28 inches three hnes. The ther- mometer which indicated 24°! at Santa Cruz, was conftantly at cf on the top of the peak. I leave every one to calculate the height for himfelf This manner being fo little fatisfadlory, that I pre- fer the data to the refults*. M. de Monneron, captain in the corps of Engineers, alfo made a journey to the peak with the intention of taking levels down to the fea fhore. It was the only manner of mealuring this mountain that had never been attempted. Local difficulties, unlefs entirely infurmountable, would not have flopped him, * Thofe who wifli to make the calculation will find the Jata that are wanting here, in all the works of natural phi- lofophy ; but if they wifli to operate with any accuracy ac- cording 'rf : »': ROr-ND THE WORLD. 46;^ liim, becaufe he was very much accuftomed to operations of the kind. When upon the fpot he found the obftacles much fmallcr than he had imagined, for in one day he had got through all that was difficult. He was come to a kind of plain, ftill indeed at a great elevation, but of eafy accefs, and was congratulating himfelf upon the profpedt of foon arriving at the end of his tafk, when dif- ficulties were ftarted by his. guides, which he found it impoffible to overcome. Their mules had not drunk for fixty-eight hours, and neither prayers nor money could prevail upon the mule- teers to make a longer flay. M. De Monneron was therefore under the necefTity of leaving a work incomplete, which he had confidered as finiflied, and which had cofl him incredible pains, and ra- ther a confiderable fum of money; for he had been obliged to hire feven mules, and eight men to carry his baggage, and affid him in his operations. In order that he might not entirely lofe the fruits of his labour, he determined the principal points; cording to this manner of meafuring heights, they muft not forget to make the neceliury correftions relative to the tem- perature of the air. The difterence of the logarithms cf the heights of the barometer in lines, gives the hciglit in toifes at 16'^ |: of the mercury thermometer which indicates 80° for the heat of boiling water: ^-j-j muft be dedut^ted for each degree of cold. Deluc, Rechenbes/ur Us nudifiatiom tie Patmu/j>hire.—-Fr. Ea. and •! •(.'»', sit:'' ■'?•!* 'If ^ ■ If i|: iiSf ■ ' '■ t ii ^1^ 1 ! .M ,11: 111'*' '4- ' ''%-^'^'r'.' ^!l.. ■''i I !. 'f:M% i.ni i-iiiii:''>i:irt 4^4 LA perouse's voyage and a day would nowfuffice to complete the levels, whicl\ would afford a more fatisfadlory refult than any which travellers * as yet have given. * The refuit of Dc Monneron's labours, mentioned here, never reached Europe. There is reafon to believe that he tad marked the cud of his operations in fuch a way as to enable any other traveller to continue tliem. I fliould ima- gine that he made \:{c of a water level, notwithOan.Hng the inconveniences attending fuch an inllrument in rr.pid de- fcents. If he had finifhed Iiis talk, he v/ould have decided among all thofe who, having mcafured the peak, cuch i.i his cwn way, have afTigncd lo i: very diirerent degrees of ele- vation. However dcfedlivc, long, and difficult this mode of mea- furing heights may be, its inconveniences di.uppcar when it is employed by a man well verfed in the art. It is certain that an operation like the one in qufilion, would not require more than a thonfand ftations. Now fuppofing an error of three lines to take place at each Nation, which is almoft im- poifible; and fuppofing that thefe three lines of error fhould rot mutually correft one another, but fhould always be on one fide, which is ftill lefs pofiiblc, the whole diiierence at the end of the operation would be only three thoufand lines, or three tolfes two feet ten inches. And, after all, this diffe- rence, which is grounded upon fuch an improbable fuppo- fition, is nothing in comparifon of that which different tra- vellers have found, fince Keberden makes the height of the peak - . _ _ 2,409 toifes. Feuillee {MetHoires de V academic des J'ciences, 1 annee 1 746, page 1 40) - - 3 ' Bouguer - _ . . 2,100 And Verdun, Borde and Pingrc - 1,904 {Fr, Ed.) The ROUNP THE WORLD. 465 The Marquis De Branciforte, major-general, and governor-general of all the Canary Iflands* paid us the greateft attentions during the whole of our ftay in the road of Santa Cruz. We could not get under way till three o'clock in the afternoon of Auguft 30. Our decks were ftill more lumbered with ftores than at*our depar- ture from Breft, but every day would diminifh them ; and we had nothing but wood and water to look for till our arrival at the iflands of the South Sea. I pre fumed that I fhould be able to procure both thofe articles at Trinidada, for I was deter- mined not to touch at the Cape de Verd Iflands, which at this feafon of the year are very unwhole- fome ; and the health of our crews was naturally my firft confideration. It was to preferve it, that I ordered the between-decks to be fumigated, and the hammocks to be taken down every day from eight o'clock in the morning till fun-fet. But in order that every one might have fulficient time to deep, the crew was put at three watches* fo that eight hours of reft followed four of duty; As I had no more men on board than were abfolutelv neceflary, this regulation could only hold good in calm feas; and I was compelled to return to the old cuftom in ftormy latitudes. Our run, as far as the line, was attended by no remarkable cir- cumftance ; the trade wind deferted us in 140 of north latitude, and blew conflantly from Vol. I. Hk th? 1 'l^--' ; ,;:!'!»' ' ',';*'■ , . ■ li'lpiiv ■ li'i^'ii'i;'' 1, Hi '1'. " ■ ;,,iu-f ' .,. '■•■.:• Vi''''4\ ',?■ ^ ■ 15', ..1, .. W ' '%A^ . : S''' "'1 !), ■■ ' t , t !•;; i;"iii \r}. :l: \H 466 LA PEROTSE's voyage the weft-fouth-weft till we rieached the line. It forced me to follow the coaft of Africa, which I ran down at the diftance of about fixty leagues. We crofied the equator on the 29th of Sep- tember in the 1 8th degree of weft longitude. I could have wifhcd, in compliance with my in- flrudions, to have been able to pafs it much more to the weftward ; but fortunately the wind drove us conftantly to the eaftward. But for this cir- CLimftance, I (liould have found it impoflible to make Trlnidada; for at the line we met with a fouth-eaft wind, which purfued me as far as 20° 25' fouth latitude, fo that I conftantly fteered clofe to the wind, and was not able to fetch the latitude of Trinidada till I was only about twenty- five leagues to the eaftward of it. If I had made Pennedo de San Pedro*, I fliould have been hard put to it to weather the eaft point of the Brafils. I pafled, according to my reckomng, over the fhoal on which the Prince was fuppofed to have touched in 1747* We faw no figns of land except fome of the birds called man-of-war birds> which followed us in conliderable numbers from t" north latitude, till we were three degrees to * The making of this ifland was not enjoined by my in- ilrudlions, but merely indicated, in cafe itJhouldcLUgemeiO' jiid/i liitk 9r nothing out of my •way* the ine. It which I lagues. of Sep- :ude. I . my in- :ch more id drove this cir- oflible to net with as far as ly fleered fetch the t twenty- lad made lave been It of the mg, over ppofed to IS of land war birds, bers from agrees to |d by my in- ' cl)lige me t» the If- ROUND THE WORLD. 467 the fouthward of the line. Our fliips were at the fame time furrounded with tunny fifli 5 but we caught very few, becaufe they were fo large that they broke all our lines. Every one of thofe we got on board weighed at lead fixty pounds. Thofe Teamen who are afraid of meeting with calms at this feafon under the line, are greatly miftaken. We had not a fingle day without wind, nor had we rain more than once ; it was then, indeed, fulliciently abundant to enable us to catch twenty-five barrels full. The fear of being: carried too far eaft into the gulf of Guinea, is alfo chimerical. The fouth- eafl winds begin to blow at a very early period, and carry you but too rapidly to the weilward. Had I been better acquainted with this naviga- tion, I (h'^uld have Hood more away with the fouth-weft winds that conflantly prevailed to the north of the line, which I might have crofled in longitude 10°. I might then have run down the parallel of Trinidada with the wind large. A few days after our departure from Teneriffe, we loll that clear fky which is only to be found in the temperate zone. A dull whitenefs, a medium between clouds and fog, continually obfcured the atmofphere, fo that the horizon feldom extended three leagues ; but after fun-fet, this vapour dif- appeared, and the night never failed to be fine. H h 2 On ii I '■If % ■^ it! .^i. '>>'.{i' ".it ■ •*' 'l. Mil if', 1' '■■',. ( ■^: ■ . (■ ■ Irl. 1 ; 1 468 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE On the nth of O6lobcr we made a great number of obfcrvations of the diflance from the fun to the moon, in order to determine the longi- tude, and to afcertain the rate of going of our time-keepers. By a mean term between ten lunar obfervations taken with circles and fextants, we found our weft longitude ta be 25° 1 5'. At three o'clock in the afternoon, that given by the time- keeper, No. 19, was 25° 47'. We made obfer- vations of this kind repeatedly. The 12th, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the mean refult gave 26° 21' for the longitude of the (hip; and the time-keeper. No. 19, at the fame inftant, 26° 33'. By comparing thefe two refults together, it appears that the longitude given by No. 1 9 was 1 2' farther weft than that obtained by lunar obfervations. It was by means of thefc operations that we determined the pofition of the iftands c^ Martin Vas, and of the ifland of Trini- dada. We have alfo determined the latitudes very accurately, not only by diligently obferving the meridian altitude of the fun, but by taking a great number of altitudes near the meridian, and redticing them to the true time of noon found y correfponding altitudes. The greateft errors we can have committed, by eperating in this way, does not exceed 20"". The 1 6th of Oftober, at ten o'clock in the morning, we got fight of the illands of Martin Vas, ROUND THE WORLD. 469 \sLSf bearing north-weft, five leagues diftant. According to our reckoning, they ftiould have bore weft, but the currents had drifted us 1 3' to the louthward during the night. Unfortunately the wind, which till then had been conftantly at fouth-eaft, forced me to make fcvcral boards to approach thofc illands, which I ])afled within the dlftance of a league and a half. After having well determined their pofition, and taken bearings, in order to be able to lay down upon the plan their pofitions refpeftively to each other, I ftood clofe to the wind, upon the ftarboard tack, towards the iiland of Trinidada, which lies nine leagues from Martin Vas, in the direftion of weft-by-fouth. Thefe iflands of Martin Vas are, properly fpeak- ing, nothing but rocks. The largeft may be about a quarter of a league in circumference. There arc in all three illots, feparated from one another by very fmall intervals, and appearing, when iQQn from fome diftance, like five heads of land. At fun-fet, I got fight of the inland of Trini- dada, which bore weft 8° north. The wind be- ing ftill at north-north-weft, I pafted the night in making fliort boards, keeping on the eaft-fouth- eaftfideofthe ifland. When day-lisiht came, I continued my tack towards the fliore, in hopes of finding fmoother water under ftielter of the land. At ten in the morning, when I was only two leagues diftant from the fouth-eaft point which bort north- H h 2 nc;th- ilii .' i\, . '^' I, 1 1 1 ^ 'i 1' 1 1 1!'' _ |1 ■ ■ ' !■ ■' ' /t -1' 47© tA perouse's VaVAOE ' north-weft, I perceived at the bottom of an inlet formed by that point, the Portugueze flag flying in the midil of a fmall fort, round which were five or fix wooden houfcs. The fight of this flag excited my curiofity, and I refolved to fend a boat afliore to learn the particulars of its evacuation, or cefiion, by the Englifli j for I began already to fee that Trinidada would neither afford me the wood nor water of which I ftood in viQQi\, All the trees we could perceive were a few fcattered over the tops of the mountains. The fea broke with lb much fury, that we could not fuppoie it pofiTibie for our long-boats to land with any degree of facility. I therefore determined to make boards during the whole of the day, that I might find myfelf the next morning fufficiently to windward, to fetch the anchorage, or at leatl to fend a boat on fliore. I hailed tlic Aftrolabe, mentioned what I purpofed doing, and added, that there was no oc- cafion for our obferving any order in tacking, as we could make the creek of the Portuguefc eilabliih- ment our place of rendezvous at fun-rife. 1 told AI. Dc Langle that it would then be proper for the fhip the neareii the fliorc to fend a boat to enquire what fupplics the ifland could afford us. In the morning of the iSthof Odober, the Aflro- labe being only half a league from the land, M. De Langle dii])atchcd the pinnace, commanded by lieutenant De Vaujuas. M. Dc LaMartinitre and an inlet ag Hying ucli were ■ this flag id a boat :^cuation, .Ircaily to . me the ed. All (cat te red fea broke jppolc it ly degree ke boards ght find indvvard, d a boat ned what as no oc- ng, as we iflablilh- . I told roper for I boat to ifford us. ic Aflro- ic land, amanded [artlnicre and a', / ROUND THE WORLD. 471 and Father Rcceveur, an indefatigable naturalilt, accompanied that olficer. They landed at the head of the creek, between two rocks ; but the furf was {b high, that the boat and its crew would have perilhed inevitably but for the i'pccdy afhit- ance given them by the Portuguefe. They landed the boat upon the beach, and favcd every thing belonging to it except the grapnel. M. Dc Vaujuas counted about two hundred men at this poft, of whom not more than fifteen were in uni- form, the reft being in their fliirts. The com- mandant of this eftablifliment, which it would be improper to call a colony, fince there is no fuch thing as cultivation, told him that the governor of Rio Janeiro had ordered pofTeHlon to be taken of the in and of Trinidada about a year before. He either did not know, or affedted not to know, that it had been previoufly occupied by the Englifh. But no kind of dcpendance can be placed upon any thing that was faid to M. Dc Vaujuas in the courle of this converfation, the commandant thinking himfelf under the lamentable necefTity of difguifing the truth in every particular. He pre- tended tliat his garrifon confifted of four hundred men, and that his fort was defended by twenty guns ; whereas we are certain that there was not a fingle one mounted in the neighbourhood of the eftablilliment. This officer was fo much afraid ofexpofing the mifcrable flate of his fettlement, H h 4 that i 'I , 1 > ■ * •A j|L; • 1 fi <» 47 2 LA PKROUSp/s VOYAGE tluit be would never permit M. De La Martiniertf, or Father Recevcur, to leave the beach in fcarch of plants. After Ihcwing M. De Vaujiias all the outward marks of kindnel's and civility, he advifcd liim to return on board, telling him that tiie iHand could furnilh us with nothing ; that provillons were lent every fix months from Rio Janeimj that th re were hardly wood and water enough for hisgarrilbn; and that it was necellary befitlcs to fetch both thofe articles from a great diflance among the mountains. Hlb detachment aiTiflcd in putting oft' the pinnace. At day-break I alio difpatched a boat, com- manded by lieutenant Boutin, who was accompa- nied by Meflleurs De Lamanon and De Monnc- ron ; but I cxprefsiy forbade the former to land, if the Aftrolabe's boat iliould reach the fliore be- fore him : in that cafe, he was to found the road, and take the befl plan he could in fo Ihort a f])acc of time. M. Boutin, in confequence, only ap- proached within a mufquet-thot of the beach, the lead conftantly indicating a rocky bottom, mixed with a little land. In the mean time, M. De Monneron made a drawing of the fort as well as if he had been on fliore ; and M. De Lamanon had aji opportunity of obferving that the rocks were compofed of nothing but bafaltes*, and * Bafaltes is a ftone of a clofe grain, fhining when broken, Ariking fire with fteel, and proper for the purpofe of atoiicn- ^vnt, (Fr. Eii.) melted ti'. ■ , ' R0UNT5 THE WonLD. 47J Incited fubftanccs, the remains, vvitliout doubt, of Ibme extin^uifhcd volcano. This opinion was confirmed u/ Father Keccvcur, who brou«^ht on l^oard u yreat number of floncs, all of them vol- canic, as wcil as the land, uhich was only mixed with fragments of ihclls and coial. According to the report of Meflicurs De Vaujuas and Bojtin, it was evident that the Ifland of Trinidada could not furnifli us with the wood and water of which we VvTcre in want. 1 therefore dcurmined to fleer immediately for the Ifland of St. Catherine, upon the coaft of Brazil, the ancient refrefliing })lace of French fliips in their voyages to the South Sea. Frezier and Admiral Anion had there found ample means of fui>j)lying all their wants. It was in order that I might not lofe a fingle day, that I gave the Ifland of St. Catherine a preference over Rio Janeiro, where different forms would have confumed more time than was ret]uircd for the completion of our wood and ivo^ter. But in Ibaping my courfe for Saint Catherine's, I vvilbcd to afcer- tain the exiftence of the Ifland of Atcencjaon* which jM. Dapres lays down a hundred leagues well of Trinidada, and only 13' farther fouth. According to the journal of M. Ponccl De La Haye, who commanded the Renommee frigate, I was convinced that feveral navigators, among others tlie enlightened Frezier, thought they had janded at Afcent^aon, when in reality they had only 1,; 1 , f: 1^' \ ] V til? m '8 m PI fell 1^ 474 LA PEROUSE S VOYAGE only been at Trinidada. Notwithftanding the authority of M. Poncel De La Haye, I thought that this point of geography wanted a new hght to be thrown upon it. The two days that we paffed off the fouth fide of Trinidada, enabled us to take bearings, from which M. Bernizet con- flrudled a plan of that part of the ifland. It dif- fers very little from that of Dodor Halley, which had been given to me by M. De Fleurieu. The view painted by M. Duche De V^ancy is fo true a reprefentation, that it will alone fuffice to prevent the poffibility of any navigator, who may make the fouthern part of Trinidada, from being mif- taken. This illand prefents nothing to the eye . but a rock, almoft entirely flerile. A little ver- dure, and a few ilirubs, are alone to be feen in the narrow palfes between the mountains. It is in one of thefe vallies, fituated in the fouth-eaft Cjuarter of the ifland, and about three hundred toifes wide, that thte-Fortuguefe have formed their eftabliibment. Nature certainly did not intend this rock to be inhabited, neither men nor animals being able to find a fubliftence upon it ; but the Portuguefe were afraid left fome European nation fhould avail themfelves of tiie vicinage, and carry on a contra- band trade with the Brallls. It is doubtlefs to this motive that we ought to attribute their eagernefs to it ! ROUND THE WORLD. 475 tovoccupy an illand, which is a burthen to them in every other rei'ped. The fouth latitude of the large iflot of Martin Vas is 20° 30' 35'. The well longitude, by lunar obicrvations. 30° 30'- The fouth Jatitudc of tlic fouth-eafi:. point of the Illand of Trimdada, 20° 31'. The well longitude, by lunar obfervationr., 30° SI'- The 1 8th of Ovflober, at noon, I fleered a well courfe for Afcen^aon till the 24th, in t^^.e evening, when I determined to abandon my fearch after it. I had then run about a hundred and fifteen leagues to the weflward, and the weatiier was clear enough to fee ten leagues a-head. 1 can therefore affirm, that having run down the parallel of 20° 32', with a view of at lead 20' north and fouth, and having brought to ever}'- night after the iirft fixty leagues, as foon as I had palled through tb.e fpace ;er-' ceived at fun-fet, I can affirm, I fay, that the Ifland of Afcencaon does not exifl as far as about V"" of welt longitude iVom the meridian of Trini- dada, between the fouth latitudes of 20° 10' and 20" 50', our view having extended over all that fpace*. On * La Peroufe may be in the rlglit in aflerting th;^t naviga- tors li^ve fancied tnemielves at Afcencaon, vhen in tact they have r. 1' ■ .n liiiili W ' :!; •;( mm- f ,.J :, .till r It'"' '^"'iii ''11 .'■,*:■■? '%' ' ' 11 "!' 'ili. 476 LA PEROrSE*S VOYAGE On the 25th of October we were overtaken i)y a^ moft violent florm. At eight o'clock in the even- ing have only touched at Trinidada. V/hhoot paying any regard to the refemblance between the defcriptions they have given of thefe two iflands, a proof cxirts in the falfe pofuions aflisrned to them in the Fi'^'ich charts, which might eafily induce an indifcrimTnate belief of being on one or the Gthev of them, their latitude being; nearly the fame, ard the determination of their longitudes being then very de- feAlve ; but thefe proofs do not fuffipe for tjie enlightened geographer, when the authentic teilimony adduced by Da- fvks in his Difcourje du Neptune Oriental, page 10, and the particular and very different plans of thefe two ifiands, and of their afpeft given by Dalrymple, evidently prove that there is no identity between them. If La Peroufe had placed more confidence in the notes which were delivered to him, and which may be feen in this volume (No. 10 and 12) he might have made a very fimple calculation. • The weft longitude of the Ifle of Trinidada on the nordi- fide is there determined at 30"^ 15'. lie found by his own obfervations that the fouth-eaft point was only in 30^"' 57'. The coaft of America, in the t-.irullel in quelHon, may, according to the longitude of Rio Janeiro, w'hich is deter- ijiined at 45° 5', be taken at 43° 30'. Dapres fixes the longi- tude of the Ifland of Afcen9aon at 38'^, as may be fecn jn the 1 2th note already quoted, becaufe he thinks is is about 120 leagues from the coaft. I have reafon to believe that it is nearer, Hcn'-e it is evident that La Feroufe did not carry his fcarch f;r enough, and that, hav- ing run down ahont J'cvcn degrees of lutltude offer taking his departure ROUND THE WORLD. 477 mz we were in the centre of a circle of fire. The lightening flafhed from every point of the hori- zon ; and tiie fire called corpofunto, or jack with a lantern, fettled upon the point of the conduflor. The Aftrolabe, which had no condudor, had alfo ^'corpo/anto a.t her mad-head*. From that day iieparture ffom Tnnldada^ he gave it up when on the point of attaining his objeft. In addition to the tellimony of the two authors, whom I Itave jurt: quoted, and whofe accuracy entitles them to credit, I have to fay that, fmce this note was written, chance has thrown a navigator *= in my way, who has touched at both thefe iflands, and who, being in want of inftruments to determine their refpedive longitude with prcciiion, only obferved their latitudes as follow : That of Trinidada - - - zoP zt! That of Afcen^aon - - - 20^38' (Fr, Ed.) ■ I am not aflonifhed that the fire called corpofanto fhould al^o feat itfelf upon the maft-head of the Aflrolabe, knowing as I do, by La Peroufe's accoimt, that that fliip was never out of hail of his. A corpofanto is nothing but the eleflric fire, or matter of thunder. Every body knows that when the eleftric fluid enters by a point, it fhews itfelf in the fliape of a fmall luminous fpot ; and that, on the contrary, when it comes our, it has the appearance of a jiery cone. The earth is the great rcfcrvoir of the cleflric fire, and water is one of its beil conduftors. I am of opinion then, that when a low cloul negatively ekScrified padcs over a Ihip, the malls and yards mult. * Lcpine, E,iJeigneJe yatJ}itH> I y #.^'-"'i'^i' ■■% 'iM? '"'"i'lji"''' ■' 47^ LA plrouse's voyage day the weather was conftantly bad till our arrival at the ifland of St. Catherine ; a thicker fog en- veloping mull fcrve as coadu£tors, and that cones of fire in the di- vcftion of the cloud mufl be feen at all their extremities. It is evident that a fhip having a metallic conduftor, that communicates immediately with the fea, muft have a tincr llream of light at it's mail-head than another, which can only convey the elcdric fluid through wood paid with tar, wliich is a very had condui^or. For the fame reafon a corpofanto may fometimcs be feen upon the furface of the fea. Any one who wifhes to be con- vinced of it, has only to make the following experiments, for the refult of which I can vouch, having repeated them many and many a time in my ftudy. Elcftrify a quantity of water contained in a vefTel of glafs, or of metal if you like it better, but in the latter cafe it muft be infulated; then approach your finger near enough to the furfaccof the water not to draw fparks, but fo that the water may rife ; and if you are in the dark, you will fee a luminous cone come out of it, and diredl itfelf towards your finger. In this experiment the finger produces the cfFe£l of a cloud. But it may be faid, perhaps, that the fea does not contain, like the water, a fuperabundance of ele vaga- •fc' If ROUND THE WORLD. 481 bonds, who made their efcape from different parts of the Brazils ; who were only nominal fubjedls of Portugal, and who acknowledged no authority whatever. The country is fo fertile that they were able to fubfift without any fuccour from the neighbouring colonics : and they were fo defti- tude of money, that they could neither tempt the cupidity of the governor-general of the Brazils, nor infpire him with any dePre of fub- duing them. The fliips that touched at the ifland gave them in exchange for their provifions nothing but clothes and fhirts, of which they were in the utmoft want. It was not till about 1 740, that the Court of Lifbon eftabliflied a reg^ular government in the ifland of St. Catherine, and the parts of the continent adjacent. This govern- ment extends fixty leagues north and fouth from the river San Francifco to Rio Grande ; its popu- lation being about twenty thoufand fouls j but I faw fo great a number of children in the different flimilies that I think it will foon be much more confiderable. The foil is exceedingly fertile, and produces all forts of fruit, vegetables, and corn, almoft fpontaneoufly. It is covered with trees of everlafling green, but they are lb interwoven with briars and creeping plants, that it is impoflible to get through the foreRs otherwife than by opening a path with a hatchet. Danger is befides to be ap- prehended from fnakes whofe bite is mortal. The Vol. I. 1 i habitations, > k:i!?i" 'W''v I m II ' ;<; < t.i i y] '■i,:"i I ' 482 LA perouse's voyage habitations, both on the ifland and continent, are all clofe to the fca-fidc. The woods that furround tlicm are delightfully fragrant, owing to the great luimber of orange trees, and other odoriferous trees and fliriibs that they contain. But, not- v/lthRaiiding all thefe advantages, the country is very poor, and totally deflitute of manufadured commodities, (o that the peafants are almoft naked, or clfc covered with rags. Their foil, which is very fit for the cultivation of fugar, remains unproduflive for the want of flaves, v.liom they are not rich enough to purchafe. The whale fillicry is very fuccefsful ; but it is the pro- perty of the crown, and is farmed by a company at Lifi:)un, which has three confiderable eflablifli- ments upon the coafl. Every year they kill about four hundred whales, the produce of which, as well oil as fpermaceti, is fent to Lifbon by the way of Rio- Janeiro. The inhabitants are idle fpeftators of this fifliery, from which they derive not the fmalleft advantage. If the government does not come forward to their affiilance, and grant them fuch franchifes and immunities as may invite commerce to their fliores, one of the finefl: countries in the univerfe will remain everlaftingly miferable, and will be utterly ufelefs to the mother country. * It is very eafy to make St. Catherines. A muddy bottom is found in feventy fathoms water :^ at ROUND IHi WORLD.* 483 Sit eighteen leagues diftance in the offing, the water gradually flioaling till within four cables length of the land, where there is flill four fa- thoms. The ufual pafTage is between the Illand of Al- varedo and the north point of St. Catherine's Illartd. There is alfo a paliage between the Iflc of Gal, and the Illand of Alvaredo ; but with this it is neceflary to be well acquainted : Our boats were to occupied during our Hay that I had no oppor- tunity of founding it. The befl anchorage is at half a league from Fort Illand (Lijle dc la For- iereje) in fix fathoms, muddy bottom, the citadel bearing fouth 3° well, and the fort, on the great point, fouth 60'' eaft. A fliip lies here in the midft of feveral watering places, both on the ifland and continent, and may 'l.ufe the creek whichi according to the wind, is mofl eafy of accefs. This eonlideration is of great importance i for the navigation of long boats is very dilHcult in the channel, which is two leagues wide as far as the narrow paflage abreaft of the city. The lea is very heavy and always breaks on the lee-lhore. The tides are very irregulars the flood coming in by the two channels, north and fouth, as far as the narrow pafTage jufl mentioned. It only lifes three feet. It appeared to me that our arrival fpread great terror through the country. The different forts I i z fired li ^*my m \-r':\. ill; ' !*)ii ( I i^i 484 LA PEROUSF/s voyage lired fcvcral alarm guns, v/hicli induced mctoan" chor earlier than I fhould otherwifc have done, and to fend a boat on fhore with an officer, to nvikc known our pacific intentions, and our want of wood, water, and frelh provifions. M. Do Pierrevert, whom I charged with this negociation, found the little garrifon of the citadel all under arms. It confided of forty men, commanded by a captain, who immediately fent off an exprefs to the city, where the governor Don Francifco Di Baros, brigadier of infantry, rcfided. He had been informed of our expedition by means of the Lifbou Gazette ; and a bronze medal I fent him. left him no doubt concerning the objedl of our vifit. The mod fpeedy and pofitive orders were given to fell us whatever we flood in need of, at the loweft piice ; aa officer was appointed to at- tend on each frigate ; he was entirely at our com- mand ; and we fent him with the purfer*s fteward to buy provifions of the inhabitants. On the 9tli of November T hauled in towards the fortrefs, from which I was lying at fome diftance; and on the fame day I went alliore with M. De Langle, and feveral officers, to pay my refpefts to the commandant of that pod, who fliluted hic with fifteen guns. An equal number was returned from my fhip. The next day I lent my boat, commanded by lieute- nant Boutin, to the town of Nodra-Senora dd Dedero, to return my thanks to the governor for I the \i ■II [, ROUND THE WORLD. 485 the great abundance which, owing to hlf> cares, we enjoyed. Meflieurs Dc Monncron, Dc Lama- non, and the abbe Monges accompanied that officer, as well as M. De La Bordc Marchainville and Father Reccveur, ient for the lame purpofc by M. Dc Langle. They were all received in the mod polite and cordial manner. Don Francifco De Baros, governor of the diftridl, fpoke French perfedly well, and his extenfive information in- fplred the greatcfl: confidence. He invited all the French to dinner, during which he told them that the ifland of Afcen<;aon did not exiil; that how- ever, upon the credit of M. Dapres, the governor- general of the Rrafils had the year before difpatched a vcflel to examine all the pofitions formerly af" figned to that ifland ; and that the captain having feen no land, it had been expunged from the charts, in order that an ancient error might not be perpetuated *. He added, that the Ifland of Trinidada * It would be dangerous to the progrefs of navigation, and fatal to navigators, to adopt the method oFexpuiging iflands formerly diCcovered from the charts, under the pretence of their having been fou and thcit thofe who Ihould expunge I i 3 an l*.,:.l ■'■'\ If; mm ^' ■•; M '-•1,1 ■III ;,! .'> ilii mi mm liiiK' ^ ii W'' I H'^iS LA PEROTTSE*S VOYAGE Trinidadii had always made part of the Portugucff pofleflions ; and that tlic EngHfli had evacuated it upon the firft rcqiicfl made to them by the Queen of Portugal; the King of England's minlller hav- ing moreover made anfwer that the nation had never given its fandlion to the fcttlemcnt, which was only an adventure of private individuals. I'hc following day, at eleven o'clock, the boats of the Bouflble and Aflrolabe returned, and announced a fpecdy vifit from Don Antonio Di Gama, major general of the colony. Mc did not come, how. ever, till the 13th, when he brought me a mod obliging letter from his commanding officer. The fcafon was fo far advanced, that I had not a mo- ment to lofc ; and our crews enjoyed a mofl ex- cellent flate of health. I had therefore flattered myfelf, on our arrival, that I fliould be able to pro- vide for all our wants, and to fail again in five or fix days; but the foutherly winds and the currents were fo ftrong, that our communication with the land was frequently interrupted. This nccefllirily delayed my departure. an ifland from the globe, would be in a manner refponfible for the rifks to which navigators who might fall in with it would be expofcd by the falfc fccurity infpired by the charts ; while its being laid down, even in an uncertain manner, by keeping alive the attention 01 mariners, may render the find- ing of it again a matter of greater facility. (Fr. Ed.) I had ROUND TTIF. WORLD. 4$^ I had given the preference to tlic Illaikl (4" Sf. Catherine, over Rio J.mciro, merely to avoid the forms to be gone lhrou2^!i in great cities, whicli always occation a l;)f^ ot' time; bat experience tauglU me that it (:i)moinetl a variety oF other advantages. Provilions of all kinds were in the greateft abundance : a large ox coll eight dollars. A hog of a huntlred and fifty pounds weight, four ; two turkies were to be had for a dollar ; it was only necclTary to cad the net, in ordjr to haul it up again full of fifli ; five hundred oranges were brought on board, and luld to us for lei's than half a dollar ; and vegetables were aiib at a very moderate price. The following fact will give an idea of the hofpitality ofthefe good people: One of my boa^s having been ovcrfet by the furf in a creek where I was cutting wood, the inhabi- tants who afliflej in faving it, forced our half- drowned tailors to fleep in their beds, and palled ihc night themfelves upon mats fpread on tiie ground in the fame room in which they exerciied this noble hofpitality. A few days afterwards tin. y brought on board the Boullble tlie malls, gra[)ncl, and colours of the boat, articles highly valuable to them, and which would have been of the o-reatell ufe in their canoes. Their manners are mild; they are kind, polite, and obliging; but fuperftitious, and jealous of their wiveii, who never .a])pear in public. I i 4 Our u ,,., •ii.i ^H i; I X^ m i:|i' I ; 485 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE Our officers went in purfuit of game, and killed feveral birds of the moft beautifully variegated plumage ; among other , a rollier, of a verj' fine blue colour, which BufFon has not defcribcd, though in this country it is very common. Not having forefeen the obflacles that detained us tvve.ve days in this road, we did not fend our iiftronomical clocks on fhore, thinking that we fhould only pafs five or fix days at anchor. We had, however, little reafon for regret, as the fky was conftantly cloudy. The longitude of the illand was confequently determined by diftances from the fun to the moon. According to our obfervations, the moft northerly point of the ifland of St. Catherine may be fixed at 49° 49' weft longitude, and 27'' 19' foutli latitude. On the evening of the 16th, every thing being embarked, I fent my packets to the governor, who had kinjdly undertaken to convey them to Lifbon, where I addrefled them to M. De Saint-Marc, our conful-general. Every one had permiflion to write to his family and friends. We flattered our- felves with hopes of failing the following day j but the northerly winds, which would have been ^o favourable to us in the open fea, kept us at the bottom of the bay till the 1 9th of November, when I got under way at day-break. The calm, however, forcing me to anchor for a few hours, . . we ROUND THE WORLD. 489 wc did not get clear of all the iilands till night was coming on. , We had bought at St. Catherine's a difficiency of oxen, hogs, and poultry, to feed the Ihip's company at fea for more than a month ; and we had added orange and lemon trees to our colledion of other trees, which, fince our departure from Breft, had been preferved in a thriving Hate in boxes, made under the direftion of M. Thouin. Our gardener was alfo provided with kernels of oranges and lemons, and with feed of the cot- ton fhrub, of Indian corn, and, generally fpeak- ing, of all the vegetables which, according to the report of navigators, the inhabitants of the iflands in the South Sea were in want of, and which arc more analogous to their climate and manner of living, than the produdtions of the French kitchen garden. Of the latter, however, we alio carried out an immenfe quantity of feed. The day of our departure, I gave the Aftrolabe new fignals, which were much more extenfive than thofe we had made ufe of heretofore. We were about to navigate in the midll of fogs, and in tempeftuous feas ; and thefe circumftances re- quired new precautions. I agreed alfo with M. De Langle, that in cafe of feparation, our firll rendezvous (hould be the harbour of Good Suc- cefs in Lcmaire*s Straits, fuppofmg we fhould not have pafled its latitude on the firft of January ; find I'm I ■ 11; &:'■ i'tl mi '1';,'! !»f' m 1 :i!'t mh ,11 w 49^ ^A PEROUSE's VOYAGJi and the fecond, Point Venus, in the iiland of Otahcile. I informed him alfo, that I Ihould coiifine my relearches in the Atlantic Ocean to Jjle Grande de la Roche, not having time to feek a paiTage to the Southward of Sandwich Land. I now felt much regret at not being able to begin my expedition by the eaft j but I did not dare to change fo entirely the plan that had been adopted in France, bccaufe I (hould not have been over- taken by the official letters which had been an- nounced to me, and which might contain the moft important orders. The weather was very fine till the 28th, when we had a violent gale of wind from the eaftward. It was the firft fince our departure from France. I was pleafed to fee, that although our fhips were very indifferent failers, they flood the bad weather exceedingly well, and were capable of refifling the heavy feas with which we fliould have to contend. We were then in '^s^^ i^ fouth latitude, and 43* 40' wefl longitude ; and I was fleering eafl-fouth- cafl, becaufe I intended, in my fearch after IjU Grande, to run into its latitude at about 10° to the eaflward of the pclition alugned to it in the different charts. I was well aware of the great diificulty of getting back again ; but, in any cafe, I was under the neceffity of making a great deal of welling, in order to arrive at Lemaire's Straits ; and all the way I fliould advance upon that point of ROUND THE WORLp. 49 X ^° to % t ¥ pfthe compafs, while running down the latitude oi Jjle Grande^ would bring mc fo much nearer to the coail: of Patagonia, where I was under the ncccility of getting louadings before I could double Cape Horn. I thoup^ht alfo that thie latitude of JJle Grande not being pcrfcdly determined, it was more probable that I iliould meet with it by ply- ing to windward, between 44 and 45° of latitude, than if I followed a ftraight line in 44^ 30', as I might have done by runnins; from weft to eaft, the wefterly winds being a" conftant in thefe feas, as the eafterly brccy.es are between the tropics. It will foon be ittcn that I derived no advantage from my calculations, and that after a fruitlefs fearch of forty days, during which I met with five ^ales of wind, 1 was obliged to give it up, and proceed on my vovafj:^". Cii the 7th ox December I was in the fuppofed parallel oi Ijlr Grande, in 44^^ 3 S' ibuth latitude, and 34"^ weft longitude, according to lunar obfer- yations taken the day before. \\c faw fea-weed pafs the (nip, and dnring feveral days were fur- rounded with birds, bv.t they were of the albatrof^ and petrel fpecies, Vv'hivh never approach the land, unlefs in the breedins; feafon. Thefe w^ak indications of land ferved, however, to keep alive our hopes, and confoled us for the terribly mountainous fea in which we were navi- gating; but it was not without anxiety that I re- 2 fleclcd mi \i\Ar , r if . '' .'1 '! ''II,' -1 1''. -III'! mi ill 492 LA PEROUbE S VOYA; flefled I had ftill 35"* of wefting to make before I reached Lemaire's Straits, where it was of import- ance that I Ihould arrive before the end of Ja- nuary. I kept flanding upon different tacks between the 44th and 45th deg. of latitude till the 24th of December, running down 15° of longitude in that parallel; and on the 27th I gave up the fearch, well convinced that Ijle Grajide de la Roche did not exift*, and that the fca-weeds and petrels did not prove the vicinity of land, fince I met with birds and marine plants till my arrival on the coafi of Patagonia. The chart on which the fliip's place on each day is let off, will ferve to (hew the courfe I fleered better than the details above given. I am convinced that the navigators who may fail hereafter in queft of the fame iiland, will not be more fortunate than myfelf ; but they ought only to undertake it when failing eafl towards the In- dian ocean. It is in that cafe no more difficult or * li IJle Grande de la Roche had been laid down on the charts in a lefs conjeftural manner. La Peroufc, after running down the parallel afligned to it, might have fafely alnrmed that it did not exid; but as its pofition has been fo vaguf^ly determined, according to the journals of Antoine De La Roche, and Aniericus Vefpucius, the fearch made by La Pc- roufe only proves that it does not exift in the pofition afligned to it. As to th« reft, I have nothing to add to the difcuflion ccatained in the nineteenth geographical note inferted in the firft volume. {Fr. Ed.) tedious FOUNT) 1HK WORLD. 493 ■ trvliou*; to run down 30° in that parallel than In any other; and if no land be t'oiind, the fhip will at lead be lb much flirther on its wMy. I am fully perluaded that IJle (irandc, like Pepys liland, is the? creation of fancy * ; the account of La Roche, who pretends to have feen lofty trees upon it, be- ing entirely deftitute of foundation. It is very certain, that in 45% nothing but fhrubs can be found upon an illand fcatcd in the midft of the Southern Ocean, fmcc not a fingle tree is met with upon the Iflands of Triflan d'Acunha, fitu- ated in a latitude infinitely more favourable to ve- getation. On the 25 th of December the wind fettled at fouth-wefl, and continued to blow for feveral days, compelling me to fleer wcft-north-weft, and to depart from the parallel I had been con- ftantly following for twenty days. Having then pafled the uttermoft point afligned to IJle Grande * I know that New Georgia indicated in La Roche*s jour- nal has been again found ; but I am much in doubt whether the honour of tiiat difcovery onwlic to be afligned to him. — According to his journal, there h a channel ten leagues wide between Bird's Ifland and Georgia, whcrea'-. the channel is in reality only one league wide. Tiiis is a miflake rather too great for a feaman of the Icafl experience to make, iffpeak- ing of one and the fame place. It is however, from the for- mer land that you muil reckon, in order to lay down Ifle Grande between 4*5 and 4^"^ of longitude. I croffed all thq ineridians from 35 to jO'', without difcovcring it. in ■iritr"' »il| •i I mm ,.,i|i '■ :i:' I I'M Hi t r m mil PW 494 ^^^ PEROUsi^S VOYAGE in all the charts, and the feafoii being very far ad- vanced, I determined in future to fleer the courfe that would give me the moft vvefting, fearing much Icil I fliould tind myfelf obliged to double Cape Horn in the bad fcafon of the year. But the weather was more favourable than I could venture to hope. The gales of wind ceafed with the month of December, and Jantiary was nearly as fine as July is upon the coafls of Eu- rope. The only winds we had v/ere from north- wqfl to fouth-wcft, but we could carry all our fails, and the various breezes were fo completely indicated by the appearance of the fky, that we were certain of the moment when the wind would change, and were confequcntly always prepared to fland upon the moft advantageous tack. As foon as the horizon grew mifty, and clouds began to cover the fky, the wind vccired irom fouth-weft to weft. Two hours after it was furc to be at north- weft. On the contrary, vhcn the foggy wea- ther cleared up, we were certain that the wind would fpeedily back again to weft and ibuth- weft. I do not believe that in fixty-fix days na- vieation:, the wind blew from the caftward more than c-iiditeen hours. Wc had fcveral days of calm weather, and fmooth water, during which the officers of the two Ihips went en fliooting parties, and killed a coniiderabls number of bircis.- with which wc were ,'ea- ind ,th. na- Hore m m t ROUND THE WORLD. 49^ were almoil conftantly furrounded. Their fport, which was very generally produ<5live, procured us a fupply of frelh meat for our crews, and more than once it happened to us to kill enough to ferve out to the whole (hips company. The failors preferred it to fait meat, and I am of opi- nion that it contributed infinitely more to keep them in a good ftate of health. In our excurfions we killed nothing but alba* trofles of the great and fmall fpecics, with four varieties of the petrel. Thefe birds when fkinned, and drefled in a favoury way, were nearly as good as the wild ducks eaten in Europe. They have been fo well defcribed by the naturalifls who ac- companied captain Cook, that I only think it ne- ceflary to give a drawing of them, that ornitholo- gifts may be convinced that we met with the very fpecies, of which Meflieurs Banks, Solander, and Fofter have given defcriptions highly fatisfac- toryi On the 14th January we at laft ftruck ground on the coail of Patagonia, in 47'' 50' fouth lati- tude, and 64" 37' weft longitude, according to our laft lunar obfervations. We never neglefted any opportunity of making them when the wea- ther was favourable. The officers of the (hip were fo well verfed in them, and feconded M. Dagelet fo well, that I do not think our greateft error i '.'V \m- \m , h"r m 49^ I'A PEROrSE*S VOYAGTi ill longitude can be eflimated at more than Haifa degree. On the 2 1 ft, we got fight of Cape Fair Wea- tlier, or of the north point of Gallegos River, on the coaft of Patagonia. We were about three leagues from the land, in forty one fathom water, over a bottom of fmall gravel, or little argillacc* ous ftones of the fize of peas. Our longitude, obfeved at noon, being compared with the chart of Code's fccond voi/agc\ only differed by i;' which we were farther to the eaflward. On the 2 2d, at noon, we fet the Cape of the Virgins, bearing weft, four leagues diftant. This land is low, with fcarcely any verdure. The view given of it, by the editor of admiral Anfons voyage^ appeared to mc to be very exadl, and its pofition is accurately determined in the chart of Cook' a fccond voyage. As far as the Cape of the Virgins, the lead conftantly brought up mud, or elfe the fmall })cbbles mixed with mud, which are found in the direction of the mouths of rivers : but when we came to Tierra del Fuego, we had almofl always a rocky bottom, and only from twenty four to thirty fathoms water, although at three leagues diftance from the land, which induces me to think that this coaft: is not fo fafc as that ot Patagonia. . ..... i 7; The I Round the world. 497 The latitudes and longitudes of the different capes are determined with the greatcft precifion by captain Cook's chart. The direftion of the coafl between thefe capes has been laid down from bearings accurately taken , but it has not been poflible to attend much to Ihofe details in which the fafety of navigation confifts. Captain Cook, and all other navigators, can only anfwer for their own routes, and the foundings they have taken. It is very poflible that when the water was fmooth, they may have pafled clofe to (hoals and rocks upon which there were no breakers. This navigation confequently requires much greater caution than that of the continent of Europe. J have entered into thefe details, in order to (hew the degree of confidence that may be placed in charts of this kind, the moft perfeft, no doubt, that have been conflrudted while running rapidly over an immenfe Ipace. It was impoffible for na- vigators in former times, when lunar obfervations were not in ufe, to approach their accuracy. It is fuch, that I as firmly believe in the points we have examined, bemg laid down within twenty miles of the truth, as 1 do in the exa 1 1' ' '1 I ill: i. . ' r- m ! {)■ m ^ I 111; Ik 498 LA PEROUSE's voyage I had ranged along the land fince the morning atT that diftance, and had tbliowcd, upon captain Cook's chart, the bay where Mr. Banks went on fhore in fcarch of plants, while the Reiblution waited for him under fail. The weather was fo favourable, that It was im- polTible for me to grant the lame indulgence to our naturalifts. At three o'^clock, I entered the ftraits, having doubled, at the diftance of | of a league, Point San Diego, where thcr-j are breakers, which do not, I believe, extend more than a mile ; but having perceived others much farther in the ofhng, I fteered to the fouth-eaft in order to avoid them.. I loon perceived, however, that they were occafioned by currents, and that the reefs of Cape San Diego were a great way off". As it blew a frelh breeze from the north, I could venture ta approach Tierra del Fuego, and ranged along it whhin lefs than half a league of the land. I found the wind fo fair, and the ieafon fo far advanced, that I immediately determined to give up my intention of" putting in at the harbour of Good Succefs,. and to ftand on, without? lofing a moment, to double Cape Horn. I confidercd that it would be impoflible to provide every thing I wanted without ftaying ten or twelve days ; thjc fpace of time I had foiind at St. Catherine's to be rigorouily necefiary, becaufe in. thofe open bays^ where the lea. breaks with fury upon the beach, one I ROUND THE WORLD. 49^ one lialFof the days are fucli, that a boat cannot go afhorc. If this inconvenience had been ac- companied by a foutherly wind, which Ihould . have detained mc for fonie time in the hari^our of Good Succofs, the f ivourable feafon would have clapfed, and I (hould have ex'pofed my fhip to da- hiage, and my crew to hard (hips and fatigue, very prejudicial to the fuccefs of my voyage. Thefe confiderations induced me to fteerfor the jlland of Juan Fernandez, where I was lure of findinp- wood and water, with refrelliments far fu- perior to the iPenguins of the Straits. I had not at that time a fuigle perfon Tick; I had ftill eighty barrels of water, and Ticrra del Fuego has been lb often vifited and defcribed, that I could not hope to add any thing intcrefling to what has already been faid upon the fubjeifl. During our run through the Straits of Le- maire, the favages, according to cuftom, made great fires, to induce us to anchor. There was one upon the north point of the bay of Good Suc- cefs, and another upon the north point of Valen- tine's Bay. I am perfuaded, wdth captain Cook, that fliips may anchor indifcriminately in any of thofe bays, where both wood and water are to be had, though there is certainly iefs game than at Chriftmas Harbour, on account of the favagci inhabiting them during a part of the year. Kk2 During iifi- I ;' i r'l t ' I IM 1 I w m' m. 500 LA PER0U5E S VOYAGE During our navigation in the ftrait, at half a league (liftancc from Ticrra del Fuego, wc were furroumk'cl by whales : it was cafy to fee that they had never been molefled. Tliey took no alarm at nur fliips, fwam majcftically along within piRcl- Ihot of us J and will, no doubt, remain fovercigns of thcfc fcas, till the filhermen go to make war upon them as at Spitzbcrgen or Greenland. I doubt whether there be a better place in the world for the whale-fiftiery. The fliips might lie at anchor in good bays, within reach of water, wood, antifcorbutlc herbs, and fea fowl, while their boats without going a league, might kill as many whales as would make them a complete cargo. The only inconvenience would be the length of the voyage, which would require near five months for each run ; and I fliould imagine that thefe latitudes can only be frequented in the months of December, January and February. We were not able to make any obfervations on the currents in the ftraijts which we entered at three o'clock in the afternoon, the moon being twenty-four days old. We were drifted rapidly to the fouthward till five, when the tide turned; but as we had a ftrong northerly breeze wc Hemmed it with eafe. The horizon was {o mifty in the eaftern quarter, that we did not perceive Staten Land, from which however wc were lefs than five leagues dillant, fince ROUKD THE WORLD. 5OI fince that is the whole width of the ftraits. Wc kept Tierra del Fuego clofc enough aboard to per- ceive, by the help of our glades, the lavages rtir- fing up great fires, which is the only way they have to exprefs their defire of feeing Ihips come to an anchor. Another motive more powerful flill, had in- duced me to give up my idea of touching at the bay of Good Succefs. I had long been devifing a new plan for my voyage, concerning which, how- ever, I could come to no decifion, till after having doubled Cape Horn. This plan was to repair, during the prefent year, to the north -weft coaft of America. I knew well, that if I had not received orders to do fo, it was for fear I (hould not have time to make fo long a run during the winter ; for this project united an infinite number of advantages. The firft was the taking of a new track, and crofling parallels in which it was poffible to meet with undifcovered iilands : the lecond was the vifiting more expedi- tioufly of all the places pointed out to me, by employing two years in the northern, and two in the fouthern hemifphere. As my inftrudions ex- prefsly faid that I was at liberty to execute the King's orders in the manner that might appear to me moft likely to infure the fiiccefs of the voyage, I only delayed the entire adoption of my new K k 3 plan. Si,' li i 3i 1 502 LA PfeROUSt's VOYAGE plan, till I knew at wiiat time I fliould get into the South Sea. I doubled Cape Horn with much greater eafe than I had dared to hope ; and I am now con- vinced that this navigation is like that of all hidi latitudes. The difficulties we expect to meet with, are the cffcft of an aqcient prejudice which will in time be laid afide, j^nd which the reading of admiral An/ou's Voyage has not a little con- tributed to keep alive in the minds of fpamen. On the 9th of f ebruary Jl was abreaft of the Straits of Magellan in the South Sea, and (leering for the ifland of Juan Fernandez. I had pafled, ficcording to my reckoning) Qv^r the pretended land of Drake ; but I had loft little time in fearch of it, becaufe I was convinced that it did not exift. Since my departure from Europe, all my thoughts had been directed to the tracks of ancient na-? vigators. Their journals are fo badly digefted, that it is neceflary in a manner to guefs at their meaning i and geographers, who are not Teamen, are in general fo ignoraiit of hydrography, that they have been unable to throw the light of found criticifm upon journals which ftand fo much in need of it. They have confequently drawn the figures of iflands, which do not exiil, or which, like phantoms, vanilli at the approach of moderri p^vigators. In 'Mil ;et into ter eafe w con- lU high 0 meet : which reading :le coi.- len. of the (leering pafled, ^tended 1 fearch )t exift. loughts ent na-j gefted, at their eamen, y, that f found luch in iwn thp which, modcrp In I ROUND THE WORLD. 503 fn 1758, admiral Drake, five days after he had failed out of the Straits of Magellan, was aflfailed in the GrcaL Wcftern Ocean by violent gales of wind which lafted near a month. It is difficult to follow him in his different courfes ; but at length he got fight of an ifland in 57 degrees of fouth latitude. He put in there, and faw a great number 01 birds. Running after- wards twenty leagues to the northward, he fell in with other iflands inhabited by favages, who were in poflelCon of canoes, Thcfe iflands pro- duced wood, and antifcorbutic plants. How is it poffible in reading this relation not to recog- nize Tierra del Fu^cgo, and, probably, the Ifland of Diego Ramirez, fituated nearly in -the fame latitude as the iuppofed Ifland of Drake ? At that time Tierra del Fuego was not known. Le- maire and Schouten did not difcover the ftraits |:hat bear their name, till 1616; and being per- fuaded, that, in the Ibuthern, as well in the northern hemifpherc, there was land extending to the vicinity of the pole, they thought th;u the fouth part of America was interiei5]ted by channels ; and that they had found a fecond, like that of Magellan. Thefe falfe ideas were very well calculated to lead admiral Drake into error, efpecially as he was drifted by currents, 1 5 or J 6° to the eaftward of his reckoning; as has hap- pencd fince in the fame feas to a hundred other K k 4 uavi- hr ■■'1 "|i' { li: % III::: m4 urn "■\ I li' 504 ^A perouse's voyage navigators. This probability becomes a certainty, when we refleft that a fhip of this fquadron, which made a ftretch to the northward, while the admiral was making one to the fouthward, returned into the Straits of Magellan, out of which (he had jufl failed ; an evident proof that fhc had made little way to the weftward; and that admiral Drake had not got beyond the lon- gitude of America. In addition to this, it may be faid, that it is contrary to all probability, that an ifland rencte from the continent, and in 57'' ktitude, (hould be covered with trees, while not a Cngle ligneous plant is to be found upon Falkland's Iflands, which are only in 53° ; and, although there is not an inhabitant upon thofe iflands, nor even upon Staten Land, which is feparated from the continent by a channel of no more than five leagues wide. Befides the def- cription that Drake gives of the favages, canoes, trees and plants, agrees fo perfedliy with the Pe- cherees, and generally fpeaking with every thing elle we know about Tierra del Fuego, that I am at a lofs to conceive how Drake's Ifland can fl:ill exiil upon the charts. The wefli-fouth-weft wind favouring my in- tention of running to the northward, I deter- mined not to lofe moments fo valuable in this fruitlefs refcarch ; and continued my route to- wards the Iflan> ,;?fiF lii t{ "I m Uri LA rCTlOUSE's VOYAGE ant and intcndant. But it mufl be obfcrvcd that there is no fupreme court in the Spanifli colonies, thofc who are inveftcd with the King*s authority prcfKling alio as judges in civil caufcs, with a few civilians to afllfl: them. It is eafy to perceive that as jufticc is not adminiftered by judges equal in dignity, the opinion of the prcfidcnt mud almoft always bias that of the inferior members of the court. The confequence is, that juftice is in fa<5l adminiftered by a fuiglc perfon, which muft be attended with great inconvenience, un- lets wc luppole that perfon void of all prejudice, free from all pafllons, and pofleffed of the mofl enlightened underftanding. There is not in the univerfe a foil more fertile than that of this part of Chili. Corn yields; (ixty for one ; the vineyards are equally produc- tive ; and the plains are covered with innumerable flocks, which multiply beyond all conception, though abandoned entirely to themfelves. All the inhabitants have to do is to fet up fences round their refpe<5tive poffefTions, and to leave the oxen, horfes, mules, and flieep, in the inclofures- The common price of a fat ox is eight dollars ; that of a flieep three quarters of a dollar, but there are no purchafers ; and the natives are ac- cuftomed every year to kill a great number of oxen, of which the hides and tallow are alone prefervcd, and fent to Lima. Some meat is alip cured ROUNP THE WORLD. 513 cilred in the Indian manner for the confumption of the fmall coafting vcffels in the South Sea. There is no particular difcafc incident to this country ; but one which I dare not name is very common. Thofc who are fortunate enough to cfcape it, live to a very great age. There are at Conception feVcral pcrfons who have completed h century. Notwithftanding fo many advantages, this co- lony is very far from rtiaking the pfogrefs that .might be cxpefted frorti a fituation fo favourable to an increafe of population j but the influence of the government inceflantly counteradts that of the climate t prohibitive regulations exift from one end of Chili to the other. This kirgdom, of which the produdions, if carried to their highell pitch, would feed half Europe; of which th% wool would fuffice for the manufadures of France * and England ; and of which the cattle, if falted down, would produce an immenfe revenue ; this kingdom, I fay, is entirely deftitute of commerce. Four or five fmall vcffeb arrive every year from Lima, with fugar, tobacco, and a few articles tnanufadured in Europe, which the Unfortunate inhabitants cafi only purchafe at the fecond of third hand, and after immenfe duties have been paid upon them firfl at Cadiz, then at Lima, and laftly on their entering Chili. They can only give in exchange wheat, which is fo cheap, that Vol. L L 1 the Ills Hi: ,:;U h i'; '\p . I lil m jli 1 m iii I 1^ ' ;T4 la PEROrSE*S VOTAG?: the cultlvUor i'ccU no dcfirc to clear his v/aflc lancT, tallow, h.dcs, and a ftw planks; fo tliat the balance cf'tia.ci;, always again fl Chili, which with it's gold*, it*s mines, aid »i • iri^ing articles of bar- tc;, is unable to pay lo/ the lugar, the Paraguay tea, the tobacco, the cloth, the linen, the cam- bfick, and the conimoacr kinds of hardware, which it confumes. From this very brief ftatement, it rs evident that if Spain does not cliange it's fyflcni; if the liberty of commerce be not authorized ; if the du- ties paid upon foreign commodities be not re- duced; if the government in fliort will not believe that a very fmall import; upon an immenfe popu- lation is more productive of revenue than ex- ceflive duties which annihilate that confumption, the kingdom of Chili will never reach that pitch *of profperity which might be expetSted from it's lituation. Unfortunately this country produces a fmall quantity of gold, Almoft all the rivers being au- riferous, the inhabitant by wafliing the earth can earn, it is laid, half a, dollar a day ;. but as pro- vifions are very abundant, he htvs no real want to * According to the infarmation I received, the gold col- lected annually in the biftioprick of Conception, may be efti- m'ated at two hundred thoufand dollrir.s^ There are fi^.gle pi-ajtatvons at St. Domingo, which produce as large an' iucoine. ^ ^ . . ... incite ROUND THE WORLD. 3I3 incite him to labour. Without communication with foreigners, and unacquainted with our luxury and arts, he can dcfire nothing with fufficlent energ\' to overcome his floth. The ground tliere- forc Hes wafte, the mod aiflive of the natives be- ing thofe who devote a few hours to the walliing of the land of their rivers, which exempts them from the neceflTity of learning any trade. The confequence is that the houfcs even of the richcll inhabitants are bare of furniture, and that all the workmen at Conception come from foreign parts. The drefs of the women confills of a plaited petticoat of thofe old-*fa(hioned gold and filv'er Huffs formerly manufadured at Lyons. Theic pettiA:oats which are referved for gala days, may, like diamonds, be entailed in a family, and de- fcend from the grand-mother to the grand-daugh- ter. Such d relies are, however, confined to a tmall number of females, the reft having hardly wherewithal to hide their nakedncfs. Sloth, ftill more than credulity and fuperfti- tion, has peopled this kingdom with nuns and monks, the latter of whom enjoy greater liberty than in any other country in the world. The misfortune of having nothing to do, the want of family ties, the profelTion of celibacy, without- being leparated from the world, and their living. in the convenient retirement of their cells, has L I 2 rendered, '5 Ml I ^^ iiri 1| '•i ILJU ^l6 £A PEROUSE*S VOYAGE rendered, and eould not fail to render them, the greateft profligates ire America. Their effrontery is inconceivable.. I have feen fome of themi flay till midiwght at a bali^ aloof indeed from the good company, and feated among the fervants. Thefe fame monks gave our young folks more exad in- formation than they could get elfewhere concern- ing places with which priefts ought only to have been acquainted in order to interdid the entrance* The common people of Conception are much addifted to thieving, and the women are exceed- ingly eafy of accefs. They are a degenerate and? mongrel race j but the inhabitants of the firft clafs>, the true-bred Spaniards, are polite and obliging in. the extreme. I ftnoud be wanting in- gratitude, if I did not paint them in colours fui table to their charafter, which I fhall endeavour to make known, while giving an account of our own tranfaftions. I was fcarcely at anchor a-breaft of Talcaguana, when a dragoon brouglit me a letter from M. Quexada, commandant pro tempore, in which he told me, that we fhould be received like fellow- countrymen. He added, witb great politenefs,. that the orders he had received in that refped,, were conformable to tlie fentiments of his heart,, and to thofe of all the inhabitants of Conception. This letter was accompanied by refrefliments of all forts,, which every one haftened to fend on board. The quantity was lb great, that we could neither confume them, nor knew how to flow them away. Obliged) -ROUND THE WORLD. 517 Obliged. td attend in the firft place to the re- titting of my Ihip, and to the depofithig of our aftronomlcal clocks and quadrants on (hore, X could not go immediately to return my thanks to the governor. I was impatient for an opportu- nity of acquitting myfelf of that duty, but he was beforehand with me, and came on board, at- tended by the principal officers of his colony. The following day, I returned his vifit, accompa- nied by M. de Lungle, and feveral of the officers and fcientific men. We were preceded by a de- tachment of dragoons, the commanding officer of which had ftationed half a troop at Talcaguana- Ever fince our arrival, both they and their horfes were at our command. M. Quexada, M. Sa- batero, commandant of tlie artillery, and the town-major, came to meet us at a league's diftance from Conception. We all alighted at the houfe of M. Sabatero, vv^here an excellent dinner was put upon the tables and at night there was a fplendid ball, to which the principal lacfles of the place w^e invited. The drefs of thefe ladies, very different from that to which our eves were accuftomecl, waB painted by M. Duche de Vancy. A plaited pet- ticoat which leaves half the leg expofcd, and which is tied a great way below the waift ; llockings ftriped red, blue, and white ; Ihoes fo fhort, that th^ toes are bent double, which L 1 3 makes H 'I t.;fi: it if: 111 fr t I ■Vj i I if ^ Ml I ill**) mi 'irk r:' .^1 ■^V',~ P ^^\^ 51 3 T.A PERO use's VOYAGh makes the loot a[^.pcar nearly round ; fuch is the habit oF the hidies of ChiH. They wear tlieir hair without powder, and divided behind into fiiiall braids, wliich hang down their backs. Their corfct or bodice is generally of gold or filver {xufi\ and is covered with two lliort cloaks, the firft of mullin, and the fecond which is worn over it, of v/ool of ditTerent colours, blue, yel- low, or pink, ^^'ith thc'c woollen cloaks they cover their heads when they are in the flrects and the weather is cold ; but when in a room they ufually lay them on their knees ; and there is a game played with the mullin cloak, by fliifting it about inceliantly, at which the ladies of Conception difplay a great deal of grace. They are in general pretty, and fo charmingly polite, that there i^ ccnainly no maritime city in Europe where foreign navigators are received with ib much kindnefs and civility. AV)out midnight the ball was at an end. As tl'.e honfes of the commandant and of M. Sa- l»atero could not contain all the French ot- f-ccrs and'^paCengers, the inhabitants prelled us to accept of beds ; and in tliis manner we were quartered in the different parts of the town. Before dinner, we had been to pay vifits to the {)r:n-ipal citizens, and to the bifliop, a m; a cf great fenfc, of agreeable n:ianners, and of a charitv of which the Spanilh biihops afford fre- quent i is tlie " tlieir d into backs. old or cloaks, is ^^ orn le, ycl' s tlicy flrcets a room d there ik, by ladies grace. "mingly le city eccived :1. As VI. Sa- '•:h ot; ■lied us 'c were I. iiits to a ni; a d of a rd fre- quent k^ vA-.^ iV -*"— 5«Ki^ tS2a 'sa r / /f /,)/,/ o '/r ,— —-K^— y % --Hk *J i." V^-l V\v, a- * % '7> il % f •' I .. f.' 1 w '4 ■^/y/./r,/ o /r ' /////^r/'//f/ J//./ r' //////r /•///'/ ///j r/. A/ fo//ry//f ^/r.v I'' I ROUND THE WORLD. 5.19 quent examples. He is a Creole, bom In Pent, was never in Europe ; and is folely indebted to his merit for his elevation. He talked to us ol* the regret which major-general Higuins would feel at being detained upon thi frontiers by the Indians durina; our Ihort llav in his t^overnment. The favourable report made of that officer by every one, aad the ge.ncral efleem in which he was held, made me lament the circumflances that occafioned his abience. A courier had been dif- patched to him, and his anfwer, which was brought while we were ftill at Conception, an- nounced his fpeedy return. He had jufl con- cluded a glorious peace, that was highly necei- fary to the people of his government, their diftant habitations being expofed to the ravages of fa- vage nations, who maffacre the men and children, and make the women prifoners. The Indians of Chili are no longer thofe Ame- ricans who were infpired with terror by European weapons. The increafe of horfes, which are now difperfed through the interior of the immenfe de- ferts of America, and that of oxen and ftieep, which has alio been very great, have converted theie people into a nation of Arabs, comi)arabIe in every refped to thjofe that inhabit the deierts of Arabia. Conftantly on horfeback, they con- sider ai> excurfion of two hundred leagues as a very Ihort journey. They march, accompanied by their L 1 4 vflecks 'I' if!. fi;. m !;■: h III- ;i t (I 1 1' I ll:, I' t= 520 LA PEROUSE*S VOYAGE flocks and herds ; feed upon their flefh and milk j and fometimes upon their blood *; and cover themfelves with their Ikins, of which they make pelmets, cuirafles, and bucklers. Hence it ap- pears that the introduiflion of two domeftic ani- mals has had adecifive influence upon the manners of ail the tribes which inhabit the country from St. Jago to the Straits of Magellan. All their old cuftoms are laid afide j they no longer feed on the fame fruits, nor wear the fame drefs j but have a more ftriking refembiance to the Tartars, or to the inhabitants of the banks of the Red Sea, than to their anceftors, who lived two centuries ago. It is eafy to conceive how formidable fuch people mud be to the Spaniards. How is it pof- fible to follow them in i'uch long excuriions ^ How is it poffible to prevent aflemblages which bring together in a fingl? point nations fcattered over four hundred leagues of country, and thus form armies of thirty thouland meq. M. Higui|is has fucceeded in gaining the good will of thefe favages, and has rendered the mofl fignal fervice to the nation that has adopted him ; for he was born in Ireland, and belongs to one of thofe families that are perfecuted on account of their religion, and their old attachment to the houfe of Stuart. ♦ I have beea aiTured that they fometiniC5 bleed their oxen ^r.d ho^feSj and d^ink the blood. ^ I cannot ROt'ND THE WORLD. 52I I cannot deny myfelf the plealurc of making known this worthy officer, whofe manners are fo much to the tafte of every country. Like the Indians, I felt an afFedion for him after the firfl hour's converfation. His return to Concep- tion followed clofe after his letter ; and I was fcarcely informed of it, when he arrived at Talc- aguana. Thus was my vifit again anticipated, put a major-general of cavaliy is fooner on horfe- back than a French Tea officer ; and M. Higuins, on whom the country depended for its defence, was poflefled of a degree of aftivity not eafily to be matched. His kindnefs, if jx)(rible, exceeded that of M. Quexada. There was fo much of truth in his manner, and his affe(5tion for all the French was fo great, that no words could exprefs our {ciiCq of gratitude. As we were under obli- gations to all the inhabitants, we refolved to give ^ general entertainment before our departure, and to invite all the ladies of Conception. A large tent was pitched by the fear fide, and we gave a dinner to a hundred and fifty perfons of both fexes, who had compl^ifance enough to come three leagues to fee us. The dinner was followed by a dance, a fmall difplay of fire -works, and a paper balloon, large enough to afford an agreeable fpe(ftacle. The following day, the fame tent ferved us for the purpofc of giving a great dimmer to the crews of 111 V ;i I «■ ■I I 1 ; ft! i 'i' II ^12 I A PF. ROUSE S VOYAGE of both frigates. We all ate at the rame tabic, ^I. De Langle and myfelf were at the head, and each officer, down to the lowed Tailor, was fcatcd according lo the rank he hcic •_!: hoard. Our idifhcs were wooden bowls. Gaictv was depL^lcd in the courtenunce of all the failois, who looked better, and were a thou!'and times happier, than the day of our departure from Brcll. The major-general wiriiin;.';, in his turn, to give an entertainment, we all repaired to Conception, except the cfTicers on duty. M. Higuins came out to meet us, and condudlcd our cavalcade to his houfe, where a table of a hundred covers was laid ; to which all the officers and inhabitants of note were invited, as well as feveral ladies. Be- tween the courfes, a Francifcan monk, who had the gift of improvifmg, recited Sj;anilb verfes, to celebrate the union that prevailed between the two nations. At night there was a ball, to which all the ladies repaired drelied in their finefh clothes ; and a very pretty ballet was danced by officers in ma/ks. It would be impolTible to produce a more delightful /d'V^ in any part of the world. It was given by a man adored in the country, to foreign- ers of the nation which had the reputation of be- ing the mofh gallant in Europe. But thefe diverfions, and this good reception, did not make me lofe fight of my principal objed. On the day of our arrival I had given notice that I (liould * "I ROUND THE WORLD. 523 I fhould fail on the 15th of March, and that it" our vclTcls fliould be refitted, and our provifions, wood and water put on boud before that time, every one fhould be at hbcrty to go and amufc hiinfelf on fliore. Nothino; could be better cal- culated to create difpatch than this promife, of which I feared the ellbdl as much as the Tailors dc- lired it, becaufe wine is very common at Chili ; and becaufe every houfe in Talcaguana is a tavern, and the women of the lower dalles almoft as cum- plaifant as at Otaheite. Nodiflurbance, however, took place ; nor did my furgeon make a report of any bad confequences refulting from this indul- gence. During our flay at Talcaguana, M. Dagelet re- gularly made comparifons to afcertain the rate of going of our time-keepers, with which we were exceedingly well fatisfied. Since our departure from France, No. 19 was found to have loft only 3"! per day on the mean movement of the fun, which differs only half a fecond from its daily rate? at Breft, and one fecond, on comparing it with that at which it went at Tcncriffe. The fmall time-keepers, No. 25 and No. 29, varied fo ma- terially, as not to dci'erve our confidence. On the 13th, at day-break, I made the fignal to prepare to fail ; but the wind had unfortunately fettled at north. It had been conftantly between fouth-fouth-weft and fouth-wcfl fincc our firft ar- rival i! in I i I I 514 ^A PP.ROUSE S VOYAOK rival in the road. The breeze generally fprang up ai ten o'clock in the morning, and gave over blowing at the fame hour in the evening, dying away fooner, if it had begun at an earlier hour i and on the contrary, lading till midnight, if it had only begun at noon j fo that there was about twelve hours of wind and a calm of equal dura- tion. This rule held good till the 15th, when the wind, after a flat calm and exceflive heat, fet- tled at north. It blew a very frclh gale from that quarter, with a great deal of rain during the night between the 15th and 1 6th j but on the 17th, towards noon, a light breeze fprang up from the fouth-weft, with which I got under way. It was very faint, and only carried us two leagues out of the bay, where we remained com- pletely becalmed in a very heavy fwell of the fea, occafioned by the late northerly gale. We were all night loi^ furrounded by whales, which came fo clofe to our (hips, that they threw water on board from their fpiracles. It is worthy of remark, thr\t no inhabitant of Chili ever harpooned a fingle one. Nature has beftowed fo many good things on the country, that feveral centuries will proba- bly elapfe before that branch of induftry is culti- vated. On the 19th, a foutherly wind enabling me to gain an offing, I fliaped my courfe to the eaftward of the Ifland of Juan FerAandez, which I did not make. ROUJ^D TrtE WORLD. ^2^ tnak^, becaufe its pofition having been fixed by the obfervations of Father Fcuillee at Conception, it is impoffible that there can be an error of lo' in longitude. On the 23d, I was in 30* 29' fouth latitude, and 85° 51' weft longitude, according to our time- keeper No. 1 9, of which the rate of going, fincc our departure from Conception only, was lo ex- aftly equal to that of No. 18, on board M. Dc Langlc's Ihip, that there was not a diflference of two minutes of a degree in their refults till our arrival at Eafter Illand. It was not the fame in the cold climate of Cape Horn. It appears, that the tabk of temperature delivered to M. Dage- let at Paris by M. Borthoud, was not exaA j and the difference was fo confiderable, as to occafion, in No. 18, an error of longitude of more than a' degree between Lemaire's Straits and the coaft of ChUi. On the 24th, the wind fettled at eaft, and did not vary 5* till we were within about a hundred and twenty leagues of Eafter Ifland. On the 3d of April, being in latitude 27° 5' fouth, and longitude ioi° weft, we had the wind from north-eaft to north-weft. We alfo faw fe- veral birds, the only ones we had met with fince wepafled by tha Illand of Juan Fernandez; fcr two taiUe-ventSf feen in a run of fix hundred leagues, are not worthy of mentionr This variety of \[ $t6 LA PEROUSE^S VOYA#E of winds is the moft certain fign of land ; but na- tural philofophers will perhaps be puzzled to tell how the influence of a fmall ifland, in the midfl of an immenfe fea, can extend a hundred leagues. At the fame time, it is not fufficient for a navi- gator to prefume that he is at that diilance from an ifland, if nothing indicates the point of the compafs, in which he may expeft to meet with it. The diredion of the flight of birds after fun- fet, never taught me any thing; and I am per- fectly convinced that they are guided in all their movements through the air by the allurement of their prey. At the fall of night, I have {een oceanic birds dired their flight towards ten differ- ent parts of the horizon ; and I do not believe that the mofl enthufiaflic augurs would have dared to draw any conclufion from their flight. On the 4th of April, when I was at no more than fixty leagues diflance from Eafter Ifland, I faw no birds, and the wind w^as at north-north-weft^ It is probable that if I had not known thepolition of the ifland to a certainty, I fliould have thought that I had pafled it, and fliould have put about. I made thele refledions on the fpot, and 'cannot help confefllng that the difcovery of iflands is only due to chance, and that very often the mod faga- cious calculations have only ferved to put navi- gators out of their way. ^ Oa f s< ROUND THE WORLD. 527 On the 8th of April, at two in the afternoon, .. I got fight of Eafter Ifland which bore weft 5"* fduth, diftant twelve leagues. The fea was high, with the wind at north ; for four days it had never blown fteadily, but had (liifted about by the wefl from north to fouth. I believe that the proximity of a fmall iiland was not the only caufe of that in- conftancy, it being probable that the trade wind is not regular at this time of the year in the la- titude of 27^ It was the eaft point that I per- ceived. I was precifcly in the fame place where# in 1786, Davis fell in with an ifland of land, and twelve leagues farther, with land to the weflward, which captain Cook, and Mr, Dalrymple, have fuppofe\.l to be Eafler Ifland, found again in 1722 by Roggewein. But thofe two feamen, though very well informed, have not fufficiently confidered what WafFer relates. He fays, (page 300 of the Rouen edition) " That captain Davi?, having taken his departure from the Gallapagos, with the intention of returning to Europe by Cape Horn, and meaning to touch at Juan Fernandez only, felt a terrible fliock in lati- tude iz° fouth, and thought that he had ftruck upon a rock. He had conftantly fleered fouth, and according to his reckoning was at a hundred and fifty leagues diftance from the continent of America. He afterwards learned that at that very point of time there had been an earthquake at 52S LA PEROUSE's VOYAGB at Lima. Having recovered from, his alarm, he continued to run fouth, fouth-by-eaft^ and fouth-eaftj till he reached latitude 27° 20'; and he relates that at two o'clock in the morning, the people ftationed on the fore-caftle, heard the fca break upon a beach. He brought to till day- light, when he faw a ftnall ifland of fand, with no rock near it. He rati within a quarter of a mile of it, and about twelve leagues farther to the weftward faw land of confiderable extent, which was taken for a clufter of iflands, on account of the intervals between the different capes.** Davis continued his courfe towards Juan Fernandez without examining it ; but Walfer fays, ** that this little ifland of fand lies five hundred leagues from Copiapo, and fix hundred from the Galla* pagos.** The impoffibility of this refult has not been fufficiently attended to : if Davis, being in 1 2"* fouth latitude, and a hundred and fifty leagues from the coafl of America, made good a fouth- ibuth-eaft courfe, as WaiTer relates ; as it is evi- dent that this captain of freebooters muft have fleered a courfe with an eaflerly wind, which blows very frequently in thofe latitudes, in order to fulfil his intention of going to Juan Fernandez, we may conclude with M. Pingre that there is a miflakc of a figure in Dampier's quotation, and that Davis's Land is only two hundred leagues, in- (lead of five hundred from Copiapo. It would thea m ROUND THE WORLD, 529 then be probable, that Davis's two iflands are thofe of Saint Ambrofio and Saini Felix, a lit- tle north of Copiapo ; but the pilots of the free- booters were not fo nice in their obfervations, and fcarcely ever found the latitude within lefs than 30 or 40'. I would have fpared my readers this little geographical difcuflion, if I had not had the opinion of two juftly celebrated men to combat. 1 muft, however, obferve, that captain Cook was in doubt, and that he fays he would have decided the queftion, if he had had time to make a run to the eailward of Eafter Ifland. As I have run down three hundred leagues in that parallel, and have not feen the ifland of fand, I think that no doubt ought any longer to be entertained, and that the problem is fairly folved *, During • In adopting the folution of '■he problem difcuffed by La Peroufe, I feel it incumbent on me to enter more ac large into the proofs that refult from the journals of dif- ferent navigators. It appears cert .in, as Pingre, Cook, and La Peroufe femark, that there is a miltake of a figure in Dampler, and that the fuppofedLand of Davis, tun only be at two hun- dred leagues from the coall of America. I agree with La Peroufe, that the obfervations taken of longitude in Davis's time were fo erroneous, that the lati- tudes are alone to be depended upon. It is then after what Waffcr relates, that the route of Davis may be traced from his departure from the Gallapagos liiznds. Davis, after leaving the Gallapagos IHands, ftood to Vol. L Mm tJfe 530 -LA perouse's voyage During the night I ranged along the coaft of Eafter Ifland, at three leagues diftance. The weather was clear, and the wind had chopped / round the fouthward as far as 1?° fouth latitude, where he felt a terrible fhock, &c. He had conftantly fteered a fouth courfe, and was then a hundred and fifty leagues from the continent of America. By markingithis firft point upon the chart it will appear that he was in 87'^ wi^ft longitude, or thereabout. He continued his courfe fouth, fouth-by-eaft, and fouth- <-alT: as far as the land which l>e difcovered in 27° 20' fouth latitude. According to Davis's route thas traced he muft have really been about two hundred leagues from Copiapo, and fix hundred from Gallopagos, or 1° to the fouth-eaft of the fouth point of the pofition afllgned in the French charts to the THands of Saint Felix and Saint Ambrofc j it is already evident that the extenfive land which Davis perceived twelve leagues to the weftward, mufl be the iflands of Saint Felix and Saint Ambrofr. The Englifh charts place thefe iflands in 15° fouth la- titude. The French in 25". Thofe of Green, in from 26'^ 20' to 27''. Cook acknowledges that he miffed the true latitude of thefe iflandsj by rather depending upon the rabies of latitudes and ..oagitude?, inserted inRohertJln' s Elcrncnts nfNanjigation, thanj in Green'b chart. He fa v certain figns of land in the vicinity cf 25^ fouth latitude. Cook, when in 25'^ 50' and 25^ 30', could neither fee Davis's Land, whicli does not exilt, nor the Iflands of Saint- Felix, and Saiut-Ambrofe, which mull exiit in the 27th de- grce, and of wliich he had indications. U I ■6' ROUND THE WORLD. ^^t round from north to fouth-caft, in lefs than three hours. At day break, I fleered for Cook's Bay, which of all thofc in the illand is the bed (hel- tered from eafterly winds. It is confequently only open to the weft ; and the weather was fo fine, that I was in hopes it would not blow from that quarter for feveral days. At eleven o'clock I La Peroufe, in coming from the eaftward, and running down three hundred leagues in the parallel of Eafter Idand, could neither fee Davis's Land, nor the Iflnnds of Saint- Felix and Saint-Ambrofe, of which the longitude is from zC^ to 27° to the eaftward of that ifland. It is evident, as captain Cook and Dalrymple thought, that Barter Ifland, found again by Roggcwcin, in 1722, cannot be Davis's Land. It is evident that the Iflands of Saint Felix and Sa'.nt Ambrofe cannot exill in the pofition afligned to them in the Englifh charts, for as Cook remarks, Davis would have met with them in his route. It is evident that the Iflands of Saint-Felix and Saint-Am- brofe cannot exirt in the pofition afTigned to them in the French charts, a pofition conformable to that laid down by Robertfon ; for then captain Cook would have found them. It appears thendemonllrated that Davis's Land does not exlft; but that iflands exifl in the 271]! degree of