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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la méthode. t • 2 3 32X : ^^■:f;^ :.. t M :•.'*: 4 9 f ►<*%.' eIOH:N" ITKANCIS GAI^AUP BK X.A FlEKOUSE f/>!^/^^V^ /y tJ/.^yafc^^A/ey THE VOYAGE OP LA PÉROUSE ROUND THE WORLD, IN THE YEARS 1785, 1780, 1787, AND 1788, WITH THE NAUTICAL TABLES. Arranged by M. L. A. MILET MUREAU, Infpeftor of Fortifications and Member of feveral literary Societies at Paris. »«>4>e« TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, NARRATIVE OF AN INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE, AND ANNEXED, TRAVELS OVER THE CONTINENT, With the Difpatches of La Péroufe in 1737 and 1788, BY M. DE I ESSEPS. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. Illujîrated with Fifty-one Plates^, > IN TWO VOLUMES. . VOL. I. ^HINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICCADILLYt 1798. c 4^ Mo \l «^^/.{yv-^iî• C^« > ^. ; A^rf • ?>'"^^3) .~jv^^> ( * ^vj THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. ^••»^«4 NAVIGATION, the moft important bond of the great fbciety of mankind, has in the prefent age been advanced nearly to perfec- tion. It has been employed for purpofes the moft honourable to its patrons, to its condudors, and to human nature, and its narratives have ex- cited a more univerfal intercft than any other branch of literature. It has perfcàl:ed the hiftory of man, united the extremities of the earth in the mutual intercourfe of peaceful commerce, and notwithftanding the temporary ftorms of re- volution, has chara<5lerifed the prefent century as its peculiar asra. Englifhmen, who have fo much to boaft among contending nations, will proudly remem- ber that Cook ftands in the higheft rank both as a navigator, and a bcnefaiftor of his fpecics : while France, our conftant competitor, whether in difcovery, in commerce, or in the arts, has at- tempted to rival us even at the extremity of the A 2 globe, THE TRANSLATORS PREFACE. globe. With that fplrit of emulative ambi- tion which has ever marked her charadcr, Ihe planned the voyage detailed in the following pages ; Ihe configned to the perils of the ocean men of the dccpcft fcience, and moft brilliant talents in France, and her vefTels failed with an aufpicious promifc of the happieft fuccefs. Their ill fated end is now but too ftrongly con- firmed. Europe will deplore that an expedition, which, like that of Cook, may be called a circum- navigation of charity and benevolence, fhould fb fatally terminate in the dcflru^ion of all who embarked in it, and of a commander who feem- cd to vie with his great prcdcceflbr in the vir- tues and benevolences of a wife and prudent chief. Honourable and candid in his rivalfliip, he feems to exult in beflovving a juft tribute of applaufe on him, whom he confiders as his archetype, while his own narrative is modeft pcrfpicipus, interelling, and important. To a commercial nation, it is particularly de- firablc to receive the earlieft and moft accurate information of every geographical difcovery. But while we regret that fcience and curiofity have been fo long ungratified, and that the com- piler of the narrative was not from among the aftors in thefc novel fcenes, few of whom efcaped the general cataftrophe ; it is fome confolation that the original journal, as the Editor aflurcs us. THE TRANSLATOR 3 PREFACE. is moft faithfully adhered to, without ever deviating from the fenfc and meaning of the narrator. M. Millet Mureau appears to have juftly conceived the duties of the undertaking, and the execution docs honour to his tafte and judgment. Verfed in the accounts of former difcoveries, and the fcicnces allied to navigation, he has illuftrated the work by many valuable notes, for which, however, he is often indebted to our countrymen Cook, Dixon, Portlock and others ; and when he ventures to differ from the opinion of his author, fubmits his own with a candour entitled to applaufe. In one inftance he has deviated from his ac-^ cuftomed liberality, in an unfounded fufpicion of the veracity of Hearn. But this he retraits in a preliminary difcourfe *. He conftantly pro- fefles rather to colledl materials for the fpecula- tion and enquiry of others, than to form iyftems for himfelf, a pradice to which he declares him- felf an enemy. * Vide page xxxii. Where, as if it was his fate to wreak all his calumny on an opponent invulnerably fecurc in the. armour of integrity, honour, and fidelity, he aims an invidi- ous attack at that gentleman, which the publication of his narrative previous to the following pages, has rendered equal- ly invalid with the former accufation, and muft again expofe him to the fame humiliating recantation, A 3 In TH£ TRANSLATOR S PREFACE. In reading the narratives of thofc who have viiited favage nations, it is impoilible to avoid contemplating with fclf-exultation, the fuperi- ority of civilized Man over a Jîaie of nature^ which if it means any thing, fignifics a ftatc of ignorance, where cunning and treachery almofl univcrfally prevail. The mind is ftrengthened by the cultivation of the arts and fciences ; Man in fociety alone perceives the mutual advantage of reciprocal good faith, and virtue flourifhes un- der the banners of truth and general utility : while the ignorance of the Indian, which renders his pleafurcs uncertain and tranfient, is compen- fated by no one fupcriority of enjoyment, either mental or corporeal : nor does the moft finilh- ed picture of favage life exceed a mere abicnce of care, or that inaélive unintcrefting tranquillity which civilization alone can render fecure. To expatiate further on the utility of this ex- pedition is unneceflary» The Public intereft and curiofity, which ever anticipate works of this na- ture, will not have been diminifhed by the un- happy fate of La Péroufe, his paiTcngers and crews. Accuracy being no lefs important in a tranila- tor than veracity in a traveller, the Engliih Edi- tor has been folicitous rather to convey the true meaning of his author, than to decorate his lan- ;; guage ;r/,r I. i THE TtlANSLATOR'i PREFACE. guagc with graces foreign to the original. This principle, itfelf fufRciently obvious, acquires ad- ditional force from La Péroufe's exprefs defire ; he wiftied, that to avoid facrificing fenfc to found, as might happen in the unpoliftied phrafes of the fea, and other technical terms, his narra- tion, iliould it be publifhed without his infpec- tion, might be committed to the care rather of a feaman than a man of letters. With this fimple declaration the Tranflator would have fubmitted himfelf to the Public, had not a competitor appeared, whofe agents, with the petulance of ungenerous rivallhip, have mif- reprefented his defign, and accufed him of muti- lating the original. Had it been poffible fooner to complete the work, this calumny could not have been fupported for a moment; and the Au^ thor only laments, fmcercly laments, that the Public in general have feldom the inclination or the opportunity to enter into a comparifon of the feparate merits of thoie who appear as candi- dates for their favour. He is therefore unwil- lingly compelled to urge his claim to their pro- teélion, by ftating his defign and plan in the exe- cution of the work. Confidering the Narrative and Tables of the firft importance, particularly to the man of fcience and the navigator, he has given thele, together : A 4 with / THE TRANSLATOR S PREFACE. \vith all the memoirs and corrcrpondcncc in a complete and accurate tranflation. The tables in particular mull be viewed as the guide of future navigators, the clue to conduél them through the labyrmths of the South Sea Iflands, the bea- con to warn them from rocks, and Ihoals, and breakers, and to dircd their courfc through the mifts of the ocean. To have omitted thefe, or to have negle£lcd their accuracy, would have been to endanger the lives of others, and render the labour of navigators fruitlefs. Of the preliminary papers, however, which are by no means equally important or interefting, it appeared more dc- firablc for every clafs of readers to perufc, at moft a copious abridgment, comprifing every ufeful information without the circumlocution and redundancy, fo frequent in official papers. To no Ens-lifliman could a detail of thcfc minu- tia?, or voluminous catalogues of French names compofmg tlic crews of the vcixcls have been ufeful. It is with no fmall fatisfadlion that the Editor has availed himfclf of the vacancy this fuperfluous matter has alibrdcd, to introduce a comprehcnfive abridgment of another ex- pedition, that of M. de 1 vcifeps over-land to Kamtfcliatka, which is no lefs intereftinsc in it- felf thanby its conncilion with that of La Pc- roufc, of the narrative of whofe voyage it feems '■ '^' , . ;■'■-, ^ i.. p. THE TRANSLATOR S PREFACE. to form a part. A full and accurate tranflatîon is alio i^ivcn of the voyage of the Spanifli navi- gator Maurillo ; and the vvhc^le illuilrated by additional notes of tlie Tranflator. Of the Engravings, which arc numerous, little need be faid. They are cafily compared, and fcarcely need challenge comparifon to obtain the moft decided preference. In the conditions of publication yf9;*/y plates are promifed, but the en- couragement fliewn to the work during its pro- grefs, has induced the Publifiicr to encreafe their number toffty-one. It mull- be noticed, however, that many of the original drawings having arrived in France without corrcfponding defcriptions, arc fo pub- liflied ; the French Editor having only ventured to add an account of a plant from Chili, written by M. Ventinat. In one place in particular the figiu-cs have been numbered, though unaccom- panied by any reference in the work. r -i^ 1 LIST / • LIST OF PLATES* - V ,j : ' '" " VOL. I. • >'':'*^v:, i,>Aîi^-:^H:t!^,'; ■ 'liil PAGE Portrait of La Péroufe, to front the Title. Cliart of a Part of the Great Pacific Ocean - - _ cxv Chart of the World 1 View of the Ifland of St. Catharine ------ 27 .Drefs of the Inhabitants of La Conception - - - - 53 Natives and Monuments of Eafter Ifland - - - - 70 Canoe of Eafter Ifland ---.--___- 75 Anchorge of the Frigates at Mowee ------91 Chart of the N. W. Coaft of America ----- i05 Wreck of the two Boats at Port des Français - - - 135 Canoe found at Port des Français (with the Skin ufed inftead of Planks) --^----_-_ 145 Plan of Port des Français --------_i46 Blackbird of Port des Français --.---_i5o Eftabliihment at Port des Français for the filhing Seafon 154- Drcfs of the Inhabitants of Port des Français - - 156 Woman of Port des Français -------.15g Canoe of Port des Français - - - - - - . -I6+ Partridge, Male and Female, of California - - - - 201 Promerops or Bee-eater of California - - _ _ . ihid. Great Sea Urchins of the N. W. Coaft of America - 222 Echini Marini --------__-: 223 View of Macao ------_-___- 254 Chart of the Difcovcries in the Seas of China and Tartary -----_-._--_._ 269 View of Cavita - ---------__ 271 Parao, a Pafl!àge Boat of Manilla ------ 272 Drefs of the Inhabitants of Manilla ------ ihïd. LIST LIST OF PLATE3. VOL. II. PAGE Frontifpiece, reprefenting Navigation, to face the Title. Sarambeau, a filhing Raft of Manilla ----- 5 Champan, a Chinefe Boat -------- 6 Boat of Formofa ------------17 Japanefe Boat ------------21 Japanefe Boat, front View --------23 Drefs of the Inhabitants of Langle Bay 44 Nifhani, Aoucantouroi and Erougantoi, Inhabitants of Langle Bay ------------51 Canoe of the Orotchys ----------67 Drefs of the Inhabitants of Caftries Bay - - - - 68 Tombs in Caftries Bay ------.-- 70 Orotchys, Inhabitants of Caftries Bay ----- 72 Canoe of the Betchys ----------75 Canoe of Tchoka ----------- 90 View of Company's Land ---------93 View of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Kamtfchatka - - 138 Part of the Ifland of Maouna, and Plan of the Creek ^^ du Maflacre ---- ------- isi Maflacre of Meflrs. de Langle, Lamanon, and ten others ---- --------- 133 Plan and Views of Eafter Ifland ------- 248 Geometrical details of the Monuments of Eafter Ifland 254 Infers --- 280 Poulettes 324 Male Cotton Plant of Chili -- 440 Female Cotton Plant of Chili 442 Kamtfchadale Caravan (Leflcp's Travels) - - - - i DIRECTION» DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER For placing the Letter-Prefs and PJateu VOL. I. . Title, Preface, Contents, Lift of Plates. Compiler's Preface, and Preliminary Difcourfe. Decrees of the Aflembly, and Preliminary Inftruftion». Narrative of aii interefting Voyage from Manilla to Saint Blaife. Voyage round the World. VOL. IL '[ Voyage round the AVorld. Excurfion to TenerifFe, Supplementary Papers, &c. ^ Tables (hewing the Courfe of the Bouflble and Aftrolube. ^ Travels, over the Continent. The Plates to be placed in each Volume according to the Lift in Vol. L with Silver Paper between each. *^* The Binder is requcfted to pare the bottom of the Plates before inferting them, left the top of the Engrav- ings fhould be cut. CONTENTS. "'I'.. CONTENTS. ««oeiix MISCELLANEOUS CHAPTER. PACK The Coj?ipiler^s Preface • • i Preîhnïnary Dïfcourfe xv Extraâl from the Minutes of the Municipal Court of the City and Community of Morlaix xlii The Frigates of the King of France, La Boujfole and Ï Afirolahe, commanded by Mejfrs. de La Péroufe and De Langle, failed from the Port of Brefl, In June, 1785 xïv Decree of the National AJfcmhJy, of February ^th, 1791 xlxi Decree of the National AJfcmvly, of April 22^, 1791.... I . Memorial from the King, toferve as particular In- JlruBions to the Sieur de la Péroufe, Captain m the Navy, commanding the Frigates la Boujfole and TAjirolabe — 26/// June, 1785 li Part Flrjl.— Sketch of the Voyage liii Part Second. — Objeâis relative to Politics and Commerce Ix Part Third. — Operations relative to Agronomy, -^ Geography, JSavlgatlon, Phyjlcs, and the dlf- Aï-O ferent Branches of Natural Hljiory Ixvii ' > - . c .%>> i^. <^... V Part CONTENTS, VOL. I, PAOB Part Fourth. — Cotiduâi to be ohferved toward the Natives of the different Countries Ixxii Part Fifth. — Precautions to he employed for pre^ ferving the Health of the Cre^vs Ixxv Extraits from M. de la Pêroufé' s general Inflruc- tions Ixxx Southern Atlantic Ocean ibid. Great South Sea Ixxxiv Great Equatorial Ocean Ixxxv Great Northern Ocean , Ixxxvii Supplement Ixxxix Letter from M. le Marefchal de Cajiries, to M. de Condor cet. Secretary to the Academy of Sci- ences xc A digejled Alemoir, for the Ufe of the learned and fcientific Perfons about to embark under M. de la Pêroufe , ibid. Geometry, Aflronomy, Mechanics xci Phyfics , . , xcii Chemiflry ibid. Anatomy , xciii Zoology ibid' Mineralogy. ........................ xciv Botany ibid. Ohfervations of M. Buache.-^Thefe indicate the Parts of the Ocean in which New Difcoveries may moft probably be made xcy JLxamination of the Nature of the Air .,....,... xcvi Specific Gravity of the Air .................. xcvii Examination of Water ibid. Que/lions propofed by the Medical Society to the Gentlemen who are to accompany M. de la Pê- roufe, read in the Sitting of May 2,\ , 1785 xcviii Sketch CONTENTS, VOL. I. PAOI Sketch of Experiments to he rnade for preferving Water on Ship'board from Corruption, commu- nicated by the Abhê TeJJter, of the Academy of Sciences, ar^ of the Medical Society civ Memoir to direât the Gardener in the Labours of his Voyage round the World \ by M, Thouin, : fîrfl Botanical Gardener , cvii Part Firfl. — Choice, Nature and Culture of the Vegetables to be tranfported from France ibid. V art Second. — Of the gathering of Vegetables that may be ufeful to Europe, and of their Preferva- tion on the Voyage , cviii A lift of Seeds to be packed up for the Expedition cix Vegetables to be tranfported in their natural State cxi Inventory of Goods and Merchandize to be given in Prefents or Barter ibid. Lift of the Names of the Officers, Scientific Men, Artifts, and Seamen, embarked on Board of the Frigates la Boujfole and r Aflrolabe, July 1785 cxii SPANISH VOYAGE. Narrative of an interefiing Voyage from Manilla to Saint Blaife, in J780 and 178I cxv Departure from Sifiran, on the Eajlern Coajl of Luconia , cxxi Departure from Refuge Harbour, in the IJland of Don Martin de Mayorga c\ Departure from the Road of Umata, in the I/land of Quam, the Capital of the Marianas, fituated in 30° 10' N. Lat. 1\^ 28^ Lon^r. of Manilla clxii; Extraât from the Narrative of a Voyage made in 1779? b J^^^ Francis Anthony Maurelle, En- feigne de Frégate, in the Service of the King of Spain, for the Difcovery of the Weft Coajt of ^ori^h America clxvi /% \ CONTENTS, VOL. I. ,, . I LA PEROUSE's VOYAGE. CHAP. I. PAGE Ohjeél of the Voyage and Equipment of the ttvo Frigates ; Jiay in Brejl Road — Pajfage to Ma- •• >• deira and Teneriffe-, Jiay in thofe IJlands — Ex- • - curfion to the Peak — Arrived at Trinidad — .: Touched at St. Catharine s on the Coajl of Brafil 1 CHAP. II. Defcriptlon of St. Catharine s — Ohfcrvations and Events during our Jîay — Departure from St. .. Catharines — Arrival at La Conception 27 CHAP. III. i Defcrlptlon of Conception Bay — Manners arid Cuf- toms of the Inhabitants — Departure from Tal- caguana — Arrival at Eafler IJland 47 CHAP. IV. Defcrlptlon of Eajier Ifland — Incidents and Events ivhich took Place there — Manners and Cufioms of the Inhabitants 64 ■ . CHAP. V. :, ;»', :_\A... % i**,v. ■71 ■^ " f «,■,,■■» » •■ » * •;■«,-#♦ » f ■',. ,"'V THE COM- THE COMPILER'S PREFACE. »«^«4 ^X^HE Public, inured to the painful impreiHon •*• which muft have been produced by the lofs of the two vcflcls employed in the unfortunate expedition committed to the charge of la Péroufc, will be furprized.at the publication of the journal of his voyage. The decree of the Conflituent AiTembly, which has ordered the impreffion of the charts and memoirs tranfmitted by that na- vigator, muil> however, have announced that we were not entirely deprived of the fruit of that expedition. His fagacity engaged him not only to fcizc, but to feek for opportunities of fending his journals to Europe. It were to be wiihcd that the felf-love of the learned gentlemen, embarked with him, had permitted them, in like manner, to forego the fruit of their labours ; we fhould not have had to regret the almoft total lofs of them. La Péroufe, occupied with the difficult and numerous details, which the command of an ex- pedition as important as perilous rendered neççf- fary, conftrained at every ftep to excrcife judg- VoL. I. a ment tt u THE COMPILER S PREFACE. ment and forcfight, and confcqucntly to modify his ideas conformably to circumilanccs, could not poflibly collcél in their order, nor digcfl me- thodically, the materials which were one day to ' enable him to compofe the hiftory of his voyage. Thofe materials mull have appeared ftill more deflitute of form in the eyes of a Compiler who had no part in that enterprize. As nothing that can ferve to promote the pro- • grefs of the human mind ought to be negleéled in voyages of difcovery, pcrfons of fciencc and artifts conflitute an ciTcntial part of fuch expeditions : on their return, each one arranges his own ma- terials, and gives to the particular objecfl in which he was employed that degree of pcrfedion of which he believes it to be fufceptible : from a judicious union of thefe different parts a com- plete relation is obtained, in which the particu- lars appear in connexion, and every thing is in its proper place. In the prcfent cafe, through a fatality which has no example, our new Argo- nauts have all perilhed ; and I am called upoa alone to fupply, by colleding what could be fav- cd from the ihip wreck, the true and energetic touch of navigators,, who would not have faid a word but what confided with their perfonal ex- perience. _. i- , i . o^ , ^» In complying, not without reludance, with • *• . m THE compiler's PREFACENT, the ibllcltations which induced mc to engage in this painful though honourable undertaking, it •was impoiTible for mc to overlook the difHcultics which I had to encounter in a work, all the parts of which no human faculties could equally cm- brace. The Public will undoubtedly regret, with mc, that the ex-marine-minifter, Fleurieu, now a member of the National Inflitutc and of tho Board of Longitude, a fcholar of rare and dif- tinguifhed merit, who at firft exprefled a ftrong inclination to undertake himfelf the compilation of this work, has been obliged by circumflances to abandon his defign. The fame intereil which induced me to ma- nifeft, from the tribune of the Conftituent Af- fembly> the moft ardent zeal for the publication of this voyage, for the benefit of the refpeélablc widow of la Péroufe, prompted me to direét the choice of government to a perfon poûeifed of > maritime talents capable of replacing the gentle- • man who had been firft appointed to the tafk : but France had already loft, in a great meafure, the moft diftinguifhed of her naval officers ; the reft were fully employed, or had voluntarily re- tired. The minifter could feledl only one who had at leaft made a ftudy of the mathematical fciences and of phyfics, the eiTential bafis of fuch a 2 a work. 't. < If»; THE COMPILER S PREFACE. '- a work. The choice of a man poiTeiTed, in a fu- perior degree, of thoie fciences was beildcs con- formable to the intention of la Péroufe himfelf ; for he wrote to one of his friends in words near- ly to this effeO: : *' Should my journal be fent to " the prefs before my return, let care be taken " not to commit the compilation of it to a man " of letters : for he will either take upon him to ** facrificci to an agreeable turn of expreffion the " proper term, which may appear to him harfh '* and barbarous, but which the feaman and the " man of fcience would prefer, and will in vain '* look for ; or elfe, putting afide all the nautical " and aftronomical details^ and defirous of pre- ** fcnting to the world an interefting romance ** merely, he will commit, through want of that " kind of knowledge which his education may " not have permitted him to acquire, errors " which {hall prove fatal to my fucceflbrs : but " feledt a compiler well verfed in mathematical " fcience, one who is a mafter of calculation, " one capable of combining my data with thofc " of other navigators, of reélifying the miftakes " which may have efcaped me, without making " others of his own. Such a compiler will go " to the bottom of the fubjeft ; he will fupprcfs nothing eiTcntial ; he will prefent the techni- cal details, in the blunt and rough, but concife «ilile. (( tc THE COMPILER S PREFACE. V *' ftilc, of a fcaman ; and he will well difcharge ** the cruft repofed in him by fupplying my de- *' feds, and by publilhing the work fuch as T *' myfelf would have wiftied to make it." Having made this wifh of the author my con- ftant rule, I advife that clafs of readers who have amufement for their fole obje£t to proceed no farther ; I have not laboured for them, but only for the feaman and the man of fcience. 1 h^ye endeavoured, in a work whofe fubftance ought to have a preference to the form, and in which fidelity as to fads and exadnefs of expreffion are the moft important qualities, to be clear and pre- cifc ; I have niade no facrifice to grace at the ex- pence of truth. This acknowledgement is all the apology I make, at the lame time that it {o- licits the indulgence of the reader. In this view I have rcligioufly reipeded the character of flyle employed by each author, fim- ply adapting its forms to the received ftandard of language : but when any idea ftruck me which could ferve to conned others, an expreffion which might complete an image, render it more promi- nent, or give to the phrafeology more harmony, without altering the fenfe, I thought myfelf at liberty to employ it. The work which is now prefented would un- doubtedly have been much more valuable, had a 3 it . V Vi THE COMPILER S PREFACE. it proceeded from the pen of the cx-minifter, Fleurieu, enriched as it muft have been with his various and profound literature : I am bound at the fame time to declare, that I have confulted him whenever 1 found myielf in doubt ; and I have ever found in him that complaifance and that modefty which are the infeparable atten- dants of real fcience and talents. If to colleâ:, to difpofe, to digeft in a proper manner, all the parts of fuch a work, was a dif- ficult undertaking, the details relative to its pub-, lication, the pains, the refcarches, the exertions of every kind, which the moft indefatigable zeal alone could have iupported, and the delays neceiTarily occafioned by unforefeen accidents, feemed to render it impraflicable. The impreffion had been decreed in 179I and no commencement was made in 1 7Q3, the asra when the labour devolved on me. A paper currency continually decreafmg in value, diflblv- ed the engagements made with artifts, and with undertakers in every department, almoft as foon as formed, or induced them to op- pofe to my efforts a moft difcouraging indo- lence, which formed its calculation on the prof- peel of a more fortunate futurity ; an opinion, bordering on delirium, which then produced a forced accommodation to the times, in contra- . I. didion . I i» « « VII Lifter, :h his nd at • fulted • and I ^ ;e and attem- proper a dif- s pub- ertions lie zeal delays idents, 1791, )3, the ^ paper diffolv- ;, and almoft to op- ; indo- le prof- opinion, luced a contra - didion THE COMPILER S PREFACE. didion to the truth of hiftory, of the denomina- tions, the ufages of very different times, laid me under the neceffity, in this refpeft, of remaining paffive for more than a year ; finally a new pa- per money, and embarraffment in the public finances, when gold and filvcr again appeared in circulation: thefe have been the phyfical and moral caufes of the delay to which I have been forced to fubmit. In order to enable me to eonciliate the diffi- culties of compilation, arifing out of the difîiculr ties of the moment, it had been powerfully re- commended to me to write the hiftory of this voyage in the third perfon. By thb* means tranf- formed into an hiftorian, and appropriating to myfelf the materials intrufted to me, I removed the navigator to a diftance, that I might place myfelf between the reader and him. This pro- pbfal has not feduced my. vanity ; I have facri- ficed it to the intereft which always infpires the man who relates what he has felt, who defcribes the painful fituations through which he has paiT- cd, and renders you the affociate of his pleafures as well as of his diftrefTes. If circumftances have involved me in fetters and obftacles during the progrefs of my labour, the refult will at leaft demonftrate that Govern- ment has not ccafed to protect the arts and '» a 4 - fcicnccs V , i -iiil via THE COMPILER s PREFACE. fcienccs through the whole courfc of the moil aflonifhing of revolutions, which has excited againft it a war as general as oppreilive. 1 have explained the nature and difficulties of the undertaking ; it is now incumbent on me to fay fomething refpeéling the form of the work, of its diftribution, and of the care employed in the execution in every material point. The title of Voyage round the World which I have given it, though not in ftridnefs of ipccch due to it till the return of la Peroufe into one of our French ports, will affuredly not be difputed, as we may confider a voyage round the world to be completed, when, taking his departure from Europe, the navigator has arrived in China after doubling Cape Horn and croiling the South Sea. Befides, have not our navigators fumifhed, dur- ing the year of naval refearch which followed their arrival in China, a career much longer, more brilliant and more perilous, than that of fimply their return to Europe ? 'ïi « r: .:^^ The work, coniifting of four volumes in oc- tavo, and of an Atlas in quarto *, is divided in the following manner : .The firft volume contains all the preliminary * The Paris edition, from whence the plates of this tranflation are engraved, is four vols. 4to. and a folio vo> lume of plates. ' ^ a '* ' ' pieces THE COMPILER S PRFACE. IX pieces relative to the expedition; I have only added to it the tranilation of a Spaniih voyage, the manufcript copy of which has been tranf- mitted by la Péroufe, and which I could place no where elfc without rendering the volumes of a fize too unequal. A celebrated author refcued from oblivion the magnanimous felf-facrifice of d'Affas, who de- voted his own life to favc the French army, calling aloud. Here am /, Auvergne, that is the enemy. The Society of Natural Hiftory at Paris had the merit of fixing the attention of the re- prefentatives of the nation on the expedition of la Péroufe, by the petition which they prefented the 22d of January 1 701. The National AfTem-» bly delayed not a moment to take it into confi- deration, however important the other fubjedb of deliberation in which they were engaged, i The two decrees which were the refult of thb, as honourable for the Affembly as for the perfons who were the objeft of them, are placed at the head of the work. They breathe humanity and fcnfibility, and will announce for ever, to every one who fhall form the refolution of walking in the footftcps of la Péroufe : " When thou fhalt " have performed thy career through the quickr " fands and dangers of every kind which furround *^ thee, thou mayeft reft aflured, ihouldft thou ■M ^ :-.{( È THE COMPILER S PREFACE. ■►^^ %. •f « " fall by the way, that a grateful country will ** honourably enrol thy name in the temple of " Fame." I have not reftriéled myfelf to the pradice of preferving the names of only the officers and fcientific men employed in fimilar expeditions : the publication of an exaél lift of the fliips' crews appeared to me to be an a jh/>r^ ^%%d4. k. • We {land indebted to the progrefs made in aftronomy for the means of determining, at pre- fent, the longitude at fea to a high degree of prc- ciflon. To announce that the aftronomer Da- gelet, a member of the Academy of Sciences, un- *'. . « (( <( n it %, ■I ■H.i * 1 :^ ^ ' ^C dertook »•# I* ■ïîî- Xll THE COMPILER S PREFACE. dcrtook the fuperintcndancc of this part of the labour, is to infpire the moft complete confidence reipeding its exadnefs, and that of the tables and charts which refult from it. ^'^ > If the journal does not in every point coincide with the tables of the fhip*s track and with the charts, it arifes from the impoflibility of delay- ing the imprcffion of the journal, till they were completely verified. At any rate thefe differ- ences are neither frequent nor coniîderable ; when they occur, the preference ought to be given to the tables, and efpecially to the charts» which were executed under the diredion of the firfl hydrographer of the marine, Buache, a member of the National Inflitute and of the Board of Longitude. I am bound here to acknowledge, with particular refped, the folicitude which that gentleman has difcovered to fupport rne in this important part of my engagement. Through the whole courfe of the work, the longitudes, which are indicated by rio particulaf meridian, are reckoned from that of Paris. I have endeavoured to be cxad in the orthor graphy of proper names of perfons and places ; but thefe lafl being as various in the relations, as the languages of their authors are different j it was necefTary to adopt, in tranfcribing fuch ^ords indicative and merely of convention, the ;^iu:jr%.ij orthography -'^ THE COMPILER S PREFACE. of the idcncc les and )incidc th the delay- Y were differ- when ven to which le firft lember )ard of /ledge, :h that in this orthor places ; ons, as ;nt; it 5 fuch 3n, the graphy orthography tnoû generally received, by combin- ing it with the idiom of the country. s The fourth vohime is compofed of memoirs, or detached pieces tranfmitted to government by the fcientific gentlemen employed in the expedi- tion, and of thofe which I was able to collc* >- m % # ^ ^*^" XÎV THE COMPILER S PrtEFACE. . prcfervativc precaution. If it is not generally approved, I have this to fay for myfelf, that fuch is the form of the beautiful edition of Cook's Third Voyage, publifhcd by order, and at the ex- pence» of the Englifh government. I have been under the neccflity, in order to bring the work at length to conclufion, to dif- tribute among a great number of engravers, the drawings at firft committed to five artifts of emi- nent ability : from thi^has refulted an unavoid-. able defeél in point of uniformity and perfection ; I have done my utmoft to render this as imper- ceptible as it could be. If this work be fuch as the Public had a right to expedt from the materials put into my hands, and after the unexpeéled lofs of our navigators, my moft pleafing recompcnfe will be to reflet, that I have fulfilled the views of Government, and that I contributed my efforts towar|pi ^K * *• # »rt Hf..- m #.»• IRA PRELIMINARY DISCOURS!?. » ^ at large ; but fuch cxtradls arc not the Tources front which the mariner and the man of fcicnce derive their fupplics, bccaufc the materials thus paflcd through the crucible of the man of letters, from which they iflTued light and brilliant, no longer pre- fent the folid principle which conftitutcs fciencc, and which is deftroyed by the change it has undergone. The authors or tranflators of works of the fame kind with the prefent, have almoft all of them given an enumeration of the voyages which preceded the one they were publifhing, and of the difcoveries which had refulted from them. They thus exhibited a piélure of the fucceffive acquilitions which geo- graphy had made, at the fame time that they indi- cated the works which gave an account of them. I iTiall not repeat this detailed enumeration, which may be fouj;id elfewhere, but fatisfy myfelf with giving a more complete chronological lift of the principal na- vigators to whom we are indebted for difcoveries in the South Sea : Magellan, a Portugucze, in the fervîcc of Spain Garcia de Loaes or Loayfa, a Portugucze, idem Alphonzo de Salazar, a Spaniard Alvar Suvacdra, a Spaniard Ferdinand Grijalva and Alvarcdo, Spaniards Gaétan, a Spaniard Alvar de Mendana, a Spaniard Juan Fernandez, a Spaniard Drake, an EnçUlhinan Thomas Candifh, (Cavendifh) an Englifhman Sir Richard Hawkins, an F.nglifhman Alvar de Mendana, a Spaniard Oliver de Nort, a Dutchman Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, and Luis Vacs de Torres, Spaniards - < , George Spelberg, a Dutchman Le Maire and Schouten, Dutchmen L^Hermite, a Dutchman Abel Tafman, a Dutchman Anthony la Roche, a Frenchman Cowley, an £ngU(hman } 1519 15L'5 1525 1526 1537 1542 1667 1576 1577 1586 1594 1595 1598 160G 1614 - 1616 - 1623 - 1642 - 1675 - 1683 Dampicr, » . 1519 1525 1525 1526 1537 1542 1667 157G 1577 1586 1594 1595 1598 1606 1614 1616 1623 1642 1675 1683 )ampicr, • V'j xvii 1687 1687 1689 1693 1699 1703 170» 170rt 1712 1715 1719 PRELIMINAllT DISC0UR8R. Danipler, an iLn|;lifhman - DuvicH, an Enghfhman ^ • John Strong, an Englilhraart - - > « Gemelli Carreri, a Neapolitart * - fieauchéne Gouin, a Krcnclimaii William Funnel, an Engiiihman ^ AVood Roecr, an Kngliiuinan *• LquIs Feuillet-, a Frenchman • - Frczier, a Frenchman - • (jentll de la Baibinais, a Frenchman John Cliperton aftd and George Shelvocke, j Englilhmcn - - } Ro^gewein, a Dutchman Anion, an F-nglilhman m Le Hen-Uvignon, a Frenchman - - • Byron, an Englifhman Wallis, an Englifhman Carteret, an Engliftiman •> , * * Pages, a Frenchman - - - Bougainville, a Frenchman Cook, an Engliftiman »• Survillc, a Frenchman * - * Marion and du Clefmeur, Frenchmen Cook, an F^ngliftiman Cook, Clerke and Gore, Englifhmen Cook's laft voyage was hitherto known only by the tragical end of the illullrious commander of that ex- pedition, when France, availing lierfelf of the leifure procured by the peace which hud juft been conclud- ed, confidered it as n duty which (lie owed to her own rank among the firll maritime powers, and ftill more to her zeal, and to the means which (he pof- feflcd for the advancement of the fcicnces, to ifliie orders for a voyage of difcovery, that (he might con- cur in carrying to perfedlion the knowledge of the globe which we have fo long inhabited. If progrefs has been made in modern times in the explor;^tion of unknown regions, if the pofition of each of the known parts of the globe is henceforth fixed, in a word, if every ftep vvc take biings us nearer to the objcdl in view, we owe all to the improvement of Vol. I. bi ' aftronon\ical 1722 - 1741 - 1747 - 1764 - 1766 - 1766 - 1766 --•1766 - 1769, - 1769 - 1771 - 1772' - 1775 u m \ I ♦ é ;isi;; Kvlii tRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. aftronomical knowledge. This fcience gives us, in the dillances of certain "ftars, whofe motion is calcu- lated with extreme preciflon, an infallible bafis by which we are enabled to determine, with an accuracy fafficicnt for the fecurity o( navigation, the longi- tude in the middle of an immenfe ocean, where, till now, it had been impoffible to fettle it, except to an approximation in a great meafure arbitrary, which expofed the navigator to mi flakes of ferious import- ance. This benefit of aftronomy enfures, for the time to come, the fuccefs of our expeditions, and the perfe6ling of geography. Means undoubtedly exift for accelerating this happy refult of Scientific refearch ; and this is the place to fuggcft fome ideas refpeéling an objeâ of fo great magnitude. Thefe means might be combined into a iyftem, in a fpecies of Gongrefs to be compofed df» agents commiflioned by the principal maritime powers, which might wi(h to participate in the glory of fuch an enterprize. . , i ^^ The Congrefs, confifiing of aflronomers, hydro- graphers, and feamen, would make it their bufinefs to retrace all the ancient difcoveries not complete- 4y verified till now ; they would prefent a pic- ture of allthe parts of the globe where difcoveries •are Hill to be made, to be completed, or details to he 'coinmunicated ; they would prepare a view of the ifeafons in every latitude of the two hemifpheres, of the prevailing winds, of the raoonfons, of the cur- Tents, of the refreftiments, of the affiftance to be ex- ceeded, &c. iOpon fuch a bafis as this, a general inftru6^ion might be draWn up to be given to the commanders of a great expedition ; and in order to prevent the direélion of feveral projeéls to the fame object, the totality of difcoveries to be made might be divided among the maritime powers, regard being had to the 'à^; ;;,::^£ii' .ro jrfi u r ,ii - . ,polièffions i ^ PRELIMINARY DIS^ÇOURSE. XIX. us, 111 calcu- las by luracy long^- ;re, till t to an which m port- er the m, and ig this s is the aof fo mbined impofed laritime le glory hydro- bulinefs mplete- a pic- coveries ils to be of the leres, of the cur- o be ex- |)oflè{rions and re^tlcments whiqh might refpedively î^cilitatc the execv clearly t on pro- ^ n a con- "^ )f longi- 1 tude, u PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. tnde, the diftance from the meridian where the reckoning commenced is lefs than at 180, whereas by faying l6o degrees of eaft longitude, inftead of '400 degrees of longitude, one fenfibly perceives where he is. .;^fl> '.nr,; It innft be admitted that the objeélion againft numbering the degrees up to 3Ô0 is very feeble, re- gard being had to the merit of a procefs fimple and fccured from error ; a merit which fhould make us overlook the inconiidcrable number of perfons who will not learn to comprehend the fmallnefs of the, didance between their . own meridian and that of / • * . "»< , . 'JSnO **' r%vt fr »f"| 33y The advantage refulting from the mode of reck- oning longitude up to 300 degrees, is however a matter of little importance compared to that of the adoption of a common meridian to fcirve, in future,' as the bafis of the geography of all nations. It is abundantly fcnfible that the felf love of each of them will make inceflTant efforts to cry up and prefer its own. Putting afide every conlideration of this fort, tlie meridian which, it would appear, is the mod proper to afîlnne, in that it pafîès over very little land, and leaves the meridians of the maritime pow- ers of Europe to the eaû, is hat of the remarkable peak which Nature feems to have placed in the midft of the ocean, to ferve as a pharos to navigators ; I mean the peak of Teneriffe. > A pyramid conftrué^-. ed at the expence of the aflbciated powers might be raifcd on the point through which the meridian line fhould pjifs ; and aboard of aftronomers, chofcn from among the members of the propofed congrefs, would determine, by a feries of operations, the exaét dif- ferences between this common meridian, and that of the grand obfervatories 6f the two worlds. Thcfe operations, to which the perfeétion of the means we poilefs would enfure the higheft degree of aceiiraey, mufl remove all uncertainty of calcu- b 3 lation. liM Fà'éttM'M4HY Diëcôurié'É. i lâtiôri, réfjjiecfting thé c|uffntities to be addtd or ftib-. tfa6!ed, in ctxmparing meridian' wrth melfidian ; they ^ôuiM ârtriihilate the difièrencés produced in the re- fold of their com pariibii obtained at different epochs, and which may be taken for errors, if we lofë iîght ôif thÎ6' fdéïj that ftfîronomers, after rtèw obiêrVtftiôfts, madte with ^eatér attention, aiïd by the affiftance of bettet iti^uiMûtÉf have changed the relations of diûàù^ fettled between the Meridians of the obfer- Vatories of Paris and Greenwich. That diftance, \(rhich was fixed at 2^ I9', is now afcertained to be Q^ 20^ : tvAy], if a rigorous precifion were exa, -What opportunity more favourable for difcuffing tïie advantages and the inconveniences of adopting an uniformity of weights and meafures, and that of the decimal divifion, than that of a congrcfs, con- lifting of the reprefentativcs of the moft illuftrious fcientific focieties in the world ! If the different governments would agree to admit this uniformity in every cafe in which it would be deemed ufeful, its fimultapeous and univerfal reception would double the benefit of it ; and then would be the time to make the greateft effort to overcome the difficulties of its application to the divifion of the circle ^nd the meafurement of time. What power preferably to France would hence- forth, by an influence equally extenfive and com- manding, realize the plan of fuch a congrefs ? As grca:t in her enterprizes as in her conceptions, in her operations as in her views, fhe determined, as 1 have faid, to fet on foot a voyage of dif • covery; the proje The year after, the French government formed the defign of taking and deftroying the Englifh fet- tlemants in Hudfon's Bay. La Péroufe was deemed a proper perfon for executing this painful fervice, in feas of difficult navigation. He received orders to fail from Cape Français, May 31ft, 1782. He com- manded the Sceptre, of 74 guns, and was attended by the Afl'rea and Engageante frigates, of 36 gunS each, commanded by captains De Langle and La Jr-lUe : there were embarked on board this fquadron 200 infantry, 40 artillery men, four field pieces, two mortars, and 300 bombs. July 17th, became up with Refolution Ifiand ; but XXVIU PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. II but fcarccly had he advanced 25 leagues In Iliidfon's Strait, when he found his (hips entangled among the ice, by which they received conliderable da- mage. Oh the 30th, after a confiant ftruggle with ob- ftacles.of every fpecics, he got fight of Cape Wal- lingham, fituated in the moù weftcrly part of the ftrait. In order to arrive cxpediliouily at Fort Prince of Wales, which he propofcd immediately to attack, he had not a, linglc moment to lofc, the rigour of the feafon obliging all vefîèls to quit thofe fens early in September : but as foon as he had fairly entered Hudfon's Bay he was involved in thick fogs ; qnd on the 3d of Auguft, when it began to clear up, he faw himfelf furrounded by ice as far as the eye could carry, which forced hirn to make for the cape, He triumphed nevert^clefs oyer tjicfe obllaclcs ; and, toward evening on the 8th, having defcricd the flag of Fort Prince of Wales, the French fliips made for it, founding till they came \yithin a Ic^igue and a half, and anchored in 18 fathom water, pn a bottom of mud. An officer, fent to reconnoitre the ap- proaches to the fort, reported that the yeïiçls could be fafcly moored a little vvay*ofF. La Pcroufc hav- ing no doubt that the Sceptre alone could not eafily reduce the enemy, ftiould they refift, made prepara- tion for efteé^ing a landing in the night time. Though retarded by the tide and the darkncfs, t!ic boats reached the land without meeting any oppofition, about three quarters of a league from the fort. La Péroufe, obferving no defenlive difpofition made, though the fort appeared in a condition to make a vigorous reliftancc, ordered the enemy to be fum - moned. The gates were thrown open ; the gover- nor and garrifon furrendered at difcretion. This part of his orders being executed, he fct f'lil, Auguft 11, for Fort York: in order to reach it, he bad to encounter, dangers .Aill greater than thofe which PRELIMINARY DiSCOUllSB. XXlK which he had hitherto experienced ; he failed in fix or fcven fathom water, along a court of continued rocks and quiekfands. After running through rifles innumerable, the Sceptre and the two frigates difco- vercd the entrance into Nelfon's river, and anchor- ed, Auguft 20th, about /ive leagues from (hore. La Péroufe had taken three decked boats at Fort Prince of Wales ; he font them, with the Sceptre's b»at, to reconnoitre Hayes' river, near which ftands Fort York. On the 21ft of Auguft, the troops' embarked on board the boats ; and La Péroufe, having nothing to fear from the enemy by fea, thought it his duty to di- reél the debarkation in perfon. The ifle of Hayes, on which Fort York ftands^ is fituatcd at the mouth of a great river, which it di- vides into two branches; that which pafles before the fort is called the river of Hayes, and the other Nelfon's river. The French commander knew that all the means of defence were placed upon the for- mer ; there was befides a veflcl belonging to the Hudfon's Bay Company, carrying 24 nine pounders, moored at the mouth of the river. He determined on forcing his way up Nelfon's river, though his troops would have, in this dire6lion, to perform a march of about four leagues ; but he thereby gained the advantage of rendering ufelefs the batteries plant- ed on the river of Hayes. He arrived on the evening of the 21 ft, at the mouth of Nelfon's river, with 250 foldiers, the mor- tars, the cannon, and provilions for eight days, that there might be no neceflily to depend on the (hips, the communication with which was extremely diffi- cult. La Pérou fe gave orders for the great boats to anchor in three fathoms water, in the mouth ol' the river, and advanced himfclf in his long-boat, with the fécond in command Langle, the commander of the troops to be landed Roflaing, and Monnëroii, ■ . captain ^1 ui IM'. rtx PRSLIMIKART t)I8C0U|lSf;. captom of nrtillcry, to found the rivca* and examine the banks, on which he apprehended the enemy might have provided fomc means of defence. • This operation demonftrated that the river wns ifi • accelKble ; the fmallcft boats could get no neorer thon about a hundred fathom, and the bottom from tbflt to the dry land was a fo^t mud. He thought it pru- dent, therefore, to remain at anchor, and to wait for the return of day-light ; but the tide lofing much more than he had reckoned upon, the bouts were lefl dry at three o'clock in the morning. Irritated by this obftaclc, but not in the leafl dil^ couraged,aU the troops difembarJced ; and after having walked for near a mile in the miid up to mid-leg, they at length gained a green field, where they drew up : thence they marched in order towards a wood, ^'herc they laid their account with finding a path which would lead to the fort. No one could be dif- covered, and the whole day was employed in feek- ing for roads which had no exiftence. La Péroufe ordered Monneron, the captain of engineers, to trace one by the compafs through the middle of the woods. The execution of this ex- tremely-painful fervice difcovered that there were two leagues of a morals to be crofllèd, in which the men frequently funk up to the knees in mud. A gale of wind, which fprung up in the night, forced the reftlcfs La Péroufe to return to the (hips. He reached the fiiore ; but, the tempeft continuing, he could not get on board. He availed himfelf of an interval of moderate weather, and next day reached his (hip, an hour before a fécond gale came on. An officer, who fet off at the fame time with him, was ihipwrecked : he had, as well as his boat's crew, the good fortune to gain the land ; but they could not return on board till the end of three days, naked and perifliing with hunger. The Engageante and the * (( îre were PRBLIMINARY DISCOURSE. XXXl the Aftrca loft two anchors each, in the fécond gale of wind. Neverthelefs the troops arrived before the fort on the morning of the QAihy after a very troublcfome march, and it was furrendered on the firft fummons. La Péroufc ordered the fort to be dcftrayed, and the troops immediately to re-embark. Thefe orders were rendered ineffc6lual by a new gale of wind, which expofed the Engageante to the grcatcft dangers ; her third anchor broke, as well as the tiller of the helm, and her longboat was carried away. The Sceptre likewife loft hers, her pinnace and an anchor. At length fine weather returned, and the troops were re-embarked. La Péroufe, having on board the governors of forts York and Prince of Wales, fet fail to bid adieu to thofe latitudes, abandoned to llorms and ice, in which military fucccfs, obtained without the flighteft refiftance, had been preceded by fo much pain, danger, and fatigue. ^, If La Pcroufe, a&« military commander, was under ' the neceflity of conforming to the ftriWD whe- erfion to .ifcloled, len'I wrote The PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. The era of the re-eftabli(hment of peace with Eng- land, in 1783, terminated this naval campaign. The indefatigable La Pcroufe did not enjoy long repofe ; a more important expedition awaited him : alas ! it \vas to be his lafl. He was deftined to take the com- mand of an intended voyage round the world, for which preparations were making at Breft. I (hall not conform to the common practice, by indicating beforehand the track which our navigator purfued through the two hemifpheres, the coafts, and the illands, which he explored or revifited in the Pacific Ocean, the difcoveries which he made in the feas of Afia, and the important fervices which he has rendered to geography : I make this facrifice to the Reader, whofe curiolity will rather be excited than anticipated, and who will undoubtedly be bet- ter pleafed to follow our navigator himfelf in his courfe. Hitherto I have coniidered La Péroufe only as the military man and the navigator : but he defervcs to ^ be equally known for his perfonal qualities ; for he was not lefs capable of gaining the afFeélions of men of all countries, or of commanding their refpeét, than of forefeeing and overcoming the obftacles which hu- man fkgacity is permitted to furmount. Uniting to the vivacity of the inhabitants of ibuthem countries, an agreeable humour and an even temper, his gentlenefs and amiable gaiety made his converfation to be always eagerly courted. On the other hand, matured by long experience, he joined to uncommon prudence that firmnefs of character which is the portion of a vigorous mind, and which^ ftrengthened by the painful kind of life to which a fea- man is doomed, qualified him for attempting, and for conducing, with fuccefs, the molt arduous enter- prizes. ^ ^ From the union of thefe different qualities, the Reader, himfelf witnefling his inconquerable patience Vol. L € in XXXIV .^■ #, PHEttMtNAllY DISCOURSE. in jeitértioii* governed by circumftanceis, tWifeVéré cdridu6l which hisforefight ditîtatcd, the ifieafures of bfécdiitibtl ^hith he ethpîôyed with the people whom lie vitod, will not bie gi-eatly Mohiïhèd at theberte- fîcéhl arid moderate, as Virell as circumfpe6l, b^àyi- ôur of La Pérdufé toward thc^j at the cohfidencej nay fometimès tnè deréretice, >^hich hé eXprëflèd fbf iîk ôMcërS, atitî at the bàtfefnal iriarfe Avhich he exer- cîféd over hiècré^s : notnrngthat could interleft thétn, either by preventing their diftrei^, or prortiorting' thfeir Welfare, efàâpèd his vigilance ôi- his folicitude. Not tvifhihg to convert a fcientiltc enterprise intoa riiér- Câïitile f^ëculatiôh, and lèâViilg eiltirely the profits bf the ôbje(ftà bf interchange as a beiient folely to thié feàth'en of the 'ci^éw, he referviéd foi* himfdf the fatis- fa^f^iort of refi:é'aihg that îte had been ufpful to Ws courrtly aild tb the fciences. PerFëétly well ïfecortdfed in his attentions to the . prefervation of their health, iiO ilUvi^tbr eVei- performed â Voyage of fo Tong du- f^foirt, Si- bf 'fufch vaft extent, throngh ah jrlcciîànt charijg'e tjf bliriiate, with çre%s fo healthy; ï'Ctv, bri th^ir ârnVàï àt Nbw Hoïknd, iffer bfeing thirty iWoh^h's at ^, ah^ rtltîVïing bVà- ^ track of mbre tha'ri liîitreèii thouïàtid leagues, mty were in as good health as when they left Bluett. ' ^ ' "f'^ > Maiter of himfdf,' and hevfei' giVing way tb flrft ?Ài|!)i^eiffîons, he ^as in â condit?ôïi to reduce to prac- tice, eitJècial'ly on this expedition, the precepts of a found phriofophy, friendly to humanity. Wèrfe lïiore dïfporfed to cortipôfe his clogium, ftecefïàïily ifolated and ijicafrnplete, than to leave "to the Reader the pîeafurë df formitig an èftimate of him from faéls clothed with all their d'rcû'i^ftanccs ; and of foùrid- irig a judgment on his writings taken together, t might qtibte a multitude of pafîàges from his jourrial, the charadler and turn of which faithfully paint the man, and whicli I have preferved as 'k precious trèa- fuVe. I might fhciw him, in a pafrtiiiularfnaiiner, ad- ',: • héring \Ti ''^H narti -Wk Ti '°H is to fwk regre r-^m hlyc they ^ PRSLIMIRART DISCOURSE. XXXV feVcfd ires of whoni iberie- àehayi-. idenccj fled fbi^ le exer- ft them; ) a 1^^' jrôfitsdf y to thé the fatis- al to Ws fecotidfed ir îïéàl!<^> Totig du- ; for, bti g tïiirtj ibrethaÎTl ly to -fiift [e to prttc- iepts of a Wèrfc lecelîanîy le Redder from fafts ûf foù^â- lôgcthér, t lisjburtial, paint the IcioUs trfca- laiftflér, ad- hering r; hcring Tcmpuloufly to that article of his i»ftru6lions, engraven upon his heart, which directed him to avoid the fhedding of a (ingle drop of human blood-; hav- ing followed it conftantly through a voyage of fuch length, with a fuccefs due to its principles ; and, when attacked by a barbarous horde of iavages, he had loft his fécond in command, a naturalift, and ten men of the two crews, notwithftanding the powerful means of vengeance which he jpoflèflèd, and motives fo ex- eufable to employ them, he reftrained the fury of his men, fearing to strike a fingle innocent vidlim among thoufands of the guilty. ) H ? Equitable and modeft, as well as enlightened, we (hall fee with what refpedl he makes mention o( the immortal Cook, and how zealous he is to do jufticc to the great men who had preceded him in the fame career. E<}ually juA to all. La Péroufe in his journal and in his correfp' -' lence, difpenfes with impartiality the jraifes to vvhv' > coadjutqirs are entitled. Helike- ' wife makes g. . \.l mention of the ftrangers who, in diffèrent parts of the world, received him with kindnefs, and pmcured afliilance for him. If go^ vernment, as there is no room to doubt^ means to fulfil the intentions of La Peroufe, it owes to thefe laft a public token of acknowledgment. Valued according to his worth by the Engliih na- vigators who had an opportunity of knowing him, they have given him an unequivocal teftimony of efteem in their writings. All who enjoyed his intimacy have pronounced his juft elogium, but it would be endlefs to defcend to particulars. ,^.. «< To fpeak, however, of his virtues, of his talents, is to recolleéfc his misfortunes, is to awaken our own I regret : the idea of the one is henceforward infepara* I bly conneded with the recolleélion of the other ; and they lay the foundation for perpetuity of a monu- 6 2 " ' ment '■* XXXVl PRELIMINART DISCOURSE. ment of forrow and gratitude in the heart of every friend of the fciences and of humanity. If I feel any emotion of delight at the clofe of the painful labour which this work required, and after the care and trouble which it coft me up to the day of publica^ tion, it is undoubtedly at this in fiant, when I am per- mitted to be the organ of the French republic, in paying to his memory a tribute of national gratitude. La Péroufe^ after his lafl letters from Botany Bay, was to have gone to the Jdc of France, in 1778.* The two following years having clapfed, the impor- tant events which occupied and fixed the attention of all France, could not divert her attention from the fate which feemed to threaten our navigators. The firft expreilions of folicitude on the fubje ' " But if you are affeûed, if you are flruck with this idea, it will be impoffible for you any longer to give yourfelves up to impotent regret: humanity re- quires it ; we muft fly to the rçlief of our brethren. Alas! where (hall we go to look for them ? Whom have we to interrogate concerning their dcftiny ? Is it polfible to explore all the coafts of feas in fome " meafure unknown ? Is it poflible to touch at a'l ' the cc (t « C( tf tt (S <( ^' -. .f # PSBI.lMmi.EY PISGOVUB. xxx!i ^f the ifland* of thafe iipmenfc afcbipeleigos which *f préfent à" This expedition will be to M. de la Péroufe, or c 4 « to (( (( (( it (e 6( xl ^y- PRBLIMINART DTSCOURSB. %' (( to his memory, the mod glorious reoompence with " which you can honour his fervices, his felf-dedica- " tion or his misfortunes. Thus it becomes a great " nation to difpenfe rewards.** «^t« Afts like this confer celebrity on the nation alio *' which has the fpirit to perform them; and the fen- *' timent of humanity which gives them birth, will " characterize the age in which we live. It is no *' longer to invade, and to ravage, that the European " penetrates into latitudes the mod remote, but to *' introduce into them enjoyment and benefits; it is " no longer to rob them of corruptive metals, but ta ** fubdue thofe ufeful vegetables which contribute to " the fupport and delight of human life. FiDally,^ ** there will be feen, and the favage tribes will not " be able to contemplate it without the mehing» of " lympathy, there will be feen, at the extremity of the " globe, pioufly afieélionate navigators demanding ** information with intereft, concerning the deftiny ** of their fellow failors, of the men and the deferts, ** of the caves and the rocks, and even of (helves and " quickfands ; there will be feen on feas the mc^ per- " fidious, in the linuolides of archipelagos the moll ''dangerous, around all thofe illands peopled with " anthropophagi, men wandering about in fearch of ** other men, to precipitate themlelves into their " arms, to fuccour and to fave them." ' Scarcely had the (hips difpatched in quefi of La Péroufe taken their departure, when a report was circulated that the Captain of a Dutch vefTel failing through the Admiralty Iflands, to the weft of New Ireland, had perceived a canoe manned by the natives, who appeared to him to be dreiled in the uniforms of the French marine. General d*Entrecafteaux, who commanded the new expedition, having 'put in to the Cape of Good Hope, heard this report. Notwithftanding its want of authenticity and of probability, he did not heiitate " a lingle '« -.fr TltBLIlllNART DI8COUB8B. ^ a fingle inilant; he changed the track which ho had propofed to purfue, and flew to the place which the report indicated. His zeal having bc«n foUowed with no manner of fuccefs, he recommenced his le- fcarch in the order prefcribed by his inftru£ti6ti%' - and he iinifhed it without being able to obtain the flighteil intelligence^ or any thing that had the Iha- dow of probability, refpedtmg the fate of our unfor- tunate navigator. The caufe of the lofs has been reafoned upon in' France, in various ways. Some perfons, unacquaint- ed with the track which remained for him to purfuo from Botany Bay, and which is traced in his laft letter, have alleged that his (hips muft have been caught in the ice, and that La Péroufe and all his companions muft have periOied by a death of the moil horrid form. Others have taken upon them to ^ affirm, that before his arrival at the Ifle of Franjce, I toward the clofe of 1788, he had become the vidUm. |of the violent hurricane which had proved fo fatal to the Venus frigate, for (he was never more heard o^ ^«nd which had entirely difmailed the frigate Reiblu- tion. Though it be impofîible to difpute the afïèrtion of thefe lafi, at the fame time it ought not to be admit- ted without proof. If it is not the true account» La Péroufe muft probably have periftied through ftrefs of weather, on the numerous (hallows which / line the (hores of the archipelagos which he had yCt to explore, and which General d*£ntrecafteaux aélu- ally reconnoitred. The manner in which the two ; frigates always failed, within reach of voice, muft have rendered the fame accident common to bolh ; they muft have (hared the difafter which had (b nearly befallen them November 6th, 1786^ and been fwai- lovved up before they could reach land. The only hope which can remain is, that they may have been (hipwrecked on the coaft of (bme uninhabit- ed # km •4 i^Und S il) tki9 c«f9 thoi^B^y Ml exiil romii indi^ yMMs ofthe two creinfs, or» orie^jf the innumtjrablo ifiwMili of ^hoTe urçJiipeliçgQ»; Fat from the tracks iitheito puflyi nod WfJ m»y jwdgp, oo mrpeelingtlie chart, Ifeot a* Oiir (hipwreok(^d ffiamen had got aihbre, whe^ Hm «^OR a d^«rt jflflnd, or among favages who Ipirtd th«irU^ they mighfc, have been able, in the C0|}^« of pioe years, to approach nearer and nearer Ion place irom which th^y couM convey news of tbewfolvQ*; for it i^ prob*bie, that they would have Jittwipted^very thing to deliver themfelves from t^iiaie of W»*»«ty md fequeftration inexpreflibly wohfe ihfto ^th. If* theni out: hopes be not enT jlipely Mf)ii^i«^dj they are »t ieaH extremely faint. : A flftvig^tor has emitted a declaration of his hav- ing proofs of the ihipwrcck of La Péroufe. The •Relier wijl jydgeof the confidence due to them, irofo h^ di^po&tion, of w^h I ihall giyt an exaâ pQpy^ wjtbottt prefumiQg to mftke any other obferva- taoattiian that of comprijig the author with himfelf, flod 4i{ eontrafting hi& ftfiirmatian with the relatioi\ M Bougw«îviJle. -tfki ■ ■ ' . ■ J il'y,'- Exiraû from the Minutes of th* Municipal Court of the 1 City and Community of Morlaix, >t€i '** QfOFge Bpw«n, commander of the flaip Albc- *' flf^rk, bowjid from Bombay to JU>ndon, and << brought into Morkiis^i htmg i^terr^ated whether ^< he i^ any ](^QOw|jsdge of X*< left Ffmfi^ 91^ * vpya^ rom3«l t^ie world, replied "that ;jv r^ Ê ^t*- •t!s %' TRBtlMINARY UlftCOVlWa. xKîl « that in December, 179'» ^^ himfolf faw, oil hif « return from Port Jackfon to Bombay, brt thécôftO: « of New Georgia*, in the eaftern ocean, the wr«cl; « of M. de La Péroufe*» vôflel, floating on the wa- « tcr+, and that in his opinion it wa» cart of à « veflTel of French conftfuAion ; that he did not go <* on ftiore, but that the natives of the country oam6 « on board his fhip î that h* could not comprehend « their language, but that by thfeir fign* he had « been enabled to undedland that a veflfel had oc^nô' « aihore in thofé latitudes i that tliefe ijirtivet Un- « derftood the ufc of feVerâl pieces of iron-worlf, « of which thfey were curioufly fortd j' and that he, « the Examinee, had exchanged fevetal articles- of ** iron ware with thofe' Indians, for glafs-warc and ** bows Î as to thé idharaéter' of thofe Imliano, that ** to him they appeared pea6eable:|:j and better in- ** formed than the inhabitants of OtSheitc, as they *^ had a perfe«««& Editor, fThe Engliih captain no longer ilates it as a matter of cer> tainty, that the wreck which he faw, was part of the ihip of La Péroufe ; it is now no more than fimply a prefumption.-— JFi-^r/^ Editor. § Bougain^lle found m the canoes which fell into his hands, netj vjith 'P. W'. fniaH % PRBLtMUfAHY DI8C0U1IB< kW •€^ " fmall piece of erne of them, from which it would ** be eaiy to judge that the materials and the workr " manfhtp were both from Europe." . < Such are, up to this day, the only indications ob- tained refpeéting the fate of our navigator. - , ', The public documents, always fubfifting, of the track which he purfued, and of tl^ countries which he viiited, are the medals flruck on occalion of hb voyage, and left or dillributed by La Pérouic in tbo courfe of his progrefs. There had been ; delivered to him about a hundred, partly filver, partly copper^ and fix hundred of different metals. The remainder of his route being known, thefe medals may cie Jlay indicate to us nearly the place where bis diiafter iuitci'- rupted it. The medal relative to the voyage having betomc an hiftorical monument, and being within- the pro- bability ofprefenting itfelfto future navigators inthci fame track, I cannot redd my inclination to defcriilfs it, though I did not think myfelf bound to get it en* graved. It has, on the one fide, the effigies of thd king, with the ufual infcription ; the reverfc is io* fcribed with thefe words, furrounded by tWo oIi\^ branches bound with a knot of ribband : ^ -y^ , ' < Thefrigatei of the King of Frattcty Xd BouJoU ditâ TAftrolahe, commanded by Mejfrs. de La Péroujh and De LangUy failed from ihe port of Brefty itf June, 1785. ■•■ -' ii\s So many precautions employed to enfure the fuc- cefs and authenticity of a great expedition, the ex- penfe which it occafioned, the vexation and calami* wth m^sof a very deKcate threud and mofl ijrtritHy woven. It il probable that their perfeAncA led Gf ♦ -;f 1,» ' '' ' ty with which it is attended, will excite a doubt îrï the minds of certain prejudiced ahd fyftematic gen- tlenfen, whether this trouble and anxiety are com- pensated by the reciprocal benefit which nations de- riy# K ^-n yo3rBges of difcovery. Though I myfelf have relufed to acknowledge as a benefit the intro- duction of our domeilic animals, and of fome fari- naceous vegetables among lavage tribes, comprired to the fhifoiief refulting to them from the falfe or fuî^erfîciàî notions which our principles fugged to them^ and from the fudden communication of our mariners and tulloms ; I fay, that after having given thcin detached particulars of knowledge, which they Hre infcapable to extend or to apply, vegetables and animals which they neither preferve nor perpetuate^ to abandon them to themfeJves, is to render fruitlefs the dcfire excited in them to know and to enjoj', it 59 to make them miferable; but that to inftruét them waduàîfy in order to civilize them, to form them Into orderly col^onies, before attempting to khakc them p6R(hed nations, and not to communi* tjate to them new wants and hew modes of ading^, withotit givin^them, at the fame time, the means of providing^ the one, and < ferving themlelves advantageoufly oli the other, is to prepare and enfure to their fKjfteri^ the happy refuits generally praâifed among favage nations. ^15 •'a^,Jf;it' '¥■■:■ ra- il A 'Ji:,-i.. "15^., II « 1 • ' f< I '•fi. xrn^ ...... i;;r«f^ **( .,,..r^ A*: f RELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. xlix DECREE I OP THE , NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, bp FEBRUARY pTJi, l791. THE National Àfîèmblyj hhving îieard the report of the united Gomtnittees ipf agriculture, com- merce, atid the marine, decrees, 'that the King bfe requefted tb iffue ordéfs io all imbaiïàdors, t-clidcnts^ cbhfuis, national agents, em- ;mployed ât the courte bfiltit févefkl maritime powprs, to ufe their influence ^ith the reipèétive iovereigns It whofe courts they refide, in the name of burnanity, ind of the arts and fcienees, to charge all nayigators id agenfs whatever, who a^l under their inftrpcr ions, in whatever place of the globe they may be, ^ut efpecially in the foutherij parts of the South Sea, make every enquiry in their power refpedljng the o French frigates Boujfoh and V AJirola];>e^ com- janded by M. de la Péroufe, and a|fo refpec^ing Lheir crews, in the view of obtaining fuel? informa- tion as may afcertain their cxiftence or their fhip- ^reck ; to the end that, in cafe M. de la Péroufe md his fellow navigators fhall be found or heard of, lo matter in what place, all pofîîbîe affiltance may )e given them, and means procured for affiftingthem |o return to their country, as well as for enabling mem to recover and carry off Whatever property they nay p .flefs : the National Aflembly beconiing- bound indemnify, and even to rewat-d, according to the Importance of thé fervicé, the pferfoh or perfonS who mil lend afliftance to thefe navigators, obtain infor- lation concerning them, or fo much as procure for •"ranee the reftitution " of fuch yapers qr clher eAdts Vol. I. 4 0|' % n '-* :;.'! % 1 PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS, of whatever kind, which belonged, or might have be* longed to their expedition. Decrees, farther, that the King be requefted to ilfiie orders for the equipment of one or more fliips, on board of which (hall embark men of fcience, na- turalifts and draughtfmen, and to inftruél the com- manders employed in the expedition, to fulfil the twofold million of fearching after M. de la Péroufe, agreeably to the documents, rules and orders which fhall be given them, and at the fame time to purfua refearches relative to fcience and commerce, taking every meafure to render the expedition, independently of the enquiry after M. de la Péroufe, or even in the event of recovering him, or of procuring intelligence concerning him, ufeful and advantageous to navi- gation, geography, to commerce, to the arts and fciences. Compared with the original, by us the Prefident and Secretaries of the National AfTembly. At Paris, this 24th of February, 1791. (Signed) duport, Prefident ; »••»;>«« J' i. DECREE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, op APRIL 22d, 1791. V r THE National Aflembly decrees, that the relations and charts fçnt by M. de la Péroufe, of part of his voyage, up to his arrival in Botany Bay, be printed and engraved at the expence of the nation, and that this expence be defrayed out of the fund of two mil- lions ordered by article xiv of the decree ofAugull 3d, 1790 ; 5 .,; -.. ^.„ : Decrees, ,l:li: I t have be* juefted to nore fliips, ience, na- the com- fulfil the la Péroufe, ders "which 3 to purfue rcc, taking ependently even in the ntelligence IS to navi- e arts and e Preiident bmbly. At pfident ; ecretaric^ y. i ^d I. the relations f part of his , be printed 3n, and that I of two mil- ;e of Augull Decrees, PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. H Decrees, that as foon as the edition fhall be com- pleted, and as many copies fet apart as the King may be pleafed to difpofc of, the reft fhall be fent to Ma- dame de la Péroufe, together with a copy of the pre- fçnt decree, in teftimony of the public fatisfaéîion with M. de la Péroufc's devotednefs to the general welfare, and to the improvement of human knowledge and ufefiil difcovcry ; Decrees, that M. de la Pcroufe fhall remain on the >lift of naval officers till the return of the (hips dif- Ipatched in fearch of him, and that his pay be remit- |ted to his wife, conformably to the difpofal which he had made of it previous to his departure. Compared with the original, by us the Prcfident and Secretaries of the National Aflembly. At Paris, this 25th of April, 179I. (Signed) REUBELL, Prcfident ; GOUPIL-PREFELN •\ MouGiN-ROG^uEFORT [Secretaries ROGER } MEMORIAL FROM THE KING, ^ojerve as particular Injlru allons to the S'leur de la i^^ Péroufe^ Captain In the Navy, commanding the Fri' gates la Boiijfole and TJJirolahe.-^lQth June, 1785. Ills Majcfty having given dire»5lions to equip in |he harbour of Breft the frigates la Bonfible, com- nanded by the Sieur de la Peroufc, and I'Aftrolabe 3y the Sieur de Langle, captains in his navy, to be îmployed on a voyage of difcovery ; hereby notifies b the Sieur de la Péroufe, whom he has appointed tommnnder in chief of thefe two veficls, the particu- br fervices which he will have to execute in the courfe It the important expedition committed to his care. d 2 The in PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. The different objedls which his Majcfty had i^ view, when he ifïùed orders rcfpeding this voyage, render it neceflary to divide the prefent infl:ru6tions into fevcral heads, in order to explain with greater clearnefs to the Sieur de la Péroufe, his Majefty's par- ticular intentions as to each of the objeéls which are to engage his attention. The firft part will contain his itinerary, or the fketcb of his voyage, according to the order of the difcoveries to be made, or carried to perfeélion ; and %q this will be annexed a colledlion of geographi- cal and hiftoric notes, to ferve him as a guide in the various refearches which he is to purfue. The fecpnd part will treat oi' objeds ^dative tp politics and to commerce. The thifd will explain operations relative to aftro- pomy, to geography, tp navigation, to phylics, and to the different branches of natural hiftory, and will re- gulate the feveral funtSlions of the aftronomers, the naturalifts^ the hiftorians, the fcientiiic charaélers, and the artifts employed in the expedition. The fourth part will prcfcribe to the Sieur de la Péroufe, the cqndu6t which it may be proper for him to obferve with refpeft to the favage nations, and the natives of different countries, which he may difcover pr have occafion to vilit. Finally, the fifth will indicate to him the precau- tions to be obfcrved for the prefer vation of the health of his crews *. len * The particulars detailed, in the original worlc, under each of thefe heads, are numerous, ami to the generality of readers would probably appear tedious and uriiicterefting. Inftead, therefore, of giving an sxaél tranflation, the çaft* î ■ , under each of f readers would d, therefore, of îlf warranted to e's inftru£lions, threfliold. ^ï •fART iiRELIMINÀRY INSTRUCTIONS i t «S PART FIRST. Sketch of the Foyage, ON leaving Breft de laPeroufe isdireéled to fteerfor Madeira, and there take i n wine, and thence for St. Jago, to complete his wood and water, andlay in rcfrefhments i, he is to crofs the line in the 29th or 30th degree of weft longitude from the meridian of Paris, and try to hit Pennedo de San-Pedroj and fix its pofition ; td proceed to Trinidad to wood and water, and on leav- îing it to run into the latitude of Ifle Grand de la oche, but to delift from looking for this ifland, if he docs not fall in with it before reaching 50° weft liongitude : He is to run into the latitude of Terre *^e la Roche, Cook's Ifle of Georgia, and confine his iifit to its fouthern coaft, hitherto inexplored. He is "en to look out for Sandwich Land in about 57^ uth, and having afcertained its extent, to fteer for aten Land, try to double Cape Horn, and anchor Chriftmas Sound, on the fouth-weft coaft of Terra el Fuego, and take in wood and water. In the vent of being unable to get to the weft by the winds nd currents that oppofe that pafîàge, he is to make r the coaft of Brafil, touching if necefîàry at Falk- nd's Iflands, which prefent a variety of accommoda- ons to the mariner. He is afterwards to pafs Strait le air, or double Staten Land by the eaft, in order to f each Port Chriftmas Sound, which, at all events, was "|o be the firft place of rendezvous for the fliips in '^afe of feparation. On leaving Chriftmas Sound, he is to fliape his ourfe fo as to cut the meridian of 85° weft in tha titude of 57° fouth, and purfue this parallel up to 5° of longitude, in queft of Drake's Port and Land. e is then to proceed to cut the meridian of 105° the parallel of 38°, and continue in it to 115° d 3 longi- liv J»IIBLIMINAIIY INSTRUCTIONS. longitude, looking out for land faid to be difcovered by the Spaniards in 1714. He is then to get into the latitude of 27° 5' on the meridian of 108° weft, looking out for Eafter Ifland, where he is to anchor, and execute a particular article of his inftruélions. He is thence to return to the latitude of 32° on the meridian of 120° weft, and keep on that parallel to 135°^ of longitude, in fearch of land feen by the Spaniards in 1773- Here the frigates are to feparate. The firft is to proceed to the intermediate parallel between l6° and 17°, and perfevere in it from 135° to 1 50° to the weft of Paris, and then fteer for Ota- heite, it being prefumable that in this track new in- habited iflands may be difcovercd. The fécond fri- gate, from the fame point of departure, is to run into 25° 12'' fouth latitude, and endeavour to keep in this parallel, beginning at the meridian of 131° or 132*^, and look out for Pitcairn's Ifland, difcovercd by Car- teret in 1767» in the view of afcertaining its longitude, becaufe the exaél knowledge of its pofttion would ferve to determine that of the other iflands or lands af- terwards difcovercd by Carteret. On leaving Pitcairn's Illand, the fécond frigate is to fteer weftward arid then to the north-weft, looking out in fucceffion for the iflands of the Incarnation, of St. John Baptift, of St. Elmo, of the Four Crowns, of St. Michael, and of the Converfion of St. Paul, difcovercd by Quiros in 1606, and fuppofed to be fituated to the fouth-eaft of Otaheite. The fécond frigate will thus, in a north- eaft courfe, arrive at the meridian of 1 50° weft, and at 19° fouth latitude, and then fteer for Otaheite, where it is prefumed both veftels may arrive about the end of April ; and this to be their fécond place of rendezvous. ^ De la Péroufe's ftay at Otaheite is limited to one month ; he is then to vifit, on his way, the iflands of Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha, Bolabola, and the other Society Iflands, to procure fuppl'^mental provifions to iiP difcovereJ 3 get into 108° weft, to anchor, iftru6lions. 32° on the : parallel to ;en by the to feparate. iate parallel from 135^ eer for Ota- ack new in- 3 fécond fri- , to run into keep in this Bi^or 132*^ ered by Car- ts longitude, fition would s or lands af- ing Pitcairn's Tllward arid ucceffion for John Baptift, Michael, and ;d by Quiros :hc fouth-eaft IS, in a north- 50° weft, and for Otabeito, J arrive about | • fécond place imited to one the iflands of and the other tal proviftons to M ^ïlËLIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. Iv to furnifti the inhabitants with ufeful European ar- ticles, to fow grain, to plant vegetables, trees. See. which might hereafter aftbrd fupplies to the naviga- tors of thofe remote feas. He is to fteer to the north- weft, from the Society Iflands, to get into the lati- tude of the iftand of St. Bernard of Quiros, about 1 1° fouth, but not to purfue his fearch after it be- yond the meridians of 158° to 102° weft longitude : he is then to get into the parallel of 5° fouth, and to the meridian of l66° to 107°, and then fteer to the fouth-weft, and, in that dirc(5lion, crofs the fea which wafhes the northern fliores of the archipelago of the Friendly Iflands, where he will probably find others inhabited which have not yet been vifited by any Eu- ropean. He is to look for the ifland of Bella Nacion of Quiros between the parallel of 1 1° and that of 1 1° 30', from the meridian of 169° to 171° longitude; and for the Navigators' Iflands of Bougainville one after another, and thence proceed to the Friendly |Ifles for refrefhments. He is then to get into the la- ftitude of the Ifle of Pines, fituated on the fouth-eaft: point of New Caledonia, and afcertain whether that land be a fingle ifland, or compofed of feveral. If he can make Queen Charlotte's Iflands, he is to try to reconnoitre the ifland Santa-Cruz of Mendana, and determine its extent fouthward. Should contrary winds prevents this, he is to make for Deliverance Iflands, and afcertain whether the Terre des Arfacides, difcovered by Surville in 1769, is not compofed of a clufter of iflands, which he will endeavour to particu- larize. P>om Cape Deliverance he is to fteer for En- deavour Strait, and in paflling it, try to afcertain whe- ther the land of Louifiade be contiguous to that of New Guinea, and examine the hitherto inexplored coaft from Cape Deliverance to the ifland of St. Bar- tholomew. He is defired to furvey the gulf of Car- pentaria, paying clofe attention, at the fame time, to the ftate of the north-weft- monfoon, fo as to make d 4 fure !( Ivi PnELIMINARY IN5XBUCTI0NS. fure of his paflage rouncl thp fputh-w^lV point of the ifle of Timor beifore the txycMticth of Novcrnber. In cafe he Ihcjuld npt have be.en able to procure re- frefhments, whercs ne may have touched (ince he left the Friendly Illc^, he is to. ftpp at Prince's Ifland, at the entrance o.f the ftri^its of Sui^da. On leaving it, and quitting the channel to tjic north of New Hol- land, he will Ihape his courfe fo as to exan>\ne the vveflern coaft of tha,t jand, and begin his furvey as near the equator as the wind will pendit. He is then to take a more particular infpcétiun of its , foythern coafl, which will bring him to the extremity of Van- Dienian's Land at AflYen,turp Bay, or Frcdric-Henry Bay ; from whence he wjll m§kc for Q)ofc's Strait?, and anclior in Queen -Ch(ar|qttc's Sqund (ituated in tiia^ (Irait, which fepara,tes_ the two iflands whereof New Zealand is formed. This port is to be the third place of rendezvous to the flïfps in cafe of feparation. Here he can rçlit, and provide himfelf with refrçfh- rrients, wood, and water. It is prefumed thjit he mpy be in a condition to fail frpm this port early in March, 1787. On leaving Cook's Straits, he is to get into the pa- rallel of 41** to 42°, and keep in it till he reach the meridian of 130** weft. He is thence to ftand to the north, in order to get to windward, and into the la- titude of the Marqucfas, where he is to ftop, and take in necefîàries in the port Madre de Dios pn the weft coaft of Ifte Santa Chviftiana, called by Cook Refolution Bay. This is to be the fourth rendez- vous in cafe of parting company. About two months are allowed for this pnliage. On quitting the Marqnefus, if the wind permits, he may vilit fomc of the iflands to the eaft of Sand- wich liles, he is then to proceed to thefe laft and lay rn provifions, but to make no ftay. Thence he is to make the bcft of his way toward the north-weft coalt of America, ftauding to the north as f^r as, 30^, to get •ocurc rc^ ce he left Ifland, at leaving it, vcw Hol- irnine the furvey as le is then 1 . ibythern ty of Van- ric-Henry i's Strait^, [ituated in s whereof e the third feparation. th refrçih- lat he may in March, mto the ,pa- reuch the and to the :ito the la- ftop, a,nd >ios on the :l by Cook th rendez- wo months id permits, t of Sand- ift and lay ce he is to -weft coaft as 30^ to get » '^1 prbliminAry instructions. Ivit ^et ontpf the trade windg, and gain that coaft in the latitude 36° ac/, at Punta de Pinos, fouth of Port Monterey. He is fuppofed to reach this from the 10th ta the 15th of July. In profecuting his rc- fearches he is to avoid the parts which have been fur* vcyed by Cook, but carefully to examine whether there muy npt be fome river, gulf, or inland lake, forming à, communication with Hudfon's Bay. He is to purfue his furveys up to Behring's Bay and Mount St. Elitis, viftting ports Biicarelli and de lots Remedios, difcovcred by the Sipaniards in 1775. Hence he is to dirc :;.*b Having there refitted and victualled, he is to put to fea early in Auguft, and run into the latitude of 37*^ 3(y north, on the meridian of 180°. Hence he is to ftccr weftward, looking out for land faid to be difcovered by the Spaniards in 1610, and to profccutc this refearch to the meridian of 105° eaft : he is then to fteer fouth-wcfl, and fouth-fouth-wcfl, looking out for the iflands fcattered over thofe Teas to the north- eall of the Marianne Iflands. He may put into Ti- nian, but regulate his flay there, and his courfe after- ward, by the north-eafterly nionfoon, which does not fet in, to the north of the line, till 0(5lober, fo that, on ; . leaving 10(1 waîl n, which •ch, with :)f April, ' he (liall haziirci- he is to lit which He is orea, and iland in cafily to 3ulh-well ie cnllcrn re a pearl >fite to it. the lands 'hich the he Ifle of ormation, e Iflands, feparatcs fouthcrn anchor in us in cafe is to put atitude of Hence he faid to be profccutc lie is then oking out ;he north- it into Ti- urfe aftcr- 1 does not fo that, on leaving MBLIMtNARY ÎNSTHUCTtOÎÎS. Iljt leaving Titican, he may have it in his power to furvey the New Carolinas^ to the fouth-weft of Guaham, one of the Mariannes, and to the cad of Mindanao, one of the Philippines. This furvey to be purfued us far as St. Andrew's Iflands. He is after that to flop a fort- night at Mindanao to take in provifions and refrelh- ments; then to fleer for the Moluccas, and anchor at Ternate to take in farther fupplics. As the nion- foon will not permit him to pafs the Straits of Sunda, he mufl: avail himfelf of the variable winds near the equator, to pafs between Ceram and Bourro, or be- tween Bourro and Bouton, and endeavour to force a paflage between fome of the iflands to the eaft or weft of Timor. Having then probably run beyond the parallel of 10^ fouth, he will find himfelf out of the north-weft monfoon, and be able with eafe, with the wind from the eaft and fouth-eaft, to make the Ifle of France, which will be the eighth rendezvous for the fliips in cafe of feparation. He is to remain there no longer than is abfolutely neceflary to prepare for his return to Europe. On leaving it, he is to run into the mean parallel between 54** and 55° fouth, and look out for Cape Circumci- fion, difcovered in 1739 by Lozier Bouvet. CroiTmg this latitude at 15° eaft, he will continue in the fame parallel to the meridian of Paris, or of no longitude, and then give up the fearch. Should he then judge that the (hips are not fuffieiently provided with ne- ceflàries, he is to put into the Cape of Good Hope to fupply them. This to be the ninth rendezvous in eafe of feparation. He is to endeavour, on his return to Europe, to make Cough's Ifland, and thofe of Alvarez, of Trif- tan d'Acunha, of Saxenberg, and Dos Picos, and if he find them, afccrtain thar true pofition. He will then fleer for Brefl, where he will probably arrive in July or Augnft 178g. Though this is the track flcetched for M. de la Pé- roufc. It p *_ it' ' PiEilMINARY XKStBUGTIONS. roufe,1n his Majefty's iriflru6lions, he is veiled never-' thelefs with a ailcretionary power of deviating from it according to circumftances, provided that the main «►bjeél of tlie expedition be kept continually iii view. PART SBCOIÏD. A :r r H OhjeÛs relative to Politics and Commereei I. The ftay which the Sienr de la Péroufe is iè make at Madeira^ and at St. Jago, will he too fhort to admit of his obtaining exaél information refpeél- ing the ftate of thofe Portugueze colonies ; he will, however, procure intelligence refpe, and the I the land ot only in 1 feas un- tempeflu- iffe which ofe coun- ave an af- have fub- mnication gtity over ntfchatka, hern and found on 3cned for lemerit or y iiifult on north-eafi: ports, to )vern merit cfuibliili- rter on the he attrac- nd luxui'v to prevail on \t PREf-IMINARY INSTRUCTIONC. IxV on the ports to the eaft and north-eaft, to admit vef- fels loaded with this commodity, and to give in ex- change the teas, the filks, and the other productions of their foil, and the articles of their manufaélure. xiii. On his arrival at Macao, he (hall take the mcafures neceflTary to facilitate his wintering at Can- ton. For this purpofe he will addrcfs himfelf to the Sieur Vieillard, his Majefty's conful in China, and engage him to take the proper fteps with the Chinefe government to obtain permifîion. He will avail him- felf of his ftay there, to acquire accurate informa- tion rcfpeéting the rétual ftate of commerce between European nations and Canton, under every relation which it is of importance to know. He will procure intelligence of every particular that may affift his far- , ther navigation in the feas north of China, on the [ coafts of Corca and eaft Tartary, and all the other Uands to be vifited in thole parts. He will fecure, if poffible, a Chinefe and Japanefe interpreter, and a ^^uffian one for his fécond call at Avvatfcha ; making fn agreement with them for the time they are to be - in the fervice of the fhip, and on his return, will put them athore at Mindanao or on the Moluccas. XIV, He mufl be apprized, that Japanefe pirates f(-metimes fwarm in the fea furrounded by Japan, Corea, and Tartary. The feeblencfs of their veflels renders no other precaution necefiary, except being on his guard againft furprize by night : but it might be of advantage to hail one of them, and engage him, by prefcnts and promifes, to pilot his Majefty's (hips on the excurfion to Jcflb, part of which is fuppofed to be under the dominion of Japan ; in pafling the ilraits of Tciiby, with which the Japanefe muil be acquainted ; and in reconnoitring fuch of the Kurile . Illes as they are in the habit of frequenting. Such pilot might likewife be ufeful in viliting fome port n the welt coaft of Japan, in cafe circumftances ould not have permitted him to land on any point Vol, I. e * of <, lU )!,t i \l I liiN Ixvi PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. of the eaft or north-eaft coaft. But whatever ufe may be made of fuch pilot, he is not to be trufted impli- citly. M. de la Péroufc will likewifc, if poflible, engage fomc fifhermcn of the Kuriles to pilot him through the iflands adjoining to Kamtfchatka. He will thus endeavour, in flanding northward, to com- plete his furvey of the iflands which he could not re- connoitre on his way from Awatfcha to Macao, and to fupply on the weftern coaft of Japan, what he was not able to accomplifh on the euft and north-eaft. His furvey of the coafts of Corea and Chinefe Tar- tary muft be taken with great circumfpcélion ; the Chinefe government being extremely punélilious, he ought not to dil'play his colours on that coaft, nor permit any operation which might give oftence, left it fhould be refentcd on French Ihips trading to Canton. XV. In examining the Carolina Iflands, known only by name to moft of the nations of Europe, he will take care to inform himfelf whether the Spaniards have formed any fettlement there. He will endea- vour to acquire the knowledge of the produélions of thofe iflands, and of all thofe which he may difcovcr to the norih-caft, and to the weft-fouth-weft of the Mariannes. XVI, In flopping at Tinian he vvil! procure infor- mation refpeéting the fettlements, the ftrength, and the commerce of the Spnuiards in thnt archipelago and its vicinity. He will make the fame inquiries at Mindanao, to Icaj-n, as far as pofîibie, the political, military, and commercial ftate of that natiori in the Philippine Iflands. xvii. During his ftay at the JMolucca;'! he will care- fully intbrm hin)l'clf relpcélinfr the fituUici and the commerceof the Dutch in thofe iflands, ai.i particu- larly in the view of knowing what advantages miiil reluit to the commerce of England, from the lil)erty which that power has obtained by her late u'caty of pcacf ir ufe may îed impli- f poffible, pilot him atka. He 1, to com- ulcl not re- /lacao, and hat he was north-eaft. linefe Tar- 6lion ; the ^iUous, he , coaft, nor >fFence, left trading to :nown only pe, he will ; Spaniards will endea- du6lions of ay difcovcr weft of the t)cure infor- ength, und iirchipelngo inquiries at he political, at ion in the le will care- ■,ci and V-\c m particu- ntiiiics muft the lil)erty tc treaty of peace PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. IxvH peace with Holland to navigate and traffic through the whole extent of the Adriatic leas ; and he will endeavour to find out what ufe England has made of that liberty, and whether (lie has yet been able, through this channel, to open any new vein of com- merce with that part of the world. XVIII. Should he put in to the Cape of Good Hope, he will procure accurate information refpeél- ing the aétual ftate of this colony ; of the force which Holland, or the Dutch Eaft India Company, keeps up there fince the peace, and of the ftate of the old and new fortifications which defend the town and anchorage. XIX. In all the iflands, and in all the ports of con- tinents occupied or frequented by Europeans, where he may touch, he will prudently, as far as circum- ftances permit, make every enquiry which may enable ~ im to difcover, in detail, the nature and extent of he commerce of each nation, the fea and land force ^'hich each keeps up, the relations of intereft or frienddiip which fubfift between them and the chiefs r natives of the countries where they have fettle- ents, and, in general, every thing that concerns olitics and commerce. ':>''>"i- PART THIRD. \Operatioiis Relative to AJironomy^ Geography^ Nav'tga- tmiy VhyJlcSy and the different Branches of Natural Hiflory. I. Two aftronomers having been appointed to a6l funder the orders of the Sieur de la ?< roufe, on the expedition entrufted to his charge, and the two fri- Igates being furnifhed with all the inftruments of laftronomy and navigation which need to be ufed by Jfea or land, he will take care that, during the courfe lof the voyage, neither of them neglc6l any opportu- e2 * nity Mê Ixviiî PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. nity of making fuch aftronomical obfcrvations as may to him appear ulbful. Tlie objc6l of grcatcft importance toward the fafc- ty of navigation, is to afccrtain, with precifion, the latitude and longitude of the ])laccs where he may land, or in fight of which he may pafs. He will ac- cordingly dire6l the aftronomcr employed on board each frigate to obferve, with extreme accuracy, the movement of the marine time-keepers, and to avail himfelf of every favourable circumftance for afcer- taining on fhore how far the regularity of their mo- tion has been kept up during the run, and to con- firm, by comparifon, the change which may have taken place in their daily motion, for the purpofe of keeping an account of that change, in order to de- termine with more precilion the longitude of the iflands, capes, or other remarkable points which he may have reconnoitred in the interval of the two ob- fcrvations. As often astheftate of thefky will permit, hemufl have lunar obfcrvations made to afcertain the longi- tude of the veflel, and to compare it with that which the time-keepers indicate at the fame infiant : he will take care to repeat obfcrvations of every kind, that the mean refult of different operations may procure a more prccifc determination. On paffing within fight of any land where he does not mean to ftop, he will take care to keep as nearly as pofilble on the parallel of that point, at the infiant of obferving the meri- dian altitude of the fun or any other fi;ar, from which to' calculate the latitude of the fhip ; and continue in the fame meridian at the moment of making ob- fcrvations for determining her longitude, in order to avoid all error of pofition or calculation of diftance, which might injure the exaélnefs of determination. He will, every day that the weather permits, obferve the declination and inclination of the magnetic needle. . On Ml %1 ►ns as may d the fafc- îcifion, the re he may ^e will ac- l on board :nracy, the id to avail for afcer- f their mo- md to con- may have purpofe of rder to de- ude of the s which he the two oh- Tiit, hemuft 1 the longi- r» that which ant: he will y kind, that ay procure a ; within fight ftop, he will 1 the parallel ig the meri- ; from which and continue ■ making ob- 5. in order to \ of diftance, elcrmination. rmits, obferve srnetic needle. ^ On FRELIÎvIINAKY INSTRUCTIONS. IxiX On arriving in any port be will choofe a convenient fpot on which to pitch his tents, and raife his portable obfcrvalory, and place a guard over it. Befide obfervations relative to the determination of longitude and latitude, for which every known and pradicable method is to be employed, and thofe for afccrtaining the variation of the compafs, he will not fail to obferve every celeftial phenomenon, which may be perceived ; and, on every occafion, procure for the aftronomers all poffible alHllancc toward enfuring the fuccefs of their operations. His Majefty is pcr- fuaded, that the naval officers will manift'ft a proper zeal to make themfelvcs, in concert with the aflro- nomers, every obfcrvation tending to improve navi- gation ; and that they, in their turn, will be eager to impart to the officers the fruit of their ftudies, and the theoretic knowledge wliich may contribute to- ward the perfection of the nautical art. On board each of the frigates there muft be kept a double journal, on which fhall be entered every day, both at fea and on fhore, the aftronomical ob- fervations, thofe relating to the employment of time- pieces, and all others. Thcfe obfervations (liall be entered rough, that is (imply indicating the quantity of degrees, minutes, &c. given by the inftrument at the moment of obfervation, without any calculation, only pointing out the error of the inftrument em- ployed, if it has been afcertained by the ufual veri- fetions. Each of the aftronomèrs to keep polfef- fion of one of the journals, and the refpedlive com- manders the other. The aftronomer fhall befides keep a fécond journal, containing, day by day, all the obfervations made, and add, for each operation, all the calculations leading to the ultimate refult. At the end of the voyage the Sieur de la Péroufc fhall take pofièffion of the two journals kept by the aftro- nomers, after their truth has been certified by their fignatnres. . ,. . e 3 II. When IXX PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. II. When he (hall (lop at places which it may be of importance to know in a military view, he will have the country furvcycd by the chief engineer, who mud give him a circutnltantial report of all his remîirks, and of the plans he may have prepared. He will have exac^ charts drawn of all ihe coails and idands he miiy vifit ; and if they are already known, he will afccrtain the cxaétnefs of preceding naviga tors. For this purpofc, in navigating along coalts or in fight of idands, he mud have them very exactly furveyed with the quadrant or azimuth compaf<;, ob- fervingthat the furveys, the mod to be depended on for con drudging charts, are thofeby which one cape, or any other remarkable objeét, can be laid down by another. He will employ the ofdcers of the frigates, and the geographic engineer, carefully to lay ilown plans of coads, bays, ports, and anchoring grounds, which he may have an opportunity of infpeéting, and affix to each plan indruétions which (hall exhibit every thing relating to the appearance and bearing of coads, the getting in or out of harbours, the mode of anchorage and crofs- mooring, and the bed dtuation tor water- ing ; the foundings, the quality of the bottom, the dangers, rocks and (hoals ; the prevailing winds, breezes, monfoons, the length of their duration, and the period of their change ; in a word, every nautical detail that may be ufeful to a mariner. All plans of countries, coads, and harbours, mud have duplicates, one copy to red with each of the captain>< ; and, at the end of the voyage, the Sieur de la Péroule ihall take poficdion of the whole, with the indrudions re- lative to them His Majffty leaves to him the fixing of the era when the deched boats are to be put to- gether, which are on board each frigate in pieces : hi<; dop at Otaheitemay be the proper ieafon. I'hefe boats may be employed to advantage in attending the frigates, whether on exploring the archipelagoes litua- . i. .'■ . . , ' . i ted i" i(.4 "% es, nnd the ;n plans of 5, which he ind affix to every thing confis, the ' anchorage 1 tor vvater- )ottom, the ling winds, LU'ation, and ery nautical Ail plans of ; duplicates, ns ; and, at éroule iliall mêlions rc- n the fixing be put to- e in pieces : fon. Thefe tending the lugoes litua- ted PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. Ixxi ted in the great equatorial Ocean, or furvcying in de- tail the parts of the coafi, and in founding bays, harbours, paflhges, and, in a word, on every fervice that can be performed by a vcHel of finall draught of water, and capable of carrying feveral days pro- vifion lor its crew. III. I'he naturalifts appointed to make obfervations analogous to their feveral purfuits, arc to be employed each in his peculiar department. M. de la Péroufe will prefcribe the objeèls of refcarch, and dillribute the proper infiruments and apparatus, taking care that no one have a complicated talk, but that the zeal and intelligence of every individual may produce their complete cffeét toward the general fucccfs of the ex- pedition. He will communicate to them the memo- rial tranfmittcd by the Academy of Sciences, point- ing out the particular obfervations recommended to their attention. He will in like manner communicate to the fur- geons of the fhips the memorial of the medical So- ciety, that they may purfue their profeffional re- fearches to advantage. Both in the ])rogrefs of fail- iniT, and. in port, he will have ajournai kept on board both vefit'ls of daily obfervations made on the ft ate of the weather, the winds, the currents, the variations of the atmofphere, and every thing relating to meteo- rology. W hen in port he will obferve the genius, charaéler, manners, cuftoms, temperament, language, government, and number of the inhabitants. He will examine the nature of the toil, and the produc- tions of the different countries, and every thing re- lative to the natural hiûory of the globe. He will colleét natural curiofities both of the land and of the water ; and have them claHed, with a defcriptive ca- talogue of each fpecies, mentioning the places where they were found, the ufes to which the natives apply them, and, if they be plants, the virtues afcribed to them. He will likewife colled and clafs the cloth- e4 ing, %>. ^. V**'. -n.: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) fe <^ 1.0 I.I lAâ|28 12.5 Ui lÂi 0122 ! "^ IIIIIM ^ III 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► V] vl / c.% » o' ^^ A' '^ A '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 Uxii FREUMmABY INSTRUCTIOJÎÇ, ing, arms, ornaments, furniture, tools, mufical inllru- ipents, and all other efFeéls ufed by the different na- tions he may vifit, and every article muft be labelled and numbered correfpondently to the catalogue, tje will direél the draughtfmen to take drawings of all the remarkable land views and iituations, por- traits of the natives, their peculiar drefs, ceremonies, paftimes, edifices, boats, all the land and fea produc- tions of the three kingdoms, if drawings of thefe ob- jets appear to him likely to facilitate the compre- benfion of defcriptions given by the fcientific gentle- men on board. All drawings made on the voyage, all boxes containing natural curiofities, with descrip- tions of them, and the colledlions of ailronomical obfervations Iball, at the end of the voyage, be put into the hands of the Sieur de la Peroufe ; and no one of the literati or artifts (hall referve to himfelf, or for any other, any article of natural hiftor}', or other ob- jeâ, which M. de la Peroufe (hall deem worthy of a place in the colleélion de(igned for his Majefty. IV. Before entering the port of Breft, at the end of the voyage, or before his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, (hould he flop there, he (liall take pof- feffion of all journals kept by the naval officers, ailro- nomers, literati, artifts, pilots, and all other perfons ; enjoining ihem, on their word of honour, toobferve 9 profound filence rcfpeéling the object of the expe- dition, and the difcoveries made, with an a(îurance that their journals and papers (hall be reftored. PART FOURTH. Conduâf to he objerved toivard the Natives of the dif- ferent Countries. The relations of former navigators have difclofed the charaéiers and manners of part of the different nations with whom be may come into contad:, both in the iflands of the great fouthern Ocean, and on the I ) : north- FREUMINABY XNSTRUCTIQVS. UxiU north-weft coaft of America. He is thereby pre» pared to imitate the good conduél of fome of his prc- decefTors, and to (hun the faults of others. On his arrival in any port, he will endeavour to ingratiate himfelf with the chiefs, by expreffing be- nevolence, and making prefents ; he will fecure the refources which the place furniihes for fupplying tho wants of his (hips* companies, and employ all honour- able means of forming intimacy with the natives. He will find out on what European commodities they fet moft value, and make up a proper afibrtment which may encourage them to barter. He will fee the ne- ceflityof ufing every prudent precaution to maintain his fuperiority againll a multitude, without employing force; and, however well received by favnges, he muft ever (hew himfelf in a flate of defence, left fe- curity on his part might tempt them to come on him by furprize. In no cafe fhall he fend a boat on (hore but what is provided with arms and ammunition, and commanded by an officer, with orders never to lofe [iight of the boat under his charge, and always to leave fome men to guard her. He muft not permit any officer, feaman, or other to lleep on (hore, except on duty ; and perfons obliged by adual fervice to pa(s the night on land, (hall retire betimes to. the tents creeled to fervc as obfervatories and magazines, with a guard placed over them under the command of an officer, to maintain good order among the feamen and foldiers, and to prevent, by adtive and unremit- ting vigilance, every attack or entcrprize of the fa- vages. He will take care to have the (hips moored within reach to protedl the fettlement, and give in- ftruélions to the officer on guard refpe6ling the (ig- nals to be made in cafe of alarm. Thefe difpofitions being made, he will prepare for providing fubliftence, and other neccflaries for the (hips' companies ; and, having made a feleétion from the commodities with which the frigates are furnilhed, he Ixxiv PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. he will form a magazine on fhore under protection of a guard : but as all the iflanders of the South Sea have an irrefiflible propcnfity to fteal, he will take care, that they may not be tempted by the fight of too many obje(5ts in one place, to have no more goods brought afhore every day but what are fufficient. for the daily demand. He will regulate the value of thofe exchanges, and never allow the rate once fixed to be exceeded, left by giving, at fii*ft, too high a price for the articles to be procured, the natives fhould afterwards refufe to deal on lower terms He will open but one magazine for both frigates ; and on purpofe to maintain good order and prevent abufe, he will fpecially charge an officer to treat with the favage?, and to felc6t the petty officers or others, who fhall under his own infpe61:ion perform the duty of the magazine. No officer, or other perfon on board, fhall be permitted, under any pretence, to carry on any fpecies of barter, without exprefs permiffion from the Sieur de la Péroufe, and after the rate of exchange is fixed. If any of the crew fhall be found ftealing the effeéls of the (hip, or any of the commodities fet apart to be exchanged, he muft have him punifh- ed feverely according to law, and more efpecially fiich as being in the fervice of the magazine have abufed his confidence, and fecreted goods for carrying on a fniudulent trade. * He will ftri6lly enjoin all under his command to maintain a good underftanding with the natives, and try to conciliate their friendfhip by fair-dealing and kindnefs, and prohibit them, under the moft rigorous penalties, to take by force what the inhabitants refufed voluntarily to fiirrender. The Sieur de la Péroufe will, on every occafion, treat the people he may vifit with gentlenefs and hu- manity ; he will zealoufly exert himfelf to ameliorate their condition, by procuring for them the ufeful pot- herbs, fruits, and trees of Europe ; by teaching them the method of cultivation, and the ufe they ought to make PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIQNS. IxXV make of thofe prefents, the obje^ of which is to mul- tiply on their foil the prod «étions ncccfîâry to nations which derive almoft all their fullcnance from the ground. Should imperious circumftances, againft which pru- dence ought to provide Jn an expedition of fo long duration, ever oblige the Sieur de la Pcroufe to ufe fuperior force, to procure the necefîàries of life, that force is to be exerted with the utmort moderation, and every tranfgreflion of orders to be punKhed with extreme rigour. In every other cafe, if he cannot make fure of the fricndfhip of favages by kind treat- ment, he will endeavour to over-awe them by terror and threatenings, but never have recourfe to arms, except in the laft extremity, that is, in cafes of felf- defcnce, and when moderation might endanger the [(hips, and the lives of Frenchmen entrufted to his Icare. His Majefty will coniider it as one of the aufpici- )us circumftances of the expedition, that it terminate I'ithout coding the life of a fingle individual. PART FIFTH. 'Precautions to he employed for preferving the Health of the Cre^vs. The Sieur de la Péroufe being fully apprized of his [Majelly's wifhes, that the propofed expedition, fo far from proving injurious to favage nations whom he lay vi(it, Ihould rather procure for them bleffings which they want, muft furely feel what particular at- tention he is bound to pay to the prefervation of the :revvs under his command. The thips are amply provided with every article that :an either prevent the" difeafes of the fea, or check their progrefs, as alfo with thofe which are dcligned as fubftitutcs for ordinary provifions, and to corred ^heir bad etFeds. He will take care that thefe cor- dials Ixxvi VRE1.IMINJLRY INSTRUCTIONS. dials and correctives be fcafonably applied, and with Utoderation ; and will pay fpecial attention to the re-, fources which may prcfent themlelves in the port» where he may touch, to procure refrefhments and wholefomc food, in order to correct the effeét of a long ufe of faked provifions. He will ufe his own difcretion in direéling the proper mode of flowage of the frigates, and when in port, will caufe to be in- fpe(Sted and aired fuch parts of the provifions as dif- cover a tendency to decay, in the view of flopping it» progrefs. He will negledl no opportunity of procuring freflî fifh for his men, and of frefliening bis falted fiorcs by the methods put into his power, and fuccefsfully pradtifed by late navigators. He knows well that one of the precautions which moft cffcélually contribute» to the health of fcamen, is unremitting attention to cleanlincfs, both in their perfons and in the (hips. He will employ for this purpofe all the known me- thods of ventilation, fumigation, perfuming for fweet- ening and purifying the air in the hold, and between decks. He will every day, if poflible, caufe the fea- mcns' hammocks and bedding be expofed to the air : and that they may not ncgle6): perfonal cleanlincfs, he will divide them into parties, and confide the in- fpcéiion of each divifion to an officer, who fiiall once a week report to the captain the flate of the clothing, and the wants of his particular charge, and, upon an order from.M. dc la Péroufe, the fupplemental cloth- ing which has been put on board fhall be diftributcd among the crews, according to the regulation laid down by the commanding officer, and as circum- ftances may require. He will cftablifb the moft exaél difcipline on board the frigates, and carefully guard againlt every relaxa- tion in this refpeél. But the feverity necefiary to all fcrvice, efpecially during an expedition of feveral years, will be tempered by the confiant expreffion of ^ ' ^ . r . ^ the PRELIMX17ART INSTRUCttOKS. IkXVÎI the paternal regard which he owes to the compa-» nions of his labours ; and the King, knowing the fen- timents with which he is animated, rcfts alTured that he will unremittingly cxcit himfclf to procure for them all the accommodation and comfort compatible with the interefts of the fervice, and the obje<$l of the embnrkntion. His Majefty could not give a more diftinguiflied mark of the confidence he repofes in the Sicur de la Pcroufe*8 zeal, capacity, and pru- dence, than by cntrurting to his charge one of the moft extenfive enterprifes ever projc<5ted. Preceding navigators in the career of difcovcry have left him great lefibns and examples ; but the King is perfuaded that as ambitious of gloiy as his predeceflbrs, as zeal- ous for the extenfion of ufeful knowledge, and as perfevcring, he will one day merit himfelf to fervc as a model to thofe who, animated by the fame fpirit, aim at the attainment of the fame celebrity. NOTE. In forming a plan of navigation for the expedition ^confided to M. de la Peronfe, the objeél was to point lout a trad not pnrfued by former navigators; this [appeared the furcft method of multiplying difcovery, [and of promoting the great work of attaining a com- Iplete dcfcription of the terreftrial globe. It was ne- [ceflàry, however, to indicate iflands already known, as I places of call where he was fure of procuring the [means of fnbfiftence, by the aid of barter for the com- fmodities with which he was provided, and adapted to I the taftes of the iflanders. But in pointing out to ■the French commander ports already frequented, he iisdireéted to find his way to them in tracks not [hitherto purfued, and the commodities to be ex- changed confift of many articles yet unknown to the jiflandersj which will convince them that the importers belong IxXviii PRELIMINART INSTRUCTIONS* belong to a nation different from any of their former vifitors. Various principles of calculation have been employed to eftimate the duration of the feveral runs. In open feas the (hips are Aippofed to m«kc 30 leagues, under the trade winds, in 24 hours : 25 leagues only have been allowed to the fame fpace of time, in la- titudes where it is prudent to lie to in the night ; and only 20 leagues when the (hips are on difcovery, and in this cafe a certain number of days is added, to make up the time employed in reconnoitring. On thefe data are founded the durations of the runs and reftings, but the whole fubmitted to the direélion of unforefeen events and circumftances. The whole voyage will necefl!àrily exceed four years : the objeéls in view could not have been accomplithed in Icfs time. The periodical returns of the monfoons, to the north and fouth of the line, are data to which the courfe muft be fubjecSted, and which mightily impede navi- gation in certain feas. This confideration has re- quired various combinations to regulate particular courfes, fo as not greatly to incrcafe the total dura- tion of the voyage. The (hips are amply provided tvith flores of every kind, more than lufficicnt for four years, making allowance for the incidental fup- plies to be expected at the various flopping places. Captain Cook's laft voyage lafted four years, two months, and twenty-two days, and his (hips were not provided as the King's will be. From the known character of M. de la Péroufe, his voyage, it is ex- pected, will leave nothing to future navigators, but the merit of giving more circumftantial details re- fpeéling fome portions of the globe. All that remains is to indicate the method employ- ed in conlîruéling the hydrographie charts, to be tranfmitted to the commander, when approved of by his Majefty. , A firft chart of the Southern Ocean has been pre- pared, on which are traced-, after the journals of na- - vigators, m PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. Ixxix vigators, the courfes which led to difcovery, and thofe arc indicated which are ftill to be made or verified. This chart is conftructed after the bed French, Spa- nifh, Enghfh, and Dutch charts, and regulated by aftronomical oblervation, by which the pofition of the principal points of the continents and iflands have been determined. The extent of the great Ocean, commonly called the South Sea, or Pacific Ocean, has rendered it necefîàry to divide it into three belts or zones; the 1(1 contains the great Southern Ocean, or the fpace contained between the antarélic polar circle and the tropic of Capricorn ; the 2d is the grand equatorial Ocean, or interval contained be«* tween the tropics; and the 3d, the grand boreal Ocean, or the fea (ituated between the tropic of can* ' cer and the arélic polar circle. As the courfe pre- fcribed is not to extend beyond the 60th parallel, [north and fouth, it was unneceflary to trace on the :harts the great boreal polar, or the great fouthern )lar Oceans. In order to prepare a chart of the Great Ocean, le journals of all the navigators of the paft and pre- sent century have been examined ; their detailed )lans have been confulted, and, by reducing the fcale, lave been brought into the general chart. All the Lnown tracks of ancient and modern navigators are traced on it, to bring into one view recent and ancient lifcoveries, and to prove, in fevcral cafes, their iden- tity. This general chart is the refult of all that has )een produced by navigators and geographers up to this day. To prefent in detail the materials employ- would fill a volume. It is deemed fufficient to fubjoin to the King's inftnidions to M. delà Péroufe, fonie geographical and hilloric notes on parts that need to be detailed ; and to the general charts of the [jreat Ocean will be added thirty-l'even other charts ^r original manufcript plans of the lefs frequented )arts of thofe fcas. EX- hsx PRSCIMIKARY INSTRUCTIONS. EXTRACTS From M. âe h Péroufi's General Jnfiruâiiont, iGth June, 1785. HIS Majefty authorizes the Sieur de la Pcroufc to grant to his crews a bounty of fome months pay, the quantify to be regulated by circumftances, but that tJie amount of the bounties for the whole voyage fhall not exceed a year's pay to each crew. Befulcs thefe bounties, which he is to announce to the petty officers, feamen, and foldiers, in cafe they have merit- ed them, he will inform the two crews that it is his Majefty's intention, that the pay of fuch as may die on the expedition, reckoning from the day of their death, (hould go into a mafs to be diftributed, as a farther bounty, among the furvivors of the crews to which the deceafed refpeâively belonged ; and that his pay up to the day of his death be accounted for to his family, as well as the value of his effeéls, if they have been given away. NOTES GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORIC, To hefuljoined to the Memorial from the King, tofervt as Particular Injtruélions to M. de la Pérouje, Cap- tain in the Navy, and Commander of the Frigates la Boujfoleand AJirolahe, SOUTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN. 1 . The three rocks, fituated S. S. W. of St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verds, as well as the French bea- con and breakers feen by the Ccfar, in 1730, S. S. E. of the fame ifland, are laid down after the Englifh chart of the Atlantic, publifhed at London, in 1777. 2. Pennedo de S. Pedro. The latitude is 55'' north, as M. Daprès fays he obferved in 1 750 : he fettles its '■ > , . longitude PRfiLlMINARY INSTRUCTIOirff* JkXXÎ longitude at 2p" weft of Pari , but from later an4 more accurate obfervation, it appears to be 34' mor^ to wertward. 3. The ihoals near the line arc laid down confor-» mably to the inftru(5lions of the Neptune Oriental. 4. The fmall Illand of St. Paul, fecn in the fàmo latitude by the (hip of Ic Vaillant, is laid down after Sailing Direéiions for the Eaji Ituiies, London 1781 ; but it differs 35' as to longitude. 5. Fernando do Noronha, is laid down conformably , to Captain Cook's determination 3° 53' fouth, 34^ 1 63' 60" weft from Paris. 6. St. Matthew's Ifland was difcovered by a Por- tugueze, in 1525, but had been difcovered 87 year$ )efore. It is laid down after the general chart o^ book's third voyage. Its polition is however ftill un- îrtain. 7. The Iflands Fernando Po, Prince's, St. Thomas, id Annobon, are placed according to obfervations lade by Varella, a Spanifh navigator, in 177Q) a» ider ; Fernando Po, 3° 28' north, 6° 30/ weft from iris; Prince's, 1° 30' north, 5° 2' weft ; St. Tbo- kas's, 2(y north, 4° 34' weft ; Annobon, 1** 25' fouth, 25' weft. Conformable to thcfe longitudes, thofe Cape Vcrd, Sierra Leone, the Iftands of Los, and le Cape of Grood Hope, where obfervatioos have sen made in like manner, the pofttions of the dif- Irent points on the weft coaft of Africa have been igulated. 8. Afcenfion Iftand is placed agreeably to Cook's fervations ; middle of the ifland 8° fouth> l6° 50^ ft from Paris. 9. Ifland of St. Helena is likewife placed confof- ably to Cook's and Halley's obfervations, at fort mes, 16° fouth according to Halley, 8° 11' weft, cording to Cook. But according to Dr. Maflcelyne, -yal Obfervcr at Greenwich, the latitude of St. He- a is 15<* 55' fouth, and its longitude, from an ob.* Vol. I, 4* fervation IXTIXÎÎ nfBLIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. fcrvation niaHc by liimfelf on the firll of Jupiter's fatellites, is 8" 9' weft. 10. Thelfland of Trinidacl is pl.iccd accordinp^ to its diflancc from Cape Frio, on tlie coati of Brafd, as given by Daprès ; north coail, '10° 1b' fouth, 'à1° \b' Weft from Paris. Dos Picos is placed after the Duteh charts, fubje^tinjç its pofttion to that of Trinidad. 1 1. Iftes of Martin-Vas, are three rocks lying re- latively to each other north and Ibuth, excepting the moft northerly, which is thrown a little more to the weft : their extent is not above a mile. Bouvet fays that they are eight leagues diflant, and lie \ nortli- eaft from Trinidad, being in the fume latitude with that ifland. 12. Iftand of Afccnqaon, on the coaft of Brafd is placed after Daprès, 20° 'lb' fouth, 38° weft. This pofition fuppofes its diftanee from Cape Frio to be 120 leagues. 13. Rock difcovered in 1692, and Rock under water in 1701. Thefe dangers are placed after Dal- rymple's chart of the South Sea. 14. Saxenburg, and ifland difcovered by Linde- man, a Hollander, in lt)70, in 30^ 45'! fouth, and a^bout IIP weft. ' ." - 15. Kattcndyke is laid down after Dalrymple's chart, and the general chart of Cook's third voyage. • l(). Iflamls of Triftan d'Aeunha; their pofition is regulated after Daprès, who fixes them between 3/" 1(/ and 37*^ 45^ fouth, and from 16" 30' to 17<^ weft, after a mean refult between the difterent runs of fc- veral ftiips, which give 34° for the ditterence of me- ridian bt^tween thofe ifles and the Cape of Good Hope, which is 1 ÇP 3'' 45" eaft of Paris. Hnllcy places the fouthmoft of them in 37" 25'' fouth. Befides the anchoring ground on the north of the largeft, there is a fort of harbour to the ealt of the fouthmoft point, fiot vifible in running down the coaft, from the vaft quantity of canes thrown down and floating acrofsin . . certain .\ Jupiter's ordinpc to ' Brafil, as h,3'2° 15' the Dutch Tinidad. .8 lying rc- ccptingthe nore to tlic Bouvet fays ie J north- ititude with ; of Brafd is weft. This Î Frio to be Rock under cd after Dal- |a by Linde- ' fouth, and Dalrymple's bird voyage, eir pofition is between 37" to 17*^ ^'^^' ht runs of fc- rence of mc- ape of Good Hallcy places Betides the largeft, there Ulhmoft point, from the vaft ating acvofsin certain PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. Ixxxiîî ^e^tnin winds. It is about half a mile broad, and three fourths deep, in form of a horfe-fhoc It has 28 fathoms water at the middle of the inlet, and 14 near thelhorc: the depth is likewife 14 fathom in the middle of the length, and 10 at the head of the harbour ; the bottom is black fand, and good holding ground. 17. Ifland of Diego d' Alvarez, is laid down after the general chart of Cook's third voyage, and its bear- ing and dillance from the Iflands of Triflan d'Acunha, according as they arc given in that chart, 38" 53' fouth, 13° weft. 1 8. Gough's Ifland, fo called from an Englifh Eafl:- India captain, who dilcovcred it in 1715. It is very [high land, in 40" 1 5' fouth, and I" 57' weft of Green- iwich, that is, 4" 17' weft of Paris. Vincent, com- [mander of the Oftcrley Eaft-Indiamnn, found it in the latitude indicated by the difcoverer, but from his own calculations, he reckons the longitude to be fixed too ar to the eaft by fome degrees. This iftand is not Inown to French navigators : but as it may lie in "^e way of Ihips going dire^Hy to India or China, irly in the feafon, without touching at the cape, it Ippears an interefting objccl to afcertain its true po- ttion, and M. de la Péroufe, it is hoped, may be able accomplilh this. 19. Tile Grande de la Roche can be laid down only )y conjedlure, from a relation extraded and tranflatcd rom a Spanilh geographical workj printed at Ma- Irid in 1 690 *. In laying down the Ifle Grande, its ïofition has been regulated by that of the firft land \'hich la Roche had difeovered to the eaft of Staten The French compiler here introduces a long quotation from 1c above-mentioned Spailifli Work, containing an account of la Locbe's palTage round Cape Horn, and fubiequent difroveries, '•hich we omitted, as foreign to the defign of this publication. For ie fame reafon we have not tranflated many other tedious quota- onsand diil'uflions. f 2 Land, IxXîdv PRÏLIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. ' Land, and which has recently been re-difcovered, and called by Cook the Ifland of Georgia. There is reafon to thtnk that the Ifle Grand of !a Roche is the fame land which had been difcovered by Americus Vefpuifus, on his third voyage, in 1502. 20. Terre de la Roche, the Georgia of Cook, and laid down by him between 53** 57' and 54° 57' fouth, and between 40° 33' and 37** 54' weft. 21. Sandwich 7^nd, difcovered in 1775 : it is laid down on the chart conformably to Cook's journal and determination. "^'^'^ 22. Chriftmas Sound, on the fouth-weft coaft of Terra del Fuego, laid down after the journal and charts of Cook*s fécond voyage. ^ ; ' GREAT SOUTH SEA. 23. Drake's Ifland and Harbour, placed by geo- graphers in 180 or 200 leagues W. S. W. from Cape Horn. Many accounts of Drake's voyage round the world have been publifhed in England ; they differ eflentially from each other refpeéling the pofition of the lands difcovered by that celebrated navigator, after his paûàge through ^he ftraits of Magellan. It is not to be doubted that, if the weather favour M. de la Péroufe, he will one day furnifli a verification, which fhall ferve to deftroy for ever an error in geo- graphy. Cook, in 1769, and Furneaux, in 1775, purfued trades which, if thefe lands exifted at the place aiîigned them by geographers, muft have en- abled thcdTc navigators, if not to fee them, at Icaft to perceive fome lign, fome indication of land ; and it is well known that neither of them difcerned the flighteft trace. 24. Theodore Gerard's Land. He was among the firft Dutch navigators who made a voyage in the Great Ocean ; he was driven by a ftorm in 1599, as far as 64® fouth, where he difcovered a xnountainoHS j'iv,A ; ' I . country ' laced by geo- W. from Cape age round the id ; they differ the poiition of ted navigator, Magellan. It ler favour M. a verification, a error in geo- ;aux, in 1775, exifted at the muft have en- lem, at Icaft to I land ; and it difcerned the was among the voyage in the .' rmin ISgQ, ^ a OTOuntainous country PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. IxXX^ country covered with fnow, refembling Norway. It is laid down at l6° Weft of the meridian of Gape Horn. 25. Land faid to have been feen by the Spaniards 1714, but of uncertain exiftence and pofition. It id placed on the chart of the Great South Sea, 33° fouth, and between 108** and 109° weft. This pofition agrees with the opinion of Cook. 2Ô. Ealier Ifland, difcovercd in 1722 by Rogge- wein, a Dutchman, and vilited by Cook in 1774, who determined its pofition. The Spaniards touched here in 1770, and called it San Carlos. They place it at .27" 6^ fouth, and 208° 19^ from the meridian of Te- jnerifF, or 110° 41'' weft from Paris, that is, they have [carried it about 1 1 degrees too far to the eaft. The [variation of the con^afs was there, according to the ipaniards, in 1770, 2° 30^ north-eaft, 27. Illands faid to be fcen by the Spaniards in 773, 32° fouth, and. 130° wcfl: from Paris. «This )fition has been adopted by Cook, but is ftill dif- iutablQ. GREAT EQUATORIAL OCEAN. 28. Iflands of this vafi Sea, between 26° and 10° fouth, in the fpace contained between 130° weft, and 170° eaft of Paris. For all thefe M. de la Péroufe is referred to the voyages of B)'ron, Bougainville, Car- teret, Wallis, Furneaux, and Cook, as containing iîvery neceflàry geographical, phyfical, and hiftorical detail, for the purfuit of his objeé^. For the illandâ lanciently difcovercd in thofe latitudes, he is referred jto the chart conftruélcd on the obfcrvations made by iMendana, Quiros, Torrez, Maire, Schouten, Tafm.^n, land Roggewein, with inftrii6lions to verify, by his :)wn obfervation, the miftakcs of the ancient, re(^ifie(l by modern, navigators. For this purpofe he is fur- ^iHied with an abftrad (1) of Magellan's voyage, in f3 1519; I ( IxXXvi PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. 1519 ; (2) of Mendana's, in 1507 ; (3) ofMendana's fécond voyage, in 1 595 ; (4) of the voyage of de Quiros and de Torrcz, in l6o(3 ; (5) of the voyage of le Maire and Schouten, in 1 ()l6 ; (6) of Abel Tafman, in 1642; (7) and of Roggcwcin, in 1722. 29. New Caledonia. It docs not appear that the ancient navigators knew any thing of this ifland. De la Péroufe is referred to Cook's details of it, who dif- covcred it on his fccond voyage, and to the chart re- lative to its difcovery. 30. Santa Cruz, difcovercd by Mendana on his fc- cond voyage, or Egmont and Queen Charlotte's Iflands, vifited by Carteret, in 1767. 31. Terra del Efpiritu Santo, difcovcred by Quiros in 1606; or the Great Cycladcs of Bougainville, in 1768, and the New Hebrides of Cook, in' 1774. All this part has been laid down on the chart of the Gfcat EcjUfitorial Ocean, after Cook's journal and ob- fervations. 32. Land of the Arfacides, difcovercd by Sur- villc, in 1769. At the moment of difcovery, the la- titude of the vefîel was 6^ 57^ fouth, and her longi- tude, by calculation, 1 52° 28^ eaft of Paris. But this longitude, corre^led by that of New Zealand, as de- termined by Cook, mutl be 1 53^ 45'' at the point where land was firft deferied. 33. Terres de la Louifiade, difcovercd by Bougain- ville, in 17C8. La Pcroufc is here referred to Bou- gainville's voyage. 34. Endeavour Straits, between New Holland and New Guinea. La Pcroufc is here referred to Hawkcf- worth's collection of voyages round the world, vol. iii. p. 610, &e. 35. North and wcfl coafts of New Holland. There is nothing to offer that can be deemed authentic or fufficicntiy detailed refpeéling this part of the grcateft ifland in the world. La Pcroufe is referred to Dam- ];ier's voyages, for the north coafl, and to de Brollè's Naviiratlonâ Mendana*s yage of de c voyage of )el Tafman, M ar that the ifland. De it, who dif- le chart rc- la on his fc- Charlotte's ?d by Quiros gainviile, in i'l774. chart of the rnal and ob- •ed by Sur- fvcry, the la- d her longi- is. But this aland, as de- at the point by Bo n gain - rrcd to Bou- Holhind and d to Havvkcf- e worldj vol. lUand. There authentic or )f the greatell rrcd to Dam- to de Broiîè's Navic;ations PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. IxXXvH Navigations aux Terres Aullrales, for the north and weftern coafts, and he is furnillied with a copy of the foundings, and other particulars extraélcd from the journals of the Englilb navigators who have more re- cently vilited thofe parts. î 36. Van Dienicn's Southern Land, part of the fouth of New Holland. Confult Cook's fécond and third voyages. '37. New Zealand. Cook's voyages fupply every thing to be wilhed on this fubjci'^, as they contain, beiides aftronomical and nautical obfervations, and defcriptions, all the particular plans and charts con- flruéted by Engliih navigators. . .-, 38. The Marquefas de Mendoqa, difcovered by Mendana, in I ago, and re-difcovered by Cook, in 1774, to whofo relation reference may be had for every thing that concerns their defcription and geo- graphical polition. 39. Nublada, Rocca Partida, and others, E. S. E. of Sandwich Iflands. They are laid down on the chart of the Great Equatorial Ocean, after that of Anfon's voyage, and which is copied from one found on board the Manilla galleon which he had captured. 40. Sandwich Iflands, difcovered by Cook, on his third voyage, in 1778. To him and Captxiin King we owe every detail which has reached us refpeéting thofe iflands. ^ GREAT NORTHERN OCEAN. • , - 41. North -weft coafts of America, from port Mon- terey, lituated toward 36^ 42^ north, to the Aleutian Iflands. In tracing the chart of thofe coafls of the Great Boreal Ocean, for the ufe of M. dc la Péroufe, the geographical pofitlons laid down by the Spaniards are combined with thofe of Cook, which laft ferve to re(^ify the former. He is defired to verify fa6ts by his own obfervation, and is referred to Cook's third f4 voyage, IxXXviii fRELlMlNAllY INSTRUCTIONS. voyage, and the charts annexed to it, as well as to thofe which make part of the M. S. collection. 42. The Aleutians, or Iflands of Foxes, and others, which are fuppofed to be fituated to the W., the W. S. W., and the W. N. W. of thcfc. Cook vifited only thofe of Oonalaflika, the ftraits which feparate them, and a few of their harbours. The other ifles of this clufter, and thofe fituated more to the weft are known to us only from the Ruffian accounts of them, which are too inaccurate to be depended on. De la Péroufe will confider them merely as a voca- bulary, and look out for thofe iflands as if they were abfolutely unknown. He may however confult Coxe's work entitled, Di/coveries of the Rujftans. 43. Port d'Awatfcha, or St. Peter and St. Paul, at the extremity of the peninfula of Kamtfchatka. He is furniflied with a particular plan of this port, on a great fcale, differing from that in Cook's third voyage, to which he is referred on touching there. 44. Kurile Iflands. Captain Gore, who fucceeded Cook and Clorke in the command, vifited none of them. Muller fays, that Yefo or Jejfo is the name given to all the iflands denominated by the Ruflians Kurtljki or Kuriles. The moft northern of them is very near the fouthmofl: point of Kamtfchatka. They are 22 in number, and at no great diftance from each other. The inhabitants are fuppofed to be fuf- ccptible of friendfliip, hofpitable, generous, and hu- mane. Coiifult Cook's third voyage. 45. Land of Yeiib or Jeflb. The Japanefe con- found this with the Kuriles, but they are generally believed to be different. Cook has thrown no light on the fubjcdt. De la Péroufe is furnifhed with a copy of the chart conflruded by the Dutch, which prefents a detail of all their difcoveries in thofe feas. 46. Eaft coall of Jajian, A chart of a fmall por- tion of it is to be found in Cook's third voyage, and nautical obfcrvations relative to it. 47, PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS» Ixxxix 47. Lekeyo Iflands, to the S. W. of Japan. Buache [has given extracts from all the letters of zniilionaries [relative to thofc iflands. 48. Great Ifland, populous and rich, faid to have 3een difcovered by the Spaniards about 1600. Re- ferred to a paflhfre in the Philofophical Tranfadlions )f the Royal Society for 1674, for fome particulai's relating to this ifland. IS port, on a bird voyage, fucceeded ited none of is the name the Ruffians of them is hatka. They iftance from ed to be fuf- )us, and hu- apanefe con- ire generally own no light nifhed with a Dutch, which n thofe feas. a fmall per- 1 voyage, and SUPPLEMENT. 49. Caroline Iflands. Of thefc a particular chart fas been conftruéled after that of Father Cantova, id the relations of other miflSonaries, which have Den printed as a Supplement to the Hiftoire des Na- Bgation aux Terras Auftrales, by de Brofîès. 50. An iflandio the fouth, between Mindanao and le Moluccas. Confult, for all this part, Forftcr'4 lyage to New Guinea. |5 1 . Straits the eaft and weft of Timor. M. do la Iroufe is referred to Dampier's voyages for inflruc- ms which may afïift him in navigating the (hips [rough one or the other of thofe ftraits, as the wind id other circumllances may dircél. 52. As to the Ifle of France and Cape of Good lope, he is referred to the Neptune Oriental of Da- ^s, and the inftrudlions fubjoined. 53. Marfeveen and Denia ; two little iflands known the Dutch, and furnifning them a fupply of wood, id yet their pofition is not determined. Cook re- rets that it was not in his power to look for them, 'hey are laid down cotiformably to the pofition given k'm on the general chart of his third voyage ; Mar- yeen, in 40*^ 3(y fouth, and 2° 45' eaft. of the Cape ■ Good Hope ; and Denia in 41^ fouth, and 3«eaft " the Cape. 54. Cape, or Ifle, Circumcifion, difcovered January '* 1739, by M. de Lozier Bouvet, Its pofition is V" ftill ■■ .-v m •*' XC PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. ftill undetermined ; having efcapcd the refearches both of Cook and Furncaux, and all poilcrior navi- gators ; ami the difcovcrer not having fixed it with fufiicient accuracy. !>«•»•«': LETTER From M. le Marefchal de CafirieSy to M. de Condor ctt, Secretary to the Academy of Sciences. Dated Ferf ailles, March, 1785. IN this farther preliminary piece, the Marefchal informs the Academy of his Majcfly's relblution to itilic orders for a voyage of difcovery round the globe, and explains the general and particular objects which it had in view. He calls upon them to digelt a memoir containing a detail of the dilicrent phyfical, aftro- nomical, geographical, and other obfcrvations proper to be made, both by fea and land, to dirc6l and aflil't the perfons to be employed on ihe expedition ; and concludes with exprefliiig a wifh that the illumina- tion of that learned body, co-opcraling with the zeal and exertions of the naval ofilccrs might be produc- tive of the happicft effeéh on the progrefs and im- provement of icience. This produces, on the part of the Academy, A DIGESTED MEMOIR, For the life of the learned and fcleutific Ferfons ahii< to embark under M, de la Féroufe. To reduce this fummary to all poffible order an(i pcrfpicuity, the Academy collcCls, under one pointe: view, oblervations relative to feveral branches of fc:- ences, allied by the nature of their objcét, thougij "*"" cultivatcti PBEHMINAKY INSTRUCTIONS. • [cultivated by diflerent defcriptions of men. Ihcad of the memoir they place in one clafs. xci At the de Comîorcut, me es. [be Marefchal s reiblution to .und tbe glob", • objects which Lligeit a memoir phyfical, aftro- hvations proper Àirca and afl'.Û xpcdition; aud t the illmnina- g with the zeal ght be pvoduc- ogrefs and ii^i- Academy, ifc Perjons alw'' éroufe. .;--. llible order aii^]^ uder one point et i branches of ^ | r objca, thoiig^^ ; cultivat^^' • GEOMETRY, ASTRONOMY, MECHANICS. They recommend, as peculiarly interefling, to ap- Iply unremittingly to afcertain the length of the pen- fdulum of a fecond's vibration, in different latitudes, from a perfuafion that an aggregate of operations to , this effe6\:, carefully performed by the fame pcrfons, Vith the fame inftruments, would be invaluable ; they lerefore intrcat the navigators to purfue this objedl, 'ith all poffible exaélnefs, wherever they flop. The determination of longitudes being a primary )je6t to navigators, they are requefted to prefervc le original calculations of obfervations of longitude, the diftance of the moon from certain flars, that cafe fome aftronomer Ihould afterwards, by new |fervations made on land, correal the principles ;h may have determined the longitudes in quef- I, that correélion may be emj)loyed in its turn, to :ify the calculation of thofe very longitudes, [avigators know before hand the moment of the . lipfes to take place during their voyage, and the ;es where they will bevifible. They are requefted >t to confine their obfervation to the inftants of be- ining and ending, but to delignate the progrefs h all polîible precifion. The phenomena of the tides arc too interefting to imen to be overlooked. They mult carefully mark double tide of every day. And fome perhaps need be informed, that we have no accurate obferva- »ns of the tides on the weft coaft of Africa, on that America, any more than of the Moluccas and lilippincs. Obfervations relative to geography being fuggeftcd his Majefty's inftrudions, the Academy wilf only ■)join a few remarks communicated by M. Buachc ;lr geographic alipciate. PHYSICS. :fcii PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. PHYSICS. Under this head the navigators arc dircéled to ' Flake accurate obfcrvations of" the daily variation of tiie magnetic needle, every time they go on Ihore, and at fea whenever the weather permits : to keep an cxa6l account of the height of the barometer, near the equator, at different hours of the day ; and try to afcertain whether, as fome have remarked, the mercury flands an inch higher on the weft coaft of America than on the eafl : to employ fmall air bal- loons to detennine the height at which the winds llowing in the lower region of the atmofphere change their dire6lion, and the courfe of thofe direâions ; and to prepare themfelves to give an accurate ac- count of the currents in the various parts of the globe. They are defired to obferve the auroras, boreal and auftral, and examine their height and amplitude ; and to mark every circumilance which may ferve to explain the phenomenon of water- ^uts : to make frequent experiments on the dif- ferent degrees of temperature of the fea, and its faltnefs in different latitudes, and at different depths: to examine and diftinguifti the floating ices they may meet ; and to obferve more clofely the phenomenon of the light which fometimes fliines on the furface of the fea, in the view of afcertaining its real caufe. CHEMISTIIY. To throw light on the theory of gas, it would be of importance to afcertain whether or not the air is purer or contains more vital particles, at the furface of great extents of fea, than elfewhere. ' They arc defired to enquire whether fedative fait is found in the lakes of the countries they vilit, as it certainly is in fome we know. They may probably meet with mineral • •• xcin PIELIMINARY INSTEUCTIONS. mineral alkali, and will examine the fubflances with which it is mixed, its diftancc from the fca, &c. in order to trace the procefs of nature in producing the alkalization of marine fait. They will obfcrvc in the fevcral countries they vifit, the colours cm- ployed in dying, the fubftances whence they arc cx- tradcd, and the mode of application. .'X ANATOMY. Befide attention to the exterior of the various tribes of the human race, comparifon might be ex- tended to the interior pails. The ikuJl and os hyoides of a full-iized body might be procured, among a people fenfibly differing from Europeans in the form of the face, or of the whole head, and thus know- ledge might be acquired refpearts, from the heel to the crown of the head. The limenfions moft accurately to be afcertained are, the length of both arms, extended from tip to tip of the middle fingers ; the length of one ann, from the arm-pit to the tip of the middle finger ; the cir- [cumference of the head, at the height of the fore- head ; that of the cheft, at the paps ; that of the belly, at the navel. Examine whether, in countnes where the men are of extraordinary itature, there be fix lumbar vertebra, or only five ; enquire what is the duration of life, and the age of puberty. ZOOLOGY. The hi/loire naturelle générale & particulière, and the ornithology of Brifion are recommended as mo- dels. Xciv PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. dels. In examining uncommon fliells, the objcdl fhould be to difcover all that are to be found on the fame coaft, the predominant fpccics, and the con- formation of the animals they contain ; to compare the petrified fhell-fifli of different latitudes, with the •live ones in the fcas adjoining, and to difcover whe- ther the petrefaélions of Europe have their living analogies in diftant fcas. MINERALOGY. The examination of the ftrata which form the cor- refpondcnt coaffs of a firait, or the foil of an ifland. on one fide, and that of the continent which front? it, on the other, will lead to form a conclufion whe- ther a coaft be of ancient or recent formation ; , whe- ther an ifland is adjacent to the mouth of a river, or has made part of the continent. Obferve, in fmall •iflands, and parts of continents that can be examined in detail, at what height above the level of the fea marine depofits arc found in horizontal ftrata. Try to afcertain whether mountains, compofed of hori- ;zontal and calcareous ftrata, diminifh in height as you approach the equator. ColIc6t as great a num- ber as poflible of cryfializations. To this is fub- joined a lift of the fpecies exhibited in Daubenton's nomenclature. They will procure fpecimens of the mofl fingular woods and marbles; and they will fa- tisfy themfelves whether cryftais, which become elec- tric by fimple heat, manifcll the polltive or negative elc(5lricity at one of their extremities, relatively to their pofition. ' v"i v ^ v; ; - %* yf BOTANY. f t.v Let their refearchcs be direéled to objects of utility, fuch as the knowledge of the plants ufed by différent nations for food, medicine, or in works of art. ^i|^ :m lof , the objc6l bund on the id the con- to compare les, with the lifcovcr whe- thcir living PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. XCV art. Let them make a rich and varied coUed^ion of the grains of exotic trees and plants, picked up in a temperature, not greatly different from that of France, whofe productions, naturalized to our climate, may one day enrich our plantations, and adorn our mea- dows. . r brm the cor- of an iflancl which fronts iclufion w he- nation ; whc- of a river, or 2rve, in fmall I be examined vel of the fea 1 ftrata. Try ofed of hori- in height as great a num- i this is fub- 1 Daubenton's cimens of the they will fa- become elec- e or negative relatively to to objeéls of Dlants ufed by or in works of art. OBSERVATIONS OF M. BUACHE. Tkefe huUcate the Parts r>f the Ocean in which Knv Difcoveries may mojl frobahly be made. rr 1. IN the fouthcrn divifion of the Pacific Ocean there are two fpaces hitherto very little known, and n which there is every rcafon to hope that new lands luay be found. The firfl is that iituatcd to the fouth ' f Eallcr and Piteairn Iflands, between 30° and 35" I. and the fécond fpace, which dcfcrvcs to be more larticularly reconnoitred, is that contained between e New Hebrides and New Guinea. 2. The northern part of this ocean, flill lefs known, ay open a field of ftill more extenfive difcoverv. b the fouth of the Mariannes, between 5" and \qP there is a chain of iflands, divided into fevcral luûers, and extending more than 25*^ in longitude ; nd which are known only in a vague dcfcription, ^ nd from a chart conlkucted on the report of fomc . '/.xjf the iflanders, who were thrown by a llorm on the ;,!|1fle of Guaham. The part ofthofc leas to the north ,ofthe Mariannes, or to the caft. of Japan, are cquallv [unknown, only we have fufiieient indications that his fpace contains a conlidcrable number of. iflands, nd thefe very interelling ; one particularly of great .'xtent, about 300 leagues eafl of Japan, whither its nhabitants come to trade. The land of Jeflo can- ' ' • ' not xcvî MELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. not poHîbly bc fuch as the £ngli(h and RufTians have reprefcntcd it. 3. On the weft coaft of America, to the north of California, the river of Martin d'Apuilar may afliir- edly be found again, in the latitude of 43°. He was one of the pilots of Scbaftian Vifcaino, whofe voyape through thofe feas is highly intercfling. It were to bc wUhed that fomc information could bc obtained refpec^ling the inland nations to the north of Cali- fornia ; and that on the return, the iflands of Dcnia and Marfevecn, to the fouth of the Cape of Good- Hope, could be explored. The navigators would do well to procure for us the names given by the na- tives to the iflands they may difcovcr, and a voca- bulary of names given by them to objedts the moll remarkable^ and of the firft importance. EXAMINATION OP THE NATURE OP THE Alll. In order to determine the degree of its falubrity, in different latitudes, and at different elevations, the application of nitrous air feeras the moft fimplc and mofl infallible. The firft requifite is to procure nitrous air, nearly pure. That produced from the folution of mercury by the nitrous acid, is the purcll ; for want of it, that obtained from iron may be ufed. Introduce 200 parts of nitrous air into the eudiome- ter ; add to it loO parts of the air to bc proved, and obferve the number of parts remaining after abforp- tion. Subtradt this remainder from the fum of the two airs, multiply this refult by 40, and divide the produdt by lOQ^ the quotient will exprefs the quantity of vital air contained in the 100 parts of the air ex- amined. Make a memorandum of the height of the barometer and thermometer. •; '^ ■ SPECIFIC PRBLIMINART INITRUCTIOMI. leva the north of r may aiiUr- 3°. He was hofe voyape It were to be obtained rth of Cali- ids of Denia pc of Good- )rs would do n by the na- and a voca- 361s the moll THE AlU. ■ its Hilubrity, \i elevations, c moft fimplc ; is to procure ccd from the is the purcft ; may be ufed. the eudiome- 3 proved, and T after abforp- ic fum of the md divide the fs the quantity of the air ex- t height of tbe SPECIFIC SPECIFIC ORAVITV OP THE AIR. The navigators muft have a globe of glafs fitted to their air pump, which they ean cshauu and fill at picafure. fiy wdphing this globe full iin(i empty, the fpecifie gravity of air, in dltFercnt luritades, will be thus obtained. During ca< h experiment the height of the barometer and thermometer muft bo accurately obferved, and the operator provided with a very cxaél balance, capable of afcertaining the I gravity with eafe, to the precifion of half a grain. EXAMINATION OP WATER. They are referred to the experiments of the Abbé Miappe, and the refults of them publiflied by M. de 'aflini. Thefc may affift them in determining, ipon a fingle voyage, the degree of faltnefs of al- loft every fea. They only need, for this purpofe, very accurate hydrometer; which may likewife be jployed for determining the fpecifie gravity of the Iter of lakes, rivers, and fprings ; and by joining thefe ibme experiments made with re agents, an lea may be acquired not only of the quality, but *:ewife of the quantity of (alts contained in thofe raters. When a particular water (hall appear to krefent any thing interefiing, a part of it may be bvaporated, and the refiduum put up, carefully la? ïllcd, to be more clofely examined at the end ùf le voyage. ■•«»■■ •■''■,/t .-■,.' ■>;r;;,.I .1 VftL. t V,::-k QUESTIONS XCVlll PRELÎMIîTiniY INSTRUCTIONS. QUESTIONS 'T/T^i Propofed hy the Medical Society to the Gentlemen whu are to accompany M. de la Vêrouje^ read in the Sitting of May 31, 1765. >ç>(|'l • rT As thefe queftions are numerous, they are exhi- bited under titles which form fo many heads of me- dical refearch. I. ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY. Struâîure of the Human Body, and Funéliom of its ],,- Organs. ,,■,,.„,., <,,.. ,,.:. . THE defcriptions of moft travellers, on this fiib- je»5l, are known to be exaggerated and erroneous ; but more exaèlnefs is expeéled from the fcientific perfons who accompany M. de la Pérou fe, and they are requefted to obfcrve the following objects with peculiar attention : 1 . The ordinary ftrudlure of both fexes ; the great and fmall diameter of the head ; the length of the upper and lower extremities, meafured from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, of the thigh to the extremity of the great or fécond toe ; the cir- cumference of the pelvis ; the breadth of the chcft, of the fhoulders ; the height of the vertebral co- lumn, from the firft vertèbre of the neck to the fii- crum. 2. The form, the colour of the Ikin, and its dif- ferent regions ; as alfo of the hair and nails. 3. The particular form of the fcuU ; that of the face, particularly of the forehead, of the nofc, eyes, ears, mouth, chin, teeth, tongue, the hair of the head and of the beard. Thefe parts of the body iflanders are accuflomcd to deform in various ways. 4. Procure an exad defcription of the procefN an ? Are there ambidexters, or is the right-hand univerfally pre-eminent ? 6. The comparative ftrcngth of the men, capabili- ty of bearing buithens ; of walking, running, as to time, and fpacc. 7. The fei; /es of Teeing, hearin.or, fmellirlg. Docs the acutcncfs of one feiifc impair that of any other ? 8. The voice, diftinétnefs of articulation, the mode of cxpreliingjoy, pleafure, foirow. 9. The age of puberty in both fexcs, the men- ftrual flux, pregnancy, child-bearing, fuckling, pro- portion of males and females. 10. Proportion of deaths before the age of puber- y : the medium length of human life in ditFercnt cli- atcs. 1 1 . Frequency or flownefs of the pulfe, which 13 Europe from Ô5 to70 in a minute. 1 2. The affinity between the colour of the fkin ,and that of the humours. 13. Are there men with milk in their breafts ? What is to be faid of the hermaphrodites of Louifiana ? "s the fexual inclination periodical among favages ? ÏI. HEALTH. ' : ^ :,'•> i. . ' ^0/ fjje Jir, Water, Food, Bahtauons, Chthing, Ex- ercije, Pajkns^ 1. Air in different places to be tried by the eudi- ometer ; higheft and lowed temperature in the lun nd in the fhade, dryncfs, humidity, gravity, elalli- ityj elcdlric ilate j divifion of feafons ; prevailing ,. ..-. J V ', • ' ga winds, V li '^^., ; . PRÈtiMlNiâV iNStRÙCtioké. winds, their variations ; the nature of the meteors, fnow, hail, rain, thunder, hurricanes, water- fpouts ; corruption by vapours or emanations. 2. Examination of fca-water ât various depths and diftanccs from land ; frefli and brackifh water, the nature of fait contained ; what fort the natives drink, mineral waters, cold and hot ; made drinks, fweet or fermented ; their mode and materials of preparatiort, the fubftances of which they are compofed, their ef- fe6l, particularly the kava defcribed by Anderfon. 3. Aliments. Vegetable or animal food, or both ? Seafoning, cookery, times of eating, quantity ? Do they ufe fait ? The refemblance which their roots, fruits, &c, have to our pot-herbs } Their farinace- ous plants, the fern of New Zealand, fugary fub- flances ? ' ' ' ." ,' . v '; '■'• • ■^' 4. Habitations, their form, extent, openings, ex- pofure, of what foil, of what materials, what (belter they afford, drynefs, humidity ? Do the natives re- fort thither during the night, the whole year round, or occafionally ? What numbers to one houfe ? On what do they fleep ? Are there tribes who always live in the air ? Their clothing, form, materials, varie- ties ? 5. Employments of both fexes, labour, exercife, how far conducive or injurious to health ? 6. Paffions, manners, leading chara<5ler ? Prac- tices favourable to the fecretidn of humours, chew- ing tobacco, betel, &c. fmoking, friétions, undlions, bathings, with their effeéls, particularly that of tat- tooing ? III. DISEASES. . . . ; 1 . Are there arc any acute difeafcs or fevers among thofe iflanders ? "VV^hat eruptive diforders ? Does the fmall-pox exift ? What is its progrefs, its ra- vages ? Is inoculation praélifed ? Is the fmall-pox any where endemical ? What other contagious or epidemical le meteors, ter-fpouts; I depths and water, the itives drink, ks, fweet or preparatioil, ed, their ef- nderfon. >d, or both ? antity ? Do 1 their roots, eir farinace- fugary fub- ipenings, ex- what ihelter le natives re- year rouiid, 5 houfe ? On ho always Hve Lterials, varie- '**»*■ PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. CI epidemical difeafes ? Have they been vifited with the plague ? Arc children fubjcdl to the tetanus and the croup ? 2. To what are we to afcribe the frequency of tetters and ulcers in (bme of thofe ifliinds ? To oily un étions or the flinging of infers ? Do thefe breed in them frequently, as in the ulcers of hot climates ? Are the ulcers which corrode the face cancerous ? Are they fubjed to the ieprofv, the loufy diftemper, and the dracuMCuius ? 3. Does the venereal difeafc exifl among them ? Docs it appear to be natural, or to have been import- ed ? The mode of cure ? In what (late is it in the Friendiv or Society Ifliîids ? The fymptoms ? Is it true that the gonorrhea is unknown among thofe iflanders ? 4. Is the fcur\7 endemical in any particular lati- tude ? What its fymptoms and ravages in hot or cold climates ? What its cure ? 5. Are the rickets known in thofe countries ? Do I nervous, convulHve, fpafmodic, but efpecially epilep- tic diforders exift among them ? Are children fub- 3^9; to any ilhiefs, particularly convulfions, while they are teething ? 6. Arc there any perfons, male or female, particu- larly charged with tending the fick ? What reme- dies or procèdes do they employ ? Are there hofpi- tals, or do they fcclude patients of certain clafTes from fbciety ? ,^ c. ,r, '.•...,-..,,..; .- ■..„,.> , -.J.'- .■ IV. MATERIA MEDICA. ' " The navigators will inveftigate the virtue of the phmts whofc favour and other phyfical properties may communicate to them any medical information. The foliowing articles arc f^binitted to their confidera- tion : 1. Examine the tafte, the fmell, of the roots, woods, barks, leaves, flowers, fruits, and feeds of the g 3 vegetable ■( I l|!lr;i ctl PRELIMINAIIY INSTRUCTIONS. . vegetables of countries imperfcélly known, and com- pare them with the different vegetable lubllnnces ul'ed as medicines in Europe, and make ilie fame ex- periments on the faps of trees, as well as on animal fnbfianccs. 2. Obfcrve the remedies ufed in warm coimtriesto counteradl peculiar difordcrs, and even dcfcribe the fuperftitious proceHcs which arc frequently the only medicine of barbarous nations. '•' n"';^'» i.^h • 3. Try the deco61ions of fome of the emollient, aromatic, acrid plants, on cutnticons difordcrs. 4. Employ meirr.ry in fric'^ion in venereal cafes, and aflift the iflaudcrs in delivering themlclves fora this terrible fcourge ; above all, obfcrve the cfFcds of mercury. Difcover whether certain fudorific vegetables have not an anlivenereal virtue in thofe iflarids. 't 6. Difc(;vcr whcihcr there may pot cxift, in fome warm countries, plants analogous to the jefu it's bark, the fimarouba, the ipecacuanha, the camphor, the opium, Src, and whether the iilands produce emetic or purgative plants which might be turned to good jiccount. 7. Procure information, and ma]^e obfcrvations on the properties of the anaeardium, which is faid to be a cure ibr infanity ; on the virtues of the tekphmm and of the granum niarimim, which the Grecnlanders prefer to the coehlearia asanantifcorhutic ; onWin- ter*s bark, the root of Belaage, of Columbo, and that of Juan Lopez. 8. What nations ufc poifoned arrows, what fub- ilanccs they employ for this purpofe, what antidotes to counterad their deleterious action, and, above all, whether fait and fugar poflTcfs this quality ? g. Examine the animals, particularly ferpents and venomous fiOies, and difcover the caufe of this dan- gerous property in tbcfe laft, and the means of pré- vention. 10. Colica cm and com- lululanccs c fame ex- on animal PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS. 10. Colled carefully the remedies, internal and external, which are applied as fpecifics, the mode of preparation, of application, the dofes, the efFeéls, and the period of the difeafe at which they are ad- mi ni ftered. 11. Put up in a fcpîirate herbal the plants or parts of plants which are ufed as food, medicine, or poifon. emollient, irrlcrs. crcal cafes, ilclves from he cfFc6ls of ctablcs have Is. —I .ift, in fome jefuit's bark, amphor, the duce emetic ncd to good crvations on is faid to be he telephmm jrccnlandci"S ic ; on Win- ibo, and that s, what fub- hat antidotes nd, above all, ^yj ■"■■ ferpcnts and Î of this dan- ncans of prc- 10. coiica -m CHIRURGERY. i.i 1. Arc diflocations, fra6lures, ruptures, and chi- rurgical maladies, in general, common among peo- ple who live in a ftate of nature ? 2. What means do they employ for curing thofe diforders ? 3. Have they particular inftruments ? What is [their form, of what materials, how ufed ? Buy fome, and make a colle6lion. - ru, 4. Are circumcilion and infibulation pra6tifed ? ^ow is the operation performed ? 5. Are there any perfons, male or female, parti- ularly entrufled with the treatment of fuch and iich a chirurgical cafe, as of the eyes, ears, teeth, " in, child bearing ? 6. What is the form and nature of their warlike inftniments, that of the wounds they inflidl, the mode of treatment and cure ? \ 'A- (Signed) mauduyt. VIC-D AZYR, DE FOURCROY, and THOURET. \^i tht LouvrCj Z\ft May, 1789. :'^ ";' %.'.% \ ,,.. .;">>. ii*'ti • r ''-;j«.j-.iv inti :' \ /, ,;.-'^T J ■;' g 4 - •^v '. , ' • SKETCH . \ iw. to 'î>;: SKETCH CÎV PtBilMIWARY INSTRUCTIONS. 0/* Experiments to he made for preferv'mg Wafer on Ship' hard from Corruption, communicated by the •' j4hbé Teffier, of the Academy of Sciences , and of the V- Medical Society. .ui. TWENTY cafks of equal fize are to be fele^ed on the voyage, (iniilar to thofe which contain the reft of the frefli water ; thev are to be of the fame wood, and hooped as the otners, flowed in the fame part of the (hip, and without any particular precaution. 1 ft Experiment. The water with which two of the calks are to be filled, muft firft be boiled for half an hour. There are no infeéts' eggs which can ftand this degree of heat without perilhing. Mark the calks No. I . E. B, No. 2. E. B. the initials of eau ùotiillie, boiled water. ;» . r*. a 2d Experiment. Let the infi''le of other two be impregnated with quick lime diftblyed in boiling wa- ter, repeating the operation twice or thrice ; for this purpofe a brufh mufl be ufed, and ftrongly applied to the ftnves and feams, that the lime water may pene- trate the deeper. It is plain that one of the ends muft be out when this is doing, and the infide of it muft be likewife impregnated before it is replaced. Thefe two are to be filled with water which has not boiled, and marked No. I . E. C. S. No. 2. E. C. S. the initials of eau chaulée implement, water limed fimply. 3d Experiment. This is to combine the two pre- ceding, by filling the two caiks, impregnated as be- fore, with boiled water; let the one be niarked No. 1 . E. B. C. the other No. 2, È. B. C. the initials of eau bouillie, chaulée, boiled water, limed. 4th Experiment. To two cafks of wa+c*. boiled and liined as before, add four ounces of the fpirit of vitriol for every 250 pints of water, Paris meafure, marked r^m f FRELIMINART INSTRUCTIONS. C? )e feleéled on in the reft of {^me wood, fame part of ;caution. ich two of the ed for half an can ftand this ark the caiks of eau ùoulllie, other two he in boiling wa- hrice; for thi? igly applied to jter may pene- ■ the ends muft fide of it muft placed. Thefe bas not boiled, I. S. the initials fimply. le the two pre- regnated as be- be niarked No. the initials of id. f wa+c. . boiled of the fpirit of Paris meafure, marked marked No. 1 . No. 2. E. B. C. V. the initials of eau iowllie, chaulée, vitrioVtsée, boiled water, limed, vitriol- ated. 5th Experiment. Fill two other caiks with frêfh wa- ter neither boiled nor limed, and add the vitriol in the above proportions, and mark them No. 1 . No. 2. E. S. V. the initials o{ eaujimpïe, vitriolisée, plain water, vitriolated. 6th Ex{)eriment. To two cafks of boiled water add the vitriol as before, and mark them No. 1. No. 2. E. B. V. the initials of eau bouillie, vitrioliséej boiled water, vitriolated, 7th Experiment. Let two caiks be tarred over on the ou tilde, and filled with boiled water without any internal impregnation, and mark No. 1. No. 2. E. B. G. E. the initials Q(eau bouillie, goudronnée extérieure' ment, boiled water, tarred externally. 8th Experiment. Impregnate with lime internally, in the 2d, 3d, and 4th experiments, two cafks of iled water, and likewife tar then» on the outfide. ark them No. 1 . No. 2. E. B. C. G. the initials of rau bouillie, chaulée, goudronnée, boiled water, iimed^ rred. Qth Experiment. Let two be tarred fimply on the ©utfide, and filled with plain water which has not boiled, marked No. 1. No. 2. E- S. G. E. the initials o( eaufmple, goudronnée extérieurement, plain water, tarred externally. 10th Experiment. Fill two with plain water, with- out any preparation whatever, external or internal, of either the water or the calks. This experiment is an objc(5l of comparifon with all the others. .i' The water is not to be boiled till the calks are quite ready, and they muft be filled immediately, left other mleds fhould depofit their eggs in it; and it is ob- vious that all the experiment calks Ihould be clofely bunged up. When, from the heat, the reft of the water w board begins to corrupt, each of the expe- riment tn J'nELIMIN\RY INSTRUCTIONS. riment calks ought to be examined at the fame time, and their taiîe, fmeJl and tranrparcncy obferved ; the gravity niuft be tried by the hydroftatical balance, and the temperature, by introdueing the thermome- ter into the cafk ; in an equal quantity of eaeh fort, an equal quantity of dry pulfc, fuch as had been ufed before fliiling, mull be boiled ; finally, an equal quantity of the foap formerly employed, mUll be dif- (blved in equal quantities of the fcveral waters. Carefully remark if infe6ls are forming in them, of what fpceies, trace their metamorphofes, preferve fome of them in fpirits to be brought home. If the neceflities of the Ihip's company permit, the remain- ing calks of the ten experiments ought not to be touched before arriving in a different climate, and flill in a latitude where common water will corrupt ; in thiscttfe, let them be examined as beforCif; i '; . An exa6l account muft be kept of every thing done and obferved in the experiments, to be figned by M. de la Péroufe, his officers, and the naturalilts on board. It is to be wiihed that each of the fhips fhould repeat the experiments at the fame time. Double obfervations will confirm each other, and carry the fa<5l up to demon fi^ration. The experiment water will be as good as any other, and fo no room will be ufelefsly occupied. : -.nf, ^]y^ M. de la Péroufe is requeficd to fign two copies of this fketch, together with the author of it, each of the parties to keep one, as a tefi:imony of the en- gagement he enters into with the public, to fuperin- tend experiments which n^ay tend greatly to promote the comfort of navigators. ^^'1/it RamhouiUet^ May IQth, 1785. (Signed) 'î^ilii V TESSIER. LA PÉROUSE. '■^k.iQiii 'h}ii,iMy ■^iUi'-^tiriii kViifi-:* -tf ^3ff • &#?'i04aJS'> ■ ,,^€moa^'4;| îiË^t:gasi; ^tmm . memoir inonii'r ÎRELIMIKARY INSTRtfCTIONS, cvn MEMOIR To àireB th. Gardener in the Labours of his VoyagB round the îVorîd\ hy M. Thouin, frji Botanical Gardener. The obied which this branch of the expedition has \ m view is two-fold ; to fend to the inhabitants of newly difcovcred eountrics the vegetable productions lof Europe which may be ufeful to them ; and to re- ' ceive from them in return fuch of their produdlions as are calculated to enrich Europe. This memoir is accordingly divided into two parts correfponding to this double objeét of mutual benefit. PART FIRiT. Vioice, Nature and Culture of the Vegetahks to h tranfported from France. Nutritious plants defcrve the preference ; the loicc. therefore, muft be made among our legumi- nous plants, and mofl valuable trees. Such as need io preparation in order to be ufed as food, muft have [he firft rank ; and thofe which need only to be )n[l.xl to become eatable muft occupy the fécond. To thefe limits we ought to reftriét the prefents /hich we mean to make to a race of men who, def- titute of vcflels proper for boiling, could make no lie of vegetables that require this mode of cookery. ^lants of erfy culture ought to have the preference. No f:ec]« to be put up but of laft year's growth, )errecliy matured and found. Some need only to )e kept from air and moifture, others muft be laid in ;arth or fand, to prcferve their germinative power, ""he gardener is di^eéled to mark and label every par- cel, and arrange the whole conformably to a written catalogue. On arriving at a place where he pro- )ofcs to fow, he muft examine the temperature of the climate, and obferve whether the native plants, particularly /•' cvni 9ll^l.IMINAIir INSTRUCTIONS. 1 1 I ft particularly annuals, arc in a flate of growth, mat», rity, or decay. This will direél his choice of the proper fec^, and afpciSl. The time of the y^ear muft be carefully attended to, as well ^s the nature of the (oil. Let him try to engage the natives to aflift in the labours of the field. Befides more regular cul- ture, every time he walks abroad he ought to be pro- vided with an aflTortmcnt of feeds, to be fcattercd about occafionally where they are likely to fpring. He n)uft keep a regular journal of all his operations and their refults, which will furnifh points of com- parifon towards perfe6ling the art. particular direélions are then given refpedling the packing and carriage of growing plants, both by land and water. PART SECO^^D. 0/ the gathering of Vegetables that may he ujeful lo ^urope, and of their Prefervation on the Voyage. Tihe collection muft confift of l . Seeds : 2. Bulbs and fleiby roots of vivacious plants : 3. Slips of va- luable trees, the feeds of which cannot be procured. Seeds to be gathered when ^ choice 't to be had, and in a (late of perfeél maturity ; but in cafe o(f a (hort ftay, they muft be taken on the plant though imma- 4;ure, and all means employed to vipep them on the pafîàge ; and every chance taj^en of procuring a pre- cious vegetable to Europe. Attention mull be paid to the manner of putting up even perf6d;ly ripe ibeds. Thofe which grow in hulks, pods and cap- itules, mull remain in their envelopes, ?Lnd thefe tied «up to prevent Ujeir opening ; the faipe (:are mull be taken of cojjes, and m general of all dry Iruits, s 5mall (beds growing in eaJls, clullers, panicles, mult | be picked entire with (lalks of five or fix inches long, and all communication between the germ and the air prevented : they mud be carefully cleared of all infedls and their eggs. Samples of every fpecics of plant, 1 I :f % ai 'Em. J cl fïiÊLiMtiffARy msntucTiotié. cît plnnt, and its refpeélive feed to be marked and numbered. Naked feeds of the fize of â ha£el-tiut or upward, require a different preparation. They muft be left expofcd to a free air for fome time, to fweat off the fuperfluous moifture, and perfect their maturity. When packed up they muft be depofited in fuch parts of the fhip as arc leaft expofed to varia- tions of the iitmofpherc, and equally fecured againft exccflive dryncfs and humidity. It cannot be doulned that the trees and plants which may be ufcd as food are of the firft import- ance, fuch as the fern whofc root fervcs as aliment to the inhabitants of New Zealand : thofc ufeful in the arts will occupy the fécond place ; fuch as are orna- mental to our gardens, the third ; and the fourth will comprehend thofe which are only proper for a I botanical collc6lion. The quantity gathered (bould |be in proportion to the climate of the country. |Where the temperature is analagous to that of Eu- rope, there can be no rifk in taking a great deal : iti "lottcr climates lefs will ferve, as the feeds need hot- )eds and frames to raife them, only a few can be Ppreferved ; unlefs it were an objedi to props^te them in our Eaft or Weft India fettlements. GjI- le6t more in the laft periods of the voyage than in the firft. Forward, as opportunity prefents, collections already made, with proper information. Diredions follow refpe6ling the mode of packing and conveyance, and of culture during the voyage; and a lift of ncceflaries to the gardener in the dif- charge of his office. A Lift of Seeds to be packed up pr tile Expedition, FIRST DIVISIOX. Subftances which need no preparation to become food. •"i" 5 Jt- tntJïTS riEUMlNARY INSTRUCTIONS. FRUITS OF TREES. Seeds of apples, pears, grapes, goofcberric!*. Stones of peaches, apricots, plums, cherries. Ahnouds. Nuts. FRUITS OP HERBS. Seeds of melons, of different kinds ; artichokes, white and violet ; Guinea pepper. LB<}UMINOUS PLANTS. Seeds of celery of all varieties ; chervil, crcfl'es, pariley, purflain, golden ; forrcl, lettuce, cabbage and coos ; fmall lettuce for cutting ; wild fuccory. ROOTS. Onions white and red, turneps of various forts, radiflics, garlic, flialot. L SECOND DIVISION. Subftanccs that need no preparation, but roafting, to become food. ROOTS. Potatoes, carrots of all varieties, chiroui, parfnips, faliify, Spanifli and white; beet-root, red, white and yellow. ^ FARINACEOUS SEEDS. Wheat of different fpccies, maize of all varieties, buck wheat, or black corn ; Piedmontefe rice, barley of different forts, oats of every variety, rye. THIRD DIVISION. Produ6lions not eatable till boiled, and Ihcrcfore proper only for nations provided with vellcls fit for this fpecies of cookery. Peas of all forts, kidney-beans of all forts, garden- beans of every variety, lentiles, the large fpecies; chick-peas, white and red ; lupines, vetches, white and black; fenugreek, white-muflard, egg-plant, \? - ' V cabbage, 11 !;■ ]k;,^B \\[ '^M s^ tai PRRLIMIN ^RY INSTRUCTIONS. CXI cabbage, white and red ; ixniipion and mufliroom» nicumbcr, gourd, calabiidi, orach, chard-boct, to- bacco* l\'gclablcs to be tranfportcd in their tuitural State, FRUITI^C TREKS AND SHRITBS. , Ajjplc-trcc, rcj-i'.,i «Ijjjvi.'if.i ,;;^-. :. NARRATIVE ^in i mH i a i f ii »ii »M i II ii^w»»»^fw^»»<|y i ii ■ mi n hv^. ■-•<■>' v ii j ufii y.i- i -rf^ k )1, Aftro- iotanift. ler. I Lvy. retei ■; put J de la ^ 8 . 8 « ' 1*2 42 11 y U' .' 7 11 1 _ Y'f^-f x'hMVfit .' ^^ n "Br.n ,aA JJ-T,"--- '•X-Ai^V**** «^K ;„«»*' ^RRATIVE stm. ,., t/Û I \ OK ■U. 4l !>,. d % Tropic m Utfl Ifi6 \ \ \ dtll^UJtÙI ' \*utt»!. {"Eniiutt pa-)iu \ Bam/. \: WUHtiJ. i '\Hopef. , Amtinfura/. • f «rjtnurnui/ — It'u/oa ; i,- liV, — I F KI É X J H.Y • ■ • • 1 S I.FS I of Caprtrorn '{,-^: { \ 77te namiv o/' LHand^' luuicrà'nfd.arc thOxte w?uch were .'«r// lH' MaureQe . IVgrrcs of f^ongitudf Kaftuf Taris. 170 176 hiV ■ !f:-\ ekdak. JVf£ta67^ . NARRATIVE* OF AN INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM MANILLA TO SAINT BLAISE,^ In 1780 and 1781. »e-M«»asB IMMEDIATELY upon my arrival at Manilla, the commander of the frigate that carried me thi- ther difembaiked the maritime forces which he brought, flationed them at the port of Cavita J for its defence, and appointed me major of the troops : :it the fame time defiring that 1 would take a plan of |ihe harbour and its environs. The objcét of this »i-vas to fix on the moft advantageous fituation for [placing the force to oppofe the defcent of an enemy. The governor fitted out the frigate La Princefla [for an expedition which he thought to keep fecret. [When the frigate was ready to fail, I received orders, [very unexpededly, to take the command of it. The jfurprife which this unlooked-for appointment occa- [fioned me, my entire ignorance as to the obje(5t of the r xpedition, the fear of feeing my miflion thwart- ed by the neccffity of fome engagement, were to my * The Spanith originals of this narrative, and the following ex. Kra(îl, were lent by La Pcroufe ; the trandation is the work of A. ^i. Pingre, and the rorrefponding chart compofed according to Ihcfe accoinits ; and the ancient journals is by Buanche, member bf the national inftitute. — French Editor. t It is well known that Manilla, in the lOand of Luconia, is file capital of the Philippine Ides. Saint-Blaife, or Saint-Bias, is a na-bonr on the weftern coaft of Mexico. X Cavita is three leagues from Manilla, h 2 mind •-. t .J5- ( I \ •v — '«;?*. Vf London J^ublislwd , . Ui^iu't •tj.i w m 1 ri • jte whù'h were xwen liv Maurello. Drgrres of tongitudr F.aftof itiris. IJO 176 hIV J,om1on PublisheU, Uif/iuH -ij, ijt^, fy IJA^/i/rdtUf. flltCtu67^' . lilt CXVl INTERESTING VOYAGE PROM mind the fource of a thoufand anxieties : but the go- vernor reprefented to me that this commiffion would do me as much the greater honour as the objed was more interefting ; that (hould the enemy think of feeking me, which he would not be backward in do- ing, the expertnefs and aftivity of my manœuvres would be a proof of my ability ; and that, in fhort, the fuccefs of my expedition would be of material advantage to our Sovereign. Thefe expreffions were fo powerful an incitement, that I confidered myfelf particularly honoured by the governor's having cho- fen me for this expedition, in fuch critical circum- ftances. I accepted the command, and failed the 24th of Auguft, after receiving from government a fealed packet, containing inftrudions and orders for my obfervance, and the port whither I was defired firft to repair. This packet I was not to open till twelve leagues diftant from Cavita. The 25th, being at thediftance prefcribed, I open- ed the packer. 1 vvas enjoined to make the port of Sifiran*, there to wait the final orders of government, always keeping on the watch to repel the attacks of the enemy, who without doubt would endeavour to intercept me/ fliould they come to blockade Ma- nilla. The winds fell, and becoming contrary, were againfl my getting clear of the ifles. 1 in confequence bore up conftantly on difFeient tacks, making every pof- fible effort to gain the weather gage; but I could not overcome the current, which forcibly put me back, running f oin the point of Efcarfea'j-, which it was out of my power 10 tlouble. I was then under the neccffity of coming to auchor, at ten o'clock in * Sifiran is a harbour on the eaftern coaft of Luconia, almoft directly oppofite to Manilla, being but t6 min. more foutherly than that city . t This point, the port of Las Caleras, the Ifl.s Tiaco, and St. Bernn-(i, are firir ted id tin rhiiii;el or (Irait which divides Luco- nia from the other Philippme iflanda. the \' MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. txvii the morning, near this point oppofite Galeras Bay, in 2 s fathoms, and a fandy bottom. ;•>*>•);. At half paft three on the morning of the 30th the wind changed to the weft, but it was fo violent that I drove from my anchors. 1 wanted to put to fca, but the current prevented me, and even drifted me towards the port. 1 was in ten fathoms water, and let go an anchor that was the fport of the current and winds, which trelhened more and more, fo that I foon found myfelf in only five fathoms water. I let go a fécond, and by the affiftance of the flieet an- chor, which I caft witti great velocity, I got further from (hore, from whence 1 was only about the fliip's length dittant ; and thv)ugh ftiil detained wiihin. the point of AlagaiiLan, which forms the port of Galeras, Î could neverthelefs get under way, but it was by leaving an anchor, (heet anchor, two cables, and a iheet cable faft in the rocks*. At nine o'clock in the mornmg I doubled the point, and although the wind abated in getting to the third quarter -j-, I neverthe- lefs, by a prefs of fail, fuccceded in coming to anchor at eight o'clock in the evening of the 31ft, under flielter of the Ifland of Tiaco, to quit it again on the morrow. I again put to fea on the ift September, and at four o'clock in the evening found myfelf a quarter of a league to the north of St. Bernard. Thence I lliaped my couife for paffing between the Cantadu- anes J and Luconia : as this route muft bring me to the narrovveft pafl'age between the breakers and this * I have much abridged this, as well becaufe the detail would be ufelefs and tirefome, as becaufe there are fome palTages which I do not comprehend, either through |ny own want of knowledge, which however I do not believe, or through the fault of the copier, who may have mutilated the original. t The Spaniards divide the horizon into four quarters: the firft extending from north to eaft, the fécond from eaft to fouth, the third from fouth to weft, and the fourth from weft to north. X This ifland is oppofite to the moft fouth-eafterly part of Luco- nia; its fouthern point is almoft parallel with Siiiran. h 3 ifland. CXVIU INTERESTING VOYAGE PROM ifland, I at ten o'clock brought to, and found myfelf at day-break of the 2d, diflunt ten leagues from Can- taduanes. I fct every fail, and at half pad eleven had reached its mod north-weftern point, and pafled at a very Hiort diftance from the laft iflots in the vi- cinity of that point. Thence 1 fteered W. S. VV., and to W., keeping clofe to the wind to gain Sifiran, which port 1 neared at fix o'clock in the evening. I Hood off and on all night, and the following day, 3d, came to anchor at two o'clock in the afternoon, and moored the frigate in the bell poffible manner, in expedlation of the laft orders which were to be fent. As foon as I arrived I employed myfelf in ex- ercifing the men in every thing which might be of fervice for our defence, in cafe we fhould be attacked, and had it occurred, all were fufficiently accuftoni- ed to the ufe of arms. I alfo wrote to the governor, \ informing him of my arrival at Sifiran, and requeft- ing his final orders. Sifiran is fituated in the vicinity of very high mountains, which render the air extremely damp. From thence likewifc arife the continual hurricanes I experienced during my day there. The perpe- tual damp occafioned difeafes among my crew, of which I lod one failor. i We were thirty or thirty- five leagues from the neared inhabited parts ,* and to have a communica- tion with them it were neceflary to climb {\.eei> mountains, inhabited by favages, which rendered this communication extremely difficult. It was nor, in confequence, without the greated trouble that I fucceeded in procuring fome of the refrefhmenrs which I thought would be of fervice to us in the courfe of fo long a campaign. ... J» , To replace the two cables and (heet cable I had lod, 1 requedcd the alcade, or commander of this province, to get me new ones made, which he did, and MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXlX and fcnt thcni as foon as finifhed. I in like manner afked for fonie anchors, but there was not one to the bcft of his knowledge throughout his whole ju- rifdiétion. On the loth November an officer came on board and put into my hands a great box, containing dif- patches refpedlino; jus Majelty's fervice. The go- vernor-general ordered me lo fend, with the utmoft expedition, this box to his excellency the viceroy of New Spain, and to that effe(ft, to make fail towards the port of St. Blaife, or Acapulco, as I (liould judge mofl: expedient. 1 immediately got ready for my departure; but two iucceflive tempefts delayed mc till the 2 111. To fail from the Philippines to New Spain, the vcflel mud leave in June, the wefterly winds which then blow, carrying the fliips to theeallofthe Mari- anne Illands : at any other time a fuccefsful voyage could not be hoped for. I therefore confidcred my felf as on the eve of undertaking a voyage abfolutely new, on tracks of fen, till then, almofl; unknown. Though a navigator might even have taken a courfe finiilar to mine, had he the fame winds ? Had he fleered the fame points ? Had he gone through the fame parallels or meridians ? I might therefore conclude the courfe I took had never been before attempted by any navigaior. I had nothing mo e at heart than the faithful exe- cution of the orders entrufted to me, and to render my expedition u(eful to his Majcfty's fervice, and the welfare of his fubjects. This fentiment animated me in furmounting my apprehenfions with refpeft to the abfolute ignorance I was in as to the courfe I was to take. My knowkdge went no further than New Britain j and even in that run I might meet with aa infinity of iflands, of which not the leaft veftige was to be found on the marine charts. M. de Bougainville, who failed from the eaft of b 4. New CXX INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM New Guinea to the Cape of Good Hope in the fame iiland, gives the pofuion of only two fmali ifles, which he called the Anchorets, and a group of other flat in- fignificant iilcs, which he termed Mille Ifles* (Thou- fand Iflands). He has doubtlefs placed them in their proper latitude : but befides thcfe, not a day paflcd withoiitdifcovcring others onalllidesjofwhich any one may eafily be convinced by looking over my chart. The only choice left me, and which I took from the firft moment of my expedition, was to employ the moft fcrupulous attention, and exercifc the moft un- ceafing vigilance during the whole courfe of our na- vigation, to acquit myfelf with honour of the com- miflion with which i was charged in fpite of the con- tinual riiks I had to encounter. Though I had quitted a port from whence I could have been fupplied with every thing neceffiry for fo long a voyage, 1 at the fame time was thereby fpared much diltrcfs. My fhip's crew were attacked by difeaie more or lefs acute : the provifions, preciic- ly fuffic ient for fix months, were for the moft part fly-blown and putrified; the water, limited to fe- venty pipes and forty barrels, without regarding the ■wafte, was a fupply veiy infufficient for a voyage of fuch a length, anl the cordage was fuch that it broke the fiiH time it was ufed. 1 defired from the alcade fome tar, of which we were abfolutely in want, but there being none in the province, 1 fupplied its place with pitch. Though all thefe reafons left me almoft ' deftitute of hope, my zeal for «he King's fervice fuf- fered no abatement ; and I prepared myfelf to un- dergo all the calamities with which the nature of our provifions and the ftate of the rigging threatened me. * Bougainville did not give this group the name of Mille Ifles, but l'Echiquier. , [ I' :J,y ;, I. » ■ V Departure /( "',i.' KANILLA TO 8T. BLAISS. CXSl Departure from Sijiran, on the eaftern co^/i of Luconia, 1 4" 20^ N, tat. \ 26° 3 \f weft of St. LncaSt 9r Luear, in California^ 121° lof eaft of Partly 20' weji of St, Bernardf in the Mouth of the Strait, I PUT to fca the 21ft November with flight breezes at Ë. N. E. and by £., which Toon becom* ing ilrong, and being diredly contrary, 1 ran upon digèrent tacks, to gee to the north, and clear the liland of Caiktuadanes. Thefe winds carried me to latitude 16*^ 14', which 1 obferved on the 30th. I then bore away to S. S. £., and again faw the iiland on tlie 3d December: its bearing was fouth ea(t by a quarter fouth, didant 6ve lengqes. 1 concluded that the currents* had thrown me back a° 2b' to the weft, notwididandmg the correction I made in my N. N. W. courfe. In this pofition, where I was detained by the winds, which prevented my fteering S. E., I was af- failed by a heavy mountainous fea, and extremely vio- lent winds, which frequently obliged me to lay to under the fore fail, taking every poilible method of getting to windward, to enable me to continue my voyage. The 9th December, after running on different racks, I found myfelf again in fight of the Cantuadmes, from whence I took my final departure, the (out hern- mod point bearing W. N. W. 3° weft, at the dif- tance of ten or twelve leagues, which made me iti 13^ z4''lat and 122^ 2(/ long, eaft of Paris, and \i/ eaft of St. Bernard. We then had tolerably fair frefli breezes from the third quarter, of which I took the advantage to run eaftward till the 14th, when the winds veei U E. N. * Befides the currents the K-e-way had undoviV>Ied on tlie direc- tion of the courfe ; but it was Kopaiently upon ijjg \;iUculation of this lee-way that the courfe had been correded» E. E. CXXll INTERESTING VOYAGE PROM E: E. and E. S. E. This change obliged me to keep two points nearer the fouih. The i8th, according to one of the charts on whicli I had laid down my courfe, I mud have been weft of the Martyr ifland at feven leagues diftance j and between the 20th and 21ft came upon that called the Triangle: but by another chart, I was on the 19th near the Yap Ifland, or Great Caroline, and on the 20th, off the Pelew ]flands, without having obfcrved either of them : but there could be no other caufe for the fhort and bil- lowy fea which we had, than the proximity of the Carolines or New Philippine Iflands, agreeable to their fituation on the French chart. i ? -y: On the 29th, croffing the line, I entered the fou- thern hemifphere. The winds then came from the third and fourth quarter, fufficiently freQi, but inter- rupted by frequent calms, which much incommoded us, owing to the excefl'ive heat which they occafion*- ed. I then fteered in the fécond and firft quarter, next to the eafl:, not however lofing fight of my de- fign to bear up rather to the fouth, and fail in with the wefterly winds, which muft predominate in the higher latitudes. Steering this courfe we remark- ed many large trunks of trees, birds of different kinds, boobies and others called dominicos. In this fame courfe Ï propofed taking an obfervation of the Mille Ifles, the mod northerly and eaftcrly of which Bougainville places in his chart at 1^ 10'' fouth, and — — •* eaft of Paris. I accordingly met with them on the 7th January; they extended from the 38th degree of the fécond quarter to the 9th of the third -f-. The latitude of the mofl: north- eafterly one was pre- cifcly as laid down on the chart, but its longitude * The longitude is wanting in the M. S. It is 13g deg. 30 min. by Bougainville's chart. As to the reft the Mille Ifles are clearly the fame as his Exchiquier. t Their extent mull then have been from the eaft 38 deg. fouth, to ibuth 9 deg. weft. according cxxiii : MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. according to me 141° 12' eaft of Paris. I deter- mined on coafting thefe iflands as near as poffible,and took an infinity of their bearings which, together with the way the frigate made, enabled me to de- termine, with the utmoft precifion, the pofition of twenty-nine of thefe iflands that we have difco- vered. There are undoubtedly many others in the fouthern part, of which we could not take ac- count. It is impoffible to defcribe, on the chart, the extent of each, when fcarce any in the longed pare is one league. They are all flat, and covered with trees; fome are furrounded by reefs which join them to the neighbouring iflands. On thefe reefs the fea breaks, bur ihe breakers are only perceptible at a fliort difi:ance. I continued to near thefe iflands, fo that I pafled the moft northerly at the diftance only of two miles. At fevea o clock in the evening I defcried many fires on the moft eaftern ones, and could not but be very much fuiprifed at feeing fuch faiall portions of land inhabited. Quitting thefe iflands, 1 fl.eered to eaft, a quarter rorth-eaft; and on the 8th difcovered to the fouth, three degrees eaft, diftant five or fix leagues, two iflots, which I named the Hermits ; and in the even- ing of the fame day faw the Anchorets at the north and weft, diftant five miles ; I found them precifely in the latitude given by Bougainville. We at the fame moment defcried two fmall iflots to the eaft ; I pafled to the fouth of them at midnight, at a league diftant; I called them the Monks. Thence I bore away for the north coaft of New Britain; but on the loth, fcarce had the day broke when 1 difcovered other iflands to the S. S. E.* This and the following day I ran the length of the moft wefterly, at a reafonable diftance. I took every pof- * It is in the M. S. fudoefte : it (hould undoubtedly be read Ai, defte, or fud-fiièfte, fouth-eaft, or foutli-fouth-eall ; all that follows proves that this ifland could not be weft of the frigate. fibU CXXIV INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM fibjc method by means of bearings to make myfelf acquainted with its true fituation, and am fure that its northern coaft is eleven leagues long, and with- out douht proportionably wide : far beyond the plains, wnich extend to the fea fide, are feen many high mountains. The chart gives its perfpedive. Beyond this are four other flat iflands, covered with trees, the coafts of which, rifing in fucccffion, are bold and free from reefs, and 1 doubt not in the channels which feparate them is good anchorage, where fliips may be fufficiently flieltered from the wind and fea. ; ^ , The inhabitants of thefe iflands, feeing me on the jith two miles diftant from their moft eaftern point, came near in their canoes to the number of twelve, befides many others which did not put to fea. Cu- rious to know the charafter of thefe iflanders, 1 lay to : they came along fide, but would not venture qn board : they carneftly requefted fome food, and prefled us to come to anchor between the ifles. We threw them fome cocoa nuts, and pieces of bifcuir, which they fcramblcd for with great eagernefs, and »lmoft fought to obtain ; but when they faw at the poop a, net containing fome garden fl:uff, they ufed their utmofl efforts to reach it with long wooden hatchets. All this was a convincing proof of the dreadful flate in which they lived ; and fo far from Jioping for any rcfrefliment from them, I faw they iwanted it themfelves more than me. I was therefore from necefTuy conflrained to leave them in their mi' ferable flate. I faw no difference between them and the negroes of Guinea; colour, hair, lips, eyes, every part feemed to correfpond. The only arms of thele people were arrows, but without bows to flioot with. The points were armed with very clumfy flints ; they had alfo fome fifhing nets, which undoubtedly fur- nifhed them with their principal article of fubfiftence Purfuingmy track, on leaving this ifland, to which I gave MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. ' CXXV I gave the name of Don Jofeph Bafco, I difcovcrcd in the evening of the fame day fix others, and named the moft wefterly of the two neareft the fouth, St, Michael, and the moft eafterly, Jefus Maria. Their coafts are more extenfive than I (hould have con- ceived from the bearings I had an opportunity of taking; for the mountains are very high, and the diftance I was at did not permit me to overlook the wliole extent of the coafts. I at the fame time coafted along two other iilands at a diftance of two miles. The moft wefterly I call- ed St. Gabriel, and the moft eafterly St. Raphael : between thefe and the two preceding ones were two very fmall iilands, that of the north was called Flat, or Low Ifland, and the fouth Oven Ifland. Thence ftanding as before to the eaft, I found 1 was at mid- night to the north of three iilands, which I named the Three Kings. On thfj ^th I left a very fmall iflot at the 38th degree o* \ third quarter, (S. 38° W.) at fix lea- gues diftai/wc. ' ' " At half paft one in the afternoon of the fame day we defcricd at N. E. 3** E. another ifland eight or nine leagues off. It pfefented to our view a very high mountain ; and fufpeding it to be Ifle Mat- thias, which the French chart places north of New Britain, I fteered E. N. E. to get nearer to it, and convince myfelf of its fituation. At fix o'clock in the evening the bearing of the mountain was ac the zid degree of the firft quarter, (N. 22° E.) at the diftance of fix or feven leagues ; and its fitua- tion, determined by our bearings, did not leave a doubi of its being Matthias Ifland. 1 continued the fame courfe to find out Stormy Ifland, placed on the French ciiart more to the eaft. This ifland certainly has its proper name. We in- ceflantly, during the whole night, experienced ftrong gufts of wind, and a high Tea. Neverihelefs, on the 13th, CXXVl INTERESTING VOYAGE PIIOM 13th, notwitliftanding the fogs and frequent Ihowers which began with the break of day, we difcovered at the nordi-weft by north, at feven leagues dif- tance, another which feemed fmaller than Stormy Illand, as reprefented on the chart; but its diftance, and the circumflance of the horizon being far from clear, might have made it appear lefs than it in fad was. latlaftjudged this cither to be Stormy Iflûiid, or a little one very near it. As, according to my obfervations, I found the fou- thern point of Matthias Ifland to be in latitude 1^ 23^ and the French chart places it 2° 10'', I thought it better to give iliis laft up, and I placed this illand on my chart in the latitude I concluded it to be in from the obfervations I made at noon, and which I believe to be very exadl*. I have corretfled the la- titude of Stormy Illand in the fame proportion. The pofition of theie two illands, fo clofc one to the\ other, are doubtlefs fubjeA to the fame error. On a comparilon of my longitude, reckoned from Matthias Illand 144° 20' eaft of Paris, with that of 143*^ 35', which is affigned it on the chart *{", I found my point, according to the chart, vvas erroneous by I*' \tf towards the weft. Siippofing the difcovercrs of this ifland to have accurately afcertained its dif- tance by the Cape of Good Hope of New Guinea J, I correfted the longitude of 143*^ 39'' eaft of Paris, which I obtained ac noon for that of 144° 34' which was the refult of the longitude of Matthias Illand. * The latitude ot the fouthern point of Matthias Ifland is i deg. 38 min. in Bougainville's chart. f The longitude of the ûune point is on the fame chart 14c deg. 10 mill. «Stormv Jilaiul is there reprefented double: the middle ot the moiV eaitern iilnnd is there i deg. 45 min. lat. and 145 de^i;. 37 min. long Bougainville faw, but took no obfervation of thcle ifiands. . ■•' . :. , ■ « % Modern navigators would rather regulate the dirtance of this ifland by Cape St. George, whofe geographical fituation is bettti" llciermined tluii tlmt ol the Cape of Good Hope ot New Guinea. .■ '. • idif- MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXVll fhowers covered jes dif- Stormy iiftance, far from n it in Stormy the fou- itude 1° thought lis illand to be in which I I the la- )n. The e to thev 1 diftributed this well-timed corredlion over the pofi- tion of the iflands I before difcovered. I there- fore fixed my new point of departure in long. 144^ The fame day, 13th January, I came in fight of an extenfive coaft ; the fécond and third quarter of the horizon (throughout the whole of the fouth) was loaded with clouds, thick fogs, and tornadoes. If the weather became fine, it foon changed again, fo that it was impoffible for me to determine what land I faw. I believe it to be, however, the coaft of Nevr Britain, as well becaufe, the following days, we con- tinued to difcover portions of land, which could only belong to a large ifland, or continent, as becaufe that in coalting ihel'e fliores we diftinguilhed very high mountains, fiich as are rarely feen in fmall iflands. In the afternoon of the 14th we faw a high moun- tain in the foulh-weft, and a coaft of great extent from eaft to weft. Theie was no doubt of its being a coaft of New Britain. 1 could not exadly afcer- tain ils bearing, being twelve leagues diftant. I at the fame time pafl'ed near three other iiles, which bore from me S. by S. W., to the moft northerly of which I gave the name of St. Francis ; it was two leagues and a half offj the middle one I called St. Joleph, and the third St. Anthony : the latter was diitant feven leagues and a half. After pafling them, we at midnight faw a little illand at 10^ of the fécond «quarter (E. 10^ S.) which 1 named St. Peter. - ; ..... :. . ■■ y ■."■ We faw two iflands on the 1 5th ; at noon they bore S, E. 8° S. ai the diftance of ten leagues. Tho moft weftern was termed St. Laurent ; the moft eaft* ern St. BLiife. From the 1 5th to the 17th the winds were light and changeable from the Hrft to the fourth quarter : on the lyih a Imall ifland came in view, to which I g^ve the appellation of St. Hyacinth ; its bearina; CXXVlll INTÈRESTmO VOYAGE f «OM 58°of the third quarter, or W. 32° S. diftant ten leagues. On the 1 8th we difcovered, eight miles off, three other iilands, one of which runs from north to fouth ; the m« ft wtfterly was named St. Rofe, the large one Refuge liland ; and the fmall one, very near the fore- going, Madalene. The fame day we faw, to the louth-weft of Refuge liland, a coaft covered with very high mountains. I fuppofed myfelf twelve leagues from its (hore, in the direâion of 65^ of the firft and third quarter (N. 65° E. and S. 6^^ W.). This was the only affiftance I had in determining the poiiiion of this iiland. I at firft doubted whether this land were not part of New Britain : but was afterwards convinced of its being the ifland of St. John, reprefented on the French chart as a large ifland, and (ituated in the pa- rallel where I obferved it * ; the more fo, as we had feen numberlefs little iflands (ince that of Matthias, none of which could be taken for the ifland of St. John. The 19th at fun-rife we faw two very low iflands, both of which run from N. W. to S. W. at fix leagues diftance : they were feparated on a narrow ftrait, open on the S. W., which we named Les Cai- mans. ,>^. !^i ,■ At fun-fet we came in fight of two iflands towards the fouth ; the moft northerly, which was very fmall, had the name of St. Anne, the other St. Barbe j by my bearings the length of the coaft of the latter was feven miles. * I (hould like to know by what French chart our navigator fleered. The Ifland of St. John \% placed, according to a chart of Fleurieu, in 3 deg. 45 min. lat. 150 deg. 3a min. eaft of Paris: but by Carteret's Voyage, (French edition, 410.) the chart of which is on ia larger fcale, the latitude is 4 deg. 19 min. long. 153 deg. 3 min. ealt of Greenwich, 1 50 deg. 43 min. eaft of Paris. Carte- ret obferved this ifland. The author of the Di/coveriei of the French^ page 300, (Englilh edition, printed for Stockdal ) is decidedly for 4 deg. lat. and 151 deg. 30^ min. eaft of Paris. At MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXIX At day-break the center of a large illand, which I named Don Manuel Flores, bore S. 5** W. at the diftance of 13 leagues ; upon it was oblerved a pretty high mountain, and its coafl appeared to run from E. S. E. to W. N. W. for the fpace of fix leagues. - At eight, o'clock in the morning we got fight of nine iflots, which I did not doubt of being the On- tong Java of the French chart. The latitude of thefe iflands is precifely the fame as thofe which is afTigned to the centet of Ontong Javn on the chart. 1 (leered diredly for them to get at .ear as poflîble, and obferved that thfey were furrOunded by a fand- bank which cannot be feen till within ttvo miles of the coa'fti Near the edges of this bank we faw, above the water, at fliort diftances, fome fmall rocks a very little way from the fand-bank itfelfé / The bank leaves a narrow opening on the fouth coaft, oppofite to which the hititude was by obferva- tion 4^ 53''; we were but two cables' length from this mouth j which leads to a gulph where the fea is perfeftly ftill, and where is a fccure harbour, if ne- ceflary to put in for wood or water. This gulph is Iheltered on the north by the iflots : we gave it the name of Princefs's Harbour. On the chart we have given a very correét plan of this port, pafling it near enough to be anfwerable for the accuracy of the urart'"* . ,1 ». • vi* .-'i*^ ^ * Ontong Java, (or Jaba, vyhich is all one to the Spaniards) was difcovered they fa^ in 1616 by Maire and Schouten. They enu- merated twelve or thirteen iflands, but did not obferve them any thing like fo ntar as our navigator. At a diftance they could nor have ken fome very low (lips of landj which conneéled two parts of one ifland, and thus they defcribed one ifland as two. In 1 767 Car- teret difcovered, ifl the fame latitude, nine iflands which he con- ceived to be the Ontong Java of Schouten. Théfe ifles eitended tiom the N. W. «quarter W, to the S. E. a quarter E. for the Ipace of about fifteen leagues, one of which is very extenfive; whereas Ontong Java does not extend three leagues, and all the 'llands of which it is compofed are verv fmall. Notwithftandin« NT .-. * . • I ■ *■' OJL. I. \ ihï cxxx INTERESTING VOYA»!^ ¥ROM From thcle illots, which arc not above a mile fVom each other, iflucd out about fixty canoes which ap- proached us within a (hon gun-fhot; but the wind being favourable, I did not think it worth while to wait for them, but flood on always in the fame courfe. They returned to their iflots, on which it appeared to me impofTible for human creatures ta fubfift. We faw there a tolerable number of palm- trees, which no doubt bore fruit, and by this and the help of filh> thefe iilanders drag on their mifera< ble life. After leaving Ontong Java I continued my way ^ith gentle 'pieafant winds during the day, but ftormy in «"he night, which obliged me to keep a ftrid look but for whatever might offer itfelf to our view, and recommended a fimilar vigilance to all the fhip's company. They at once faw the rifks we had to encounter ; confequently no fboner was an object defcried in the horizon, than I was informed of it; the ifland obferved, and the danger avoided.. I failed the Z2d without feeing any land, but the night being dark we heard at tea o'clock a dreadfiï) roaring in the N. Ë. and faw wideof the Oiip*s quar- ter, at an incoriiiderable diftanee, the iêa all white with foam. I wa^ obliged to bear away to the S. VY. until the noife of this Ihoal, which 1 called the Snorei*, were no longer heard. I then flood again to the eaft as before. If themany accidents which occurred during my voy- age be taken into confideration, the conftancy I inva- riably ïhowed in my aim at two obje^ of equal mo- ment, yet direclly oppolîte one to the other, may be eafily conceived. My commifTion required the ur- ihis, we flittll en(ieavt)iir to prove that the nine iflands of our navU gator, as well as thofe of Carteret, Maire and Schouten, are one and the fafne groupe, diftinét frotn the Ontong Java of Tafman. * Fleurieu takes this SnOrer (Le Ronfleur) to be the fame rock as the Candlemas Shoals of Medana, which is not innprobable. ■ - mod MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXXl ihod celerity, and confcquently obliged me to prels every fail without a moment's lofs of time. On the other hand the tornadoes under the line only took place during the night ; the winds then frefhening cotiiiderably, rendered the air dark and gloomy, emitting thunder and lightning. During the day there was almoft a perfedl calm, and I could there- fore take advantage of the night alone to get for- ward; At one time I fell in with land during the day, at another during the night. Prudence undoubted- ly required me not to expofe myfelf to dangers which tnight in an inflant put an end to the very aim of the voyage j but I might thereby have experienced a de^ Jay which had been prejudicial to my commifldon. I therefore fupplied the defeft of tardy prudence by the mofl aétive vigilance in looking out for every ob- iUcle that might prefent itfelf, and profiting by every favourable breeze^ For the remainder of January the winds were lights and blew between N. N. W. and N. E. j obliging me either to purfue my courfe eafterly, or in the fé- cond quarter ilext to it. I therefore encreafed my fouthern latitude, without having it in my power to bear up to the north, the wind conftantiy blowing from the firft quarter, except a few puffs which came from the fourth and fécond quarter, and of which I took advantage by nearing the line: but the calms were fo fréquent, that the longeft way I Tnade in twenty-four hours was but 70 miles. Frorti the commencement of February the cajms were yet more confiant : from the 6th to the 17th our longeft run being 40 miles, and commonly only from 12 to 15. I in vain endeavoured to pafs to the north of the line, in hopes of doubling the weflem fhoals of St. Bartholomew* : light airs from the N. N. W^ and N. N. E. obliged me to fleer in the * This I guefled at, as the M. S. gives no intdltgiUe meaning : 1 think my guefs is tolerably right. i a .. fourth CXXXii I{ïTERESTING VOYAGE FROM fourth quarter to a point fo near weft, that I loft the longitude I gained in the eaft at the expence of fuch multiplied hazards. Thcfe reafons induced me again to keep my way in the firft quarter, in hopes that the eafterly winds would loon facilitate my getting north- ward of the line. As my voyage was Icngthing, Î took the pre- caution from the 20th January oT leflening the ordi- nary ration of bread, two ounces per man, befides an ounce lefs in the pound, which 1 took oft' the mo- ment we embarked : but on the i6ih February, fee- ing that time did not ameliorate our condition, and confidering that we were at fufl only vidualled for fix months, that the 70 pipes and 40 barrels of water put on board were not near fufficient for that fpacc of time only J that where I then was, in S. lat. 3^ 32' and long. É. from Paris 1 74^ 8^ with fcarcely pro- vifions left for three months, and a very infufficient quantity of water, I concluded that neceflity required the diminution of a ration more, which I ordered from that day, reducing it to two thirds. Our diftrefs was infinitely increafed by the innu- merable quantity of cockroaches* which infefted our fliip. The bifcuit was much lighter than when tirft put on board ; but what difcouraged me molt was the ftate of our water cafks, which we not only found empty, but frequently unlerviceable, the cockroaches having perforated the ftavcs by holes as big round as two fingers. After moft ferioufly refleding on all thefe ctrcurn- ftances, I conceived that it was not poflîble for me to continue my courfe north of the line, without putting into fome ifland to replace the water 1 had * Cancrelas, or Kakerlaquer, is a coleoptorous infeél like a cock- chaffer, but larger and much flatter; it foils and devours every thing. It is faid to be called ravet at the Antilles ; the cockroaches of the Ifle of France feemed to ms much larger than the ravet oî St. Domingo, but thev are equally tormenting. . ■ '* loft. MANILLA TO ST. BLAISB. éXXXiii loft. • I could not flatter myfclf ihat I fliould reach the Marianne iflands in time. The rcfult of my rc- fledions was (he refolution of ftanding for Solomon's J (lands, which I was then 107 leagues weftward of; hoping the winds, which blew from the North, would not prevent this, and from thence 1 might with greater feciirity and fpeed reach the Prcfidio of Monterey. 1 therefore made fail for Solomon's iflands ; but the winds blowing uninterruptedly from the firft quarter next the North, obliged me to drive infenfiblv to the South. The 20th February, I found myfelf 17 leagues weft of the Cape of Santa Cruz or GuadaU canar. We then began to meet with breezes from E.N. E. and E. ; which made me lofe all hopes of put- ting into, or even getting fight of Solomon's iflands. Finding myfelf therefore in 12^8. lat. I was compel- led to take the refolution of getting into the fouth- crn hemifphere, confident that I (hould full in with fome iflands where I could remedy the extreme dearth to which I was reduced ; at the fame time not without the hope, after having traverfed 29 or 22 degrees of latitude, of meeting with winds favour- able for carrying us eaftward, which I could not promife Hiyfelf in navigating in the north, unlefs by pufliing on to 44 or 46 degrees, and keeping clofe to the wind, which would have been an infinite lofs of time ; and even in adopting this courfe, I muft ftill have put in to the Mariannes. After thefe and other reflexions which never ceafed to torment me, I refolved to fteer in the fécond quar- ter (between Eaft and South) purfuing that courfe while the eafterly winds would permit. On the 26th I faw a fmall ifland, which 1 immediately ftood for, hoping to caft anchor and take in water there. The crew leaped for joy, thinking that this ifland would put an end to all their wants ; their joy equalled their diftrefs, but not tor long : when with» , - ' . i -5 in CXXxiv INTIIISTJNO VOYAOt PROM in two miles of the iiltnd, we clearly faw, that (o Ut from any anchorage, not even a boat could get aQiorc. It was abfolutely barren ; on its mountain, ^bich was by no nncâiis fmall, there was not a Angle tree to bç (et^- This was named Bitter liland. On the 27th WÇ difcovered an ifland direâiy a- bead, on which was a very high mountain» its tutp. mit apparently burnt, but the declivity, covered with trees, difplayed an agreeable ver()ure. We plainly diftinguifhed many cocoa-nut trees, which ftrength- cned my defire to bring ^o i but the lightncfs otihc breeze would not fuffer me to get nearer than about a league from its weft fide, from whence came many canoes with cocoa-npts and bananas, s^nd exchanges immediately commenced. The Indians came on board with ^he mod perfed confidence; he who commanded them muniftfting the moft tender friend- (hip, dancing on tf^e deck, and fipging feveral fongs. Among other prefents, he gave us a large kind of counterpane, lijcc blptting-paper, but compofed of two or three fons of (heeis interwoven with each other, to give more ftrength to the texture. I re- turned his civility, and he retired well fatisfied. He told me that this ifland, of which he was the chief, was called Latte, fertile in different for^s of fruit, with foft water in alnindance, and that I (hould find good anchorage. This news was very fatisfaélory, but, for my own part, 1 could difcover po place where 1 could be fecurely flieltered. In ftretcbing round the ifland to Icok for a good anchoring place, we faw at E. N. E. about 1 2 leagues off, other iflands not fo high, but of greater extcnt| with feveral channels between .them ; the wind faint but favourable for our appro;vch. The perfpedtive of thefe illands promifing abundant relief, 1 borp up for them. The calms and light contrary airs, which I ex- perienced on the ift of March, was of piany days diiratipflj MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXXV duration, but on the 4ih, after fcveral tacks, I ran into an opening, formed by thefe iflands, at N. NY. and came to anchor in 45 fathoms, at a fhort didanco from land, whence we faw within the gulph, houfes, abundant plantations of banana and cocoa-trees, very fatisfai^tory appearances as to water, which laft was nearell our hearts ; and in Ihort, in the inte- rior of this groupe of iflands, many harbours, where vefl'els might lay in fafety from the rage of the winds and fea : (o that we were thoroughly perfuadcd of our mifery being at an end. In the evening of the fame day, we drew vp the anchor, and as the depth of water confiderfxbiy *n- creafed, 1 gained the o(fing by fliifiing the anchor to the water's edge (or between wind and water) fo that it would be ready to let go again. As foon tin it was weighed, I again tacked towards the port, ifnù the 5th at day-break, anchored in 38 vares (about îj fathoms*) bottom of fand and ftone, ,twc cables* length from the fliore, in a cçcqk where, the evcn/ng before, I had feen the houfcs. Every day which 1 Iqil in getting .near ^thefe ifland?, from fifty to a hundwd canoes came along fide, bringing pigs, fowl^ banana^, and potatoes, which had fomeihing of the flavour of cuftard ; fome of thefe potatoes were five vares long,''!" and in thickncfs about thetilze of alully man's thigh ; the leafl weighed three pounds. They offered us, likewtfe, a kind of cloth wotven from >the bark of the palm-tree, others of a finer make, an4 laftly, fome of the cloaks or counter- panes, refembling blotting-paper, of which 1 h^.xn already fpqken^ the counterpanes, particularly, they held in high eftimation. All the commerce was c^v- ried on aver the fliip's ftern. The iflanders wmited * I. think it (hould be 38 tathc-i(>s. t The Spaniili word popa or {^apa, fiffnifies a kind of panada, made with milk, with which infaiitj are red. It feetns very jultifi- able to fufpeâ exagg<(ration in the length of the potatoes. .= U in / CXXXVi INTERESTING VGYAGK FROM in change for their fruit and produce of their manu- failures, hatchets, adzes, and other cutting inflru- ments ; but I forbade, under the fevereft penalties, ^Int any Ihould be given, and 1 believe I was obey- ed. They were, therefore, obliged to content them- felves with bits of cloth or ftuff. My crew cut their Ihirts, jackets, and trowfers into pieces, and with thefe bandages procured pigs, and other refrefli- ments. On account of ihefe provifions, I fufpended the allowance of meat, and reduced that of the bread to one half. The Indians who came on board prefTed me to go into the interior of their archipeligo ; each pointed out his ifland, affuiing me I (hould there find water and every thing elfe I wanted : the equis or captains ihewed me the greateft friendfliip as they arrived, and I endeavoured not to be in their debt. Many fat down at the table with me, though they only par* took of their own fruits. I imagined that thefe iflanders were divided into many cafts or tribes, from the number of their equis j but, on the other hand, I obferved among the whole the greateft harmony. We were likewife vifited by women, whofe coun- tenances were by no means dilagreeable; their cloth- ing confifted in a kind of petticoat, which reached from the waift to the feet ; the men were drefled the fame. I admired the fine bulk of the latter ; fome of them whom I meafured being fix feet four inches high, and large in proportion, and thefe by no means the talleft. It is certain that the fhortefl: of thofe I fiiw, equalled the talleft and ftouteft of my (hip's company. Thefe iflinders are in general tall and robuft We no fooner caft anchor than I received a pre- fcnt of fruits fent by the Tubou ; the meflenger be- ing, as I was told, his Ton. This name of Tubou, which the equis repeated with a particular tone of lifledion — what can it fignify- ? I then thought that it MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXXVIl it tlenoted apparently the eqvii of the ifland, near which we were, who muft hold fome pre-eminence over the others, on account of their refpeclful man- ner of treating him. Whatever it might be, 1 re- ceived his fon in the befl poflîble manner, from the wifli to conciliate his friendfliip, that we might meet with no impediments in our operations, when we went to take in water, and that he might, on the contrary, favour us with all his authority. From eight in the morning the frigate was fur- rounded by a hundred canoes : the cr:es of thofe who manned them and bartered around the Ihip, were fo Ihrill, that it was not poffible to hear each other on board. Neverthelefs, this fame hour they informed us that the Tubou was coming to pay us a vifu, who no fooner approached, than all the canoes which were on our {larboard fide difperfed. I received the Tubou with every poffible mark of refpeâ:. His age and enormous fize had deprived him of the agility neceliary for getting on the deck; fo that his cqnis, whom till then I had confidered as little kin<;s, were under the neceffity of fupporting him on their Ihoulders, while he mounicd the ladder. He was followed by his wife, who furpa. "*d in beauty all the other females I had feen on this ill.md ; and I could almoft at once have fworn that Ihe was daughter of fome European, fo ftriking were the graces I re- marked in her ; and not being at moft in her twenty- fifth year, youth ftill added to her charms. They both took their feats on the watch-bench , and all the others profoundly proftrating themfelves, kifTcd the feet of the Tubou. He brought me as a prefent a canoa * load of potatoes. In return, I decorated both of them with a fcarf of flame-coloured filk, from the neck to the waift, to which 1 ("upended by a flefli-colonred ribband, two large piaiires flumped * The Spauifli term canoa, means boat ; but the boats of the South Sea were probably only canoes, V'ith 'I .1.1 NT CXXXVkii INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM with the refemblance of our auguft fovereign. I at ttic fame time dillributed feveral reals* with the fame ftamp, to l)c at a future period incontroveriible proofs of our having put in here. The fubordination of the equis towards the Tnbo^l was fuch, that none o( them dared to be feated in his prefence : even his fon, who before his arrival aifoéted a naajeftic gra- vity, was now as refpeiftful as the others. 1 can ù.y with truth, that the Tubou fcarcely honourçd them with one or two wards. Ï conduded them to the date cabin ; they wiere (Irucjk with admira^ioiB at the fight of the equipment of the frigate and other things which 1 (hewed them. In Qiort> quite fatis- fied with the reception they had met with ; they re- tired, after giving me unequivocal aliurances of their mod fincere friendfliip, and a thoufand embraces, with which the good old man inftantiy overwhelm- ed me. To avoid the excefTes which the crew gften give themfelves up to when they go afhore, I pwbjilhcd an order, threatening with fevere penalties, any one that Hiould difturb thofe iflanders, under whatever pretence. I defired -my men, notwithftanding., to keep them- felves at all; events on their guard ; and to give the Indians an idea of the power of our arms, I ordered a few guns to be fired againft the rocks ; the noife produced by the bullets and cafe (hot infpired them with the greateft fe;ir, and they intreated that î would not repeat it. This difcharge in the prelence of Jwelve or fifteen hundred perlons produced the de- iîred tffed, infpiring them with the dread of our arms, which I hoped in the fequcl they would not; put me under the ncccflTity of employing againft ihem, f On the 6th I chofe from among ray complement, • The piaftre contains 20 reals ; the real is w«rth a trile more than two pence half penny of oui- nioney. iifieen I MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. CXXxU. fifteen meo, well armed with mufkets, piHiols, fwords and cartridge, and embarked with them in the boar, which carried four fwivels j we landed on the beach^ which I found covered with men and women, whom I made difperfe, and brought up my force, in order, under arms, at about ten varcs * from the boat ; the fwivels were pqinted againft the crowd of Indians, in cafe we mould perceive any hoftile movement. The Tubou*s fon offered to condufl one of my men to a running ftrcam of water; but after having walked for half an hour and afcended a fmall hill, he fdid they were ftill at fome diftance from ii ; the perfon \ fent thought proper to come back to the beach, where I waited his return. I had, however, funk a well on the beach, which, when on aievel with the fea, gave water though not fit to drink. I caufed another to be dug twenty vares from the beach, wilhing to avoid ihe receffity of weighing anchor, and taking the frigate n\ore within rhe archipelago, where they ^ave me the moft pofitive afllirance of finding water. To do that \ mud give up many days, and I did not like to lofe tjme. On the 7th, I was in my boat, with a detachment well armed, and an Indian accompanied rne to one of the places wherethey told me I might be fure of water; but this water was too far from the (hip. After filling a few barrels I returned, with the rçfo- lution of continuing the well I had begun. I went on (bore th colleftion of the lar^e number I had to feed. As foon as I was affured of the unhcalthinefs of the water near the fea, without hopes of finding any but at a great diftance from the bank, owing to the proximity of the mountain, I weighed anchor and brought to in another bay, at a league and a half or two leagues diftance. On weighing one of the anchors, the cable, which was in ufe for the firft time, abfolutely failed, all the ftrands of which it Was compofed having bro- ken ; the whole length of the cable was entirely rot- ten and unferviceable. I fried to fifh up the anchor but in vain, not being able to (lay long, and the depth of water giving me but little hopes of meeting with it'eafily. The new bay was perfedly proteded both againft the wind and fea, which I fome days after experienced, the weather being extremely violent out at fea, with a wind from the N. and N. \V. and 1 perceiving no other effeft from it than a guft now and then, which came from that diredion. I was at anchor in 32 fa- thoms in a bottom of fand and Oone ; fome hills, which formed the harbour on the north fide, co.n- pletely Iheltered us ; the bottom all around us was rock. • Dos dorado Î. The Spanifh word dorado, taken adject ively, fignifies gilt, fubftantively, i know no other meaning than dorado, a well-known fifh. t I am ignorant of this kind of wood, Oa cxiii INl'ERESTIXO VOYAGE FRO^ On th« 9th, we began taking in water, at onl^ live vares dillance from the beach. The work went on fader than I wanted it, the equis having com- manded their Indians to roll our cafks, but when the Tubou came no one befides himfelf dared to give any more orders. The loth, nth, and 12th, we got as liiuch water as we chofe to put on board i an innumerable quan- tity of canoes came however to barter, and fheir con- fidence in us was fuch, that many pafled the night and (lepi on board. During this time, the king invited me to a feaft, which he dcfigncd preparing for that purpofci. When I went alhore on the 12th, 1 faw in the thick wood near the port a vail circular fpace, which had been cleared with fuch care, that not the lead vedige of what it had been, remained. A little after, the In- dians went two by two to the Tubou*s houfe With long poles on their flioulders, from which were fufpended many potatoes, bananas, cocoa-nuts, and filh. Thefe, by the dire<5tion of the Tubou, were taken to the newly cleared camp, where they were piled, in a cubical form, to the height of two vares. The equis and venerable old men came to condudt the Tubou, who took me by the hand, and we repaired to the vaft circle, where upwards of 2000 Indians waited our coming. We took our feats on the carpets of palm prepared for that purpofe, as did all the people, always keeping each caft or family diftinct, as they never mix with each other* . The king then made me an offer of all the fruits» and had them taken to my boat, which they com- pletely filled. The porters being returned to their refpedtive pods, a profound filence was obferved, while the king fpoke; ihofe who had the right, from their age and dignity, of fitting near him, repeat- ing all his wordSé Not knowing to what this tended, I ordered ihofe of my foldiers, whom I had left au, were MANIILLA TO ST, BLAISE. CXiiii in command of the firil pilot, to hold themfelves in fead'mefs to fire both with their muikets and piftols, ihouM they perceive any hoftile movement. A ftrongTobu ft young man now ftepped forward froca the ranks, the right hand placed on his breaift, and ftriking his elbow with his left, making many gambols round the place oppofite the groupe of diif- I'crent tribes to himlelf. One of another tribe then ftepping out with the fame geftures, they begam so ivrcltlc, Jaymg body to body, clofing with, and irc- pelling each other with fuch animodty, that dieix veins and nerves fwelled and extended prodigioiiHy. At laft one of them fell with fuch violence, that I thought he would never rife again ; he neverthelefs got up all covered with duft, and retired without daiiag to turn afide his head. The conqueror pre- fcnted himfelf to do homage before the king; while thofe of his tribe fang, but whether in praife of the conqueror, or coniem|7t of the vajiqutthed, i can- not lay. Thefe wreftling combats laded two hours j one of ihe combatants had an arm broken, and I faw others receive terrible blows. While this wreftling lallcd, other champions with their hands and wriits bound with thick cords, which frrved inftead of gauntlets, 4)refented themfelves. This kiuJ if comb.it was far more dreadful than the wrcllling, ilie comb.uams, from the commencement, ftriking at-.ihe fo ehead, eyes, cheeks, and all parts of the fice, while thoic who received the blows became more impetuous and ardent. Some weic felled to the ground by the firft blow. The alfcmbly regarded thcle com bats with ft certain degree of refpett, and all wcie not indifcri- minaiely admitted to thcm^ Some women, particularly thofe who attended on the Queen, aflifted at this fête, and 1 found them quite otherwife than what they had hitherto appeared «0 be. 1 had not judged of them imfavourably , bat on ;v . • this CXIÎV IXlTîRESTlNG VOVAGE PROM this day ihcy were clothed in their beft attire, with tiicir mantles well plaited and tied up in a knot on the left fide, chapleis of large glafs beads round their necks, the hair carefully drelfed, the body waflied and perfumed with fwect-fcented oil, and fo clean a fkin, that they would not have futfered the fmalicll particle of fand to remain on itj they completely' fijccd my attention, appearing more beautiful than ever. The King ordered the women to fight with their fids like the men, which they did with fuch fury, that had they not been feparated now and then, they would not have had a tooth left. The fpc(5\acle touching me to the foul, I intreated the King to conclude the combat, which he did ; and all applaud- ed the companion 1 had for thefe young ftmales. The Toiibou, after this defiring an old woman, who carryed a tin bottle at her neck, to fing, which fhe did for half an hour without ceafing, at the fame time with fuch accompanying geftures and adion, as might have led us to take her for an adrefs de- claiming on the ftage. ' The entertainment at length concluded, and we returned with the King to his houfe, where 1 found the Qiieen, who received me with her cuftomary marks of regard : 1 afked her why flie was not pre fent at the feafl, to which (he anfwJ'éred, that tliofc forts of combats were by no means agreeable to her. The bands of friendlhip were fo clofely tied be* tvveen us, that theTubou called me his hoxa or fon. I took leave of the Queen and him, and returned to embark. The beach was entirely covered with the natives, who loaded my people with a thoufand carefles for having condefcended to aflTift at the feaft. The conquerors even took me on their flioulders and carried me to the boat. The Tubou, who from his houfe faw this crowd, and knew how much I fuffered when the Indians mixed with my men, or* de red MANILLA TO ST. BLAIS£. Cxlv ^éred his captains to purfiie them, and he himfelf went into fvjch a paflion, that he ran out with a great flick, ftriking fuch as came within his reach. All faved themfelvcs in the woods but two, worfe mauled than the refl, who were left for daad on the fpot; whe- ther they recovered I do not know. Nothing; now prevented my putting to fea, which I was refolved to do on the 13th, but a guft of wind from the N. and N. W. that rofe the fame day, and biew almoft diredtly into the channel through which I muft go out. The wind rofe higher and higher, notwithllanding which» the fea at our an»* choragc was fcarcely agitated more than ordinarily ; for all that, and riding at three anchors, the Iheet cable gave way and I remained with the hope* and third anchor only. On the 15th, the wind fomewhat abated; but when I worked Ihip to get under way, the cable of the hope broke, fo that I had now nothing more to hold by than the third anchor. Thefe accidents, joined to the crofles I met with in the courfe of my navigation, much difconcerted me. All my cables were rotten, as were the haliards, flieets, tacks, braces, ropes, and, in a word, all my tackling -j~. The bad ftate of my rigging left me in the dreadful cxpefta- tion of lofing the only anchor I had, and Ihould that happen, I could not but confider my lofs as cer- tain in thofe didant climates. To remedy our moft immediate want, I fattened a cable to a neighbouring rock, which, conjointly with the remaining anchor, ferved to hold me faft. I alfo employed fot]ie of the men to endeavour to look for and fiQi up the two loft anchors ; after a labour ot • Is the name of an anchor in Spain. t I here omit a long detail of the damage the tackling fuftained, and a tedious ftory of the author's complaints ; that would not be very amuHng to the reader ; beiides which there are feveral errors «n the manufcript. Vol. I. k twenty- cxlvi INTE&EBTINO VOTAÔB FHOM twenty-four hours we found it ufelefs, the water being too deep. The vexations whereby I was tormented, did not permit me to accept an invitation the Tubou gave to aflift at an entertainment itmilar to what he had before given on my account : but this prince, who called me his fon, and undoubtedly loved me as fuch, did not forget to fend every evening two baikets of potatoes, fome fowls, and fi(h. He ordered the whole great quantity of provilions which had been got together for this new feaft to be brought to mej and came feveral times to the frigate, often dining with me, and afterwards taking his afternoon's nap on board. On the i6ih, I endeavoured to fet off, and the wind being contrary, ran upon different tacks, and altiiough the current wasalfoagainft me, and the gut fo narrow as hardly to give me room to tack abdur, J found myfelf at the laft tack to windward of all the points ; but a furious fquall blowing direâly in my teeth, threw me back among the rocks through which I was fteering. I was now more than ever perplexed, having no choice left but to return to my old har- bour, let go the anchor, and carry a cable fpeedily on fliore to hold me in the bed manner that was poffible, I, on the i8th, fent my firft pilot in the boat toibund another channel, (hut in, it is true, by feveral iilands, but which, however, promifed us an eafy entry with the' then prevailing winds. The pilot, on his re- turn, affured us that the channel had throughout a good bottom, entirely free from (helves, and the paf- fage large enough for running on tacks if requifite. 1 accordingly got ready for going out on the 19th, and at two o'clock the fame afternoon, had cleared all the iflands, which was all that 1 could then defire. The, Indians and Tubou were not prepared for this feparation which they undoubtedly were much affeded with : the king and queen took leave of me with 1IAI7ILLA TO éT, %LAïÈÉ» cxhrii with the greatefl demonftrations of forrow, and tht Indians, in their canoes, accompanied us till we were out of their archipelago. This port, which I named Refuge Harbour, is formed by three tolerably large iflands and feveral fmailer ones. The whole group I called Don Martin de Mayorga. The port is fituated in iS** 36' fouth, and 179** 5/ eaft of Paris. There may at all times be found the moft favourable (belter : ihe winds blow- ing in vain with their greateft fury, the fea could not be more tranquil, and the hurricane itfelf lofes its pouer. At entering between thefe iflands, whether by the W. N. or S. W. channel, the depth is from fifty to fifty-five fathoms, bottom of ftone and fand, which fame depth continues to ihe center of the gulph two cables length from (hore, when it is only from thirty -five to forty fathoms. In fome creeks the depth decreafes even to twelve or fifteen fathoms. In this place are neither Ihoals nor reefs ; the ancho- rage muft, however, be chofen by the plumb, in fome bays the bottom being partly earth* and partly fand. The fertility of the earth is fuch that it cannot but promife a favourable harveft. An immenfity of cocoa and banana trees, ranged in rows with the moft de- lightful regularity, are feen all around, much potatoe ground, as may be concluded from the great quantity fent on board, with other roots very pleaiant and nearlf of the fame fpecies. Lemon trees, fugar canes, fruit much refembling apples, oranges, &c. In (hort, two or three equis having once condudted me to a fruit- ful country, I admired the order with which every thing was difpofed, no weeds being fuffered to grow among the plants : their roads are kept up with a care worthy the imitation ofche moft polilhed nations. Seeing the zeal they had for agriculture, I gave them fome beans, maize, a few grains of allfpice and rice, * Should not this be roci infieactof earth. w k a explaining cxlviii XNtBRBSTINO VOYAGE FBOM explaining their ufes, and aifuring them that they would fucceed in their beft foil. They cultivate (hrubs all ranged in order, fimilar to the banana trees, the bark oi which (hrubs ferves for their cloaks or counterpanes, they likcwife make a kind of petticoat of it. Their condud during our (lay, is a proof of the confidence they placed in us ; it was ndt in my power to do the fame in this refpe(^, never going on (here without a detachment which infpired them with terror. Neither did they give us the leall caufc of complaint but in their inclination to Heal, a pafTion which In- dians cannot furmount. Every time they came on board, whatever cloaths or iron work fell into their way, they confidered as a lawful prize. They drew through the port holes or windows whatever they could carry away. They even dole the chains fpm the rudder, of which 1 complained to the king, ^ho gave me leave to kill any one I might furprife in the ad} and I was affured that he had not only difcover- cd but put to death the authors of the above men- tioned thefr. Our vigilance was increafed, and we furprifed fome of the iilanders taking away frelh chains from the helm j we fired a piftol at them, of whom one fell dead : it was a leflbn for thofe on board or aftern of the frigate, who cried out, chiio (thief) fama (dead). I ufcd every method to find out if they had any kind of religion, whether they adored any creature or faife gods ; but we obferved nothing that could even make us fufpedt it. We could eafily pronounce the words of iheir lan- guage, and they as eafily repeat ours ; a (lay of a tew months would have put it in the power of the one and the other toufe both languages indifferently. If my misfortunes had not totally abforbed me, I Ihould have coUefted all the words of their language, which could fcrve for holding converfation wirh thtfc Indians. MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. Cxll'x Indians. In the little intercourfe 1 had with them» I gathered the names of all the part;^ of the human body, a» well as of the numbers as far as ten. They allured me ihat two frigates had put into their iflands, tiic captains of which, with five or fix officers from each, had llept on (liore, and gave them thaplcts of glals beads, hatchets *, and adzes. The i6th of March, when I got ready for fetting off, ih'jy told me that two fimilar veffels with mine, were then making fail to the N. W and they en- tered into fucha detail that it was impoflible to doubc the truth ot the fa^. The equis, from cuftom, carry a mother of pearl fliell, fufpended from thpir neck, and have the two fmaller fingers of the hands cut off clofc to the roots. The T«il)ou ufed his utmoll endeavours to induce me to go with the frigate to his ordinary place of ' refidcnce, where I Ibould find vegetables in greater' abiintlance. I fliould certainly have acquiefced in hisdefire from thefirll: invitation, had the natureofmy commilfjon permitted itj and the rather as I fliould have found, by his affurance, as well as that of all the other Indian^;, a better Ihelter and afiiHance in repairing my rigging. During my Ihort (lay in this port, I could not find out what where the funéHons of the equis, how they were didributed, what the nature of the Tubou's authority was, and how far his power ex- tended. In the latter days of my remaining there, in particular, fuch was my chagrin that I thought of nothing but fetting (ail. This, indeed, I am fure of, that but for the unfortunate accident of lofing my ca- ' bles, which expofcd me to a thoufand dangers, I , never Ihould have made a plealanter (lay ; fince be- fides a fufficiency of water and the repair of twenty- five eiiîpty unfc;rviceable calks, we found for the (hip's * We may conclude from thence that the frigates were Spanifli, ' ai went thofe of which we are going to fpeak. » k 3 compani(î^ d INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM companies more refreftimcnts even than we fhould have had in our own ports; fo that they did not re- gret the demi-ration I difcontinued, having been provided for feveral days. Some who were fo afflidled with the fcurvy as to be given over by the furgeon, recovered their heahh, and in (hort we had met with a prince, whofe inclinations were fo favourable to- wards us, that he was conftantly clafping me in his ^ms, and offering all the provifions he had. tJ jrif- »»^^< ■V. !^U Departure from Refuge Harhour, in the IJlatid of Don Martin de Mayorga, in Lat. 1S°. 38^ S. and 179». 52' E. from Paris. • - ' ' ON the 20th of March, having weathered all the islands, I kept as clofe to the wind E. N. E. as ky in my power, running fouth-eaft on the neareft points to it. In this track we difcovered E. S. E. 7°. S. a very elevated island, fifteen or lixtcen leagues dif- tant; and at fun-fet three other islands, which ex- tended from S, to W. S. W. 50\ W. at a diftance of five leagues from the moft eafterly, which obliged me to tack at 9 P. M. At one o'clock I again re-tacked to the fouth, to approach thefe islands. We per- ceived in thofe nearer to us forty-eight fîres. On the 2 1 ft, at fun rife, we counted ten iilands on the ftarboard, and fix on the larboard fide* We pafîèd betwe::n them on the fouth, through wide channels which they form. We faw none of them, a-head, until, come to a vart gulf, when we difcovered, at five or fix leagues diftance, iflands out of number, making a very extenfive circumference, in the center of which we were. In traverfing one of the ftraits formed by thefe iflands, we had taken foundings ; the plumb made it five fathoms, but only tor an in- ft^t, the moment after the depth having greatly increafed. fe MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE.'^ cl? increafed. Seeing myfelf furrounded by (o many low iflands, or fmall iflots, between which were left many channels, I attempted to fail through one of thefe openings, but as we approached we perceived that they were obftrudled by rough (helves, which would not let me fail through the fouthern part. I rcfolved to bear up wefterly, towards the very lofty iflands we had defcried in the evening, at a great diftance, not doubting that I muft find in its vici- nity a free paiiage out of this archipelago. ' ' From the break of day, fucceflively arrived many canoes laden with the fame fruits and provifions as thofe of the preceding iflands. The exchange began, fhreds of linen being the price of their commo- dities. The Tubou of this ifland fent me two pigs and feme cocoa nuts, and invited me to come to the illand, where he refided. He afterwards came him- felf on board, when he told me be would entertain me with the feat of wreftling, and that he would colleél for my crew a heap of potatoes, as high as our main-maft. He appeared jealous of the good reception that the Tubou of Mayorga had given us. I gave him to underfland that I would comply with his wifhes as foon as I fliould be to the fouth of the ifland before us, but they all agreed in informing me that the paflhges were fhut by ihoals and reefs, andi that on the contrary I fliould find fufficient depth by taking the courfe of the Tubou's Ifland and the •high one that I was already fleering for. Although I was aifured by all that this great equi was fovereign of forty-eight iflands, which they named to me in the moft minute detail ; I did not perceive that they had the fame afll:6lion and refpeéi for him as thofe of Refuge Iflands had. Immediately, on his coming on board, he put his beads of mother-of pearl round my neck, as a token of clofe friendfliip ; and alter having paflTed five or fix hours, returned to one of k 4 the i ■ il i ■ * Clii INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM the iflands, in the expeélation that I (liould jojn him to-morrow. . " **e^î • I ran clofe along many {helves, and at fun-fet found myfelf to the eaft of St. Chriilopher* Islands^ at (ix leagues diftancç, clear of the little flat islands : but as the wind frefhened from the eaft, I remained all night under very little lail, that I might not expole myfelf to run upon any unobferved islot. I gave this group of islands the name of Don Jo- feph de Galvez. The fouthern cape of the Tubou's Jsland is in lat. 19°. 39^. and long. 179°. 38^ W. of jParis. .)■;, t. .: " ;!i- At day-break of the 22d I ran under a prefs of fail as near fouth on the next point, as poffible ; and in following this tra6l we faw two islands before us, which I called the Adders, beyond which was per- ceived a great ridge, the breakers whereof were f«jen very far ; it was five leagues from us. The prevalent winds from the call and north eaft, drove us forward, by which we continued our navigation more eafy in mind, finding ourfelves de- livered from the dangers whereto we had been ex- pofed, as well by the islands as reefs. We faw nothing more till the 24th, when we difcovcred in the third quarter (between S. and W.) at fevcn leagues diftancc, a fmall island, which I named The Solitary. On the 27th we faw another W. S. W. 3" W. ten leagues diflant, to which I gave the name of Vafquez. >.^; T ; , ' . --■. •■ v :'~ • From the night of the 27th to the 28th, the wind became outraoicous, and the fea ran very bioh. At midnight I was obliged to lay to, till day-break, when the weather became mild, and I fiood towards the weft, with a light north-caltcrly wind. On the 29th, iinding myfelf S. lat. 25". 52^ and * What in this ifland of St. Chriftophei? Can it be the lofrv ifland whic.i was mentioned, and to which that name was given? It fliould have been explicit on this head. reckon- MANïtLA TO 3T. BLAISe. : cîiîî reckoning myfelf 179° 17' eaft from Paris, the wind veered to the weft, of which I took the advan- tage to make fail to the S. E, a quarter E. wifhing to bring myfelf more to the S. and at the iamc time gain fome longitude towards the eafl. This route I purfued to the 3d of April, on which day, in 30o lat. and 174° 22'' long. Vv^. from Paris, the'wind fell almoit into an abfolute calm. In fuch circumitances, and on account of the con- tinual complaints that the fhip bread was not eatable, I thought it advifeable to look into it myfelf. When I faw the aélual iiate in which it was, I could not but regard my fituation as the molt dreadful, to which thofe who navigate unknown feas, witliout hope of any relief, can be reduced. Never Oiall I call to mind that forrowful moment, without the rc- çollcdtion of the fpedlacle which then came to my view, picrcin,^ and rending my very heart. I can witli uuth alîirM), that if God had not fuftained me in that deplorable moment, I fiiould have fallen in the utmoll dcfpair, feeing no appearance of being able to continue our way. I ordered the firft pilot, Don Jofeph Kqfquez, the fécond, Don John d' Echeverria, and all the fea officers to attend, and made the furgeon, Don Pedra Carvapl, reporter of the counfel which we were going to hold, and of the deliberations which fliould be there taken. I conducied them, one after ano- ther, to the bread-room, when we found millions of cockroaches ; to convey an idea of the number of tbefc infects, they muft nave been fccn by the eye. This plague had fo infefted our frigate, that the holy Father was obliged to exorcife them more than once. For my own part, I took care to diltribute in the cabins, bread-rooms, and throu2:hout all the fhip, veflels* rubbed over the inlide with honey mixed uith t* * In the text it is wrote fpitting pots. i ! Ill m ■i ^• [ugar ; CIÎV INTERESTING VOYAGE PROM fugar ; each clay brought me a large pail full of thofe inieéts. I thus confumed almoft my whole ftock of honey, while their number did not perceptibly di- minilh. ' The bread, at firft opening the room, appeared untouched, but near the partitions the bifcuit had entirely diHippeared, and the floor prefented to view nothing but a heap of bran and duft. From the dimunition of the allowance, which order I ifliied on the l6th of February, and from the drawback of one ounce in each pound, which took place from the time we left Sifiran, there ihould remain 8225lb. of bread, (ï6 oz. to the lb.) withoi^t reckoning the other provifions, which were in tolerable abundance : but on that day I faw myfelf reduced to two great boxes of dull rather than bread*. I had the three calks of referve opened, which were well bound with iron hoops, properly coated with pitch. There was no appearance of their having contained any bread, they were full of cockroaches alone. .1 finally took the precaution of picking out as much bread as poiUble, and inclofing it in the flag and arm chcfts. On weighing it I found it to be lOOOlb. weight. (l6 oz.) In the fécond place I col- lected all the potatoes that remained among the crew, but the provilion having been given out a fortnight before, hardly two bafkets full could be obtained. Thirdly, I had all the pigs and other animals killed, except fome fowls which were kept for the fick, for whom I abb preferved the little honey remaing from the flock I took in at Sifiran. The fourth precau- tion I thought necefiary to take, was inftantly to fufpend even the allowance of bread, and to diflribute per hc:i i to the fhip's company a fmall ration of pota- loc?. from the piovifion which I made of them with chc Indians, three ounces of pork and one of rice. In all this my only aim was to prefervc life until I I again abridge here. might MANILLA TO ST. BLAlSb. cW might be ill a iituation to grant them more abundant fupport. In (hort I refolved to divide with them my provifions, referving as a laft refource, the two cheils, which I looked upon as facred. After all thefe refolutions, I took counfel with tho officers already pointed out. I reprefcmted to them my proceedings fince the firft: of January, what bread ought to have remained, and what did adlually re- main. I told them that I the more willingly laid be- fore them the precautions I propofed taking, as they had themfeivcs fuffered from the retrenchments I thought it my duty to make, retrenchments which had caufed me to be treated like a tyrant, as having a bad heart, and as a man who had laid aiide every fentiment of humanity : that we were adually 1760 leagues from Peru, 1 240 from Guaham in the Mari- anne iflands : that the winds were favourable for ei- ther the one or the other of thefe tracks, fave fome calms or croflcs which muft always be expected in fuch voyages; that they had themlclvcs fecnthe flate of oar victuals; that, in fhort, I entreated them to tell me how they would conduél themfclvei if they had the command of thefhip in fuch circum (lances. All unanimoufly anfwered, that death .alone could be worfe than our prefent Itate ; that of the two routes propofed, although either of them gave but very lit- tle hope of fafety, they could not difpenfe with choof- ingthat of the Mariannes, and trying whether they could not get fome affiftance at the iflands of Mayor- ga, not having a month's provifions. In the end the firft and fécond pilot fupported all their rep cfcnta- tiuns ; and myfelf, convinced that iheir advice would be beft, befides, being unwilling to be at all accef- fary to the lofs of fo many unhappy nien. or be obrti- natc againlt what feemed to me moft to the King's interetl, I gave orders for fleering to the north, with the intention of getting forty leagues to the eailward of thefe iflands, where I had already found, and hop- ed I.. Ï Clvi INTERESTING VOYAGE PRQM cd again to find refrcfhments. This refolution, how- ever, I did not take without a pain ftill more acute than that which I had felt on infpeéting our provi- fion : I would rather have chofcn death than to run again to the north ; and had I not given way to rca- Ibn, I fhould have taken the mad refolution of piir- fuing our navigation eaftward. The calmnefs of my mind entirely forfook me; I was far from experiencing that tranquillity wherewith I have borne up againil an infinity of croifcs in the dangerous voyages for dif- covcries * I had undertaken. The refleéfion that we had no other choice left was not fufficient for my tran- quillization,cfpecially when Ireflcéled that thisttate of diftrefs manifcfted itfelf precifely at the time when we furmounted the difficulties of our navigation, when we had reached a latitude where wc could not but cx- pe6f favourable winds, and with which I thoughtirve might terminate our voyage. It is neverthelels cer- tain, that if this whim of myfelf feeing into the flate of our provifions had been a fortnight later, our great- elt happinefs would have been to if ay in fome dcfiirt iflandj if we had had the good fortune to fall in with any. And even in the fituation wherein we found ourfelves, if the refrefhmcnts fumidied i;s by the In- dians had not been fo plentiful, I could then have taken no other part, than to look out for fome land whereto we could fly for refuge. It was then truly by an aél of Providence that we M\ in with the iflands of Mayorga, whence we had drawn fuch eflential af- fiftance. With variable winds which blew from all points of the horizon, I from the 4th of Ai)ril follow- ed a northerly courfe, or that which rpproached it neareft in the firft quarter (between N. r id E.). On the 9th a breeze from S. E. to N. E. Legan to pre- vail, which I availed myfelf of to get forty leagues c:i(t * Wliat fervice would not this navigator be of to geographv, would he communicate his dilcoveries to the public ? of MANILLA TO 9T. BLAISE. clvîî of thele iflands, that I might afterwards i\nd them with lefs difficulty by following their parallel. The wind on the 1 6th abated, but on the 18th it increafed, and was accompanied by ovcrcaft weather and rain in abundance; we laid to all night. At day break we ran for thefe iflands, but the current carried us fome minutes to the north : the bad weather af- forr''îd us no opportunity for taking an obfcrvation, befules which, thefe iflands being very low, we did not perceive them. We faw to the N. W. the ifland ,vl)ich lies S. W. 7° S. of that of Lattc, upon coming near to which we recognized Latte at the diftance of fix leagues, the refult of which was, that my reckon- ing was thirty miles aftern of the frigate, and that we had confcquently pafled between the two groupes of the iflands of Galvez and Mayorga, at a fliort dif^ tance from both, which continual fogs and a cloudy horizon had prevented our feeing. As the only hope whereby the courage of my failors was fuftained, was being able to gain the ifland of Mayorga, I hauled my wind as clofe as poflible, and reefed the topfails ; but the fca run- ning high, the wind flrong, and the night dark, obliged me to give up the idea of landing on thefe iflands, convinced that I could not approach them (which was at any rate very doubtful) without loflng many days. My complement was difcouraged by the fight of its wretched ftate, the wcakncfs of which was f.iCh, that to hoifl: a topfail, the men of both decks were frequently obliged to put all hands to the work. The mofl rigorous hofpital diet could not have en- feebled them more. Tu cheer up their fpirits, I made them confldcr, that in our preient track, we muft infallibly fall in with other iflands, where tbjy might recruit their flrcngth. That the winds were favourable, and that we every dav advanced in full fail towards the end of our fafterings. Tranquillized by this reafoning, they became caim under tiicir at'- fiictions. On civiiî II^TfiRÉSTÏNG 1^0tA6É rROM On the 2lft we difcovered at N. N. E. and E. N. E. two iflands, which I named Cônfolation, becaufe iriy crew there found fome relief, having obtained po- tatoes, pigs, bananas, cocoa nuts, and fowls, which the iflanders brought during the thirty hours I laid off the coaft. Had the weather not been fo rough, the refrefiiments would have been more plentiful ; however, the (hip's company, by their barter, in which their apparel was not fpared, and at the rilk of being left abfblutely naked, made provifions for more than a week, whereby the failors recovered their ftrength, and were better enabled to fupport the laft misfor- tune which awaited them. * ' As, at our approach to the ifland, we faw a very great number of canoes, laden with provifions, com- ing to meet us, I fufpcnded the fcanty allowance which I furnifhed from my own ftore. It is eafy to conceive my obje6l in this parfimony. ' The Indians of thefe, iflands fpeak the fame lan- guage as thofe of Refuge Ifland, and their charadler of mind is the fame. Such was the confidence they rcpofed in us, that nineteen of them flept on board, whether we would or not, and the next day we were obliged to rid ourfelves of them by force. They were defirous for me to land in their ifland, when they would exchange a great many large hogs with us, the fmall fize of their canoes only permitting them to bring lelîèr ones ; but time being precioiis I contented myfelf with feeing that no one neglected himfelf, and that every provifion was made that cir- cuTillanccs would admit of. The 22nd at night I flood to the N. N. W. with a light wind from the north*, and in this track dif- * There is fome miftake here. I cannot think that the Spaniards could, with a northerly wind, have fleered N. N. W. It muft certainly be read either a north eajîerly ivhu/^ or a courfe to the iv. N. ir. .. covered MANILLA TO 8T. BLAISE* di IX covered on the 24th another ifland, which I named Maurelle. The wind became calm, except fome fqualls and tranfient puffs from the north eaft, that prevented my Handing for the idand before fun fet. A fouth callerly wind then fpringing up, I approach- ed it within three leagues, but night coming on, and the diftance being too great for the litttle canoes of tlie Indians, made two of them, coming under fail, and, no doubt, laden with refrefhments, return. The winds continued to blow from the firft and fécond quarter (from N. to E. and E. to S.) fomc- times frelh,»*and then fo faint that they fell into a calm. I took advantage of every favourable mo- ment, and found myfelf, on the 3d of May, in 6® lat. In this pofition we found a very low ifland, lurrounded with a fandy fhore, tenninating in one impenetrable reef, near which I could reach no bot- tom with a line of upwards of 50 fathoms. The illand was covered with a thick plantation of cocoa- nut trees*. This fight was the more agreeable to the fhip's company, as the provifions obtained at Confolation Illand were exhaufted that very day. I fent the long-boat, armed, to try to bring us a good fupply of cocoa-nuts ; this the breakers of the reef prevented. The frigate, however, got fo near the coaft, that the natives fpoke to us from the beach, but we could dcvife no means of getting nearer. However the Indians put their canoes to fea with extreme difficulty, the reef being a great impedi- ment. They reached us in great numbers, though the hazard of the navigation had prevented them from bringing but very few nuts. They endeavoured to tow the frigate, by fallening feveral lines to her * It will be prefently feen that this ifland was called TJland of Cecal. Cocal fignifies a plantation of cocoa palm', (cocotaie) but I did uot dare to liik that term. prow CÎX INTEllKSTlKb VOVAÔR P»0^< prow, and paddlinp^ ail at once tov/ards the ifland, from whence they flung ropes to haul us in. Si:< hours having paflcd without their beinff able to cfTccfi it, and feeing noprofpedl of ultimate luccefs, I made fail towards the N. W. ?' The inhabitants of this iflot already began to vary much in their prot iinciation of feveral words, com- mon to the other iflands. They were fo fmearcd over with paint, that one might have taken them tor images of demons. They, for the moft part, had long beards, hanging down upon their breafts. Near the cocoa-nut ])lantation there were fo many huts, placed in fuch excclL'nt order, that the population of the ifland might be concluded to be confider- able. On the Gth I was under the nccefïîty of reducing the allowance of bread to rive ounces, pork two, and beans two, which I drew from my own private ilock, there being no more in the king s flores ; and although I thought it impofîible for any crew to fupport nature with ten ounces of bad vi6luals, the dreadful flate of our provifions did not permit mc to give out more. . ,t \). The fame day, in the evening, we faw another ifland lower, but much larger than the preceding one. I named it St. Auguflin, and left it fix leagues to the S. W. We had, in recrofïing the line on the 13th, fqualls from every point of the compafs. All the remarks I had made on the flate of the horizon, fnice leav- ing Cocal Iflands, convinced me that we had left many lands to the cafl, which no doubt compofe, with Solomon's Iflands, a firing more or Icfs open to the fouth of the cquinodlial line. During the fhort time that the allowance of*brca(i remained at fix ounces, there was not a iinglc man among the crew but complained of a weaknefs in the MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. clxi the ftomach. The whole of them were Co feeble that all hands together could not hoiû the fails without great difficulty, which forced us frequently to difpenle with manoeuvres that would have been of great utility. On the 22nd I calculated that I was upon the (hoals of St. Bartholomew. Prudence would have uiKJoubtedly required me fometimcs to lay to during the night, particularly as the wind was not only pretty frefh but even violent ; but I was too much affected with the lamentable ftatc of my crew, the majority of whom were attacked by the fcurvy, ow- ing to the bad quality of the bread. I crowded fail, aiKJ the extreme vigilance I recommended to every individual of the (hip's company, fupplicd the place of thofe precautions which, under any other circum- Itanccs, I fliould have taken. Our latitude on the 24th, was 13° l6^ N. and all danger over ; I therefore fleered W. by N. W. for Guam, the capital of the Marianas, where I came to anchor on the 31 ft, in Umata road, and foon re- ceived the necefîàry affiftance for properly viélualling my ftiip's company. As I had only one anchor, too little to truft to in the road, I fent an exprefs to Don Phillip Zerain, governor of the ifland, whom I made acquainted with the adtual flate of my vefîèl, and the objedl of my commiffion, defiring him to put me in a liate for fctting fail as foon as poflible ; declaring that however bad the condition of my fails and rigging, I was neverthelcfs refolved to make the belt of my way for New Spain, to place in the hands of his excellency the viceroy of Mex- ico, the important difpatches with which I was charged. I added, that I hoped he would facilitate my being furnilhed with provifions, of thofe articles of food indifpenfable for fo^long a navigation. That I did not demand the provifions with which it is cufiomary to furnifh king's fhips, they would not Vol. I. 1. have v/ I'Vl H •îu ^ ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V. ^ /. ^^ /L^4ù f/. 1.0 M 1.8 L25 llliu III11I.6 V] ^ ''W 7 Photographie Sdenœs Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 fclxii INTERESTING VoVAGtE FIt(5^f have been found" in this prefidio, but fuch as could be got together in the ifland, provided that their quantity might make them equivalent to the ordi- nary provilions. The governor took upon himfclf to judge of every thing neccflary for the fuccefs of my commiihon. Conceiving the confequence of not being driven by the wind out of the roadftead while my crew wcra bereft of food, he fent fifteen days' provifions in rice, maize, and hogs, on board, without difcontinuinç the daily refrefhments we were furnifhcd with for the re-eflabliflimcnt of the health of thofe afflicted with the fcurvy, and preparing my crew for a new voyr.ge. He likcwifc ordered to be brought from a prefidio, ten leagues from Umata, a very old anchor, wanting it is true a quarter of the llock, but I repaired it fo as to make it fit for fcrvice, and by the help of ano- ther wooden anchor, which I conftru6tcd with my carpenter's aiîiftancc, we were, at the end of eight days, riding at three anchors, though not to the entire fiitisfaétion of the crew. Nothing now remained for us but to procure wa- tei^, to afiurc our fubfiftence whether at anchor or under fail. Since my arrival I had fuccelîivcly put on fhorc all my empty water cafks. It was not long lince they had been filled at the iflands of Mayorga. What then mud be our aflonifhmcnt, when wetounJ only two pipes of water left, one of which wanted a whole barrel of being full ! I rcquefted the governor, his major, and all my crew to be witnefies with ihcir "own eyes of this enormous wallc. All returned God "thanks for his having faved us frojn the imminent danger with which we were threatened. As all the flavcs and heads of the barrels were eaten throughout, we were obliged to repair them anew; but after this labour, the pipes which before held fix barrels, now contained only four ; befides we coiilJ only mak*^. up 48 pipes from thcfe wrecks. The govcr- MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. clxul gnvcrnor feeing the infufiiciency of this fupply, fent on board 30 cannes^ each holding eight quartiUos *. This fuccoiir was certainly unequal tO the raragè we had reafon to fear from our deflru6live infé6ts. I however took courage, hoping that in the abundance of our provifions they would ealily fatiate themfelves. The eatables I procured, without coll: to the royal treafure, were 140anègues| of maize, dp of rice, 30 pia:s, 20 young bulls, (perhaps oxen) 45 • ' • t of dried meat, fait, butter, lamp-oil, brandy made of cocoa nuts for the crew, 6o cocoa nuts for the hogs, and all the other articles of importance necefïîiry fora (hip. Under more favourable circumftances we fhould not have been fatisiied with fuch provilions. I now got every thing in readincfs for fetting fail on the 20th June 1781, for new Spain, to complete the fulfil- ment of a commiffion, the refult of which might be highly beneficial to the welfare of the State; ie*jc<«4 Departure from the Road of Umata, in the IJIand cf Guam, the Capital of the Maria?ias, fituated in 30® 10^ N. Lat. 21" 28^ Long, of ManiUa. Ï GOT under way the 20th June, ahd onte more experienced the great weaknefs of my cablesj par- * This is probnhly a rtiiftake. Accortiing to Pàuâlons Treatife m Weight s and Meaf lires, &c. the thirty Cannes, of eight quartiUos each, would only have held 12c Paris pints, and above one haJf lefs, or only fixty pints, by Sejournaht's Diétituiaïy. This aflift- ance would have been very trifling. It muft apparently be read 800 or 8000 quartiUos. t The Anegue, or rather Fanegue, contains very near four bufliels and a half, Paris meafure. } This abréviation probably means Ancgoes. The author has, however, el'fewhere ufed it for Ar-cbes. The arrobe, for fubftances, is a weight of twenty-five pounds, forty-five arrobes would only make, therefore, 1125 pounds, which would not be a very great itock. ît.ii.?wYfji'}c-y Wj . imn :p;:if ^ 1 2 ticularly Cliiv INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM ticularly of that attached to the anchor which the Governor had procured. The anchor was fcarcely got out of the water before the cable broke, and the fh\p in cafting having greatly increafed the depth of water, it funk beyond the reach of the cable. The feafon permitted us to take a northerly courfe, the winds from È. and E. N. E. carried me to lat. 20^ !(/. We were afterwards becalmed for feven whole days, during which time we only moved with the currents, whereby we were drifted to the N. W. ' On the 3d July, in 24'» 26' lat., the wind of the fourth quarter (between W. and N.) began to blow now with great violence, and then more faintly ; it carried mc on the 7th to 25° g^ lat., and I then fup- pofed I might be off the Great- Volcano Ifland. This route we continued to the 1 1th, when finding my felf in 27« 52' of Iht., I judged that I might l?e 25 leagues to the eaft of the ifland of Bad-Shelter, and that 1 had cleared all the firing of the Marian Iflands. The wind then veered to the third quarter, (between S. and W.) and I flood to the N. E., always endea- vouring to get a higher latitude, for the purpofe of falling in with a frefh weflerly wind. Arrived at 40^ lat., I fleered E. by N. E. as dw as the winds vould permit, but finding that I was in lat. 43°, long. 179<* 28' E. from Paris, the wind fhifted to the fécond quarter (between E. and S.) and it became fo violent as to oblige me to lie by two days. t -: sS; . The 5th Augufl the wind blew from the N. W., I fleered E. by'S. E. till the 13th. In this interval the wind came from every point of the com.pafs, fixing at lafl in the fécond and firft quarter. I availed my- felf to the utmoft of thefe variations to proceed eait- - ward. •^ On the 30th I was in N. lat. 37» 5', and I reckon- *ed my longitude 144° 17' W. of Paris!, and 200 ileagucb from Cape Mendocino. The wind being then in the fourth quarter, I flood eaftward until the \ . . • 3d ¥s MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. clxV 3d September, when we faw fea-weed, and trunks of fir-trees floating on the water, the firft (ign of thç proximity of the northern coaft of California. To get nearer it I bore up E. S. E. The fea on the 4th changed colour, and the fight of fome fmall birds was a confirmation of our not being far from a land which we fhould not be long before we came in fight of. , On the 8th I was off Point Pedernales or Gun- Flints, at the difiance of five leagues. Thefe bearings placed me in 123° 3'' long. W. of Paris. By reckon- ing I was in 130° 34'', lb that my calculation was 122 leagues wrong, by which I made myfelf too much to the well. On getting fight of this Point I made for Cape St. Lucas. In the way I palled to the cad of the liland of Guadaloupe at the diftance of eight leagues. The weather was calm for fome days, after which on the 20th, I came in fight of Morne St. Lazarus, and was on the 22d, near C;ipe St. Lucas. On the 2ôth after fome calms, during which I was almoft always within fight of the land of this Cape, a terrible hurricane arofc, that in the fpace of fix hours went round from the cafl to the north, weft and fouth, with fueh violence, that notwithftand-^ ing the impetuofity of the fea, which was againft us, we ran feven miles and a half an hour under the fore-fail only. Doubtlefs we fhould have been dilmafl.ed, had the tempeft continued much longer. The fame day, when the hurricane had fubfided, I let every fail and fl:ood for the Maria Iflands, which I doubled to the north on the 26th and 27th at night, and anchored in the roadftead of St. Bias, in lat. 210 3(y long. 107° 6' W. of Paris. I was fo for- tunate as to bring home my crew fafe and found, notwithftanding the horrible havoc made by the cockroaches in our provifions, and the mifery which 1 3 was Clxvi INTERESTING VOYAGE FROM was the rcfult of it, with the lofs of only two men, one of whom died in the Port of Sifiran before our departure, and the other was attacked by a phthifis when he embarked *. F. A. MAURELLE. ,St. Bias, lyth September, 1781, on board the La Princeffa Frigate. »»>N-»4 Extraâifrom the Narrative of a Voyage made In 1779^ hy Don Francis Anthony Maurelle, Etifeigne de Fré- gate , in the Service of the King of Spain, for the DiJ- covery of the Weji Coaji of North America. THE Spaniards have within a few years under- taken three voyages for examining the v.efl coaft of North America. In the firft, l3on John Perez, firfl: pilot, got as high a3 55° lat., and on his returji twice reconnoitred the coafl between this point and the port of Monterey. , , V For the fécond voyage, undertaken in 1775, a fri- gate and fchooner were fitted out. The command cf the fchooner was given to Don John Francis dc la Bodega y Quadra, lieutenant de vaifllcau. Don Mau- relle, who accompanied Don de la Bodega, and was then but a fécond Pilot, had given a iketch of this expedition, a copy of which fell into the bunds of the Englifh. Sir Daines Barrington publiflicd an Englifh tranflation of it in England, and Captain Cook mentions it in the account of his third voyage. But Captain Dixon, in the narrative of his voyage in * I have not added any remark to the account of this voyage which Maurelle has termed interefting ; but as in hydrogiaphy, the leaft exaft journals may be ferviceable in fome degree, notwith- ftanding the fomewhat fevere judgment of La Pcroufe upon it, in the extraét from his correfpondence in the fécond volume, I thought it might be of iife to fome navigators, or throw light on fome geographical difcuflions.— /><:«c;& Eiiitor. ' • thcfe MANILLA TO ST. BLAI8B. clxvi| thefe Teas, accufes Don Maurelle of manifoft falfe- hood ; according to him it is an indilputable fadt, that this officer has never been in the feas where he loads of having made fruitlefs rcfearches. The ac- cnlation is ftrong, and if well founded^ Don Man- lellc is entitled to no conHdencc what ver. " We " endeavoured," fays this navigator, " to find out the " ftraits of Admiral Fuentes, though we had not hither- " to difcovei'ed the archipelago of St. Lazarus through " which we failed. After all thefe unavailing re- " fearchcs, we can pronounce this (Irait not to be in " exillencc." There, fays Captain Dixon, fpcaking of Queen Charlotte's Iflands : " the fituation of thefe " ii^ands, viz. from 54° 20' to 51» 50'' N. lat., and " iio'.n 130" to 133° 30' W. long, evidently fhews, " that they arc the archipelago of St. Lazarus/' Buf is it fully proved, that what Captain Dixon calU Queen Charloties JJlandSf is really a groupe of fcveral iflaiuls ? " 'i here is every reafon to believe it, by con- *' fidcring the number of fniall ftraits which have " been fccn in ranging along the coaft." But may not thefe fmall ftraits be nothing but creeks, none of them having yet been penetrated ? Captain Dixon had other aftiiirs to attend to ; his obje6l was not to make difcoveries, but to purchafe fine furs cheap, and fell them dear at China. Neither is he the author of the narrative. It is, he fays in the introduélion, by a perfon as little verfed in a literary career as aecuf- toined to a maritime life. But Captain Dixon tells us in the introduélion, I hat he has carefully corre6fed what relates to navigation. The whole is, undoubt- edly, very well correéled ; but to fupport the errone- ous opinion which people appear to be in as. to the reality of Admiral Fuentes' dilcoveries, it vvere un- neceliiu-y to tax with jmpofition a n^ivigj^tpr vvhofe fole objc(9: was to make dilboyerjes. Maurclle's difcoveries, in this fécond expedition, extended to the 58th degree of latitude. Don Maur relic has particularized them on a chart, which may ... 1 4 probably clxviii iNTETiESTii^ô voVagé prom probably riot have fkllen into the hands of the Eng- lifh : thé Spaniards will perhaps publifh it, arid the difcovcries of Maurclle may then be combined with thofe of Cook and Dixon. Don de la Bodega, and Don Maurelle, difcovered, among other places, in 55° 18' lat., the entrance of an harbour, which they fuppofed to be a good one, and named it the Entrance of BucareUi, in honour of friar Don Anthony Maria Biicarelli y Urfua, Viceroy of Mexico, who fpared nothing, as far as depended upon him, to facilitate the fuccefs of thcfe expeditions. He difcovered alfo two very good harbours ; that of Guadelupa in sy'» 1 1', and Los Remedies in 57° IS''. Cook, in his third voyage, faw thefc harbours, but did not put in there. A third expedition was, in 1777, ordered by the King of Spain, whereby he intended to complete the exploration of the N. W. coaft of America, from 58" to 70°. Don Bucarelli equipped two frigates; the la Princeflîi commanded by Don Ignace Arteaga, lieutenant de vaillèau ; the Favourite, by Don de la Bodega, who took Maurelle, then enfcigne de fré- gate, as his fécond captain. Their firft place of ren- dezvous was agreed to be at the entrance of Buca- relli, where they were to take in wood, water, &c. On the nth February, 1779, they left the har- bour of St. Bias, which they place in lat. 21° 30' N., arvd long. 107® 6' W. of Paris. They arrived the 3d May at the entrance of Bucarelli, the geographical lituation of which is, by this account, in lat. 55° 18' N., and long. 139° 1^'' ^- of Paris. There docs not appear to be ground for calling in queftion the accu- racy of the latitudes determined by Don Maurelle; the fame cannot be faid of the longitudes, which were pro- bably only determined by account. According to an bbferyation taken by Cook the preceding year, of the coafts near the entrance of Bucarelli, that entrance muft be very nearly 227° E of Greenwich, or 135 j° W. of Paris. V ' .i * V,» J •.•«,""■ /»i-/ -l.'/;i' .•-■/>( ,;; The entrance ot Bucarelli intfoduced the Spaniards into MANILLA TO ST. BLAlÔfi. clxix into a vail gulph, where they anchored the 3d May in a port, as they fay, inferior to none in Europe. They named it Port of the Crofs (La Crux.) Don Maurelle was difpatched on the 18th of May with the two long boats to furvey the gulph all round. In this expedition, which lafted till the 12th of June, he took the bearings of all the capes, iflands, and principal parts of the great gulph, and delineated all the creeks, bays, and particular ports. All tbefe bays and harbours are, fays he, good and fecure. He named thcnn all, and afterwards conftruéled a large and very exa6l plan of the whole of the great gulph. It ismuchtobe wiftied that this plan were made public, as well as the chart which he compofed of the coafis and iflands difcovcrd by the Spaniards in the courfc of their expedition. The chart would not, however, be fo efl'ential as the plan, the fame coaft having been vifited the year preceding by Cook, though fome particulars might be found upon it which had ck-aped the Englifh argonaut. Don Maurelle met with but few habitations in his expedition, feeing only one vil- lage, fituate at the top of a fteep mountain, which could only be afcended by a flight of flops, or rather wooden ladder, whence if the foot flipped, one mufl fall down the precipice. The Spaniards were not long in the port of the Crofs (La Cruz) without being vifited by the Indians in its vicinity. Traffic commenced, the Indians giv- ing them furs, ami various trifles, for glafs beads, pieces of old iron, &c. From this barter, the Spa- niards were enabled to form a pretty good idea of their genius, ofîcnfive and detenfive weapons, manu- fadlures, &c. They are of a clear olive colour, many of them having notwithflanding a perfeetly white Ikin. Their countenance is well proportioned in all its parts. They are robufl, courageous, arrogant, and warlike. They cloath themfelves, apparently with the fur of one clxX INTERESTING VOYAGE PROM one or more undrcfied ildns of otters, fea wolves, benades, (a ipecics of deer) bears, or other animals which thoy take in the chace. Thcfe drefljes cover them from the neck to the middle of the leg. Se- veral of thtm wear boots of fmooth Ikin, not unlike the Englifh boots, ej^cept that thofc of the Indians open before, and arc laced m|V vyith a ilrjng, Th ir hats arc woven from fine bark of trepifii Vbc form of which is like a funnel or cone. At the wrift& tlujy have bracelets of copper, iron,' c»r for vvaat (it* thcfe metals, fins of whale ; and round the neck, necklaces of fmall fragments of the lone ol" fifti, or otIi'".r ani- mals, or even copper necklaces as thick as two fingers. Their ear-rings are of motl cr of pearl, or plates of copper, on which is emboiiul a topaz-coloured lorin, accompanied with jet beads. Tiicir hair is long and thick. They ufe a comb very like ours to hold it together in a fmall queue from the middle to its ex- tremity ; a narrow ribbon ol coarfe linen woven on purpofe, ferves as a ligament. They wear alio as a covering a kind of fearf *, about a varc -{- and a half long, and a vare wide, wo- ven like the peillons % of Peru, with a fringe half a quarter of a vare wide, the thread of which is regu- larly twilled. The drcfs of the women is a proof of the modelly and decency of their manners. Their phyliognomy is agreeable, their colour frelh, their cheeks of a live- ly red, and tlieir hair long, which they plait into our trefs. They vyear a long robe of fmooth Ikin tied * In the Spanifb it is algunas prefadas I do not know whether prefada fignifies any thing but a green colour. Prefadas is perhaps written for frafadas, a covering. P. for F, and f for z, frequently occur in the manufcript. t The Spanifh vare is about three French feet in length. + The Spanilh peillon is a fpecies of ancient robe, which is yet in tile at Peru. I have not been able to find out of what texture it was. • f/. 'Uii-j-F^'TUfi -tei^Vi:;»; i;;';oi') about MANILLA TO ST. BLAISB. clxXI about the loins, Ibmcthing fimilar to that of a nun ; it covers thcin from the neck to the feet : the fleeves reach down to the wrifts. On this gown they put many ikins of otters, or other animals, to defend tlicni from the inclemency of the weather. Many of them, if better drelled, mig:ht difpute the prize of beauty with the fined: Spanilh women ; but not con- tent with the charms bellowed upon them by nature, ihev have reeourfe to art, not to embelli (h but dis- fiirure themfelves. All the married women have a larfje a[)crture in the lower lip, which is filled upbv a piece of wood of an ov;il form, the fmalleft diameter of which ii nearly an inch ; the older a wpnjan i% the j;reater is the extent of this beautiful ornament. It renders them frightful, particularly the old wo- men, whofe lip, deprived of its natural fituation, and drawn down by the weight of this admirable jevi'el, neceiliirily hangs in a very difagreeable nuumcr. The girls only wear a copper needle, which crof icji the lip, where the ornament is intended allerwarcU to be pfaeed. Thefc Indians ufe, in war, cuirafîès and flioulder pieces, not unlike, in workmanfhip, the \vh;debonc flays of Europeans. Narrow boards form, in fome meafure, the woof of this texture, and threads are the warp; by thefe means the whole is very flexible, and Jeav es the arm a free motion for wielding the wea- pons. They wear round the neck a large coarfe gor- get, which covers them up to the eyes, and their head is protected by a helmet, ordinarily made of the head of fome wild beafl. From the waift to the feet they have a kind of apron of the fame tex- ture as their cuirafs. Laftly, a fine ikin* hangs from the fhoulder to the knee. With thefc arms * In the Spanifli it is written quera, which I do not believe to be a Spaniûi word. 1 fuppofed thdt it flioul'i be made caera, the name of a fpecies of ikin garment. they clxxii IlfTERESTINO VOYAQE FROI^ they arc invulnérable to their enemies ; but they cannot move with equal agility as if they were lefs encumbered. Arrowa arc their otîcnfive weapons. Bows, the (Irings of which are woven, like the large firing of our bell mufical inlbuinciits ; lances four vares in length, headed with iron ; knives of the fame métal, longer than European bayonets, a weapon which, however, is not common among them ; fmall hatchets of filex, or green ftone, fo hard as to cleave the clofeft wood, without turning its edge. The pronunciation of their language is extremely difficult, fpçaking from the throat with a motion of the tongue againft the palate. The little ufe the wo- men can make of their lower lip is a great impedi- ment to the plain nefs of the language. The Spa- niards could neither pronounce nor write the words they heard. , Thefe Indians, from their vivacity and attention to keep the market, eftablilhed at the port, well fup- plied, it may be concluded, are tolerably laborious. They continually brought ftuiFs, well woven, and {haded with different colours ; (kins of fea and land wolves; ottei-s, bears, and other fmaller animals. Of thefe Ikins fome were ravv,others drefled. At this mar kct we alfo found coverlets * of common cloth, inter- mixed with brown and black colours, very well woven, but in fmall quantities. Large ribbons of the fame, which might be compared to that of the Spanifh offi- pers* mattrefîès. Skeins of thread, of which this ploth was made ; wooden trenchers, prettily worked ; little boats, or canoes, painted of fevcral colours, the figures of which reprefcnted heads with all their parts ; perfect imitations, in wood, of frogs, which Opened like fnuft' boxes, and ferved for them to keep their trinkets in ; boxes, made of fmall planks, of a * TrrfaJas again occurs here. I fupp ofcdyraîflJar, bed cover- lets, were iveant. cubical MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. clxxiti cnbical foirn, three quarters of a vare on each (ide, with figures of difFereot animals, well fkctched, on the oulfide, the covers mndc like the etwees of Flanders, having indented edges, fo as to fliut into the body of the box ; animals of wood, both tcrref- trial and aerial ; figures of men, of the fame mate- rials, headed with helmets, to reprefent the heads of different beafls ; fnarcs and nets for fifhing ; copper necklaces and iron bracelets, which they would not part with, but at a very high price ; and beaks, from whence they drew a found like that of a German flute. The principal officers picked out from this merchandifc what they liked beft, leaving the reft to the difpofal of the (liip*s company. The Indians perceiving that the Spaniards were very dainty in fifli, did not let them want for choice. Thofe of which there was the grcateft abundance was falmon, and a kind of folc or turbot, three varos and a quarter long, and proportionably broad and thick; alfo cod, pilchard, and fi(h refcmbling trout. Hence it may be inferred, that this gulph muft be well filled with fifb. The banks likevvife arc lined with fhells. The quantity of mother-of-pearl that thefc Indians cut up to make ear-rings with, awakened the curiofity of the Spaniards, who endeavoured to find out whether thefe people had not in their pofîèf- fion, or the country did not produce pearls or pre- cious flones. Their refearches were fruitlefs, find- ing only ilones, which they judged to be of a me- tallic quality, and which they put on board the Ihip, not having the necefîàry means for cxtraéling the metal they might contain. The food of thefe Indians is frefh or dry fifh, boiled or roafted ; herbs and roots, the produce of their mountains, and that in particular called in Spain fea-parfley ; and, laftly, on the flefh of ani- mals which they take in the chace, which muft un- •doiibtedly CÏXXÎV INTERÉSrmG VOYAGE PRCnVf doubtedly be very plentiful, by the great number of dogs they breed up for that purpofe. The Spaniards perceived no veftige of wor(l)ip among them, except their fometimes bending to- wards the fun, but whether as an a6l of devotion, they could not afccrtain. Don Maurclle, in his ex- pedition round the gulph, found, in two iflands, three bodies laid in boxes, limilar to thofe before de- Icribed, and decked in their furs. Thefc biers were placed in a little hut, on a platform of the branches of trees. The country is very hilly, the mountains very high, their Hope extending, in almoft every inftancc, down to the leti. The foil, limeftone, is notwith- ftanding covered with a very impenetrable foreft of lofty, thick, and lirait pine trees. As their roots cannot Ihike deep into the ground, the vio- lence of the wind often tears them up. The)i rot, and change into a light mould, in which grows a bufhy thicket, wherein are found nettles, camomile, wild celery, anife, a fpecies of cabbiige, celandine, elder, wormwood, forrcl, and, no doubt, along the rivers, many other plants. t The Spaniards favv ducks, mews, divers, kites, ravens, geefe, cranes, goldfinches, and other little birds, to them unknown. The trafHc between the Spaniards and Indians was perfe6lly undiflurbed ; the former always keeping upon their guard, rendy to defend themfelves in cilc of attack, the others contenting themfelves with Healing to their utmoft, fecretly if not obferved, and openly if they thought they were the ftrongcfi. For tlie better maintenance of peace, the Spaniards flut their eyes to petty thefts ; but if any were committed too much to their prejudice, they feized upon feme canoe, or pcrfonnge of diftimSlion, which was not releafed till reliitution was made ; but this was at- tended with no bloodflied. The MANILLA. TO ST. BLAISE. clxXV The defire of procuring iron, cloth, and other (lutft, was ^vith fome Indians, prevalent over pater- nal love, they felling their children for fome vares of ftuffs, or broken pieces of iron hoops. The Spaniards purchafed, in this manner, three young boys, one live or (ix, the other four, and the third nine or ten years of age ; not to make flaves, bat Chriltians of them ; hoping, at the fame time, to derive from them ufeful information as to the nature of the country and its inhabitants. Thefc children were fo rejoiced at being with the Spaniards, that they concealed themfelves when their fathers came on board, for fear of being returned to their parents. "With the fame view two little girls had likewife been bought ; one, very ugly, fcven or eight years old, the other younger and better made, but lickly, and , almoft at death's door. The oldeft of the boys appeared to have a vivacity of fpirit and undcrfianding by no means common ; he foon made himfelf beloved by the whole crew. He (ignified, by very expreflivc figns, what his countrymen meditated, what they ought to do, and what was the end they propofed. He took the fol- (liers by the hand, condu6led them to the depui of arms, put the mulkets in their hands, made ligns for them to be charged, and give fire upon fuch or fiich a canoe, but to fpare fuch and fuch another, which belonged to friends. The environs of this port are therefore inhabited by different tribes ini- mical to each other. At the new and full moon the fea rifes in the harbour of La Cruz to feventeen feet three inches Englifh ; the water is there high at a quarter paft twelve at uoon. The iowell: tides are fourteen feet three inches ; he night tides exceeded thofe of the day by one foot nine inches. The fouth, Ibuth-eaft, and fouth-weft winds being aUvays accompanied by fogs, and continual rain, the Il ekxvî INTERESTIirG VOYAGE FILOU the Spaniards quitted La Cruz on the 1 5,th of June, end gainçd the port of St. Anthony, with the in- tent of getting with greater eafe out of the gulph, with the firft north- wefterly winds, which they eould not do till the 111: of July, The l6th of July they difcovered, half a league to leeward, a (hoal, which they calculate to be in lat. 59° 2' and bng. * 147'»46^ They at a great diftancefaw Mount St. Elias, whofe fummit they fay equals that of Orifba in height. The 17th, at noon, Cape St. Elias bore W. 40° N. at three leagues diftance. Its latitude they eilimate at 59" 63^ its longitude at 149° 2(/. The charts reprefent an ifland in the vicinity of this cape : the point of this ifland neareft the cape bore N. 18^ W. five leagues ofF. The two points formed be- tween them a channel three leagues wide. From the cape the coaft runs to the north, inclining a Ijttle towards the north-weft. In this part they diftin- guifhed large bays, which they think muft be well ■ftieltered harbours. ^ This ifland, fays Don Maurelle, is larger than is laid down in the charts. The Spaniards, being but half a league diftant, difcovered a (hoal to the S. W. They got fight, on the 18th, of a vaft gulph W. of Cape St. Elias, ten leagues in depth. On the 20th two canoes of a fingular conflrudlion came along fide, very thin boards or planks form the wood work, which are attached to each other by indifferently fi:rong cords, leaving however fpaces between them; fothat without the ikin, it would make a true flceleton of a boat. This ficcleton is furrounded completely with ikins of animals, leaving a round aperture only at top, •which ferves as a girdle for him that manages the ca- noe, and to prevent the water from getting in at this ♦ All the latitudes are to the N. the longitudes to the W. of Paris. We have already obferved, that thcfe longitudes cannot be depended upon. orifice, MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. clxxvli orifice, the conduilor cloathes himfelf with a (kin made of bladders, tied exactly to fit the edges for the opening. Thefe canoes, it is conceived, mufi: be very light. Their form is exadlly that of a harp, their prow having a fimilar curve to that whereon the (brings of the harp are faftened. The Indians who manage thefe canoes were cloath- ed with a Ikin jacket, which was a fufficient protec- tion againft the cold. Their hats refembled thofe of the inhabitants of the port of Bucarelli, large glafs beads were the pendants they wore at their ears. Their fiihing inftrumcnts are worked as if by a lathe with the greateft nicety, à great rod, blown up blad- der, harpoon, the point of which is bone, and a long cord made with the entrails of animals properly twift- ed. They flrike the otter or fea wolf with the har- poon, which thus ftruck attempts to dive, but is pre- vented by the bladder, and the Indian foon draws him within reach. The young Indians embarked at Bu- carelli were defirous of communicating with tl>efe,but they neither undertlood the other. Thefe two canoes induced the Spaniards to put in at the neighbouring coaft, where they came to anchor the 20th of July at midnight, but early they next day they gained a creek which bore from them north, difl:ant one league. They were fheltered from N.W. to the N. and S ; a lit- tle further in they would have been proteéled from every wind. This port, which they named St. James's Harbour, lies in lat. 00° l6' and long. 157° 52'. To fatisfy themfelves whether they were near an illand or continent, they fentofFthe long boat, which after having failed fix or feven leagues to the N. N. W. re- ported that the coafi: turned E. whence they con- cluded that the land near which we were at anchor was an island *. i» • ' • - ' ^ :... .^^. fy .y • -■ ,..:\:r^-n -.-.-- Six * Upon a thorough inveftigation, T think that this port is near Cape Hinchinbrooke. Cook took no obfervations about this Cape, You L m joeither Clxxviii INTERESTING \'OYAGE PROM Six canoes of Indians about 26 cubits long and 4 wide, lined with white ikins, and by no means unlike the European boats in conftrudion, paid a vilit to the Spaniards. Before approaching, they hoiftcd three flags, the firft of a carnatic colour, the fécond white, and the third blue ; but they ftruck them before they came along fide. Their wives accompanied theni, whofe fex is diftinguifhed by glafs beads or other bau- bles hanging from both fides of the mouth. They are in other refpe(?ls nearly the fame in drefs as thç women of Bucarelli. The commandant having been once a fifhing in the long-boat, it was very foon filled with fiih of an agreeable flavour, which they called pargo muhto, but the fi(h of which there was the greateft abundance in thofe feas, is falmon, the pargo mulato being only plentiful in the little creeks which line the (horc, The Indians inhabiting this country are robuft, tall, and large in proportion, induftrious, and thieves. The points of copper with which all their arrows arc tipped, made the Spaniards believe that there arc mines of this metal in the country. s The 28th July our navigators weighed anchor to double a point which they ïiw in the S. W. 50° S. at 1 1 leagues diftance (probably the fouthcrn point of Montagu Island). They wilbcd not to lofe fight of land, but the rain and fogs would not always permit them. They lay from the 30th to the Sift, when they found themfelvcs m the vicinity of a group of islands extending from S. S. W. to S. S. E. They came to anchor on the I ft of Auguft to the S. of one of thefe islands, which they named Isle deRegla(Rulc neither tlid Dixon. The long boat could have penetrated into the bay, which is called Rofe Bay upon Dixon's Chart j and feeing it entirely ciofed to the E. its courfe might have been continued to- wards the coaft running to the N. N. VV. As for the reft, I think the tranfcriber may have written for lonj^irude 157 min. 52 deg.; long. 153 min. 52 deg. — The naanufciipt abounds with faults. - ^ . .. ^ . . ■ ■ ' Lland). and A unlike to the I three white, )re they I them, ler bau- They as the hing in II of an Jato, but iance in ng only jore, I robui^, thieves. ows arc here arc ichor to )0° S. at d into the d feeing it itjnued to- ft, I think ; mill. 52 iinds with MANILLA TO ST. BLAISE. ' clxxi» Island). They place it in 155° 52^ of longitude by ac-» count, and SQ" 8' of latitude by obfervation *. Don Maurclleis of opinion, that thefe islands form what on Bellin's chart, engraved in 1 766, is called Cape St, Enmgene ; the latitude is the fame. The Ruifians obferving this groupe at a diftance, might not have fecn the intermediate channels which divide it into fcvcral islands, and therefore taken it for a point of Terra Firma. The island of Regla had many others towards the fouth. On the 3d of Augufl the flcy being clear, a moun- tain, certainly higher than the peak of TencrifF, en- tirely covered with fnow, was fcen to the N. W. 7" N. at more than 10 leagues diftancc. In the evening by twilight, it was obfcrved to vomit torrents of thick fmokc. The crater from whence thefe torrents ifliicd was a little more eafterly than the fummit of the mountuin ; it was thought to be a volcano. Near this another was obfervcd, very high, whereon was not the Icafl appearance of fnow ; it bore W. N. W. 8" W. at the diftance of 1 5 leagues. Two others were after- wards remarked, the bearing of the higheft of which was W. S. W. 4"» S. 13 leagues ditlant ; the two latter, although high, were lefs fo than the preceding ones, and they were notvvithftanding entirely covere4 with fnow. On Regla Island were found fome fmall huts, fca wolves juli lkinncd,andagrcat number of birds' heads, but not a finglc inhabitant. After two or three days ilay, a canoe appeared at one of the neighbouring * On the chart of Prince William's Sound (Cook's third voyage, vol. iii.) ts a place that might be talcen for the groupe of iflands, of which the ifland of Regla makes a part ; it is to the S. W. of Mon- tagu liland, about lat. 59 min. 8 deg. long. 210 min. 30 deg. to 4odeg.E. of Greenwich (or iço min. 40 deg. to 50 deg. W. of Paris). Cook pafled about 15 leagues to the weftward of thefe iflands, Dixon as much to the eaft. Thefe iflands may not be high enotigh to be feen at this diftance ; they may alfo be more wefterly than is imngipcd. •< ^ 1 n/)'* points. ■fr fj JCiC iN'tÈafeôTIÎJè VOYAGÉ, ETC. points. The Indians uttered fome words, but ivould hot come to the frigates. The expedition of tho Spaniards terminated at this island, which they quit- tec! the 7th of Auguftj and anchored at St. Bias the a7th of November. From Cape St. £lias to the Island of Regia they took bearings with the greateft minutenefs, of all the islands^ capes, and bays which they recogniged ; but the winds and currents, very frequent, and violent, in thefe feas, drove them off the coail oftener than they would have wifhed, and Was prejudicial to the accuracy of their eflimated route; If, however, they publifh the chart which they have conftruélcd according to their bearings, their obfervations, in conjunélion with thofe of Gapt. Cook, La Peroufe, and Capt. Dixon, will contribute in a conliderable degree to bring the geography of that part of the coaft of North America to perfeétion. il t 4> JVYAGE () •» '^Jîi* *'-*»ir*Wi» >'#a*aë^««NWMMiw«mi«!MNM«*^^ , ff sv\.« •"-rm n .ififi m ,! «ijSy... ->^''"'*^''^'^»^^. .^$*^' ■*ll^' 1 / k JT I ■^■- m H îM ■^"- ^ V 'J • 'W ^"♦"'tK.., ^^ ■■ ., »s >> *• »'% .a •«■i'iS- lu •»f;*,.f.;- 'fVi'f yv, 'y IL ^d ! ft -*>-^ -¥■«. X V A -^î Those wh will deem ih tending that Vot. I. V rOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, IN THE YEARS 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788. CHAP. I. ^ OBJECT OF THE VOYAGE AND EQUIPMENT OP THE TWO frigates; STAY IN BREST ROAD- PASSAGE TO MADEIRA AND TENERIFFE ; STAY IN THOSE ISLANDS EXCURSION TO THE PEAK — ARRIVED AT TRINIDAD — TOUCHED AT ST. CATHERINE'S, ON THE COAST OF BRASIL. , <„ THE voyage of Ellis to Hudson's Bay, in 1747, had by no means answered the expectation of those who had advanced the fund for that enterprize. Captain Bouvet, on the first of January, 1739f who thought he had discovered land in 54" south lati- tude, which it now appears probable was only a mass of ice, had, by this mistake, retarded the pro- gress of geography, and the ancient spirit of dis- covery appeared almost extinguished. The makers of systems, who delineate continents and islands in tiie retirement of thecloset, concluded thatthepretended CapeCircumcision was the northernmost point of the southern continent, the existence of which appeared to them necessary to the equilibrium of the glob? ♦. The Those who maintain the existence of a southern continent, will deem the assertion of La Pérouse too b(»ld. Yet, without pre- tending that Cape Circumcision belongs to a field of ice rather Vol. 1, B thaa ■-*■- 8o 15 n 15 30 J3 <'o ; 4. ■ ■■■■■■■ ^. ■ ■ w w H r 1 1 1 -4 70 • J5**N » fl f L iVk^ ■ 'f 1 Jn Ù S K "X-Ai^ / |4 S ♦ X'* f) W^ /7 A- y '^ Ï a\ N 60 .j^® Swei r/ W5 V >Vj v^ — ^ ^ V 1 ~ 1 ^ . .. • RITI5jr]^5\{SIJ5 ^ ■ '^ioninsberq S3 II terfbuTK^ ,£azanX r^ v- ^ ■>>'~^ Eattrin .^Tomsk Iito ^0 ^J**"*^ FrmtfÛHt ^ / 40 LI f' '■ / Spain /^ . litefz GvrjSi^n ance ^v^ N Turkey/ *ï« fkSea^ A S I ^0 ■ ■ ^ I--- V i / {^ f Malta H J lea elT^ s „ •'3 rusJ JtJtrusalfm ^ î; \<^ ^' 3 i''->î y .'.« Pnl'IUh.:' .If'rU ifi'f'i.foo /, J.M.;h/,i/,' /',.r„./,/h. wit. LJUPUL i|6.i lapmii no • IB iijiijiinfininijmiiijiijiimi mimmm l|20 t,mnai^^a^maki.ap.ika^iiiMMii iiiiUiMjuiiiiii prB-J-T: »5 L..nftim.»o I ;>(» W. si of ;j Paris 6^ v/,,/^ I'lW.lJl/l, .I.AHfnS(ul|.' LA PÉROUSE's voyage [1785. The event of those two voyages might not unrea- sonably discourage individuals, who, from a mere spirit of curiosity, were sacrificing considerablesums to an object which had long ceased to attract the attention of the various maritime powers of Europe. In 1764, England fitted out a new expedition, the commandof which was entrusted to Commodore Byron. The accounts of that voyage, and those of Wallis, Carteret, and Cook, are generally known. In the month of November, I766, M. de Bou- gainville set sail from Nantes, with the Boudeuse than to an island* ; without resolving the idle problem of a southern continent, since it nnust be situated in a latitude by which it will be for ever insulated from the rest of the globe, I shall observe, that the first voyages of Cook round the south pole have fully deter- mineci the question ; and that the arguments of Le Monnier, to prove that Cook did not seek Cape C'ircumciaon in its true longi. tude, are not of the least importance t* But while I am declaring my opinion in favour of the existence of a southern continent, I do not believe that continent necessary to support the equilibrium of the globe. What, indeed, could be the effect of so small a protuberance, on so enormous a mass, when the least variation in the specific gra- vity of its internal component particles would be sufficient to couii. terbalance any inequality, however great^ on its surface. Though C'apiain Cook professes a hope that no more mil he said of a southern continent ||, it will perhaps be of service, some ages hence, to determine the progress which the ice may make towards the equator ; and thus establish a proof of the ingenious theory of BufFun, tliat the earth i» gradually losing it» heat. But it will require many centuries to establish a probable system : for navi- gators have met with ice in a higher or lower latitude, at the same periods of different years. Those engaged in the whale fishery who go annually to Spitsbergen, have, it is said,, once penetrated within one degree of the pole ; and a passage to the north appears to have been navigated by I^orcnzo Ferrer de Maldonado, oi" whom I shall elsewhere speak ; but this has never since been met with by our roost intrepid navigators, who have been constantly re- pulsed by the ice. — Nufcufthe French Editor. * Capf a\n Cook having passed consUlerably to thR southward of the land discovered by Bouvet, Cape Circumcision cannot possibly belong to a southern continent. + Ste the Memoirs of tlie A cademy of Sciences at Paris for the yea» 1 76(î, p. fi65 J the year 1779, p. 12 ; Cook's Second Voyage, vol. iv. p. 109, and ibllowiiig pages ; Cook's Third Voyage, vol, i, p. 435, and following pages, (I Cook's Third Voyage, vol. iv. p. 120, frigate, 1785. nrea- mere îsums et the Lirope. lition, lodore lose of Lnown. eBou- udeuse I soutlievn it will be erve, that jUy deter- onnler, to rue longi- dedaring nent, I do rium of the tuberance, ^ecific gra- it to couu. •uill be Said some ages ikc towards ous theory But it will for navl- at the same hale fishery penetratei )rth appears dorado, ol' e been met instantly re- ird of the land g to a southern the year liefi, v.p. 109, and »llowing pages, frigate, 1785.] itOUND THE world; $t. frigate, and a pink called l'Etoile. Steering nearly the same course as the Enjçlish navigators, he dis- covered several islands; and the account of his voy- age, written with animation, has not a little contri- buted to inspire the French with that taste foi drs- covery which had just revived with so much energy in England. In 1 77 1 , M . de Kerguelen was sen t upon a voyage towards the southern continent, the existence of which no geographer at that time had even ven- tured to dispute. In December, of the same year, he descried an island : but the weather prevented him from completing his discovery. Full of thô ideas which he entertained in common with all men of learning in Europe, he did not doubt but he had discovered a cape of the southern continent. His eagerness to announce this news, did not allow him for an instant to delay his return ; and he was rccei ved in France as a second Columbus. A ship of the line and a frigate were immediately equipped to pro- secute this important discov^ery. The choice of ves- sels so unusual for such an expedition, would alone be sufficient to demonstrate that enthusiasm had for a time banished reflection. M. de Kerguelen had orders to lay down achartof the supposed continent he had discovered. The ill success of this second voyage is well known. Even Captain Cook, ^hat first of navigators, could not have succeeded in a similar enterprize, with a ship of 64 guns, a frigate of 32, and 700 sailors. He, perhaps, would have declined tliecommandjor obtained amoresuitableequipnient. At length M. de Kerguelen returned to France with as little information as before, and discoveries were no longer pursued. The king died in the course of the last expedition, and the war of 1778 directed every attention to far different objects. It was not, however, forgotten that our enemies had the Dis- covery and Resolution at sea; and that Captain Cook, B 2 labouring y LA pérouse's voyage [7855. labouring to enlarge the sphere of our knowledge, deserved to be considered as a friend by all the na- tions of Europe*. . The principal object of the war of 1778 was to sefcure the tranquillity of the seas, and was accom- plished in 1783. The same spirit of justice which had recourse to arms to procure for the flags of those nations which were weakest by sea an equal respect with those of France and England, should, during peace, be directed to whatever is most conducive to the felicity of mankind. The sciences, by softening our manners, have contributed more perhaps than the laws themselves to the welfare of society. The voyages of the various English Navigators, by M'hich the sphere of science was enlarged, had merited the just admiration of the whole world. Europe had paid due veneration to the great talents and exalted character of Captain Cook : but, in a field so vast, succeeding ages will but furnish new objects of science to develope. Strange coasts will long remain to be explored ; plants and trees of new kinds ; birds and tish of unknown species are yet to be described; minerals to beanalized; volcanosto beinvcstigated,and nations to be studied; on whom, perhaps, we may bestow ne\C means of happiness. For, to the inhabitants of the South Sea, a new spe- cies of fruit, or a farinaceous plant, which we may * Every consideration engages me here to recal to view a fact equally, glorious to the French, and to him who became the object of their urbanity, amid the horrors which the policy of war renders necessary. At the period of hostilities against England, in 1778, orders were issued to all ships of war that should meet the Discovery and Kesolution, commanded by Captain Cook, to let them puss without interruption ; and so far from treating them as enemies, to furnish them with every needful supply. ' Thus it is that a great nation manifests a religious respect for useful discoveries, and for the improvement of science. — Frcnc/i .Editor. , introduce quent x'i\ ^eavin^T race."" J785.] ROUND THÏ WORLD. « introduce among them, are benefits of inestimable value*. These reflections suggested the project of a voy- age round the world; and learned men of every de- * But can the advantages to be derived from a new farinaceous plant, a new species of fruit, or even tlie introduction n{ domestic animals stand in comparison with that mass of evils whicfe must re- sult to these people from the introduction of European customs and manners ? Examining this problem in the different views of philosophy, of policy, or even of religion, considering what they now enjoy ; and well persuaded that nev/ desires can only sprmg from a knowledge with which they are yet unacquainted ; we must, 1 think, most ardently wish that they may long continue to enjoy that felicity, that unalterable tranquillity which can only be founded on the sa- tisfaction of the heart, the tender pleasures of sentiment, the unre- strained enjoyment of sympathy, and an obedience to the laws of nature and simplicity. The following passages, extracted from Cook's third voyage, come in support of my opinion : " When the Adventure arrived first at Queen Charlotte's Sound, in 1773, Mr. Bayly fixed upon this place for making his observa- tions ; and he, and the people with him, planted several spots with Jinglish garden-seeds. Not the least vestige of these now remained. Though the New Zealanders are fond of this root (the pota- toe), it Was evident that they had not taken the trouble to plant a single one (much less any of the other articles which we had intro- duced) ; and if it had not been for the difficulty of clearing ground where potatoes had been once planted, there would not have been any now remaining." Vol. i. p. 125. " These two Chiefs became suitors to me for some goats and hogs. I gave to Matahonah two goats, a male, and female with kid; and to Tomatongeauooranne two pigs, a boar and a sow. They made me a promise not to kill them ; though I must own I put no great faith in this. The animals which Captain Furneaux sent on shore here, and which soon after fell into tne hands of the natives, I was now told were all dead. Vol. i. p. 13 1 . " He said (i.e. Taweiharooa) that the Captain of her, during his stay here, cohabited with a woman of the country ; and that she had a son by him about the age of Kokoa ; who, though not born then, seemed to be equally well acquainted with the story. We were also informed by Taweiharooa, that this ship first introduced the venereal disease among the New Zealanders. I wish that subse- quent visitors from Europe may not have their share of guilt, in 4eaving so dreadful a remembrance of them amongst this unhappy race." Vol. i. p. 141. B3 script ion .* V» § LA ^ÉROUSE*S VOYAGB' [WS. Bcription Mere employed in the expedition. M. Da- gelet, of the Academy of Sciences, and M Moniçe*, both Professors of Mathtmatics in the Mih'tary School, were appointed astronomers ; the former embarked on board ttie Boussole, and the latter in the Astrolabe. To M de Lanianon, of the Academy of Turin, and correspoiidiniç meinberof the Academy of Sciences, "was allotted the department of Geology or natural history of the earth and atmosphere; the Abbé Mon- gès, Canonof St. Geneviève, E^homï the Journal de jPA^.s7yi/c,analizingand examining minerals, andge- nerally tosupeimtend thediftenni branches of na- tural philosophy. M de la Maitinière, Doctor of Physic, graduated at Montptlier, was appointed by M. de Jussieu to the botanical departtnent. He was assisted by M Collignon,<)neof the Kin»*'» gardeners ■who, on the recommendation of M. Thouin, was to cultivate and preserve the plants and seeds we might be able to bring back with us to Europe. Messrs. Prévost, uncle and- nephew, were engaged to make drawings of the various objects of natural history. M. Dufresne, a great naturalist^ and very expert in classing the différent productions of the earth, >vas appointtd for that purpose by the Controller General. And, lastly, JVJ. Duché de Van cy received orders to paint the dresses, landscapes, and in gene- ral whatever cannot, as it often .lappens, be other- wise described. All the learned bodies of the king- dom were upon tijis occasion earnestly desirous of testifying their ?eal for the improvement ot the arts and sciences. Tlie College ot Physicians and ihe Academy of Sciences each addressed a memorial to the Marshal de Castries, on the most important objects for ou., attention during the expedition. * The health of M. Monge became so had from Brest to Te- ncriff'e, that he was obliged to return to I'^rance. The l7S5i] '. BOUND THE WORLD. # The Abbé Tessier^ of the Academy of Sciences, proposed amethod of preserving fresh waterfromcor- ruption. M. du Fourni, Military Architect, furnished observations on trees, and the method of taking the level of the sea. M. le Dru addressed to us a me- morial, directing our attention to the variations of the compass in different latitudes and longitudes ; and presented us with a dipping-needle constructed by himself, the indications of which he requested us to compare with those of the two dipping-needles, sent us by the British Board of Longitude. I ought also to express my gratitude to Sir Joseph Banks^ who having been informed that M. Monneron co«ld not procure a dipping-needle in London, was pleased to lend us those which had been used by the cele- brated Captain Cook, which I received not without à sentiment of religious respect for that great man. M. Monneron, Captain in the corps of engineers, who had attended me in my expedition to Hudson^s Bay, embarked as principal engineer. His friend- sliip for me, as well as his partiality for the sea, induced him to solicit this appointment. He was engaged to lay down bearings and draw plans. M. Bernizet, geographical engineer, was his assistant in this department. In fine, M. de Fleurieu, an old naval Captain, sui- perintendant of the ports and arsenals, himself drew up the necessary charts for the voyage ; in addition to which he furnished us with a complete volume of notes and disquisitions of great learning, upon the different navigators from the time of Columbus to the present day. This public testimony of gratitude is due to him for the information he lias commu- nicated to me, and the friendship of which he has given me such repeated proofs*. The * The arts and sciences will share most deeply in the regret which all Europe must feel for the loss of our navigators. The B 4 immense « LA PÉROUSE S VOYAGE [1785. The Marshal de Castries, Minister of Marine, who had recommended me to the King for this com- mand, had given strict orders at the different ports that we should be supplied with every thing requi- site to ensure the success of the voyage. Lieute- nant-General d'Hector, who commanded the fleet at Brest, entered into his views, and attended to the particulars of my equipment with as much zeal as if he himself was to have conducted the expedition. Being indulged with the choice ofall the of- ficers, I appointed to the command of the Astro- labe, M. de Langle, a Captain in the navy, who had commanded the Astrée in my expedition to Hudson's Bay, and had given, on that occasion, the strongest proofs of talents and exalted character. A hundred officers proposed themselves to M. de Langle and myself for this expedition; and all whom we se- lected were distinguished for their scientific accom- plishments. On the Q6th of June my instructions "were sent me; and on the first of July I set off for Brest, where I arrived on the 4th, and found the equipment of the two frigates in a very forward state. The embarkation of different stores had been suspended, because it was necessary for me to choose between articles of exchange with the savages, and provisions with which I would gladly have stock- ed myself for several years. I gave the preference to articles for barter, thinking they might procure us fresh provisions ; when those on board would be nearly spoiled by keeping. We had also on immense collection made by their learned coadjutors, unda part of their notes have perished withihem. This voyage, highly interest- ing in its present state, would have presented a moït valuable whole, had it not been for this tragical event. If any hope be still per- mitted, its rays are very feeble, and every day destroys the small remains we arc yet willing to cherish. •' ""' "' ■•"■ ' . . , : ' board ms,] nOUND THE WOULTD* ^ n we se- board the frame of a decked bo t*, of about SI tons burthen, two Biscay shallopsf, a sp ire main-mast, a rudder cheeky and a capstan. In shorty my ship contained an incredible quantity of stores M. de Clonard, my first Lieutenant, had stowed them with that zeal and intelligence of wliich he has afforded such frequent proofs. The Astrolabe had taken on board exactly similar articles. We were in the road on the 11th; but our vessels were so encumbered that it was impossible to heave at the capstan. We took our departure, however, in a fine season, and were in hopes of reachinjç Madeira without meeting with bad weather. M. d'Hector ordered us to take in harbour moorings, that we might have nothing to do, but slip our cables when the wind should permit us to sail. On the 12th we were reviewed. The same day, the astronomical clocks by which when in harbour we were to verify the daily rate of the time-keepers, were put on board. These had been accurately ob- served for afortnight. Messrs. Dagelet, and Monge; with the other men of science and the artists had reached Brest before me : Messrs. de Langle and d'Escures had observed the rate of the time-keepers before the arrival of the two astronomers; but un- fortunately the astronomical clock by which they were regulated, was found sp bad, that it was ne- cessary to begin the whole process anew. In the evening of the 13th; M. Dagelet sent me the following note ; . ^ . *' Upon our arrival at Brest we found an astro- nomical station established in the garden belonging to the Commissioner's house^ where Messrs. de Langle * A very strong kind of flat-bottomed vessel, used in Holland and Flanders, well calculated lor inland navigation. — French Editor» t Barca longa, long boats, very narrow at the extremities, and fit for navigating a swelling sea, — French Editor,. an4 m LA pérouse's voyage [1785. and d'Esciires were engaged in making observations, in order to ascertain the rate of the time-keepers. But as the instruments of the Academy of Brest, and particularly the astronomical clocks they had used, were in the very worst state, they found it ne- cessary to refer every comparison of the time-keep- ers to No. 5jl5*, which was in the observatory. When our instruments were set up on shore, I de- termined the rate of my clock by the altitude of the sun and stars ; every day comparing the time- keepersj No. 18 and 19, by means of signals from oq board, and of which I drew up the following table ;" No. 18 « No. 19. ; , tf'-- ' ' !■■ ■^s•^' '.- LOSS OF TIME, LOSS OF TIME, according to mean According to meaa iOays of the Month. Time at Paris. Time at Paris. 28th June 3& 4«" 8 27' 51" 30 ib. S7 7 1 27 47 7 1st July 37 19 27 45 2 ib. 37 31 27 44 2 3 ib. 37 39 5 '47 45 4 4ib. 37 51 8 27 44 ' Sib. 38 5 27 42 6ib. 27 42 1 7ib. 38 36 7 ditto ', 8ib. 38 49 3 ditto 5ib. ,, 39 3 27 48 8 . 10 ib. 39 13 6 27 42 5 . 11 ib. 39 27 stopped 12 ib. 36 6 13 ib. 36 4 The westerly winds detained us in the road 'till the first of August ; during which time we had fogs * All the time-pieces on board the two frigates were invented ' and constructed by Ferdinand Berthoud, who has distinguished them by numbers.— jR-encii Editor, t :'- and 1785.] ROUND THE WORLD, ■ 11 and rain ; and though 1 was fearful lest the health of the crews should suffer from the humidity of the weather ; yet, in \9 days, we only put one man on shore, who was in a fever. It set sail from Brest -road on the first of August, Nothing interesting occurred on my passage to Ma- deira, where we anchored on the 13th. The wind had heen constantly fair, a circumstance exceed- ingly favourable to our vessels, which, from having too muchweight forwards, steered very badly. Dur- ing the fine nights of this passage, M. de Lamanoa. noticed those luminous particies in the salt water, which proceed, in my opinion, from the decomposi- tion of marine substances. Were this light produ- ced by insects, as many natural philosophers assure us, they would not be spread in such profusion from the pole to the equator, and would be most abuitdanl in particular climates*. No sooner had we cast anchor at Madeira than Mr* Johhston,anËnglish n)erchant,sent on board my ship a boat-load of fruit. Several letters of recommenda- * Ace rding to the result of the experiments presented by Ri- gaud, in 1768, to the Academy of Sciences at Paris, we cannot doubt the existence of polypi, or luminous anima. s in sea-water. I cannot discover on what \.-a ^'érouse can rest an assertion combat- ted by Godeheu, who observed near the Maldives and on the Mala- bar coast, places where the sea is more luminous than in the parts of which our navigator speaks, and that the water was covered with small luminous anitua s, discharging an oily liquor which swam upon the surface and emitted a phosphoric light when agi- tated I therefore blievc the existence of these animalculœ, supported by the observations of Noliet, Roy, Vianella, Grisellini, &c. 1 amalso ofopm!0.>, that the phosphoric oil of certain fish arriving at the surface of the water, prt/duces, in part, the luminous appear- ances obï'trved throughout the surlaceof the ocean. In support of my opinion 1 shall cite the effect of the oil of the borita, which becomes luminous when agitated. 1 may also refer to the observations if Forster upon the phosphoric light of sea-water, at the end of Cook's second voyage ; and those ol La- lande. Journal des Savans 1777. — French Editor. lion 12 lA pérouse's voyage [1785. tion from London had previously reached him, which greatly excited my astonishment, as I was entirely ignorant of the persons by whom they were written. A kinder reception than Mr. Johnston gave us, we could not expect from our own friends and relations. Having paid our visit to the governor, we went to dine with this gentleman, and the next day break- fasted at the delightful seat of Mr. Murray, the Eng- lish Consul, from whence we returned to the town, and dined with M. Moutcro, who was Chargé des Affaires of the French Consul. During the whole of that day, we enjoyed every pleasure the most select company or the most marked disposition to oblige, could afford, and were at the same time filled with admiration by Mr. Murray's beautiful villa. From the prospects presented by this charm- ing situation, our attention could only have been di- verted by the consul'shandsome nieces who soon con- vinced us no kind of beauty was wanting to this en- chanting spot. Had not unavoidable circumstances prevented, it would have afforded us great pleasure to have passed some days at Madeira, where we had met with so polite a reception. But the object of our going on shore could not then be accomplished. The English having raised the wine of this island to an exorbitant price, we could procure none for less than 13 or 14 hundred livres per ton, though it was sold for 6 hundred livres atTeneriffe. I tbereforeor- dered every thing to be prepared for our departure nex.t day, which was the l6th of August. The sea- breeze did not subside till six in the evening, when we immediately got under sail. 1 also received from Mr. Johnston a great quantity of fruits of various kinds^ a hundred bottles of Malmsey, half a hogshead of dry wine, some rum, and some preserved lemons. The most flattering civilities from this gentleman, distinguished every moment of my stay at Madeira. We reached Tcneriffe after a passage of only thjec days, 1785.] ROUND THE WOltLD^ 19. (lays, and anchored there on the 19th, at three in the afternoon. On the 18th, in the morning, I made Salvage island, the eastern part of which I ranged at the distance of half a league. It is very healthy ; and though I had no occasion for sounding, I am persuaded there are a hundred fathoms water within a cable's lengtlt of the shore. There is not a single tree on this island which is not entirely parched up, and appears to be formed of strata of lava, and . other volcanic matter. We took several bearings to determine its direction. The observations of Messrs. Fleurieu, Verdun and fiorda, leavenothingtobe accomplished with regard to the islands of Madeira, Salvage and TenerifFe. The sole object therefore of ours was to verify our instruments, and the rate of our time-keepers, which had been determined by M. Dagelet at Brest, with so much accuracy, that we could rely upon them for the longitude during several days. Our landing at Madeira was very convenient for ascertaining what degree of exactitude we might expect from them. The longitude we had observed in sight of land, and referred to that of the town of Funchal, did not dif- fer more than three minutes of a degree from that determined by M. Borda. The short stay we made in this island, did not allow us to erect an observa- tory. Messrs Dagelet, d'Escures, and Boutin, only made some sketches from the bearings taken when at anchor, which I have not laid down, as they may be found in many printed voyages. We were employed on the 1 8th ofAugust in taking observationsoff Sal- vage island ; and 1 think its longitude may be fixed in 18" 13' west, and its latitude in 50° 8' 15" north. Upon my first arrival atTenerifle, I employed my- self in establishins: an observatory on shore. Our in- struments were set up there the Qid of August, and we ascertained the rate of our astronomical clocks by correspondent altitudes of the sun or stars, in or- der, I'll 1»^ LA PÉR0U5E*S VOYAOfî [178^. dcr, as soon as possible, to vc ity the motion of the time- keepers belonging to the two tVigitcs. The result of our observations, provided that the error of No. 19 had only been 18" too slow, since the 13thofJuly,thelastdayc)f our observations at Brest; that our watches, No. 9 and No. ^5, had also been too slow ; the former 1' 0" 7, ami the latter no more than 28": thus in the space of three-and forty days, the greatest error was but a quarter of a decree of longitude. After some days oï uninterrupted obser- vations and comparisons, we established the daily motion of these clocks. M. Dagelet found that No. 19 gained about 2', 5b in ^4 hours; No. 29 about 3" 6; and No 2.5 about O" 8. It is upon these principles this astronomer has drawn up the table of their apparent motions, pay ingdue regard to the cor- rections required by the variations which different temperaturesproduce, according to thedegrees of the thermometer and of the arches of tiie balance-wheel. M. Dagelet had his doubts on the mode of construct- ing the table of variation for N o. 1 9, according to the few data furnished by the experi ments made at Paris. He thought it would be very advantageous for those who make use of time-keepers, that the number of experiments should be augmented, and fewer terms left uncalculated, in the intermediate steps which lie lias been obliged to pursue, in order to obtain these data ; especially where the arches of the balance would enter into this species of correction, which renders a table by double entry necessary, and leaves a doubt respectingthe manner in which theordinates of the curve should vary. He made experiments on the simple pendulum on the 27th, 28th, and 29th, of August, and observed the number of oscillations in a given time, in order to determine the force with ■which bodies gravitate in different latitudes. Seve- ral observations of latitude and longitude were made at Santa-Cruz, in Teneriffe, which, we think, may ROUND THF. WORLD, 15 «7' 1785.] be fixed at 18" 36' 30" west longitiule, and 2^" 30" north latitude. At len<;th we concluded our labours by experiments on the dipping-needle. But we found little agreement in the results, and only mention them to prove how far this instrument still remains from the degree of perfection necessary to procure it the confidence of astronomers. We pre- sume, however, that the quantity of iron with which the soil of Tenerifte is impregnated has great- ly contributed to the extraordinary variations we remarked. On the 30th of August I set sail with the wind blowing fresh from north -north-east. We had taken on board each ship sixty pipes of wine : and were obliged to unstow half our liold, in order to get at the empty casks destined to contain it. This took up ten days ; a delay which was, in fact, oc- casioned by the dilatory conduct of those who sup- plied us with this wine from Orotava, a small town on the other side of the island. I have already given an account of the manner in which the astronomers employed their time. Our na- turalists also wished to improve theirs while they re- mained in the road of Santa-Cruz ; and therefore set off for the Peak with several oliicers of both ships. M. de la Martinière collected herbs in his way, and found many curious plants. M.de Lamanon measur- ed the height of the Peak with his barometer, which at the summit of the mountain fell to IS inches, 4 lines ~ : while by an observation made at Santa- Cruz, at the same moment, it was at 28 inches 3 lines. The thermometer which at Santa-Cruz indi- cated 24 degrees and a half, was, at the top of the Peak, stationary at 9'. I leave every one at li- berty to calc-ulate the height ; for this method is so loose, that 1 prefer giving the data without the re- sults*. M. Monneron, Captain of the corps of * Those who would wish to make the calculations ^^Ul find the data 16 LA PEROUSES VOrAGE [1785. Engineers, also made an excursion to the Peak, in order to take its level as far as the sea, which was the only mode of measuring this mountain that had not yet been attempted. Local diffjculties, if not absolutely insurmountable, were unable to stop him, as he was extremely conversant in these pursuits. He found that the natural obstacles were much less than his imagination had suggested. For, in one day he had completed every thing in which there was any difficulty. He had reached a kind of plain, very elevated, but easy of access, and in pros- pect beheld with the greatest joy the termination of fiis labours^ when he experienced, on the part of his guides, difficulties which it was impossible to van- quish. Their mules had not drunk for three days ; and neither entreaties nor money could induce their drivers to continue their stay. Thus when he con- sidered his labour almost finished, Avas M. Monneron obliged to leave imperfect a work \vhich had cost him incredible pains, and considerable expence; for he had been obliged to hire seven mules and eight men to carry his baggage, and assist him in his operations In order, however, not entirely to lose the fruit of his labour, he determined the prin- cipal points, and one day more would now be suf- ficient to complete the level, and afford a conclusion more satisfactory than any hitherto produced by all the different travellers.* The data here omitted in every work of experimental philosophy. But if they wish to calculate with some degree of accuracy in this me- thod of measuring elevations, at best very liable to error, they should not omit such corrections as relate to the temperature of the air. Ihe difference of the logarithms of the heights of the baro- meter in lines gives the height in toises at If) degrees and a quarter OÏ the mercurial thermometer, on which the point of boiling wa- ter is 80 ('egrees. The two hundred and fifteenth part should be substracted for every degree of cold. See De Luc, Enquiries on the Modification of the A tmosphere. --FrcncA EdUvr, * The work of Monneron here announced has not reached our hands. 1785.] Slight hsL\ ii 1785.] HOUND THE WORLD* JT The Marquis Branciforte, Governor-General of all the Canary islands^ and Field Marshal, never ceased to shew us the greatest marks of friendship during our stay. We were unable to depart before three o'clock in the afternoon of the bOth of August, and were still more encumbered with stores than at our depar- tore from Brest. But these were c^'minishing every day, and we had nothing but woou and water to pro^ cure 'till our arrival at the Islands of the South Sea. With these two articles I intended to provide myself at Trinidad ; for I determined not to touch at the Cape de Verd Islands, which at this season are very insalubrious, and the health of the crews was of the first importance. To preserve this I gave orders to fumigate between-decks, and the ham- mocs to be taken down every day from eight o'clock in the morning 'till sun^set. But that every one might have sufiicient time for sleep, the crew was divided into three watches^ so that eight hoursofrest succeeded to four of labour. Having no more hands hands. Tliere is reason to believe he had left his operations in such a state as to be prosecuted by any other traveller. I imagine he made use of the water-level, notwithstanding the inconvenience of this instrument on very steep declivities. If his operations had been finished, he would have decided the dispute between those who, measuring the Peak each his own way, have assigned it \ery diffèrent heights. However defective, however tedious and difficult this mode of measuring heights may be, these inconveniences vanish before one much in the habit of such employments. It is evident it cannot require more than a thousand stations; and supposing, though almost impossible, an enor of three lines in each sta- tion, that these errors should not be mutually corrected, and that they should be always />/m5, or always minus, a thing still less pos- sible ; there would at last be an error of only three thousand Knes, or 90 feet 10 inches French. This difference, though barely possible, is nothing when compared with that of the various tra- vellers. For Heberdeen ascribes to the Peak a height of 2,409 toises or fathoms; Feuillée (Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences for the year 1746, p. 140) 2,215. Bouguer 2,100, and Verdun, Borda, and Pingre, 1,904 French Editor, Vol. I. C on LA pérouse's voyage [\7H5i on board than were inrlispensahly neces'^ary, this ar- rangement could only takepiace in calm weather; and I have heen under the necessity of reverting to the ancient custom when sailuiir in stormy seas. Nothing renrarkahle occurred during our passage as far as the line. The trade- wind» left us in 1 4degrees N lat and hiew constantly hetween W, and S.W. 'till ue reached the line, and obliged nie to run down the coast of Africa, m hich I did at the dis-, tance of 60 leagues z . s i , We crossed the line on the §pth of Sfptemher, in 18" of W. longitude. I could have \u4ied, as my instructions were, to have passed it more to the west* ward : but fortunatelv the wind drove us always to the eastward, otherwise it would have been im- possible to have made Trinidad, the wind being S.E. at the line, and coivtinuing îhere 'tiM we reached 20' 25' N. latitude: so that I always eat close to the wind, and was unable to get int.> i titudeof Trinidad nearer than about 25 leagues I,» ihe cast of that island. Had I made Pennedo de S. Pedro*, I should have found great dithcuUy in doubling the eastern point of Brasil. I passed, according to my reckoning, over the shoals, on which the ship Le Prince thought she had touched in 1747. We had no indication of land, except some birds called fri- gates, which followed us in pretty large flights from the 8th degree of N. to ' he 3d degree of S. latitude. During all that time our ships were surrounded by tunnies, of which we took but few, they being so large and heavy, that all ourfishing lines broke with their weight. Each of those we caught weighed at least sixty pounds. .^ The dread which some navigators entertain ofbe- îng,atthis season, becalmed underthe line, is found- * To touch at this ÎBland wa» no part of my instructions, it be- ing only suggested as advantageous, if it should not lie out of my track. , . j '''"'. ed l7SSiJ ed in err only one dant as i Thefe; into the I Clerical. drives shi I been b< should ha .;. 1 1785: J HOUNP THE WORLD. )9 ed in erFor. We were not a day without wind, and only once had rain ; when, indeed, it was so abua* dant as to fill 25 casks. The fear of being driven too much to the eastward into the bottom of the gulf of Guinea is equally chi« merical. The S. E. wind is soon met with, and even* drives ships too rapidly to the westward ; so that had I been better acquainted with this navigation^ t ghouM have steered away more large with the S. W*. wind which constantly prevailed to the N. of the line, and I should then nave crossed it in the lati- tude of 10 degrees. This circumstance would have permitted me to run, with a free wind, on the pa* rallel of Trinadad. A few days after our departure from Teneriflè, we left those serene skies only found in the temperate zones : instead of which, a dull whiteness, between fog and cloud, always prevailed» The horizon was contracted within lest than three leagues ; but after sun-set the vapour was dissi- pated, and the nights were constantly tine. On the 1 1th of October we took many obser* vations of distances between the sun and moon, in order to ascertain the longitude, and prove the rate of our time-keepers. By the mean result of ten observations taken with quadrants and sextants, we found our longitude 25° ii' VV. Tliat indicated by the time-keeper. No. 19, at three in the after- noon, was 85" 47'. We afterwards repeated the lame sort of observations. r On the li2th, about four o'clock in the after^ noon, the mean of ourobservationsgavt* aô" ai', and at the same moment the time-keeper. No. 19, gave £6° 53' for the longitude of the ship. On compari* ion, it appears that the longitude indicated by the time-keeper. No. 19, is I'i minutes more to the W. than that obtained by observation. By these operations we have fixed the longitude of the islands of Martin- Vas and Trinidad. We have also ascer- C2 tainëd sd LÀ PéRÔrSE^S VOYAdE [im* tained tlieîr latiturles with great exactnesâ, not only by takings the su^^s meridian altitude witlvpreciv sion. hut also a jrreat number of altitudes near the meridian, and reducing them al! to tlie true time from noon, inferred from corresponding altitudesr Tlie greatest error arising from this method cannot exceed twenty seconds. On tiie l6'tb of October, at ten in the morning, we descried the islands <»f Martin- Vas five lea&:ues to the N.W. They ought to have been seen in the uest, hut the currents Ijad driven us 13 miles to thestiuthward in the night. The winds unfortu- nately having blown, till then, constantly from the S. E. ohii<»ed me to make several boards, in order to r.ear those islands, which I passed at about the dis- tance of a league and a baif. Having accurately de- termined their situation, and taken several bearings to enable me to delineate relative positions on the chart, I hauled close to the wind, on the starboard tack, steering for the island of Trinidad, distant from Martin- Vas about nine leagues W. by S. These islantlsof Martin-Vas are,in fact, mere rocks; the largest of which may perhaps be a quarter of a league in circumference : there are ihree little islands, separated fromeach other by small intervals, which, seen from a distance, appear like five heads. At sun-set I made the island of Trinidad, bearing W. 8" N. . The wind being constantly at N.N.W. I passed the night in standing off and on, keeping to the E.S. E. of tlie inland. When day appeared! continued on the land tack, hoping to find smoother water, under shelter of the island. At ten in the morning I was but two leagues and a half from the S. E. point, which bore N.N.W. ; and I per- ceived, at the extremity of the creek formed by that point, a Portuguese flag hoisted in the middle ofa| small fort, surrounded by five or six wooden houses. The sight of this flag excited my curiosity; and Idf-I ♦ ' tenniud J785.J terminée gence c< English. J785.] HOUND THE WOULD. 21 termined tosenda boat on sliore to procure intelii^ gence concerning its cession and evacuation hy the English. For I already began to perceive, that at the island of Trinidad I could procure neither the wood nor water wanted A few treesonly could bepi-rceived onthesummitofthemountains The sea broke every where so violently, that it could not be supposed a boat could easily land. I therefore resolved to beat up with the wind on the beam all day, in order to be at day -break sutliciently to windward to gain the anchorage, or, at least, to send my boat on shore. At niglit 1 hailed the Astrolabe to apprize her of my imended manœuvre; and added, tiiat we should ob- serve no order in tacking, as, at sun-rise, the creek of the Portuguese establishment was to be our rendezvous. 1 instructed M. de L^ngle, that whichever of our ships should be nearest thesiiore, should send a boat to ascertain the resources this port might offer. The next morning, October 18th, the Astrotabe being but half a league from shore» sent off her long-boat under the command of M. de Vaujuas the lieutenant, accompanied by M, de la Martinière and Father Receveur, an indefatigable naturalist. They went quite up the creek, between two rocks. But the surf was so great, that the boat and her crew would infallibly have been lost, but for the prompt assistance of the Portuguese, who hauled the boat upon the beach to shelter it from the fury of the sea. Every thing was saved excepting a small anchor. At that station M. de Vaujuas counted about two hundred men, of whom I.^ only were in uniform, the rest in their shirts. The governor of this establishment, which being quite uncultivated, is not worthy the name of a colony, told him the governor of Rio Janeiro had, about a year before, caused possession to be taken of the island of Tri- nidad. He either did not or pretended not to know, that it had been previously in possession of the Eng- Cs lish; f M irè LA ï>É rouse's vôr AGS tl785i liâh ; hut we cannot depend much on any thing hientioned to M. de Vaujuas in this conversation. The governor, who thought himself under the necesi sity of disguising the truth on every subject, pre- tended that his garrison consisted of 40() men, and that his fort was defended by £0 pieces of cannon; though we are certain there was not a single battery in the establishment. This officer so much dreaded our discovering the miserable state of his govern- ment, that he would never permit M. de la Marti- nière and father Receveur to leave the beach in search of plants. After having manifested to M. de Vaujuas every external mark of politeness and good- will, he pressed him to return on board, as- suring him the island produced nothing; that sup- plies of provisions were sent every six months from Hio-Janeiro ; that he bad scarcely a sufficiency of wood and water for the garrison: and even these he was obliged to procure at a great distance on the mountains. 11 is detachment, however, assisted us in launching our long-boat. At day-break 1 sent a boat on shore under the command of lieutenant Boutin, accompanied by Messrs. de Lamanon and Monneron ; but I forbad M. Boutin to land, if the Astrolabe*5 boat had ar< rived before him : in which case he was to sound the road, and make as accurate a survey as possible in so short a time. Accordingly M. Boutin did not ap- proach within musket-shot of the shore; and in all his soundings he met with arocky bottom, mixed with a small portion of sand. M. Monneron took a draw- ing of the fort with as much exactness as if he had been on the beach ; and M. de Lamanon was near enough to perceive that the rocks were nothing but basaltes^j or substances that had been in a state of fusion, the remains of some extinguished volcanos. • A stone of a dose texture and brilliant fracture, strikes fire -with a fluit, and may be used as a touch -stone. ' This ma,) This op brough canic, ! found n accord! tin, it \ Trini(|a( determi Catharii vhere tj use' .or admiral. wants. ] Catharin 178^.1 AOUNP tHE WQULP. m This opinion was confirmed by father Receveur, who brought on board a ti;reat number of stones^ all voU canic, as well as some of the sand, which was only found mixed » ith fragments of shells and coral. As, accordinjç to the report of M. Vaujuas, and M. Bou- tin, it was evident we could not, at the island of Trinidad, get either the wood or water we wanted, I determined immediately to steer for the island of St. Catharine on the coast of Brasil. This was the place where the French ships, bound for the Sputh-sea, use'' /ormerly to touch ; and at which premier and admiral Anson found an abundant supply forall their wants. In order not to lose a single day, I gave St. Catharine's the preference to Rio-Janeiro, where the necessary formalities would haveconsumed too much time. But, in shaping my course for St Catharine's, I wished to be assured of the existence of the island of Ascension, which M. Dapr^s has placed 100 leagues W. of Trinidad, and only 15 miles more to the southward. According to Xh-e Journal of M. Ponceldela Haye, who commanded the Renommée, I was certain several navigators, and among others Frézier, a very well informed man, thought they had landed on Ascension island, when ^ in reality, they had only been on thatof Trinidad. Notwithstanding the ^authority of M. Poncel de la Haye, I conceived this point of geography required fresh illustration. The two days we passed to the southward of Trinidad, enabled us to take bearings from which M. Ber- nizet delineated the plan of the south-side of the island. It differs but little from that of Doctor Halley, which had been sent me by M. Fleurieu. The view painted by M. Duché de Vancy is so ■remarkably accurate, that it will alone prevent any «avieators that may land on the south side of Tri- nidad from falling into an error. That island presents to the eye nothing but a rock almost naked and barren; where no verdure, up shrubs, are C 4 seen 24 LA PtR0USE*8 VOTAÔE ti784r. iseeti but fn tlie narrow defiles of the mountains. It is in one of these val lies to the S. E. of the island Hvhich is only about 300 toises broad, that the Por> tuguese have formed their establishment. Nature had never designed this rock to be inha< bited, for it can furnish neither men nor animals with subsistence. But the Portuguese are fearful lest some European nation may avail themselves of its vicinity to establish a smuggling trade with Brazil : and to this motive alone we must ascribe the eagerness they have discovered to seize upon an island, which^ in every other point of view, must be a mere burthen. ■'■ Latitude of the largest of the Martin- Vas isles, 20* 30' 35" south. Longitude, by lunar observations, 80* 30' west. Latitude of the south-east point of the island of Trinidad, 20" 31' south. Longitude, by lunar observations, 30* 57' west On the 1 8th of October, at noon, I stood to the westward for the island of Ascension till the nightof the 24th, when I abandoned the search. I had then run 1 15 leagues west ; and the M'eather was suffi- ciently clear to see 10 leagues a-head. Thus, I may aver, that having directed my course on the parallel 20° 32' with a view north and south of, at least, twenty, and having laid-to every night, after the first 60 leagues, when I had run the distance per- ceived at sun-set — I say, I may aver that the island of Ascension exists not from the meridian of Tri- nidad to about seven degrees west longitude, be- tween the latitudes of 20° 10', and 20"* 50', my view having embraced the whole of that space.* On '' i • La Pé rouse may be right in advancing that navigators have er- roneously itnaghied they landed on Ascension Island, while, in ftict, they touched at that of Trinadad. Not attending to the re- semblance which runs through the former description* of theK two • Il have n accoun the Be ters b) 178.5.3 . ROUND THE WORLD. - S$ On the 25th of October we experienced a most vio- lent storm. At eight in the evening we were sur* rounded by an horizon of fire; while lightning burst from every part of the heavens. A cone • of lire ap- peared on thepointof the conductor: a phenomenon which was not confined to our ship : for the Astro- labe, not being furnished with a conductor, had also the two islands, proves that they have committed this error. For, froA these charts, they might indifferently suppose they were on the one or the other, their latitude being nearly the same, and their longi- tude very imperfectly ascertained. But these proofs are not suffi- cient for the enlightened geographer ; whereas the authentic testi- mony of Daprès, in his Jyeptune Orientait page 10, and the minute and very different plans which Dalrymple has given of these two islands and appearance, prove, beyond doubt, they are not the same. Had La Pé rouse felt greater confidence in the materials furnished him, he might on this subject have made a very easy calculation.— TheW. long, of the north coast of Trinidad, was there fixed at 32* 15', and he himself found that of the S. £. point no more than 30» 57'. According to the meridian of Rio-Janeiro, which is fixed at 45° 5', the coast of America, under this parallel, may be calcu- lated at 43<* 30'. Daprès fixes the longitude of Ascension Islanxlat 38°, because he believes it to be 120 leagues from the coast. 1 have reason to think it still nearer. Hence, it is evident. La Pé- rouse has not pushed his researches far enough, and that having sailed about seven degrees upon this parallel, afler his departure from Trinidad, he abandoned his object at the very moment of its attainment. To the data of these two authors, so valuable on account of therr exactness, whom I have just cited, I shall add, that since writing this note I have accidentally met with a navigator (Lépine, a half- pay lieutenant) who has touched at both these islands, and who, not being provided with instruments, to determine their longitude with precision, has only fixed their latitude. That of Trinidad at 20» 22' That of Ascension at 20° 30' He thinks the latter 120 leagues from the coast of Brazil. * I am not in the least astonished that a ball of fire should also have rested on the mast-head of the Astrolabe, knowing from the accounts of La Férouse, that this ship was never out of hail of the Boussole. Every one knows that when the electric fluid en- ters by a point, it appears as a spart, but in flying off from one . Jia» LA I>£llOUSE*S VOrAOE [1785. •the Same appearance on her mast-head. From that liay the weather was constantly foul till our arrival ^t St. Catharine's; and we were enveloped in a fog thicker than those on the coast of Brittany in ' the bas the appearance of a luminous cone. The earth is the grand rrservnir of electric matter, and water is its best conductor. It api^ears then that when a low cloud, negatively electrified, passes ^ve* u vessel, the masts and yards serve as conductors, and we see conic 6re from nil the extremities directed towards the cloud. ^ It is evident that h vessel furnished with a conductor, must have .at its point a cone of a much more beautiful appearance, on ac- count of its chain, wlii( h has a diiect communication with the sea ; .while without that instrument it only communicates the fluid, by means of tarred wood, which is a very bad conductor. On the same principle we may i-ometimes observe electric fire on the surface of the sea, of whicn the following experiments are a convincing proof, and may be depended on, as 1 have frequently .performed tiem in my closet. ' Electrify a quantity of water in a vase of glass or metal ; but, ,in the latter case, place it upon an insulated stool. Then, in the dark, present your finger to the surface of the water, not close enough to draw sparks, but so as to make the water rise, when a luminous cone will arise in the direction of your finger. In this experiment the finger produces the effect of a cloud. But it will be said, perhaps, that the sea does not, like the bason, con- tain a superabundant quantity of electric matter. Should this ■argument leave any doubt, the following experiment may be made : T?.ke a metal bason filled with water ; let this bason communi- cate with the earth, by means of a chain or any otiier conductor; electrify strongly the outside of the Leydcn vial, by which the in- side will be electrified negatively : place this vial upou an insulated stool, that you may be able to take hold of it by the outside with- out discharging it. Then present the knob of the bottle at a certain distance from the surface of the water, as you did your . finger in the former experiment, and you will produce the same effect. If in the first experiment, instead of your finger you make use of the knob of the vial electrified minuSj you will produce a stronger eiTect, as the electric fluid will make a greater effort to escape from the water when electrified plus into the vial, which is electrified minus. , This principle once laid down and demonstrated, will deve- lope the theory of electric vapours producing explosion, which are much more frequent than h generally imagined. But this digres- .sion, which has no connection with the subject, would lead me too far.— JFrtwcA Editor, ■ the the ^ %S»k 1785.1 the midst of \ Knvenibcr, b therontineot •fooiyMitd. then bore nc iMtj and the - Though ou ^yn, wc had i èfciitiiate, thi en the health •f excellent q 0 whales every year, the prodiiee ot* vvhich, both in oil and spermaceti, is sent to Lisbon, by way of Rio- Janeiro. Of this fishery the inhabitants are merely spectators, for it yiebis them no profit ; and if the government do not relieve then), and grant them immunities or other encouragen^ents, one of the finest countries on the face of the globe will languish for ever in the depression of poverty, and become useless and burthensome to the mother* country. The approach of ships to St. Catharine's is very easy. Eighteen leagues in the offing there are 6& fathoms water, over a bottom of soft mud, gradually shoaling till within four cables length of the shores where there is still four fathoms water. The ordinary channel is between the island of AU varedo and the north point of St. Catiiarine*s : but there is another between the islands of Gal and Alvaredo, which however requires yet to be exr- plored. Our boats were so much employed during our stay, that I could not take the soundings. Tlie best anchorage is half a league from Fortresf Island^ in six fathoms, oozy bottom, the citadel bearing S. 3" W. the fort on the larger point S. 6* E. There are several wateiing places both on the island and the continent; and that creek may be chosen where the wind renders the landing most easy. This consideration is of great importance ; for the navigation of boats is very ditficult in this har- bour, which is two leagues wide as far as the bight where the town stands : and there is a violent surf always breaking on the lee shore. The tides are very irregular : and the flood comes in between the two cliannels lying north and south Up to this bight it rises but three feet. It appeared that our arrival had spread great terror " ■ _ through m liA PâHOUSE*S VOYAOE [1785. tb'^^ugh the whole country. The different forts fired several alarm ^uns, which determined me to cast an- chor early, and send my boat on shore with an offi» cer. to make known our pacific intentions, and our •want of water, wood, and refreshments. M. de Pierrevert, whom I empio} ed on this occasion, found the little garrison of the citadel underarms, con* sistinjj: of 40 soldiers, commanded by a captain, who immediately dispatched anexpresstothc city, toGo* yernor Don Francisco hed us at a fair price : aneasure so contrary to the plan adopted in France, because in that case I could no whire have received the Minister's letters which had been announced to me, and which might contain the most important instructions. The weather was very fine till the 28th, when it blew a very heavy gale from the east for the first time since our departure from France ; and I saw with infinite pleasure that if our ships sailed very badly, they behaved very well in foul weather, and would be able to withstand the rough seas we had to encounter. We were then in 35* .4' south lati- tude, and 4S 40' West longitude : I steered E.S.E. becauNC i pu posed in my search after I'lsle Grande to get into Ui> latitude ten degrees to the eastward of the place assigned it in the difierent charts. I did not shut m^y eyes to the extreme difficulties I should have to struggle with ; but, in all events, I was under the necessity of running very far to the westward in order to reach the Straits of Le Maire ; and all the way I should make on that point of the compass, pursuing the parallel of Tlsle Grande^ brought me nearerthe coast of Patagonia, the soundings of which I was obliged to take before I doubled Cape Horn. The latitude of ITsle Grande not being perfectly de- termined^ it was more probable I shpuid meet with it in plying between 44" and 45" of latitude than if I steeredii direct course in 44" 30^ as I might do m fta sailing constant the east I It will advantag 40 days i five heav my cours On the parallel oi 34" W, lo taken the the sea-W( many day and petre but in the These fi hopes alivi T7ewere n quietude \ back to th Maire, wl before the I kept till the S4 longitude cemberabî island of goémon at ofiand, sij made the our daily ri * If risle n»p« with in< signed him, its nosition h «Itrectivejourr 5anus,tberea » the positioJ 1785.] nOUND THE WORLD. SS fa sailing from west to east, the wind blowing as constantly from the west in these latitudes as from the east between the tropics. It will presently be perceived that I derived no advantages from these considerations, and that after 40 days fruitless research, during which I met with five heavy gales of wind, I was obliged to direct my course for my ulterior destination. On the 7th of December I was on the pretended parallel of I'Isle Grande in 44** 38' S. latitude, and 34* W. longitude, according to a lunar observation taken the preceding day, when we saw a species of the sea-weed called goémon pass us, and were for many days surrounded with birds of the albatross and petrel kind, which never approach the land but in the season for laying. These feeble indicia of land, however, kept our hopes alive, and reconciled us to the dreadful seas \re were navigating. But I was not without dis- quietude when I considered that I had 35** to run back to the westward, as far as the Straits of Le Maire, which it was of great importance to reach before the end of January. I kept plying between 44** and 45*" S. latitude, till the S4th of December, and ran down 15* of longitude on this parallel, and in the 27th of De- cemberabandoned my attempt, being convinced the island of La Roche had no existence*, and that the goémon and petrels by no means prove the vicinity of land, since I met with sea-weeds and birds till I made the coast of Patagonia. The chart on which oar daily run is traced will exhibit the track I followed * If I'Isle Grande de la Roche could hare been placed in the maps with morecertdnty, LaPérouse, in traversng the |>an]lel as- àgned him, might have been assured that it did not exist. But ai its jwsition has never been exactly determined, on account of the dcKctive journals of Anthony de la Roche, and Vespucius Ameri- canuSftbc researches of La Pérouse only prove that it docf not exist in the position indicated.— frcnM Editor, 2 — *^ much 36 LA PÉROUSES VOYAGE ims much more' clearly than these details, and I am con- vinced th >t navi<4:ators who may succeed me in this research will not be more fortunate than myself: but they ought not topursuethiscourseexcept when they are steerinpf E. towards the Indian Ocean, where it is not more difficult or more tedious to run 90' on this parallel than on any other; and if they find no land thpy will at least have pursued a course approach- in ir the object. I am persuaded I'lsle Grande, like that of" Pep is, has merely a chimerical existence*, and that the report of La Roche, who pretended toha^e seen great trees there, is void of all probability, vit is very rertain thit in 45" nothing hut shrubs can be found upon an island placed in the midst of the southtTii ocean, since not a single large tree is.to be found on the islands of Tristan d'Acunha, a lati- tude infinitely more favourable to vegetation. On the 25tli of December, the wind settled in the S. W. quarter, and continued there several days, which obliged me to steer VV N.W. and quit the parallel I had constantly followed during 20 days. As I had then passed the point assigned in all the maps to risle Grande de la Roche, and the season was far advanced, I determined to steer that course which would most accelerate my progress to the west- ward, much fearing lest I should be exposed to dou- ble Cape Horn in the stormy season. But the wea- ther was more favourable than I hoped. The heavy gales ceased with the month of December, and the month of January was nearly as pleasant as that of * I know that New Georgia, as mentioned in the Journal of La RocHp, has a^ain been found, but I am mu* h in doubt whether we ought to ascribe \o him the honour qf this di8cx>very. Ac- eording to hi:» Journal there is a strait of ten leagues b^ tween the Isle of Bird? and Georgia, while in reality this strait is not more than one league; a mistake *oo great for the most inexperienced mariner to maite, had he been speaking pf the same place. It is however from the former place ihc dcpartute should be taken, in order to pldCe risle Grande between 43° and 54" of longitude, for I have crossed every meridian from 33" to 60" withoutd scoveringit. July \ I ROUND THE WORLD, ^j 37 1785.] July on the coasts of Europe. The wind only blew from the N.W. and S.W, But we were able to carry all our sails ; and these changes of the wipd were always so distinctly aunounced by the appear- ance of the sky, that we were certain of the moment when the wind was going so shift, and were there- by enabled to run on the most advantageous tack. The moment the horizon became hazy, and tbe sky cloudy, tbeS W. wind shifted to the west, and two hours afterwards it came round to the N. W, : on the contrary» when the haziness disappeared we were lure the wind would not be long before it came round by the W» to the S W. I do not believe that during 66 days sailing the wind veered from N. to S. by the E. more than J 6 hours. We had some days of calm weather, with a smooth sea, during which the officers of both fri- gates formed shooting parties in the boat^and killed a considerable quantity ot fowls with which we were almost always surrounded. This sport, which was generally productive, procured fresh provisions for the crew, and it often happened that we killed a sufficient quantity to make a general distribution. The sailors not only preferred them to salt meat, but 1 believe they contributed infinitely more to keep them in good health. in our different excursions we killed nothing but albatrosses of the large and small kind, witii four varieties of petrels. These birds when skinned and highly seasoned were nearly as good as the wild ducks eaten in Europe. Tliey have been well de- scribed by the naturalists who accotnpanied Captain Cook, and are the same as those of which Messrs. Banks, Solander, and Forster have given the most satisfactory descriptions. At length on the 14th of January we came into the soundings of Patagonia, in 47" 50' S. latitude, and 64° 37' W. longitude, according to our last -^ D3 . lunar 38 LA P£R0V8E*S VOTAOB [1785. lunar observations, for which we never suffered any opportunity to escape when the weather was fa* vourable. The officers of the ship were so accuse tomed to it, and seconded M. Dagelet so assidu* ously, that I do not believe our greatest error in longitude could exceed half a degree. On the 21st we made Cape Fair-Weather, on the north point of the river Gallegos, on the coast of Patagonia, being three leagues from the land in 41 fathoms water, over a bottom of small clayey stones about the size of peas. Our longitude d& termined at noon, differed from the chart in Cook% second voyage only 15', which we were more to the eastward. We sailed along the coast of Patagonia at a distance of between three and five leagues from shore. On the Sad at noon we set Virgin's Cape, bear- ing four leagues west. This land is lowana without verdure. The view of it given by the editor of Admiral Anson*s Voyage appeared to me very ex- act, and its position is determined with perfect ac- curacy in the chart of Cook's second voyage. The soundings as far as Virgin's Cape always bring up soft mud, or those small stones mixed with ooze, which are generally found in a line with the mouths of rivers. But on the coast of Terra del ï'uego we had always a rocky bottom, and only from â4 to 30 fathoms water, tHoughat the distance of three leagues from the land, which makes me think this coast is not so bold as that of Patagonia. The charts of Captain Cook have determined with the mt>8t perfect accuracy the latitude and longitude of the different capes of this coast. ^ -^-^^^ The bearings of the coasts are delineated from exact surveys, but the minutise, in which consists the security of navigation, have not been attended to with sufficient care. Neither Captain Cook nor any other navigator can answer for more than the tracks LI 1785. J 19UND THE WOEID* 99 tracks they have followed, and the soundiogi they bave taken ; and it is possible that in smooth water they may have passed bv banks and shoals» which did not then break, so that this navigation requires JDlinitely more caution thaa that of our European continents. I have entered into these particulars with a view to point out the degree of confidente to be placed in these sort of charts, doubtless the most accurate th^t can be constructed in a rapid passage over a great extent of sea. It was impossible for the old navi- gators, before the method of taking iunar observa- tions, to approach this degree pf precision, which is such, that within 20 minutes, I can rely upon the points we hav^ veritied, as fully as on the longi- tude of the observatories of London and Paris. On the S^th, at twp o^clock^ I had Cape St Diego bearing south one league, that beiug the western point of the Straits of Le Maire. ! had since the morning kept at that distance from the shore, and foUoi«ved on Captai h Couk*s chart the bay where Mr. Banks landed in search of plants, Mobile the Resolution waited for him under sail. The weather was so favourable that it was impos* sible for me to shew the same compliance to ou** na- turalists. At three o*clock I entered the strait, hav- ing doubled point St. Diego at the distance of about |of a league, where there are breakers which I believe do not extend more than a mile : but, having ob- served the sea to break more m the olhng, I steered S.£. that I might increase my disiaiice from the breakers. I soon perceived this appearance wa^ occasioned by the currents^ and that the reefs of Cape St. Diego were at a considerable distance. Asitblew fresh from the north ward,anditwasiiHny power to approach Terra del Fuegb, I ran ;ilongit Kalf aleague from the shore. The wind wassotavourable, and the season so far advanced, that I deteniiiae^ D4 immediately ié LA Vt house's TOTAOÉ [1785. immediately tri give up the idea of touching at Suc- cess Bay, and ehdeavour to double Cape Horn, f considered that it was impossible to provide every thittg I Wanted iri less than ten or twelve days, and that this time had been absolutely necessary at St. Catharine's ; because, in these open bays where the sea breaks with violence on the shore, for half the day béats cannot land. If to these inconveniences were added the south winds, which might have for some time detained me in Success Bay, the fa- vourable season would elapse, and I should expose tny ship to dangers, and my crew to fatigues, very prejudicial to the success of the expedition. 'These considerations detetitrfned me to steer for file island of Juati Ftrriandezi whichlay in my course, and Whe^e Î could prAcufc wood' and water, with s^ime refVesihments tar superiorto the penguins of the Stfaijt. At thîs'timel had not one sick man on bodrd. Fourscore casks of water remained unbroach- cd, and Terra del Fuego has been so often visited and described, that Pcould not flatter myself with ad- ding to what had beeh already said of it. During od^ pUssage through the strait of le Maire, the savages, according to custom, kindled great fires to induce lis to anchor. We observed one on tlrc north point of Success Bay, and another on the north point of Valentine's Bay. I am persuaded, with Captain Cook, that ships may anchor indiffe- rently in all these bays. There is plenty of wood dndVater, but doubtless less game than at Christ- itias Harboiir, oti account of the savages who fre* qubnt them great part tyf the year. ^^ While navigating this strait about half a league from Teri'a del Fuego, we were surrounded by whales, who, it is evident, had never been disturbed, for our ships did ftot at all alarm them. 'J'bey swam majestically within pistolshot of us, and-^will remain sovereigns of these seas, till fishermen wage V • - ., on 1785.] ROUND THE WOBII). 41 on them the same war as the adventurers of. G rven* land do in the north. There is not, perhaps, a bettef spot on-all the globe for this fishery. Vessels voiild find anchorage in excellent bays, abounding^ in wood and water, as M'ell as some antiscorbutic herbs and sea-fowl, and their boats, without quitting them more than a league, might take all the whales they wanted to complete their cargoes. Their only in- convenience would be the length of the voyage> which would require nearly five month» for, the passage out, and the same.:hii)nie ; an d^, I believe, these latitudes can only be frequented during the months of December, Janudry^and February. 13 We were unable tomakeany observations respect- ing the current of the StrUits, for ve entered th^m at three o'clock ini the afternoon^ when the moon was fiédaysoldj.andtheycamMus'with violence to the southward till five, when the tide changed. But as we had a fresh breeze from the nortfi, we stemmçd it with ease; The horizon was so foggy towards the east, that we.had not perceived Statin Island ; frotki which, however, we could notbe five leagues distant, that being the whole breadth of tbe Straits But we had passed so near Terra del Fuega, that.wf^obserVed with our telescope some savages lighting g.f eat fires, their only means of communicating thçïr desire of inviting vessels on shore. Another motive yet more powerful, determined me to abandon my design of putting into Success Bay. For I had been' a long time forming a new plan, on which 1 could not de- termine till after I had passed Cape Horn, ^irunr^ii My design was to go to the N.^W,) coast of An?e* rica that year; a route which, although, l had received no such instrucMons, I kn^w had only been suppressed through fear that I should not have time to perform so lonji a vo3îage before winter : for this plan would otherwise have united a great num- er of advantages. In that qase 1 should pursue a , V» ne\y 43 lA pâbouse's voyage [1785. new route» and cross latitudes, vhere I might posiibl3[ discover many unknown islands. I should also visit much «ooner all the places of my desti- nation, for which a stay of two years had been allot- ted in the northern, and (wo in the southern hemi- sphere, my instructions expressly permitting me to execute his Majesty's commission in the manner which should appear to promise most success to the expedition; for the final adoption of my plan, there- fore, I only waited to know at what time 1 should arrive in the South Sea. '■ I doubled Cape Horn with much greater facility than I expected : though I am now convinced that this navigation is not more hazardous than any other in these nigh latitudes. The dangers we dreaded were only the chimerical oifspring of an ancient prêt judice, which ought no longer to exist, and which the reading of Anson's voyages contributes not a little to support among navigators. On the 9th of February I was off the mouth of the Straits of Magellan, in the South Sea, steering for Juan Fernandez. By my reckoning I had passed over tlie supposed situation of the land which Drake pretended to have discovered ; but I lost little time in search of it, being convinced it did not exist. Since my departure from Europe, the tracks of the ancient navigators had occupied all my thoughts. But their Journals are generally so ill compiled, as to aiford little more than hints and conjectures ; and those geographers who are not seamen, are generally ignorant of these matters, and unable to investigate, with critical accuracy, accounts which require a strict and distrustful examination. Consequently they have laid down islands which never existed but in charts, and, being mere phantoms of the imagina- tion, soon disappearedbeforeour modern navigators. In 1578, five days after his departure from the Straits of Magellan, Admiral Drake met with very (ji V heavv 178^.] ROUND THE WORLD, v' éH^ heavy gales of wind in the greatsouthern ocean, which \ continued near a month. It is difficult to follow him | on his various courses, but at length he touched at ; an island in 57° S. latitude» where he landed and re- < marked great flights of birds. Then, running to the i northward for the space of SO leagues; he fell in with - otherislands inhabited by savages possessedof canoes. These islands produce woodand antiscorbutic plants. Who but would recognize, from this description, t Terra del Fuego on which Prake landed ; and, pro- ^ bably, on the island of Diego Ram ires, which lies nearly in the latitude of Drake's pretended island ? At that time Terra del Fuego was unknown. X^ Maire and Schouten had not discovered the strait which is named after them, till 1 616 ; and the ge- neral opinion before that time had always been, that there existed in the southern, as well as in the northern hemisphere, a continent - hich extended to > the neighbourhood of the poles. The southern part oF America was thought to be intersected by straits, one of which, like Magellan, they supposed they had discovered. These erroneous ideas were calculated to mislead Admiral Drake, who was carried by the currents 42 oi iS degrees to the eastward of his reck- oning, as it has happened since to a great number of other navigators in the same latitudes. This opi- nion, so probable in itself, amounts to a certainty, when we reflect that a ship of the same squadron which had stretclied to the northward, while the Commodore stood to the southward, re-entered the Straits of Magellan which it had just quitted : an evident proof that it had made no way to the wes^t- ward, and that Admira! Drake had not passed beyond the longitude of America. We may add, that it is ex- tremely improbable that an island so far from tlie continent, and in 57° latitude, should be covered ^vitb trees, when none are to be found on Falkland's Islands, which are situated only in 55" ; that nei- ther m>ii h'S^^M ^•0 «# 4 1 44 LA PÉROUSES VOTAGE [178. ï