An account of a voyage in search of La Pérouse in the years 1791, 1792, and 1793. Translated from the French

Front matter

i AN *4CCOUJVT OF *Æ rOY^lGJE IN SEARCH OF LA PEROUSE, UUDERTA KeV' bTy ORDER OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF FRANCE, AND PERFORMED In the Years 1791, 1792, and 1793, IN THE Recherche and Esperance, Ships of War, UNDER THE COMMAND OF Rear- Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteaux TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF M. LABILLARDIERE, Correspondent of the ci-devant Academy of Sciences, Member of the Society of Natural History of Paris, and-one of the Naturalists attached to the Expedition. IN TWO VOLUMES. 31Uitjst.rar.fij b? Œn_rabtnsjs, AND A CHART EXHIBITING THE TRACK OF THE SHIPS VOL. I. .Mi'i'.-tS 2 >l»ii LONDON, PRINTED FOR J. DEBUETT, PICCADILLY. 1800. Printed by S. Gosmij, little Queen Street, Holbcw. TO THE RIGH? HONOURABLE, [ .. i Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. K. B. President as the Royal Society, ©V. &c. &ti SIR, WHEN I consider the obligation which you have conferred on the Author of the •* Account ofthe Voyage in search of ** La Perouse," I cannot, as the Translator of his work, resist the inclination I feel, to pay you that tribute of applause to which you have so just a claim.

The Sciences, to the improvement of which you have not •nly devoted your days, but, in tjftt prime of a 2 life, DEDICATION. life, sacrificed your ease and comfort, have now to acknowledge your having been instrumental in affording M. Labillar diere an opportunity of enriching natural history witjh a< description of the specimens which he collected during his voyage with Admiral D'Entreeasteaux. •; In these volumes you will, no doubt, Sir, find many object's Vriich havebefore attracted your notice in the-ccoqrse of your circumna vigation of the globe; but among the plants here defer ibad^yeu-^ili-fft&ei-wi*h several of new genera and species, or at least which appear not to have hitherto fallen under the observation, of^afty^npturalist. ,Of these I huye endeavoured.to convey, to the English botanical reader,- ari accurate, idea: and? it, will be iig-sjrialL^ratification'to'me to.learn-, that.my huni1t)ie attempts; ,int this respect,. haveinot beeni-janet-teoded with success; and that, upon the whole, my .translation has' proved a faiibfuMpicture of the original, and. not altogether undeserving of the approba-* / K ► tion DEDICATION.

V tion of one, who has so fully exemplified the truth of Dr. Hawkefworth's remark in his Introduction to Cook's First Voyage: " It is fortunate for mankind, when wealth " and science, and a strong inclination to " exert the powers of both for purposes of " public benefit, unite in the fame person." I have the honour to be, With great respect, Sir, Your most obedient, and most humble servant, Xhk Translator. LoNDOK, May 2, l800. ■«. CONTENTS OP THE FIRST VOLUME. J. HE Translator'* Preface - - Page xv Introduction -------- xxvii List of the Plates ---„_-- xl Index of the Articles of Natural History, which occur in this work, containing their Lirmaan, or other scientific name, with the corresponding English or other name by which they are most commonly known -_«..-«'». jdvi

Chapter I

Departure from Brest. — Arrival at Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe. — Journey to the Peak.—* A sailor who was just drowned is restored to life. '—Some daring thieves steal his clothes.— Two naturalists seized with a spitting of blood, which prevents them from ascending to the summit of the Peak. — rEnglish ships in the road of Santa Cruz.— Different re/ultS' of observations made a 4 for CONTENTS. forascertaining the variation of the magnefte needle. — Anew volcano to the south-west of the Reak --------- Page i

Chapter II

We leave Teneriffe to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope. — Different observations.^ — Shining phenomenon in the sea, singularly phosphoric. — An ex-. periment which makes me acquainted with the most ordinary cause of the phosphorescence ofsiawater. — Four of the Teneriffe sheep thrown overboard, and for what reason.— Faint degree of heat quite close to the line. — A much greater^ variation of the . compass to the south than to the - north of ihe equator. — A very -easy method that we" - "//is>loy for sweetening the freshwater which is - beginning to putrefy. — A very thick fog, which - occasions' an elevation of the mercury in the ka I ■romefer.'—A Innar rainbow." — Arrival at the. Cape of Good Hope , - - - ,- - Page 36 • *.

Chapter III

Slay at the Cape of Good' Hope.— Depositions^ of two French Captains, by which it appears that, being at Batavia, they had learnt from Com- • modore Hunter, ■ that he had seen at the Admiralty 1, 0 and s some natives dressed in the uniform 'of the French navy. — Captain Bligh sent from 2 lieii gland r CONTENTS. IX England to procure the bread-fruit tree at the Society Islands. — Violence of the south-east winds. — Local cause which increases their im petuosity. — A slave-fliip. — Various excursions to the mountains in ihe vicinity of the town. — • Impudence of the Fiscal. — Journey to Franche- Hoek -.------,. Page 70

Chapter IV

Departure from the Cape of Good Hope. — Death of the Carpenter of the Recherche. — Various events. — Extraordinary flight of the albatross. — We make the Island of St. Paul.— Its forests on fire. — Prodigious quantity of irsects issue from our biscuit. — Violent effetl of the sea. — The Admiral is dangerously hurt. — -Luminous sparks at the extremity of our conductors. — Large phosphoric molecules. — A mistake in the bearings, taken by Willaumez, occasions us to enter Storm Bay, taking it for Adventure Bay. — General remarks on the variation of the magnetic needle. — Diminution of the phosphorescence of the sea-water, in proportion as we increase our distance from the land. — Direction of the currents. — It is found necessary lo warm the place where the time-keepers are deposited. — We anchor in Port ' . D'Entreeasteaux - - - - * Page no CHAPTER. CONTENTS. X

Chapter V

Stay at Port D'Entreeasteaux. — Indicationsof its shores being frequented by savages. — Various excursions to the interior of the country. — Trees of ' a prodigious height.— Goodness of the foil. — Black swans. — Large trunks of trees, excavated by fire, serve as a retreat to the natives. — Kangaroo.— Different anatomical observations compared.— Tracks of wild beasts at Cape Diemen. — Sheds erected by the natives. — Frame of their huts. —A violent squall breaks our mooring-chain. — We get aground oh the mud. — We meet with a young savage. — We discover a strait, by which a vessel may pass from Storm Bay to Adventure Bay. — Hufs of the savages. — Seal called phoca monachus. — The heart of this amphibious animal has no foramen ovale. — Other various points of comparative anatomy. — Signs of wild beasts at Cape Diemen. — Huts which appeared to us to have been recently inhabited. — Trees fit for ship-building. — Viviparous fly , the larvæ of which soon occasioned flesh to putrefy. — Broiled human bones found by Citizen Riche. — The Sail-maker of the Recherche loses himself in the woods.— The two flips get aground on the mud — Some utensils of the savages. — Situation of the observatory. — 3 Variation CONTENTS.

XI Variation of the magnetic needle. — The time of high water in the harbour on the days of the new and full moon. — We leave Port D'Entreeasteaux in order to past through the strait of the fame name. — Several fires. — Natives seen on ihe beach. — One of them sets fire to the bushes in several places. — We anchor in a very extensive bay, at the entrance of D'Entrecasteaux's Strait. — Excursion to the neighbouring country. — Na tives surprised close by the little fires where they were preparing their food. — The strait discovered by our boats, called D' Enirecafleaux's Strait. — We anchor in different parts of the channel. — Ex cursions into the country situated along its shores. —A few natives cross it in a catamaran. — Various meetings with the savages. — Departure from. D'Entrecasteaux's Strait - - - Page 136

Chapter VI

Importance of D' Entrecasteaux' s Strait. — Passage from Cape Diemen to New Caledonia.— We ei ' plore the soulh-nvest coast of New Caledonia.— Dangerous situation ofthe Recherche quite close t6 the rocks which skirt this coast. — We fee the natives by the sea-fids. — Small Archipelago at the northern extremity of Nezv Caledonia. — Prodigious extent of the reefs. — We get fight of the Terre des Arsacides and of the Treasury Islands. — Survey CONTENTS. — Survey of the west part of Bougainville's Island and of Bouka [stand:- — Dangerous situation of the Recherche on ilie shoals off Bougainville 's Istand. — Interview with ihe savages of Bouka Istand. — Fondness of these savages for music. — Their dishonesty. —Canoes of these natives. — We deter ?nine the position of various points of Bougain ville's Island, and of Bouka Island.— -We anchor in Carteret's Harbour. — Various excursions into, the surrounding country. — Continual rains during our stay in Carteret's Harbour. — -Different observations - - , - - -■- -- Page 206

Chapter VII

Departure from Carteret's Harbour. — The Esperance loses an anchor at the mouth of this harbour. — Passage through St. George's Channel. — We get fight of the Portland Islands. — Various interviews with the inhabitants of the Admiralty Islands. — Their whimsical costume. — Despotism os the chiefs. — Canoes. — Astonishing rapidity of their sailing. — We make the Hermits Islands. — Their inhabitants. — We get sight of the Echi quier. — We discover a new Island. — -A water-spout. — We make New Guinea. — Passage through Pitt's Strait. — Singular effects of the tides. — Ravages of the scurvy. — We anchor at Amboyna. Page 262 CHAPTER CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter VIII

Slay al Amboyna.— One os the boys belonging to the Re cher ehe is drowned in the road. — A visit to the (jovernor. — Variousexcursions, into the , interior of the" "island. — One of the naturalists falls dangerously^ ill. — Description of his disorder. — Agreeable juice of ihe Jagp-palm. — Sugar extracted from ii. — Use of different parts of this valuable free.— Means employed 'by the siting lizard to support itself in the air. — Matai which preserves the harvest fan pillage.- — A Dutih sailor conceahhiniself-m the woods for fear of going to Batavia; — A very dexterous fndmier of catching the cancer carcinils'.— Houses of the natives of Amboyna. — Their dress, &c. — Their method of procuring fire ; their manner of 'fishing during the night: — Culture off the niitmeg-lrce and os the clove tree. — A long bamboo cut so as to give, in a fresh breeze, very agreeable sounds. —Fifliing-places of the inhabitants. — Sago-palm. ■ — Extraction of its pith. — Cutaneous disorders common at Amboyna. — Various observations re fpetling the island and its inhabitants. Page 3 1 1

Chapter IX

Departure from Amboyna — Singular effect of the tides. — We get fight of different islands. — Ravages CONTENTS. vages occasioned on board by the species of tinea «z/Z?_f blatta Germanica. — Navigation along the south-west coast of New Holland. — Death of the Smith of the Recherche^ — A gale of wind drives us towards the coast. — We anchor in Legrand's Bay. — The Esperance loses at the anchorage two iron tillers. — The chain by wluchjhe rides at this anchorage breaks. — Various excursions to the neighbouring country. — New species of swan — Marine salt found at upwards of two hundred meters in perpendicular height ; in what manner it had been carried thither. — Citizen Riche loses himself for upwards of two days in the woods on the main land. — We-sail from Legrand 's Bay, in order to continue to range along the shore. •—The want of water makes us quit this coast.— Arrival at Cape Diemen. — We anchor in Rocky Bay - - - - r - - - - Page 397 THE TH_ TRANSLATOR'S

Preface

1 HE Voyage in search of La Perouse had long ceased to engage the attention of the curious, and even seemed almost to have escaped the me mory ofthe general class of readers, when, after a lapse of seven years, one ofthe Naturalists em barked on the expedition, recently published an account of it, a correct and unmutilated transla tion of which will be found in the following iheets; but, as M. Labillardiere, in his Introduc tion, has not assigned any reason for the tardy appearance of hi9 work, it may perhaps be not altogether uninteresting to state briefly the prin cipal causes which have occasioned this delay. It will be seen towards the end of the Second Volume, that, after the death of Captain Huon and THE TRANSLATOR'S

PREFACE.

. and of Rear-admiral D'Entreeasteaux, the com mand of the expedition devolved on M. Dauri beau, who had been previously appointed Cap tain of the Esperance. While the ships lay off Sourabgya, one of the principal settlements of the Dutch in the Island of Java, an account was received there of war having broken out between France and Holland. Although the council of Sdnrabaya at first detained the French officer, sent to procure pilots to carry the strips mto4he road, they soon receiyedorders'from the Regency of Batavia not only to admit the French ships, but to furnish them and. their creivs with every necessary of which they might stand in need. The dysentery having at this time.rfiade consi-1 derable ravages on board, most of, the gentle men belonging to the expedition took up their I residence on shore.

It appears, that, three months^ aster this, some fresh news having arrived from Europe, M. Dauribeau and the principal officers came to a resolution of hoisting the white flag, as the emblem of their attachment to the old mo narchical government of France, and putting themselves under the protection ofthe Dutch, they s they caused all the officers, naturalists, and such of the people belonging to the two ships as they thought would espouse the republican cause, to fee apprehended and thrown into prison. M. Dauribeau at the same time seized upon all the collections ofthe naturalists, and soon after pre vailed on the Governor of Samarang to cause their effects to be searched, in order to get possession of the manuscripts containing the observations which they had made during the voyage ; but M. Labijlardiere and his friend M. Legrand saved their journals.

The officers anfl other per sons of the republican party were in the sequel transferred to the prisons of Batavia, and after a long confinement in the vicinity of that un healthy spot, were exchanged, and sent to the Isle of France. The Recherche and the Espe rance being left without men sufficient to navi gate them, an inventory was taken of their fur niture, stores, Sec. by commissioners appointed on both fides ; and these, together with the ships, were received by the Regency of Batavia to an swer the advances made in provisions, and in other kinds of succour afforded to the officers vol. i. i b and and crews ; the Regency engaging that the Dutch government should account for the surplus to the Kins of France. M. Dauribeau died on the 2_d of August 1794; and M. Rossel, then first lieutenant of the Recherche", consequently becoming the senior officer in command, took into his charge Admiral D'Entrecasteaux's journal, with all the charts, plans, drawings, specimens of natural history, &c. and early in the year 1795, embarked with them for Europe, in the Hoogly, a Dutch East-Indiaman, bound from Batavia to Amsterdam.

On the 9th of June following, this and seven more Dutch ships that were in company with her, were captured off St. Helena by his Majesty's ship the Sceptre of 64 guns, commanded by Captain Ellington, who was bringing home his prizes, when, in consequence of the Hoogly springing a leak, ssie was so near foundering, as to make it necessary to take out all her people and abandon her ; this service was executed on the 2d of September, when Captain Effington ordered her to be set on fire. On the Sceptre's arrival in England, Captain Effing ton transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the the Admiralty such of the journals, charts, plans, drawings, and collections in natural history be longing to Admiral D'Entrecasteaux's expedition, •as, previous to the capture of the Hoogly, M. Rossel was conveying to Holland.

On the' 1 2th of March 1786, M. Labillar diere arrived at Paris from the Isle of France, and finding his collection of specimens of na tural history in the possession of the British go vernment, he urged the persons exercising the government of France to claim them ; this appli cation being warmly seconded by Sir Joseph Banks, they were delivered up -with the most scrupulous exactness, and in a manner that re flects the highest honour on the persons immediately concerned, and, with all the other papers, charts, plans, &c. transmitted to Paris in Au gust 1796 *.

A perusal of M. Labillardiere's narrative will afford the most ample proof of his being eminently * So exact were Ministers in their compliance with this ap plication, that the Board of Admiralty ordered a Lieutenant of the navy to be sent to Havre in a flag of truce, with the twenty one cases which contained M. Labillardiere's collections, arid which had previously been in the care of Sir Joseph Banks. b a XX nently qualified for the situation to which he was appointed: his descriptions in natural history are at once concise and perspicuous, and be speak the most perfect knowledge of the subject ; while that part of his narrative which immediately relates to nautical matters, leaves the inquisitive geographer and cautious navigator nothing to wish for, either in respect to the configuration and extent of the coasts he visited, or their precise latitudes and longi tudes, the variation of the compass, the pre vailing winds, the direction and strength of the tides and currents, the situation of ssioals, the soundings, &c. &c. On each of these heads enough is said for the guidance of suture navigators, without descending to those frequent repetitions, which, however necessary they may be in detailing the geographical position of a newly-discovered land, never fail to tire the general reader.

Hence it is, that the narratiye of a mere seaman is commonly filled with a succession of nautical remarks, penned in the monotonous style of a log-book ; the journal of the philosophic naturalist, on the contrary, not only abounds with lively pictures of the most 5 interesting interesting productions of the creation, but is interspersed with descriptions of countries and people, manners, customs, and language ; no thing escapes his active researches ; none of the elements long conceal from his penetrating eye their diversified riches ; he explores the inmost recesses of Nature, and reveals those beauties which lie hidden from the. view of an ordinary observer. In the nomenclature of a few particular places, I have not thought myself at liberty to depart from my original. Thus, what Captain Cook and all Englissi navigators term Van Diemen's Land, I have, after M. Labillardiere, denominated Cape Diemen.

But I have ventured to amend the orthography adopted by M. Labillar diere in the course of other parts of his naviga tion, particularly in the names of the islands lying to the northward of New Guinea, and thence through Pitt's Strait to the Moluccas. I have transcribed the names of these different islands and places from the voyage of Captain Forrest, who had more frequent opportunities of learning the names given them by the natives. b 3 I think I think it necessary to be thus explicit on this point, as I am of opinion that the names of all coasts, islands, bays, &c. given by the naviga tors who first discovered them ssiould be faith fully preserved and adhered to, unless there is a possibility of obtaining the name assigned to them by the natives of the country, which ssiould undoubtedly be preferred.

In regard to longitude, I have also followed the original, in which it is uniformly reckoned from the meridian of Paris, and after passing it to the east, is carried on easterly beyond the 180th degree, and back to the some meridian. The reader can easily reduce it to longitude from Greenwich, by allowing z° 20' for the dis. ference establissied between the two meridians. In order to save the trouble of reference, I have prefixed to this volume an Index of the articles of natural history, which occur in the work, containing their Linnæan or other scientific name, with the corresponding Englissi or other name by which they are most commonly known, and likewise the pages of the volume JR which they are mentioned. ta In the Malay, Cape Diemen, Friendly Islands, New Caledonia, and Waygiou vocabularies, at the end of the second volume, I have adapted the orthography as nearly as possible to the Englissi pronunciation. ' The main object of M. D'Entrecasteaux's voyage having been to search for La Perouse, I now subjoin, for the satisfaction of the reader, the translation of an extract of the last letter written by that unfortunate navigator to the Marssial De Castries, then Minister of the French Marine, in which he specifies the track that he intended to follow on his departure from $Tew South Wales, in March 1788.

" Botany Bay, jth February 1788. ** I shall again make a run to the Friendly " Islands, and I shall strictly perform every " thing that has been enjoined me by my in " structions, in regard to the south part of " New Caledonia, Mendana's Island of Santa " Cruz, the southern coast os Surville's Terre " des Arsacides, and the land called by Sou s' gainville La Louisiade, and endeavour to b 4 " afcer- THE TRANSLATORS

PREFACE.

. P ascertain whether this last makes a part of i* New Guinea, or is separated from it. To " wards the end of July 1788, I shall pass be " tween New Guinea and New Holland, by a " different channel than Endeavour Strait, pro " vided such a one exist. During the month " of September, and a part of October, I stall fi visit the Gulf of Carpentaria, and all the " west coast of New Holland, as far as Van " Diemen's Land ; but yet in such a manner, that it may be possible for me to get to the " northward in time to arrive at the Isle of P. France in the beginning of December 1788."1 To gratify the impatience of the reader, I shall here, in a sew words, anticipate the result of this voyage. When Admiral D'Entreeasteaux touched at the Cape of Good Hope, he received dispatches from M. Saint-Felix, the French Commander in Chief on the India station, en closing him the depositions of two French Cap tains of merchantmen, which stated that Cap tain Hunter, late of the Syrius frigate, when passing by the Admiralty Islands, in his voyage from from Botany Bay to Batavia in a Dutch vessel, perceived several canoes containing savages, some of whom appeared to him to be clothed jn the uniform of the French navy, but with whom, from the contrariety ofthe winds and currents, he could not have any intercourse.

Notwithstanding the improbability of the truth of this statement, Admiral D'Entreeasteaux, with a zeal highly honourable to his feelings, did not hesitate a single moment ; he changed the plan pf his route, to hasten to the Admiralty Islands. His ardour not having been crowned with success, he recommenced his search in the order prescribed by his instructions, and completely fulfilled them all, by exploring,' as far as was in his power, those coasts, islands, &c. mentioned by La Pcrouse in his last letter, without being able to obtain the smallest information, or any thing like a ground for a probable conjecture, concerning the sate of a man, whose skill, per severance, fortitude, and humanity, have jufily entitled him to be placed at the head of those navigators of whom France may well cherissi a proud and grateful remembrance.

INTRO- INTRODUCTION, J- HREE years having elapsed, and no tidings been received of the two ships the Bouffole and the Astrolabe, under the command of La Pe rouse, the Society of Natural History of Paris, towards the beginning of the year 1791, awak ened the attention of the Constituent Assembly respecting the fate of that navigator and his com panions in misfortune. The hope of finding at least some wreck of an expedition undertaken for the advancement of the sciences, determined the Assembly to send two other ships in the track that these navigators were to have followed after their departure from Botany Bay. Some of them might possibly have escaped ssiipwreck, and be sequestered in a desert jsland, or thrown on coasts inhabited by savage nations ;

Introduction

. nations ; perhaps they were yet living in those distant climates, and continually casting their looks towards the sea, in hopes that their country would one day send them the assistance which they had a right to expect. The following is the decree that was passed on this subject, on the 9th of February 1791 : " The National Assembly, having heard the (l report of its United Committees of Agricul " ture, of Commerce, and of the Marine, de- V crees, *! That the King be requested to give orders '.' to all ambassadors, residents, consuls, and " agents of the French nation, at the courts of " the different powers, that they do, in the " name of humanity, and of the arts and V sciences, engage the respective sovereigns at *' whose courts they reside, to charge all navi " gators and agents whatsoever, who are subject " to their control, in whatever part of the globe " they may be, but especially in the southern " parts of the South Sea, to make every inquiry " in their power after the two French frigates " the Bousfole and the Astrolabe, under the com- " mand

INTRODUCTION.

. XXIX *' mand of M. de la Pe rouse, as well as after " their crews, and endeavour to obtain every xi information that may ascertain their existence ** or tbeir ssiipwreck ; to the end, that, in case " M. de la Perouse and his companions ssiould " be sound or heard of, no matter in what place, ** all possible assistance may be rendered them, " and means procured them for returning to te their country, as well as for enabling them to " bring away every thing that may be in their " possession ; the National Assembly engaging te to indemnify, and even to reward, according " to the importance of the service, whoever *e shall afford assistance to these navigators, ob- *l tain any information concerning them, or only te procure for France the restitution of whatever " papers and effects may belong or have be- " longed to the expedition in which they were " engaged.

" That the Kirig be requested to direct that ff there be equipped one or more ships, on " board of which may be embarked some men '; '-" of science, naturalists, and drauglrtfraen; and " that the commanders employed on the expe- " dition

INTRODUCTION.

. •" dition be charged with the double mission of " searching after M. de la Perouse, agreeably to *' the documents, instructions, and orders that" ,s may be given them, and, at the fame time, of " making inquiries relative to the sciences and ," to commerce, taking every measure, independ- " ently of the search after M. de la Perouse, or " even aster having met with him or procured " intelligence of him, to render this expedition " useful to navigation, to commerce, and to the " arts and sciences." Compared with the original, by us the President and Secretaries of the Na tional Assembly. At Paris, this 24th of February 1 791. (Signed) Duport, President, Liore', "I -V Secretaries. BoUSSIONjJ From my earliest youth I had applied myself to the study of natural hiliory : convinced that it is in the great book of Nature that her productions ssiould be studied, and a just idea formed of introduction.

XXXI of her phenomena, no sooner had I finissied my medical education, than I made a journey to England. This journey was soon followed by another to the Alps, where the soil affords a pro digious variety of specimens, owing to the dif ference of the temperature of those lofty moun tains. I afterwards visited part of Asia Minor, where I resided two years, in order to discover there the plants, of which the Greek and Arabic phy sicians have left us very imperfect descriptions : of these I had the .satisfaction of bringing home some very fine collections. I had not been long returned from these last travels, when the National Assembly gave orders for the equipment of two ships, for the purpose of endeavouring to save at least a part of the wreck of the expedition commanded by La Perouse. It was an honour to be of the number of those who were to make every possible search in order to restore to their country men to whom ssie owed so much. In other respects this voyage held out many temptations

INTRODUCTION.

. temptations to a naturalist. New countries were to enrich our knowledge with new productions, which could not fail to contribute to the ad vancement of the arts and sciences. My fondness for travelling had till now been continually increasing, and three months sailing in the Mediterranean when I went to Asia Mi nor, had served me as a trial for a long voyage. Accordingly I eagerly embraced this opportunity of <roin£ to visit the South Seas. If the gratification of this passion for study is * dearly purchased, the variegated productions of a new country amply counterbalance all the hardssiips inseparable from long voyages. I was chosen by the government to embark, as a naturalist, on the voyage of which I am now going to give an account. My journal, which was kept with care during the voyage, contained a great many nautical obser vations ; yet it is incumbent on me to declare, that this part would have been very incomplete^ but for the regular days works furnished me by Citizen Legrand, one ofthe best officers belonging to the expedition. I seize