66

"and the meshes were of European workmanship. That he took a piece of one "out of curiosity, from which it would be

66

66

easy to judge that the materials and workmanship were European."

These were the only accounts of the fate of the unfortunate Count's expedition which came to my knowledge up to 1826, the time I touched at Tucopia, except some unfounded reports respecting a cross of St. Louis having been found on a nameless island, without either latitude, longitude, or date of discovery affixed to it, but said to be situated in the Pacific between New Caledonia and New Guinea.

CONTENTS

OF

VOL. I.

Preface

Introduction

Biographical sketch of la Pérouse's life and services. His
expedition, disasters at Port Français, and massacre at the Na-
vigator Islands. D'Entrecasteaux's voyage in search of la
Pérouse. Discoveries and unsuccessful issue of that voyage.

CHAPTER I.

Voyage in the South Seas, dreadful massacre at the
Fejee Islands, and occurrences which led to the dis-
covery of the fate of la Pérouse

Voyage in the South Seas in 1812 and 1813, which led even-
tually to the discovery of la Pérouse's shipwreck, Ship Hunter
anchors at the Fejees. Friendly reception by the savages. Meet
with European sailors on shore. Trade for sandal-wood. Hunter's
crew join the savages. War expedition in company with the sa-
vages. Island of Nanpacab taken. Eleven savages killed on the
occasion; their bodies dissected, baked, and devoured. Several
towns burnt. Plantations destroyed. Return to the ship Hunter.
The captain quarrels with his allies, makes eight prisoners. Ship's
company and Bow natives go on shore to fight. Fourteen of
the former killed, sixty-two of the latter. The whole party de-
feated, and obliged to fly. Three men escape to a rock, and see
their companions cut up and devoured. They escape to the
ship, which sails from the Fejees. The island of Tucopia
sighted. Intercourse with the natives. Martin Bushart lands
on the island, also a lascar and a Fejee woman. Tucopia re-
visited in 1826 by Capt. Dillon. Finds the people landed in
1813, residing on the island. Receives information of two ships

Page

having been lost on a neighbouring island. Procures some re-
lics from those ships, which turn out to have belonged to la
Pérouse's expedition. Prevails on Martin Bushart to leave the
island. Proceeds from Tucopia to Bengal.

CHAPTER II.

Negociation with the Government of British India
which led to the fitting-out of the expedition . . 37

Arrival at Bengal. Informs the government of British India
of the accounts received at Tucopia. Addresses a letter to the
government on the subject of la Pérouse's shipwreck. The
Asiatic Society solicit from government assistance to the sup-
posed survivors of the French expedition. Government takes
up the affair. Expedition ordered under Capt. Dillon's com-
mand. The surgeon appointed to the expedition pretends to be
naturalist and botanist. He decyphers four stamps found on a
silver sword-guard brought from Tucopia by Capt. Dillon.
Supreme Council orders the ship Research to be equipped to
proceed in search of the survivors of the French expedition.
Treachery of the surgeon. His attempt to oust the commander
of the expedition, and place himself at the head of it. His
turbulent conduct on joining the ship.

CHAPTER III.

Occurrences from Calcutta to Van Diemen's Land

Sail from Bengal. Progress of the vessel on her voyage.
Renewed attempt of the surgeon to be placed at the head of
the expedition. He attempts to excite mutiny on board, and
writes to the first officer. New Zealanders on board threaten to
kill and eat the surgeon, when he lands in their country. The
surgeon and second officer quarrel. Officers quarrel among
themselves. Commander being informed of the surgeon's design,
he is arrested. Van Diemen's Land sighted. Ship encounters
a dreadful gale, and arrives in the river Derwent.

Intepriew with the Lieutenant-Governor, who promises to fa-
cilitate the necessary supplies to enable the expedition to pro-
ceed. At the instigation of Dr. Tytler withholds the assistance
promised. Dr. Tytler prosecutes his commander for arresting
him. The trial. New South Wales jury and judge. Extra-
ordinary state:nents of the prosecutor. Commander found
guilty of assaulting his surgeon. Sentence passed on him by
the judge, which detained the expedition two months, at a
considerable expense to the East-India Company. Respectable
inhabitants petition the Lieutenant-Governor. Consequent

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123

partial remission of the sentence. Mutinous conduct of the
crew. First officer dismissed from the ship, and a new officer
appointed. Desertion of the surgeon and captain's clerk.

CHAPTER V.

Occurrences from Van Diemen's Land to Port Jack-

son.

Part of the crew mutiny and desert the ship. Adieu to Van
Diemen's Land. Occurrences at sea. Arrival at Port Jackson.
Ecclesiastical promotion of a merchant contrasted with that of
the venerable apostle of the South Seas. Provisions and seamen
being procured, the ship prepares to sail.

CHAPTER VI.

Occurrences from Port Jackson to New Zealand.

Page

. 168

Progress of the ship on the voyage. Foul winds and bad
weather. Officer in charge of the watch found sleeping. Pre-
cautions against a similar occurrence. Discovery of a deficiency
of water. Obliged to go to the Bay of Islands, in New Zealand,
to procure water. A shark caught. Arrival at New Zealand.

176

Hearty welcome from the islanders. Their wars and canni-
balism. One of the chiefs demands the two New Zealanders on
board to be delivered up to him, his tribe being at war with theirs.
Expostulation against this request. Partial reconciliation of the
chief to his countrymen in the ship. Best modes of conciliating
the savages, and securing the safety of boats' crews when em-
ployed on shore from attack by the natives. Europeans settled
in and about the neighbourhood of the Bay of Islands. A New
Zealand chief's account of his visit to the British Court, and re-
ception by the King. Massacre of Capt. Marion, a French
navigator, and part of his crew. Several of the Research's crew
very insubordinate, and the cause. Second officer asleep on his
watch. Strange ceremonies of the New Zealanders. Arrival
of the Emily whaler. Some of her crew murdered by the
natives of Simpson's Island. Account of Prince George, a
New Zealand chief. His dreadful revenge, with the capture of
the ship Boyd, and massacre of her crew and passengers. Singu-
lar account of Vancathai, a New Zealand priestess. The New
Zealander's great faith in dreams. Some of the islanders pro-
pose to sail away in the ship. A poor American idiot found
greatly distressed, and taken on board the Research. La Pé-
rouse's last letter to the French Minister of Marine from Botany
Bay. A cannibal's present of human flesh to his friends.