Celebrated Travels and Travellers

Praslin-Arrival upon the coast of New Zealand-Death of Surville-Marion's discoveries in the Antarctic Ocean-He is murdered a

zier, a captain of one of the East India Company's ships, was so struck by the immensity of the space surrounding the Southern Pole, known to geographers as the Terra australis incognita, that he begged f

38, under command of Bouvet de Lozier. After a stay of a month at St. Catherine's Island, upon th

f each other. Upon the 5th of December, although it would have appeared impossible, the fog increased in density to such an extent that those on board the Aigle could hear

at. 48° 50') and in 7° W. long. (the meridian of Teneriffe), an enormous iceberg was perceived towards five

e crews, crowded sail on the Aigle, and, by passing the Marie, showed his determination to maintain his southern course. To rea

gave the name of Cape Circumcision. It was steep, covered with snow, and so shut in by large icebergs, that it was impos

h were used by Bouvet, "to be situated in 54° S. lat. and 26° and 27° east of

egion, but the fogs and contrary winds prevented his reaching it, an

ceding days, and about four in the afternoon, the fog clearing somewhat, we distinctly saw land. The coast, broken througho

were worn out with fatigue, discouraged, and enfeebled by scurvy. The Marie was sent to the Isle of France

were frozen. On the 10th of January, it was impossible to work our fore-topsail. The cold was severe, for men accustomed to a warm climate, and who were lightly clad. Many had chilblains on the hands and feet. Still they were forced constantly to tack about, bring to, get under weigh, and take soundings at least once a day. One of the sailors belonging

they were productive of no good, they cost heavily in the loss of men and ships they entailed. Still Bouvet's discovery was a first blow

n appreciation of our countryman, who was the pioneer of Antarctic navigation, and who

rie de Surville, was destined to make important discoveries in Oceania some thirty years later, and to re-discover, almost simultane

sk to trade in the southern seas. They admitted Surville to their schemes, and sent him to France

for three years, with every requisite for a distant expedition. Surville t

-Jean Baptiste put in successively at Masulipatam, Yana

f August, he cast anchor off the Bashees, or Baschy Islands. Dampier had so named them after an intoxicating dr

ection of this fact incited three of the sailors belonging to the Saint-Jean Baptiste to follow their example. But Surville was not the man to allow his crew

geous enough to throw themselves into the sea, and, much to the surprise of the crew, they had sufficient cour

and flung themselves into their pirogues, augured badly for their return. Much surprise was therefore felt when in a short time they were seen returning with joyful acclamations. Doubt was no longer possible, they could only be bringing the deserters back to the commander. They came on board, and proceeded to

-east, land, to which the name of "Prémiere Vue" was given, wa

heltered from every wind, and formed by a number of small islands. M. de Surville cast anchor and named i

by a crowd of Indians, who were profuse in menacing gestures. However, they were pacified at last. About thirty of the boldest clambered on to the deck, and examined everythi

the Admira

e of early

oard the vessel was sufficient to make them jump into their pirogues, or the sea. One only showed a little more confidence, and Survill

the boats, and entrusted the

to lead the others; in it was the Indian who had offered his services to Surville. At the back of the pirogue, a man stood erect, holding in his hands a bunch of herbs, raising them above his head, with a rhythmical movement. In

be found. Labbé, in spite of all the persuasions of the natives, did not wish to imperil his boats in two or three feet of water, with a muddy bottom, and therefore allow

bbé took good care not to let them suspect that he had de

men, but he found only a very poor spring, barely affording sufficient water to slake the thirst of his party. During his absence, the natives did all in the

ways. M. Labbé himself was hit by two arrows in the thigh, and on the leg by a stone. The traitors were fired upon. The first volley so astonished them that they remained motionless. It was the more fatal, as, being fired only three or five fathoms from the boats, every shot took effect. The amazement of the natives gave the opportunity for a second discharge, which completely routed them, the death of their chief greatly hastening their flight. M. Labbé, who h

the enemie

, might warn his countrymen against opposing the French. With this view, he hit upon a singular expedient. He ordered two negro sailors to be

r. So soon as the French imagined they were at a fair distance, they launched two boats in pursuit. The natives gained ground; it was then decided to fire, in order to stop them. One of

ounterfeited death for an hour, but when he was made to sit up, and he fell back on deck, he took good care to fall on his shoulders instead of his head. When he was tired of playing this game he opened

w to surprising the ship. Next day, the native was taken in a boat to a small islet, since called Aiguade Isl

re; when he perceived that he was to re-embark, he rolled

the trees they cut appeared to have dyeing properties, for it tinged the sea with red. S

eed many sufferers from scurvy on board the Saint-Jean Baptiste. Surville had looked forward to this stay to cure them, but the rain,

r archipelago, to which it belonged, Arsacides, in

re the Saint-Jean Baptiste cast anchor. The ferocity of the people inhabiting the islands of Port Praslin was such that it was impossible to penetrate into the interior, and it was only

ct. Fortunately, they were supplemented by those furnished by the captive native, w

ana, sugar-cane, yams, aniseed, and lastly a plant called "Binao," which is used by the natives as bread. Cockatoos, wood pigeons, lories, and black-birds, somewhat larger than those of

olly hair, which is very soft to the touch, their foreheads are small, their eyes slightly sunken, whilst the lower part of their face is pointed, and adorned with a small beard; their expression is fierce. Some of the copper-coloured natives have smooth hair. They usually cut it round the

thes, for the faces, arms, and generally every part of their bodies are tattooed. Sometimes the taste of these designs is really wonderful. T

nibals, although the same customs had been met with among people who were not. Lova's confused replies, and the half-broiled head of a ma

nine days' rest, the Saint-J

n the 2nd of November Surville descried an island, which received the name of Contrar

ted, and, judging from the number of pirogues, which constantly su

e flag, which he wished to appropriate. It was only after some difficulty that he was dissuaded from the attempt. Lastly, he climbed up the mizen mast, and from that elevated position observ

ke themselves understood by Lova-Salega. Their stay on board did not last long, for one of them having possessed himself

ere in such pressing need of green provisions, that Surville d

ew shots dispersed the assailants. During the night a flotilla advanced towards the Saint-Jean Baptiste, and Surville, from motives of

e open sea. He discovered successively the Three Sisters Isl

ve mentioned, was discovered in the first instance by Mendana. That skilful navigator had traced and surve

was necessary at all risks to reach land, where he might

ealand, which had not been vis

he called Lauriston. At the extremity was a creek which received the name of Chevalier. Cook had been in search of this land

n an ace of destruction, but his sailors had such confidence in his nautical ability that they felt no anx

and she was driven into Refuge Creek. The sailors and invalids were cordially welcomed by a chief called Naginoui, who

he rudder was found. The natives had carried it off. The river was searched in vain; there was no trace of the boat. Surville would not allow this theft to go unpunished. H

recognized by the surgeon as the chief who had so generously assisted them during the storm. It was the unfortunate Naginoui, who, after

March, 1770, near the i

gator upon the natives, and the productions of New Zealand

ys later, and steered between the parallels of 27° and 28° S. lat.; but the ravages of the

and three days later cast anchor off th

any one else to visit the governor. Unfortunately his boat was capsized by the waves that br

d to science. As for the Saint-Jean Baptiste, she was detained "for three years" before Lima by the interminable

n this native expressed a desire to return to his native land, the French administration had sent

to send the young Aoutourou to Tahiti at his own expense and in a vessel belonging to him. He only required that a vessel belong

young. On the 16th of October, 1746, he was made lieutenant of a frigate, and at the time of his offer was still only cap

self was merely a pretext for a voya

d gave him detailed instructions for the enterprise he was about to undertake in the Southern

perate climate. He calculated upon finding timber for masts, and many other necessaries there, such as provisions, which he was now obliged to obtain at heavy cost from th

discoveries in these unknown seas. Marion's expedition, which was to try

e was unfortunately infected with small-pox, which he had caught in the Mauritius; and the illness soon declared itself, so that it was necessary to leave Bourbon lest he should communicate it to the inhabitants. The two ve

e up the expedition? Marion thought not. With greater freedom of action, he determined to mak

e he completed in a few days the provisioni

overed in 1739 by Bouvet de Lozier, and which was

of January. It was then discovered, by taking the longitude 20° 43' east of the Paris meridian, that they were in the parall

n these regions, the cold was severe, and snow fell without ceasing. Two days later, in a dense fog, which was succeeded by rain, Marion discerned land which extended a distance of five leagues from the W.S.W. to the E.N.E. The soundings gave a depth of eighty fathoms with a bottom of coarse sand mixed with coral. T

h lay anoth

r of Marion's

Had time allowed, he might have found anchorage opposite the creek. I fancied I saw a cascade issuing from the mountains. In rounding the island we discovered three islets detached from it, two of them situated in the large bay for

t looked fertile. The mountains were lofty and covered with snow. The navigators were about to look for anchorage, when, during the sounding operations, the two ships ran foul of each other and were both damaged. Three days were o

ds we took them for two capes, imagining we could see in the far distance a stretch of land between them. They are situated in 40°

alled land, which stretched some ten or twelve leagues E.S.E.; but a dense fog, lasting no less than twelve hours, continued

w known as Marion Island). This was the sixth island discovered by us in these southern waters. From a height I discerned snow in many of the valleys. The land appeared barren, and covered with very small grass. I found neither tree nor bush in the island. Exposed to the continual ravages of the stormy west winds which prevailed the entire year in these latitudes, it appeared uninhabitable. I found nothing there but seals, pen

ips must have parted company. Upon the 2nd of February the two ships were in 47° 22' E. long., that is to say within 1° 10' of the lands discovered upon the 13th of the same month by t

, and directed his course to Van Diemen's Land. No incident occurred du

o the shore, where some thirty natives were found; and the country

knew what the ceremony might mean, and it was accordingly tried. The natives did not appear surprised. They remained about us, without making any demonstration either of hostility or friendship, and their wives and children were with them. Both men and women

dkerchiefs, and pieces of cloth. Fowls and ducks which had been brought from the ship were shown to them; as evidence that we wis

d was also pres

them, and fully persuaded that it was a peaceful ceremony, they did not hesitate to light the pile which was prepared. They were mistaken, for the nat

t was necessary to repulse them by a volley which wounded several and killed one.

repairing the masts of the Castries. Six days passed in fruitless search; fortuna

distances," says Crozet, "we concluded that the ordinary food

milar to that with which we are familiar on the Scandinavian coasts? Is not

astries and repair the Mascarin, which leaked a good deal, Marion started on t

1642, and visited by Cook and Survi

so steep at this point, that Marion put back to sea and returned

land there. It was therefore necessary to reach the mainland, and anchor was cast opposite Cape Maria-Van-Diemen, the most northerly extremit

installed there under a strong guard. The natives came on board, some of them even slept th

ite colour, taller than the others, the usual height being from five foot nine to five foot ten inches; he had smooth black hair. The more swarthy and somewhat smaller men had slightly curling

customs of the New Zealanders, or over Marion's minute description of their fortified v

away in the midst of a wood. The crew, persuaded by the friendliness of the natives, made long excursions into the interior, and received a hearty welcome everywhere. Confidence was at length so fully established that, in spite of Crozet's representati

ations of friendship than usual. He was proclaimed head chief of the country,

ors, seventeen persons in all. Evening approached, but no one came back to the ship. At first no anxiety was felt, for the hospitable cu

n swimming towards the ships. A boat was lowered to help him on board. It was one of the rowers, the only one who ha

one who ha

ad been attacked by two men only, who had wounded him with two lance thrusts, and as, fortunately, he was not far from the sea, he had succeeded in reaching the shore, where he hid himself in some brushwood. From thence he had witnessed the massacre of all his companions. The savages had the bodies stripped, and commenced cutting them up, when he stole noiselessly from his concealment, and th

carry help to the most distant, where masts and spars were being made. On the road, upon the shore, the two boats were d

tunately, it had not yet been attacked by the natives. All work was immediately stopped, the utensils and weapons were collected,

posed the detachment. Upon their arrival at the sloop, the natives approached them; Crozet first sent all the sailors who carried loads on board, then, tracing a line on the ground, he made it understood that the first native who passed it would i

the better to aim at their foes. Crozet found himself obliged to prove to these wretches the superiority of his weapons, and gave orders to fire. The New Zealanders, seeing their comrades fall wounded or dead, without their app

t in hand, and followed them up to their village, where they shut themselves in. The voice of the chief inciting them to battle was heard. Firing was commenced as soon as the village was within rang

arpenters were obliged to repair the mast with pieces of wood collected on the ships. The provisioning of the ships with the seven hundred bar

ied him, was still unknown. A well-armed detachm

the houses were thoroughly searched. In Tacouri's kitchen a man's skull was found which had been cooked some days before. Some fleshy parts still remained which bore the impress of the cannibal's teeth. On a wooden spit, a piece of a human thigh, three parts eaten, was found. In another house, a shirt was recognized as having belonged to the unfortunate Mar

skull w

and Chevalier Du Clesmeur searched Marion's papers to discover his projects, and the plans for

cargo, before returning to Mauritius. On the 14th of July, Du Clesmeur left Treason Port, as he named the bay of these islands, and the vessels steered towards Amsterdam and Rotterdam Islands, to the north of which they passed on the 6th of August. Navigation was aided by splendid weath

l details regarding this island, with its productions and inhabitants.

uits were perfect, the herds of cattle, goats, and pigs, innumerable; every species of fowl abounded." Amongst the vegetable p

hen they wish to preserve it, they cut it in round pieces, and dry it in the sun or in an oven, in the form of very small cak

hored off Cavite, in Manilla Bay. This was the spot where the C

uished men,-the Chazelles, the Bordas, the Fleuriens, the Du Martz de Gormpy, the Chaberts, the Verduns de la Crenne, who contributed so zealo

int Michael, Rocque-pire, and Agalega in the Seychelles archipelago, and corrected the charts of Adu and Diego Garcia Islands. Convinced of the connexion of the currents with the monsoon, which he

received by the Naval Academy, decided to entrust its examinat

s, collected astronomical observations, rectified the map of Iceland, and accumulated a mass of particulars concerning this little-known country. It was he, indeed, who gave the earliest authentic account of "geysers," those springs of war

blished novel details of the mann

nt colours, but generally black; they are called 'hempe.' They are trimmed with velvet or some other ornament. The head-dresses look like pyramids or sugar-loaves, two or three feet high. The women ornament the head with a large handkerchief of very coarse cloth, which stands uprigh

raslin, gave him command of the ship Le Berryer, which brought 300 able-bodied seamen and provisions for fourteen months from Lorient, together with some ammunition for Mauritius. The Abbé Rochon was associated with Kerguelen, for making astronomical obse

ands. During a great storm, the sounding lines of the Fortune gave an ever-decreasing depth, first thirty, t

his hearing or seeing my signals. This is the sole instance of a vessel anchoring in the night in the open sea upon an unknown coast. I set sail, and allowed the vessels to drift, taking constant soundings. I at first found fourteen, then twenty, then twent

east, at this season of the year, and therefore went to the Maldives, and coasted along Ceylon from Point de Galle, to Trincomalée. Upon their return the monsoon had changed. The prevailin

n extent that he was able to start upon the 12th of January, 1772. He steered southwards, for, supposing

a. The first land was sighted upon the 12th. Next day a second was discovered, and shortly afterwards a very lofty and extensive cape. The following day at seven o'clock in the

difficulty escaped being cast ashore. Kerguelen was driven northward

t impossible to find the Gros-ventre, from which I had been separated for several days. It was the more difficult on account of the tempest we had experienced, and the variable winds that prevailed. These reflections and my conviction that the Gros-ventre was an excellent sailer, and that she was provisioned for seven months, determin

in, and Chevalier de Saint Louis, the attacks upon him increased. The most malignant slanders were circulated. They even went the length of accusing him

command of a second expedition to Kerguelen. The Roland, and the frigate Oiseau, left

for forty days. The entire crew was suffering from putri

d in the store-room. The vegetables emitted a kind of steam which was infectious, and the store-rooms became infested with numbers of white worms. The Roland left the Cape upon the 11th of

execution of Kerguelen's orders. They gave him no fresh victuals, of which the crew had pressing need, and there were no means of replacing the masts destroyed by the tempest. In lieu of the thirty-four sailors who had to go to

union Island, Roland Island, which in his estimation made more than eighty leagues of coast. The weather continued extremely severe; thick fogs, snow, hail, and gales succ

was not enough, and that without more the crew could not possibly resist the

, and M. Rosnevet declared that he had found an anchorage in a bay behind Cape Fran?ais, that he had sent a boat on t

n from making a thorough investigation of this desolate archipelago. He was forced to return; but, instead of returning to Mauritius, he lande

colony there. But he was in need of everything. Kerguelen gave him ammunition, bricks, iron impl

of the enterprise thrown upon Kerguelen. We do not assert that he was entirely free from blame, but we consider the verdict of the council of war which deprived him of his rank, and condemned him to detention in the Chateau of Saumur, most unjust. No doubt the judgment was found to be excessive, and the government discerned more malice than justice in it, for a few months later Kerguelen was restored to liberty. The gravest charge against him was that of having abandoned his sloop and a p

s, had an importance of their own. They contributed to the rectification of charts, to the progress of navigat

s latitude, that is to say, its distance N. or S. from the equator, and its

ed from it. But the log is far from immoveable, and the speed of a vessel is not always the same, hence arose two important sources of error. The direction of the route was determined by the mariner's needle or compass. But every one knows that the co

etic needle, either of declination or inclination, should be fully understood, it would be easy; but how to obtain this knowledge? It was well known that in the Indian Sea, between Bourbon, Madagascar, and Rodriguez, a variation of four degrees in the

itude of 61° W. of Paris, in any given latitude. It is very probable that within the last twenty years the declination has v

t time at the port from which the ship had started, or that if any known meridian could be ascertained, the difference of time would evidently give that of the meridians, at the rate

k which should preserve a perfect isochronism, in defian

the seventeenth century, and again Sully, Harrison, Dutertre, Gallonde,

ad instituted a competition. In 1765 Le Roy sent in two watches for competition, whilst Berthould, who was in the king's service, was unable to do so. Le Roy's wat

to the 29th of August, was far too short, and he demanded a second trial. This time his watches were sent on board the frigate, the Enjouée, which, leaving Havre, put in at St. Pierre near Teneriffe, at Salee in Africa, at Cadiz, and finally, afte

upon the subject, and for various causes had been unable to exhibit. They therefore pro

perfection, but his watch had still to b

ipman, was already, though only thirty years of age, a well known savant. We have already mentioned his name, and shall find further occasion to do so. At this juncture, fascinated by mechanics, Fleurien ha

Islands, Goree, the Cape Verde Islands, Martinique, St. Domingo, Terra Nuova,

had experienced every vicissitude of climate, and at the same time had been

to his honour, Berthould obtained the rank a

rien took a number of astronomical observations, and hydrographical survey

ty; I wished to limit myself to giving new details by which they might be rectified; but I found such numberless and dang

iticizes the maps of a geographe

or the work I did, by indicating the more glaring faults, either by comparing the positions of various places upon his maps, with the positions they should have occupied if M. Bellin had

ation of the most frequented places of Europe, of Afri

table-if the maps of the best known part of the globe, and on which the greater number of observations have been taken, are so far from

ferent judges. Now arose the question of submitting them simultaneo

Martinique, Terra Nuova, Iceland-which our explorers had some trouble to find-the Faroe Islands, Denmark and Dunkerque. The narrative published by Verdun de la Crenne, like that of Fleurien, abounds in rectifications of every kind. It is easy to see how carefully and exactly th

ose relating to the Canary Islands and their ancient inhabitants the Serères and Yolof, on Icel

for the first meridian; but this great man was aware that such a choice would bring no real honour to his country, that Rome and other ambitious towns might covet this imagina

from a high standpoint, as all really disinterested minds

hey had endured shocks as well as the vessel which carried them when it was wrecked at Antigua, and when it received charges of artillery. In a word, they f

of the prob