In the year 1791, Captain Vancouver explored 110 leagues of the south-west coast of New Holland ; 'where he discovered King George's Sound, and some clusters of small islands. The former lies in latitude 35° 5' S. and in 118° 17' E. longitude. Mr Brough ton, who commanded another vessel on the same ex pedition, discovered a fertile and delightful island, situated in S. latitude 43° 49', and 183° 25' E. lon gitude, which he called Chatham Island. The hos tility of the natives, who were of a brown colour, middling size, and stoutly made, prevented more mi nute investigation.
A late voyage by the French in search of their un fortunate countryman La Perouse, has also thrown light on those distant regions. Two vessels, the Recherche and Esperance, sailed from France in September 1791, fully stored with all that was most likely to ensure the safety and success of the under taking. In April 1792, they came within the limits of Australasia, and were some time occupied in ob servations on Van Diemen's Land, when they thought the south cape was separated from the main land : they also discovered a great harbour which they called Port D'Entrecasteaux. They next saw the Isle of Pines, which had received its name from high rocky elevations resembling trees at a distance, and laid down its position in 22° 42' S. latitude. They then ran along an immense chain of reefs extending 324 miles on the coast of New Caledonia, which, in the view of the French navigators, presented a more in viting aspect than the original country of that name. Their attention was directed to the south-west coast, Captain Cook having surveyed the land only to the north ; and, in the course of their examination, they san many mountainous islands, and detached rocks, with their points above water, encircled by dangerous reefs. The difference was no more than 4' between the position of New Caledonia as fixed by Cook and themselves. In July 1792, they saw the lands of the Arsacides, and ascertained the Treasury Islands to be five or six in number, or more, though when seen from a distance, they may be mistaken for only one. They lie in 7° 25' S. latitude. The natives of Bou ka Island trafficked for articles on board, parting with their arms for handkerchiefs and pieces of cloth. They were of a gay and lively disposition, and the French remarked, that they pronounced several Spa nish and English words. The possibility of some intercourse with Europeans was thence inferred, and they shelved themselves acquainted with ,the use of iron. The French landed on Cocos island, and Laig, near the coast of New Ireland ; in the former they found a tree nearly a hundred feet high, though but three inches in diameter : and so hard as at first to resist the heaviest blows of an axe. What is still more sin gular, when the pith occupying its centre• was taken out, the thickness of the wood did not exceed four tenths of an inch. The French then anchored in Carteret harbour, in New Ireland, which is surround ed by lofty and precipitous mountains, containing marine substances up to the very summit. This har bour forms a kind of basin, where clouds coming from the mountains are arrested by a calm, and there de posit their contents ; which is the real source of the 17 rains experienced by navigators. Sailing 'thence to the Admiralty islands, the situation of several places was determined in the way. A friendly intercourse was opened with the natives, who sheaved a great de sire to possess European articles. One islandbeing cul- • tivated 'to the highest part, and pieces being inclosed with fences, they were led to believe that the natives were acquainted with the right of property in land. A mountainous island occupied the centre of the whole groupe, and the same was the case with the Hermit isles, thirteen in number, which were next visited. The inhabitants of these and other islands manifested excellent dispositions : their chiefs punish ed dishonesty towards their visitors, and they approach ed the vessels unprovided with arms. Nearly under
the line a number of other islands were discovered, all connected by chains of reefs, low, and covered by lofty trees, growing quickly and vigorously. After navigating among them, the vessels sailed to the Pa puan islands, the situation of several of which was de termined. In the subsequent year, 1793, the French made Lewin's land on the coast of New Holland, where they found that the latitudes had been ascer tained with remarkable precision by its first discover ers. Many small islands were seen, which had not been previously visited ; and having traversed several degrees on the south-west, they anchored in Port D'Entrecasteaux, as they had done in the preceding year. The accurate and interesting remarks then made on the natural history of the country, and dis position of the inhabitants, will be found at large in the works which contain them. The French next sail ed for New Zealand, and fixed the latitude of the Three King's Islands at 34° 20' south ; they were particularly desirous of obtaining the New Zealand flax, from supposing that it would succeed in Europe, but they did not put their design in execution. An island discovered in 29° 20' S. latitude, near the coast, of a triangular figure, was called Recherche. Preci pices were seen in the interior, and trees growing on the summit of the highest places. It is one of the most eastern islands of Australasia. Some time af terwards the French got sight of Erronan, the most eas tern of the New Hebrides, and made the island of na, where they enjoyed a brilliant spectacle arising from the vivid flames emitted during the night by the volcano. Having made new Caledonia, their observa tions were resumed, and circumstances led them to conclude, that this coast had been fatal to their coun trymen. Besides the natives, they saw here several savages of other parts, acquainted with the use of iron, and much more intelligent, whom they conjec tured to have come from the island of Beaupre, dis covered during their voyage hither in 20° 14' S. lati tude. From New Caledonia the French repaired to the Arsacides, and then passing Louisiade, as already mentioned, steered for the coast of New Britain, where they discovered several mountainous islands before unknown. The navigation of the western coast was replete with danger. Keeping to the north, they anchored at the island of Waygiou, cal-, led by the natives Ouarido, which is covered with large trees, and mountainous throughout. The na tives went nearly naked : the chiefs only being clo thed in stuffs obtained from the Chinese, and some had silver bracelets. From the great value set on iron, it was suspected that they were acquainted with some method of forging it ; hut the European commo dity which they chiefly coveted was red cloth. Their huts, which were built of bamboo, and covered with reeds, resembled those of the Papuans, in being sup ported several feet above the ground on posts. The French were visited by several chiefs, one of whom even ventured to sleep on board the Esperance : but whenever preparations were made for getting under way, he precipitately threw himself into the sea. The Dutch had five months before treacherously se duced his brother into captivity, when he was invited to partake of an entertainment on board of their vessel. Although this voyage has not added ranch to geo graphical discovery in Australasia, it is valuable on account of its illustration of the natural history of the different countries, and the accuracy with which the astronomical observations seem to have been made. The two vessels lost nearly half their men, which af fords a striking demonstration of the superior skill of British officers, who have been known to circum navigate the globe, and hardly lose one of the crew'. We are indebted to M. Labillardiere for an account of this voyage.