BOTANICAL DISCOVERY. xix 
such apparent cordiality by the Maoris that no suspicions of treacherous 
conduct were aroused. They were thus quite unprepared for the 
sudden attack which was made upon them, and which resulted, as is 
well known, in the massacre of Marion and nearly thirty of his crew. 
A graphic account of this unfortunate incident is given in the journal 
of Crozet, upon whom the command devolved after Marion’s death. 
The same journal contains an excellent sketch, of the natural productions 
of the country, in which many references are made to the vegetation ; 
but, as in De Surville’s expedition, no collections were made. 
In 1824 the surveying corvette ‘“ Coquille,” under the command 
of Captain Duperrey, arrived at the Bay of Islands, and remained 
for nearly a fortnight. Two naturalists were on board, Lieutenant 
D’Urville (afterwards Admiral D’Urville), an ardent botanical collector, 
and M. Lesson, both of whom made collections of some extent. 
In the beginning of 1827 D’Urville revisited New Zealand in command 
of the same vessel, renamed the “ Astrolabe.” He was again accom- 
panied by Lesson, and also by Quoy and Gaimard as zoologists. First 
sighting the coast of the South Island near Greymouth, he proceeded 
northwards, and, rounding Cape Farewell, entered Cook Strait. <A 
secure anchorage was found on the west side of Tasman Bay, between 
the mouth of the Motueka River and Separation Point, in which he 
remained for a week, forming important collections. He then crossed 
to the east side of Tasman Bay, and discovered the strait separating 
D’Urville Island from the mainland, known to this day as “ the French 
Pass.” Several days were occupied in surveying this passage, during 
which time both the botanical and zoological collections were added 
to. D’Urville then sailed through Cook Strait, and followed the 
east coast of the North Island to Tolaga Bay, where a brief stay was 
made. Continumg his voyage, he rounded the Hast Cape, crossed 
the Bay of Plenty, and, passing to the north of the Great Barrier Island, 
arrived at Whangarei Heads, where he remained for two or three days. 
Turning southwards, he passed Cape Rodney and Tiritiri Island, and 
anchored at the entrance to Auckland Harbour, of which little was 
known at that time. He landed on both the northern and southern 
banks of the Waitemata, and, having sent a boat up the Tamaki River 
as far as the present township of Otahuhu, some of his men were guided 
by the Maoris across the narrow isthmus to the head of the Manukau 
Harbour. D’Urville left Auckland Harbour by the Waiheke Channel, 
passed between the Great and Little Barrier Islands, and after a cruise 
to the North Cape returned to the Bay of Islands. On the 18th March 
he finally left New Zealand, having spent a little more than two months 
on its shores. 
After the “Astrolabe” had returned to Europe the scientific 
results of the voyage were published in elaborate style under the 
auspices of the French Government. The botanical portion was 
undertaken by A. Richard, one of the leading botanists of his time, 
