AUSTRALASIA. 



125 



noo-isio. 



AaMt- red or yellow straw. Their canoes were skilfully 

 made by the union of several pieces, the joining of 

 which were secured by mastic. M. de Surville, by 

 a stratagem, captured a young savage, who testified 

 a good and tractable disposition, and became much 

 esteemed in the vessel. He was carried to Lima, 

 but whether or not to France, we are ignorant. 

 From him much interesting information was obtained 

 respecting the manners and products of his country. 

 It was governed by a chief, who enjoyed unbounded 

 authority, and the respect shown to him was said to 

 be so great, that the simple treading on his shadow 

 was punished with death. M. de Surville was now 

 amidst an archipelago of islands, in which he judged 

 there were good harbours and fertile grounds. He 

 discovered a detached island in 9 46' S. Lat. and 4 

 20' E. of Port praslin, which, from the calms and 

 adverse winds he experienced, he called Isle des 

 Contrarietes. Canoes from it surrounded his vessel, 

 but the natives were uncommonly shy: they were 

 quite naked, and seemed of different races ; some with 

 remarkably large heads, resembled African negroes. 

 Their apprehensions were quickly dispelled, and the 

 chief came on board ; his canoe was of workmanship 

 singularly neat, inlaid with different coloured wood 

 and pieces of mother of pearl. On comparing the 

 result of M. de Surville's observations, it has been 

 concluded that he was navigating among the Solomon 

 islands; and it has justly been regretted, that he was 

 prevented by untoward circumstances from complet- 

 ing their survey. The whole countries which he dis- 

 covered were named by him the lands of the Arsacides ; 

 and to warn future navigators of their treacherous 

 inhabitants, he left inscriptions in Port Praslin. Af- 

 ter losing half his crew by disease, M. de Surville 

 was unfortunately drowned when going ashore at 

 Lima. 

 Marion. M. Marion du Fresne was employed by the French 



government to conduct a native of Otaheite to the 

 Isle of France, and also to proceed on a voyage of 

 discovery. But the Otaheitan, who had been brought 

 to Europe by M. de Bougainville, having died at the 

 island of Bourbon, M. Marion altered the course of 

 the two ships under his command, the Mascurin and 

 C/islries, and in February 1772, found himself with- 

 in the region of Australasia. He spent six days in 

 Frederic Henry's Bay, Van Diemen'sLand, searching 

 in vain for fresh water, and then made the bay of 

 islands in New Zealand in the subsequent May. 

 There he exerted himself to conciliate the good will 

 of the natives, and apparently succeeded ; but after 

 li.ing thirty-three days on the most friendly terms, 

 they, without any evident cause, found means to sur- 

 prise two boats, and cruelly massacre 27 persons, 

 among whom was M. Marion himself. The place 

 where this happened, the Fiench called'Traitor's Bay. 

 They took the full measure of vengeance on the na- 

 , fives, and then, instead of prosecuting the voyage of 

 discovery, sailed for the islands of Rotterdam and 

 Guam. 

 Voyage* of It had now become of sufficient importance among 

 discovery, some of the European nations to prepare expeditions 

 for the purpose of geographical discovery, under the 

 patronage of their respective governments. Of this 

 . kind was that under the command of M. de Bou- 



gainville; and those from Britain under Byron, 

 Wallis, Carteret, and Cook. Such expeditions were 

 less liable to failure from the precautions taken in 

 fitting them out, and the strict observance of sub- 

 ordination ; for several of the former navigators whom 

 we have named, were obliged to desist from further 

 enterprise, owing to the murmurs of their crew. The 

 voyages of Captain Cook are too well known, and 

 too easily accessible, to require any notice in illus- 

 trating the progress of discovery in Australasia. It 

 is only incumbent on us to observe, that, indepen- 

 dent of the new regions which he himself explored, 

 he cleared up the doubts of preceding navigators con- 

 cerning different Australasian countries, and accu- 

 rately fixed their position on the globe. In his first 

 voyage, he visited the coast of New plolland, and gave 

 names to numerous islands, bays, and capes. In his 

 second, he came in sight of Aurora island in July 1774, 

 which he found lay in 168 30' E. longitude, and then 

 saw Lepers isle, which appeared to be cultivated ; 

 but none of the inhabitants would come on board. 

 He then landed at Mallicolo, the same which had 

 been mentioned by Quivos, where the people put little 

 or no value on European articles. They exhibited 

 singular proofs of honesty ; but they seemed to dis- 

 trust their visitors, until they saw preparations for 

 departure. They were a deformed race, with long 

 heads, flat faces, and monkey countenances; and they 

 wore cords tied so tight about the belly, that Captain 

 Cook compares their appearance to that of an over- 

 grown pismire. Landing at another island, Erro- 

 mamjo, 2 south of Mallicolo, he was treacherously 

 attacked by the natives ; but a friendly intercourse 

 was established with the isle of Tanna, the inhabi- 

 tants of which supplied him with provisions. Most 

 of them had good features and agreeable countenances. 

 Apparently, the women performed the.most laborious 

 occupations ; they wore a petticoat down to the knee, 

 necklaces, ear-rings, and amulets. Here were seen a 

 volcano and hot springs, in August of this year, 

 1774, Captain Cook anchored in a great bay of 

 the Tierra del Eap/tilu Santo, sixty miles in ex- 

 tent of coast. He effected an accurate survey of the 

 whole island, which he found twenty-two leagues 

 long, twelve broad, and sixty in circuit. The island 

 of Mallicolo he found eighteen leagues long and eight 

 broad, fertile, and well inhabited. Of the chain of 

 islands which he here visited, the Pic de I'Eloi/e is 

 the most northern, and the island of Annatom the 

 most southern. The whole lie between the latitude 

 of 14 2!/ and 20 4' south ; between 166 41', 

 and 170 21' of east longitude, and extend 125 

 leagues from north north-west to south south-east. 

 He called these islands the New Hebrides; thus 

 changing their name a third time. Leaving the 

 Tierra Austral, he next discovered an extensive 

 country of Australasia, apparently about eighty- 

 seven leagues in length, and about ten in breadth, 

 which he called New Caledonia. The people were 

 courteous and friendly, and, unlike any other nation 

 in the South Sea, they were not the least addicted to 

 pilfering. Their houses were in general circular, 

 somewhat resembling a bee-hive, and fully as close 

 and warm : the entrance was by a small door, 

 or long square hole, just large enough to admit a 



Austral. 



1 700-1 8 10. 



Cook. 



