Читать книгу A Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere - François Péron - Страница 5

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The general Plan and Object of the Voyage. [From the 22d of March to the 19th of October, 1800.]

SINCE discoveries in the sciences have been with reason placed amongst the chief records of the glory and prosperity of nations, a generous competition has been established, and a new field opened for such a rivalship among governments; so much the more honourable, as it is of general utility to all. The exertions of England have of late years been particularly distinguished; and in the glorious struggle, it is France alone that has any title to dispute the superiority.

Nevertheless, it must be allowed that the learned English, placed on the immense theatre of a fifth part of the globe, might in many respects decide the opinion of Europe in favour of their own country. The successive labours of Banks, Solander, Sparman, the two Forsters, Anderson, Mainziez, White, Schmidt, Collins, Patterson, &c. &c. have attracted the attention, and given interest to the studies of all the friends of science.—How many curious objects have been brought from this southern continent—how many valuable observations on it have in so short a time been written!

In this state of things, the honour of the nation and the progress of science amongst us combined together to require an expedition of discovery to the Southern Hemisphere, and the Institute of France thought it a duty to lay the proposition before the government.

War at this epoch seemed to rage with redoubled fury; the political existence of France was in danger; her territory was usurped; but Buonaparte was first consul; he received, and was interested in the proposition of the Institute, which, some years before, had been gratified in nominating him one of its members; and even at the time when the army of reserve was on the move to cross the Alps, he gave the order to hasten the execution of this great undertaking.

In a short time twenty three persons, nominated by him, on the presentation of the Institution, were appointed to make scientific enquiries: never had there been such an assemblage of talent in any prior voyage of discovery; never had there been such preparations to ensure success.—Astronomers, geographers, mineralogists, botanists, zoologists, draughtsmen, horticulturists, all were found ready, in number double, treble, or even quintuple.

This part of the object of the expedition must have acquired considerable interest from the nature of the regions which they were about to visit. Under latitudes correspondent to those of our own climates, on a vast continent, and on the numerous adjoining isles, it was impossible not to discover useful vegetables, and many interesting subjects in animal life, if brought into European countries, might easily be naturalized, and supply new resources for our wants, new auxiliaries to our arts, and new luxuries for our enjoyment.

Whatever advantageous results were promised by the arrangement of this voyage, the plan of its operations seemed to ensure all that the experience of other navigators had acquired on the subject of the regions we were about to visit until the present time; all that theory and consideration could deduce thereupon, and add thereto, had served as a base to this important undertaking; the irregular winds, the monsoons; the currents had been calculated in so exact a manner, that the contrarieties which in the end we experienced were principally occasioned by the obstinacy of our commander [Nicolas Baudin, never named], in departing from these valuable instructions.

According to this plan we were to touch at the isle or France, and take from thence a third ship, smaller than either of ours, and then to direct our course towards the southern extremity of Diemen's land, to double the South Cape—to visit every part or the straits of Dentrecasteaux—to go up all the rivers of this part of Diemen's land, as far as possible,—to reconnoitre all the eastern coast of this large island—to penetrate into the strait of Bass by that of Banks—to ascertain the entrances and outlets of the first of these straits—to complete the discovery of the Hunter isles, and then to stand right in the S.W. coast of New Holland, and lengthen our course as far as the point where admiral Dentrecasteaux had proceeded before us—to go to the back of the isles St. Pierre and St. Francois,—to explore that part of the continent which lies behind those islands, where it is conjectured there may be a strait supposed to communicate from this point with the grand gulf of Carpentaria, and which consequently would divide New Holland into two large islands of nearly an equal size.

This first part of our labour being terminated, we were to reconnoitre cape Leuwin, and the unknown part of the coast to the north of this point; afterwards to ascertain the principal points of the land of Leuwin, those of Edels and Endracht, which had been best vaguely mentioned by the first navigators, and the geography of which consequently partakes of all the imperfection of the mode of navigation and the instruments of their times; we were therefore to go up the river of Swans, as far as it was practicable; to take a particular chart of isle Rottnest and part of the neighbouring coast; to visit the redoubtable Abrolhos, so fatal to Pelsar, to obtain a perfect knowledge of the great bay of Sharks, to determine the different bearings of the land of Witt, and the rest of the coast N.W. particularly the entrance of King William's river, the Rosemary isles, &c. and at length to end this first long cruise at the cape N.W. of New Holland; making sail from this last point for the Moluccas, we were to winter at Timor or at Amboyna.

From one or other of these two islands, in passing to the north of Ceram, we were commanded to make the coast S.W. of New Guinea, and to explore it as far as captain Cook had done before use and where it is supposed there may be a strait dividing New Guinea into several isles; thence turning towards the strait of Endeavour, we were to make the land at the eastern point of the great gulf of Carpentaria, where we were to reconnoitre the principal places, and determine the position of several islands which are found in old maps. To explore the mouths of the many pretended rivers which are crowded together in the old plans of this gulf, and into which no traveller has for a long time penetrated; and from thence to go the length of coast from Arnheim, and that of Diemen on the north, we were to terminate this second cruise at the same cape to the N.W. where we had ended the first: crossing the Indian sea, and determining the yet extremely uncertain longitude of the islands called Trials, we were then ordered to go into port a second time at the Isle of France, from whence on our return to Europe, which was calculated to be made in the spring, of the year 1803. we were to explore that part of the eastern coast of Africa of which geographers are still in uncertainty; and this last object was to terminate our long voyage.

Such was the general plan marked out by government to our commander, the literal execution of which would have made this voyage one of the most speedy, and fruitful of information that ever had been undertaken. I shall successively show, according to the dates when they took place, the different modifications which this plan experienced; it may however be seen by the succinct account I have here given, how very important the object of this expedition was, under the consideration of the improvement of navigation and geography: above five thousand leagues of coast that was hitherto but little known were to be explored, Never had any navigator, Vancouver alone excepted, a more difficult, mission. In fact, it is not voyages in the open ocean, however long they may be, that have in their train, such misfortunes and shipwrecks; it is those, which confined to unknown shores and savage coasts, have continually new difficulties to encounter, and new dangers to experience. These difficulties and dangers, sad appendages to all expeditions calculated and designed to make particular geographical discoveries, received a more eminent character from the nature of the shores we were to explore: no country has yet been discovered that is more difficult to reconnoitre than New Holland, and every expedition which has been made to that part of the world has been marked with misfortune, or very fruitless attempts: thus Pelsar on the western coast, was one of the first victims to the dangers of these shores: Vlaming mentioned the remains of wrecks that covered isle Rottnest, when he landed on that island in the year 1697. And there have been found there more recently, similar traces of calamity. The brave captain Dampier, with his long experience, was nearly stranded on the N.W. coast of this same continent, where Vianen had been shipwrecked. On the east, Bougainville, surrounded by dangers, was compelled precipitately to make sail from these parts. Cook escaped these shores by a kind of miracle; the rock on which his ship struck, being there incrustated, which alone prevented the vessel from going to the bottom; on the S.W. Vancouver and Dentrecasteaux were not more fortunate in the attempt which they each of them made to determine the geography; and the French admiral was very near losing both his ships on the same coast. But a few years have elapsed since the discovery of the strait of Bass, to the south, and already most of the islands of this gulf are spread over with pieces of the wrecks of ships which have been lost on the coast. Very recently the French ship Enterprize was wrecked on the dangerous isles which lie at the eastern mouth of the strait.

The history of our voyage, and the dangers to which we were exposed will also show the extent of these difficulties; and the loss of the two ships under the command of captain Flinders, who was sent by the English government to rival our endeavours, will but too well furnish an additional and deplorable proof. Notwithstanding so many unfavourable circumstances, the geographic part of our labours will be greatly interesting to the European world, and it will doubtlessly be easy for me to show by the details of our operations, how highly honourable they were to the French service.

Two ships in the port of Havre had been prepared for this expedition; the Geographer, a fine corvette of 30 guns, drawing from 15 to 16 feet water, an excellent sailer, but rather too slightly built for such service; and the Naturalist, a large and strong built store-ship, drawing much about the same water as the Geographer, not so good a sailer, but more seaworthy, and on that account much superior to the corvette.

Particular care had been taken that the stores might be abundant, and of the best quality. The naval stores at Havre were entirely at the disposal of our commander; considerable sums were granted him for the purchase of supplies of fresh provisions, such as wines, liquors, syrups, sweet-meats of different kinds, portable soups, Italian pastes, dry lemonade, extract of beer, &c. some of the filtering vessels invented by Schmidt, hand-mills, stoves, apparatus for distilling, &c. &c. had been shipped on board each of the vessels, with particular written directions for the preservation of health, by M. Keraudren, first physician to the navy. Our numerous instruments, astronomical, surgical, meteorological, geographical, &c. had been constructed by the most celebrated artists of the capital. Every thing necessary for chemists, painters, and draughtsmen, were carefully selected; a numerous library, composed of the best works in marine subjects, astronomy, geography, natural history, botany, and voyages, was collected for each ship. All the instructions relative to scientific researches were written and prepared by a committee of the Institute, consisting of M. M. Fleurieu, Lacépède, Laplace, Bougainville, Cuvier, Jussieu, Lelièvre, Camus, and Langlès, which is sufficient to prove, how complete and valuable our instructions must have been. M. Degerando, a member of the same learned society, prepared for us an interesting work on the rules to be followed to the observation of barbarous nations; a national medal was struck to preserve the memory of this great undertaking; we were furnished with the most flattering passports from all the governments of Europe; unlimited credit was open to us on the principal colonies in Asia and Africa; in a word, the august chief under whose auspices this important voyage was planned, had commanded that nothing should be omitted that might ensure the health and safety of those who were engaged, assist their labours, and every where secure their independence. In short, the most liberal promises, repeated in every page of the instructions of the government, seemed to ensure to our labours, those honourable rewards, those flattering distinctions, which have ever been the recompense of similar voyages, and which alone can indemnify a deserving man for the privations and miseries which he has experienced.

On the shores to which we were destined were many interesting nations. It was the wish of the first consul, that as deputies of Europe, we should conciliate these uninformed people, and appear among them as friends and benefactors. By his orders the most useful animals were embarked in our vessels, a number of interesting trees and shrubs were collected in our ships, with quantities of such seeds as were most congenial to the temperature of the climates. The most useful tools, clothing, and ornaments of every sort, were provided for them, even the most particular inventions in optics, chemistry, and natural philosophy, were contributed for their advantage, or to promote their pleasure.

These numerous arrangements being thus settled, and the ships fitted out, the naturalists received orders in the early part of September, 1800, to attend at Havre; I was of the number; a fifth place of zoologist, bad been given me, from the recommendation of several illustrious and learned characters.

The officers of this expedition were chosen with the greatest care; those who aspired to the distinction submitted to the most strict examinations to obtain admission among us, and all were worthy of the preference. Not only among the officers was this regulation observed, but the most inferior rinks of our company were thus selected, and many young men of respectable families in Normandy joined our crews, attracted by the ardent wish of youth for information, and the particular desire of sharing in the dangers of a distant voyage, which always conveys an idea of something great and extraordinary, which commands respect, and which usually obtains for them the honourable mention they deserve. Among these interesting young men was my worthy assistant, my estimable friend, M. Lesueur, the dear companion of all my dangers, of my privations, and of my zeal.

Independent of the officers of the Naturalist, there was on board this ship, a person well known, called A-Sam, a Chinese native of Canton, who was made prisoner by a French cruiser, from on board of a ship belonging to the English Company. A-Sam bad been successively removed from prison to prison, till he came to that of Val-de-Grace. The presence of a Chinese in the capital produced such a sensation, that the chief consul was at length informed of it. From that moment A-Sam was happy and free; every comfort was lavishly bestowed on him during his stay at Paris; and to fill up the measure of his beneficence, the first consul commanded that A-Sam should be restored to his country and to his family; he was embarked on board our ships, he was treated like an officer, and the governors of the Isle of France received an order to continue to him the same care and respect, till a proper opportunity occurred of conveying him to China. Happy it is for those nations, where such care is bestowed on the unfortunate stranger.