THE VOYAGE OF LA PEROUSE ROUND THE WORLD IN THE YEARS 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788 with the nautical tables.

Arranged by M.L.A. Milet Mureau, Inspector of Fortifications and Member of several literary Societies at Paris.

On the morrow, the rising of the sun announced a fine day, of which I resolved to take advantage to reconnoitre the country, observe the inhabitants in their own huts, fill water, and afterwards get under way, prudence not permitting me to pass a second night at this anchorage, which M. de Langle had likewise found too dangerous for a longer stay, wherefore it was agreed that we should weigh in the afternoon, and that the morning, which was very fine, should be partly employed in treating for fruit and pigs. Ever since day-break had the islanders brought round the two frigates a hundred canoes full of different provisions, for which they would receive nothing but beads in exchange: they were to them the most valuable diamonds. Our hatchets, stuffs, and other articles of commerce, they regarded with contempt. While one part of the crew was taken up with keeping the Indians together, and carrying on commerce with them, the remainder filled the long-boats and barges with empty casks, to go and procure water. Our two armed boats, commanded by Messrs. de Clonard and Collinet; those of the Astrolabe by Messrs. Monti and Bellegarde, set off with this view, at five o'clock in the morning, for a bay at the distance of about a league, and rather to windward; a situation the more commodious, as our boats could sail back with a free wind. I followed very close Messrs. de Clonard and Monti in my biscay yawl, and got ashore at the same time as them. Unfortunately M. de Langle would go in his jolly-boat to a second creek, about a league from our watering place; and this tour, from whence he returned stockdale, disenchanted with the beauty of the village which he had visited, was, as will be seen, the cause of our misfortunes. The creek, towards which our long-boats steered, was large and convenient; the long-boats and barges there remained afloat at low water, within half a pistol-shot from the beach; the water was fine, and easy of access. Messrs. de Clonard and Monti kept the best order there. A line of soldiers was posted between the beach and the Indians, who were in number about two hundred, among whom were many women and children. We got them all to fit down under some cocoa-palms, at only about eight toises from our long-boats.

Each had by him some fouls, pigs, parroquets, pigeons, and fruit, which all wanting to dispose of at the same time, created some confusion. The women, some of whom were very pretty, offered, with their fruit and fowls, their favours to all such as had beads to give in return. They soon attempted to break through the line of soldiers, who gave them too weak a repulse to stop them. Their manners were soft, lively, and engaging. Europeans who have been round the world, particularly Frenchmen, have no arms against such kind of attacks; they succeeded, without much trouble, in breaking through the ranks. The men next came near, and the confusion increased; but some Indians, whom we took for Chiefs, made their appearance, armed with clubs, and order was re-established; every one returned to his post, and the traffic recommenced, to the great satisfaction of both buyers and sellers. A circumstance had, however, occurred in our long-boat, which was a real act of hostility, and which I would fain repress without bloodshed. An Indian had got upon the stern of our boat, when, catching hold of a mallet, he gave one of our sailors several hard blows on the arms and back. I ordered four of the strongest marines to lay hold of him, and fling him into the sea, which they immediately did. The other islanders appeared to disapprove of their countryman's conduct, and this scuffle passed off without any other consequences. Perhaps an example of severity was necessary to make a stronger impression on these people, and let them know what power our arms had over their individual strength; for their height, about five feet ten inches, their limbs strongly formed, and in the most colossal proportions, gave them an idea of their own superiority, which did not render us very formidable in their eyes; but having very little time to stay among these islanders, I did not think myself justified in inflicting a more severe punishment on him who had committed the offence; at the same time, to give them some idea of our power, I ordered three pigeons to be bought, which were thrown up into the air, and killed by musket-shot, in presence of the whole assembly. This act seemed to have inspired them with some fear, and I must own, I expected more from this sentiment than from that of kindness, of which man, hardly out of the savage state, is rarely susceptible.

While every thing was going on with the greatest tranquillity, and our casks were filling with water, I thought I might walk about two hundred paces, for the fake of visiting a charming village, situated in the midst of a wood or rather orchard, the trees in which were weighed down by fruit. The houses were placed in the circumference of a circle, about 150 fathoms in diameter, the centre of which formed a vast open place, with a grass-plat of the most beautiful verdure; the trees which overshaded it, kept up a delicious freshness. Women, children, and old men accompanied me, and invited me into their houses, there they spread the finest and freshest mats on the ground, formed by small picked pebbles, and which they had raised about two feet to protect them from the damp. I entered the handsomest of these huts, which probably belonged to the Chief, when how great was my surprise, to see a large room of lattice work, equally well executed with any of those about Paris. The best architect could not have given a more elegant curve to the extremities of the ellipsis than terminated this cabin; a range of columns at five feet distance from each other was placed all round it: these columns were made of trunks of trees wrought with great nicety, between which, fine mats, artfully laid one on the other like the scales of a fish, were elevated or let down by cords like our lattices, the rest of the house was covered with leaves of the cocoa palm.

This charming country united the twofold advantage of a foil fertile without culture, and a climate which required no clothing. Bread fruit, cocoa-nut, banana, gouvas, and orange trees furnished this fortunate people with abundance of wholesome nourishment; while fowls, pigs and dogs, which live on the refuse of these fruits, afforded them an agreeable variety of meats. They were so rich, and in want of so little, that they disdained our instruments of iron and stuffs, and would only have beads: burdened with real goods, they only wished for useless things.

They had fold at our market more than two hundred tame wood pigeons, which would only eat out of the hand; they had also given us in exchange the most charming turtle doves and parroquets, equally tame with the pigeons. What imagination could not figure to itself the happiness of so delicious an abode. These Islanders, were we incessantly repeating, are undoubtedly the most happy inhabitants of the earth; surrounded by their wives and their children, they enjoy, in the midst of repose, days of purity and tranquillity; their only care is to bring up birds, and, like the first Adam, to gather without labour, the fruits which grow over their heads. We deceived ourselves: this beautiful abode was not the mansion of innocence: we perceived, it is true, no arms, but the bodies of these Indians covered with scars, proved that they must be at war, or quarrel among themselves, and their countenances bespoke a ferocity imperceptible in the physiognomy of the women. Nature had without doubt, left this stamp on the figure of the Indians to denote that man, almost wild, and in a state of anarchy, is a being more mischievous than the fiercest of the animal creation.

This first visit passed off without any dispute capable of bringing on dreadful consequences; I however, was informed there had been private quarrels, but that great prudence had done them aqay: M. Rollin our surgeon-major had been pelted with stones; an Islander, under pretence of admiring M. Monneron's sword, attempted to wrench it from him, and the scabbard only having come off, he ran away frightened to death at the sight of the naked blade. I observed that these islanders were in general very turbulent, and paid very little attention to their chiefs; but I meant to set off in the afternoon, I felicitated myself in not having given importance to the petty vexations we had experienced. Towards noon I returned on board in my Biscay yawl, and the boats followed me very close; it was difficult to get alongside because of the canoes which surrounded the two frigates, and our market not being exhausted, I had given the command of the frigates in charge to M. Boutin when I went on shore, and left it to him to act as he should think proper, in permitting the Islander to come on board, or absolutely forbidding it, according to circumstances. I found on the quarter deck seven or eight Indians, the oldest of whom was introduced to me as a chief. M. Boutin told me, that he could not prevent them from getting on board without giving orders to fire; that when they compared their bodily strength with ours, they derided our threats, and made a joke of the sentinels; that on his side, knowing my principles of moderation, he was not willing to employ violent means, which notwithstanding, were the only means that could refrain them: he added, that since the presence of the chief, the Islanders on board had become more orderly and less insolent. I made the chief many presents, and gave him proofs of the utmost kindness: wishing afterwards to inspire him with a high opinion of our strength, I ordered different proofs of the use of our arms to be made before him: but their effect made little or no impression on him, and he seemed to think they were only fit for killing birds. Our boats arrived laden with water, and I disposed every thing for weighing, and taking advantage of a gentle land breeze, which made us hope to have time for getting a little further off the coast; M. de Langle returned at the same time from his excursion; he told me that he landed in a fine cove for boats, situated at the foot of a delightful village, and near a cascade of the most limpid water.

In going on board he had given orders for getting under way, perceiving, like me, the necessity for it: but he insisted, in the most positive manner, upon our stretching off and on a league from the coast, and procuring a few long-boat loads of water, before finally bidding adieu to the island. In vain I represented to him that we were not in the least want of it: he had adopted Capt. Cook's system, and thought that water recently taken on board was a hundred times preferable to that which we had in the hold; and as some of his ship's company showed slight symptoms of scurvy, he thought, with reason, that it was our duty to give them every possible comfort. Besides, no island could stand in competition with this for abundance of provisions; the two frigates having already trafficked for 500 pigs, a great quantity of fowls, pigeons, and fruit, and all at the expense only of a few beads of glass.

I at once saw the truth of these reflections, but a secret foreboding at first prevented my acquiescence. I told him that I found these islanders too turbulent to risk sending our boats on shore, where they could not be supported by the fire of the ships; that our moderation had only served to increase the confidence of the Indians, who only calculated on our personal strength, far inferior to their own. But nothing could shake M. de Langle's resolution, who told me that my opposition made me responsible for the progress of the scurvy, which began to make its appearance with sufficient violence, and that, Besides, the harbour of which he spoke was much more commodious than our former watering place. At last he begged me to give him leave to head the first expedition, assuring me that in three hours he would return on board, with all the boats filled with water. M. de Langle was a man of such judgement and capacity, that these considerations, more than any other motive, determined my assent, or rather made me give up my own will to his; I therefore promised him that we would stand off and on all night; that on the morrow, our two long-boats and our two barges should be expedited, armed as he might judge proper, and that the whole should be under his orders. The event completed our conviction that it was time to get under way; for, on taking up the anchor, we found one strand of the cable cut by the coral, and in the course of two hours the whole cable would have been cut. As we did not set sail till four o'clock in the afternoon, it was too late to think of sending the boats ashore, and their departure was accordingly deferred till the following day. The night being stormy, and the winds changing every instant, resolved me to get about three leagues distant from the coast. In the morning the dead calm would not let me approach, and it was not before nine o'clock that there arose a light breeze from the north-east, that enabled me to come near the island, from which, at eleven, we were only one short league. I then dispatched my long boat and my barge, commanded by Messrs. Boutin and Mouton, on board the Astrolabe, with orders to put themselves under the command of M. de Langle; all those who were slightly infected with scurvy, were put on board, as well as six armed soldiers, with the master at arms at their head; the two boats contained 28 men, and carried about 20 empty casks to be filled with water. Messrs. de Lamanon and Colinet, although far from well, were among the number of those who left the boussole. On the other hand, M. de Vaujuas, a convalescent, accompanied M. de Langle in his barge; M. le Gobien, a midshipman, commanded the long-boat; and Messrs. de la Martiniere, Lavaux, and Father Receveur, made part of the 33 persons sent from the Astrolabe.-Among the 61 individuals composing the whole expedition, were the choicest men of our crews. M. de Langle armed the whole with muskets and cutlasses, and six swivels were mounted in the long-boats; I left it to him to do whatever he might think necessary for his safety. The certainty of having had no dispute with these people, for which they could harbour revenge, the immense quantity of canoes which surrounded us in the offing, the air of gaiety and confidence which prevailed in our traffic, all tended to increase his security; and I confess that it was not greater than mine: but it was contrary to my principles to fend boats ashore, without extreme necessity, and particularly in the midst of a numerous people, which could neither be supported nor even seen by our ships. The boats put off from the Astrolabe at half past twelve at noon, and in less than three quarters of an hour arrived at the watering place. How great was the surprise of all the officers, and of M. de Langle himself, to find, instead of a large and commodious bay, a creek almost choked up with coral, which could only be entered by winding channel, less than 25 feet in width, where the surf broke as upon a bar! When they were within, they did not find three feet water; the long-boats got a-ground and the barges were only kept a-float by being hauled up to the mouth of the channel, far enough from the beach. Unfortunately, M. de Langle had explored this bay at high water, and did not suppose that in these islands the tide rose five or six feet; he thought that his eyes deceived him. His first movement was to quit this bay, for that where we had already taken in water, and which comprehended the same advantages: but the air of tranquillity, and mildness of the people who were in waiting on the beach, with an immense quantity of fruit and pigs; the women and children he remarked among the islanders, who always take care to send them out of the way when they have any hostile views; all these circumstances together, made his first ideas of prudence vanish, which an inconceivable fatality prevented him from following. He put the water casks on shore from the four boats, with the greatest tranquillity; his soldiers established the best order on; the beach, where they formed a line, which left plenty of room for our people. But this calm was not of long duration, many of the canoes which had disposed of their provisions to our ships, were returned on shore, all of which resorted to the bay where they were taking in water, so that by degrees it was full; instead of 200 inhabitants, including women and children, which M. de Langle found assembled on his arrival at half past one, at three o'clock there were 10 or 1200. The number of canoes which had traded with us in the morning, was so considerable, that we had scarcely perceived their diminution in the afternoon; I gave myself credit for keeping them engaged on board, hoping that our boats would thereby meet with less interruption: my error was great; the situation of M. de Langle became more embarrassing every moment; seconded by Messrs. de Vaujuas, Boutin, Colinet, and Goubien, he however succeeded in shipping his water; but the bay was almost dry, and he could not expect to get his long-boats afloat before four o'clock in the afternoon; he nevertheless went on board, as well as his detachment, and took his station in the bow, with his musket and fusiliers, forbidding them to fire without orders. He, nevertheless, began to perceive that he should soon be forced to do it; the stones already flew about, and these Indians, the water only reaching up to their knees, surrounded the boats, at less than a toife distant; the efforts of the soldiers who were embarked, to disperse them, were in vain. If the fear of commencing hostilities, and being accused of barbarity, had not checked M. de Langle, he would have assuredly ordered a discharge, both from the musketry and swivels, to be made on the Indians, which would certainly have kept the multitude at a distance; but he flattered himself that he should be able to restrain them without shedding blood, and fell a victim to his own humanity. A shower of stones, thrown from a very short distance, with all the strength of a sling, soon reached almost all those who were in the long-boat. M. de Langle had only time to fire his musket twice, when he was knocked down, and unfortunately fell over the larboard side, when more than 200 Indians immediately massacred him with clubs and stones. When he was dead, they tied him by one of his arms, to a row-lock of the boat, for the purpose of profiting, no doubt, of his spoils. The long-boat of the boussole, commanded by M. Boutin, was a-ground, two toises from that of the Astrolabe, leaving, in a parallel line between them, a little channel, unoccupied by the Indians, whereby all the wounded who were fortunate enough not to fall on the off side, saved themselves by swimming; they reached our barges, which very fortunately remaining a-float, were the means of saving 49 men out of the 61 composing the expedition. M. Boutin had imitated all the movements, and followed all the steps of M. de Langle; his water casks, his detachment, and all his people, had been embarked at the same time, and he posted himself in the same manner in the bow of the long-boat. Although apprehensive of the dreadful consequences of M. de Langle's moderation, he did not suffer himself, nor order his detachment to fire, until after his commander. It may be supposed, that at the distance of four or five paces, every shot must have brought down an Indian, but they had not time to load again. M. Boutin was, in like manner, knocked down by a stone; he fortunately fell between the two long-boats, on board of which, in less than five minutes, not a single man remained. Those who had saved themselves by swimming to the two barges, had each several wounds, mostly on the head; those on the other hand, who had the misfortune to fall over on the side of the Indians, were put an end to in an instant, by their clubs.

But such was their rage for pillage, that those Islanders ran to take possession of the long-boats, and got on board to the number of three or four hundred; they broke up the seats, and pulled the inside to pieces in search of our supposed riches. They, then took no further notice of our barges, which gave Messrs. Vaujuas and Mouton time to save the remainder of the people, and to be sure that none remained in the power of the Indians, Besides those who had been massacred and killed in the water, by blows of their patows. Those who were on board our barges, and who had till then been firing upon and killed many of the Islanders, no longer thought of any thing but throwing their water casks into the sea, that the boats might hold them all; Besides they had exhausted most of their ammunition and the retreat could not be effected without difficulty, with so great a number of persons dangerously wounded,, who, extended on the thwarts, prevented the oars from having full play. To the wisdom of M. de Vaujuas, the good order he established, and the punctuality observed by M. Mouton, who commanded the boussole's boat, 49 persons of the two ships' companies owe their preservation. M. Boutin who had five wounds in the head, and one in the stomach, was kept above water by the coxswain of the long-boat, who was himself wounded. M. Colinet was found lying almost lifeless on the grapnel rope of the barge, with one arm fractured, a finger broke, and two wounds in the head. M. Lavaux, surgeon-major of the Astrolabe, was so badly wounded, that it was necessary to trepan him; he had nevertheless swam to the boats as well as M. de la Martiniere and Father Receveur, who had received a violent contusion in the eye. M. de Lamanon and de Langle were massacred with unexampled barbarity, as well as Talin, master at arms of the boussole, and nine others of the two ships' companies. The ferocious Indian after having killed them, yet sought to wreak his fury on their lifeless carcasses with clubs. M. le Gobien, who commanded the Astrolabe's long-boat under the orders of M. de Langle, did not quit it before he found himself left alone; after having used all his ammunition, he leapt into the water on the side of the channel formed by the two boats, which, as I before said, was not possessed by the Indians; and, notwithstanding his wounds, succeeded in saving himself in one of the barges; that of the Astrolabe was so deeply laden that it grounded, which gave the Islanders an idea harassing the wounded in their retreat; they came down in great numbers towards the reefs at the entrance of the cove, which the barges were under the necessity of passing at the distance of about ten feet. The little ammunition that remained was exhausted on the furious crowd, and the boats at length got out of this den, more dreadful by its perilous situation, and the cruelty of its inhabitants, than the haunt of lions and tigers.

At five o'clock they arrived on board, and gave us the recital of this disastrous event. At that moment we had round us 100 canoes, the natives in which, were selling their provisions with a security which proved their innocence: but they were the brothers, children, and fellow countrymen of these barbarous assassins; and I confess, I had recourse to all my reason, to restrain the rage which animated me, and to prevent our ship's companies from murdering them. Already were the soldiers unlashing the guns and flying to arms: I checked these movements, which were nevertheless very pardonable, and ordered a single gun, loaded only with powder, to be fired, to give notice to the canoes to keep off. A small canoe from the coast, probably made them acquainted with what had happened; for in less than an hour not a single one was to be seen. An Indian who was on the quarter deck of my frigate when our boat arrived, was by my orders arrested and put in irons; the morrow, having gone nearer the coast, I gave him leave to jump into the sea: the confidence with which he remained in the frigate being an unequivocal proof of his innocence.

It was my first intention to give orders for a new expedition, to avenge my unhappy companions, and recover the wrecks of the boats. With this view, I approached the coast in search of an anchorge; but I only found the same bottom of coral, with a swell setting in shore and breaking on the reefs; Besides, the creek where the massacre took place, was a deep bight in the island, and seemed scarcely possible to approach within gun shot. M. Boutin, whose wounds still kept him to his bed, but whose mind was in full vigour, represented to me also, that such was the situation of the bay, that should our boats unfortunately run aground, it was probable not a man would return, for the trees which grow almost close to the sea-side, sheltering the Indians from our musketry, would leave such as might be disembarked, exposed to a shower of stones, the more difficult to avoid, as being flung with great power and skill; their effect was nearly the same as our balls, and had the advantage over them of coming in more rapid succession. M. de Vaujuas was also of the same opinion. I would not, however, give my assent, until thoroughly convinced of the impossibility of anchoring within gun shot of the village. I passed two days in plying before the bay, where I still saw to windward, the wrecks of our long-boats aground on the sand, and an immense number of Indians round them. What appeared very unaccountable was, that during this time 5 or 6 canoes put off from the coast, and came with pigs, pigeons, and cocoa nuts to offer us in exchange: I was every moment under the necessity of repressing my anger, not to order them to be sunk. These Indians, ignorant of our having any arms that could carry further than our muskets, remained without fear 50 toises from our ships, and offered their provisions with the most perfect security. Our gestures not encouraging their approach, they thus passed a whole hour in the afternoon of the 12th December. Raillery succeeded their offers of traffic, and I soon perceived many other canoes detached from the bank to join them. As they thought themselves secure from our guns, and every thing evinced that I must soon be obliged to lay aside my principles of moderation, I ordered a gun to be fired in the midst of them. My orders were executed with the greatest precision; the ball dashed the water into the canoes, which in a moment hastened to shore, drawing with them in their flight those who had just quitted it.

It grieved me to tear myself from so horrible a place, and leave the bodies of my murdered companions behind; I lost an old friend, a man of sense, judgement and information, and one of the best officers in the French navy; his humanity was the cause of his death: could he but have brought himself to have given orders to fire upon those Indians who first entered the water to surround his boats, his loss, that of M. de Lamanon, and the ten other victims of Indian brutality, would never have happened: Besides twenty others, who were grievously wounded. Thus this event deprived us for a time of 32 men, and the two long-boats, which were the only ones capable of containing any number of armed men for the purpose of making a descent. These considerations were a guide for my future conduct, and the smallest check would have obliged me to burn one of the frigates to man the other. I had indeed the frame of a long-boat on board, but I could not put it together without going into port. To have satisfied my revenge in massacring some Indians, I must at same time have destroyed sunk, or blown to pieces 100 canoes, containing more than 500 souls; but I was afraid of being deceived in marking out my victims, and the dictates of conscience preserved their lives. Those in whom this recital may call to mind the catastrophe of Captain Cook, must recollect that his ships were moored in the bay of Karakakoon: that their guns made them masters of the sea-shore: that the law was in their own hands, and they could threaten with destruction all the canoes left on the beach, as well as the villages bordering on the coast: we were, on the contrary, at sea out of gun shot, obliged to keep at a distance from the coast, for fear of being becalmed; a heavy swell always carried us towards the reefs, where we doubtless might have anchored with iron mooring chains, but even this was out of the reach of gun shot of the village; in short, the swell was sufficient to cut the cable at the hawse-hole, and thereby expose the frigates to the most imminent danger. I thus exhausted very calculation of probability before I left this fatal island; and it was clearly demonstrated that anchoring was impracticable, and the expedition rash, without the assistance of the frigates: success had even been of no avail, there certainly was not a man left alive in the Indians' power, our boats were broken up and aground, and we had the means of replacing them on board. I consequently on the 13th, steered for the third island which I saw bearing W. by N. W., and which, owing to bad weather, M. Bougainville had only seen from the mast head; a channel, nine leagues in width, separates it from that of Maouna. The Indians had given us the names of the ten islands that composed their archipelago: as also a rude sketch on paper of their situation; this, although it cannot be depended upon, renders it nevertheless probable, that the people of these different islands form a kind of confederacy, and frequently hold communications with each other. Our later discoveries did not leave a doubt of this archipelago being more considerable both in population and abundance of provisions, than that of the Society Islands; it is probable even that there may be good anchorage: but having no long-boat, and seeing what a state of ferment the crews were in, I resolved to come no more to an anchor until my arrival at Botany Bay, in New Holland, where I proposed building a new long-boat with the frame I had on board. I wished, nevertheless, for the advancement of geography, to explore the different islands I might fall in with, and determine their exact longitude and latitude: I likewise hoped to traffic with the Indians, by standing off and on near their islands. I willingly leave to others the trouble of writing an uninteresting history of these barbarians. A stay of 24 hours, and narrative of our misfortunes, are sufficient to show their atrocious manners, their arts, and the productions of one of the finest countries under heaven.

Before I continue the account of our track along the islands of the archipelago, I think it proper to give the narrative of M. de Vaujuas, who commanded the retreat from the bay of Maouna, and although he only went ashore as a convalescent and not upon duty, circumstances gave him strength, and he did not leave the bay before he was well assured that not a single Frenchman remained alive in the power of the Indians.

"Sunday the 11th December at 11 o'clock in the
"forenoon, M. de la Perouse sent his long boat and
"barge, laden with water-casks, with a detachment of
"armed soldiers, to make part of an expedition under
"the command of M. de Langle. M. Boutin had already
"received instructions relative to the means of
"keeping order, and providing for our security when
"the boats should reach the shore. At the same hour
"our captain hoisted out his boats, and likewise had
"stowed them with water-casks and provided with
"arms. At half past twelve, the frigates being three
"quarters of a league from shore, on the larboard
"tacks, the boats put off to water in a creek which
"had been reconnoitred by M. de Langle. This
"watering place was to leeward of that where they had
"before been, M. de Langle having thought it preferable
"from its appearing less inhabited and equally
"commodious; but the former had the advantage of
"a more easy entrance, and sufficient depth of water
"for the boats to run no risk of getting aground.

"M. de Langle proposed to me, although a convalescent
"and very weak, to accompany him, and
"walk and take the air on shore; he took the
"command of the barge himself, entrusting the long-boat
"to the care of M. le Gobien. That of the boussole
"was commanded by M. Boutin, and the barge by
"M. Mouton. M. Colinet and Father Receveur,
"both invalids; Messieurs de Lamanon, la Martiniere
"and Lavaux, accompanied us, as well as
"several others from the two frigates; making, the
"two barges crews included, a detachment of sixty-one
"persons.

"When on our way, we saw with concern a great
"part of the canoes along side the ship follow us, and
"come into the same creek; we also saw along the
"rocks which divide it from the neighbouring bays,
"many natives who had assembled from the villages,
"arriving at the reef which form the creek of the
"watering place, and leaves but a narrow and shallow
"passage for boats, we found it was low water, and
"that the boats could not enter without running
"aground, this they accordingly did at half a musket
"shot from the beach, which we could only get near
"by pushing them forward with our oars. This bay
"had been seen by the captain in the most favourable
"point of view, from the tide when he examined
"it not being so low.

"The savages, on our arrival, who lined the coast
"to the number of seven or eight hundred, threw into
"the water many branches of the tree, from which the
"islanders of the South Sea extract their intoxicating
"beverage, as a token of peace. On landing, M.
"de Langle gave orders that each boat should be
"guarded by an armed soldier and sailor, while the
"crews of the long-boats were employed in filling
"water, under the protection of a double line of musketeers,
"who extended from the boats to the watering
"place. The casks were filled and quietly put on
"board, the islanders being kept in tolerable awe by the
"soldiers: there was among them a certain number
"of the women, and very young girls, who offered themselves
"to us in the most indecent manner, and
"whose advances were not altogether rejected; we
"saw but few children there.

"Towards the end of our work the natives
"increased in number, and became more troublesome,
"which circumstance determined M. de Langle
"to give up his first idea of trafficking for provisions
"with them, and he gave orders for embarking
"immediately; but before this, and what I
"think was the origin of our misfortune, he
"presented some beads to a kind of Chiefs, who had
"contributed in keeping the islanders at a little distance.
"We were, for all that, certain that this
"policy was mere mockery; and that if these Chiefs
"had any actual authority, it extended only over
"very few. These presents, distributed to five or
"six individuals, excited the discontent of all the
"others. From that time a general murmur arose,
"and it was no longer in our power to keep them
"quiet; they notwithstanding let us get into our boats,
"but part of them followed us into the water,
"while the others collected stones on the beach.

"As the boats were aground at a little distance from
"the strand, we were obliged to go up to our middles
"in water to get them, in doing which many
"soldiers wetted their arms. In this critical situation
"commenced the horrid scene of which I am going
"to speak. Hardly had we got into the boats,
"when M. de Langle gave orders for pushing them
"off and taking up the grapnel, which many robust
"islanders resisted, by laying hold of the rope.
"The captain being witness to this resistance, seeing
"the tumult increase, and some stones having
"reached him, fired his gun in to the air, to endeavour
"to intimidate them; which, so far from succeeding,
"they made the signal for a general
"attack. A shower of stones, thrown with equal
"force and celerity, poured down upon us; the
"combat on both sides commenced, and became general.
"those whose muskets would go off,
"brought many of these ferocious Indians to the
"ground, but the others showing not the least
"concern, seemed to redouble their vigour; one
"party of whom approached the boats, whilst the
"others, to the amount of six or seven hundred,
"continued to stone us in the most dreadful and
"murderous manner.

"On the first act of hostility I threw myself into
"the sea, to get to the Astrolabe's boat, which was
"destitute of officers. The circumstance of the moment
"gave me strength for the short distance I had to go;
"and notwithstanding my weak state,
"and some blows I had received from stones at the
"time, I got on board without any assistance. I
"saw, with despair, that there was scarce a musket
"but was wet, and that all I could do was to
"endeavour to get her afloat as soon as possible,
"without the reef. The combat, however, went on;
"and the enormous stones flung by the savages,
"were always wounding some of us; and whenever
"a wounded man fell overboard by the side
"where the savages were, he was instantly put an
"end to with clubs or paddles.

"M. de Langle fell the first victim to these barbarians,
"whom he had never treated otherwise than well.
"At the beginning of the attack he was knocked, bleeding, over the bow of the boat,
"where he was standing, into the sea, together
"with the master at arms and carpenter, who were
"both at his side. The fury with which they threw
"themselves on the captain, saved the two latter,
"who succeeded in gaining the barge. Those who
"were in the long-boats soon underwent the same
"fate as our unhappy chief, except a few, who,
"by escaping their observation, were enabled to
"reach the reef, from whence they swam towards
"the barges. Within four minutes had the islanders
"made themselves masters of the two long-boats, and
"I had the pain of seeing my unfortunate companions
"murdered, without being able to give them the
"least assistance. The Astrolabe's barge was still
"within the reef, and I waited in momentary expectation
"of seeing it undergo the fate of the long-boats;
"but the avidity of the islanders saved it, the
"greater number precipitating themselves into the
"long-boats, and the others contenting themselves
"with pelting us with stones: many, however, waited
"for us at the mouth of the channel, and on the reefs.
"Although the swell was heavy, and the wind right
"on end, we succeeded, notwithstanding a shower
"of stones, and the dangerous wounds many of us had
"received, in quitting this fatal place, and joining M.
"Mouton, commander of the boussole's barge, who,
"by throwing his water casks overboard, had lightened
"her to make room for those who could get on board.
"I had taken into that of the Astrolabe, Messrs. Boutin
"Colinet, and several other persons. Those
"who had saved themselves, were all more or less
"wounded, so that the boats, were defenceless; and
"it was impossible to think of returning into a bay,
"from whence we thought ourselves too happy in
"escaping, to make head against a thousand enraged
"barbarians; it would have been exposing ourselves,
"without the least utility, to certain death. We
"therefore steered towards the two frigates, which,
"at three o'clock, when the massacre took place,
"had made a tack off shore, never thinking that
"we were in the least danger, The breeze was
"fresh, and the frigates far to windward, an unfortunate
"circumstance for us, and particularly
"for those whose wounds required immediate dressing.
"At four o'clock they tacked, and stood in
"again for shore. We were no sooner clear of the
"reefs, then I hauled my wind, to get off from
"the coast, and flung every thing overboard that
"could retard the boat's way, she being full of people.
"Fortunately the islanders, taken up with pillaging
"the long-boats, did not think of pursuing us. Our
"whole defence consisted in four or five cutlasses,
"and two or three discharges of musketry; a feeble
"resource against two or three hundred barbarians,
"armed with clubs and stones, in very light
"canoes, which they might keep at what distance
"they thought proper. Some few of them left the
"bay shortly after us, but they failed coastways,
"from whence one of them set off to give notice to
"those who were along-fide of the frigates. This
"canoe had the insolence, in passing, to make
"menacing signals; but my position obliged me to
"suspend my revenge, and reserve the feeble means
"which remained for our own defence.

"We were no sooner in the offing, than I pulled
"with the wind right on end, towards the frigates,
"we hoisted a red handkerchief at the mast head, and,
"as we approached, fired our three last muskets.
"M. Mouton also made, with two handkerchiefs,
"signal for assistance; but we were not perceived
"till close along-fide, when the Astrolabe, which
"was nearest to us, bore down. At half past four I
"left on board her the worst wounded, as did M.
"Mouton, and we immediately repaired on board
"the boussole, when I informed the commodore of
"this disastrous event. After the precautions with
"which his prudence inspired him, and the just
"confidence he had in M. de Langle, his surprise
"was extreme; and as to his distress, I can only
"compare it with my own. This misfortune brought
"strongly to our recollection that of the 13th of July,
"1786, and completed the bitterness of our
"voyage; still happy in this last unfortunate occurrence,
"in having saved the greatest part of those
"who embarked! Had not the thirst after pillage
"checked, or for a moment fixed the rage of the
"savages, not one of us would have escaped.

"It is impossible to express the sensation which
"this terrible event caused in both frigates. The
"death of M. de Langle, who had the confidence and
"esteem of his people, threw all the Astrolabe's
"crew into despair. The islanders, who were along-fide,
"when I came on board, and ignorant
"of what had happened, were on the point of falling
"sacrifices to the vengeance of the sailors, whom
"we had the greatest difficulty to keep within
"bounds. The general affliction which prevailed on
"board, is the best funeral panygerie which can
"be pronounced on the captain. For my own part,
"I lost in him rather a friend than a commander; and
"the interest he showed towards me, will make me lament
"his loss while I have breath. Happy should
"I have been in affording him proof of my attachment
"and gratitude, by sacrificing my life for his!
"But this brave officer, more exposed than the
"others, was the first prey of the ferocious brutes
"that assailed us. In the weak state in which my
"recovery left me, I went ashore unarmed, under
"the protection of others; all the ammunition was
"either exhausted, or wet, before I got to the barge,
"and when there I could only give, unhappily,
"orders too unavailing.

"I should not do justice to those who were, like
"myself, fortunate enough to save themselves, did
"I not declare that they conducted themselves with
" the utmost possible bravery and coolness. Messrs.
"Boutin and Colinet, who notwithstanding their
"severe wounds, had still their usual presence of
"mind, kindly offered their services, which I derived
"great advantage from; and I was also ably
"seconded by M. le Gobien, who was the last man
"that left the boat, and the intrepidity of whose
"example and exhortations contributed not a little
"to reanimate such of the sailors as might feel themselves
"dismayed. The warrant officers, sailors,
"and soldiers, executed the orders received with
"equal zeal and punctuality; and M. Mouton had
"no less reason to be satisfied with the barge's crew
"of the boussole.

"All those who were on shore can bear witness,
"like me, that no violence, no imprudence on our
"fide, preceded the attack of the savages. Our
"captain had, with respect to this, issued the most
"strict orders, which no one disobeyed.

(Signed)
"VAUJAUS.
"

Return of the persons massacred by the Savages of the Island of Maouna, on the 11th December, 1787. OF THE ASTROLABE. Officers.-M. de Langle, Post Captain, commander; Yves Humon, John Redellec, Francis Feret, Laurence Robin, and a Chinese seamen.

Lewis David, quarter-gunner; John Geraud, servant. OF THE BOUSSOLE. M. de Lamanon, natural philosopher and naturalist; Peter Talin, gunner; Andrew Roth, and Joseph Rayes, quarter-gunners. All the others, in the party, were more or less severely wounded.