The rival expedition of Kerguelen discovering the Southern Land.
France attaches its name to the exploration of the Austral Seas
and publishes the first map of New Zealand.
Crozet, Julien and Rochon, Abbot Alexis-Marie de. New Voyage to the South Sea, Begun under the orders of Mr. Marion, Knight of the Royal & Military Order of St. Louis, Captain of fire-ship; & completed, after the death of this Officer, under those of Mr. the Knight Duclesmeur, Marine Guard. This Account was compiled from the Plans & Journals of Mr. Crozet. An Extract from the voyage of Mr. De Surville in the same regions has been added.
Paris, Barrois the elder, 1783.
In-8 of viii pp., 290 pp., 5 plates and 2 out-of-text maps including 1 folding, (1) f.
Marbled full-calf, blind-stamped fillet framing the boards, smooth spine decorated with gilt lines, red morocco title label, gilt fillet on the edges, red edges. Binding of the time.
189 x 120 mm.
Original edition of the rarest of this major work for the history of New Zealand and Tasmania.
This is the account of one of the very first French expeditions to Australia and New Zealand.
Sabin, XVII, 439; Davidson, A Book Collector’s Notes, pp. 98-99; Dunmore, vol. I, p. 182; Du Rietz, Bibliotheca Polynesiana by Kroepelien, 1104; Hill, 401; Hocken, pp. 21-22; Howgego, I, C222, p. 285; Le Nail, Explorateurs et Grands Voyageurs Bretons, p. 32; New Zealand National Bibliography, vol. I, 1502.
cem>The first printed French maps of New Zealand were Marion Dufresne92s maps of 1772 in this account of Crozet92s voyage.94 (Tooley, The Mapping of Australia, p. XII et p. 308, 158).
3cem>Crozet92s narrative, apart from the drama of its story, has much careful observation on Maori life and custom and, with the reports of Cook and his officers, was virtually the only source material available for 40 years93 (New Zealand National Bibliography).
3cem>It is an exceedingly rare item and is seldom available. a0(Davidson, A Book Collector92s Notes, pp. 98-99).
Excellent sailor, well at court, enthusiastic about scientific novelties, but also a very active trader, his curiosity is piqued by the docking at Port-Louis of the 93Brisson94, which brings back to Polynesia the Tahitian Ahu-Toru who had accompanied Bougainville to France and to whom the famous circumnavigator had promised return to the homeland. Intendant Pierre Poivre has very precise instructions and the duty to organize the continuation of the voyage.
Marion-Dufresne proposes to organize it – largely at his own expense – by combining the return of Ahu-Toru, the exploration of the south of the Indian and Pacific Oceans beyond 45b0 south latitude to locate a potential unknown continent, the recognition of the New Zealand coastline for 93fishing profits94, and finally, the pursuit of research towards the Torres Strait and Timor for a 93place suitable for establishing a trading post94. Poivre agrees, informs the minister and provides the entrepreneur-sailor with a flute of 450 tonnes called 93Mascarin94; Marion-Dufresne charters on his side the frigate 93Marquis de Castries94 which he entrusts to Julien Crozet with whom he had previously sailed. The two ships set sail from Port-Louis on October 18, 1771, three months before an expedition was ordered to Kerguelen aimed at finding a potential 93southern continent94. Ahu-Toru dies of smallpox (probably contracted at Port-Louis) on November 6 off Madagascar; there is no longer any need to go up to Tahiti, so Marion-Dufresne informs the minister that he is heading southeast, under 40b0: he discovers islands: Crozet, now South African, is called 93Prince Edward94 after he baptized it Terre de la Caverne. A serious mishap requires an emergency shelter in January 1772, then a thick fog obstructs the slow recognition of dusty islands, without detecting a true archipelago. At the end of January, the expedition is geographically quite close to Kerguelen’s: perhaps Marion-Dufresne discovered Kerguelen before Kerguelen?
In February, on Crozet’s initiative, they head east and on March 3, land is sighted in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), 130 years after its discovery. The stopover is picturesque, friendly with the islanders; fresh water and fruits are taken. Further, the natives welcome them with spears and javelins, leading to the killing of a few.
Marion-Dufresne crosses the Tasman Sea and coasts along New Zealand’s North Island, giving them French names without knowing that Cook had already conducted this inventory and naming in 1769. He lands in the Bay of Islands, establishes friendly relations with local Maoris, notes their linguistic kinship with Tahitians, makes many observations, establishes three camps, preludes in his mind to a more serious 93trading post94. But things deteriorate; celebrations are held on June 8, but a small group of reconnaissance sailors do not return. Marion-Dufresne lands with a group of men and does not return. By June 12, it is certain that the intrepid commander was massacred; troops are sent ashore, punish, execute some Maoris, burn a village after finding the remains of a cannibal meal. It is impossible to stay under these conditions, precisely described in the logbook, and the expedition sets sail on July 12, under the command of Crozet and his second Ambroise Le Jar de Clesmeur. Both unaware of the real intentions of the deceased; the officers gathered in council decide to continue up the coast and to join the northern route 93without seeking distant lands94, thus passing the Rotterdam Island of Tonga, relaxing in the Mariannes. Navigation is slow, difficult, cases of scurvy multiply. On August 23, both units cross the equator, veer westward, relax in Guam where the Spanish governor provides fresh water, food, and care; he also gives a pilot to guide the two ships to Manila 93where some profits from the loaded cargo are made94, the two ships and the men restored, they set sail at the end of the year and reach Port-Louis without incident in April 1773.
The minister and authorities find the results of the expedition quite disappointing: no southern continent, just arid island dust with an unattractive climate and uninteresting vegetation. Commercially it’s a costly failure: the cargo sold poorly, leaving 400,000 livres in debt, especially crew salaries and repair costs. The affair drags on until 1788.
The tragic death of Marion-Dufresne, who wanted to combine exploration and commercial speculation, adds to the disillusionment and highlights the impossibility of a sustainable settlement in such hostile and remote lands. Perhaps this adventure marks the end of the 93discovery expeditions94 conducted by most Western navies of the 17th and 18th centuries. (Canal Académie, 93Des marins et des navigateurs94, Françoise Thibault, January 2013).
93This was the only form in which the voyage was published; it did not appear in English until H. Ling Roth’s translation of 189194.
93Crozet92s narrative, apart from the drama of its story, has much careful observation on Maori life and custom and, with the reports of Cook and his officers, was virtually the only source material available for 40 years94 (New Zealand National Bibliography).
The illustration consists of 4 beautiful portraits of Maoris, a cedar representation, a folding map showing Surville’s discoveries, and smaller maps depicting Marion-Dufresne’s discoveries in New Zealand and Tasmania.
Superb example of great freshness, preserved in its original binding, of this exceedingly rare first edition.
