Jean François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1741–88) was a French explorer appointed by Louis XVI to lead an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean, which ended in disaster when in 1788 the ships left Botany Bay in Australia on course for the islands of Oceania, and were never heard from again. However, La Pérouse had sent back via a British ship letters, journals and charts which form the basis of these detailed volumes (first published in English translation in 1799), providing a fascinating account of the journey and the discoveries of the expedition. They provide valuable insights into the social and political context of contemporary scientific naval expeditions. Volume 2 contains a description of the remainder of the voyage to Botany Bay, navigational tables showing the route of the expedition and ethnological notes concerning the indigenous inhabitants of California and Easter Island.
17. Route towards the north-west of Japan; 18. Continuation of our route to the north; 19. Stay at baie de Castries; 20. Departure from baie de Castries; 21. Supplement to the preceding chapters; 22. Anchorage in the bay of Avatscha; 23. Summary of particulars respecting Kamtschatka; 24. Manners, customs, and arts, of the natives of Maouna; 25. Departure from the island of Maouna; 26. Departure from the Navigators' islands; Tables of the route of the Boussole, during the years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, from the time of it's leaving Europe to it's arrival in Botany Bay; Tables of the route of the Astrolabe, during the years 1785, 1786, and 1787, from the time of its departure from Europe till its arrival at Kamtschatka; Character of Lamanon Citizen Ponce; Dissertation on the inhabitants of Easter Island, and the island of Mowee M. Rollin; Sketch of the geography of Easter Island M. Bernizet; Observations on the physiology and pathology of the natives of America M. Rollin; Description of certain insects la Martinière; Dissertation on the natives of Tchoka Island, and on the eastern Tartars M. Rollin; Observations on different places M. de la Monneron; Account of Manilla and Formosa M. de la Pérouse; Disquisition on the terebratula, or anomia of Linnaeus M. de Lamanon; Disquisition on the Cornu Ammonis M. de Lamanon; Observations on the trade of sea-otter skins, etc.; Particulars of the otter and beaver-skins, procured at Port des Français; Extracts from the correspondence of Messieurs de la Pérouse and Dagelet, to Mr. Fleurieu; Extracts of letters written by Mr. de la Pérouse to Mr. de la Touche, and by M. de Lamanon to M. de Servières; Letter from M. de la Martinière to the minister of the marine; Extract of a letter from M. de Lamanon to M. Condorcet; Observations made during our run from the first degree of north to the first degree of south latitude to discover the flux and reflux of the atmosphere M. de Lamanon; Index.
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