Voyage in Search of La Pérouse

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By: Alexa Eyckeler

Introduction: Jean- François de Galaup, Rear Admiral, Count of La Pérouse began his navy career in 1757. After the death of Captain James Cook, a notable explorer, La Pérouse was appointed by King Louis XVI in 1785 to lead an expedition around the world. His main focus of the expedition was the North and South Pacific, The Far East as well as Australia. The reason for La Pérouse's journey was to expand upon Captain Cook's surveys and findings as well as to establish trading contracts. Unfortunately, La Pérouse vanished in Oceania after having left Botany Bay in January of 1788. The remains of his ships were later found in 1964. On September 25, 1791 Rear Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux joined Jacques Julien Houton de Labillardière, a naturalist and surgeon, in search of La Pérouse. They followed La Pérouse's proposed path through the islands northwest of Australia locating various plants, birds, native peoples and artifacts. D'Entrecasteaux died in 1793 but Labillardière eventually returned to France and published this account, originally written in French. This book is the First English Language edition published in 1800. 

How to Use and Specific Locations: 

First click on "La Pérouse's Voyage Rectified Map" this is a digital map of the original map which is found in the book itself. The original map is folded within the book and has a slight tear in the center of the map. You can "click" and "unclick" this map under layers to see the differences. 

Next, click on  "Voyage in Search of La Pérouse" which will mention some speicifc details about the book itself. 

Finally, click through each of the points to begin Labillardière's and D'Entrecasteaux's journey on La Pérouse's proposed path through the islands northwest of Australia to locate the various engravings.These engravings will give you a better understanding of the journey and surrounding areas. Start with: 

1. Eucalyptus Globulus

2. Diplarrena Moroea

3. Anigozanthos Rufa

4. Banksia Nivea

5. Eucalyptus Cornuta

6. Catimarron of Van Diemens Land // Canoe of the Isle of St.Croix

7. Entertainment given to General Dentrecasteaux, by Tornau, King of the Friendly Islands

8. Woman of New Caledonia 

9.  Canoe of the Arsacides

10. Canoe of the Island of Waigiou 

11.  View of the Island of Bourou, taken from the Road

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The purpose of this digital project is to present an analysis of a book on sea travel and voyages that was taken from Santa Clara University's Archives and Special Collections. 

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Throughout this exhibition there are various points that include information on contact zones. Contact Zones refer to social spaces where cultures meet, clash, grapple with each other, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power, such as colonialism, slavery, or their aftermath lived out in many parts of the world today. The defintion for contact zones was taken from Mary Louise Pratt's keynote titled "Arts of the Contact Zone." 

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Sources: 

La Perouse, Jean-Francois de Galaup. “La Perouse's Voyage.”David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, Cartography Associates, www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~35618~1200106:La-Perouse-s-Voyage-#.

“Jean-François De Galaup, Comte De Lapérouse.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-François_de_Galaup,_comte_de_Lapérouse.

“Exploration & Discovery La Pérouse.” Napoleon Revolution to Empire, National Gallery of Victoria, www.ngv.vic.gov.au/napoleon/exploration-and-discovery/la-perouse.html.