Scarce, c.19th handcoloured lithograph of Tolaga Bay (North of Gisborne) by Louis de Sainson, artist on the Dumont D’Urville expedition.
This is the first issue of this lithograph identified by the words, “J. Tatsu, Editeur.” at lower left which ir removed in the later issue.
The Astrolabe had entered the bay in early February, and was of much interest to local Maori. Many waka came to view the boat and the crew were pleased to replenish supplies there. Officers went ashore to make observations, as did de Sainson and the naturalist. D’Urville made an interesting observation regarding the naming of the Bay, “It is worthy of remark that the names of Tolaga…are quite unknown to the Natives; but it has long since been averred that Cook, so full of sagacity otherwise, had little aptitude in acquiring the names of the peoples he visited, and, above all, in representing them in writing. The true name of the bay, Tologa, or, at least, of the district which surrounds it, is Houa-Houa, and it is that which we have adopted.” Houa-Houa was the French attempt at Uawa, the Maori name for the area. This plate shows Maori by a stream leading into the sea, in the distance are three waka. The scene is framed by toe toe and a tree stump.
D’Urville had sailed from Port Jackson on 19.12.26 and sighted the south coast of New Zealand on 10th January 1827 near the site of present day Greymouth. Although his instructions were to carry out a little charting in Cook Strait, D’Urville’s plan was much more ambitious – he was to chart at least half of the coast of New Zealand, thereby providing a clear challenge to the supposition that Cook’s survey had placed the islands firmly in the British Domain. He charted the islands during January to March of 1827 from just south of Cape Foulwind (west coast of the South Island), past Farewell Spit, into Golden and Tasman Bays, through Cook Strait, and up the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, from its southernmost to its northernmost point.
References:
Brosse, J. Great Voyages of Exploration. The Golden Age of Discovery in the Pacific. Sydney 1983: p. 152-154.
Kerr, J. The Dictionary of Australian Artists Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870 Melbourne 1992: p. 69.
Ferguson, JA Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976: 1341.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974: 504.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 1162263
State Library Victoria: Accession no: H90.20/2 (later colouring)
National Gallery Australia: 40974
Queensland Art Gallery: Accession No. 2007.196
National Gallery Victoria: Accession NumberP6-1975 (later colouring)
Te Papa Museum of New Zealand: RB000276/021a
Turnbull Library: B-052-003
