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Description

Fine Early View of Bora Bora

Highly detailed view of Borabora showing dwellings along the waterfront and volcanic mountain in the background, redrawn by Chazal upon an original by Jules Louis Lejeune, one of 43 views drawn by Lejeune during his time serving under Duperrey on the Voyage of the Coquille.

The view is one of a number of views created to illustrate the expedition lead by Louis-Isidore Duperrey on the vessel Coquille.  Duperrey had sailed to the South Pacific with Freycinet, and when he returned in 1820 he suggested a follow-up voyage, with himself in command. His proposal was approved, and in 1822 the Coquille set out, with Prosper Garnot as head surgeon and naturalist, and René Primevère Lesson as his assistant.  The Coquille sailed from France and rounded South America, then proceeding west to Tahiti, and then on to the island groups of Melanesia, such as the Solomon Islands. Much time was spent in Papua New Guinea, where many of the animals and plants were new to Europeans.

The entire voyage took almost three years. By far the greatest contributions of the expedition were scientific, cartographic, and ethnographic.  Recordings were made on Polynesian languages, costumes, weapons and religious artifacts. Duperrey is given credit for discovering the Caroline and Gilbert islands, and for correcting errors in earlier charts of the Society Islands. 

Duperrey's also continued to explore the French interest in Tahiti and the Society Islands, which culminated in their annexation by France.