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Hawaiian Sleighride
The
La Perouse Expedition off Maui, May 29, 1786
Canoes by the hundred took to the water
upon sighting the two French ships, L'Astrolabe and La Boussole
under the command of Jean Francois La Perouse as they sought
safe anchorage along Maui's southern coast. These were the
first western ships to navigate this stretch of ocean since
Captain Cook and the Hawaiians were eager to trade for nails
and other iron implements.
The crew threw lines and pulled the canoes
along side, but the choppy waves and the wake of the ships
swamped and capsized over fifty of the native boats. Despite
the adverse conditions, the Hawaiians managed to conduct sufficient
trade to transfer 15 pigs and a stock of fruit aboard the
French vessels. Commodore La Perouse compared the remarkable
swimming ability of the Hawaiians to that of a seal or a sea
lion.
In all, the expedition spent just 48 hours
in the Hawaiian Islands as La Perouse followed the rigid orders
his mission dictated.
25
x 34 in. giclée on canvas - 100 edition (10 AP hand
enhanced)
original
available
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