A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean

Standard reference collection of summaries of European voyages of discovery between 1492 and 1764, first published between 1803 and 1817.

James Burney (Author)

9781108024105, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 December 2010

504 pages, 8 b/w illus. 11 maps
29.7 x 2.6 x 21 cm, 1.2 kg

Captain James Burney (1750–1821), the son of the musicologist Dr Charles Burney and brother of the novelist Fanny Burney, was a well-travelled sailor, best known for this monumental compilation of voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. After joining the navy in 1764, he sailed on Cook's second voyage between 1772 and 1774, and was also present on the ill-fated third voyage. He retired from the navy in 1784 and turned to writing works on exploration. These volumes, published between 1803 and 1817, and regarded as the standard work on the subject for much of the nineteenth century, contain collected accounts of European voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean between 1492 and 1764. Burney provides summaries of Spanish, Dutch and English accounts, which include descriptions of voyages to China, Micronesia and Australia. Volume 3 covers voyages between 1620 and 1688, including the voyages of Abel Tasman.

1. Voyage of the Nassau Fleet, to the South Sea, and to the East Indies
2. Of the early intercourse of Europeans with China, and their settlements on the Island Formosa. Various other events to the year 1638
3. Voyage of Captain Matthys Kwast to the sea east of Japan
4. The Voyage of Captain Abel Jansen Tasman in the year 1642
5. Expedition of Hendrick Brouwer to Chili
6. Voyage of the ships Kastrikom and Breskens to the north of Japan
7. Notices of a second voyage of discovery by Tasman. Of the Amsterdam Stadt-house map of the world
and of the names Hollandia Nova and Zeelandia Nova
8. Doubtful relation of a voyage by Bartholomew de Fonte
9. Brief notice of the first entrance of the Russians into the sea east of Asia. Narrative of the wreck of a Dutch ship on the Island Quelpaert, and the captivity of her crew in the Korea
10. Western navigation from Europe to the East Indies. The Island Formosa taken from the Hollanders
11. Early instance of the use of time keepers at sea. Of islands marked in the charts with the name Santa Tecla. Voyage of Jean Baptiste de la Follada
12. Commencement of missionary undertakings to the islands in the South Sea
and settlement of the Ladrone Islands by the Spaniards
13. Voyage of Captain John Narbrough to Patagonia and Chili
14. Trading voyages from Europe to the South Sea, by Strait le Maire. Attempt by the English East India Company to re-establish their trade with Japan. Voyage of Thomas Peche to the Molucca and Philippine Islands, and in search of the Strait of Anian
15. Voyage of Antonio de la Rochè. Discovery by the Japanese of the island Bune-sima, with various other matters
16. Discoveries made by the Japanese to the north. Attempts of the Portuguese to renew their trade with Japan. The name Carolinas given to islands southward of the Marianas. First mission of the French Jesuits to China. Islas de 1688. Island Donna Maria de Lajara
Appendix.

Subject Areas: History [HB]