Book Details
[POUCHOT DE CHANTASSIN (Claude-Michel)]. A New Voyage to the East-Indies in the Years 1690 and 1691. Being a full description of the isles of Maldives, Cocos, Andamants, and the Isle of Ascention; and all the forts and garrisons now in possession of the French, with an account of the customs, manners, and habit of the Indians. By Monsieur Duquesne. To which is added, a new description of the Canary Islands, Cape Verd, Senegal and Gambia, &c. Illustrated with sculptures, together with a new map of the Indies, and another of the Canaries. Done into English from the Paris edition.1696
London: Printed for Daniel Dring, First English edition, 8vo (168 x 104 mm), [iv], 187, 128pp., 2 folding maps and 5 engraved plates, title page a little browned with small hole affecting two words, without front free-endpaper, cont. calf, rebacked with chipped title label. First English translation of Pouchot de Chantassin's Relation du voyage et retour des Indes orientales pendant les années 1690 et 1691, par un garde de la marine, servant sur le bord de Monsieur Duquesne…, Paris, 1692. The second part of the book consists of translation of Le Maire's Voyage to the Canary Islands, and an anonymous work covering the islands and towns of the rivers of Bresalina, Gambia, Zamenee, St. Domingo, Geve, &c. "This is an account of a voyage to the East Indies (1690-1691) under command of the French naval officer Abraham Duquesne-Guiton. In 1690 a fleet of six ships was despatched under Duquesne-Guiton to rescue the Siam mission and to pick up company goods stored in India. The Siam enterprise had met with disaster due to the political upheavals in Siam during 1688. During this voyage the fleet visited Cape Verde, Madagascar, Pondicherry and Ceylon. After sailing along the coasts of southern India and attacking a few places, the ships returned to France in 1691 via America (the islands Ascension and Martinique) with a valuable cargo. The author describes in detail the people, the difficulties encountered during the voyage, the battles with the English and the Dutch, and gives observations on the fauna, etc."—Magedera. Wing D2669.; Magedera, French Books on India.
Stock #37990