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by Dr Gabriel Bittar

On the 4th of January 1803, a French expedition under the command of Nicolas Baudin, sent by Napoleon Bonaparte on the last year of the 18th century, achieved the first circumnavigation of Kangaroo Island - as a matter of fact, the first circumnavigation of a land part of what will become Australia.

It was a full-fledged scientific expedition, the most important one ever sent to Terra Australis. A fascinating scientific report on Kangaroo Island, by the chief scientist on the French expedition, François Péron, can be found in the book "Natural history of Kangaroo Island".

Do you know your history, geography and basic science? Test it with this 34-questions quiz. Warning: you might sometimes be surprised...

1. The antipode to Kangaroo Island is:
a. in the southern Pacific
b. in the Sargasso Sea, North Atlantic
c. Saragossa, Spain
d. Kyôto, Japan
2. In the Northern hemisphere, these islands are approximately at the same latitude as Kangaroo Island:
a. Cyprus, Crete, Malta, and Santa-Maria in the Azores
b. Tenerife, Great Bahama, Midway and Okinawa
c. Newfoundland (Terre-Neuve), Vancouver Island and Sakhaline
3. At the time of its discovery by Europeans, on Kangaroo Island:
a. there were no aborigines, and it seems they had never settled there in the past
b. there were no aborigines, but they had been there in the past
c. there were not many aborigines, and they were exterminated by settlers and disease brought by them, as in Tasmania
4. The size of Kangaroo Island is such that there is approximately:
a. 0.5 km² / inhabitant
b. 1 km² / inhabitant
c. 10 hectares / inhabitant
d. 100 km² / inhabitant
e. 100'000 m² / inhabitant
5. Only one of these three descriptions of the first circumnavigation of Kangaroo Island is correct:
a. on the 2nd January 1803, Le Géographe, under the command of Nicolas Baudin, and Le Casuarina, captained by Louis-Claude de Freycinet, began the first circumnavigation of Kanguroo Island, beginning from its south-east and passing south of Prospect Hill this very day. On the 3rd, they passed Cape Gantheaume, then Cape du Couëdic and the two Casuarina islets. On the 4th the circumnavigation was accomplished. On the 5th, Le Géographe looked for Le Casuarina, which had been lost sight of on the 4th.
b. on the 2nd January 1803, Le Géographe, under the command of Nicolas Baudin, and Le Casuarina, captained by Louis-Claude de Freycinet, began the first circumnavigation of Kanguroo Island, beginning from its south-east and passing south of Prospect Hill this very day. On the 3rd and the 4th, they passed Cape Linois and Cape Gantheaume, and then successively Cape Borda, Cape Forbin, Cape Bedout, Cape du Couëdic, Cape Bouguer, Cape Kersaint, Cape d'Estaing and Cape Cassini. On the 5th, Le Géographe looked for Le Casuarina, which had been lost sight of on the 4th.
c. on the 2nd January 1803, Le Géographe, under the command of Nicolas Baudin, and Le Naturaliste, captained by Jacques Hamelin, began the first circumnavigation of Kanguroo Island, beginning from its south-east and passing south of Prospect Hill this very day. On the 3rd, they successively passed Vivonne Bay, D'Estrées Bay and Maupertuis Bay, and then passed the Casuarina islet. On the 4th, the circumnavigation was accomplished. On the 5th, Le Naturaliste departed for France.
6. Where is Cape Bouguer?
a. on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island
b. on the western coast of Kangaroo Island
c. on the eastern coast of Kangaroo Island
d. on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island
e. on the eastern coast of Fleurieu Peninsula
7. Cape Bouguer derives its name from:
a. Kap Burger, after the name of the boat of the Dutch navigator Nicholas van Rijn who first passed it in 1758.
b. Pierre Bouguer, deceased 1758, the French astronomer who founded the science of photometry.
c. Cap du Bougre, bouguer being old French for bougre (bugger), because while passing it a sailor on Le Casuarina was found trying to commit an act of bestiality on a poor emu taken on board.
 
8. Where is Cape Cassini?
a. on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island
b. on the western coast of Kangaroo Island
c. on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island
d. on the eastern coast of Kangaroo Island
e. on the eastern coast of Fleurieu Peninsula
9. Cape Cassini derives its name from:
a. he Italo-French Cassini family, prestigious astronomers who directed in the 17th and 18th centuries the Observatory of Paris.
b. the Swiss Cassini family, rich bankers who financed Napoleon and the Baudin expedition.
c. the Corsican Cassini family, to whom belonged Napoleon's beloved mother.
10. Where is Cape Rouge?
a. on the north-east of the Bay of Shoals, opposite Kingscote
b. on the south-east of the Bay of Shoals, opposite Kingscote
c. on the Red Banks, Western Cove of Nepean Bay
d. on the Red Banks, Eastern Cove of Nepean Bay
11. Cape Rouge derives its name from:
a. From Eric Rougé, admiral of Napoleon, now known mostly for his incompetence in the Trafalgar naval battle.
b. A shortening of Cap (de la Révolution) Rouge, Cape of the Red (Revolution), affectionately so-called because of the extensive use of the guillotine.
c. Cap Rouge (Cape Red), from the reddish granite on that part of the coast.
12. Where is Maupertuis Bay?
a. on the north-western coast of Kangaroo Island
b. on the south-western coast of Kangaroo Island
c. on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island
d. on the south-eastern coast of Kangaroo Island
e. on the southern coast of Western Australia
13. Maupertuis Bay derives its name from:
a. “Mau(vais) pertuis”, litterally “bad narrow(ing) hole” - from the dangerous detroit that the French expedition of Baudin went through while circumnavigating Kangaroo Island.
b. Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, deceased 1759, mathematician, astronomer, geodesist, physicist and biologist, who ardently propagated Newtonian science; he refined it and demonstrated in 1738 that the Earth was not a perfect sphere but was slightly flattened at the poles, which brought him to be derisively referred as “le grand aplatisseur” (“the great flattener”); in 1744-1751, he formulated and developed the physical principle of least action; interested in the formation of species, his precursor transformist theory of 1751-4 anticipated the concept of mutation.
c. Pierre-Louis Marin-Malo de Maupertuis, deceased 1799, sailor in his youth, revolutionary activist and amateur scientist, who ardently propagated revolutionary science; he surmised in 1788 that the Earth was not a perfect sphere but was potato shaped, and being himself thus shaped in his latter years, this brought him to be derisively referred as “la patate ultime” (“the ultimate potato”); in 1789-92, he indefatigably formulated and developed the revolutionary principle of minimal effort; interested in the sociological formation of politicians and in favour of their necessary pruning through guillotination, he was a precursor of modern political science, but has been unjustifiably sidelined since.
14. The Ravine des Casoars, south of Cape Borda (Kangaroo Island), has been thus called by the Baudin expedition because:
a. when they accompanied Mary Beckwith down for a small walk, the French officers accompanying her put on their “casque d'apparat” (parade helmet) with a casoar plume.
b. they mistook the dwarf emus for cassowaries (casoars).
c. they found in this place more dwarf cassowaries than dwarf emus.
d. the Island “dwarf emu” is a misnomer, in fact it is a dwarf cassowary.
15. Baudin's expedition was able to bring back alive to France some Kangaroo Island “dwarf emus”, of which part of a stuffed one can be found in the natural history museum of Geneva, Switzerland.
a. The “emus” brought back were only mainland ones.
b. The stuffed sample can be found in the natural history museum of Paris.
c. The “dwarf emus” brought back were dead and stuffed.
d. The above statement is entirely true.
16. The emus belong to the same bird order as:
a. the cassowaries, moas, kiwis, ostriches,aepyornises and rheas
b. the cassowaries, moas, kiwis and penguins
c. the cassowaries, moas, kiwis, ostriches and dodo
17. After their circumnavigation of Kangaroo Island, from 6 to 31 January 1803 Nicolas Baudin and the crew of Le Géographe studied the island. On their departure on 1st February 1803, Baudin renamed in his Journal Kanguroo Island:
a. île Borda, like the north-western cape, because he had heard a British sailor of his crew call it with his thick accent the “borde' isl'” (meaning it was the southern-most border of this part of Terra Australis).
b. île Borda, like the north-western cape, because he had heard a French sailor of his crew call it with his thick accent the “île bordel” (bordello, brothel), in derision of the total absence of humans and thus badly needed women, and in raillery to the lonely feminine presence of Mary Beckwith aboard.
c. île Borda, like the north-western cape, in honour of the mariner and mathematician Jean-Charles de Borda, deceased in 1799.
d. île Decrès, a misspelling of île des craies, i.e. island of the chalks, because of the often limestone cliffs and the chalks that were used on board to draw its first complete contour.
e. île Decrès, after admiral Denis Decrès, Napoleon's minister of Marine.
18. In his Journal, Nicolas Baudin named what is now called the American River:
a. the Port des Pélicans (Port of the Pelicans), thus called on the 13 and 23 January 1803.
b. Port Dache, thus called on the 13 and 23 January 1809.
c. the American River, thus called on the 13 and 23 January 1803.
d. the Australian River, thus called on the 13 and 23 December 1803.
19. Only one of these four statements is correct in relation with the nomination of Nicolas Baudin as captain of the French scientific expedition to the southern coasts of Terres Australes:
a. Baudin was renown in the French Navy, having proved himself in a naval battle against the English.
b. Baudin was renown for having a great deal of experience in botany and zoology, and for knowing how to keep plants and animals alive at sea, having already made for the Austrian Empire four natural history voyages to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
c. Baudin was a good personal friend of Napoleon Bonaparte, which helped him in his nomination.
d. Baudin was a good friend of Joséphine Bonaparte, who pleaded with Napoléon to send him on this mission.
20. Apart from some of his shipmates, Nicolas Baudin developed a strong friendship with:
a. Robert Brown, chief scientist on HMS Investigator, who could speak French.
b. Governor Philip King, at Port Jackson (Sydney Cove).
c. Governor Arthur Phillip, at Port Jackson (Sydney Cove).
21. One of the main scientists on the Baudin expedition was:
a. the botanist François Péron, who developed during the voyage a keen interest for what was by these times mostly considered as “inferior” and worthless “plants” (algae, mosses, lichen, fungi...).
b. he botanist Robert Brun, who developed during the voyage a keen interest for what was by these times mostly considered as “inferior” and worthless “plants” (algae, mosses, lichen, fungi...).
c. the zoologist François Péron, who developed during the voyage a keen interest for what was by these times mostly considered as “inferior” and worthless animals (invertebrates such as molluscs...).
d. the zoologist Robert Brun, who developed during the voyage a keen interest for what was by these times mostly considered as “inferior” and worthless animals (invertebrates such as molluscs...).
22. Apart from his contributions in zoology, botany and anthropology, François Péron scientific contribution during the Baudin expedition was also:
a. Observations on ground temperatures which were of considerable importance in the emerging science of geology.
b. Observations on marine temperatures which were of considerable importance in the emerging science of oceanography.
c. Observations on stellar temperatures which were of considerable importance in the emerging science of asterography.
23. Which one of the following statements is correct in relation to the two artists on Baudin's expedition:
a. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Nicolas-Martin Petit were considered and recruited as first-rate artists, and they proved it to be true even in the most difficult conditions of work.
b. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Nicolas-Martin Petit were considered (except by Baudin) and recruited as second-rate artists, but their natural talent allowed them to become outstanding artists even in the most difficult conditions of work.
c. Nicolas-Martin Petit and Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour were considered (except by Baudin) and recruited as second-rate artists, but their natural talent allowed them to become outstanding artists even in the most difficult conditions of work.
d. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour were considered and recruited as first-rate artists, and they proved it to be true even in the most difficult conditions of work.
24. The European 18th century has been called the Enlightenment Century. It demonstrated an enormous interest and respect for science and knowledge, and this showed in the attitude of many of its illustrious non-scientific children. Who said “(…) true victories, the only ones which leave no regret are those made over ignorance.”:
a. French King Louis XVI
b. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
c. UK Prime Minister William Pitt
d. UK admiral Horatio Nelson
25. The British scientific (as opposed to commercial, military or colonial) expeditions to Terra Australis are generally well known, less are those of the French. During the last 35 years of the 18th century, France launched major scientific expeditions to the southern seas and Australia; how many were there ?
a. two (de Bougainville and Baudin)
b. four (de Bougainville, La Pérouse, Bruny d'Entrecasteaux, and Baudin)
c. six (de Bougainville, Marion-Dufresne, de Saint-Allouarn, La Pérouse, Bruny d'Entrecasteaux, and Baudin).
26. The first scientific expedition specifically dedicated to the study of Australia's flora, fauna and indigenous population was:
a. Bougainville's expedition with L'Étoile and La Boudeuse
b. Cook's expedition HMS Endeavour
c. Baudin's expedition with Le Géographe and Le Naturaliste
d. Flinders' expedition with HMS Investigator
27. Eastward, at the time of the Flinders and Baudin voyages, Terra Incognita (the Unknown Coast) began from
a. Cape Arid
b. Cape Adieu
c. Cape Nuyts
d. Streaky Bay
e. Cape Carnot
28. Charles-Pierre Claret de Fleurieu was a French navigator and statesman who had a strong interest for the Terra Incognita centred around what constitutes now South Australia. He gave instructions to French navigators, alas for France to no avail, to give priority to its exploration:
a. Two times (La Pérouse in 1785, Baudin in 1800).
b. Two times (Bruny d'Entrecasteaux in 1791, Baudin in 1800).
c. Three times (La Pérouse in 1785, Bruny d'Entrecasteaux in 1791, Baudin in 1800).
d. Four times (de Bougainville in 1766, La Pérouse in 1785, Bruny d'Entrecasteaux in 1791, Baudin in 1800).
29. The first Frenchmen to set foot in Australia were:
a. Marc-Joseph Marion-Dufresne and his crews on Le Mascarin and Le Marquis de Castries, on 3 March 1772, in Blackman's Bay, Tasmania
b. Louis-François Alleno de Saint-Allouarn and his crew of Le Gros Ventre, on 29 March 1772, in Shark Bay, WA
c. Antoine-Joseph Bruny d'Entrecasteaux and his crews on La Recherche and L'Espérance, on December 1792, in Nuytsland, south-east WA
d. Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, commanding the first French circumnavigation of the globe (5.12.1766-16.3.1769), on La Boudeuse and L'Étoile, in 1768 June 10th
30. The first Frenchmen to set foot on the Australian mainland were:
a. Marc-Joseph Marion-Dufresne and his crews on Le Mascarin and Le Marquis de Castries, on 17 March 1772, in Flinders Bay, south WA
b. Louis-François Alleno de Saint-Allouarn and his crew of Le Gros Ventre, on 17 March 1772, in Flinders Bay, south WA
c. Jean-François Galaup de La Pérouse and his crews of La Boussole and L'Astrolabe, in 1788 January 26, in Botany Bay, N.S.W.
d. Nicolas Baudin and his crews on Le Géographe and Le Naturaliste, on 30 May 1801, in Géographe Bay, south WA
31. Baudin's expedition first landed in Australia:
a. coming from Timor, on 30th May 1801, at Géographe Bay, near Cape Naturaliste.
b. coming from Timor, on 30th May 1801, in the Kimberley region.
c. coming from Isle de France (Mauritius), on 30th May 1801, at Géographe Bay, near Cape Naturaliste.
d. coming from Isle de France (Mauritius), on 30th December 1801, at Géographe Bay, near Cape Naturaliste.
32. Baudin having sent it back to France from King Island at the end of 1802, Le Naturaliste, crammed with scientific collections, including live animals and plants, returned to Le Havre on 7.6.1803, under the command of Jacques Hamelin; Le Géographe returned France in Lorient, Brittany (Bretagne), on 23.3.1804, under the command of Pierre-Bernard Milius.
a. This statement is entirely true.
b. Correct, except it was from Kangaroo Island.
c. Partially correct. Both Le Naturaliste and le Géographe returned to Le Havre on 7.6.1803, under the command of Jacques Hamelin and Pierre-Bernard Milius.
d. Partially correct. Both Le Naturaliste and le Géographe returned to Le Havre on 23.3.1804, under the command of Jacques Hamelin and Pierre-Bernard Milius.
e. Partially correct. Both Le Naturaliste and le Géographe returned to Le Havre on 7.6.1803, under the command of Nicolas Baudin.
33. Nicolas Baudin “ceased to exist”:
a. on île de France (Mauritius) the 16 September 1803, from pulmonary tuberculosis (consumption), assisted in his last painful month of life by Alexandrine Kerivel, born Genève de Saint-Jean, and possibly also by Mary Beckwith;
b. in Timor the 16 September 1802, from syphilis, assisted in his last painful month of life by Mary Beckwith;
c. in his home-town of Saint-Jean, near Genève (Geneva), from malaria, the 23 March 1804, assisted in his last painful month of life by Mary Beckwith.
34. When was published the first more or less complete map of Australia ?
a. In 1805, in London, it was a rough chart of Terra Australis sent from Mauritius Island by Matthew Flinders.
b. In 1810, in London, it was the General Chart of Terra Australis, by Matthew Flinders.
c. In 1811, in Paris, it was a chart of New Holland, by Louis-Claude de Saulses de Freycinet's, commander of Le Casuarina during the Baudin expedition.
d. In 1814, in London, it was the General Chart of Terra Australis, by Matthew Flinders.

You will find the answers
HERE