A naval expedition's narrative records a second voyage through the central and southern Pacific, describing sequential passages among island groups, charting reefs and harbours, and noting natural history and navigation. It documents encounters with islanders—receptions, thefts, skirmishes and diplomatic attempts—alongside detailed descriptions of landscapes, plants, animals and local canoe craft. The account follows the ship from tropical archipelagos toward New Zealand, proceeds to surveys of New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, and then traces the return route past Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn and nearby subantarctic islands with practical nautical observations.