Chart from the return voyage of a ‘First Fleet’ ship

A chart of the route taken by 'Friendship' and 'Alexander', two ships of the 'First Fleet', which established the first European settlement in Australia, through the Solomon Islands as they sailed home. Although named 'New Georgia' the larger island is Choiseul; 'Shortland's Straits' are now Bougainville Strait and the left islands is Bougainville Island, both named after the French explorer who passed through the strait a decade before Shortland. Lieutenant John Shortland (1739-1803) was appointed naval agent to the transports of the First Fleet, taking responsibility for equipping the ships for carrying the convict settlers as Governor Arthur Philip was engaged elsewhere. Arriving in Botany Bay in January 1788, Shortland stayed until July, when the two ships departed to return to England via Batavia. However scurvy hit the expedition so badly that 'Friendship' had to be scuttled as there were not enough fit crewmen to sail both ships. This map was drawn by Shortland's son, another crew member, for Arthur Phillips 'A Voyage to Botany Bay'.