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This first edition was published under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences in Paris. Sonnerat (1748-1814) was the son of the French Intendant at Mauritius and nephew of the botanist Pierre Poivre (1719-1786). He made several voyages to South-East Asia, visiting the Philippines and Moluccas between 1769 and 1772, and India and China from 1774 to 1781. He travelled to Ceylon, Malacca, the Philippines, Burma, and the Maldives, examining birds and plants and searching for fruits and spices. His journeys were part of French efforts to expand French economic power in South East Asia and China. Most of the plates in the first volume show the costumes of various professions and social classes in India. They are largely based on Company School paintings. The plates in the 2nd volume include a folding view of the European factories at Canton but most of them relate to Natural History. Sonnerat was the first person to give a scientific description of the south Chinese fruit tree lychee. cf. Hill, p.578.