He was at liberty to return to Europe, but preferred remaining.
In 1771 occurred the first voyage from Kamchatka to a foreign port, and curiously enough, it was performed under the Polish flag.

A number of exiles, headed by a Pole named Benyowski, seized a small vessel and put to sea.

Touching at Japan and Loo Choo to obtain water and provisions, the party reached the Portuguese colony of Macao in safety.

There were no nautical instruments or charts on the ship, and the successful result of the voyage was more accidental than otherwise.
Close by the harbor of Petropavlovsk there is a monument to the memory of the ill-fated and intrepid navigator, La Perouse.

It bears no inscription, and was evidently built in haste.