J. E. Heeres - The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606 1765

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Now as regards my subsequent progress I would inform Your Excellency that
on the 8th of June we set sail from the Tafelbay with a fair wind with
the ships Dordrecht and Amsterdam, add that on the 19th of July following
we suddenly came upon the Southland of Beach [*] in 32 degrees 20
minutes. We spent a few days there in order to get some knowledge of the
same, but the inconvenience of being unable to make a landing, together
with the heavy gales, prevented us from effecting our purpose, upon which
shaping our course for Java, we got sight of the same on the 19th of
August, and arrived safely before Jacatra on the 3rd of September...

[* Though De Houtman knew of the discovery of Eendrachtsland (see
_infra_), he still uses the name Beach; which clearly proves that in the
early part of the seventeenth century the Netherlanders identified the
discovered South-land with the mysterious land of Beach.]

From Jacatra, this seventh of October, A.D. 1619.

(Signed)

Your Excellency's most devoted Servant

FREDERICK HOUTMAN.

B.

_Letter of_ FREDERIK DE HOUTMAN _to the Managers of the E.I.C., October
7, 1619._

Most Noble Wise Provident Very Discreet Gentlemn,

My last letter to Your Worships was dated May 20th from the Tafelbay...We
next sailed from the Tafelbay with the ships Dordrecht and Amsterdam on
June the 8th...

We ran on with a fair north-west wind as far as 36 deg. 30', in which
latitude we kept this steady breeze with us up to the 17th of July, when
we estimated ourselves to have sailed straight to eastward the space of a
thousand miles. We observed 16 deg. decreasing north-westerly variation of
the compass, and resolved to steer...on a north-east-by-north course,
{Page 15} we then being in 35 deg. 25' Southern Latitude. After keeping the
aforesaid course for about 60 miles, in the evening of the 19th we
suddenly saw land, which we steered away from. On the 20th we found it to
be a mainland coast extending South and North. We resolved to use our
utmost endeavours to obtain some knowledge of this coast, which seemed to
be a very good land, but could find no spot for conveniently landing
owing to the surf and the heavy seas. On the 23rd both the Amsterdam and
our ship lost an anchor each, since our cables were broken by the strong
gale. We kept near the coast till the 28th of July, but owing to the
violent storm could not effect a landing, so that we were forced to leave
the land aforesaid, not without imminent danger of being thrown on it by
the strong gale.

On the 28th we sighted a cape of the said coast, off which we sounded in
from 45 to 70 fathom, but shortly after we got no bottom, and in the
evening the land was out of sight.

On the 29th do. deeming ourselves to be in an open sea, we shaped our
course north-by-east. At noon we were in 29 deg. 32' S. Lat.; at night about
three hours before daybreak, we again unexpectedly came upon a low-lying
coast, a level, broken country with reefs all round it. We saw no high
land or mainland, so that this shoal is to be carefully avoided as very
dangerous to ships that wish to touch at this coast. It is fully ten
miles in length, lying in 28 deg. 46.

On the 2nd of August, the wind becoming contrary, we turned our course
eastward at noon we again sighted a long stretch of land in Lat. 27 deg. 40'
South. We are all assured that this is the land which the ship Eendracht
discovered and made in the year [*], and noways doubt that all the land
they saw in 22, 23, 25 degrees, and which we sighted down to 33 degrees,
is one uninterrupted mainland coast.

[* Left blank.]

When in 26 deg. 20' we were in sight of the land, we had 8 degrees decreasing
northwesterly variation of the compass. We then shaped our course north
and north by west, which leaves it due north, if the variation is
deducted. On the 29th of August we made the south-coast of Java, 60 miles
to eastward of the western extremity of the said island, so that if you
are near this South-land in 23, 24 or 25 degrees S. Lat., and shape your
course north by west, which deducting the variation is due
north-north-west, you will strike the coast of Java [*] miles to eastward
of its south-western extremity. Therefore, in order to have a fixed
course from the Cape to Java, it is advisable to set sail from the Cape
de bonne Esperance in June or July, and to run on an eastern course in 36
and 37 degrees Southern Latitude, until you estimate yourself to have
covered a thousand miles to eastward, after which you had better shape
your course north and north by east, until you get into 26 or 27 degrees,
thus shunning the shoal aforesaid which lies off the South-land in 28 deg.
46'.

[* Left blank.]

When you have reached the 26th or 27th degree, run eastward until you
come in sight of the South-land, and then, as before mentioned, from
there hold your course north by west and north-north-west, and you are
sure to make the western extremity of Java, as shown in the annexed small
chart [*], which I have drawn up for the better assurance. This
South-land, as far as we could judge, seems to be a very fair coast, but
we found it impossible to land on it, nor have we seen any smoke or signs
of inhabitants there; but further investigation is wanted on this point.

[* Not forthcoming.]

On the 25th of August we got into Sonda Strait...

In the fortress of Jacatra, October 7, 1619.
Your Worships' obedient servant
FREDERICK HOUTMAN.

{Page 16}

C.

_Letter of Supercargo_ JACOB DEDEL _to the Managers of the E.I.C.,
October 7, 1619._

Worshipful Wise Provident Gentlemen,

My last letter to you was dated May 20 last, in which I informed you of
my arrival at Cabo de bonne Esperance..., where I found Commander
Houtman...

On the first of June I was ready to set sail for Bantam from Cabo de
bonne Esperance but contrary winds prevented my putting to sea before
June 8th, when I sailed in company with the Hon. Houtman, pursuant to a
resolution of the Plenary Council. The ships were found to have nearly
the same sailing powers, so that we constantly remained in each other's
company. After having had plenty of westerly, south westerly and
southerly winds in 35, 36 and 37 degrees Southern Latitude, with
occasional stiff breezes, we safely made the required distance to
eastward, and on the 19th of July last came upon the south-lands situated
behind Java. We anchored in 14 fathom in 321/2 degrees latitude, the bottom
being level and hard; in full sight of the land the sea was 100 fathom
deep, the coast being steep and mountainous, the interior uniformly high,
of which I append a map. We used our best endeavours to make a landing,
which, however, could not conveniently be done owing to the steep coast,
whereupon we resolved to run a little more north, where the coast seemed
easier of access; but the wind steadily blowing very stiffly from the
north under the land, and the tide coming in from the south, we spent a
good deal of time in tacking, until a sudden squall from the west, which
made the coast a lee-shore and made us lose one of our anchors, threatened
to throw us on the coast. We then made all sail, and the wind coming
round a little, we stood out to sea, not deeming it advisable to continue
longer inshore in this bad weather with such large heavy ships and such
costly cargoes as we had entrusted to our care, and with great peril to
lose more precious time, but being contented with having seen the land
which at a more favourable time may be further explored with more fitting
vessels and smaller craft. We have seen no signs of inhabitants, nor did
we always keep near the coast, since it formed large bays which would
have taken up much time. Still we kept seeing the coast from time to
time, until in 27 degrees we came upon the land discovered by the ship
Eendracht, which land in the said latitude showed as a red, muddy coast,
which according to the surmises of some of us might not unlikely prove to
be gold-bearing, a point which may be cleared up in time.

Leaving the 27th degree, we shaped our course north and north by west,
until on the 19th of August we struck the island of Java 70 miles to
eastward of its western extremity...after which we arrived in Sunda
Caleppe Strait on the 23rd of the same month...

This 7th day of October, 1619.

On board the ship Amsterdam at anchor before our fortress of Jacatra.
Your Worships' Servant, JACOB DEDEL.

{Page 17}

D.

_Maps of Hessel Gerritsz, numbered VII C and D. (1616)._

* * * * *

XII.

(1622). VOYAGE OF THE SHIP LEEUWIN FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO
JAVA.--DISCOVERY OF THE SOUTH-WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA.--LEEUWIN'S LAND.

A.

_Chart of Hessel Gerritsz, VII C (1616)._

I print such of the legends of this chart as refer to the results of this
expedition:

"Duynich landt boven met boomen ende boseage.
Laegh ghelijck verdroncken landt.
't Landt van de Leeuwin beseylt Ao 1622 in Maert [*]. Laegh duynich landt."
[Dunes with trees and underwood at top.--Low land seemingly submerged (by
the tide).--Land made by the ship Leeuwin in March, 1622.--Low land with
dunes].

[* The ship Lecuwin had set sail from the Netherlands on April 20, 1621,
and arrived at Batavia May 15, 1622, after a very long voyage, of which
the G.-G. and Counc. did not fail to complain.]

B.

_Instructions for Tasman 1644._

...likewise, during the same period in the years 1616, 1618, 1619 and
1622, the west coast of the great unknown South-land from 35 to 22
degrees was unexpectedly and accidentally discovered by the ships
d'Eendracht, Mauritius, Amsterdam, Dordrecht and Leeuwin, coming from the
Netherlands...

* * * * *

XIII.

(1622). THE TRIALL (ENGLISH DISCOVERY).--THE SHIP WAPEN VAN HOORN
TOUCHES AT THE WEST-COAST OF AUSTRALIA. NEW PROJECTS FOR DISCOVERY MADE
BY THE SUPREME GOVERNMENT AT BATAVIA.

A.

_Letter from the G.-G. and Counc. to the Managers of the E.I.C.,
September 6, 1622._

...On the 5th of July there arrived here [*] a boat with ten men forming
part of the crew of an English ship, named the Triall, and on the 8th do.
her pinnace with 36 men. They state that they have lost and abandoned
their ship with 97 men and {Page 18} the cargo she had taken in, on
certain rocks situated in Latitude 20 deg. 10' South, in the longitude of the
western extremity of Java. These rocks are near a number of broken
islands, lying very far apart, South-east and North-west, at 30 miles'
distance northwest of a certain island which in our charts is laid down
in 22 deg. S. Lat. [**]. The said ship Triall ran on these rocks in the
night-time in fine weather, without having seen land, and since the heavy
swells caused the ship to run aground directly, so that it got filled
with water, the 46 persons aforementioned put off from her in the
greatest disorder with the boat and pinnace each separately, leaving 97
persons in the ship; whose fate is known to God alone. The boat and
pinnace aforesaid arrived here each separately, without knowing of each
other.

[* Batavia.]

[** See, for instance, the chart of Hessel Gerritsz: VII C (1616).]

The ship 't Wapen van Hoorn [*] has also been in extreme peril; at night
in a hard wind she got so near the land of d'Eendracht or the South-land
of Java that she was in 6 fathom before they saw land, which they could
noways put off from, so that they ran on it. But shortly after the storm
abating, they got the landwind, and came off safe, for which the Lord be
praised.

[* She sailed from the Texel, December 22, 1621, and arrived at Batavia,
July 22, 1622.]

The ships Amsterdam and Dordrecht [*] likewise got into great peril near
the land just mentioned in the year 1619. Whereas it is necessary that
ships, in order to hasten their arrival, should run on an eastward course
for about 1000 miles from the Cape de Bona Esperance between 40 and 30
degrees Southern Latitude, it is equally necessary that great caution
should be used and the best measures taken in order to avoid such
accidents as befell the English ship Triall. They say that they met with
this accident through following the course of our ships; that they intend
to dissuade their countrymen from imitating their example, and that their
masters are sure to take other measures accordingly.

[* See _supra_, p. 10.]

For the further discovery of the lands aforesaid we intend, in conformity
with your orders, to send a ship thither as soon as practicable, for
which purpose we have selected the yacht Hazewint [*]. May God Almighty
preserve all your worships' ships from accidents and bring them safe to
port...

[* See _infra_.]

B.

_Instructions for the yachts Haringh and Hasewint having destination
jointly to discover and explore the South-land, September 29, 1622._

Inasmuch as Our Masters ["Heeren Majores"] earnestly enjoin us to
dispatch hence certain yachts for the purpose of making discovery of the
South-land; and since moreover experience has taught, by great perils
incurred by sundry of our ships--but specially by the late miscarrying of
the English ship Triali on the said coast--the urgent necessity of
obtaining a full and accurate knowledge of the true bearing and
conformation of the said land, that further accidents may henceforth be
prevented as much as possible; besides this, seeing that is highly
desirable that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether the
regions or any part of the same are inhabited, and whether any trade
might with them be established.

_Therefore_, for the purpose before mentioned, we have resolved to fit
out the yachts Haringh and Hasewint for undertaking the said voyage, and
for ascertaining as much of the situation and nature of these regions as
God Almighty shall vouchsafe to allow them.

{Page 19}

You will accordingly set sail from here together, run out of Sunda
Strait, and steer your course for the South-land from the western
extremity of Java, keeping as close to the wind as you will find at all
possible, that by so doing you may avoid being driven too far westward by
the South-easterly winds which generally blow in those waters. You may
therefore run on as far as the 32nd or 33rd degree, if you do not fall in
with land before that latitude; having got so far without seeing land,
you may conclude that you have fallen off too far to westward, for sundry
ships coming from the Netherlands have accidentally come upon the
South-land in this latitude; you will in this case have to turn your
course to eastward, and run on in this direction until you sight land.

In running over to the _South-land_ aforesaid, you will have to keep a
careful lookout, as soon as you get in 14 or 15 degrees, seeing that the
English ship Trial before mentioned got aground in 20 deg. 10' Southern
Latitude on certain sunken rocks, bearing north-east and south-west for a
length Of 7 miles, according to the observation of the English pilot, but
without having seen any mainland thereabouts. But the men who saved
themselves in the pinnace and the boat, and thus arrived here, deposed
that in the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees they had seen sundry pieces of
wood and cane, and branches of trees floating about, from which they
concluded that there must be land or islands near there. The _sunken
rocks_ aforesaid on which the _Triall_ was wrecked, were exactly south of
the western extremity of _Java_ according to the statements made by the
English sailors.

When you shall have come upon the _South-land_ in the said latitude or
near it, you will skirt the coast of the same as far as Latitude 50 deg., in
case the land should extend so far southward; but if the land should fall
off before you have reached the said latitude, and should be found to
trend eastward, you will follow its eastern extension for some time, and
finding no further extension to southward, you will not proceed farther
east, but turn back. You will do the same if you should find the land to
turn to westward. In returning you will run along the coast as far as it
extends to northward, next proceeding on an eastern course or in such
wise as you shall find the land to extend: in which manner you will
follow the coast as close inshore and as long as you shall find
practicable, and as you deem your victuals and provisions to be
sufficient for the return-voyage, even if in so doing you should sail
round the whole land and emerge to southward.

The main object for which you are dispatched on this occasion, is, that
from 45 or 50 degrees, or from the farthest point to which the land shall
be found to extend southward within these latitudes, up to the
northernmost extremity of the South-land, you will have to discover and
survey all capes, forelands, bights, lands, islands, rocks, reefs,
sandbanks, depths, shallows, roads, winds, currents and all that
appertains to the same, so as to be able to map out and duly mark
everything in its true latitude, longitude, bearings and conformation.
You will moreover go ashore in various places and diligently examine the
coast in order to ascertain whether or no it is inhabited, the nature of
the land and the people, their towns and inhabited villages, the
divisions of their kingdoms, their religion and policy, their wars, their
rivers, the shape of their vessels, their fisheries, commodities and
manufactures, but specially to inform yourselves what minerals, such as
gold, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper, what precious stones, pearls,
vegetables, animals and fruits, these lands yield and produce.

{Page 20}

To all which particulars and whatever else may be worth noting, you will
pay diligent attention, keeping a careful record or daily journal of the
same, that we may get full information of all your doings and
experiences, and the Company obtain due and perfect knowledge of the
situation and natural features of these regions, in return for the heavy
expenses to which she is put by this expedition.

To all the places which you shall touch at, you will give appropriate
names such as in each instance the case shall seem to require, choosing
for the same either the names of the United Provinces or of the towns
situated therein, or any other appellations that you may deem fitting and
worthy. Of all which places, lands and islands, the commander and
officers of these yachts, by order and pursuant to the commission of the
Worshipful Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen, sent out to India by
their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands, and
by the Lords Managers of the General Chartered United East India Company
established in the same, will, by solemn declaration signed by the ships'
councils, take formal possession, and in sign thereof, besides, erect a
stone column in such places as shall be taken possession of; the said
column recording in bold, legible characters the year, the month, the day
of the week and the date, the persons by whom and the hour of the day
when such possession has been taken on behalf of the States-General above
mentioned. You will likewise endeavour to enter into friendly relations
and make covenants with all such kings and nations as you shall happen to
fall in with, and try to prevail upon them to place themselves under the
protection of the States of the United Netherlands, of which covenants
and alliances you will likewise cause proper documents to be drawn up and
signed.

All such lands, islands, etc. as you shall take possession of in the
fashion aforesaid, you will duly mark in the chart in their true
latitude, longitude and bearings, together with the names newly conferred
on the same.

In virtue of the oath of allegiance which each of you generally and
personally has sworn to the Lords States-General, to His Princely
Highness and the Lords Managers, none of you shall be allowed to retain
for his private use or to abstract any written documents, journals,
drawings or observations touching this present expedition, but every one
of you shall be bound on his return hither faithfully to deliver up the
same without exception.

According to the written statements of Jan Huygen [*], and the opinion of
sundry other persons, certain parts of this South-land are likely to
yield gold, a point into which you will inquire as carefully as possible.

[* _Scil_. Van Linschoten.]

For the purpose of making a trial we have given orders for various
articles to be put on board your ships, such as ironmongery, cloths,
coast-stuffs [*] and linens; which you will show and try to dispose of to
such natives as you may meet with, always diligently noting what articles
are found to be most in demand, what quantities might be disposed of, and
what might be obtained in exchange for them; we furthermore hand you
samples of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and pearls, that you may
inquire whether these articles are known to the natives, and might be
obtained there in any considerable quantity.

[* i. e. drawn from the Coast of Coromandel.]

In landing anywhere you will use extreme caution, and never go ashore or
into the interior unless well-armed, trusting no one, however innocent
the natives may be {Page 21} in appearance, and with whatever kindness
they may seem to receive you, being always ready to stand on the
defensive, in order to prevent sudden traitorous surprises, the like of
which, sad to say, have but too often been met with in similar cases. And
if any natives should come hear your ships, you will likewise take due
care that they suffer no molestation from our men.

When you get near the northern extremity and the east coast of the
South-land, you will diligently inquire whether it yields anywhere
sandal-wood, nutmegs, cloves or other spices; likewise whether it has any
good harbours and fertile tracts, where it would be possible to establish
settlements, which might be expected to yield satisfactory returns. In a
word, you will suffer nothing to escape your notice, but carefully
scrutinise whatever you find, and give us a full and proper report on
your return, by doing which you will render good service to the United
Netherlands and reap special honour for yourselves.

In places where you meet with natives, you will either by adroit
management or by other means endeavour to get hold of a number of
full-grown persons, or better still, of boys and girls, to the end that
the latter may be brought up here and be turned to useful purpose in the
said quarters when occasion shall serve.

The command of the two yachts has been entrusted to Jan Vos, who during
the voyage will carry the flag, convene the council and take the chair in
the same, in virtue of our special commission granted to the said Vos for
the purpose.

Given in the Fortress of jacatra, this 29th of September, A.D. 1622 [*].

[* Unforeseen circumstances prevented the expedition from setting out
(Letter of the G.-G. and Counc. to the Managers, 1 Febr. 1623).]

* * * * *

XIV.

(1623). VOYAGE OF THE SHIPS PERA AND ARNHEM, UNDER COMMAND OF JAN
CARSTENSZOON OR CARSTENSZ, DIRK MELISZOON, AND WILLEM JOOSTEN VAN COLSTER
[*] OR VAN COOLSTEERDT.--FURTHER DISCOVERY OF THE SOUTH-WEST COAST OF NEW
GUINEA. DISCOVERY OF THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA.

[* He replaced Meliszoon after the latter's death in February.]

I.

JOINT VOYAGE OF THE TWO SHIPS.--VOYAGE OF THE PERA BY HERSELF UNDER
CARSTENSZ, AFTER THE ARNHEM HAD PARTED COMPANY WITH HER [*].

[* This took place on April 27.]

A.

_Letter of the G.-G. and Counc. to the Managers of the E.I.C, dated
January 3, 1624._

...In the month of January 1623, Governor Van Speult dispatched from
Amboina the yachts Arnhem and Pera, for the purpose of concluding
treaties of friend ship with the natives of Quey, Aroe and Tenimber, and
of further discovering and {Page 22} exploring the land of Nova Guinea;
as Your Worships may gather from the enclosed document, the islanders
aforesaid have of their own free will placed themselves under the
obedience and dominion of their High Mightinesses the States-General of
the United Netherlands, and have promised to come and trade with our
fortresses in Banda and Amboyna. From there the yachts ran over to Nova
Guinea and skirted the said coast as far as 17 deg. 8' Southern Latitude our
men landed in sundry places, but found nothing but wild coasts, barren
land and extremely cruel, savage and barbarous natives, who surprised and
murdered nine of our men, partly owing to their own negligence; according
to the report we have received of the said coast, there would be nothing
in particular to be got there; what winds, currents, shores, rivers,
bights, capes, forelands and other features of the coast have been
further met with, surveyed and explored, Your Worships may gather from
the enclosed journal and minutes, to which we would beg leave to refer
you for further particulars...

B.

_Journal kept by JAN CARSTENSZ [*] on his voyage to Nova Guinea..._

[* CARSTENSZ got the Instructions originally drawn up for the ships
Haringh and Hazewind. (See VAN DIJK, Carpentaria, pp. 9-10).]

A.D. 1623.

_In the name of God Amen._

JANUARY.

On Saturday the 21st we weighed anchor before Amboyna and set sail from
there, together with the yacht Aernem...On Saturday the 28th...about 3
o'clock in the afternoon...we anchored off the east side of the island of
Quey.

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