On the 24th of December, as the wind would not
permit us to continue our way to the north, as we knew not whether we should be
able to find a passage on that side, and as the flood came in from the
south-east, we concluded that it would be the best to return into the bay, and
seek some other way out, but on the 26th, the wind becoming more favorable, we
continued our route to the north, turning a little to the west. On the 4th of
January, 1643, being then in the latitude of 34 degrees 35 minutes south, and in
the longitude of 191 degrees 9 minutes, we sailed quite to the cape, which lies
north-west, where we found the sea rolling in from the north-east, whence we
concluded that we had at last found a passage, which gave us no small joy. There
was in this strait an island, which we called the island of the Three Kings; the
cape of which we doubled, with a design to have refreshed ourselves; but, as we
approached it, we perceived on the mountain thirty or five-and-thirty persons,
who, as far as we could discern at such a distance, were men of very large size,
and had each of them a large club in his hand: they called out to us in a rough
strong voice, but we could meet understand anything of what they said. We
observed that these people walked at a very great rate, and that they took
prodigious large strides. We made the tour of the island, in doing which we saw
but very few inhabitants; nor did any of the country seem to be cultivated; we
found, indeed, a fresh-water river, and then we resolved to sail east, as far as
220 degrees of longitude; and from thence north, as far as the latitude of 17
degrees south; and thence to the west, till we arrived at the isles of Cocos and
Horne, which were discovered by William Schovten, where we intended to refresh
ourselves, in case we found no opportunity of doing it before, for though we had
actually landed on Van Diemen’s Land, we met with nothing there; and, as for New
Zealand, we never set foot on it.
In order to render this passage perfectly intelligible it is necessary to
observe that the island of Cocos lies in the latitude of 15 degrees 10 minutes
south; and, according to Schovten’s account, is well inhabited, and well
cultivated, abounding with all sorts of refreshments; but, at the same time, he
describes the people as treacherous and base to the last degree. As for the
islands of Horne, they lie nearly in the latitude of 15 degrees, are extremely
fruitful, and inhabited by people of a kind and gentle disposition, who readily
bestowed on the Hollanders whatever refreshments they could ask. It was no
wonder, therefore, that, finding themselves thus distressed, Captain Tasman
thought of repairing to these islands, where he was sure of obtaining
refreshments, either by fair means or otherwise, which design, however, he did
not think fit to put in execution.
Early Australian Voyages, 1886, John Pinkerton |
