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Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.Major, Richard Henry

History

Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.

Name: Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.
Author: Major, Richard Henry

Major, Richard Henry

Australia -- Discovery and exploration; Discoveries in geography -- Portuguese; Voyages and travels

But to obtain a thorough knowledge of these extensive countries, the
discovery whereof has been begun (in consequence of the intention of the
Company and the recommendation of our masters), now only remains for the
future to discover whether Nova Guinea is one continent with that great
south land, or separated by channels and islands lying between them; and
also whether that New Van Diemen’s Land is the same continent with these
two great countries, or with one of them; or, if separated from them,
what islands may be dispersed between Nova Guinea and the unknown south
land, when, after more experience and knowledge of all the said known
and unknown countries, we shall be better enabled for further
undertakings.

After considering well what is above related, and by our estimate of the
present strength of the Company’s naval forces, it is found that,
without prejudice to the ordinary trading and warlike expeditions, two
or three yachts could be spared, it is therefore resolved in the Council
of India, to equip the yachts _Limmen_, the _Zeemeuw_, and the _Brak_,
for the further discovery of the east and south lands, to furnish them
well with all necessaries, and to commit them to your conduct, in
confidence that you will with courage, vigilance, prudence, good order,
and the requisite perseverance, skilfully direct this important voyage,
in such a manner as to be capable to give an account, on your return,
fully to our contentment.

1st. You shall early to-morrow morning, after mustering your men,
proceed to sea in company, and steer your course to Macassar, Amboina,
and Banda; as the service of the Company shall require, and by separate
instructions you are commanded, by which you are entirely to regulate
your voyage to the above places.

On your arrival at Amboina and Banda, you shall plentifully stock your
yachts with water, fuel, and all other necessaries; in the time you are
there the crews are to be supplied with all sorts of fresh provisions,
and well provided for the voyage; for which purpose this shall be an
order to the vice-governors[18] Gerrit Demmer and Cornelis Witzen, to
whom you have to communicate your instructions, and demand, in writing,
the further knowledge they may have of the countries situated to the
east of Banda; and particularly the journal of the commodore Carstens,
which we think may still be found there, and be of some service to you
on the voyage.

But by this we by no means intend you shall spend any time unprofitably,
but dispatch everything so assiduously that you may leave Banda in the
latter end of February, when the west monsoon has set in, fixing, with
the advice of the council, instructions for the signals at the beginning
of your voyage, in which particularly is to be inserted by what method
the yachts may join, in case (which God prevent) they by storm or other
accidents were separated, upon which event the good success of the
intended voyage chiefly depends.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.

Major, Richard Henry

Australia -- Discovery and exploration; Discoveries in geography -- Portuguese; Voyages and travels

But to obtain a thorough knowledge of these extensive countries, the
discovery whereof has been begun (in consequence of the intention of the
Company and the recommendation of our masters), now only remains for the
future to discover whether Nova Guinea is one continent with that great
south land, or separated by channels and islands lying between them; and
also whether that New Van Diemen’s Land is the same continent with these
two great countries, or with one of them; or, if separated from them,
what islands may be dispersed between Nova Guinea and the unknown south
land, when, after more experience and knowledge of all the said known
and unknown countries, we shall be better enabled for further
undertakings.

After considering well what is above related, and by our estimate of the
present strength of the Company’s naval forces, it is found that,
without prejudice to the ordinary trading and warlike expeditions, two
or three yachts could be spared, it is therefore resolved in the Council
of India, to equip the yachts _Limmen_, the _Zeemeuw_, and the _Brak_,
for the further discovery of the east and south lands, to furnish them
well with all necessaries, and to commit them to your conduct, in
confidence that you will with courage, vigilance, prudence, good order,
and the requisite perseverance, skilfully direct this important voyage,
in such a manner as to be capable to give an account, on your return,
fully to our contentment.

1st. You shall early to-morrow morning, after mustering your men,
proceed to sea in company, and steer your course to Macassar, Amboina,
and Banda; as the service of the Company shall require, and by separate
instructions you are commanded, by which you are entirely to regulate
your voyage to the above places.

On your arrival at Amboina and Banda, you shall plentifully stock your
yachts with water, fuel, and all other necessaries; in the time you are
there the crews are to be supplied with all sorts of fresh provisions,
and well provided for the voyage; for which purpose this shall be an
order to the vice-governors[18] Gerrit Demmer and Cornelis Witzen, to
whom you have to communicate your instructions, and demand, in writing,
the further knowledge they may have of the countries situated to the
east of Banda; and particularly the journal of the commodore Carstens,
which we think may still be found there, and be of some service to you
on the voyage.

But by this we by no means intend you shall spend any time unprofitably,
but dispatch everything so assiduously that you may leave Banda in the
latter end of February, when the west monsoon has set in, fixing, with
the advice of the council, instructions for the signals at the beginning
of your voyage, in which particularly is to be inserted by what method
the yachts may join, in case (which God prevent) they by storm or other
accidents were separated, upon which event the good success of the
intended voyage chiefly depends.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.

Early Voyages to Terra Australis, Now Called Australia:: A Collection of Documents, and Extracts from Early Manuscript Maps, Illustrative of the History of Discovery on the Coasts of That Vast Island, from the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century to the Time of Captain Cook.

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