early australian voyages-第12章
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must turn to their own disadvantage。
CHAPTER XVIII： PROSECUTES HIS VOYAGE TO CERAM。
On the 12th of May； being then in the latitude of 54 minutes south； and in the longitude of 153 degrees 17 minutes； we found the variation 6 degrees 30 minutes to the east。 We continued coasting the north side of the island of William Schovten； which is about eighteen or nineteen miles long； very populous； and the people very brisk and active。 It was with great caution that Schovten gave his name to this island； for having observed that there were abundance of small islands laid down in the charts on the coast of New Guinea； he was suspicious that this might be of the number。 But since that time it seems a point generally agreed； that this island had not before any particular name； and therefore； in all subsequent voyages； we find it constantly mentioned by the name of Schovten's Island。
He describes it as a very fertile and well…peopled island； the inhabitants of which were so far from discovering anything of a savage nature； that they gave apparent testimonies of their having had an extensive commerce before he touched there； since they not only showed him various commodities from the Spaniards； but also several samples of China ware； he observes that they are very unlike the nations he had seen before； being rather of an olive colour than black； some having short； others long hair； dressed after different fashions； they were also a taller； stronger； and stouter people than their neighbours。 These little circumstances； which may seem tedious or trifling to such as read only for amusement； are； however； of very great importance to such as have discoveries in view； because they argue that these people have a general correspondence； the difference of their complexion must arise from a mixed descent； and the different manner of wearing their hair is undoubtedly owing to their following the fashion of different nations； as their fancies lead them。 He farther observes that their vessels were larger and better contrived than their neighbours； that they readily parted with their bows and arrows in exchange for goods； and that they were particularly fond of glass and ironware； which； perhaps； they not only used themselves； but employed likewise in their commerce。 The most western point of the island he called the Cape of Good Hope； because by doubling that cape he expected to reach the island of Banda； and that we may not wonder that he was in doubts and difficulties as to the situation on of these places； we ought to reflect that Schovten was the first who sailed round the world by this course； and the last too； except Commodore Roggewein； other navigators choosing rather to run as high as California； and from thence to the Ladrone Islands； merely because it is the ordinary route。
In the neighbourhood of this island Schovten also met with an earthquake； which alarmed the ship's company excessively； from an apprehension that they had struck upon a rock。 There are some other islands in the neighbourhood of this； well peopled； and well planted； abounding with excellent fruits； especially of the melon kind。 These islands lie； as it were； on the confines of the southern continent； and the East Indies； so that the inhabitants enjoy all the advantages resulting from their own happy climate； and from their traffic with their neighbours； especially with those of Ternate and Amboyna； who come thither yearly to purchase their commodities； and who are likewise visited at certain seasons by the people of these islands in their turn。
CHAPTER XIX： ARRIVES SAFELY AT BATAVIA； JUNE 15； 1643。
On the 18th of May； in the latitude of 26 minutes south and in the longitude of 147 degrees 55 minutes； we observed the variation to be 5 degrees 30 minutes east。 We were now arrived at the western extremity of New Guinea； which is a detached point or promontory （though it is not marked so even in the latest maps）； here we met with calms； variable and contrary winds； with much rain； from thence we steered for Ceram； leaving the Cape on the north； and arrived safely on that island； by this time Captain Tasman had fairly surrounded the continent he was instructed to discover； and had therefore nothing now farther in view than to return to Batavia； in order to report the discoveries he had made。
On the 27th of May we passed through the straits of Boura； or Bouton； and continued our passage to Batavia； where we arrived on the 15th of June； in the latitude of 6 degrees 12 minutes south； and in the longitude of 127 degrees 18 minutes。 This voyage was made in the space of ten months。 Such was the end of this expedition； which has been always considered as the clearest and most exact that was ever made for the discovery of the Terra Australis Incognita； from whence that chart and map was laid down in the pavement of the stadt…house at Amsterdam； as is before mentioned。 We have now nothing to do but to shut up this voyage and our history of circumnavigators； with a few remarks； previous to which it will be requisite to state clearly and succinctly the discoveries； either made or confirmed by Captain Tasman's voyage； that the importance of it may fully appear； as well as the probability of our conjectures with regard to the motives that induced the Dutch East India Company to be at so much pains about these discoveries。
CHAPTER XX： CONSEQUENCES OF CAPTAIN TASMAN'S DISCOVERIES。
In the first place； then； it is most evident； from Captain Tasman's voyage； that New Guinea； Carpentaria； New Holland； Antony van Diemen's Land； and the countries discovered by De Quiros； make all one continent； from which New Zealand seems to be separated by a strait； and； perhaps； is part of another continent； answering to Africa； as this； of which we are now speaking； plainly does to America。 This continent reaches from the equinoctial to 44 degrees of south latitude； and extends from 122 degrees to 188 degrees of longitude； making indeed a very large country； but nothing like what De Quiros imagined； which shows how dangerous a thing it is to trust too much to conjecture in such points as these。 It is； secondly； observable； that as New Guinea； Carpentaria； and New Holland； had been already pretty well examined； Captain Tasman fell directly to the south of these； so that his first discovery was Van Diemen's Land； the most southern part of the continent on this side the globe； and then passing round by New Zealand； he plainly discovered the opposite side of that country towards America； though he visited the islands only； and never fell in again with the continent till he arrived on the coast of New Britain； which he mistook for that of New Guinea； as he very well might； that country having never been suspected to be an island； till Dampier discovered it to be such in the beginning of the present century。 Thirdly； by this survey； these countries are for ever marked out； so long as the map or memory of this voyage； shall remain。 The Dutch East India Company have it always in their power to direct settlements； or new discoveries； either in New Guinea； from the Moluccas； or in New Holland； from Batavia directly。 The prudence shown in the conduct of this affair deserves the highest praise。 To have attempted heretofore； or even now； the establishing colonies in those countries； would be impolitic； because it would be grasping more than the East India Company； or than even the republic of Holland； could manage； for； in the first place； to reduce a continent between three and four thousand miles broad is a prodigious undertaking； and to settle it by degrees would be to open to all the world the importance of that country which； for anything we can tell； may be much superior to any country yet known： the only choice； therefore； that the Dutch had left； was to reserve this mighty discovery till the season arrived； in which they should be either obliged by necessity or invited by occasion to make use of it； but though this country be reserved； it is no longer either unknown or neglected by the Dutch； which is a point of very great consequence。 To the other nations of Europe； the southern continent is a chimera； a thing in the clouds； or at least a country abou
