Desire of Dutch merchants to find a fresh passage into the South Sea--Le
Maire applies to Captain Schouten--The _Unity_ and _Horn_ fitted out--
Sail--Touch at Dover and Plymouth--Put into Sierra Leone--Fruit and
water obtained--The _Horn_ struck by a sea-unicorn--Make the coast of
South America--Attempting to enter Port Desire, the _Unity_ strikes a
rock--Both vessels nearly lost--The vessels put on shore to clean--The
_Horn_ burnt--Penguins--Sea-lions--Discovery of the Straits of Le
Maire--Cape Horn named and doubled--Steer for Juan Fernandez--Unable to
find anchorage off it--Touch at Dog, Water, and Fly Islands--Fire at a
double canoe--Some of the natives killed--The _Unity_ anchors off an
island--Natives swarm around her--Boat attacked--Natives become
friendly--Their chief visits the ship--The savages attack the ship--
Course changed to the northward--Two savages killed--Friendly
intercourse with others--The King and his courtiers take to flight at
the sound of a great gun--Meeting of two Kings--A feast--Other islands
visited--Coast of New Guinea reached--Natives attack the ship--Shock of
an earthquake felt on board--Sail along western coast of New Guinea--
Hostility of the natives--Barter with the natives at the south end--
Touch at Gilolo and Amboyna--The _Unity_ confiscated at Batavia--Death
of La Maire--Captain Schouten reaches Holland.
The Dutch, from an early period of their history, had actively engaged
in commercial enterprises. They had followed the Spaniards and
Portuguese to India, and having successfully competed with them for its
trade, had established settlements and factories in many of the most
fertile portions of the Eastern Archipelago. They had, notwithstanding,
no idea of the advantages of free trade, and the Dutch East India
Company having been formed, obtained from the States General of the
United Provinces--as their government was then called--exclusive
privileges, prohibiting all the rest of their subjects from trading to
the eastward beyond the Cape of Good Hope, or westward through the
Straits of Magellan, in any of the countries within those limits,
whether known or unknown, under the heaviest penalties. This
prohibition gave great dissatisfaction to many of the wealthy merchants
of Holland, who wished to employ their ships in making discoveries and
trading at their own risk. Among them was Isaac Le Maire, a rich
merchant of Amsterdam, then residing at Egmont, who had a desire to
employ his wealth in acquiring fame as a discoverer.
Le Maire was a person of determination, and having considered among his
friends who was most likely to assist him, fixed upon William Cornelison
Schouten, of Horn, an experienced master-mariner, who had already made
three voyages to the Indies, as supercargo, pilot, and master. Le Maire
first asked him whether he thought it possible that some other passage,
besides that of the Straits of Magellan, might be found to the South
Sea, and if so whether the countries to the south of that passage would
afford commodities as rich as those of the East or West Indies.
Schouten replied that such a passage might be found, and also that there
might be many wealthy countries to the westward of the straits.
Believing that the East India Company's charter could not prohibit Dutch
subjects from trading with countries to be reached by a new route, they
came to the determination of at once fitting out some fleet vessels to
make the experiment.
Le Maire advanced half of the funds, and Schouten, with the assistance
of Peter Clementson, burgomaster of Horn, and other friends, advanced
the remainder. It is probable that they might have heard from some
English pilots who were in the service of the United Provinces, that
Drake had discovered an open sea to the south of Terra del Fuego. They
did not openly avow their object, but they succeeded in obtaining from
the Government the privilege of making the first four voyages to the
places they might discover. Their destination, however, was not
disclosed to the seamen. The other merchants, unable to penetrate their
designs, derisively called them: "gold-seekers."
Schouten was to have command of the expedition, and to sail in the
larger ship, and Jacques Le Maire, the eldest son of Isaac, was to be
supercargo. They at once commenced fitting out two vessels for the
voyage, the largest, the _Eendracht_, or in English the _Unity_, was of
three hundred and sixty tons, carried nineteen guns and twelve swivels,
and a crew of sixty-five men, and had on board two pinnaces, one for
sailing and another for rowing, a launch, and a small boat. The smaller
vessel was named the _Horn_, of one hundred and ten tons, carrying eight
guns and four swivels. Her crew consisted of twenty-two men. She was
commanded by Jan Schouten, and Aris Clawson was her supercargo.
The two vessels sailed from the Texel on the 14th of June, and called
off Dover, where an experienced English gunner was engaged.
Experiencing a heavy storm, they took shelter under the Isle of Wight,
and on the 27th put into Plymouth, where a carpenter, Maydenblick, was
engaged.
Sailing thence on the 28th of June, with fine weather and a fair breeze,
they proceeded on their voyage. The strictest rules were laid down for
the government of officers and men. When a boat went on shore where any
hostility was to be expected, one of the commanders was always to be in
charge. The supercargo was to have the exclusive management of all
commercial dealings. The officers were warned against holding
conversations with the men in regard to the objects of the voyage; and
while they were to be strict in the execution of their duty, they were
not to subject the crews to unnecessary toil.
Touching at various places, they cast anchor off Sierra Leone on the
30th of August. The village at that time consisted only of eight or
nine poor thatched huts. The native inhabitants declined to come off
until a hostage was left for their security, because a French ship had
lately perfidiously carried off two of their number. The water which
poured down from every hill was to be had in abundance, and the casks
could be filled by placing them under the falls. Lemons were so cheap
that ten thousand could have been obtained for a few knives. Each man
purchased one hundred and fifty for sea store.
After leaving Sierra Leone, as they were gliding over the smooth sea, a
sudden shock was felt on board the _Horn_, as if she had struck on a
rock, and, as the crew looked over her side, they saw the water change
to a crimson hue. The cause was not known until the ship was afterwards
laid on shore, when a large horn, of a substance resembling ivory, was
found sticking into her bottom, it having pierced through three stout
planks. The Line was crossed on the 25th of October, after which
Captain Schouten informed the ships' companies of the object of the
voyage. At this they exhibited their satisfaction, hoping to discover
some gold countries, to make amends for their toils.
On the 3rd of November they were off the island of Ascension or Martin
Vaz. Standing on, they came in sight on the 6th of December of the
mainland of South America. It was of no great height, and had a white
appearance. The same night they dropped anchor in ten fathoms, at a
short distance from Port Desire. Next morning, standing on to the
southward, they saw before them a line of cliffs, which they understood
marked the entrance to the channel. They, however, found that they had
got into a wrong one, and the _Unity_ ran aground by the stern, but the
wind blowing from off the land, she got clear again. Next morning, a
boat being sent ahead to sound the channel, which was found to be twelve
fathoms deep, they entered boldly, having a north-east wind to carry
them along. After they had sailed about three miles, however, the wind
began to veer, and they brought up in twenty fathoms, but the bottom
being composed of slippery stones, and the wind blowing hard from the
north-west, they dragged their anchors, and drifted down towards the
cliffs, where there appeared every probability that they both would be
lost. The _Unity_ lay with her side against the cliffs, though still
afloat, while the _Horn_ stuck so fast that, as the tide fell, she
remained high and dry. For some time a strong wind blowing from the
north-west kept her upright, but as it dropped she sank over, until her
bulwarks were under water. On seeing this, as it was impossible to
right her, the explorers gave up all hopes of saving her; but, the
weather remaining calm, the succeeding flood set her upright again, and
she and the _Unity_, hauling out of their dangerous position, stood
farther up the river.
Here they again dropped anchor off King's Island. On landing they found
it so thickly covered with the nests of penguins, each of which
contained three or four eggs--that a man might have taken fifty or sixty
without moving his position. They here also saw emus and deer with
extremely long necks. While wandering over the hills they came upon
several heaps of stones, beneath which they discovered bones, as they
supposed of persons ten and eleven feet along. Plenty of good fish and
fowls were obtained, but no water could be found for some days.
On the 17th of December they laid the _Unity_ ashore in order to clean
her bottom, and the following day the _Horn_ was hauled up for the same
purpose, at a distance of about two hundred yards from her consort. It
was providential that she was thus far. It being necessary to soften
the old pitch off her bottom, to which barnacles and mud were sticking,
they lighted a fire beneath her bottom. As they were in a hurry to
perform the operation, they threw on more sticks and reeds, scattering
the fire along her whole length. While they were working away with
their iron scrapers, suddenly they saw fire bursting out through her
ports. How this had happened they could not tell. There was no fresh
water at hand, and as the tide had fallen, leaving her fully fifty feet
from the margin of the river, they had to run all that distance with
buckets, or whatever else they could lay hold of, to bring up water to
extinguish the flames. Before a sufficient quantity could be brought
the fire had got a complete hold of the vessel. In vain they dashed the
water over her, the flames rapidly spread from stem to stern, and, at
length, seeing that all their efforts were useless, they had to stand by
and watch her burning, a small portion only of her stores and provisions
having been saved. In a short time the poor _Horn_ became a mere heap
of ashes.
On the 20th they launched the _Unity_, and the next day carried on board
all the ironwork, anchors, guns, and whatever else they had been able to
save from the unfortunate _Horn_. While hunting about for water,
without which they could not venture to sea, they found on the 25th some
holes full of it. Though it was white and muddy, it was well tasting,
and they accordingly carried on board a large quantity in casks on men's
shoulders.
Near this place they discovered a number of sea-lions, the young of
which they found very good to eat; but the creatures were so fierce that
they could only be killed by musket-shots. On the 13th of January,
1616, they left Port Desire, and on the 18th sighted the Falkland
Islands.
Holding their course south by west, they saw land bearing west and
west-south-west from them, and shortly afterwards other land to the
south. The wind blowing strong, they were compelled to take in sail.
The next morning they saw land to starboard at the distance of about a
league, consisting of high snow-covered hills. Then they saw other land
bearing east from the former, also high and rugged. As these two lands
were about eight leagues apart, and as there was a strong current
running to the southward in the direction of the opening, they guessed
that there might be a free passage between them.
They had good reason to hope that this might be the one they were in
search of, leading into the South Sea. They accordingly steered for it,
but the wind falling, they were compelled to restrain their eagerness.
Here, as they were gliding on, they saw prodigious multitudes of
penguins and also whales in such vast schools that they had to steer
with caution lest, by running against them, the monsters should injure
the ship. On the 25th they got close up to the north shore of the
eastern land they had seen, to which they gave the name of Staten Land,
in honour of the States of Holland.
The wind being favourable, they now stood through the Straits. On both
sides they observed sandy bays and good roadsteads, but the shores were
bare of trees and shrubs. There were, however, abundance of fish,
porpoises, penguins, and other birds. To the land on the starboard side
they gave the name of Maurice Land, being a part of Terra del Fuego.
The wind being north, they stood briskly on, steering west-south-west,
but again shifting to south-west, they were compelled to steer south.
They now met with long high waves, which rolled on in slow succession,
while the water appeared to be unusually blue, evident signs, as they
considered, that the great South Sea was before them, and that they had
made their way into it by a passage of their own discovering. Numbers
of seamews, or rather of albatrosses, larger than swans, their wings
when extended measuring six feet from tip to tip, came circling round
the ship, and even alighted on board, being so tame as to allow
themselves to be taken by the hand without even attempting to escape.
The wind was generally favourable, but with storms of rain and snow, the
sea running very high. As they steered south-west they saw land to the
north-west and north-north-west, the lofty snow-capped mountains of
Terra del Fuego. At length they came off a sharp point, the most
southern extremity of that land, to which they gave the name of Cape
Horn, in compliment to the port from which they had sailed.
Theirs were the first human eyes probably which had ever closely viewed
that now well-known promontory, although Drake may possibly have seen it
at a distance when scudding before the gale which drove the
sorely-battered _Golden Hind_ out of her course.
Having kept a bright look-out in all directions, and having seen no land
to the southward, they were now thoroughly convinced that they had
doubled the extreme end of the continent of South America, or rather of
the islands which lie off it.
Altering their course to the northward, they, on the 12th of February,
had attained the parallel of the western end of the Straits of Magellan,
and returning thanks to Heaven for their happy discovery, they
commemorated the event by a cup of wine, which was handed three times
round the ship's company. The officers, holding a consultation, agreed
to give the name of the Straits of Le Maire to the passage through which
they had come, in compliment to the worthy merchant who had promoted the
expedition, although that honour might justly have been bestowed upon
Captain Schouten.
The next land they saw was Juan Fernandez, but missing the proper
anchorage, they were unable to bring up. Captain Schouten sent a boat,
however, to look for a safe place to anchor; but the officer in command
of her, on his return, reported that the island was inaccessible, though
he brought off a large quantity of lobsters, crabs, and a few fish,
having also seen many sea-wolves. They next sighted another small
island, but here also were unable to anchor, and on sending a boat
ashore, her crew could only find some herbs, which tasted like
scurvy-grass, though they saw several dogs which neither barked nor
snarled, for which reason they called it Dog Island.
When about a league away from another low island, a canoe, in which were
six or eight reddish-coloured Indians with long black hair, came off to
the ship; but the explorers could not communicate with them, as they
understood none of the languages in which they were addressed.
Sailing along the coast, another canoe came off. The skins of her crew,
who were nearly naked, except a piece of matting hung from a belt round
their waists, were punctured over with snakes, dragons, and other
reptiles. They would not venture on board, but came to the boats, when
the Dutch gave them beads, knives, and other trifles. They quickly
showed their thievish disposition by stealing the nails from the cabin
windows and the bolts from the doors. The boat, with a well-armed crew,
was now sent on shore; but the moment they landed, about thirty natives
rushed from the woods, armed with clubs, slings, and spears, and tried
to take away the arms from the soldiers; but on receiving a discharge of
musketry, they took to flight.
This island was low and sandy, and was covered with cocoa-nut-trees. It
was about one hundred leagues from Dog Island. At the next island at
which they touched, on the 16th, they were fortunate enough to find
abundance of fresh water in a pit not far from shore, as also some
herbs, which proved serviceable to those who were afflicted with scurvy.
To this island they gave the name of Water Island.
Sailing westward, anchorage was found off another island about twenty
leagues distant from it, a musket-shot from the shore, where they
observed a stream of fresh water. After having had considerable
difficulty in getting ashore, they found a spring in a wood; but
suddenly, as they were about to fill their casks with water, a savage
started up, and they considered it wise to beat a retreat to the boat.
Just as they got there, five or six more savages appeared, but on seeing
them, quickly retired into the wood. Although they had got rid of the
savages, they encountered other adversaries of a more formidable nature,
for they were followed by myriads of black flies, so that they came on
board absolutely covered with them from head to foot. This plague of
flies raged in the ship for three or four days, until by the help of a
good breeze they were blown away. The Dutch naturally called this
island Fly Island, but it is now known as Palliser's Island.
Continuing their course westward, when about one thousand five hundred
and ten leagues from the coast of Peru, they saw a large double canoe
standing towards them. On this a gun was fired to make her heave to.
The people in her not understanding the meaning of the signal, naturally
made off as fast as they could. On this the Dutch sent their boat with
ten musketeers, who fired a volley at her. On seeing the boat approach,
some of the savages leapt overboard, but the rest surrendered without
resistance, on which the Dutch used them kindly, dressing the wounds of
those who were hurt, and saving the lives of some who had leapt into the
sea. Besides the men, there were eight women and several children,--in
all twenty-three persons. They were cleanly looking, of a reddish
colour, and almost naked, wearing only the usual cloth, hung to a belt
in front.
The men wore their long black hair curled, but the women had theirs cut
short. The only articles found on board were a few fishing-hooks: the
upper part was formed of stone, and the other of bone or
mother-of-pearl. They had no water, but satisfied their thirst with the
liquor of a few cocoa-nuts, or with salt water, of which even the
children drank heartily. The canoe was probably bound from one of the
Society Islands to Otaheite.
On the 10th high land was seen on the larboard side, about eight leagues
off, but the _Unity_ was unable to reach it. On the 11th she came up
with another high island, with a second, much lower, about two leagues
to the southward.
About this time another double canoe appeared, which outsailed the
_Unity_. She was steered with two oars, one in each canoe. The Dutch,
wishing to anchor, stood in until they brought up about a cannon-shot
from the island, which consisted of an entire mountain, resembling one
of the Moluccas, and was covered over with cocoa-nut-trees. No sooner
had the ship come to an anchor than she was surrounded by canoes, the
people from which leaped into the water and swam to her, carrying in
their hands cocoa-nuts and roots of various sorts. These they bartered
for nails, beads, and other trifles; so that the crew obtained a
sufficient number of cocoa-nuts to supply each of them bountifully.
This traffic brought so many of the native canoes round the ship, that
the Dutchmen had a difficulty in steering clear of them. A boat was now
sent to the other island to discover better anchorage, but she was
quickly beset with a vast number of canoes, full of wild savages armed
with clubs, who attempted to board her. When the seamen first fired
their muskets, the natives laughed at them for making so much noise and
doing so little harm; but at the next discharge, a savage being shot
through the breast, they quickly retreated. They were strong,
well-proportioned men, and expert swimmers.
Notwithstanding the hostility they first displayed, the savages came
again on the 12th in their canoes, laden with cocoa-nuts, bananas,
roots, hogs, and fresh water, all struggling to get first on board.
Those from the canoes outside leaped into the sea, and, diving, swam to
the ship with bunches of cocoa-nuts in their mouths, climbing up the
sides like so many rats, in such swarms that the Dutch had to keep them
off with their cutlasses. Sufficient cocoa-nuts were obtained that day
to give each man of the crew a dozen.
The natives seemed astonished at the strength of the _Unity_. Some of
them were seen to dive under her bottom, knocking against it with
stones, as if to try how strong it was. Their King or chief sent on
board a black hog as a present, the messenger being ordered to take no
reward. Shortly afterwards he came in person, in a large double canoe,
attended by thirty-five single canoes. When at a distance he and his
people began to shout at the top of their voices, that being their
manner of welcoming strangers. He was not to be distinguished from any
of his subjects by any external mark, for he was as naked as they were;
but it was seen who he was by the reverence they showed him. The
Dutchmen, to do him honour, began beating their drums and sounding their
trumpets, and this seemed to afford him much satisfaction, as he and his
attendants, to show how highly they appreciated this reception, bowed
and clapped their hands until they grew tired of the performance. The
King then sent another pig, in one of the small canoes, on board the
_Unity_, for which Captain Schouten returned him an old hatchet, some
rusty nails, some glass beads, and a piece of linen cloth, with which he
seemed highly pleased.
They then invited him by signs to come on board. He would not, however,
trust himself with the strangers; but, after satisfying his curiosity,
he, followed by the rest of the canoes, took his departure.
At noon on the 13th, fully twenty-three double canoes and forty-five
single ones, in each of which there could not have been less than seven
or eight men, were seen coming off from the shore, and soon perfectly
surrounded the ship. At first the savages pretended to come for the
purpose of trading, making signs of friendship, and endeavouring to
persuade their visitors to remove the ship to another island, where
there was better anchorage. Captain Schouten suspected, however, in
spite of this, that there was some mischief intended. He therefore
ordered his men to arm themselves, and load their guns as well as their
muskets, to be ready for an attack. He was not mistaken, for in a short
time the savages, finding their signs not attended to, began to shout in
the most fearful manner, and then the crew of the King's ship, which was
nearest, plying her paddles, forced her with such force against the
_Unity_, that the heads of the two canoes composing it were both dashed
to pieces.
The rest of the canoes came rushing on from every side, the people in
them throwing showers of heavy stones on board. As they did so Captain
Schouten ordered his crew to open upon them with musketry, and at the
same time the great guns, which had been loaded with bullets and nails,
were fired right down on the surrounding canoes. This had the desired
effect, for the savages in the nearest canoes, leaping overboard,
endeavoured to make for the shore, while the others paddled off as fast
as they could, endeavouring to escape from the anger of the white men,
whom they had so treacherously endeavoured to destroy. It was found
that their assailants came from the lower or more southerly of the two
islands, which the Dutchmen, therefore, named Traitors' Island.
Not wishing to have anything more to do with such people, Captain
Schouten ordered the anchor to be weighed, and the _Unity_ stood towards
another island about thirty leagues off, where he hoped to be more
fortunate in obtaining refreshments. As the ship approached the island
the boat was sent along the shore to sound, for the purpose of
discovering good anchorage ground.
While the ship was standing off the shore about a dozen canoes came off,
bringing a small quantity of flying-fish. These the natives willingly
exchanged for beads; but Captain Schouten, deeming it unwise to allow
them to come alongside, ordered them under the stern, when the exchange
was made by means of a rope, the beads being let down and the fish
hauled up. The savages, having disposed of their fish, paddled away for
the _Unity's_ boat, which was engaged in sounding. Getting up to her,
they suddenly made an attempt to board, but their intention being
perceived, they were met with so warm a reception from the Dutchmen's
guns, pikes, and cutlasses, that two were killed, and the rest were glad
to hurry away as fast as they could.
The shores of this island were composed of black cliffs with green
summits, and numbers of cocoa-nut-trees growing on them. Several huts
were seen scattered about, and at one place there was a large village,
close to a shelving beach.
As no convenient anchorage was found, Captain Schouten now stood away to
the south-west, hoping to discover the great southern land of which he
was in search.
At length, however, on the 18th of May, being in latitude 16 degrees 5
minutes south, and at least one thousand six hundred leagues westward of
the coast of Peru, without having seen any signs of a continent, Captain
Schouten called his officers together, and observed that if they
continued on their present course they would reach the southern side of
New Guinea, and that if they were unable to find a passage beyond that
country, either to the west or north, they would inevitably be lost, as
it would be impossible for them to get back, in consequence of the east
winds which prevailed in those seas. He proposed, therefore, that they
should now alter their course to the northward, so as to fall in with
the north side of New Guinea.
Had he continued on he would have fallen in with the group of islands
now called the New Hebrides, and afterwards probably have become the
discoverer of New South Wales, and perhaps have made his way through
Torres Straits, between New Holland and New Guinea, which had a short
time before been discovered by Luis Vaez de Torres. It must be
remembered, however, that at this period the whole of the vast region to
the south of the East Indian Archipelago was totally unknown to the
civilised world.
Le Maire and the other officers willingly agreed to this proposal, and
the course was accordingly shaped to north-north-west. Before long they
fell in with another island, but could only get within a league of it,
when they were visited by two canoes, some of the people in them being
allowed to come on board. The natives had not been long in the ship
before, one of them carrying off a shirt, the whole leapt back into
their canoes, and then began shouting and threatening to throw their
spears. To show them their folly some muskets were discharged, by which
two of the unfortunate savages were killed, while the rest made off at a
rapid rate.
It strikes one that the Dutchmen were apt to fire unnecessarily at the
savages; but then again it must be remembered that the latter were so
ignorant of the power of firearms that unless the pieces were shotted
they only laughed at the senseless noise, and that they hurled their
spears with such unerring aim that some of the Dutchmen might have been
killed had they not employed the means of defence in their power.
Notwithstanding the death of these two savages, some more canoes came
off on the 22nd from another part of the island, apparently with
peaceable intentions, bringing cocoa-nuts, roots, and roasted hogs,
which they bartered for knives, beads, and nails.
They were, however, quite as well versed in stealing as their
countrymen. Their huts in considerable numbers were seen along the
shore, the roofs being conical and covered with leaves. As Captain
Schouten here found a good place for watering, he detained six of the
islanders on board, and sent three of his own people as hostages to the
King, who treated them with great respect and presented them with four
hogs, giving also strict orders to his people not to interfere with the
boat while watering. The natives stood in great awe of him. One of
them having stolen a cutlass, and a complaint being made to one of his
officers, the thief was pursued and soundly thrashed, besides being
compelled to make restitution. The officer signified that it was well
for the culprit that the King did not know of his crime, for had that
been the case his life, to a certainty, would have been forfeited.
Their houses were about twelve feet high and twenty in circumference,
the only furniture seen in them being beds of dry leaves, a fishing-rod
or two, and a large club.
These islanders appeared to hold firearms in great dread. On one
occasion the King desired to hear one of the great guns let off, and for
this purpose he took his seat under a canopy in state, having on his
head a crown of white, red, and green feathers of parrots and doves,
with his courtiers about him, trying to look unconcerned. No sooner,
however, was the gun fired, than jumping up, he ran off as fast as his
legs could carry him into the woods, followed by his attendants, and no
persuasions could stop them.
On the 25th and 26th Captain Schouten sent on shore to procure hogs, but
the islanders having only a few left, would not part with any, and would
only sell cocoa-nuts, bananas, and roots. The King, notwithstanding,
continued to treat his guests with kindness, and as a mark of his regard
he and his principal minister took the crowns off their heads and put
them on two of the party.
The doves seen here were white on the back, and black everywhere else,
except the breast. Each of the King's councillors had one of these
birds sitting beside him on a stick.
An ample supply of fresh water having been taken on board, preparations
were made for sailing. Before leaving, Captain Schouten and Le Maire
went on shore, accompanied by their trumpeters, whose music highly
pleased the King. The friendly disposition exhibited by the tawny
sovereigns was, they suspected, as much from fear as love, for he
offered them ten hogs and a large quantity of cocoa-nuts, if they would
quit his island in a couple of days. It was evident that he suspected
the Dutch of having some design to seize his country. He requested
them, notwithstanding this, to assist him in a war he was carrying on
with the inhabitants of another part of the island. This they declined
doing. He, however, fearlessly paid them a return visit on board the
_Unity_. On coming up the side he made some cabalistic signs, or, as
the Dutch supposed, offered up prayers to his idols, and he did the same
at the door of every cabin he entered. When the Dutchmen went on shore
the inhabitants showed them the most abject marks of respect, by kissing
their feet and placing them on their necks.
The name of _Horn_ was given to this island. It is divided into two
portions, joined by a narrow low neck of land, which gives it the
appearance of two islands.
The friendly King sent on board on the morning of the 30th of May to say
that another King was coming to visit him, and to request that drums and
trumpets from the ship might be in attendance to do his visitor honour.
This request was readily granted. Soon after the other King made his
appearance, accompanied by a train of three hundred naked Indians,
having bunches of green herbs stuck about their waists, of which herb
they make their drink. They brought also a present of sixteen hogs.
When the two Kings came in sight of each other, they began to bow and to
utter certain prayers. As they met, they both fell prostrate on the
ground, and after making several strange gestures, they got up and
walked to two seats provided for them. Having uttered more prayers and
bowed reverently to each other, they sat down under the same canopy,
while the drums and trumpets from the ship played a march, to their
great entertainment.
After this preparations were commenced for a solemn banquet. The liquor
to be consumed at it was concocted in the following strange and
disagreeable manner. A number of young Indians quickly collected in the
presence of the two Kings, bringing with them a large quantity of kava,
a sort of herb. Each person then filled his mouth with it, and having
chewed it for some time, spat it into a large wooden trough, on which
water was poured. After stirring this for some time, they squeezed out
the liquor, which was presented in cups to the two Kings. They also
offered some to the Dutch, who turned away with a disgust which must
have astonished their hosts. The substantial part of the entertainment
consisted of roasted roots and hogs, the latter nicely dressed in the
following manner. The entrails being taken out, the hair was singed
off, when a pit having been dug and lined with leaves, the bottom was
covered with heated stones, on which the hog was placed, the inside
being also filled with hot stones. It was then covered with other
stones, and on the top with a thick layer of leaves. The whole was then
covered up, so as to prevent the escape of heat. By this means the
animal was perfectly dressed. The natives presented the Dutchmen with
two hogs dressed in this manner, with the same forms and ceremonies they
used to their Kings, placing them on their heads, and then humbly
kneeling, left them at their feet.
They also presented their guests with eleven live hogs, for which they
were given in return some knives, old nails, and glass beads. These
natives were of a dark yellow colour, tall, strongly built, and so well
proportioned that the tallest Dutchman was of the size of the smallest
of them. Some wore their hair curled, others frizzled or tied up in
knots, while several had it standing bolt upright on their heads like
hogs' bristles, a quarter of an ell long. The women were short,
ill-shaped, and exceedingly ugly.
The Dutchmen bidding the friendly natives farewell, the _Unity_ sailed
on the ist of June, and stood on until she came off a low island, with
three or four small islands near it, covered by trees. Here a canoe
similar to those formerly described came off from the shore. The people
were black and armed with bows and arrows, being the first weapons of
that description the Dutchmen had seen among the Indians of the South
Sea.
These people made the voyagers understand by signs that there was more
land to the westward, where another King dwelt, who would provide them
with good refreshment.
Passing numerous islands, some of which were rugged and full of cliffs,
they at length made some high land, which they supposed to be a headland
on the coast of New Guinea. They stood towards it, but could find no
bottom to anchor.
Here two or three canoes came off full of black naked people, who spoke
a language differing entirely from that before heard. On seeing the
boat sounding they attacked her with their slings, but, frightened by a
few shots, quickly took to flight.
During the night fires were seen burning along the coast, probably as
alarm signals. Soon after it was dark more canoes came off, and kept
lurking about the ship; but though the Dutch tried to make them
understand that they wished to be friendly and were anxious to purchase
provisions, the savages only replied by the most horrible noises and
outcries.
The _Unity_ anchored that night off a bay in forty-five fathoms. In the
morning a fleet of canoes came off, full of savages armed with clubs,
wooden swords, and slings. The Dutch tried to propitiate them by
offering them trinkets and toys, but this had not the slightest effect
on the savages, who began hurling their missiles and approaching so
near--one of the Dutchmen being wounded, the first who had been hurt
during the voyage--that it became necessary to fire at them. Not,
however, until several of them had been killed did they take to flight,
when they leapt overboard, and dived and swam for their lives. On this
the Dutch, pursuing them in their boat, with what was certainly wanton
cruelty, knocked several on the head, and took three prisoners and four
of their canoes, the latter serving as fuel, of which they were in want.
Having made, one of the wounded men understand that if his countrymen
would bring off hogs and bananas the rest of the prisoners would be set
at liberty, they sent him on shore, telling him that ten hogs must be
paid as a ransom for each of the others; but as the natives refused to
agree to this arrangement, one of the captives, who was named after the
wounded Dutchman Moses, was carried off.
They here procured some beautiful birds, the plumage of which was
entirely red. From the appearance of the people they concluded that
they were Papuans. Sailing on along the coast, they saw three other
high islands, being then in 3 degrees 20 minutes south latitude.
On the night of the 29th, as the ship was sailing calmly on, she was
suddenly shaken so violently that the crew rushed up on deck, fully
expecting to find that she had run aground; but on sounding, no bottom
was found, and it was seen that no rocks nor shallows were in the
neighbourhood. They therefore came to the conclusion that the shaking
had been caused by a submarine earthquake, such as often takes place in
that volcanic region. The following night the same fearful phenomenon
again occurred, accompanied by terrific claps of thunder, while the
lightning darted so fiercely from the sky that, had not a heavy downpour
of rain come on there seemed every probability that the ship would have
been set on fire.
In the morning several canoes appeared full of blacks, who were allowed
to come on board. As a token that they wished to be friendly, they
broke some sticks they carried over the Dutchmen. Their canoes were
very neatly formed, and they themselves were more civilised than the
savages last visited. Their black hair was covered over with chalk.
They came only to beg, having brought nothing with them, though
cocoa-nut trees were seen in abundance on the shore.
On the 1st of July the _Unity_ again anchored between an island and the
coast of New Guinea. She was almost immediately surrounded by
twenty-five canoes, carrying the same people who had before given tokens
of peace. They now, however, came in a very different spirit; for
several of them caught hold of two anchors which hung over the bows, and
began tugging away, expecting to draw the ship ashore. The rest, coming
up on either side, began, with loud shouts and cries, to hurl stones
from their slings, and to cast their darts. On this Captain Schouten
ordered the guns to be fired, when the shot quickly knocked the canoes
to pieces, killed twelve or thirteen men, and wounded a much larger
number, when the rest at once took to flight.
The Dutch now continued their cruise round the northern end of New
Guinea. Passing a large group of islands, twenty-three in number, of
different sizes, some high, others low, most of them being left on the
starboard side, their hearts were cheered by coming in sight of a lofty
mountain, which they took to be the hill of Banda, but which was in
reality several degrees of latitude off from it.
On the 7th they approached a range of lofty hills, some of which they
found were volcanoes, for which reason they named the island Volcano
Island. It was thickly inhabited, and abounded in cocoa-nut trees. The
people regarded the ship with evident terror, and would not come near
her. Steering west-south-west, and occasionally altering their course
to the west-north-west, they anchored on the 8th about a cannon-shot
from the shore between two islands, one lofty and the other somewhat
lower. It was inhabited by Papuans, whose mode of bedecking themselves,
owing to their natural deformity, made them literally appear like
monsters. Nearly the whole of them had their limbs fearfully misshapen,
besides which they had strings of hogs'-teeth hung about their necks,
rings in their noses, their hair frizzled, and their faces black and
ugly. Their habitations were remarkable, being light structures of
bamboo, mounted on stakes eight or nine feet above the ground, and close
to the water. There were two villages near the shore, from whence the
inhabitants brought off hogs and cocoa-nuts, but so high a price was
demanded that none were purchased.
By the morning of the 5th they reckoned that they were off the extreme
western part of New Guinea, along which they had sailed two hundred and
eighty leagues. Here several canoes came off, bringing beans, rice,
tobacco, and two beautiful birds of paradise. The natives spoke the
language of Ternate, and some of them a little Spanish and Malayan.
They were clothed from the waist down, some with loose silken robes, and
others with trousers, while some, who were Mohammedans, wore silken
turbans on their heads; many also had gold and silver rings on their
fingers. They bartered their provisions for beads and other toys, but
seemed more desirous of having linen than anything else. Suspicious of
the Dutch, they would not tell the name of their country. It was
afterwards found that they were natives of Tidore.
Captain Schouten now shaped a course, intending to go round the north
point of Gilolo, and, having touched at Soppy, anchored on the 5th off
the coast of that island. At this place some of the seamen went on
shore several times to catch fish. On one occasion, when they were
drawing their net, four soldiers from Ternate rushed suddenly out of a
wood, sword in hand, and had not the surgeon, who was present, cried
out, "These are Holland men!" would have killed them. The soldiers
instantly stopped, and, throwing water on their heads, in token of
peace, approached in a friendly manner, saying that they had mistaken
the Dutchmen for Spaniards. They at once accompanied the seamen on
board, and, being well treated, undertook to bring off provisions, which
promise they fulfilled.
Having sighted Ternate and Tidore, the _Unity_ anchored, on the evening
of the 17th, off the former island. Here Captain Schouten with Le Maire
went on shore, and were kindly entertained by the King of Amboyna and
the admiral and general of the station.
At this place the pinnaces and the stores of the unfortunate _Horn_ were
sold for one thousand three hundred and fifty reals, with which Captain
Schouten obtained some provisions. On the 28th he anchored at Batavia,
then called Jacutra. Here John Paterson Koen, President of the Dutch
East India Company, arrived on the 31st of October; but instead of the
friendly reception the voyagers expected he would offer, to their bitter
grief he the next day sequestered the _Unity_ and her cargo, declaring
that she was forfeited to the East India Company for illegally sailing
within the bounds of their charter.
In vain Le Maire protested against this arbitrary proceeding, and
declared that the seizure was unlawful, as they had not offended against
the letter nor intention of the company's charter, since they had not
come to India by either of the forbidden passages,--the Straits of
Magellan or the Cape of Good Hope,--but by a passage they themselves had
discovered, and which must be extremely advantageous to the commerce of
their own countrymen and to the trading world.
Finding, however, all his efforts vain, he and Captain Schouten, with
some of their people, embarked on board the _Amsterdam_ on the 14th of
December, 1616, and others on board the _Zealand_, while the rest
entered the service of the company. On the 31st of the same month poor
Jacques Le Maire died, chiefly of grief and vexation at the failure of
the enterprise, which had been so successful until the arrest of the
ship and cargo. He had kept a journal with great care during the
voyage, and he left an earnest request that it should be published, that
the world might know and judge of the usage he and his companions had
received. The voyagers arrived on the 1st of July, 1617, in Holland,
from which they had been absent, during their circumnavigation of the
globe, two years and seventeen days.