THE VOYAGE CONTINUED
Dirk Hartog, convinced that he had discovered the continent known as
Terra Australis, determined now to seek the gold and gems which this
fabled land was said to contain. The "Endraght" was accordingly brought
to anchor near to the mouth of a river on the coast, and preparations
were made to explore the stream in one of the ship's boats for some
distance along its banks. In the course of the afternoon we attempted a
landing, but as the boat neared the shore a number of natives ran down
to the water's edge with spears in their hands, and with loud cries
forbade our progress. A present of some nails and beads thrown among
them seemed, for the moment, to produce a good effect, but on our
attempt to land being renewed the natives again showed signs of
opposition. Hartog endeavoured to make them understand that no injury
was intended, but his friendly advances met with no success. A musket
was then fired amongst them, which was replied to by a flight of
spears, but no damage was done on either side. One of the natives then
threw a stone at our boat, which was answered by a discharge of small
shot, which struck him in the legs, causing him to jump like one of the
hopping animals I had seen on the island. When we pointed our muskets
again he and his companions made off into the bush. We then landed,
thinking the contest at an end, but we had scarcely quitted the boat
when the blacks returned, carrying shields for their defence. They
approached us and threw spears, but with no result. Another musket shot
convinced them their shields were no protection against our firearms,
when they again disappeared.
We then walked up to the blacks' camp and examined with much curiosity
the primitive nature of their dwellings. Then, leaving some beads and
pieces of cloth in exchange for some spears, which we took away with
us, we returned to our boat, observing on our way several light canoes,
each made of a single piece of bark, bent and laced up at both ends.
In the evening two boats' crews were sent away fishing, and they caught
in two hauls of the seine nearly three hundredweight of fish. Hartog,
after our first landing, made many friendly overtures to the natives,
who would not, however, hold any communication with us, from which we
came to the conclusion that other navigators had been here before us,
not so well disposed.
With regard to the gold and precious stones we expected to find, our
inspection of the blacks' camp convinced us that nothing of the kind
existed, at all events, in this part of the country. Such ornaments or
utensils as the natives seemed to possess were of the crudest
description, made of wood or clay, or consisting of shells and pebbles
from the seashore. The stories of fabulous wealth, therefore, to be
found in this new land appeared to be myths. It was to seek for
treasure that the "Endraght" had been equipped by a number of merchants
at Amsterdam, of whom my master, De Decker, made one, and we realized
how disappointed they would be if we returned empty-handed. Our crew,
also, began to show signs of discontent, and to murmur at having been
brought so far on a fool's errand. It was only Dirk Hartog's
indomitable personality that prevented a mutiny.
It was this same sordid greed for gain which had caused Christopher
Columbus to be sent home in chains from America because he had failed
to find gold. The acquisition of new countries did not interest those
who equipped the navigators of this time. For this reason, no attempt
was made by Hartog to take possession of any of the countries we
visited. It was to find treasure he had been sent out, and should he
return without it he might look for a surly welcome.
Yet Hartog himself, I am convinced, with the spirit of a great
navigator, found satisfaction in having accomplished so long a voyage,
to reach the goal for which he sailed.
"Can I help it, Peter," he said to me one evening when we sat together
in his cabin examining the charts I had drawn under his directions,
"that the natives of this country are poor? Gold, ivory, precious
stones, spices even, seem not to exist in the South as they do in the
East. Did I make this country, that I should be held responsible for
what it contains?"
But, although he spoke thus, I could see he was bitterly disappointed
at finding the land we had come so far to seek little better than a
wilderness, and the people upon it so poor that they went entirely
naked, and devoured each other in order to satisfy their hunger. I
tried to cheer him by reminding him we might yet find chances to enrich
ourselves before returning home, but I could see he was troubled by the
thought that the voyage he had accomplished with so much skill and
daring might prove resultless in the accumulation of wealth.
In order to hearten the crew with fresh adventure, the course of the
"Endraght" was now directed toward the islands of the Pacific. These
islands were reported to abound in pearl shell, and whilst cruising
among them we looked forward to obtaining a supply of pearls which
might compensate the merchants at Amsterdam for the expense of our
voyage, and send us all home rich men.