In a previous work [*] I have attempted to show that the discovery of
Arnhemsland must beyond any doubt be credited to the voyage of the yacht
Arnhem, commanded by Van Colster or Van Coolsteerdt, which took place in
1623. Since the Journal and the charts of this voyage are no longer
available, we are without the most important data for determining with
certainty between what degrees of longitude the Arnhemsland then
discovered was situated. To westward of it must be sought Van Diemens-
and Maria's-land, touched at in 1636 by Pieter Pieterszoon with the ships
Cleen Amsterdam and Wesell) [**]. There can be no doubt that Pieterszoon
must have sailed far enough to westward to have passed Dundas Strait, and
to have reached the western extremity of Melville Island (Roode hoek =
red point). He took Dundas Strait to be not a strait, but a bay, and
accordingly looked upon Melville Island not as an island, but as a
portion of the mainland (Van Diemensland) [***].
[* See my Life of Tasman, pp. 100-102, and the Documents under No. XIV, 2
_infra_.]
[** See the Documents under No. XXV.]
[*** Maria-land lies immediately to eastward of Van Diemens-land, and to
westward of Arnhems-land.]
In the course of these two voyages of 1623 and 1636, therefore, the whole
of the north-west coast from Melville Bay to Melville Island was surveyed
by Dutch ships. But in the absence of charts made on these voyages it is
impossible for us to say with certainty, whether the coastline can have
been traced with correctness. On this point also more light is thrown by
the well-known chart of 1644, in which the results of Tasman's voyages
are recorded. Tasman sailed along the whole of the coast, but in this
case too, his observations were not on all points accurate. Thus the
situation of Wessel-eiland and the islets south of it, with respect to
the mainland, is not given correctly by him; nor has he apprehended the
real character of Dundas Strait and of Van Diemen's Gulf, so that also
according to him Melville island forms part of the mainland. But for the
rest Tasman's chart also in this case approximately reproduces the
coast-line with so much correctness, that we find it quite easy [*] to
point out on the maps of our time the results of the Dutch voyages of
discovery in this part of the Australian coast.
[* Chart No. 14 below may also be of excellent service here.]
Far more accurate, however, than Tasman's chart is the chart which in
1705 was made of the voyage of the ships Vossenbosch, de Waijer and
Nova-Hollandia, commanded by Maarten van Delft [*]. This chart may at the
same time be of service to elucidate Tasman's discoveries and those of
his predecessors. It is to be regretted, therefore, that it only embraces
a comparatively small portion of the north-west coast, namely the part
extending from the west-coast of Bathurst island and the western
extremity of Melville island to the eastern part of Coburg peninsula and
Croker-island. This time again the real character of Dundas Strait and
Van Diemens Gulf were not ascertained [**].
[* See the Documents under No. XXXIII and Chart No. 15.]
[** I subjoin the names of localities that are found in this chart, since
the reproduction had to be made on too small a scale to allow of the
names being distinctly visible to the naked eye. Going from west to east
they are the following: Kliphoek, Duivelsklip, Droge Hoek, Boompjeshoek,
Wille Hoek, Noordhoek van Van Diemens Land, Waterplacts, Vuyle Bocht,
Vuijl Eijland, Hoek van Goede Hoop, Hoefyzer Hoek, Fortuyns Hoek, Schrale
Hoek, Valsche Westhoek, Valsche Bocht, Bedriegers Hoek, Westhoek van 3
Bergen's bocht of Vossenbos Ruyge Hoek, Orangie Hoek, Witte Hoek,
Waterplacts, Alkier liggen drie bergen, Toppershoedje, Oosthoek van Drie
Bergens bocht, Scherpen Hoek, Vlacke Hoek, Westhoek en Costhoek (van)
Mariaes Land, Maria's Hoek, de Konijnenberg, Marten Van Delft's baai,
Pantjallings Hoek, Rustenburg, Wajershoek, Hoek van Onier, Hoek van
Canthier, P. Frederiksrivier, Jan Melchers Hoek. Pieter Frederiks Hoek,
Roseboomshoek, W. Sweershoek, Hoek van Calmocrie.]
{Page ix}