(1602). NOTICES OF THE SOUTH-COAST OF NEW GUINEA IN 1602.
_Journal or Daily Register_, begun on the 22nd day of April, A.D. 1601,
kept on board the sho Gelderlant...
This 10th day of April 1602.
The meeting of the Plenary Council [*] having been convened by order of
the Lord Admiral [**] to resolve to dispatch the yacht called Duyffken to
the island of Ceram, the Council have drawn up the Instructions
following, which Supercargo Master Claes Gaeff [and] skipper Willem
Cornelisz Schouten will have to act up to.
[* The joint council of all the ships forming the flotilla to which the
Gelderland belonged.]
[** Wolphert Hermanszoon.]
_Imprimis_ he will have to navigate to the island of Ceran, and there
call at the ports or roads following, to wit: Queuin, Quelibara,
Quelilonhen or Goulegoubj [*], and failing these, at certain others where
profitable dealings may be expected...
[* Keffing, Kilwaroc,...Goeli-goeli. These place-names go to show, that
by Ceram are meant the south-eastern extremity of Ceram and the
Ceram-Laut islands.]
_Secondly_, [he will have to inquire] whether there is anything to be had
there besides sago; their way of doing business and in what places; what
commodities had best be sent thither; and to what limits their farthest
navigation extends; also, whether they have any knowledge of Nova Guinea;
whether they have ever sent ships thither, or whether ships from Nova
Guinea have ever come to Ceran. In the island of Banda, actum April the
10th, A.D. 1602, on board the ship Gelderlandt. God send his blessing
unto salvation. Amen.
* * *
Laus deo A.D. 1602 This 15th day of May in the island of Banda.
A brief account of certain islands with which they of the islands of
Ceran and, Banda carry on trade...
They can say nothing certain respecting the island of Nova Guinea, but
say that there are white people living on the south side, inhabited by
Portuguese [*], but [the people of the parts of Ceram visited by the
Dutch] had never seen any Portuguese ships. They can give no information
about their dealings and commodities.
[* If any reliance can be placed on this report, it proves that in 1602
the Portuguese were acquainted with the South(-west) coast of New Guinea.
But considering the fact that the Dutch were utterly unacquainted with
New Guinea, it is _quite possible_ that on this point they misunderstood
the inhabitants of the parts of Ceram visited by them.]
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