_Letter of_ FREDERIK DE HOUTMAN _to the Managers of the E.I.C., October
7, 1619._
Most Noble Wise Provident Very Discreet Gentlemn,
My last letter to Your Worships was dated May 20th from the Tafelbay...We
next sailed from the Tafelbay with the ships Dordrecht and Amsterdam on
June the 8th...
We ran on with a fair north-west wind as far as 36° 30', in which
latitude we kept this steady breeze with us up to the 17th of July, when
we estimated ourselves to have sailed straight to eastward the space of a
thousand miles. We observed 16° decreasing north-westerly variation of
the compass, and resolved to steer...on a north-east-by-north course,
{Page 15} we then being in 35° 25' Southern Latitude. After keeping the
aforesaid course for about 60 miles, in the evening of the 19th we
suddenly saw land, which we steered away from. On the 20th we found it to
be a mainland coast extending South and North. We resolved to use our
utmost endeavours to obtain some knowledge of this coast, which seemed to
be a very good land, but could find no spot for conveniently landing
owing to the surf and the heavy seas. On the 23rd both the Amsterdam and
our ship lost an anchor each, since our cables were broken by the strong
gale. We kept near the coast till the 28th of July, but owing to the
violent storm could not effect a landing, so that we were forced to leave
the land aforesaid, not without imminent danger of being thrown on it by
the strong gale.
On the 28th we sighted a cape of the said coast, off which we sounded in
from 45 to 70 fathom, but shortly after we got no bottom, and in the
evening the land was out of sight.
On the 29th do. deeming ourselves to be in an open sea, we shaped our
course north-by-east. At noon we were in 29° 32' S. Lat.; at night about
three hours before daybreak, we again unexpectedly came upon a low-lying
coast, a level, broken country with reefs all round it. We saw no high
land or mainland, so that this shoal is to be carefully avoided as very
dangerous to ships that wish to touch at this coast. It is fully ten
miles in length, lying in 28° 46.
On the 2nd of August, the wind becoming contrary, we turned our course
eastward at noon we again sighted a long stretch of land in Lat. 27° 40'
South. We are all assured that this is the land which the ship Eendracht
discovered and made in the year [*], and noways doubt that all the land
they saw in 22, 23, 25 degrees, and which we sighted down to 33 degrees,
is one uninterrupted mainland coast.
[* Left blank.]
When in 26° 20' we were in sight of the land, we had 8 degrees decreasing
northwesterly variation of the compass. We then shaped our course north
and north by west, which leaves it due north, if the variation is
deducted. On the 29th of August we made the south-coast of Java, 60 miles
to eastward of the western extremity of the said island, so that if you
are near this South-land in 23, 24 or 25 degrees S. Lat., and shape your
course north by west, which deducting the variation is due
north-north-west, you will strike the coast of Java [*] miles to eastward
of its south-western extremity. Therefore, in order to have a fixed
course from the Cape to Java, it is advisable to set sail from the Cape
de bonne Esperance in June or July, and to run on an eastern course in 36
and 37 degrees Southern Latitude, until you estimate yourself to have
covered a thousand miles to eastward, after which you had better shape
your course north and north by east, until you get into 26 or 27 degrees,
thus shunning the shoal aforesaid which lies off the South-land in 28°
46'.
[* Left blank.]
When you have reached the 26th or 27th degree, run eastward until you
come in sight of the South-land, and then, as before mentioned, from
there hold your course north by west and north-north-west, and you are
sure to make the western extremity of Java, as shown in the annexed small
chart [*], which I have drawn up for the better assurance. This
South-land, as far as we could judge, seems to be a very fair coast, but
we found it impossible to land on it, nor have we seen any smoke or signs
of inhabitants there; but further investigation is wanted on this point.
[* Not forthcoming.]
On the 25th of August we got into Sonda Strait...
In the fortress of Jacatra, October 7, 1619.
Your Worships' obedient servant
FREDERICK HOUTMAN.
{Page 16}