_Instructions for the yachts Haringh and Hasewint having destination
jointly to discover and explore the South-land, September 29, 1622._
Inasmuch as Our Masters ["Heeren Majores"] earnestly enjoin us to
dispatch hence certain yachts for the purpose of making discovery of the
South-land; and since moreover experience has taught, by great perils
incurred by sundry of our ships--but specially by the late miscarrying of
the English ship Triali on the said coast--the urgent necessity of
obtaining a full and accurate knowledge of the true bearing and
conformation of the said land, that further accidents may henceforth be
prevented as much as possible; besides this, seeing that is highly
desirable that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether the
regions or any part of the same are inhabited, and whether any trade
might with them be established.
_Therefore_, for the purpose before mentioned, we have resolved to fit
out the yachts Haringh and Hasewint for undertaking the said voyage, and
for ascertaining as much of the situation and nature of these regions as
God Almighty shall vouchsafe to allow them.
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You will accordingly set sail from here together, run out of Sunda
Strait, and steer your course for the South-land from the western
extremity of Java, keeping as close to the wind as you will find at all
possible, that by so doing you may avoid being driven too far westward by
the South-easterly winds which generally blow in those waters. You may
therefore run on as far as the 32nd or 33rd degree, if you do not fall in
with land before that latitude; having got so far without seeing land,
you may conclude that you have fallen off too far to westward, for sundry
ships coming from the Netherlands have accidentally come upon the
South-land in this latitude; you will in this case have to turn your
course to eastward, and run on in this direction until you sight land.
In running over to the _South-land_ aforesaid, you will have to keep a
careful lookout, as soon as you get in 14 or 15 degrees, seeing that the
English ship Trial before mentioned got aground in 20° 10' Southern
Latitude on certain sunken rocks, bearing north-east and south-west for a
length Of 7 miles, according to the observation of the English pilot, but
without having seen any mainland thereabouts. But the men who saved
themselves in the pinnace and the boat, and thus arrived here, deposed
that in the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees they had seen sundry pieces of
wood and cane, and branches of trees floating about, from which they
concluded that there must be land or islands near there. The _sunken
rocks_ aforesaid on which the _Triall_ was wrecked, were exactly south of
the western extremity of _Java_ according to the statements made by the
English sailors.
When you shall have come upon the _South-land_ in the said latitude or
near it, you will skirt the coast of the same as far as Latitude 50°, in
case the land should extend so far southward; but if the land should fall
off before you have reached the said latitude, and should be found to
trend eastward, you will follow its eastern extension for some time, and
finding no further extension to southward, you will not proceed farther
east, but turn back. You will do the same if you should find the land to
turn to westward. In returning you will run along the coast as far as it
extends to northward, next proceeding on an eastern course or in such
wise as you shall find the land to extend: in which manner you will
follow the coast as close inshore and as long as you shall find
practicable, and as you deem your victuals and provisions to be
sufficient for the return-voyage, even if in so doing you should sail
round the whole land and emerge to southward.
The main object for which you are dispatched on this occasion, is, that
from 45 or 50 degrees, or from the farthest point to which the land shall
be found to extend southward within these latitudes, up to the
northernmost extremity of the South-land, you will have to discover and
survey all capes, forelands, bights, lands, islands, rocks, reefs,
sandbanks, depths, shallows, roads, winds, currents and all that
appertains to the same, so as to be able to map out and duly mark
everything in its true latitude, longitude, bearings and conformation.
You will moreover go ashore in various places and diligently examine the
coast in order to ascertain whether or no it is inhabited, the nature of
the land and the people, their towns and inhabited villages, the
divisions of their kingdoms, their religion and policy, their wars, their
rivers, the shape of their vessels, their fisheries, commodities and
manufactures, but specially to inform yourselves what minerals, such as
gold, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper, what precious stones, pearls,
vegetables, animals and fruits, these lands yield and produce.
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To all which particulars and whatever else may be worth noting, you will
pay diligent attention, keeping a careful record or daily journal of the
same, that we may get full information of all your doings and
experiences, and the Company obtain due and perfect knowledge of the
situation and natural features of these regions, in return for the heavy
expenses to which she is put by this expedition.
To all the places which you shall touch at, you will give appropriate
names such as in each instance the case shall seem to require, choosing
for the same either the names of the United Provinces or of the towns
situated therein, or any other appellations that you may deem fitting and
worthy. Of all which places, lands and islands, the commander and
officers of these yachts, by order and pursuant to the commission of the
Worshipful Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen, sent out to India by
their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands, and
by the Lords Managers of the General Chartered United East India Company
established in the same, will, by solemn declaration signed by the ships'
councils, take formal possession, and in sign thereof, besides, erect a
stone column in such places as shall be taken possession of; the said
column recording in bold, legible characters the year, the month, the day
of the week and the date, the persons by whom and the hour of the day
when such possession has been taken on behalf of the States-General above
mentioned. You will likewise endeavour to enter into friendly relations
and make covenants with all such kings and nations as you shall happen to
fall in with, and try to prevail upon them to place themselves under the
protection of the States of the United Netherlands, of which covenants
and alliances you will likewise cause proper documents to be drawn up and
signed.
All such lands, islands, etc. as you shall take possession of in the
fashion aforesaid, you will duly mark in the chart in their true
latitude, longitude and bearings, together with the names newly conferred
on the same.
In virtue of the oath of allegiance which each of you generally and
personally has sworn to the Lords States-General, to His Princely
Highness and the Lords Managers, none of you shall be allowed to retain
for his private use or to abstract any written documents, journals,
drawings or observations touching this present expedition, but every one
of you shall be bound on his return hither faithfully to deliver up the
same without exception.
According to the written statements of Jan Huygen [*], and the opinion of
sundry other persons, certain parts of this South-land are likely to
yield gold, a point into which you will inquire as carefully as possible.
[* _Scil_. Van Linschoten.]
For the purpose of making a trial we have given orders for various
articles to be put on board your ships, such as ironmongery, cloths,
coast-stuffs [*] and linens; which you will show and try to dispose of to
such natives as you may meet with, always diligently noting what articles
are found to be most in demand, what quantities might be disposed of, and
what might be obtained in exchange for them; we furthermore hand you
samples of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and pearls, that you may
inquire whether these articles are known to the natives, and might be
obtained there in any considerable quantity.
[* i. e. drawn from the Coast of Coromandel.]
In landing anywhere you will use extreme caution, and never go ashore or
into the interior unless well-armed, trusting no one, however innocent
the natives may be {Page 21} in appearance, and with whatever kindness
they may seem to receive you, being always ready to stand on the
defensive, in order to prevent sudden traitorous surprises, the like of
which, sad to say, have but too often been met with in similar cases. And
if any natives should come hear your ships, you will likewise take due
care that they suffer no molestation from our men.
When you get near the northern extremity and the east coast of the
South-land, you will diligently inquire whether it yields anywhere
sandal-wood, nutmegs, cloves or other spices; likewise whether it has any
good harbours and fertile tracts, where it would be possible to establish
settlements, which might be expected to yield satisfactory returns. In a
word, you will suffer nothing to escape your notice, but carefully
scrutinise whatever you find, and give us a full and proper report on
your return, by doing which you will render good service to the United
Netherlands and reap special honour for yourselves.
In places where you meet with natives, you will either by adroit
management or by other means endeavour to get hold of a number of
full-grown persons, or better still, of boys and girls, to the end that
the latter may be brought up here and be turned to useful purpose in the
said quarters when occasion shall serve.
The command of the two yachts has been entrusted to Jan Vos, who during
the voyage will carry the flag, convene the council and take the chair in
the same, in virtue of our special commission granted to the said Vos for
the purpose.
Given in the Fortress of jacatra, this 29th of September, A.D. 1622 [*].
[* Unforeseen circumstances prevented the expedition from setting out
(Letter of the G.-G. and Counc. to the Managers, 1 Febr. 1623).]
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