_Instructions for Commander Gerrit Thomasz Pool and the Council of the
Yachts Cleen Amsterdam and Wesel, destined for the discovery of the lands
situated east of Banda, and furthermore of the South-land, thence
extending to the South-west._
Inasmuch as for a long time past the "Heeren Majores" have been very
instantly recommending to us the discovery of the South-land, and still
continue to do so, and we have frequently discussed the matter
with...even before his departure, therefore it has been resolved and
determined in the Council of India that you shall be employed with the
Yachts Cleen Amsterdam and Wesel in the said discovery of the lands east
of Banda and of the South-land extending to westward.
You will set sail from Amboyna for Banda, in the name of God, With the
said yachts Cleen Amsterdam and Wesel on the first of April next, and
when you shall have arrived there, you will communicate these Orders and
Instructions to the Lord Governor Acoley.
Whom by these presents we enjoin to hand you in writing all such ampler
information as during his residence at Banda His Worship shall have
collected touching the {Page 65} lands and islands situated east of
Banda, at the same time letting you know where and in what islands His
Worship thinks some profit to be obtainable for the Company, or how
massoye bark and fitting men may be got, which order will in that case
have to be first executed.
And in case you should obtain no additional information, we would have
you set sail from Banda as speedily as possible for Arnhems- and Speults
land, situated between 9 and 13 degrees Southern Latitude, discovered
A.D. 1623, as you will more fully see from the appended chart; these are
the large lands; you will endeavour to ascertain what may be obtained
from there, whether these lands are peopled, and what the natives subsist
on.
After touching at the said islands you will cross over in order to strike
the land of Nova Guinea likewise discovered A.D. 1623, by the Yachts Pera
and Arnhem as far as 17° 8' Southern Latitude, which we surmise to be the
South-land extending to westward from the said latitude as far as 26
degrees or as far as the land of de Eendracht.
The men of the Yachts Pera and Arnhem have, as before mentioned, sailed
along this coast from about 4 degrees to 17 degrees 8 minutes, and have
landed at various places, where they found nothing but barren coasts and
lands, and utterly barbarian, cruel, wild natives, who surprised nine of
our men fishing, and assassinated the same. The various strands, rivers,
bays, points and the trend of this coast you will gather from the chart
aforesaid.
From the farthest point discovered, which as before mentioned, is in Lat.
17° 8' South, you will skirt the coast as far as Houtmans Abrolhos in 28
and 29 degrees, and farther still, if your provisions hold out, if the
condition of your crews will allow of it, and if your Yachts are proof
against the rough seas that prevail in the Southern Ocean in 33 and 34
degrees; after which you will return to Batavia through Sunda Strait,
trying in passing to touch at the Trials, that further information about
this rock and its situation may in this way be obtained.
In sailing along the coast you will have all bays and inlets you may meet
with, diligently examined, and keep a sharp look-out for the discovery of
channels or openings that might afford a passage into the South Sea,
since we surmise that such passage must be looked for to northward rather
than to southward, considering the breadth of the South-land between 28
and 32 or 33 degrees.
In case you should discover channels leading to the South Sea, or should
find the South-land to consist of islands, you will endeavour to pass
through or between the same, diligently observing the mouths and outlets,
and then returning again through the same passage in order to proceed
with your discovery along the north-side.
In landing with small craft you will use great circumspection, and your
treatment of the natives that should allow you to come to parley, must
and ought to be marked by great kindness, wary caution, and skilful
judgment; slight misdemeanours on the part of such natives, such as petty
thefts and the like, which they should commit against you, you will
suffer to pass unnoticed, that by so doing you may draw them unto you,
and not inspire them with aversion to our nation. Whoever endeavours to
discover unknown lands and tribes, had need to be patient and
long-suffering, noways quick to fly out, but always bent on ingratiating
himself.
We have put on board your ships various kinds of merchandise and
minerals, which you will show to the people whom you should come to
parley with, partly that by so doing you may come to know whether any of
these goods are produced by their country, partly in order to see what
desire and inclination they evince to our mercantile commodities, and
what goods they might be ready to offer in exchange for the same.
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Close attention should be paid to the disposition of the people, their
character, condition and humours; to the religion they profess and to
their manner of government; their wars, their arms and weapons; the food
they eat and the clothes they wear, and what they mainly subsist on.
Careful observation should be made, and exact records kept, of the winds
and currents, the rains and tides etc. which you shall meet with in this
your intended voyage.
You will make due observation also of all lands, islands, strands,
rivers, bays, points, rocks, reefs, cliffs, shallows and whatever else
appertains to the same; of all which you will have accurate surveyings
made, showing the true bearings, longitude and latitude, in accordance
with the circumstances under which you shall get sight and knowledge of
the same.
For this purpose availing yourselves of the services of Subcargo Pieter
Pietersen...
You will not carry off with you any natives against their will, but if a
small number of them should be found willing to come hither of their own
accord, you will grant them passage...
Commander Francisco Pelsert, having A.D. 1629 put ashore there two Dutch
delinquents, who had in due form of justice been sentenced to forfeit
their lives [*], you will grant passage to the said persons, if they
should be alive to show themselves, and should request you to be brought
hither.
[* See _ante_, p. 62.]
It would be a thing highly desirable for ships bound from the Netherlands
to India, if on the coast of the South-land between 26 and 28 degrees a
fitting place for obtaining refreshments and fresh water could be
discovered, seeing that mainly about that latitude scorbut and other
disorders begin to show themselves, at times carrying off numbers of men
even before they reach Batavia.
Finally, as hereinbefore mentioned, we shall expect you back here through
Sunda Strait, if no obstacles come in your way to prevent this, and if
the land is found to extend in one unbroken coast~line, as we surmise it
to do, of which your experience will be our teacher.
It should furthermore be noted that we are convinced that the west-coast
of Nova Guinea, or the land discovered as far as Lat. 17° 8' South by the
Yachts Pera and Arnhem, forms one whole with the South-land, a point
which in drawing up these Instructions we have taken for granted.
Therefore, if you should find the contrary to be the case, a matter of
which we will by no means deny the possibility, and if the South-land
should by you be found to be an island, you will sail southward along the
coast of Nova Guinea, as far as the 32nd degree S.L., and thence on a
westerly course touch at the eastern extremity of the South-land, which
in January 1627 was discovered by the ship t'Zeepaart. When you shall
have made the South-land on this course, you will run one degree more to
southward near the islands of St. Pieter and François, that by so doing
you may obtain full certainty that from that point the coast-line trends
to westward. After which you will run northward again, skirting the
Southland, past de Witsland, as far as Houtman's shoal and furthermore to
33 or 34 degrees, if wind and weather shall permit, returning thence to
Batavia, as hereinbefore mentioned.
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In conclusion, we wish you all the blessin of the Lord, a prosperous
voyage and safe return, hoping at the same time that this voyage may
redound to the advantage of the Company, to the glory of our country, and
to your especial honour. Amen.
Done in the Castle of Batavia, this 19th of February, A.D. 1636.
(Signed)
ANTHONIO VAN DIEMEN, PHILIP LUCASZ, ARTUS GYSELS and JAN VAN DER BURCH.