_Instructions for the officers of the Yacht den Leeuwerik...June 27,
1648._
Having learned by the ships last arrived here from Banda, what poor
rice-crops they had in those quarters last year, so that, had not they
received some timely supplies of this grain from Amboyna, they would have
been put to exceeding inconvenience; and having besides seen from the
letter of Governor Cornelis Willemse van Outhoorn that also this year
they are under serious apprehensions of the like scarcity, in case
supplies from Batavia should be long in coming.
Therefore we have lately resolved in our Council to make an express
shipment thither at this time of year...chiefly and principally that, if
this voyage should have the expected success, which may the Almighty
grant in His mercy, we may in future be sure that such voyage could be
made every year after the arrival of the first ships from there, and the
said important Government be by us duly assisted...as regards rice and
other necessaries.
This Yacht, which we consider to be of strong build and a good sailer,
having by us been assigned for this purpose...you will weigh anchor in
the name of God early to-morrow, set sail, and use your utmost endeavours
to get clear of Sunda Strait as soon as possible, and thus gain the
open...
As soon as you shall have got clear of the Prince islands...you will from
there shape your course directly to the south, straight across the sea,
thus sailing by the wind without looking right or left, until you shall
have come to 32 or 33 degrees S.L., where with the help of God you will
meet with the westerly trade-winds; and when you are quite sure of having
got the same, without the least doubt on your part, you will direct your
course to the South-land, trying to make it and get it alongside in 25 or
26 degrees Southern Latitude, where the coast is generally of easy
access, the land being of moderate height and somewhat resembling the
coast of England.
Having reached the South-land in such fashion as we have just indicated,
you will keep the coast alongside, and not leave the same, but use your
best endeavours to skirt it, not parting with it until you have weathered
the Vuylen hoecq (Foul Point); after which you may leave the coast, and
cross over from there, next using the easterly and south-easterly winds
which you will meet with in those waters, for running in sight of the
islands of Arou, Tenember and Damme or any of these, and then making
straight for Banda with the utmost expedition, which port you will with
God's help conveniently reach in the manner hereinbefore described.
As we have already said, the accomplishment of this voyage at this season
of the year (in which only strong headwinds are blowing along the
ordinary route to Banda and other quarters nearer home) is of very great
importance to the Honourable Company...
We herewith hand you a new chart of the South-land, which you may avail
yourselves of in due time, and we noways doubt you will find the same of
great use to {Page 74} you, of which we hope afterwards to receive your
report. Seeing that the waters you are going to navigate are for the
greater part little known as yet, and that accordingly many noteworthy
things are not unlikely to occur in your voyage, we hereby likewise
earnestly enjoin you, not only to keep a complete and elaborate journal
of this voyage, but also to make due observation of the direction of the
winds, the trend of the coasts, the situation of bays, inlets and capes,
and properly to note and make drawings of the same, that on your return
you may be able to hand us a full and perfect report of the whole
undertaking, thus furnishing fresh material for the correction of the
charts now in use, and perhaps also of the courses to be kept...
Given in the Castle of Batavia, June 27, A.D. 1648.
(Signed) CORNELIS VAN DER LIJN, FRAN«OIS CARON, CAREL RENIERSZ, JOCHUM R.
VAN DEUTECOM, and GERARD DEMMER.