_Instructions_ (by the G.-G. and Counc., dated January 20, 1705) _for the
officers of the Frigate de Geelvink, along with the Pinnace de Kraanvogel
and the Patchiallang Nova Guinea, destined to set out for the outside
coast of the said Nova Guinea; as also for the Flute Vossenbos, together
with the Pinnace de Doradus [*] and the Patchiallang Nieuw Holland,
having destination for the bay of Hollandia Nova._
[* Afterwards replaced by the pinnace de Waijer.]
[Various] considerations have determined us to dispatch you from here on
a cruise, in such fashion that the frigate Geelvinck together with the
pinnace Craanvogel and the patchiallang Nova Guinea, mentioned in the
heading of the present, will first run from here directly for Banda...and
from Banda continue their voyage to the coast of Nova Guinea.
In the same manner we annex sailing instructions for the officers of the
ship Vossenbosch, which together with the pinnace de Doratus and the
patchiallang Nieuw Holland, likewise above mentioned, will first run for
our Castle of Concordia in Timor, and then continue her voyage to
Hollandia Nova, in such fashion as you will for your guidance find
further amplified below...
You will in the first place have diligently to observe, whether there is
anywhere a passage from the outside to the inside, and this not only as
regards Nova Guinea, but also as concerns Hollandia Nova, so that these
orders...will have to be acted up to not only by the officers of the
Geelvinck, but also by those of the Vossenbosch; and you should take
special care, in case you should find such real or seeming passage, not
to run too far into it, lest you should be carried away by currents in
the same, and run the risk of accidents; on which account the examination
of such passages should nowise be undertaken by the frigate or by the
flute, but only by a pinnace or patchiallang; never to any farther
distance than the experienced sailors in the same shall deem advisable to
enable a safe return out of the said passages, and in no case so far as
to get out of anchoring depth...
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And furthermore, as sailing instructions for the officers of the flute
[Vossenbosch], over and above that which should be applicable to them in
the instructions given up to now, it has been resolved to enjoin them
that having reached Timor...they will thence set sail from the
north-eastern extremity of the said island, and shape their course
south-eastward as far as 11° S. Lat. and 148Ω° Longitude, whence on an
eastward course they will run in sight of Van Diemensland in Hollandia
Nova, which point is said to consist altogether of islands, a matter that
will thus be cleared up. From there this coast will have to be further
followed to eastward as far as Aarnemsland and the Drooge eyland, which
will have to be skirted and surveyed both on the inside and outside;
next, the coast aforesaid will have to be followed as far as Van der
Lijns eiland, which you will examine in the same way as you have done the
Drooge eyland. You will then continue your voyage as far as Lemmens bogt
and Abel Tasmans baay and Waterplaats, and from there run for Cape Van
Diemen, which having rounded you will follow the coast of Carpentaria in
a northward direction along Sweeris, Van der Ljns, Van Diemens and Staten
rivers, until you have passed the Nassauw river, which according to the
chart has its mouth beset with numerous sand-banks and shallows. Next,
running past Cape Keerweer, the Carpentier river, the Hooge eyland and
the Groote vuyle imbocht, together with the Oranjen river, and having
rounded the great projecting point of the Meeuen river, you will run
along the bay of Keerweer then following, always along the coast in a
westerly direction, past the Doodslagers revier, de Waterplaets, until
you have got beyond Goening Apy, Moordenaers revier and the Wesels
eyland, and also beyond Speelmans river and Rijkloffs bays, after which
you will make the point of Ony, whence you will cross over along Keffing
in Banda, as has already been noted in passing...
The commander of the flute Vossenbosch aforesaid, in case the whole bight
of Nova Hollandia, owing to adverse weather or defects of the ship,
cannot be made according to these our instructions so as to enable her to
be back in Banda at the end of September, will be empowered with the
advice of the ship's council, from the Drooge eylant aforesaid to cross
over to the Meeuen river, situated nearly N.W. and S.E. of each other,
and thereby to shorten the voyage to that extent, always provided that no
other means can be found...
If in...Nova Hollandia you should happen to come upon unknown Indians, of
whom you might without violence or risk, and of their own free will,
bring two or three with you hither, such men might possibly prove of
great use in subsequent voyages, but this point we leave to your own
judgment and discretion, as you shall find circumstances to shape
themselves.
Victuals and provisions for all your ships for the space of 10 months
have been ordered on board here...
In the Castle of Batavia, January 20, 1705.
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