early australian voyages-第11节
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ontrived than their neighbours； that they readily parted with their bows and arrows in exchange for goods； and that they were particularly fond of glass and ironware； which； perhaps； they not only used themselves； but employed likewise in their commerce。 The most western point of the island he called the Cape of Good Hope； because by doubling that cape he expected to reach the island of Banda； and that we may not wonder that he was in doubts and difficulties as to the situation on of these places； we ought to reflect that Schovten was the first who sailed round the world by this course； and the last too； except Commodore Roggewein； other navigators choosing rather to run as high as California； and from thence to the Ladrone Islands； merely because it is the ordinary route。
In the neighbourhood of this island Schovten also met with an earthquake； which alarmed the ship's company excessively； from an apprehension that they had struck upon a rock。 There are some other islands in the neighbourhood of this； well peopled； and well planted； abounding with excellent fruits； especially of the melon kind。 These islands lie； as it were； on the confines of the southern continent； and the East Indies； so that the inhabitants enjoy all the advantages resulting from their own happy climate； and from their traffic with their neighbours； especially with those of Ternate and Amboyna； who come thither yearly to purchase their commodities； and who are likewise visited at certain seasons by the people of these islands in their turn。
CHAPTER XIX： ARRIVES SAFELY AT BATAVIA； JUNE 15； 1643。
On the 18th of May； in the latitude of 26 minutes south and in the longitude of 147 degrees 55 minutes； we observed the variation to be 5 degrees 30 minutes east。 We were now arrived at the western extremity of New Guinea； which is a detached point or promontory （though it is not marked so even in the latest maps）； here we met with calms； variable and contrary winds； with much rain； from thence we steered for Ceram； leaving the Cape on the north； and arrived safely on that island； by this time Captain Tasman had fairly surrounded the continent he was instructed to discover； and had therefore nothing now farther in view than to return to Batavia； in order to report the discoveries he had made。
On the 27th of May we passed through the straits of Boura； or Bouton； and continued our passage to Batavia； where we arrived on the 15th of June； in the latitude of 6 degrees 12 minutes south； and in the longitude of 127 degrees 18 minutes。 This voyage was made in the space of ten months。 Such was the end of this expedition； which has been always considered as the clearest and most exact that was ever made for the discovery of the Terra Australis Incognita； from whence that chart and map was laid down in the pavement of the stadt…house at Amsterdam； as is before mentioned。 We have now nothing to do but to shut up this voyage and our history of circumnavigators； with a few remarks； previous to which it will be requisite to state clearly and succinctly the discoveries； either made or confirmed by Captain Tasman's voyage； that the importance of it may fully appear； as well as the probability of our conjectures with regard to the motives that induced the Dutch East India Company to be at so much pains about these discoveries。
CHAPTER XX： CONSEQUENCES OF CAPTAIN TASMAN'S DISCOVERIES。
In the first place； then； it is most evident； from Captain Tasman's voyage； that New Guinea； Carpentaria； New Holland； Antony van Diemen's Land； and the countries discovered by De Quiros； make all one continent； from which New Zealand seems to be separated by a strait； and； perhaps； is part of another continent； answering to Africa； as this； of which we are now speaking； plainly does to America。 This continent reaches from the equinoctial to 44 degrees of south latitude； and extends from 122 degrees to 188 degrees of longitude； making indeed a very large country； but nothing like what De Quiros imagined； which shows how dangerous a thing it is to trust too much to conjecture in such points as these。 It is； secondly； observable； that as New Guinea； Carpentaria； and New Holland； had been already pretty well examined； Captain Tasman fell directly to the south of these； so that his first discovery was Van Diemen's Land； the most southern part of the continent on this side the globe； and then passing round by New Zealand； he plainly discovered the opposite side of that country towards America； though he visited the islands only； and never fell in again with the continent till he arrived on the coast of New Britain； which he mistook for that of New Guinea； as he very well might； that country having never been suspected to be an island； till Dampier discovered it to be such in the beginning of the present century。 Thirdly； by this survey； these countries are for ever marked out； so long as the map or memory of this voyage； shall remain。 The Dutch East India Company have it always in their power to direct settlements； or new discoveries； either in New Guinea； from the Moluccas； or in New Holland； from Batavia directly。 The prudence shown in the conduct of this affair deserves the highest praise。 To have attempted heretofore； or even now； the establishing colonies in those countries； would be impolitic； because it would be grasping more than the East India Company； or than even the republic of Holland； could manage； for； in the first place； to reduce a continent between three and four thousand miles broad is a prodigious undertaking； and to settle it by degrees would be to open to all the world the importance of that country which； for anything we can tell； may be much superior to any country yet known： the only choice； therefore； that the Dutch had left； was to reserve this mighty discovery till the season arrived； in which they should be either obliged by necessity or invited by occasion to make use of it； but though this country be reserved； it is no longer either unknown or neglected by the Dutch； which is a point of very great consequence。 To the other nations of Europe； the southern continent is a chimera； a thing in the clouds； or at least a country about which there are a thousand doubts and suspicions； so that to talk of discovering or settling it must be regarded as an idle and empty project： but； with respect to them； it is a thing perfectly well known； its extent； its boundaries； its situation； the genius of its several nations； and the commodities of which they are possessed； are absolutely within their cognisance； so that they are at liberty to take such measures as appear to them best； for securing the eventual possession of this country； whenever they think fit。 This account explains at once all the mysteries which the best writers upon this subject have found in the Dutch proceedings。 It shows why they have been at so much pains to obtain a clear and distinct survey of these distant countries； why they have hitherto forborne settling； and why they take so much pains to prevent other nations from coming at a distinct knowledge of them： and I may add to this another particular； which is that it accounts for their permitting the natives of Amboyna； who are their subjects； to carry on a trade to New Guinea； and the adjacent countries； since； by this very method； it is apparent that they gain daily fresh intelligence as to the product and commodities of those countries。 Having thus explained the consequence of Captain Tasman's voyage； and thereby fully justified my giving it a place in this part of my work； I am now at liberty to pursue the reflections with which I promised to close this section； and the history of circumnavigators； and in doing which； I shall endeavour to make the reader sensible of the advantages that arise from publishing these voyages in their proper order； so as to show what is； and what is yet to be discovered of the globe on which we live。
CHAPTER XXI： REMARKS UPON THE VOYAGE。
In speaking of the consequences of Captain Tasman's voyage； it has been very amply shown that this part of Terra Australis； or southern country； has been fully and certainly discovered。 To prevent； however； the reader's making any mistake； I will take this opportunity of laying before him some remarks on the whole southern hemisphere； which will enable him immediately to comprehend all that I have afterwards to say on this subject。
If we suppose the south pole to be the centre of a chart of which the equinoctial is the circumference； we shall then discern four quarters； of the contents of which； if we could give a full account； this part of the world would be perfectly discovered。 To begin then with the first of these； that is； from the first meridian； placed in the island of Fero。 Within this division； that is to say； from the first to the nineteenth degree of longitude； there lies the great continent of Africa； the most southern point of which is the Cape of Good Hope； lying in the latitude of 34 degrees 15 minutes south。 Between that and the pole； several small but very inconsiderable islands have been discovered； affording us only this degree of certainty； that to the latitude of 50 degrees there is no land to be found of any consequen
