early australian voyages-第12节
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egree of certainty； that to the latitude of 50 degrees there is no land to be found of any consequence； there was； indeed； a voyage made by Mr。 Bovet in the year 1738； on purpose to discover whether there were any lands to the south in that quarter or not。 This gentleman sailed from Port l'Orient July the 18th； 1738； and on the 1st of January； 1739； discovered a country； the coasts of which were covered with ice； in the latitude of 54 degrees south； and in the longitude of 28 degrees 30 minutes； the variation of the compass being there 6 degrees 45 minutes； to the west。
In the next quarter； that is to say； from 90 degrees longitude to 180 degrees； lie the countries of which we have been speaking； or that large southern island； extending from the equinoctial to the latitude of 43 degrees 10 minutes； and the longitude of 167 degrees 55 minutes； which is the extremity of Van Diemen's Land
In the third quarter； that is； from the longitude of 150 degrees to 170 degrees； there is very little discovered with any certainty。 Captain Tasman； indeed； visited the coast of New Zealand； in the latitude of 42 degrees 10 minutes south； and in the longitude of 188 degrees 28 minutes； but besides this； and the islands of Amsterdam and Rotterdam； we know very little； and therefore； if there be any doubts about the reality of Terra Australis； it must be with respect to that part of it which lies within this quarter； through which Schovten and Le Maire sailed； but without discovering anything more than a few small islands。
The fourth and last quarter is from 270 degrees of longitude to the first meridian； within which lies the continent of South America； and the island of Terra del Fuego； the most southern promontory of which is supposed to be Cape Horn； which； according to the best of observations； is in the latitude of 56 degrees； beyond which there has been nothing with any degree of certainty discovered on this side。
On the whole； therefore； it appears there are three continents already tolerably discovered which point towards the south pole； and therefore it is very probable there is a fourth； which if there be； it must lie between the country of New Zealand； discovered by Captain Tasman； and that country which was seen by Captain Sharpe and Mr。 Wafer in the South Seas； to which land therefore； and no other； the title of Terra Australis Incognita properly belongs。 Leaving this； therefore； to the industry of future ages to discover； we will now return to that great southern island which Captain Tasman actually surrounded； and the bounds of which are tolerably well known。
In order to give the reader a proper idea of the importance of this country； it will be requisite to say something of the climates in which it is situated。 As it lies from the equinoctial to near the latitude of 44 degrees； the longest day in the most northern parts must be twelve hours； and in the southern about fifteen hours； or somewhat more； so that it extends from the first to the seventh climate； which shows its situation to be the happiest in the world； the country called Van Diemen's Land resembling in all respects the south of France。 As there are in all countries some parts more pleasant than others； so there seems good reason to believe that within two or three degrees of the tropic of Capricorn； which passes through the midst of New Holland； is the most unwholesome and disagreeable part of this country； the reason of which is very plain； for in those parts it must be excessively hot； much more so than under the line itself； since the days and nights are there always equal； whereas within three or four degrees of the tropic of Capricorn； that is to say； in the latitude 27 degrees south； the days are thirteen hours and a half long； and the sun is twice in their zenith； first in the beginning of December； or rather in the latter end of November； and again when it returns back； which occasions a burning heat for about two months； or something more； whereas； either farther to the south or nearer to the line； the climate must be equally wholesome and pleasant。
As to the product and commodities of this country in general； there is the greatest reason in the world to believe that they are extremely rich and valuable； because the richest and finest countries in the known world lie all of them within the same latitude； but to return from conjectures to facts； the country discovered by De Quiros makes a part of this great island； and is the opposite coast to that of Carpentaria。 This country； the discoverer called La Australia del Espiritu Santo； in the latitude of 15 degrees 40 minutes south； and； as he reports； it abounds with gold； silver； pearl； nutmegs； mace； ginger； and sugar…canes； of an extraordinary size。 I do not wonder that formerly the fact might be doubted； but at present I think there is sufficient reason to induce us to believe it； for Captain Dampier describes the country about Cape St。 George and Port Mountague； which are within 9 degrees of the country described by De Quiros。 I say Captain Dampier describes what he saw in the following words： 〃The country hereabouts is mountainous and woody； full of rich valleys and pleasant fresh…water brooks； the mould in the valleys is deep and yellowish； that on the sides of the hills of a very brown colour； and not very deep； but rocky underneath； yet excellent planting land； the trees in general are neither very straight； thick； nor tall； yet appear green and pleasant enough； some of them bear flowers； some berries； and others big fruits； but all unknown to any of us； cocoa…nut trees thrive very well here； as well on the bays by the sea…side； as more remote among the plantations； the nuts are of an indifferent size； the milk and kernel very thick and pleasant； here are ginger； yams； and other very good roots for the pot； that our men saw and tasted； what other fruits or roots the country affords I know not； here are hogs and dogs； other land animals we saw none； the fowls we saw and knew were pigeons； parrots； cocadores； and crows； like those in England； a sort of birds about the bigness of a blackbird； and smaller birds many。 The sea and rivers have plenty of fish； we saw abundance； though we catched but few； and these were cavallies； yellow…tails； and whip…wreys。〃
This account is grounded only on a very slight view； whereas De Quiros resided for some time in the place he has mentioned。 In another place Captain Dampier observes that he saw nutmegs amongst them； which seemed to be fresh…gathered； all which agrees perfectly with the account given by De Quiros； add to this； that Schovten had likewise observed； that they had ginger upon this coast； and some other spices； so that on the whole there seems not the least reason to doubt that if any part of this country was settled； it must be attended with a very rich commerce； for it cannot be supposed that all these writers should be either mistaken； or that they should concur in a design to impose upon their readers； which is the less to be suspected； if we consider how well their reports agree with the situation of the country； and that the trees on the land； and the fish on the coast； corresponding exactly with the trees of those countries； and the fish on the coasts； where these commodities are known to abound within land； seem to intimate a perfect conformity throughout。
The next thing to be considered is； the possibility of planting in this part of the world； which at first sight； I must confess； seems to be attended with considerable difficulties with respect to every other nation except the Dutch； who either from Batavia； the Moluccas； or even from the Cape of Good Hope； might with ease settle themselves wherever they thought fit； as； however； they have neglected this for above a century； there seems to be no reason why their conduct in this respect should become the rule of other nations； or why any other nation should be apprehensive of drawing on herself the displeasure of the Dutch； by endeavouring to turn to their benefit countries the Dutch have so long suffered to lie； with respect to Europe； waste and desert。
The first point； with respect to a discovery； would be to send a small squadron on the coast of Van Diemen's Land； and from thence round； in the same course taken by Captain Tasman； by the coast of New Guinea； which might enable the nations that attempted it to come to an absolute certainty with regard to its commodities and commerce。 Such a voyage as this might be performed with very great ease； and at a small expense； by our East India Company； and this in the space of eight or nine months' time； and considering what mighty advantages might accrue to the nation； there seems to be nothing harsh or improbable in supposing that some time or other； when the legislature is more than usually intent on affairs of commerce； they may be directed to make such an expedition at the expense of the public。 By this means all the back coast of New Holland and New Guinea might be thoroughly examined； and we might know as well； and as certainly as the Dutch； how far a colony settled there might answer our expectations； one thing is certain； that to persons used to the navigation of the Indies； such an expedition could not be thought either dan
