early australian voyages-第5节
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em there upon the spot； or to carry them to Batavia； in order to their being tried by the Company's officers。 After mature deliberation； reflecting on the number of prisoners； and the temptation that might arise from the vast quantity of silver on board the frigate； they at last came to a resolution to try and execute them there； which was accordingly done； and they embarked immediately afterwards for Batavia。
REMARKS。
This voyage was translated from the original Dutch by Thevenot； and printed by him in the first volume of his collections。 Pelsart's route is traced in the map of the globe published by Delisle in the year 1700。
As this voyage is of itself very short； I shall not detain the reader with many remarks； but shall confine myself to a very few observations； in order to show the consequences of the discovery made by Captain Pelsart。 The country upon which he suffered shipwreck was New Holland； the coast of which had not till then been at all examined； and it was doubtful how far it extended。 There had indeed been some reports spread with relation to the inhabitants of this country； which Captain Pelsart's relation shows to have been false； for it had been reported that when the Dutch East India Company sent some ships to make discoveries； their landing was opposed by a race of gigantic people； with whom the Dutch could by no means contend。 But our author says nothing of the extraordinary size of the savages that were seen by Captain Pelsart's people； from whence it is reasonable to conclude that this story was circulated with no other view than to prevent other nations from venturing into these seas。 It is also remarkable that this is the very coast surveyed by Captain Dampier； whose account agrees exactly with that contained in this voyage。 Now though it be true； that from all these accounts there is nothing said which is much to the advantage either of the country or its inhabitants； yet we are to consider that it is impossible to represent either in a worse light than that in which the Cape of Good Hope was placed； before the Dutch took possession of it； and plainly demonstrated that industry could make a paradise of what was a perfect purgatory while in the hands of the Hottentots。 If； therefore； the climate of this country be good； and the soil fruitful； both of which were affirmed in this relation； there could not be a more proper place for a colony than some part of New Holland； or of the adjacent country of Carpentaria。 I shall give my reasons for asserting this when I come to make my remarks on a succeeding voyage。 At present I shall confine myself to the reasons that have induced the Dutch East India Company to leave all these countries unsettled； after having first shown so strong an inclination to discover them； which will oblige me to lay before the reader some secrets in commerce that have hitherto escaped common observation； and which； whenever they are as thoroughly considered as they deserve； will undoubtedly lead us to as great discoveries as those of Columbus or Magellan。
In order to make myself perfectly understood； I must observe that it was the finding out of the Moluccas； or Spice Islands； by the Portuguese； that raised that spirit of discovery which produced Columbus's voyage； which ended in finding America； though in fact Columbus intended rather to reach this country of New Holland。 The assertion is bold； and at first sight may appear improbable； but a little attention will make it so plain； that the reader must be convinced of the truth of what I say。 The proposition made by Columbus to the State of Genoa； the Kings of Portugal； Spain； England； and France； was this； that he could discover a new route to the East Indies； that is to say； without going round the Cape of Good Hope。 He grounded this proposition on the spherical figure of the earth； from whence he thought it self…evident that any given point might be sailed to through the great ocean； either by steering east or west。 In his attempt to go to the East Indies by a west course； he met with the islands and continent of America； and finding gold and other commodities； which till then had never been brought from the Indies； he really thought that this was the west coast of that country to which the Portuguese sailed by the Cape of Good Hope； and hence came the name of the West Indies。 Magellan； who followed his steps； and was the only discoverer who reasoned systematically； and knew what he was doing； proposed to the Emperor Charles V。 to complete what Columbus had begun； and to find a passage to the Moluccas by the west； which； to his immortal honour； he accomplished。
When the Dutch made their first voyages to the East Indies； which was not many years before Captain Pelsart's shipwreck on the coast of New Holland； for their first fleet arrived in the East Indies in 1596； and Pelsart lost his ship in 1629I say； when the Dutch first undertook the East India trade； they had the Spice Islands in view： and as they are a nation justly famous for the steady pursuit of whatever they take in hand； it is notorious that they never lost sight of their design till they had accomplished it； and made themselves entirely masters of these islands； of which they still continue in possession。 When this was done； and they had effectually driven out the English； who were likewise settled in them； they fixed the seat of their government in the island of Amboyna； which lay very convenient for the discovery of the southern countries； which； therefore； they prosecuted with great diligence from the year 1619 to the time of Captain Pelsart's shipwreck； that is； for the space of twenty years。
But after they removed the seat of their government from Amboyna to Batavia； they turned their views another way； and never made any voyage expressly for discoveries on that side； except the single one of Captain Tasman； of which we are to speak presently。 It was from this period of time that they began to take new measures； and having made their excellent settlement at the Cape of Good Hope； resolved to govern their trade to the East Indies by these two capital maxims： 1。 To extend their trade all over the Indies； and to fix themselves so effectually in the richest countries as to keep all； or at least the best and most profitable part of； their commerce to themselves； 2。 To make the Moluccas； and the islands dependent on them； their frontier； and to omit nothing that should appear necessary to prevent strangers； or even Dutch ships not belonging to the Company； from ever navigating those seas； and consequently from ever being acquainted with the countries that lie in them。 How well they have prosecuted the first maxim has been very largely shown in a foregoing article； wherein we have an ample description of the mighty empire in the hands of their East India Company。 As for the second maxim； the reader； in the perusal of Funnel's； Dampier's； and other voyages； but especially the first； must be satisfied that it is what they have constantly at heart； and which； at all events； they are determined to pursue； at least with regard to strangers； and as to their own countrymen； the usage they gave to James le Maire and his people is a proof that cannot be contested。
Those things being considered； it is very plain that the Dutch； or rather the Dutch East India Company； are fully persuaded that they have already as munch or more territory in the East Indies than they can well manage； and therefore they neither do nor ever will think of settling New Guinea； Carpentaria； New Holland； or any of the adjacent islands； till either their trade declines in the East Indies； or they are obliged to exert themselves on this side to prevent other nations from reaping the benefits that might accrue to them by their planting those countries。 But this is not all； for as the Dutch have no thoughts of settling these countries themselves； they have taken all imaginable pains to prevent any relations from being published which might invite or encourage any other nation to make attempts this way； and I am thoroughly persuaded that this very account of Captain Pelsart's shipwreck would never have come into the world if it had not been thought it would contribute to this end； or； in other words； would serve to frighten other nations from approaching such an inhospitable coast； everywhere beset with rocks absolutely void of water； and inhabited by a race of savages more barbarous； and； at the same time； more miserable than any other creatures in the world。
The author of this voyage remarks； for the use of seamen； that in the little island occupied by Weybhays； after digging two pits； they were for a considerable time afraid to use the water； having found that these pits ebbed and flowed with the sea； but necessity at last constraining them to drink it； they found it did them no hurt。 The reason of the ebbing and flowing of these pits was their nearness to the sea； the water of which percolated through the sand； lost its saltness； and so became potable； though it followed the motions of the ocean whence it came。
THE VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN ABEL JANSEN TASMAN FOR THE DISCOVERY OF SOUTHERN COUNTRIES。 1642…43。 By direction of the Dutch East India Company。 ＇Taken from hi
