early australian voyages-第9节
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as a curiosity； every intelligent Dutchman may say to himself； 〃Behold the wisdom of the East India Company。 By their present empire they support the authority of this republic abroad； and by their extensive commerce enrich its subjects at home； and at the same time show us here what a reserve they have made for the benefit of posterity； whenever； through the vicissitudes to which all sublunary things are liable； their present sources of power and grandeur shall fail。〃
I cannot help supporting my opinion in this respect； by putting the reader in mind of a very curious piece of ancient history； which furnishes us with the like instance in the conduct of another republic。 Diodorus Siculus； in the fifth book of his Historical Library； informs us that in the African Ocean； some days' sail west from Libya； there had been discovered an island； the soil of which was exceedingly fertile and the country no less pleasant； all the land being finely diversified by mountains and plains； the former thick clothed with trees； the latter abounding with fruits and flowers； the whole watered by innumerable rivulets； and affording so pleasant an habitation that a finer or more delightful country fancy itself could not feign； yet he assures us； the Carthagenians； those great masters of maritime power and commerce； though they had discovered this admirable island； would never suffer it to be planted； but reserved it as a sanctuary to which they might fly； whenever the ruin of their own republic left them no other resource。 This tallies exactly with the policy of the Dutch East India Company； who； if they should at any time be driven from their possessions in Java； Ceylon； and other places in that neighbourhood； would without doubt retire back into the Moluccas； and avail themselves effectually of this noble discovery； which lies open to them； and has been hitherto close shut up to all the world beside。 But to proceed。
CHAPTER XII： OCCURRENCES IN THE VOYAGE。
On February 14th we were in the latitude of 16 degrees 30 minutes south； and in the longitude of 193 degrees 35 minutes。 We had hitherto had much rain and bad weather； but this day the wind sinking； we hailed our consort the Zee…Haan； and found to our great satisfaction that our reckonings agreed。 On the 20th； in the latitude of 13 degrees 45 minutes； and in the longitude of 193 degrees 35 minutes； we had dark； cloudy weather； much rain； thick fogs； and a rolling sea； on all sides the wind variable。 On the 26th； in the latitude of 9 degrees 48 minutes south； and in the longitude of 193 degrees 43 minutes； we had a north…west wind； having every day； for the space of twenty…one days； rained more or less。 On March 2nd； in the latitude of 9 degrees 11 minutes south； and in the longitude of 192 degrees 46 minutes； the variation was 10 degrees to the east； the wind and weather still varying。 On March 8th； in the latitude of 7 degrees 46 minutes south； and in the longitude of 190 degrees 47 minutes； the wind was still variable。
CHAPTER XIII： HE ARRIVES AT THE ARCHIPELAGO OF ANTHONG JAVA。
On the 14th； in the latitude of 10 degrees 12 minutes south； and in the longitude of 186 degrees 14 minutes； we found the variation 8 degrees 45 minutes to the east。 We passed some days without being able to take any observation； because the weather was all that time dark and rainy。 On March 20th； in the latitude of 5 degrees 15 minutes south； and in the longitude of 181 degrees 16 minutes； the weather being then fair； we found the variation 9 degrees eastward。 On the 22nd； in the latitude of 5 degrees 2 minutes south； and in the longitude of 178 degrees 32 minutes； we had fine fair weather； and the benefit of the east trade wind。 This day we had sight of land； which lay four miles west。 This land proved to be a cluster of twenty islands； which in the maps are called Anthong Java。 They lie ninety miles or thereabouts from the coast of New Guinea。 It may not be amiss to observe here； that what Captain Tasman calls the coast of New Guinea； is in reality the coast of New Britain； which Captain Dampier first discovered to be a large island separated from the coast of New Guinea。
CHAPTER XIV： HIS ARRIVAL ON THE COAST OF NEW GUINEA。
On the 25th； in the latitude of 4 degrees 35 minutes south； and in the longitude of 175 degrees 10 minutes； we found the variation 9 degrees 30 minutes east。 We were then in the height of the islands of Mark； which were discovered by William Schovten and James le Maire。 They are fourteen or fifteen in number； inhabited by savages； with black hair； dressed and trimmed in the same manner as those we saw before at the Bay of Murderers in New Zealand。 On the 29th we passed the Green Islands； and on the 30th that of St。 John； which were likewise discovered by Schovten and Le Maire。 This island they found to be of a considerable extent； and judged it to lie at the distance of one thousand eight hundred and forty leagues from the coast of Peru。 It appeared to them well inhabited and well cultivated； abounding with flesh； fowl； fish； fruit； and other refreshments。 The inhabitants made use of canoes of all sizes； were armed with slings； darts； and wooden swords； wore necklaces and bracelets of pearl； and rings in their noses。 They were； however； very intractable； notwithstanding all the pains that could be taken to engage them in a fair correspondence； so that Captain Schovten was at last obliged to fire upon them to prevent them from making themselves masters of his vessel； which they attacked with a great deal of vigour； and very probably this was the reason that Captain Tasman did not attempt to land or make any farther discovery。 On April 1st； we were in the latitude of 4 degrees 30 minutes south； and in the longitude of 171 degrees 2 minutes； the variation being 8 degrees 45 minutes to the east； having now sight of the coast of New Guinea； and endeavouring to double the cape which the Spaniards call Cobo Santa Maria； we continued to sail along the coast which lies north…west。 We afterwards passed the islands of Antony Caens； Gardeners Island； and Fishers Island； advancing towards the promontory called Struis Hoek； where the coast runs south and south… east。 We resolved to pursue the same route； and to continue steering south till we should either discover land or a passage on that side。
It is necessary to observe； that all this time they continued on the coast； not of New Guinea but of New Britain； for that cape which the Spaniards called Santa Maria is the very same that Captain Dampier called Cape St。 George； and Caens； Gardeners； and Fishers Islands all lie upon the same coast。 They had been discovered by Schovten and Le Maire； who found them to be well inhabited； but by a very base and treacherous people； who； after making signs of peace； attempted to surprise their ships； and these islanders managed their slings with such force and dexterity； as to drive the Dutch sailors from their decks； which account of Le Maire's agree perfectly well with what Captain Dampier tells us of the same people。 As for the continent of New Guinea； it lies quite behind the island of New Britain； and was therefore laid down in all the charts before Dampier's discovery； at least four degrees more to the east than it should have been。
CHAPTER XV： CONTINUES HIS VOYAGE ALONG THAT COAST。
On April 12th； in the latitude of 3 degrees 45 minutes south； and in the longitude of 167 degrees； we found the variation 10 degrees towards the east。 That night part of the crew were wakened out of their sleep by an earthquake。 They immediately ran upon deck； supposing that the ship had struck。 On heaving the lead； however； there was no bottom to be found。 We had afterwards several shocks； but none of them so violent as the first。 We had then doubled the Struis Hoek； and were at that time in the Bay of Good Hope。 On the 14th； in the latitude of 5 degrees 27 minutes south； and in the longitude of 166 degrees 57 minutes； we observed the variation to be 9 degrees 15 minutes to the east。 The land lay then north…east； east…north…east； and again south…south…west； so that we imagined there had been a passage between those two points； but we were soon convinced of our mistake； and that it was all one coast； so that we were obliged to double the West Cape and to continue creeping along shore； and were much hindered in our passage by calms。 This description agrees very well with that of Schovten and Le Maire； so that probably they had now sight again of the coast of New Guinea。
It is very probable； from the accident that happened to Captain Tasman； and which also happened to others upon that coast； and from the burning mountains that will be hereafter mentioned； that this country is very subject to earthquakes； and if so； without doubt it abounds with metals and minerals； of which we have also another proof from a point in which all these writers agree； viz。； that the people they saw had rings on their noses and ears； though none of them tell us of what metal these rings were made； which Le Maire might easily have done； since he carried off a man from one of the islands whose name was Moses； from whom he learned that almost every nation on this coast speaks a
