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st； with dark cold weather。 Fearing； therefore； that we were run farther to the west than we thought ourselves by our reckoning； and dreading that we should fall to the south of New Guinea； or be thrown upon some unknown coast in such blowing misty weather； we resolved to stand away to the north； or to the north… north…west； till we should arrive in the latitude of 4； 5； or 6 degrees south； and then to bear away west for the coast of New Guinea； as the least dangerous way that we could take。
It is very plain from hence； that Captain Tasman had now laid aside all thoughts of discovering farther； and I think it is not difficult to guess at the reason； when he was in this latitude； line was morally certain that he could； without further difficulty； sail round by the coast of New Guinea； and so back again to the East Indies。 It is therefore extremely probable that he was directed by his instructions to coast round that great southern continent already discovered； in order to arrive at a certainty whether it was joined to any other part of the world； or whether； notwithstanding its vast extent； viz。； from the equator to 43 degrees of south latitude； and from the longitude of 123 degrees to near 190 degrees； it was； notwithstanding； an island。 This； I say； was in all appearance the true design of his voyage； and the reason of it seems to be this： that an exact chart being drawn from his discoveries； the East India Company might have perfect intelligence of the extent and situation of this now…found country before they executed the plan they were then contriving for preventing its being visited or farther discovered by their own or any other nation； and this too accounts for the care taken in laying down the map of this country on the pavement of the new stadthouse at Amsterdam； for as this county was henceforward to remain as a kind of deposit or land of reserve in the hands of the East India Company； they took this method of intimating as much to their countrymen； so that； while strangers are gaping at this map 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 sling