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Historical Records of New Zealand Vol. II.

Journal kept on the New Voyage round the South in East India made by the Commander Abel (in another handwriting: Jansz. Tasman) in the Year 1642 in August

page 31

Journal kept on the New Voyage round the South in East India made by the Commander Abel (in another handwriting: Jansz. Tasman) in the Year 1642 in August.

Fol. 7 verso.

Southern latitude observed, 42° 5′; longitude, 194° 53′; course, E. by N.; wind variable, but fresh breeze generally from S.S.W., with a stiff loomgale till morning against breakfast, then the weather became calmer, clear bright sunshine, tempered sky; sailed 33 miles; had seen land about 12 to 13 miles.

Southern latitude observed, 42° 19′; longitude, 195° 39′; course, E.S.E.; wind W., generally with calm, clear, bright weather with sunshine, tempered sky; sailed 9 miles. Item do.: In the afternoon we took soundings in 60 fathoms, rocky bottom, about one mile from the (*); had variation of 8° 0′ N.E.

Southern latitude observed, 41° 49′; longitude, 195° 56′; the () N.N.E.; the wind variable, with stiff, clear, and bright weather, with sunshine; sailed 8 miles.

Southern latitude observed, 40° 50′; longitude, 196° 28′; the course N.N.E., the wind variable, with a stiff breeze, say light breeze, clear bright weather with sunshine; sailed 16 miles; had the variation of 8° 19′ N.E.

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 40° 6′, and on the longitude of 197° 55′; the course N.E. by N.; the wind variable, but fresh breeze mostly from the western side, with fair bright weather; guessed to have sailed 20 miles.

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 40° 11′, and on the longitude of 198° 3′; the course E. by S.; the wind variable, with clear bright weather and a light breeze; guessed to have sailed 6 miles. Item do.: By the help of God we came to anchor in a beautiful and safe bay, in 15 fathoms of water; the bay widened at the mouth W. by N.

(Written in between in another handwriting and afterwards struck out again: 19th of November and following days to 18th of December inclusive here omitted; see in the more accurate journal drawn up by A. J. Tasman himself, in the book with the heading: “Tasman's Discovery of Hollandia or South Land.”)

In the morning, before breakfast, nine ships, full of people, came from the land, which we thought came to us to make peace, and treat us with friendship; but, on the contrary, they have, to our deep regret killed three of our people. May our Lord God preserve us from greater misfortune. The first was called Jan Tyssen, from Oue-ven; the second Tobias Pietersz, from Delft; the third Jan Isbrantsz. Soon afterwards we got under sail, steering our course N.E. by E.

* Probably the word “coast” is omitted.

The word “course” omitted.

page 32

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 40° 46′, the longitude of 199° 45′; the course E.S.E.; the wind variable, with a stiff loomgale, variable weather, now sunshine and then again rain, with a cloudy sky; guessed to have sailed 23 miles; four bells in the second watch being beaten, we veered over larboard, and made soundings in 26 fathoms. Item do.: We put on again the mizentopsail, which was broken.

Southern latitude observed, 40° 31′; the longitude of 198° 57′; the course W.N.W.; the wind variable, but fresh breeze mostly from the west side, with continual breeze, now and then sunshine and now and then clouded sky; sailed 20 miles.

To-day came into a creek, about one mile from the shore, in 25 fathoms, grey sandy bottom, and lowered our yards, because of the high wind from N.W.; the course had been S.S.W.; the longitude of 198° 45′, the latitude 40° 53′; guessed to have sailed 16 miles. To-day we fastened our mainstay and the topmast shrouds before and behind; made some repairs; the wind blew from S.W., rough weather, very dark and cloudy sky, now and then pale sunshine.

In the beginning of the day-watch we got so strong a wind that we had to drop our small bower and take our topmasts down; in the morning the weather abated somewhat, but against noon the wind began once more to blow very strongly from the N.W. by N.

In the morning at dawn the wind had somewhat abated; was a variable breeze generally from the N.W., with a strong gale, with clear weather, bright sunshine, tempered sky. Today we heaved our anchor hauled here, to wit our small bower; our commander hoisted the flag that the officers of the “Zeehaen” should come aboard; against noon the wind began to blow very hard again from the N.W., so that we were compelled to lie still.

In the morning at dawn the wind had somewhat abated; was a variable fresh breeze, mostly from the N.W., with fine light breeze, thick cloudy sky, now and then a drizzling rain. We put on our topmasts again. The same ditto against noon the master came with the merchant of the “Zeehaen” on board our ship as guests to the commander. There were also two pigs killed for the crew, and the commander ordered, besides the ration, a tankard of wine to be given to every mess, as it was the time of the fair.

In the morning at dawn we got under sail; in the afternoon we got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 39° 36′, on the longitude of 198° 4′; the course N.N.W.; the wind variable, but fresh breeze, mostly from the south, with a light breeze, drizzly, murky and rainy weather; guessed to have sailed 8 miles; during the night we got one-half of arack less.

page 33

We observed southern latitude of 38° 28′; longitude of 197° 40′; the course N.W. by N.; the wind variable, but fresh breeze mostly from the S.W. with rain; in the morning at dawn the weather became fine again, with sunshine; sailed that round day 20 ½ miles.

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 37° 59′, at the longitude of 198° 34′; the course N.E. by N.; the wind S.W., with light breeze, cloudy sky, fine weather, now and then sunshine; guessed to have sailed 13 miles. That same round day in the evening, in the (first watch, we took the topsails in)* and clued the sails up, to wit the foresail; in the middle of the night we again arranged our sails. The same ditto in the forenoon; we saw again land and sounded in 50 fathoms; at noon our commander went to the “Zeehaen.”

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 30° 8′, on the longitude of 197° 39′; the course W. by S., the wind variable, with variable breeze and tempestuous outbursts, stormy weather, thick cloudy sky, with rain and some sunshine. That same round day, in the night, the first watch, we took our topsails in, and n the beginning of the day-watch we put them on again; guessed we had sailed 12 miles.

Southern latitude observed being 37° 3′, longitude 198° 35′; the course N.E. by N., with unsteady () and fresh breeze; variable weather, cloudy sky with rain and some sunshine; sailed 19 ½ miles.

We observe the southern latitude of 36° 37′, the longitude 197° 15′; kept the course W.N.W.; the wind variable with slight breeze; clear bright weather with sunshine, tempered sky; sailed 17 miles. In the night, in the beginning of the second watch, we veered over larboard, away from the shore, and in the afternoon once more over starboard, towards the shore.

First of December (the word “December” struck out, and afterwards written in again, in another handwriting—December).

We have (our anchor) got the southern latitude of 36° 18′, the longitude of 196 minutes; the course N.W.; the wind variable but fresh breeze, mostly from the western side, with calm and clear bright weather with sunshine, tempered sky; sailed 17 miles. We put out our boat in order to tow the ship from the shore; sounded in 43 fathoms, near the shore. Sounded once more in 40 fathoms, had a variation of 9° N.E.

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 36° 9′, the longitude of 196° 26′; the course W.N.W.; the wind variable;

* The words in parentheses double in the manuscript.

Probably “wind” is left out.

Apparently the word “grades” and the number of minutes omitted.

page 34 inconstant weather, clouded sky, and some sunshine with drizzling rain; guessed to have sailed 6 miles.

Southern latitude observed, 35° 25′; ongitude, 196° 3′; the course N.N.W., slight breeze, variable wind, mostly calm; clear bright weather with sunshine, clear sky. That round day we sailed 12 miles; the variation was 9° N.E.

Southern latitude observed, 34° 34′; the course N. by E.; the wind S.E., with slight breeze; with clear bright weather. The commander had the great white flag blowing, and we bent another great topsail; sailed 13 miles.

Got no altitude, but guessed to be on the latitude of 34° 23′, the longitude of 196° 10′; the course N.N.W.; the wind variable, but fresh breeze, mostly from the western side; guessed we had sailed 3 miles. To-day we went with our boat and the boat of the “Zeehaen” well equipped to the island; about a cannon-shot from the island sounded in 36 fathoms, and coming nearer in 28–25, close to the island 10 and 5 fathoms. The said island is all over very quiet and stony; in the higher places verdure is very scarce; few trees; the island is about 2 miles in circumference; on the west there are three more small islands and some rocks; on the east lay also some rocks; and coming near the land we saw in one place the water running down from above; we also saw some plantation and also people who cried to us; it was a kind of people almost like the people who killed our three comrades on the mainland; they came up to us; had wooden sticks about 2 fathoms or one fathom and a half long and about 2 ft. at the end; were very thick, as if the end were very thick, as if they were clubs; they threw stones down upon us from above; the island is about 10 or 11 miles off the mainland; so then the same ditto we anchored with the help of God about a shot from the island in 40 fathoms, grey sandy bottom. May the Lord God preserve us from damage and misfortune.

In the morning we went with our boat, the launch, and the boat of the “Zeehaen” with casks to the land in order to fetch water, but the wind began to freshen up, and there was also a lee shore, so that we had to return on board; coming aboard we put our boats in and went again under sail with a S.E. wind; fine weather. May the Lord God grant us good fortune and a safe voyage.

Southern latitude observed, 33° 7′, and longitude 196° 28′; the course N. by E.; the wind variable and fresh breeze mostly from the eastern side, with a fine constant breeze; variable weather, cloudy sky, little rain; sailed 19 miles, &c.