634 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



And now a door for the widest speculation opens. It 

 may be accepted as proved, by those who have made these 

 early maps their study, that accuracy of latitude and longi- 

 tude, or much approach thereto, is not to be found in them, 

 and that the positions of many of the countries and of 

 their coast-lines are constantly misplaced or distorted. All 

 this is what we might expect in the infancy of cartography. 

 Witness, in the map before us, the close proximity of Java 

 to the northern coast of Australia — lava la Grande, or the 

 Londe of lava, as it is called — where but the width of 

 a large river or narrow strait divides the two countries. 

 Again, this huge eastern projection is supposed, with consider- 

 able reason, to represent Tasmania. Here it has been tacked 

 on to Australia in a manner most regardless of every car- 

 dinal point. If this be allowed, we must view "Bay Neufve" 

 as Bass Strait, and the " C. de Fremose " as the south-east 

 point of this Island. If this be admitted, I would hazard the 

 conjecture that the " Yslas de magna" is our South or Middle, 

 and the " Y a de Saill " the southern portion of the North 

 Island, with Cook Strait between. Dusky Bay would be 

 represented by this conspicuous opening. Some may think 

 that with further cartographical perversity Jean Eotz has 

 placed the islands in reversed position ; and, if so, we may 

 assume that Stewart Island and the Middle Island are repre- 

 sented, with Foveaux Strait between them, and that the 

 North Island is not shown at all. I incline to the first con- 

 jecture, and shall be glad on a future occasion to give reasons 

 for this belief. Meanwhile, this strange map shadows forth 

 the strong probability that New Zealand was known to Euro- 

 peans, and most likely the Portuguese, at least three hun- 

 dred and fifty years ago. In concluding with this portion of 

 my subject, it is needless to point out the remarkable interest 

 which surrounds it ; and if I have succeeded in gaining for it 

 your sympathy, and, what is more important, the determina- 

 tion to make research for yourselves, I am Content. 



