xU INTRODUCTION. 



Tafman, in 1642, in his extenfive circuit from Batavia, 

 through the South Indian Ocean, entered the South Pacific, 

 at its greatefl diftance from the American fide, where ic 

 never had been examined before. And his range continued 

 from a high Southern latitude. Northward to New Guinea, 

 and the iflands to the Eaft of it near the equator, produced 

 intermediate difcoveries, that have rendered his voyage me- 

 morable in the annals of navigation. 



But ftill, upon the whole, what was efFeded in thefe 

 three expeditions, ferved only to fhew how large a field 

 ■ was referved for future and more perfevering examination. 

 Their refults had, indeed, enabled geographers to diverfify 

 the vacant uniformity of former charts of this Ocean, by 

 the infertion of fome new iflands. But the number, and 

 the extent of thefe infertions were fo inconfiderable, that-, 

 they may be faid to appear 



Rari,, nantes in gurgite vafto.. 



And, if the difcoveries were few, thofe few v/ere mads 

 very imperfedly. Some coafts were approached, but not 

 landed upon ; and pafled without waiting, to examine their 

 extent, and connecftion with tliofe that might exift at no 

 great diflance. If others were landed upon, the vifits were, 

 in general, fo tranfient, that it was fcarcely poffible to build 

 upon a foundation, fo weakly laid, any information that 

 could even gratify idle curiofity ; much lefs fatisfy philofo- 

 phical inquiry, or contribute greatly to the fafety, or to 

 the fuccefs of future navigation. 



Let us, however, do juftice to thefe beginnings of dif- 

 covery. To the Dutch we muft, at leafl, afcribe the merit 

 of being our harbingers, though we afterward went beyond 



S them 



