39 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF MARIA ISLAND, 



EAST COAST, TASMANIA. 



By Clive E. Lord. 



(♦JuiatOT of the Tasmanian Museum). 



Plato XIII. 



(Received '2nd June, 1919. Read Utli July, 1919.) 



Historically speaking, the discoveiy of Tasmania is 

 of recent date, but even so, we lack many details of 

 the early expeditions, and there were probably many 

 early navigators of Australian seas of whom we know 

 nothing. Even in modern days, navigation is not exempt 

 from danger, although all the main routes have been 

 carefully charted, and the advent of steam power has 

 revolutionised the ai't of seamanship. The earlv ex- 

 plorers, however, sailed their small vessels along unknown 

 coasts, and amidst uncharted reefs. How many perished 

 we know not, but even of those expeditions that returned 

 a large percentage of their company were lost bv the 

 way. Scurvy was responsible for a tremendous death 

 roll, in addition to the other dangers of the voyage. It 

 must also be remembered that the discoveries of many 

 of the early explorers were not made known to the world 

 for many voars. Each expedition was working for its 

 own country or company, and in some cases the results 

 of the voyages were carefully guarded for the sake of self 

 interest from a national standpoint. It was not for many 

 years after hirs death that Tasmans work as an explorer 

 became known, and the details of his stay at Tasmania, 

 and incidentally the discoveiy of Maria Island, were given 

 to the world. 



The exploring ships coming from tlie west — the more 

 settled portions of the old world — nearly all followed on 

 Tasmans tracks. Making their landfall on the rugged 

 coasts of the south-western portion of Tasmania, or, as it 

 wag known of old, as the southern portion of Terra Aus- 

 tralis, and then sailing east U7itil they reached the quieter 

 waters of our east coast. Maria Island will alwavs be 

 connected with the early era of discovery, and the more 

 one visits this locality, the greater the desire becomes 

 to gain some knowledge of its early history. This was so 

 in my own case, and what information I have gathered 

 has been incorporated in the present paper in order that 

 othei's who are interested may have the infoi-mation avail- 

 able should thev desire to take advantage of it. 



