722 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
1762. Relation of De Torres showing that in 1606 he discovered 
the separation between New Guinea and Australia found 
at Manilla. 
1825-26. Voyage of Kolff.—Re-discovery of the northern entrance 
of Dourga Strait, now so named. 
1835. Voyage of Kool.—First passage through Dourga Strait, 
demonstrating the separation of Prince Frederick Hendrik 
Island from New Guinea. 
T have tried to say something which would tend to remove the 
impression, prevalent in some quarters, that historical geography 
is a mere antiquarian fad ; I uphold the position that it is emi- 
nently practical. Perhaps I could not better illustrate that posi- 
tion than in this manner :—Let us suppose that Dourga Strait 
had never been re-discovered to this day. The supposition is not 
an unreasonable one, since it was only discovered in its entire 
length sixty-three years ago. Now I hold that we have good 
grounds for believing that any intelligent and properly qualified 
captain of a ship or steamer having in his hand the account of 
Abrew’s voyage as written by Galvano, and being furnished with 
the explanation of a few obscure points in the narrative, could 
sail from Sydney or any other port to the “islands lying in the 
same parallel” as the Arus, and there discover Dourga Strait. A 
result of that kind, the possibility of which seems almost self- 
evident, would surely be sufficiently practical to demonstrate the 
utility of this study to the most utilitarian mind. 
