30 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



shall be taken possession of, on which should be recorded in bold, legible characters 

 the year, the month, the day of the week and the date, the person by whom, and when 

 such possession has been taken on behalf of the States General above mentioned. You 

 will likewise endeavour to enter into friendly relations and make covenants with all 

 such kings and nations as you shall happen to fall in with, and prevail upon them to 

 place themselves under the protection of the States of the United Netherlands ; of 

 which covenants and treaties you will likewise cause proper documents to be exchanged 

 with the other parties. 



" All lands, islands, places, etc., which you shall take possession of, as aforesaid, you 

 will duly mark in the chart, with their true latitude, longitude and bearings, together 

 with the names newly conferred on the same. 



" According to the oath of allegiance which each of you, jointly and severally, 

 has sworn to the Lords States General, His Princely Excellency and Messieurs the 

 Directors, none of you shall be allowed to secrete, or by underhand means to retain, 

 any written documents, journals, drawings or observations touching the expedition, 

 but every one of you shall be bound on his return here faithfully to deliver up the 

 same without exception. 



" According to the writings of Jan Van Huygen [van Linschoten] and the opinion 

 of several others, some parts of this South Land are likely to yield gold, a point into 

 which you should inquire as carefully as possible. 



" We also give you, for an experiment, divers ironwares, cloths, ' coast ' dresses 

 [Heeres explains, in a footnote, ' from the coast of Coromandel '] and linen stuffs, 

 which you will show and try to dispose of to such people as you may meet with, always 

 carefully noting what articles are found to be most in demand, what quantities might 

 be disposed of, and what might be obtained in exchange for them. We also send you 

 samples of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and pearls, that you may inquire whether 

 these articles are known to the inhabitants and might be obtained there in any reason- 

 able quantity. 



" In landing anywhere you will exercise extreme caution, and never go ashore or 

 inland unless well armed, trusting no one, however simple the people may appear to 

 be, or how plausible, but be always ready to stand on the defensive, so that no disaster 

 may overtake you, such as, God knows, has often happened in like cases. Should any 

 people come out to you from the land, you will take the like care that they suffer no 

 harm from our men. 



" Coming to the northern extremity and east side of the South Land, you will 

 diligently enquire whether any sandalwood, nutmegs, cloves, or other aromatic fruits 

 grow there. Item, if there are any good harbours or conveniently situated or fruitful 

 lands, where colonies might be planted which might be amply self-supporting. In 

 a word, let nothing pass you unobserved, and whatever you find bring us a full and 

 particular report of it, by which you will do the States of the United Netherlands a 

 service and lay up special honour for yourselves. 



" In places where you meet with people, you will, by dexterity [behendlicheyt] 

 or otherwise, get hold of some adults, or, still better, young lads or girls, to the end 

 that they should be brought up here, and later, when opportunity offers, be broken in 

 at the said quarters. 



" The command of these two yachts is given to JAN Vos, who, during the voyage, 

 will carry the flag, convene the Council and preside therein, by virtue of Our Special 

 Commission granted to the above-named Vos for that purpose. 



" Given in Fort Jacatra the 29th September, Ao. 1622." 



No better instructions could have been drawn up to serve for 

 the guidance of sailors setting out on a voyage of discovery with the 

 object of acquiring geographical and commercial knowledge, 

 although some clauses indicating what was expected, such as the 

 references to kings and nations and treaties of alliance, may raise 



