26l 



at the Solomons. Then "one would have to do one's 



best to get to the South and to fall in with the Westerly 



winds, even if it were as far South as 50 or until land 



were met with." With these Westerly winds one could 



sail Eastward again as far as the Straits of Le Maire, or 



the ancient Straits of Magellan ; by which methods one 



will be enabled to discover " the Southern portion of the 



world all round the Globe, and to find out what it consists 



of, whether land, sea; or icebergs, all that God has ordained 



there." All that would then remain unexplored would 



be the region between Nova Guinea and D'Eendrachtsland. 



Visscher recommends a plan for its exploration similar (4) A voyage 



to that which Van Diemen had recommended in his in- York to^ 6 



structions to Pool. Let ships sail down the coast of West 



Nova Guinea, and go on till they come to 22. 



Had Visscher been able to accomplish these great 

 schemes he would have left Cook little to do save to admire 

 the work of his predecessor. It was determined that an 

 attempt should be made at least to accomplish some 

 large part of them. All conditions were favourable. 

 Governor-General and Councillors were " greatly inclined 

 to forward the navigation." The " Worshipful Masters " 

 in Holland highly approved. There was " no want of 

 able skippers and skilful steermen, much less, thanks 

 to God, of victuals, and all sorts of necessaries required 

 for such voyage." l The trouble, as usual, was to find 

 ships and sailors that could be spared from " voyages 

 of greater necessity." But the new peace with Portugal 

 gave an opportunity, " though for how long the good 

 God only knows ! " Visscher had to be kept nine months 

 in Batavia, because of unexampled delay in the return 

 of ships from Persia and India. But, at last, difficulties 

 were overcome, and on the 1st of August, 1642, Governor- 

 General and Council passed a resolution " to despatch 

 for the discovery and exploration of the supposed rich 

 Southern and Eastern lands, etc., the ship Heemskerck, 



and the flute Zeehan" The commander is to be the Tasman , 



commander, 



Hon. Abel Janssen Tasman, who " is now strongly inclined Aug. 1642. 

 1 Heeres" Tasman, p. 137. 



