266 THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA 



explorers of 1627 had left it. Tasman might, if he chose, 

 sail Northward to this point, and thence follow the coast 

 Eastward " to ascertain how far it extends, and whether 

 the discovered South-land joins Nova Guinea " (i.e. whether 

 the coast of the Australian Bight is connected in an un- 

 broken way with Cape York Peninsula) " or whether it is 

 separated from the same by channels or passages." In 

 case Tasman found that the latter alternative was the 

 truth, he might sail through the channel or passage to 

 its Northern end, and thence, turning Westward, explore 

 the mainly unknown region between Cape Keerweer 

 (on Cape York Peninsula), and Willem's River (the Ash- 

 burton River?), the Northernmost limit of the land of 

 D'Eendracht. Tasman might take this course if, after 

 mature consideration, he thought it best to do so. But 

 the Governor- General and Council considered it probable 

 that no such channel existed. They thought it to be 

 most likely that those lands (Nuytsland and Nova Guinea) 

 join each other without a break. And their judgment 

 was that it would prove better to follow the route first 

 proposed, and to keep on a far-Southward line as far East 

 as the Longitude of East New Guinea, or the Solomons, 

 or eight hundred miles beyond. One great object was 

 to find a short route to Chili, in order to "do great 

 things with the Chilese, and to snatch rich booty from the 

 Castilian." And, on the whole, this Easterly course 

 seemed to offer the best chance of finding this route. 



From his Easternmost point Tasman was, assuming it 

 proved practicable, to sail with the South-East trade-wind for 

 New Guinea, the Solomons. He was to explore them if he could find 

 them ; and thence he was to " sail Northward and West- 

 ward, South or North of the islands, if such they are, 

 towards the East coast of New Guinea." He was given a 

 " Spanish description of New Guinea and of the Solomons," 

 and a " vocabulary of certain words of the languages 

 of the Solomons, New Guinea, and the adjacent islands." 

 It was hoped that he would come home able to throw 

 light on the baffling geographical problems bequeathed 

 by Mendafia, Quiros, and Le Maire. 



