TASMAN'S VOYAGE OF 1644 295 



taken into account his abilities and services rendered," 

 replied with equal calmness that these " do not as yet 

 deserve a higher reward." He must wait, they said, 

 " until such time as he shall be employed on more important 

 services." In January 1651, however, he was restored 

 to rank and pay " at his urgent request, and seeing that, 

 in divers parts of the world, he has rendered the Company 

 good services, and may in time to come continue to do so." 



Of further service to the Company, however, we have 

 no news. In 1653 he was referred to as an " ex-commander." 

 He was sailing a " private vessel " to trade on his own 

 account. He was, moreover, one of the largest land- 

 owners in Batavia. Here he died in October 1659, be- Tasman's 

 queathing a sum of money to the poor of his native 

 Dutch village, and dividing his estate between his wife, his 

 daughter, and his grandchildren. 



Tasman's character, as illustrated by the records, seems 

 singularly unattractive. The crime on the island of 

 Baviauw disgusted even the tough-hearted Dutchmen 

 of Batavia. And there is not one hint that could suggest 

 a better side of his nature. Of his capacity as a navigator 

 there can be no question. His employers with curious 

 persistence disparaged the exploits that deservedly made 

 him famous. But their criticisms are unconvincing, 

 and they continued to employ him, even after he had 

 been convicted of brutality. The -two voyages are of The 

 the first importance in the development of our story. o 

 The voyage of 1642 proved that Australia existed, separated discoveries, 

 from any Southern Continent by a wide expanse of ocean. 

 The voyage of 1644 brought three sides of Australia into 

 accurate existence on the map. Eastern Australia from 

 Cape York to the Bight still remained unknown, save 

 for the unconnected strip of coast in the far South which 

 Tasman had discovered, and had named Van Diemen's 

 Land. Torres Strait remained unknown, the record of its 

 discovery growing dusty in some Spanish office. New 

 Zealand was thought to be some out-jutting Northern 

 promontory of the great Southern or Antarctic Continent 

 that still remained unknown. Tasman had made these 



