356 THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA 



work, insensible of the advantages of commerce. Dampier 

 writes about a dangerous labyrinth of waterless islands. 

 Carpentaria also has a difficult and unattractive coast. 

 New Holland, then, is unsuitable for enterprise at present, 

 though later explorations in the interior may reveal rich 

 and civilized natives, the Mexicans and Peruvians of 

 Australasia. On the other hand, " the Austral Land 

 of the Holy Spirit " is, according to the report of Quiros, 

 exceedingly attractive ; but it has not been explored 

 for a century and a half, and is therefore not the place 

 for immediate settlement. There are agreeable descrip- 

 tions of New Guinea, but its coasts though beautiful are 

 very high and difficult. Fertile islands further West 

 are near Batavia, and the Dutch would certainly trouble 

 a new settlement. 



The conclusion is that the best site for a colony is New 

 Britain. The words of Dampier and Roggeveen suffice 

 as testimony to its fertility, and to its commercial advan- 

 tages. Situated in the Latitude of the Spice Islands, 

 it will produce spices as good as the spices of the Moluccas. 

 If spices do not grow there, they can be planted, and will 

 certainly flourish. Thus the French will share the lucrative 

 monopoly of the Dutch. New Britain has also an admir- 

 able geographical situation. It is near the Moluccas 

 and the Philippines, yet not too near. It is conveniently 

 placed for trade with China, with the Ladrones, with the 

 innumerable islands of the Pacific. It will form an excellent 

 " entrepot de commerce." It will be a suitable basis for 

 the exploration of Carpentaria, the Austral Land of the 

 Holy Spirit, New Holland, New Zealand, and Van Diemen's 

 Land, whether these lands are one continent, as sortie think, 

 or are separated by straits, as seems more probable. One 

 would learn what these lands are, and what are their 

 utilities. Discovery might gradually extend from the 

 Tropics to the South Polar Circle. A ship might be sent 

 to see if there is a strait behind Rosemary Island, as Dampier 

 suspected ; to see if some arm of the sea separates Carpen- 

 taria from New Holland ; to find if the land of Quiros 

 is as promising as he says ; to make the grand tour of 



