41 



who was in the Indies from 1654 to 1670, says that the hand- 

 somest buildings in Batavia were situated on the Tiger's Canal, 

 which was planted on both sides with fine trees. ' Valentyn 

 says : "The view of this straight canal, so beautifully planted, 

 surpasses anything I have ever seen in Holland." 



On 10th April, 1657, Tasman made his will, which is still 

 preserved in the Registry of the Probate Court of Batavia. It 

 opens with the quaint old formula, " In the name of God, 

 Amen !" and states that the testator is up and about, sick in 

 body, but having good memory and understanding, and being 

 used to think upon the shortness of life, that there is nothing 

 more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the 

 hour of the same, he has therefore resolved to make a solemn 

 testament. First he beqeaths twenty-five guilders to the poor 

 of Luytgegarst, his native village ; secondly to Abel Heylman, 

 his daughter's son, living in Batavia, a gold cup and silver- 

 mounted sword. All the remainder of his property he gives 

 to his beloved wife, Joanna Tjercx. If however she marries 

 again, half of her bequest is to go over to the children of his only 

 daughter, Claesjen. If his daughter or her children dispute 

 the will, or require accounts from the widow, then their half 

 share is to be reduced to one-fourth (the ordinary legal portion 

 of a child). After his widow's death the half is to fall to the 

 children of Claesjen ; but as to the widow's half she may use 

 and treat it as her own free property without contradiction of 

 any. 



Tasman had no children by his second wife, Joanna Tjercx. 

 Claesjen was the daughter of his first wife, Claesgie Heynd'ricks. 

 Claesjen had been twice married and had children by both 

 husbands. The first, Philip Heylman, held an important 

 office in the Fort, ; the second, Jacob Breemer, was an officer of 

 the Probate Court of 'Batavia. 



In October, 1659, the will was deposited in the Probate 

 Court of Batavia : so that Tasman must have died in that year, 

 fifteen years after his second great voyage. 



The great navigators have seldom been long lived. Ma- 

 gellan and Cook died at fifty-one, Vasco da Gama at fifty-six. 

 Tasman reached the latter age. 



His widow, though forty-seven years old at her husband's 

 death, did not long remain unconsoled. Eighteen months later, 

 under date 5th February, 1661, the daily journal of Batavia 

 records that permission was granted for the marriage of Jan 

 Meynderts Springer, burgher' of Batavia, to Madame Anna 

 Tjerks, widow of the deceased Commander Abel Tasman, to be 

 celebrated at her sick bed in consideration of her severe illness ; 

 Springer to pay to the Church a hundred reals of eight for the 

 privilege. 



