49 





APPENDIX. 



THE DISCOVERY OF TASMANIA. 



From Tasman's Jourhal, 1642.* 

 23rd November. t — Good weather, and the wind S.W., with 

 a fresh gale. In the morning found that our rudder-head 

 was broken in two in the tiller-mortise ; whereupon lay to 

 under shortened sail, and put a plank on either side. Noon, 

 found our h li fade 42° 50', and longitude 162° 51'. Course 

 held E., and sailed 25 (100) miles. Here found one degree 

 north- westerly variation, which here decreases very rapidly. 

 According to our reckoning had the west side of Nova Guinea 

 to the north of us. 



24th November. — Good weather and clear sky. Noon, 

 found latitude 42° 25', and longitude 163° 31'. Course kept 

 E. by N., and sailed 30 (120) miles. The wind from the 

 S.W., and afterwards S., with a gentle top-gallant breeze. 

 Afternoon, about, 4 o'clock, saw land. Had it E. by N. from 

 us ]0 (40) miles by our reckoning. It was very high land. 

 Towards evening saw in the E.S.E. three high mountains, 

 and in the N.E. also saw two mountains, but not so high as 

 those to the south. Here had a true pointing compass. In 

 the evening, in the first glass when the watch! was set (8 p.m.), 

 proposed to the council of our ship with the under mates, 

 whether it would not be best to stand off the shore to sea ; and 

 required their opinion, when they thought this to be most 

 advisable. Whereupon unanimously approved after 3 glasses 

 (9'30 P.M.) to lie out from the shore and run from it 10 glasses 

 (5 hours), when we should stand back to the land : all more 

 fully appearing in the resolution of this date to which we refer. 

 At night, after 3 glasses (1| hours), the wind was S.E. Tacked 

 from the shore, and sounded in 100 fathoms, clean white fine 

 sand with small shells ; afterwards sounded again, and had 

 black coarse sand with small stones. At night had the wind 

 S.E. with gentle breeze. 



25th November. — Morning, nearly calm. Hoisted the white 

 flag and the flag at the mizzen-top-gallant-mast, whereupon 



* Translated from Smart's edition of the Journal, with notes, &c, pub- 

 lished at Amsterdam in 1860. A strictly literal translation has been 

 preferred, as giving a better idea of the quaintness of the original. 



t The days are reckoned from midnight, to midnight. The, longitude is 

 calculated from the meridian of the Peak of Teneriffe. 



t The first watch wes from 8 p.m. to midnight. A half-hour sand-glass 

 was used to measure the time. 



