54 



That the country is generally occupied with trees, which 

 stand so thinly scattered that you may pass through every- 

 where and see to a far distance ; so that you could always get 

 sight of people or wild beasts in the country, as it is unen- 

 cumbered by thick wood or underwood; which should give 

 great facility for the exploring of the country. 



That in various places in the interior they had seen many 

 trees which had been deeply burnt into above their roots. 

 The earth was here and there beaten down and burnt as hard 

 as stones by the lighting of fires on it. 



A little before our boats (which were coming on board) got 

 witliin sight, we saw at times a thick smoke rising on the 

 land, which lay about W. by N. from us. We therefore pre- 

 sumed that our people were doing it for a signal, because they 

 were delayed so long in returning : tor they had their orders to 

 come back to us with speed, partly in order to inform us of 

 their discoveries, or otherwise, if they saw there was nothing 

 useful there, that they might go to examine other places, so 

 that no time should be spent uselessly. Our people having 

 come on board we asked them whether they had been there- 

 abouts and had lighted fires, whereupon they replied that they 

 had not, but that at divers times and places in the woods they 

 also had seen smokes ; so that without doubt there must be 

 men in this place, and these of an uncommon stature. 



To-day, had much variable wind from the eastward, but the 

 most of the day a stiff steady gale from the S.E. 



3rd December.— To-day we went with the Merchant GlL- 

 semans and our boats, as yesterday, with musketeers, the 

 rowers being provided with pikes and side arms, to the S.E. 

 side of this bay. Where we found water, but the land so low 

 that the fresh water was made brackish and salt through the 

 breaking of the sea, and the ground was too rocky to sink 

 wells. Therefore returned on board, summoned the council 

 of our two ships, with whom we resolved and found to be 

 good, as is shown by the resolution of this date, where it is to 

 be seen at length and is set forth ; whereto for brevity's sake 

 we here refer. Afternoon, we went with the said boats, 

 together with the Pilot-Major Fbancoys Jacobsz, the Skipper 

 Gerrit Jansz, Isack Gilsemans, Merchant of the Zeehaen, 

 the Junior Merchant Abraham Coomans, and our Chief 

 Carpenter PiETER Jacobsz, to the S.E. corner of this bay, 

 having with us a pole with the Company's mark cut therein, 

 and the Prince's flag, in order to set the same up there, so that 

 it may be evident to posterity that we have been here and 

 taken" the said land for a possession and property. Having 

 rowed with our boats about half way, it began to blow hard 

 and the sea to rise so high that the launch of the Zeehaen, in 



