us gives the latitudes Dampier says are wrong, so he evidently 

 had a copy of the same original. With respect to these 

 latitudes, I may mention that in the case of the Abrulhos 

 Dampier is wrong, but in that of the Archipelago he is 

 right. 



I have referred to the prescience of the Dutch authorities 

 m geographical matters as shown by the "Instructions." 

 The instructions also illustrate their — shall I politely call it 

 their keenness ? in trading matters. Tasman is told when 

 "shewing the samples and goods, you and the junior 

 merchants are carefully to remark what goods the strange 

 nation most esteem, and to which they are most inclined ; 

 likewise inquire what merchandise and goods they posses?, 

 particularly after gold and silver, and whether these metals 

 are held in great esteem ; to keep them ignorant of the 

 precious value seem not greedy after it ; if they offer to 

 barter for your goods, seem not to covet these metals, but 

 shew them copper, zinc, pewter, and lead as if these were of 

 more value to us. If you find them inclined to trade, keep 

 the goods which they seem most greedy after at so high a 

 value that none may be sold or bartered without great profit." 

 And so on. 



To return to the instructions : If Tasman had fulfilled 

 them and sailed round Australia and also round Tasmania, 

 what would have been the result ? Would Australian history 

 have taken another course ? I do not think so. The Dutch 

 are a trading people rather than a colonising one. These 

 expeditions of Tasman were solely for the purpose of open- 

 ing new markets, and as they did not have that effect, on 

 account of the low condition of the people, both in regard to 

 numbers and attainments in the countries of the Australian 

 continent and islands, they had no other effect. In due time 

 the English entered into possession, and it is interesting to 

 note how in the early days of their colonisation the claims of 

 the Dutch were evidently admitted to the west or New 

 Holland side of the continent, by limitations in the com- 

 missions of the Governors of New South Wales. 



