XV111 



about the silence of Portuguese historiographers concerning the dis- 

 covery, and these facts have generally been attributed to a desire on the 

 part of the Portuguese to conceal their discovery from the Spaniards for 

 fear of interference with their trade. A similar desire for concealment 

 has been attributed on similar grounds to the Dutch, and has been suffi- 

 ciently disproved. But there seems to have been no difficulty on the 

 part of individuals who were really interested in the matter to obtain 

 access to the original drawings, or to learn such details as were to be 

 learnt regarding the discovery. Seven pilot-cartographers in Prance, 

 Mercator and others in Holland, taking a geographer's interest in a 

 new discovery, found out, apparently, all they could know about it. 

 The discovery was one of little interest to the Portuguese, whose only 

 object was to discover fresh fields for their commerce, or to find 

 better paths for their fleets. Australia was no field for commerce, the 

 Australian route no route for their Indian fleets. Wytfliet, writing in 

 1598, says that after one voyage and another that route was deserted, 

 and the country was seldom visited, except when sailors were driven 

 thither by storms. As early as the days of Marco Polo, and at intervals 

 ever since, the inhabitants have been characterised as cruel, and the 

 shores as inhospitable, and no trade is said to have been practicable 

 with the natives of that country. Hence the discovery was only 

 regarded as important by map-makers, who probably threw aside the 

 original charts as soon as they had incorporated them in their maps, or 

 if these charts remained in Lisbon up to the time of the great earth- 

 quake, they may have then been destroyed, Their loss is not unique. 

 What has become of the majority of the drawings from which the 

 map of Tasman was constructed 100 years later? I do not say that a 

 political motive may not have sealed the lips of the historiographers, 

 although the reasons I have given as conducing to render unimportant 

 the discovery of Jave la Grande would operate in their case also. In 

 those days it was not uncommon for a ship to be blown upon an 

 unknown and unlocated coast." 



Mr. McClymont said that his remarks must not be regarded in the 

 light cf an original paper, as he had only followed in the lines laid down 

 by Mr. Major in his painstaking work. He would be gratified if the 

 acquisition of these maps, or anything he or any other member might 

 say on the subject could awaken an interest in the subject of historical 

 geography, which suffered from neglect. He had been surprised at the 

 ignorance respecting Tasmanian discovery exhibited by all classes of 

 the community. He thought the maps now acquired might very well 

 form the nucleus of a Map Department in the Society's Library. 



Mr. C. T. Belstead, after alluding to the value of the key to the 

 "Tasmanian Mosses," and the paper by Mr. Bastow, as also to the 

 very interesting remarks by Mr. J. R. McClymont, proposed the usual 

 vote of thanks, which was seconded by Lieut. Beddome, and sup- 

 ported by the CHAIRMAN. The proceedings then terminated. 



AUGUST, 1886. 



The monthly meeting of this society was held in the Society's 

 rooms last evening, August 10, Mr. James Barnard, V.P.,m the chair. 

 Over 40 members were present and several visitors. 



List of additions to the library during the month of July. 



Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorisehen Hofmuseums redigirt Von Dr. 

 Franz Bitter Von Hauer, Band L, No. 2; Wien, 1882.— Prom the 

 Society. 



