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HISTORY OF THE SEA 



not seen the sun for many weeks, and was consequently without 

 reliable observations. Ke resolved to make for the north, and 

 then for the western coast of New Guinea, in order not to be 

 driven to the south of the island and pass it without seeing it. 



NATIVES OF MURDERERS' BAY. 



On the 1st of April, he saw the coast of what he supposed was 

 New Guinea, but which was in reality New Britain. Here an 

 earthquake terrified the seamen, for the shock caused them to 

 fear they had struck upon a rock ; but the lead did not reach 

 the bottom. On the 20th, they passed a burning island, noticed 

 by late navigators, and perceived flames issuing from lofty moun- 

 tains. The water was full of shrubs, bamboos, and small trees, 

 carried by the rivers to the sea. The discharge of fresh water 

 by these rivers was such that it almost corrected the salt of the 

 ocean. The natives showed Tasman some ginger, and sold him 

 hogs and cocoanuts. At the island of Moa he found the inha- 

 bitants speaking a language so copious, that they could at once 

 repeat, intelligibly, the words of any other language. Tasman 

 did not find it so easy to speak theirs, however, as the letter r 

 occurred once or more in every syllable. He purchased, for 

 knives made of the iron hoops of water- casks, six thousand 

 cocoanuts and a hundred bunches of bananas, or Indian figs. 



On the 18th of May, Tasman reached the western extremity 

 of New Guinea, having sailed entirely round the continent or 

 island of Australia. He arrived at Batavia, whence he had 



