(3^1 ) 
III. Part of a Letter from Mr. Witfeo, Burger" 
majier of Aoifte rdam^ and F. S. to Dr. 
Martin Lifter, fellow of the Colledge of Phy- 
Jicia^s^ and ft S. concermng foim hie Ob- 
fervations in Nova HoUandia* 
T TEre is returned a Ship, which by our Eafl India 
X X Company, was fenc to the South Land, called, 
Hollandia kova. The Mafter hath brought me Two 
Shells from that Country, hitherto not fufBciently 
known, which he found on the Sea fide, and I make bold 
to fend you the Draught of them, the Shells themfelves 
being twice as long and broad as the Draught, and in- 
deed I could not beftow them better, than to one who 
hath the beft Knowledge of thefe, and all other Sea Pro- 
duds. 
On this Voyage nothing hath been difcovered which 
can be any way (erviceable to the Company. The Soil 
of this Country hath been found very barren, and as a 
Defart ; no Frefli-water Rivers have been found, but 
fome Salt-water Rivers, as alfo no Four-footed Beafts, 
except one as great as a Dog, with long Ears, living in 
the Water as well as on the Land. 
Black Swans, Parrots, and many Sea-Cows were 
found there ; as alio a Lake, whpfe Water feemed to be 
Red, becaufe of the Redoefs of the Bottom of it : and 
i'ound aioogthe Shore there was fome Salt. Our People 
had feen but Twelve of the Natives, all as black as Pitch, 
and ftark- naked, (o terrifieds that it was impoffible to 
brmg them to Cooverfatioo, or a Meeting : They lodge 
themfeli^es as the Hottentots, in Pavilions of fmali Bran- 
H h h ches 
