Western Coasts.} INTRODUCTION. k 
but the wind veering to north-east, he could no longer follow the P EI - SERT - 
direction of the coast. Considering, then, that he was more than 
four hundred miles from the place of shipwreck, and that scarcely 
water enough had been found for themselves, Pelsert resolved to ' 
make the best of his way to Batavia, to solicit assistance from the 
governor-general . 
In the mean time, some one of the people left upon the islands of 
the Abrolhos thought of tasting the water in two holes, which, from 
its rising and falling with the tide, was believed to be salt ; but, to 
their great surprise and joy, it was found good to drink, and never 
failed them afterwards. 
On Pelsert's return to the Abrolhos in the yacht Sardam, he was 
under the necessity of executing some atrocious conspirators, and 
two were set on shore upon the opposite main land.* Tasman was 
directed by his instructions, in 1644, to " inquire at the continent 
" thereabout, after two Dutchmen ; who, having forfeited their lives, 
were put on shore by the commodore Francisco Pelsert, if still 
" alive. In such case, you may make your inquiries of them about 
" the situation of those countries ; and if they entreat you to that 
" purpose, give them passage hither." 
1644. 
It is not from any direct information, that Abel Jansz Tasman tasman. 
is placed as the next discoverer upon the western coasts of Terra 
Australis ; for, as has been already observed, no account of his second 
voyage has ever been made public, or is any such known to exist. 
It is, however, supposed, with great probability of truth, that, after 
the examination of the North Coast, he pursued his course westward 
along the shore to the North-west Cape, conformably to his instruc- 
tions ; but that he did not go further southward along the Land of 
* For an account of the miseries and horrors which took place on the islands of the 
Abrolhos during the absence of Pelsert, the English reader is referred to Vol. I. p. 320 
to 325 of Campbell's edition of Harris' Voyages; but the nautical details there given 
are very incorrect. 
