ixii 
INTRODUCTION. 
\Prior Discoveries 
Viaming. In the evening, the west variation was observed to be y° si'; and 
1697 ' on the 13th, they saw a cliffy point from whence three shoals, con- 
nected by a reef, stretch out to the N. N. E. The shore here, in 
latitude 24 0 42', lies S. by E. and N. by W. On the 16th, they 
passed round the point, and steered southward along the inner side 
of this land ; and having doubled its south end, found that it was 
an island : their latitude was then 24 0 54'. 
Feb. 17. The variation was observed to be 5 0 west, in latitude 
23° 59' ■ Eight miles south of this situation they saw a bay with a 
rugged point ; but to the northward the land was low : the west 
variation was 7 0 3', in the evening. They discovered some reefs 
on the 19th, lying three geographic miles off shore ; and also a 
point or cape (the North-west Cape) from which a reef extended 
two miles to the N. N. W. On the north side of this cape is a bay, 
where the Geelvink anchored ; and a little further on ( eastward ) , 
the other two vessels found an opening like a river, whose entrance was 
twelve miles wide. They went into it, but could no where Jind anchor- 
age. The bay is called Willem's River; and the two vessels after- 
wards there joined the Geelvink : it is in 21° 28'. The same day it 
was determined to sail for 'Batavia, every thing having been done 
that the commodore's orders required; and, on the 21st, they de- 
parted accordingly. 
Thus the West Coast, from the island Rottenest to the North-west 
Cape, was examined with care by Vlaming ; and it is most probable, 
that the chart in Van Keulen, which Mr. Dairy mple republished, 
and was the best known at the end of the eighteenth century, 
resulted from this same voyage. 
Dampish. Captain William Dampier visited, a second time, the western 
1699. 
coasts of Terra Australis ; being then sent out purposely for disco- 
very, in his Majesty's ship the Roebuck. 
In the night of Aug. 1, 1699, he struck soundings upon the 
northern part of the Abrolhos shoal, in latitude about 27 0 40' south. 
