L Ixxv } 
PRIOR DISCOVERIES IN TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
SECTION IV. 
EAST COAST, WITH VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. 
PART I. 
Preliminary Observations. Discoveries of Tasman ; of Cook; Marion; 
and Fumeaux. Observations of Cook; Bligh; and Cox. Discovery of 
D'Entrecasteaux. Hayes. 
"Va n Diemen's Land would more properly have been arranged Preliminary 
under the head of the South Coast ; but the later discoveries here ™ 10 
have so intimate a connexion with those on the East, as to render it 
impossible to separate them without making repetitions, and losing 
perspicuity in the narrative. 
The anxiety of the Dutch government at Batavia, to know how 
far the South Lands might extend towards the antarctic circle, was 
the cause of Tasman being sent with two vessels, to ascertain this 
point ; and the discovery of Van Diemen's Land was one of the 
results. It was not, however, the policy of the Dutch government 
to make discoveries for the benefit of general knowledge ; and ac- 
cordingly this voyage " was never," says Dr. Campbell, " published 
" intire ; and it is probable, that the East-India Company never 
" intended it should be published at all. However, Dirk Rembrantz, 
" moved by the excellency and accuracy of the work, published in 
" Low Dutch an extract of captain Tasman's journal, which has 
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