East Coast, Sf V.D.'s Land.'] INTRODUCTION. 
Jxxvii 
ing up from the southward, Tasman steered for the land ; and at Tasman. 
five p. m ., when it was twelve miles distant, sounded in 60 fathoms, 
coral bottom : at four miles off, the bottom was fine white sand. 
The latitude was then 42 0 30' south ; the mean of all their longitudes 
l6 S° 5o' east (of Teneriffe apparently) ; and the compass had no 
variation. The coast here lies S. by E. and N. by W. It is of an 
even height ; and was named Antony Van Diemen's Land, in 
honour of the governor-general, " our master, who sent us out to 
" make discoveries. The islands round about, as many of them as 
" wer e known to us, we called in honour of the Council of India." 
The ships stood off again for the night, with a light breeze at , 
S. S. E. On the 26th, the wind was from the eastward, and wea- 
ther rainy, so that no land could be seen ; but its distance was 
supposed to be twelve or thirteen leagues. At noon, the latitude 
from dead reckoning was 43° 36', and longitude 163 0 2' ; the course 
having been S. S. W. 72 miles.* In the evening the wind shifted 
to the north-east, and their course was directed E. S. E. : the vari- 
ation was then half a degree west. 
Nov. 27, the land was again seen. At noon, a course of S. E. by E. 
52 miles, gave the latitude by estimation. 44 0 4' south, and longitude 
164 0 e' east. The weather was thick and rainy, and the wind still 
from the north-eastward ; and at the fourth hour of the night, the 
vessels lay to, not venturing to run in the dark. In the morning 
of the 28th, it was foggy, with rain. They made sail to the east; 
but on seeing the land from N. E. to N. N. E., hauled up for it. 
From what could be perceived of the coast, it extended S. E. by 
E. and N. W. by W ., and seemed to decrease in height to the east- 
ward. At noon, the latitude by estimation was 44 0 1 longitude 
2' ; and the course steered, E. by S. 44 miles. The wind was 
* This and the following courses and distances run from one noon to another, do not 
always agree with the latitudes and longitudes ; but the differences are not great : They 
probably arose from the distances being marked to the nearest Dutch mile on the log 
board; whereas the latitude and longitude are taken to minutes of a degree. 
