to Amboina.  The Pera persisted; and “sailed along the south coast of New Guinea, to a flat cove, situate in 10 deg. south latitude; and ran along the West Coast of this land to Cape Keer-Weer; from thence discovered the coast further southward, as far as 17 deg., to STATEN RIVER.  From this place, what more of the land could be discerned, seemed to stretch westward:”  the Pera then returned to Amboina.  “In this discovery were found, every where, shallow water and barren coasts; islands altogether thinly peopled by divers cruel, poor, and brutal nations; and of very little use to the (Dutch East-India) Company.”

[* In the old charts, a river Spult is marked, in the western part of Arnhem’s Land; and it seems probable, that the land in its vicinity is here meant by THE SPULT.]

POOL.  PIETERSEN. 1636.

GERRIT TOMAZ POOL was sent, in April 1636, from Banda, with the yachts Klyn Amsterdam and Wezel, upon the same expedition as Carstens; and, at the same place, on the coast of New Guinea, he met with the same fate.  Nevertheless “the voyage was assiduously continued under the charge of the supra-cargo Pieterz Pietersen; and the islands Key and Arouw visited.  By reason of very strong eastwardly winds, they could not reach the west coast of New Guinea (Carpentaria); but shaping their course very near south, discovered the coast of Arnhem, or Van Diemen’s Land, in 11 deg. south latitude; and sailed along the shore for 120 miles (30 mijlen), without seeing any people, but many signs of smoke.”

TASMAN. 1644.

This is all that appears to have been known of the North Coast, when ABEL JANSZ TASMAN sailed upon his second voyage, in 1644; for the instructions to him say, that after quitting “Point Ture, or False Cape, situate in 8 deg. on the south coast of New Guinea, you are to continue eastward, along the coast, to 9 deg. south latitude; crossing prudently the Cove at that place.  Looking about the high islands or Speult’s River, with the yachts, for a harbour; despatching the tender De Braak, for two or three days into the Cove, in order to discover whether, within the GREAT INLET, there be not to be found an entrance into the South Sea.* From this place you are to coast along the west coast of New Guinea. (Carpentaria,) to the furthest discoveries in 17 deg. south latitude; following the coast further, as it may run, west or southward.”

[* The Great Inlet or Cove, where the passage was to be sought, is the north-west part of Torres’ Strait.  It is evident, that a suspicion was entertained, in 1644, of such a strait; but that the Dutch were ignorant of its having been passed.  The “high islands” are those which lie in latitude 10 deg., on the west side of the strait.  Speult’s River appears to be the opening betwixt the Prince of Wales’ Islands and Cape York; through which captain Cook afterwards passed, and named it Endeavour’s Strait.  This Speult’s River cannot, I conceive, be the same with what was before mentioned under the name of THE SPULT.]