In the morning of Nov. 25., it was calm; but on a breeze springing up from the southward, Tasman steered for the land; and at 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 deg. 30’ south; the mean of all their longitudes 163 deg. 50’ 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 were 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 weather 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 deg. 36’, and longitude 163 deg. 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 variation was then half a degree west.

[* 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.]

Nov. 27, the land was again seen.  At noon, a course of S. E. by E. 52 miles, gave the latitude by estimation 44 deg. 4’ south, and longitude 164 deg. 2’ 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 eastward.  At noon, the latitude by estimation was 44 deg. 1’, longitude 165 deg. 2’; and the course steered, E. by S. 44 miles.  The wind was then at north-west; and in the evening, they came near three small islands, one of which was shaped like a lion’s head, and lies twelve miles from the continent (this was the Mewstone, of Furneaux).  The wind was from the eastward in the night, and the ships lay to.

Nov. 29, they were still near the cliffy, lion-head-shaped island.  The wind was light and fair, and they steered parallel to the coast, which lies here east and west.  At noon, having made a course of E. N. E. 48 miles, the latitude was judged to be 43 deg. 53’, longitude 166 deg. 3’.  They had, a little before, passed two cliffy islets lying to seaward; of which the westernmost (Swilly