The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 213 pages of information about The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765.

The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 213 pages of information about The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765.

At sunset it fell a calm, and we came to anchor in 8 fathom good anchoring-ground at about a mile’s distance from the land, having the island S.S.E. of us at upwards of a mile’s distance.  Shortly after we saw two fires on the beach beyond the island.  We estimated ourselves to have sailed about 8 miles this day; during the night the wind blew from the S. and S.S.W. with lovely weather.  We found little or no current running here.

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On Friday the 20th do. we set sail at daybreak with a weak breeze from the S.; we kept mainly at a mile’s distance from the land in 7 and 71/2 fathom good anchoring-ground.  In the course of the day the wind went over to N.E., after which we ran N.W.; at noon we got near the Roode Hoeck [red point], situated N.W. of the island aforesaid at about 5 miles’ distance; upwards of half a mile’s distance from here the land falls off to W. by W.; from this point a large reef was seen running out to sea the length of upwards of 11/2 mile, which reef being unable to weather because we sailed so close to the wind, we came to anchor in 71/2 fathom good anchoring-ground, at half a mile’s distance from the land; the Roode Hoeck was S.W. and S.W. by S. of us at upwards of half a mile’s distance; we saw smoke rising in various places.

On Saturday the 21st do. we set sail with a S.S.E. and S.E. by S. wind, a weak breeze and lovely weather.  Here, from the point, the land extended to S. by W. and S.S.W. as far as one could see, with a slight curve only.  The reef above referred to runs out to sea in a northward direction from the Roode Hoeck upwards of two miles, and from there very far to westward, upwards of 11/2 mile from the land.  It consists of sandy shoals, having a small hill or rock above water; alongside it the depth was 7, 6, 5 and 4 fathom, uneven bottom.  And since the wind blew from the S.E. by S. as before, so that we could not make the land again, we resolved to run N.E.  We accordingly shaped our course to the N.N.E. for the purpose of touching at Timor with the help of Almighty God, and take surveyings of the same.

In or near this land, which in our chart [*] we have named Van Diemensland, we have seen no men, houses, fruit-trees or prows, although we ventured to inspect it paddling with our orangbay close along the shore; the boats of both the yachts being unfit for use, stove in, and under repair.  About 2 glasses after noon, the wind was N.E., N.N.E., and N.E. by N. with calm and steady weather.  At sunset we estimated ourselves to have the Roode Hoeck S.S.E. of us at 6 miles’ distance; during the night there was a weak breeze from the E.S.E., N.E. by E. and also N.E.; course held N.N.W., N. by W. and also N., with bright, lovely and clear weather.

[* This chart is wanting.]

On Sunday the 22nd do. in the morning the wind was E.S.E. with a lovely breeze and top-gallant weather; course held N.E.  At noon we took the latitude and found it to be 10 deg. 10’ South...[*]

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The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.