Tasman steering his Course towards the high Coast that lay before this Island, was follow’d by several small Vessels from the adjacent Shore, of which some carry’d a Bough of Clappes or Pisang, with white Veins at the ends; but seeing the Ships Sail from them, they threw the same overboard. Tasman standing Westerly, discover’d three Isles, near the last whereof the Sea broke exceedingly, which the Hollanders not without great danger had approached in the Night: after which they discover’d to Leeward of them, a high Coast, which extended it self a great way, but the Sea went so rough, that they durst not venture near the Land; besides, the Sea went very high on a Bank, first ten, then five, three and a half, and again ten, fourteen, and seven Fathom deep; and oftentimes a Man might see the Ground, insomuch that they kept out the Boats belonging to the Hemskerk, which was in most danger, to carry them aboard of the Sea-Cock, if the first should chance to split. Lastly, getting over the Bank, they saw very high Land to Windward, and many hilly Isles to Leeward; the Sea also was full of blind Rocks and Shelves, so that they were in danger every hour, and the rather, because the Wind blew hard every day; yet at last losing sight of Land, they steer’d their Course Westerly in five Degrees Southward of the Line, towards New Guinee. On the two and twentieth of March they discover’d low Land full of Woods of tall Trees, surrounded with a company of Isles, against some of which the Sea brake with great violence, insomuch that they were again in great danger, especially when they were got amongst eighteen Isles, between which the Water being shallow, and the Current running very strongly, drove the Ships towards the Shore: Whilest they were Tacking to and again to get beyond the Shelves, a little Vessel, carrying a great Weathercock on her Star-board, came from the Shore, Row’d by seven Men, who sat on Boards which lay over the same; they were of a brown Complexion, onely girt about with a hairy Girdle, made fast on the top of their Heads; under their Feet they also wore something in stead of Shoes, about their Necks hung Flowers, and their Bodies were Painted black: Among the seven, one who was very fat, and whose Head was adorn’d with two Feathers, stood up and proffer’d the Seamen two Clappes, in return whereof Tasman gave them a Box of Nails and a piece of Sail-cloth, which sinking under Water, an aged Man div’d for the same, and bringing it up, gave it to his six Companions, who made no shew of thankfulness. Their Arms consisted in Bowes and Arrows. Their Clappes they call’d Anieuw, as the other Islanders had done.
Sailing from hence, they discover’d two low Islands full of Trees; and three Leagues from them, on their Star-board, a high Coast, and on the other side a great Island, whither they drove with a small Gale; approaching the same, two very small Boats came towards the Hemskerk; the biggest of the two carry’d six Men, and the least three, all of them very deform’d; they went stark naked, onely their Yards were ty’d up with a String on their Bellies, and about their Arms hung Chains of Mother-of-Pearl; they were Coal-black, onely red about the Mouth, which redness was occasion’d by the chewing of Pisang; in their Hair stuck woodden Combs, and on their Foreheads green Leaves; but in each Boat was one who had a bruised Reed made fast in his Neck like a Plume; the biggest Vessel was Painted with strange Shapes of Men and Beasts; they us’d red Bowes and Arrows, and having call’d to the Seamen, they Row’d back again to the Shore; which Tasman left a Stern of him, and ran between the Main Coast (by all suppos’d to be New Guinee) and several great Islands, that lay scatter’d along before the Main Coast; from whence came four small Boats, adorn’d with Imagery like Serpents, but kept without Gun-shot from the Ships; at last one leaping overboard, swam to the smallest Boat, out of which one swam back in his stead to the other, and afterwards came to the Hemskerks side; he was a black Man, wore Leaves before his Privities, and Armlets about his Elbows; through the Gristle of his Nose stuck a white Bone Bodkin, sharp at the ends, and of a Fingers length, and about his Neck a String full of Cockle-shells.
Tasman Sailing on along the Main Coast, met with eighteen Boats more, the Rowers whereof laid their Oars upon their Heads, and not without strange Gestures call’d aloud, and invited the Hollanders to come ashore: On the Sterns and Heads of these Boats were likewise divers Shapes Painted, upon a white Ground; in some were two, and in others three, four, and five Men; eight of them going into the Hollanders Boats, were made Drunk with Arrack. These Southlanders went stark naked, some onely covering their secret Parts with Leaves; their Skins were black, onely on their Foreheads they drew a red Stroke, which reach’d to their Ears; their brown curl’d Hair was by some colour’d grey, by some red, some let it hang loose over their Sholdiers, others ty’d the same in a Tuft on their Crown, cover’d with a Cap of Pisang Leaves, others wore their Hair scarce two Fingers long, and through the Gristle of their Nose, a piece of Cane or Quill, and a broad Beard without Mustacho’s; they had nothing to barter but large Snail-shells, on which they made a strange noise; and whatsoe’re they receiv’d, they first smell’d on it like Dogs: they fancy’d not Nails, as all the other Southlanders had done. Their manner of Fishing was thus: They ty’d several half Clappes-shells, made fast like a Chain, to a long Reed, shook the same to and again on the Water, to gather the Fish together. In the Boats lay Planks of an oval fashion, which by Ropes ty’d in the middle they held before them in stead of Shields. When these Southlanders went from the Ships, one of them threatned to beat the Seamen, shaking his great Club at them; whereupon they all Row’d with great speed to the Shore, whilest one in every Boat knockt with a Staff against the sides, just as if they had beat an Alarm. Amongst them one had barter’d for an old Doublet, with which he shew’d many antick Tricks, putting it on the wrong way, sometimes on his Head, then his Feet into the two Arm-holes, and anon the Button-holes behind on his Back.
The Ships Sailing from hence, ran along a broken Coast, and on the twelfth of April were so terribly shaken by an Earthquake, which lasted an hour and a half, that they seem’d shivering to pieces in the Water, as if they had ran against a Rock, notwithstanding they could not fathom Ground with their longest Line. Somewhat farther they discover’d a burning Mountain on an Island, between which and the Main (on which stood also a very high Mountain) they steering their Course, came into a white Water, mov’d by a strong River from the Continent; and coming to an Anchor before the Island Jamna, they saw the Isles Moa and Arimoa before them. The Jamneans calling New Guinee by the Name of Belah, inform’d the Hollanders, that they Warr’d continually with the Inhabitants thereof. These People being also Coal-black, some of them had loose curl’d Hair, hanging down over their Shoulders in long Braids, and others had onely two thick Locks, which cover’d their Ears; all of them wore four Feathers on their Heads: the Men pull’d out their Beards, and hung a great Bone Ring through their Ears, at which also hung a Shell like a Spur; most of them had red Roses ty’d about their Heads, and a Necklace of Hogs Teeth about their Necks; under their Navels they wore Girdles, a handful and a half broad, and about their Wastes Strings full of Shells, or Sea-Cockles, to which a small Lappet was ty’d, and hung down before their Privities; but because it was but two Fingers broad, and mov’d to an again by the Wind, their Nakedness appear’d to those that took notice thereof; through the Gristle of their Noses they wore a Hogs Tooth, or the Splinter of a Cane. Upon the Stern of their small Boats was the Shape of a little Lyon. One of these Islanders imitated the Hollanders when they spoke, endeavoring to repeat their words after them, and therefore was call’d Parrot.
Tasman Sailing from hence to Moa, came to an Anchor before the Coast, ten Leagues beyond Jamna, where a great Boat, carrying seventeen Men, coming near the Ship, let flie a great many Arrows at the Seamen; but the next Morning being better reconcil’d, they came aboard, where the Chirurgeon of the Ship gave a Cap to one of the Jamneans, who, as a testimony of his thankfulness for the Present, requested him to sit down; which done, he began to braid his Hair from his Forehead to his Neck, tying the same with a String.
Tasman weighing Anchor, Sail’d between New Guinee and the Island Insou, having got nothing but a few Jamnean words from the Islanders, who call’d a Bone, Vertilia; a Hog, Paro; a Knife, Sapera; Beads, Sassera; a Nail, Tortor; Sleep, Moeni; and a Rat, Asphoo. So steering his Course along Arimoa, which is both higher and larger than the neighboring Amoa, and resembles a Seaman’s Cap, he left New Guinee a Stern of him, and Steering on Northerly, Sail’d by Schoutes-Island, where eight large Boats came within Gun-shot of him, each of which had on each side a Wing, under which sat four Rowers, two and two together, with their Feet hanging in the Water; at their approaching near the Ship they put out a long Pole, with a white Flag upon it; whereupon Tasman also commanded his white Ensign to be put forth, and threw a String of Beads, ty’d to a piece of Wood, out of his Cabbin Window; which the Southlanders had no sooner taken up, but in testimony of thankfulness they all broke their Arrows over their Heads, and kept near the sides of the Ship, till such time as the Boatswain thereof sounded a Trumpet, upon the hearing of which they all Row’d away with as much speed as they could possibly. These People were of a sallow Complexion; they broke their Arrows with great Ceremony; for first they pointed with them towards the Skie, then put them into the Water, and breaking each Arrow in two pieces on their Heads, they threw one over the Larboard, and the other over the Starboard; he that broke the Arrow, made a long Speech to the Hollanders, who took the same for an Oath of their Fidelity toward them. In every one of these Boats were twenty eight or thirty Men.
Tasman’s farther Voyage into New Guinee.
Tasman prosecuting his Voyage farther, discover’d the following day another Island, and a crooked Arm of New Guinee, near which he judg’d might be an Opening betwixt New Guinee and Gilolo; then leaving on his Starboard a great many blind Cliffs, dangerous Shelves, and uneven Grounds, he cast Anchor near a Rock, which at high Water was overflow’d. A Boat coming near the Ship, in which were six Men, whose long Hair hung down their Backs, one of them amongst the rest standing up, call’d to the Hollanders in the Ternaren Language, saying, What People? to which a Seaman, who understood and spake the said Language, answer’d, Spaniards: whereupon he ask’d, From what Countrey, and whither bound? to which he was answer’d, From Moa to Ternata: The Southlander hereupon reply’d, You are Deceivers, the Ship is not Spanish, but Holland make; whereupon Tasman caus’d the Prince of Orange’s Flag to be put out, which the Southlander no sooner saw, but he cry’d, It appears by your Flags that you are Hollanders, who are always more welcom to us than Spaniards: However, though the Seaman acknowledg’d his mistake, in saying they were Spaniards; yet the Southlanders would not stay within shot of them, but at their Rowing away cry’d aloud, Here is abundance of Pisang, Clappes, Potato’s, Sugar-Canes, and other Fruits on Shore.
From hence Tasman Sail’d Northerly between many Isles, and a Channel that separates New Guinee from Gilolo, by Cerani, Manipe, Bolao, and Burro, to a narrow Opening, where Pangesane being on his Larboard, rose with exceeding high Rocks, as Botton on the Starboard. These Rocks are most of them overgrown with Trees and Brambles. In the middle of this Channel also lies a Rock, for its shape call’d A Galley, by which Tasman Sailing, bent his Course homeward, and at last, on the fifteenth of June, Anno 1643. cast Anchor before Batavia.
