Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/197

 BOOK OF DISPATCHES. 49

Aroum, to the point Tare, or False Cape, situated in 8° on the south coast of Nova Guinea : from which place you arc to continue eastward along the coast till 9^ south latitude, crossing prudently the cove at that place ; looking about the high islands or Speult's River with the yachts for a harbour, and to inspect into the state of the country ; dispatching the tender Brak for two or three days into the cove, in order to discover whether, within the great inlet, there is not to be found an entrance into the South Sea ; which soon may be determined by the current of the streams. From this place you are to coast along the west coast of Nova Guinea, to the farthest discoveries in 170° S. latitude, fol- lowing this coast farther as it may run west or southward.

But it is to be feared you will meet in these parts with the S.E. trade winds, by which it will be difficult to keep the coast on board, if stretching to the S.E. ; but notwith- standing this, endeavour by all means to proceed, by rea- son that we may be sure whether this land is divided from the great known south continent or not, which by the great and slow swell from the S.E. may well be perceived ; in which case you shall try (if possible) to run so far to the S.E. as the New Van Diemen's Land, and from thence to the islands of St. Peter and St. Francois, to learn the situa- tion of these to the northward, and at the same time to be assured (which is much wished for) of a passage to the South Sea, between them and the known south land, which found (as we presume, and hope) you ought, returning through the discovered passage, to steer along the east coast of the known south land, according to its trending ; following its direction to the westward, to De Wit's Land and William's River, in 22° south latitude, when the known south land would be entirely circumnavigated, and discovered to be the largest island of the globe.

But if (as we presume) the land of Nova Guinea is joined to the south land, and in consequence is one continent ; you

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