Page:History of Botany-Bay.pdf/2

 THE

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A particular description of Van Diemen’s Land, south extremity of New Holland.

AN DIEMEN’s Land was so named by Tasman, who first discovered it in the year 1642.; from that time it escaped all further notice by European navigators, till Captain Furneaux touched at it in March 1773. In the year 1776, Captain Cook, whose professional skill in navigation had never been equalled by any in this kingdom, was called upon, in consequence of an order of his present majesty, for making discoveries in the southern Hemisphere, by which he accomplished a very important purpose in ascertaining that immense tract in the southern clime, called New Holland, to be an island, which had ever before been supposed to be continental.

This great and extensive island, being the largest in the known world, extends from Van Diemen’s land in the south-west to C. F. De Witt’s land, no less than two thousand four hundred English miles; and from north