Page:Tasman A Forgotten Navigator.djvu/17

 Gilsemans, merchant of the "Zeehaan"—the junior merchant, Abraham Coomans—and our chief carpenter, Pieter Jacobz, to the S.E. corner of the bay, having with us a pole, with the company's, mark cut therein, and the Prince's flag, in order to set the same up there, so that it may be evident to posterity that we have been here, and taken the said land for a possession and property. Having rowed with our boats about half way, it began to blow hard, and the sea to rise so high that the launch of the "Zeehaan," in which were the pilot-major and merchant Gilsemans, was obliged to return on board. The surf broke at such a rate that the land could not be approached without danger of the boat being dashed to pieces. We ordered the said carpenter to swim ashore, by himself, with the pole and Prince's flag; and remained with the long boat lying to the wind. We made him set up the said pole, with the flag at the top. in the earth, before a decaying tree, one of a group of four. After the carpenter had accomplished this matter, above rehearsed, in view of me, Abel Jansen Tasman, and the junior merchant, Abraham Coomans, we rowed the boat as near to the shore as we dared venture, and the said carpenter swam back again to the long boat, through the surf.

There is nothing emotional in this transaction. On the 4th of December they sailed away in a northerly direction, along the east coast, with the wind off the land, keeping a look-out for a possible watering place. Several bush fires were observed.

Here we get a glimpse of Tasman's personality. In a very characteristic note he says: "Here I should give you a description of the extent of coast and the islands near, but I hope to be excused, and refer you, for brevity's sake, to the maps made of it, and found herewith." Verily the force of taciturnity could no further go. In our present age of universal talk this silence would be indeed golden.

Tasman's most serious need at this time was fresh water. This was always the great difficulty with our early voyagers. Their fresh water, stored in barrels, was liable to leakage in bad weather, and deterioration in hot climates. Rain water was used and conserved at every opportunity.

Sir Richard Hawkins, son of Sir John, of negro traffic notoriety, commanded an expedition, composed of three vessels, to the South Seas fifty years before this. Sir Richard must have been very much in advance of that age, for in his "Observations" he says: "Our fresh water had failed us many days, by reason of our long navigation, yet with an invention I had in my ship I easily drew out of the water of the sea sufficient quantity of fresh water to sustain my people, with little expense of fuel, for with four billets of wood I stilled a hogshead of water, and therewith dressed meat for the sick and whole."