50 EXTRACT FROM THE
will be enabled by the S.E. trade wind to run along the north coast from 17° to 22° S., and thus entirely to discover this land, from Avhence (if wind and weather by any means will permit) you shall steer along the land of De Endragt to Houtman's Abrolhos, and come to an anchor at a fit place thereabout ; and endeavour to find a chest containing eight thousand rixdollars, that remained in the wreck of the ship Batavia, a brass half cartow^ having fallen on that chest when it foundered at that place in the year 1629, and which the crew of the yacht Sardam dragged for in vain. At the same time you shall (if possible) recover that piece, by this you will render service to the Company, for which reason be not negligent in the discharge of your duty.
Likewise inqviire, at the continent thereabout, after two Dutchmen, who, having forfeited their lives, were put on shore by the commodore Francisco Pelsert, if still alive, in which case you may make your inquiries of them about the situation of those countries ; and, if they entreat you to that purpose, give them passage hither ; on this occasion you ought to search for a good water and refreshing- place, about the 26° or 28 S. latitude, which would be a desirable thing for the outward bound ships.
But if the late time of the year and the appearance of storms will not permit you to reach Houtman's Shoal, which after experience we leave to yours and the council's own judgment, consider how you have to sail again from Wil- liam's River to the east, along the coast of the south land and from De Wit's Land, by the help of the S.E. trade wind, to run across very near eastward to complete the discovery of Arnhem's and Van Diemen's Lands ; and to ascertain perfectly whether these lands are not one and the same island, and what these places produce ; likewise what other islands besides Baly, Sumbava, and Timor, may be situated about the south land.
^ Or 24-i30uudcr. (Note in Dalrymple.)
