BOOK OF DISPATCHES. 55
and by orders of the Dutch East India Company, of the countries and islands you may arrive at not inhabited by savages ; to put up some signs, for instance, plant trees, sow some fruit trees, erect a stone or post, and to cut or carve in them the arms of the Netherlands or of the Company, and in what year and at what time such a land was discovered and taken in possession, declaring further in intention by the first opportunity to send people thither from hence, and to establish a colony, to secure the property nearer to us.
But if it so happeneth (which is not likely) that you dis- cover some countries or islands that may have a polished government, you are to endeavour with its chiefs or gover- nors (in the name as above) to make contract upon the most advantageous terms you possibly can obtain, including a resignation (if they are inclined to do such) ; or permission to frequent the place exclusive of all other nations ; or other advantages for the Company : all which you must note down circumstantially in your journals, expressing the names and qualities of those with whom you shall have treated, to serve the Company when it may be wanted.
In order this dangerous voyage, according to these in- structions and our good intentions, may be well regulated and finished, good order kept amongst the crew, right and justice administered conformable to the general articles ; and everything (which upon so dangerous and long a voyage may happen and be required) be done and transacted to the greatest service of the Company ; we appoint by this the Honourable Abel Jansz Tasman, commodore of the three yachts and the crew which sail with them : we authorise him to hoist the pendant on board the yacht Limmen, to assemble the council, whereof he is to be constantly presi- dent : command, in consequence, the oflficcrs, soldiers, and sailors (no body excepted) appointed upon the yachts Lim- men, De Zeemeuw, and De Brak, to acknowledge and obey
