EXTRACT TRANSLATED FROM BURGOMASTER
WITSEN'S "NOORD EN OOST TARTARYE."
fol., amst., 1705, p. 163.
"The north-west part of New Guinea, in 1½° south latitude,
and beyond it to the south-east, was for the first time rightly
explored in the year 1678, by order of the Dutch East
India Company, and found almost everywhere to be enriched with very fine rivers, lakes, bays, etc., but, judging
from its outward aspect, the country itself seems to be barren
and uncultivated, being in few spots either planted or fenced
in. In many parts of the interior there are extremely high
mountains, which are seen by sailors at a great distance at
sea as if towering above the clouds. The air is not very
mild, but very often damp and foggy, so much so that most
frequently in the afternoons the land is entirely hidden,
which has caused the Dutch East India Company the loss
of many ships.
"About the north-western parts, the natives are in general lean and of the middle size, jet black, not unlike the Malabars, but the hair of the head shorter and somewhat less curly than the Caffres. In the black pupil of their eyes gleams a certain tint of red, by which may in some measure be observed that bloodthirsty nature of theirs which has at different times caused us so much grief, from the loss of several of our young men, whom they have sur-
