Journal of Abel Tasman, 1642-1643

Component identifier:

File Add MS 8946

Content Summary:

Journal of Abel Tasman on his voyage of exploration in the ships Heenskerck and Zeehan, 14 August 1642-15 June 1643 (Dutch, 139pp.), together with an English translation by Charles. G. Woide (1776).

Most of the entries in the journal are brief, recording winds, weather, the setting of courses, and sail settings. The journal describes the departure from Batavia (14 Aug. 1642), ship repairs and the procurement of wood, animals and supplies at Mauritius (Sept. 1642), meetings of the ships' officers, the sighting of Van Diemen's Land (24 Nov. 1642), a landing on the south-east coast of the island (2-3 Dec, 1642), sailing north past Maria Island and Schouten Island, the first sighting of New Zealand (13 Dec. 1642), sailing northwards along the west coast, conflict with Maoris at Golden Bay, the naming of Cape Maria van Diemen (4 Jan. 1643), departure from New Zealand, meetings with islanders at Tonga (21-25 Jan. 1643), the exchange of provisions and gifts, impressions of the Tongans, encounters with Fijians (Feb. 1643), Tasman's decision to explore islands to the north of New Guinea, including New Britain and New Ireland, meeting and trading with people in the Moluccas, and the return to Batavia (15 June 1643).

The journal contains a large number of coastal profiles and maps.

Preceeding the journal are two letters written in August 1776 by Henry Norris about the provenance of the manuscript and errors in the translation. The translation is preceded by a few notes by the translator.

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M1558

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