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IV.

THE NETHERLANDERS ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA.

In a previous work [*] I have attempted to show that the discovery of
Arnhemsland must beyond any doubt be credited to the voyage of the yacht
Arnhem, commanded by Van Colster or Van Coolsteerdt, which took place in
1623. Since the Journal and the charts of this voyage are no longer
available, we are without the most important data for determining with
certainty between what degrees of longitude the Arnhemsland then
discovered was situated. To westward of it must be sought Van Diemens-
and Maria's-land, touched at in 1636 by Pieter Pieterszoon with the ships
Cleen Amsterdam and Wesell) [**]. There can be no doubt that Pieterszoon
must have sailed far enough to westward to have passed Dundas Strait, and
to have reached the western extremity of Melville Island (Roode hoek =
red point). He took Dundas Strait to be not a strait, but a bay, and
accordingly looked upon Melville Island not as an island, but as a
portion of the mainland (Van Diemensland) [***].

[* See my Life of Tasman, pp. 100-102, and the Documents under No. XIV, 2
_infra_.]

[** See the Documents under No. XXV.]

[*** Maria-land lies immediately to eastward of Van Diemens-land, and to
westward of Arnhems-land.]