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overed land； which lay east…south…east at the distance of ten miles； which I called Van Diemen's Land。 The compass pointed right towards this land。 The weather being bad； I steered south and by east along the coast； to the height of 44 degrees south； where the land runs away east； and afterwards north…east and by north。 In the latitude of 43 degrees 10 minutes south； and in the longitude of 167 degrees 55 minutes； I anchored on the 1st of December； in a bay； which I called the Bay of Frederic Henry。 I heard； or at least fancied I heard； the sound of people upon the shore； but I saw nobody。 All I met with worth observing was two trees； which were two fathoms or two fathoms and a half in girth； and sixty or sixty… five feet high from the root to the branches： they had cut with a flint a kind of steps in the bark； in order to climb up to the birds' nests： these steps were the distance of five feet from each other； so that we must conclude that either these people are of a prodigious size； or that they have some way of climbing trees that we are not used to； in one of the trees the steps were so fresh； that we judged they could not have been cut above four days。
The noise we heard resembled the noise of some sort of trumpet； it seemed to be at no great distance； but we saw no living creature notwithstanding。 I perceived also in the sand the marks of wild beasts' feet； resembling those of a tiger； or some such creature； I gathered also some gum from the trees； and likewise some lack。 The tide ebbs and flows there about three feet。 The trees in this country do not grow very close； nor are they encumbered with bushes or underwood。 I observed smoke in several places； however； we did nothing more than set up a post； on which every one cut his name； or his mark； and upon which I hoisted a flag。 I observed that in this place the variation was changed to 3 degrees eastward。 On December 5th； being then； by observation； in the latitude of 41 degrees 34 minutes； and in the longitude 169 degrees； I quitted Van Diemen's Land； and resolved to steer east to the longitude of 195 degrees； in hopes of discovering the Islands of Solomon。
CHAPTER V： SAILS FROM THENCE FOR NEW ZEALAND。
On September 9th I was in the latitude of 42 degrees 37 minutes south； and in the longitude of 176 degrees 29 minutes； the variation being there 5 degrees to the east。 On the 12th of the same month； finding a great rolling sea coming in on the south…west； I judged there was no land to be hoped for on that point。 On the 13th； being in the latitude of 42 degrees 10 minutes south； and in the longitude of 188 degrees 28 minutes； I found the variation 7 degrees 30 minutes eastward。 In this situation I discovered a high mountainous country； which is at present marked in the charts under the name of New Zealand。 I coasted along the shore of this country to the north…north…east till the 18th； and being then in the latitude of 40 degrees 50 minutes south； and in the longitude of 191 degrees 41 minutes； I anchored in a fine bay； where I observed the variation to be 9 degrees towards the east。
We found here abundance of the inhabitants： they had very hoarse voices； and were very large…made people。 They durst not approach the ship nearer than a stone's throw； and we often observed them playing on a kind of trumpet； to which we answered with the instruments that were on board our vessel。 These people were of a colour between brown and yellow； their hair long； and almost as thick as that of the Japanese； combed up； and fixed on the top of their heads with a quill； or some such thing； that was thickest in the middle； in the very same manner that Japanese fastened their hair behind their heads。 These people cover the middle of their bodies； some with a kind of mat； others with a sort of woollen cloth； but； as for their upper and lower parts； they leave them altogether naked。
On the 19th of December； these savages began to grow a little bolder； and more familiar； insomuch that at last they ventured on board the Heemskirk in order to trade with those in the vessel。 As soon as I perceived it； being apprehensive that they might attempt to surprise that ship； I sent my shallop； with seven men； to put the people in the Heemskirk upon their guard； and to direct them not to place any confidence in those people。 My seven men； being without arms； were attacked by these savages； who killed three of the seven； and forced the other four to swim for their lives； which occasioned my giving that place the name of the Bay of Murderers。 Our ship's company would； undoubtedly； have taken a severe revenge； if the rough weather had not hindered them。 From this bay we bore away east； having the land in a manner all round us。 This country appeared to us rich； fertile； and very well situated； but as the weather was very foul； and we had at this time a very strong west wind； we found it very difficult to get clear of the land。
CHAPTER VI： VISITS THE ISLAND OF THE THREE KINGS； AND GOES IN SEARCH OF OTHER ISLANDS DISCOVERED BY SCHOVTEN。
On the 24th of December； as the wind would not permit us to continue our way to the north； as we knew not whether we should be able to find a passage on that side； and as the flood came in from the south…east； we concluded that it would be the best to return into the bay； and seek some other way out； but on the 26th； the wind becoming more favourable； we continued our route to the north； turning a little to the west。 On the 4th of January； 1643； being then in the latitude of 34 degrees 35 minutes south； and in the longitude of 191 degrees 9 minutes； we sailed quite to the cape； which lies north…west； where we found the sea rolling in from the north…east； whence we concluded that we had at last found a passage； which gave us no small joy。 There was in this strait an island； which we called the island of the Three Kings； the cape of which we doubled； with a design to have refreshed ourselves； but； as we approached it； we perceived on the mountain thirty or five…and… thirty persons； who； as far as we could discern at such a distance； were men of very large size； and had each of them a large club in his hand： they called out to us in a rough strong voice； but we could meet understand anything of what they said。 We observed that these people walked at a very great rate； and that they took prodigious large strides。 We made the tour of the island； in doing which we saw but very few inhabitants； nor did any of the country seem to be cultivated； we found； indeed； a fresh…water river； and then we resolved to sail east； as far as 220 degrees of longitude； and from thence north； as far as the latitude of 17 degrees south； and thence to the west； till we arrived at the isles of Cocos and Horne； which were discovered by William Schovten； where we intended to refresh ourselves； in case we found no opportunity of doing it before； for though we had actually landed on Van Diemen's Land； we met with nothing there； and； as for New Zealand； we never set foot on it。
In order to render this passage perfectly intelligible it is necessary to observe that the island of Cocos lies in the latitude of 15 degrees 10 minutes south； and； according to Schovten's account； is well inhabited； and well cultivated； abounding with all sorts of refreshments； but； at the same time； he describes the people as treacherous and base to the last degree。 As for the islands of Horne； they lie nearly in the latitude of 15 degrees； are extremely fruitful； and inhabited by people of a kind and gentle disposition； who readily bestowed on the Hollanders whatever refreshments they could ask。 It was no wonder； therefore； that； finding themselves thus distressed； Captain Tasman thought of repairing to these islands； where he was sure of obtaining refreshments； either by fair means or otherwise； which design； however； he did not think fit to put in execution。
CHAPTER VII： REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES IN THE VOYAGE。
On the 8th of January； being in the latitude of 30 degrees 25 minutes south； and in the longitude of 192 degrees 20 minutes； we observed the variation of the needle to be 90 degrees towards the east； and as we had a high rolling sea from the south…west； I conjectured there could not be any land hoped for on that side。 On the 12th we found ourselves in 30 degrees 5 minutes south latitude； and in 195 degrees 27 minutes of longitude； where we found the variation 9 degrees 30 minutes to the east； a rolling sea from the south…east and from the south…west。 It is very plain； from these observations； that the position laid down by Dr。 Halley； that the motion of the needle is not governed by the poles of the world； but by other poles； which move round them； is highly probable； for otherwise it is not easy to understand how the needle came to have； as our author affirms it had； a variation of near 27 degrees to the west； in the latitude of 45 degrees 47 minutes； and then gradually decreasing till it had no variation at all； after which it turned east； in the latitude of 42 degrees 37 minutes； and so continued increasing its variation eastwardly to this time。
CHAPTER VIII： OBSERVATIONS ON； AND EXPLANATION OF； THE VARIATION OF THE COMPASS。
On the 16th