character, condition and humours; to the religion they profess and to
their manner of government; their wars, their arms and weapons; the food
they eat and the clothes they wear, and what they mainly subsist on.

Careful observation should be made, and exact records kept, of the winds
and currents, the rains and tides etc. which you shall meet with in this
your intended voyage.

You will make due observation also of all lands, islands, strands,
rivers, bays, points, rocks, reefs, cliffs, shallows and whatever else
appertains to the same; of all which you will have accurate surveyings
made, showing the true bearings, longitude and latitude, in accordance
with the circumstances under which you shall get sight and knowledge of
the same.

For this purpose availing yourselves of the services of Subcargo Pieter
Pietersen...

You will not carry off with you any natives against their will, but if a
small number of them should be found willing to come hither of their own
accord, you will grant them passage...

Commander Francisco Pelsert, having A.D. 1629 put ashore there two Dutch
delinquents, who had in due form of justice been sentenced to forfeit
their lives [*], you will grant passage to the said persons, if they
should be alive to show themselves, and should request you to be brought
hither.

[* See _ante_, p. 62.]

It would be a thing highly desirable for ships bound from the Netherlands
to India, if on the coast of the South-land between 26 and 28 degrees a
fitting place for obtaining refreshments and fresh water could be
discovered, seeing that mainly about that latitude scorbut and other
disorders begin to show themselves, at times carrying off numbers of men
even before they reach Batavia.

Finally, as hereinbefore mentioned, we shall expect you back here through
Sunda Strait, if no obstacles come in your way to prevent this, and if
the land is found to extend in one unbroken coast~line, as we surmise it
to do, of which your experience will be our teacher.

It should furthermore be noted that we are convinced that the west-coast
of Nova Guinea, or the land discovered as far as Lat. 17 deg. 8' South by the
Yachts Pera and Arnhem, forms one whole with the South-land, a point
which in drawing up these Instructions we have taken for granted.

Therefore, if you should find the contrary to be the case, a matter of
which we will by no means deny the possibility, and if the South-land
should by you be found to be