spider" described by
Van Bu in his second adventure was probably the octopus, which attains
to great size in the Pacific. The "hopping animals" are doubtless the
kangaroos, with which Australians are now familiar.

Captain Dampier, in 1699, first mentions the water serpents referred to
by Van Bu. "In passing," he says, "we saw three water serpents swimming
about in the sea, of a yellow colour, spotted with dark brown spots.
Next day we saw two water serpents, different in shape from such as we
had formerly seen; one very long and as big as a man's leg in girth,
having a red head, which I have never seen any before or since."

From an examination of the Dutch records, it would appear that a ship
named the "Arms of Amsterdam" drove past the south coast of New Guinea
in the year 1623. This is, perhaps, the voyage described by Van Bu to
the Island of Gems. The gigantic mass of ice seen by Van Bu in the South
is particularly interesting, since it may have been the first sight of
the ice barrier from which glaciers in the Antarctic regions break off
into the sea.

The north portion of New Guinea 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, and
bays. About the north-western parts the natives were discovered to be
lean, and of middle size, jet-black, not unlike the Malabars, but the
hair of the head shorter and somewhat less curly than the Kafirs'. "In
the black of their eyes," says a report given of this voyage, "gleams a
certain tint of red, by which may, in some measure, be observed that
blood-thirsty nature of theirs which has at different times caused so
much grief from the loss of several of our young men, whom they have
surprised, murdered, carried into the woods, and there devoured. They
go entirely naked, without the least shame, except their rajahs or
petty kings, who are richly dressed. The heathens of Nova Guinea
believe there is some divinity in serpents, for which reason they
represent them upon their vessels."

The "Golden Sea-horse" is mentioned as one of the Dutch ships said to
have taken part in the discovery of Australia between the years 1616
and 1624. Other vessels noted are the "Endraght", "Zeewolf", "Arms of
Amsterdam", "Pera", and "Arnheim". All these vessels lay claim to
having touched at the 'Great Southern Continent' as well as at the
islands of the South Seas.

The 'P