The Discovery of Australia

Front matter

Google to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

Preface

GHT years have elapsed since the publication of the first instalment of my ambitiously conceived plan of writing a complete History of Australia. The flattering amount of interest it attracted, and the unanticipated warmth of the reception accorded to that unpretentious and modestly -attired volume, determined me to at once set about preparing a second and more exhaustive introductory volume to the projected series. During the past eight years the fulfilment of that idea has been much interrupted by long intervals of travel, and the distractions of other Uterary work that have from time to time monopolised my efforts ; but in the intervals of leisure, I have employed many happy hours in collecting, compiling, comparing, and in verifying, as far as it was possible, the accuracy of the numberless authorities — explorers, navigators, and geographers — to whom I have gone for early information and new light on the question of the original discoverers of Terra Australis — the New Holland of the Dutch, the "IndiaMeridionale"of the Portuguese, and "La Grande Jave"of the Spanish. The obvious fruits of my ^ther researches is disclosed in the increased bulk of the present publication, which is as large again as the book it is intended to replace, while its number of illustrations has increased from two dozen to over sixty. In so far as the cartographical embellishtnent of this work is concerned, I may be permitted to speak with frank satisfaction, for it

X. PREFACE.

is the pardonable boast of an enthusiastic collector, whose energies have been richly rewarded. The present series includes a number of the most important of the ancient maps, charts, and portulani which form the foundation of our almost perfect geographical knowledge of the globe.

But the secret that it has been the alpha and omega of my labours to solve — the discovery of the first discoverers of Australia — is yet to be revealed. It may be that in some hidden document which will one day be unearthed, will be found the key that will unlock the door, and rescue the truth from the fortress of doubt and uncertainty in which it is immured. Until then, it is impossible to advocate, with anything approaching confidence, the claims of either individuals or nationalities to the distinction of having been the voyagers who first landed in Terra Australis. To theorise on the subject, as various English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Dutch writers have done, is a temptation which is as dangerous as it is alluring. The data available for the purpose is extremely meagre, and most of it is of questionable authenticity. The arguments that have been advanced are more or less ingenious and plausible but invariably conflicting, and in the confusion created by the theorists, the truth is obscured rather than ascertained.

The present edition becomes, in consequence, an extension and amplification of the purpose served of its fore-runner — that of presenting in a convenient and succinct form such facts as I have acquired upon the subject, and a series of rare and remarkable maps, illustrating the gradual process of Australian discovery which led up to the final elucidation of the problem by the illustrious navigator, Captain James Cook. Further research has enabled me not only to enhance the value of this book by the interpolation of fresh matter, but also to correct some of the few inevitable accuracies that find their way into a first impression. For the new material, I am indebted not a little to the many correspondents who have been the means of directing me to sources of information with which I was not previously acquainted. To each and all of those interested persons, who have aided me with both information and encouragement, I tender my sincere thanks.

PREFACE.

XI.

In my original scheme, The Discovery of Australia was designed to form the first chapter of a complete history of the land of the Southern Cross, the second was issued in 1895, under the title of The Exploration of Australia. Although both the first and second sections of this trilogy have now attained to the dignity of a second edition, the concluding chapter, which will bring the record of Australian progress down to the accomplishment of the Federation of the six Australian States, has not yet made its appearance. With its publication — ^which, I hope, will not now be long delayed — I shall complete my modest contribution to the literature descriptive of the history of one of England's noblest possessions.

"ROYSTON,"

Swiss Cottage, N.W.

Che Discovery of Australia.