Eastern times., 1854-03-16

Sentimental Geography.

Anthony Van Diemen, Governor of Batavia.
had daughter, whose name was Maria. She
was not only charming and accomplished, but
also the only child of rich papa who was
Governor of the Dutch East Indies Maria IS
image was impressed on many heart, and she
had no lack Of suitors. There were great men
among Them but with maden-ike perversty,
Maria most favored poor yonng sailoI-a
handsome, dashing fellow, who was very skill
tul in his business: but who had no pockets.
or no use for any. The young sailors name
was Abel Jansen Tasman. He was devoted
TO Maria, heart and soul, had exchanged
pledges with her, and had brought matters 10
SO serious pass, that the proud father deter
mined to put the young adventuIer quietly and
courteonsly out of sight: the doing so, he took
80 be better and more fathery course than
the institution of great family quarrel. That
his Maria should become Mrs. Tdsman, he
knew very well was a thing not for moment
10 be thought Of. Whoever won his daughter
must have wealth and patent Of nobility
She was no fit mate for poor sailor. Tas-
man, however, could easily be dismissed from
dangling after her.
The Batavian traders had at that time a
vague notion that there was vast continent
some unknown Austral land, somewhere near
the South Pole and Van Diemen determined
60 send Tasman Gut TO see about it. II he
@ever came back, it would not matter: but, al
any rate, he would certainly be long time
gone. Van Diemen therefore fitted out an ex-
pedition, and gave young Tasman The command
of it.
CT the young fellow sci, in the year 1912
and, like an enamOured swain, as he was, the
first new ground he discovered-a considerable
stretch of land, now forming a very well known
English colony-he named after his dear love,
Van Diemen's land = and put Miss Van
Diemen's Christian name beside her patron
ymic, by giving the name Of Maria TO small
adjoining island close to the southeastern ex-
iremity Of the new land. That nd-Van
Diemen's land d,-we have of late begun very
generally to call after its discoverer, Tas-
mania.
Continuing his journey southwark, the young
sailor anchored his ships on the eighteenth Of
December, in sheltered bay, which he called
Moodenare's (Murderer's) Bay, because there
the natives attacked his ships, and killed three
of his men. Travelling on, he reached, after
some days, the Islands which he called after
the three kings, because he saw them on the
feast Of the Epiphany and then, coming upon
New Zealand from the north, he called il in
patriotic way after the States of Holland, Sta
ten Land but the extreme northern point of
it, a fine bold headand jutting out into the sea,
strong as his love, he entitled Cape Maria
For he had gone out resolved, not indeed to
carve her name on trunks Of trees, but to do
his mistress the same sort of honor in a way
that would be nobler, manlier, and more enGur-
ing. n.
Alter long and prosperous voyage, graced
by one or two more discoveries, Tasman came
back to Batavia. He had more than earned
his wife; for ne had won for himself sudden
and high renown, court fave, rank, and for
tune. Governor Van Demen got famous
son-in-av, and there was no cross "a tho roc,
of the career of the most comfortable married.
couple, Abel and Maria. rr
Tasman did not make another journey 10
New Zealand il remained unvisited until
1869, when it was rediscovered by Captain
Cook, who very quickly recognized it as Por-
ton of the land that had been discovered by the
loVe-lom sailor.