Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-22
3fli5(cilnslsous.
HOW VAN DIEMRN's LAND WAS DIS
COVERED,

Anthony Van Dielnen, Governor Of Batavia,
had daughter, whose name was Maria. Since
she was not only charming and accomplished,
but also the only child Of Il rich papa, who WAS
Governor of the Dutch East Indies, Maras
image was impressed on many heart, and she
had no lack Of suitors. There were great men
among them; but with maidcn-lke perversty,
Maria most favored a poor young sailor-a
handsome, dashing fellow, who was very skilful
in his business, but who had no pockets, nor no
use for any, The young sailors name was Abel
Janson Tasman.
He was devoted to Maria heart and SOUL
had exchahg Jed pledges with her, and had brought
matters to so serious pass, that the proud
father determined to put the young adventurer
quietly and courteously out of sight; the doing
80 he took to be a better and more fatherly
course than the institution of great family
quarrel. That his Maria should become Mrs
Tasman, he knew very well was u thing not for
moment to be thought of. Whoever won his
daughter must have wealth and patent of
nobility. She was not fit mate for poor sailor.
Tasman, however, could not be easily dismissed
from dangling after her
The Batavan traders had at that time q
vague notion that there was a vast continent
the South Pole and Van Diemen determined
to send Tasman out to see about it. If he never
came back it would be no matter; but at any
rate, he would be certainly long time gone.
Van Dicmen therefore fitted out an expedition,
and gave to young Tasman the command of it.
OFF the young fellow set, in the year 1912,
,'e,
new ground he discovered-a considerable stretch
Of land, now forming well known English
colony-he named it after his dear love, Van
Diemens Land, and put Miss Van Diemen 3
Christian name beside her patronymic, by CIV
ing the name of Maria to u small adjoining is
land close to the southeastern extremity of the
new land. That land-Van Diemen's land
we have of late begun very generally to call
after its disc0verer, Tasmania.
Continuing his journey southwark, the young
sailor anchored his ships on the 9Th of Decem-
Der, in sheltered bay, which he cllled Moode-
mares (Muder's) Bay, because the natives there
attacked his ships, and killed three of his men,
Travelling on, he reached, after some days, the
island which he called the three kings, because
he saw them on the feast of the Epiphany
and then coming upon New Zealand from the
north, he called it, in patriotic way, after the
States of llo land, Staten Land; but tho ex-
treme northern point of it, a fine bold headland
jutting out into the sea, strong as his love, he
entitled again Cape Maria. For he had gone
out resolved not indeed to "carve her name or
trunks of trees but to do his mistress the
same sort OF honor in a way that would bt
nobler. manlier, and more enduring.
After a long and prosperous voyage, gracet
by one or two more discoveries, Tasman cam,
back to Batavia. He had more than earned hi
wife; he had won for himself sudden, high re
nown, court favor, rank and fortune. Cover
nor Van Diemen got u famous son-in-law, anc
there was no cross to the rest of the career o
) the most comfortable married couple, Abel ant
Maria. Tasman did not make another journe,
to New leland; it remained unyisited unit
1863, when it was re-dscovered by Capt Cook
who very quickly recognized it as portion 0
} the land that had been first seen by the lovelor
!, sailor .--HouaehoM Words.