Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-17
sentimental Geography.

Anthony Van Diemen, governor Of Batavia,
had q daughter whose name was Maria. Since
she was not only charming and accomplished,
but also the only child Of q rich papa who was
governor Of the Dutch East Indies, Maria's
image was impressed on many heart, and she
had no lack of suitors. There were great men
among them; but with maiden-like peryersty,
Maria most favored o poor young sailor-a
handsome, dashing fellow, who was very skillful
in his business; but who had no pockets, or no
use for any. The young sailors name was
Abel Jansen Tasman. De was devoted to
Maria, heart and soul; had exchanged pledges
with her, and had brought matters to so serious
pass, that the proud father determined to put
the young adyenturer quietly and courteously
out Of sight; the doing 80 he took to be a bet
ter and more fatherly course than the institu-
| tion Of great family quarrel That his Maria
should become Mrs Tasman, he knew very well
| was thing not for moment to be thought of.
Whoever won his daughter must have wealth
and patent Of nobility. She was no fit mate
| for poor sailor. Tasman, however, could not
be easily dismissed from dangling after her.
The Batavia traders had at the time vague
notion that there was q vast continent-an nn-
unknown Austral land somewhere near the
South Pole; and Van Dieman determined to
send Tasman out to see about it. If he never
came back it would not matter; but at any
rate, he would be certainly a long time gone.
| Van Dieman therefore fitted out an expedition,
and gave to young Tasman the command of it..
| OFF the young fellow set in the year l642 |;
| and, like an enamored swain as he was, the
| first new ground he discovered-a considerable
stretch Of land, now forming very well-known
| English colony--he named it after his dear
love, Van Dieman's Land, and put Miss Van
sJo1
by giving the name of Maria to small ad-
joining island close to the southern extremity
of the new land. That land-Van Dieman's
Land--we have of late begun very generally to
call after its discoverer, Tasmania
Continuing his journey southward, the young
| sailor anchored his ships on the eighteenth Of
December, in a sheltered bay, which he called
! Moodenar's (Murderers) bay, because the ma
tives there 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 it in patri-
otic way, after the States of Holland, Staten
Land but the extreme northern point of it, q
fine bold headand jutting out into the sea,
strong as hislove, he entitled again 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 en-
during. ~, ,.,
After long and prosperous voyage, graced
by one or two more discoveries, Tasman came
back to Batavia. He had more than earned
his wife; for he had won for himself sudden and
high renown, court favor, rank and fortune.
Governor Van Diemen got a famous son-in-law,
and there was no cross to the rest of the ca
reer Of the most comfortable married couple,
Abel and Maria. Tasman did not make an
other journey to New Zealand it remained
BY Captain Cook, who very quickly recognised
it as portion Of the land that had been first
seen by the love-lorn sailor.