The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-02-08
Discovery of Van Dicmen's Land.--Een.
timental Geography.

Anthony Van Diemen, Governor Of
Batavia. had daughter, whose name
was Maria. Since she was not only
charming aud accomplished. but also the
child of rich papa, who was Governor
of the Dutch East Indies, Maria image
was impressed on many heart and she
had 10 lack Of suitors There were great
men among them but, maden-like per
versity, Maria most favored poor young
sailor-a handsome, dashing fellow. who
was very skilGul in his business but had
no pockets, or no use for any. The
young sai,or's name was Abel Jansen
Tasnan He was devoted to Maria
heart and soul. had exchanged pledges
with her, and had brought matters to so
serious pass that the proud father de.
termined to put the young adyenturcr
quietly and couflcously y out Of sight; the
doing 50 he 10 1k 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 thing not for u
moment to be thought of Whoever
won his daughter must have wealth and
Il patent Of nobility. She was no fit
mate for Il poor sailor. Tasman, howev-
er could be easily dismissed from
dangling after her.
The Batayian traders had at that time
vague notion that there was vast con.
tinent-an unknown Austral land some.
,yh
Dicmen determined to send Tasman out
to see about it. Ii he never came back
it would be no matter; but, at any rate. he
would be certainly long time gone.
Van Dicmcn therefore fitted out an ox-
petition, and gave to young Tasman the
command of it.
Off the young fellow set in the year
l642 and like an enamored swain AS lie
was the first new ground lie discovered
"a considerable stretch of land, now
forming very well known English colo
ny-he name after his dear love Van
Diemen's Land, aud put Miss Van Die.
mems Christian name besdeherrn ntrony
mic by giving the name of Maria to a
small adjoining Island close to the
southeastern extremity Of the new land
That land-Nm Dcmens Laud-wo
have Of late begun very generally to call
after its discovcrc., Tasmania.
Continuing his journey southwark, the
young sailor anchored his ships on the
18th of December, in sheltered bay
which he called Moodcnar's( Murdercr's)
Bay, because the natives 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 Oh
the feast of the Epiphany, and then, com.
ing upon New Zealand from the North
he called 1t in patriotic way, after the
States Of Holland, Staten Land but the
extreme northern point Of it, linc bold
headIand jutting out into the sea, strong
as his love, he entitled again Cape Maria
for he had gone out resolved, not in
deed TO " carve her name on trunks of
trees" but to do his mistress tho same
sort Of honor i'll a way that would be
nobler, manlier, and more enduring.
After long and prosperous voyage,
graced by one or two more discoveries.
Tasmau came back to Batavia. He had
more than earned his wife for lie had
won for himself sudden and high renown,
court favor, rank, fortune Governor
Van Diemcn got 4 famous son-in-law
aud there was no cross to the rest of the
career Of the most comfortable married
couple, Abel and Maria. Tasman did
not make another journey TO New Zea-
land it remained uuysitcd until 1869,
when it was rediscovered by Captain
Cook, who very quickly recognized it as
a portion of the land that had been first
seen by the love.lorn sailor.