Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-03-10
Sentimental Geography.

Anthony Van Dieman, governor of Batavia,
had daughter whose name was Maria. Since
she was not only charming and accomplished,
bat also the only child of 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 perversity,
Maria most favored poor young sailor-a
handsome, dashing fellow, who was very skilful
in his business; but who had no pocket, or no
use for any. The young sailors name was
Able Tansen Tasman. 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 determined to put
the young adventurer quickly and courteously
out of sight; the doing 80 he took to be better
and more fathery course than the institution of
a great family quarrel That his Maria should
become Mrs. Tasman, he knew very well was a
thing not for a moment to be thought of.
Whoever won his dauthter, 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 Batavia traders had at the time vague
notion that there was vast continent-an I'M
known 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 certainly be 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 1912 /;
and, like an enamorel swain as he was. the
first new ground he discovered, o considerable
stretch Of land, now forming a very welknown
English colony-he named after the dear love,
Van Dieman's Land, and put Miss Van Dieman's
Christian name beside her patronymic, by
giving the name of Maria to small adjoining
island close to the southern extremity of the
new land. That land-Van Diemans Land, we
have of late begun very generally to call after
its discoyerer, Tasmania.
Continuing his journey southwark, the young
sailor anchored his ship, ON the 18th of De-
cember, in a sheltered bay, which he called
Moodenar's [Murderer's] bay, because the
natives there attacked his ship, 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 a
patriotic way, after the States of Holland,
Staten Land; but the extreme northern point
of it, fine bold head-land 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 the same sort of honor in
way that would be nobler, manlier, and more
enduring.
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 Dieman got a famous son-in-law,
and 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 Zealand; it remained unvisited
until 1899, when it was re-discovered oy Capt.
Cook, who very quickly recognised it was
portion of the land that had been first seen by
the love born sailor.