source: http://abeltasman.org.nz/
Today we’re going back a bit more, to the European age of discovery. Back to 1642, when one great explorer made one of the biggest oversights in history.
Background
In the 1640s, the Dutch had a significant presence in Southeast Asia, and they began hearing about the mythical land of Terra Australia, where rabbits grow as tall as men, beavers have beaks, and tiny bears walk around hammered round the clock. It was believed that the continent reached all the way up to the western coast of South America. It was then quite a place to lay claim to. And that’s where the hero of today’s journey comes in.
Meet Abel Tasman
Born in 1603 in the Netherlands, Abel discovered his lust for saltiness at an early age, served on some merchant vessels for some time, and was given his first command at the age of 29. He was assigned the duty of patrolling the waters of the Dutch East Indies, searching for smugglers and pirates. But he always wandered, what lies beyond all those island chains? The Dutch have explored a bit of the Pacific Islands, but there were always rumors about that mythical landmass, always just beyond the horizon.
Terra Australia Expedition and Tasmania
In 1642, Abel, now a renown man of the sea, was appointed commander of the Dutch expedition to find the eluding Terra Australia. He took command of two rather small but brave ships. They departed from Mauritus and traveled for some time due south until reaching the 45th parallel, when they turned their heading eastward. One look at the map will tell you that the turn east was a bit too late.
After traversing the Indian Ocean and reaching the Southern Ocean, Abel stumbled across land. It wasn’t, however, the land they were looking for. It was another island, though a beautiful one. Not the goal of Tasman’s expedition. They named the island Van Diemen’s Land, but we know it now as… Tasmania. If only Abel Tasman knew how close he was to the land he set out to discover. He didn’t though, so he traveled onward.
Right off the coast of Tasmania, the ships were caught in a storm, and pushed far to the east. Tasman decided, that it suited his goals, and pushed even further east in hopes of finding the continent, which, remember, was believed back then to be connecting the East Indies with South America.
photo credit: The Robinson Library
The discovery of New Zealand
But there was no continent in that direction. However, there was land to be discovered there. Quite a discovery, actually, but not the one Abel set out to find.
Not long after the storms, the expedition stumbled upon land again. Much larger than Tasmania, they found New Zealand. After a bit tense, but all-in-all peaceful encounter with the Maori, Tasman decided that this was actually the most westward tip of the Terra Australis he set out to discover. And with that thought, he decided to start wrapping up his expedition. He set his course for the north and set sail. And, again, too late. If he turned north just after the coast of Tasmania, he would’ve reached Australia by now. But he wouldn’t have found New Zealand, so I guess it’s something.
Journey back
Traveling north, Tasman discovered Tonga, where he resupplied, changed course due north-west, passed by Fiji, and went on to the Salomon Islands, where he turned westward. Again, too late. If he turned west from Tonga, Australia would be his. It just seems that through all of the expedition, he was always a few days too late with course changes. From the Salomon Islands, Tasman went to New Guinea and from there straight to Jakarta, where he ended his expedition.
Thus earning himself the title of a man who found Tasmania but missed Australia.
Implications
While the fact that he missed Australia was in no way his fault, it was due to the fact that he did that the Dutch had lost it to the English. Oh, how different the history of the World might have been if Abel Tasman had just made at least one of the many turns a few days earlier.
An explorer not only should be able to navigate by the stars, he should also have one. And it better be a lucky one.
source: http://abeltasman.org.nz/