Early Australian Voyages

"Early Australian Voyages" by John Pinkerton provides a detailed account of the early European explorations of Australia and the surrounding regions. The text primarily focuses on the voyages of Pelsart, Tasman, and Dampier, who were among the first Europeans to navigate and document these territories. The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the imaginative transformations of new worlds by philosophers like Plato and Bacon, contrasting them with the tangible discoveries of the 17th and 18th centuries. The narrative begins with the voyage of Francis Pelsart, who, in 1629, was shipwrecked on the coast of what is now known as Western Australia. His journey is marked by the challenges of survival and the interactions with the indigenous people. The account then shifts to Abel Tasman's expedition in 1642-43, which led to the discovery of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and parts of New Zealand. Tasman's meticulous observations of the variation of the compass needle and his encounters with the natural environment are noteworthy. The text underscores the strategic interests of the Dutch East India Company in these explorations, driven by the desire to expand trade routes and establish territorial claims. Pinkerton's work is a testament to the adventurous spirit and the complex interplay of commerce, navigation, and colonial changes that characterized this era of exploration.