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man ever visited the group at all, but that the islands were named after him, in 1619, by Jacob d'Edel, to whom their discovery was really due. This view, however, must give way before the researches of Professor Heeres. In his work "The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia, 1606-1765," lie prints two letters from Houtman, both dated Jacatra, October 7, 1619, the one to Prince Maurice and the other to the managers of the East India Company. In these he describes his visit to the islands. "On the 29th" [July], he writes, "deeming ourselves to be in an open sea, we shaped our course north-by-east. At noon we were in 29° 32' southern latitude; at night, about three hours before daybreak, we again unexpectedly came upon a low-lying coast, a level broken country with reefs all round it. We saw no highland or mainland, so that this shoal is to be carefully avoided as very dangerous to ships that wish to touch at this coast. It is fully 10 miles in length, lying in 28° 46'."

The supercargo of the "Amsterdam," one of Houtman's fleet, was Jacob d'Edel or Dedcl, after whom the portion of the coast between Shark Bay and Champion Bay, then discovered, was named Edel Land. The letter forwarded by this supercargo from Jacatra to the managers of the East India Company, bearing the same date as lloutman's, has perhaps a peculiar interest for Western Australia, as it contains the suggestion, perhaps the first, that the new land from its general appearance might prove to be gold-bearing. For the publication of this letter we are indebted to Professor Tleeres' researches. In it, inter alia, d'Edel writes, after describing his meeting with Houtman at the Cape and their journey together till they "came upon the south lands situated behind Java":—

"We anchored in 14 fathom in 32i° latitude, the bottom being level and hard; in full sight of the land the sea was 100 fathom deep. We used our best endeavours to make a landing, which, however, could not conveniently be done owing to the steep coast . . . We then made all sail, and the wind coming round a little we stood out to sea, not deeming it advisable to continue longer inshore in this bad weather with such large heavy ships and such costly cargoes as we had entrusted to our care, and with great peril to lose more precious time; but being contented with having seen the land, which at a more favourable time may be further explored with more fitting vessels and smaller craft. We have seen no sign of inhabitants, nor