In 1642 he was appointed to command two ships to explore the southern and
eastern waters. When Sailing in August he discovered Van Diemen's Land, New
Zealand, the Tonga Islands and some of the Fiji group, and re-explored part of
the north coast of New Guinea. On his return to Batavia in June 1643 he was
chosen to take part in an expedition to form a settlement in the Tonga Islands
from which the Chilean coast was to be raided while this expedition was
preparing, he was ordered to find whether there was a passage into the South Sea
between Carpentaria and De Witt's Land. For this purpose he set out with three
vessels at the end of January 1644 and, following the coasts from Cape Valsche
round to Cape Cloates, satisfied himself that, except perhaps at Endeavour
Strait, there was no passage. He was rewarded after his return in August 1644 by
confirmation in the grade of commandeur, with a substantial increase in pay
dated back to the beginning of his voyage in 1642.
eastern waters. When Sailing in August he discovered Van Diemen's Land, New
Zealand, the Tonga Islands and some of the Fiji group, and re-explored part of
the north coast of New Guinea. On his return to Batavia in June 1643 he was
chosen to take part in an expedition to form a settlement in the Tonga Islands
from which the Chilean coast was to be raided while this expedition was
preparing, he was ordered to find whether there was a passage into the South Sea
between Carpentaria and De Witt's Land. For this purpose he set out with three
vessels at the end of January 1644 and, following the coasts from Cape Valsche
round to Cape Cloates, satisfied himself that, except perhaps at Endeavour
Strait, there was no passage. He was rewarded after his return in August 1644 by
confirmation in the grade of commandeur, with a substantial increase in pay
dated back to the beginning of his voyage in 1642.