TASMAN, ABEL JANSZ

(1603–1659)

Captain in the service of the Dutch East India Company from 1633. In 1642, by order of the company, he began an exploratory expedition to find the yet un known “South Land” (Terra Australis). Sailing from Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia), he discovered Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) and Statenland (New Zealand). He was the first to sail around Aus tralia, although he was not aware of this at the time.