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Map of the Martin Vaz Islands

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Map of the Martin Vaz Islands

Wreede, George Frederik

Title Leupe: Kaarten van de Klippen van Martin Vaz.

In early February 1665 the Assistant Georg Friedrich (Frederick) Wreede set out from the Cape with seven men on the hooker Pimpel with orders for the Martin Vaz Islands, for the purpose of investigating the possibilities for establishing a Company post there. This little archipelago had in fact been sighted from close up by the ship Maarsseveen three years before, but because of the inaccuracy of the available charts the party from the Cape experienced much trouble in finding the islands. Eventually far to the west they observed high rocks in the sea, ‘of which the biggest rose very high, as the accompanying drawing may show, but we could not yet tell what kind of land it was’. It turned out to be indeed the Martin Vaz group, but the rough, rocky islands were hardly accessible and in any case unsuited for a settlement. This is illustrated clearly by the two drafts above on the map. Continuing the voyage to Trinidade, slightly further west, the expedition unexpectedly came upon the Brazilian coast, thereby demonstrating beyond all doubt that the islands they were looking for ‘did not lie at their true latitude on the maps’. Wreede made these charts and views with his report. After returning to the Cape he was sent to Mauritius as successor to the Chief Factor Jacobus van Nieuland who had died. See also VEL332.

North is right.

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Sources and literature

Brommer, A.B., Grote Atlas van de Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, Deel V: Afrika