Bird's eye view of Leeuweneiland and Porto Desire
Colijn, M. / Anoniem / Anonymous
Bird's eye view of Leeuweneiland and Porto Desire.
The chart bears the numbers A through N of a key, together with explanatory notes.
Van Schouten and Le Maire's journey was equipped by Le Maire's father in 1615 for the Australische Compagnie. This company attempted to circumvent the VOC patent by finding an alternative route to Indonesia. Schouten and Le Maire succeeded in their quest by sailing around Vuurland instead of through the Magellan Straits. But it was all in vain, for once in Batavia their story was not believed and their one remaining ship, the Eendracht, was confiscated along with its cargo. Porto Desire is situated on Argentina's Patagonian coast. The expedition of Willem Schouten and Jacob le Maire had intended to make landfall here to stock up with fresh water and provisions. But fate intervened: during repairs the vessel 'Hoorn' burst into flames. The blaze is depicted on the right of the picture. Bottom left the crew is shown killing a seal for its meat.
Cf. Universiteitsbibliotheek Amsterdam, inv. nr. OK 80 647, after p. 49.
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