WI: Abel Tasman killed by Maori

WI: Abel Tasman killed by Maori


Abel Tasman explored the Pacific and Australia, what the Dutch referred to as the “Great South Land”, from 1642-1644 in search of a shipping route to South America. Abel Tasman after his journey reported to the Dutch East India Company that there was no route, due to this the company decided to halt expeditions in the area. It would not be until 126yrs later that captain Cook would arrive to explore Australia.


Back to the original topic, Abel Tasman in December 1642 anchored at Cape Farwell and came under attack by Maori warriors. Four of his crew men were killed in the incident. My question is what If Tasman was among the dead? With out him reporting that no shipping route existed would more nations get interested in the region earlier? Would the Dutch launch another expedition?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Tasman
The DK book "Explorers" by Sir Ranulph Fiennes
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It would all depend on whether or not the VOC could make a profit out of further expeditions. They were in the Indies for trade after all.
 
After the first voyage Abel Tasman was tasked by VOC Gouvernor Van Diemen, to find a pasage between now day New Gunee and Australia.
Abel Tasman was althoug a great schipper, apperantly not an explorer and after, most likley, a small insignificant set back ( he said he missed the passage), only mapped the North part of Australia.
The result of this 2nd voyage was ver disaponting according to Van Dienen and the VOC.

With three ships on his second voyage (Limmen, Zeemeeuw and the tender Braek) in 1644, he followed the south coast of New Guinea eastwards. He missed the Torres Strait between New Guinea and Australia, ( turned the bow of his ships way before the strait) and continued his voyage along the Australian coast. He mapped the north coast of Australia making observations on the land, called New Holland, and its people.
From the point of view of the Dutch East India Company Tasman's explorations were a disappointment: he had neither found a promising area for trade nor a useful new shipping route. Although received modestly, the company was upset to a degree that Tasman didn't fully explore the lands he found, and decided that a more "persistent explorer" should be chosen for any future expeditions

With this info, I would say that the course of history will be there and Cook will have the right full honnor. Even Tasman dies there are more men who can take commend and infor their superiours on their return.

Tasmanroutes.png
 
After the first voyage Abel Tasman was tasked by VOC Gouvernor Van Diemen, to find a pasage between now day New Gunee and Australia.
Abel Tasman was althoug a great schipper, apperantly not an explorer and after, most likley, a small insignificant set back ( he said he missed the passage), only mapped the North part of Australia.
The result of this 2nd voyage was ver disaponting according to Van Dienen and the VOC.

With three ships on his second voyage (Limmen, Zeemeeuw and the tender Braek) in 1644, he followed the south coast of New Guinea eastwards. He missed the Torres Strait between New Guinea and Australia, ( turned the bow of his ships way before the strait) and continued his voyage along the Australian coast. He mapped the north coast of Australia making observations on the land, called New Holland, and its people.
From the point of view of the Dutch East India Company Tasman's explorations were a disappointment: he had neither found a promising area for trade nor a useful new shipping route. Although received modestly, the company was upset to a degree that Tasman didn't fully explore the lands he found, and decided that a more "persistent explorer" should be chosen for any future expeditions

With this info, I would say that the course of history will be there and Cook will have the right full honnor. Even Tasman dies there are more men who can take commend and infor their superiours on their return.


thanks for putting up the map:D
 
As seen from the Parma map it appears Tasman only skirted the west coast of Aoteroa. Maybe if he was killed and his replacement commander had a bit more of an inquisitive nature the archipelago could have been more fully explored in the manner James Cook would do 120 odd years later. I'm sure the Dutch would have found a friendly reception somewhere along the way as did Cook and a more detailed report of the land and its resources and possibilities would have been much more stimulating for further exploration and exploitation if not by the Dutch then another of the worlds maritime powers.

Maybe further European contact and colonisation would have occurred a century prior to what it did in OTL raising a few what ifs and butterflies. I thinks by this time Spain and Portugal where well on the downward slide but maybe the Dutch, English, French or Germanics or Scandinavians could have been keen to take the place to have a place in the sun or to convert the heathen to whatever brand of god bothering they felt inclined to.

This whole idea about colonisation of Aoteroa prior to the British of OTL could be a an interesting topic in its self.
 
If memory services correct James Cook had a Tahitian navigator/diplomat Tupaia come with him on the voyage south to New Zealand. This helped easy things with the Maori although I think there was one incident where a Maori man was shot due to cultural misunderstandings.
 
Your correct I believe. Tupaia was the better of his translators as well. Anyway you can see the Dutch landing for supplies and just hitting it off with local Maori? Mind you even today there are vast beaches in New Zealand where someone could land take what is needed and be away before anyone notices to much.
 
And I don't think colonisation as such really came into it until the 1800s in the Oceanic/Asiatic regions. As opposed to shipping out enough clerks, operators, soldiers, traders and assorted hangers on to facilitate the exploitation of the lands under occupation and trade.

Mind you the Spanish attempted to colonise the Solomon Islands at the end of the 1500s. There was 350 odd souls, women and children included and I think its intention was colonising the island for farming purposes and would it be too great a jump to have this party arrive for whatever reason in Aoteroa/New Zealand instead? At least malaria wouldn't wipe the numbers so bad. But imagine that. A fairly well organised, equipped and supplied colonising party arriving in New Zealand 60 years even before Tasman came into sight.:rolleyes:
 
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