Introduction to the Journal
Journal of the Voyage made by the fathers of families sent by the Honorable Directors of the West India Company* to visit the coast of Guiana The Directors of the West India Company, having decided at the beginning of their administration to send an expedition to explore the River Amazon and the coast of Guiana, and having for this purpose fitted out a ship called the Pigeon of 45 lasts** 2 burden, commanded by Pieter Fredericsz of Harlem, were petitioned by Jesse des forest, who, with the permission of their Excellencies the States General of the United Provinces, had enrolled several families desirous of settling in the said Indies, that these might be employed in the service of the said Company. But as their Excellencies the said Directors thought it better before carrying over the above mentioned families, to send a certain number of the heads of families with the said Jesse desforests to inspect the region and themselves select their place of abode, there were chosen for this purpose Louis le Maire, Bartheleme Digan, Anthoine Descendre, Anthoine Beaumont, Jehan Godebon, Abraham Douillers, Dominique Masure, the brothers Jehan and Gilles Daynes, and Jehan Mousnier de la Montagne, over whom on landing the said Jesse desforest was to have command. *Dutch West India Company ** About 90 tons |