Voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga,

In 1824 small British settlements were founded at Melville Island, close to the site of the city of Darwin (founded 45 years later), and to the East at Raffles Bay. The aim of the settlements was to open up trade with the Dutch-owned Arru Islands which lie to the North West. Unfortunately the vessels that set out to trade were captured by native people and the crews massacred. In response the Dutch despatched the Dourga to investigate, and in addition to the Arru Islands, the vessel explored the Molucca and Java Seas as far as Timor, the Serawatti Islands, Lakor Island, the Tanimbar islands and New guinea. The first edition in Dutch was published in 1828 and translated by George Windsor Earl a skilled linguist who had travelled extensively in the south pacific. (Cf Hill).