THE GOLDEN BOOK OF THE DUTCH NAVIGATORS

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The Cocos Islands

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THE GOLDEN BOOK
OF THE
DUTCH NAVIGATORS

BY

HENDRIK WILLEM van LOON

ILLUSTRATED WITH SEVENTYREPRODUCTIONS OF OLD PRINTS

NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.1916

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Copyright, 1916, by
The Century Co.

Published, October, 1916

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FOR HANSJE AND WILLEM

This is a story of magnificent failures. The menwho equipped the expeditions of which I shall tell you thestory died in the poorhouse. The men who took part inthese voyages sacrificed their lives as cheerfully as theylighted a new pipe or opened a fresh bottle. Some of themwere drowned, and some of them died of thirst. A fewwere frozen to death, and many were killed by the heatof the scorching sun. The bad supplies furnished by lyingcontractors buried many of them beneath the green cocoanut-treesof distant lands. Others were speared by cannibalsand provided a feast for the hungry tribes of the PacificIslands.

But what of it? It was all in the day's work. Theseexcellent fellows took whatever came, be it good or bad,or indifferent, with perfect grace, and kept on smiling.They kept their powder dry, did whatever their hands foundto do, and left the rest to the care of that mysteriousProvidence who probably knew more about the ultimategood of things than they did.

I want you to know about these men because they wereyour ancestors. If you have inherited any of their goodqualities, make the best of them; they will prove to beworth while. If you have got your share of their badones, fight these as hard as you can; for they will lead youa merry chase before you get through.

Whatever you do, remember one lesson: "Keep onsmiling."

Hendrik Willem van Loon.

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

February 29, 1916.

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