Coastal profiles of an island east of Brazil

On 27 and 28 June 1598 the Vriesland, part of the Second Expedition to the East Indies organised by the Oude Compagnie, passed a small island in the Atlantic Ocean east of Brazil, that was possibly part of the archipelago of the Trindade and Martim Vaz islands. Heyndruck Dirrecksen Jolinch, helmsman of the Vriesland, drew five coastline profiles of the island as seen from several different sides. Since it was not recognized by him, he called it ‘Isla Incognita’.

The top panel shows the island as is appears 10 to 12 miles from the observer in east-southeast direction. The second panel shows the island at 10 miles distance on a straight compass. The third shows the island when it is about 3 miles north of the observer on a straight compass. The fourth panel shows the island at 7 miles distance in east by southern direction. The final panel shows the island as seen when it is at 10 to 11 miles distance at northeast by eastern direction.