Coastline profiles of Yamna and Mademo near New Guinea

After reaching New Guinea proper by 20 April 1643, the expedition of Abel Tasman tracked the island’s coast westwards. Making fast progress, about a week later the Zeehaen and Heemskerck reached an island group of which Yamna was the largest island. Here they decided to anchor on the 25th of April to barter for fresh supplies. Locals arrived with mostly bananas and coconuts and some fresh and smoked fish, which they bartered for knives, nails and beads. The expedition’s leaders had mistaken Yamna for the island of Insu Moar, but did not realize the mistake until the 27th of April. They then resolved to sail on to Insu Moar the next day, which they did in the early morning.-Isaac Gilsemans, supercargo on board the Zeehaen, is commonly identified as the artist who drew this depiction of the islands of Yamna and the nearby smaller island of Mademo. The left side of the drawing shows Yamna at the place the expedition was anchored there. They named the place Cornelis Witzen Quay. The drawing on the right shows Mademo.