William Dampier
William Dampier
William Dampierwas the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important British explorers of the period between Sir Walter Raleigh and James Cook...
ProfessionExplorer
Date of Birth1 September 1651
islands dry soil
The island Mayo is generally barren, being dry, as I said; and the best of it is but a very indifferent soil.
water half ships
In the road ships must ride in 30, 40, or 50 fathom water, not above half a mile from the shore at farthest: and if there are many ships they must ride close one by another.