Book excerpt: The story of The Lost White Tribes of Australia by Henry Van Zanden confirms longstanding rumours, never previously proven true, that a community of Dutch-descended people was found ... in the early 19th century. The community was living proof that foreigners had occupied the continent long before the British and if its existence became known the UKs claim to sovereignty could be threatened. So it was kept a secret and has remained so to this day. About the Author Henry Van Zanden, the son of Dutch migrants, is an Australian author. In 1997, Van Zanden released his first book, 1606 Discovery of Australia. The success of this book encouraged Van Zanden to produce a six part series, Australia Discovered. This led him to undertake a number of exploratory expeditions to Western Australia and Victoria after he became aware of the existence of Dutch sailors who became marooned on Australian shores. Mr Van Zanden has revealed the stories behind the discoveries, shipwrecks and exploratory voyages made by the Dutch between 1606 and the 18th century.