}
ADID
1837
ARTES
LIBRARY
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIBUS UNUM
TUEBOR
SI-QUERIS-PENINSULAM-AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
LLHUBBARD
AN
ACCOUNT
Of Several LATE
Voyages & Diſcoveries
TO THE
SOUTH and NORTH.
TOWARDS
The Streights of Magellan, the South Seas, the vaſt
Tracts of Land beyond Hollandia Nova, &c.
ALSO
Towards Nova Zembla, Greenland or Spitsberg,
Groynland or Engrondland, &c.
BY
Sir JOHN NARBOROUGH, Captain JASMEN
TASMAN, Captain JOHN WOOD, and
FREDERICK MARTEN of Hamburgh.
To which are Annexed a LARGE
Introduction and Supplement,
GIVING
An Account of other N A VIGATIONS
to thofe Regions of the GLOBE.
The Whole Illuftrated with
CHARTS and FIGURES.
London: Printed for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford, Printers to the
Royal Society, at the Prince's Arms in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1694.
Regent Regent ..
RL. L. Husband
11~18-1925
To the Honourable
SAMUEL PEPYS, Efq;
SECRETARY
OF THE
Admiralty of England,
то
K.CHARLES and K.JAMES II.
SIR,
T
HE Defign of this Dedication is
neither to flatter, nor to beg; but
barely to preſent you with a fim-
ple and hearty Acknowledgment of your
Kindneſs and Generoſity to the Publick, in
communicating your exact Memorials, in
advancing the Progrefs of Uſeful Know-
ledge, and encouraging Men of Letters, or
Invention: which Noble Endowments of
A =
Mind
The Epiftle Dedicatory.
Mind render'd you moft Worthy of thoſe
High Stations, wherein you have been E-
minent, as well in the Chair of Philofophy,
as Navigation; and the fame will preferve
you through all Ages in the good Efteem
of the beft part of Mankind. No Revo-
lution, no Storm, no Time, can fhake
fuch Foundations.
Monumentum Ære perennius.
Sir,
Your moſt devoted Servants,
Samuel Smiths
Benjamin Walford
!
A
THE
V
THE
BOOKSELLER'S
PREFACE,
OR
INTRODUCTION.
T
HE Advantages of taking judicious and
accurate Journals in Voyages and Itineraries,
are fo great and many, as the Improvements
of Geography, Hydrography, Aftronomy, Na-
tural and Moral Hiftory, Antiquity, Merchan-
dife, Trade, Empire, &c. that few Books can com-
pare with them either for Profit or Pleaſure. There-
fore Ramufio, the De Brys, Hackluit, Purchas,
John de Laet, Thevenot, &c. have begun a very
commendable Design, and their Works are like to be
always useful.
The Collection now publiſhed, containing ſome curi-
ous Voyages, and accurate Journals, never before
printed, both towards the South and North, beyond
and through the Magellan Streights; as alfo to
Greenland or Spitsberg, Nova Zembla, and
Groneland or Groyneland. 'Twill be necessary to
A 3
premife
vi
The Introduction.
!
premife in general, what other Navigators have gone
before to thofe parts, and what additional Knowledge
may be reap'd from the enfuing Work; in doing of
which, we shall obferve Order of Place and Time.
First of fome Difcoveries and Navigations towards
the Southern Parts of the Globe, South-Weft and
South-Eaft.
A. D. 1519. Ferdinand Magalianes, a Portu-
gueſe Gentleman,upon ſome diſguſt taken at his Master
King Emanuel, applied himself to the Court of Ca-
file, offering to make great Discoveries of the rich
Spice-Ïflands by the Weft, and to fail round the Globe.
He was furnish'd with five Ships and 250 Men, by
the Command of Charles V. They departed from
Sevil August 10.1519. and after having in vain
attempted to pass through by the great River La Plate,
and having winter'd in Fort S. Julian, they found out
a great Streight leading into the South Sea, called af-
terwards, by the Inventor's Name, the Magellan
Streight; through which he was the first that paffed
from the Atlantick into the Pacifick Ocean, and fo
round the Globe home again by the Molucco's and
Cape of Good Hope, having spent above three
years in this Circumnavigation. Entring the Streight
of his own Name, he found on the Shoar many Sepul-
chres or Graves, whither the Inhabitants refort in
the Summer time to bury their Dead; he alfo obferv'd
a great Whale thrown up, and many Bones.
Anno Dom. 1525. Garcias de Loyafa a Spani-
ard, entred into Magellan's Streight, and gave
·Names to feveral Places; as did alfo Simon de Alca-
zova in the year 1534. Afterwards the Bishop of
Placentia fitted out three Ships, in the Tear 1539,
་
\
oñ¿
The Introduction.
Vii
one of which got through the Streights of Magellan
to Arica in Peru.
Anno Dom. 1577. Sir Francis Drake, with
five Ships and Barks, and 164 Men, began his Fa-
mous Voyage round the Globe; failing through the a-
forementioned Streight of Magellan to the Coafts of
Peru, New Spain, Mexico, and California; re-
turning to England, by the East Indies, and Cape
of Good Hope. Captain John Winter mas feparar
ted from Sir Francis upon their Entrance into the
South Sea, and by Storms was forced back again into
the Streights of Magellan, through which he repaf-
fed home, being the first that failed from the Paci
fick into the Atlantick Ocean, through thefe
Streights. Ladriller, a Spaniard, being fent from
Chili, to attempt this paſſage, was driven back ly
Storms and the approach of Winter. Anno 1579.
the Viceroy of Peru, thinking that Sir Francis
Drake was failed to the Magellan Streights, equipt
Don Sarmiento in the Port of Lima with two
Ships to pursue him. This Spaniard coafted Chili
and Patagonia, entring the Streights, and ſo paffed
to Brafil. Sarmiento npon his return to Spain, pere
fraded Philip II, to fend two Colonies to plant and
fortifie in the Streights of Magellan, in order to
prevent and obstruct the Navigations, Depredations,
or Settlements of the English and Dutch in thofe
parts; but they all miſcarried partly by Shipwrack,
partly by Famine, and the Barbarities of the Pata
gons. This happened in the years 1584, 1585,
1586. The Project was contrary to the Advice of
the Duke of Alva,
A 4
Sir
viii
The Introduction.
Sir Francis, in the Magellan Streight, fam feve
ral of the Patagons, or Inhabitants, in their Canoes
and Huts; their Boats were made of the Barks of
Trees and Seal Skins very artificially interwoven, the
Head whereof was femilunar. They painted their Fa-
ces either with an Earth or a Vegetable. In their
Huts, made of Boughs and Skins of Fishes, he found
Sea-Wolves and huge Muscles, whofe Shells they ſhar-
pen fo with rubbing of Stones, that they cut every
thing with them. Their Fresh Water was kept in Vef-
fels made of the Barks of Trees, and their Veftments
were chiefly made up of the Skins of Penguins, Seals,
and other Animals peculiar to the Climate.
Anno Dom. 1586. The third Circumnavigation
of the Globe was undertaken and performed by Tho-
mas Candish Efq; who very profperously finish'd
that in two Tears and two Months, which took both
Magellanus and Sir Francis Drake three years in
compaſſing..
Anno 1593. Sir Richard Hawkins made his
Voyage into the South Sea by the fame Sreight that
the aforementioned Navigators did before him. He
gives the most accurate Defcription of the Tree that
bears the famous Winter-bark, fee his Obfervations
in fol. Printed 1622. pag. 88. This Spicy Aro-
matick Tree (ſays he) bears Leaves of a whitiſh
Green, not unlike the Afpen; and bears its Fruit
in Cluſters like the Hawthorn, but that it is
green; each Berry of the bigness of a Pepper-
corn, and every one of them containing within
four or five Grains or Seeds, twice as big as Mu-
ftard Seed, which broken are white within and
bite like the good Pepper; the Bark hath the
Taſte
The Introduction.
ix
Taſte of all Sorts of Spices, very Stomachick
and Medicinal. We found it in all places of the
Streights where any Trees grew. Here are a-
bundance of Mufcles, very refreſhing Diet and
full of Pearl; alſo Limpets, and incredible Num-
bers of Penguins and Seals.
Anno Dom. 1598. The Fourth Circumnaviga
tion of the Globe was performed by Oliver Noort a
Dutchman, his chief Pilot being Captain Melis an
Engliſhman, who had accompanied Mr. Candifh in
his Voyage. This Noort fteer'd much the fame Courfe
with Magalianes, Drake, and Candiſh, having
Spent near three years in encompaffing the Earth.
He fam, upon the Land of Patagonia, fome Deer,
a fort of Bufalo, and Oſtriches.
We may note here, that in the Year 1589, the
Delight of Briſtol, one of the Conforts of John
Chidley Efq; and Mr. Paul Wheel, got into the
Streights of Magellan ; but meeting with Misfor
tunes, was forced back, having reach'd only Cape
Froward. Alfo in the year 1598. Verhagen's
Fleet, under Sir James Mahu, Simon de Cordes,
Sebald de Wert, &c. wherein William Adams,
was chief Pilot, fuffered great Miferies in thefe
Streights. This Sebald de Wert gave Clufius a
defcription of the Winter-bark-Tree growing up and
down Patagonia. They preferv'd themselves mith
Geeſe, Ducks, vaft large Muſcles, Penguins,
Seals, &c. Returning out of the Streight, and
failing Southwards they discovered Sebald's Ifles.
Anno Dom. 1614. George Spilbergen General
of a Dutch Fleet of fix Ships, paffed through the
Streights of Magellan and the South Sea to the
Eaft
X
The Introduction.
Eaſt Indies, from whence he returned by the Cape
of Good Hope to the Texel, having been out
about three years. This was the Fifth Čircumnavi-
gation of the Globe.
Ann. Dom. 1609, 1610. Pedro Fernandez Gi-
ros a Portugueſe, and Captain Ferdinand de Quir
a Spaniard, do both affirm, That they failed at feve-
ral times above 800 Leagues together on the Coast
of a Southern Continent, until they came to the
height of 15 degrees of South Latitude, where they
found a very fruitful, pleasant, and populous Coun
try. Giros began to take his Course in the height
of the Streights of Magellan. This vaft Tract of
Land perhaps may be one fide of, or may belong to,
Janſen Talmen's Land, Van Diemen's Land,
Zelandia Nova, Hollandia Nova, Carpentaria,
and New Guiney; which the Dutch afterwards
coafted, detected, and gave Names to many Bays,
Rivers and Capes, in the Tears 1619, 1622, 1627,
1628, 1642, and 1644. from the Equinoctial to
44 deg. South Lat.
The Hollanders have indeed made the greatest
Difcoveries towards the South Terra Incognita,
which they have not yet divulg'd. Dirk Rem-
brantfe about 15 or 16 years ago publiſhed, in Low
Dutch, a Short Relation cut of the Journal of Cap-
tain Abel. Janſen Tafman upon his Discoveries of
the South Terra Incognita in the year 1642, to the
Southward of Nova Hollandia, Vandemen's Land,
&c. 'Tis remarkable that all the Circumnavigators
of the Globe enter'd into the Eaft Indies, either by the
Philippines or the Molucco's, being peradventure
hindred from paſſing round more Southwards by that
vast
•
1
The Introduction.
xi
vaft long Chain of Land, which feems to stretch
almost from the Equinoctial to the 50 degree of
South Lat. Therefore they generally fteer'd upon
the South Sea, either for the Iſles of Salomon, or
thofe called the Ladrones.
Anno Dom. 1615. Will. Cornelius Schouten of
Horn, and Jacob le Maire of Amfterdam, under-
took the Sixth Circumnavigation of the Globe, by a
new Paffage Southwards from the Streights of Ma-
gellan in Terra del Fuogo, which they happily dif
covered and paffed, finding out Sebald's-Ifles, Sta-
ten-Land, Maurice-Land, Barnevelt-Ifles, and fo
by Cape Horn, in the 57 deg. of S.Lat. they found
out a new way into the South Sea, called ever fince
Le Maire's Streight, in this Voyage they gave Names
to feveral Islands and Countries, returning to Hol-
land by the East Indies, having been out two years
and Eighteen days. Aftewards a Spaniſh Fleet,
under Bartolemeo Garcias de Nodal, Anno 1618.
failed through Le Maire's Paffage: and in the
year
1623. part of Prince Maurice his Fleet steered the
fame Course, difcovering fome fmall Ifles. Nodal
faw People near Le Maire's Streight, all painted and
clad with Birds Skins; they fed upon yellow Flowers
like Marigolds.
Anno 1643. Brewer, or Brower, went another
way into the South Sea, by a Paffage called after his
own Name, which is caft of Le Maire's Streight;
int whether Brewer went through a New Streight
with Land on each fide, or had a wide Sea on the Eaft
we cannot inform you, having never seen the Diary
of his Voyage; but most Maps make it a new
Streight, the perhaps he might fail near the fame
Courfe
xii
The Introduction.
1
i
Courſe which Captain Sharp afterwards did; they
who have his Voyage may foon determine this Doubt.
The Southern part of Terra Magellanica, com-
monly called Terra del Fuego, from the great Fires
Seen upon it by the Sailors; feems, by the Obferva-
tions of the Dutch, to be divided into many Ifles
and Streights leading into both Seas. The Country
appears mountainous, with fair and green Vallies,
Springs, Rivulets, and much Herbage. The Creeks
are fit for Shipping, Water and Wood being plenti-
ful. The Air is tempestuous from the vast quantity of
V apours from both Oceans. The Natives paint their
Bodies, and deck themselves with Shells and Skins.
They make their Baskets and Nets of Ruſhes, out of
which they twist Lines, and hanging Hooks made of
Stone, and baited with Muscles, they take abundance
of Fish. Their Knives are made of sharpened Bones,
and all their Arrows are armed with them. Their Ca-
noes are like the Venetian Gondola's. For the Defcri-
ption of the Northern part of Terra Magellanica,
commonly called Patagonia, we refer the Reader to
Sir John Narbrough's Journal, printed at the be-
ginning of this Collection.
Anno 1669. His Majefty of Great Britain,
His Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, and feve-
others of the Nobility, defign'd a better Discovery
of Chili; in order whereunto two Ships were fent
out under the Conduct of that great Navigator and
worthy Commander Sir John Narbrough, who re-
turned June 1671, having been out above two years,
paffing and repaffing the Streights of Magellan, and
coafting Patagonia and Chili. His Obfervations
and Draughts are the most judicious and exact of
of any that went before him.
Anno
1
The Introduction.
xiii
Anno 1680. and 1681. Captain Sharp made ma-
Žy
bold Adventures on feveral Iſlands and Coafts in
the South Sea. In his return, he being quite out of
all hopes of recovering the Streights of Magellan, or
thofe of Le Maire or Brewer, was forced to feek for a
Paffage farther South than by Cape Horn; he went
to about 60 deg. South Lat. meeting with many Islands
of Ice, Snow, Frofts and Whales, departing from a
Small Place, named by him the Duke of York's I-
fland, in the South Sea, he steered near 800
Leagues to the Eastward, and afterwards as many to
the Weftward. The first Land he faw in those three
Months was the Iſland of Barbadoes; ſo that
Land in the Streight of Le Maire, and in Brewer's
Paffage, must be Iſlands, and not join'd to any great
Southern Continent, as fuppos'd by fome.
Since thefe Attemps and Undertakings, Several
English Ships have paſſed into the South Sea both
by the Streights of Magellan, and by the South of
Cape Horn; but what Trade they manage in thoſe
Parts, or what Difeoveries they have made, or what
Articles and Treaty they are engaged in with the
Spaniard, we cannot inform the Reader, being no
Merchants our felves, nor having feen any Fournals or
Voyages of those Quarters of the World, befides thofe
before-mentioned.
In thefe Navigations to the Streights of Magellan,
through the South Sea; and by the Eaft Indies home
again, the Common things noted in the ſeveral Voy-
ages, (befides the Winds, Longitudes, Latitudes,
Variations of the Compafs, Tydes, Soundings,
&c.) are Flying Fiſhes, Dolphins, Albacores, Bo-
nito's, Sharks, Tropick Birds; The Sea Weeds
called
xiv
The Introduction.
called Sargaffo and Tromba; the Aromatick Tree
bearing Winter's Spicy Bark; Guanico's, or Indi-
an Sheep, a Species of fmall Camels; Infinite
Numbers of Penguins, Seals, Mufcles, Whales,
Oſtriches, &c. Thefe obferved in failing to and
through the Streights of Magellan, by the feveral
Navigators aforementioned.
་
i
In the Iflands on the South Sea, Coco-trees,
Plantanes, Bonana's, Pine Apples, Indian Figs,
Limes, Hogs with Scent-bags on their Backs, a
fort of Coney, Monkeys, Goats, Turtle, Al-
monds of four forts, Sugar Canes, Oysters on
Trees, &c.
Entring upon the Molucco's, Nutmeg Trees
with Mace, Clove Trees, Birds of Paradife, and
great Heats.
On the Islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, the
Faufel Palm or Arek, Pepper Shrubs, Betele Shrubs,
Jacks, Mango's, Durio's, Cajou's, Jambo's, Pa-
paio's, Arbor Rays, Arbor Triftis, Bambou's,
Ginger, Cardamums, Lacca Trees, Benzoin
Trees, Camphire Trees, Tamarinds, Caffia, Mi-
robolanes, Cubebs, Coftus, Galanga, Bangue,
Dutroy, Snake-wood, Calambac, Lignum Aloës,
&c.
Towards the Gulf of Bengal, Elephants, Rhi-
nocerots, Lions, Tygers, Crocodiles, &c. Up-
on the Maldives and Ceylon, Maldiva Nuts float-
ing, Woods of Cinamon Trees, Oranges, Li-
mons, Plantations of Rice, great Varieties of
Palms, &c.
At the Cape of Good Hope, Hippopotami,
Zebra's, Gazells, Jacalls, Flammants, Penguins,
Pelicans.
The Introduction.
XV
Pelicans, Oſtriches, Caffowares, vast numbers of
Divers, Duckers, and other Sea Birds, great Va-
rieties of Cruftaceous and Teftaceous Animals, of
Lizards, Serpents, &c.
甫
​At the Canary Islands, feveral Vulcano's,
Brimstone, the Fountain Tree in Ferro, the Rho-
dium Plant, Euphorbium, Dates, Gum Dragon
Trees, &c.
But we must note here, that befides and fince the
aforementioned Navigators and Voyagers, more
particular and fuller Obfervations have been made up-
on feveral of thofe parts of the World towards the
Eaſt and Weſt Indies, by Phyfitians and Others,
who have refided long in thofe Regions, or elfe recei-
ved rich Collections from thence. But as to the
moft Northerly Countries all we have is from the
Navigators. The best of whofe Obfervations are all
contained in the Volume we here publiſh.
'Tis now high time to haften to the North, and to
give a fhort Chronological Account of the feveral Na-
vigations and Diſcoveries made towards the North
Eaſt and North Weft, viz. Nova Zembla, North
Eaſt Greenland or Spitsberg, and North Weſt
Greenland, commonly called Groneland and En-
gronelandt.
Anno Dom. 1380. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni,
two rich Venetians and Brothers, failed from Gi-
braltar, intending for Flanders and England, but
by great Storms were driven Northwards to Frife-
land, Iceland, Groneland or Engronland, for
which we refer the Reader to Hackluyt and Pur-
chas.
Anno
*Vi
The Introduction.
Anno Dom. 1497. John Cabot and Sebaftian
Cabot his Son, Venetians, were fent out of Eng
land by Henry VII. Thefe, after their Return,
gave an Account and Draught of fome North Weſt
parts of America, and brought four of the Natives
batk with them.
Anno Dom. 1553. Sir Hugh Willoughby ment
out to discover a North Eaft Paffage, and failed a-
bove 160 Leagues North Easterly from Seynam,
which ties in 76 deg. North Lat. Tis very proba
ble he landed on Nova Zembla and Greenland,
from whence the Cold and Ice forced him to return
more Southerly, till he came to Arzina, a River in
Lapland; where, the next Spring, that great Man
with all his Company were found frozen to death in
the Ship, in this year the Ruffia Company began to
TWO ST
incorporate.
A
# +
Anno Dom. 156. Stephen Burrows, fearching
a Paffage by the North Eaft to the Indies, failed
to 80 deg. 7. min. and thence to Nova Zembla, ha-
ving been in all likelyhood upon Greenland, by the
defolate Land, the blue Ice, and great numbers of
various Fowls, which he mentions!
บ
About this time the Ruffia Company was efta-
blished, and fent yearly Ships and Factors, and pre-
Lently after Ambaſſadours from Queen Elizabeth
a
Ann: Dom. 1578, 1577, 1578 Sir Martin
Forbifher, made three feveral Voyages to find out a
North Weft Paffage, in which he made feveral mem
Difcoveries of great Sreights, Bays, Iflands and
Capes, as well as Land on both sides, to all which
he gave Names. His Men brought home great flore
of glittering Marchafites, which the London Gold-
finiths
The Introduction:
xvii
fmiths took to be Gold Oars. He met with Inhabi-
tants on the Shores of the Streight called by his
Name; their Canoes were made of Seal-skins at
top, but wood Keels: They exchanged Salmon and
other Fish, for Toyes: In their Tents abundance of
Red Beans were found, like unto thofe of Guinca:
But more of Frobisher's Obfervations in our Supple-
ment at the end of this Work.
Anno Dom. 1580. Arthur Pct, and Charles
Jackman, failed all over thefe Northern Seas, and
paffed into Waigats Streights, plying along the
Eaft part of Nova Zembla, fo far as the Ice would
give them leave, and finding no poffibility of Paffage,
returned back the latter end of the year.
Anno 1583. Sir Humfrey Gilbert, by the infti-
gation of Secretary Walfingham, failed to New-
foundland, and the great River of S. Laurence in
Canada, which he took Poffeffion of in the Name of
Queen Elizabeth, and fetled a Fishing-Trad: there.
An. Dom. 1585. Mr. John Davis was employ'd
to ſearch out to the North-Weft, beyond where Fro-
bifher went he made further Discoveries in thofe
Parts; which fee in Hakluyt, and Purchas. This
Davis made three Voyages to the North-West: Du
ring his stay at Cape Defolation, he found many
pieces of Fur andWooll, like to Beaver, and exchang-
ed Commodities with the Country People. Upon the
Rocks and in the Mofs, grew a Shrub whofe fruit was
very sweet, full of red juice like Currans, perhaps
'tis the fame with the New-England Cranberry,
or Bear-Berry, (call'd fo from the Bears devouring
it very greedily;) with which we make Tarts. Vitis
Idæa paluftris fructu majore apud Joffelin, de
( a )
Nova
xviii
The Introduction,
Nova Anglia. The Natives often repair'd to him
in their Canoes, bringing with them Stag's Skins,
white Hares, Small Cod, dry Caplin ; feveral Copper
Oars, Muſcles, &c. In his returning out of the Fre-
rum Davis (See our Chart of the Northern Reigons)
he meets marvellous ftore of Sea Fowl, and Cod,
Woods of Pine-Apple, Spruce, Elder, Ewe, or Tew,
Withy, Birch, Geefe, Ducks, Black-Birds, Thruſh,
Jayes, Partridge, Pheasant, &c. Black Pumice-ftones,
and Salt, kerned upon the Rocks, white and glifter-
ing; Unicorn, and other Whales. See more of Da-
vis in our ſupplement at the end of this Volume.
ས
1
J
1
An. Dom. 1594, 1595, 1596. William Barents,
a Dutchman, made three feveral Voyages to the
North-East, at the Charge of the United Provinces,
in the last of which, he was compell'd to winter in
Nova Zembla, about the 75 deg. of North Lat.
In thefe Voyages they Difcovered Bear, or Cherry-
Ifland, and went upon Greenland. Thefe Dutch
Navigations were written by Gerart de Veer, and
contain great variety of curious Obfervations, to
which Mr. Boyle owns himself much beholden, in
the compofing his Hiftory of Cold. They converfed
with, and defcribed the Samoyeds; coafted Nova
Zembla, giving Names to feveral Points, Capes,
Bays, Iflands, &c. They difcovered the Bernacle
Goofe, or Clakis, fitting upon their Eggs, under
the 80th. deg. North Lat. They give good Defcrip-
tions of the Whales, Morfes, Birds, &c. and relate
Phænomena of Cold (during their melancholy winter
Abode there) with ingenuity and judgment.
}
An.
The Introduction.
xix
B
An. Dom. 1611. That worthy Seaman Sir Tho
mas Button, Servant to Prince Henry, pursued the
North-West Discoveries, at the inftigation of that
glorious young Prince. He paffed Hudfons Streight,
and leaving Hudfons Bay to the South, failed above
200 Leagues to the South-West-ward, over a Sea a-
bove 80 Fathom deep, and difcovered a great Con-
tinent, called by him New Wales; where, after
much mifery and fickneſs in his wintering at Port
Nelfon, he beat and fearched the whole Bay with great
Industry, called afterwards Button's Bay, even
back again almost to Digge's Ifland. He difcover-
ed the great Land he called Cary's Swans-neft.
Many men were loft during his abode in that River,
named by him Port Nelfon, in North Lat. 57 deg.
to min. tho he kept three Fires in his Ship all the
Winter, and was Jupply'd with great store of white
Partridges, and other Fowl, of which his Company
reported to have kill'd 1800 Dozen, befides fome Deer,
·Bears, and Foxes. On the Shores of thofe North-
Weft Bays grows abundance of Orpine, Sorrel, and
Scurvygrafs, very much Angelica, whofe Root the
Gronelanders eat. They kill Morfes, and make
their Cords, or Ropes of Whalebone.
is
In the years 1610, 1612, 1615, 1626. Mr.Hud-
fon, James Hall, and William Baffin, proceeded
much further in the North-Weft Parts, giving Names
to their feveral Difcoveries; which may be seen in
the Northern Maps, and in the Collection of Voyages,
as alſo in our Supplement at the end.
The King of Denmark obferving the progress of
his Neighbours in the Northern Seas, began to fend
out Ships for making Diſcoveries, in the year 1605,
(a2)
1606,
xx
The Introduction.
1606, 1607, but thefe performed little. At laft
in the year 1619, he equipp'd John Munck with two
Ships, who tracing Forbither and Hudfon, came to
the 63 deg. 20 min. where he was forced to winter,
and called it Muncks Harbour, and the Country
New Denmark. (It Seems to be near Diggs Iſland.)
See Muncks Voyage, Printed in French at Paris
alſo our Supplement at the end.
In 1608. Henry Hudfon was fent out by the
English Company to difcover the North Pole; he
proceeded to the 82 deg. of Lat. as alfo did Thomas,
Marmaduke of Hull, 1612. who (am diver's Iflands
beyond that, and gave names to divers Places upon
Greenland. He went upon Nova Zembla in June
and July, and obferved Deer feeding here and there
on green places, tho at that very time of the year it
freezes in that Climate.
In the year 1610. the Company began to apply
themselves to the killing of Morfes, and to the Whale
Fishing, which they found most plentiful about
Cherry Ifland, and Greenland; they began alfo to
find thofe long Bones commonly called Unicorns
Horns. In the years 1611, 1612, 1613, 1614,
1617, 1619, 1620, 1622. the Engliſh Company,
finding thefe Northern Expeditions fo very profitable,
encreas'd the number of their Shipping to 13, or 14
yearly, under the Conduct of Poole, Fotherby, Edge,
Heley, and others, who gave names to feveral Sounds
and Points, &c.
Tet we find little worth relating of Greenland till
1630. in which year fome English, commanded by
Captain Goodler, were forced to wander up and down
the Country, and to Winter there. A full Relation
whereof
The Introduction
xxi
whereof being Publiſhed by Dr. W. Watts, we shall re-
fer the Reader thereunto.
Some English alfo wintered in Greenland in the
year 1633. and another Company in 1634; the
laft all perished there.
In theſe feveral Navigations to Greenland, our Men
gave Names to many places, as Hackluit's Headland,
Whale-Bay, Horn-Sound, from the long Bones
call'd the Unicorns, Ice-Point, Bell Foint, Low-
nefs-Ifle, Black-Point, Cape-Cold, Ice-Sound,
Knotty Point, Decr-Sound, Smiths-Bay, Hope-
Inland, Edges Inland, Wyches Ifland, Bear-ifland,
Charles Iland. Afterwards the Dutch gave other
Names of their own to theſe places, which has bred
fome confuſion in Maps and Books.
Our men that wintered in Greenland, 1630. loft
the light of the Sun October 14. and faw him not
again till February 3. Thofe that faid there in
1633, Say, that Octob. 5. was the last day they per-
ceived the light of the Sun, tho they had a twilight,
by which they could read, till Octob. 17. On the
22. the Stars were plain to be feen all the 24 hours,
and fo continued all Winter. Jan. 15. they perceiv
ed, for 6 or 7 hours about noon, fo much light as to
read by it. Feb. 12. they faw the Rays of the Sun
upon the tops of the Mountains, and the next day his
whole Body. Our men that remained in Greenland,
1634. left in writing before they perihed, that the
Sun disappeared October 10. and was feen again
Feb. 14.
The Dutch that wintered in Nova Zem-
bla in 1596. lost the Sun on Novemb. 4. but the
Moon in her highest degrees was feen night and day.
Jan. 24. they fam the edge of the Sun above the FI-
(a3)
1
rizon.
xxii
The Introduction.
rizon. The difference of theſe appearances, doth not
proceed from different Refractions, but from the dif-
ference of Latitude, in which the English and Dutch
wintered, tho the cold in Nova Zembla exceeded
that felt in Greenland. In thefe Countries there
is a continued Day for four or five months in the
year, as well as a perpetual Night for three months,
So for the most part there is either aight, or all
Darkness.
LA
The English that were neceffitated to winter in
Greenland, liv'd upon Venison (of which there is
great ſtore, perhaps 'tis of the Rhin-deer) upon Mor-
fes, Bears, Foxes, &c. The Bears Flesh was tole-
rably pleaſant and wholfom, but the Liver made their
skins peel off; which was alſo obſerved by the Dutch
that wintered in Nova Zembla. As the Sun and
Day-light began to appear, the Fowls, and Foxes
crept abroad, for which they fet Traps and Springs,
and so took vast numbers: The Foxes proved whol-
fom Food, for by it the Dutch were alſo relieved in
their Scurveys. In May they found great store of
Eggs laid by Willocks. The cold had prodigious
Effects on our Men in Greenland, and on the Dutch
in Nova Zembla, as blistering and ulcering their
Flesh, freezing their Sack and spirits, Stopping their
Clocks, freezing every thing by the fire fide; all which
Captain James fuffer'd in the Ifland of Charleton,
tho only in the 51 Deg. of North Lat. whereas the
Engliſh and Dutch winter'd in 75 and 78 Deg. of
North Lat. In the building of Houses, Tents, and
Cabins, upon thefe melancholy occafions, 'twas found
expedient to make them under ground, and to line
them with the skins of Beafts, thereby to key out the
Sharp impresions of the air.
Au-
The Introduction.
xxiii
V
Authors are a little confus'd in the Hiftory of
Whales, fome reckon up 10 Species, but Wormius
and Bartholine, make them up 22. giving them va-
rious Names from their difference in Colours, in
Fins, in Teeth, in Whalebone, in Spouts, in Oyl,
in Sperma Ceti, &c. Rondeletius, Gefner, Bel-
lonius, Schonveld, Faber, Clufius, and Tulpius,
Seem indeed defcribe 6 or 7 diftinct forts of Whales,
as the Balena Vulgaris, the Balæna Vera, the
Orca or Balana dentata,(perhaps our Grampus,) the
Phyfeter or Whirle-Pool, the Cete or Pot-Walfiſh,
the Monoceros or Unicorn Whale. The Trumpa
Whale or Spouter,may perhaps be the Phyfeter,and the
Sperma Ceti Whale the Pot-Walfish,thothe Spout and
Sperma Ceti may be common to many of them. We
find in the Philofophical Tranſactions, Numb. 205.
An Account of Whales by Sir Thomas Sybbalds,
who has had opportunities of viewing them on the
Goafts of Scotland, and therefore feems to be more
exact than other Writers; but we having never read
this Book, must be content to refer the Reader to it;
expecting in the mean time more clear diftinctions of
them from the Excellent Mr. Ray, in his intended
Synopfis of Fishes and Birds.
Anno Dom. 1653. The King of Denmark re-
folv'd to advance the Northern Trade and Difcove-
ries, and therefore equipp'd, and fet out three Ships,
with Orders to take the most exact Account of all the
Coafts and Places they came at, and to Report them
at their return with all poffible Curiofity, that there-
by the Voyage might be every way beneficial. They
paffed the Weygat Streights, and found fom: Inha-
bitants of Nova Zembla in their Canoes, or little
Fishing-
(a4)
xxiv
The Introduction.
Fiſhing-Boats: Theſe people were very nimble on
Foot, and were cloathi'd with Veftments of the Skins
of great Birds, like Penguins, and Pelicans, with
the Feathers upon them. Their Boots were made of
the Hides of Morfes, or great Seals; they had Qui-
vers at their backs full of Arrowes, with a Hatchet
of Fiſh-Bones; their Temper untractable and indocil,
abhorring our Beer, Spirits, and Meats. Leaving
Nova Zembla they fteer'd to Greenland. Thefe
Countries afford no Trees, or Shrubs, except a little
Juniper, and a few dwarf Firs; abundance of Mofs,
Heath, a fort of Cabbage, Lettice, Scurvygrafs,
Sorrel, Snake-weed, Harts-tongue, a kind of Strawe
berry, divers fpecies of Ranunculus, and Houfeleek.
In the Holes and Rocks infinite quantity of Fowls
Nefts, whofe dung with the moss washed down, makes
a mould in the Valleys or Clefts, which produce the
aforementioned Plants; otherwife the Country is ge-
nerally made up of vast heaps of Rocks, broken Stones,
and Ice heaped up from many Generations.
Of Water-Fowl there is incredible variety, and in
fo great abundance, that with their flight they darken
the Sun, and cover the Sea. There are alfo great quan-
tities of Dog-Fiſhes, Lobſters, Gernels, Star-Fish,
Mackrel, Dolphins, &c. a fort of Sea-Spider found.
in Whales Stomachs. For all which fee the French
Relations of the Daniſh Voyages, Printed at Paris
both by M. Peyrere, and Martiniere.
Y
Anno Dom. 1630. Captain Luke Fox was fent
out in His Majefties, Pinnace the Charles, Victu
aled for 18 Months, young Sir John Wolftenholme
being Treasurer, to fearch out a North-Weſt Paffage,
He traced Frobisher, Hudfon, Davis, Baffin, and
Button,
The Introduction.
XXV
Button; meeting with Whales, much Ice, and Fowls.
Hebuilt a Pinnace in River Nelſon, where he found
Several remains left there by Sir Thomas Button :
he obferved abundance of ſmall ſpruce Fir-Trees on
both fides that River moft covered with mofs, and
other forts of Trees, but fmail; the Valleys had good
grafs, Black-Berries, Strawberries, Vetches, Venifon,
&c. but no Natives or Inhabitants to be met with in
this place, tho in other parts of these Seas he fam fe-
veral Savages. Captain James departing from Eng-
land foon after Captain Fox, upon the fame defign,
they both met and carefs'd each other near Port Nel-
fon, in the month of Auguft. Fox got home before
winter, but the other was forced to stay till the
next Summers Of which, more in the following Pà-
ragraph, and in our Supplement at the end:
1
$
>
Anno 1631. The most ingenious Captain Tho-
mas James was employ'dby the inquifitive Merchants
of Bristol, to attempt and difcover a North-Weft
Paffage into the South-Sea, and was defigned for fo
difficult a work by King Charles the Firft; who was
pleaſed to command him to publiſh his Voyage in the
year 1633: wherein he gives a very accurate and ju
dicions Account of the hardships both in going, win-
tering, returning; as alfo of the Streights, Capes,
Bays, Tydes, Soundings, Variations of the Com-
país, and of the Natural Rarities both Philofophi
cal and Mathematical, together with a Plat or Card,
and divers Tables. Out of this Journal Mr. Boyle
confeffes that he took many Paffages and Phenomena
related in his Hiftory of Cold. This excellent Na-
vigator feems to be of opinion, that there is no paf-
fing by the North-Weft to China, Japan, &c. His
Reaſons
xxvi
The Introduction.
*
Reaſons may be read at large in his Journal printed
at London, in Quarto, 1633. Ter in the year.
1667. this defign was renewed, and undertaken by
Several of the Nobility of England, and Merchants
of London, who equipp'd and fent out Zachariah
Gillam Commander in the Nonfuch Ketch: he paf-
fed through Hudfon's Streights, then into Baffins
Bay, to the Latitude of 75. from thence Southerly
to the Lat. of 51. or thereabruts, in a River now
called Prince Ruperts River: he found here a friend-
ly Correfpondence with the Natives; built a Fort
called Charles Fort; returned with good fuccefs;
and laid the Foundation of an advantageous Trade in
thoſe parts: But in the year 1687. this place was
ſeized upon by the French. See more of Captain
James's Voyage and Diſcoveries in our Supple-
ment at the end.
曩
​Anno 1671. Frederick Martens, an Hambur-
ger, undertook the Greenland Voyage, upon a de-
fire, as may be fuppos'd, in great part to fatisfte the
Curiofity and Enquiries of the Royal Society; which
he performed in his admirable Diary printed in High
Dutch in Quarto, being affifted therein by the fa-
mous Fogelius.
Anno 1676. The induftrious and most ingenious
Captain Wood, was again fent out by his Majeſty
King Charles the Second, to make a more perfect
Discovery of the North-Eaſt Parts for a paffage to
the Eaft-Indies. He went no further than the 76
Degree of North Lat. where he loft his Ship on the
Coast of Nova Zembla. His opinion is, there is
no failing this North-Eaft Way to China, Japan,
&c. The like opinion Captain James hath given of
the
The Introduction.
xxvii
the North-Weſt Paſlage, being both perfwaded there-
unto by the ftretching of the Land, by the diftra-
ction and reverſion of half Tides, by the motion
of the Ice, &c. befides the Fogs, Snow, Frofts, vaft
Iſlands of Ice, and the Weather, are infuperable.
Mr. Witſen in his Letter to the Royal Society
Anno 1691. writes against the North-Eaſt Paffage
to Japan: he retracts his former Opinion of making
Nova Zembla join upon the Continent with Tar-
tary, having fince been better inform'd. He thinks
the Tartarian Points may run very far North, and
perhaps reach to America. Captain Wood fancies,
that Nova Zembla and Greenland are the fame Con-
tinent, If theſe Conjectures of Captain James, Cap-
tain Wood, and Mr.Witfen, concerning the North-
Eaſt, and North-Weſt Paffages to the Eaft-Indies
fhould not be true, yet the difficulties of failing thoſe
ways would be invincible.
}
But now it feems convenient to come to the preſent
Work, and to give an account what is contained
therein. The Authors are Four, viz. Sir John Nar-
borough, Captain Janſen Taſman, Captain Wood,
and Frederick Marten.
I. Sir John Narborough is fo well known in Eng-
land, and ſo famous beyond the Seas, that I need fay
nothing of his great Abilties. His Voyage into
the South-Sea is mentioned before, but this is the
first time of Publishing it.
II. Captain Abel Janſen Taſman's Voyage from
Batavia in the Ifland of Java, to the South Terra
Incognita is the more confiderable, in that 'tis the
Diſcovery of a New World, not yet known to the
English.
Tis
xxviii
The Introduction.
Tis probable by Abel Janfen Tafman's Navigati-
on, that New Guinea, New Carpentaria, and
New Holland, are a vaft prodigious Ifland, which
he feems to have encompaffed in his Voyage, fetting
out from Batavia to Maurice Ifle, East of Mada-
gafcar; from whence, bearing away South to 49 deg.
of South Lat. and then Eaft and by North to Lat
and 44, he fell upon thofe new Tracts of Land call'd
Van Diemen's, and afterwards upon New Zealand,
to the South-East of New Holland; returning to
Batavia through part of the South Sea (wherein he
Difcover'd new Ilands) and fo Northwards of New
Guinea to the Molucco's, and Java.
42
III. Captain Wood was a most excellent Naviga-
tor: He, together with Sir Cloudfly Shovel, ac-
companied Sir John Narborough to Chili: After
wards he was fent by Charles II. to Difcover a North-
Eaſt Paſſage to China and Japan by Nova Zembla
and Tartary; of which you have here an Abſtract
never Printed before.
IV. Frederick Marten of Hamburgh Published
his Obfervations made in Greenland in the High
Dutch, a Language little understood in England.
His Voyage being the left and best was much defired
here, it being full of Draughts and curious Remarks;
the Copying and Tranflating of which, are perform'd
with all poffible diligence.
These four make up the Volume, together with
many new Carts and Defigns, drawn upon the feve-
ral places, which do much illuftrate the Work, and
improve both Natural and Mathematical Science.
To theſe we thought fit to tack a Supplement con-
taining fome Obfervations on Groneland, or Engrone
land,
The Introduction.
xxix
land, as alſo upon fome Northern Iſlands, North-
Eaft, and North-Weft.
1
'Tis to be lamented, that the English Nation have
not fent along with their Navigators fome skilful
Painters, Naturalifts, and Mechaniſts, under pub-
lick Stipends and Encouragement, as the Dutch
and French have done, and still practife daily, much
to their Honour as well as Advantage. The English
have Capacity, Industry, and Fudgment in theſe Mat-
ters, equal to, if not beyond their Neighbours, Sint
Mæcenates, We are apt to imitate a certain Prince
in every thing, except in the most glorious and beft
Part of him, viz. The Encouraging and Reward-
ing great Men in all Profeffions, and the promot-
ing Arts and Sciences with his Treafure: A Secret
which fome Miniſters think not fit to practiſe, or per-
haps may be infenfible of, for want of penetration.
This makes a great Figure in the prefent and future
Ages, covers many Spots and Deformities, and fe-
cures the beft Heads, and Hands to carry on, and
effect great Deſigns.
1-
?
5
}
CON.
?
CONTENTS
OF THE
{
INTRODUCTION.
NAvis
Avigations towards the South, from page 6,
to p. 15. As thofe of Magellan, Drake,
Candifh, Hawkins, Olivert Noort, Sebald de
Wert, Spilbergen, Fernandez Giros, Taſman,
Schouten, and Le Maire, Brewer, Sharp, and
others.
Terra Magellanica Defcribed,
î
p. 12
General Occurrences in the Southern Navigati-
ons
1
$
P. 13, 14, 15.
Navigations towards the North from p 15, to 26.
As thofe of Zeni, Cabot, Willoughby, Burrows,
Forbiſher, Fet, Jackman, Gilbert, Davis, Ba-
rents, and Gerart de Veer, Button, Hudfon,
Hall, Baffin, Munck, Goodler's Wintering in
Greenland. Obfervations on that Country, from
p. 21. to 24.
Obfervations and Difcoveries by Captain Fox, Cap-
tain James, Gillam, and others; of the North-
Eaft, and North-West Paffages,
p. 26, 27.
Of New Guinea, Carpentaria, Hollandia Nova,
Zelandia Nova,
p. 28.
What wanted in our Engliſh Navigations, p. 29.
A
A TABLE of the Principal
Matters contained in Sir John Narbrough's
Voyage to the Streights of Magellan ;
Captain Tafman's Voyage for a further
Diſcovery of Terra Incognita Australis ;
Captain Wood's for finding a North-East
Paſſage to China and Japan; and Captain
Flawes Journal from Nova Zembla to Eng.
land.
A
}
Armiger, Sir John Narbrough's Lieutenant, kindly en-
tertained, &c. by the Captain of Fort S. Jago, p. 98.
Goes to Fort St. Peter, and why, p. 99. Kept Prifoner
there, p. 100. His Letter to Captain Narbrough, p.101.
Left behind,
·
1
III
Anchors, three found beyond Cape Gregory,&c. p. 126
Baldavia Harbour, its Latitude, &c. p. 85. The Traffick
thereof, P. 93. Three Rivers empty themselves into it, p.
106. A conjecture concerning it, p. 106, 107. The
Tackle for Ships in this place, what, p. 107. A de-
fcription of the Harbour and Country adjacent, p. 108,
109, &c.
Batchellour Pink attends upon Sir John Narbrough, ber
Burthen, how Mann'd, Victualled, &c. p. 2, 4. In-
ftructions to the Mafter thereof, and from whom, p. 9,
10, 11, 12. Lofes fight of the Sweepstakes, and is
Teen no more,
Bezoar-ftone, whence taken,
Cape Blanco, Defcription thereof, p. 31. Its
P. 23
p. 32, 33
Latitude, p.41
Cape Froward, a description of it, p. 70. Its Latitude,
Longitdue and Meridional Distance,
p. 71
Cape
1
The Contents.
Cape Holland defcribed, together with feveral other Capes,
Ilands, and Bays,
p. 7 ´
Cape Quad defcribed, p. 76. The distance between it and
Cape Munday,
Cape Munday, its defcription,
Ibid.
p. 46, 47
Cape Defiada defcribed; its Latitude, Longitude, and
meridional distance,
p. 78
Cape Pillar, its Lat. Longit, and meridional distance, F.78
Cape Gallery defcribed
Chile, the chief Place of America for Gold,
P. 112
P. 92
Cooe, (Hugh) Trumpeter on board Sir John Narbrough,
taken Prifoner by the Spaniards at Baldavia, was left
bebind,
Direction Ifles, their number, where,
P. III
P. 114
Don Carlos fet afhore in Noman's Ifland, and why, p. 84.
Never beard of more,
a
p. 87, &c.
distance be-
The Bay or
P. 75. 124
Elizabeth Ifland defcribed, p. 66, 57. The
tween it, and S. Jerom's River, P. 74.
River of this Ifland defcribed,
Flawes (Captain William) His Journal of Voyage from
Nova Zembla to England in the year 1676, from p.
171, to p. 185. His opinion of the faid Voyage, with a
Relation of his mifcarriage therein, and fome Obferva-
tions thereupon,
p. 185. &c.
Fonchiale, the chief Town in the Madera's; its Latitude,
P. 3
Fortescue (John) Gent. Taken Prifoner by the Spaniards
at Baldavia, and left behind by Sir John Narbrough,
P.I
p. 112
Freſhwater Bay. See Elizabeth Iſland
Highway (Thomas) Linguist, on board Sir John Nar-
brough, taken Prifoner by the Spaniards in Baldavia,
there,
S. James's Fort in the hands of the Spaniards, p. 86. The
intercourse there between Sir John Narbrough's Lieute-
mant, and the Captain of the Fort- p. 87. Their enter-
tainment,
p.. 88, 89
their Habit
Indians of the Country about Port S. Julian,
&c. p 49, 50, 51, A further account of them, p. 53
P.
Indian
The Contents.
Indians of Elizabeth Iſland their Character, p. 63, 64,
Indians of Chile deſcribed
Lizzard in Engl. Its Latitude
Madera, a Deſcription thereof
65,66,70
2
p. 103
P. 2
p. 2,3
Magellan (the Streights of) not paſſable for Ice at the lat-
ter end of April, p. 45. A Defcription of the Magel-
lannick Streights, p. 61, &c. The length thereof from
Cape Virgin Mary to Cape Deffeada, p. 78. The fafeft
way to enter thefe Streights
Le Mair's Iſland defcribed, p. 37.
St. Maries Ile its Latitude, p. 95.
Mayo Ifle, a Defcription thereof
p. 116,117, &c.
When so named ibid.
Its Product and Air
Mocha Island, its Defcription, Latitude, &c.
Mullets, 700 caught at a time
P. 96
P. 4, 5
P.95
p. 125
Narbrough (Sir John) receives his Commiffion, p. 1. Gees
on Board the Sweepftakes, ibid.
1
p. 2.
Arrives at Madera
Steers for St. Jago, p. 4. Caufes bis Men to be
let blood, and why, ibid. and p. 14. Going a shore at
Mayo he brings off fome Salt, p. 5. Buys Provifions
of the Ilanders, ibid. Comes to Port Praya in St. Jago
Iſle, and what happen'd, p. 6,7. Is ordered to Sail to
the Sireights of Magellan, p. 8. His Instructions to
Mr. Fleming of the Batchellor Pink for the better find-
ing each other after feparation by Storm, or otherwife,
P. 12,13. His Order he kept on Board, and his Obfer-
vations, p. 14 15. Defcription of the Country about
Cape Blanco,p. 21. Lofes fight of the Batchellor Pink,
p. 23. His project to discover the People of the Country
about Seals Bay ineffectual, p, 29, 30. Kills 400 Seals
p.30. Takes poffeffion of Port Defier, and all the Land
in the Country thereabouts for King Charles II. p. 40.
Sails for Port St. Julian, p. 42. He Eats Foxes and
Kites, p. 49. Twelve of his Men lame, the manner
Pi
thereof, p. 52. Returns to Port Defier, p. 56. Enters
the Mouth of the Streights of Magellan, p. 60. Goes a-
fhore on Elizabeth Iſland, p. 63. His conference with
(b)
19 In.
The Contents.
19 Indians, ibid. and 64,65,66. His way of failing,
p. 85. Difcourfes with the Spaniards of St. James's
Fort, P. 90. &c. Sends Men afhore in St. Mary Ifle,
and why, p. 96, 97. His difcourfe to two Indians,
p. 102. His Letter to Lieutenant Armiger, p. 104. Re-
turns from Baldavia, and what way, P. I 12, 113, &c.
His Journal continued, and by whom, p. 121. Sets
fail from Port Defier for England. Pafs Cape Blanco
Cape Virgin Mary, St. Michaels, p. 127, 128. Puts
into Angria in the Terceras, p. 128. Within fight of
Scilly
p. 129
Narbrough's Island, its Products and Defcription, p.81,82
Noman's Island, its Latitude and Defcription
p. 83.
Nueftra Senora di Socoro, an Ifland, its Meridian and
Longitude, p. 8o. Defcribed
p. 80, 81
Oſtriches, about Seals Bay, their shape and colour p,29.30
Penguin Iſland defcribed, p. 24, 25. Its Latitude, p.41.
A vast numbers of Penguins bere, p. 56.
guin, what
A Pen-
p. 58,59
Latitude, p. 41.
P. 127
P. 7,8
Port Defier defcribed, p. 25, 26. Its
Sir John Narbrough returns thither
Port Praya, a Defcription thereof
Port St. Julian, and the Country thereabout defcribed, p. 42,
to p. 56, The distance between it and the Flat Ifland,
P. 43. Its Longitude, Latitude, and Meridional diſtance,
P. 44. Vaft quantities of Salt bere
P. 45
Port Famen, Its Defcription and Latitude, p. 67, 68.~ An
account of the Product of the Country and River there-
about
Seals, a defcription of them
p. 69, 121
P. 30,31
Seals Bay defcribed, and the Country thereabouts, p.23,24,
25, 26,27,28,29
Smelts of an extraordinary bigness
P. 123
Spaniards at Fort St. James in Baldavia, their Policy, to
furprize Sir John Narbrough, together with the Ships.
Crew, p.89. Are kind to Lieutenant Armiger,. p. 98
Spiring's Bay, a Defcription thereof
P. 24
Sweepſtakes,
The Contents.
Sweepſtakes, ber Burthen, how Mann'd, Victuall'd, &c.
p. I. Her Cargo, p. 2. Crew reduced to eat Peafe in-
stead of Bread
p. 83
Tafman (Abel Janfen) Sails from Batavia with two
Ships, the Heemskirk Tacht, and Seehane Fly-Boat
towards the Terra incognita Auſtralis, in which Voy-
age be fets down many things worth notice; but bis Tract
being but a short Journal of the fame de die in diem,
I refer the Reader to it (without drawing any Contents
thereof
from p. 131. to 143
(
p. 107,108
P. 71
Veffels (Spanish) Several forts of 'em
Wood's Bay, why fo call'd
Wood (Captain John) bis delightful and profitable Relati-
on of a Voyage for diſcovery of a North Eaſt Paſſage to
China and Japan, from p. 143, to p. 155. His Jour-
nal thereof
from p. 155, top. 171,
Contents of Frederick Martens Voyage into
Spitzbergen and Greenland.
Of
Pag. 1
F the Voyage from the Elbe to Spitzbergen
Of their Voyage bome again from Spitzbergen to the
P 14
P. 29
P. 39
Elbe
Of the external Fate and appearance of Spitzbergen p. 16
Of the Sea, and divers Storms and Tempefts
Of vaft Mountains and Fields of Ice, and the great diffi-
culty of failing
Of the Air and wonderful changes of the Weather P. 45
Of the Plants of Spitzbergen. Of a Plant with Aloe-
Leaves. Of Small Houfleek. Of Crow's-Foot. Of Scurvy-
Grafs. Of an Herb like Stone-crap. Of a Snakeweed.
Of an Herb like unto Mouſe-Ear. Of a Plant like un-
to Periwinkle. Of an Herb like a Strawberry. Of
Rock Plant
from p. 55. top 70
Of the Animals but chiefly the Birds about Spitzbergen.
Of Birds with Toes or divided Feet. 1. Of a Snite. 2. Of
the Snow Bird. 3. Of the Ice Birds. Of the broad or
webfooted Birds. Of the Rathfher. Of the Pigeon. Of
the
The Contents.
the Lumb. Of the Mew called Katge-gebef. Of the
Burgemeister. Of the Rotgis. Of the Struntjager, (or
Dung-hunter.) Of the diving Parrot. Of the moun-
tain Duck. Of the Kirmew. Of the Mallemuck. The
Red Geefe, a Bird called John of Ghent, like a Stork
from p. 72. to p. 98
Of four footed Beafts. Of the Hart and Deer. Of the
Fox. Of the white Bear. Of the Sea-Dogs, called Rubbs
and Seales. Of the Sea-Horfe, or Morfe from p.99 to 112
Of Cruftaneous Fish. Of the Sea Craw-fish without a Tail,
or Sea Spider. Of the Garnels or Prawns. Of the leffer
Garnels or Shrimps. Of the Loufe of the Whale. Of
the Star-fish, two forts. Of the Macarel.
of the
Dragon fish. Of the Dolphin. Of the Butskopf, or
Places head. Of the Saw fish, or Sword fish. Of the
white Fish. Of the Unicorn. Of the Hay, feveral forts
from p. 113 to p. 129
Of the Whales about Spitzbergen, and bow they differ from
other Whales, with an exact defcription of all the parts
of a Whale, and to what uses they are applied from p. 130
to p. 144
Of the fever ways of catching Whales from p.145 to p.156
How they mannage the dead Whales : feveral ways of Trying
out of the Train-Oil from the Fat from p.197 to p.164
Of the Finn-fill being the length of a Whale, but much
lefs in bulk
p. 165
Of Rotz fishes and Sea-qualms. Of the Sea May-fly. Of
the Snail Slime-fish. Of the Hat Slime-fish. Of the
Rofe like shaped Slime fish. Of the Slime fish like a Cap.
Of the Slime fish like a Fountain from p. 166 to p.175.
A
Contents of the Supplement.
Deſcription of Cherry and other Iſlands from p.179
John Mayens Iland
Groenland or Engroenland.
The Difcovery of Freezland or Frifeland
to p. 184
P. 185
p. 18-
P. 20€
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Eaſt Anno bys.
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54
FOLIEROFON, MA G
A.
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C. Piller
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4.1
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Sand bay
Cumbafsumbara
293
290
B Anagada
E de Andres
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Cofta Deferta
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No-mans I
Coronales
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292
293
294
ANNABEND ROUN
DEUPURI!!!
LEAMATEITI TERRA:11:
4.5
416
47
4:9
51
53
SOUTH
SEA
lage broken hills
RS. Doming a
Narboroughs Ifle
Round Ifles
CDiego Gallego
P.St Steven
C. de S. Andrew
Cde Ochavario
V. Nraftra, Šenova.
Aqui Seperdio
PAT
TA
GONUM
Diego Gallego REGIO
Je st
Albra St Gullen
Pdel Gada or Corco
Victoria
CDifcada
E sam Savage People here
diey have Boats
C. Monday
Serania
CQuad
Acon Sin Salida
Sierra Novada
I.Elizabeth
I
P de los Leones
Cabo Redondo
A.con Sardinis
C. de S. Hellena
Rde Camaron
CBlanco
Springe
RDones
CLook out
Woods' hill
Plane
Fills S2Tzes
Beach head
PS. Iulian
CFair weather
¿Virgin Mary
B.Possession
Entrance
C Gregory
C. Gallant
C.Holland
P Famin
Froward
Riders B
Whale Bay
land
nAakes
Monmouth
QK Forland
Penguin I.
+ E difton
Magellan Streights
1.
Entreada de
Sabafima
C 28 Penas
TERRA DEL FUO GO
57
I.Digo
Raniras
A rocky Country
Sounds runing into & land
Craggy broken land
A Cursed Rocky land I fan
people here
:
Mountators
Maridius
land
Straight la Maire
Straten land
Ist Huon Sulefe
7 de Goncals
y.“ de „Ś Iljonce
C Horn
10
Gornevelds I
Habiable land and good grou
Where Light Smelts of a great length
Sundy point man
Scroms Sound
Streights Sound
Here Indians came on Beatl
the Ship poor and naked
20
Fictoria
ނ
Fun hills
ན་
Tuesday Bay
Dileada
?
Iſland Bay
Love
CVpwright
Mussell Cove
I Stuart Sculp:
aladinhofazantinska,da,
1
287
ARINGILLATGALATIAN
The land of desolation all Craggy,
OLIAMINAATETESI DA
GAMINGJANLEHRINGING.
on
288
a
*
CQuad
Amighty Rocky Country
which is pe
is perpetuall Snow
Riders Bav
great Mussell?
Mussell Bay: many Atusells
with much Pearl in them
JAYAARDE KLONITOR
12
18
M
Morent mifery
Batchelors River
+
Fork Road
Elizabeth's Bay good
riding here
Pico
To the Honble
Sam: Pepys Esq
1
This Mapp of the.
STREIGHTS of MAGELLAN
Drawn by SIoNarbrough
is humbly Dedicated, by
Sam Smith and
Benj: Wallford.
---
1
UPUSSITERIET RIEMPILATE
295
Pag:
the Sea Shoar high Chalk
halls Steep up.
Grass land
no Tmber
Low Bay
Shoalds
19
29
20
20
52
29
4.5
29
12
47
20
34
Shoalds
4.9
40
Copling mills
Baleges
A Good Graſs Country
AGrajs land no Timber
and little fresh water
iP
Mari
། ༤
Man: Exage nespic here of a
ammon stature they have Beats
Good Bland
The Woods begin
good land 7
&
10
18
18
20
10
20
20
30
98 28140.
B
A good Grass&wood Country
6
2614 378
Lifer Earb
arbor
Berry Plane
Revall Road
&
Good plane land
Bay Gregory
¿Gregory
5 23 65373614
29 40 20
25
725
Fortres
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25°
་་
8-7-8
& Entrance
Rocks like Alses ears
ARAA
30
8 7
19
23
dry Flats
-22-24
28 Et
20
CVirgin Mary
BPossession
Sand Fall Cliffs
25 23 30 36 36 36 36 36 30-38 40 36
26
39
30
30
39
39
52
+
32
28
27
39
725
30'
39
28
2,7
TTIILILLESTEMTIDI
2,5
39
25
18
20
TTT
354+30
Brakes should water
25
10
Fish Love
South Ullter
dry at lon wat
Many Savage People here
they make many Fires.
30
20
30130
MAGELLAN STREIGHT
Queen Katharines
Forland
Variation. 17.2
Anno 1670
35
36
¿Brand Geese here
20 30
Mam People here
25. 4.0
Here fresh water_runns
ISE
امر
1 down in many places
Good Inchoring here
Snow hills
༡༠
100
A Grass land many People here Savage:
: tauny Indians of a good Stature
A
"Grass land many People here
23
A Grass land.
2 24 300
Fresh water Bay
S
Large trees here.
Cordes Bay
Andrew's Bay
Gallant
グーク
​C. Gallant
HS+
Whale SoundI sa
many Whales herr
IB
• Whale Blay
Koo
MADAMIANELL HEALT
289
до
play H
iquanogy
23 25 10+
P. Famin good riding
and good fishing here
High Snow hills
Snow mount
roward
Woods Bay
4.8
+
10
00
261
1.0
KING CHARLES
CMonmouth
A great Sound
The people in this land paſs over & Streights in Boats or Canou's made of & Rine of Trees.
SOUTH LAND
Paraketti's Bay for here we see
green Birds like Parraketto's
A Grass and woody land good fresh:
water
The people in this Country have Boats
I lay ahoar here 4 days and nights.
Fogg hills
A Rocky Mountainous desolate land, the tops of the Mountain:
covered with Snon continually, the Aire Cold:
Open Sound
TERRA DEL FUOGO
A kata A&t. 11 it
LABRILID JAMI KLAIDIS:
WAHILI LARG. H
490
DAAGAGA - 1.4.
1.
FIGURATUGINEINHEA
BATTERIER CHARLIJION
292
KLIINIKOISITORS
AZOLERATED
A Scale of twenty Leagues.
2 32
6
9
|
5 28 2nd 3 32 33 34
26 27 28 29
JURRELATIN
5
20
25.
20
Names of Several Islands
·A· Elizabeths Ife a graſs land ·
B.St Bartholemews I. or Penguins I.
C. St Georges I, or Penguins I.
D. Charles's I regular Wood land.
E.Iames I. a great deal of Wood.
F.Monmouth I a great deal of wood.
GRuperts I. wood.
in the Streights:
HLord Arlingtons I.
1. Earle of Sandwith's I.
K-Secretary Wrens . L .
L.Whale Point.
MCMiddleton
N.Westminster I a rocky I.
O The Lawyers I all rocks.
292
293
294
t
53
AFAELJER.
544227*942520F111'1
295
54
LEESTIKEEL.
(1)
A
JOURNAL
KEPT BY
Captain John Narbrough, &c.
M
AT 15. 1669. This day being Satura
day, Í received from the Honourable
Mr. Wren, Secretary to his Royal
Highneſs the Duke of Tork, my Com-
miſſion to Command his Majeſty's Ship the Sweep
Stakes, the Ship being at Deptford, in the River of
Thames near London.
Sunday September 26. 1669. Set out at his Ma-
jefty's proper Coft,one of his own Ships named the
Sweepstakes, Burthen 300 Tuns, with 36 great Ord-
nance, and all other Munition proportionable;
manned with 80 Men and Boys, victualled for
fourteen Months,at whole allowance of all Provi-
fions both good and wholefom, having Oät-meal
for Fiſh, and four Tuns and an half of Brandy in
lieu of Beer, ſtores of all forts compleat for twelve
months, with provifion of Craft to take Fiſh and
Fowls, a feyne Net, and hooks, and lines, and fif
gigs, and harping Irons, twelve Fowling pieces,
B
with
2
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
with fhot, and pigs of Lead to make Shot, if occa
fion, &c. And the Batchelour Pink, burthen 70
Tuns, with four great Ordnance, and all other
Munition proportionable; mann'd with nineteen
Men, one Boy, victualled for twelve months, at
whole allowance of all Provifion good and whole-
fom, as the Sweepſtakes had, and ftores proportio-
nable for the time, and Craft to take Fiſh and
Fowl, &c.
Having a fort of Goods to the value of three
hundred pounds,as followeth, Knives, Siffers, Glaf-
fes, Beads, Hatchets, Bills, Hoes, Nails, Needles,
Pins, Pipes, Bells, Boxes, &c. Daffels Linnen,
Cloth, Ofenbrigs, Tobacco, and Pipes, &c. to
trade with the Natives, at his Majefty's Charge.
Wedneſday September 29. Hazy weather, the
Wind to the North-weſt and by Weſt, a freſh gale:
Iftood to the South-weft-ward as near as I could;
this day at twelve a Clock, the Lizard bore North
of me a little Eaſterly, diſtance about 12 Leagues,
according to my account; Latitude by account, is
49 d.35 m. This day I ſpoke with a French Banker:
Lizard in England lies in the Lat. of 50d. 10 m.
and in Longitude Eaft, from the Meridian of the
Weft part of St. Michael, one of the Iſlands of the
Azores 18 d. 30m. From the Lizard I take my de-
parture, and keep my daily account of the diffe-
rence of my Longitude from that Meridian.
October the 17. I made the Madera; which Iſland
is high Land, and irregular in Hills, with Wood
on the top and down the fides; Planted with
Vines: there is fome Sugar made in the Iſland;
the Inhabitants Portuguefes. The City of Fonchiale
is
1
to the Streights of Magellan.
3
is the Metropolis, and is fituated in a Bay on the
South part of the Ifland, cloſe to the Sea fide, wal-
led next the Sea, and well fortified with Ord-
nance; freſh water comes running into the Sea in
the middle of the Bay, in a fair Rivulet from un-
der an Arch in the Wall; the fhoar-fides are
great pebble ſtones in the Bay, and Rocks in the
other places; the Road is foul ground, to the Eaſt
part of it: the Ships ride in fhot of Ordnance of
the City: this City is about an Engliſh mile in
length, and three quarters of a mile in breadth.
The Defarts are barren rocky Ifles of a good
heighth,and lie at the South-eaft point of Madera,
above a mile diftant from the fhore; there is wa-
ter enough between Madera and the Defarts in the
midway, and no danger; the Defarts trent to the
South-eaft. Fonchiale Bay in the Ifle of Madera lies
in the Latitude of 32 d. 10m. North, and in Lon-
gitude Weft from the Lizard of England 10 d. 1 m.
and Meridian diſtance 143 Leagues.
Sunday being the 17th. fair Weather and little
wind at North-weft, Courfe by my Compafs
South-weft. I make my true Courſe from Fon-
chiale Bay,till to day at noon South-fouth-weft,di-
ftance, failed 34 miles fix tenths departure Weſt 13
miles; Diff. Lat. oo d. 32 m. Lat. by account 31 d.
38 m. Meridian diftance from the Lizard' Weft,
147 leagues, 1 mile; Longitude from the Lizard
Weft 10d. 17 M. Difference of Longitude from
Fonchiale Weft o0 d. 16 m. To day at noon I faw
the Iſland of Madera, bearing Nb. E: the body of
the Ifle diſtant by eſtimation 11 leagues; it makes
in a bluff body at the Weft end, and treats to the
B 2
Eaft:
4
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Eaſt: Courſe by the Compaſs this afternoon SW.
little wind to night; I fhaped my neareſt Courſe
for the Iſland of St. Jago with all the fail I could
make, the Batchelour Pink in Company; I gave
order to my Maſter to make the beſt of his way
to St. Jago Inland, but not to leave the Company
of the Batchelour.
Saturday October 23. The wind at N.b. E. a gale:
this day in the forenoon I croffed the Tropick of
Cancer, all my men in good health, I praife the Al-
mighty God for it: many of my men that had
been with me in the Indies formerly, were let
blood; for I take bleeding in theſe hot Climates
to be a great preſerver of health, diverting Ca-
lentures; I experienc'd it in two Voyages before
to the Ifland of St. Helena, and in one to the
Coaſt of Guinea, where ſeveral of my men under
that distemper, were preferved by bleeding; in all
theſe Voyages I was never fick one day, nor in
two years time in the Mediterranean Sea, nor at
the Canaries; for when I came near the Equino-
Etial I always breathed a Vein.
Thurſday October 28. the Wind at Eaſt-North-
Eaſt a ſtiff gale; this Morning I faw the Iſle of
Mayo bearing S. b. W. diſtant by eſtimation eight
Leagues; it makes a high Hill, and Craggy to the
Eaft part, and low land towards the fhore-fide, to
the North-weſt part of the Iſland; it lies from Bo-
naviſt S. b.W. diſtant near 18 leagues. This day
at 11 a Clock I anchored in the Road in feven fa-
thom water, fandy Ground, about a mile from the
fhore; the Northernmost point of the Road bear-
ing N.N.W. half a point to the Weſt, and the Sou-
I
مجھ
thern
to the Streights of Magellan.
5
thern point of the Road, bearing South-eaſt from
diſtant about a mile and an half: there are
me;
craggy
Rocks to the South of the Road on the
fhore fide, but to the North a low fandy fhore;
the Road is on the North-weſt and by Weſt part
of the Iſland in a ſmall fandy Bay; there's the Salt-
pond a bow's fhot from the Sea in the low flat
Land; freſh water is very ſcarce here: I went a-
fhore preſently after I had anchored, and found a
heap of Salt of about 20 Tuns; I got aboard a-
gain immediately, and fent the Long-boat afhore,
which brought off 2 Tuns and, the Suff came in
fo much that no more could be got off; we halled
the Seyne here, and caught abundance of good
Mullets, with fome Cavalle and filver Fiſh; one of
the Iflanders a Negro came aboard, whom I fent
afhore, to tell the People that if they brought
down fome Cattle I would buy fome of them; I
rode here all Night; fair Weather, the Wind Ea-
fterly. This fide of the Ifland is dry land with-
out wood; here are many Goats, and Guinea
Hens.
Friday October 29. fair Weather, the wind at
NE. a fine gale: this Morning I fent my Boat a-
fhore, and bought of the Iſlanders fome Goats at
a piece of Eight per Head,and 8 Cows excellent
good meat at 6 pieces of Eight a Cow, giving the
skins again; my men caught a great many Fiſh
with the Seyne, which this day we fplit, and laid
in pickle four Hours, then dried them to keep,
which they will a long time in any Climate, as I
have experienced in other Voyages, and are very
good Victuals at Sea: I made what diſpatch I
B 3
could
6
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
could to be gone for St. Jago Ifland. This day in
the forenoon, a Ship paffed by to the Weftward
on the South fide of the Ifle, and in the afternoon
we faw feveral Ships coming from the North-
ward, which were the Portugueſe Fleet bound
for Brazil; they halled into Port Praya in the le
of St. Jago to water: this night I weighed, and
ftood away at twelve a Clock South-fouth-weft
for Port Praya, with the Pink in Company; I
touched at the Ifle of May for Salt, which I knew
would be a great help to get Proviſions in the
Voyage.
Saturday October 30. fair wind at North-eaſt and
by North a freſh gale. This Morning I fteered
South-weft for the South fide of St. Jago, where
is the Road of Port Praya, lying near South-weft
from the Road of the Ifle of May, and diſtant nine
Leagues. This day at 12 a Clock I caft my beſt
Bower-anchor in Port Praya Road, in 10 fathom
rough Ground, the Eaft Point bore Eaft of me,
and the Weft Point about Weft-fouth-weft, about
half a mile off; I could not go into the beft of the
Road, the Portuguese Fleet of about thirty fix Sail
riding in it; the Great Padre Eternel Admiral,
bound for Brazil, is a very great Ship and well
built, they ſay ſhe is in Burthen 1700 Tuns, fhe
hath Ports for three Tier of Guns flush, but now
fhe had but eighty, and poorly mann'd with Sea-
men, and fo were all the reft, fix Frigats might
have taken moſt of the Fleet. At my coming in
to Anchor, the Admiral faluted me with feven
Guns, I thanked him with as many; Captain Fran-
cis Wilkfheir in the Jerufalem fired five, I returned
him
to the Streights of Magellan.
7
him three; fo did the Reer-Admiral, and I re-
turn'd the Complement in the like number, feveral
of the Fleet fired three, whom I anſwer'd in con-
clufion with three for all. I rode on the broad
fide of the Admiral, and faluted the Fort with five
Guns, which return'd three, then I fent my Lieu-
tenant afhore to ask leave of the Governour to wa-
ter, which he granted forthwith; my Coopers, got
the Cask ready, and this Evening put one boat's
lading aboard.
Sunday Octobor 31. fair Weather, the wind at
North-eaſt a fine gale. This Morning Don Carolus
went afhore to Pryam; with much ado I got off a
boats lading of Water, for the Portuguese boats
were filling too, and a great many Soldiers at the
watering place fnatch'd fome of our mens Hats
off, and run away, wherefore I would not let my
men go any more this day for fear of quarreling.
This Bay of Port Praya, as they call it, is no Port,
but a fine round Bay, having high ſteep Cliffs on
the Eaſt fide,and in the bottom a ſteep Hill,where
the Caſtle is, that hath but four Guns, and is of
no force; there is a ſmall Fort on the top of a Hill
on the Eaft fide, which hath three Guns. On the
North-weſt part of the Bay the fhore is gravelly
and fandy, and there's a Grove of Coco-nut trees :
A freſh water Rivulet runs down into the Valley,
and thence through the Sand foaks into the Sea:
this Water is in great quantity, very good, and
keeps well at Sea: to the weft part of this Bay lies
a fmall Iſland cloſe on the fhore, which has Grafs
on it that may be cut off for Cattle, which I did;
this Road is no fafeguard for Shipping, for a Man
B 4
of
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
of War may take any Ship out of the Bay, without
receiving any damage from the Forts afhore, and
with Fire-Ships a whole Fleet may be ſpoiled at
pleafure; for it's a freſh gale every day,and there's
but two points of Land by which a man may fetch
into any part of the Bay; alfo the Bay lies
open to the Sea from the Eaft, Southerly to the
W.S.W. I called for my Lieutenants and Maſter,
and acquainted them, that I had Orders to fail
from thence to the Coaſt of America to the South-
ward of the River of Plate, to the ftreights of
Magellan, through which we were to paſs into the
South Seas, and that we muſt ſhape our Courſe to
make the ſhorteſt way of it, and be careful to keep
Eaſterly enough of it, to weather the fhoals of
Brazil, called the Abroholls, lying in and about
eighteen degrees of Southerly Latitude, for the
Wind blows for the moſt part thereabouts between
the Latitude of ten South, and the Latitude of
twenty South, at Eaft by South and Eaft South-
caft freſh gales; whilft this paſs'd,in came the Ma-
fter, and told me all things were ftowed, and the
Wind at E. b.N. freſh; I concluded with him that
our beft Courſe at preſent would be South and by
Eaft, and as we got Southerly and the Wind grew
large, we might alter our Courſe when we would':
we fteered a Point or two from the Wind, that
the Ship might have freſh way through the Sea. I
ordered my Mafter to fteer South and by Eaſt
by the Compafs, and my Lieutenant to call all
hands to Prayer, read Service, and beg'd of God
Almighty a profperous Voyage, continuance in
Health, and love to one another, and that we might
profper in this Undertaking, &c.
In-
to the Streights of Magellan.
୨
Inftructions for Mr. Humphrey Fleming, Com-
mander of his Majeſty's hired Pink the Batche-
lour; By vertue of an Order from His Royal
Highness, dated the twenty ninth day of Auguſt
1669. to me directed.
You are hereby required to fail with his Ma-
jeſties hired Pink the Batchelour, which you
are Commander of, and to keep Company with
his Majeſties Ship the Sweepstakes to the Coaft of
America to the Southward of Rio de la Plata, and
along the Coaſt of America to the Southward, till
you come to the Strights of Magellan, lying in
about 53 Degrees of South Latitude; through
which you are to pafs into the South Sea, and fail
along the Weſt Coaſt of America Northerly, till
you come as high as Baldavia, which lies in about
40 Degrees of South-lat. there you fhall receive
further Orders from me, or in my abfence, from the
Commander in Chief on board his Majeſties Ship
the Sweepstakes, in cafe you keep Company with
her, whoſe Company you are not to depart from
or leave,upon any occafion whatſoever, as you will
anſwer the contrary at your peril, unleſs you have
Order from me fo to do, or in my abſence from
the Commander in Chief on board her; You are
alſo to underſtand,that you are to be employed by
me as I fhall fee occafion to employ you, to diſco-
ver Lands, Bays, Havens, Rivers or Streights, &c.
The
10
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
The Deſign of this Voyage on which you are
employed, being to make a Diſcovery both of the
Seas and Coaſts of that part of the World, and if
poffible to lay the foundation of a Trade there.
You are not to meddle with the Coaft of America,
nor fend on fhore, unleſs in cafe of great neceffi-
ty, till you get to the Southward of Rio de la
Plata; and you are not to do any injury to fuch
Spaniards as you fhall meet with, nor meddle with
any place where they are planted: You are to
take Obfervations with as much Accuracy as you
can, and alſo to cauſe your Mate and Company to
do the like, to obferve all Headlands, Iflands,
Bays, Havens, Roads, Mouths of Rivers, Rocks,
Shoals, Soundings, Courfes of Tides, flowings and
fettings of Currents, where you come, both in the
North and South Seas, &c. and caufe Draughts
and Deſigns to be made of them; and alſo you
are to take notice of all Trade-Winds, &c. you
meet with, and of the Weather, and eſpecially
to obferve Harbours in the Streights of Magellan;
You are in all places where you land to obferve
the nature of the Soil, and what Fruits, Woods,
Grain, Fowls, and Beaſts it produces, and what
Stones and Minerals, and what Fiſh the Rivers and
the Sea doth abound with; You are to do your
utmoſt to procure of the Minerals to carry to Eng-
gland, and to deliver them to His Royal High-
nefs's Secretary. You are alfo to mark the tem-
per and inclinations of the Indian Inhabitants, and
where you can gain any Correſpondence with
them, you are to make them fenfible of the
great
Power
to the Streights of Magellan.
11
+
Power and Wealth of the Prince and Nation
to whom you belong, and that you are fent on
purpoſe to ſet on foot a Trade, and to make
Friendſhip with them; but above all for the Ho-
nour of our Prince and Nation, you are to take
care, that your Men do not by any rude behavi-
our or injuries to them, create an Averfion in them
to the English Nation; but that on the other fide
they endeavour to gain their Love by kind and
civil Uſage toward them, and whosoever ſhall act
otherwife, you are to correct him or them for fo
doing, which you are to acquaint your Men with,
that they be not ignorant. You are to be careful
of your Provifions and Liquor, and to husband it
to the best advantage, that there be no waftful
Expence made of it, nor of your Ships Furniture,
as Sails, Anchors, Cables, and Rigging, &c. and
that you endeavour at all places where you come
to get Provifions, Wood and freſh Water, fo as you
do not endanger your Ship and Men, which you
are to be very careful of, and in no caufe to ex-
pofe any one of your Men to the hazard of his
Life, but always be careful that they be well
guarded, and be watchful, for there have been
many cut off by their own neglect. You are
to be careful to keep a good Command aboard
over your Men, and in cafe any mutinous pra-
ctice happen under your Command, you are
forthwith to make it known to me. You are to
be careful to have your Ship kept fweet and
clean for the preſervation of your Men's healths:
And God profper us.
Given
12
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Given under my Hand on board his Majeſties
Ship the Sweepstakes, riding at the Iſland of Saint
Fago, in Port Praya Road, November 5. 1669.
John Narbrough.
To Captain Humphrey Fleming, Commander of the
Batchelour Pink, theſe.
1
Inftructions for the better finding each other, after
Separation by Chance, foul Weather, or otherwise.
You are hereby required to Sail with his
Majefties hired Ship the Batchelour under
your Command, and to keep Company with his
Majeſties Ship the Sweepstakes, along the Coaſt of
America,to the Southward of Rio de la Plata,to Port
St. Julian on that Coaſt, which lies in about
49 d. 20m. South Latitude, which your Draughts
mention. In cafe of Separation at Sea in this
Voyage from each other you are to uſe all
means to endeavour to meet again, that is to ſay,
by looking well abroad at Sea, and ſo to obſerve
the Order in your failing Inftructions, to know
each other at fight: the next Poft of Rendezvouz
will be at Port St. Julian, which is on the Coaſt
of America, as is faid before; You are to make all
the haft that you can thither, and to ſtay for the
Sweepstakes there two whole Months, if you get
thither before her, and fhe fhall do the like for
you;
1
to the Streights of Magellan.
13
you;
In
your way thither, after you have paſ-
fed to the Southward of Rio de la Plata, 'twill be
beſt for you to Sail along the Coaſt of America, to
fee if you can fall with me, and to make Cape
Blanco which lies in about 17 d. 20m. South La-
titude, and fo to Port St. Julian, where you are
to ſtay; you may alfo enquire for me at Port De-
fir, which lies in about 48 d. South-Lat. If I
fhall come to any place and be gone again before
you come thither, I will leave a piece of Board
nailed to a Pole or a Tree, engraven, mentioning
the Ship's name, and the day of my departure,
and the next Port I intend to go to; I defire
you
would do the fame, and at Port St. Julian I will
do likewiſe, and alſo leave an Order for you tied
to a Pole, being put in a glaſs Bottle; the Pole
fhall be placed on the Ifland which lies in the Har-
bour at the Weft end thereof, where I fhall build
a Tent; pray be careful to look for it, and I ſhall
do the fame for you; it may be I may have an
opportunity to touch on the Coafts as I fail a-
long, if I can find any Trade with the Natives;
you may be fure where ever I come to find thoſe
Memorials of my being there before you; fo God
profper our Intentions.
Given under my Hand at Port Praya, Road on
Board the Sweepstakes riding there at the Iſland of
St.Jago, Novemb. 5. 1669.
}
John Narbrough.
To Captain Humphrey Fleming, Commander of
the Batchelour Pink.
December
14
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
D¹
Ecember 4. Many flying Fish feen to day, and
Bonetto's, Sharkfifh, and Albycores, a Fift
larger than a Bonetto, but of that Mackrel fhape,
and feaveriſh Diet, they live upon the flying
Fith like the Bonetto's; to day we caught fomo
of them with Hooks, and one Shark; our Men
eat them both, and account the Shark a good
Fiſh.
December 7. To day the Cooper found two
Buts of Beer had leaked out: this day all of us.
drank Water only, for it was ever my order that
the meanest Boy in the Ship fhould have the fame
allowance with my felf, fo that in general we all
drank of the fame Cask, and eat one fort of Pro-
viſion, as long as they lafted: I never permitted
any Officer to have a better piece of Meat than
what fell to his Lot,but one blinded with a Cloth
ferv'd every Man as they were called to touch
and take, by which means we had never any Dif-
ference upon that ſcore.
ny
Saturday December 18. All the Ship's Compa-
God be praiſed in good health, moſt of them
were let blood after I had crofs'd the Tropick of
Cancer, and none troubled with the Calenture in
this Voyage.
Whilft I am in the hot Weather I allow a quart
of Vinegar to 6 Men per Week, and alfo to eat
with their freſh Fiſh, which I divide equally a-
mong the whole Ship's Company, be it little or
much, or caught by whomfoever.
✔
Friday December 24. I find great Difference
within this 48 hours between my dead Account,
as
1
to the Streights of Magellan.
15
as we call it, which is kept by the Log, and the
Obfervations I made thefe 2 days when the Sun
was on the Meridian; for I find I have gone more
Southerly by 12 Miles than the Log allows; I can't
perceive any variation, and the Log is well kept,
and the half minute Glafs good; I judge the
Current ſets to the Southward,now the Winds are
at the Eaft, and the Moon near the full.
December 30. This Afternoon I took an Azi-
muth, and find fix degrees ten minutes variation
Eaſterly, my Obfervation being of a good one;
fair Weather to Night at 9 a Clock, Nebeles ma-
jor was very vifible in the Heaven, and ſeems to
be a piece of the Milky-way broke from it; the
Southern Conftellations appear which are near
the Pole Antarctick, the Camelion, the Bird of Pa-
radife, the Tail of little Hydra, and the Water-
Snake, which are all fmall Stars of the 5th and
6th Magnitude; no Pole-ſtar nor any Star fit
for Obſervation to be feen within 15 degrees of
the Pole, the Crofers Stars of the firft and fecond
Magnitude are good for Obfervation, and are in
this form when they are on the Meridian above
the Polc.
Diſtance from the Pole.
31″ 50°
*
Diſtance from the Pole.
34". 50'.
Distance from the Pole.
33". 10'.
The black Cloud.
*
Distance from the Pole.
34". 50'.
*
A of the 2. Mag.
Some
16
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
1
Some Fowls flying to and fro,a kind of Sea-gulls,
and Gannet a black Sea-Fowl as big as a Pi-
geon,and fome large ones of that kind, three Tro-
pick Birds flying over the Ship of a grey Colour,
with a long ſpired Tail as big as Pigeons.
Some Bonetto's taken to day; A great broad
flat Fiſh like a Scate following the Ship, called by
the Seamen a String-Ray, having a long Tail and
a fharp bow at the end of it, when it pricks a
Man it puts him to much pain, they are called
by fome Cloke-fifhes, the leffer fort are good to
eat.
January 5. Variation of the Compaſs by an
Amplitude in the Morning 06 d. 46 m. Eaft; this
Afternoon I brought the Ship to, and founded
one hundred and eighty four fathom right down,
and had no ground; I being thwart of the Shoals
of Brazil cauſed me to found, I thought the Sea
look'd whiter than ufual, variation at Sun-fet 6 d.
46 m. Eaft; little Wind this Afternoon, at Eaſt by
North; I made all the Sail I could, Stay-fails,Steer-
ing-fails, Boats-fail and Bonadventure mifen, all
fet to draw away Southerly, fome Fowls flying o-
ver the Ship which we call Men of War, they prey
on flying Fish, &c.
January 14. Few Fiſh feen, now and then a
fmall Bonetto taken, fmall Sea-Fowls call'd Black
Nodies flying to and fro, and 2 Curlieus flying
to the Eaſtward.
January 24. I judge a Current ſets out of the
River of Plate, for I find nine miles more to the
Southward than I expected; I have been careful
my Courſe and Variation, which is but 18 d.
of
20 m.
to the Streights of Magellan.
17
20m. Eaſt, by an amplitude taken to Night; I
am open of the mouth of the River of Plate,
founded to Night, but no ground at one hundred
and forty five Fathom; Wind at North and by
Eaft, all Night clofe Weather; I fteered South-
weft and by South.
Monday January 31. Calm this Morning at 8
a Clock the Wind came to the North-weſt a fine
gale; at eleven a Clock the Wind went round the
Compaſs, and came to North; with much thun-
der, lightning, and fome rain; very dark Clouds,
cold hafey Weather; feveral ſpots of Sea-weeds
driving in the Sea, and a great many Sea-fowls of
a brown colour ſwimming in it: ſmooth Water;
Courſe ſteered is South-weft by my Compaſs; this
day one main ſhroud and one fore-ſhroud broke,
and to ftrope of the Main-jeer block; Variation of
Sun-rifing by an Amplitude is 19 d. 43 m. Eaft; all
my Men in good health, God be praiſed.
All the Albycores, Bonettos, and flying Fish
have quite left the Ship; no Fiſh to be feen but
Whales.
Tueſday February 1. Cloudy foggy Weather
this Morning, and little Wind at South-eaft. I
ſtood to the South-weftward, I faw abundance
of Sea-fowl flying to and fro; ftriking about
the weeds for fmall Fifh, feveral beds of Sea-
weeds driving by the Ship; it fell calm this Af-
ternoon; many ſmall Shrimps about the Ship, and
eight young Seal-fiſhes cloſe to it; they were as
big as an ordinary Spaniel-dog, of a black co-
lour, and went away to the Weftward; this Af-
ternoon a freſh gale at South-fouth-eaft; Ifteer'd
C
away
18
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
:
away Southward and by Weft by my Compaſs;
the Air as cold here on a ſudden, as 'tis in Eng-
land in September. Theſe Seas are very much ex-
poſed to fudden Gufts and variable Winds, for
the Wind has run round the Compafs twice or
thrice a day theſe 3 days, the Sea-water is chang-
ed whiter than the ufual colour, whence I conje-
cture, I muſt be in Soundings, alfo by my account
of Longitude, kept from the Lizard, I am not
1 d. 28 m. off from Land, according to Mercator's
Draught: This Evening I founded, but had no
ground at 130 Fathom; Wind at South a fine
gale: Iftcer'd in Weft-fouth-weft; at ten a Clock
to Night, I obferved the Water to riple as if it
were over a fhoal, and had ground at feventy
Fathom; I caufed the Head-fails to be braced to
the Maft, and founded; fine red Sand inclining
to grey at 70 Fathom.
8
ΙΩ
February 2. Meridian diſtance from the Lizard,
Weft 839 Leagues, 2 miles .; Longitude at
Noon from the Lizard Weft 49 deg. 43 m. little
Wind this Afternoon, and fair Weather; we lay
fometimes one way, fometimes another; Wind at
South-weſt and by South a finall gale. I hoifted
out my Boat, and founded, but no ground at 140
Fathoms; I tried the Current with my Boat, but
found little or none worth notice: the Sea ripled
in many places; I founded on them,but no ground
at 108 Fathom; feveral Beds of Sea-weed driving
to and fro in knots; thefe Weeds are five or fix
Fathom long, in ftrings, with broad leaves on
them of a brown colour, at the root hangs a Clod
or Rock of 2 or 3 pound weight; feveral Sea-
Fowls
to the Streights of Magellan.
19
}
Fowls flying and fwimming near the Ship; it be-
ing quite calm, my Men kill'd ſome of them with
their Birding-pieces, for they were very tame,
not moving at the report of a Gun; they are
very like to Sea-Gulls, and good meat; fome Seals
and Whales ſeen.
February 5. were feen feveral beds of Rock-
weed, and Sea-Fowls, much like Gannets; fome
black, others white, pied, and grey; fmall Seal-
fiſhes like ſo many Dogs, for their Heads refemble
Bull-dogs, which they'l keep above Water a long
time, and look at the Ship; they are very nimble
at diving and skipping out of the Water: This
Afternoon at feven a Clock I was in the Latitude
of 41 degrees South, and in Longitude, Weſt
from the Lizard of England, 52 deg. and
50 min.
and in Meridian diſtance from the Lizard 895
Leagues; Meridian diftance from Port Praya,
616 Leagues, Longitude from Port Praya, Weft,
36 d. 34m.
This Night I adviſed with Don Carolus where
it would be beſt for us to hale in with the Land,
in what Latitude, or at what Cape or Harbour on
this Coaſt of America, being now to the South-
ward of the River of Plate, and according to my
Inſtructions, before the Coaſt to be diſcover'd,
and a Trade ſet on foot with the Natives; He
told me I might do what I would, for he did not
underſtand the Coaft, nor where 'twas inhabited ;
'twas his whole Difcourfe in the Voyage, that
he had been here in a Galley, and knew all the
Coaſts from the River of Plate to the Streights,
and thorow the Streights all along the Weſt Coaſt
C 2
to
20 Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
to Baldavia and Lima; being arrived here, as far
as I can perceive by him, he knows nothing of
the matter, nor any thing appertaining to Navi-
gation; all I can fancy of him is, that he may
have liv'd with a Weft-Indian Governour, whom
he has heard talk of theſe Parts.
;
February 8. at 7 a Clock this Afternoon the
Wind came to the Weft South-weft, a ſtiff gale. I
food to the Southward; much Rock-weed pafs'd
by the Ship to day, and ſeveral Sea-Fowls feen
very cold for the Seafon, being Summer, which
Don Carolus began to complain of, and told me,
he did not think we fhould have come ſo far
Southerly; I fhew'd him by my Plates how
far we were to go through the Streights, and a-
long the Weft Coaft; he faid, the Spaniards went
to Chile a nearer way; I anfwer'd, 'twas into
the River of Plate and over Land, which we
could not do.
My Company are all in good health, but fome
of a puny Race grow weak in being fo long on
Shipboard; I give them Vinegar once a Week,
which is very good to prevent the Scurvy in their
Mouths; alfo I order'd every Man to waſh his
Mouth, Face and Hands before he receive his
daily Allowance of Bread, and appointed one
Man to fee it performed; if any neglected it, the
Steward kept their Allowance for one day; like-
wile every Man is commanded to keep himſelf
clean,and free from Lice, upon forfeiture of his dai-
ly Allowance to the Party accufing him; by theſe
means the Ship is kept neat, fweet and clean, tho'
the dirty foggy Weather is a great Enemy to this
Difcipline.
Feb.
to the Streights of Magellan.
21
February 19. I founded often to day, and had
fifty and fifty three Fathom; dark black Sand
with fome bright fine Sand in it; Beds of Rock-
weed, Seals, and Porpoifes, fuch as are in the Eu-
ropean Seas, ſeen to day; three Whales, many
Fowls flying about. and fome Penguins in the
Sea, ſwimming near the Ships; at 2 a Clock in
the Afternoon the Wind was at E. b. S. a ſtout
gale and a great Sea; I ftood to the Southward,clofe
haled under my Courſes; the Pink half a Mile to
Wind-ward of me under her's; fhe out-fails us
now it blows, and puts us paft our Top-fails, and
ſteers along with us with only her Main-ſail ſet;
the Sea runs lofty.
Monday February 21. At a quarter of an hour
paſt eight this Morning I faw the Land bearing
Weft of me, and diftant about 4 Leagues: I
founded, and had 21 Fathom; fmall Stones and
Sand; ſtill I ſtood in Weſt by my Compafs. The
Land makes but an ordinary heighth towards the
Sea fide, but farther up, round high Hills, and
looks reddiſh; the Northermoft Land I could fee,
which was Cape Blanco, bore North-north-weſt of
me about two Leagues, and the Southermoft
Land at the face of the Cape.
The Land trented away to the Southward of me
Southweſterly, of an ordinary height by the Water
fide,but up in the Land are Hills like Tables on the
top, a little higher than the reft; the Land makes
in Hills and Valleys all along, like Downs of an
ordinary heighth, at nine a Clock this Morning I
braced the Head-fails to the Maft, and lay fo half
an hour till the Fog cleared up, that I might make
C 3
the
22
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
the Land plainly, being within five miles of the
fhore fide, which made a kind of Bay, breached
on the fhore; I founded, and at 17 Fathom had
rough ground, with ſome ſmall ſtones drawn up
in the Tallow of the Lead, which was dinted by
Rocks; between nine and ten a Clock there was
a fine clear, by which I faw the Land very plain-
ly; it look'd reddiſh like feared Grafs; no Woods
to be ſeen on any of the Hills or Valleys, but all
as bare as the Graſs-Downs in England; I durft
not ſend my Boat a-fhore for fear of lofing her in
the Fog, or being funk at the fhore, whereon the
Sea breaks very much: the Wind was at North
and by Eaft; a freſh gale blew almoſt along the
fhore, and being out but 24 hours before, made
the Sea run high; the Land lies by the Sea-fide
South-fouth-weft, and North-north-eaft, as far as
I could fee to the Southward; no fire or fmoak
to be feen upon the Land.
Courſe made true after ſeveral Courſes, from
yeſterday Noon till to day at nine a Clock, when
I was 3 Leagues off the Land; true Courfe is
Weft 6 d. 50m. Northerly diſtance; failed fifty
miles ſeven tenths. Departure Weft, 50 miles;
difference of Longitude Weft 1 d. 15 m. difference
of Latitude North od. 6 m. Latitude by account
is 47 d.
14m. South; no Obfervation this three
days being foggy Weather.
Meridian diſtance from the Lizard Weſt 1014
League, 1 mile, 7 tenths, Longitude at 9 a Clock,
from the Lizard, Weft, 61 d. 56 m. 6 tenths,
Longitude from Port Praya Weft, 44 deg.38 m. 5
tenths. Meridian diſtance from Port Praya Welt,
}
735
to the Streights of Magellan.
23
735 Leagues, I mile, 5 tenths. Variation of the
Compaſs Eafterly, 18 Degrees.
I concluded we had fhot paft Port Defter Har-
bour in the Fog, for the Iſlands and Rocks which
we ſaw, were Penguin, and other Iſles lying about
it, which lies to the Southward of the Harbour of
Port Defter. Many Seals, Penguins, pied Porpoiſes,
and feveral Sea Fowls, &c. feen to day.
Thurſday Febr. 24. Hafey Weather; Wind at
Weſt-north-weſt, a freſh gale. I fent Men up to
the Top-maſt-head to look abroad; this Morn-
ning no fight of the Pink; I judge ſhe muſt be in
Port Defier: I weighed about 8 a Clock this
Morning, and ſtood to the Northward with my
Ship; I went in my Pinnace along the fhore to the
Northward, whilft the Ship fail'd in the Offing,
about two Leagues from the fhore: the Shore-
fide is in Beaches and fcatter'd Rocks; in many
places the Tide of Flood was with us: at the
North-end of Seals Bay, lies a fmall rocky Iſland
copling up like a Haycock. It is cover'd with
grey-colour'd Fowls Dung; a very ftrong Tide
runs here, between the Ifland and the Main, 'tis
a little more than a Cables length from the Point
of the Main; there's a great many broken Rocks
about it by the Sea-fide; here the main Land is
low and fandy, up the Country in large Downs
and Hills; without Wood or freſh Water any
where: On this Ifland are abundance of Seals, and
Sea Fowls; we gave it the name of Tomahauke I-
fland, from an Indian Club lost here, called by the
Caribbe-Indians at Surinam a Tomahauke, 'tis all a
craggy Rock, a little bigger than Stal-Island, and
C4
is
24
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
is eight Leagues to the North-north-eaſt: diſtant
from it to the Northweſt of this Ifland, is a deep
rounding Bay, called in the Charts Spiring's Bay,
wherein lie three fmall Iſlands of an indifferent
height: the Land, in the Country over this Bay
is large high Hills, Rocks lie in the North part
of the Bay; I crofs'd it in the Pinnace, amd found-
ed as I went over, and had 21 Fathom, rough
ground in the mid-way: 'tis feven Miles broad,
and near 3 Leagues deep; it rounds with a turning
up to the North-north-weftward, behind a Point
farther than I faw; upon which rounding Point
ftand black Rocks, which make like a ragged
Building, and a Tower in it: at my coming in
with the Land, I fail'd clofe under this fhoar with
my Boat; the fhore is ftecp, black Rocks, and
low Bays, with Pebble-ftones and fandy Beaches;
green Grafs on the Hills, no Wood nor freth Wa-
ter to be feen; at the North-eaft Point of this
Spiring's-Bay, the Land makes out full like a fore-
land; a fair high Land in large plain Hills, with
fandy fmall Bays; at the face of this Foreland
lie fix rocky Iflands; one is a Musket-fhot off the
Main, the reſt farther off; the outwardmoſt is the
biggeſt, a Mile from the Point of the Main, and
is called Penguin-Ifland; it is indifferent high at
the ends and low in the middle; 'tis near three
quarters of a Mile long, North-north-eaſt and
South-fouth-weft, and near half a Mile broad Eaſt
and Weft; it is all craggy Rocks, except in the
loweſt part of the middle,which is gravelly, and in
the Summer time has a little green Grafs; the great
black Gannets lay their Eggs here, and the Pen-
i
guins,
to the Streights of Magellan.
25
guins, all over the Iſland upon and under the
Rocks in Holes; Seals lie all about the fides, on
the tops of the higheſt Rocks and in the middle
of it; the number of Seals, Penguins, and Sea-
Fowl upon theſe Iſlands, is almoft incredible to
them that never faw them; for the multitude of
each Creature that's there daily, is numberleſs:
the Six Iſlands are full of Seals, but the Penguins
frequent the biggeſt moſt; I put a-fhore at one of
them, and took into my Boat three hundred Pen-
guins, in less than half an hour, and could have
taken three thouſand in the time, if my Boat
would have carried 'em, for 'tis but driving 'em
in flocks to the fhore, by the Boats fide, where
two or three Men knock them on the head with
fhort Truncheons, and the reft heave them into
the Boat; the Seals will run over a Man,if he does
not avoid 'em; mean time the Ship was ſtanding
to the Northward; about 2 Leagues off many
broken Rocks and foul ground lie among thefe
Iſlands, and without the Point of the outermoft it
makes a great ripling, which is the ſtrength of
the Tide, reverſed from the Iflands against the o-
ther Tide; to the Northward of thefe Iflands is
a Bay, four Leagues long, and a League and half
deep; in the Northweſt thereof lies the Harbour of
Port Defter, which we could fee from Penguin Islands,
bearing North-north-weft from Penguin Iland, di-
ſtant about 3 Leagues: about the middle of this
Bay are ſteep white Cliffs, near two miles long;
the upper part of the Cliff has black ſtreaks
down a fourth part, caufed by the Water drain-
ing down on it; the Land is plain on the top of
chefe
26
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
thefe Cliffs, but further into the Country high
rounding Hills and Downs, and toward the Wa-
ter-ſide low; on the South part of the Bay are
craggy Rocks on the Main like great Walls; near
the Sea there's a fandy Cove, to hale a Boat
up in foul Weather; the Cove is juft under theſe
wall-like Rocks.
Saturday Feb. 26. Fair Weather, the Wind at
Weft, a ſtiff gale. I kept a Light out all Night,
that the Pink might fee if fhe came along; the
first part of the Night a great Fire was made on
the fhore for the fame purpoſe: Cold weather:
this Morning at 7 a Clock I manned both my
Boats, and went into the Harbour; the Ship rode
moored at the Harbour-mouth,within the Muſcle-
bank, in fix Fathom at low Water; I fent my Men
upon the Hills on the North fhore to look a-
broad for the Pink, and make a Fire in the dry
Graſs, that ſhe might fee the fmoak if ſhe were
thereabouts, but they could not fee her; I found-
ed the Harbour in many places to day at low Wa-
ter, and found it a very good one for great Ships
to ride in, provided they have good Cables and
Anchors; I fearched the fhore, but found no
Wood, and very little freſh Water; on the hilly
and large Downs, very few Buſhes, but dry, long
Grafs growing in tufts and knots; the Soil is
gravelly and dry, in fome Valleys well mixt with
black mould; no People, fire or fimoak but our
own to be feen; I faw feveral places where they
had lain, behind Bufhes upon Grafs, which they
had plucked up, and that they had made fmall
fires, and roafted Lumpets and Mufcles; there
lay
to the Streights of Magellan.
27
lay Wooll, Feathers, bones of Beafts, and fhivers
of Flints; I went to a Flag which I left on a Hill
yeſterday with Beads at it, but finding no body
had been at it, let it ftand; no Beaſts ſeen any
where, except two Hares running over the Hills:
this day we were taken up with viewing the Har-
bour, fo that we did not advance above a mile and
a half into the Land: in the Valleys between the
Rocks grows abundance of wild Peafe, which had
green leaves and blewiſh bloffoms, both tafting like
green Peaſe-leaves in England,growing on vines and
tangled together; alfo very fweet finelling Herbs
much like Tares, very green, and white and yel-
low Flowers, likewife green Herbs much like Sage,
but grow in knots near the ground like Lettice;
thefe Herbs with the Peafe-leaves, made a good
Sallad to refreſh fuch as were inclining to the
Scurvy; for want of which freſh Trade feveral of
my Men were falling into it. Here are abundance
of very good Mufcles, and Limpets on the Rocks,
and an Ifland frequented by many Seals, and
Fowls; in the River were pied Divers as big as
Ducks, fome of them grey and black fhags; Ducks
and other Sea-Fowls breed on them amongſt the
Rocks and Buſhes to day I went upon one of
theſe Iſlands, and caught as many young black
Shags in their Nefis as loaded the Pinnace; when
I have diſcovered better the particulars of the
Fowls and other things feen here, I will mention
them hereafter: Night coming on, and it begin-
ning to blow hard, I went aboard with Herbs,
Fowls, and what elſe I had got to day; and di-
vided all things equally among the Company, the
Boys
28 Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Boys Dividend being as large as my own, or any
Man's; it blew very hard this Evening, and look-
ed very black in the South-weft, an ordinary gale;
I kept a Light out all Night in the Poop for the
Pink: this day all the Company eat of young
Seals, and Penguins, and commended them for
good Food; I judged this a very fit Harbour to
fit the Ship in, for the main Maſt muſt be un-
rig'd, and a new gang of fhrouds fitted, and Bal-
lalt be had; and it might be a means to fall in
with the Pink, for from the tops of the Hills
we could fee a great way into the Sea, fo that if
fhe fhould come near the Coaft, we could not
mifs her.
We found 2 Springs of freſh Water, one in a
Valley cloſe by the Water-fide, in a gully above
the Ship, half a mile up the River; the other up
a Valley between the Rocks, juſt a-breſt where
the Ship rode, about half a mile from the River's
fide, right from Coopers-Bay in the fame Valley;
thefe Springs are but ſmall,and the Water's a little
brackish or faltifh, for in the dry Valleys the
Earth is naturally faltifh; the Ground and Rocks
have a white Rhime of Salt-petre hanging on them;
I went into the Land 2 miles North-weft, and
faw the Country hilly, and dry Land without
Wood or Water; fome craggy Rocks and Valleys,
low, but dry and of a Salt-petre nature; here and
there fome Buſhes with prickly Branches, and
Leaves like White-Thorn Buſhes in England; the
leffer Buſhes have (mall dry Gauls growing on
them, with a ſmall dry Seed as hot in the Mouth
as Pepper; not a Tree to be feen: the Soil is gra-
velly
to the Streights of Magellan.
29
velly and fandy generally, with tufts of dry fear-
ed Grafs growing on it; I digged in feveral places
but faw nothing but gravelly Sand and Rocks;
no fort of Metals or Minerals; I looked alfo a-
mong the broken Rocks for Metals, but faw no
fign of any; from the tops of the Hills I could
fee a great way into the Land, which is all
Hills and Downs like Cornwall: toilfom travelling
to thoſe that were not uſed to it; I could travel
as far in an hour as many of my Men could in
two; to day we ſaw nine Beaſts feeding on the
Grafs, very like Deer, but larger, and had longer
Necks, but no Horns; reddith coloured on the
Back and aloft, whitifh under their Bellies and up
their Flanks; when we had got within a Fur-
long of them they fell a neighing like Horſes, one
anſwered another, and then all run away.
Tueſday March 1. Fair Weather this Morning,
Wind at North, a fine gale and a cold Air. This
Forenoon I filled the Casks out of the Spring, and
dug them deeper; I fet up a long Pole with a
white Cloath upon it, on a Hill near a mile into
the Land, where 'twas moſt likely to be feen by
the Inhabitants; with it I left Beads, a Looking-
glafs, a Knife, a Hook and an Hatchet, to invite
the People of the Country to fhew themſelves, for
I was willing to fee 'em, that I might difcover
what they had; but though I went about the
Hills this Afternoon, I could fee neither People,
Fire, nor Smoak. I faw three Oftriches, but could
not get near enough to make a fhot at them; they
were feeding on Graſs, and at firſt fight of me ran.
away; I had a Greyhound with me, which I turn'd
loofe
30
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
looſe upon 'em, who gave Chafe to one of them,
and at laſt gave her a turn, which fhe recovered,
took to the Hills, and fo efcaped; they are grey
coloured, and larger than a great Turky-cock in
England; they can't fly, but have long Legs, and
truſt to their running: I faw two handfuls of
Wooll among the Grafs, where the Natives had
made a Fire; it was the Spanish red Wooll, which
they bring out of India, and very fine; I brought
it away with me, and fet the Greyhound at 3
of
the large Beaſts like Deer, but they were too ſwift
for him: Night coming on I returned on Board; at
7 a Clock this Night the Wind came to the North,
a freſh gale, and hafey Weather; no fight of
the Pink to day: I could fee a long way on the
Sea: at 10 a Clock it rain'd, and the Wind came
to the South-Eaſt.
Friday March 4. Fair Weather this Morning,
the Wind at Eaſt, a fine gale, I went ashore and
filled freſh Water,the reft of the Seamen fitted rig-
ging; this day at 12 a Clock I went with both the
Boats, and forty Men to Seal-Island, into the Har-
bour, every Man with his Staff and Club; we
landed, drove the Seals up together, befet them
round, and in half an hours time killed four hun-
dred young and old; ftriking them on the head
kills them preſently; as foon as they were knock-
ed down we cut their throats, that they might
bleed well whilſt they were hot; then loading both
the Boats with them, I carried them to the Bay
where the Tent was, landed, and laid them upon
the Rocks; to Night the Boat fetch'd them all off:
the great Male Seals are as big as Calfs and re-
femble
i
to the Streights of Magellan.
}
femble a Lion in their fhaggy Necks, Heads, and
Faces, as well as in their Roar; the Females are
like Lioneſſes before, only they are hairy all over
like a Horſe, and fmooth, and the Male is fmooth
all over his hind-parts; their fhape is very deform-
ed, for their hind-part tapers till it come to a
point, where grow two Fins or Feet, two more
grow out of their Breaft, fo that they can go on
Land a great pace, and climb Rocks, and Hills of
a good height; they delight much to lie and fleep
afhore; fome are very large, upwards of eigh-
teen Foot in length, and thicker about than a But
in the Bilge,and exceffive fat; there are thouſands
fourteen foot long, the common fort are about
five foot and all very fat; they'l gape at you when
you come to them, as if they would devour you,
and 'tis labour enough for two Men to kill one
of the great ones with a Hand-fpike, which is the
beft Weapon for that purpoſe.
Saturday March 5. Fair Weather, Wind at
South-west, a fine gale. This Morning we went a-
fhore to flay fome Seals, and cut the Bodies in good
handfom pieces, and falted it up well in Bulk on
Deal-boards, afhore, that the blood might drain
from it; the Meat looks as well and as white as
Lamb, and is very good Victuals now, but when
'tis a little falt it will eat much better; thoſe we
drefs'd were all young Seals, for they fucked their
Dams, who as foon as they come afhore bleat, im-
mediatly come her young ones, and bleat about
her like Lambs, and fuck her; one old Female
fuckles four or five, and beats away other young
ones that come near, whence I believe they have
four
32
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
four or five at a time; the young ones which we
killed and eat were as big as a midling Dog; we
cut the fat off of the Great ones, and made Oil of
it for the Lamps, and other uſes in the Ship; the
Oil of the young ones we fried, and eat with our
Provifions; it is very fweet, and good to fry any
Food with; our Men will have it to be as good as
Olive Oil; moſt of my Men to day gathered of
thoſe green Peaſe-leaves and other Herbs for Sal-
lads, which fome eat raw, fome boiled; it is re-
freſhing to their Bodies.
I
Sunday March 6. Blowing Weather, Wind at
Weft: This day, after Prayers, I went afhore on
the South-fide of the River, and travelled eight
miles into the Land, South-weft and by Wèft, ha-
ving twelve armed Men with me; my Lieute-
nant went up the River in the Boat nine or ten
miles, to fee for People that way; my other Lieu-
tenant went on the North-fide with ten armed
Men to fee for People, and view the Land ;
found in my Travels one of thofe great Beafts like
a Deer, dead and whole, the Vermin had not
touched him; all his Back had pretty long Wooll
of the colour of dried Rofe-leaves, and down his
fides, his Belly white Wooll; he was as big as a
fmall Colt, he had a long Neck, a Head like a
Sheep, fo was his Mouth and Ears; his Legs very
long, and Cloven-footed like a Deer, a fhort
bufhy Tail of a reddish colour; no Horns nor e-
yer had any, it was a Male: I believe thefe Beaſts
are Peruvian Sheep; (Guianacoes) I had his Paunch
opened, and fearched for the Bezoar-ftone in it,
and in the Pipe to the Stomach, I turned them in-
fide
to the Streights of Magellan.
33
fide outward, but found none; I had heard West-
Indian Spaniards fay, that they have taken the
Bezoar-ſtone of Guianacoes,and therefore opened
this, which I take to be the fame Beaft: In tra-
velling to day I faw feveral herds of them, fome-
times ten, thirty, or forty together; I could not
get near enough to fhoot at them; they neigh
like young Horſes, and ſo wander away: I faw
nine Oſtriches, but they would not ſuffer me to
come within ſhot of them; I let the Greyhound
at them, but they out-run him up the Hills: we
faw a Fox, a wild Dog, and five or fix Hares, of
which the Greyhound killed one; they are ſhaped
like Engliſh Hares, and much larger, and inſtead
of a Tail have a little ftub about an inch long,
without Hair on it; they have holes in the ground
like Coneys: no Woods to be feen, only a few
Buſhes like White-Thorns. The Land is dry, of a
fandy gravelly Soil, in large rounding Hills, not
very high, but in Downs and Valleys, bearing
nothing but Grafs; here and there are gullies of
freſh Water in the Valleys, which is made in the
Winter-time when the Snow diffolves: I faw fe-
veral places of falt Water in the Land, which is
occafioned by the natural faltneſs of the Earth;
here are no Fruits nor Herbs: When I was at the
fartheft, and on a Hill, I could not fee any fign
of People, or Woods, but ftill Hills and Valleys
as far as we could defery; no Birds to be ſeen but
Kites, which are like thofe in Europe, and ſmall
Birds like Sparrows, and Linnets; fome Flies and
Humble-bees here: we faw fome ſmall four-foot-
ed Animals running in the Grafs; fpeckled-Grey,
D
fhaped
34 Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
fhaped like a ſmall Creature in England called an
Eft, Newt or Lizard; no Adder nor Snake, nor any
venomous Creature; Cattle would live here very
well, fuch as Horfes, Cows, Sheep, Goats, &c.
Evening growing upon us, I returned to the Ship,
and 'twas within Night when we got aboard our
Boat, and ten a Clock when we entered the Ship;
I found on Board my Lieutenant that went up the
River, but they which went on the North-fide
were not come back; up the River they faw five
fmall Iſlands, which had Sea-fowls on them and
Buſhes for fewel; the River
grows broader up-
wards and has feveral Rocks in it; on the fhoar
they faw Guianacoes, Oftriches, and Hares; no
People, Fire or Smoak; they faw where People
had been, and Fires made, and Muſcles and Lum-
pets roaſted; no freſh Water nor Wood, nor any
Metal or Mineral; the Land hilly with Grafs on
it: At twelve a Clock to Night thoſe that went
on the North-fide came aboard; they had been
about eight miles into the Land North-weſt, and
faw no People, but found where People had been,
and made Fires in the Grafs, and Grafs laid to
fire the Bufhes; alfo where fome had lain on open
places, and fet little Buſhes in Half-moons, to fhel-
ter them from the Weather; on the top of a Hill
they made a fire with Graſs to ſee if any would
anſwer them; they fat down by it all day, but
could fee none made any where elſe: the Land
is in rounding large Hills, not very high, but like
Downs, as the Coaſt of Yorkſhire about Burling-
ton; no Woods nor Trees feen, nor freſh Water;
here and there a Buſh growing in a Valley; indif-
ferent
to the Streights of Magellan.
35
ferent good Graſs; the Soil gravelly and fandy,
and ſome ridges of Rocks; they faw Guianacoes,
Oſtriches, Hares, and Kites; feveral little Crea-
tures like Efts; no kind of Fruit or Berry, Mi-
neral or Metal: I charged them as they travelled
in any Gullies where Water had run to ſearch for
grains of Gold, or other Metal, &c. for Gold is
found in grains in fuch Gullies, and much Gold
is found in the Land on the other fide, not two
hundred Leagues diſtant from us; much Salt-pe-
ter hangs on the Earth where Water has been, in
a kind of Flower; the plaſhes of Water they met
with were as falt as Brine, which the Earth made.
I ſaw Smelts here eighteen Inches long lying dead
on the Shore, but hitherto have not feen one
Oyſter, or other thell-Fish, Crawfiſh, Lobſter, or
Crab, though 'tis poffible the place may have 'em
all. Whilft we were ſtanding by the Water-fide,
a Seal chaſed on ſhore a Fiſh as large as a Mackrel
and like a Mullet; one of the Men took it up, and
dreſſed it, when he came on Board, 'twas excel-
lent good; here must be a great quantity of Fish to
maintain all the Seals, Penguins, and other Fowls
that live upon nothing elſe, and yet are all ex-
tream fat, and innumerable in multitude; befides
what Creatures we have not feen yet; I have
feen Seals in this Harbour fwimming with their
heads above Water, with large Fish in their
Mouths.
Sunday March 13. Indifferent Weather, Wind
at Weft, a freſh gale; The Air cold this Morning.
I went up the River in my Boat with fourteen
Men armed; I paft the Ifland, where the brushy
Bulhes
D 2
36
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Buſhes are, and where we took the young Shags;
there the River grows broader, near a mile from
the North fhore over to the South, and conti-
nues that breadth four miles, then it be-
comes narrower, and turns away to the South-
weſt; at this turning is an Ifland of a mean height
and Rocky, bearing fome ſmall Bufhes and Grafs;
I went upon it, and faw a Poft of five foot long
fet up (it had been the timber of a Ship) with a
piece of Board about a foot fquare nailed to it,
at the foot of it one of my Men took up a piece.
of Sheet-Lead, and gave it to me, it had this In-
ſcription engraven on it,
MDCX V.
EEN SCHIP ENDE EEN IACHT GENAEMT
EENDRACHT EN HOORN GEARRIVEERT
DEN VIII DECEMBER VERTROKEN MET EEN
SCHIP D'EENDRACHT DEN X: IANVARY: MDCXVI
C: IACQUES LE MAIRE
S. WILLEM CORNS SCHOVTS
ARES CLASSEN
IAN CORNS SCHOTS
CLAES IANSSEN BAN
Ti
to the Streights of Magellan.
37
In a hole of the Poft lay a latten or tin Box,
(which we found by a long Plug that ſtuck in
the hole) with a fheet of written Paper encloſed
in it, but fo eaten by the ruft of the Box, that
'twas not to be read; I cut out with my Knife up-
on a Board the Ship's Name, and the date of the
Year and Month, which I nailed to the Poft; and
brought away the Lead with me, aud named the
place Le Mair's Island: we found on it ſeveral pie-
ces of Boards, of the Wreck of ſome Ship, that
had been burned; they were drove up here by
the Tide; the People of the Country can't get
upon this Ifland: From hence I went on the North
fide of the River two miles into the Land ; 110
Trees to be ſeen, but many Oſtriches and Guiana-
coes in many places; the Soil is marly and good,
the Hills not very high, but plain large Downs,
with Grafs on them all over; digging in two or
three places I found fandy dry ground near a foot
deep, then Marle: In my opinion it might be
made excellent Corn-ground, being ready to Till;
'tis very like the Land on New-market Heath; no
People to be feen; I fearched the Gullies and bro-
ken Rocks, for grains of Gold or Minerals, but
found neither: I returned to the Boat again, row-
ed farther under the fhore, landed, and mounted
a ſteep high Hill to view the Country; on the top
of this rocky Hill grow fmall Bushes: I could fee
the courſe of the River a long way further,and the
Land all Grafs; here and there a white fpot of
Marle on the fide of a Hill; no People to be ſeen
nor Boats on the River; I came down to the Boat:
feveral Creeks run from hence a mile or two into
the
D 3
+
38
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
60
the Land: I crofs'd the River to the South-eaft
fhore; we made the Boat faft in a Creek in a Val-
ley, and went all hands up the Land three miles
we faw many Guianacoes, and Oftriches, but could
not come within fhot of them; I faw the Foot-
ſteps of five Men that had been upon the Oar ;
I meaſured my Foot with them, which was larger
and longer by half an Inch than any of them; we
could not fee any People: it being near Night we
plucked up Grafs, and laid it to the best advan-
tage for fhelter; here we lay all Night, keeping
watch two by two; cold Air to Night, wind at
Weſt.
Monday March 14. Fair Weather but cold. This
Morning by day-light we turn'd out, and marcht
into the Land four miles South-weft and by South;
we could not find any freſh Water; we made a
Fire on the Graſs, but faw no fign of any People;
we faw Guianacoes, Hares, Foxes, wild Dogs, pretty
large, and a grey Cat like an Engliſh one, running
up
the Hills: to day we caught an Armadillo; the
Dogs put her to ground; they have holes like Co-
neys; we foon dug her out, 'twas as big as a great
Hedg-hog, and not much unlike one; the Arma-
dillo is cafed over the Body with a ſhell, ſhutting
one under another like fhells of Armour ; the
Dogs could not hurt her: we faw Rats in many
places, and a kind of Polecat, with two white
ftreaks on the Back, all the reſt black; our Dogs
killed two of them; they ftink much, feveral O-
ftriches, fome Partridges and many Kites: the
Land in fair Hills without Wood or freſh Water;
the Soil a fandy Gravel with Grafs all over it; no
Mineral
to the Streights of Magellan.
39
Mineral or Metal feen. This afternoon we return-
ed to our Boat, and went through a Creek two
miles long, which is dry at low Water, and
not more than thirty foot broad; it makes a fair
Iſland of a mean heighth, plain on the top, and
Graſs growing all over it, but no Wood nor Wa-
ter upon it; the greateſt part of it is a fandy marly
Soil; 'tis two miles long, and half a mile broad 40
the Greyhound killed two Hares on it preſently,
and we faw above twenty; I called it Hare-Ifland;
it is adjacent to the South-fhore; eight miles up
the River from the narrow, I went down the River
and went aboard: this Evening cold Air, Wind at
Weſt, a ſtout Gale; towards Morning it came to
the North; I cannot perceive the Indians have any
Canoas or other Boats here.
March 24. Blowing Weather, Wind at Weft.
We fetch'd all our things off the fhore, and got the
Ship ready to Sail; I went a-fhore on the South-
fide to the peeked Rock, and found it a natural
Rock, ſtanding on a ſmall round Hill, as if it had
been built there by Man; it hath a Cleft on the
top of it as big in circumference as a But: 'tis near
forty foot high above the Hill it ftands on; about
it lie little lumps of Rocks; I faw nothing elſe
worth notice, fo I return'd to the Ship; the big-
geſt ſtick growing in or near this Harbour, or in
the Countries as far as we went, which was twenty
Miles, would not make a Helve for a Hatchet, but
there are Buſhes which will ferve for firing at Sea:
before Night I had all things on Board, and the
Ship fitted with intent to fail next Morning, and
look'd along the Coaſts for the Pink, till I arrived
D 4
at
40
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
at Port St. Julian's Harbour; freſh Water is ſcarce
in Port Defter Harbour in the Summer-time; the
places from whence I fetch'd Water, are ſmall
Springs on the North-fide, out of which I filled
near forty Tuns; the firſt Spring is on the North-
fide, as you enter the Harbour half a mile up a
Valley,in a gully of Rocks: it bears North-north-
weft from the lower Rock; that we called Peckets
Well, is a mile up the River, within a Bow-fhot
of the falt Water, 'tis in a gully: the Land in theſe
Valleys has very green and fweet Grafs, and a-
bundance of wild Peaſe; fmall Nut-galls growing
on the Buſhes, but in no great quantity, and but
few Buſhes; Salt may be made here, for on the
Shore-fide, and on the Rocks I gathered feveral
handfuls of good Salt.
March 25. Gentlemen, You are by me defired
to take notice, that this Day I take poffeffion of
this Harbour and River of Port Defier, and of all
the Land in this Country, on both Shores, for the
uſe of his Majeſty King Charles the Second, of Great
Britain, and his Heirs; God fave our King, and
fired three Ordnance.
Saturday March 26. Wind at Weſt, a ſtout
Gale. I ftood to the Northward; this Morning
at fix a Clock when the Sun appeared above the
Eaſt Horizon, the Moon fet in the Weft-horizon,
being eclipſed at London at Eleven a Clock, ten
minutes in the Forenoon; but here at fix a Clock
thirty minutes paft, which gives four hours forty
minutes difference of time, between the Meridian
of London and the Meridian of Cape Blanco;
which Cape lies in the Latitude of 47 d.20m.
South;
**
to the Streights of Magellan.
41
South; on the South-eaſt Coaſt of America,where
I faw this Eclipſe 70 degrees in Longitude to the
Weftward of the Meridian of London, by this Ob-
ſervation; I could not fee the whole Eclipfe the
Heavens being clouded; I find Cape Blanco, by
my account of Sailing, to lie in the Longitude of
69 d. 16 m. to the Weftward of the Meridian of
London; If the Moon had not been clouded, I
might have been exact in the Longitude, but I
prefume my Account is not much out.
Cape Blanco lies in the Latitude of 47 d. 20 m.
South; and in Longitude from the Lizard, Weſt,
61 d. 56 m. and in Meridian diſtance from the Li-
zard, Weft, 1014 Leagues, 1 Mile. .
Port Defter in America, lies in the Latitude of
47 d. 48 m. South, and in Longitude from the Li-
zard, Weſt, 61 d. 57 m. Meridian diſtance from the
Lizard, Weft, 1015. Leagues, 2 Miles, ..
h
Penguin Island, or the plentiful Ifles, Latitude
47 d. 55 m. South, and in Longitude from the Li-
zard, Weſt, 61 d. 57 m. Meridian diſtance from
the Lizard, Weft, 1014. Leagues, 2 Miles
Variation of the Compafs here is Eaſterly
17 d. 30m.
April 1. The Sweepſtakes off of Seal's Bay in the
Latitude of 48 d. 10 m. South, on the Coaft of
Patagonia.
Saturday April 2. Fair Weather this Morning,
Wind at North-north-weft, a fine gale. I filled
at Day-light, and fteered away South-fouth-weft,
and South and by Weft by my Compafs, as the
Coaft lies; I failed along in twenty Fathom-wa-
ter: black Sand diftant from the thore near three
Leagues;
42
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Leagues: this forenoon at nine a Clock, I faw
a ſmall flat Iſland to the Weftward of me, about a
League off the Land; it lies in the Latitude of
48 d. 40m. South; the Land againſt it is high, in
large Hills, and fome round copling tops; two
Leagues more to the Southward, the Land is low,
in a great Plain, and a Beach by the Sea-fide, but
the ſhore againſt this Ifland is rocky; I was two
Leagues Eaſt from the flat Iſland, and had twenty
three fathom black Sand; I haled clofe in for the
fhore, and fail'd within five Miles of it; all along
from this Iſland to Port St. Julian I founded as I
fail'd along, and had 18 or 20 fathom fine black
Sand; the Land is low in a Valley; the Sea-lhore
is a Beach, here and there a Rock; it is in a long
Beach for four Leagues; after you are to the
Southward of the Flat-Iſland one League, the ſhore
lies South-fouth-weft and North-north-eaft; at
the South-end of this Beach in-land are high round
Hills, but at the Sea-fide is a ſteep white Cliff, of
an indifferent heighth with a black ſtreak in it;
over the Cliff the Hill rounds up to the top, ha-
ving fome fmall black Buſhes growing on the fide;
no Wood or Trec ſeen.
In this Bay is Port St. Julian; the Harbour's
mouth is in the middle of the Bay, but you cannot
fee it without, for one Point ſhutting in the other;
you muſt fend your Boat in to difcover the Har-
bour at Low-water, and the Bar without, for 'tis a
barred Harbour: the Land in the Country over
Port St. Julian, on the Weft-fide, is high copling
round Hills, like blunt Sugar-loaves on the top;
is the higheſt Land I faw in all the Country,
and
to the Streights of Magellan.
43
and there are no fuch Hills befides on the Coaſt;
the Land is plain to the South without any Hill,
as far as we could fee at this time: this Afternoon
it proved a Calm; I anchored in the Bay before
St. Julian, in twelve fathom Water, black oary
Land, the Harbour's mouth bearing Weft-fouth-
weſt of me, about two Leagues off: I fent in my
Boat to diſcover the Harbour, and fee if the Pink
was there, which returned to Night at fix a Clock ;
my
Lieutenant told me there was a fafe Harbour,
and Water enough for a bigger Ship, but no Pink,
nor any fign of her having been there; now I de-
fpaired of ever ſeeing her more, after my hopes.
were fruftrated here; nevertheless I doubted not
the fuccefs of my Voyage, though the Company
thought 'twould be dangerous being a lone Ship,
a ftormy Sea to fail in, and unknown Coafts to
fearch out, and if we fhould happen to run a-
ground any where, could expect no relief; theſe
fufpicions I foon put out of their Heads, by telling
them of the great Riches of the Land, and that
Captain Drake went round the World in one Ship,
when in thoſe days there were but ordinary Na-
vigators; and was it for us to question our good
fortune, who beyond Compariſon are better Sea-
men, if we would put our felves in Action; and
for me, I would expofe no Man to more danger
than my ſelf in the Attempt. Calm to Night; I
rode faſt, a ſmall Tide running where I rode; the
Water ebb'd near three fathom perpendicular: it
is near nine Leagues from the Flat Ifland to Saint
Julian, South-fouth-weft and North-north-east as
the ſhore lies.
i
The
44
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
The Mouth of Port Saint Julian, in Latitude
49 d. 10m. South, and in Longitude from the Li-
zard 63 d. 10m. and in Meridian diſtance from
the Lizard, Weft 1030 Leagues; by an Amplitude
here, the Compaſs has varied 16 d. 10 m. Eaſt.
Wedneſday April 13. Fair Weather, Wind at
Weft, a ſmall gale. Frofty and cold Air, no fign
of the Pink: I went afhore and haled the Seyne
on the Eaft-fide; at the first of the Flood we
caught five hundred Fiſhes, as big as large Mul-
lets, and much like them, grey, and full of Scales:
fome as big as a Man's Leg; we caught them all
in four hours time, returned aboard, and divided
them among the whole Ship's Company: they eat
admirably well; many good Mufcles lie on the
Rocks, and Oyſter-fhells on the Shore-fide, and
growing in Veins on the Rocks, but no Meat in
them: Wind at Weft to Night, a freſh gale.
Monday April 18. Wind at South-west, a ftiff
gale. Cold Air and fome Snow this Morning; the
Winter is come ſtrong and ſtormy, fo that 'twill
be impoffible to hold the Coaft into the Streights;
for the Wind blows altogether from the Weft or
Weft-foutherly, and in fuch Gufts as will force a
Ship off the Coaſt. This day I ordered my Purſer
to ferve the Company Brandy-wine for their Al-
lowance, at a Quart per Week a Man: I
got a
Boats lading of the Wood of the Country aboard
for firing; to Night it blew hard at South-weft;
all the Company eat falt Seal, and Penguins for
their Allowance: fweet and very good Meat,and
keeps well and long in Salt.
Friday
to the Streights of Magellan.
45
Friday April 22. Wind at South-weſt, a ſtiff
gale,and cold Air. This Morning I went aſhore on
the North-weft fide with twenty Men to the Salt-
pond, which is rufted all over like a Pavement,
with very white and good Salt, two Inches thick,
for two miles long: in February here's Salt e-
nough to fill a thouſand Ships; we filled two Bags
and laid up near two Tuns out of the Water, for
there was Water over the Salt, which began to
decay with the Rain and Weather beating on it:
at Night I returned aboard, we brought as much
Salt with us as filled a Punchion, very good white
Stone-falt, whiter than French-Salt, and of a very
pleaſant ſmell; I faw fome Guianacoes, and Oftri-
ches: the Hills and Valleys dry Earth, and Grafs
on them: on the higher Hills lies Snow, no Peo-
ple, but many places where they had made fires,
and lain under a Bufh for fhelter; no Mineral or
Metal, Tree, or Fruit.
Wedneſday April 27. Cloſe Weather, and little
Wind; a cold Air, it freezes hard, the Ice; bears a
Man.
Thurſday April 28. Wind at Weft and by
South, a fine gale, cold frofty Weather. We un-
rig'd the Ship, and made all fnug, intending to
Winter in this Harbour; the Ice will not fuffer us
to paſs the Streights; the Winds are ſo ſtormy,and
generally out of the Weſtern quarter; the Nights
fo long and cold, that the paffage is impoflible
this Winter. The Port I found ſafe to ride in, and
good refreſhment to be had of Fowls: as Ducks,
Peekes, and Divers, &c. In the Spring I may be
ready to fail to the Southward, when we fhall
have
46
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
have the year before us, and the Sun in the Sou-
thern Signs, which will give long Days and fhort
Nights, and temperate Weather; Wind at North-
north-eaſt this Evening, and Rain: it blew a great
ftorm to Night, the Boat funk at the Ship's ftern,
and loft the Oars: lefs Wind towards Night, and
veared to the Weft.
:
;
Friday May 6. Wind at Weft-north-weſt, a fine
gale. I went a-fhore on the North-weft fide with
thirty Men, and travelled ſeven or eight miles up
the Hill, faw no People: the Land is great Grafs-
Downs in moſt places; and on the tops of the
Hills, and in the Ground are very large Oyſter-
fhells they lie in Veins in the Earth,and in the firm
Rocks and on the fides of Hills in the Country;
they are the biggeſt Oyſter-ſhells that ever I faw
fome fix, fome feven Inches broad, yet not one
Oyſter to be found in the Harbour; whence I con-
clude, they were here when the Earth was form-
ed: no fign of Mine or Metal, no Woods or Tree;
We found a good Spring of freſh Water up in the
Hills, it drains into falt Water-fwafhes: We faw
feveral Salt-water Ponds fix miles in the Land,
made by the faltneſs of the Earth; we faw Oftri-
ches, Guianacoes, and a Fox. I made a Fire on the
top of the higheſt Hill, but could fee no anſwer ;
I returned aboard with my Company very weary;
fome of my Men fetched Salt to day: fair Wea-
ther to Night.
Friday May 13. Indifferent Weather, Wind at
Weft-fouth-weſt, a fine gale. This day we fetch-
ed Salt: a Gentleman of my Company, Mr. John
Wood, walking on the Island of Justice, found three
fmall
to the Streights of Magellan.
47
fmall pieces of Gold Wire in two Muſcle-fhells:
which Shells were made together by a green Gût-
ftring: the Gold was to the value of two fhillings
Engliſh, and had been hammered, the wire as big
as a great Pin.
Monday June 6. Cloudy cold Weather,Wind at
South-weft, a freſh gale. This day I went a-fhore
with fixteen Men, and travelled ten miles Weſt
into the Land; the Hills there are covered with
Snow: 'tis very cold, we could not go any fur-
ther for Snow; and the Air is fo cold that we
could not endure to lie on the ground; on the
Hill that I was on, we could fee nothing but Hill
beyond Hill; no Woods, nor Trees, nor Buſhes,
all grafs Downs: the Land is flat on the tops of
the Hills; freſh Water runs down in feveral places,
which is melted Snow, and when the Water leaves
running, there's no Snow. I faw many Guiana-
coes, and Oſtriches; no People or fign of any:
cloſe by the Water-fide we faw many places,where
they had lain on open Hills in the Snow, and fome
places where they had killed and eat Guianacoes
and Oſtriches; they make but ſmall Fires with
little ſticks; I do not find they roaſt their fleſh at
them, for we faw fome raw Flefh hanging to the.
Bones, which they had gnawed with their Teeth:
their Fires are only to warm their Children's Fin-
gers, as we imagine: I gathered fome handfuls of
Guianacoes Wool that lay here; I am perfuaded
theſe People muft needs fee us travelling to and
fro every day, but won't come near or be feen by
us: they live like wild Beaſts, or rather worſe, for
ſometimes they muſt be in great want of Food;
here's
48
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
here's neither Fruit, Root, or Herb for it: The
Land is a dry gravelly Soil, with Sand, and in
many places a Marle two foot below the Surface;
the Grafs, which is dry, grows in knots, not very
long but thick; in the Valleys the Earth is of a
Petery or nitrous Nature; Oftriches feen; no fign
of Metal or Mineral; I and my Company have
looked in moſt places where we travelled for it:
to Night we got down but very weary.
Tueſday June 7. clofe dark Weather, Wind
at North-eaſt and by Eaſt, a fair gale: a new
Moon to day, fine Weather to Night, but
cold ; the Stars near the Pole Antartick are
very vifible; fome of the fmall Stars in the Con-
ftellation of little Hydra are near the Pele; Here
are many good Stars near the Pole, good for Ob-
fervation, of the firſt and ſecond Magnitude: the
Star at the South-end of Ariadne, the Star at Hy-
dra's Head; the Star in the Peacock's eye, and the
Stars in Tucan's bill, and the Stars in Tucan's thigh
and back; the Stars in Grus's head and wing and
body; but the brighteft Stars are the Stars in the
former foot of Centaurus and the Crofters; the o-
ther Stars are of the third, fourth and fifth Mag-
nitude: The two Clouds are feen very plainly,
and a fmall black Cloud, which the foot of the
Crofs is in, is always very vifible when the Crofi-
ers are above the Horizon, as they are alway here
in theſe Latitudes. The Heavens in this South
Hemiſphere are as the Heavens in the North He-
mifphere; but no Stars within eighteen degrees
of the Pole fit for Obfervation; no Pole-ftar, as
the Star in the Tail of the little Bear is in the
North.
to the Streights of Magellan.
49
North: the Air cold to Night, but very healthy
for ſtirring Men; I have not had my Finger ached
as yet; a Man hath an excellent ftomach here; I
can eat Foxes and Kites as favourily as if it were
Mutton; every Fox and Kite as we kill, we eat,
which is ever now and then one killed. Nothing
comes amifs to our ftomachs, not one Man com-
plains of cold in his Head or of Coughs. Young
Men well grown and of good ſhape are moſt fit
for this Country, it being a dry and an hungry
Air, and Provifions to be got with pains. The
Oſtriches are nothing fo big as the Oſtriches in
Barbary, nor of the Colour nor Feather; theſe are
grey on the Back, and ſhaggy Feathers of no uſe,
and the Feathers on their Bellies are white; they
have long Legs and fmall Wings; they cannot
fly; they have a long Neck, and a fmall Head,
and beaked near like a Gooſe; they are much like
a great Turky-cock, and good lean dry Meat and
fweet: to Night I came aboard; it blew freſh at
Weſt.
Wedneſday Fun: 22. Wind at Weft-north-
weft, a ftout gale. This day I went ashore on
the Eaſt-ſide, faw no People; this day Mr. John
Wood went ashore on the Weſt fide, and three Men
with him; they were armed; they travelled into
the Land Weft and by North about four miles;
where they ſaw ſeven People of the Country on
a Hill, making a noife and wafting them to the
Ship: Our Men went up the rife of the Hill to
them; three of the Indian Men came to Mr. Wood
with their Bows and Arrows in their Hands, and
a looſe skin about their Bodies, and a Furr-skin
about
E
50
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
about their Heads, and pieces of skins about their
Feet, and all the other parts of their bodies na-
ked; they were painted red and white on their
Faces; they would not come fo near as to let our
Men touch them, but ftepped back as you mo-
ved forward; they continuing their noiſe, and
wafting with their Hands towards the Ship, and
and kept talking, but no Man could underſtand
them: they repeated Ozfe, Ozfe, very often; they
have an harſh Speech and ſpeak in the Throat;
they received any thing that you caft to them on
the ground. Mr. Wood gave them a Knife, and a
Shafh, and a Neckcloath, and a bottle of Brandy:
they would not drink ; Mr. Wood could not per-
ceive any Bracelets they had, or any thing about
them fave their Skin: they are People of a middle
ſtature, and well-fhaped; tawny Olive-colour'd,
black Hair, not very long: they ſeem to be of a
rude behaviour, for they returned nothing for
what they received, nor took no notice of any
thing; the reſt of their Company ſtayed at the
Hill: they can endure much cold, for their Legs,
Buttocks, and lower parts are naked. Mr. Wood
was taller than any of them,and he judged the eld-
eft of the three to be upwards of forty years old,
the other thirty. They ſeemed to be very fearful;
they took their own time, and went away into the
Land. Mr. Wood returned aboard and acquaint-
ed me with what he had feen. This Night we
faw a Fire in the Hills. It blew hard to Night at
Weft. They have fmall Dogs with them; they
would not have come near our People, if they had
not fallen accidentally in the Hills and Valleys
with
to the Streights of Magellan.
51
with them. I have thought that they have heard
of the cruel dealings of the Spaniards, and dare not
truft us.
Saturday July 2. Wind at Weft, a fine gale. I
went a-fhore on the Eaft-fide; we killed a great
Guianacoe with the Greyhound. I looked in his
Paunch for the Bezoar-ftone, but found nothing.
I travelled to and fro but faw no People: I faw
where People had made earthen Pots, and had
glafed them, for there lay fome of their ſtuff run
together at Night I went aboard.
:
Sunday July 3. Wind at South, cloſe Weather.
The Guianacoe weighed, cleaved in his Quar-
ters, two hundred and fifty pounds neat. He
ferved all the Company for a days Fleih, and is
good Meat.
Tueſday July 12. Clofe Weather, and little
Wind at North and by Weft. I went up to the
head of the Harbour, but faw no People: There
is in the Fullers-Earth Cliffs at the head of the
Harbour, a Vein made like rotten Ifing-glaſs; I
took fome out, but cannot find it good for any
thing: I digged in the Cliff, but faw nothing to
be taken notice of. I faw in two places pieces of
floor Timbers of a Ship; they have laid a long
time rotting. We faw that the biggeſt of theſe
Buſhes here, have been cut down by fome Chri-
ftian People. I faw wooden Plates, and a piece of
Cork, and a piece of an old Oar: fome Chriftian
Ship had been here formerly. I lay afhore to
Night.
Sunday July 31. Fair Weather, Wind at South-
weſt, a ftiff gale. The Weather as cold as it is
E 2
in
52
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
in England in the height of Winter, and the Air
rather ſharper and dryer; I have now twelve Men
lame with the cold, and their Legs and Thighs
are turned as black as a black Hat, in fpots, the
cold having chilled the Blood; yet they uſe ba-
thing and ſtuping thofe places, and all that they
can to prevent it, but it rather encreaſeth on them
than otherwiſe: Thefe are fuch People as I could
not make ſtir by any means; they that ſtir are as
well as any Men in the World can be.
Tueſday August 2. Clofe Weather, Wind at
South-weſt, a gale and cold Air. We fall on fit-
ting of our Rigging and getting the Ship fit: Here
are hundreds of Guianacoes in companies near the
Water-fide my Greyhound is lame, fo that I
cannot make her run; alfo here are many Oftri-
ches, together with many green Plovers at the
Water-fide, and fome Swans, but not full fo large
as ours: They are white, fave a black Head, and
half the Neck and Legs black: Here are fome
white Geeſe; as European Geefe, the brant-Geefe
are fome white, fome black and grey; The Mal-
lards and Ducks are grey; and the Teals are grey.
Tueſday August 16. Clofe Weather, Wind at
Weft and at North-weſt, a fine gale. I fent the
Boat for Water to a Swash on the Eaft-fide; two
of my
Men faw two of the People of the Coun-
try on the Eaſt-fide behind a Buſh; my Men went
toward them; they went away and left a bundle
of Skins under the Buſh; my Men made figns to
fpeak with them, but they would not ſtay; my
Men did not go after them but fat down, they
would not ſtay; they were but of a middle fta-
ture:
to the Streights of Magellan.
53
ture: my Men brought the Bundle aboard to fhew
it to me, and two mungrel Dogs, which were cou-
pled together. I opened the Bundle and it was
feveral bags of Skins, with red Earth and white
Earth, and Soot or Paint in a Bag: this is the
Trade they paint themſelves with; they had
Flint-ftones and Arrow-heads in the Bundle; I
fearched the Bundle all over to fee for grains of
Gold, but could not find any: There were Brace-
lets of Shells, and bits of Sticks, and braided
Thongs, and Arrows, and Mufcle-fhells, and Ar-
madillo-fhells, and a ſmall point of a Nail in a
ſtick for a Bodkin: Their Skins were pieces of
Seal-skins, and pieces of Guianaco-skins, fewed
together with ſmall Guts; all very old and full
of holes, and ſmelt of greaſe: There were pieces
of Flints made faſt with a green Gut, in the ſplit
of a Stick, which they hold faſt to knock their Ar-
row-heads into fhape: There were alfo pieces of
Sticks to get Fire with. This was all that was in
the Bundle; it was made faft with Leather-thongs,
braided round like Whip-cord, and the Dogs
were coupled with fuch ftrings: The Muſcle-
fhells are their Knives. I put all things up in the
Bag, and made it faft. Their Dogs are much of
the Race of Spanish Dogs; a good large mungrel
Cur,but very tame; any Man might handle them;
they were grey in colour,and painted red in ſpots:
they were very lean; there were two great Staves
of four foot long, which was tough Cane in ſhort
joints: I carried them a-fhore next day.
Tueſday August 30. Foggy clofe Weather this
Morning, Wind at North. We travelled away
E 3
Weſt
54
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
;
Weft into the Land ten or twenty miles farther:
The Land all dry, with Grafs, and Buſhes in fome
places like Thorns; the Hills high, and many,
and Snow on the tops; no Woods, nor Trees to
be ſeen; Freſh-water comes running out of the
Hills in a fine Rivulet; no Fruit; many fedgy
Buſhes grow on the Brink, and brave green Grafs,
and a green Herb of a pretty ftrong hot tafte;
fome Teal in the Water, and Water-birds; this is
all I faw about the Rivulet. Many large Ponds
in the Country, but falt Water in thofe Ponds
we faw Fowls like Herons, but all red; in the Val-
leys we faw hundreds of Guianacoes in a compa-
ny, and twenty
twenty Oſtriches: fome Hares and fome
Partridges, greyer and bigger than ours; fome
Snipes and ſmall Birds; feveral Penne-wrens: we
faw feveral Kites, and fmall Hawks, and Owls;
we caught two Armadilloes: I faw two Foxes and
a wild Dog, and many brant-Geefe: the Land is
in Hills and Valleys as far as we could fee, and
bad travelling on foot; the Soil is gravelly and
dry Sand, of a Salt-petre nature; the Grafs in
fome places long and dry, and in fome places fhort
and dry; the Hills are rounding aloft like large
Downs: We faw red Earth in fome places, ſuch
as the Indians ufe; we faw the Footſteps of Peo-
ple in many places in the Clay, and places where
they had been, and had killed Guianacoes, and
made a fire there; I gathered Guianacoes-Wooll,
and Oſtriches Feathers were ſcattered about the
place, and Bones: there lay the Skulls of three
People, no fleſh on them; they were very clean,
and no larger than the Skulls of European Men;
fmooth
to the Streights of Magellan.
55
ſmooth and even Teeth, clofe fet; one of thoſe
Skulls was broken. Whether theſe People be
Man-eaters or not I cannot tell; I judge they have
Wars one with another, by reafon here are fo
few People in this great Land, and food enough
to live on, and the Land all clear and good Pa-
fturage for Cattle, and no Mountains; in all the
Land there are Plains and graffy Meadows: here
wants only Wood to build with; if that were
here, it would be as good a Land as any part of
America, for the Country is very healthy. This
Afternoon it rained, and was very thick and fog-
gy, fo as we could not tell which way to go, al-
though we had a Compafs with us; for there is
no going into the Land without one, becauſe a
Man will miſtake his way, the Country is fo
in great Plains and Downs: We were very much
wet and cold; We got to Buſhes, and there made
a Fire and dried our felves: we ſtayed here all
Night; we neither heard nor faw any thing to
Night.
open
Tueſday September 1. 1670. Clofe haſey Wea
ther, the Wind at North, a ſmall gale, ſo as I could
not Sail this day; we tried for Fish, but caught
none, the Water is fo cold. I was on the Land,
when I was at the fartheft, twenty five miles
Weft-north-weſt from the Harbour-mouth, and
all things as I faw I have mentioned, excepting
ſome ſmall Creatures like Efts, which run in the
Grafs; no manner of Snake or venomous Crea-
ture have I ſeen in this Country; here are fome
Earth-worms, and Caterpillers, and other Buggs,
but few in number: no wild Beaft of prey, or
E 4
any
56
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
any other thing to annoy the Inhabitants, but
Cold and Hunger: Here lics a large Country,
open to receive any Inhabitants from forcin Parts,
and large enough to fatisfie the Undertakers:
The Land would produce European Grain,if plant-
ed here, and breed Cattle.
September 16. I confidering my Men, being
very weak, thought it moſt fit to go for Port De-
fier, and there to refreſh the Men, for I knowing
there I could have what Penguins and Seals, I
would have, which are good Provifions; alfo I do
intend to falt up a quantity of each, to carry to
Sea with me,to lengthen out my Provifions. This
Forenoon I fteered from St. Julian North-north-
eaſt, and made what Sail I could to get to Port
Defier: This Night it was a fmall gale, and
veered to the Weft-fouth-weft; I judge it beft to
make my eafie Sail in the Night, for fear of run-
ning up with the Eady Stone-Rocks before day-
light.
Wedneſday September 21. Fair Weather to day,
the Wind veerable round the Compafs. This
Morning I had both the Boats laden with Seals,
and Penguins and Penguin-eggs; ten Men may
kill ten thouſand Penguins in less than an hours
time; the Seals and Penguins are numberless:
a Man cannot pafs on the Ifland for them. This
Evening I got on board and landed our lading a-
fhore; fair Weather to Night. The Eggs are
very good Nouriſhment, and the Fat ferves for Oil
to the Lamps.
Thurſday September 22.
Fair Weather, Wind
at Weft. This day I divided the Eggs amongſt
the
to the Streights of Magellan.
57
the Men: we skinned the Seals and the Penguins,
and falted the Fleſh in bulk on the Rock, and co-
vered it to keep the Wind from it: good Wea-
ther and little Wind to Night.
up
Friday September 30. The Wind at North this
Morning; this forenoon it came to the South-
eaſt, and blew hard, and rained. This day I went
the River about ten miles, and Don Carolus with
me, and ten Men to fee for People: we lay out all
Night on the South-fide, but faw no People; this
Night the People of the Country came to our little
Well, which is up in the Valley, and ſtole an Iron
Pot, and three fuits of Cloaths of the Mens, that
were laid there a drying, with fome other Lin-
nen; but did not meddle with the Beads, which
are hung up on a Pole on the Hills, and they will
not come near it nor meddle with it: The Peo-
ple of the Country have made in a Valley, the
form of the Ship in Earth and Bufhes, and ftuck
up pieces of ſticks for Mafts, and redded the
Buſhes all over with red Earth; the Model I ima-
gine is to record our Ship, for they cannot
have any Records but by imitation: This Fancy
we let alone untouched, only I laid a firing or two
of Beads on it and came away: clofe Weather to
Night. Thefe People muſt certainly have recei-
ved fome injury in former times, from fome Peo-
ple that have been here in Shipping, otherwiſe
they would come in fight of us; or elſe they have
heard of the cruel dealings of the Spaniards to-
ward the Indians, where they lived near: I have
uſed all endeavours poffibly by fair means to haye
Conference with them, but all is in vain.
Tueſday
58
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Tueſday October 11. The Wind at Weſt-ſouth-
weft, a ftout gale; very cold, Hail and fleety
Snow to day. Our Men are all in good health
and are lufty and fat, thoſe which had the Scurvy
are got very well with eating of freſh Meat, and
fuch green Herbs as they can get on the ſhore, as
green Peaſe-leaves and fuch trade; they mince it,
fry it with Eggs and Seal-oil; and it hath raiſed
every Man in as good health as they were at our
coming out of England: We fare very well, and
have great plenty of good Provifions: Here is
Proviſion enough of Seals and Penguins, if falt
be plenty, to lade Ships; I can confidently fay,
that on the Island of Penguins there are more Seals
and Penguins at this prefent, than three hundred
Tuns of Cask can hold, when dreſſed and falt-
ed, befides what are going off and coming on; If
any Men fhould have occafion for provifions of
Fleſh, if they have Salt, here they may furniſh
themſelves with what quantity fhall feem fit for
them, and I can affure them it will laſt four
Months fweet, if not longer, if care be taken in
bleeding, and dreffing, and falting, as I have pre-
fcribed before; the Salt may alfo be had at Saint
Julian's Salt-pond in Summer-time; alſo I believe
that Salt may be made at Port Defier in the Sum-
mer-time, for here is fome dried Salt on the holes
of the Rocks: Here are feveral Flats, where Men
may make Pits and let in Salt-water, and ſo make
Salt, as I have ſeen in other places.
The Penguin is a Fowl that lives by catching
and eating of Fiſh, which he dives for, and is
nimble in the Water; he is as big as a brant-
very
goofe,
to the Streights of Magellan.
59
goofe, and weighs near about eight pounds; they
have no Wings, but flat ftumps like Fins: their
Coat is a downy ftumped Feather; they are
blackiſh, grey on the Backs and Heads, and white
about their Necks and down their Bellies: they
are ſhort legged like a Gooſe, and ſtand upright
like little Children in white Aprons, in companies
together: they are full-necked, and headed and
beaked like a Crow, only the point of their Bill
turns down a little they will bite hard, but they
are very tame, and will drive in herds to your
Boats-fide like Sheep, and there you may knock
them on the head, all one after another, they will
not make any great haft away: Here are a great
many Sea-Pies, and Ducks, and Ox-Birds, and
Sea-Mews, and Gulls, and white Sea-Pigeons, and
white-breafted Divers, and Dobchicks.
October 13. I weighed, and failed out of Port
Defier, ſtanding Southward. Octob. 16. I was in
Lat. 49 d. 8 m. South. Octob. 19. I paffed by the
Cape, called Beachy-Head by our Men, and the
Hill of St. Ives, Lat. 50 d. 10m. The Compafs
has variation 16 d. 37 m. Eaſterly. The Land
here makes in a Bay, where the River of St. Cruce
goes in.
Octob. 21. We paffed by Cape Fair-weather in
51 d. 30 m. South-Lat. Here goes on the River
of Gallegoes. Octob. 22. We came to Cape Virgin-
Mary, at the entrance of the Streight of Magellan.
Cape Virgin-Mary, at the North-entrance, lies
in the Latitude of 52 d. 26m.
And in Longitude, from the Lizard in England,
Weft, 65 d. 42 m.
Meridian
60
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Meridian diſtance from the Lizard in Leagues,
Weft 1062. Leagues.
Variation of the Compafs here I find to be
Eaſterly, 17 Degrees.
Here is Anchoring all about this Part of the
Streights, in the fair way from Cape Virgin-Mary,
till you come into the Narrow. I did not find much
Tide any where hereabout, but in the Narrow,
and there the Tide runs ftronger than it does in
the Hope a good matter; the floud Tide fets into
the Streights, and the Ebb fets out; it keepeth
its courſe, as on other Coafts: it is fix hours
Floud and two hours Ebb; it rifeth and falls near
four Fathom perpendicular; it is an high Water
here, on the change day of the Moon at eleven of
the Clock, as far as I could perceive. Many beds
of Rock-weed are driving to and fro here. This
day at two of the Clock I was a-breaſt of Point
Poffeffion; Ifteered from thence Weſt-north-weſt
about two Leagues, and then Weſt and Weſt-
fouth-weft, and South-weft and by South, round-
ing by the North-fhore: As I fhoaled my found-
ings I had 22, and 18, and 16, and 12, and
Fathoms, fandy, and fometimes gravelly Ground
and pebble Stones; I failed, rounding the ſhore
being unacquainted, and could not tell certainly
where the Narrow lay, for it was ſhut in one Land
with the other, fo as I could not fee the opening:
I was open of the Narrow at five a Clock, having
a fine gale at North-north-eaſt. I fteered in South-
weft and by South into the chops of it, but could
not get paſt a League into it; the Tide being
bent out and run ſo ſtrong as I could not ſtem it;
9
I
to the Streights of Magellan.
61
I was in danger of running the Ship againſt ſteep
Rocks, which lie in the North-fide, fhe taking a
fhear with the Tide, and the Wind was a fresh
gale at North-north-eaſt. There grew long Rock-
weed on the Rocks; I went and founded over
them, and had five foot Water on them, and four-
teen Fathom by the fide of them, next the Chan-
nel: they come trenting from the point of the Nar-
row of the North-fide, a mile off. At fix of the
Clock the Wind came to the North; at eight of
the Clock it came to the North-weft; it fell
very
dark and rained much; I was forced to fall
back again out of the Narrow as well as I could
the fhore I could not fee, it was fo dark; it fell
a flat Calm, I finding twenty five Fathom Water,
pebble Stones and oary; I anchored and rode all
Night; little Wind at South-weft, and dark.
It is eight Leagues from the firſt Narrow to the
fecond, and fomething better; the Courſe from
one to the other is Weft and by South, and Eaſt
and by North. This Reach from the firſt Narrow
to the fecond is feven Leagues broad, from the
North-fhore to the South-fhore; it fhews like a
little Sea when one comes into it, for we could
not fee to the fecond Narrow, till I had failed
therein three Leagues or more. At the point
of the fecond Narrow, on the North-fhore;
up to the North-eaſt-ward a mile or two, there is
a Bay on the North-fhore, and a white Cliff of
an ordinary height, which is called Cape St. Gre-
gory: In this Bay you may ride in eight Fathom
Water, fine clean fandy Ground, and a good half
mile off the fhore; This is a good Road, if the
Wind
62
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Wind be between the North-eaft and the South-
weft to the Weftward; the Winds are given moſt
to blow on the Weſtern-quarter. As I failed tho-
row the ſecond Narrow, I founded in the fair
way, and had twenty eight, and thirty Fathom
fmall ftones: The North-fhore on this Narrow
makes in a Bay at the Eaft-point,and is white Cliffs
all the way through: This Narrow lies throughout
Weſt-ſouth-weft, and Eaft-north-eaft, and at the
Weſt-end of the Narrow the Land is ſteep up, in
white Cliffs, and the South part rounds away in a
Fore-land: The South-fhore rounds away South-
eaſt from this Fore-land, and then it trents away
to the Southward in low Land: The North-fhore
of this Narrow or Streight, rounds up to the
Northward in white Cliffs, and falls into fhores;
there goes in a Harbour which hath four Fathom
in the Channel, at High-water; it is a flat round
Harbour within, and oary; I called this Oaz-har-
bour: When you are at the Weft-part of this Nar-
row, you will ſee three Iſlands come open, which
fhew to be ſteep up Cliffs: they lie Triangle-wife
one of another; they are four Leagues diftant
from the Narrow, Weft-fouth-weft: The fmalleſt
and Eaſtermoft Ifle is called St. Bartholomews, the
biggeſt and Wefter-moſt is called Elizabeth; the
middle-moft and Souther-moft is called S.George's,
and by fome Penguins-Ifle, and indeed there are
many Penguins on it. This Evening I got up to
Elizabeth's, and anchored in eight Fathoms and
an half fine black Sand, two miles off the Ifland.
The Eaft-point bears South and by Eaſt of me:
fair Weather all Night, the Wind at South and by
Weſt.
This
to the Streights of Magellan.
63
This Morning I went aſhore on Elizabeth-Island,
and at my landing nineteen of the Countrey-peo-
ple came off the Hills to me: I had Conference
with them, and exchanged Knives and Beads for
fuch things as they had: which were Bows and
Arrows, and their Skin-Coats, which are made of
young Guianacoes skins ; I gave them a Hatchet and
Knives, and Beads, and Toys, Trumps, &c. they
feem'd to be very well-pleafed; I fhewed them
Gold, which they would have had; I made them
figns, that if they had any, I would give them
Knives and Beads, &c. for it, or if any where in
the Land: I laid Gold and bright Copper into
the Ground, and made as if I found it there, and
looked to and fro on the Earth as if I looked for
fuch things; they looked one on another and
fpake to each other fome words, but I could not
perceive that they underſtood me,or what I meant ;
nor that they knew Gold, or any other Metal:
they would gladly have had every thing they faw;
they tried to break the Boats Iron-grapenel with
ftones, and would have carried it away; I let
them alone, and obferved their actions and be-
haviour, which was very brutish: they catched
at every thing they could reach, although I caufed
them to fit down, and I put ſtrings of Beads about
their Necks; ftill they defired more: My Lieu-
tenant Peckett danced with them hand in hand,
and ſeveral of my Men did dance with them, and
made all the fhew of Friendſhip as was poffible;
My Lieutenant changed his Coat for one of theirs,
for they deſired it becauſe it was red, which co-
lour they much efteem: I was in great hopes I
might
64
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
might find Gold among them; I gave them all
the courteous reſpect I could: After two hours
Conference with them, I made figns I would go
and get more things and come again to them;
They went, and would have us to Land again un-
der a Cliff, which I judge was their Defign, to
heave ftones into the Boat to fink her, for the
place was very convenient for fuch a purpoſe:
They fet themſelves down on the Grafs, and im-
mediately ſet fire on the Grafs on the fide of the
Bank: by what means they got Fire fo fuddenly
I could not underſtand. I went and founded the
Channel between Elizabeth-Iſland, and St. Bartho-
lomew's-Iſland, and found it a fair Channel to Sail
through, of a mile broad neareſt and deep Wa-
ter: in the middle thirty eight Fathom, and
nine and ten Fathom near the Shore-fide, gravel-
ly Sand.
Theſe People are of a middle ftature, both
Men and Women, and well-limbed, and roundish
Faced, and well fhaped, and low Fore-headed;
their Noſes of a mean fize, their Eyes of the mean
and black; they are fmooth and even toothed and
cloſe fet and very white; fmall Ears: their Hair
is fmooth flag Hair, and very black and harsh on
the fore-part, even and round; and the Locks of
a mean length, both Men and Women alike: they
are full Breaſted, they are tawny Olive-coloured,
and redded all over their Bodies with red Earth
and Greaſe; their Faces dawbed in fpots down
their Cheeks with white Clay, and fome black
ſtreaks with fmut, in no Method; their Arms and
Feet the like they have fmall Heads and fhort
Fingers;
to the Streights of Magellan.
65
Fingers: they are active in Body, and nimble in
going and running; their Cloathing is pieces of
Skins of Seals, and Guianacoes, and Otters skins
ſewed together, and ſewed ſoft; their Garment
is in form of a Carpet, of about five feet fquare,
or according to the largeneſs of the Perfon; this
they wrap about their Bodies, as a Scottish Man
doth his Plading: they have a Cap of the Skins of
Fowls, with the Feathers on; they have about
their Feet pieces of Skins tied to keep their Feet
from the Ground: they are very hardy People to
endure cold; for they feldom wear this loofe Skin
when they are ſtirring, but are all naked of Body
from Head to Feet, and do not fhrink for the Wea-
ther; for it was very cold when I faw them, and
the Hills all cover'd with Snow: they have no
Hair on their Bodies nor Faces, nor any thing to
cover their privy Parts, excepting fome of the
Women, which had a Skin before them; other-
wife the Men and Women are cloathed alike;
only the Men have Caps and the Women none:
The Women wear Bracelets of Shells about their
Necks, the Men none; the Men are fomewhat
larger than the Women in Stature, and more ful-
ler Fac'd; the Men have a harsh Language, and
fpeak ratling in the Throat, and grofs; the Wo-
men fhiller and lower: they pronounce the word
Urfah, but what it means I could not underſtand,
nor one word they fpake; if they did not like
any thing, they would cry Ur, Ur, ratling in
their Throats: their Food is what they can get,
either Fiſh or Fleſh: they are under no Govern-
ment, but every Man doth as he thinks fit; for
F
they
66
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Â
they had no reſpect to any one, nor under any O-
bedience of any in this Company; neither did
they make any fhew of Worshipping any thing,
either Sun or Moon, but came directly to us at
our firſt going on Land, making a noife, and e-
very Man his Bow ready ftrung, and two Arrows
a Man in their Hands: their Bows are about
an Ell long, and their Arrows are near eighteen
Inches long, and neatly made of Wood, and head-
ed with Flint-ſtones,neatly made broad-Arrow-fa-
fhion,well faftned to the Arrow; and the other end
is feathered with two Feathers, and tied on with
the Gut of fome Beaft, when it is green and moiſt
the Bow-ftring is fome twifted Gut. Thefe Peo-
ple have very large mungrel Dogs, much like the
race of Spanish Dogs, and are of feveral colours:
I did not fee any other domeftick Creature they
have, neither could I at this time fee their Boats;
for they lay at the other end of the Iſland,next the
Main; they waited on this Iſland for an opportu-
nity of fair Weather, to go to the other Iflands
for Penguins, there being great numbers of thoſe
Birds on the fouthermoft of the three Iſlands, and
many
other white-breaſted Divers.
October 30. To Night I anchored in a ſmall
Bay in eleven fathom Water, gravelly Ground,
half a mile off the Shore; no Tide runs here as
to thwart up a Ship; the Water rifeth and falls
perpendicular ten Feet. This Bay hath two Ri-
vulets of freſh Water in it, and good Timber-
trees of eighteen Inches through, and near forty
Feet long: the Wood is much lik a Beech; here
are wild Currant-trees, and many fuch like Bushes:
the
to the Streights of Magellan.
67
[
,
the Woods are very thick and green, and much
old Wood lies on the Ground, ſo as there is no
travelling into the Woods. I was a-fhore looking
to and fro here three hours: I called this Fresh-
water Bay; this is near nine Leagues to the South-
ward of Sweepstakes Bay; Sand-point is a mean
low Point, lies out more than the other Points
of the Shore, and few Trees grow on it.
It is fix Leagues from Fresh-water Bay, to Port
Famen South and North from the one to the point
of the other: that neareſt Port Famen cannot be
ſeen, as you come from the Northward, till you
come to bring the Point S. Anne up on the North-
weſt of you, for the Bay lies up in a little hook
North-weſt,and the Land on the Weſt-ſide of the
Bay is low in a Point, and fandy, and fome Grafs
grows on it, and much drift-Wood lies on it like
a Carpenters-yard: a little within Land from the
Water-fide grow brave green Woods,and up in the
Valleys, large Timber-trees, two foot throughout
and fome upwards of 40 Feet long; much like our
Beech-timber in England; the Leaves of the Trees
are like green Birch-tree Leaves, curiouſly ſweet
the Wood fhews in many places as if there were
Plantations for there are feveral clear places in
the Woods, and Graſs growing like fenc'd Fields
in England; the Woods being fo even by the fides
of it, and on Point Saint Anne as you come
failing from the Northward, you will fee good
Buſhes and tall Trees grow on the very point of it:
This Point is rocky on the Shore-fide, but no dan-
ger lies of it; you may be bold on it to get into
Port Famen Bay.
F 2
Here
68
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Here is good Wooding, and Watering, and
good catching of Fifh with the Seyne or Net: I ha-
led above five hundred large Fiſhes a-fhore at one
hale, much like to a Mullet, all ſcaly Fiſhes, here
are many large Smelts of twenty Inches long, and
many Anchovies, and fome ſmall made Scates:
Here is great plenty of Fish, fo much as we feed
wholly on it, and falt up much of the Mullets
and Anchovies. Here grow many Trees of good
large Timber, forty Inches through: the Leaves
are green and large, much like Bay-tree Leaves in
England; the rind is grey on the out-fide and
pretty thick rined
thick rined; this Rind or Bark of theſe
Trees, if you chew it in your Mouth, is hotter
than Pepper and more quicker; it is of a ſpicy
fmell when it is dry; I cut of the Bark and made
uſe of it in my Peaſe, and other Proviſions inſtead
of Spice, and found it very wholeſom and good:
wee fteeped it in our Water, and drank it, and it
gave the Water a pretty flavor. There grow of
thefe Trees in the Woods, in many places in the
Streight on both Shores, and on the Coafts on
both fides of Patagonia, before you enter them.
This may be the Winter-bark of the Shops, which
has an Aromatick pepper-like or ſpicy taft.
Port Famen lies in the Lat. of 53 d. 35 m. South;
53d.
and in Longitude Weft,from the Lizard, 68 d. 9 m.
and Meridian diftance 1092. Leagues Weft,as my
Account is in my Sailing: this Voyage, I give no
credit to the plain Sailing: therefore this Meridian
diſtance fignifies very little as to Navigation.
I travelled in many places, but could not fee
any Fruit-trees, or Oak, or Afh, or Hafel, or
any
^
to the Streights of Magellan.
69
any Timber like ours in England: Here are but
two forts of Timber in all theſe Woods, and one
is the Pepper-rind Tree, which is indifferent
Wood, and the other is the Timber much like
Beech: Here are the beſt and biggeſt Trees in all
the Streights; here are Trees of two foot and an
half through, and between thirty and forty feet
long; there may be great Planks cut out of them.
I could not fee any grains of Metal or Mineral
in any place, and I looked very carefully in Gul-
lies, and places where Water had guttered. Here
are fome Herbs to be plucked up, as we boiled
for Salleting, and green Grafs with it,which relifh-
ed pretty well. The Land in the Woods is dry,
and of a gravelly and fandy Soil, and fome places
good brown Earth; it is bad travelling in the
Woods for old Trees and Under-woods: the
Woods trent all up on the fides of the Hills; the
Land all about on the North-weft and Weſt of
Port Famen, trents up to very high Hills, and
the In-land is very high Hills; for we can fee the
tops of them all barren and ragged, peeping over
thofe Mountains next to the Shore-fide; much
Snow lies continually on them: the Land on the
South-fhore is very high and peaked.
I faw many Ducks and brant-Geefe on the
Shore-fides, and in the freſh Waters, together
with fome Whales fpouting in the main Channel.
I do verily believe that in thefe Mountains,
there is fome Metal either Gold or Copper, for
the Man that went aboard pointed up to the
Mountains, and ſpake to me when I fhewed him
my Ring. Thefe People eat up the Provifion
which
F 3
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
which was carried to them, and greaſed them-
felves all over with the Oil,and greafed their Skin-
Coats with it I made figns to them to go
and get fome Gold and bring it to me: fome of
them went away to their Boats, the reft fat ftill
on the Grafs, talking one to another, and point-
ing to the Ship. Their Language is much in the
Throat, and not very fluent, but uttered with
good deliberation: I could not perceive but only
the younger were obedient to the elder, and the
Women were in obedience to the Men; for I
took the Mens Coats and put about the Women,
but the Men would not fuffer them to keep the
Coats long, and themſelves to be naked, but
took the Coats from the Women, and put them
about themſelves: I proffer'd them to exchange
one of my Lads for one of theirs, and they laugh-
ed; but the Indian Lad would not go with me,
but hung back: I gave to the Men Knives and
Fiſh-hooks, and to the Lads Jews-trumps and
Pipes, and to the Women Looking-glaffes and
Beads. I did this to gain their loves, and in
hopes to have Trading with them for the future;
they refus'd Brandy.
Cape Fromard is the fouthermoft Land of the
great Continent of America, and it is very high
Land on the back-fide of it; the Face is fteep up,
of a Cliff of Rocks, and it is blackish grey, of
a good height, and deep Water very near it. I
founded with my Boat cloſe to it, and had forty
Fathom: A Man may lay a Ship cloſe to the face
of the Cape, for there is Water enough: there
is no Ground in the Channel at two hundred Fa-
thoms,
to the Streights of Magellan.
71
thoms, and but little Tide, or any ripling as I
faw, but a fair Channel to fail throughout; of three
Leagues broad from the North-fhore to the South-
fhore. It is beſt for a Ship to keep nearer the
North-fhore than the South-fhore; for the Winds
are more generally of the Weſtern Quarter.
Cape Froward, in Magellan Streights, lies in the
Latitude of 53 d. 52 m. South.
And in Longitude Weſt, from the Lizard, in
England 68 d. 40 m. Weſt.
And in Meridian diſtance in Leagues 1099.
and two Miles Weſt.
The Compaſs hath fixteen degrees of Varia-
tion Eaſterly at Cape Froward. As to the Fir-
lining Points I cannot ſay any thing; I wanted a
Needle.....
November 4. 1670. I was in Wood's Bay, called
fo by my Mate's Name. November 5. I was a-
breft of Cape-Holland; near which lies Cape Co-
ventry and Andrew's Bay, alfo Cordes and Foftcues
Bay, Cape and Port Gallant: but for a more exact
Situation of the feveral Promontories, Bays, Ports,
Rivulets, Soundings, &c. I refer the Reader to
the large Draught of the Magellan Streights, drawn
by my own Hand on the place.
A-breft of the Bay, two Leagues off, is the Inland
which I called Charles-Ifland and Monmouth-Island;
more to the Weſt-ward is James-Iland, and Ru-
perts-Iland, and the Lord Arlingtons-Iſland, and
the Earl of Sandwich's-Island, and Secretary Wren's
Island: this Reach I called English Reach; a
League more to the Weſt-ward of Foftcues Bay is
Cape-Gallant,
F 4
The
|
72
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
The Streight fhews now as if there were no
farther paffage to the Weftward; for the South
Land rounds up fo much to the North-Weftward,
that it fhuts againſt the North-Land to a Man's
fight. At this diftance I faw two large openings
into the South-Land, one oppofite to Charles-I-
fland, the other more to the Weſtward, up of
the round South Bite; there I faw many Whales
fpouting, that place I called Whale-Bay: I faw
feveral Brant-geeſe and Ducks here: I left in the
Indians Houfes Beads and Knives, in hopes of fur-
ther Commerce: I faw on the South-fide, a Fire
made in the Grafs by the Natives.
From the pitch of Cape-Froward, to the pitch
of Cape-Holland, the Streight lies in the Channel
Weft and by North, neareſt, and is diſtant full five
Leagues; and from the pitch of Cape-Holland, to
the pitch of Cape-Gallant, the Streight lies in the
Channel, Weft and by North, a little Northerly,
and is diſtant eight Leagues: From the pitch of
Cape-Gallant, to a low Point three Leagues to the
Weftward, the Streight lies in the Channel North-
weft and by Weft, a little Northerly: This
Reach is not more than two miles broad, from
the North-fhore to the Iflands, which I called
The Royal Ifles when I was a-breft of the Wefter-
moſt Iſland, which I called Rupert's-Ifland, I bee
ing on the middle of the Channel with the Ship,
fhot off one of my Sakers with
Sakers with a fhot, and the
fhot lodged cloſe to the Iflands fide. This low
Point, a breſt of Rupert's-Ifland, on the North
fhore, I called Point-Paffage. This Evening at fix
of the Clock, I was hot paft Point-Paffage, half
a mile
to the Streights of Magellan.
73
a mile to the Weftward of it; having a fine Ea-
fterly gale.
Monday November 7. Cloudy gufts, foggy
Weather, the Wind at Weft, and fometimes at
North-weft: I rode faft all day cloſe aboard the
fhore. This Afternoon I went in my Boat over
to the South-fide, oppofite to Elizabeth's-Bay, at
the Point called Whale-point, for the many Whales
ſpouting thereby. I travelled up the Hills two
miles, but could not fee any Gold or Metal; the
Land very irregular and Rocky, with mofsy kind
of Grafs growing on it, and yery boggy and rot-
ten; for I thruſt down a Lance of fixteen feet
long, into the Ground with one hand very eaſily:
Here grow many Juniper Trees, fome of a foot
throughout, the Wood not very ſweet: Here I faw
many brant-Geeſe and Ducks, much Snow on the
inland Mountains, fo as I could not travel any
farther I returned down to the Boat again; I
faw where the Natives had been by the evening
of the Grafs, but I could not have a fight of any.
Here are many good Mufcles on the Rocks of
five Inches long, and good Fish in them, and many
feed Pearls in every Muſcle: Here are alſo large
Limpets and Sea-eggs among the Rocks.
All the Ripling is not worth the taking notice
of, for it is but an hours time on both Tides Ebb
and Floud, when the Tide runs ftrong; neither
are the Tides any thing prejudicial to the Navi-
gation of the Streight, but rather advantagious to
help to turn from Road to Road either way: For
I have had a benefit of them in plying from place
to place, The Weather indifferent this After-
noon;
74
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
noon; I went a-ſhore after I had done Sounding
but faw no People nor any Metal; the Woods
very thick, and feveral Trees of the hot Bark, the
other Trees much like Beech-timber: fome Ducks
and brant-Geeſe ſeen on the Shore-fide.
The Streight in this Reach between Elizabeth's
Bay and St. Jerom's River is about two Leagues,
broad and high Land on the South-fide; which
hath feveral brave Coves on it like the Wet-dock at
Deptford, and fafe to lay Ships in them from either
much Wind or any Sea. This Bay I called Mu-
fcle-Bay, for in it there are many and great plen-
ty of good Muſcles. The Shore-fides are rocky,
fteep too in moſt places; no Ground in the main
Channel at an hundred Fathom; alfo in the Bays
on the South-fide it is deep Water, and ſmall
Iſlands lie in the Bays, and cloſe along the South-
ſhore lie fmall Iſlands. Here are many Whales,
and I ſaw many Penguins, and fome Seals The
Shores are woody on both fides, but ragged Tim-
ber and boggy Ground; the tops of the Hills
bare Rocks and irregular: feveral ſtreams of
Snow-water run down in the Cliffs of the Hills,
two Leagues to the Weftward of Elizabeth's-Bay.
On the North-fhore the Land is low and woody
near the Water-fide, and up of a Valley in this
Low-land: In this Valley there runs a freſh Wa-
ter-River; I went into it with my Boat: It is
but ſhallow at low Water, hardly Water enough
for my Boat Here I faw feveral Arbors of the
Indians making, but no People. This River is
a very convenient place to lay Shallops, or
fuch like ſmall Veffels in it; they may go into
it
to the Streights of Magellan.
75
it at high Water, for the Tide riſeth here eight
or nine feet: this River I called by the name of
Batchelor's River. Before the mouth of this River,
in the Streights, there is good anchoring, in nine,
or ten, or twelve Fathom Water, fandy Ground;
a fair birth off the Shore: the Tide runs but or-
dinary, and the Floud-tide comes from the Weft-
ward, and the Tide that comes out of St. Fe-
rom's Channel, makes a ripling with the Tide that
comes along the ftream of the Streight: I called
this Road that is before Batchelor's-River, Tork-
Road: This is a good place to ride in with We-
fterly Winds, for here cannot go any great
Sea;
neither ſhall a Man be embayed; that if a Cable
give way, he may have the Streight open to carry
it away; for the Wefterly Winds are the greateſt
Winds that blow here by the Trees, for they all
ſtoop to thefe Winds, and lean to the Eafterward,
and the Weft-fide of all the Trees that ftand o-
pen, are made flat with the Winds: the tops of
the Mountains look to the Eaſtward; the Eafter-
ly Winds feldom blow ftrong here as to what I
have obferved. By the Shore-fide which lies open
to the Eaſt, the Grafs grows down to the Water-
fide, and they are the greener Shores, and the
Trees are ftreight and tall on the Eaft-fide of the
Hills, but on the Weft-fhores, the Grafs and
Trees are much weather-beaten, worn away, and
crippled, and the Shore-fides much tewed with the
furge of the Waters.
At Cape Quad, the Lands fhut one with the o-
ther, as if there were no farther paffage: but as
you make nearer to it, you will fee the opening
more
76
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
1
more and more, as the Streight rounds there more
to the Northward again. Cape Quad is on the
North-fhore; and it is a ſteep up Cape, of a rocky
greyish Face, of a good height before one comes
at it it fhews like a great building of a Caſtle;
for it points off with a Race from the other
Mountains, fo much into the Channel of the
Streight, that it makes fhutting in againſt the
South-land, and maketh an Elbow in the Streight:
the Streight is not paft four miles broad here,
from fhore to fhore; and the Land is fteep too
on both fides, and rocky; the Mountains high
on both Shores, and craggy barren Rocks: fome
Trees and Buſhes growing here, and much Snow
on the Mountains on both fides. Oppofite to Cape
Qoad on the South-fide, there is a fine large Bay,
which is called Rider's Bay: I did not go into it;
if there be Anchoring in it, it is a fair Road for
any Winds: the Water is very deep here in the
Channel, no Ground at one hundred Fathom:
this part of the Streights, from Point Paffage to
Cape Quad, is the moſt crooked part of all the
Streight; therefore I called this Crooked-Reach.
Here are two fmall Iſlands in the North-fhore, to
the Eaſtward of Cape Quad.
November 14. This Morning I was a-breft of
Cape-Munday, fo I called it, it being a Cape on
the South-fide, and is diſtant from Cape de Quad
about thirteen Leagues: the Streight here is a-
bout four miles broad, and the North-fhore makes
into theLand with great founds and broken Iſlands;
the Land on both Shores is high rocky Hills, and
barren, very little Wood or Grafs growing on
them:
to the Streights of Magellan.
77
them: Here at Cape Munday, the Streight grows
broader and broader to the Weftward, but keeps
all one Courſe, North-weft and by Weft to Cape
Upright; which is a ſteep upright Cliff on the
South-fide, and it is diftant from Cape Munday
four Leagues. Here the Streight inclines to the
Weftward near half a Point: the Streight lies
from Cape Munday Weft-north-weſt, half a Point
Northerly right out into the South-Sea, if you
be in the middle of the Channel, or nigh the
North-fhore; I find little or no Tide to run here,
or Current: no Ground in the Channel at two
hundred Fathom, a Musket fhot off the Shore
on either fide. Here run into the South-fhore
many Sounds and Coves; I have failed fair along
by the South-fhore all this day; for the North-
fhore makes in broken Iſlands and Sounds: Here
lie all along the South-fhore feveral fmall Iſlands,
but no danger, for they are all ſteep too: the
Streight is a very fair Channel to fail throughout.
This day at Noon, I was a-breaſt of an Iſland,
which lies on the North-fide of the Streight, I cal-
led it Westminster-Ifland; there lie a great many
Iſlands between that and the North-fhore, and to
the Eaſtward and Weftward, as alfo fome broken
Ground, and Rocks lie about it: Theſe Iſlands I
called The Lawyers, and this Ifland which I called
Westminster-Island, is an high rocky Iſland fhewing
like Westminster-Hall; the Streight is five Leagues
broad, between Westminster-Ifland and the South-
fhore; but between that and the North-fhore,
there are many rocky Iſlands and broken Ground.
The
78
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
•
The Streight lies from Cape Munday to Cape
Deffeada Weft-north-west, and Eaft-fouth-eaft, half
a point Northerly, and half a point Southerly
neareſt, and they are diftant from one another
near fifteen Leagues: from Cape Quad to Cape
Deffeada, it is about twenty eight Leagues; and
the Streight lies near North-weſt, and by Weſt
from Cape Quad into the South-Sea, and near
in one Reach, which I called Long-Reach:
and fome of my Company called it Long-Lane.
This part may properly be called the Streights
for it is high Land all the way on both Shores,
and barren Rocks, with Snow on them; and in-
deed from Cape Quad into the South-Sea, I called
this Land South-Defolation, it being fo defolate
Land to behold.
Cape Deſſfeada lies in the Latitude of 53 d. 10m.
South.
In Longitude Weft from the Lizard of Eng-
Land 72 d. 56m.
And in Meridian diſtance 1149.
The Compaſs hath 14 d. 10m. Variation Ea-
fterly here.
1
Cape Pillar lies in the Latitude of 53 d. 5 m.
In Longitude Weft from the Lizard of Eng-
land d. 49 m.
72
And in Meridian diſtance 1148. Leagues Weft.
I make the whole length of the Streights of
Magellan, from Cape Virgin-Mary to Cape Deffeada,
with every Reach and turning, to be one hun-
dred and fixteen Leagues: and fo much I failed
from the one Sea to the other, according to my
eſtimation.
The
1
to the Streights of Magellan.
79
The beſt Land-fall in my Opinion, is to make
the face of Cape Deffeada for to come out of the
South-Sea to go into the Streight of Magellan;
they lie in East and Weft at the firſt, till you come
a-breft of Cape-Pillar; then the Courfe is South-
eaſt and by Eaſt neareſt. Be careful to keep the
South-fhore in fair view; for the North-fhore is
broken Iſlands and Sounds, that a Man may mi-
ſtake the right Channel or Streight, and ſteer up
into one of them, as he comes out from the South-
Sea, if he loſe fight of the South-fhore.
Here lie four fmall Iſlands at the North
part of
the mouth of the Streight, in the South-Sea; they
lie pretty near together: the Eaftermoſt ſtands
fingly by it felf, and is round copling up of a fair
height like an Hay-cock, or Sugar-loaf: the o-
ther three are flattiſh; they lie from Cape-pillar
North-north-weft,by the true Compaſs 6 Leagues
off; they are diſtant from Cape-Victory, near four
Leagues South-weft; I called them The Islands of
Direction; they are good wiſhing to fall with the
Mouth of the Streight.
November 26. The Land makes in Iſlands, ly-
ing near the main Land, is high and large Hills
In-land, which ftretch North and South, fome
Snow lying on the tops of the higheſt Hill. At
eight of the Clock I made the Iſland of Nuestra
Sennora del Socoro; in the Spanish Tongue it is cal-
led The Iſland of our Lady of Sucore; I ſteered with
it North-eaſt and by Eaſt; it made rounding up
at the Eaſtermoft end, and lower in the middle
than at either end it maketh with a ridge run-
ning from one end to the other, and Trees grow-
ing
80
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
ing on it: the Shore-fide is rocky on the South-
fide of the Iſland, and ſome broken Rocks lie near
the Shore-fide, and on the South-east end of the
Iſland there ſtand two peaked copling Rocks clofe
to the Shore; they are white on the top with Fowls
dung. The Ifland is of a fine heighth, and all
woody on the North-fide of it; the Trees grow
down to the Water-fide, and fresh Water runs
down in five or fix Gullies: the Woods are all
green, and very thick ſpicy Trees,
Meridian diſtance at Noon from Cape-pillar,
Eaſt 20 d. om. 4 ten.
Longitude at Noon from Cape-pillar, Eaft 1 d.
19 m.
Longitude at Noon, from the Lizard, Weft
71 d. 42 m.
Meridian diſtance at Noon, from the Lizard,
Weft 1128 leag. 2 mil. 9 ten.
The Ifland Nuestra Senora di Socoro, lies in the
Latitude of forty five degrees South, and in Lon-
gitude Eaſt from Cape-pillar one degree nine-
teen minutes; Meridian diſtance from Cape-pil-
lar, Eaſt 20 leag. O min. 4 ten.
Meridian diſtance from the Lizard, Weft 1128
deg. 2 min. 9 ten.
Longitude from the Meridian of the Lizard,
Weſt 71 deg. 42 min.
The Compaſs hath eleven Degrees, Variation
Eaſterly here.
I went a-ſhore with my Boats for freſh Water,
which I had them laden with preſently; for here is
freſh Water enough, and very good; I fearched
the Shore what I could, I faw an old Hutt or
Arbour
to the Streights of Magellan.
81
Arbour of the Indians making, and ſeveral ſticks
that were cut, but all old done. I could not fee
any fign of People on the Ifland now; I believe
the People come rambling to this Iſland from the
Main in the beſt ſeaſon of the Year to get young
Fowls: for I do not fee any thing elſe in the Iſland
for the fuftenance of Mans Life; I could not fee
any kind of Mineral or Metal: the Soil is a fandy
black Earth, and fome Banks of Rocks : the Iſland
is irregular, and grown all over with impene-
trable thick Woods, fo as I could not fee the in-
ward part
of it: the Woods are ordinary. Tim-
ber, none that I faw was fit to make Planks of;
the nature of the Wood is much like Beech and
Birch,and a fort of heavy Wood good for little but
the fire, it is white: no Fruit or Herbs; very little
Graſs, the Woods are fo thick; much kind of long
fedgy Graſs; no wild Beaſt to be feen; feveral
fmall Birds in the Woods like Sparrows: there
are ſeveral Fowls like Kites in the Woods, feveral ·
black and white brant-Geefe and pied Shags, and
other fuch Sea-Fowls, as Pinks and Sea-mews
what elſe the Iſland affords I cannot tell. I made
a Fire on the Shore, in hopes to have ſome an-
fwer of it on the Main, but had not. At Noon
I went aboard, and fent my Boats a-fhore again
for more Wood and Water, whilft the Weather
permitted landing.
November 30. This Forenoon I was over on
the main fide, the Ship lay off, and in. I went a-
fhore with my Boat on an Iſland which lieth ad-
jacent to the Main: There runs a Channel be-
tween that and the Main, and many Rocks lie
G
in
:.
82
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
in it, and foul Ground, fo as I durft not venture
the Ship in it. This Iſland ſhewed as if it had
been the Main, till I went to it with the Boat;
being about four Leagues long from the North-
point to the South-point, and in fome places a
League broad. The Ifland is of a mean height,
and in fome places two Leagues broad, and grown
all over with Woods very thick: the Timber is
fuch like as is on the Ifle of Socoro: I could
not fee any kind of Mineral or Metal in it; the
Shore-fide fandy in many places, and rocky in o-
thers; the Earth on this Ifland is of a fandy black
foil, but very wet with the continual Rains that
are here. Not finding this noted in my Draughts,
I called it after my own Name Narbrough's-Iland;
I took poffeffion of it for his Majefty and his
Heirs: I could not fee any People, or any fign of
them here.
;
South-east from Narbrough's-Ifland on the Main
diſtant about three Leagues, there runs into the
Land a River or Sound, and fome broken ground
lies before it. The Shore-fide is rocky, and the
Hills are high in the Land on both fides of it
this opening lies in Eaſt and Weſt, I take it for
that place which in the Draughts is called Saint
Domingo. This place lies in the Latitude of forty
four Degrees, fifty Minutes South; and more to
the Southward thereof lie many round coplin
high Iſlands grown over with Woods: all along
the Coaſts as far as I could fee, there lie Iſlands
adjacent to the Main, and they are of a great
height.
This
to the Streights of Magellan.
83
This Day all the Bread in the Ship is expend-
ed: all the Company of the Ship, my felf as well
as any other, eat Peaſe in lieu of Bread; my Com-
pany are all indifferent well in health, I thank
God for it, being ſeventy two in Company: no
Fiſh to be taken with Hooks: many Porpuffes feen,
and ſome Whales; feveral Sea-Fowls feen fwim-
ming to day: much Wind to Night at North-
weft; I ride faſt, but doubtful of my Cable.
No-Man's Island lies in the Latitude of forty
three Degrees, forty feven Minutes South, and
in Longitude Weft from the Lizard in England
feventy one Degrees, thirty two Minutes. And in
Meridian diſtance from the Lizard of England,
one thouſand one hundred and twenty fix Leagues
and one Mile; and in Meridian diſtance from
Cape-pillar Eaft, twenty two Leagues, two Miles,
and two tenths; and in Longitude Eaſt from Cape-
pillar, one degree, twenty nine minutes .. The
variation of the Compals is ten Degrees Eaſterly
here.
This Iſland is that which the Draughts make to
lie at the South-end of the Ifland of Caftro, at
the Mouth of the going in of that Channel, which
is between Caftro and the Main; the Draughts
are falſe in laying down of this Coaft; for they
do not make any mention of the feveral Iſlands
that lie on it, but lay it down all along to be a
ftreight Coaſt: the Latitude of moſt places are
laid down very near as what I have found. Here
are many Iſlands adjacent on the Coaſts more
Southerly, in the Latitude of forty five and an
half, but none are laid down.
G 2
Decem
•
84
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
December 15. Don Carlos was put a-ſhore, and
carried with him a Sword, and a Cafe of Piſtols,
and his beſt Apparel, and a Bag with his Beads
and Knives; together with Sciflars, Looking-
glalles, Combs, Rings, Pipes, Jews-harps, Bells
and Tobacco; all which things he had of me to
give to the Natives. At feven of the Clock Signior
Carlos was fet a-fhore, on the South-fide of the
Harbour of Baldavia without the Mouth of it a
Mile, in a ſmall fandy Bay, about two Miles with-
in Point Gallere, between the Point and the Mouth
of the Harbour. When he was a-fhore, he took
his leave of my Lieutenant, and bad him go a-
board and look out for his Fire in the Night. He
went from the Boat along the Sea-fide in the path
toward the Harbour's Mouth: the Men in the
Boat faw him go along for the diftance of a quar-
ter of a Mile, till he turned behind a point of
Rocks out of fight. The Shore-fide is low and
fandy, and fome fcattered Rocks lie in it: the
Land rifeth trenting to large Hills: the Land is
all woody and very thick, that there is no tra-
velling but by the Water-fide. My Lieutenant
went a-fhore to the edg of the Woods, and ga-
thered ſeveral green Apples off the Trees: for there
grow Apple-trees on the Shore-fide, much like
our European Winter-Fruit; the Apples are bigger
than Walnuts with their fhells on; whether theſe
Trees were planted by the Spaniards, or grow na-
turally in the Country, I cannot tell.
I do not find any Current or Tide to fet on
this Coaſt, that is any way prejudicial to Naviga-
tion; neither do I find the Winds to blow Trade:
but
to the Streights of Magellan.
85
but they are veerable, and are given to blow
hard on the Weſtern Quarter,and rain much.
The Mouth of the Harbour of Baldavia on the
Coaſt of Chile, in the South-Sea, lieth in the La-
titude of 39 d. 56 m. South.
56m.
And in Longitude, Weft from the Lizard of
England 70 d. 19 m.
And in Longitude Eaft, from Cape-pillar 2 d.
41m.
And in Meridian, diſtance from Cape-pillar,
Eaſt 41 leag. 2 mil.
I
.3
The Account I make by my failing from the
Meridian of the Lizard, according to my daily
Account of my Ships way: I do not make any
Account of plain Sailing to be fit for Seamen to
obferve; but the beſt Navigation is by Mercator,
failing according to the Circle of the Globe,
which I ever failed by, and keep my Account of
Eaſting and Weſting by Longitude, which is the beſt
and moſt certain Sailing,to give the true defcripti-
on of the Globe. I have noted down the Meridian
diſtance I made daily, whereby fuch Navigators
and Seamen as know better, may have that to
give them the knowledge of the diſtances of
Places, according to their Underſtanding, Moft
of our Navigators in this Age fail by the Plain
Chart, and keep their Accounts of the Ships way
accordingly, although they fail near the Poles;
which is the greateſt Errour that can be commit-
ted; for they cannot tell how to find the way
home again, by reaſon of their miſtake; as I
have fome in the Ship with me now that are in
the fame Errour, for want of Underſtanding the
G 3
true
86
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
true difference of the Meridians, according to
their Miles of Longitude, in the ſeveral Lati-
tudes. I could with all Seamen would give over
failing by the falſe plain Card, and fail by Merca-
tor's Chart, which is according to the truth of
Navigation; But it is an hard matter to convince
any of the old Navigators, from their Method of
failing by the Plain Chart; fhew moſt of them the
Globe, yet they will walk in their wonted Road.
At eight of the Clock in the Forenoon my
Boat put
from me,
and rowed to the Shore with.
in point Gallery, to the place where Don Carlos was
landed: I laid off and on with the Ship before
the Port; the Boat rowed all along the Shore by
the place where Don Carlos was landed, and along
the Shore into the Harbour: at the Points on the
South-fide of the Harbour ftands a fmall Fort of
feven Guns called S. James's Fort: My Boat came
fuddenly on it, and before they perceived it to
be a Fort, they were within fhot of it. The Spa-
niards flood on the Shore; and wafted with a
white Flag, and called to them; My Lieutenant
rowed to them, and asked of them what Coun-
try they were? they anſwered, of Spain: They
asked my Lieutenant of what Country he was?
He anſwered, of England; they asked him to
come a-fhore, which he did, in hopes to have ſeen
Don Carlos there, for that path that Don Carlos
went in when he was landed, led directly to this
Fort by the Sea-fide, and it was not a Mile from
the Fort to the place where he was landed, fo as
he muft go to this Fort, and be upon it before he
was aware of it, unleſs he knew it before. The
path
to the Streights of Magellan.
87
path went all along between the Woods and the
Sea: In the Woods there is no travelling, they
are fo thick, and grow on the fide of an Hill;
the Fort ſtands juft by the Wood-fide on a race of
the Bank, of five yards afcent from the Sea,
with a bank of Earth caft up before the Ord-
nance, and flight Pallifadoes plac'd in an Half-
moon, four yards diftant from the Guns to the
Southward, which Pallifadoes are to keep the
Natives from running violently on the Ord-
nance: fo theſe Spaniards guard themfelves with
long Lances againſt the Natives in the Fort. The
Spaniards have Match-lock Mufquetoons, but
they are very ordinary ones, and they are as filly
in uſing them.
At my Lieutenants landing, about twenty Spa-
niards and Indians came to the Water-fide in Arms,
and received him and his Company a-fhore, and
carried him ſome twenty yards from the Water-
fide up the race of the Bank, under a great Tree,
where the Captain of the Fort, and two other Spa-
nish Gentlemen, received him under the fhade with
great Courtefie, after the Spaniards Ceremony;
they fat them on Chairs and Benches placed about
a Table, under the fhade; for the Sun fhone
very warm, it being a very fair Day. The Spa-
nish Captain called for Wine, which was brought
to him in a great Silver Bowl; He drank to my
Lieutenant, and bid him welcome a-fhore, and
caufed five of his Ordnance to be fired, being
glad to fee Engliſh Men in this place, and told
him that this was Baldavia, fpeaking very kindly,
and how welcome they were to him: After every
G 4
one
88
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
}
one had drank, and my Lieutenant had thanked
him for his Entertainment, he defired my Gentle-
men to fit down, and he diſcourſed with them,
and asked from whence they came, and what way
they came into this Sea, and what their Captains
Name was, and if there were Wars in England?
My Lieutenant anſwered him to his demands:
My Lieutenant asked him, if they were in peace
with the Indians? He answered, that they were
at Wars with them round about, wafting his Hand
round the Harbour, and that they were valiant
People and very barbarous, and fought on Horfe-
back,and did them much ſpoil; and that two days
before, the Indians came out of the Woods and
killed a Captain, as he ftood at his Duty by the
fide of the Fort, and cut off his Head and carried
it away, ſticking on their Lance. Hefhewed my
Lieutenant the place where the Indians came out
of the Woods, and the place where the Man was
killed. They feem to be very fearful of the In-
dians, for they will not ftir any way, but they
will have their Piece or their Lance with them.
It is a manifeft fign they are much affraid of the
Indians: alfo they have no more ground than the
Fort; neither do they clear any of the Woods on
this fide of the Harbour, nor walk at a Mufquet-
fhot diflance from the Pallifadoes, along the
Woods-fide. The Spaniards fay that the Indians
have much Gold, and that their Armour for their.
Breft is fine beaten Gold, &c.
In the Afternoon a Dinner was brought out of
the Fort to the Tent, where they were,and placed
on the Table: The firft Courfe was Soppas, then
Olleos,
to the Streights of Magellan.
89
Olleos, then Pullets, then freſh Fiſh, all drefled
with hot Sawce, and very good Diet it was; the
laft Courſe was Sweet-meats: every
Courſe was
ferved in Silver Diſhes, and all the Plates were
Silver, and the Pots and Stew-pots, and all the
Utenfils belonging to the dreffing of the Provi-
fions were Silver; the Bafon wherein they brought
Water to waſh their Hands was in like manner
made of Silver, very large, and the Hilts of the
Soldiers Swords were Silver, but the Hilts of the
Officers Swords were Gold of good value: More-
over, the Plate at the But-end of the Stock of
their Muſquetoons was of the fame Metal, and
the Pipe that the Rod runs in was Silver; as alfo
the tip of the Gun-ftick, and their Tobacco-
Boxes, and Snuff-Boxes, and the Staves which
they walk with were headed and ferrelled with
Silver, and ferrelled on the joints with Silver. In-
deed they are Maſters of much Silver and Gold,
and it is but little eſteemed among them.
Their boaſting was Plata no vallanada muchoro in
terra.
Four Spanish Gentlemen defired to go aboard
with my Lieutenant, and fee the Ship, and Pilot
her into the Harbour, if I would come in, which
they did not queftion but I would, as I under-
flood afterward by a Spaniard that came aboard
to me, who revealed to me their whole Defign,
how they intended to ſurpriſe the Ship, which I
ever took care to prevent, giving them no oppor-
tunity: For it hath been a general practice with
the Spaniards in America, to betray all forein In-
tereft in theſe parts; as I had read of their trea
cherous
{
90
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
cherous dealings with Captain Hawkins at Saint
Juan de Ulloa.
I had much Difcourfe with the Spanish Gentle-
men this day concerning Baldavia, and the Coun-
try of Chile: They tell me they have much Gold
here at Baldavia, and that the Natives do much
hinder their getting of it; for they are at cruel
Wars with them,and will not permit them to plant
any thing near here about,nor at Baldavia, but they
come and deſtroy it with Fire. And that the Na-
tives are very cruel and barbarous; if they take
any Spaniard they cut off his Head, and
carry it
away on their Lances end. Thefe Spaniards tell
me that they live here, as the Spaniards do at Ma-
mora in Barbary, having their Enemies round a-
bout them. Thefe Spaniards fay, that the Indi-
ans are tall Men, and of a Gigantick ſtature and
extreamly Valiant, and that they fight on Horſe-
back, eight and ten thouſand Men in Arms, and
well difciplin'd. The Indians have much Gold;
and their Weapons are long Lances, and Bows,
and Arrows, and Swords, and fome Mufquets,
which they have taken from the Spaniards, and
know how to uſe them in Service; taking alſo
Ammunition, &c. The Indians are very popu-
lous in the Land about Baldavia, and at Orfono,
and on the Iſland of Caftro, and at Chile, and
that they have much Gold on theſe parts about Or-
fono, and Chilue, and that they trade with the Spa-
niards, and give them Gold.
have fix great
This Captain faid, that they
Ships going yearly from Lima to
Iſlands, to the Port of Mannelos, and that they
the Philippine
have
to the Streights of Magellan.
91
;
have a great Trade with the Chineſes; and that
theſe Ships fail from the Calleo, that is the Port of
Lima in the Month of January, and their paffage
is but little more than two Months, from Lima
to the Port of Mannelos, and they fail it within
the Tropicks, and have much Eaſterly Winds
and they return back by the Northwards, to gain
the Wefterly Winds, which brings them to Cali-
fornia, and to the Port of Aquapulco, which lieth
on the Weft-Coaſt of Nova España,and from thence
they come to Panama, and then to the Port of
Lima. They bring rich Lading, much Silks and
other rich Commodities, and Spices and Callicoes.
The Mannellos have a great Trade with the Japone-
fes and Chineſes, which is very beneficial to them.
The Captain demanded of me whither I was
bound? I anſwered him, I was bound for China,
and that I had rich Lading for that Country; and
that I only touched in at this place, knowing here
were Settlements of the King of Spains Subjects,
hoping here to have Wood and freſh Water, and
refreſhing for my Men, whereby I might the bet-
ter proceed on my Voyage. He faid, I fhould
have what the Country would afford, and that
the Captain of the Fort had fent for Proviſions
for me, and that I might have Water on the
Shore-fide, pointing his Hand to the place which
was near by; the Captain faid, it was Aqua del
oro (which is Water of Gold in Engliſh.) This
faying cauſed me to laugh; then he faid, it came
running from the Hills where they find Gold, and
that there was Gold in that Rivulet. I asked
him how they get the Gold? He faid, they waſh
the
92
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
the Earth which is in the Mountains, and find
the Gold in the Bowl or Tray when the Earth is
wafhed out. And they buy much Gold of the
Indians, which they gather in the Gullies of the
Hills, which is washed in there by the Rains, and
fnow diffolv'd, which defcend from the high Moun-
tains, which they fay are very high and barren
Rocks, thirty Leagues In-land from the Sea-fhore.
The Land between thofe barren Hills and the
Sea-fhore, is mighty good Land, and the Country
very fruitful, abounding in many Plains, and
much Cattle that the Indians have, as Horfes and
Cows,and Goats and Sheep, which they have taken
from the Spaniards, fince they came into this
Country. The Spaniards call the high rocky
Mountains the Andes, and fay that thofe Andes
run all along the Land from Magellan Streights in
a row to S. Martha, which is in Terra firma, not far
from Cartagean.
?
.།
{
The moſt Gold in all the Land of America is
in Chile, as what is known at this time. But I
find the Spaniards have but little knowledge of
the Land all along to the Southward, from Balda-
via to the Streights Mouth, as far as I can under-
ftand by them, excepting at the Ifland of Caftro:
There they have a Settlement, and on the Main
against Caftro at a place called Orfono: At thefe
two places they have good ftore of Gold, and
there are many Indians: but farther Southerly
than Caftro, they know nothing of the Country,
or of the Sea-Coaft. Caftro lieth in the Latitude
"of 43 d. 30m. the South end of the Ifland,
and the North end lies in the Latitude of
Hd.
40 m.
to the Streights of Magellan.
93
40 m. It is a fine Iſland, and near the Main, there
grows good Wheat on it. The Spaniards are but
few in number there, but there are many Indians,
and thoſe too valiant and of a large ftature;
but not Giants as I underſtand : Thefe Indians
have Wars with the Spaniards, and will not fuf-
fer them to ſearch the Country for Wealth.
A Ship brought from Lima Proviſions for the
City of Baldavia and the Forts, and Cloaths, and
Ammunition, and Wines, and Tobacco, and Su-
gar; and fhe lades away from Baldavia Gold and
Bezoar Stone, and red Wool, &c. and Indian
Slaves that the Spaniards take here in theſe parts;
they carry them to Peru,and make perpetual Slaves
of them there; and the Indians of Peru they bring
hither, and make Soldiers of them againſt the
Chile-Indians, of which Soldiers there are many
hereabout, whom my Men faw when they were
at the Fort. There were about thirty Indians
and Muftefes Soldiers there, and fome fixteen
white Men who were Officers. Moreover, the
Spaniards make ufe of the Peru-Indians to Trade
with the Chile-Indians for Gold, although they are
at Wars. For they of Chile without doubt are de-
firous of Trade, whereby they may furniſh them-
felves with Knives, and Sciffers, and Combs, &c.
which are wanting among them; as alfo with
Arms that many times by ſtealth are fold to them,
although they be prohibited; Traders will be
dealing; fo as they can get benefit, they do not
confider the future danger by its means, provided
it miſs them at the prefent.
J
I
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Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
I asked them how far it was to Baldavia? they
anſwered me, three Leagues, and that the Boats
could go up to it, and that it was fituated by the
fide of the River and the Plains, and that there
were five
great Ordnances in a Fort to command
the City, and that there were one thouſand In-
habitants in the City of all forts of Men, Women
and Children. I asked him, if there were any
paffage by Land from Baldavia to the other parts
of Chile? they faid there was, and they fent eve-
ry Week, but they went with good Guards to go
fecure from the Indians. Then I asked them if
they built Shipping here? they ſaid no, but at
Velperrazeo they did build great Ships. I asked
them who lived in the Iſland of Mocha? they faid
Indians, many Men and Women, and that they
were Poco amigo's to them; in English, they were
but fmall Friends to the Spaniards. There are
many Sheep, Goats, Hogs and Hens, which the
Indians will fell for Hatchets, Knives and Beads.
As to the Iſland of St. Mary, the Spaniards are Ma-
fters of it, and have a Fort on it with five Guns,
but few Spaniards live there: it is plentiful of
Provifions, as Hogs, and Sheep, and Corn, and
Potatoes and they faid there is ſome Gold, that
the Indians have on the Iſland of Mocha, but they
will not part from it. The Spaniards did not care for
anfwering me to fuch things as I would gladly
have heard of thefe parts; for I laid the Draught
of all that Coaft on the Table before them, and
asked them who lived at this Port, and who lived
at that at fome places they would fay the Spa-
niards lived there, and at fome the Indians, but
they
to the Streights of Magellan.
95
they did not care to answer my defires, but frame
other Diſcourſes to wave mine. I find that they
are but little acquainted on the Coafts to the
Southward of Baldavia; they fay, they have Spa-
niards living on the Iſland of Caftro, and that much
Corn grows there, more eſpecially European
Wheat; and that on the Main there are Spaniards
living at a place called Orfono, which is againſt
Caftro, and that there they have Gold, and there
are many Indians, I asked him if Shipping could
go in between Caftro and the Main? they could
not tell me, or would not; but they ſaid ſome
Ships went thither, which come from Lima with
Furniture for the People.
The Anchoring at the Ifland of Mocha is on the
North-north-caft part of it, in a fandy Bay in
eight Fathom Water near the Shore; a North-eaſt
Wind is the worſt Wind for the Road: on the
South-fide of Mocha there lies a ledg of Rocks,
and fome broken Rocks on that part of the Iſland,
ſcattered from the Shore.
The Anchoring at the Iſland of St. Mary is on
the North-fide in a fine fandy Bay, in eight or
nine Fathom Water, a fine Birth from the Shore ;
the North-north-west Wind is the worst Wind for
that Road. There is Wood and fresh Water on
both the Iſlands, as the Spaniards report. The
Tides are but mean on the Coaft, and the Flood
comes from the Southward, and rife about eight
or nine feet Water.
The Iſland of Mocha lies in the Lat. of 38 d.
30 m. South.
The Iſland of St. Mary lies in the Lat. of 37 d.
14 m. South,
They
96
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
They have Apples, and Plums, and Pears and
Olives, Apricocks, Peaches, Quinces, Oranges,
Lemmons, and many other Fruits: There are
alfo Musk-Melons, and Water-Melons,&c. Theſe
Spaniards report it to be the fineſt Country in the
whole World, and that the People live with the
greateſt Luxury of any on the Earth; they enjoy
their Health with fo much delight, and have fo
much Wealth and Felicity, that they compare the
Land to Paradife, abounding above other Coun-
tries with all Delights for Mankind.
I faw a good Teſtimony of the healthineſs of
the Country; for theſe four Men who are on
Board, are as well-complexioned Men as ever I
faw in my days; and the People a-fhore, both
Men and Women of the Spaniards are well-com-
plexioned People, of a ruddy colour, and ſeem to
be mighty healthy. Some of the Men are very
corpulent, and look as if they came from a
very plentiful Country, where there is great
ftore of Provifions, and abundance of Gold and
Silver.
December 17. 1670. There went a-fhore in
the Boat eighteen of my beſt Men I had in the
Ship, and Men of good Obfervation to infpect
into matters of this Concern, which I had ac-
quainted them with; as touching the manner of
the Harbour, and the Fortifications the Spaniards
have, and the difpofition of the People; and
that it was my whole defire to have Confer
cnce with the Natives of the Country that are
at Wars with the Spaniards, if by any means pof
fible it may be obtained; for it is my whole de-
fire
to the Streights of Magellan.
97
fire to lay the Foundation of a Trade there for the
English Nation for the future; for I fee plainly this
Country is loft for want of the true knowledg of it.
My Men in the Boat obferved the Harbour
and the Fortifications, and took good notice of
the People. The Spaniards bought feveral things
of my Boats Crew: and paid for what things they
bought in good Pillar pieces of Eight; they would
not part from any Gold, although my Men were
defirous to have fome rather than Silver for their
Goods: neither would they part from any Bread in
payment, pretending that they fhould have Bread
to morrow from Baldavia. The things which
they bought of my Men at this time, were two
Fowling-pieces, which coft in England about twen-
ty fhillings a piece, and the Spaniards gave fix-
teen pieces of Eight apiece for them; and Cafes
of Knives of three fhillings the piece in England, the
Spaniards gave five pieces of Eight for them; and
for fingle ten-penny Wires, they gave a piece
of Eight a piece for them; and for ordina-
ry Leather-gloves, of ten pence the pair, they
gave a piece of Eight a pair; for Broad-Cloath-
Coats of the Seamens, which coft fixteen fhil-
lings in England, they gave nine pieces of
Eight for a Coat: They were very defirous
to buy Cloaks, and pieces of Bays-cloath. The
Men were very gallant in Apparel in their Pluſh-
Coats, and under-Garments of Silk and Silver
wrought together, and good Linnen, and good
Flanders Laces, and broad about the Crown of
of their Hats, in fashion of an Hat-band, and a
great Silk-fcarf with Gold Lace on the ends of
H
it,
98
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
it, that was croſs over their Shoulders: a ſhort
Cravat of Linnen about their Necks, and a Cane
in their Hand headed with Silver; their Shoes,
and Stockings, and Breeches after the Spanish fa-
ſhion. They were very kind to my Lieutenant
and Men, and treated them very courteouſly.
They were not permitted to go into the Fort,
but were entertained in a Tent by the Fort.
Four of the Spaniards Wives would needs
go into
the English Boat, and fit down on the Benches, to
fay that they had been in a Boat which came from
Europe. Theſe were very proper white Women
born in the Kingdom of Peru of Spanish Parents:
they never had been in Europe. The Spaniards
have fome Indian Women to their Wives: the
Women were all well Apparelled in Silks after the
Spaniſh faſhion, and about their Necks great Gold
Chains, and Pendants at their Ears of Saphir
Stones, &c.
The Captain of St. Jago's Fort prefented my
Lieutenant with a Silver Tobacco-box, and a Sil-
ver-headed Cane, and a Plume of Oſtriches Fea-
thers, which he wore on his Hat at the fame time:
the Feather of the Plume is but ſmall, nothing fo
good as the Barbary-Feather: this Plume was of
red, and white, and blew Feathers died in the
Country. I faw another Plume which a Spanish
Gentleman gave to Mr. Wood, which was black
and large, and a very fair one,made of the Oftri-
ches Feather of the Country. There are many
Oſtriches in the plain Lands, and Guianacoes,
which are the Beaſts that bear the red Wooll,
whereof Hats are made in England. There is much
of
A:
to the Streights of Magellan.
99
of this Wooll in the Kingdom of Peru and Chile.
My People could not by any means come to
Converſe with the Natives who are at Wars with
the Spaniards, and have the Gold, without viola-
ting the Spaniard's Power: for on the Shore with-
in the Harbour, the Indians made a Fire by the
Woods fide, and hung out a white Flag on a long
Pole, and kept wafting of it a long time. My
Lieutenant would have gone in his Boat to them,
but the Spaniards would not permit him, and faid
that they were their own People who lived there.
My Seamen which came aboard in my Boat,
came to me, and told me, that the Lieutenant had
been at Fort St. Jago, and had deliver'd my Mef-
fage there to the Captain, but he had no Order
for my fetching of Water, and that he wifhed my
Lieutenant to go to Fort St. Peter; which he did,
and a Frier and two Spaniards went over with him
in the Boat, the Flag of Truce flying in the Boat,
and the Trumpeter founding, according to my
Order, all the time till they landed at the Fort.
At their Landing, the Lieutenant was received
very courteouſly by feveral Spanish Gentlemen,
and defired to walk up to the Governour; which
my Lieutenant did to a Tent where the Go-
vernour was; the Governour received the
Lieutenant very kindly, and deſired him to fit
down. My Lieutenant prefented my refpects to
the Governour, and delivered to him the Cheeſe
and Butter, together with the Spice, Glaſſes and
Tobacco-pipes, which I fent to him, and acquaint-
ed him, that I fent him to defire to know if he
would be pleaſed to permit my Boat to Water
# 2
to
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Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
{
to day, for my Boats lay ready, and had the Cask
in them, and I waited his Anſwer. The Gover-
nour cauſed my Lieutenant and Mr. Fortefcue to
fit down, and drank to them in a Silver Bowl
with Chile Wine? He gave no Anſwer to the
Lieutenant at prefent, but ſent an Officer and
Soldiers and feized on my Boat; My Lieute-
nant defired to know what the meaning was that
poffeffion was taken of the Boat? The Gover-
nour anſwered, he had Order from Don Pedro
de Montaies, Captain General of Chile, to keep
them till the Ship was brought into the Har-
bour under the command of the Caſtle, and he
was forry he had no more Officers of the Ships
in poffeffion.
A Letter
to the Streights of Magellan.
701
Vera Copia.
A LETTER from Lieutenant Armiger to
Captain Narbrough.
Sir,
M²
Y felf and Mr. Fortefcue are kept
here as Prifoners, but for what
cauſe I cannot tell; but they still pretend
much Friendship, and say, that if you will
bring the Ship into the Harbour, you shall
have all the Accommodation that may be,
Sir, I need not adviſe you further,
I am,
Thomas Armiger.
December 18.
1670.
John Fortescue.
I examined my Seamen which came in my
Boat from the Lieutenant, and they related to me
the whole matter, and they believed that the Spa-
niards had a defign to betray the Ship, but they
could not agree among themfelves: I talked with
the two Indians that came aboard, they could
ſpeak the Spanish Tongue indifferently well; they
told me that I was a Friend to the Indians of the
Mountains, and that I was not a Spaniard: they
H 3
would
102
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
would needs know of me where my Country is,
and if I would come again; I made them an-
fiver, that my Country is a little way off, on the
other fide of the Sea,and that I would come again,
and bring Knives, Hatchets, Beads, Glaffes, &c.
and live in the Country with them, and that they
fhould fee my Country; and that my King would
give them many things, and they fhould live with
us; and that my King is the greateſt King in the
World, and Commands all other Kings, and that
our Names are English; the Indians laughed and
ſeemed to be very glad I bad them acquaint the
Indians of the Mountains, or In-lands, that I came
to fpeak with them, and that I was their Friend,
and would give them many Hatchets, and Knives,
and Swords, &c. if they would come to me, and
that I came purpoſely to ſpeak with them; and
that my Master the Great King of England, hath
fent them many things, and would willingly
fee them.
}
After theſe People had heard all that I faid to
them, they fat for a time mute, and confidering
of the Kindnefles they received from me and my
Company, and that they must go a-fhore again
under the Command of the cruel Spaniards, they
weeped extreamly, and uttered thefe words,
Numbra Spanalos muccho Deablo, &c. In English it
is, The Spaniſh men are much Devils, &c. I verily
believe that theſe poor innocent Creatures fpeak
truth, for they are great Devils in abufing theſe
poor Souls fo unmercifully as they do. In fight
of my Men the Spaniards with a great Staff would
ftrike an Indian on the Head as he talked with
him,
to the Streights of Magellan.
10}
him, and beat him all along, for no cauſe at all ;
but this they do to fhew their Greatneſs and Im-
periouſneſs. The beſt Name the Spaniards can
afford to call an Indian by, is Dog, and Devil, and
fuch like Names.
Thefe Indians fay, that there is much Gold in
the Land, and that the Spaniards have much Oro ;
I gave to each of theſe Indians a Knife,and a ſmall
Looking-glais, and fome Beads: they were very
thankful, and I put them in mind again to ſpeak
to the Indians of the In-land, that I would give
them Knives and Glaffes if they would come to
me. I was in great hopes all this time, that I
fhould have the opportunity to ſpeak with my
Golden Friends, by the means of thefe People;
for they feemed to be glad of the Meffage, or of
the things which I gave them to do it.
Thele People are of a middle ftature, ftrongly
fet and well-flethed; they are tawny coloured,
and have long black flaggy Hair; their Features
tolerable, of a fomewhat melancholy Coun-
tenance; they are very active in Body, and
hardy in enduring of Weather or Diet They
wear fmall Caps on their Heads like to Moun-
teers, and their Garment is a long Mantle; but
moſt of their Garments are a fquare piece of Wol-
len Cloth like a Carpet, of their own weaving
of the Wool of Guianacoes: they cut an hole
in the middle of this Carpet through which they
put their Head, and it hangs upon their Shoul-
ders, and covers their whole Bodies like a Cloak,
when it is buttoned down before. Some have
theſe Cloaks fo long as it reacheth down to their
middle-
H 4
f
104
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
middle Leg, and fome to the Knee; fome wear
half-Stockings on their Legs, but no Shoes nor
Shirts: fome have Breeches after the Spanish Fa-
fhion, but cloſe to their Thighs and Knees.
A NOTE which I fent to Lieutenant Armiger,
encloſed in a Letter.
L
Ieutenant, take what notice you can of
the Fortificatin of the Fort, and what
Strength they have of People in it, and whether
they are able to withſtand a Ship; and what
quantity of Provifions they have in it; and
whether Don Carlos be there; fend me an Ac-
count thereof by John Wilkins; I will uſe all
endeavours to have you off, when I underſtand
the firength of the place.
I remain your loving Friend,
John Narbrough.
Burn all the Letters you receive from me,
and in cafe of Examination
1
December
4
to the Streights of Magellan.
105
December 18. 1670. This Evening I took the
Suns Amplitude with my Compaſs, and I had a
good Obfervation. I find the variation of the
Compass to be eight Degrees ten Minutes Ea-
fterly.
I do much reaſon with my ſelf as to the Va-
riation, that it differs fo much in the fame Lati-
tude, between the Eaft and Weft-fide of the Land
of America; for on the Eaſt-fide as I failed in the
Latitude of forty Degrees, I found the Compafs
to have twenty Degrees variation Eaſterly, by
feveral good Obſervations, which I took with the
fame Inſtrument as I now do ufe, which is a large
Azimuth Compaſs; and here I find but eight De-
grees and ten Minutes variation; and it is but
eight Degrees of Longitude more Weſterly in the
fame Parallel, differing between theſe Óbferva-
tions, and the difference of Variation.
I find the Land to be but one hundred and
twenty five Leagues broad, from the Eaft-fide to
the Weft-fide, in the Latitude of forty Degrees
South of the Equinoctial; certainly the attractive
quality of the Magnet, muſt be very powerful in
the Eaſtern part of the Land, more than in the
Weſtern, which caufeth the difference: yet I ad-
mire, being on both fides of the Land, the Com-
pafs fhould always have the fame variation
Eaſterly. I was of the Opinion that the va
riation would have been Weſterly on the Weil-
fide, it being Eaſterly on the Eaft-fide: but I
find the contrary by experience; therefore I
believe that the attractive quality is not much in
this part of America, but in fome other part more
to
น
106
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
to the Eaſtward than I was; for if the attractive
quality had been in this Land,and I failing on both
fides of it, the variation muſt have been Eaſterly
on the one fide, and Weſterly on the other.
This Diſcourſe I leave to a better Underſtanding;
for I am not as yet fatisfied what occaſioneth the
variation and the great difference of it,although I
have been on ſeveral Voyages, and have made
great benefit of the Underitanding of the va-
riation of the Compafs, in directing of the true
Courſe, &c.
In the Port of Baldavia there are three fair
Rivers, which come out of the Country, and
empty themſelves into the Port with a brisk ftream
of freſh Water, which caufeth the ftream always
to fet out of the Harbour, and the Waters to be
freſh juſt within the Harbours-mouth: one Ri-
ver runs up into the South-caft part of the Har-
bour into the Country; another River runs into
the Country to the Eaſtward, on the back-fide of
St. Peter's Fort: the third River runs into the
Country, about the North-point of the Harbours-
mouth, between the point and the North-end of
St. Peter's Iſland: it runs up in the North-Eaſt-
ward, and nine or ten Mills ftand upon the River
from the Harbours-mouth. The City of Balda-
via is fituated on the Bank of the River,as the Spa-
niards tell me.
I judge this City of Baldavia is but a ſmall
place, and kept only as a Garrifon, and a place
for Trade with the Indians for Gold, Bezoar-
ftones, Guianacoes-Wooll, &c. The Spaniards
that were aboard, and the Indians faid, that there
were
to the Streights of Magellan.
107
were but five great Guns in it, and three hundred
Men. I know that they ſpeak of the moſt of
every thing in the matters as concerning their
ſtrength and number of Men.
I believe that theſe Rivers may run into the
Country a long way, and the Spaniards to have
but little knowledge in the inward parts of this
Country: for the Indians will not fuffer the
Spaniards to fearch into the In-lands. I believe
alſo that theſe Rivers are not Navigable for Ship-
ping; for the Bark which was there would cer-
tainly have gone up the River to the City of Bal-
davia, and delivered her Goods there, and not
troubled themſelves to carry the goods up in Boats,
and fmall flat-bottomed Barges, which they have
there for the purpoſe: The Barges are built much
like our Weft-Country Barges, and ſmaller by
much. Theſe Boats or Barges will carry about
ten or twelve Tuns: they iteer with a Rudder,
and have one Maft and Sail, as our Barges have;
the Sail is made of Cotton-cloth, and the Ropes
are made of the rind of Mangrove Trees; and in-
ftead of Anchors, they have wooden Crab-claws
or Kellocks. Anchors of Iron and Grapnels are.
ſcarce in theſe Countries: Ropes and Cables of
Hemp are alſo ſcarce there, and good Fir-mafts
much wanted in all theſe Countries for their
Ships. The Mafts for their Ships are made of
white Cedar, and fuch like Wood; they are very
heavy and fhort-grained,and will break ſhort.There
are not any Fir-trees growing in all the Land:
Good Workmen for the building of Ships are al-
fo much wanted here, and Seamen.
The
108
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
The ſmaller Boats which they have here are
Canoas, being cut out of the Body of a large
Tree, and ſhaped fomewhat like a Shallop at the
ends: fome are thirty feet long, and built one
ftrake of Board upon them, to raiſe them higher
on their fides; they will carry near twenty Men
a piece fome are rowed with Oars, and ſome
are leſs, and rowed with Paddles: thofe which
are walt, have a great Beam laſhed faft along each
fide without Board, which keeps them from over-
fetting. Theſe Boats are very ill built, for I faw
not any one of them fit to row in any Sea-gate,
or for any Service, or to carry any Perfon of Qua-
lity in. The Indians are the Spaniards Slaves to
row them to and fro, and to do all manner of
labour; for the Spaniards will not lay their Hands
to any thing in that nature, accounting it beneath
them to foul their Fingers with Work; for they
fcorn to be Servants one to another, let the one be
never ſo Potent, and the other not worth the Rags
which he weareth: yet he fcorns to be a Servant
to him, and live in America.
The Land about the Harbour of Baldavia is of
a good height, and in Land it riſeth in large
Hills: it is low by the Water-fide, and the Shore
is fandy in fome Bays, and broken fhatty bits of
glittering Rocks like Gold, lie fhatter'd along by
the Shore-fide. All the whole Country is over-
grown with green Woods,as what I could fee of it,
and by the Rivers fides: there is no travelling in
the Woods, they are fo thick with Under-brush,
old rotten Trees, and Leaves, and fuch Trash.
The
to the Streights of Magellan.
109
The Harbour is near a Mile and an half broad,
and the Guns cannot command from one fide to
the other: St. Peter's Fort is near two Miles from
the Harbours mouth; any Ship may come in and
beat them from their Guns, in St. Jago Fort, and
in St. Andrew's Sconce, which are on the South-
weft fide of the Harbour. After you are in, Saint
Peter's Fort can do very little or no hurt at all to
your Ship, excepting it be accidental dropping
fhot. The Spaniards have no Plantation on this
South-weft fide, they only keep the Forts for
poffeffion, that no forein Ship may come and
have the Port free to ride in, and Trade with
the Natives. The Harbour is like a Sound,
after one is within the Mouth of it toward the
South part.
Here grow many good Canes on the Shore-
fide, fuch as are brought from the Eaft-Indies,
which are called Bamboas ; theſe are very ſtiff
Sticks, firm and heavy; they grow among the
Trees on the fides of the Woods like Vines, and
wind about the Trees: fome are above twenty
feet long, and taper from the root to the top, like
an Angling-Rod.
All Commodities which come from Europe are
very dear here, and fcarce, for they have none
brought to them, but by the way of Panama, and
by the River of Plata, which pafs through feveral
Merchants hands before they come into thefe
parts, and the tranſporting of them from place to
place, is very chargeable. Many alfo are but of
little eſteem, here being fuch plenty of them:
French Hollands, Silks, Flanders-Laces, Silk-
ftockings,
110
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
ſtockings, Ribbaning, French Linnen, Looking-
glaffes, and fuch like Commodities were much
enquired for here, and would have fold at great
Rates.
Gun-powder for Fowling-pieces, is worth a
piece of Eight per pound: and Bird-fhot is worth
two Ryals of Plate a pound, and a Ryal and an
half a pound. All Commodities of European
Workmanſhip are of great worth here, as I under-
ſtand; and believe that more Northerly on the
Coast of Chile about Vale Parazo, and Coquinto,
and Areca, where there are more Inhabitants,
Commodities would bear a much greater price
than what I mention, and there would vent grea-
ter quantities: for Silver is more plentiful by
much in theſe parts than at Baldavia, they be-
ing nearer the Mines of the Potofea; for the
Silver of Potofea comes down to the Port of
Areca, and from thence it is carried to Lima by
Sea
I am of Opinion that the moſt advantageous
Trade in the World,might be made in theſe parts,
if it were but follow'd, and that leave were grant-
ed by the King of Spain for the English to Trade
freely in all their Ports and Coafts: for the Peo-
ple which inhabit there are very defirous of a
Trade: but the Governours durft not permit it
without Orders, unlefs fuch Ships of force were
to go thither and Trade per force, and not take
notice of the Governours; which might be eafily
performed by four Ships of twenty and thirty
pieces of Ordnance a Ship; and I believe that
the Natives in the Southern parts of Chile, about
Caftro,
to the Streights of Magellan.
111
Caftro, and Orfono, and at Baldavia, would be
brought to a rich Trade of Gold, when once they
grew to be acquainted with thoſe that ſhould be
employed on the defign, and they did but uſe
them civilly at the firft, and gain their loves;
which may be eaſily done by giving them Knives,
Sciffars, Glaffes, Beads, Combs, Hatchets, and
the like Commodities, and treat them kindly.
For what I underſtand by the Indians, who were
aboard of me, they are Mafters of the Golden
part of the Country.
My intent being, if Weather permit me, to
fail all along the Coaft from Baldavia to the
Southward, till I come to the Streights-Mouth at
Cape Defade. I came in great hopes to meet with
the Indians in fome part of the Coaſts, and to
Trade with them for Gold, and to find good Har-
bours. I refolve alſo to ſee in at the Iflands of
Caftro and Orfono, and try what I can find among
thofe Spaniards who are fettled there, and whe-
ther they live accordingly as the Spaniard in-
formed me here.
The Names of the four Men of my Company,
whom the Spaniards detained at Baldavia, and
whom I left there.
Thomas Armiger Lieutenant, aged forty Years,
and born in Norfolk.
John Fortescue Gentleman, aged twenty feven
Years, and born in Kent.
Hugh Cooe Trumpeter, aged twenty eight
Years, and born in Wappen.
Thomas
112
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Thomas Highway Linguift, aged thirty five
Years, and born in Barbary of Moorish Parents :
He turned Chriftian and lived in London. This
Thomas Highway is a Tawny-Moor; he fpeaks the
Spanish Tongue very clear, for he had lived for-
merly at Cadiz with an English Merchant,
All theſe four were very healthy found Men,
and of good Preſence and Spirit; which gives me
great hopes that they will live to give an Account
of that Country, and of their Travels.
Cape-Gallery, which is the outermoſt Point on
the South-fide of the Harbour of Baldavia, lieth
in the Latitude of thirty nine Degrees, fifty ſeven
Minutes, South of the Equinoctial; as alfo in Lon-
gitude to the Weftward of the Meridian of the
Lizard of England, ſeventy Degrees, twenty Mi-
nutes, according to my Account; and in Meri-
dian diſtance, one thoufand one hundred and
eight Leagues Weft; and in Longitude Eaft from
the Weſt-mouth of Magellan Streights and Cape-
Pillar, two Degrees and forty Minutes; and in
Meridian diſtance 42 Leagues neareſt, according
to my reckoning.
Thursday December 22. This Morning it
prov'd very fair Weather; at Day-light the Wind
was at South-weft, a fresh gale; the Sea indifferent
fmooth: I plied to the Windward along the
Coafts, and was about three Leagues off the
Shore, ſomewhat to the Southward of Cape-Gal-
lery, out of fight of the People of Baldavia; for
the Cape was thut in with the Land to the North-
ward of the Harbour. At twelve of the Clock I
had
to the Streights of Magellan.
113
had a good Obfervation of the Sun with my
Quadrant; and I found my felf in the Latitude
of 40 degrees 3 minutes South: I was then three
Leagues off the Shore, and could not get ground
at eighty Fathom. I was to the Southward of Bal-
davia Harbour.
December 31. This afternoon it blew hard at
N. W. and rained; I fteered South-weft and by
South, by my Compafs, this Afternoon and to
Night. Here are feveral forts of Porpus Fishes
in theſe Seas, unlike ours in Europe: fome pied
white and black, and fome grey and large ones.
Rainy Weather to Night, and no Obſervation to
be made of the Shore.
· January, Anno Dom. 167;.
Sunday, January L. Raw, cold, cloudy Wea-
ther; Rain and fome Hail, the Wind at N. W.
a ftout gale, and a great Sea: I was much afraid
that I fhould loſe my Main-maft, it fetched fuch
way, and broke the ſpikes that faſtned the Fetches
with working. I fteered S. S. W. to ease the
Ship from rolling what I could. After ſeveral
Courſes made from Saturday Noon till to day
Noon, I make the true Courſe to be South 39
oom. Wefterly, and diſtance, failed 105 Miles,
and departure Weft 66 Miles, and difference of
Longitude ror d. 37 m. 4 tenths: difference of
Latitude 1 d. 22 m. 3 tenths: Latitude by Ac-
count 47 d. 47 m. South.
d.
Wednesday January 4. Indifferent fair Wea-
ther, the Wind at North-weft, and fometimes at
W.N.W. a fine gale: I kept on my Courſe South.
Some Porpus Filles feen to day, and fome Whales
I
and
A
114 Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
and Sea-Fowl: many little Peterels. This Morn-
ing I took the Suns Amplitude, and I find the
Compass to have 10 Degrees z 8 Minutes varia-
tion Eaſterly; My Courfe made. true from Tuef-
day Noon till to day Noon, is South; diſtance
failed 84 Miles, and the difference of Latitude
is 1 d. 24 m.8 tent. Lat. by good Obfervation of the
Sun on the Meridian 51 d. 31 m. South: Meridian
diſtance from Point-Gallery, Weft 70 leag.r mil, 5 ten.
Longitude at Noon from Point-Gallery, Weft 4 d.
48 m. 4 ten. Longitude at Noon from the Lizard,
Weſt 75 d. 3 m. 4 ten. Meridian diſtance from the
Lizard, Weft 1178 Leagues, 1 Mile, 5 Tenths.
I
Friday January 6. Hafey, foggy Weather this
Morning, the Wind at W. S. W. a ftout gale: I
fteered in for to make the four Iflands, which I
called the Ifles of Direction, or to make Cape Dea
hade: My Courfe was E. N. E. by my Compass,
the Nights being but fhort, and light; for the
Moon was at the full, fo that I could fee at fome
time clear a League before us.
At four of the Clock this Morning, it being
fair day-light, I caufed the Lead to be caft forth,
but could not get ground at eighty Fathom: I
reckon my
my ſelf about ten Leagues from Cape De-
fiad, and on the Latitude of 52 d. 53 m. South.
A little paft four of the Clock, it cleared up on
the Eaft Horizon: we looked well abroad, and
faw the four Ifles, called The Directions, which lie
at the Mouth of the Streights N. N.W. from Cape
Defiade, diftance from thence abought eight
Leagues. Thefe Iflands made in four Hommac-
cors like Hay cocks, when I faw them they bear
N. E.
to the Streights of Magellan.
115
N.E. of me, diſtant about four Leagues: they lie
in the Latitude of 52 d 42 m. and at five of the
Clock the Iſlands bore North of me, diftant three
Leagues off; I founded, but could not get ground
at 70 Fathoms; I ſaw Cape Deftade; it cleared up,
for the Fog was much on the Hills; the Cape was
E.S. E. of me, diftant near eight Leagues: the
tops of the ragged Hills, or rocky Spires were
clouded with the flying Fog, fo as I could not fee
the Cape fooner; for in clear Weather, the Land
at Cape-pillar and Cape Deftade may be ſeen fif
teen or fixteen Leagues, it is fo high and
ragged.
I fteered by Cape-pillar Eaft and by South, the
Wind at Weft-fouth-weft, a freſh galė; a great
humming Sea ran here, which came out of the
South-weft; I faw the Sea break upon broken
ground, which lieth at leaſt four Leagues from the
point of Cape Defiade Weft into the Sea, and many
Rocks that were funk, and prints of Rocks above
Water, which the Sea breaketh terribly: theſe lie
off Cape Defiade about two Leagues, and a
League, and ſome not half a Mile off, very dan-
gerous.
As I came nearer the Streights-mouth, I raiſed
the Land on the North-fide by Cape Victory, and
the broken Iſlands within the Streights, which I
called Westminster Ifle, and the Lodgers Ifle: they
make ragged in Hillocks at the first fight. At
nine of the Clock Cape-pillar bore South of
me, being diftant about a Mile and an half
from me.
I 2
No
116
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
No Tide or Current as I could perceive, fer
either in or out of the Streights, fo as to preju-
dice Navigation.
4
Ι
The difference of Longitude, Eaſt is 1 d. 39m.
tenths: the Latitude by my Account now, is but
52 d. 51 m. South: but formerly my Account of
the Latitude of this place, was South 52 d. 58 m.
Meridian diſtance at 9 of the Clock,from Point
Gallery, Weft 35 leag. 00 mil. ..
{
Longitude at 9 of the Clock, from Point Gal-
lery, Weft 2 deg. 43 min. 1o.
Longitude at 9 of the Clock, from the Lizard,
Weſt 73 d. 3 m. to.
3
Meridian diſtance at 9 of the Clock, from the
Lizard, Weft 1153 leag. 00 mil. to.
I find but very little Tide or Current in this
Sea of Mare del Zur; for I am but 3 Minutes of
Longitude out of my Account, in failing between
Cape-gallery and Cape-pillar, forwards and back-
wards.
At any time if you have a defire to enter the
Streights of Magellan at the Weft-mouth, it will
be ſafeſt in my Opinion, to bear in for the Land,
in the Latitude of 52 Degrees, and 50 Minutes
South, and then you will fee the four Ifles of
Direction, which lie before the Mouth of the
Streights, fomewhat toward the North-fide; they
lie North-north-weft from Cape-pillar, near eight
Leagues diftant. Theſe Iſlands may be known,
for there are but four of them, and they be but of
an indifferent height, and but ſmall, and bare ir-
regular Rocks, and they be near together: the
Eaſtermoft Ifle is near a Mile diſtant from the o-
ther
to the Streights of Magellan.
117
ther three, and it is peeked up like a Sugar-loaf:
the Sea breaks much on theſe Ifles with Wefterly
Winds, &c. Cape-pillar is the fteep Point of Rocks
on the South-fide of the Streights-mouth, at the
entring into the Streights; Cape Defiade is the
Weſterly Point, for it falleth off from Cape-pillar
near South-weft, and they are diftant about two
Leagues one from another, which is the Face of
the Lands between theſe two Capes: for at the
Point of Cape Defiade, the Land on the South-fide
of the Cape trents off to the South-fouth-eaſt-
ward, all high ragged rocky Mountains: what
I faw of it, at the pitch of Cape Defiade, there lię
many ſhatter'd Rocks which are above Water, and
fhew like the Ruins of old Houfes: and there are
ledges of Rocks that are funk, which lie near four
Leagues off of the Cape, Weft; the Sea breaks
much on them, and they are dangerous: they lie
in the Latitude of 53 d. 10m. South, by my rec-
koning; I called thefe Rocks The Judges; they
are near ten Leagues diftant South and by Weit
from the Isles of Direction, ſo broad is the firſt
opening of the Streights; for when you can but
once fee the Land, to make it, there is no dan-
ger; but a Stranger that fhould paſs out of the
South-fea, and had not paffed the Streights be-
fore, will find it very difficult to pass the Streights
from the Weſt to the Eaft; for at the first entring
into it out of the South-fea, as we call it, there
are many Openings and Sounds on the North-
fide, which feem fairer for a paffage than the
Streight it felf doth: therefore it is beft to keep
the South-fide, far aboard all along from Cape-pil-
Į 3
lar,
1
118
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
lar, which is the point at the Entrance: the
Courſe will be Eaft and by South for a Mile or
two, and then Eaſt-fouth-eaſt, and South-eaſt
and by Eaſt: ſo the Channel lieth to Cape Quade.
The North-fide of the Streights from Cape Vi-
ctory, all along to the Eastward to Cape Froward,
is all a ragged, rocky, mountainous, defolate
Country; many high rocky Iſlands, and ſmall
Rocks, and fucking Rocks lie on the North-fide
of the Streights, at coming out of Mare del Zur,
fifteen Leagues in diftance into the Streights to
the Eaſtward. There alfo run great Sounds and
Waters into the North-Land, which fhew like a
paffage more than the Streights doth. There is
no fafety for a Ship to keep the North-fhore a-
board in this part; for here lie fo many Iſlands
and Rocks, fo that if the Weather prove foggy
and thick, a Man may miſtake the right Chan-
nel, and ſteer in among the broken Iſlands and
Rocks, fo far as to endanger his Ship, if the
Wind be Weſterly, and it is for the moſt part of
the Winter there, very thick and foggy.
Here are many Sounds and Coves on the
North-fide, between Cape-Victory and Cape Quad:
but how far they run into the Land, I know not.
I wanted a Sloop, or fome other fmall Veffel, to
diſcover thoſe Sounds: and many other places in
the Streights, which I would gladly have feen.
January 6. In Tufday-bay and Iſland-bay, there
grow thick fhrubby Bufhes on the lower Land,
which have many Berries like Hurts growing on
them: theſe Buſhes grow in a moffy loofe Earth,
which licth four or five Feet thick on the Rock';
thefe
to the Streights of Magellan.
119
theſe Buſhes will ferve for Fuel: there grows alſo
long fedgy Grafs very thick; many Geefe and
Ducks do make their Nefts and breed in it, and
other Sea-Fowl: here are Ducks, white and pied
brant-Geefe, grey Gulls, Sea-Mews, Sea-Divers
and Penguins on the Water; I could not fee any
People now, but fome have been there; for I faw
where they had made Fires, and an Arbour.
Here are Muſcles and Limpets on the Rocks, but
as for other Fiſhes I faw none. I rowed two Miles
up the Sound, and could have gone farther, but
it rained fo much, and blew fo hard, as I durft
not be abſent from the Ship; the Water is mighty
deep in the Sound. At Night I got aboard, my
Seamen were joyful to fee me, for they were a-
fraid that the Ship would have broke loofe in the
time of my abſence. Much Rain to Night, and
Fogs, the Wind at Weſt-ſouth-weft, a fhort gale
at Night; I rode faſt on the ſmooth Water, ha-
ving the Point on the North-weft of me: Here is
a great deal of fresh Water comes running in
ftreams down the fides of the bare rocky Moun-
tains into the falt Water; many Whales fpouting
to and fro in theſe Bays and Sounds,and fome Seals
on the Rocks: this part is very defolate, and a
mere Chaos, &c.
At eight of the Clock this Evening, I anchored
before the place called Batchelors River, in nine
Fathom Water, clear fandy Ground, two Cables
length from the fhore. Here is very good clear
fandy-ground before the River, and good Ancho-
ring in fix, or ſeven, or eight, or nine, or ten, or
eleven Fathom: a fine barth of fhore,and good Ri-
1 4
ding
120
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
ding with Weſterly Winds, and Northerly: the
worlt Wind is a South-Wind, for it blows right
on in this Reach; but there cannot go much Sea
here; for the Streight in this Reach is but two
Leagues broad. This Batchelors River is near five
Leagues to the Eaſtward of Cape Quade, and two
Leagues to the Eastward of St. Jerom's Channel:
on the North-fide of it, the Tide runs of an in-
different ſtrength in this place, both Ebb and
Flood; it fets in and out of St. Jerom's Channel,
rifing and falling about eight or nine Feet per-
pendicular: here is not above ten Foot Water at
a High-water, at the going in of Batchelor's River.
This River is a good Harbour for Barks and
Sloops, or the like. This River lieth in a Valley,
and a fine Grove of green Trees grows on the Weſt
Point: At the entrance here is very good freſh
Water, and a good place to Wood at.
dian People or Natives frequent this place often;
for here are many Arbours, which are their Houſes:
Calm Weather to Night, and Foggy; I rode faſt,
the Ship being moored.
The In-
Sunday January 8. Calm Weather, and a fine
warm Sun-fhine; This Morning at Day-light, I
went in my Boat with twenty Men into Batchelor's
River, and rowed four Miles up the Creek, or
River, which was as far as the Boat could the
go;
Water being high: the River ends in a ſmall
Creek, coming out of a Lake of fresh Water, in a
Valley amongſt the Hills: we made the Boat
faſt, and marched all into the Land five or fix
Miles, being ſtop'd from going further, by Hills
rifing very ſteep,and Mountains, and impenetrable
Woods:
to the Streights of Magellan.
121
Woods: we made feveral Fires, but could not fee
any fign of them fo far in the Land. No Beaſt
or other Creature to be feen; many ſmall ſtreams
of freſh Water come running from the fnowy
Mountains, with great Falls from the ſteep Rocks:
we looked in many places of the Earth, and in
the ſtreams of Water for Gold, &c. but found
none, nor any other Metal or Mineral: Here
grow on the Buſhes many ſmall red Berries, much
likę Hurts, very good to eat; the Graſs-Land iş
very looſe and Boggy: the Rocks are a kind of
white Marble; the Trees like thofe at Port Fa-
men; here are ſmall Pepper-trees. To Night Igor
on Board; Calm Weather: I rode faft with the
Ship.
Here ends Sir John Narbrough's Manufcript
Journal, which we ſhall continue home to England,
from the MS Diary, taken by Sir John's ingeni-
ous Lieutenant, Nathaniel Pecket.
Wedneſday January 11. Fair Weather,Wind va-
riable, from South-eaft to South-weft. This Morn
ing we made the beſt of our way to get into Port
Famen; Here we had Fiſhes from the Shore to Fiſh
our Main-maſt: At twelve a Clock we Anchored
in nine Fathom Waaer. This place afforded what
we wanted, as very good large Trees for Fishes:
good Water, good wild Fowl, good Fiſh, like
Mullets, and large Smelts. Here we fitted our
Ships Mafts, and Rigging as well as we could
Careen'd her, and filled our Casks with good
freſh Water, and took as much Wood aboard, as
we thought fit.
7
Fanuary
ㅗ
​122
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
January 16. Fair Weather, and little Wind,
Weſterly. This Morning the Lieutenant was or-
dered to go up with the Boat in Segars River, as
high as he could with convenience, and to fee for
Indians: He went up about nine Miles, but could
not get higher with the Boat, by reaſon of the
Trunk-timber, and fhoalinefs in the Water. So I
landed, and went up two Miles by Land to ſee for
Indians: but I could not fee any, nor any thing
worth the Obfervation. How far the River runs
up, I know not, for I faw not the end of it: fo I
returned a-board again.
January 29. Fair Weather, and little Wind
at South-west. This Morning the Captain went
over with the Pinnace to the South-fhore to fee
for Indians, and if there were an Harbour for Ship-
ping, fhort of Port Famen. This day came an In-
dian to the Point of Port Famen, and made a Fire;
and I went a-fhore to fee what he had: but he
had neither Bow, nor Arrow, nor any thing elſe
to the value of a Farthing: I would have had
him come a-board with me, but he would not; as
far as I underſtood by the Signs he made to me
he had been a Slave to fome other Indians, and
had run away from them, and was travelling
home.
>
Tuesday January 31. Fair Weather, Wind va-
riable. This Evening the Captain came a-board
again, having been over on the South-fhore, to
fee for an Harbour, but could find none, nor fee
any Indians.
Saturday February 4. Fair Weather, Wind at
Weft by North. This Morning, at four a Clock
We
to the Streights of Magellan.
123
we fet Sail for Port Famen, and at eleven a Clock
we were ſhort of Fresh-water Bay; and at fix a
Clock in the Evening, we Anchored in twelve
Fathom Water, in a fine fandy Bay, about four
Leagues to the Northward of Freshwater Bay.
February 5. Fair Weather, but very much Wind,
at South-west, and Weft-fouth-weft. This Morn-
ing the Captain fent me to Freshwater Bay to fee
for Indians, but I faw none there, fo I returned a-
gain aboard.
February 7. Fair Weather, Wind Northerly.
This Morning the Captain ordered me to take
the Pinnace, and to go along the North-ſhore, and
between Elizabeth's Ifland and the Shore, to fee
for Indians. In the Afternoon, it blew hard Nor-
therly, that we could not row a head; fo I put
back into a fandy Bay, and went a-fhore, and ſtay-
ed there all Night; and in this Bay we haled
the fame, and got a great many good and large
Smelts: Smelts of twenty Inches long, and eight
Inches about.
Wedneſday February 8. Fair Weather, Wind
Weft-fouth-weſt. This Morning at four a Clock,
I run down the Streights with the Pinnace, keep-
ing the North-fhore a-board, and run betwixt it
and Elizabeth's Ifland, but faw no Indians: yet
faw feveral places, where they had been very
lately, and where they had built their Canowes.
From Cape Defiade to Elizabeths Iſland, there is
Wood and freſh Water plenty; but from Eliza-
beths Ifland, to Cape Virgin-Mary, Wood and freſh
Water is very ſcarce to come by. This Afternoon
at three a Clock, I got a-board again, and at four
a Clock
i
i
124 Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
;
a Clock, we came to an Anchor in eight Fathom
Water, black Sand; we rid within a Mile of the
North-fhore: St. Georges, and St. Bartholomew's
Iſland were both fhut in one,and they bore South-
fouth-eaft of me; and Elizabeths Ifland bore South
and by Eaſt And here we rid with the Ship all
Night.
February 9. Fair Weather, Wind Weſterly.
This Morning the Captain fent me to fee for In-
dians, but I could fee none; yet I fell with a good
Harbour for fmall Veffels, on the North-fide, and
at the South-end of a great deep Bay, thwart of
Elizabeths Ifland; the entrance of this Harbour
is not a Bow-fhot from fide to fide: I founded
it, and there was twelve foot Water at a low
Water; but within there was three Fathom Wa-
ter, at low Water: From the entrance of this
Harbour to the upper end of it, is about feven
Miles;
Here is in this Harbour great ftore of
Geeſe and Ducks; and a-fhore there is great ſtore
of Heath-berries, and Hicts, and fmall Black-
berries, good and well-tafted; but I faw no In-
dians, fo I returned a-board again; the Captain
went into another Harbour, a Mile to the South-
ward of the fecond Narrow on the North-fhore,
and founded, and had four Fathom Water in it;
it is very broad within, and there is great ſtore of
Sea-Crabs.
Saturday February 11. Fair Weather, Wind va-
riable. This day the Captain ordered me to go
with the Pinnace, and diſcover the North-fhore,
and if I could with convenience difcover fome
part of the South; and to go to the firſt Narrow,
and
to the Streights of Magellan.
125
and there to ſtay for the Ship; fo I went through
the fecond, and landed on the South-fide, in a fine
fandy Bay, or Cove, expecting to fall with Indi-
ans, for I faw a many Fires up in the Land; I
went up about five or fix Miles, but could fee
no Indians. Then the Night coming on, I re-
turned again to the Boat, and there we pitched a
Tent to lie in, and lay all Night; and at High-
water we fet the fame thwart a Pond of Water,
and there it ſtood until Low-water; then we hal-
led the Pond all over, and haled a-fhore about
700 good and large Fiſh like Mullets. This
Land is very dry, barren Land, and nothing to
be ſeen in it worth the Obfervation.
February 12. Fair Weather, Wind Northerly.
This Morning I went over to the North-fhore,
and there I fell with a fine fandy Bay; I founded
it, and had 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 Fathom Water a-
bove half a Mile from the Shore. This Bay is be-
tween the ſecond Narrow, and Cape Gregory; clofe
under Cape Gregory; this Cape is about five or
fix Miles to the Eaſtwards of the fecond Narrow:
here I landed, the Winds being Northerly, a
freſh gale, and haled the Boat up dry; and went
up into the Country to fee for Indians, but faw
none, and I returned to the Boat again, where
we pitched our Tent, and lay all Night.
February 13. Fair Weather, and a freſh gale of
Wind Wefterly. This Morning I run all along
the North-fhore from Cape Gregory,to the firſt Nar-
row and I was no fooner entred into the firſt
Narrow, but I ſaw three Anchors, which lay up
above High-water Mark, in a ſmall fandy Cove:
:
there
126
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
there I landed,and haled up the Boat; and fearch-
ed about to fee if we could fall with any Guns,
or other Trade. One of the Men found an Iron
Commander for fome Ships Poop: one of thofe
Anchors were twelve Foot long in the Shank,
and the other two were eleven Foot a piece, and
they were all Spanish Anchors. The Land here is
barren, dry Land, and affords neither Wood, nor
freſh Water; and for the ſpace of five,or fix Miles
about, the Land is full of Rats; they have Holes
in the Ground like Coney-burroughs: their Food
I fuppofe to be Limpet, for there is great ſtore
of Limpet-fhoals lying clofe to their Holes: I
faw no Indians here, nor any thing worth Obfer-
ving. Night coming on, we here pitched our
Tent, and lay all Night; here are very good
fandy Bays on the North-fide, all the way betwixt.
the first and fecond Narrow: for I founded all
along as I came down in the Boat, and had ten
and twelve Fathom Water, a good Burth off.
Tueſday February 14. Clofe, hafey Weather,
with fome Rain, and very much Wind Wefterly.
This Morning I faw the Ship coming down the
Streights; and after the was through the Narrow,
they brought her to, and I got a-board; and we
made all the Sail we could, and by Night we got
clear of the Streights into the North-fea; and at
three a Clock Cape Virgin-Mary bore North-weft;
a Point Northerly, diftance 4 Leagues.
Thurſday February 23. Fair Weather, the Wind
variable, from the North-north-weft, to the Weft-
north-weft. This Evening at nine a Clock, we
came to an Anchor in 22 Fathom Water, fandy
Ground
to the Streights of Magellan.
127
Ground on the South-part of America, in the Lat.
of 47 d. 16m. South; and then Cape-Blanco bore
North-north-west of me,diſtant about fix Leagues.
February 24. Fair Weather, and little Wind,
Northerly. This Morning we weighed, to go
to Port Defire-Bay, and in the Evening at fix
a Clock we Anchored in the Bay, in fourteen Fa-
thom Water.
·
1
February 25. Fair Weather, and a freſh gale
of Wind Eaſterly. This day the Long-boat went
into Port-Defire for fresh-Water, but could not fill
above five or fix Puncheons; for there was no
more to be had there, and all they brought a-
board was brackish: Fair Weather, Wind variable.
Sunday February 26. Fair Weather, and a freſh
Wind at South-fouth-weft. This Morning we fet
Sail from Port-Defire, to go for England; and at
twelve a Clock, I was in the Latitude of 47 deg.
10m. South. And then Cape-Blanco bore North-
weſt of me, but not by the Compafs; for here is
a Point and half variation Eaſterly and at four
a Clock Cape-Blanco bore Weft-north-west of me,
by the Compafs, diſtance nine Miles, and then
we had twenty Fathom Water: but when it bears
Weft-north-weft from you, and you are 8 Miles
off, you will have but ten Fathom Water. Here
is very good Sounding all the Coaſt along, from
this Cape to Cape Virgin-Mary, which lies in 52 d.
15 m. South. Within five Leagues off the Main,
and 30 Fathom Water; and 10
you will have 50, and 55 Fathom
25
you will have
Leagues off,
Water, it is black oafie Sand.
Wedneſday
128
Sir John Narbrough's Voyage
Wednesday May 17. The Weather fair. This
Evening at fix a Clock, we faw the Ifland of Saint
Mary, one of the Ifles of Azores, it bore Eaft-
north-eaſt of me, diſtant about fixteen Leagues
by Eſtimation fair Weather, Wind at South-
eaſt.
May 19. Fair Weather, Wind Eafterly. This
Morning at ſeven a Clock, the Town of Puntele-
gada, upon the Ifland of St. Michaels, one of the
Iles of Azores, bore North of me, diftant about
two Miles; and my Longitude difference from
Cape-Blanco to this Town is
My
Meridian diſtance from Cape-Blanco to this Town
is Leagues, Miles, Tenths, Eafting
this Town, lying fo far to the Eaſtward of the
Cape. This day the Captain fent me a-fhore to
Puntelegada, to enquire News from England, whe-
ther we had War, or Peace with any other Nation,
or not; and I was informed by Mr. Richard Nu-
cheufon, that we had War with none, but the Ar-
ged-Men. So I returned a-board again, and we
made all the Sail we could for England.
-
Tueſday May 23. Fair Weather, and much
Wind at North-eaft; our Proviſions being almoſt
done, and but little Water in the Ship; we bore
up to go for Angria at the Terceras.
May 24. Clofe,hafey Weather,and a freſh gale of
Wind at North-eaft and by North. This Forenoon
we Anchored in Angria-Rode, in fixteen Fathom
Water.
Friday May 26. Fair Weather, and little Wind
at North-eaſt. This Forenoon we fet Sail out of
Angria-Rode, to go for England.
Saturday
to the Streights of Magellan.
129
Saturday June 10. 1671. It was hafey, dirty
Weather, Wind at S. W. This morning I faw
Scilly, at feven a Clock; it bore N. E. by N. of
me, diſtant about 5 Leagues; and at fix a Clock
in the Afternoon the Lizzard bore North of me,
diſtant about 3 Leagues. Now, I make my dif-
ference of Longitude, from Cape Blanco to the
Lizzard in England, to be 60 d. 45 m. %. and
my Meridian diſtance is 840 Leagues; I am ſo
far to the Eaſtwards of the Cape.
Σ
K
4 Rela-
131
A Relation of a Voyage made towards the South
Terra Incognita; extracted from the four-
nal of Captain Abel Janſen Taſman, by
which not only a new Paffage by Sea to the
Southward of Nova Hollandia, Vande-
mens Land, &c. is diſcovered, and a vaſt
Space of Land and Sea incompaffed and fail-
ed round, but many confiderable and inftru-
Etive Obfervations concerning the variation
of the Magnetical Needle in parts of the
Worlds almoft Antipodes to us: and ſeveral
other curious remarks concerning thofe Places
and People are ſet forth. Not long fince
Published in the Low Dutch by Dirk
Rembrantfe, and now in English from
Dr.Hook's Collections.
I
N the year 1642. Aug. 14. He fet Sail with
two Ships from Batavia, to wit, the Yacht
Heemskirk and the Fly-boat Seehane; and
the 5. of September came to an Anchor
at the Ifland Mauritius 20 d. South Latitude, and
83 d. 48 m. Long. They found this Iſland 50
Dutch Miles more Eaſterly than by their reckon-
ing, which make 3 d. 33 m. of Longitude. The
K 2
8. of
i32 A Voyage made by Captain Tafman
izz
•
8. of October they departed from thence, and
went nearly South, till the 40, or 41 d. having
North-welt var. 23, 24, and 25 d. to the 22. of
October. From that time they bore away Eaft,
fomewhat Southwardly, till the 29. when they
were in South Latitude 45 d. 47 m. Longit. 89 d.
44 m. variation North-west 26 d. 45 m. The 6. of
November they were in South Latitude 49 d. 4 m.
Long. 114 d. 56 m. N. W. var. 26 d. with much
dirty, mifty, windy, and gufty Weather, and
with hollow Waves out of the S. W. and S. fo
that we could not conceive there could be any
Land very near upon theſe Points.
thefe Points. November 15.
Latitude S. 44 d. 3 m. Longitude 140 d. 32 m.
N. W. var. 18 d. 30m. which decreaſed apace,
fo that on the 21. being in 158 d. Longitude, the
variation was no more than 4 d. The 22. being
the next day, their Compaſs would not ſtand ſtill
as it ought, therefore they gueſſed there was
here fome Mines of Load-itone, for that their
Compaſs ſtood not ſtill upon any of the eight
Points. The 24. of November in South Latitude
42 d. 25 m. and their middle Longitude of 163 d.
50m. they faw Land E. by N. diftant from them
10. Miles, which they named Anthony van Die-
mens Land. Here the Compaſs ſtood right at
this Land in the Longitude of 163 d. 50 m. They
had much flormy bad weather, fo they went a-
way S. by E. along the Coaſt to 44 d. of South
Latitude, where the Land runs away E. and after
N. E. and northerly: here in the Longitude
167 d. 55 m. and Latitude 43 d. 10 m. they
came to Anchor in a Bay, which on the 1. of
December
towards the South Terra Incognita. 133
December they named Frederick Hendricks Bay:
They heard as they thought the noiſe of Men,
but faw none; they faw alfo two Trees about
two or two and a half Fathom thick, and 60, or
65 Foot high below the Branches; the Bark of
theſe Trees was cut with Flint, peeled off in form
of Steps, to help the Inhabitants to climb them,
and take the Birds Nefts thereon: thefe Steps
were about 5. Foot afunder, fo that we muſt ei-
ther conclude thefe People very great, or elſe
that they have ſome unknown trick to make uſe
of the faid Steps for climbing theſe Trees. In
the one Tree the Steps feemed fo freſh and green
as if it had not been four days fince they were
cut: the noiſe of men, and the play which they
heard was much like that of a Jews-Trump, or
little Gom, which was not far off, but they faw
no body. They faw the footing of wild Beaſts
having Claws like a Tyger, and of other Beafts:
They found alfo Gum of the Trees, and Gum-
Lac of the Ground. The Ebb and Flood was
here about three Foot. The Trees ftood not
thick, nor incumbred with thick buſhes or un-
derwood: they faw likewiſe in ſeveral places the
fmoak of fire. Here they did nothing but only
fet up a Stake with the Companies mark, and a
Princes Flag thereon; there was here 3 d. N. E.
variation. December 5. S. Lat.
41 d. 34 m. Long,
169 d. they went away E. from Anthony van Diemens
Land with purpoſe to run away E. to the Long. of
195 d. to find the Iſlands of Solomon. December
with S. Lat. 42 d. 37 m. Long. 176 d. 29 m. N E.
variation 5 d. Decemb, 12. they had hollow Waves
K 3
9.
out
f
134 A Voyage made by Captain Taſman
out of the S.W. therefore from that Quarter no
Land is to be expected.
December 13. Latitude S. 42 d. 10 m. Longi-
tude 188 d. 28 m. N.E. variation 7 d. 30 m. they
had Land in fight which was very high and hilly,
and which in the Charts is now called New Zea
land; they went N. Eaſtwards along the Land as
the Chart fhewed it, till they Anchored in a Bay,
in South Latitude 40 d. 50 m. Longitude 191 d.
41.m. N. E. variation 9 d. and that on the 18.
of December 1642. Theſe Inhabitants were rough
of voice, thick and grofs made, they came not
within a Stones caft on Board of us, and blew
feveral times on an Inftrument which made a noiſe
like a Moorifh Trumpet, in anfwer thereto we
blew ours.
Their colour was between Brown
and Yellow; they had black Hair, bound faft and
tight upon the crown of their Head, in the
fame manner as the Japanners have theirs be-
hind their Head, and near as long and thick of
Hair, upon which ftood a great thick white
Feather: their Clothes were of Mats, others of
Cotton, but their upper parts were naked.
December 19.thefe Antipodes began to be fome-
what bolder, and more free, fo that they indea-
voured to begin a Truck or Merchandize with
the Yacht, and began to come on Board; the Com-
mander feeing this began to fear, left they might
be fallen upon, and fent his Boat or Prow with
feven Men to advertiſe them that they ſhould not
truſt theſe People too much: they went off from
the Ship, and not having any Arms with them,
were fet upon by theſe Inhabitants, and three or
four
towards the South Terra Incognita. 135
four of them were killed, and the reft faved
themſelves by ſwimming: this they indeavoured
to revenge, but the water going high they were
hindred; this Bay was by them for this reaſon
named Murderers Bay, as it is marked in the
Charts. From this Bay they went on E. and
found the Land all round about them: It ſeems
a very good Land, fruitful, and well ſcituated, but
by reaſon of the bad Weather and Weſt Wind
they had a great deal of trouble to get out. The
24. of December becauſe the Wind would not
well fuffer them to go to the Northward, they
not knowing if they fhould find any Paffage to the
North, and the Flood coming out of the S. E.
they concluded to go back again into the Bay,
and there ſeek a Pallage; but the 26. the Wind
better ferving, they went away Northerly fome-
what to the Weft. January 4. 1643. in South
Latitude 34 d. 35 m. Longitude 191 d. 9 m.
N.E. variation 8 d. 40m. they came to the N. W.
cape of this Land, and had hollow Waves out of
the N. E. and therefore doubted not there muſt
be a great Sea in the N. E. whereupon they were
glad, as having now gotten a Paffage. Here lay
an Ifland which they named three Kings Island,
to which they went to refreſh themſelves, and
being come near they faw upon the Hill thirty
or thirty five Men, being of tall Stature (as well
as might be difcerned from far) with Sticks or
Clubs, who called to them with harsh or loud
voices, but they could not underſtand them
and thoſe Men when they walked made very wide
paces or fteps. In turning about this Iſland there
appeared
K 4
}
;
136 A Voyage made by Captain Taſman
appeared very few Men, and they faw little or no
Cultivated Land, but only found a freſh River,
where our People intended to get freſh water,
but by fome unlucky accident were prevented;
whereupon it was refolved to go with an Eaftern
Courſe to the Longitude of 220 d. and then
Northward to the South Latitude of 17 d. and
from thence Weftward to the Cocos and Horns
Iflands, firft difcovered by William Scouten; and
then if not fooner to recruit, for they had indeed
been upon Anthony van Diemens Land, but had
met with nothing, and upon New Zealand they
had not fo much as once been a-fhore.
Jan. 8. in S. Latitude 30 d. 25 m. Longitude
192 d. 20m., N. E. variation 9 d. they had great
Waves out of the S. E. fo that upon that Point
no Land can be hoped. January 12. South La
titude 30 d. 5 m. Longitude 195 d. 27 m. N. E.
variation 9 d. they had hollow Waves out of
the S. E. and S. W. January 16. in S. Latitude
26.d. 29 m. Longitude 199 d. 32 m. N. E. vari-
ation 8 d.
2
The 19. in S. Latitude 22 d. 35 m. Longitude
N. E. variation 7 d. they faw an
204 d. 15 m.
Inland about two or three Miles round, high,
fteep and barren in appearance; they would
willingly have come nearer to it, but could not,
becaufe of the S. E. and S. S. E. Wind; they gave
it the name of Piilftreets Islands, becauſe of the
multitude of thofe Fowls; the next day they
faw again two Iflands. The 21. of January in Š.
Latitude 21 d. 20 m. Longitude 205 d. 29 m.
N. E. variation 7 4 d. they came to the Norther
moſt
towards the South Terra Incognita. 137
moſt Iſland, which was the biggeſt and not high;
they gave it the name of Amsterdam, and the
other Middleburgh. On this Amfterdam they got
many Hogs, Hens, and all forts of Fruits; the
Inhabitants were friendly, had no Weapons, and
appeared to know no evil, excepting that they
take the liberty to Steal: there the Current is not
great, the Ebb runs near N. E. and the Flood S.W.
a S.W. Moon makes high Water, and it flows fe-
ven or eight Foot at leaft; the Wind is continu-
ally S. E. and S.S. E. wherewith the Yacht Hem-
skirk was a drift, but faved her felf off the
Iſland, yet took in no Water, which here was
not eafie to come by. January 25. in South La-
titude 20 d. 15 m. Longitude 206 d. 19 m. N. E.
variation 6 d. after having feen feveral little
Iſlands they came to the Inland Rotterdam, as you
fee it in the Chart. The People were friendly
and without Arms as the former, but likewife
very thieviſh: here they got freſh Water and other
refreſhment; they went through this Ifland, and
found the Cocos or Clappus Trees in great plen-
ty, planted orderly one by another, and Gardens
whofe Beds were made fquare and very hand-
fome, and fet with all forts of Fruit Trees, which
in almoſt all places were planted in a right Line,
fo that it was a pleaſure to behold them, on all
fides giving a fragrant and delightful fmell. From
this Inland Rotterdam they departed, and faw
ſome other Iſlands which you fee in the Chart,
and now defigned according to their former re-
folution to go away North till the 17. degree of
South Latitude, and then Weft; not to pass by
the
138 A Voyage made by Captain Talman
the Traitors and Hornefe Ifland; they had the
Wind at S. E. and E. S. E.
February 6. in South Latitude 17 d. 19 m.
Longitude 201 d. 35 m. they were intricated a-
mong about eighteen or twenty Iſlands, which
were all incompaffed with Sands, Shoals, Banks
and Rocks, which Iſlands are marked in the
Charts by the name of Prince Williams Islands
and Hemskirks Shoals.
February 8. In S. Latitude 15 d. 29 m. Longi-
tude 199 d. 31 m. they had a great deal of Rain,
and hard Wind out of the N. E. and N. N. E.
with hafey and dark Weather, and fearing left
they might be more Weftwardly than by their
Reckoning, that they might not fall to the South-
wards of Nova Guinea, or on unknown Coafts;
alſo by reaſon of the windy dark Weather they
concluded to go on N. or N. N. W. to 4, 5, or 6 d.
of South Latitude, and then away Weft to Nova
Guinea, and fo to be in lefs danger.
February 14 in South Latitude 16 d. 30 m.
Longitude 193 d. 35 m. till this time they had
every day Rain with Storms, but now 'twas more
Calm they halled the Ship Seahaen and found
their Reckonings to agree.
:
d.
February 20. in S. Lat. 13 d. 45 m. Long. 193
35m. they had ftill thick, dark, mifty and rainy
Weather, the Sea coming out of all Quarters, and
the Wind variable. February 26. Lat. S. 9 d. 48 m.
Long. 193 d. 43 m. the Wind was conftantly N.W.
they had not had one dry day in twenty one.
March 2. Lat. S. 9 d. 11 m. Long. 192 d. 46 m.
N. E. variation 10 d. the Weather and Wind va-
riable.
towards the South Terra Incognita. 139
riable. March 8. Latitude South 7 d. 46 mi
Longitude 190 d. 47 m. Weather and Wind as
before. March 14. South Latitude 10 d. 12 m.
Longitude 186 d. 14m. N. E. variation 8 d. 45 m.
Before this, for twelve days time, they could get
no Obfervation, becauſe every day it was thick,
dark, and dirty Weather with much Rain.
March 20. South Latitude 5 d. 15 m. Longitude
181 d. 16 m. N. E. variation 9 d. the Weather
grew better. March 22. South Latitude 5 d. 2 m.
Longitude 178 d. 32 m. good Weather with
Eaſterly Trade Wind'; they got' fight of Land
four Miles Weft from them: it was a number of
fmall Iſlands, about twenty in all, named in the
Charts Onthong Java, which lye about ninety
Miles from the Coaſt of Nova Guinea. March 25.
South Latitude 4 d. 35 m. Longitude 175 d. 10m.
variation 9 d. 30 m. they were up with the
Iſlands of Mark, all found by William Scouten
and John le Mair, being fourteen or fifteen in
number: The Natives are Savage, and have their
black Hair tyed up like the Rogues of Murderers
Bay in Nova Zealandia. March 29. they pafled
by Green Ifland: the 30. by St. Johns Island.
April 1. in South Latitude 4 d. 30 m. Longitude
171 d. a m. variation 8 d. 45 m. they reached
the Coaſt of New Guinea at a Cape called by the
Spaniards Cabo Saint Maria, and went along the
Coaſt which lies about N. W. to Anthony Caens
Island, Gardeners Iſland and Fiſhers Island, to the
Promontory called Struis Hook, where the Land
falls away S. and S. Eaſtwardly which they fol-
lowed, and went Southerly until they fhould
difco
140 A Voyage made by Captain Tafman
diſcover the Land, or elſe find a Paffage to the
South. April 12. S. Latitude 3 d. 45 m. Longi-
tude 167 d. 00 m. N. E. variation 10 d. here
they had a fudden Earth-quake, that all they
that were faſt aſleep came up out of their Cab-
bins very much affrighted, imagining that the
Ship had ftruck upon a Rock, but cafting the
Lead, found no ground; they had afterwards
ſeveral ſhakes of the Earth-quake, but never fo
violent as the firft: they were then within the
Struis Hook, ftanding into the Bight Bay of
Good Hope. April 14. South Latitude 5 d. 27 m.
Longitude 166 d. 57 m. N. E. variation 9 d. 15 m.
Here they faw the Land from the E. N. E. into
the S. and fo on to the S. S. W. they intended
to find a Paffage between both, but found
this to be all one Land even into the Weſt,
wherefore they turned their Courſe Weſtward a-
long the Coaſt, and had much Calms. April 20.
in S. Latitude 5 d. 4 m. Longitude 164 d. 27 m. N.E.
variation 8 d, 30 m. by night they came by the
Burning Iſland, and faw a great Fire come out of the
top of the Hill; of which alfo William Scouten
writes they went between this Ifland and the
Main, and faw many Fires cloſe by the Water,
as towards the middle of the high Hill; whence
they argued this to be a populous and well in-
habited Ifland: they had along this Coaſt of
Nova Guinea much Calms, and faw frequently
drift Wood, as fmall Trees, Bamboes and other
filth, from the Land that came out from the Ri-
vers, which made them conclude that there are
many Rivers, and that it muſt be a good Land.
:
1
The
towards the South Terra Incognita. 141
ད
The next day they paft the Burning Mountain,
and went along the Shore W. N. W. April 27. in
South Latitude 2 d. 10 m. Longitude 156 d. 47 m.
they thought they were at the Iland Moa, but
it was Jama a little more Eaſterly than Moa; here
they got many Coco-Nuts and other things:
The People were wholly black, and what they
heard our People fpeak they could very perfectly
repeat, which is a certain fign that their Language
is very copious in Words, and difficult to be pro-
nounced, becauſe they uſe much the Letter R.
and fometimes two or three times in a Word.
The next day they came before Moa, where like-
wife they got much refreſhment; here by reafon
of contrary Winds they ſtayed till the 6. of May,
fo that they Trucked for near 6000 Coco-Nuts,
and 100 Bundles of Pyfanghs; about the be-
ginning of their Traffick on the Iſland Moa,
whether malicioufly or otherwife, one of our
Company was hurt with an Arrow ſhot by one
of the Inhabitants: whilft this paſt they were
getting their Ships nearer to the Land, where-
with this People were fo frighted, that of
their own accord they brought aboard him that
had fhot the Arrow, for us to do with him
what we pleaſed, and from that time they
were better to be ſpoken withal, whether it
were in their Traffick or otherwife, fo that our
People took pieces of Iron Hoops and fitted them
into Hafts, and made them ſomewhat bright and
ſharp, and ſo put them off for Knives. It is pro-
bable they ſtill remember what befel them with
William Scouten 27. years before: 'Twas in the
year
142 A Voyage made by Captain Tafman, &c.
year 1616. July 16. for they having dealt ve-
ry traiterouſly and perverfly with him; Jacob
le Mair went with the Ship cloſe to the Land be-
tween the Iſlands, and ſhot with his great Guns
along the Strand, and into the Woods, fo that
the Bullets flew through the Trees with a great
noiſe, whereupon thefe Negroes fled, and durft
not once peep out; but at length they grew very
tractable. May 12. in S. Lat. ○ d. 54 m. and
Long. 153 d. 17 m. N. E. variation 6 d. 30 m.
they failed along the N. fide of William Scoutens
Ifland; it feems that the People are nimble, and
that the Ifland is well inhabited, it is about 18
or 19 Miles long. May 18. S. Lat. o d. 26 m.
Long. 147 d. 55 m. N. E. variation 5 d. 30 m.
they had paft the Cape of good Hope and come to
the Weft end of New Guinea, a broken Point of
Land. They had much variable Calm and con-
trary Winds with rain: From hence they went
Southward for Seram, and came on the North fide
thereof. On the 27. of May they went on
through the Streights to the North of Boure or
Bouton, and fo for Batavia where they arrived
June 15. in South Latitude 6 d. 12 m. and Lon-
gitude 127 d. 18 m. the Voyage was finiſhed in
ten Months.
་
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200
A MAP of
NORTH EAST
AND
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Parts of the
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Buttons I.
BAY
St Thomas
Smiths Bay.
Kacluits I
Wale Sound.
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340
350
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320
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30
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143
▲ Relation of a Voyage for the Diſcovery of a
Paffage by the North Eaft, to Japan and
China; Performed in his Majefties Ship the
Speedwel, and Profperous Pink, Anno
Domini 1676. Where is shewed the
Reaſons and Grounds of the probability of
a Paffage before the Attempt, with some
good Obfervations made in the faid Voyage,
by Captain John Wood.
T
O Write a full Relation of all thofe
Navigators that have attempted to
find a Paffage by the N. E. to China
and Japan will be needleſs, fince their
Narratives have paffed moſt Hands, they being
Recorded in Hackluit and Purchafs; but my in-
tent is to fhew wherein thoſe failed that have
formerly undertaken it, and then to fhew the
probable Reaſons that induced me to undertake
the faid Voyage, with the event thereof.
A
The firſt that ever Attempted the faid Voyage
was Sir Hugh Willoughby in the year 1553. with
three Sail of Ships, and he failed to the North
Cape of Finmarke, and then into the Lat. of 72.
where he faies he faw Land; but to this day it
cannot be found again, and I am of Opinion
that it was ſome Fog Bank that he faw; for in
my
144
A Voyage for the Discovery
my return Home, I run over the fame place where
our Chard-Makers lay down that Land: but cer-
tain it was that by foul Weather he was forced into
a Harbor in Lapland, called Arzena, where by the
continuance of bad Weather he could never re-
turn out, but was there frozen to Death with all
his Ships Company: fo that of this Voyage
there was no Light given to find a Paffage that
way.
The fecond that Attempted was one Captain
Stephen Burrough, afterward Comptroller of the
Navy to Queen Elizabeth. In the Year 1556.
he fet forward and paffed the North Cape, and
failing farther Eaſterly, difcovered the Waygates,
that is the Streight that runneth between the
South part of Nova Zembla, and the Sammoyds
Country, where he entred, and believing that
Sinus, or by the Eaſtward of the Streights, to be
a free and open Sea, he returned with hope of
Paffage that way to China and Japan.
The third that Attempted was Captain Arthur
Pett, and Captain Charles Jackman, in the Year
1580. being fent out by Queen Elizabeth to follow
the Track of Burroughs; fo fetting forwards they
came to the Waygates, and paffed the Streights,
and came into the Sea to the Eastward, where they
met with fuch a vast quantity of Ice and bad
Weather, that they with great Hazard, Peril, and
Labour were forc'd to return, but by foul Wea-
ther loft one the other, and Pett was never heard
of fince; fo the Paflage through the Waygates
was in England laid by, as thought not poffible
that way, and then the Hollanders undertook it.
The
of a North-East Paffage.
145
The fourth that Attemped it was William Bar-
rans, a well Experienced Navigator and Artiſt,
fent out of Holland by Prince Morrice in the
Year 1606. He failed into the Waygates, but
being entred, he found the fame Incumbrance
with Ice that Pett and Jackman had done before;
fo tafting of the Water, and finding of it freſh,
which neither Burrough, Pett, nor Jackman had
obferved; he returned without any hope or pro-
bability of a Paffage that way: but this not dif-
couraging him, he refolved a fecond Adventure
to the Northward of Nova Zembla, to fee what
might be Performed that way.
So in the Year 1607. he fet forward, and
arrived on the Coaſt of Nova Zembla in the Lat.
of 73. where he met with Ice; and fo coafted
the Shore till he came to the Lat. of 76. where he
could get no farther, and by the Ice was there
driven on Shore, and his Ship broke in peices by.
it, and he confined to Winter there, where they
all indured the greateſt extremity of Cold that
ever Mortals did: the Winter being paſt they
with difficulty, in two Boats, got to Cola in Lap-
land, but before their arrival there William Bar-
rans dyed, to the great grief of all his Com-
pany.
The next that Attempted it, was that famous
Diſcoverer of our own Nation Mr. Henry Hudſon,
in the Year 1610. but he being difheartned by
the Voyage of Barrans, attempted but little.
So the thought of a Paffage by the North-Eaft
was wholly laid afide, till of late within this
Year or two fome Novile Accidents happening;
L
the
:
146
A Voyage for the Diſcovery
the Opinion of the North-Eaſt was received in
fome, and fomething relating thereunto was
printed in the Transactions of the Royal Society.
*
Now will I come to the Reaſons of that in-
duced me to believe there was a probability of a
Paffage, and then the caufe of my undertaking
of the faid Voyage.
My firſt Reaſon was grounded on the Opinion
of William Barrans before fpoke of; which was,
that Nova Zembla and Greenland being 200
Leagues diſtance between one and the other,
that if he had Steered away North-Eaft from the
North Cape, which would have brought him in
the mid-way betwixt the two Lands, that then
he might have probably found an open Sea, free
from Ice, and fo Confequentlyra Paffage; and in
that Opinion he remained to his dying day; for
he did verily believe that the Ice was not to be
met off of either Shore more than 20 Leagues,
and the reft to be free and open, and that his
being too near the Shore of Nova Zembla was
the caufe of his meeting fo much Ice, which was
the overthrow of his Voyage, and if he had
lived, he had purpofely intended another Voyage,
and to have failed the mid-way.
The fecond Reaſon that made me believe a
Paffage, was a Letter fent out of Holland; which
is Publiſhed in the Tranfactions of the Royal Society,
which affirmeth, the Grand Zar of Mofcovia had
caufed a particular Survey of the Land of Nova
Zembla, and that they had found it to be no
Iſland, but to joyn to the main Land of Tarta-
ria, and that to the Northward of it was a free
and open Sea.
The
of a North-East Paffage.
147
}
+
The third was a Journal, Printed in Holland,
of a Voyage from Batavia to Japan, wherein
the Ship was caft away upon Cored, à Peninfula
of Chind, where by the Natives they were made
Slaves. The Relator having been there 16
years, at laft eſcaped to Japan, and writ this
Journal, wherein amongst other Obfervations
he Relates this; that in a Bay on the Coaſt of
Corea, there doth at feveral times drive in dead
Whales with English and Dutch Harping Irons in
them, which if true had been a great Argument
of a Paffage.
The fourth was a Relation of Mr. Joſeph
Moxons, who being in Holland above 20 years
fince, heard a Dutchman relate (as he did believe
the real Matter of Fact) that he had been un-
der the Pole it felf; and that it was as warm there
as it was at Amfterdam in Summer time.
The fifth was a Relation of one Captain
Goulden, who had made above thirty Voyages to
Greenland, and this he did relate to his Majeſty;
that being at Greenland fome twenty Years ago,
he was in Company with two Hollanders to the
Eastward of Edges Ifland, and that the Whales
not appearing on the Shore, the two Hollanders
were refolved to go farther Northerly, and to
Fish amongst the Ice; fo they departed from him
and went to the Northward, and in a Fortnights
time returned to him again, and gave it out,
that they had failed unto the Lat. of 89. that
was within one Degree of the Pole, and that
they did meet with no Ice, but a free and open
Sea, and that there run a very hollow grown Sea
L2
like
148
A Voyage for the Discovery
like that of the Bay of Bifca. Mr. Goulden be-
ing not fatisfied with the bare Relation, they
produced him four Journals out of the two
Ships, which teftified the fame, and that they
all agreed within four minutes one of the other.
The fixth Inducement that made me believe
there was a Paffage, was a Relation from the
fame Captain Goulden, which was, that all the
drift Wood that they found at Greenland, was
eaten with a Sea-Worm to the very Heart, which
if ſo, it muſt of neceffity come out of a Hot
Climate; for Experience fheweth, that the Worm
biteth in no Cold Country, therefore it could
not be ſuppoſed that it came from any other
Country than Jedzo, Japan, or fome Land there-
about.
1
The ſeventh Argument was another Narration
Printed in the Transactions, of two Ships of late
that had attempted the Paffage, failed 300
Leagues to the Eastward of Nova Zembla, and
had after proſecuted the Voyage, had there not
a difference arofe betwixt the Undertakers and the
East-India-Company, againft whofe Intereſt it was
to fuffer it to be found out; fo they being a Body,
and more powerful than the other, fuppreffed it.
Theſe feven were the main Arguments, though
I had many more, that Converted me into the
Opinion of there being a poffibility of a Paſſage
to the Northward of Nova Zembla, to China
and Japan; thefe being as I fuppofed, or as any
Man would have done, if he had well confider-
ed them, to be Matter of Fact, and no Fables.
Befides
of a North-East Passage.
149
Beſides theſe Arguments, I had fome grounded
upon Reaſon and Nature, which feemed to be
affiftant in the Deſign of the Attempt, fuppofing
the aforefaid Arguments to be true, and there
being no Land nor Ice in the way as an Obſtacle
to hinder it.
The firſt was, That being near the North-Pole
in the Summer time, it might be as warm as un-
der the Artick or Antartick Circle, or warmer
than with us in the Winter time; for under the
Pole it felf, in June the Sun being 23 degrees
high, and having no Depreffion towards the Ho-
rizon, but always fwimming about at the fame
hight, might illuminate that part of the Hemif-
phere with more heat than it doth ours in Win-
ter, when he is no more then 15 degrees high,
when he is at the higheſt, that is on the Meri-
dian, and not more than eight Hours above the
Horizon; or that it might be as hot as any place
near either Polar Circle, becauſe there the Sun
hath a Declination toward the Horizon, and fo
the Atmoſphere hath almoſt as much time to cool,
as it hath to heat, which under the Pole fhould
have no intermiffion. And one Argument to fa-
vour this Opinion, was the Relation of moft
Greenland Traders, who affirm, that the farther
North they go on the Coaſt of that Land, that
they meet with more green Herbs and Grafs,
than they do to the Southward, and confequent-
ly more Deer..
The fecond was (that which I moft feared)
which was foggy Weather, which I did imagin,
if it fhould happen, it could not at the fame
L 3
time
150
A Voyage for the Discovery
time blow hard; becauſe it is ufual in all other
Climates, when Wind happeneth, to difperfe the
Fog; fo that if it fhould fo happen, one might lie
by, or make little way till Wind came that one
might fee before them.
The third was the Solution of a. Doubt that
moft men had fancied, which was, that if one
came near the Pole, the Septenteral Declination
of the Needle of the Compafs fhould be quite
taken away, which would of neceffity follow if
the Pole of the World, and the Pole of the
Magnet were all one; which I am certain is not,
but is placed fo far off, that one might go under
the Pole of the World, if Land or Ice did not
hinder, with this fuppofition, that one muſt know
where the Pole Magnetical is, to allow the Va-
riation that will there happen.
Having confidered all thefe Arguments and
Reaſons, with many more I met with, which
will be too tedious to Relate; and the poffibility
of a Paffage being now imprinted in my Mind
and Inclination, I do intend to thew the Reaſons
in fhort, that induced me to undertake the faid
Voyage,
The firft was, That the King, whom God Pre-
ferve, fhould Reap the Honour and Glory there-
of, and his Subjects the Profit.
Secondly, There being no Actions within the
Hemiſphere of His Majefties Dominions wherein
any vacancy was, but all being fupplyed, I chofe,
rather than to be Idle, to apply my felf to His
Majefty for the Profecution of the Defign; and
being advifed to it by a great many of the beſt
>
Mer-
of a North East Paffage.
151
1
Merchants of the City of London; where, after
divers Confultations with them, and the Reaſons
and Arguments before-mentioned being debated,
it was by many thought Practicable, and by
more thought Profitable to the Nation: the par-
ticulars to relate would fwell into a confiderable
Volume.
The third Reaſon was peculiar to my ſelf,
though when known, to the Uſe and Benefit of all
Mankind; which was, that having for fome years
paft framed an Hypotheſis of the motion of the
two Magnetical Poles, for two fuch there be;
and by the Obſervations of all, or moft that
writ of that Subject, with my own Obſervation,
and coftly Experiment upon a great many Places
of the Superficies of the Terreftrial Globe; I
having found out their Motion very near, and
thereby the Inclination of the Magnetical Needle
under the Horizon, in all Latitudes, and all
Longitudes; and Variation of the Compaſs may
be found in any place in this World, without
affiſtance of any other Luminary. But not being
fo fully fatisfied as I might be, if I could come
fo near the Pole as was fuppofed, it prompted
my Inclination, as far as any other Argument
whatever, to Attempt this Voyage.
So having all thefe Reafons that there was a
Paffage, and Reafons for me to undertake it; F
advanced. The firft ftep to it was, I drew a Polar
Draught, whereing I traced all thofe Navigators
that had Attempted the North-Eaft, which I
prefented to His Majefty, and Royal Highness,
and applyed my felf to them with the Reaſons
afore-
L 4
152 A Voyage for the Discovery
·
aforefaid: which after their Royal Confideration,
and Confult with many Merchants, and Seamen,
that had uſed to Sail Northward; and if thought
by all feafable, His Majefty was Graciouſly
pleaſed to grant me the Speedwell Frigot, to be
Manned and Victualled at his Royal Charge,
with all other Appurtenances thereunto belong-
ing.
But becauſe in all Attempts of this Nature it
was not Convenient to venture one Ship alone,
for the many Accidents that are incident to a
fingle Ship in an Enterprize of this Nature;
Therefore His Royal Highness the Duke of
Tork.
"
The Honourable John Lord Barklet.
Sir Joseph Williamfon.
Sir John Bankes.
Mr. Samuel Peepps:
Captain Herbert.
Mr. Dupey.
Mr. Hoopgood..
1
Theſe Eight Honourable Perfons, at their own
proper Charge, bought a Pink, called the Pro-
Iperous, of the Burthen of a Hundred and twenty
Tuns, fitted her to Sea, Men, Amunition, Pro-
vifion, and Merchandize, which was fuch as
was Reaſonably purpoſed to Vend on the Coaft.
of Tartaria, or at Japan, if a Paffage had been
found.
Now the Ships being fitting out, the Speedwell
at Deptford in the King's Yard, where the Builder,
Mr.
of a North-Eaft Paffage.
153
Mr. John Sish, took no ordinary Care in Strength-
ning her, and in her Shething, which was as
well performed as in any Ship that ever failed on
the Sea. Thus being fitted, I was to fatisfie moſt
People the Advantage to our Nation that would
accrue, if there was a Paffage.
The firſt Advantage that I purpoſed, was, that
on the Coaſt of Tartaria, it being a cold Cli-
mate, we might Vend our English Cloth, which
now is grown a Drug; and certain it is that they
wear Cloth which is fent them from Ruffia and
Mofcovia, which before it arrive at their Hands
muſt needs be very Dear in the Price; fo if one
could come on their Coaft, one might Vend a
great deal more, and abundance Cheaper.
The fecond Advantage, as would have been,
that in fix Weeks one might have failed to Japan,
which in the other Way is nine Months; and
the Paffage that way being as hazardous and
perillous as this would have been, if there had
been any Paffage by the North-Eaft; for by the
South way, all the way betwixt Bantam and Ja-
pan are an innumerable Company of Sands, Sholes,
and Iſlands, where many Ships are yearly loft, and
all that way one muſt turn up to Windward, and
be in perpetual fear of the Hollanders, whom if
we meet, they do their utmoſt indeavours to De-
ftroy us.
Then if there had been a North-Eaſt Paſſage,
and that one might Sail in fuch a fhort time to
Japan, the King might fend out Men of War to
Japan, and force them to Trade; which the other
way is not to be done, becauſe they cannot carry
Provi-
154 A Voyage for the Discovery
1
Provifion for fo long time; befides the certain
Diſeaſes that are incident to Ships, that have ma-
ny Men in hot Weather, renders it unpracticable:
thefe and many other Reafons I ufed, which
would be too tedious to Relate, they being as
yet freſh in the memory of moft I told them to.
Now after all thefe Arguments and Reaſons,
the time of the Year growing on for us to be
gone, we made our Ships ready for the Sea, be-
ing as well fitted for a Diſcovery as ever any
Ships were; having on Board each Ship fixteen
Months Provifion of all forts, with Sixty eight
Men and Boys in the Speedwell, and eighteen Men
in the Profperous.
1
?
:
Fournal,
1
of a North-East Paffage.
155
Journal, In His Majefties Ship the Speedwell,
Captain John Wood Commander, Bound
for the Discovery of a Paffage to the Eaft-
Indies, by the North-Eaft: Sailing about
Nova Zembla, and Tartary, and fo to
Japan. 1676.
S
Unday, May 28. the Wind at S. W. failed
from the Buoy of the Noar in Company
of the Profperous, Captain Flames Com-
mander, being bound upon the Diſcovery
with us.
1
At Eight at Night the Naze Land boar Weft;
North about fix Leagues, we fteered away North-
eaſt, and North-north-eaft.
་
Monday, May 29. The Wind at South-weft,
and Weft-fouth-weft, a freſh Gale with Showers
of Rain. Courſe per Compaſs between the
North-eaft and the North; diſtance failed by the
Log 73 Miles, true Courfe Protracted fince laft
Night Eight a Clock to this Day Noon, is North
28 d. Faft difference of Lat. 68 Miles, and depar-
ture Eaſt from the Naze Land 36 Miles; Lat. by
Judgment, as in the Margent. Thick cloudy
Weather.
Tuesday, May 30. From yesterday Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable from South-weft
to
!
156 A Voyage for the Discovery
to the South-eaſt, thick cloudy Weather, and a
freſh Gale. Courſe per Compaſs North-north-weft
and North-weft by North; diſtance failed by the
Log 95 Miles, true Courſe is North 28 d. Weft,
diſtance of Lat. 83 Miles, departure Weft 45
Miles, Lat. per Judgment; Meridian diſtance
Weft nine Miles.
Wednesday, May 31. From yeſterday Noon to
this Day Noon, the Winds variable with Calms
and Rains. Courſes per Traverfe; true Courfe Pro-
tracted, with all impediments allowed, is North
43 d. Weft 60 Miles, difference of Lat. 42 Miles,
departure Weft 40 Miles Lat. per Judgment
54d. 13 m. Lat. by a good Obfervation at Noon
55 d. 30m. at which time the Land between
New-Castle and Berwick bore Weſt about 8 or 9
Leagues: Meridian diftance Current from the
bearing of the Land, and the Lat. is 88 Miles,
50 Fathom Water: faw two Ships ſtanding to the
Southward, but would not fhow their Colours.
Thurſday, June 1. From yeſterday Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale from the Weſt by South
to the South-weft. Courfe per Compafs between
the North, and the North-weft; diſtance failed
by the Log 76 Miles, true Courſe Protracted is
North 16 d. Weft Lat. by a good Obſervation
56 d. 41 m. departure Weft 21 Miles.
At nine in the Morning we gave Chaſe to a
Scotch Fiſherman, and at Noon came up with
her, and bought fome Fiſh of him; at Noon a
hard Gale fteered away North, being about
feven or eight Leagues from the Land, between
Montrofs and Edenburgh: we ſteered along,
1
the
of a North-East Paffage.
157
the Courſe North by Eaft till eight a Clock.
Friday, June 2. From yesterday Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds variable with fair Weather.
Courſe per Compafs North; diftance failed by
the Log 117 Miles, but by a good Obfervation
120 Miles, Lat. 58 d. 41 m. Winds from the
Weft-fouth-weft to the South-weft.
:
At two a Clock a great guſt of Wind at North-
weft with Rain; we hand our Top-fails, and at
three it blew a Storm of Wind; we lay a Try
under a Main-fail till ten a Clock, then fent our
Fore-fail.
2
?
Saturday, June 3. From yeflerday Noon to this
day Noon, true Courſe Protracted Leeward way,
and all impediments allowed is North Eaſt 42
Miles, Lat. by a good. Obfervation is 59 d. 23 m.
Meridian diſtance from the Naze Land is 100
Miles: at Noon faw a ſmall Iſland, called Foril,
lying to the South of Shetland, bearing Weft-
north-weſt about four Leagues: in the Afternoon
little Wind.
Note that we found the Ship more to the
Weftward than expected being cauſed by a vari-
ation of 6 or 7 d. Eaft.
Sunday, June 4. This Forenoon little Wind,
with Calms till about 12 at Noon, at which time
fprung up a Gale Weft-north-weſt blowing very
hard; we ply to windward, and turned into Brace-
Sound, and anchored in nine Fathom Water,
right againſt the Town called Lerwick; here is the
remains of a Fort that was built in the time of
War with Holland, but upon the Peace with the
Hollanders it was demolished, for fear any other
Nation
158 A Voyage for the Diſcovery
Nation might come and take it, and ſo keep
it.
:
Saturday, June 10. Rid ftill till Saturday feven a
Clock, at which time Weighed, the Wind at
South-weft; we took in a Pilot, and failed out
through the North end of Brace Sound, having
three Fathom Water over the fhalloweſt place
Sunday, June 11. At four in the Morning Scau
bore Weft by North about fix Leagues; a freſh
Gale at South-weft, hafey Weather.
From four in the Morning till twelve at Night
Courſe North-north-eaſt, diſtance failed by the
Log 35 Miles true Courfe allowed from the
bearing of the Land is North-eaft 41 Miles, dif-
ference of Lat. 30 Miles, Lat. by Judgment 61 d.
26 m. Meridian diſtance from Shetland 30 Miles
Eaft.
From yesterday Noon to this Day Noon, a
ftrong Gale at South-west, Weft-fouth-west, Weft
and Weſt-north-weſt. Courſe per Compaſs North-
north-eaſt, diſtance failed by the Log. 147 Miles,
difference of Lat. 135 Miles, departure Eaſt 56
Miles, Lat. by Judgment 63 d. 42 m. Meridian
diſtance Eaſt 86 Miles; thick cloudy Weather, at
Noon little Wind.
Tuesday, June 13. From yeſterday Noon to this
Day little Wind, and variable, with Calms
from the North-west to North-north-eaft; we ply
to windward. True Courfe Protracted, all impedi
ments allowed, is North-north-eaft 23 Miles, dif
ference of Lat. 21 Miles North, departure Eaſt
8 Miles, Lat.by Judgment 64 d. 03 m. Meridian
diſtance 94 Miles, Lat. by a good Obſervation
64 d. 03 m.
Wed
of a North-East Paffage..
159
Wednesday, June 14. From the 13. Noon to
this Day Noon the Winds variable, with freſh
Gales, Rains, and little Winds. Courfe per Tra-
verfe, between the North-eaſt and the North, di-
ſtance failed by the Log 92 Miles, true Courfe
Protracted, all impediments allowed, is North
18 d. difference of Lat. 81 Miles, departure Eaſt
30 Miles, Meridian diſtance 124 Miles.
Thursday, June 15. From the 14. Noon to this
Day Noon the Winds variable, with Calms from
the Weft to the South-weft. Courſe per Compaſs
North-north-eaft; diſtance failed by the Log 67
Miles, true Courfe Protracted, with allowance,
is North 22 d. Eaft, difference of Lat. 62 Miles,
departure Eaſt 26 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 66 d.
26 m. Meridian diftance 150 Miles Eaft. At
Noon broke our Main Topfail-Yard, being rot-
ten in the Slings; thick hafey Weather.
2
Friday, June 16. From the 15. Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale at Weft-north-weſt, and
Weft-fouth-west, with Rains and thick Weather.
Courſe per Compafs North-north-eaft, and North-
caft by North; diftance failed per Log 126 Miles,
true Courſe Protracted, is North 30 d. Eaft, dif-
ference of Lat. 108 Miles, departure Eaſt 63
Miles, Lat. per Judgment 68 d. 14m. Meridian
diſtance 223 Miles.
Saturday, June 17. From the 16. Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale at Weft-north-weſt and
Weft, with Rain and cloudy Weather. Courfe
per Compafs North-eaft, diftance failed by the
Log 127 Miles, difference of Lat. 90 Miles,
departure Eaft 90 Miles, Lat per Judgment 69 d.
48m.
160 A Voyage for the Diſcovery
1
48 m. Meridian diſtance 303 Miles, but by a
good Obfervation at Noon Lat. 69 d. 53 m. dif
ference of Lat. between the Dead Reckoning
and Obfervation is 9 Miles, which imputed to a
wefterly variation, which is found by an Azi-
muth 7
d. Meridian diſtance Corrected is 300
Miles; fair Weather.
►
Sunday, June 18. From the 17. Noon to this
day Noon, the Wind from Weft-north-weſt, to
the Weſt-fouth-weft, fair Weather. Courſe per
Compaſs North-eaft by Eaft; diftance failed by
the Log 83 Miles, true Courfe Protracted, and
variation allowed, is Eaft 33 d. North, differénce
of Lat. 47 Miles, by Obfervation, departure 66
Miles, Lat. by a good Obfervation 70d. 30 m.
Meridian diſtance 367 Miles Eaft. Yeſterday
and this Day we ſaw many Whales.
Monday, June 19. From the 18. Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale at Weft by South; thick
hafey Weather with Rains; at feven a Clock in
the Forenoon ſaw many Sea Fowles, more than
at any time yet, with many Jubarteffes: at ten
a Clock faw the Land, being the Iſlands that lie
about 20 Leagues to the Weftward of the North
Cape; true Courſe allowed for variation, is North-
north-eaft; diſtance failed by the Log 135 Miles,
difference of Lat. 50 Miles, departure Eaft 30
Miles, Lat. per Judgment 71 d. 20 m. Meridian
diſtance 497 Miles. At Noon the Iſland Sanden
bore South by Eaft; about 8 or 9 Leagues off
this Ifland is a high craggy Land, with fome
Snow on the Land.
.
Tuesday,
of a North East Paſſage.
161
Tuesday, June 20. From the 19. Noon to this
day Noon, Courſe per Compafs between the
Eaft-north-eaft and the North-eaft; diftance failed
by the Log 128 Miles, true Courſed allowed for
the variation, is North 43 d. Eaft, difference
of Lat. 91 Miles, departure 88 Miles Eaſt, Lat.
per Judgment 72 d. 51 m. Meridian diſtance 585
Miles. From yeſterday Noon to this day Noon,
the first 12 Hours a fresh Gale at South-west,
but the laſt 12 Hours much Wind, with ſmall
Rains and great Fogs: faw many Sea Fowles.
Wedneſday, June 21. From the 20. to the 21.
Noon, a ſtiff Gale with Gufts, and fmall Rains.
Courfe per Compafs North-eaft, diftance failed
by Log 35 Miles, true Courſe allowed by varia-
tion, is North 40 d. Eaft, difference of Lat. 103
Miles, departure Eaft 86 Miles, Lat. per Judg-
ment 74 d. 34 m. Meridian diftance 671 Miles:
thick cloudy Weather, faw many Sea Fowles.
Thursday, June 22. From the 21. Noon to this
22. Noon, Courfe per Compaſs North-eaſt, di-
ftance failed per Log 116 Miles, true Courſe al-
lowed by variation, and Leeward way, is North
43 d. Eaft, difference of Lat. 85 Miles, depar-
ture Eaſt 79 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 75
d. 59m.
Meridian diſtance 750 Miles Eaft: the Wind at
North-weft a freſh Gale, Weather variable, fome-
time cloudy, and fometimes fair, but very cold.
At Noon we ſaw Ice right a Head about a
League off, we failed clofe to it, and found it
to lie away Eaft-fouth-eaft, and Weſt-north-weſt,
we bore away Eaft-fouth-caft along the Ice: in
the Afternoon we had fome fmall Snow, and very
cold Weather.
M
Friday,
}
162
A Voyage for the Discovery
Friday, June 23. From yeſterday Noon to this
Day Noon, we fteered along the Ice, finding it
to have many openings, which we failed into,
but found them to be Bays, our true Courſe
failed along the Ice, the variation allowed, was
Eaſt 14 d. South 77 m. Lat. per Judgment 75 d.
41 m. difference of Lat. 19 m. departure 74 Miles,
Meridian diſtance 824 Miles, Wind N. N. W.
At Noon we founded and had 158 Fathom
foft green Oar, and found the Current to fet
South-fouth-eaſt; we have found very ſmooth to
Leeward of this Ice, and in fome places found
pieces of the Ice driving off a Mile, fometimes
more or leſs from the main body of the Ice; find-
ing it to be in ſeveral ſtrange ſhapes, reſembling
Trees, Beafts, Fifles, Fowles, &c. The main
Body of the Ice being low, but very Craggy,
being many pieces lying cloſe together, and fome
a top of each other, and in fome places we faw
high hillocks of blue colour, but all the reft of
the Ice very white, as though it were Snow. In
fome places we faw drift Wood amongſt the Ice,
we took up fome of the Ice and melted it, and
the Water very freſh and good: this Day we found
very cold and freezing.
Saturday, June 24. From the 23. Noon to this
Day Noon little Wind at North by Weſt, we
fteered cloſe along the Ice, failing into every
opening, but could not find any Pallage through,
neither could we fee over the Ice in any place
from our Topmaft-Head; true Courfe Protracted,
as we failed along the Ice, is Eaſt 34 d. South
difference of Lat. 24 Miles South, departure Eaſt
34 Miles,
of a North East Paffage.
163
34 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 75 d.18 m. but by a
good Obfervation at Noon the Lat.74 d. 50 m. the
difference between the Dead Lat. and the obſerved
Lat. is 28 Miles, which difference hath been
cauſed by the Current ſetting South-fouth-eaſt.
At Noon we founded and had 128 Fathom
Water, and the Current as yeſterday Southi-
fouth-eaft: this laft 24 Hours fair Weather, with
little Winds, having ſome ſmall Fogs, but laſted
not above half an Hour at a time. Meridian di-
ftance 858 Miles.
Sunday, June 25. From the 24. Noon to this
Day Noon, little Wind, with Calms, and the
moft part foggy, ſo that we durft not venture in
the Ice, but lay by, and ftood off; true Courfe
Protracted is Eaft 30 d. South difference of Lat.
13 Miles, South departure Eaft 19 Miles, Lat.
per Judgment 74 d. 37 m. Meridian diftance 877
Miles, Eaft Wind variable from the North-weſt
to the Weft-fouth-weſt.
At One in the Afternoon the Fog broke up,
hard freezing Weather, our Rigging and Sails
frozen, for as faft as the Fog fell it freezed.
Monday, June 26. From the 25.Noon to this
Day Noon little Wind from the North-weſt to
North; Courſe per Compaſs between the Weſt-
fouth-west, and the North-eaft; diftance failed
by the Log 63 Miles, difference of Lat. 7 Miles
North, departure Eaft 58 Miles; true Courfe
Protracted is Eaft 7 d. North Lat. per Judgment
is 74 d. 40m. Meridian diſtance 935 Miles.
1
At Noon we ſtood in clofe with the Ice, and
faw fomething to move, we judging it might be
M 2
Sear
1
164
AVoyage for the Discovery
1
Sea-Horfes, or Morfes, lying on the Ice, we fent
our Boat to fee, and they found two Sea-Horfes
upon the Ice: they fired feveral fhot at them, but
could not kill them: notwithſtanding that they
were much wounded they got into the Water,
and fo went under the Ice. We have found the
Ice to lie away Eaft, thefe 24 Hours the Wind
at North, and very cold, and at 12 at Night 70
Fathom green Oar: at 9 in the Evening faw
Land, the North part of it bearing Eaſt, and the
South part South-eaft, being high and covered
with Snow, about 15 Leagues off. Sounded and
had 125 Fathom.
Tuesday, June 27. From Monday the 26. to Tues-
day 27. little Wind from the North-weft to the
North by Eaft, with Calms: we kept clofe with
the Ice, and found it joyn to the Land of Nova
Zembla; true Courfe Protracted is Eaft by North
30 Miles, difference of Lat. 16 Miles, departure
Éaft 29 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 74 d. 46 m. Me-
ridian diftance 964 Miles, at Noon 83 Fathom
Water, about 6 Leagues from the Shore, we
rowed in towards the Shore, and found the Ice
to lie about 5 Leagues from the Shore, we went
out of our Boat on the Ice, and killed a young
Sea-Horfe, or Mors, and faw many more, but
could not kill them with Muskets, notwithſtand-
ing we fired 7 Muskets into one of them, nei-
ther could we come to lame them; for they get
into the Sea before you can come to them; they
keeping Watch, and are very fhy, always lying
on the brink of the Ice, ready to take the Sea.
We Sounded and had 80 Fathom Water green
Oar,
}
Z
of a North Eaft Paffage.
165
Oar, at which time we faw the Ground plain,
being very ſmooth Water. Meridian diſtance
from the Ship to the Land 15 Miles, which
maketh Meridian diftance from the
Land
to this place 980 Miles.
#
Wednesday, June 28. From the 27. Noon to
this Day Noon, very little Wind, but the moft
part Calm from the North to the Weft; true
Courfe Protracted Weft-north-weft 10 Miles,
Lat. per Judgment 74d. 46 m. Meridian diſtance
970 Miles. In the Afternoon ftood in cloſe with
the Ice, and found it to joyn to the main Land;
at Night flood off from the Ice.
Thursday, June 29. From the 28 Noon to this
Day Noon, little Wind, with Rains: we ftood.
away from the Ice to Sea; trué Courfe allowed
is South 27 d. Weft 20 Miles, difference of Lat.
16 Miles, departure 8 Miles, Lat. per Judgment
74 d. 40 m. Meridian diftance 964 Miles. At
Noon the Wind at Weft and Weft and by South,
a fine Gale, but very foggy Weather; we ſtand
away South to get from the Ice, we being in-
bayed in it. At rr at Night the Profperous Pink
fired a Gun, and bore down upon us, crying out
Ice on the Weather-Bow, with that we clap'd the
Helm hard a Weather, Veered out the Main-
Sheet to Ware the Ship; but before the Ship
could Ware, and bring to upon the other Tack,
She ftruck on a ledge of Rocks which lay funk.
From 12 at Noon to 11 at Night thick foggy
Weather, the Wind from the North-weft to the
Weft by South. Courfe per Compafs between the
South-weft, and the South by Weft, cloſe Haul'd;
M 3
but
166
A Voyage for the Difcovery
but at Night the Profperous Pink faw the Sea break
on the Weather-Bow, bearing down upon us
cryed out it was the Ice; with that we preſently
bore up round to bring to upon the other Tack,
but our Ship not wearing round, run on a ledge
of Rocks, there ftuck faft, but Captain Flames
Ship got clear, wearing more rounder: we fired
feveral Guns to give Captain Flames notice of our
diftrefs, we uſed all means poffible to get her off,
by carrying out a Haffer and Anchor, and ſtaving
of Water and Beer, and throwing Provifion over
Board, but could not get the Ship off, for the
Water did Ebb, and the Ship Sued above 3 Foot;
but when the Flood came it brought a great Sea
with it, and the Ship beat very hard: we ufed
all means to heave her off, but could not, and
the Ship making Water more than we could
Pump; with that we cut our Mafts by the Board,
and fent our Yaul unto the Shore to diſcover
fome place to Land, at whofe return aboard
brought word that there was landing, with that
we got up Bread out of the Bread Room, and
brought it up into the great Cabbin and the
Carpenter made ready to fave fome Tools, and
neceffaries to Rebuild our Long-Boat to fave our
lives, if fo neceffitated, that Captain Flawes
fhould not return to us. So about 12 at Noon
we got all our Men afhore, except two which
were drowned in the Pinnace, by a Sea which
broke into her, juſt as ſhe put off from the Ship
fide: having Bread, Powder, and Proviſions in
her, and all loft with the Pinnace. Alfo, to
our great grief, haying nothing but the Long-
:
Boat,
of a North East Paffage.
167
Boat, to truſt in, to fave our lives, which could
not carry above 30 Men of 70. We ufed all
means to fave Bread, but the Ship filling up to the
upper Deck, we were forced to leave her, having
faved but two Bags of Bread, with fome pieces
of Pork, and a little Cheefe: this being all on
Shore, we carried our Provifions, and other Ne-
ceffaries, upon a Hill, where came to vifit us one
of the Natives, which was a Prodigious great white
Bear, which one of our Men fhot at, and as we
fuppofed hit her, which made her run away:
with that we made all haft to build us a Tent to
keep us from the cold, and to keep our Provi-
fions dry, having faved Canvas for the purpoſe,
which we laid over Oars and Spars, and threw
up a Trench of Earth round us, to preſerve us
from Wild Beafts; but all this time indured much
cold, moſt of our Men being wet, and having
no firing; therefore all our Hopes and Prayers
were that God would fend us the Ship afhore.
Friday, June 30. A freſh Gale, and very foggy,
with a great Sea; our Ship began to fplit, and
much Wreck came afhore; fo that we got Oars,
Spars and Deals, to build us Tents, and firing,
of which we faved as much as we could; but the
Weather proved very foggy to our great grief,
being we could not expect Captain Flames as
long as the Fog continued. The Wind at Weſt-
north-weſt.
Saturday, July 1. The Wind at North-weſt a
freſh Gale, the Ship brake in pieces, fo that we
had much Wreck came afhore, and Provifions,
which we indeavoured to fave with much pains
M 4
and
168
A Voyage for the Discovery
and trouble, the Sea breaking much on the Shore,
and the Weather very cold and foggy. We faved
two Casks of Flower, fome Brandy, and a Butt
of Beer, and a Cask of Oil: the Flower did us
great kindneſs to fave our Bread, for we made of
the Flower Pan-Cakes, and Pudding, and baked
Cakes on Stones, to our great refreſhment.
Sunday, July 2. The Wind at Weft, and very
foggy; we faved more Flower, Butter, and a
few pieces of Beef and Pork, the Cask being
Staved. The Gunner as he was faving of Provi-
fion, there came a great White Bear to him,
which he fhot at, and fell'd her down, but fhe
rofe again and at him; with that there came
more Men and fired at her: fhe was a very great
one, and very Fat, and the Flesh very good, and
look'd delicate, and Eat well.
Saturday, July 8. The Wind at Weft-north-
weft; a very great/Fog, and all our Men in
great deſpair of our feeing Captain Flames: we
beginning to confider our moſt miferable Condi-
tion, and contriving how to fave our Lives; the
Long-boat not being able to carry above
30 Men,
and a Deck built on her, and her Waft raifed;
with that we concluded to lengthen her 12 Foot,
and to carry all our Men; but upon conſiderati-
on of wanting Materials, and the Carpenters bad
affiftance, the Men would not agree to have her
cut aſunder, for fear fhe could not be lengthened;
but were willing to Travel by Land towards the
Waygates, in hopes to find fome Raffia Lodges.
With that we began to raife her Waft, and build
a Deck, the Weather continuing very foggy till
Satur
1
of a North-East Paffage.
169
Saturday Morning, at which time we efpyed
Captain Flames to our great joy; with that we
made preſently a great Fire, and fent our Yaul
to meet him, who immediately faw our Fire and
ſteered into us, and fent his Boat to help to bring
off our Men; with that we broke up our new
Work, which was done to our Long-Boat, and
Lanched her; and about Noon got all on Board
Captain Flames, in good Health.
This is on it to a pelt
410
very
bove
!
i
Fournal
171
Fournal on Board the Profperous,
Captain William Flawes Com
mander, From Nova Zembla to
England. 1676.
S
Unday, July 9. From the 8. 12 at Night to
this 9. 12 at Noon, the Winds variable,
with Fogs and fmall Rain; we ſtand off to
the Weſtward: true Courfe Protracted,
with allowance for variation, is Weft 8 d. South,
difference of Lat. 8 Miles, departure 67 Miles,
Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 42 m. Meridian diſtance,
from Point Staten, being the Weſtermoft Land
off of Nova Zembla, and the laft Land we faw,
67 Miles: very cold Weather.
Monday, July 10. From the 9. Noon to this Day
Noon, the Winds variable from the South-weſt
by Weft, to the Weft, and fo to the North, and
North-north-caft, with fmall Rain, great Fogs,
and very cold Weather; true Courſe Protracted
is Weft 35 Miles, variation allowed 12 d. Weft;
Meridian diſtance 102 Miles: a great Sea from
the Weſtward.
Tueſday, July 11. From the 10. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds variable from the North-
north-eaft to the North-weft. Courſe per Compafs
Weft by South; diſtance failed by the Log 102
Miles,
172
A Voyage for the Discovery
3
Miles; true Courfe, allowed for variation, is
Weft 68 & South, diſtance of Lat. 34 Miles, de-
parture 96 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 06 m.
Meridian diſtance 198 Miles: thick cloudy
Weather, and
very Cold.
Wednesday, July 12. From the 11. Noon to
this Day Noon, little Wind and variable, with
Calms, fmall Rains, and Fogs: diſtance failed
by the Log 27 Miles, between the Weft by North,
and the Weft by South; true Courfe allowed,
with all impediments is Weft: at Noon Lat. by
Obfervation 73 d. 34 m. which is 34 Miles more
northerly than expected; the variation, I fup-
poſe, came from the Lat. we departed from on
Nova Zembla; Meridian Diſtance Corrected is
222 Miles Weft: at Noon calm and fair Wea-
ther.
Thursday, July 13. From the 12. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable from the Weſt to
the South-fouth-weſt a freſh Gale; we ply to the
Weftward cloſe Haul'd. Courfe per Compass be-
tween the South-fouth-weft, and the Weft-north-
weft; true Courfe Protracted, all impediments
allowed, is Weft by North North 69 Miles, dif-
ference of Lat. 17 Miles, departure 59 Miles;
Lat, by Judgment 73 d. 51 m. Meridian diftance
279 Miles: Cold cloudy Weather, with fmall
Rains.
I
2
Friday, July 14. From the 13. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds variable from the South-
fouth-weft to the Weft-north-weft a freſh Gale,
and fometimes little Wind: we ply to the Weft-
ward, fometimes on one Tack, and fometimes
on
of a North-Eaft Paffage.
173
on the other; true Courſe Protracted, all impe-
diments allowed, is Weft-fouth-weft South;
difference of Lat. 9 Miles South, departure Weft
20 Miles. Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 35 m. Meri-
dian diſtance 299 Miles.
Saturday, July 15. From the 14. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds freſh, with gufts from the
North-weft to the Weft: we ply to the Weftward,
fometimes to the Southward; diftance failed by
the Log 70 Miles, true Courſe Protracted is
South-weft 33 d. 45 m. difference of Lat. 52
Miles, Departure Weft 34 Miles, Lat. per Judg
ment 72 d. 43 m. Meridian diſtance 333 Miles:
cold and cloudy.
Sunday, July 16: From the 15. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind at Weft-ſouth-weft, and
Weft by South, a freſh Gale; but from 8 at
Night, till 8 in the Morning much Wind, we
lay a try under a Main-fail: true Courſe Pro-
tracted Leeward-way, and variation allowed, is
North by Weſt 4 Weft 31 Miles; difference of
Lat. 30 Miles, departure Weft 7 Miles, Lat. per
Judgment 73 d. 13 m. Meridian diftance 340
Miles: Rain with very thick Weather.
Monday, July 17. From the 16. Noon to this
Day Noon, little Wind from the Weft by North
to the Weft, with Rains, Fogs, and Calms: we
ply to the Weftward cloſe upon a Wind; true
Courſe Protracted, all impediments allowed, is
Weft by South 4 Weft; diſtance of Lat. 3 Miles,
departure 2.3 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 19m.
Meridian diſtance 360 Miles: at II in the Fore-
noon the Wind came up at South-fouth-eaſt, and
foggy.
3
Tuesday.
174 A Voyage for the Discovery
Tuesday, July 18. From the 17. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds from the South to the
Weft-fouth-weft: we ply to the Weſtward cloſe
haul'd, between the Weſt and North-weft; di-
ſtance failed by the Log 87 Miles; true Courſe
Protracted is Weft by North North 80 Miles,
44
diſtance of Lat. 18 Miles, departure 77 Miles,
Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 28 m. Meridian diftance
437 Miles: thick foggy Weather.
Wednesday, July 19. From the 18. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind at South-weſt, and South-
fouth-weft, with very thick Fogs. Courſe per
Compaſs Weſt-north-weft and Weft, cloſe Haul'd;
diſtance failed by the Log 74 Miles, true Courſe,
variation and Leeward-way allowed, is Weft-
north-weſt North 70 Miles, difference of Lat.
32 Miles, departure 60 Miles, Lat. per Judg-
ment 74 d. Meridian diſtance 497 Miles: at
Night much Wind, we hand our Top-fails.
1
2
Thurſday, July 20. From the 19. Noon to this
Day Noon, for the moſt part much Winds at
Weft-fouth-weft, and South-weft, with great
Fogs: we ply cloſe upon a Wind North-welt by
Weſt, and Weſt-north-weft; diſtance failed by
the Log 65 Miles; true Courſe, variation and
Lee-way allowed, is North-north-weſt Weſt,
diſtance of Lat. 55 Miles, departure 33 Miles,
Lat. per Judgment 74 d. 55 m. Meridian diſtance
530 Miles.
之
​Friday, July 21. From the 20. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind from the South-weſt to the
Weft. Courſe per Compafs South by Weft upon
one Tack, and Weft-north-weſt on the other,
clofe
of a North-Eaft Paffage.
175
3
4
clofe Haul'd; diſtance failed by the Log 61 Miles;
true Courſe Protracted, all impediments allowed,
is South by Weft & Weft 48 Miles, diſtance of
Lat. 45 Miles, departure 16 Miles, Lat. per Judg-
ment 74 d. 12 m. very thick, foggy and cold,
till about Noon it cleared up.
Saturday, July 22. From the 21. Noon to this
Day 4 in the Morning, the Wind at South-weſt
by Weft, and South-weft, with thick Fogs. Courfe
Weſt by North, and North-north-weſt 46 Miles,
at which time it was very foggy Weather: we
faw many Willocks, and other Sea Fowles more
than ufual, which made us think that we were
near the Land of Cherry-Ifland: we caft the
Lead, and had 60 Fathom, a rough Sand, with
that we Tack'd and ſtood off South-fouth-eaſt,
and South-eaſt by Eaft 9 Miles, till Noon, at
which time we Sounded, and had 78 Fathom
Lat. at 4 in the Morning by Judgment 74 d. 26 m.
Meridian diſtance 589 Miles, at which time I was,
by my Reckoning, 13 Leagues Weft from Cherry-
Ifland, according to the Meridian diſtance I made
from the Cape to Nova Zembla, and from Nova
Zembla back here; Lat. at Noon, by Judgment,
74 d. 20 m. Meridian diſtance 582 Miles.
Sunday, July 23. From the 22. Noon to this
Day Noon the Winds variable, with great Fogs,
from the South-fouth-eaft to the Weft-north-west.
Courſe per Compafs between the South-weſt and
the Weft; diſtance failed by the Log 91 Miles;
true Courſe Protracted is South-weft by South 87
Miles, difference of Lat. 76 Miles, departure
43 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 73 d. 08 m. Me-
ridian
176 A Voyage for the Diſcovery
1
ridian diſtance 625 Miles: At Noon no ground
with 160 Fathom Lines.
Monday, July 24. From the 23, Noon to this
Day Noon little Winds, and variable, with
Calms true Courſe allowed is South-fouth-weſt
Weft 22 Miles, diftance of Lat. 18 Miles, de-
parture 11 Miles, Lat per Judgment 72 d. 50m.
Meridian diftance 636 Miles.
3.
4
Tuesday, July 25. From the 24. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable, with fresh Gales
from North by Weft to the Eaſt
with Fogs.
Courſe between the Weft-fouth-west and South-
weft; diſtance failed by the Log 88 Miles, true
Courſe allowed for 9 d. variation is South-west
Wefterly, diftance of Lat. 54 Miles, departure
69 Miles, Lat. per Judgment 71 d. 56. m. Meri-
dian diftance 705 Miles.
24
Wednesday, July 26. From the 25. Noon to this
day Noon, the Wind variable from the Eaft by
North to the South, with thick Fogs. Diſtance
failed by the Log 73 Miles; Courſe
per Com-
pafs between the South-weft by Weft and Weſt-
north-weft: true Courfe Protracted is Weſt i
South, diſtance of Lat. 7 Miles, departure 67
Miles.
2
Thursday, July 27. From the 26. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Winds from the South to the
South-weft, with great Fogs. Diſtance failed by
the Log 68 Miles, true Courfe allowed Weſt
South, difference of Lat. 7 Miles, departure 62
Miles Weſt.
Friday, July 28. From the 27. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind from the South-fouth-weſt
to
of a North-East Passage.
177
J
to the South-eaſt. Courſe per Compaſs between
the Weft by North, and the South-weft, clofe
upon a Wind; diſtance failed by the Log 85
Miles; true Courſe Protracted is South-weft by
Weft 4 80 Miles, diſtance of Latitude 46 Miles
South, departure 64 Miles Weft: thick Fogs
with fmall Rain.
Saturday, July 29. From the 28. Noon to this
Day Noon, much Wind from the South to the
South-weft: we tryed under a Main-fail three
Watches; true Courſe allowed is Weft 15
Miles!
Sunday, July 30. From the 29. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable from South-eaft
to the South, and fo to the North-weft, with fud-
den gufts, with much Rain, then little Wind: at
8 this Morning much Wind at North-weft; true
Courſe Protracted, all impediments allowed, is
South-fouth-weft 66 Miles; diſtance of Lat. 60
Miles, departure 25 Miles.
Monday, July 31. From the 30. Noon to this
Day Noon, much Wind at North-weft, with
Rain. Courſe per Compafs South-weft by South,
and South-weft; diftance failed by the Log 104
Miles; true Courſe allowed for Leeward-way
and variation South by Weft Weft; difference
of Lat. 103 Miles, departure 11 Miles; Lat. per
Dead Reckoning 68 d. 13 m. but by Obſervation
68 d. oom. departure accordingly Corrected 15
Miles; Meridian diftance 953 Miles.
I
2
Tuesday, August 1. From the 31. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable from the North-
weſt to the South-weft by Weft: diſtance failed
N
by
178
A Voyage for the Diſcovery
by the Log 80 Miles; we ply to Windward: true
Courſe Protracted, variation and Leeward-way
allowed, diſtance Weft-fouth-weft, difference of
Lat. 72 Miles, departure 51 Miles: thick cloudy
Weather, with fome ſmall Rains and Fogs.
Wednesday, August 2. From the 1. Noon to this
Day Noon, from the South by Weſt to the South-
weſt, thick Fogs. Courſe
Courſe per Compaſs between
the Weft by South, and the Weft-north-west;
diſtance failed by the Log 51 Miles, true Courſe
allowed is Weft by North, difference of Lat. 12
Miles, departure 49 Miles; Lat. per Judgment
67 d. 50 m. but by a good Obfervation Lat.
67 d. 55 m. at Noon clear Weather.
Thursday, August 3. From the 2. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind from the Weft to the
South-fouth-weft, with Fogs and Rains. Courſe
per Traverſe; we ply to Windward; true Courſe
Protracted, is South-fouth-weft; diftance of Lat.
21 Miles, departure 10 Miles; at Night much
Wind at South, we lay under a Main-fail.
Friday, August 4. From 8 at Night to this Day
Noon a Storm of Wind at South, and S. S. W.
True Courſe Drift, and all impediments allowed,
is North-weſt by North Weft; difference of Lat.
18 Miles, departure 16 Miles: at Noon lefs
Wind, we fet our Fore-fail.
1
4
Saturday, August 5. From the 4. Noon to this Day
Noon, the Wind from the Weft by South to the
North-west, a very cold Storm: true Courſe al-
lowed is South by Eaft, difference of Lat. 75
Miles, departure 15 Miles: in the Afternoon
little Wind.
Sunday,
of a North-East Paffage.
179
Sunday, Auguft 6. From the 5. Noon to this
Day Noon freſh Gales, and little Wind from the
Weft-north-weft to the Weft-fouth-weft. True
Courſe allowed South Eaft, diſtance of Lat. 67
Miles, departure 8 Miles.
I
+
Monday, August 7. From the 6. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind at South and South-weft,
fometimes much Wind, and then Calm again.
True Courſe allowed per Judgment is Weſt-north-
weſt North 53 Miles; difference of Lat. 22
Miles, departure Weft 47 Miles; at Noon the
Wind came about to the Weft-north-weſt, much
Wind, and at 8 it blew a Storm at North-
weft.
4
Tuesday, August 8. From yesterday 8 at Night
to this Day Noon, a Storm of Wind at North-
weft, we run away with our Fore-fail Reeft.
Courſe per Compafs South-fouth-weſt; diſtance
failed by the Log 116 Miles, true Courfe al-
lowed is South, diſtance of Lat. 107. Miles, de-
parture Weſt 5 Miles.
Wednesday, August 9. At 3 in the Morning a
freſh Gale, faw many Willocks, and other Sea-
Fowls, and at 5 we faw the Land Eaft-fouth-eaft
from us; being high Land, and making like
Iſlands, being the Ifles of Fero. At Noon Lat.
by a good Obfervation 61 d. 45 m. at which
time the Weſtermoſt Iſland bore Eaſt about 8
Leagues off.
Diſtance failed from yeſterday Noon to this
Day Noon 120 Miles; true Courſe allowed
South by Weſt Weſterly, diſtance of Lat. 116
Miles, departure 26 Miles; Lat. per Judgment
L
4
N 2
62 d.
180
AVoyage for the Discovery
62 d. 04 m. diſtance between the Dead Lat. and
the obſerved Lat. 20 Miles; fo that the Ship is
20 Miles more Southerly, and confequently more
Wefterly; Meridian diſtance 1129 Miles, but
by Correction 1136 Miles: we faw a fmall
Veffel, and gave chafe to her, but fhe made
from us.
Thurſday, August 10. From the 9. Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale at North-weft. Courſe
between the South and Eaft-fouth-eaft to get
clear of the Iſlands in the Night; diſtance fail-
ed by the Log 102 Miles; true Courſe Pro-
tracted is South-eaft by Eaft South, diftance of
Lat. 58 Miles, departure 76 Miles: fpoke with
the Ship we ſaw yeſterday, being a Lyn-Man come
from the Iſland.
Friday, August 11. From the 10. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind at North-north-weft. Courſe
per Compaſs South-eaft by eaſt; diſtance failed by
the Log 83 Miles: at Noon the Ifland Foule bore
North-eaft by Eaſt about 3 Leagues off: the Wind
came about at South.
Saturday, August 12. From the 11. Noon to this
Day Noon, the Wind variable, with great gufts,
and Rain: at Noon the Ockney Iflands bore Weft
about 4 Leagues; the Ockney Ifles are low, fuch
as we faw at the fame time we faw Fair Ifle, be-
ing high Land, and about 6 Leagues off: we
found the Tide of Flood to fet in very ſtrong
between the Ockney and Fair Ifles,
At 8 at Night came a fudden ſtrong guft, and
put us under a Main-fail Reeft, at which time
Catnefe bore by Judgment about 8 Leagues off,
Weſt
1
of a North-East Paffage.
181
Weft by South; we tryed away South-eaft,
the Wind at Weft-fouth-weft, a great Storm.
Sunday, August 13. From laft Night 8 a Clock
to this Day 4 in the Afternoon, a great Storm of
Wind from the Weft by South to the Weft-north-
weſt; we tryed away under a Main-fail Reeft,
making her way good by Judgment South-eaſt
37. Miles. Lat. per Judgment 58 d. 16 m. depar-
ture from Catnofe 47 Miles Eaft; faw many
Pitterals about the Ship: at Night lefs Wind.
Monday, August 14. From the 13. Noon to this
Day Noon, a freſh Gale. Courſe per Compafs
South; Lat. per a good Obfervation 56 d. 38 m.
fair Weather.
Tuesday, August 15. From the 14. Noon to this
Day Noon, little Wind from the Weft-north-weſt.
Courſe per Compafs. South; diftance failed by
the Log 53 Miles; fair Weather: ar Noon the
Wind came at South; we ftood in for the Land,
fpake with two fishing Buffes under English Co-
lours, but they were Dutch; at 6 at Night we
got in with the Land, about 2 Leagues to the
Northward of Tinmouth Castle; we tack'd and
ftood off, the Wind at South.
Wednesday, August 16. The Wind from the
South to the South-fouth-eaft. At Noon Tin-
mouth Caſtle South-weſt about 2 Leagues off; we
ply to the Southward.
Thursday, August 17. From the 16. Noon to
this Day Noon, the Wind at Weft-fouth-weft. At
Noon much Wind, we Reeft our Courſes, and
ftand along the Shore to the Southward; at 2 a
Clock Flambrough Head Weſt about 2 Miles.
N 3
Friday,
1
182
A Voyage for the Discovery
{
Friday, August 18. The Wind at Weft-fouth-
weſt. At Noon we anchored a League to the
Northward of Cromer, the Tide being spent.
Saturday, August 19. At 6 in the Morning
Weighed with the Tide, and turned up Tarmouth
Roads, anchored right againſt the Town; at
8 at Night Weighed and turned up above the
Pier and anchored, the Tide being ſpent ; the
Wind at South-weſt.
Sunday, Auguſt 20. At 8 in the Morning
Weighed with the Tide of Flood, and turned to
Windward; at 4 in the Afternoon anchored with
the Tide of Ebb in Southwole-Bay in 8 Fathom
Water, the Church bearing North-north-weſt;
Winds from the South-fouth-weft to the South-
fouth-eaſt, a freſh Gale.
Monday, Auguft 21. At 8 at Night Weighed
with the Tide of Flood, and turned up into Al-
brough Road, and anchored there: at 4 the next
Morning Lieutenant Whitlock went ahore at Al-
brough to take Horfe for London.
At 9 in the Morning Weighed with the Tide
of Flood, the Wind at Weft-fouth-weft, a freſh
Gale, and turned up into the Sleeway, and an-
chored there, about 5 in the Evening in 9 Fa-
thom Water, the Naze Land bearing Weft by
North.
Tuesday, August 22. At 10 a Clock Weighed,
the Wind at Weft-fouth weſt, and turned to
Windward with the Flood.
At 5 in the Morning anchored upon the Tide
of Ebb, two Miles below the Middle ground.
AF
A
of a North-East Paffage.
183
At Noon Weighed with the Flood, and turned
to Windward, the Wind at Weft by South, at 6
anchored below the Shore.
Wednesday, August 23. The Wind at Weſt-north-
weft; at 4 in the Morning Weighed Anchor, and
turned up a Mile above the Buoy of the Noar,
and anchored upon the Ebb about 8 a Clock.
At one a Clock Weighed Anchor, the Wind at
Weft-north-weſt, we turned up the River,
Now,
N 4
+
185
{
Now, after the JOURNAL, Ido
intend to fhew my Conceptions of
the Said Voyage, and a true Re-
lation of our Mifcarriage; with
Jome Obfervations made in the faid
Voyage.
T
HE firſt was the following the Opini-
on of William Barrans, that was to
fteer directly North-eaft from the
North Cape, and to fall in the mid-
way betwixt Greenland and Nova Zembla: fo
having made the Land to the Weſtward of the
North Cape, the 19. Day of June, I ſteered a-
way: North-eaft by Compass, which was not fo
much by the true Courfe, becauſe of the variati-
on that is there Wefterly; and the 22. Day at
Noon we faw the main Body of Ice, being in
the Lat. of 76d. and about 60 Leagues to the
Eaſtward of Greenland. At the firſt feeing of
Ice, I did imagin it had been the Ice that joyned
to Greenland; and that if I went more Eafterly
there might be a free Sea; fo I ran clofe by the
Ice, it lying away Eaft-fouth-eaft, and Weft-
north-weſt, and every League, or leſs, that we
ran,
I
1
186
A Voyage for the Diſcovery
ran, we met with a Cape of Ice; fo when we
were about that, we could fee no Ice to the
Northward; fo ftanding in North-eaft, fometimes
two Glaffes, that is one hour, we could fee more
Ice a Head, and, then we were forced to go out
the fame way we came in, and thus I continued
Coaſting the Ice, fometimes with great hopes of
a clear Sea, and then again difheartened by fee-
ing more Ice; till at laft I had no hopes at all,
which was when I faw the Land of Nova Zembla,
and the Ice joyn to it. So here the Opinion of
William Barrans was Confuted, and all the
reſt of the Dutch Relations, which certainly are
all forged abufive Pamphlets; as alfo the Relati-
ons of our own Countrymen. But certainly, if
Men did really confider the many individual
dangers and mifchiefs that comes upon the
broaching of fuch untruths, they would never do
it; for I do now verily believe that if there be no
Land to the Northward of the Lat. of 80 d: that
the Sea that is there is all frozen, and always
continueth fo; for I that could get no farther
than 76 d. found it fo frozen without intermiffi-
on; and ſome of the Ice that we faw, that was
on the main Body of it, had been conveyed 10
Degrees more Southward, would have taken
fome Centuries of Years to Thaw it: for the
looſe Ice that lay about the Edges of the main
Body, was not more than a Foot thick in fome
pieces above the Superficies of the Water, and
the reſt of the Cake that was funk, was more
than 18 Foot below. So I conclude that thoſe
vaſt Mountains that were on the main Body were
all
of a North-East Paffage.
187
{
all on Shore, as of neceffity they muſt, if they
hold the fame proportion; and confidering the
ſhallowneſs of the Water, which I found all along
the Ice, which in the mid-way between the two
Lands, I found to be no more than 70 Fathom,
was doubtless a fign that to the Northward is
Land, and that the main Body of Ice that lyeth
crufted about the Shore, may be 20 Leagues or
more, and that Nova Zembla and Greenland are
the fame Continent; for if there had been any
Paffage, there would have been fome Current,
which I could never, or very hardly find to be
any, and the little that was run Eaſt-fouth-eaſt
along the Ice, which is nothing elfe but a ſmall
Tide which rifeth fome 8 Foot. Thus the Ice
having been an obſtacle in our way, as alſo the
cauſe of my coming fo far to the Eaſtward,
which before I never intended.
I will come to the misfortune that happened
to us in the loſs of our Ship: which was thus,
being amongſt the Ice the 29. Day of June in the
Morning, we had like to have been incloſed in
it: it proving likewife foggy Weather, I ftood
out to the Southward, thinking to lye there till
fairer Weather, or to ſpend ſome time to the
Southward, and then come up to the Ice again,
to fee if there might be any alteration in it as to
its removal either Eaft, Weft, North, or South;
but all this Day it proved foggy dirty Weather,
the Wind being at Weft; fo we lay South-fouth-
weft with the Stem, and by our Judgment and
Reckoning, the Weftermoft Land of Nova Zem-
bla bore from us Eaft-fouth-eaft, that was 4 Points
1
under
188
A Voyage for the Discovery
under our Lee Bow. But fuch was our misfor-
tune that it proved not fo, for about 10 of the
Clock Captain Flames, being upon our Weather
Quarter, fired a Gun and bore to me, and called
out that there was Ice a Head; then I looking
out a Head, faw fomething white juft under the
Bow, which preſently I perceived to be a breath,
and no Ice; now if I had ſtaied with the Ship,
Captain Flames being to Windward, I fhould
have been on Board of him, and then certainly
we had been both loft, fo I was forced to bear
up with hope that I might get clear of it; but
the Ship being a great while wearing ftruck on
the Rock, her Head lying to Seaward, which if
it had not, but that the Broadfide had been to
the Sea we had all perished without Gods great
mercy: Captain Flames in the mean time (being
a fhorter Ship) wore round, and came cloſe un-
der our Stern, and with great Providence eſcaped,
and ſtood off to Sea: here we lay beating on the
Rock in moſt cruel manner for the space of 3 or 4
hours, ufing all poffible means to fave her, but all in
vain, for it blew fo hard that it was impoffible to
carry out an Anchor capable to do us any fervice,
though we had an opportunity to carry a ſmall
Anchor, and warp to hall another out by, which
fignified but little: the Ship all this while lay, and
at the end of 4 or 5 hours we faw Land clofe un-
der our Stern, to the great amazement of us all,
which before we could not fee for the foggy
Weather; fo I commanded the Men to get out
our Boats before our Maft came by the Board,
which was done. I fent the Boatswain toward
:
the
of a North-East Paffage.
189
the Shore in the Pinnace, to fee if there was any
poffibility of landing, which I much feared, be-
cauſe the Sea ran fo high. In half an hour he
returned with this answer, that it was impoffible
to fave a Man, the Sea ran fo high, and the Snow
being in high Clifts on Shore was unacceffible,
which was but bad tidings: fo then it was high
time to think on the fafety of our Souls, and we
went all together to Prayers, to befeech God to
have Mercy on us, for now nothing but indi-
vidual ruin appeared before our Eyes: after
Prayers being done it proved a little clearer
Weather; and I looking over the Stern faw a
fmall Beach directly with the Stern of the Ship,
where I thought might be fome poffibility of
landing; fo I fent the Pinnace again with fome
Men to be landed, but they durft not venture on
Shore; fo I fent the Long-Boat with fome 20
Men to Land, who attempted it, and got
Shore; fo they in the Pinnace feeing that, fol-
lowed them and their Men likewife, and both
returned on Board again : now the Men on the
Shore fent to me defire fome Fire-Arms and Am-
munition, for there was many Bears on Shore; fo
I cauſed to be put into the Pinnace two Barrels
of Powder that we had faved dry, before the
Ship was belged, and ſome ſmall Arms, and fome
Proviſion, with my own Papers, and Mony;
but as ſhe put off from the Ship fide, a Sea over-
fet her, fo that all was loft, with the life of one
Man, by name John Bofman, being Coopers
Mate, and feveral others taken up for dead; the
Long-Boat being then on Shore to Land more
fafe on
Men,
190 A Voyage for the Discovery
Men, and they hearing us call from aboard,
(when as then we could not fee the Shore) they
came on Board and faved the Men, but the Pin-
nace was all broke to pieces, which was no ſmall
grief to us; fo the Long-Boat being on Board,
and the Sea running prodigious high, the Boat-
fwain and ſome others would compel me and
the Lieutenant to leave the Ship, faying that it
was impoffible for the Boat to live any longer in
that Sea, and that they had rather be drowned
than I; but defiring me when I came on Shore
(if it were poffible) to fend the Boat again for
them: fo I being half way on Shore the Ship
over-fet; ſo I made all the haft poffible to Land
them Men I had in the Boat, and having landed
them I went off to the Ship again to fave thoſe
poor Men that had been fo kind to me before:
fo with great hazard I got with the Boat to the
Quarter of the Ship, and they came down the
Ladder into the Boat, only one Man who was
left for dead, which was one that had been caft
away in the Pinnace, whofe name was Alexander
Frazor, a very pretty Saylor. So I returned to
the Shore and got fafe to Land, though very wet
and cold; fo we hauled up the Boat on Shore,
and went up the Land about a flight ſhoot, where
our Men were making a Fire, and a Tent with
Canvas and Oars, which we had faved for that
purpoſe; fo we lay all that Night very cold, wet,
and weary. The next Morning the Man that
we left on Board recovered, and got unto the
Mizen-Top; for that Maft we left ſtanding when
we came away, the other we had cut all down.
The
of a North-East Paffage.
191
The Ship laboured and beat violently, but it
blew fo hard, and the Sea ran ſo high that it
was impoffible to fave him; fo the Weather con-
tinuing blowing, with extreme Fogs, and with
Froſt and Snow, and all the ill compacted Wea-
ther that could be imagined together. We built
more Tents to preſerve our felves, and the Ship
breaking in pieces came all afhore to the fame
place where we landed, which ferved for fhelter
and Firing; befides there came to us fome
Hogfheads of Flower, and Brandy good ftore,
which was no little Comfort in our great Extre-
mity. Here we lay betwixt hope and deſpair,
hoping for fair Weather that Captain Flames
might find us, which was impoffible that ever he
fhould do if it continued foggy; and fome de-
fpairing of his being fafe, but that he might be
Loft as well as we. But fuppofing we never was
to ſee him again, I was refolved to try the utmoſt
to fave as many as I could in the Long-Boat; in
order thereunto we raiſed her two Foot, and
laid a Deck upon her to keep the Sea out as much
as was poffible, and with this Boat and
30 Men
(for the could carry no more) I intended to Row
and Sail to Ruffia; but the Mennot being fatisfied
who ſhould be the Men, began to be very un-
ruly in their mind and behaviour; every one
having as much feaſon to ſave himſelf as ano-
ther, fome holding Confultation to ftave the
Boat, and all to ran the like Fortune. But here
Brandy was our beft Friend, for it kept them al-
waies Fox'd, fo that in all their Deſigns I could
prevent them; ſome were of the mind to go by
Land,
192
A Voyage for the Discovery
Land, but that I knew was impoffible to any
Man; neither had we Provifions, nor Ammuni
tion to defend us from the Wild Beaſts; and if it
had been paffable, that is any going on the ground
for Bogs, that they would have met with Rivers
that they knew not whether to go: fo there be-
ing no probability of going by Land, nor for
any to attempt going in the Boat, without forty
Men having been firft deftroyed. I will leave it
to the confideration of any, whither we were
not in a very miſerable condition without Divine
Providence: to Write my thought I had at that
time, to fave as many Men as I could, it is not
pertinent at all to the Diſcourſe, fince it cannot
but be imagined to be Tragical. The Weather
continued till very bad with Fogs, Snow, Rain,
and Froft, till the 9. Day of our being on Shore,
which was the 8. Day of July, when in the Morn-
ing it cleared up, and to our great joy, one of
the Sailors cried out a Sail, which proved Cap-
tain Flawes, as reaſonable may be imagined; fo
we fet fire to our Town that he might fee where
we was, which he preſently faw, fo came to us,
and fent his Boat to us (but before I went off) I
Writ a brief Relation of the intention of the
Voyage, with the Accidents that had befallen us,
and put it in a Glafs-Bottle, and left it in the
Fortification I had there built. So by twelve a
Clock we all got fafe on Board, but left all on
Shore that we had faved from the Ship; for we
much feared it ſhould prove foggy again.
Now
1
193
1
Now I intend to give a brief defcri-
ption of the Land, and the Obſer-
vations I made there.
N
Ova Zembla, is fo called by the Ruffians,
which fignifieth New Land in their
Language; to prove it is either an
Ifland, or whither it joyneth to the
Continent of Tartaria, would be a very hard
Task, nor is it certainly known to any; for by
Circumſtances I think it impoffible to prove, and
by Experience the fearch thereof is fo impoffible
that it will hardly be tryed.
But let it be either, I think the matter is not
much, fince it is the moſt miſerable Country that
lyeth on the Foundation of the Earth; a Coun-
try moſt part of it covered perpetually with Snow,
and that that is bare is not to be walked on, be-
ing like Bogs, upon whofe Superficies grows a
kind of Mofs, which beareth a ſmall blue and
yellow Flower, and this is all the Product of the
Earth of this Country. Under the fuperficies of
this Earth, about two Foot deep, after we had dug
fo low, we came to a firm Body of Ice; which, as
I think, was never heard of before: fo thefe Men
that did imagin, if they were forced to Winter
to the Northward, would dig Caves in the Earth
to preſerve themſelves from cold, would find
here
194
A Voyage for the Discovery
here but very bad Lodging. The Snow lieth
here contrary to what it doth in any other Coun-
try; for in all other Climates the Snow melteth
fooneſt away near the Sea fide, but here the Sea
beateth againſt the fnowy Clifts, which in fome
places are as high as either of the Forelands in
Kent: the Sea has wafhed underneath the Snow
a prodigious way, and the Snow over hanging,
moſt fearful to behold, and up from the Water
fide, upon the firft Ridge of Hills, the Snow
was melted till you come to the next Ridge,
which are Mountains, and they all the way up
are covered with Snow, which I believe hath
lain there evere fince the Creation; but after we'
had afcended this, which in fome places was al-
moſt Perpendicular, we came to the top of all
the Mountains, as we fuppofed, for we could
not fee far; for we could hardly fee one the other
the Fog was fo thick, and remained fo all the
time we were in the Country; but on the top of
thefe Hills we found it bare from Snow, and in-
different good walking. The beft that I found
in the Country were only Bears: I continued on
the top of thoſe Hills fome two hours, and went
as far as was convenient, that we might find the
way back again. Here I found. the Track of
many large Deer, alfo we found an Horn of
Beam of Deer; befides Deer, there be abundance
of large White Bears, and fome Foxes, and a
little Creature much like a Coney, but not fo
big as a Rat; and fome few little Birds like
Larks, and thefe be all the Beafts or Fowls
we found in the Country. Every quarter of a
·
بد
Mile
of North-East Paffage.
195
}
;
Mile there runneth down from the Hills into the
Sea a ſmall Rivulet of very good Water, which
is melted from Snow. Upon the Hills we found
abundance of Slate-ftone, which made it good
walking; but at the Sea fide, where the Rivu-
let came down, we found very good Black
Marble, with White Veins in it.
The Point where we loft our Ship I called
Point Speedill: the high Hills I called King
Charles's Snow Hills; and the next Point to the
Southward, which is the Weſtermoft Point of
Nova Zembla, I named James Foreland, and the
Point to the Northward, Tork Point. Point Speedill
lieth in the Lat. of 74 d. 30 m. North, and in
the Longitude Eaft from the City of London 63 d.
oom. The variation of the Compaſs is 13 d.
Weft, and it is full Sea at South-weft Moon.
The Tide rifeth 8 Foot, and fetteth directly
upon the Shore, which is a certain fign that there
is no Paffage to the Northward. The Sea Wa-
ter, about the Ice and Land, is very falt, and
much falter than any I ever tafted, and a great
deal heavier, and I may certainly fay the cleareft
in the World, for I could fee the ground very
plain in 80 Fathom Water, which is 480 Foot,
there being few Steeples fo high as that was
deep, and I could fee the Shells at the bottom
very plain.
If the Voyage had fucceeded, I fhould, God
willing, have given, a more full and nice account
of all the Experiments I had, and ſhould have
made, eſpecially thofe of the Magnet, which I
forbare here to mention, becauſe I intended to
Publish
196 AVoyage for the Discovery, &c.
Publiſh them in a Treatife by themſelves: fo
having with the Ship loft all my Papers, and
with them all I had in the World befide; I moſt
humbly beg Pardon that I have given no more
Ample a Relation.
A
Collection of Curious Travels and Voy
ages in two Tomes. The first containing
Dr. Leonhart Rauwolff's Itinerary into the Eaſtern
Countries, as Syria, Palestine, or the Holy Land,
Armenia, Mefopotamia, Affyria, Chaldea, &c. Tran-
flated from the High Dutch by Nich. Staphorst.
The ſecond in taking many parts of Greece, Afia
Minor, Egypt, Arabia Felix, and Petræa, Ethiopia,
the Red Sea, &c. From the Obfervations of Mon-
fieur Belon, Mr. Vernon, Dr. Spon, Dr. Smith,
Dr. Huntingdon, Mr. Greaves, Alpinus, Veflingius,
Thevenot's Collections, and others. To which
are added three Catalogues of fuch Trees, Shrubs,
and Herbs as grow in the Levant. By John Ray,
Fellow of the Royal Society. London. Octavo
1693. Printed for S. Smith and B. Walford, at
the Prince's Arms in S. Pauls Church-Yard.
The Voyage to Spitzbergen
A
[Place this Page 1
TABLE
O F
The Wind and Weather in the Voyage to SPITZBERGEN.
21E.
Winds and rain
Foggy and very cold
Storms and rain
Warm funshine and calm
Foggs and wind
Very fair and warm
Wind, foggs, and cold
Frost
Sunshine all day and night
The fame
Stormy all day
Day of Mon.
April
1671.
Wind.
Weather.
15 N. E.
15N.
16E.
17E.
Latitude. D.of M.
Wind.
Weather.
Latitude.
Gloomy, with ſunſhine
IS/W.
The fame
18 E.
The fame
ཤེ ཀ ཀ
56°
16
Foggs, with wind
The fame
57.
17 S.
19 S.W. & by W.
58° 49'
18
59°
20S. W. & by S.
19
Stormy, with rain
61°
20
21S. W.
The fame
62° 12'
22S. W
Windy, cold, and rain
65°
22
23S. W.
Cloudy
24S. W.
66. 14'
Stormy and cloudy
23
25S. W.
26E.
28 N. E
ward
Stormy
and ftormy
Windy
30N.
May
IN. W.
and funſhine by turns
༡
N.W.& by W.
Cold fnow and mifty
4N. W.
Snow, hail, and gloomy
5
N.W. & by N.
6N. W.
7
High winds at night,rainy, with 68° 49′
hail and fnow, the wind eaſt-
27 N. E. & by E. Very cold, with hail and ſnow,
29 N. E. & by N. Foggy all day
Foggs, with rain and ſnow
Very cold & windy, with fnow
2N.W.& by W. Cold winds
24
25S. E.
26
28
71° 3'
29
July 2
3
4
기
​Windy
8N. W
9
N. W.
10
IIS.
Moderately cold, and funfhine
Snow, ftorms, hail and froſt
Moderate Froft
8S. W. & by S. Cloudy and cold
9S.W. & by W. The fame
10N.W. & by W. Cold and high winds
IIN.W. & by W. Stormy
12
Fair weather and calm
Sunſhine and pretty warm
Gloomy, and not cold
Sunshine
The fame
The fame
Snow and rain
Windy
Warm funfhine, and calm
Stormy, with fnow and rain
Gloomy funfhine
13 N. E. & by E. The fame
14N. E. & by E. Foggs all day
Foggs, with cold wind
Wind and fnow
Gloomy funfhine and celd
Fair weather and calm
The fame
Storms and fnow
Rain all day
Fogg all day
Warm and funfhine
The fame
ISN. W.
16
17W.
70° 3'
18
12 N.
13 N.
Stormy and very cold
The fame
19
14 N. E.
20S. W.
Fair and funfhine
15N. E.
16 N.
17N. E. & by N. Hard froft
75° 22'
21
75. 33.
22
Sunfhine, cold and windy
23
18 N. E. & by N.
Calm weather
24
75° 35'
19N
Gloomy, funfhine, and calm
20N.
Calm and very cold
22S.
23
Sunshine
29 N. W.
77. 24.
Storms, rain, and fnow
Aug. N.W.
2 E.
3N. E.
4
S. E. & by E.
Very foggy, and calm
The fame
24/S.
25N. W.
26 W
27/5.
28
29S.
30S. E.
June
IN. W.
Windy and cold
Snow and funſhine by turns
Calm
Clear and windy
Hard froft and cloudy
Fair and calm
Sunſhine
2N. E. & by N. Hard froſt and clear
3N. E.
4
N.
5/N.
6N.
7
8
∞ a
9N. E.
ION.
11 N.
I 2
13
14 W
t
Snow and Stormy
Snow and rain, and changeable
Stormý with funſhine
Foggy
Fair and funfhine
Foggs and fnow
Cloudy
Winds and fnow
Sunshine and windy
Cold and ftormy
Windy and foggy
Cold winds
25/S. W.
26
27 S. W.
30N. W.
S. E. & by S.
6S. E. & by S.
7
8S. E.
9/S. E.
IOS. W.
II
12 S. W. N.
13 N. W.
14 N. W.
ISN. W.
Cloudy and cold,and night-fogs
The fame
Gloomy
Very cold
Fogs, and windy
Storms, fogs, and rain
Fogs and froft
Gloomy, funſhine, and cold
Cloudy and calm
High wind,& ftormy,with rain
Windy and gloomy
The fame
Dark, cloudy, and windy
The fame, but lefs wind
Rain, after noon fair
Stormy, with rain
Fair funfhine
Winds, clouds, and funſhine
16N.W.& by N. Windy and gloomy
17N. W.
Fair weather and warm
18
The fame
19
The fame
(77°
20
The fame
21
The fame
66° 47′
P
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Tab: A.Tu
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1
!
THE
FIRST PART
OF THE
VOYAGE
1
INTO
Spitzbergen and Greenland:
CONTAINING
The Paffages of the whole Voyage, toge-
ther with fome Account of the Weather,
from the 15th of April to the
21th of August, An. 1671.
CHA P. I.
Of the Voyage from the Elbe to Spitz-
bergen.
WⓇ
E fet Sail the 15th of April, 1671.
about noon from the Elbe.The Wind
was North-eaft. At night, when
we came by the Hilge land, it bore to North-
weft. The name of the Ship was Jonas in the
Whale, Peter Peterſon of Frifeland Maſter.
B
The
2
The firft Part of the Voyage
}
The 27th we had ftorms, hail and fnow,
with very cold weather, the wind North-eaſt
and by eaſt, we were in 71 degrees, and came
to the Ice, and turned back again. The Iland
of fohn Maien bore from us South-weſt and
by weft, as near as we could gueſs within ten
Miles. We might have feen the Inland plain
enough, but the Air was haizy and full of
fogs and fnow, fo that we could not fee far.
About noon it blew a ftorm, whereupon we
took down our Top-fails,and furling our Main-
fail, drove with the Miffen-fail towards South-
eaſt.
The 29th it was foggy all day, the wind
North east and by north, we came to the Ice,
and failed from it again, as you may fee in the
Plate A.
The 30th, the firft Sunday after Eafter, was
foggy, with rain and fnow, the wind at North,
at night we came to the Ice, but failed from it
again; the Sea was tempeftuous, and toffed
our Ship very much.
The 3d of May was cold, fnowy, with hail,
and mifty Sun-fhine, the wind North-weſt and
by weft, the Sun fet no more, we faw it as
well by night as by day.
The fourth we had ſnow, hail, and gloomy
Sun-fhine, with cold weather, but not excef-
five, the wind at North-west, the weather e-
very day unconftant. Here we faw abundance
of Seales, they jump'd out of the water before
the Ship, and which was ftrange, they would
ftand half out of the water, and as it were
dance together.
The sth in the forenoon it was moderately
cold, and Sun-fhine, but toward noon darkiſh
and cloudy, with fnow and great froft, the
wind
+
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
3
,
wind North-weft and by North. We faw dai-
ly many Ships, failing about the Ice, I obfer-
ved that as they paffed by one another, they
haled one another, crying Holla, and asked
each other how many fish they had caught
but they would not flick ſometimes to tell more
then they had. When it was windy,that they
could not hear one another, they waved their
Hats, to fignifie the number caught. But when
they have their full Fraight of Whales, they put
up their great Flag as a fign thereof; then if
any hath a Meffage to be fent, he delivers it to
them, as you may fee in the Plate A by A.
The 7th we had moderate froft, clouds and
fnow with rain. In the evening we failed to
the Ice, the wind was quite contrary to us, and
the Ice too fmall, wherefore we failed from it.
In the afternoon we faw Spitzbergen, the South
point of the North-foreland, we fuppofed it
the true Harbour. The Land appeared like a
dark Cloud, full of white ſtreeks; we turned
to the Weft again, that is, according to the
Compaſs, which is alfo to be underſtood of the
Ice and Harbour.
The 9th was the fame weather, and cold as
before, the Wind South-weft and by weſt.
In the afternoon a Fin-fifh fwam by our Ship,
which we took at firſt to be a Whale, before we
faw the high fins of his tail, and came near to
it. We had let down our Sloop from the Ship,
but that labour was loft, for he was not worth
taking.
From the 25th of April to this day, we had
not taken the Sun's altitude, we were then in
70 degrees and 3 minutes, and failed towards
the North and the Ice. It may feem ftrange,
that we ſo often failed to the Ice and from it
B2
again
The first Part of the Voyage
!
again, but I fhall give you a reaſon for that
hereafter.
The 12th it was ftormy and exceffive cold,
the wind North and we had the greateſt froſts
in this Month of May.
On the 14th the wind was North-weft, fine
weather, with Sun fhine, we were within 75
degrees and 22 minutes. We told twenty Ships
about us, the Sea was very even, and we hard-
ly felt any wind, yet it was very cold.
In this place the Sea becomes fimooth pre-
fently again after a ftorm, chiefly when the
wind blows from the Ice; but when it blows
off the Sea, it always makes a great Sea.
The fame day we faw a Whale not far off from
our Ship, we put out four Boats from on board
after him, but this labour was alfo in vain, for
he run under water, and faw him no more.
On the 19th we had a dull Sun-fhine, the
wind was North, and it was fo calm that we
could hardly feel it; we rowed in the Ship-
boat to the Ice, and killed two Sea-hounds or
Seales; there were fo many of them on the Ice
that they could not be numbred.
On the 20th it was exceeding cold, fo that
the very Sea was all frozen over; yet it was
fo calm and ftill, that we could hardly perceive
the wind, which was North; there were nine
Ships in our Company which failed about the
Ice; we found ftill the longer we failed the
bigger the Ice.
On the 21th (which was the fourth Sunday
after Eafter) we failed into the Ice in the fore-
noon, with another Hamburger-fhip, called the
Lepeler, with 8 Hollanders. We fixed our Ship
with Ice-hooks to a large Ice-field, when the
Sun was South-weft and by fouth; we num-
bred
!
#
a
a
Him
b
Tab:1
*
F
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
}
numbred 30 Ships in the Sea; they lay as it
༣༠
were in an Harbour or Haven (as you may fee
Plate A at B.) Thus they venture their Ships in
the Ice with great hazzard.
On the 30th it was fair weather in the morn-
ing, fnowy about noon, the wind was South-
weſt and very calm. We rowed in the great
Sloop, before the Ship, farther into the Ice. In
the morning we heard a Whale blow, when the
Sun was in the Eaft, and brought the Whale to
the Ship, when the Sun was at South-weft and
by eaft; the fame day we cut the Fat from it,
and filled with it 70 Barrels (which they call
Kardels.) By this fifh we found abundance of
Birds, moſt of them were Mallemucks, (that is
to fay fooliſh Gnats) which were fo greedy of
their food, that we kill'd them with flicks.
This fifh was found out by the Birds, for we
faw every where by them in the Sea where the
Whale had been, for he was wounded by an
Harping-Iron that ſtuck ſtill in his fleſh,and he
had alfo fpent himfelf with hard fwimming;
he blowed alſo very hollow, he ftank alive, and
the birds fed upon him. This Whale fermented
when it was dead, and the fteam that came
from it inflamed our eyes, and made them fore.
See Tab. A at a.
This fame night Cornelius Seaman iloft his Ship
by the ſqueezing and crushing together of the
Ice, for in this place are very great Sheets or
Iflands of Ice, and the Seamen call it Weft-Ice,be-
caufe it lieth towards the Weft, as you may fee
in the Plate B marked with b.
>
On the 2d of June we had a fevere froft in
the forenoon, and in the night we faw the
Moon very pale, as it ufed to look in the day
time in our Country, with clear Sun-fhine
B 3
where
6
The first Part of the Voyage
whereupon followed mift and fnow, the wind
North-eaft and by north.
"
In the morning, June the 4th, we were a
hunting again after a Whale and we came fo
near unto one, that the Harponier was juft a
going to fling his Harpoon into her, but ſhe
funk down behind, and held her head out of
the water, and fo funk down like a ftone (as
is to be ſeen by d on the cut A) and we ſaw
her no more; it was very like that the great
Ice-field was full of holes in the middle, fo
that the Whale could fetch breath underneath
the Ice. A great many more Ships lay about
this fheet of Ice, one hunted the Whales to the
other, and fo they were frighted, and became
very thy. So one gets as many fifhes as the o-
ther, and fometimes they all get one. We were
there feveral times a hunting that very day,and
yet we got never a one.
On the 8th it was foggy,and fnowed all day;
we faw that day very many (Sea-dogs or) Seales
on the Ice about the Sea-fide, fo we fet out a
Boat and killed 15 of them.,
On the 12th it was cold and ftormy all day,
at night Sun-fhine; he that takes not exact no-
tice, knows no difference whether it by day or
night.
On the 13th in the afternoon it was windy
and foggy, we were in 77 degrees; we failed
along by the Ice fomewhat eafterly towards
Spitzbergen, as is to be feen in the Čut A at e.
That night we faw more then 20 Whales that
run one after another towards the Ice; out of
them we got our fecond fifh, which was a
male one; and this fifh, when they wounded
hini with Lances, bled very much, fo that the
Sea was tinged by it where he fwam:we brought
}
him
!
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
7
.
him to the Ship when the Sun was in
the North: for the Sun is the Clock to the
Seamen in Spitzbergen, for elfe they would live
without order, and miſtake in the ufual feven
weekly days.
On the 14th it was cold and windy,the night
foggy, the wind blew Welt, that day we came
to Hans Lichtenberg.
We arrived at Spitzbergen, June the 14th.
Firſt we came to the Foreland thereof, then to
the feven Ice-bills or Mountains, then we paffed
the Harbour or Bay of the Hamburgers, Mag-
dalens, English men and Danes, and failed into
the South-bay we were followed by 7 Ships,
3 Hamburgers and 4 Hollanders, as is to be feen
by a in the Plate C. For here it is juft the
fame, as when they will fail into the Ice, if
more then one is there, for no body cares to
be the firſt, becauſe they do not know in what
condition the Harbour or the Ice is within.
In our Voyage thither we faw no Ice at all, un-
til we came to Spitzbergen, for the wind had
blown it all away; in the night we did cut off
the fat of the fish, and filled with it 65 Kardels
or Veſſels.-
That night we failed with three Boats into
the English Harbour or Bay, and faw a Whale,
and flung into him three Harpoons, and threw
our Lances into him; the Whale run under-
neath the fmall Ice, and remained a great while
under water before he came up again, and then
ran but a very little way before he came up a-
gain; and this he repeated very often, fo that
we were forced to wait on him above half an
hour, before he came from underneath the Ice.
The Harpoons broke out at length, and we loft
him. On the Ice we faw two great Sea-borfes
B 4
or
8
The first Part of the Voyage
or Morfes, that were got upon the fheet of Ice,
through a hole that was in it, and were afleep;
we cut off their return by covering the hole
with a piece of Ice; then we awaken'd them
with our Lances, and they began to defend
themſelves for a while before they were killed.
We faw alfo many White-fish.
On the 22th we had very fair weather, and
pretty warm; we were by Rehenfelt (Deersfeild)
where the Ice ftood firm: we faw fix Whales,
and got one of them that was a male, and our
third fifh; he was killd at night when the Sun
ftood weftward: this fifh was kill'd by one
man, who flung the Harpoon into him; and
kill'd him alfo, while the other Boats were bu-
fie in purfuing or hunting after another Whale.
This fifh run to the Ice, and before he died,
beat about him with his tail; the Ice fetled a-
bout him fo that the other Boats could not
come to this Boat to affift him, till the Ice fe-
parated again, that they might row, when they
tied one Boat behind the other, and fo towed
the Whale to the great Ship,where they cut him
up into the Veffels, and filled with him 45 Bar-
rels. This night the Sun fhined very bright-
ly.
On the 29th we had fair weather, Sun-fhine
and calm. On the fame day we failed before
the wide Harbour or Bay, where we found a
great quantity of the fat of a Whale, three Vef-
fels full, together with the Image of St. Nicho-
las, which stood behind a Ship that was loft,
diving in the Sea. There was alfo here and
there ſtill much Içe.
On the ift of July about noon, two Whale
came near to our Ship; we faw that they had
a mind to couple together; we fet our Boat
}
for
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
for them, and the Harpoonier hit the female,
which when the other found, he did not ftay
at all, but made away. The female run all
along above the water ftraight forward,beating
about with her tail and fins, fo that we durft
not come near to lance her; yet one of our
Harpooniers was fo fool hardy to venture too
near to the fish,which faluted him with a ſtroak
of her tail over his back fo vehemently, that
he had much ado to recover his breath again.
Thoſe in the other Boat, to fhew their valour
alſo, haften'd to the fish, which overturned their
Boat, fo that the Harpoonier was forced to
dive for it, and hide his head underneath the
water; the reft did the fame; they thought it
very long before they came out, for it was cold,
fo that they came quaking to the Ship again.
In the fame morning a Whale appear'd near
our Ship before the wide Harbour, we put out
four Boats from our Ship after him, but two
Holland Ships were about half a League from
us, one of them fent out a Boat towards us;
we ufed great diligence and care to take him,
but the fish came up juft before the Dutchman's
Boat, and was ftruck by him with a Harpoon.
Thus he took the bread out of our mouths.
On the 2d of July we had Sun-fhine ail day
and night long, and it was pretty warm with-
al; about midnight we went a hunting, and
caught the fifth fifh, who was a male; we cut
the fat off, and flung it into the Forecaſtle.
This is done when they are very bufie in Whale
catching, that they may not lofe time, then
they cut great pieces off of the Whale, that
they may have done the fooner, for it doth
not harm the fat if it should lie fo for feveral
days; nay, fome reckon it to be the better
for
10
The first part of the Voyage
!
for it, but that cannot be, for the fat runs away
from it.
On the 4th we had Sun-fhine all day and
night. We ſtill were Whale-hunting, and that
night we got the fixth fifh, a male alfo, he held
49 Kardels of fat.
On the 3d and 4th day of July we faw more
Whales than we did in all our Voyage.
On the 5th of July in the forenoon it was
bright Sun-fhine, and pretty warm, in the af
ternoon it was foggy, at night Sun-fhine again,
which lafted all the night. We hunted all that
day long, and in the morning we ftruck a
Whale before the Weigatt; this fifh run round
about under the water, and fo faftned the Line
whereon our Harpoon was about a Rock, fo
that the Harpoon loft its hold, and that fish
got
away. This Whale did blow the water fo fierce-
ly, that one might hear it at a Leagues di-
itance.
The fame day about noon, the wind fouth,
and Sun-fhine, we got the feventh fiſh, which
was a female, and had 45 Kardels of fat; this
we cut alfo into the Hold, and fo we failed
from Weigatt, a little toward the weft before
the Mufcle-Harbour, where we dropped our An-
chor; we were employed with cutting the
great pieces of fat into leffer pieces, to fill our
Kardels with them: in the mean while the
wind turned to North-weft and weft, and the
fingle Anchor was dragg'd by the Ship, fo we
dropped another, and would have weigh'd up
the former, but our Cable broke, the Anchor
being faftned to a Rock."
On the 6th we had the fame weather, and
warm un-fhine all night. Hard by us rode a
Hol
'S and the Ships crew bufie in cutting
the
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
II
the fat of a Whale, when the fiſh burft with fo
great a bounce, as if a Canon had been dif
charged, and befpattered the Workmen all o-
ver.
On the 8th the wind turned North-weft,
with fnow and rain. We were forced to leave
one of our Anchors, and thank'd God for get-
ting off from Land, for the Ice came on fierce-
ly upon us; at night the wind was laid, and it
was colder, although the Sun fhined.
On the 9th we got another male Whale, be-
ing the eighth, which was yellow underneath
the head; we filled with him 54 Kardels with
fat; the Sun fhined all night.
On the 12th we had gloomy Sun-fhine all
day. At night we failed with three Boats into
the Ice before the Weigatt, and got three white
Bears, an old one with two young ones, they
fwam in the water like fifh. On the Ice lay
abundance of Sea-borfes, and the further we
came into the Ice there were the more of them,
we rowed up to them, and when we came
near to them we killed ten of them, the reft
came all about our Boat,and beat holes through
the fides of the Boat, fo that we took in a-
bundance of water, we were forced at length
to row away from them becauſe of their great
number, for they gathered themſelves more
and more together; they purfued us as long as
we could fee them, very furiouſly. Afterwards
we met with another very great one who lay
in the water faft afleep, but when he felt our
Harpoon within him he was very much fright-
ned, and ran away before the Boat again,where
he was foon eaſed of his fright by our Lances.
We faw but very few Whales more, and thofe
we did fee were quite wild, that we could not
come
}
£ 2
The first Part of the Voyage
come near them. That night it was fo dark
and foggy, that we could hardly fee the Ships
length; we might have got Sea-borfes enough,
but we were afraid of loofing our Ships, for
we had examples enough of them that had loft
their Ships, and could not come to them a
gain, but have been forced to return home
in other Ships. When after this manner any
have loft their Ships, and cannot be feen, they
diſcharge a Cannon from the Ship, or found
the Trumpets, or Haut-boys, according as they
are provided in their Ships, that the men that
are loft may find their Ship again.
On the 13th we had cloudy Sun-fhine, the
wind towards night turned to North-east and
by caft. The Ice came a floating down apace,
we failed from the South-eaft Land to the weft,
and we could but juft get through by the North
fide from the Bear Harbour or Bay. We failed
on to the Rebenfelt (or Deer-field) where the Ice
was already fixed to the Land, fo that we
could but juft get through; we failed further
to the Fogelfanck (Birds-fong) as you may fee by
in the Plate D. Then we turned toward
the Eaft with a North-eaft wind, in company
with twelve Ships more, to fee whether there
were any more Whales left, with George and
Cornelius Mangelfen, and Michael Appel, who fail
ed in four fathoms water, and touched upon
the wreck of a Ship that was loft there.
On the 14th in the morning we failed ftill
amongst the Ice, the wind being North-eaft
and by eaft; we had a fogg all that day, with
Sun-fhine, with a Rainbow of two colours
white and pale yellow, and it was very cold,
and we faw the Sun a great deal lower.
点
​On
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
13
C
On the 15th it was windy, cold, and foggy
the whole day; the wind turned North-welt,
and the Ice came on in abundance, fo that
we could hardly fail, for it was every where
full of ſmall ſheets of Ice. At this time there
were many fhips befet with Ice, in the Deer or
Muſcle-Bay. We failed all along near the fhoar,
and at night we entred the South-Harbour
(marked with in the Cut D) where 28 Ships
lay at Anchor, 8 whereof were Hamburgers,
the reſt Dutchmen. From that time, when we
failed out of the South-baven, we kept always
within fight of the Land, and faw it always,
except it was foggy; and fo long the Skippers
ftay by the Ice, to fee whether there is any
more Whales to be had. That night we fetched
water from the Land, near the Cookery of Har-
lingen, out of a hole, marked by b in the
Plate C.
On the 16th in the morning we ſaw the
Moon, and afterwards it was windy, with a-
bundance of fnow.
On the 18th we had fair weather, with Sun-
ſhine, and we were alſo becalmed that we could
not fail, wherefore we towed with a Boat into
the Danish Harbour, to gather fome Herbs from
the Rocks. In the South-Haven rode 30 Ships
at Anchor.
On the 19th we had warm Sun-fhine and fair
weather, but in the night ſtormy and rain.
On the 20th ſtorms, rain, and a great deal
of fnow, the wind South-weſt.
On the 21th rain all day long.
CHAP.
}
14
The first part of the Voyage
CHAP. II
Of our home Voyage from Spitzbergen
to the Elbe.
O
N the 22th day of July in the morn-
ing, when the Sun was North-eaft,
we waied our Anchors, and failed out
of the South-Haven: we had a fogg all day
long, and Sun-fhine at night; in the night we
faw abundance of Fin-fishes.
On the 24th it was fo warm with Sun-fhine
that the Tarr wherewith the Ship was daubed
over melted; we drove, it being calm, before
the Haven or Bay of Magdalen.
On the 25th it was cloudy, and Sun-fhine
but cold withal; at night we came to the Fore-
lands; the night was foggy, the wind South-
weſt.
On the 26th we had the very fame wea-
ther all day, the Sun was very low in the night.
,
On the 28th we turned from the fide of
the North-Foreland towards the weft, when
the Sun was South-eaft ; and we did fail South-
weft and by west towards the Sea; then we
changed our Courfe fouthwards, and ftood
South-east.
On the 29th, 30th, and 31th we failed
South-eaſt and by fouth all along by the Land,
the fouth fide of the Foreland was 8 Leagues
from us, bearing North-eaft, then we failed
South-weft and by fouth, it was very cold with
a
into Spitzbergen and Greenland.
15.
a North-west wind. We faw daily abundance
of Fin-fifhes, but no more Whales.
On the 9th of Auguft it was windy all day,
with a gloomy Sun-fhine in the forenoon; it
cleared up towards noon; the wind was South-
eaft, when we took the Meridian heighth of
the Sun, and were at 66 degrees 47 minutes;
we failed South-weftward all along the Nor-
thern fhoar of the Country.
On the 13th, being Sunday in the morning,
the wind was North-weft, ftormy, with rain
and weft winds. In the night we had very
clear Moon and Star-light. In the morning
we ſaw the northern part of Hitland, we failed
fouthward; after the rain we ſaw Fair Ifle, and
failed in betwixt Hitland and Fair-Ifle,firft South-
weft, and afterwards South-weft and by fouth,
and then fouthward.
(
On the 20th it was fair weather, warm
Sun-fhine, and fomewhat windy. When the
ſomewhat_windy.
day began to appear we faw Hilgeland, South-
eaftward of us, when we failed South-eaft;
there we took in a Pilot, on purpoſe chofen
by the Magiftrates of Hamburg.
On the 29th it was fair weather, and warm
Sun-fhine all day; we failed before the Elbe,
and lay at Anchor by the firſt Buoy (called the
Red-Buoy) in the afternoon we weighed our
Anchor, and failed to Kucks-Haven; in the
night we had thunder, and lightning, and rain.
The End of the first Part.
THE
16
THE
SECOND PART
OF THE
VOYAGE
то
SPITZBERGEN:
CONTAINING
The Deſcription of Spitzbergen.
СНАР. I.
Of the External Face and Appearance
of Spitzbergen.
T
IIE lowermoft parts of thefe Coun-
tries that are called Spitzbergen, from
the fharp and pointed Hills or Moun-
tains, (for Spitz is pointed) are fituated under
76 degrees and 30 minutes. We failed to the
81th deg. and no Ship ventured farther that
year;
а
"
w.
Ww?
Tab: C. Pa
to Spitzbergen.
17
year; but how far this Country is extended to
the North, is ftill unknown.
It feemeth, becauſe the Ice ftands firm, and
floats not, as that in the Sea doth, that there
fhould be land not far behind it.
As the higheſt Countries are furrounded with
Mountains, as a Fortification is with Walls and
Works, fo are thefe Countries naturally fur-
rounded with high Hills.
The inward Condition of this Country
we do not know, but it feemeth, fince we fee
one Hill behind another, that it is fo throughout
the whole Country.
At the Muscle-Haven, or Muscle-Bay, we find
plainer and leveller Ground; and the farther
we fail toward the Eaft, the Ground groweth
the lower, yet it is all ftony, and with pro-
ſpects of ſmaller Hills; it doth not look at all
as if it could be inhabited by Men.
I believe alſo that the Land there muft of
neceffity be lower and lower; for elfe we fhould
fee it higher above the other, as we do the other
Mountains.
Concerning the Beafts that live on this Land,
I believe they come over the Ice in the Spring,
when the Ice ſtands firm, into thefe Countries,
and that the fame way they go away from
thence again, when the long nights begin.
Concerning the Birds, we have partly a
good account of them, their places and food
is known, as I fhall mention when I come to
write of them.
When on the 18th of June, on a Sunday in
the forenoon, we firft came to the Foreland of
Spitzbergen; the foot of theſe Mountains look-
ed like fire, and the tops of them were cover-
with foggs; the fnow was marbel'd, and look'd
C
as
}
18
The fecond Part of the Voyage
as if it were boughs or branches of Trees, and
gave as bright and glorious a fhining or glofs to
the Air or Skies, as if the Sun had fhin'd.
When the Mountains look thus fiery, a hard
ftorm generally enfùes.
Thele Countries are in the Winter encom-
paffed with Ice from divers places, according
as the winds blow; as if it be Eaft from Nova
Zembla, if North-weft from Greenland, and the
Ifland of John Mayen: it alfo happeneth fome-
times that the Land is begirt with Ice in the
Summer, as they have often feen,that go thither
every year.
But when the Ice comes floating on too
hard, or in too great a quantity, then the Ships
make to the Harbours, Havens, Bays or Ri-
vers, as they call them, that run up into the
Country; the wind ufeth to receive us fome-
thing unkindly, when we fail into them, roar-
ing over the dry Hills with fmall Whirl-winds.
The water in thefe Rivers is falt.
We meet here with no freſh Streams or Ri-
volets; nor did I ever fee a Spring there.
Of fome Rivers we know their beginning,
of others it cannot be found out, becauſe of
the danger of the Ice, which they are never
free from; fome becauſe of the hidden Rocks
underneath the water, which are difcovered
by the vehement breaking of the Sea, or by
great quantity of white foam.
The Names of the Havens you find all in
order one after another in the Map of Spitz-
bergen, as far as we have been.
Thefe Havens they reckon to be the ſafeſt,
viz. the Safe-Harbour, and the South and North-
Bay, which are the moſt known of any in
Spitzbergen.
The
to Spitzbergen.
19
•
The other Havens, of what names foever,
we commonly fail by, becauſe they lye open
to the Sea.
Others we paſs by becauſe of the conſtant
Ice that is in them, and the hidden Rocks.
In the South or North-Haven or Bay,ride com-
monly the moſt Ships; I told feveral times ten,
twenty, nay thirty Ships, that lay at Anchor,
as you may fee in the Plates C and D, marked
with c and d.
Concerning the Birds, we fee abundance
more of them by and on the Land, then a-
mong the Ice, chiefly when they hatch their
Eggs; we do not find they make their Neft up
with far-fetcht things, neither do they gather
any thing for them from Norway, Schetland, or
the like.
The Seeds of feveral Herbs might grow in
Spitzbergen, but the Herbs nature hath beftow-
ed on thofe Countries are fuch as are fit for
the Diſeaſes and Diftempers that are common
there.
We faw abundance of Sea-borfes by Spitz-
bergen, on the low Land, and upon the Ice;
but we ſaw but very few Seales on the Ice there
about.
The Country (as is aforefaid) is ftony, and
quite throughout it are high Mountains and
Rocks.
Below, at the feet of the Mountains, ftand
the Hills of Ice very high, and reach to the
tops of the Mountains; the Cliffs are filled up
with Snow; wherefore thefe Snow-Mountains
fhow very ftrange to thofe that never faw them
before, they appear like dry Trees with Bran-
ches and Twigs, and when the Snow falleth
upon them they get Leaves as it were, which
C 2
foon
10
The Second Part of the Voyage
foon after melt, and others come in the room
of them.
There are ſeven large Ice-Mountains in a
Line in theſe Countries, that lye between the
high Rocks, which look of a glorious blew co-
lour, as alfo is the Ice, with a great many
cracks and Holes in them; they are hollowed
out, melted away, and cut in Groves by the
rain and fnow-water that runs down; they are
increaſed greatly by the Snow, as the other Ice
that ſwimmeth in the Sea is alfo: they are aug-
mented likewife by the melted Snow from the
Rocks, and from the Rain that falls on them.
Theſe feven Mountains of Ice are eſteemed
to be the higheſt in the Country; indeed they
fhewed very high as we failed by them, under-
neath the Snow look'd dark from the fhades
of the Skies, which fhewed very neat and cu-
rious, with the blew cracks where the Ice was
broken off.
About the middle of the Mountains fome
foggy Clouds hovered over; above theſe the
Snow was very bright.
The true Rocks look't fiery, and the Sun
fhin'd pale upon them, the Snow giving the
Air a bright reflection. They were covered
with Clouds, fo that you could fcarce fee the
tops of them.
Some of thefe Rocks are but one ftone from
the bottom to the top, appearing like an old
decayed Wall; they fmell very fweet, as the
green Fields do in our Country in the Spring
when it rains. See cc in the Plate C.
The ſtones for the moſt part are vein'd dif-
ferently, like Marble, with red, white, and
yellow at the alteration of the weather the
ftones fweat, and by that means the Snow is
ftained
to Spitzbergen.
21
ftained or coloured; and alſo if it raineth much,
the water runs down by the Rocks, and from
thence the Snow is tinged red.
On the foot of the Mountains, where no
mounts of Ice ftand, lye great loofe Rocks, as
they chance to be fall'n one upon the other,
with Caves and Holes, fo that it is very ticklish
walking upon them; both great and fmall
Stones or Rocks are mixt together: theſe ftones
are of a grey colour, or grey with black veins,
they glifter like Silver-oar. Moft of the Rocks
that are at the bottom of the Mounts are like
the Pebles we pave our Streets withal. On theſe
Rocks grow all forts of Herbs, Graves, and
Mofs very plentifully; they grow up in the
two Months of June and July, from the feed to
bear feed again. Look f in the Plate C.
The Herbs grow thickeft where the water
runs or falls down from the Hills, (and alfo
where they are defended from the North and
Eaft winds) from whence always fome Duft
or Mofs is carried down with it, which after
a long time becomes Earth (yet it is rather
dung than a true earth) and the Birds do con-
tribute by their dung towards it.
Thefe Mountains feem as if they were Earth
at top by reafon of the height, but when you
are at the top of them, they are Rock as well
at the top as the bottom, which we alſo fee,
when great pieces of them fall down. If ftones
are flung down from thefe Mountains,it founds
as if it thundred with an Echo and Rattling
in the Valleys, as if very great pieces were
thrown off from the top of them.
The Mountains alfo are full of cracks wherein
the Birds make their Nefts; they all fly down
from the Mountains to feek their food in the
C 3
water;
22
The fecond Part of the Voyage
water; fome eat the Carrion of Fiſhes, others
eat fmall Fishes and Shrimps, as I fhall fay, when
I treat of the Birds.
There are alfo White-Bears, Deer and Foxes
in theſe Countries. The Bear liveth upon dead
Whales or dead Men; the Fox feeds upon Birds
and their Eggs; and the Deer eat the Herbs.
One may conjecture at the height of thefe
Mountains by this, when the Skies are not very
clear, the Mountains ſtand,to about the middle,
in the Clouds; fome of them look as if they
were a coming down every moment, as in the
Plate D at f.
The reaſon why the lowermoft Hills do not
feem fo high,is becauſe fo very great ones ftand
near them. A Ship with its Mafts and Rig-
ging, is no more to be compared with thefe
Mountains, than a fmall Houſe with a high
Steeple. The Miles ſeem alfo to be very fhort,
but when you go to walk them upon the Land,
you find it quite another thing, and you will
foon be tired; and alſo becauſe of the rough-
nefs and ſharpneſs of the Rocks, and for want
of a Path, you will foon get warm be it ne-
ver fo cold: a new pair of Shoes will not laft
one long here.
We went in the night, when it was a very
clear Sun-fhine, upon one of the Rocks near
the English Haven, about a Mile long, to look
after a Whale that had got away from us; in
the middle of this Harbour others were a row-
ing in their Long-Boats, which we could hard-
ly difcern: a great part fell down from one of
thefe Mountains, which founded very loud.
The Mountains look'd black,ftrip'd with veins
of Snow. It was fo calm that we could hardly
perceive any breeze of wind, and not very
cold.
2
:
a
Tab. D. pag.
to Spitzbergen.
23%
cold. The fhoar was very full of Sea-horses, which
roared ſo that we could hear them a great way
off, as if fome Bulls had bellowed.
In the Country we travel thus; We take
along with us two or more Guns and Lances,
to refift the Highway-men the Bears, but one
is foon tired, as I faid before, becauſe of the
ftones and the loofe Ice, whereon it is very
troubleſome to walk.
As many as I have feen of thefe Mountains
are fituated thus; The higheft are from the
Foreland to the Mufcle-Haven (or Muſcle Bay :)
after the Foreland follow the feven Ice Mounts,
which are very high Mountains; and they are
called fo from the Ice-Hills that fill up the Val-
leys, or lye between the Rocks. Theſe moun-
tainous Rocks are not fo fharp or pointed at the
top as the two foremoſt Rocks at the Haven of
Magdalen are. Then cometh the Haven of
the Hamburgers, Magdalen, the English and
Danish Harbour, and at laft the South-Haven.
At the Magdalen-Haven the Rocks lye in a
round or femi-circle, at each fide by one ano-
ther, ftand two high Mountains that are hol-
low within, as if they were dug out: after the
fashion of a Breaſt-work, with points and
cracks at the top, like Battlements; at the bot-
tom within the Hill, ftands a Snow-hill that
doth reach to the very top of the Mountain,
like a Tree with branches and twigs; the other
Rocks look rudely.
In this South. Haven the Ships ride at Anchor
between high Mountains; on the left as we
fail into it, is a Hill called the Beehive in the
Cut C and D, marked with g; called fo from
its refemblance of a Beehive: clofe to it lieth a
large and high Mount, called the Devils Huck,
C 4
com-
24
The Second Part of the Voyage
1
commonly covered with a fogg,and if the wind
bloweth over it, it darkneth the Haven, and
fecmeth as if it fmoaked, filling the Haven
therewith; on the top thereof are three
fmall white Hills covered with Snow, in the
Cut C and D, marked with b; two of them
ftand near to one another. In the middle of
this Harbour is an Iſland in the Cut C marked
with, which is called the Dead-man's Island
becauſe they bury the dead men there after this
manner; They are put into a Coffin, and co-
vered with a heap of large ftones, and not-
withstanding all this, they are fometimes eaten
by the white Bears.
3
I have feen no other fort of Ground but
great ftones at Spitzbergen, fo that the froſt can-
not penetrate far into fuch Ground. I admi-
red that the Snow was at that time all melted
away, and in the Cliffs between the great
Rocks was no more Snow to be feen, although
the holes were very deep. I fancy that abun-
dance of rain had fallen in the Spring,and that
the weather had been tolerable, or elſe we muſt
have feen more Snow there.
There are alfo more finall Iſlands here and
there in this Harbour, that have no particular
names, but are called Birds Islands, becauſe we
gather thereupon the Eggs of Mountain Ducks
and Kirmeums.
Then you come to Schmeremburg, fo named
from Schmer, which fignifieth greafe; there
are ſtill Houſes ſtanding, formerly built by the
Dutch, where they ufed to boil their Train-Oil.
Some Dutchmen once attempted to ftay there
all the Winter, but they all perifht: in the Cut
C it is marked with k
It
!
to Spitzbergen
25
It is obfervable that a dead Carkafe doth not
eafily rot or confume; for it has been found,
that a man buried ten years before, ftill re-
mained in his perfect shape and drefs; and they
could fee by the Crofs that was ftuck upon his
Grave, how long he had been buried.
Theſe Houſes are now from year to year
deſtroyed and burnt.
This year were yet ſtanding feveral Houſes,
like a little Village, fome whereof were then
burnt.
Over-againſt Schmerenburg were alſo ſeveral
Houſes ftanding, and a Kettle or Boyler; they
call that place the Cookery of Harlem. This year
four Houſes remained, whereof two were
Ware-houſes, in the others they dwelt. They
are built after this fashion,not very large; there
is a Stove before with a Ceiling at top, and
behind a Chamber taking in the whole breadth
of the Houſe: the Ware houfes are fomething
larger; therein were ftill feveral Barrels or
Kardels that were quite decayed, the Ice ftand-
ing in the fame fhape the Veffels had been of.
An Anvile, Smith's Tongs, and other Tools.
belonging to the Cookery, were frozen up in the
Ice. The Kettle was ftill ftanding as it was
fet, and the wooden Troughs ftood by it.
From thence you may go to the English Haven;
on the other fide is the place where the dead
are buried; this is fomething even, like earth,
but it is levelled on purpofe. Behind theſe
Houſes are high Mountains; if one climbeth
upon thefe, as we do on others, and doth not
mark every ſtep with Chalk, one doth not
know how to get down again. When you go
up, you think it to be very eafie to be done
but when you are to defcend, it is very difficult
;
and
26
The fecond Part of the Voyage
and dangerous, fo that many have fallen and
loft their lives.
The River there is called the South Harbour,
or Bay; and if the Ships fuffer any damage at
Sea, they refit there.
At the entry into the South Harbour, in the
Valley between the Mountains, is collected
great quantities of fresh Water from the Snow
and Rain, upon the fhoar ftand abundance of
Kardels or Barrels; we ufed this Water for our
Victuals, and other occafions: it is alfo found
in the Clifts of the Icy-hills on fhoar; but true
Springs out of the Ground I never faw in Spitz-
bergen.
The fhoar there is not very high, but the
water is deep, there was no Ice at all to be feen
in it, from whence I conclude that it had not
been a fevere Winter; for it is impoffible that
the Ice could have been melted in fo fhort a
time, not only here, but alſo in the English Ha-
ven or Bay, where the Ice ftood firm ftill, and
hardly lay above half a Fathom under wa-
ter.
The Ice doth melt much fooner in Salt-
water than in freſh River-water, but yet it is
impoffible that fo thick Ice could have melted
in fo fhort a time. We faw alfo that the Snow
melted on the tops of the high Rocks, and the
water ran down, although it was there much
colder then below; yet above and below it
melted alike differently from what I obferved
fince in Spain in the Month of December 1672.
the wind being North-weft, when the Rain
fell below about a quarter of a League, yet
above it the Mountains were all covered with
Snow, all in the freight Line, one not higher
than the other, as if they had been levell'd.
1
In
to Spitzbergen.
27
In the Northern Haven or Bay, lyeth a very
large Mountain, flat at top ;/this Inland is cal-
led the Birds Song, from the great number of
them that build and hatch there; for when
they fly up, they make fo great a noife, that
one can hardly hear his own words: This is
marked with b in the Cut D.
Befide theſe there are more lands named in
the Map, as the Clifted Rock, and fuch other.
The Rebenfeld is a low Land, and it is cal-
led fo from the Deer commonly feen there.
I was informed that it is all Slats, that ſtand
up edgewife, fo that it is very troubleſome to
go on, it is all over-grown with Mofs. There
is a Hill upon it that looketh like fire.
Behind the Rebenfeld are high Mountains
again, they are not pointed at top, they lye
as it were in a Line; by the Rehenfeld runs up a
River into the Country, and is called the
Halfmoon-Bay, from its fhape. On the other
fide of the River is a Mountain, flat at the top,
and full of cracks all filled up with Snow.Then
cometh the Liefde-Bay (Bay of Love) where
two Hills ftand together very like unto
Spitzbergen at Magdalens Bay, and thoſe two
Harbours are very much like one another.
Then we come to lower Ground behind the
Mufcle Harbour, where the Grafs was fo high,
that it covered our ankles, as far as we went.
Next is the Weibgatt, or the Straights of Hindelo-
pen. The Weibg att is called fo from the Winds,(for
weiben fignifieth blowing) becauſe a very ftrong
South-wind bloweth out of it. On the Bear-
Haven, upon the Land, are all red ftones.
Behind the Weibgatt followeth the South-west
Land, which is alfo low; it feemeth as if it was
adorned with finall Hills: then follow the feven
Ilands which we could fee.
We
28
The fecond Part of the Voyage
We faw no Ships go any farther, neither
could I underftand that ever any Ships did go
farther, nor can they go fo far every year to-
wards the Eaſt, becaufe of the danger of the
Ice that ſwimmeth, and is brought from thence
by the wind and ſtream.
In May and June is the beſt fiſhing in the Ice
between the land of John Mayen and Spitz-
bergen. In July and August the Whales run
Eaſtward by Spitzbergen, we faw at the latter
end many Whales that run to the Weigatt. It
is unknown whether the Haven of this Wei-
gatt goeth through the Country, or no. But
this is not that Weigatt whereof ſo many things
are written.
More I do not know of this Country. Rocks
and Snow and Ice-hills we find in abundance
there, and the Creatures that live upon them,
fhall defcribe hereafter.
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
29
CHAP.
II.
Of the SE A.
HE Waves begin to raiſe themſelves at
firft from a fmall breeze of wind, and by
the increaſe and continuance of the breeze they
grow longer, higher and bigger.
The Sea is not immediately made rough in
the beginning of high winds, but the Waves
fwell by degrees and flowly, until they come
to be as bigg as Mountains; then they expand
and break themſelves, and fall over with dafh-
ing and foaming, as you may fee by k in the
Cut D.
Then the following Wave from behind raif-
ith it again, with much curled and foaming
Scum, neatly fpotted with the white Foam,
looking like Marble. This breaking and foam-
ing of the Waves is fucceffively repeated.
So the fwelling Waves continually follow one
another, moving before the wind with a quick
motion, but when thefe Waves are fhort, they
dafh over the Ship, and break much, fo that the
Ship is hardly able to live.
In ftormy weather little Waves curle on the
top of the great ones, and leffer again upon
them.
The
1
30
The Second Part of the Voyage
་
The Ships do not feel theſe ſmaller Waves but
only the great ones, that are called Sea-Moun-
tains, which heave and mount the Ship with
them, but nevertheleſs fhe always keeps her
ftrait way through theſe unpathed Waves,which
is wonderful to behold.
In a hard ftorm the froth of the Sea drives
like duft, and looketh as when the wind driveth
the Snow along upon the Ice, or as the Duft of
the Earth does in dry weather, and you fee the
Sea every where to look like curled Ice, that
when it is a freezing is hindred from it by the
wind, all covered with a white foam, and one
Wave blows over the precedent, with a great
roaring and noiſe, as if a Water-mill were a
going; and this fame noife the Ships make
likewife when they cut through the Sea.
It is alfo to be obferved, that the Waves dafh
against one another when the wind changeth,
and cross over through one another, with
great daſhing over the Ships, before they move
all one and the fame way.
I did not obferve here the Seawater fo clear,
nor found it fo falt as near the Ice; it may be
by reafon of the fhallow ground or bottom,
and the many freſh Rivers that run into it; or
becauſe the Froſt cleareth the water more.
Concerning the manner of their Sailing; they
fail and change their Ways and Sails according
as they think fit. If there be a freſh Gale, they
make uſe of all their Sails; if a ſtorm, with the
two lowermoft Sails, whereof they call the firft
the Fock or Fore-fail, the middlemoſt Schumfer or
Main-fail, and the third the Bafan or Mizen-
fail.
In
to Spitzbergen.
31
In hard ftorms they furl the fore Sail, and
fail only with the Main-Sail and the Mizen-
fail.
In the greateſt ſtorm of all, with thefe Sails
reefed or half tied in, as they call it, or with
the Mizen-fail half furled up; this they do
becauſe the Ship goeth the ftedier by reafon
of the wind, for elfe it would rowle too much
up and down in the Sea, and the water would
dafh in too much on the fides thereof.
One man ſtands always at the Helm to fteer
the Ship, but in hard weather ten men can
hardly hold the Helm, wherefore they faften
it with a Tackle, and fo let it go too and fro,
as the Compaſs directs them.
In and after a ftorm we have oftentimes
ftrangers come to vifit us in our Ships, viz.
Blackbirds, Starlings, and all forts of fmall Birds,
that have loſt their way in a ftorm from theland,
and fly to the Ships to fave themſelves, and
prolong their lives, when others fly about till
they are ſpent, and then fall into the Sea, and
are drowned.
The Lumbs, and other Water fowl, come not
near us; which I mention on purpofe to con-
fute the erroneons Opinion of fome, that be-
lieve that the before-mentioned Birds come to
the Ships as Meffengers, to bring the ill news
of bad weather.
Yet notwithſtanding, thefe following figns or
marks commonly fore-tell a ftorm or hard
weather, when great fifh come near to the
Ships in great numbers, when they play,dance,
rowl about, and leap out of the water, which
is not always playing in them, but rather their
Bodies are afflicted with fome pain or other.
We faw feveral Whales in the Sea, that threw
them-
32
The fecond Part of the Voyage
!
themſelves about as if they were fick, or a
dying.
When the Sea is tempeftuous, it is not to
be thought that it doth proceed from the Sea
only, but a hard and tempeftuous ftorm and
wind followeth upon it,that fendeth the Waves
like Meffengers before it, until it arriveth it
felf with a tempeft; but this is not to be un-
derſtood of the North-fea, but only of the
Sea betwixt Hitland and Spitzbergen.
When the Air is fo difpofed, as the Stars do
not only look bigger, but as if they were more
in number alfo, it is a great Prognoftication,
and often proveth true alfo ; It is a fign that
the Air is full of Mift, which caufeth upon
changing of the Froft, great foggs, and a high
wind follows foon after.
At night, when the Sea dafheth very much,
it fhines like fire, the Sea-men call it burning:
This fhining is a very bright glance, like unto
the luftre of a Diamond.
But when the Sea fhines vehemently in a
dark night, and burns; a South or Weft-wind
followeth after it.
At the ftern of the Ship, where the water is
cut through, you fee at night very deep under
water, bubbles rife and break, then this fhining
or luftre is not there.
Hitherto we have difcourfed of the North-
fea, but next of the Waves between Hitland and
Spitzbergen; near Hitland the ftream runneth
very fwift toward the North, and it grows daily
colder.
It is to be obſerved, that here the Waves of
the Sea run longer, almoſt as they do before
the narrow Channel between England and
France in the Spanish Sea, (and what hath been
obferved
to Spitzbergen.
33
obſerved heretofore of the rowling and tof
fing of the Sea belongeth properly to this)
with a continual toffing of the Ships, which
maketh the men Sea-fick.
The vomiting and fickneſs is attributed to
the Sea-water; but it really proceedeth from
the great and continual motion of the Body,
when oftentimes we are forced to creep on all
four.
Neither Meat nor Drink tafts well, the head
akes and is giddy, and they are always reach-
ing to vomit. Coftiveneſs of the Bcdy doth
generally accompany this Diftemper, and the
Urine is highly tinged. I reckon it no more
then if one is not uſed to ride in Coaches or
Waggons; only that it is always accompanied
with a bad ftomach and reftlefnefs.
The beſt Remedies for this Diftemper, I
believe,are Aromaticks chewed in ones mouth,
as Cinamon, Cloves, Galengal, Ginger, Nut-
megs, and the like. Many think to drive this
Diftemper away with fafting, but they will
find themſelves miſtaken. Some drink Sea-
water, and believe that will make them vo-
mit, which notwithſtanding is not occafioned
by the Sea-water,but by the loathfomneſs there-
of.
To take away the ill tafte out of ones.
mouth, in my opinion, the best means is to
eat and drink plentifully, it eaſeth quickly;
neither ought one to fleep too much, but keep
in the Air, and look into the Wind, and to
walk up and down in the Ship, is alſo very
proper.
But now let us return to the Waves again,
they rife, although it be not windy, as high
as Mountains, very ſmooth, and run away as
D
34
The fecond Part of the Voyage
far
as one can difcern them, which is to be
underſtood when the Sea is turbulent, where-
upon quickly a hard Gale of wind followeth.
In a form the Waves run after the fame man-
ner, as is juft now faid, but with many curl-
ing and foaming whirls, as is defcribed in the
ftorm of the North-fea. Thefe Waves run a
great way, fo that you may fee between them
at a great diſtance.
If any Ships be in your Company, often-
times you cannot ſee them.
Thele Waves are a great deal larger then in
the North-fea, and have alfo greater power
when they fall over, but do not dafh fo eafily
over the Ships as they do in the North-fea.
The Waves in the North-fea are prefently lay'd
after a ftorm, but the commotion of thefe laft-
eth often to the third day; if it be never fo
calm, the Ships are moved very violently
that you cannot walk, fit, or lie; it is beſt
to keep in the middle of the Ship, for before
and behind the Sea beats hard againſt them.
The Sails are driven againſt the Mafts, and
have no fteadiness from the wind. If in a brisk
Gale of a full wind the Sails are all full and
round, the ship fails beft upon the Sea.
There is as great difference in Ships, as to
failing, as there is in Horfes, concerning
eafineſs and fwiftnefs: the motion of the
Ships is therefore different; the ftilnefs
and quietnefs, when nothing is tumbled up
and down in the Ship, furthereth alfo failing
very much.
The Ships fwim fomething higher in the
Sea then they do in Freſh-water; for there is
almoſt a foot difference in a Ship with the fame
loading. 'Tis generally agreed upon, that one
3
may
?
to Spitzbergen.
35
may fee a Ship in a calm Sea three, or three
and a half German Miles off, and beyond that
diftance the Sea lofeth it felf in the Air, and
the Air in the Sea. If a Ship faileth, on the
main Sea at one and half German Miles di-
ftance, you have loft the fight of half the
Ship; at two Miles you fee only the upper-
moft Maft, at three Miles diftánce you fee
only the Flagg, and when it goeth farther, you
have quite loft it.
Land and Mountains may be feen at a great
diftance at Sea; we faw Spitzbergen at twelve
Miles diſtance off at Sea; the Country looked
like a black Cloud full of white ftroaks, as is in
the Cut D marked with a, b, c, g, h, i. Near
the Ice of this Sea it is coldeft where the Waves
are quiet; and the Sea-water is fo clear, that
at twelve and moré Fathoms deep you may
fee the bottom. There is no ground to be
found near the Ice to drop an Anchor.
It is alfo to be obferved, that according
to the colour of the Skies, the colour of
the Sea is changed. If the Skies be clear,
the Sea looks as blew as a Saphir; if it
is covered fomewhat with Clouds, the Sea
is as green as an Emerald; if there be a fog-
gy Sun-fhine, it looketh yellow; if it be
quite dark, like unto the colour of Indico; in
ſtormy and cloudy weather, like black Sope,
or exactly like unto the colour of black Lead.
If the wind be quite calm, one may hear
beating or knocking at a great diftance on the
the Sea, by which we alſo obſerve the Whale
hears, as fhall be mentioned in its proper
place.
D 2
Among
2.6The Second Part of the Voyage
36
.
Among the Ice the ftream runs South-
wards, which we obferved by our driving
back a great way. At the Muscle-Haven the
ftream ran Northwards. Thoſe that fail year-
ly to thofe places, cannot give any certain in-
formation concerning ebbing and flowing;
only they have obferved the water to be high-
er about the Land, when the winds have
been higher then at other times. And this I
have alfo obferved, that if there was an or
derly or continual ebbing and flowing, the
Eggs of the Birds would be drowned upon
the Iſlands.
Certain information, concerning ebbing
and flowing, is not eaſily to be had, I know
no more of it then what I have writ-
ten.
:
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
37
CHA P. III.
Of the ICE.
N the Months of April and May the weſt
Ice breaks, becauſe it lyeth Weſtward,
which drives difperfed in the Sea, by the
Iſland of John Mayen, and reacheth to Spitz-
bergen, where at that time it was firm ftill, as
you may fee in the Plate A marked with
The difference between the Ice of Spatar
bergen, and that of our Country, is, that it is
not ſmooth there, fo as to flide upon it.
Neither is it fo clear nor tranfparent, nor
fo fharp and cutting, but a great deal harder,
and is not eaſily broke or ſplit; but it looketh
likeft unto the Ground-Ice of the Rivers in our
Country, or like unto Loaf-fugar.
Where the Ice is fixed upon the Sea, you
fee a fnow-white brightnefs in the Skies, as if
the Sun fhined, for the Snow is reflected by
the Air, juft as a Fire by Night is; but at a
diſtance you fee the Air blew or blackish:
where there is many fmall Ice-fields, that are
as the Meadows for the Seales, you fee no luftre
or brightneſs of the Skies.
>
The Sea dafheth against thefe Ice-fields
which occafioneth feveral fine Figures; not
that they are naturally framed fo, but juft as
Ice flowers on our Glafs-windows, get all
forts of figures; for theſe are framed by the
daſhing of the Sea, like unto Mountains, Stee -
D 3
›
ples.
38
The Second Part of the Voyage
ples, Tables, Chappels, and all forts of Beafts.
Thefe Ice-fields are a great deal deeper un-
der water, then they are high above it, and
are of a paler colour under water then above
the top of them might be called the Kernel
and Marrow of the Ice, becauſe the colour is
much deeper then that of the other.
The higheſt colour is delicate blew, of the
fame colour with the bleweft Vitriol, fomewhat
more tranfparent, yet not fo clear as that in
our Country, which you may fee through, let
it be never fo thick; it is as hard as a ſtone,and
it is not eafily fplit or cleav'd, because it is
fpumgy, like unto a Punice ftone. Among
this Ice the Ships fail up and down, until they
come to bigger Ice-fields, for the fmall ones
incumber the Sea, that the Ships fail often a-
gainſt them and perith; for when the winds
arife the Waves drive against the Ice-fields, as
if it was againſt Rocks, and beat the Ships to
pieces.
When we are paffed by thefe fmall Ice-
fields that fwim at a great diſtance from one
another, then we fail in between them, and
draw a fmall Ice-field behind the ftern of our
Ship, that it may be the fooner ftopt, and
kept from fwift failing, without letting the
Sails ftrike, for elfe it might eafily run againſt
an Ice-field. Every Ship's Mafter is left to his
free-will, whether he will fail into the Ice, be-
caufe in the Spring the Whales are in great
numbers feen there in the Weft Ice, as they call
it.
•
The Mafters do not willingly fail in a-
mongſt the Ice, when it is dark, or foggy, or
ftormy, which must be expected in the Spring,
and the fmall fheets of Ice fwim up and down
•
in
to Spitzbergen.
27
in the Sea, which the Skippers muſt avoid,
left they loſe their Ships.
It may ſeem ſomething ftrange, that they
fail fo often to the Ice and back again, but there
is the fame reafon for it as is in hunting after
Deer, if we do not find Whales in one place,
we muſt ſeek them in others; for the fortune
in ketching of Whales is like the Chances of
Gaming, and there is no great underſtanding
required to find them: fome fee and catch
more then they defire, and others but at half
a mile diftant from them, fee not one,which is
very common.
When they go in amongst the Ice, the
men ftand ready with great Ice-hooks to keep
them off, that the Ship may not run againſt
them.
The farther you fail into, and amongſt the
Ice, the greater Ice-fields you fhall foe, fo that
you cannot look over them; for about the
Weft, as they call it, are larger Ice-fields to be
feen then about Spitzbergen, quite white at the
top, covered with Snow, fo that there is but
ill walking upon them, becauſe you fall deep
into the Snow. (See A marked with 1, and
B marked c.)
The prints of the Bears footing we ſaw on
the fhoar of the Ice-fields, for they ſeek their
Prey in the water, which is the dead Carkafes
of the Whales, the Foxes generally_accompany
them, for their choicer food of Birds is here
ſcarcer then at Spitzbergen, for they flock not
together, but fly fingly.
When they fail fome Miles into the Ice,
where there is pretty large Ice-fields, they joyn
their Ships to them with great Ice-hooks, faſt-
ned to ftrong Cables, where they lie at An-
chor,
D 4
40
The Second Part of the Voyage
chor, feveral Ships about the fame Ice-field,
but they rather chofe to be alone, becauſe they
are an hindrance to one another in Whale-
catching, and the hunting of them from one
to another maketh them fhie.
Amongst the Ice we find no great Waves,
but it is pretty ſmooth, even when it is fome-
what ftormy. All the danger is from one Ice-
field being bigger then the other, and the
little ones fwiming fafter then the great ones,
which often caufeth a ſtoppage, fo that they
crowd upon one another, not without great
danger of the Ships, which are often catcht
between, and broken by them. See the Plate B
at a.
The Seamen hinder the preffing on of the
Ice as much as in them lieth, with great Ice.
hooks; but what ſmall help this affordeth them
daily experience teftifies fufficiently. In fair
weather the mifchief is as foon done as in
tempeftuous, becauſe the Ice drives in the Sea
either with the ftream or wind, as either of
them is the more prevalent,crafhing and grind-
ing against each other, whence the danger arifes
to the Ships, for after fuch a manner many
Ships perish. See Plate B.
They fay that a dead Whale tied to the Ship,
is the beft defence againſt the Ice. Others
hang the Tails and Fins about their Ship,which
way is not to be rejected, for it is of great ufe
to them to prevent the danger of the fqueez-
ing of the Ice; they have examples, that in
fuch fqueezing of the Ice a dead Whale hath
preferved them.
The
to Spitzbergen.
41
The Ice rifes out of the Sea as high as a
Mountain; the ftriking of them together
makes fo great a noife, that one can hardly
hear his own words; and from this joyning
together of the Ice, the great Ice-hills are
made, that drive up and down in the Sea.
Other great Ice fields are not fo high as the
Ice hills, yet notwithſtanding they are hard-
Jy ever quite plain, and without a Hill; you
fee the Ice under water as deep as you can fee.
It is all of a blew colour, but the deeper you
look the purer blew you fee; which beautiful
colour changes with the Air, for if it be rainy
weather, this colour groweth paler. I alfo
have often ſeen the Ice underneath the water
very green, the occafion whereof was the
troubled Air, whence the Sea affumeth this
colour.
I wonder that upon the largeſt Ice-fields
no high Mountains are feen, as are feen where
the Ice grinds and dashes one againſt the o-
ther.
I am of opinion, that the Ice melts to-
wards the bottoms, for one may fee it fpungy;
for elfe, if one would compute from the be-
ginning, it must have reached the very
ground, even in the middle of the depth of
the Sea.
I have feen in Spitzbergen white Ice that
was frozen quite curled, it look'd juſt like Su-
gar-candy, was very hard and thick, and
fwam even with the Seas furface. The Ships
are not always in this danger of ſqueezing
for often times there is little or no Ice to be
feen there, although you are a great way in
the place where it ufually is; but as foon as a
wind arifes, you would admire from whence
>
fo
42
The Second Part of the Voyage
fo great a quantity of Ice fhould come in lefs
then an hours time.
At the greateſt Ice-fields of all, Ships do not
always ride the fafeft; fince by reafon of the
bigness, and the motion of the Sea, theſe Ice-
fields break, not without danger.
A
When fuch Ice-fields break they part a-
funder, which caufeth a Whirl-pool in the
Sea, where all the out-parts prefs to the Cen-
tre, and by that means the pieces of the Ice-
fields raiſe themfelves up, and dash and grind
against each other.
When we came to 71 degrees in the
Month of April we faw the firft Ice, and fo
we failed up and down by the Ice, until that
Month was ſpent, for fo early in the year no
body dares venture himfelf into or amongſt
the Ice, by reaſon of the ftormy winds and
fome times the Ice is ftill fixed, and ftands
firm, and therefore there is but a few Whales
feen, for underneath the Ice they cannot
breathe.
Into the Ice we failed at 77 degrees and
24 minutes, and drove with that fheet of Ice
towards the South. In this Month, and alfo
in the following Month of May, are the moft
Whales feen here, which run towards the Eaft,
and we follow them all along by the Ice to
Spitzbergen.
Near to the Land finaller Ice-fields are feen,
becauſe the Ice cannot give way by reafon
of the Land, which caufeth greater grinding
and breaking, and upon that account fmaller
Ice than is in the open Sea. Yet for all this,
fome greater Ice-Mountains are ſeen there]
that ftand firm.on the fhoar, and never melt
at bottom, but increafe every year higher and
higher,
to Spitzbergen.
43
higher, by reaſon of the Snow that falls on
them, and then Rains that freezes, and then
Snow again alternately; and after this manner
the Icy-hills increafe yearly, and are never
melted by the heat of the Sun at the top.
Theſe Ice-Mounts change their firſt colour in
time by the Air, by Rain and by the Clouds,
and the faireft blew that can be, is feen in
the cracks of thefe Ice-hills. From thefe fame
Ice-hills, oftentimes break off great pieces,
that fwim in the Sea, and is more compact
than the other Ice by far. I once faw one of
thefe pieces that was curiously workt and car-
ved, as it were, by the Sea, like a Church with
arched Windows and Pillars, the Doors, and
Windows hung full of Icikles, on the infide
thereof I faw the delicateft blew that can be
imagined; it was bigger than our Ship, and
fomewhat higher than our ftern, but how deep
it was under water, I cannot exactly tell
Near unto the Muſcle-Haven, a great Ice-hill
came driving towards our Ship, that was as
high as our Poop, and went fo deep under
water, that it took up our Anchor, which lay
fifteen Fathoms deep. I have alſo ſeen feverat
others, and of other figures, viz. round and
foursquare Tables, with round and blew Pil
lars underneath, as in Plate B marked with f:
the Table was very ſmooth and plain at the
top, and white with the Snow; at the fides
hung down a great many Icikles cloſe to one
another, like a fringed Table-cloth; Lbelieve
that near forty men might have fat about it.
I have feen of thefe Tables with one foot, and
with two or three Pillars, and abundance of
Seales fwam about it. The Diſhes that furniſht
this Table, were a piece of Ice like an Horfes
head,
44
The Second Part of the Voyage
head, and a Swan, I doubt they were but falt.
You muſt obſerve that this Ice becometh very
fpungy by the daſhing of the Sea, and from
thence grows falt, like Sea-water, and thence
alfo changeth its colour, viz. from the Sea
and Rain-water mixt with it; for you fhall
commonly fee the Water look blew or yellow,
if you walk under water,with your eyes open,
and look upwards.
The other Ice, as far as it is above water, is
of a taſte like other Ice, but that below the
Sea falt like the Sea-water.
When we arrived at Spitzbergen, the Ice at
Rebenfelt was as yet fixed, but a few days after-
wards it was driven away by the winds.
The Ice begirts thefe Countries on all fides:
as the Wind fets either from the Island of John
Mayen, Old Greenland, and Nova Zembla. We
found at this time, that the Ice reached from
the other fide of Spitzbergen, and the Ships
failed between the Ice and the Land, as if it
were in a River.
As foon as this Ice is drove thither by the
winds, the Ships muft give way, or go into
the Harbour, until the Winds have blown
or driven the Ice away, or elſe they are loft;
but if there be other Ships that eſcape, the men
are faved.
On this Ice I did not fee many Sea-bounds,
but a great many Sea-borfes, and many Birds
and Fowl.
We failed ftill on till we faw the Seven Islands,
but could go no farther.
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
45
CHAP. IV.
Of the AIR.
HE Froft is unconftant in our Coun-
TH
try but it is not fo in Spitzbergen. In
the Month of April, at 71 degrees, it was fo
cold that we could hardly keep warmth with-
in us. They ſay that in this Month, as alſo in
May, the hardeſt Froſts happen every year.
All the Rigging, by reafon of its being wet,
is covered over with Ice, and ſtiff.
>
They do not fend their Ships fo foon as
they did a few years ago, and yet they come
time enough there, for if they arrive too
early, there is nothing for them to do, becauſe
the Ice is not yet diffipated, and therefore
but few Whales to be feen.
In the two firſt Summer Months of Spitz-
bergen, their Teeth chatter in their Heads com-
monly, and the Appetite is greater than in any
other Countreys.
The Sun fets no more after the third day
of May, and we were about 71 degrees,
when we could fee as well by night as by day.
I cannot fay much of conftancy of the wea-
ther in theſe two firft Months, for it chang.
ed daily. They fay alfo, if the Moon appears
cloudy and mifty, with a ftreaky Sky, that
then there commonly follows a ftorm. Whe-
ther the Moon doth prognofticate fuch ftorms,
I cannot tell, becauſe we have obfèrved, that
after
46
The ſecond Part of the Voyage
after we have ſeen the Moon, in a clear Sky, the
Air has grown foggy, which happeneth of-
ten, chiefly if the wind changes. When the
Hills fhow fiery, it is from Foggs, which af-
ter fpread themfelves every where, and the
Cold encreafeth: Thefe Foggs look blew, like
Indico, and black afar off, which upon chang-
ing of the Weather are driven along by the
wind, fo that in less than half an hour the Sea
is fo covered with a thick Fogg, that you
can hardly fee from one end of the Ship to the
other.
On the 14th of May the Air was bright
and clear, and yet very cold; we could fee
the Whales farther off in the Sea, then ufually
at this time: We could not diftinguish the
Air from the Sea, for it fhewed as if the
Ships danced in the Air like naked Trees or
Poles.
After the fame manner Spitzbergen looks at
a distance like a Cloud; the Mountains are fo
reflected by the Sea, that he that knows not
the Country very well, cannot easily difcern
it from the Air; and fo other Countries very
often appear. The other three Months, June,
July, and August, were very calm.
Concerning the Cold, it is much according
to the quality of the Winds; fo North and Eaft
winds caufe very intenfe Frofts; fo that one
can hardly keep alive, efpecially if the wind
blows hard.
Weft and South winds, when fomewhat
conſtant, cauſe much Snow, and fometimes
Rain alfo, and moderate cold.
The other winds of the 22 according
32
to the Compass, whatever names they have,
are changed by the Clouds, fo that fometimes
when
to Spitzbergen.
47
when the wind was Southweſt and by South
in one place, at a few Miles diftance, there
blows quite another wind.
What heat the Sun oftentimes affords we
faw by our Eyes watering, and the tears that
ran continually down our Cheeks. Yet this
fevere Cold is not always, as is already men-
tioned, for if it were, how could any Herbs
grow there.
Neither is there every year a conftancy of
winds or weather ruled by the Moon, but an
alteration, as is in other places, fometimes a
milder, and fometimes a feverer Winter.
Skilful Ship mafters and Harpooners, com-
mend thoſe years for Whale catching, that have
not many foggy and cloudy days.
Whether, according to the New and Full
Moons, the Spring-tydes happen, cannot be
known.
Such clear skies as we have fometimes in a
Summers day, with pleafant curled Clouds, I
have not feen at Spitzbergen; but on the con-
trary, feveral dark and foggy ones. Rifing
Thunder-clouds I have not feen, nor ever
heard of any body that had ſeen them.
Above the Ice the Air appears white, from
whence we know where the firm or fixed Ice
lies, as I have before obferved in the Chapter
of the Ice.
In the two laft Summer Months, chiefly in
July, before the Weigatt, the Sun fhin'd fo
warm, that the Tarr of the Ship between the
Seames, where the wind could not come at it,
melted.
There
48
The Second Part of the Voyage
There is hardly any difference of Cold be.
tween Night and day, yet at Night when the
Sun fhineth, it feemeth to one that rightly
confidereth it, as if it was only clear Moon-
light, fo that you may look upon the Sun, as
well as you can upon the Moon ; fo that
thereby one may diftinguifh Night and Day
from each other. Increaſe of Cold, and
changing of the Compaſs, we did not obſerve
as far as we went.
It is alſo to be obferved, that the Froft doth
not let a dead Body be confumed eafily in
the Ground, as is already obferved, in the
Chapter of the Defcription of Spitzbergen.
The ſecond day of August, in our Voyage
homeward, we obferved the Sun firſt to
fet.
Concerning the Meteors generated in the
Air, I obferved that the Rime fell down in the
fhape of finall Needles of Snow into the Sea,
and covered it as if it was fprinkled all over
with Duſt theſe ſmall Needles increaſed more
and more, and lay as they fell cross one over
the other, and looked very like a Cobweb;
they are formed by the cold of the Air, and
increaſed to that degree, that the Sea feemed
covered by them, as with a Skin, or a tender
Ice, which had the taſte of Freſh-water; as
alfo the Sea-water that is taken up into the
high Air is changed, and falleth down again
in fweet or freſh Rain.
This hapneth in clear Sun-fhine and intenſe
cold weather, and it falleth down as the Dew
doth with us at Night invifibly, in dull wea-
ther; when the Sun doth not fhine, you can-
not fee this; but you fee it plainly, if you look
when the Sun fhines towards a fhady place;
for
to Spitzbergen.
47
for then it ſparkles as bright as Diamonds;
fhews like the Atoms in Sun-fhine, all day
long it falleth in fo fmall Particles, that no-
thing ſticks or hangs on your Cloaths of it to
make them wet.
At Noon when the Sun fhines very warm,
theſe finall Needles melt in the Air, and fall
down infenfibly like Dew.
Sometimes we fee in our Country, fome-
thing a little like theſe fmall Needles, which
is what we call Rime, and falleth from the
Trees in Atoms like Duft. This is fmall Snow,
and may be ſeen as well in the Shade as in the
Sun. Thefe Needles are not the Exhalation
or Vapour that uſes in cold Weather, to ſtick
to the Hair of Men and Beafts. I must not
forget, that we fee in thefe falling Needles a
Bow like a Rain-bow of two colours, white
and a pale yellow, like the Sun, reflected by
the dark Shadows of the Clouds.
After this I proceed to the Defcription of
an other Bow, which I call a Sea-bow. This
is ſeen when the Sun fhines clear and bright,
not in the great Waves, but in the Atmoſphere
of the Sea-water, which the Wind blows up,
and which looks like a Fog. Commonly we fee
this before the Ship, and fometimes alfo be-
hind to the Lee-ward (fo they call that fide of
the Ship towards the Sea) over-againſt the Sun,
where the Shadow of the Sail falleth. It is not
the Shadow of the Sail, but a Bow fheweth it
felf in the Shadow of the Sail. We fee this
pleaſant reflexion, in the fmall drops of the
Salt-water of feveral colours, like the Rain-
bows in the Skies, that are feen over-againſt the
dark Clouds.
E
This
50
The Second Part of the Voyage
This brings to my Mind another Phænome-
nor, viz. that in the Clouds near the Sun, a
very bright Light is feen, like a Parelion or
Mock-fun. Thefe Lights are called Weather-
galls by the Sea-men.
This bright Light we find in the lower-moft
Air, in the dark fhady Clouds, that are not
unlike to a Cloud of Rain, becauſe it is full of
drops, wherein the Sun is reprefented, as
things are in a Looking-glaſs.
This clearness of the Sun caufeth a Heat,
which drives from it a Rain-bow, figured by
the Sun, which Bow are the Drops that by the
Heat of the Sun are changed into a Vapour
or Fog, and this Vapour fhews like fmoak in
the Air, when the Cold remits, wherein thefe
Colours are no more feen.
But in thefe raifed Drops, as aforefaid, the
Sun reprefents it felf, and caufeth thefe Co-
lours, which are truly diftinct, and reprefent
Blew, Yellow and Red; which are the three
primary Colours of the Bow.
Concerning the bignefs thereof, I did confi-
dered and minded the Bow that I faw in Spitz-
bergen, and found that it moved about with the
Sun by Day and by Night, and that it appear-
ed much bigger in the Morning, Evening, and
at Night, than in the Day-time.
1 will not mention the Whirlwinds which
are unknown in thefe cold Countries; that
ufed to take up the Water into the Air: But
yet I will not omit the finall Whirlwinds,
that proceed from the high Mountains, from
whence the Wind recoils, and fo turneth-
round about,
We
Pag: 51.
Tab: E
A
N° 2
D
во
E
*
FX
Nº
No 2.
**
***
**
No 4
*****
N°6.
to Spitzbergen.
51
We fee farther in Spitzbergen, that the Sea
as well as the other Waters, fends forth a Va-
pour, when the Cold encreaſes, which Vapour
is turned into Rain in the Air, or into Snow,
and it ſmelleth like a Fog or fteaming Wa-
ter.
It is likewife an Obfervation there, that
when we fee great Vapours or Fogs in the Air,
and that fuch a Vapour rifeth almoſt every
moment in a clear Sun-fhiny Day, without
Wind or other Caufes, the cold Weather is a-
bout to remit: But when the Air is overbur-
dened by theſe Vapours, the Clouds are diffi-
pated, and they laft a great while with con-
ftant Wind. Such Vapours as we fee in
the Air, ftick to our Cloaths and Hair
like Sweat.
Out of theſe ſmall vaporous Drops the Snow
is firſt generated: Firft of all you fee a fmall
Drop, as big as a ſingle Sand in the Plate E
marked with A. This is augmented or en-
creaſed by the Fog, until it cometh to be like
unto a Shield or Plate with fix corners as clear
and tranfparent as Glafs, to theſe fix corners
fticks the Fog like Drops, as B. then it freezes
and fplits afunder, fo that you fee the Figure of
a Star, as C. which yet is ftill frozen together;
until in time it is quite parted or divided aſun-
der one from the other, and then you fee
a Star with fix Points, as D. which Points are
not yet quite frozen, becauſe there are ſtill
hanging fome wet drops between the Points
until at length it affumes the perfect Form of
a Star, with Points ferrated at the fides, like
Ferne, on the Points whereof ſtill hang fome
Drops, as you fee at E, which are loft at laft,
and fo it is turned into an exact and perfect
E 2
Star
;
a'.
52
The Second Part of the Voyage
Star: And this is the Formation of the fnowy
Star, which is feen in the fevereft Froft fo
long until at laft it lofeth all its Points. See F.
as to the many forts of Snow that fall in Spatz-
bergen, and in what Weather I have made
theſe following Obfe vations and Diftinctions,
Number 1. in the Plate of E. fheweth the
Snow that falleth, when it is tolerable cold
and rainy withal, then it falls like unto fmall
Rofes, Needles and fmall Corns. When the
cold Weather doth remit the Snow falleth like
Stars, with many points like the Leaves of
Ferne. Plate E. Numb. 2. If it be only a
Fog, and it fnoweth much, it looketh as you
fee Numb. 3. If it is very cold and windy like
Numb. 4. When it is very cold and not windy
withal, the Snow falleth like unto Stars in a
clufter, becauſe the Wind cannot blow them
afunder, like Numb. 5. When the Wind was
North-West, or the Skies were thick of Clouds,
and it was ftormy withal, there fell Hail that
was round and oblong all over full of Prickles,
and of the fame bignefs as you fee it at Num-
ber 6.
There is many more forts of ftarry Snow to
be feen, with more Points, and fome like unto
a Heart, but they are all generated after the
fame manner, by the Eaftern and Northern
Winds. The needly Snow is generated by
Westerly and Southerly Winds: If the Snow
is not difperfed by the Wind, it falleth down
in cluſters.
But when the Wind driveth it, Stars or
Needles only fall, every piece by it ſelf, like
the Atoms in the Sun.
Thus
to Spitzbergen.
53
Thus much have I obferved hitherto of the
Snow, and find that alfo when it is cold and
a North Wind blows, all forts of Snow, both
ftarry and of other fhapes, fall as well in thefe
Countries as in Spitzbergen.
The End of the Second Part.
THE
E 3
54
1
THE
THIRD PART
OF THE
VOYAGE
то
SPITZBERGEN.
CHAP. I.
Of the Plants of Spitzbergen.
Enerally the Figures of the Plants I here
prefent you with were all drawn by the
Life upon the place when they were fresh, and
of their natural fize, except the Rock-plant
with but one Leaf, and the Plant like Horfe-
Tail, that ftands by it, which becaufe of their
largenefs could not be well drawn fo big at
the
to Spitzbergen.
55
the Life. All the Herbs and the Moffes grow
upon the Grit and Sand of the Stones, where
the Water falleth down, and on that fide of the
Hill which the Eaft and North Winds cannot
eafily come at. The Plants owe much of their
growth to the Dung of the Birds.
There were a great many fmall Herbs, which
for want of time I could not delineate, but I
purpoſe to do it hereafter, if God bleifeth me
with Life and Health, when I make my fecond
Voyage thither.
I omitted the white Poppy, whereof we
ftuck the Flowers in our Hats; the whole
Plant was but about a Span long.
Befides I have not mentioned the Red Sorrel,
I mean that which was fhewed to me at Bremen
by the Dutch Gardener, which was of the fame
fize, but the Leaves of that of Spitzbergen are
Red.
I defire the courteous Reader to accept at
prefent of theſe for a Sample, to fhew him that
on thefe rough, barren and cold Mountains,
there yet grow fome Plants, for the Nourish-
ment both of Man and Beaft. The Herbs grow
to their perfection in a fhort time, for in fune,
when we fitft arrived at Spitzbergen, we faw
but very little Green, and yet in July most of
them were in flower, and fome of them had
their Seeds already ripe, whence me may ob-
ferve the length of their Summer.
I proceed to the Defcription of thofe Plants,
which I had time to delineate, and begin with
thofe, that put forth their Leaves only at, and
about their Roots, and have but few or no
Leaves on their Stalks.
E 4
Then
56
The Second Part of the Voyage
1
Then fhall follow thofe that have fingle
Leaves on their Stalks; then thoſe that have
pairs of Leaves or oppofite ones, afterward
thofe with three Leaves, and then conclude
with the imperfect Plants.
17
CHA P. II.
Р.
Of a Plant with Aloe-Leaves.
T is a very pretty Herb, and puts forth
thick, prickly and fad green Leaves like
thofe of Aloes, a brown naked Stalk, about
half the length of your Finger, whereon hang
round Heads of Flefh-coloured Flowers in
Bunches, which are hardly to be difcerned by
the naked Eye, one Flower clofe above ano-
ther, and near to one another Tab. G. marked
with a.
Sometimes two Stalks fhook out of one Plant,
one bigger than the other. Yet each Stalk has
two of theſe Bunches of Flowers.
I could not delineate its Seed for want of
time. The Root confifts of many ſmall Fibers.
We gathered it in great plenty on the 17th.
of July, behind the Cookery of Harlem, in the
running Water.
I know not well, to what kind this may be
referred. Cafpar Bauhin maketh mention of an
Herb in his Prodromus of his Amphitheater of
Plants in the 5th. Book and 15th. Chapter,which
he calls Limonium Maritimum, which he de-
1
fcribeth
to Spitzbergen.
57
fcribeth with ſmall, roundiſh and thick Leaves,
like Houſe-leek, between which fpread forth
fmall Stalks with pale red Flowers; but the
Root doth not agree with our Plant, for his is
long, red and parted at top, whereas this Root
confifts in many fmall Fibers, and is not red.
CHAP.
III.
Of Small Honfe-leek
HE Leaves of this are indented and very
THE
like thofe of our Dafies, for which I should
have taken it alfo had not it been for the Flow-
er, only the Leaves are thicker and more juicy,
like thofe of Houfe-leek, or, as we call it, thofe
of the leffer Houfe-leek: The Leaves grow
round about the Root, betwixt them is a ſmall
Stalk of the length of your little Finger, which
is round and hairy, and generally without
Leaves, fave only where it divides into ano-
ther Stalk, at which place is a fmall Leaf.
The Flowers grow in ſcaley Heads (like unto
the Flowers of Stachas) are of a brown co-
lour, and have five pointed Leaves, as I think
with five finall Chives within, like unto the
Flowers of Wall-pepper or Stone-crop. I found
only the Flowers, for the Seed was not yet
ripe. The Root is fomewhat thick and ftrait,
with many ftrong and thick Fibers from the
fides of it; it may be referred to the Houſe-
leeks,
58
The third Part of the Voyage
leeks, and called finall indented or crenated
Houſe-leek, with fcaly Heads.
This Plant I found in the Danish Harbour
or Bay on the 18th. of July, it is figured in
Tab. F. at a.
CHA P. IV.
Of Crows-foot.
Some of thefe Plants are figured in the Tab.
Gat c and e, and the Tab. H at c, and in
the Tab. I at d.
Thefe four following Plants are all Crows-
feet, only diſtinguiſhed by their Leaves.
The firſt and fourth in Tab. G at c, and in
Tab. I at d, are very like one another as to
their Leaves, whereof they have both two
forts, the undermoft broader, and not ſo much
cut, and the uppermoft finaller and deeper
divided, yet they differ in this, that the firſt
doth not grow fo high, and puts out many
Leaves out of one and the fame Root, but the
fourth in Tab. I at d, hath but one long Stalk,
whereon ſprouted out one fingle Leaf at a place.
The fourth hath yellow Flowers, but whether
the firft hath yellow ones (which I fuppofe) I
cannot well remember. The Flowers of the
fourth hath five Leaves, broader at the ends
and ſmaller at the bottom; they grow out of
a rough Perianthium or Cup that is fplit into
five
Pag: 58.
Tab: F
Ъ
а
Pag: 59
Tab: G
C
d
a
L
Pag: 59.
Tab: H.
2
a
to Spitzbergen.
59
five alſo. See Tab. I at d. The Flowers of
the firſt have fix Leaves, they are fmall
and the Seed-veffels are like one another.
The Roots are differing, that of the firſt
hath many finall Fibers, and the fourth hath
a thicker and longer, with tender and ſmall
Fibers. The firſt burns the Tongue like Perficaria
or Flea-bean, but ſomewhat less than in our
Countries. The Leaves of the fourth do not
burn fa.
I found them both in the Danish Haven, the
firſt in great quantities; they flower in July.
The fecond hath fomewhat differing Leaves
from the two former, for although the lower-
moſt Leaves agree with them of the firft, yet
they are lefs, and thoſe that grow higher, and
come up after the lowermoft, are in two places
deeper cut, fo that the first part of the
Leaf that ftands out before, is not very
unlike a Tongue, but the two fides are but
a little indented in Table G it is marked
with e.
There is alſo a difference in the Leaves of
this Plant, as well as in the two before menti-
oned, for the Leaves that are neareſt to the
Flowers are ſmall and deeply cut, and that
with two incifions, and it burns the Tongue.
The Flower is finall, and hath fix and fome-
times feven Leaves. The Seed-veffel is like un-
to the former, only it is lefs. The Root is
like that of the firft, only it hath more Fibers;
there is alſo a kind of thick fheath that fur-
roundeth the Stalk, as is alfo to be ſeen in the
fourth. I found this Plant near the firft, im
the Danish Haven the 16th. of July. The
third is yet fmaller, but fuller of Leaves, on-
ly
60
The third Part of the Voyage
41
ly they are lefs, and not fo deep cut, although
they have alfo four Incifions like the fecond,
in this I did not find that difference in the
Leaves, between the lowermoft and thoſe that
are nearer the Flower, it is in the Tab. H
marked with c. The Flower is of five white
Leaves, its Seed-veffel I could not yet fee.
Its Roots are fmall Fibers, I found it in the
South Haven on the Sixteenth of July; it
burns the Tongue, the Leaves are thick and
juicy.
I found in the fame place another fmall
Plant, exactly like to thefe, only the Flowers
thereof were of a purple Colour, and the
Leaves not fo juicy; wherefore I did not
draw it.
This
CHA P. V.
Of Scurvy-graß
His Scurvy-graß fends forth a great many
Leaves from one Root, that fpread them-
felves round about it upon the Ground. The
Stalk grows out of the middle of thefe Leaves,
which is a great deal lower than in our Coun-
try, with a few Leaves underneath the Sprouts.
The Flowers are of four white Leaves, they
grow many on the fame Stalk one above the
other, when one Flower fades, another cometh
in its room when the Flower is paft; the Seed
appears in a longifh Box, as you may fee in
the
to Spitzbergen.
61
the Figure; when on the contrary in ours the
Seed is found in a round one. The Root is
white, fomewhat thick and ftreight, with ſome
fmall Fibers below.
A great quantity of this Plant is found on
the Rocks, where they are not much expoſed
to the Eaft and North Winds; I found it moft
in the South, English, and Danish Havens, the
Earth was quite covered with it in the Da-
niſh.
It was the firſt Herb I found in Spitzbergen,
when we Landed the first time, it was fo fmall
that I could hardly difcern it to be Scurvy-
grafs, but afterwards we found it in its full
perfection, and it feeded in the Month of
July.
It is obfervable, that the Leaves of this
Herb have but little fharpness at Spitzbergen,
and therefore it is much weaker than the Scur-
vy-grafs of our Countries, fo that we eat it in-
ftead of Salads in Spitzbergen, which we could
not do our Scurvy-grafs.
My Figure is like that cut, given in the
Third Book, and the 35th. Chapter of the Ger-
man Herbal of Matthiolus. See Tab. H at a.
CHAP.
62
The third Part of the Voyage
!
CHAP. VI.
Of an Herb like Stone-crap.
THis Plant is doubtlefs a kind of a Stone-crop,
but the Leaves are rough or hairy, not fo
thick, nor fo juicy as ours are, neither doth it
burn or bite, like unto ours.
Before the Flower fully appears, it looks like
unto that of Efula; but when it is quite blown
and opened, it is of a purple Colour, and hath
fometimes five, fometimes fix, and fometimes
I have feen nine Leaves, the Stamina of the
Flower I did not tell, neither did I ever fee the
Seeds thereof. The Root thereof is very finall,
and one Plant grows cloſe to the other. We
found this Herb on the low Lands of the Eng-
lifh Haven. Afterwards we found abundance
of it amongſt the Moffes on the 26th. of June.
In the Tab. F. it is marked with e, and in the
Tab. I. with a.
CHAP.
Tab: I. pag: bz.
62.
to Spitzbergen.
63
↓
CHAP. VII.
Of a Snake-weed.
fmall
His is a fmall Snake-weed, and is found very
rarely in Spitzbergen; the undermoft
Leaves of this Plant are the biggeft, but they
are not above the bredth of ones Nail, they
grow fingly on the Stalk, yet not above three
of them, except the lowermoft: the nearer the
Flower, the ſmaller they are; they have with-
in, not far from the edge many fmall knobs or
fpots anſwering to the points of the Leaves,
wherein the Veins or Nerves are terminated,
beſides the Leaves are not quite plain, but
fomewhat rumpled at the brims. Out of the
Root fprouts forth fometimes fingle and fome-
times double Stalks, as you may fee in the Cut,
and this by-ftalk is always fomewhat lower
than the chief Stalk.
The Flower grows in a clofe Spike, with
many finall Fleih-coloured Flowers, it was fo
fimall, that I forgot to tell the Leaves there-
of: The Seeds were not then come to matu-
rity.
The Root fheweth of what kind the Plant
is, and wherefore it may be called Biftorta or
Snake-weed, for it lieth twifted in the Ground,
it is about the thickness of your little Finger
where thickeft, hath fmall Fibers, is brown
without, and Fleſh-coloured within, and of
an aftringent Taſte.
1
64
The third Part of the Voyage
I found this Herb in the Danish Harbour, on
the 18th. of July. My Figure agrees moft
with that which Camerarius hath given in the
Fourth Book and Third Chapter of Matthiolus,
its marked with a in the Tab. I.
CHAP. VIII.
Of an Herb like unto Mouſe-ear.
THis Herb bringeth forth fmooth edged
Leaves by pares, they are rough and like
Moufe-ear.
The Stalks are fmooth at their firſt putting
out, but afterwards they grow rough, where
the uppermost Leaves grow, they are roundifh
at the bottom.
At the end of the Stalk groweth a white
Flower, out of its Perianthium, the number of
its Leaves I did not tell, nor had I time
enough to obferve the Seed. The Root is
round and flender, with fmall and tender Fi-
bers.
It feemeth, this Plant fhould belong unto
the hairy or rough Alfine, and perhaps it may
be the third or fourth kind of the hairy Alfine,
of Dodoneus in the Fifth Book and Tenth Chap-
ter of his firſt Latin Herbal, if the Leaves of
his were not cut, as thefe are not. I gather-
ed this Plant in the South Haven, on the 17th.
of July. See d in Tab. G.
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
65
CHA P. IX.
Of a Plant like unto Periwinkle.
THis Plant runneth upon the Ground, and
bringeth forth roundish Leaves by pairs on
creeping Stalks.
The Leaves as I think are like thofe of Peri-
winkle, but they are fomewhat rounder, and
the largeſt of them are bent in before. The
Stalk is fomewhat knotty and woody.
The Flower appeareth at firft, wrapt up
like a Leaf, but after it is grown out a little
more, one may fee it to be a Flower, it grows
out between the Leaves on the fame Stalk.
The colour and fhape of thefe Flowers, I
could not at that time obferve, becauſe they
were not yet blown, much lefs could I gather
the Seed.
The Root is long, flender, round, woody
and knotty, it hath fmall branched Fibers at
the bottom: I found it in the South Bay, be-
hind the Cookery of Harlem on the 19th. of
June, and 17th. of July.
Since I neither faw the Flower nor Seeds,
and in probability, it would have put forth
more Leaves; I cannot determine, whether it
be the Pyrola minima, whereof Clafius giveth us
a Cutt and Defcription in the Fifth Book of his
rare Plants,in the 20.Chapter; or whether it may
be Pfeudochama baxus of the Hortus Eichstetenfis,
F
which
66
The third Part of the Voyage
which is given by Clufius, in the 72th. Chapter
of the before-mentioned Book, by the Name
of Anonymos Colutea flore, and accurately de-
fcribed, and Camerarius in his Hortus, giveth it
us under the Name of Anonymos Pervince folio.
In the Tab. G. it is marked with b.
CHA P. X.
Of an Herb like a Strawberry.
of
Thi
His agreeth in its Leaves with the Straw-
berry, for it hath three cut Leaves on the
end of the Stalks, and its Flower hath com-
monly fives Leaves (feldom but four) and is
like a Strawberry Flower, the Stalks are round
and rough, and fo are the Leaves.
On the Stalks you fee two Leaves one againſt
the other of a differing figure and bignefs, for
one looketh like a Hand, and the other like a
Finger, the fize alfo is different, for fome have
but three Fingers, and others have more.
The Flower is yellow, the Leaves of the
Flowers are roundish, how many, I obferved
not: The Root is woody, fomewhat thick
with fmall Fibres, a little fcaley at the top, it
taftes dry and aftringent like Tormentill.
In the Herbals I could find none liker it,
than that which Lobelius calleth Fragaria Syl-
veftris minime Vefca five fterilis, and in the uni-
verfal Iferdumifh Herbal, in the 70th. Chapter
of the 17th. Book, by the Name of Fragaria
non fragifera vel non vefca, yet it differs in the
Flower and Leaf; for the Leaves in my Plant
are cut deeper, and the Flower of his is white.
In Tab. H. it is marked with b.
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
67
1
СНАР. XI.
Of the Rock Plant.
THis Plant belongeth to thofe called Wier
by the Dutchmen, and Fucus in Latin.
It has a broad flat Stalk like a Leaf, and yet
there fprout out of it many equally broad
Leaves like it, as Twigs out of a Tree, at the
the top of the Stalks there are little narrow lon-
gifh Leaves, fome have five, others feven of
thefe, of a yellow Colour, as the Herb is alfo,
and they are tranfparent like Glew, I know a
not whether one may take them for its Flow-
ers. Cloſe to theſe there grow other oblong
Leaves, that are hollow, and as it was blown
up, and fill'd with Wind, and many leffer
Bladders round about cloſe to one another:
The Leaves that are blown up have nothing in
them but Wind; for when I preffed them to-
gether, they gave a little bounce, whether
thefe fmall Bladders have Seeds in them or no,
I could not obſerve.
The Seamen informed me, That from the
Seeds of that Plant, the fmall Sea Snails are
produced, but I am not fatisfied, whether they
proceed from thefe Bladders, or from Eggs as
our Snails do.
It may be after the fame manner, as we find
on many Leaves in our Country, Bladders filled
up with the Seeds of Worms or Caterpillers,
yet I dare not affert it, becauſe I had no op-
portunity, to fearch narrowly into the Matter 47
the Root groweth out of the Rocks, where
F 2
fore
68
The third Part of the Voyage
1
fore I call it a Rock Plant, it hath fome Fi-
bers, and is ſometimes round; I found this
Herb in great plenty, firft in the South Bay,
near the Cookery of Harlem, where we take up
the Water; then in the Muffel Haven at Spitz-
bergen; then at Cales in Spain.
When this Herb is dried, it looketh brown
and blackish, it gives and groweth wet again
when a South or Weft Wind blows, becaufe of
the Salt that penetrates it; but when the Wind
is Eaft or North it is ftiff and dry.
Among all the Figures that I have feen, I
find none liker than that given in the 39th.
Book, and the 5oth. Chapter of the Iferdunijh
Herbal, by the Name of Alga Marina Platyceros
porofa, only that this is porous or fpongy and
white. In the Tab. F. it is marked with b.
The Leaves of the great Rock Herb, are
very like unto a Man's Tongue, it is on each
or both fides curled, but plain before and not
curled, through the middle of it run two black
Stroaks or Nerves to the Stalk, and on the out-
fide of them appear many black ſpots, within
the black ftroaks, on each fide, to the middle-
moft plain ftroak; the Herb is adorned with
fmall curles, in the middle it is quite ſmooth to
the Stalk, on the end of the Leaf, next the
Stalk, are two white ftroaks almoft to the
middle of the Leaf, bending round outwards,
if they were quite clofed, they would make
an Oval.
The Leaf is above fix Foot long, and yel
low, and the Stalk yet longer; the Stalk is
round and ſmooth, of a yellow colour like un-
boiled Glew, near the Root it is thicker than
at the Leaf, and it fmells of Muffels,
The
to Spitzbergen.
A
69
The Root hath a great many Branches that
are divided again, and ftick very clofe unto
the Rock underneath the Water. The whole
Plant groweth under Water feveral Fathoms:
When we wayed our Anchor, we pulled it
up in great quantity from the Ground.
Together with this Herb we pulled up the
hairy Plant that ftands by it, about fix Foot
long, and it is very like an Horfes Tail, only
that here and there it hath fome fmall knobs
like nitty Hair, or fuch as are ſplit at the ends;
the whole Plant was browner of colour than
the former, and its Roots was fixed unto the
former.
In theſe Plants were fome rediſh Worms
wrapt or folded up like Caterpillers, with
many Legs. They are figured Tab. P. at i.
>
The Herb was like Dodder, wherefore it
may be call'd Water or Rock Silk. Amongſt
all the Icons that I have feen in printed Herbals,
I find it comes neareft to that hairy Plant
which Antony Donat, in his Book of Plants,
growing about Venice, calleth in his fecond
Book, Mufcus argenteus Marinus, fimilis Pluma,
only this is not as white as Silver, but rather
yellow or browniſh.
Of theſe two Herbs we found great plenty
in the South Haven on the 20th. and 21th. of
July.
There is another Sea Plant, which I called
Sea-grafs, whereof there is plenty in the Eng-
lifh Haven underneath the Water above eight
Foot long. The Leaves were about two or
three Fingers broad, of a yellow Colour like
Glew, and tranfparent, ending in a blunt point,
at the top fmooth edged, without nicks or
prickles
F 3
70
The third Part of the Voyage
prickles, every where plain and even, the
Leaves grew from the Root round about it,
as it were out of one hole in the Tab I. it
is marked with b. C.
The End of the Third Part.
I
}
i
THE
}
}
THE
FOURTH PART
OF THE
VOYAGE
то
SPITZBERGEN,
OF THE
ANIMALS of Spitzbergen.
The PREFACE of the Animals,
but chiefly of the Birds in general.
THE Animals of Spitzbergen here defcri-
bed, are either thofe with two or with four
Legs.
About Spitzbergen alfo are fome Creatures that
live only in the Water, and have no Legs (except
one would take their Fins, that are about their
F 4
Breaft,
{
71
1
72
The fourth Part of the Voyage
Breast for Legs, becauſe as bereafter ſhall be ſhewn,
their Fins are jointed like Legs underneath the Skin.)
Some live in the Water, and also upon the Ice and
Land, and have either two or four Legs.
We will begin with them that have two Legs,
or with the Birds whereof the most live upon the
Water, and but few of them upon the Ice or Land.
་
CHAP
I.
Of Birds with Toes or divided Feet.
F Land-birds I obferved but one fort:
OF Viz:
I. Of a Snite.
This Snite which is alfo called the Strand-
runner (becauſe it keepeth about the Strand)
is no bigger than à Lark.
Its Bill is narrow, thin, and corner'd with-
all. Our Snites Bills are at the farther end
broader and roundish, and cut in with croſs
notches like a Rafp to rafp Wood withal; fo
that the whole upper Jaw and Bill looketh ex-
actly like a Rafp with its handle. Our Snites
ane alfo bigger than thofe of Spitzbergen, other-
wife they are very like one another in Shape
and Colour; this Bill both above and below is
four fquare, of a brownish colour, and about
two Inches long. The Head is roundiſh, and
of the fame thickneſs with the Neck.
{
Their Feet are made of three divided Claws
before, and one behind which is very fhort,
their Legs are not very long. It is of the co-
lour
Tab: K. pag: 73-
Ъ
C
to Spitzbergen.
73
lour of a Lark; but when the Sun fhines upon
it, it fhews blewish, very like thoſe two Colours
obferved on our Ducks Necks when the Sun
fhines upon them. They feed upon the little
gray Worms and Shrimps.
✔
We ſhot ſome of them in the South Harbour,
near the Cookery of Harlem, they had not the
taſte of Fish at all. See Tab, K. at a.
II. Of the Snow-bird.
The Snow-bird is no bigger than a Sparrow,
and like a Linnet in his Shape, Bill and Co-
lour.
The Bill is fhort and pointed, its Head of
the fame thickneſs with its Neck. The Legs
are alſo like the Linnets, their Feet are divided
into three fore Claws, with longiſh crooked
Nails, the hinder Claw is fomewhat fhorter,
but hath a long bended Spur, or Nail. The
Legs are grayish, and not very long.
From their Head over all their Belly to the
Tail they are white like Snow, but all over
their Backs and Wings they are gray. Some
of them are gray all over, but theſe are little
Ones,
I can tell nothing of its finging, only that
it whiffeleth a little, as Birds ufe to do when
they are hungry.
When we failed near the Ice, they came in
great flocks to us in our Ship, near the Iſland
of John Mayen, and were fo tame, that you
could take them up with your Hands.
They run upon the Ice where I only faw
them, and not upon the Land, which is the
reaſon that they are called Snow birds.
}
They
74
The fourth Part of the Voyage
+
They kept with our Ship till we catch'd the
firft Whale, and after that the other Birds fright-
ned them away.
We fed them with Oatmeal, but when their
Bellies were full, they would not fuffer them-
felves to be taken up. We put. fome of them
in a Cage, and hung them up in the Cabin,
but they did not live long.
We eat fome of them, and they were not of
an unpleaſant tafte, but very lean. If I may
give my Opinion, why the Birds flie to the
Ships, I believe that they are ftray'd from the
Island, and that fo the Hunger compels them to
the Ships for Food. Tab. K. at b.
III. Of the Ice-birds.
I faw alfo in the English Haven, a very beau-
tiful Ice-bird, which was fo tame, that we might
have taken him up almoſt with our Hands, but
we would not go too near him with our Gun,
for fear that we fhould fhoot him all in pieces,
and fo fpoil his curious Feathers, fo we mif-
fed him, and he flew away.
The Sun fhined at that time upon him,which
made him look like Gold, fo as it dazled our
Eyes almoft. He was as big as a ſmall Pigeon.
I would willingly have delineated him, if we
could have catched him. I faw but this one
of the Kind.
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
75
CHA P. II.
Of the Broad or Web-footed Birds.
TH
Here are feveral forts of theſe about
Spitzbergen. Some of them have thin
pointed Bills, others have thick and broad ones.
Some of the thick billed ones have them di-
vided or parted as the Malle-mucken (mad Gnats
in English) others have undivided ones, as the
Parret fo called.
There is alſo a confiderable difference in the
Heels of thefe Birds, for fome of them have
Heels, as the Mountain-duck, Kirmeu and Malle-
mucks: Others have them not at all, as the
Burgermeister, Rathfher, Strundjager, Kutyegehf, Par-
ret, Lumbe, Pigeon, and the Red Goofe; no Wa-
ter fticks to their Feathers no more than on the
Swans and other Water Fowl, for it runs off
from them, as if they were oiled all over.
Some are Birds of Prey, others not. There
is alfo a difference in their flying.
Some flie like unto a Partridge, as that cal-
led the Pigeon, others like Swallows, as the
Lumbs and Red Geefe, others like the Mews, as
the Mallemucke, Rathfher and Strundjager, others
like the Stork, as the Burgermeister.
The Birds of Prey are, the Burgermeister,
Rathfher, Strandjager, Kutyegehf and Mallemucke.
There is alfo a great difference in their Fleſh
the Birds of Prey are not fo good to eat as the
others, except you hang them up by their Legs
for fome days, that the Train Oil may run
out of them, and the Air blow through them,
and
76
The fourth Part of the Voyage
and then you do not tafte the Train Oil fo
ftrong, for elſe it would make you vomit.
The Pigeons, Parrets, Red Geefe and Ducks,
are the moſt fleſhy, the old Lumbs have a very
tough and dry Flesh,not to difparage the Rotges,
Kirmews and young Lumbs when boiled, and
the Fat taken away from them, and afterwards
fryed in Butter; for then one may make a fhift
to eat them; but if you ſhould eat their Fat, it
would vomit and diforder the Stomach very
much. Theſe Birds except the Strundjager,
Kirmew and Mountain-duck, all make their Nefts
upon the high Rocks, where they are fecured
from the Foxes and Bears; but ſome of them
make their Neſts higher than others.
They fit in fo great numbers or flocks upon
the Rocks, chiefly at the time when they hatch
their Young ones, which is about the latter end
of June, and beginning of July, that if they
flie up when the Sun Thineth, they fhade the
Ground like a Cloud, and make fo great a noife,
that one Man can hardly hear the other.
The Kirmews and Mountain-ducks, and alfo
the Strundjagers, make their Nefts on low
Grounds, (that one would think that the high
Water muft needs run over them) on the fmall
Iſlands, where they are fecure from the Foxes,
but not from the white Bears, for they ſwim in
the Water from one Iſland to the other. We
took up great ftore of their Eggs.
The Nefts of theſe Birds are not all made
after the fame manner. For the Mountain-duck
makes its Neſt of the Feathers of its own Belly,
mixing them with Mofs.
The Feathers of thefe Nefts are not the
Edder Down, brought us from Iſland, for
that cometh from great Birds (that the Inhabi-
tants
to Spitzbergen.
77
tants there call Edder) and cofteth when it is
cleanfed from the Mofs a Crown a Pound, as
I have been informed; But the Feathers of
the Mountain-ducks of Spitzbergen, which they
call Down, the Seamen put into their, Pillows,
and Straw-facks, which if they fhould be clean-
fed would be more worth.
The Kirmew layeth their Eggs upon Mefs,
and fo do the Rotges. The Nefts of the rest of
the Birds were too high for us, fo that we could
hardly, and not without great difficulty reach
them. If it be never fo dark by reafon of a
Mift, yet every Bird knoweth how to find
their own Neft again, and flyeth directly to it.
Concerning the Names of the Birds I have
made ufe of thofe, that the Seamen have given
them formerly, according to their own Fancy,
that he that heareth them called by thefe Names,
may alſo know how to find them by them in
this Book.
Some of theſe Birds, as Lumbs, Strundjagers,
Mallemucks, Kirmews, and the Mews called
Kutyegelfen, I have alfo feen about England,
Scotland and Ireland; and alfo in the Spanish
Seas, nay even upon the Elve by Hamburg, I
have heard the Kirmew and Kutyegehf cry, but
there is a difference, as well between the Beafts
as Men of other Countries.
1. Of the Rathfher.
Firſt of the Rathfher (or Alderman in Eng÷
lifh) for this is the firft of the thin billed Birds
that have three Claws, and is called fo by the
Seamen, becauſe he is a very ftately and hand-
fome
28
The fourth Part of the Voyage
fome Bird, but lefs than that which they call
Burgermeister (or Major in English.)
This Bird hath a fharp, narrow and thin
Bill, and hath only three Claws or Toes, that
are joined together by a black Skin, but he hath
no Claw behind. His Legs are not very long,
and black, as the Eyes are alfo.
This Bird is whiter than the Snow, for when
you fee him upon the Ice, you may diftinguiſh
him from the Snow; he fhews very beautiful,
with his white Body, his black Bill and Eyes,
black Legs and Feet, and befides he is very
well ſhaped.
His Tail is pretty long and broad, like a
Lady's Fan.
His Cry is fomewhat lower than the little
Kirmews, as if he did fay Kar, when the cries
Kir, he fpreads his Wings and Tail out when
he flies, as the Strundjager or Crow doth. He
doth not willingly fwim in the Water as the
other Birds do, nor doth he much care for
wetting his Feet, but he ftays rather where it
is dry, yet he loves Fifh.mightily; and fo the
Proverb that we commonly fay of the Cats is
true of him; The Cat loves to eat Fish, but does
not love to wet her Feet.
I have feen him upon the Ice feed on the
Dung of a Sea-horfe, upon whofe Body he
will reft while he is alive, as Crows will do
in our Countries. He flieth commonly alone
by himſelf, but where there is a Prey they
flock in great numbers.
I did delineate them in the fhallow Corner
(called fhallow Point) in Spitzbergen, on the
10th. of July, when we fhot him, he was not
wild at all, fo that I could have knock'd him
down with the Gun. See Tab. L. at a.
II. of
Tab: L pag: 78.
a
a
:
b
to Spitzbergen.
79
11. Of the Pigeon.
The Pigeon, or rather the Pigeon-diver, is al-
fo one of the beautifulleft Birds of Spitzbergen.
It is of the bignefs of a Duck, the Bill is fone-
what long, thin and fharp pointed, at the
point the upper Bill is fomewhat crooked, a-
bout two Inches long and hollow within. It
hath but three red Toes on its Feet, with
crooked Claws; it hath fhort redith Legs, and
a fhort Tail.
Some of theſe Birds are black all their body
over; but others, and fo was that which I de-
lineated; about their Wings, and in the middle
they are white pyed with black, but under-
neath the Wings they are quite white; others
are in the middle of their Wings quite white;
their Bill is red within; the Tongue is allo
red and hollow; they cry like young Pigeons,
whence they have their Name, for they are in
nothing elſe like them. In their Crops I found
Shrimps, or Prawns, and fmall Sand-ftones.
They do not flie high over the Sea, and
their flight is very like the Partridges: They
do not flie many together as the Lumbs, but
ufually by pares, and fometimes one alone by
its felf.
They can keep a great while under Water;
wherefore they may be called Diving Pigeons
But chiefly when they are purfed by Men, or
if their Wings be hurt by a Shot,they will dive
and keep a great while under Water; and fome
times they get underneath the Ice, and there'
they are fuffocated,they were as nimble and quick
underWater (if their Wings or Feet are not quite
fhot off) as we could row with our Boat. Their
Fleth
¡
80
The fourth Part of the Voyage
Fleſh is good to eat when the Fat is taken a
way from it, if afterwards it be fryed in But-
ter.
The firft Diving Pigeon I got the 23th. of
May on the Ice, and afterward at Spitzbergen,
where they are feen more frequently. See
Tab. L. at b.
III. of the Lumb.
This Bird is the likeft in his Bill unto the
Diving Pigeon, only it is fomewhat ftronger
and crookeder.
He hath black Feet, with three black Toes,
and as many black Nails; his Legs are black
alfo and fhort.
He is quite black at the top, but underneath
his Belly even to the Neck he is ſnow white;
his Tail is fhort.
His Cry is very unpleaſant, moft like that of
a Raven, and they cry more than all the o
ther Birds, except the Rotger-divers, he is big-
ger than the Diving Pigeon, as big as a mid-
ling Duck. In their Crops I find fmall Fiſh
and Prawns, and alfo fome Sand-ftones; and
one of them flying over our Ship dropp'd a
large red Prawn into the Ship. I alfo delinea-
ted it in the mentioned place. They fay
likewife, that fmall freſh River Fish are their
Prey; but this I carmot relate for certain.
When they have young ones, they common-
ly fit by the old ones one or two on the Water,
who teach them to dive and fwim. After the
old ones have brought their young in their
Bill, from the Rocks to the Water, the Prey-
ing Bird called Burgermeister fometimes catches
the young ones, when the old ones are not
prefent,
to Spitzbergen.
81
}
preſent, and ſometimes when they are alſo, for
they are not able to reſiſt them.
They love their young ones fo well, that
they will be killed before they will leave them,
(and will defend them as a Hen doth her
Chickens, fwimming about them) at other
times they are very hard to be fhot; for as
foon as they ſee the Fire, they are immediately
under Water, or fly away. They fly in great
flocks, with pointed Wings like Swallows, and
move their Wings much in their flight. One
can hardly know the young Lambs from the
old ones, at the firſt fight, if you do not take
exact notice of their Bills; for the upper part
turns beſide the under part, at the point, and
the undermoſt beſide the uppermoft, as you fee
in the Croſs- Bill, yet not fo much in theſe
and it is commonly done in the 15th, 16th, tổ
the 20th year of their Age. The old ones are
full of Flefh, but it is very dry and tough, and
therefore unpleaſant to eat.
;
They boil them like the Pigeons, and fcum
off the Fat when they boil, then they fry them
in Batter. I did not fee them upon the Ice,
but abundance of them upon the Mountains:
They go waddling from one fide to the other,
like the diving Pigeons. I have feen many
Thouſands of them together in the Danish Har-
bour, on the Mountains, on that fide where the
Eaft and Northern Winds could not blow hard
or not fully upon them, (and fo do all other
Birds chufe fuch places on the Mountains for
their Habitations) where the Herbs do grow.
But I faw not fo many by the Haven of Mag-
dalen, where I drew my Figure on the 25th of
July. Afterwards I faw fome of them in the
G
Spa-
82
The fourth Part of the Voyage
}
Spanish and North Sea, not far from the Heilg
land. See Tab. M at a.
IV. of the Mew called Kutge-gehef.
,
This is a beautiful Mew, and is called
Kutge-gebef, becauſe it cryeth fo: He hath
a Bill fomewhat bent, as the Burgermeister; on
the undermoſt part of its Bill is a fmall knob
or rifing: About his black Eyes he hath a red
circle, as the Burgermeister; and he hath but
three Claws, joyned together with a black
Skin.
The Legs are alfo black, and but fhort; the
Tail is fomewhat long and broad, like a Fan.
1
All the Belly is as white as Snow; the
Wings and Back are grey, and the point of the
Wings black. He is almoft as big as an ordi-
nary Mew, but fomething lefs than the Strunt-
jager. When we cut the fat off from the
Whales, we faw abundance of them fly by the
Ship, and heard them cry.
When the Seamen have a mind to catch
fome of them, they bait their Hooks with a
piece of Whales Fat, and fo tye the Hooks to
a Line, and fling it into the Sea, and fo they
catch not only thefe, but all the other Birds of
Prey. He flieth with fmall Wings as a com-
mon Mew, and dives not. His Food is the
Fat of the Whale. He is hunted by the Strunt-
jager (in English Dung-hunter) who leave him
not till he dungs, which the Strunt-jager
eats.
K
4
This I could hardly believe at firft, until af
terwards I faw it my felf very often: That
which I drew was catched by our Ship-boys
with
Tab: M. pag: 82.
Ъ
a
F
4 to Spitzbergen.
83
with a Hook, in the South Haven. I did pecu-
liarly obſerve in this Bird, that it uſed to ſwim
upon the Water, and hold its Head up againſt
the Wind, if it was never fo great a Storm;
and fo we found whole flocks of them fwim
upon the Water together.
:
"
This is not only to be underſtood of this
Bird, but alſo of all the reft, for they look
againſt the Wind, that their Feathers may not
be blown afunder and opened; for if they
fhould fit or fwim with the Wind, their Fea-
thers would be blown afunder by the cold
Wind, and fo the Cold would get in between
them to their Skin, which perhaps might pre-
judice their Health, for Birds are covered with
their Feathers as Men are with their Clothes.
And fo, when they fly up, they prefs againſt
the Wind with their Bodies, and expand their
Wings, and fo fly away very fwiftly; alfo their
Feathers would be entangled, fo that they
could not have a fure and fteddy flight, but
faulter in their flying, like Birds that learn to
fly. There is but little Meat upon them; we
eat but the Legs and the Breaſt, for the Wings
are nothing but Skin and Bone. We have a
Proverb, and ſay, Thou art as light as a Mew
This we may very well fay of thefe Mews.
I have feen them fince in the Spanish Sea, and
alfo in the North Sea, but yet they differ from
thefe; and fo do the Beafts of all Countries.
See Tab. N. it is marked with a.
G
v. of
84
The third Part of the Voyage
V. Of the Burgermeister
1
1
A
t
The Burgermeister (in. Engliſh Major) is
the biggeſt of all the Birds of Spitsbergen,
wherefore this Name is given him as being the
Chief of them.. His Bill is crooked, of a yel-
low colour, narrow and thick; his Under-bill
is fomewhat rifing or knobby at the point or
end, a great deal more than the Kutge gebefs,
which looketh very pretty, as if he had a Cher-
ry in his Mouth; he hath longish Noſtrils, and
a red Ring about his Eyes, as I mentioned
when I fpoke of the Kutge-gebef; he hath but
three Claws, of a grey colour, his Legs are
grey, and not quite fo long as thofe of a Stork,
yet he is almoft equally big with him.
His Tail is broad, like a Fan, and white,
which is chiefly to be underſtood of thefe
Birds when they fly; his Wings are of a pale
colour, and fo is all the Back, but the Wings
are white at the tip, and fo. is the whole Body.
He builds his Neft very high in the Clifts of
the Rocks, where you can neither ſhoot nor
catch them any other way; which was the
reafon I could not fee their Nefts, I have feen
fometimes two, three and four of their young
ones together; we shoot moft of them when
we draw a dead Whale behind our Ship,where
they flock in great numbers, and bite off great
pieces of the fat of the Whale; at other times
we muſt ſhoot at them a great diſtance, as
at other wild Birds, fuch as Ravens, Herns, and
the like.
A
His
to Spitzbergen.
85
༌
His Cry is like the Cry of fome Ravens
that I have fometimes heard; he flyeth in the
Air like a Stork; he preys upon young Lumbs
as the Hawk doth upon all forts of Birds; he
feeds alfo upon the fat of the Whale, whereof
he doth ſwallow down pieces as big as ones.
Hand whole.
:
The Mallemucks are mightily afraid of him,
they will lye down before him (when they are
upon the Carcafs of a dead Whale) then he bites
them about the Neck, which I believe doth
not hurt them much, becauſe they have a very
thick Skin,, for elfe they would oppofe and re-
fift him, or fly away, but they do not matter
it, neither will they leave their Meal for his
biting. I have feen him alfo about the Sea-
Horfes, whofe Dung he eats. He flyeth com-
monly fingle, except when they meet at their
Prey. He loves to reft on the water, but doth
not care much for diving; we fhot one before
the Weibegat, on the roth day of July. You fee
him at c in the Tab. L.
VI. Of the Rotges.
This Bird is a Diver, and might be rather
called the Diving Rotge. His Bill is crooked,
but fhort, fomewhat thick, of a black colour
;
his Feet have but three Claws, with as many
black Nails, and are joyned by a black Skin;
his Legs are fhort and black; he is almoft allĺ
over black, except his Belly, which is white.
•
Some of this kind have their Wings fpotted
with white and black, like the diving Pigeon;
no Water ſticketh to their Feathers, no more
than to a Swans; they are moſt of them like
Hair on a very thick Skin: Their Tail is fhort.
They
G 3
86
The third Part of the Voyage
i
They are very much like a Swallow in their
fhape; I took them at firft to be Swallows, fór
they fly like them; they are in great flocks to-
gether, as the Swallows are when they are
about to hide themſelves againſt the Winter.
They go wabbling from fide to fide, as the
Divers do; they cry very loud Rotter, tet, tet,
tet, tet, at firft high, and fo by degrees lower
and lower; and this their calling or crying is
the occafion of their Name. They make more
noiſe than any other Bird, becauſe their Voice
is fhriller; but the Lumbs in this are not much
inferiour to them, although they cry lower;
the Burgermeifter, Rathfher, and the whole
crew of Birds of Spitzbergen ftrike in with
them, fo that one can hardly hear another's
words.
adw gol
The calling or crying of the Rotges amongſt
one another founds almoft, at a distance, as if
you hear a great many Women fcolding toge
ther: They are fomewhat bigger than a Star-
ling.
They build their Nefts in the Clifts of the
Rocks, yet not all of them, for fome make their
Nefts upon the Hills or Mountains, of Mofs,
where we found them, and we killed abun-
dance of their young ones with Sticks. They
feed upon the grey Worms that are like Craw-
fish, which are delineated hereafter: They allo
eat the red Shrimps or Prawns. We got the
firſt of them on the Ice on the 29th day of May,
and afterwards more of them by Spitzbergen.
They are very good Food, and the belt next
the Strandrunner, are fleshy and fattiſh; we
boyl and then roaft them. In Tab. they are
mark'd with b.
VII. of
to Spitzbergen.
87
VII. Of the Struntjager (or Dung-hunter.)
This Bird hath a Bill fomewhat blunt be-
fore, and crooked, and is thick; if I remem
ber, it is black.
He hath but three Claws, which are joyned
together with a black Skin; his Legs are not
very long; his Tayl, which is like unto a Fan,
hath this mark, that one Feather thereof ftands
out before all the reft: He is black on the top
of his Head: His Eyes are black; about his
Neck he hath a dark yellowish Ring of Circle;
his Wings, as well as his Back, are brown; un-
derneath his Belly he is white; he is fomewhat
bigger than the Mew called Kutge.gebef he
hunts and flies in the Air after the Mew Kutge-
gehef, fo long torments her, until fhe avoideth
her Dung, on which this Bird feeds, which he
catches dexteroufly before it falls down into
the Water; and this is the reafon why they
call him Strunt-jager, in Engliſh the Dung-
bunter.
·
He flyeth with the Mews, called Kutge gebef,
which do not fear him in the leaft, and they
are both equally fwift in their flying, but when
he intends to make them dung, he hunts them
and makes them cry out very loud, but he him-
felf feldom cries: He generally keepeth but to
one Mew, but if two or three of the Mews be
together, and one makes her eſcape from him,
then he hunts the other two, and flyeth fome-
times above and fometimes underneath them.
I could never fee him hunt after any other
Birds,but once I faw him fly after a Mallemuck,
but I faw him foon leave her, perhaps becaufe
her Dung did not pleaſe him. I am of opinion
G 4
that
1
88
The third Part of the Voyage
that this Dung, becauſe it is thin, ferves him
inſtead of Drink, for elſe he eats the Fat of the
Whale for his Food: He builds his Neft not
very high.
He goes upright upon his Legs, like the Bur-
germeister, Rhatfher, or Kutge-gehef. It is a rare
Bird, and I faw but very few of them: He
flies commonly alone; I faw very feldom two
or three of them together; he flies like the Rhat-
fher, or like a Crow, but his Wings are fome-
what more pointed at the ends.
He hath a loud Voice, when he cries it
founds as if he did fay, 1 Ja. To fome it feem-
eth, if it be at a diſtance, as if he cried, Jo ban.
His Fleſh is not better than that of the other
Birds of Prey. I got him on the 11th of July
near to the Dear-haven, or Dear-bay, in Spitzbur-
gen; afterwards I ſaw this Bird behind Scotland,
hunt after the new Kutge-gehef. In the Tab. Z
it is marked with d.
VIII. Of the Diving Parret.
L
This is commonly called the Parret. Amongſt
all the web-footed Birds that have three Claws,
this hath a peculiar Bill; and becauſe it ſeem'd
to thoſe that gave him this Name to be like
that of a Parret, therefore they called him alfo
a Parret ; but in truth his Bill is not at all like
that of a Parret, its Bill is broad, and full of
flender ftrokes of feveral colours, viz. red,
white, and the broad part thereof is black;
the uppermoft as well as the undermoft are
both pointed; the uppermoft arch is red, and
his upper Bill hath a thin bended Hook; the
undermoft hath a yellowish arch, and is to-
wards the end downwards cut off fomewhat
floap-
to Spitzbergen.
89
floaping: The upper part of its Bill, as well as
the lower part, is about three fingers broad, and
about the fame length, if you meafure the upper
and undermolt together: He hath on the up-
per Bill four arched or bended oblong pitted
holes, and on the lower he hath as many, al-
though the furthermoft is not altogether fo
plain.
Theſe holes or pits of the upper and lower
Bill make together a Half-moon; and the parts
that are elevated make in the fame manner, as
well as the pitted or hollow ones, a Half-
moon.
By theſe holes are as many raiſed or eleva-
ted parts; the uppermost of them is as broad
as the three furthermoft ones together, and
hath underneath on each fide a longifh hole,
which without doubt are his Noftrils; but the
undermoſt on the under Bill is about a Straws
breadth broader; the upper broad part is
blackish, and fometimes blew.
On this broad part of the upper Bill that is
thus elevated above the reft, is towards the Eye
a long whitish piece of Cartilage that is full of
holes, whereon you fee towards the inner part
of the Mouth fomething like a Nerve, which
alfo reacheth towards the under part, and there
endeth itſelf, whereby the Bill is opened and
fhut.
His Feet have alfo but three Claws, joyned
with a red Skin between them, with three fhort
and ftrong Nails; the Legs are but ſhort, and
of a red colour; he walks wabbling.
About his Eyes he hath a red ring, and above
this Ring ftands upright a little Horn, and un-
derneath the Eyes lyeth another little, longifh,
black Horn crofs over; as you may fee in the
Figure.
His
9༠
The fourth Part of the Voyage
i
His Tail is fhort: The Head is black at the
top unto the Horn; but his Cheeks are white;
about his Neck he hath a black Ring; all his
Back and Wings alfo, at the top or the outſide,
are black, but underneath the Belly is white.
They fly either fingly or by pairs, and have
fharp pointed Wings like the Lumbs. He will
keep a great while under Water. He eats like
the reft, red Shrimps or Prawns, fmall Fish and
Worms, and alſo the Sea-fpiders and Star-fish,
for I found fomething in his Stomach that look-
eth like pieces thereof, but they were almoſt
digeſted.
He hath more Fleſh upon him than the di-
ving Pigeon, and is very good to eat. Inever
faw him among the Ice. This whereof Ï fhew
you the draught was fhot at Schmerenberg in
Spitzbergen, on the 20th day of June, but after-
wards we got feveral more. In the Tab. K
fee d.
IX. Of the Mountain-Duck.
Hitherto we have defcribed the web-footed
Birds that have three Claws that are not divi-
ded, that I faw and got about Spitzbergen; I
muft now defcribe thofe that have undivided
Feet with four Claws, whereof I found three
forts, viz. the Mountain Duck, Kirmew, and
Mallemucke.
The Mountain-Duck is a kind of our wild
Duck, or rather wild Goofe, for fhe is of the
bigness of a middling Goofe, and is more like a
Gooſe about the Bill. It is a very handfom
Bird, becauſe of its delicate fpotted Feathers.
They dive under Water as other Ducks do.
The Drake hath black and white fpotted Fea-
thers,
to Spitzbergen.
91
སཧཱུྃཝཏཾ
thers, and the Duck hath Feathers of the co-
lour of a Partridge. The hindmoft Claw is
broad and fhort, with a fhort Nail; the Tail
is bobb'd, like that of other Ducks. I could
find nothing in their Maws or Gizzards that
could make me certain of their Food, but only
Sand-ftones. They fly a great many of them
in flocks like other wild Ducks; when they
do fee any Men, they hold up their Heads and
make a very long Neck. They make their
Nefts upon the low flands; they make them
of the Feathers of their Bellies, which they mix
with Mols; but theſe are not the fame Feathers
which are called the Edder down.
We found their Nefts with two, three, or
four Eggs in them, the moſt whereof were rot-
ten when we came to Spitzbergen, but fome of
them were good to eat; they are of a pale
gréen, ſomewhat bigger than our Duck-eggs;
the Seamen made an hole at each end, and fo
blew the White and the Yolk out, and ftrung
the Shells upon a Packthread. I would have
brought fome of them to Hamburgh, but they
began to ftink, fo that I was forced to fling
them away, although the Shells were entire.
Theſe Ducks have a very good Flesh,we boyl'd
and roafted them as we did the other Birds,
but the fat of them we flung away, for it tafted
of Train-oyl, and made us vomit.
The Ships that arrived at Spitzbergen before
us got a great many of them.
Thefe Mountain-Ducks are not at all fhy, or
afraid of Men, when we first arrive there, but
afterwards they grow quite wild, fo that you
can hardly come near enough to fhoot them.
That which I have drawn here was fhot in the
South
92
The fourth Part of the Voyage
1
South Bay (in Spitzbergen) on the 18th of
June; it is marked with c in the Tab. M.
с
X. Of the Kirmew.
.::
The Kirmen hath a thin fharp-pointed Bill,
as red as Blood; fhe fhews very large, efpeci-
ally when fhe ftands upright, becauſe of her
long Wings, and Feathers of her Tail, but
when the Feathers are off, there is no more
Meat than upon a Sparrow. It is peculiar to
this Bird to have very fharp pointed Wings,
and its Tail is longer than that of a Swallow,
and as long as the longeſt Feather of the Wings.
Becauſe of thefe long and fharp-pointed Fea-
thers in her Wing and Tail, fhe might very
properly be called the Swallow-mew, but it is
commonly called Kirmew from its Cry. The
Claws, as well as the Skin between them, are as
red as Blood; the Nails are black on all the
four Claws; the hindmoft Claw is very little:
The Legs are fhort and red: It hews very
brisk and pert when it ftands upright on its
Legs. The Head at the top is black, like a
black Cap; the fides of the Head are Snow
white, and the whole Body is of a Silver co-
lour, or white enclining to grey; the Wings
and Tail are white underneath; one fide of the
Feathers of the Wings are black. All theſe
differing colours, together with the Blood-red
Bill, red Legs and Feet, make her very beauti-
ful her Feathers are thready or hairy; fhe
flies fingly, for fo I ſaw her always in the South
Haven, and in other places where we were.
Where their Nefts are they fly in great num-
bers; thefe they make of Mofs. One can hard-
ly
Tab⋅N.Pag: 93.
C
F
!
Ъ
a
חול
་་དད་
"
"
to Spitzbergen.
93
ly difcern their Eggs from their Nefts, for both
of them are of a dirty white, but the Eggs have
black ſpecks; they are of the bignefs of a Pi-
geon's Egg; I eat of them at Spitzbergen, and
found them very good, they tafted like the
Lapwings Eggs; the Yolk was red, and the
White blewith; they are very fharp-pointed at
one end. She defends her Neft and Eggs, and
flies directly at a Man, biting and crying. It is
the fame with her as what we fay of the Lap-
wing; fhe endeavours to defend all the Mea-
dow, and yet cannot defend her own Neft.
I brought about thirty of their Eggs with me
to Hamburgh, but they were rotten and ſtunk. It
is a kind of a Hawk,and throws herſelf into the
Water, as other Mews do.
I am of an opinion, that fhe feeds on the fmall
grey Worms, and perhaps on Shrimps and
Prawns, for I found no other Food they could
get.
·
I fhot but one fingle Bird of them flying,
which I did not eat of, becaufe the large fhot
had torn it very much.
This Bird is quite grey in our Countries,
which differs much from that of Spitzbergen,
whoſe Feathers are much finer. That here deli-
neated, was shot, by the Birds Song in Spitzber-
gen, on the 20th of June. See it Tab. N, at b.
XI. Of the Mallemucke.
This Bird hath a remarkable Bill, which is
feverally divided: The uppermoft Bill hath
next to the Head oblong and fmall Noftrils;
underneath them groweth out as it was a new
Bill, that rifes up, is crooked and very ſharp-
pointed.
The
94
The fourth Part of the Voyage
1
}
The under part of the Bill confifts partly of
four pieces, two whereof meet in a point to-
gecher downwards,the other two gape upwards;
the two undermoft that meet in a point, meet
exactly with the point of the upper Bill. The
hinder Claw of the Feet of this Bird is
very
fmall, of a grey colour, and fo are the other
Claws and the Skin between them. The Tail
is fomewhat broad, the Wings are longish after
the manner of the Kirmew. They are not al-
ways of the fame colour; fome are quite grey,
which we take to be the oldeft, others are grey
on their Back and Wings, but their Head and
Belly are white, which are the young ones:
This is generally thought, but I am of opinion,
that this difference of colour proceeds rather
from a difference in kind than from a difference
in age; for the grey ones I only faw about
Spitzbergen, but the grey and white ones, al-
though I have feen fome few of them at Spitz-
bergen, yet we faw abundance more about the
North Cape, and alfo about Hitland and England.
He flies like a great Mew, hovers near the
Water with a very ſmall motion of his Wings.
They do not avoid a Storm as our Mews do,
but they take good and bad together, as it hap-
pens; ours bend themfelves like an Ear of
Corn with the Wind, which the Mallemucks
do not: They do not much care for diving,
but when they wash themselves they fit upon
the Water, and put their Wings a-croſs one over
the other: They fly fingly; when they go to
fly up they wabble a great way before they can
raiſe themſelves upon the Wind, but the Lumbs
and Parrets that have but fmall Wings do it
more. When they ran upon the Deck of the
Ship, they could not fly up before they came
to
to Spitzbergen.
95
to a place where a ftep went down, or from
fome advantageous rife. They flock in great
numbers when we catch Whales, and light
down upon the live Whales, bite them in their
Backs, and pick out great pieces of his fat,even
when he is yet alive, and when we cut up the
dead Whales, there came fo many of them
about us, that we could not imagine from
whence they could all come, fo that we were
forced to kill them with Sticks and with broad
Nets in Frames, fuch as they ufe in the Tenis-
Court, to be rid of them: They are fo bold,
that they would not fly away, although they
faw us come upon them, but fuffered them-
felves to be killed in great numbers, which we
hung upon the Tackle of our Ship.
But after they began to be more fhy of us,
and would not ftay fo long. They flock in fo
great numbers after the Whales, that many of
them are diſcovered by them; wherefore I fan-
cy, that he flings up fome fat when he blows
the Water out, which the Mallemucks eat. But
a great many more, when the Whale is woun-
ded, follow the bloody track left in the Water,
for then they are numberlefs. They alfo often
diſcover a dead Whale, and fo we get them
fometimes without any great trouble.
His Name is given him, becauſe he is fo filly
or mad (which the Dutch call Mall) to fuffer
himſelf to be ſo eaſily killed, whereunto is put
the word Mucke, which fignifies a Gnatt, be-
caufe they are as numerous as Gnatts; fo that
the Name Mallemucke fignifieth as much as filly
Gnatts, or mad Gnatts.
They eat fo much of the fat of the Whales,
till they fpew it up again, and tumble them-
felves over and over in the water until they vo-
mit
96
The fourth Part of the Voyage
mit up the Train oyl, and then they begin to
eat afreſh, until they grow weary of eating:
They bite one another, and fight together,
which is very good ſport, abo a piece of Fat,
fiercely, although there is enough for them all,
and to ſpare.
When they are full they reft upon the Ice or
Water. I really believe it is the moft devou-
ring Bird of all, for he eats till he can ftand no
longer, but falls down. He bites very hard,
but the Burgermeister bites yet harder, to
whom he ſubmits himfelf, and lies down before
him to be bit by the Burgermeifter, which he
does very feverely, yet the Mallemucke feels
little or nothing of it, his Feathers are fo thick ;
which I conclude, becauſe he is not eaſily ſhot,
but will endure a great blow; nor is it eaſie
to kill him with á Stick at one blow. When
they ſteer themſelves in the Water with their
Legs, they have continually an eye upon their
Prey, yet they mind both the Man and their
Prey; but if you have a long Stick, they can-
not get up fo foon or ſwift but you may have
a blow at them. He is the firft and commoneft
Bird of all you fee in Greenland; they cry all
together, and it founds afar off as if they were
Frogs. He walks but ill upon the Land and
Ice, like a Child that juſt learns to go, but
he underſtands better to fly; you fee him
always near unto the furface of the Water, for
he is very light. Of all the Birds of Prey, I
believe, he hath the leaft Meat on him. He
builds his Neſt high on the Mountains, yet not
fo very high as the Burgermeifter, yet it was
too high for me, I could not come at them.
His Breaft and Legs only are to be eaten, they
are tough, and tafte ftrong of Train oyl; when
1
you
to Spitzbergen.
97
you
will eat them you muft hang them up by
the Legs, that the Fat of the Whales, or the
Train-oyl, may run out of them, for two or
three days, and at the Wind may blow thro'
them, and throft pierce them alfo; then
you lay them into fresh Water, that the rank-
neſs may be drawn out, afterwards boil and
fry them in Butter. They are every where
feen in the North Sea, as I have faid before,
yet they are differing. This that you fee here
I did defign among the Ice the firft of June.
Tab. N at c.
CHAP. III.
Of fome other Birds that I did not
A
catch or delineate.
Mongſt theſe are the Red Gees,which were
fhewn unto me as they were fiying:
They are Geefe with long Legs, that fly in
flocks; there is many of them in Ruffia, Nor-
way, and Jutland.
Then I faw another Bird flying fingly with
broad Feet, a very handſom Bird, called fohn
of Ghent; it is as big as a Stork, and of the
fame ſhape with white and black Feathers; he
hovers in the Air, and moveth his Wings but
very little; when he cometh to the Ice he'
turns back again. It is a kind of a Hawk, and
I have reafon to believe that he hath a very
fharp fight, for he fhoots down from a great
height into the Water. They fay, that the
Brains of this Bird are in great esteem, but for
what I could never learn.
II
He
98
The fourth Part of the Voyage
He is alfo feen in the Spanish Sea, and every
where in the North Sea, but moſt commonly
he is feen where they catch Herrings.
I was alfo informed, that a black Crow was
feen in Spitzbergen; other Birds are not feen
there, except it may be now and then a fingle
one that ftrays and fo cometh thither, as the
Crow did. All theſe Birds come at certain
times, and abide at this place as long as the
Sun fhines; afterwards, when the Cold begins
to encrcafe, and the Nights lengthen, every
one of them returns to its own place again.
When they are going from thence they gather
all together, and when they are all met they
fly away, every kind by themfelves, which
hath been very often obferved: Whence I con-
clude they cannot live in this intolerable cold
place in the Winter. They reft as well upon
the Water as the Land, (and when they fly up
they look againſt the Wind) for elfe they
would quite be tired in this long Journey.
Whether the Mew called Rathfher, that does
not love the Water, performs its Journey in
one day, I cannot tell; or whether Neceffity
compels him to reft upon the Water.
Which way thofe Birds that have divided
Claws on their Feet, as the Snite, the Snow-
bird, and the Ice-bird, get over the Water, I
know not.
CHAP.
Tab: 0.Pag: 99.
b.
C
a
to Spitzbergen.
99
CHA P. IV.
Of the Four-footed Creatures.
TH
I. Of the Hart or Deer.
HIS is not very unlike unto the Hart, it
hath cloven Feet like it, and its Horns
are alfo like unto a Hart or Elke; they have
three or four branches on each fide, which are
about two inches broad,and about a foot long;
their Ears are long, and Tail very fhort: He is
of a greyish yellow colour, like an Hart or Deer.
When they ſee a Man they run away; if you
ftand ftill they ftand alfo, then you muft im-
mediately fire at them if you have a mind to
hit them. They eat the Herbs and Grafs.
They are every where about Spitzbergen, but
above all in the Rene-field (or Deers-field) that
hath its Name from thence, where they'r very
plentiful, and alfo upon the Foreland near the
Mufcle haven. I never faw them fwim in the
Water. As I was informed, fome Men did kill
15 or 20 of them on the Vogel-fong (Birds-fong)
the meat thereof roafted is of a very pleaſant
tafte: We killed fome of them prefently, at our
first arrival in the Spring, that were very lean;
wherefore we may conclude, that they remain
in this barren and cold Country of Spitzbergen
all Winter long, and are contented with what
they can get. See Tab. O, at a.
# 2
II. of
100
The third Part of the Voyage
II. Of the Fox.
Between our Foxes and thofe of Spitzbergen
there is no great difference; one of them
1 law run by our Ship, very near it, his Head
was black and Body white: They make fuch
a noifè, as afar off it founds as if a Man laugh'd.
We faw them alfo run on the Ice. Their Food
falls but ſhort there, they live upon Birds and
Eggs.
They go not at all into the Water; we
were hunting one of them in the South Haven,
and had furrounded him with twenty Men,
the Water was on one ſide of him, and we en-
deavoured to drive him into it, but he would
not, but jumped through one Man's Legs, and
run up into the Mountains,where we could not
follow him.
The Ships Crew inform'd me, that when he
is hungry he lies down as if he was dead, until
the Birds fly to him to eat him, which by that
trick he catches and eats. But I believe that
this is a Fable. Tab. O, fee b.
III. Of the white Bear.
Thefe Bears are quite otherwife fhaped than
thofe that are ſeen in our Country; they have
a long Head like unto a Dog, and a long Neck,
and they bark like Dogs that are hoarfe, and
all their whole Body is much otherways fhaped
than ours. They are flenderer in the Body,
and a great deal fwifter.
Their Skins are brought to us, which are
very comfortable to thofe that travel in the
Winter; they prepare or dress the Skins at
I
1
Spitz-
to Spitzbergen.
101
Spitzbergen after this manner: They heat Saw-
duft, and tread thefe Skins in it, which fucks
up the Fat, and the Skins become to be dry,
after the fame manner as we uſe to take out
fpots of Fat out of fine Linnen or other Clothes,
when we hold it againſt the Sun : They are of
the fame bignefs as ours, great and ſmall :
Their Hair is long, and as foft as Wool their
Nofe and Mouth are black before, and their
Talons alfo black: The fat of their Feet mel
ted out, is uſed for pain of the Limbs; it is al-
fo given to Women in travail, to bring away
the Child; it caufes alfo a plentiful Sweat.
The faid Fat is very fpongy, and feels very
foft; it is best to try it up there prefently: I
ftrove to keep it until I fhould come home, but
it grew foul, rancid, and ftinking. I believe
it would be very good to try it up with Orris-
root, for then it would remain the longer good
and fmell well.
The other is like Suet when it is tryed up, it
becometh thin like Train-oyl, or the fat
of Whales: But this is not to be compared to
the other for Vertue and Goodnefs, it is only
ufed in Lamps, where it does not ftink fo
much as the Train-oyl: The Skippers me't it
out there, and bring it home with them to fell
it for Train-oyl. Their Flefh is whitith and
fat, like that of a Sheep, but I did not care to
try how it tafted, for I was afraid that my
Hair would turn grey before its time, for the
Seamen are of opinion, that if they eat of it,
it makes their Hair grey. They fuckle their
Young with their Milk, which is very, white
and fat, as I obferved, when we cut up an old
fuckling She one. They fay our Bears have a
very ft Head, but I found the contrary in
thefe
H. 3
!
702
The third Part of the Voyage
thefe at Spitzbergen, for we ftruck them with
large and thick Cudgels, upon their Heads,
with fuch blows that would have knock'd down
a Bullock, and yet they did not matter it at all.
When we had a mind to kill them, we were
forced to run them through with our Laun-
ces.
They fwim from one fheet of Ice to the
other, they alſo dive under Water, when they
were at one fide of our Long-boat, they did
dive, and came up again on the other. They
alfo run upon the Land. I did not hear them
roar fo as ours do, but they only bark.
We could not difcern the young ones from
the old ones, but only by the two furthermoft
long Teeth, which in the young were hollow
within, but thofe of the old ones were clofe and
folid. If you burn their Teeth, and powder
them, and give them inwardly, it difperfeth
coagulated Blood. The young ones keep con-
ftantly cloſe to the old ones; we obferved that
two young ones and an old one would not
leave one another, for if one ran away, it turn'd
back again immediately as foon as it did hear
the others, as if it would come to help
them. The old one run to the young one, and
the young one to the old one, and rather than
they would leave one another,they would fuffer
themſelves to be all killed.
They feed upon the Carcaffes of Whales, and
near them we killed the moft: They alſo eat
Men alive when they have an opportunity to
mafter them: They remove or roll away the
Stones of the burying places, open the Coffins,
and eat the dead Men, which many have feen,
and we can alſo conclude it from hence, be-
caufe we find the dead Mens Bones lye by the
Coffins
1
to Spitzbergen.
оз
Coffins that are opened. They alfo eat Birds
and Eggs. We kill them with Guns, or any
other way we can. We caught three of them,
one whereof I drew after the life, on the 13th
of July.
What becometh of thefe Bears and Foxes in
the Winter-time I do not know,in the Summer
they have in fome places, for a few months,
Proviſion enough, but in the Winter, when
the Rocks and Hills are covered with Snow,
there is but very little to be had for them; yet
being it is fuppofed that the Deer ftay alfo
there all Winter long, I believe that theſe Beafts
do the fame. Tab 0, fee e.
IV. Of the Sea-dogs, called Rubbs and Seales.
I have ftill two more Beafts to defcribe, that
live as well in the Water as on the Land and
Ice, and they have alfo on their Feet five Claws
like Fingers, that are joyned together with a
thick Skin, like unto the Feet of a Goofe: The
moſt known of thefe is the Seale, which they
alfo call Salldogg and Rubbe, in the German
Language; the Head thereof is like unto a
Dog's Head, with cropt Ears: Their Heads
are not all alike, for fome are rounder, and
others longer or leaner: he hath a Beard about
his Mouth, and Hair on the Nofe and the Eye-
lids, yet feldom above four: the Eyes are very
large, hollow, and very clear: their Skin is
grown over with fhort Hair: they are of feve-
ral colours, fpotted like Tygers, fome are black
with white fpots, fome yellow, fome grey, and
others red their Teeth are fharp like a Dogs,
wherewith he can bite off a Stick as thick as
ones Arm: On their Toes they have black,
H 4
long,
104
The third Part of the Voyage
long, and ſharp Nails or Claws; their Tail is
fhort; they bark like hoarfe Dogs; their little
or young ones mew like Cats; they go lame
behind; they can climb upon the high Ice,
whereon I faw them fleep, chiefly when the
Sun fhined, wherein they take great pleaſure,
but when it is ftormy weather they muſt march
off and leave it, for the Waves of the Sea beat
with great violence againſt it, as if it were
againſt Rocks, as I have mentioned already in
the Chapter of Ice.
We faw moſt of them upon the Ice about
the Weſt ſide near to the fhoar, where there
was an incredible number of them, that if the
Mafier of a Ship fhould not catch Whales
enough, they might lade their Ship with Seales
only; and we have Examples that little Ships
have taken their Lading only of them, but it is
very troubleſome to flea them: Nor are they
all alike fat at the time when we arrive
there.
By Spitzbergen we fee but a few of them, but
inftead of them there is plenty of Sea-horſes.
Where many Seales are feen, that is not a good
place to catch Whales in. It feemeth as if they
leave but very little for the Whale to live up-
on, becauſe there is fo great a number of them.
They feed upon fmall Fishes, as far as I could
underſtand, we cut open feveral of them, and
found nothing in their Stomachs but great and
long whitish Worms of the thicknefs of ones
little Finger. We come up to them where they
lye upon the large theets of Ice; we make a
great noife with fhouting, which aftonifheth
them perhaps, or elfe out of novelty they hold
up their Nofes very high, and make a long
Neek, as our Grey-hounds do, and bark: In
this
to Spitzbergen.
105
1
this fright of theirs we ftrike them with Half-
pikes, or long Poles upon their Nofes, and
knock them down half dead, but for all that,
they recover themſelves, and rife again: Some
of them ftand upon their defence, bite at, and
run after the Men, and they run as faſt as a
Man, and their lame way of going doth not
hinder them at all, for they fhove themſelves
along juſt like an Eel: Some run from the Ice
to the Water, and leave a yellow Dung behind
them, which they ſquirt cut at their Hunters,
as the Hern does: They ftink naturally abomi-
nably. Others ftand in the Water with half
their Belly, and look about them to fee what
is done upon the Ice: When they are going to
dive under the Water, they hold up their No-
fes, and make a long Neck: When they jump
from the Ice under Water, and alfo when they
make a dance of Seales, as they call it, about
the Ships, they conftantly dive with their
Heads under water. They have their young
ones by them, one whereof we took away with
us to the Ship alive, but it would not eat any
thing, but did mew juft like a Cat, and if we
touch'd him he would fnap at us, fo we killed
him. The biggeft of them that I have feen
were from five to eight foot long, out of which
we cut fo much fat, that we filled half a Bar-
rel with it. He that I have drawn here was
eight foot long. Their Fat is about three or
four Fingers thick, it covers the Flefh juft under
the Skin, and we do flea it off as a Skin: This
Fat yields the beft Train-oyl; the Flesh is quite
black. They have abundance of Blood, as if
they were only filled up with it. They have
great Livers, Lungs, and Hearts, which we eat
after we have drawn out the ranknefs with
Water,
106
The fourth Part of the Voyage
:
Water, we boil them, but this Dish is very
loathfom, ſo that I could not eat it, it taſted fo
of Train-oyl. He hath abundance of Guts,
which are very fmall: I found no Fat within
them; their parts of generation is a hard Bone,
like unto that of a Dog, about a ſpan long, co-
vered with Sinews; fome were hardly fo long
as your little finger, and yet they were not
young ones neither. The Cryftal of their Eye
is not of the fame colour always, for fome were
like a Cryftal, others white, others yellowish,
others reddish; they are bigger than a Pea; if
one will keep them he muft let them dry gent-
ly, or one may wrap them in Linnen Rags,
and fo lay them in a moift place, for elfe they
fly or crack to pieces. I am informed, that
when they couple they are very fierce, ſo that
a Man dares not come near them upon the Ice,
then they bring their Long boats near the Ice,
and fo kill them out of the Boats. They do
not quickly dye when the Blood is almoſt all
run out, after they have been mortally woun
ded and flea'd, they ftill live, and it looks ill to
fee them tumble themfelves about in their own
Blood. We had an Example of that in him
that was eight foot long, for when he was flead,
and moſt of the Fat cut off, notwithſtanding
all the blows he had had upon his Head and
Nofe, he would ſtill fnap at us, and bite about
him, and took hold of a fhort Pike with his
Teeth after fuch a rate, as if nothing ailed him.
Then we run a fhort Pike through his very
Heart and Liver, and there ran out as much
Blood as if it had been a Bullock.
Maſters of the Ships will not fuffer thefe nafty
doings in their Ships, for it fouls them mighti-
ly. Not only this was fo vivacious, but all the
The
reft
to Spitzbergen.
107
reft are the fame, for when we thought that
they lay dead in our Long-boats, they fnapt
about them, fo that we were forced to kill
them
For Sports fake I went once along with
them upon the Ice, and run one through the
Body with my Sword feveral times, which he
did not matter at all; I fell into the Snow up
to my Knees, and he barked at me, and offe-
red to bite me, which I avoided, and when I
got up again I ran after him, and gave him fe-
veral wounds more, which he was not concer-
ned at, but ran ſwifter than I could, and flung
himfelf off from the Ice into the Sea, and went
down to the bottom. Tab. P, fee a.
V. Of the Sea-horfe, called by fome the Morfe.
The Sea-borfe is not unlike unto the Seale in
the fhape of the Body, only is much bigger
than the other: He is as big as an Ox: Their
Legs are alfo like thofe of the Seale, for they
have five Claws as well on the fore as the hin-
der Feet, but they have only fhort Nails: Their
Head is thicker, and rounder, and alſo much
ftronger: Their Skin is an inch thick, chiefly
about the Neck, covered with fhort Moufe-
coloured Hair, fome reddifh, fome grey, fome
have but little Hair, and are mangy, and full
of Scarrs that are bitten, and look as if they
were flea'd; every where about their Joints
their Skin is full of Lines, as the inſide of a
Man's Hand: They have two great and long
Teeth in their upper Jaw-bone, that hang
down below their under Lips, that are about
a foot and two foot long, fometimes they are
longer; The young ones have no great Teeth
at
108
The fourth Part of the Voyage
at all, but they grow in time as they grow ol-
der. All the Sea-horfes have two firm long
Teeth; yet I have feen old ones that had but
one; it may be that fometimes they loofe them
when they fight, or otherwife they may fall
out of themſelves, for I obferved that fome of
them had foul, hollow, rotten Teeth. Theſe
two long Teeth are eſteemed beyond Ivory,
becauſe they are fo very white, and are dearer;
they are cloſe and firm within, and heavy, but
the Root thereof is hollow. Of their Teeth
are made Knife-hafts, Boxes, &c. The Jut-
landers make Buttons for their Clothes of the
other Teeth. Their Mouth is very broad be-
fore, like a Bullocks, whereon grow above and
underneath feveral Briftles that are hollow
within, and of the bignefs of a Straw: Of
thefe Briftles the Seamen make Rings, which
they wear on their Fingers for the Cramp.
Above the uppermoft Beard they have two
femicircular Noftrils, whereout he blows the
Water, like the Whale, yet with a lefs noife.
Their Eyes are at a good diftance from the
Nofe; they have Eyelids as other fourfooted
Beafts have; his Eyes are naturally as red as
Blood when he doth not turn them, and I
could fee no difference when they were mo-
ved, for they always turn'd their Eyes when
they did look upon me, and then they look
much uglier, though they are never handfom.
Their Ears are fomewhat higher than the Eyes,
but very near to them, which are like thofe of
the Seales. Their Tongue is at leaſt as big as a
Neat's, when it is but newly boiled it may be
eaten, but if it is laid by for two or three days,
it becomes rank, like Train-oyl. Their Neck
is very thick, wherefore he does not readily
turn
:
to Spitzbergen.
109
turn his Head about, and this is the reaſon why
he turneth his Eyes generally. Their Tails are
fhort, like thofe of the Seale.
From their Fleth we cut no Fat, it is all
mixed together like unto Hogs-fleſh, to which
it is the likeft: Their Heart and Liver we did
eat; they tafte well enough, chiefly where we
have no great variety of Difhes. Their Yards
are of a hard Bone, about two foot long, thick
at the bottom, and leſs before, ſomewhat bent
in the middle, at the fide towards their Belly it
is flat, but it is round without, and it is every
where covered over with Sinews. They
turn alfo Knife hafts and other things out of this
Bone. What their Food is I cannot certainly
tell, they may perhaps eat both Herbs and
Fish; that they eat Herbs, I conclude from
hence, that their Dung looks like Horſe-dung:
That they eat Fish I judge, becauſe when we
cut the Fat off a Whale one of them did often
take the Skin with him under Water, he did al-
fo fling it up, and catch it again. The Burger-
meiſter doth eat his Dung, as is faid before when
I writ of the Birds. The Sea borfes keep gene-
rally about Spitzbergen, for amongst the Ice-
hills I faw none. They lye upon the Ice, as I
have already mentioned in the Firſt Part, by
the 12th of July very naftily, as the Seales in
great numbers, and roar moft terribly. They
dive with their Head under the Water before,
like the Seales. They fleep and fnore, not on-
ly upon the Ice, but alfo in the Water, fo that
we take them feveral times for dead ones.
They are very ftout and undaunted Crea-
tures, they ſtand by one another as long as
they have Life, and if any of them be wounded
they make to the Long-boat, notwithſtanding
that
110
The fourth Part of the Voyage
that the Men ftrike, and cut, and pufh at them;
fome will dive under the Water near unto the
Long-boats, and cut holes in them with their
great Teeth under Water; and others without
any fear at all make to the Boat, and ftand up
with half their Body out of the Water, and
endeavour to get into the Boat.
In fuch a Battel a Sea-horfe did once ftrike
with his Teeth or Tufhes into the Boat, and took
hold of our Harponier with his long Tooth,
between his Shirt and the Waftband of his
Breeches, fo that the Waftband broke, other-
wife he had pulled him under Water.
When they roar, if they are imitated, they
ftrive which fhall get underneath the Water,
and fall a fighting and biting one another till
they fetch Blood: Others ftrive to fet at liberty
the Sea-horſes taken by the Men, ftriving before
each other to get to the Boat, biting and gnaſh-
ing with their Teeth, and roaring terribly:
They never give over fo long as one of them
is alive, and if you are forced to fly, becauſe
of their unspeakable number, they will follow
the Boat till you loſe them out of fight, for
they cannot follow far, their great number hin-
dring one another. This we found by Weihegat
by Spitzbergen, where they got together in
great numbers, and made our Boat take in
Water, fo that we were forced to flee, yet they
followed us as long as we could fee them, on
the 12th day of July. We take them only for
their Teeth: You fhall fee almoſt a hundred
of them before you find one that hath good
Teeth, for fome of them are but finall, others
have but one, and others none at all.
I fave
to Spitzbergen.
111
I faw one in the English Haven lying on a
ſheet of Ice, at firſt we took him to be a Seale,
but we found it was an old, bald, and mangy
Sea-horfe. We gave him fome blows, which
he took, and dived under Water. When they
fee them lye upon the Ice, or hear them roar,
they row with their Boats to them, where they
lye in great numbers, but I believe one of them
keeps watch, for I have feveral times obferved
that one of them did ftrike him that was next
to him with his Tooth, and fo it went on:
When they awake they rife up and ftand upon
their fore-foot, look terribly, and roar, and
ſtrike with their long Teeth into the Ice for
madneſs, and fo draw themfelves along by the
help thereof, when they run apace, or climb
upon the Ice, as the Seales do. Their greateſt
ftrength lyeth in their Head, and their Skin is
thickeſt about the Neck, it is thicker than that
of an Elk, and it is alfo a great deal firmer;
wherefore if they were dreffed like an Elk's
Skin, they would ferve inftead of the beſt Buff-
coat. When great multitudes of them lye up-
on a ſheet of Ice, and they do awake and fling
themſelves into the Sea, you muſt keep off your
Boat at a distance from the Ice, until the grea-
ter part of them are got off, for elfe they would
jump into the Boat to you, and overfet it,
whereof many Inftances have been; then the
Harponier runs after them on the Ice, or het
darts his Harpon out of the Boat at the Sea-
horfe, who runs on a little until he is tired, then
the Men draw on the Rope or Line again, and
fetch him to the Boat, where he begins to refift
to his utmoſt, biting and jumping out of the
Water, and the Harponier runs his Launce in-
to him till he is killed. When they dart the
Har-
112
The fourth Part of the Voyage
Harpoon at them, they always take the oppor-
tunity to do it when he is precipitating himſelf
from the Ice, or when he diveth with his Head
under Water, for then his Skin is fmooth and
extended, and therefore the Harpoon ftriketh
through the Skin on his Back the better; but
when he lyeth and ſleepeth his Skin is looſe and
wrinkled, ſo that the Harpoon does not pierce
the Skin, but falls off. The Harpoon for a
Sea-horfe and the Launce alfo are fhort, of the
length of one fpan, or one and a half, and an
inch thick, and the wooden Staff thereof is
about fix foot long; the Harpoon for a Whale
is much too weak to pierce his thick Skin
withal, yet both of them are very well tem-
per'd, and of good tough Iron, and not much
hardened. When the Sea-borfe is killed, they
take his Head only and leave the reft, this they
carry on board, where they cut out the Teeth';
the two great ones belong to the Owners or
Merchants of the Ship, but the fmall Teeth are
not eſteem'd. I cannot but mention that we
went by a Field of Ice, where fo many Sea-
borfes lay that the weight of them made the
Ice even with the Water, but when they were
jumped off into the Sea, we could hardly ftep
out of our Boat upon it, fo high was it rifen
out of the Water. It was related to me, by
them that uſed this Greenland Trade every Year,
as a certain Truth, that once when they had
no good fortune to catch Whales, they rowed
with their Boats to the Mufs Island, which was
full of Sea-borfes, they ventur'd upon them
couragiouſly with cutting, ftriking, pushing,
and fhooting, fo that they killed a very great
many of them
of them; but when they faw that ftill
more and more of them got together, they laid
the
1
a
Pag:13. Tab P
C
131
e
*
Ъ
j
1
Tab: P
ཀྱང་ཚད་མ་
J
с
f
f.
a
to Spitzbergen:
113
the dead Sea-horſes round about them, and flood
in the middle of them, as in a Caſtle, leaving a
place open where the others might come in to
them, as through a Gate; and after this man-
ner they have killed feveral hundreds of them,
and made a good Voyage of it, for fome years
ago their Teeth have been in greater eſteem
than now. The Figure of this Beaſt you may
fee in the Tab. P, marked with b.
CHAP. V.
Of the Crustaceous Fish that I ob-
ferved.
I
Found two forts of them, viz. Crawfiſh and
Starfish; of the Crawfish I faw four forts, the
Sea-pider, as the French-men call them, the
red Prawn, the fmall Prawn, or the little fmall
Shrimp, and the Whale's Loufe.
The Starfish I put to them alfo, becauſe they
have their Arms or Legs, wherewith they
move themſelves, and are incruftrated with
Shells.
I. Of the Sea Crawfiſh without a Tail, or
Sea Spider.
This fort of Crawfish has no Tail, but fix Feet
and two Claws. They are elfe very like Lob-
fters in the fhape of their Body. They are ofa
dark brownish colour, fomewhat prickly on
their Backs, and hairy all over their Body. I
have ſeen many of this kind with fix Feet and
I
two
114
The fourth Part of the Voyage
two Claws, in my Voyage to Spain, whereof
I have alfo made a draught in my Voyage into
Spain, (which I fhall, God willing, communi-
cate to the Curious) but they differ from theſe
of Spitzbergen, in their Bignefs and Head; this
of Spitzbergen hath a Head like a Lobſter, but
the male of them that I ſaw in my Voyage to
Spain, made with its Head and Tail juft the
fhape of a Lute. I did not eat any of the
Spitzbergen Sea Crawfish, neither have I drawn
them at Spitzbergen for want of time, for I
thought to have them brought along with me,
but they were carried away by the Rats. I got
them in the English Haven, on the 19th of June
I afterwards faw them in the North Sea, not
far from England, where we bought from the
Hilgeland-Fishermen a great Tarbut, in whofe
Stomach we found a Sea Crawfiſh two fpans
long when its Feet were fpread out.
II. Of the Garnels or Prawns.
,
Betwixt our Prawns and thofe of Spitzbergen
is no difference, only that thofe of Spitzbergen
are red before they are boiled. Their Head is
peculiar, confifting of two parts, with feveral
Horns; the whole Head is broad, at the end
of the Head are the Eyes, which ſtand out as
Crawfiſhes do; he doth not look downwards,
but ftreight before, and fidewards. The Scale
of his Back is like a Back-piece of Armour,
which alfa behind the Head, in his Neck, is
fomewhat bended in, and behind it,is a Prickle.
After that follow fix Plates, like the Armour for
the Arms and Legs, and about the brims there-
cfare fmall black ſpots, as if they were the Nails
of the Armour. Thefe Plateslye exactly round
one
to Spitzbergen.
US
one upon the other. The Tail confifteth alfo
of five parts; when he expands it, it is like the
Tail of a Bird. He hath two Claws before,
the further part whereof looks fomewhat like
the Phangs of a Tooth-drawer. He hath 18
Legs, whereof thofe that are neareſt to the
Claws are the ſhorteſt. The firſt eight Legs
have four Joints, whereof the uppermoft is the
longeft, and the undermoft the ſhorteft: They
are not hairy at all. The ten hindmoft Legs,
whereof the furthermoft are the longeſt, and
the uppermoft Joint is much thicker and fhor-
ter than the lowermoft long ones have but
two Joints, the Feet whereof are fomewhat
bended under, and are hairy. On thefe hind-
moft and undermoft Joints grow out two fhoots
below, on the reft but one. He fhoots very
ſwiftly along in the Water. He was as big as
I have delineated him, according to the Life.
They are Food for the Birds, as I have men
tioned before.
III. Of the leffer Garnel or Shrimp.
I have alfo taken notice, in my Voyage to
Spitzbergen, a fort of Shrimps that are like,
Worms; the Head thereof is like the Head of
a Fly; it hath on the foremoſt part of its Head
two Horns ſtanding out; it hath Scales like the
Hog-loufe; its Back is round, and broad down-
wards; it hath 12 Legs; on each ſide of the
foremoſt Scale it hath three Legs; after you
have told four Scales more, there is on each
fide three Legs more; they are no bigger than
I have drawn them. The Birds eat them as
their beſt Food, being always in great numbers
in thoſe places where thefe Worms were. I
1
Femibiot
1
116
The third Part of the Voyage
found great plenty of them in the Danish Har-
bour, between and underneath the Stones in
the Water; afterwards on the Eighth of July I
found them in the Muffel-haven. I have alfo
found them in the Seed of the Whales that fwam
upon the Water. See c in the Tab. P.
IV. Of the Loufe of the Whale.
The Whale's Loufe hath no refemblance at all
to our Lice, except in the Head, and therefore
it belongs rather to the Cruftaceous Animals.
Their Scales are as hard as thofe of the Prawns.
They have a Head like a Loufe, with 4 Horns;
the two fhort Horns that ſtand out before have
two knobs,like Kettledrum-fticks;the two other
bended Horns are fharp before. Its Head hath
almoft the ſhape of an Acorn, is cut very deep
behind. It hath two Eyes, and but one No-
fril. The Neck is not made of ſtiff Scales,but
its Skin is like that between two Scales or
Plates of a Lobſter. It hath fix Plates on the
Back; the foremoſt of them is fhaped like a
Weaver's Shutle. The Tail might be compa-
red unto a Shield, but it is very short. On the
foremoft Plate it hath Feet fhaped like a Sythe;
they are round before, and bent, like the firft
Quarter of the Moon; but on the infide they
are toothed like a Saw, and at the end thereof
there is a fharp point: On each fide of the fe-
cond and third Plait grow out four Legs that
are his Oars they have a fhort Joint below,
wherein theſe Oars are moved; thefe they lay
in a cross one over the other, upon their Back,
when they feed upon the Whale; or they put
them upwards together, as the Vaulters do when
they jump over Swords: The fix hindmoft
Legs
to Spitzbergen.
117
Legs are like thofe of a Crawfish; they have
three Joints on each Leg, the foremoft where-
of are crooked like a Half-moon, but before,
or on their ends they are very fharp pointed,
ſo that they can take firm hold as well of the
Skin of Men as of that of the Whale, fo that
you must cut them in pieces before you can
pull them from the Skin. He that will have
them alive, muft cut the Skin of the Whale out
with them. They fit on certain places of the
Whale's Body (as between his Finns, on his P-
denda, and on his Lips) where he cannot eafily
rub himſelf, and bite pieces out of his Skin, as
if the Birds had eaten him.
Some Whales are full of Lice, and others have
never a one: The warmer the Weather is, the
more Lice they get, as I am informed. The
Figure that I give you here I delineated in the
Muffel-barven, on the 7th of July. See Tab. Q
at d.
V. Of the Star-fish.
I have feen but two forts of thefe in my
Voyage, the firft of them hath five Points or
Rays like Legs; it is quite otherwife fhaped
than thofe that I have feen in the North, Spa-
nifh, and Mediterranean Seas. It is of a red co-
lour: Above, upon the plain of its Body it
hath five double rows of ſharp knobs or grains;
between each of theſe double rows is a fingle
row of the fame knobs, fo that in all there is
15 rows of knobs on the whole plain. Theſe
15 rows together make a Star of five outward
bended points.
1 3
As
118
The third Part of the Voyage
As for the reft, this Plain looketh like the
Back of a Spider, but if he is turned he looketh
neatly, and in this poſture is feen in the middle
a five-corner'd plain Star, which I take to be
its Mouth, which he can open and draw toge-
ther like a Purfe. Round about this Star are
fmall black Spots, in rows, of the shape of a Star.
Further forwards, about the middle Star or his
Mouth, a broader one is, like unto the Flower
of the Crowsfoot. From the middle Star pro-
ceed five Legs or Arms, which have no knobs
where they begin, but begin firft to have fome
behind the Flower like fhaped Star, on both
fides to the end. The knobs between the Legs
are foft to the touch, like the Skin of an Egg.
Their Legs are fcaley, about three fingers
breadth long, broader at their beginning, where
they have knobs, and afterwards by degrees
they grow narrower. Between the Scales on
both fides the Knobs come out commonly
three or four together, and look like Warts.
When he fwims in the Water he ſpreads out
theſe Knobs on each fide, juft as a Bird doth his
Feathers when it is going to fly. See Tab. P,
}
at d.
Of the Second Starfish.
Beſides this, another fine Starfish came to my
Hands, which rather ought to be called the
Coralfish, becauſe he is like Twigs of Coral, for
which I took them alfo, before I perceived that
he was alive. This is of a brighter colour than
the other, for the other is dark red. Its Body
hath ten corners, and it hath a Star above with
as many Rays; each of theſe one may compare
un-
to Spitzbergen.
119
unto a Sail of the Windmills that the Children
run againſt the Wind withal, or to a piece of
fuch Croffes that are broad before, and narrow
where they meet together; that is to fay, of the
fhape of a Dove-tail: It feeleth rough: The
lower part of the Body is very neat; in the
middle thereof is a Star with fix points, which
I take to be his Mouth: About the Mouth he
is foft, to the place where his Legs begin: Be-
tween the beginning of his Legs he had foft
Cavities. His Legs are where they begin thick,
and have in the middle a longifh hollow or
gutter, which feeleth foft; on the Brim they
are adorned with Scales that lye one over the
other, no otherwife than if they were a row of
Coral, but underneath the Scales are twifted,
and have in the middle forwards fmall black
Strokes, but the Scales lye over one another
like unto the Plaits of the Crawfish: Befides,
where the Legs come out of the Body, they
fpread themfelves double into Twigs, and are,
as is faid before, hollow in the middle, until
the place where they divide themſelves into fe-
veral Branches, and fo grow flenderer by de-
grees. The undermoft fmall Branches are fca-
ley all round, but not twiſted like Ropes;
they are ſharp pointed on their ends like unto
the Feet of a Spider, wherefore the Seamen call
them Sea-fpiders. When they fwim in the
Water they hold their Legs together, and fo
they row along. I had one of this fort that
was a fpan long, from the extremity of one
Foot to the other; but this I have delineated
is lefs. The biggeſt are the handſomeſt for
colour. They dye foon after they are out of
the Water, and when they are a dying they
bend their Legs towards the Mouth. The
1 4
Body,
20
The third Part of the Voyage
7
:
Body, when it is dead, foon breaks to pieces,
which is the reaſon that I could not keep the
great ones. See Tab. P, at e. Rondeletius, in
his Book of Fish, hath delineated one of
the fame ſhape, but this is not the fame fpecies,
for his is black; neither do I find the Plaits in
his, except he that drew it did not obſerve
them. Some of both theſe forts I got on the
fifth of July, before the Weikegat, where a
Whale made his eſcape from us, becauſe the
Line whereunto the Harpoon was faften'd was
entangled about a Rock: On this they hung,
and ſo I got them alive.
Before
CHAP. VI.
Efore I come to treat of the Whale, I think
it convenient to fay fomething of fome
Finn'd Fiſhes, which I met withal in my Voy-
age to Spitzbergen, fome whereof are propaga-
ted by the shooting of their Row, and others
bear and bring forth young ones alive.
I will begin with the Firſt kind, whereof the
firſt that I met withal was the Fiſh that we call
Macarel.
I. Of the Macarel.
This Fiſh is like unto a Herring in his fhape,
but hath on his Back a large Finn, and fome-
what below it a very fmall one. Then lower
there is another greater and broader one, but
not
J
121
to Spitzbergen.
not fo high as the uppermoft: Underneath this
are five fmall ones, that are all of the fame big-
neſs, and at an equal diſtance one from ano-
ther. Very near to the Tail there is another
lefs one; fo that on the whole Back there is
two great ones, and feven little ones. Near
unto the Gills is a Finn on each fide: Under-
neath the Belly there are again on each fide
one almoſt of the fame bigness of that that is
near to the Gills. Underneath towards the
Tail is one of the fame bignefs of the third on
the Back. Behind this there are again five of
an equal bignefs; and below that ſtill a leſs one;
fo that thofe of the lower part of the Back are
equal to thofe of the lower part of the Belly.
Their Head is like unto that of a Herring. He hath
a great many fmall holes on the Cover of his
Gills, and alfo underneath the Eyes. They
have a great variety of colours, that look more
glorious when they are alive than when they
are dead, for when they are a dying the colours
fade and grow pale. From his Back towards
the Side he hath black Stroaks. The upper-
moft part of his Back is blew till to the mid-
dle, and the other half underneath it is green,
and as if fome blew did fhine through it. Un-
derneath his Belly he is as white as Silver, and
his Finns are white every where. All the co-
lours of this Fifh fhine like to a Silver or Gol-
den Ground, done over with thin, tranſparent
or illuminating colours. Their Eyes are black.
It is the beautifuleft Fish of all that ever I faw.
This that I defcribe here was catched in the
North Sea; afterwards, on the 27th day of
June, in the Year 1673. we did catch fome
Macarels behind Scotland, by the Iſland of
St. Kilda, which were half blind; it is occafio-
ned
122
The fourth Part of the Voyage
ned by a black Skin that groweth over their
Eyes in the Winter, and cometh off again in
the beginning of the Summer. We do not fee
them in the Winter, for they run towards the
North: In the Summer we fee them in the
North Sea, and I have ſeen them alfo in Spain.
We caught them after the following manner;
we faſtened a Bullet that weighed about two
or three pounds to a Line, about a Fathom di-
ftance from the end, whereon we had faftened
a Hook; this Hook we baited with a piece of
a red Cloth, and fo we flung it into the Sea,
and towed it behind our Ship, then when the
Macarel doth fwiftly fhoot at it, he bites
upon the Hook, and fo is hung, which you
preſently perceive by its pulling, as you do
when you catch any other Fiſh, notwithſtand-
ing that the Rope of its own accord doth pull
or draw very hard, by reafon of the Sea, fo
that if you ſhould rowl it about your Hand, it
would benumb your Hand in a little time to
that degree, that you would not be fenfible, if
one fhould cut it; wherefore they tye their
Ropes to the carved Work on the Stern of the
Ship, fo that fometimes many of them are tyed
to the Ship by one another, when the Ship
fails apace, but this doth hinder the Ship very
much in its failing, and I dare fay two ſuch
Ropes draw as much as a Man's Strength.
They catch them alfo with Herring, with a piece
whereof they bait the Hook, at which they
bite ſooner than at a red piece of Rag or Cloth.
They eat beft if you boil, or broil, or roaft
them freſh as they are caught, or dry them:
They are hard to be digefted.
II. Of
to Spitzbergen.
123
II. Of the Dragon-fiſh.
It is peculiar to this Fish to have two Finns
on his Back, the foremoſt whereof hath very
long Strings, about two inches high above the
Back; the hindmoſt Finn of the Back is not
fo high, but yet it goeth a great way all along
the Back, and hath no fuch Strings. He hath
no Gills, in the room of them he hath two
blowing holes in his Neck, and on each ſide of
thefe holes there are two fhort Finns, and un-
derneath thefe, on each fide a broad one: Un-
derneath his Belly he hath a long very narrow
Finn, that reaches to the Tail. His Head is
oblong, compofed of many Bones: He hath
before on his Nofe a raifed part: His Tail is
about an inch broad: His Body is long, thin,
and roundish, of a greyish Silver colour, and
fhining His Shape is likeft to that of a young
Hay, as well the Head as the reft of the Body.
They are caught between the Bears-Ifland and
Spitzbergen. We got one off of Hitland, when
our Cook flung out his Bucket for Water, in
which he took up one with fome ſmall Fish
of the fhape of an Herring, but they were not
bigger than a joint of your little Finger. Our
Seamen informed me of fome other finall Fifh,
that are in the deep holes between the high
Mountains, in the South Haven.
III. Of the Dolphin.
This is alſo a common Fish, becauſe we fee
them in great numbers, every where in the Sea,
chiefly before a Storm or hard Weather, for
then they jump in great numbers out of the Sea,
like
124
The fourth Part of the Voyage
like Seales. The Head of it, chiefly the Nofe,
is very like that of the Place's Head.Its Mouth is
full of little fharp Teeth. He hath a Finn on
the middle of his Back, which is hollowed out
towards the Tail, like an Half-moon. On its.
Belly are two Finns, like thofe of the Whale;
thefe Finns are not like them of fmall or little
Fiſhes, that are boney, joined together with a
thin Skin, but they are all over flefhy, and co-
vered with a thick Skin, and made of jointed
Bones within. The Tail is broad, and of the
fame ſhape as that of the Whale, but it is not
cut in, and is crooked from one end to the
other, like a Sickle. He hath two finall round
Eyes. The greateſt part of the Body is of a
black colour, but the Belly is white; they are
five or fix feet long. They run very fwift
againſt the Wind, as an Arrow: They are ge-
nerally caught by chance. Becaufe Figures
thereof are in other Books, I did not think it
convenient to delineate him.
IV. Of the Butskopf, or Place's Head.
The Butskopf's Head is blunt before, where-
on is a Bill or Beak of an equal bignefs all-along,
which diftinguishes him from the Dolphin,
which is thicker behind, and more pointed be-
fore. The Finns are like thofe of the Dolphin,
but the foremoſt on his Belly are liker thofe of
the Whale; its Tail is alfo liker a Whale's. He
hath a Spout-bole above in his Neck, whereout
he ſpouts the Water, but not with fuch a
ftrength, nor fo high as a Whale doth. There
is alfo a difference in the found of the Fishes,
for this, when he bloweth out Water, makes
but a fmall noife, but the blowing of a Whale
roareth
1
1
to Spitzbergen.
125
roareth that you may hear it afar off. His Eyes
are very ſmall in proportion to his bigneſs. I
have feen them fixteen, eighteen, and fome-
times twenty foot long. Their Back is of a
brown colour; the Head brown and marbled;
underneath their Belly they are white. They
run very near unto the Ships, fo that one may
puſh at them with a Stick, and they keep up
with a Ship for a long time, which other Fishes
do not, for when they fee the Ships they are
afraid of them. They all fwim againft the
Wind, as Whales, Finn-fish, and Dolphins. I am
of opinion, that they endeavour to run away
from the Storm, and that they find fome Pain
or other in their Bodies fome days before, for
you fhall fee fome Fiſh tumble about ſtrangely
in the Water, which I do not take to be play-
ing, and this generally continues until their
Tormenter the Eaft Wind ceafes. We faw ano-
ther fort of great Fishes, that might rightly be
called Butskopf, for their Head is quite blunt
before, and have a Finn that ftands up three
times higher than the other Butskopf has; they
are fomewhat of a darker brown colour, but of
the fame bignefs. We faw them tumble feve-
ral times out of the Water; one might easily
take them, becaufe of their high Finn that
ftands on the top of their Back. They are not
Sword-fish, nor of the fame kind we call Tum
blers, which we fee between the Elbe and the
Hilgeland.
V. Of the White fish.
I do not by this Name mean the Fish we
call fo here in our Country, that are but ſmall,
but I mean a bigger fort, as large as a Butskopf,
in
126
The fourth Part of the Voyage
in ſhape like a Whale, and without Finns on
his Back; he hath two Finns on his Belly, as
I am informed by others that have caught them.
The Tail is like unto a Whale's. He hath a
Spout hole on his Head; he hath alfo an Hoffel
on his Head like a Whale. He is of yellowish
white colour. He hath fat enough in propor-
tion to his bignefs; I was told by them that
had caught one, that they did fill a Barrel of
Fat from one; but this Fat is very ſoft, and the
Harpoon eaſily breaks out, wherefore they do
not care to catch them. When we fee plenty
of them, the Skippers fay, it is a fign of a good
year for catching of Whales; for, if thefe find
good Food, the Whales find the fame alfo. We
faw on the 19th of June fome hundreds of
them.
VI. Of the Unicorn.
The Unicorn is but feldom ſeen in theſe parts,
neither had I the good Fortune to meet with
one in all my Voyage; and yet fometimes ma-
ny of them are feen. I do not find that the
Cuts that I have feen in fome Books agree with
the deſcription that I heard thereof; for I was
informed, that he hath no Finn on his Back, as
he is drawn, he hath alfo a Spout-bole in his
Neck. When they ſwim fwiftly in the Water
they fay that they hold up their Horns, or ra-
ther Teeth, out of the Water, and fo go in
great fhoals. The Shape of their Body is like
a Seal; the undermoſt Finns, and the Tail, are
like unto thofe of the Whale. The Skin of
fome of them is black, fome like a grey dapled
Horfe; underneath their Belly they are white.
They are from fixteen to twenty foot long.
They
to Spitzbergen.
127
They ſwim very ſwiftly, that although they
are feen, yet they are but feldom caught.
VII. Of the Saw-fifh, fometimes called the
Sword fish.
This Fish hath his Name from a Saw, which
is a long broad Bone fixed to his Noſe,that hath
on each fide many pointed Teeth or Peggs,
like a Comb. He hath two Finns on his Back,
the uppermoſt of them is like the Butskopf's,
the undermoft hath behind, towards the Tail a
hollowneſs like unto a Sickle. Underneath his
Belly he hath four, on each fide two, the upper-
moſt thereof towards the Head are the broadeft
and longeſt, but the lowermoft are ſomewhat
fhorter,and narrower; they ftand directly un-
derneath the uppermoft Finns of the Back.
The Tail is like unto a piece of Board, where-
on the Dyers widen or ftretch their Stockins,
which is pointed behind and underneath. The
Tail is not divided, &c. Towards the under-
moft Finn of the Back the Tail is thinner.
The other fhape, from the top to the Tail, is
like a Man's naked Arm. The Noftrils are
oblong. The Eyes ftand high out of his Head.
Their Mouths are juft directly underneath the
Eyes. They are in bignefs from two to twenty
foot.
Thefe Saw or Sword-fifh are great Enemies to
the Whale and Finn-fish. Many of them gather
about him, and they do not leave the Whale un-
til they have killed him, then they eat of him
only the Tongue, all the reft they leave behind
them, as doth appear by the Whales that are
killed by the Sword-fish. I faw my felf, in our
Home-voyage or Return, a Fight between a
Whale
J
128
The fourth Part of the Voyage
4.
Whale and a Sword-fifh, where both of them
made a great buftie, beating and jumping
about; and I understood that in calm Weather
the Seamen let then alone until the Whale be
killed, where they take him without any trou-
ble. But if they fet out their Long boats after
the Whale, they frighten the Sword-fifh, and fo
the Whale efcapes.
VIII. Of the Hay.
There are ſeveral forts of them; they have
two Finns on their Backs, the higheſt whereof
is like to the uppermost of the Butskopf, but the
lowermoft is of an equal breadth at the top and
bottom, but it is hollowed out like a Sickle:
He hath fix Finns underneath his Belly, where-
of the foremoſt two are the longeſt, and ſhaped
like a Tongue, but the two middlemoft are
fomewhat broader than thofe towards the Tail,
and of the fame ſhape; the two laft underneath
by the Tail are of an equal breadth from top to
bottom, fomething fhorter than the middle
ones. The Tail is of a peculiar fhape, like un-
to one half part of that of the Sword-fish, but it
is fplit below; and the other part is like a Leaf
of a Lilly. He hath a long Nofe. The whole
Fish is long, round, and thin, and he is thickest
towards the Head: his Mouth is fhap'd as that
of the Sword-fish; it is full of fharp Teeth,three
upper and three under rows, one by the other:
his Eyes ftand fomething more out before than
behind, after the fame falhion as thofe of the
Sword-fifh, they are oblong, and very clear: he
hath five Gills on each fide, as the Sword-fifh:
his Skin is hard and thick, and rough if you
touch it or ftrike it upwards; it is of a greyish
CO-
to Spitzbergen.
129
colour; they are from one fathom long to
three: It is a very devouring Fish, and bites
great pieces from the Whale, as if they had been
dug out with Shovels. They devour of many
Whales, all the Fat underneath the Water, and
this is the reaſon that the Seamen fay, They
bave caught half a Whale that was dead. And
the Birds do help them alfo, and what is not ta
ken away underneath, ferments out at the top.
They have a large Liver, whereof they make
Oyl. Out of their Backs we cut the Flesh,which
we hang up for fome days in the open Air,
then we boil and roaft it, and this tafts very
well, when we have nothing that is better.
They do not fling away the Hays in Spain, but
fell them: The little ones are the beft. They
are very eager after Man's Flesh, and eat many
a Man that goeth to ſwim or wash in the Sea,
whereof we have many_Inftances. They are
cafily caught after the following manner; we
take a great Hook faftned to a ftrong Iron
Chain, baited with a piece of Fleſh, and let it
hang down into the Sea; the Hay, as foon as he
doth perceive it, fnaps at it, and is catch'd;
but when the Hay perceives that he is faft, he
doth uſe his utmoſt endeavour to bite off the
Hook, which he cannot for the Iron.
!
K
CHAP.
:
130
The fourth Part of the Voyage
THE
CHAP. VII.
Of the Whale.
;
HE Fiſh properly called the Whale, for
whofe fake our Ships chiefly undertake
the Voyage to Spitzbergen, is differing from
other Whales in his Finns and Mouth, which is
without Teeth, but instead thereof long, black,
fomewhat broad, and horny Flakes, all jagged
like Hairs he differs from the Finn-fish in his
Finns, for the Finn-fifh hath a great Finn on
his Back, but the Whale, properly fo called,
hath none on his Back and there is two Finns
behind his Eyes of a bignefs proportionable to
the Whale, covered with a thick black Skin,
delicately marbled with white Strokes or as
you fee in Marble, Trees, Houfes, or the like
things reprefented. In the Tail of one of the
Filhes was marbled very delicately this number
1222 very even and exact, as if they had been
painted upon it on purpoſe. This marbling
on the Whale is like Veins in a piece of Wood,
that run ftreight through, or elfe round about
the center or pith of a Tree; and fo go both
white and yellow ftrokes through the thick and
the thin ftrokes, that is like Parchment or
Vellam, and give to the Whale an incompara-
ble Beauty and Ornament. When thefe Finns
are
}
cut up, you find underneath the thick Skim
Bones that look like unto a Man's Hand ;
when it is opened, and the Fingers are expan-
ded or fpread, between thefe Joynt's there are
Riff Sinews, which flye up and rebound again
if
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Tab: Q: pag: 130
to Spitzbergen.
131
if
you fling them hard against the Ground, as
the Sinews of great Fish, as of a Sturgeon, or
of fome four footed Beafts generally do. You
may cut pieces of theſe Sinews of the bigness
of your Head, they fqueeze together when
thrown on the Ground, and fo rebound very
high, and as fwift as an Arrow from the String
of a long Bow. The Whale hath no other
Finns but theſe two wherewith he fteers him-
felf, as a Boat is rowed with two Oars.
Their Tail doth not ftand up as the Tails of
almoſt any other Fish, but it doth lye horizon-
tal, as that of the Finn-fish, Butskopf, Dolphin,
and the like, and it is three, three and an half,
and four fathoms broad. The Head is the
third part of the Fish, and fome have bigger
Heads; on the upper and under Lip are thort
Hairs before. Their Lips are quite plain,
fomewhat bended like an S, and they end un-
derneath the Eyes before the two Finns à
Above the uppermoft bended Lip he hath
black Streaks, fome are darkish brown, and they
are crooked as the Lips are. Their Lips are
finooth, and quite black, round like the quarter
of a Circle;when they draw them together they
lock into one another: Within, on the upper-
moft Lip is the Whale-bone, of a brown, black,
and yellow colour, with ftreaks of feveral co-
lours, as the Bones of a Finn-fifh. The Whale-
bones of fome Whales are blew, and light blew,
which two are reckoned to come from young
Whales. In one of my Cutts here you may fee
the Whale-bone in the Tab. Q marked with a.
In the other Cutt, where his Mouth is fhut up,
you do not fee the Whale bone. Just before,
on the under Lip, is a cavity or hole which the
upper Lip fits exactly into, as a Knife into a
Sheath.
K 3
132
The third Part of the Voyage
Sheath. I do really believe, that he draws the
Water that he bloweth out through this hole,
and foI have been informed alfo by Sea-
men.
Within his Mouth is the Whale-bone, all
hairy as a Horfe's Hair, as it is alfo in the Finn-
fifh, and it hangs down from both fides all about
his Tongue. The Whale-bone of fome Whales
is fomewhat bended like unto a Cimeter, and
others like unto a half-Moon.
The ſmalleſt Whale-bone is before, in his
Mouth, and behind towards his Throat; and
the middlemoft is the greateſt and longeft, it
is fometimes about two or three Men's length,
from whence you may eaſily conjecture how
large this Fish must be. On one fide, all in a
row, there is two hundred and fifty pieces of
Whale bone, and as many alfo on the other
fide, which maketh five hundred in all, and
there is more over and above this number, for
they let the leaſt Whale-bone of all remain, be-
cauſe they cannot well come at it to cut it out,
becauſe it is very narrow where the two Lips
meet together. The Whale-bone is in a flat
row one piece by the other, fomewhat bended
within, and towards the Lips every where like
a half-Moon.
The Whale-bone is broad at the top, where
it ſticketh faſt to the upper Lip, every where
overgrown with hard and white Sinews towards
the Root, fo that between two pieces of Whale-
bone you may put in your hand. Theſe white
Sinews look like boiled Sea catts or Black-fiſh (in
Spanish called Cattula la Mar) they are of a
pleafant Smell, ſo that we might eat of them;
they are not tough at all, but break as eaſily as
Cheefe, but they did not tafte fo well; when
they
to Spitzbergen.
133
they putrifie or rot they fmell horribly, juſt like
unto a foul or rotten Tooth. Where the
Whale bone is broadeft, as underneath by the
Root, there groweth fmall Whale-bone, the
other greater, as you fee fmall and large Trees
one amongſt the other in a Wood. I believe
the ſmall Whale-bone doth not grow bigger,
as one might think that ſome of the great pie-
ces thereof might come out, and that fo this
fmall Whale-bone might grow up again in the
room thereof, or as in Children the Hair grows
again when cut off; but it is not fo, for this
Whale-bone is quite another fort, for it is from
one end to t'other of an equal thickneſs,and full
of long Jacks like Horfes Hair. The Whale-
bone is underneath narrow and pointed, and all
overgrown with Hair, that it may not hurt
that that is young: But without the Whale-
bone hath a Cavity, for it is turned juſt like
unto a Gutter wherein the Water runs, where
it lyeth one over the other, as the Shields or
Plaits of Craw-fish, or the Pan-tiles of an Houſe,
that lye one over the other, for elſe it might
eaſily wound or hurt the under Lips. I am of
opinion that one might ufe Whale-bone in any
thing that we ufe Boards for, for they make of
Whale-bone, Boxes, Knife-hafts, Walking-ſticks,
and the like. I fhould think that out of the
Hair of the Fish might be made fomething, as
the Spaniards do out of the wild Sempervive
Aloes, (by them called Savila) they prepare it
like Flax or Hemp, and fo make Packthreads
Clothes and the like Manufactures of it.
To cut the Whale-bones out is alfo a peculiar
Trade, and abundance of Iron Tools belong
thereunto. The lower part of the Whale's
Mouth is commonly white. The Tongue ly-
K 3
eth
*
$34 1
The third Part of the Voyage
eth amongſt the Whale-bones; it is very cloſe
tyed to the undermoft Chap or Lip; it is very
large and white, with black ſpots at the edges:
It is a foft fpongy Fat, which cannot eafily be
cut; it makes a great deal of work to the Cutter
(for fo they call the Man that doth cut the Fat
into fmall pieces with a large Knife, which
cannot well be done with other Knifes, be-
caufe it is tough and foft) wherefore they fling
the Tongue away, elfe they might get five, fix
or ſeven Barrels of Train-oyl out of it; but, as
I faid before, they fling it away, becauſe of its
foftnefs; and this is the most pleafing Food for
the Sword-fish. Upon his Head is the Hovel or
Bump before the Eyes and Finns: At the top
of this Bump, on each fide, is a Spout-hole,
two over-against one another, which are ben-
ded on each fide like an S, or as the hole that
is cut on a Violin, whereout he doth blow the
Water very fiercely, that it roars like a hollow
Wind which we hear when the Wind blow-
eth into a Cave, or againſt the corner of a
Board, or like an Organ-pipe. This may be
heard at a leagues diftance, although you do
not fee him by reafon of the thick and foggy
Air. The Whale bloweth or fpouts the Water
fierceſt of all when he is wounded, then it
founds as the roaring of the Sea in a great
Storm, and as we hear the Wind in a very hard
Storm. Behind this Bump the Whale is fome-
what more bended in than the Finn-fish, yet
when they fwim you cannot well difcern one
from the other, except you obferve it very
exactly, for it is only the Finn on the Finn-
fifh's Back that diftinguiſhes him from the Whale.
The Head of the Whale is not round at the top,
but fomewhat flat, and goeth down floaping,
like
to Spitzbergen.
135
like unto the tyling of an Houfe, to the under
Lip. The under Lip is broader than the Whale
is in any part of the Body, and broadeft in the
middle; before and behind it is fomething
narrower, according to the fhape of the Head.
In one word,all the wholeFiſh is shaped like un-
to a Shoomaker's Laft, if you look upon it from
beneath. Behind the Knob or Bump where
the Finns are, between that and the Finns, are
his Eyes, which are not much bigger than thofe
of a Bullock, with Eye-lids and Hair, like
Mens Eyes. The Cryftal of the Eye is not
much bigger than a Pea, clear, white, and tran-
fparent as Cryſtal; the colour of fome is yel-
lowish, of others quite white: The Seale's are
three times as big as thofe of the Whale. The
Eyes of the Whale are placed very low, almoſt
at the end of the upper Lip. Some bring along
with them from spitzbergen fome Bones, which
they pretend to be the Ears of the Whale; but I
can fay nothing to this, becauſe I never faw
any; but thus much I do remember, that I
have heard them fay that they lye very deep.
The Whale doth not hear when he ſpouts the
Water, wherefore he is eaſieſt to be ftruck at
that time. His Belly and Back are quite red,
and underneath the Belly they are commonly
white, yet fome of them are Coal black; moſt
of them that I faw were white. They look
very beautiful when the Sun fhines upon them,
the ſmall clear Waves of the Sea that are over
him gliften like Silver. Some of them are
marbled on their Back and Tail. Where he
hath been wounded there remaineth always a
white Scar. I underſtood of one of our Har-
pooniers that he once caught a Whale at Spitz-
bergen that was white all over. Half white I
have
K 4
136
The third Part of the Voyage
have feen fome, but one above the reft, which
was a Female, was a beautiful one; fhe was all
over marbled black and yellow: Thofe that are
black are not all of the fame colour, for fome
of them are as black as Velvet, others of a Coal
black, others of the colour of a Tench. When
they are well they are as flippery as an Eel,
but one may ſtand upon them, becanfe they are
fofoft, that the Fleſh thereof giveth way to our
weight: And the outward Skin is thin, like
Parchment, and is eaſily pulled off with ones
Hands when the Fish grows hot. I know not
whether the Skin is thus burnt by the inward
heat of the Fish when he lies dry a floating
upon the Water. The Sun beams feem not to
have fo great power as to dry the Skin fo.
We found our firft Whale was fo much heated
by his hard (wimming that he ſtunk alive; we
could pull off great pieces of the Skin, of the
length of a Man, which we could not do to
other Fishes that were not fo much heated:
But from Whales that have been dead fome
days, and are dry, where alfo the Sun fhines
upon them, or when it doth not rain, one may
pull off a great deal of the Skin, but it ftinks
bafely of Train-oyl, or Fat, that ferments thro?
the Pores of the Skin. I know not what ufe to
make of this Skin, but I have feen Women tye
their Flax with it about the Diſtaff.
The Whale lofeth this beautiful white colour
when it groweth dry, for before there is more
black amongſt it, which maketh the white fhew
the better, neither doth the black look fo well
after it is dry, for it groweth then brownish.
When you hold the Skin againſt the light, you
fee many fmall Pores in it, where the Sweat co-
meth through.
(..
The
to Spitzbergen.
137
The Yard of the Whale is a ftrong Sinew,
and according as they are in bignefs, fix, feven
or eight foot long, as I have feen my ſelf.
Where this Yard is fixed the Skin is doubled,
fo that it lies juft like a Knife in a Sheath,
where you can fee nothing of the Knife but
only a little of the Haft. The part of Genera.
tion in the Female is juft fhaped like as that of
four-legged Beafts. At the fides of Pudendum
ftand out the two Breafts, with Nipples on
them, like unto thofe of Cows: Some of theſe
Breaſts are quite white, fome are ſpeckled with
black and blew fpots, like a Lapwing's Egg.
When they have no young ones they have but
fmall Breafts. I am informed, that when they
couple together they ftand upright, clofe to one
another, with their Heads out of the Water;
which feemeth very probable, becauſe they
cannot keep long under Water, and chiefly in
fuch a heat. They fay that they have but two
young ones at a time, for they have never
found more than two young ones within them.
How long they carry their young is not eafily
determined; fome fay they go as long as a Cow,
but it is very uncertain, he that will believe it
may. The Sperm of a Whale, when it is freſh,
fmells like Wheaten-flower that is boiled in
Water, when it is ftill hot it is very white ;
one may draw it out in Threads like hot Seal-
ing-wax, Glew, or the like; when it groweth
cold it turnsto a Musk-colour,and fmells ftrong,
and little red Worms grow in it, like unto the
grey ones, that you may fee in the Tab. P.mar-
ked with C. I have tryed feveral ways to keep
this Sperm ſweet and fresh, but I could never
make it like unto that Sperma-cæti which the
Apothecaries fell in their Shops. One may dip
of
138
The fourth Part of the Voyage
of this Sperm whole Pails-full out of the Water,
for as well this as that of the Sea-borfes and Seals
fwims upon the Sea like Fat, and we ſee abun-
dance of it in calm weather, fo that it doth
make the Sea all foul and flimy. I tryed to
dry this Sperm of a Whale in the Sun, and it
lookt like Snot,and when the thin Slime was dry.
ed away from it,looked like unto Fila meteorica,
fave only that they are thicker and more heavy.
Another parcel I boiled in Sea-water, juft as I
took it out of the Water, until the Water was
evaporated from it, then I had fome Sea-falt,
and a nafty brown Slime. The third parcel I
boiled in freſh Water, and afterwards again in
Sea-water, and the longer I kept it afterwards
the more it ſtunk, and the harder it grew. The
fourth parcel I intended to keep in the Salt
Water, with an intention to carry it along with
me to Hamburgh, but it diffolved in the Water,
like Glew, and the Water became foul and
ftinking, fo that I could no ways make it like
the Sperma-ceti of the Apothecaries. Where the
Yard doth begin it is four-fquare, conſiſting of
many ftrong Sinews; if you dry them they are
as tranfparent as Fifh-glew; out of theſe Sinews
the Seamen make twilted Whips. Their Bones
are hard, like unto them of great four-footed
Beafts, but porous, like unto a Spunge, and fil-
led with Marrow, when that is confumed out
they will hold a great deal of Water, for the
holes are big, like unto the Wax of a Honey-
comb. Two great and ſtrong Bones hold up
the under Lip, they lye one againſt the other,
and both of them make a Figure like unto an
Half-moon, but one alone by itſelf makes a Fi-
gure like to a quarter of the Moon. Some of
thefe Bones I faw at Spitzbergen, lying on the
Strand
to Spitzbergen.
139
Strand, about 20 foot long, of a very white
colour, as if they had been calcined. Our Sea-
men bring fome of thefe along with them home,
to thew us how big fome Whales are, which are
already whitened to their Hands, for thoſe that
come fresh from a Whale ſtink abominably, be-
caufe of the Marrow that is in them. Their
Fleſh is courſe and hard, and it doth look like
unto that of a Bull; it is intermix'd with many
Sinews; it is very dry and lean when it is boi-
led, becauſe their Fat is only between their Fleſh
and Skin: Some looks green and blew as our
Pouder'd Beef, chiefly where the Muſcles meet
together; if one lets it lye a little, it grows
black and flinking. The Flefh of the Tail
boils tendereft, and is not quite fo dry as that
of the Body. When we have a mind to eat of a
Whale, we cut great pieces off before the Tail,
where it is four-fquare, and boil it like other
Meat; good Beef I prefer far before it, yet
rather than be ftarved, I advife to eat Whale's
Flesh, for none of our Men dyed of it, and the
French-men did eat almoft daily of it, they
fling it fometimes on the tops of their Tubs,
and let it lye until it is black, and yet they eat
it for all that. The Flesh of a Whale, as well as
that of the Seales, is alone by itſelf, and the Fat
at the top thereof, between the Flesh and Skin.
It is about fix inches thick on the Back and Bel-
ly, but I have alfo feen it a foot thick, upon a
Finn, according as they are great or little
Filh. The Fat of their under Lip is thicker
than two foot, and is the thickeſt of all the
Whale. The Tongue, as I have faid before, is
faften'd to it, but very foft, but it cofts too much
labour to cut it. The Fat of fome Whales is
much thicker than than that of others, as it is
t
with
140
The fourth Part of the Voyage
with other Animals or Men, where one is much
leaner than another. In the Fat are little Si-
news, interſperſed which hold the Oyl, as a
Sponge does Water, which one may ſqueeze
out: The other ſtrong Sinews are chiefly about
the Tail, where it is thinneft, for with it he
turns and winds himſelf, as a Ship is turned by
the Rudder, but his Finns are his Oars, and ac-
cording to his bignefs he rows himſelf along
with them as ſwiftly as a Bird flies, and doth
make a long track in the Sea, as a great Ship
doth when under Sail, fo that it remains divi-
did for a while.
The Whales of the North Cape (they are ſo cal-
led, becauſe they are caught between Spitzber-
gen and Norway) being not fo big, therefore do
not yield fo much Fat as thofe of Spitzbergen,
for of thofe of the North Cape you fhall not fill
above ten, twenty, or thirty Cardels of Fat;
the middling fort of thofe of Spitzbergen yield
commonly feventy, eighty, or ninety, and they
are about fifty or fixty foot long. Our biggeſt
Whale was fifty three foot long, and we cut off
him as much Fat as filled feventy Cardels; his
Tail was about three fathom and an half broad.
The Skipper Peter Peterfon of Friesland informed
me, that they found a dead Whale, whereof
they did cut as much fat as filled One hundred
and thirty Cardels, his Tail was three fathom
and an half broad, but he was not much longer
than our biggeft, as one may gueſs by the Tail
alfo, yet much thicker and fatter; from whence
one may infer, that they do not grow much
longer, but only in thickneſs or fatnefs, as we
daily fee: Nor did I ever hear that a bigger or
fatter Whale was ever caught, and even thofe
but feldom, for if there were many fuch, our
Ships
to Spitzbergen.
141
Ships could not hold fo much Fat as is cut from
ten, fifteen, or twenty Whales, as fome of them
have fometimes taken in.
Over the Fat is, befides the uppermoſt thin
Skin already deſcribed, another Skin of about
an inch thick, proportionable to the bigneſs
of the Whale; it is coloured according to the
colour of the Fish; if the Fish be black, this
undermoſt thick Skin is fo; if the outmoſt Skin
that is like Parchment is white or yellow, the
thick one underneath it is of the fame colour.
This thick Skin is not ftiff nor tough at all, fo
that one might drefs it like Leather, but it
dries juſt like unto the Fungus that grows on
Elder, which we call Jews-ears, which are
thick and turgid when they are green and
freth, but brittle when they are dried; where-
fore this Skin is not efteemed at all. This and
the uppermoft thin Skin that covers this, are
the occafion that the Whale, which I take to
be the ſtrongeſt and biggeſt of all Creatures in
the Water, cannot make ufe of his Strength,
becauſe they are too foft to do much.
I have nothing to relate of the inward parts
of the Whale, but only that his Guts feem to
be of a Flesh colour; they were full of Wind,
and the Dung that was within them was yel-
low.
The Food of the Whale, as it is believed, are
the fmall Sea-fnails, the Draught whereof you
may fee at c, in the Tab. Q, whereof I have
made mention in another place, which fome
take for Spiders; whether thefe afford fuch
great nouriſhment, I cannot exactly tell. Some
Tay, that they live only by the Wind, but then
methinks they muſt have nothing in them but
Wind, which I found otherwife. I was infor-
med
1
142
The fourth Part of the Voyage
:
med by others, that about Hitland a ſmall Whale
was caught, had about a Barrel of Herrings in
his Belly. They are finaller Whales than thofe
we catch at Spitzbergen, but there is more dan-
ger in catching of them, they being lefs and
nimbler than the great ones, to whom the
Water doth not fo eafily give way as to thefe,
for they jump and play in the Water, and keep
their Tail commonly above Water, fo that one
dare not come near to them to launce them.
Concerning the Whale's Valour, we do find
that he is not very couragious, according to
his ftrength and bignefs, for if he fees a Man
or a Long-boat, he goeth under Water, and
runs away. I did never fee nor hear, that out
of his own Malice he endeavour'd to hurt any
Man, but when he is in danger; what then he
doth is of neceffity, and then he doth not va-
lue a Man no more than a Sand, nor a Long-
boat, for he doth beat them all into Splinters.
His Strength may be guefs'd by the Filhermen
that catch with great Nets other Fishes, when
they are going to draw their Nets towards the
Land what a great Strength they muſt uſe,
which is nothing at all to be compared to his
Strength The Whale doth fwim fometimes
away with fome thouſand fathoms of Rope-line,
fwifter a great deal than a Ship can fail, or a
Bird can fly, fo that it makes their Heads gid-
dy; yet a great Ship is too many for him, for
although he fhould ſtrike againſt it with his
Tail, yet it doth him more hurt than he does
The Ships
>
The Whales keep, in the Spring, Weftward
from Spitzbergen, near old Greenland and the
Iſland of John Majen; then they run Eaftwards
to Spitzbergen: After them come the Finn-fish,
and
to Spitzbergen.
143
and then there is no more Whales feen. It is
probable they go after a tolerable cold place ;
for after that, I have ſeen Finn-fish in the Spanish
Sea in the year 1671. in the Month of Decem-
ber, and in the Year 1672. in January, and alſo
afterwards in the year 1673. in the Straights of
Gibralter in March, and alfo in the Mediterra-
nean. :
He ſwims againſt the Wind, as all other
Whales or great Fifh do. The Sword-fish is his
mortal Enemy,he might rather be called Comb-
fifh, becauſe his long Tooth is on each fide full
of Teeth or Prickles, moſt like a Comb. In
our Home-Voyage to Hamburg I faw an Exam-
ple of this Enmity of a Northcaper-Whale and at
Sword-fish, near to Hitland, they fought and
ftruck at one another fo vehemently, that the
Water flew about like Duft, ſometimes one and
fometimes the other was uppermoft; the wea-
ther was a little ftormy, or elfe we had ftayed
to have ſeen the end of the Battel, fo we were
forced to leave them.
The dead Whale killed by the Sword-fifh ftinks
at a great diſtance, but not preſently, and thoſe
that have been wounded fome days before they
are caught ſmell the worft, and drive high
above the Sea-water, when others drive even
with the Water; and fome fink.
The Whales have, as well as other Beaſts,
their peculiar Diftempers and Ailments, but
I can only write of what I know by Hear-fay.
An ancient and experienc'd Harpoonier infor-
med me, that he did once catch a Whale that
was very feeble, and that all his Skin, but
chiefly near unto the Tail and Finns, hung like
Films, as if they were old Rags dragg'd along
be-
144
The fourth Part of the Voyage
behind him, and that he was quite lean, fo
they made but very little Train-oyl of his fat,
for the fat was quite white, and light withal as
an empty Honey-comb. Before a Tempeft
they beat the Water, that it doth fly about like
unto Duft, with their Tail; but they have
the greateſt ſtrength when they ftrike fide-
wards as if they did mow, fo that one might
think that they were in a great agony, and
a dying. They are mightily tormented by the
Lice, whereof I have treated more at large
above: The Draught of this Loufe you may
fee at d, in the Tab. Q
The Wounds that are given unto the Whale
by the Harpoons, into the fat, heal up again
of their own accord, for the Salt-water cannot
ftick on it. Many fuch Fishes are caught, that
have been ſtruck by others with a Harpoon,
and are healed up again, and ſo have white
Scarrs.
:
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
145
CHAP. VIII.
How they Catch the Whale.
First,
ft, it is to be obſerved, that when it is like
to be a good Year to catch Whales in, there
is many White-fish to be ſeen before: But where
we ſee many Seales, there we do not expect to
meet with many Whales; for they fay, that
they eat up the Food of the Whale, wherefore
the Whales will not ftay in fuch empty places,
but go to find out better, and fo come to Spitz-
bergen, for there, at the Shoar, we ſee great
plenty of the fmall Sea-fnails, (you may fee
them marked with e in the Tab. Q) and per-
haps fome other fmall Fish. They are caught
after the following manner: When they fee
Whales, or when they hear them blow or fpout,
they call in to the Ship, Fall, fall; then every
Body must be ready to get into the Long boat
that he doth belong to, commonly fix Men go
into every Long-boat, and fometimes feven,
according as the Long-boats are in bignefs, they
all of them row until they come very near un-
to the Whale, then doth the Harpoonier arife,
who fits always before in the Boat, where the
Harpoon or the ſharp Iron made like unto an
Arrow fixed to a Stick, doth alfo lye on the
foremoſt Board of the Long-boat, which the
Seamen call the Staffen, that is, the broad piece
of Wood that cometh up before the Boat from
L
the
146
The fourth Part of the Voyage
the bottom, and ftands up higher than all the
reft. But when the Whale runs ftreight down.
towards the bottom underneath the Wa-
ter, then he doth draw the Rope very hard, fo
that the upper part of the Long boat is even
with the furface of the Water; nay, he would
certainly pull it down to the bottom, if they
fhould not give him Rope enough: This he
doth commonly where the Sea is deepeſt; and
this doth require an incredible force to draw fo
many hundred fathoms of Rope under Water.
This giveth me occafion to remember, that
when we on the 27th of April, in the Year
1672. did fling out our Lead, near St. Kilda,
behind Scotland, into the Sea, where it was 120
fathom deep when the Weather was calm, and
when we would pull it up again, it was fo heavy
that 20 Men had much to do to heave it.
The Harpoonier taketh his Harpoon, and holds
the Point or the Iron thereof, together with the
Fore-runner, towards his Left hand: this is a
Rope or Line of five or feven fathom long,
about an inch thick, and is laid up round like
a Ring, that it may not hinder the Harpoon
when it is flung, for as foon as he doth fling or
dart the Harpoon this Line follows, for it is
more plyable than the reſt that are faſtened to
it, wherewith they purſue the Whale. It is made
of the fineſt and fofteſt Hemp, and not daubed
with Tarr, but it doth fwell in the Water, and
fo it grows hard. The Harpoonier darts his
Harpoon with the Right hand at the Fish; as
you may fee by m in the Tab. A. When the
Whale is hit with the Harpoon, all the Men
that are in the Long boat turn themſelves about
and look before them, and they lay their Oars
nimbly upon the fides of the Long-boat. There
is
to Spitzbergen.
147
is a Man in the Long-boat, whofe buſineſs it is
to look after the Rope; as you may fee at N,
in the Tab. A; for in each of thefe Long-boats
there is a whole heap of Lines, between the
two Seats or Benches; this Heap is divided in-
to three, four, or five parts, and each of themt
is of eighty, ninety, to one hundred fathoms
long. The firft of them is tyed to the Fore-
runner, or fmall Line; as the Whale runs under
the Water, they tye more and more Line to it,
and if in one Boat there fhould not be enough,
they make uſe of thofe that are in the other
Long boats. Theſe Ropes or Lines are thickef
and ftronger than the Fore-runner, and are
made of ftrong and tough Hemp, and Tarred
over. The Line-furniſher, or the Man that
doth look after the Ropes, and alfo the other
Men that are in the Long-boat, muſt have great
care that the Ropes or Lines may not be en-
tangled when they run out fo fwift, or that
they may not run towards the fide of the Long-
boat, for then the Long-boat would be over-
fet, and many Men lofe their Lives, if other
Long boats were not near to their affiftance.
The Line muſt run juft before, in the middle
of the Long-boat, that is called the Stave by
the Seamen, and by reafon of this ftrong and
violent motion the Wood and Rope, would be
fet on fire. But to prevent this,the Harpoonier
hath a wet Rag tied to a Stick (like unto a
Mop) ready at hand, wherewith he wets the
Wood without ceafing. The other three Ment
that are in the Long-boats take alfo care of the
Lines, as well when they are let out, as when
they are taken in again, and when they cannot
hold it with their Hands, they wind it about
the Staves of the Boat, and fo they do top it
L 2
front
148
The fourth Part of the Voyage
from going any further. Another that is cal-
led the Steerman, ftands behind in the Long-
boat, as you may fee by o in the Tab. A, and
fteers the Boat with an Oar, and he takes great
care, and minds the Rope, to fee which way
it runs out, for if it doth go towards either fide,
and doth not run juft before over the Stave, he
fo guides the Boat, that it may run exactly out
before. The Whale runs away with the Long-
boat as fwift as the Wind. If the Harpoonier
can, he doth dart the Harpoon juft behind the
Spout-hole of the Whale,or in the thick Fat of his
Back, where they alfo do launce him, for that
maketh him ſpout Blood fooner than if woun-
ded in any other place, and dye fooner than if
you ſhould launce them into their Belly, or
through the Guts. The firft Whale we caught
fpouted Blood, in fuch a quantity, that the Sea
was tinged by it where-ever he fwam, where.
unto the Mallemucks flock'd in great numbers,
as I have mentioned before. They alfo launce
the Whales near their privy parts, if they can
come at it, for if they are run in there it doth
pain them very much; nay, even when they
are almoſt dead, if you run in your Launce
thereabout, it caufes the whole Body to trem-
ble. For the most part they do not much
mind where they launce or push them, for
there is no time to take great deliberation, but
they ſtrike at him as well as they can. But
about the Head the Harpoon can do him no
hurt, becauſe the Fat is but very thin there upon
the Bones, which the Whales know as well as we;
for when they find themſelves in danger, fo
that they cannot efcape the Harpoon, they
rather leave their Head than their Back unde-
fended, for there the Harpoon breaks out eafier,
and
to Spitzbergen.
149
↓
and fo the Whale gets away, like one that hath
no mind to fight any longer. The Ufe of the
Harpoon is, to tye, as it were, the Whales with
them, that they may not run away: It is fha-
ped like an Arrow before, as you may fee at f,
in the Tab. Q; it hath two ſharp Beards, they
are fharp at the edge, and have a broad Back,
like unto a Hatchet that is fharp before and
blunt-behind, or on the Back, fo that it may
not cut with its Back, for elfe it would tear out
and all your Labour would be loft. The Iron
Handle is thicker behind than before, and it is
hollow, whereinto they put the Stick, as you
may fee in the Tab. Q, marked with b. Be-
fore this hollow part, the Fore-goer is fa-
ften'd or tyed, that is to fay the foremoſt Rope,
as you may fee in the Tab. Q, marked with i.
Thoſe are the beſt Harpoons that are made of
clean and fine Steel, and are not hardened too
much, fo that you may bend it without fnap-
ping, for oftentimes Two hundred Pounds are
loft (for a midling Whale is eſteem'd at fo much)
in a minutes time for want of a good and well-
temper'd Harpoon. The Wooden Stick is fa-
ftened within the Iron Collet or Funnel of the
Harpoon, with Packthread wound all about
the Iron; fomewhat higher up, about two fpans
off, there is a hole made through the Stick, as
you may fee marked with k, in the Tab. Q
The Harpoon is light behind, and heavy to-
wards the point, or before, like an Arrow, that
is made heavy before with Iron, and light be.
hind with Feathers, fo that fling it which way
you will, it doth fall always upon the point.
Through this hole cometh a piece of Pack-
thread, wherewith the end of the Fore-runner
is faftened to the Handle or Stick of the Har
poon,
←
L 3
150
The fourth Part of the Voyage
1
poon, but this is foon torn off, and it ferveth
for nothing more after the Harpoon fticks in
the Body of the Whale; neither is the Wooden
Handle of any further uſe, and fo it doth foon
come out from the Iron. When the Whale is
ftruck with the Harpoon, all the other Long-
boats row out before, and take notice which
way the Line doth ftand, and ſometimes they
pull at the Rope or Line (as you may fee in
the Tab. A, marked with p.) If it is ſtiff and
heavy, the Whale doth draw it ftill with his
might; but if it doth hang loofe, fo that the
Long boat is before and behind equally high
out of the Water, then the Men pull in the
Rope again, (as you may fee in the Tab. A,
marked with q) and the Rope-giver layeth it
down in very good order (as you may fee at
, in the Tab. A) round, and one row above
the other, that if the Whale fhould draw on
again, he may have it ready to give him 'with-
out being entangled. Here is alfo this to be
obferved, that if the Whale runs upon the level
they muſt not give him too much Rope, for if
he fhould turn and wind himfelf much and of
ten about, he might easily wind the Rope about
a Rock or heavy Stone, and fo faften it to it,
and fo the Harpoon would come out, and all
the Labour would be loft; which hath often
hapred, and we ourſelves loft one that way.
The other Long-boats that are towed behind,
wherein the Men Took all before them, and fit
ftill, and let the Whale draw them along: If
the Whate doth rowl upon the Ground, fo that
the Long boats or Sloops lye ftill, they draw
their Lines in again by degrees, and the Rope-
mafter doth lay them down again in their pro-
per places, as they had been laid before. When
•
they
to Spitzbergen.
151
1
they kill the Whale with Launces, they alſo pull
their Lines in again, until they come near to the
Whale, yet at fome diſtance, that the others may
have room to launce: But they muſt have great
care, that all the Lines of every Sloop may not
be cut off together, becauſe fome Whales fink,
and others do fwim even with the Water when
they are dead, which no body can tell before-
hand, whether they will do one or the other.
The fat ones do not fink preſently after they are
freſh killed, but the lean ones fink immediately
after they are dead, but after fome few days
they come up again, and ſwim on the Water:
But it would be too long a while for a Man to
ftay until he cometh up again, and the Sea is
never fo quiet that one can ftay long in the
fame place, and where the Sea is quiet, and
without Waves, there the Stream doth_carry.
the Ships and the Ice along together, fo that
we fhould be forced to leave the Whale unto
others, that would find him dead ſome days af-
ter. 'Tis true, this is the eaſieſt way to catch
Whales, but it is very nafty and ſtinking work;
for long and white Maggots grow in their Fleſh,
they are flat like unto Worms that breed in
Mens Bellies, and they fmell worfe than ever I
fimelt any thing in my Life. The longer the
Whale lies dead in the Water,the higher he doth
fwim above it; fome fwim a foot high above
the Water, others to their middle, and then
they do burſt eafily, and give a very great re-
port. They begin immediately to ftink, and
this encreaſes hourly, and their Fleſh boils and
ferments like unto Beer or Ale, and holes break
in their Bellies, that their Guts come out. If
any Man is enclined to fore Eyes, this Vapour
enflames them immediately, as if Quicklime
>
L 4.
was
152
The fourth Part of the Voyage
was flung into them. But when the live Whales
rife and fwim again,fome of them are aſtoniſh'd,
others wild or ftark mad: To thofe that are
wild we come foftly or gently from behind,
as we do when we are going to trapan them;
for when the Wind is down, the Weather
calm, and Air ferene, fo that the Sea doth
not foam or roar, the Whales hear immediate-
ly the ftriking of the Oars.
♪.
If many fmall Ice-fheets lye near to one
another, fo that we cannot follow the Whale
with our Sloops or Long-boats, we fetch in
our Line with all might and ftrength, and if
with one or more pulls we can fetch out the
Harpoon it is well, if not, we chop off the
Rope or Line. The Whale is best and furet
ftruck with a Harpoon when he fpouts Wa-
ter, as is already faid above, for we do ob-
ferye, that when they lye ftill and very quiet,
that they then liften, and are fometimes un-
der, and fometimes above Water, fo that their
Back doth not quite dry, and before we are
aware of it he flings up his Tail behind out of
the Sea, and fo bids us good-bwy; as you may
fee at, in the Tab. A. The Whales may eafily
be caught when the Air is very ferene and
clear, and the Sea quiet, and where there float
neither great nor fmall Ice-fheets, fo that we
may go in between them with our Boats or
Sloops, to follow them; for at the Ice-fields
the Whales do commonly lye and rub them-
felves at them, perhaps by reafon of the Lice
that bite them. Beſides, againſt the Ice-fheets
the Sea beats, dafhes, and foams, with fmali
curling Waves, fo that the Whales do not ob-
ferve nor mind the ftriking of the Oars, and fo
they are easily ftruck with the Harpoon. It is
•
2:
1
*
1:
very
to Spitzbergen.
153
very dangerous to kill a Female, chiefly when
fhe is big with young, for they defend them-
felves, very long, and are harder to be killed
than a Male one. Oftentimes the Long-boats
wait fix or feven hours, nay, a whole day, for
a Whale, before they fee one.
;
ì
L
འ
Where great quantity of fmall Ice is crowded
together, there it is alfo very dangerous, and
hard to come to the Whale, for he is fo cun-
ning, that when he perceives where the Ice is
he retires thither immediately. The Harpoo-
nier ftands at the Head of the Long boat, and
doth draw on the Rope, as you may fee at p,
in the Tab. A, to try whether it is heavy or
light; if it feels heavy, fo that we are afraid
that it will pull the Boat under Water, then
we give him more Rope, if he runs ftreight
out before, he draweth the Sloops after him.
If he doth run underneath a great Ice-field,
the Harpoonier taketh a Knife into his Hand,
as you may fee at R, in the Tab A, which
they call the Chopping-Knife, and if the Ice-
field be hollow, or pungy, or full of holes in
the middle, fo that the Whale can fetch breath
underneath it, and the Rope is not long enough
to follow him, and if the Ice be feveral miles
long, they draw the Rope in as much as
poffibly they can, until it be freight, and
then he chops it off, loofing the piece of the
Rope whereon the Harpoon is faftened, that
fticketh in the Body of the Whale, yet not with-
out great lofs, for oftentimes they run away
with the Lines that belong to five and more
Sloops. It happens very often, that they run
to the Ice with the Long-boats, fo that, they
dafh againſt it, as if they would break it into
pieces, which alfo very often happens. But
1
when
$54
The fourth Part of the Voyage
when the Whale rifes again, they oftentimes
fling one or two more Harpoons into him,
according as they find he is tired more or lefs,
then he dives under Water again. Some fwim
or run even all along on the Water, and they
play with their Tail and Finns, fo that we
muft have great care that we may not come
too near them. When the Whales fling their
Tails about after this manner, they wind the
Line about their Tail, fo that we need not to
fear the Harpoon tearing out, for then they
are ty'd ftrong and firm enough with the Rope,
After they are wounded, they fpout with all
their might and main, fo that you may hear
them as far off as you may a Cannon;
but when they are quite tired, it cometh out
only by drops, for he hath not ftrength enough
to force the Water up, and therefore it founds
as if you held an empty Mug or Bottle under
Water, and the Water runs into it. And this
found is a certain fign of his feeblenefs, and
that he is going to expire. Some Whales blow
Blood to the very laft, after they have been
wounded, and thefe dafh the Men in the Long-
boats moft filthily, and dye the Sloops as red
as if they were painted with a red colour;
nay, the very Sea is tinged red all along where
they fwim. Thofe Whales that are mortally
wounded heat themfelves, that they reek while
they are alive, and the Birds fit on them, and
eat on them while they are ftill alive. When
the Whales blow up the Water, they fling out
with it fome fattifh fubftance that floats upon
the Sea, like Sperm, and this Fat the Mallemucks
devour greedily, of which feveral thouſands at-
tend him, fo that a Whale often hath more At-
tendants than a King hath Servants; as you
may
to Spitzbergen.
155
may fee by T, in the Tab. A. Sometimes allo
the Harpoons break out; then often Long-
boats of other Ships attend, and as foon as they
fee that the Harpoon is come out, they fing
their own into him, and the Whale is theirs, al-
though the firft Harpoon hath almoſt killed the
Whale, yet if he doth get loofe, the ſecond Par-
ty claims him, and the firft muft look for ano-
ther. Sometimes at the fame time two Har-
poons,belonging to two feveral Ships, are truck
into the Whale, fach ones are divided equally,
and each one hath half; as you may fee at
MM, in the Tab. A; the other two, or three,
or more Sloops, as many as there is of them,
wait for the Whale's coming up again, and when
they fee that he is tired, they kill him outright
with Launces. In doing this is the greateft
danger, for the firft that do fling the Harpoon
into him are drawn long by the Whale, and
are at a good diftance from him, but thofe that
kill him with Latinces are as well upon his Body
as at his Sides, according as the Whale turns
and winds himſelf, and they receive many fe-
vere Blows. Here the Steerfinan muft take
care to obſerve how the Whale runs and turns
himſelf about, that the Harpoonier may reach
him with his Launces; all the other Men in the
Sloops row diligently, fometimes forwards, and
fometimes backwards, which they call rowing
on and ftriking, and when the Whale lifts up
himſelf out of the Water, he commonly doth
ftrike about with his Tail and Finns, that the
Water dasheth up like Duft. A Long-boat he
values no more than Duft, for he can beat it
all into fhatters at a blow: but a great Ship is
too hard for him, and if he ſtrikes againſt it
with his Tail, he feels it more than the Ship,
་
for
156
of the Voyage
The fourth Part T
for he doth fo paint the Ship with; his own
Blood, that it maketh him very feeble. A
good Steerman is next unto the Harpoonier
moſt uſeful in the Sloop; he fteers with one
Oar, and, doth look out before; the other four
Men turn their Back to the Head, and look to-
wards the Stern, therefore doth the Steerman
and Harpoonier always cry, Row on, or strike,
that is to fay, row near to the Whale, or eife
keep farther off. The Launces have a Wooden
Stick or Handle above two fathoms long, or
fomewhat fhorter than a Pikeftaff; as in the
Tab, you may fee at g; the Iron thereof is
commonly a fathom long, and pointed before
like unto a Pike; it is made of Steel or tough
Iron, that it may bend without breaking: for
after you have made a deep hole in his Body
with your Launces, you poke into it with them
one way, and the other way, as they do when
they poke for Eels, as you may fee at Z, in
the Tab. A; but if he doth get one or more
out of your Hands, you take another, for every
Sloop hath at leaſt five, fix, or feven, and yet
fometimes he has them all out of three, four, or
more Boats fticking in his Body.
J
**
i
*
{
4
!
S
}
17
CHAP.
to Spitzbergen.
157
CHAP. IX.
What they do with the dead Whale.
A
Fter the Whale is killed they cut off his
Tail; fome keep the Tail and Finns, and
hang them up at the outfide of their Ship, for
that defends them from the Ice when it pref
feth upon the Ship: The Tail hinders the Boat
in its courfe, becauſe it doth lye crofs, and that
is the reaſon why they cut it off. Before the
Tail they faften a piece of a Rope, and at the
other end at the Stern of the laft Sloop, as you
may fee in the Tab. A, marked with W. There
is in all four or five Sloops faſtened to one ano-
ther behind, and fo they row one behind the
other to the great Ship. When they have
brought the Whale to the Ship, they tye it with
Ropes faft to the Ship; that part where the
Tail is cut off they faften to the fore-part of
the Ship, and the Head towards the Stern,
about the middle, near the great Shrowds of
the Mainmaſt on the Larboard of the Ship; it
is feldom that a Whale doth reach farther than
from the Poop to the middle of the Ship, ex-
cept the Veffels are very fmall; as you may
fee at X, in the Tab. A.
By the Larboard is to be underſtood that fide
of the Ship that is at your Right Hand as you
go
from before towards the Stern; but that fide
of the Ship that is on your Right Hand as you
go
158
The fourth Part of the Voyage
go from the Stern towards the Fore-part is cal-
led Star-board, becauſe you go from the Steer
forward.
Whoever of the Ships Crew fees a dead
Whale, cries out Fish mine, and therefore the
Merchants must pay him a Ducat, for his Care
and Vigilance. Many of them climb often
up into the Maft, in hopes to have a Ducat,
but in vain.
When the dead Whale is thus faftened to the
Ship, two Sloops hold on the other ſide of the
Fish or Whale, and in each of them doth ftand
a Man or Boy, that has a long Hook in his
Hands, wherewith he doth hold the Boat to
the Ship, and the Harpoonier ftands before in
the Sloop, or upon the Whale, with a Leathern
Suit on, and fometimes they have boots on.
Underneath the Hook are fome sharp Nails
fixed, that they may be able to ftand firm, for
the Whale is very flippery, fo that one may ea-
fily fall, as upon flippery Ice. Theſe two Men
that cut the Fat off have their peculiar Wages
for it, viz. about four or five Rix Dollars.
Firft, they cut a large piece from behind the
Head, by the Eyes, which they call the Ken-
ter piece, that is as much as to fay the Winding-
piece; for, as they cut all the other Fat all in
rows, from the Whale towards the end, fo they
cut this
great Kenter-piece larger and wider than
all the reft. This piece, when it is cut round
about from the Whale, reaches from the
Water to the Cradle, (that is the round Circle
that goeth round about the middle of the Maft,
and is made in the fhape of a Basket) from
whence you may guess at the bigness of a
Whale. Aftrong and thick Rope is fixed to
this Kenter-piece, and the other end is fixed un-
derneath
to Spitzbergen.
159
derneath the Cradle, whereby the Whale is as
it was born up out of the Water, that they may
come at it, and by reaſon of the great weight
of the Whale, the Ship leans towards that fide.
One may judge how tough the Fat is, for in
this piece an hole is made, through which the
Rope is faftened, yet not deep into the Fat,
wherewith they turn the Fifh at pleafure; as
you may fee at K, in the Tab. A. Then, as is
before faid, they cut another piece down hard
by this, that is alſo halled up to the Ship; as
you may fee at L, in the Tab. A; and then in
the Ship they cut it into lefs pieces about a
foot fquare. Theſe two Men have in their
Hands, as well as thofe that ſtand on the Whale,
long Knives, wherewith they cut theſe fquare
pieces. Thefe Knives are, with their Hafts,
about the length of a Man; and the more the
Fat of the Whale is loofened, juft as the Hide
is flea'd from an Ox, the higher muft they pull
up the Fat with their Pulleys, that they may
cut it the eaſier. And when they have drawn
up this Fat, the Men take it in to them into
the Ship, and loofen the Rope that it was fafte-
ned unto. The Rope is faftened with a Ring,
whereinto they put a great Iron Hook, which
is faſtened to a ſtrong Tackle, and alſo fome-
times, before in the Ship, are fixed two other
Tackle, wherewith all the Fat is drawn up into
the Ship. In the Ship ftand two Men, with
Hooks as long as a Man, wherewith they hold
the great piece of Fat, which the two Men cut
into ſquare pieces with their long Knives. By
them ftands another, that hath a fhort Hook
with a Ring in his Hands, which he thrufts in-
to the pieces of Fat that are cut fquare, and
puts it upon the Bench or Dreffing-board,where
it
160
The fourth Part of the Voyage
:
it is cut by others into lefs pieces. The two
firſt Men with their long Knives, that cut the
large pieces of Fat, ftand near the Larboard of
the Ship, at that fide where the Whale is fixed,
and the other Men that afterwards cut it into
lefs pieces, ftand on the other fide called Star-
board, as you may fee at I, in the Tab. A.
When it is a good time to catch Whales, and
they will not lofe it, they tow fometimes fe-
veral Fish behind their Ship, and catch more;
and they cut only the great pieces of Fat of
them, and fling them underneath into the Ship.
But when they have no more Veffels to put
their Fat into, they fail into an Harbour; or if
it be calm weather, and not windy, they ftay
in the Sea, and faften themſelves to a fheet of
Ice, and fo they drive along with the Stream.
The other Men cut the Fat into fmall pieces,
on a Table; on the further fide of the Table is
a Nail faftened, whereunto they faften a Hook,
which they put into the Fat, that it may lye
fteddy when they cut it into fmall pieces, the
Fat is tough to cut, wherefore it muft lye firm.
That fide whereon the Skin is they lay under-
moft, and fo cut the Fat from it by pieces. The
Knives wherewith they cut the Fat into ſmall
pieces are less than the other, about three foot
long with their Hafts. They all cut from them
that they may not be bedaubed with the Fat,
which might occafion a fhrinking up and lame-
ness of the Sinews of their Hands and Arms.
One of them cuts the foft and tough Fat into
ſmall pieces with a long Knife; this Man they
call the Chopper, and he is mightily daubed,
wherefore he doth hang about him all forts of
Rags and Clouts he can get. The Fat of fome
Whales is white, of others yellow, and of fome
red.
to Spitzbergen.
161
red. The white Fat is full of fall Sinews,
and it does not yield fo much Oyl as the yellow.
The yellow Fat that looks like Butter is the
beſt. The red and watery Fat cometh from
dead Whales, for in the place where the Fat
runs out the Blood fettles in its room,and yields
the worſt and leaft Oyl. Before the Table is a
Gutter made of two Boards nailed together,
whereinto the ſmall or minced Fat is flung;
by it ſtands a Boy that fhuffles the Fat by de-
grees into a Bag that is fixed to the end of the
Gutter, and is like unto a Pudding-bag, fo long
that it reaches down into the Ship; out ofthis
Bag the Fat runs down into a Tub or Wooden
Funnel, which they put upon empty Veffels
or Cardels, as they call them, and the Men that
are below in the Ship fill them with it, and fo
it is kept until they try it up into Train-oyl.
When the Fat is cut off from one fide of the
Whale, before they turn him, they cut out the
Whale-bone in one entire piece, and this is fo
heavy, that all the Ship's Crew hath enough to
do to pull it up. They make ufe, for that pur-
pofe, of a peculiar fort of Hooks, two whereof
they fix on the fides, and one on the middle of
it, very well provided with ftrong Tackle, as
you may fee in the Tab. R, and afterwards
they cut out the Whale-bone of the other ſide
of the Fiſh, and draw it up alfo with Pulleys
into the Ship, where it is cut into fuch pieces
as they bring it hither in. The Whale bone
doth only belong to the owners of the Ship,
and the others that run their hazard, whether
they catch few or many Whales. The reft,
which take their Pay by the Month, receive
their Money when they come home, whether
they have caught many or none, and the Lofs
M
or
162
The fourth Part of the Voyage
or Gain falls upon the Merchants. The Hooks
that they crane up the Whale-bone withal are
made on purpofe for it, like a Beam of a pair of
Scales; on each end are two fharp points,
which they knock in between the Whale-bone;
in the middle of the Beam is faſtened a long
Handle with a Ring, whereon the Ropes are
faſtened; on this Handle there are fixed two
other crooked Hooks like Birds Claws; in the
Ring where the Ropes are faftened is another
crooked Hook, at the top faftened by a Ring,
fuch a one as we make uſe of here when we
wind any thing up by a Crane; but in the mid-
dle between thefe two Hooks is faftened ano-
ther Rope, which keeps the lowermoft Hook
fteddy; the two hindmoſt points are knocked
into the Whale-bone behind, and the two fore-
moſt ſhort ones before, which hold the Whale-
bone faft between them when it is wound or
pulled up.
The dead Whales, when the Fat is cut off of
them, they let float, and are the Food of the
Birds of Prey, when they are hungry, but
but they had rather have dead Whales that have
ftill their Fat left on them. The white Bear
is generally not far off, whether there be any
Fat left on them or no, and look like Dogs that
only feed upon Carrion, and at that time their
white Furr is turned into a yellow colour, and
at the fame time they fhed their Hair, and
their Skins are worth very little. Where a dead
Whale is near we fee it by the Birds, whereof are
many, and alfo the white Bears difcover it, as
you may fee at g in the Tab. B, chiefly in the
Spring, when but a few Whales are caught, for
then they are greedy of their Prey; afterwards
when many Whales float on the Sea, they have.
their
to Spitzbergen.
163
their Bellies full, and we do not find fo many
by a Whale, becauſe they are difperfed.
CHAP. X.
Of the Trying out of the Train-oyl from
the Fat.
Formerly the Dutch did try out their Train-
oyl in Spitzbergen, at Smerenberg, and about
the Cookery of Harlingen, where ſtill, for a re-
membrance, all forts of Tools belonging there-
unto are to be ſeen, whereof I have made men-
tion before. The French-men try up their Train-
oyl in their Ships, and by that means many
Ships are burnt at Spitzbergen, and this was the
occafion of the burning of two Ships in my
time. They try out their Train-oyl at Spitz-
bergen, that they may load the more Fat in
their Ships; and they believe it to be very pro-
fitable, for they go their Voyage upon part,
that is to fay, they receive more or lefs, accor-
ding to what they catch: But I do not ac-
count it Wiſdom to fill up the room of the Ship
with Wood, where they might fow Veifels.
But our Country-men, as I told you before, put
the Fat into the Veffels, wherein it doth fer-
ment juſt like Beer, and I know no inftance
that ever any Veffel did fly in pieces, although
they are ſtopt up very clofe, and fo it becometh
for the greateſt part Train-oyl in them. Of
the fresh Fat of Whales, when it is burnt out you
lofe Twenty in the Hundred, more or lefs, ac-
M 2
cording
1
164
The fourth Part of the Voyage
cording as it is in goodnefs. At the place
where they try up the Fat into Train-oyl, near
Hamburgh, they put the Fat out of the Veffels
into a great wooden Trough or Tub, and out
of this two Men empty it into a great Kettle
that ftands near it, that doth hold two Cardels
of Fat, that makes 120, 130, and fometimes
140 Gallons: Underneath this Copper that is
made up with Bricks they put the Fire, and fo
they boil it, and try it up into Train-oyl, as
you try up other Fat. This Copper is very well
fecured, as the Dyers Coppers ufe to be: it is
very broad and flat, juft like a Frying-pan,
made of Copper. When the Fat is well try ed
or fryed out, they take it out of the Pan with
fmall Kettles, into a great Sieve, that the liquid
only may run through, the reft is thrown away.
This Sieve ftands over a great Tub, which is
above half filled with cold Water, that the hot
Train-oyl may be cooled, and that what is
unclean and dirty of the Blood and other Soil
may fall to the bottom, and only the clear
Train-oyl fwim at the top of the Water, like
other Oyl. In this great Tub or Trough is a
finall Spout or Tap which doth run out over
another as big as aTub,out of which the Train-
oyl runs into another Tub, when it is almoſt
ready to run over, which is alfo filled with cold
Water to the middle,wherein it is more cooled,
and becomes clearer, and more refined than it
was before. In this Trough is another Spout,
through which the Train oyl runs into the
Warehouſe into a Vatt, whereout they fill it
into Cardels or Veffels. Some have but two
Tubs. A Cardel or Hogfhead holds 64 Gallons.
A true Train oyl Barrel doth hold 32 Gallons.
The Greaves they try up the fecond time, and
make
to Spitzbergen.
165
1
make brown Train-oyl out of it, others that
think it not worth their while fling them
away.
T
CHAP. XI.
Of the Finn-fish.
HE Finn-fish is of the length of a Whale,
but in bulk the Whale is three times as big.
They know the Finn-fish by the Finns that are
upon his Back, near unto his Tail, and alfo by
his vehement blowing and ſpouting up of the
Water, which the Whale doth not do. His
Knob on the Head is fplit in length, that is at
his blowing hole, through which he forces up
the Water higher than the Whale, and with
more fierceness, which is not fo high as that of
the Whale, neither is the Back bended or den-
ted in fo much. His Lips are of a brownish
colour, and like a twisted Rope. On his upper
Lip the Whale-bone hangs, as it doth on the
Whale; but whether he doth open and fhut his
Mouth there are different Opinions: Some be-
lieve that he cannot open his Mouth, yet this
is not true; but he doth not always run open
Mouth'd, that the Whale-bone may not hang
out of his Mouth at the fides, as it doth in
Whales, for elſe he can open his Mouth if he
pleaſes. Within his Mouth, between the
Whale-bone, he is all over hairy, like unto
Horſes Hairs, which grows within to the
Whale-bone that is but new growing, and it is
M 3
of
166
The fourth Part of the Voyage
of a blew colour. The other Whale-bone is of
a brown colour, and dark brownish with yellow
ftroaks, which are efteemed to be the oldeſt :
The blew Whale-bone cometh from young
Whales and Finn fishes. He is not as black as
Velvet, as the Whale is, but like a Tench.
The ſhape of his Body is long and ſmall, nei-
ther is he fo fat as a Whale, wherefore we do
not much care to catch him, for he doth not
pay us for our Labour. It is much more dan-
gerous to kill him than to kill a Whale, be-
caufe he moves quicker, and beats about him
with his Tail, and from him with his Finns, fo
that we dare not come near unto him with our
Sloops or Long-boats, for the Launces kill him
fooneft. I was informed, that once fome, be-
fore they were aware of it, did fling, by a mi-
ftake, their Harpoon into a Finn-fish, where-
upon he drew both Boat and Men, all on a fud-
den, underneath a large Ice-fheet before they
were aware of it, and not one of them efcap'd.
His Taillies flat, like unto that of the Whale.
When thefe Finn-fifhes appear we ſee no more
Whales.
The Train-oyl of the Whale is uſed by feve-
ral, viz. by the Frize-makers, Curriers, Cloath-
workers, and Soap-boilers; but the greateft ufe
that is made of it, is to burn it in Lamps inſtead
of other Oyl.
The Greenland Ships carry 30 or 40 Men, and
fometimes more, chiefly the great Ships, that
have fix Sloops belonging to them, fuch Ships
hold from 800 to 1000 Cardels of Fat; the
leſs Ships have commonly fewer Cardels or
Veffels, from 400 to 700, and have commonly
five Sloops or Boats belonging to them. There
alfo
go Galliots to Spitzbergen to catch Whales;
>
they
to Spitzbergen.
167
they have three or four Sloops belonging to
them: Some put the Sloops upon the Deck of
the Ships, others hang them overboard, as they
do at Spitzbergen, when they are amongst the
Ice, that as foon as they call Fall, fall, they
may immediately let down their Sloops into
the Water.
Then there remains onboard in the Ships the
Steerfman, the Barber, the Chyrurgion, the
Cooper, and a Boy, to look after the Ship;
the Skipper or Commander himſelf goeth out
with the reft of the Men, for they are all obli-
ged to go a Whale catching
In each Ship there are fixty Launces, fix
Sea-horfe Launces, forty Harpoons, ten long
Harpoons wherewith they ftrike the Whales
under Water, fix fmall Sea-horfe Harpoons,
thirty Linas or Ropes, and each of them is
about eighty or ninety fathoms long. When
they go a hunting they take along with them
into each Sloop two, and fometimes three Har-
poons, fix Launces, two or three Sea-horfe
Launces, three Lines, and five or fix Men, ac-
cording to the bigness of the Sloops, therein is
the Harpoonier, Line-keeper or Giver, and the
Steerfman: They all row equally, until they
come near to the Whale, except the Steerfman,
for he guides the Boat with his Rudder. They
alfo have in each Sloop a Chopping-knife, to
cut off the Rope when they cannot follow the
Whale, and a Hammer, and other Inftruments,
as Hatchets, Drags, and feveral forts of Knives,
wherewithal they cut the Whales. Meat and
Drink is alfo given them according to the ufual
Cuſtom, he that will have better muft take it
along with him. Lazy Fellows are in this
Voyage troubled with the Scurvy, but thoſe
M 4.
that
168
The fourth Part of the Voyage
that fear neither Air nor Wind, and beftir
themſelves, eſcape pretty well; elfe the Scurvy
is the common Diffemper in this Voyage, be-
fides Feavers, Impofthumes, and other acciden-
tal Distempers, and therefore the Chyrurgion
muft take care to provide himſelf.
CHAP. XII.
Of Rotz-fiſhes and Sea-qualms.
Otz-fish (or Slime-fishes) I call thefe, that
in themfelves are nothing elſe but Slime,
and they are tranfparent. I have obferved fe-
veral kinds of thefe, fome whereof have parts
like Finns, as that fame which I call the Sea
May-flye. Others are like unto the flat Snails,
only inſtead of Finns they have Stalks like un-
to Feathers, Befides thefe, I have ſeen four
other forts, that are quite differing in fhape
from the others, and are called Sea qualms by
the Seamen, as if they were a thick Scum of the
Sea coagulated together. They are alfo called
after the Latin Name Sea-nettles, becauſe they
cauſe a burning Pain like unto Nettles. I have
formerly had fome Thoughts, that the Rotz or
Slime fishes might be a Seed flung out and fo
pu-
trefied, and that they did caufe this burning
Pain by reaſon of their putrefaction;and fo I did
think that they received their fhape or form
according to the feveral kinds of Fishes from
whence they came, and that fome did take after
Thorn
to Spitzbergen.
169
Thornbacks, others after Whales, and the like;
but this doth not feem to be agreeable to Rea-
fon, for I have confidered it better fince, and
find Life to be a far more noble thing, than that
it fhould proceed from putrefied Seed caft away.
They cleanſe the Sea mightily, for all the filth
and uncleannefs fticks to them, juſt as a Burr
doth unto Cloth.
I. Of the Sea-May-flye.
Theſe fmall Fish are very like unto the Sea-
nettles, becauſe of their tranfparent Body, and
they alfo diffolve like the fame, if you hold them
in your hand. They have two Finns under-
neath, about the Neck, which are likeft unto
thoſe of the Whale. They are in their ſhape
like unto our white Rowls, broad and thick in
the middle, and thin and pointed at each end.
As for the reft of the Body, it is very like unto
our May-flye, fave only that the Tail or Body is
all along thicker, and only begins to be pointed
towards the end. The Head is broad and
round, fplit in the middle; it hath fmall Horns
about the breadth of a Straw; on his Head be-
fore it hath two rows of fix red little Knobs,
three of them in each row; whether they be
Eyes or no I cannot exactly tell. Its Mouth is
divided or ſplit. From his Mouth down into
his Belly are its Guts, which one may easily fee
becauſe of its tranfparency. It is of yellow
and black colour; but the colour of the whole
Fish is like unto the White of an Egg He
moves in the Water juft like a Sea-nettle. I have
drawn him here in his proper bignefs. I am of
opinion, that the Birds feed upon them, be-
caufe the Lumbs, Pigeon-divers, and Parret-
divers,
1
170
The fourth Part of the Voyage
1
divers are plentifully feen in thofe places where
theſe Fiſh or Sea-Infects are feen. The fame
that I have delineated here I found in the South
Bay in Spitzbergen, on the 20th of June; in the
Tab. P it is marked with f.
II. Of the Snail Slime-fiſh.
Thefe are alfo quite tranfparent, like unto the
Sea-nettles, but they are flat, and wound about
like a Snail, and fo we find upon the Land the
Shells of fuch flat Snails. It is very remarkable,
that out of the utmoſt part of him come two
Stalks, like unto the Beam of a pair of Scales,
hairy or rough on each fide, like unto a Feather.
With theſe Stalks he moves himfelf up and
down like the Sea-nettle. They are of a brown
colour: They fwim in great numbers in the
Sea, as numerous as the Duft in the Sun. It is
believed that the Whales feed upon them, but I
cannot believe that they can be fo nouriſhing a
Food for the Whales, as to make them fo fat; I
rather believe that the Lumbs, Pigeon-divers, and
the Parret-divers feed upon them. They are
not bigger than I have delineated them. We
faw many of them in the South Harbour at
Spitzbergen, on the 20th day of June. Amongst
the Ice I faw none. The Seamen take theſe
fmall Fish for Spiders, and I fhould alfo have
taken them to be fuch, if I had not had them
in my Hand, and looked more curiouſly upon
them, and found that they had no affinity at all
with the Spiders. In the Tab. Qit is marked
with e.
III. Of
to Spitzbergen.
171
III. Of the Hat Slime-fifh.
Its upper part is like the Funguffes or Toad-
ftools, for it is as it were a round and thick
Stalk, that goes juft into the middle of the
Head. It hath a blew Button or Knob, that is
as thick again as the Stalk: And this upper part
may alſo be compared unto fuch a Straw Hat
as our Women wear. From the Stalk down-
wards it doth grow thick again, and round,
yet it is a great deal lefs than the Button.
I have ſeen them force themfelves up from
below, and then from the top down again,
juft as a Stick that is forced down underneath
the Water reboundeth up again. I got them
in the North Sea, between Holly-Land and the
Elbe, where the Sea-water mingles with that
of the Elbe. I have alfo feen them at Kuck's-
Haven in the Elbe. And I am alſo informed,
that fometimes they come as far down as
to Freyburg. By reafon of its fhape, it may
be called The Hat Slime-fifh, or Stalk Slime-fifh.
-
IV. Of the Rofe-like-fhaped Slime-fifh.
This Slime-fifh is as round as a Circle, yet
in his circumference between his double ftrokes
a little indented. The Rays fpring out fin-
gle from the middle of the Body, and there
are fixteen of them in number, but they divide
themſelves into two branches, where they run
fomewhat cloſer together, and are ſplit in two.
The Body thereof is white and tranfparent, as
is
1
172
The fourth Part of the Voyage
is mentioned before; he draws it together, and
opens it again as he pleaſeth; but the Rays or
Spokes are brownish red. On the end of thefe
Spokes, towards the outward circumference are
feveral Spots, 32 in number. In the middle of
this Plate is another fmall Circle, and from the
circumference of that the before-named Spokes
begin. It is hollow within, which Cavity
may perhaps be his Belly, wherein I found
two or three of the fmall Shrimps. Round
about did hang down feven brown finall
Threads, like fpun Silk, or like unto the
Threads that flye in the Air about Autumn;
he cannot move thefe. I believe he weigh'd
about half a pound; he was about half a ſpan
broad; the Threads were about a fpan long.
This fort we got about Hitland. One might
very well call him the Plate, or Rofe-like Slime-
fish, by reafon of his figure and fhape. I have
heard fome relate, that the Macarels do fuck
their Colour out of theſe two, but I cannot
affirm it, but leave it undecided, until I can
affert it by my own Experience. Thefe three
firft Sea-qualms are numerous in the North Sea
as Atomes in the Air, but about Spitzbergen we
do not find many of them. I have feen them
fwim at top only in calm weather, but in ftor-
my weather they fink to the bottom.
V. of
to Spitzbergen.
173
V. Of the Slime-fiſh like a Cap.
At Spitzbergen, near the Mufcle-Harbour, on
the 8th of July, when the weather was calm,
I ſaw two forts of Slime-fish, whereof one had
fix, the other eight Corners: That with fix
Corners had alſo fix purple Streaks with blew
Brims. Between theſe Streaks the Body is divi-
ded like unto a Pumpkin into fix Ribs. From
the middle of his Body hang down two
Threads that are red like Vermilion, and
rough, of ſmall Hairs, they are fhaped like
unto the Letter [V] I did not fee him
move them when he fwam. Within his Body
he hath other broader Streaks, of a purple co-
lour, and on the edges or brims of a lightiſh
blew one; they repreſent themſelves like un-
to a great [W] The whole Body is as
white as Milk, and not fo tranfparent as the
Body of that that cometh next. It is fha-
ped juſt like a Cap with Corners, wherefore
one might call it the Cap-like Fifh.
It is about as big again as it is delinea-
ted here. It weighed about two ounces.
I did not perceive, when I had him in my
Hand, that he did burn me, but it diffol-
ved like Snot or Slime. In the Tab. P it is
marked with
VI. of
174
The fourth Part of the Voyage
;
t
VI. Of the Slime-fifh like a Fountain.
The fixth and laſt is a very notable Fiſh; it
hath a hole at the top like unto a Quill of a
Goofe (that may perhaps be his Mouth)
which goes into a cavity like a Funnel, where-
fore we might call him a Funnel-fish. From
this hole come down four Strokes, two and
two, exactly oppoſite to one another; two of
them are cut tranfverfedly, and two are not cut.
Thofe that are not cut are about half the
breadth of a Straw, and the others that are
like unto the Back bones of a Snake, are as
broad as a Straw; both of them come down
beyond the middle of the whole Body. From
the middle of the Funnel come down four
others, like unto the Back-bones of a Snake, and
they come down lower than the others; fo
that all of them make eight in number. They
changed their colour as we looked upon them,
into blew, yellow, and red, with fuch delicate
colours as a Rainbow. They looked in my
Eyes to be like unto a Fountain with eight
Streams or Spouts, wherefore we might call it
a Fountain-fish with eight Streams. Within him
came down from the end of the Funnel fome-
thing like a Cloud that divides itſelf into rows,
which I take to be his Intrails. Where the be-
fore-mentioned outward Streaks end themſelves
the Body is first bent in fomewhat, then it
turns round, and there it hath many fmall
Streaks. The whole Body is as white as Milk,
of the fame bigneſs as it is here delineated. I
believe it weighed about four ounces. I did not
per-
to Spitzbergen.
175
perceive that he did burn ones Skin, but he
did, like him I mentioned before, diffolve like
Slime.
Since I have feen other forts of thefe Sea-
nettles in the Spanish Sea, that weighed feveral
pounds, and they were of a blew, purple, yel-
lowish, and white colour, that burn more vio-
lently than thoſe of the North Sea; they fuck
themſelves fo cloſe to the Skin, that they
raiſe Blifters, and cauſe ſometimes St. Anthony's
Fire. The Cutts whereof, together with the
Deſcription, I hope to communicate to the
Reader at another time. This is marked with
b in the Tab. P.
A SUP-
A
SUPPLEMENT
To Capt. Wood's and Marten's
North-Eaſt Voyages.
CONTAINING
Some Obfervations and Navigations
to the North-West, of Groneland, and other
Northern Regions.
N
The Whale fishing & killing of Morses. Supplem? Tab S.Pag: 179-
:
¡
179
Á
SUPPLEMENT
To Capt. Wood's and Marten's
North-eaft Voyages, &c.
CHERRY- and other Iſlands.
O
UR Men conceive Greenland to be bro-Northern
ken Land, or a great number of Iſlands fflands
at leaft, very near to one another. On
the Weft fide they difcovered as far as
82 deg. the moſt Northerly Point they called
Point Purchas, there they found very many
Iflands, which they thought not worthy to
give Names to, being careful only to take notice
of thofe fix or eight Harbours which were
commodious for their Fishing. On the Eaft
fide, they went no farther than 8 deg. be-
caufe the Dutch difturbed their Trading on that
fide. There are alfo many Iflands, fome of
which are named, as Hope-Îfland, diſcovered in Hope-
1613, which may be that the Dutch call Wil- İfland;
loughby's-land, or John Mayen's Island, though in-
deed it correfponds well to neither; but rather
to the later. It belongeth to Greenland, and is
N 2
島
​•
180
¦
A Supplement to
Edges-
Iland.
Wyches-
Ifland.
Cherry-
Ifland.
Morfs-
fhing.
but a fmall Inland, and lies North-eaft and
South-weft; whereas the Countrey sir H. Wil
loughby landed upon, was a large Countrey,
(inafmuch as he failed many days by the fide
of it) and lies North and South, which muft
be Greenland. Edges Inland was difcovered 1616,
by Capt. T. Edge, who had inade that Voyage
ten times. Wyches-Ifland (fo called from a Gen-
tleman of that Name) was found out 1617,
but there being nothing remarkable come to
our knowledge concerning thefe, we pass them
over. Only it is worth noting, that both the
Whale and Morfs-fifhing was known and pra-
&tifed 800 years ago, as appears by the Relation
which Other the Norwegian made to his Lord
Alfred King of England; where he alfo faith,
that the Morffes were hunted for their Teeth,
which were mightily esteemned.
Cherry-Iland, when firft difcovered I know
not, but it received not its Name, nor was
known to be of any profit till 1603, when a
Ship fet out at the charges of Sir Francis Cherry
touched upon it, and found there fome Lead,
and a Morffes Tooth; but ftayed not to fifh,
becauſe the year was too far fpent. However,
they called it (in honour of Sir Francis Cherry,
for whofe ufe they took poffeffion of it) Cherry-
Iland.
/
I.
In 1604 a Ship fet fail (Mr.Welden the Mer-
chant, and Stephen Bennet the Mafter) from Lon-
don, April 15, and arrived at Cola in Lapland
May 1. They ftayed in Lapland till July 1 and
July 8. they came in fight of Cherry; and they
came to an Anchor on the South fouth-eaft
fide, but, becauſe of the Stream, could not land:
fo that they failed round about the Ifle, and at
length anchored two miles from the Shore.
Going
t
the North-east Voyages.
18 1
Going on Land, one of them with his Gun kil-
led as many Fowl as almoft laded their Boat.
July 9. they found on Shore nothing but ftore
of Foxes; that part of the Iſland was in 74
deg. 45 min. July 10. they weighed Anchor,
and flood into another Bay, and came to an
Anchor in eight fathoms, where they faw an
incredible number of Morffes fwimming in the
Sea. Coming to fhore, they eſpied a vaft
company of them lying on the Ground, they
fhot at them with three Guns they carried with
them, but with all their Weapons they could
kill but fifteen of above 1000, that lay there like
Hogs huddling together on heaps, but they
found as many Teeth as filled an Hogfhead,
Before the 13th, they killed near 100 more,
making uſe only of their Teeth.
'
In 1605. the fame perfons went again, arri-
ving there July 2. They went on Shore, and
July 6. flew abundance of Morffes, and not
only with Shot, as they did the year before,
but with Launces dexterously uſed, directing
them to certain places of their Bodies; they
began alfo to boil their Blubber, and made ele-
ven Tuns of Oyl, (five of their Bellies will
yield one Hogfhead) and abundance of Teeth.
Here alfo they found a Lead-mine under Mount -
mifery, and brought away about Thirty Tun of
the Oar.
In 1606. the fame Ship with the fame Per-
fons was fent again, and landed July 3, in
74 deg. 55 min. where they ftayed till the Ice
was all cleared; for the Morffes will not come
to Shose till the Ice be all vanished, where, at
one time in fix hours, they flew betwixt Seven
and Eight Hundred Morffes, and Two great
N 3
Bears;
1
182
A Supplement to
Morsjes.
Bears; they made 22 Tuns of Oyl, and 3
Hogfheads of Teeth.
In 1608. June 21, was fo hot that the melted
Pitch ran down the fides of their Ship: in fe-
ven hours time they flew above 900 Morffes,
making 31 Tuns of Oyl, and above 2 Hogsheads
of Teeth, befides 40 more. They took alive
into their Ship two young Morffes, a Male
and Female; the Female died, the Male lived
ten weeks in England, where they taught it
many things.
In 1610. at another Voyage with two Ships,
they killed many Bears, and faw divers young
ones, no bigger than young Lambs, very
gamefome and lufty; they brought two of
them into England. Much Fowl alfo they
flew, and many Seals; and June 15. fet up an
Enfign in token of poffeffion of the Ifland for
the Mufcovia Company in Gull Island they
found three Lead mines, and a Coal mine on
the North fide of the Ifland. Three Ships
more alfo came to fifh at Cherry-Ifland, they kil-
led
500 Morffes at one time,at other times near
300 more, one Man killing 40 with his Launce
at one days hunting.
2
The Morfs, Walrufh, Horfe-whale, Rofma-
rus, or Sea horfe, (for fo he is by the Ancients
often called, though of late they have difcove-
red another Fiſh not unlike him, with freight
Teeth, which they call the Sea-horfe) hath a
Skin like a Sea-calf, (with fhort and fad yellow
Fur) a Mouth like a Lion; if any, hardly di-
fcernable, Ears, yet they hear well, and are
frighted with noife; (which alfo is faid of the
Whale, that he is driven away with the found
of a Trumpet) large Breaft, fhort Thighs four Feet,
and upon each Foot five Toes with fhort fharp
Nails,
the North-east Voyages.
183
Nails, with which they climb the Ice; and as
large as a great Ox, having a great femicircular
Tusk growing on each fide of their upper Jaw,
which are very much valued, efpecially by the
Northern People, partly for their ufes in Medi-
cines, as to make Cramp-rings, (which they
make alfo of the Briftles upon his Cheeks) to
refift Poiſon, and other malignant Difeafes,
wherein they are at leaft equal to that called
the Unicorn's Horn; but more for their Beau-
ty, which is equal to, if not furpaffing Ivory.
The heaviness of it makes it much fought after
for Handles of Swords. Their Skins being
dreffed, are thicker than two Ox-hides, yet
light, and excellent to make Targets against
Darts and Arrows of the Savages. They feed
upon Fish and Herbs, and fleep, if there be Ice,
upon that ; where if furprized, the female caſts
her young ones (of which the hath commonly
two at a time) into the Sea, and her felf after
them, fwimming away with them in her Arms;
and if provoked, after fhe hath fecured them,
returning many times to fet upon the Boat, in-
to which if ſhe can faften her Teeth, fhe will
eafily fink it. But if they be farther from the
Water, they all arife up together, and with their
weight and force falling upon the Ice, endea
vour to break it; as they did when furprized
by Jonas Pool in 1610, where himfelf and divers
of his Men eſcaped drowning very narrowly;
one of them being in the Sea, the Morffes fet
upon him with their Teeth, but with very great
labour and hazard of his company he escaped
Death, though fore wounded. Frequently alfo
they fleep on the fhore, and if they have con-
venience, upon an high and ſteep place. They
always go in great companies, and fet one to
N 4
keep
184
A Supplement to
keep watch; which if furprized afleep, 'tis an
eafie matter to kill all the reſt; but if he give
warning by grunting, they clap their hinder
Feet under their two Tusks, and fo roll into
the Sea. But if they be caught on plain ground,
yet are they hardly flain, being both ſtrong and
fierce, and all hafting one way to the Water.
The Dutch at firft were very much troubled to
kill them, their Shot the Beaft valued not much,
their Hatchets and Half-pikes would not pierce
them; nor did they think they could be killed,
except truck with great force in the midft of
the Forehead. The firft time they fet upon
them, of 200 they could not kill one, but went
for their Ordnance to fhoot them. Our Men,
after a little experience, found the way to di-
fpatch them with Javelins,as is before rehearſed.
Some imagine this to be John Mayen's Ifland,
but it feems rather that is is not; for the Nor-
thermoſt point of that is in 71 d. 23 m. whereas
this is 74 d. 55 m. except the Dutch be not fo
accurate in their Obfervations and Calculations
as were to be wifh'd, which I much fufpect, v.
Nova-Zembla. Befides, Cherry-Ifland is round, not
frequented with Whales, but Morffes. Our
Men alfo have travelled it on Foot from North
to South, which on Mayen's Island cannot be
done; and though they tell many particulars
of the place, yet they never mention the great
Beerenberg. Hope-Ifland indeed is a long land,
lies much what as they fay of Mayen's, and hath
been vifited by the Whale-fifhers, but it is more
No th than they place their Inland. The itch
of afcribing Difcoveries to themfelves hath
brought (as I fear) Confufion both in this and
many other matters of this nature.
JOHN
the North-east Voyages.
185
•
Jo
JOHN MAYEN's Ifland.
Ohn Mayen's Iſland, fo called from the name of
the firſt Diſcoverer, (as the Dutch pretend)
feems by the English to be called Hope-land, or
if not, I know not whether the English have
been upon it. It fee as not to be of any great
confequence, all that is fpoken of it being that
it extends in length fron South-weft to North-
eaft. The farther it fhoots out in length, the
more contracted and narrower it grows in
breadth; fo that in the middle the distance is
very fmall between both Shores. Before the
Whale-fiſhing was removed to Greenland, in the
Summer-time this Iland was much frequented
by the Seamen whom Trade invited thither
and the Iſland was well known to most of the
Northern Adventurers of Europe; but fince the
Whales have deferted thofe Shores, and have
removed their Sea-quarters farther to the North,
the Seamen and Fiſhermen have been forced to
follow their Prey to Greenland. For it feems the
Whales, either weary of the place, or fenfible
of their own danger, do often change their Har-
bours. In the Spring time the weſtern fide of
the Iſland is not fo much enclofed with Ice, as
that which lies in the North, where it runs out
into the Sea,with a fharp point behind the Moun-
tain of Bears; for on this fide, all the year long,
the Ice never removes from the Shore, above
ten miles; and in the Spring time fo befieges it,
that there is no paffage through it. For which
reaſon the Mariners, who are bound for this
Iland, ufe all the care they can to avoid the
¿
Eaſtern,
186
A Supplement to
1
Eaſtern, and to make directly to the Weſtern
Shore, there to lye while the Fishing-feafon con-
tinues; if by mifcarriage they come upon the
Eaft-fide, they are then forced to fetch a com-
paſs about the North part of the Iſland, where-
by they are not only expofed to the terrible winds
that blow off from Bears-Mountain, but alſo to
the dangers of the floating Ice: for here the Sea
flows from South to North,and ebbs from North
to South. At the Northern end of the Iſland
appears the Bears-Mountain, of a prodigious
height, and fo perpendicularly freep, that it is
impoffible to climb to the top of it. This
Mountain, from the Bears there frequently feen,
called Beerenberg or the Bears-Mountain, at the
bottom takes up the whole space between the
Eaſtern and the Weſtern Shore; on the North
fide it leaves a little room for leveller ground
to the Ocean; and being of prodigious height,
may be defcryed 30 miles off at Sea.
The Sea-coaft lies thus: 1. Noords-hoeck, or
the Northern Angle, is the extream point ſhooting
out to the North. 2. Ooft boeck is the molt
Eaſtern point. Ysbergh, mark'd 1, 2, 3, are three
Mountains of Ice, or rather vaft heaps of con-
gealed Snow, which diffolved by the heat of
the Sun, falls from the top of Bears-Mountain,
but upon the Sun's retiring freezes again.
3. Zuydooft heeck is the South-eaft Angle. From
this point the Shore extends itſelf from Eaft to
Weft to a little Iſland, and then winds again to
the Weſt and South; in fome places not paffa-
ble by reafon of its fteepness, in others fmooth
enough. 4. Cleyn Sand-bay or Little Sand-bay,
Eyerland, or Eggland, being certain Rocks full of
Birds; here, about a Musket fhot from the
fhore, the Sea is Go fathom deep, and a little far-
ther,

The Habits of the Gronelanders:
Supplem Tab R. Tag 187.
the North-east Voyages.
187
}
ther, the founding line will not reach to the
bottom. 5. Groote Hoot-bay or great Wood-bay,
by reafon of the great pieces of rotten Timber,
that are there found. In this, which is the nar-
roweſt part of the Iſland, are certain Mountains
not very ſteep, from the top whereof any per-
fon calling them that ftand upon either fhore,
may be heard by both. 6. Cleyn Hoot-bay, or
Little Wood-bay. 7. English Bay, and feveral
others, to which the Dutch have given fuch
Names as they thought fit.
*
1
GRONELAND.
tion.
ма
Alled alſo Groenland, Groinland, and more The Name
anciently Engroenland, lies (as the Iflan- and Situa
ders fay) like an Half-moon about the North of
their Countrey, at the diftance of four days
failing. But it feems not to lye fo much Eaft,
but rather on the North of America. From Cape
Farewell, in 60 deg. 30 min. on the South, it is
unknown to how many degrees in the North.
The Eaft and Weft are encompass'd by two
great Oceans, but at what degrees of Longitude
is not yet difcover'd. Only Mr. Fotherby found
it near the Coaſt of Graneland, in 71 deg. and
the South of Greenland to be above two hundred
Leagues.
It is faid to have been difcovered firft by a Ancient
Norwegian Gentleman, whofe Name was Eric Discoveries
Rotcop, or Red Head; who having committed a
Murther in Ifeland, to fave his Life, refolved to
adventure to another Country, whereof he had
heard
188
A Supplement to
Norwegi-
heard fome obfcure flying Reports. He fucoee-
dod fo well, that he arrived in a fafe Harbour
called Sandſtafm, lying between two Mountai-
nous Promontories; the one upon an Ifland
over againſt Groneland, which he called Huidfer-
hen, or White Shirt, becauſe of the Snow upon
it: the other on the Continent, called Huarf
Eric. He winter'd in the dfland, but when the
feafon fuffer'd,pafs'd into the Continent: which
becauſe of its greenness and flourishing he called
Groneland. Thence he fent his Son to Olaus
Trugger King of Norway, to get his Pardon,
which was eafily granted, when he was inform'd
by him of this new Difcovery. Whereupon
divers Gentlemen adventur'd to plant there,who
multiplying, not long after divided the whole
Country into the Eaſtern and Weſtern, and
built two Cities, Garde and Albe. In Albe was
a Biſhop's See, and a Cathedral Church dedica-
red to St. Anthony; the Seat alfo of the Viceroy
fent thither from time to time by the Norwegian.
They write alfo of a great Monaftery called of
St. Thomas, wherein was a Spring, whofe Water
was fo hot, that it dreffed all their Meat; and
being conveyed into the Cells and other Rooms
in Pipes, heated all the Monaftery as if it had
been fo many Stoves. They fay alfo, that this
Monaftery is built all of Pumice-ftones, and
that this hot Water falling upon them, mixeth
with the outer parts, and produces a fort of
clammy matter, which ferves inftead of Lime.
But what the Norwegians conquered or pof-
By the feffed in this Country was an inconfiderable
corner of that large Continent. Themfelves
mention a Nation, whom they call Skrelingers,
to have inhabited in the middle of the Land,
abs.
but
the North-east Voyages.
189
but what they were we know not. But whe
ther their Paucity expofed them to the merci-
lefness of the Natives, or whether it were an
Epidemical Difeafe, which they called the black
Plague, which fwept away not only most of
that Nation in Groneland, but alſo the Mer-
chants and Mariners in Norway, that maintai-
ned that Traffick; or whether it were fome
other Reaſon, which is now forgotten: fo it is,
that fince 1349, little Intelligence hath defcen-
ded to us concerning Groneland, till ſeeking the
North-weft paffage to China, occafioned more
knowledge of it. In 1389. they fay, that the
King of Denmark fent a Fleet thither, with in-
tention to re-establish his Dominion in thoſe
parts; but that being caft away, difcouraged
him from any further Enterprize; till now of
late Chriftian IV. renewed fomewhat again of
that Navigation, of which by and by. In
1406. the Bishop of Drontheim fent a Prieſt
(called Andreas) to fucceed Henry Bishop of
Garda, if dead; if alive, to return and bring
notice of the ftute of the Church there.
But
Andreas never came back; nor hath there been
fince any further care taken to fupply Bifhops,
or maintain Chriftianity there. There is a
Relation in Purchas's Pilgrim, par. 3. of one
Ivor Boty a Gronelander, tranflated 1560, out of
the Norweighish Language, which gives a ſuffici-
ently particular account of all the places in that
Country inhabited by Chriftians, but nothing
befides.
The occafion of our Voyages to thofe Coaſts Later Dif
was to find out a way to China, &c. by the coveries by
North-west, which had been fruitlefly fought the English.
toward the North-eaft,
The
5
190
A Supplement to
Sir Martin The first whom we read to have ſearched the
Frobisher. North-west for a paffage, was Martyn Frobisher,
Sir Hum.
who in 1576, with two Barks coming to the
height of 62 deg. found a great Inlet, called by
him Forbiſher's Straits, whereinto having failed
60 leagues with main Land on either fide, re-
turned. He found there a certain Oar, which
he conceived to be of Gold; and the next year
he made a fecond Voyage to fetch a quantity.
of it, but it proving to be nothing but black
Lead, anſwer'd not expectation; yet they found
a Silver Mine, which lay fo deep and faft in
the Rocks, that they could not dig it. They
melted Gold alfo, but in very finall quantities,
out of feveral Stones they found there upon
Smith's Ifle. They found alfo a dead Fiſh, of
about twelve foot long, not unlike in ſhape to a
Porpoife, having an Horn fix foot long (fuch as
is commonly called Unicorn's Horn) growing
out of his Snout, which is ftill kept at Windfor.
In 1578. he went out again upon a Difcove-
ry, wherein paffing as far as he thought good,
he took poffeffion of the Land in the name of
Queen Elizabeth, calling it Meta incognita.
In 1583. Sir Humphrey Gilbert upon the ſame
Gilbert. defign went to the great River of St. Lawrence,
in Canada, took poffeffion of the Countrey, and
fetled a Fishing-trade there. This Voyage I
fuppofe was made upon fuggeftion of a Greek
Mariner, who affured fome of our Nation, that
himſelf had paffed a great Strait, North of Vir-
ginia, from the Welt or South Ocean, and offe-
red to be Pilot for the Diſcovery, but died be-
fore he came into England.
In
the North-east Voyages.
191
In 1585. Mr. John Davis was employ'd with Mr. Davis
two Barks to the ſame ſearch. The firſt Land
he came to, he named the Land of Defolation,
and is one part of Groneland; then he arrived
in 64 deg. 15 min. in Gilbert's Sound, where
they found a great quantity of that Oar which
Frobisher brought into England, and alfo Lapis
Specularis. Thence they went to 66 deg. 40
min. to Mount Raleigh, Totnefs Sound, &c. where
they ſaw ſome few low Shrubs, but nothing elſe
worth noting.
In 1586. he made a fecond Voyage to the
fame place, where he found amongst the Na-
tives Copper Oar, as alfo black and red Copper.
Thence they fearched many places Weftward,
and returned with good hopes of diſcovering
the defired paffage.
In 1587. he made a third Voyage, to 72 deg.
12 min. the Compaſs varying to 82 deg. Weft-
ward, the Land they called London-Coast; and
there they found an open Sea, and forty leagues
between Land and Land, thinking this to be the
moſt likely place to find the paffage; and it was
from him called Fretum Davis.
Thus from time to time proceeded the difco- Mr. Hud-
very of theſe Countries, but now not upon (on.
hopes of a paffage to the Indies, but for the pro-
fit of Trading; till Mr. Hudson, in 1610, after
he was fatisfied that there was no paffage North-
eafterly, was fent to make a Tryal here alfo. He
proceeded an hundred leagues farther than any
before had done; and gave Names to certain
places, as Defire provokes, Ifle of God's Mercies,
Prince
192
A Supplement to
M
James
Hall.
Mr. Baffin.
Prince Henry's Cape, King James's Cape, Queen
Ann's Cape, and the like; but the Ice hindered
him from going further, and the Sedition of his
Men from returning home.
In 1612. James Hall returning into England,
and with him William Baffin, who difcovered
Cockin's Sound, in the height of 65 deg. 20 min.
which differed in Longitude from London 60
deg. 30 min. Weftward. They faw alfo the
footing of a great Beaft they fuppofed an Elk, or
the like. James Hall was killed in the Boat by
a Native pretending to trade with them. They
tryed the Mine at Cunningham's River, which
the Danes had digged before, and found it to be
nothing worth. There were Rocks of very
pure Stone,finer and whiter than Alabaſter, and
Angelica growing plentifully in many places,
which the Savages ufe to eat.
In 1615. Mr. Baffin was fent again; he found
Fair-Point to differ in Longitude from London
74 deg. and 5. min. Weftward. But the chief
thing they diſcover'd was, that there was no
paffage in the North of Davis Straits, it being
no other than a great Bay; but that profit
might be made by fiſhing for Whales, Morffes,
and Unicorns, of which there are good ftore.
In 1616. Mr. Baffin went again. In Sir Tho.
Smith's Sound, 78 deg. Lat. their Compafs va-
ried 56 deg. Weftward, the greateſt variation
that is any where known. Defpairing to diſco-
ver their defired North-weft paffage, they retur
ned home, and fince that we hear of no more
Voyages made from England upon that deſign,
except by Capt. James, in 1631.
This
the North-east Voyages.
193
This Ingenious and moft Skilful Navigator,
Capt. Tho. James was pefter'd with much Ice
in thefe North-weft Seas in June and July,
failing from Cape-Farewell, by the Ifland of Refo-
lution, to Mill's and Nottingham Ifles, as alfo that
call'd Mansfield, from whence he fteer'd over a
great Bay to the Weftward, near Port-Nelfon,
and named the Land New South Wales. He
met hereabouts with Capt. Fox, in one of his
Majefty's Ships, who had been in Port-Nelfon,
but they were foon parted by bad weather.
Capt. James continued to roving up and down
thefe Seas, and giving Names to his Diſcoveries,
as Cape Henrietta Maria, Lord Wefton's Island, The
Earl of Bristol's Island, Sir Thomas Roe's Ifland,
Earl of Danby's Island, Charlton Island, where he
winter'd in the Lat. of 52 deg. 03 min. from
whence he returned home in 1632. having
built a little Pinnace out of his Ship, in which
he paffed over to Cary's Swans-Neft, and fo by
Cape Charles and Salisbury-Ifle homewards, ha-
ving made many additional Diſcoveries beyond
Hudson, Button, and Baffin.
This Ifland (faith Capt. James) and all the
reft (as well as the Main) is a light white Sand,
cover'd over with a white Mofs, and full of
Shrubs and low Buſhes, excepting fome bare
Hills and Patches, where the Sand will drive
with the Wind like Duft. 'Tis full of Trees,
as Spruce Firrs,and Juniper, which together with
the Mofs will take fire like Torches or Flax.
We found great ftore of an Herb like Scurvy-
grafs, which boil'd, did extreamly refreſh us.
We faw fome Deer, abundance of Foxes, a few
Bears, and fome little Beaſts. In May there
came fome Fowl, as Ducks and Geefe, white
Q
Par,
194
A Supplement to
By the
Danes.
Partridges we faw; Fiſh we could never fee
any in the Sea, nor any Bones of Fiſh on the
Shore fide, excepting a few Cockle-fhells. The
Muskitoes upon our coming away in July were
moſt intolerable, there being no Fence againſt
them. The Climate (of the Ile of Charleton) is
moſt unnatural, the Days in Summer being ex-
ceffive hot, and the Nights fharp Frofts, even to
an inch thickneſs in the Ponds, and all this in
June and July. Here are divers forts of Flies,
as Butter-flies, Butchers-flies, Horfe-flies, infi-
nite numbers of Ants and Frogs, plenty of
Vetches, which recover'd our Scorbutick Men.
And yet that which is moſt wonderful, the
Winter is as fevere here as in any place lying
30 degrees more Northerly.
The King of Denmark alſo, partly to advance
the Trading of his own, and partly to renew
his ancient Pretence to that Country, if any
thing fhould be diſcover'd worth the claiming,
whilst the English were bufie in theſe Difcove-
ries, fet out two Ships and a Pinnace 1605..the
Admiral was Capt. John Cunningham a Scot,
Godske Lindenaw a noble Dane was Vice-Admi-
ral, the chief Pilots were James Hall and
John Knight, Englishmen. Godske arrived son.
fome part of the Countrey where he traffick'd
fome fmall matters with the Natives, took two
of them, and returned into Denmark. The.
other two Ships arrived at Cape Farewell, thence
went to Frobisher's Straits, gave Daniſh Names to
divers places, traded with the Natives, of whom
they brought away three, and found certain
Stones in a place called Cunningham's Ford, out
of an hundred pound of which were extracted
twenty-fix ounces of fine Silver.
In
I
the North-east Voyages.
195
In 1606. he fent again four Ships and a Pin-
nace, Godske Lindenaw Admiral, and James Hall
Pilot-General, they brought away five of the
Natives.
In 1667. James Hall was fent again, but the
Seamen mutining as foon as he came to the
Coaft, brought the Ship back again into Den-
mark, without any thing done.
The King of Denmark fet out two Ships
more, under Chriftian Richardson an Holfteiner,
With Norwegian and Ifelandish Mariners, who re-
turned before they faw Shore. More of their
Expeditions we know not, till 1619, when he
fent out John Munck with two Ships. They ar-
rived fafe at Cape Farewell, 60 deg. 30 min.
where their Tackle was fo frozen, and full of
Ificles, that they could not handle them; the
next day was fo hot; that they could not endure
their Clothes, but wrought in their fhirts. The
South part of Hudson's Bay he called Mare No-
vum; that part towards Groneland, Mare Chri-
ftianum. He arriv'd in 63 deg. 20 min. where
he winter'd, and called it Munck's Winter-barbour
and the Country New Denmark, (it ſeems to be
near Digg's Iland.) In that long Winter he
there endured, little of note happen'd, but that
in April it rained, and then came thither vaft
quantities of Fowls, of divers forts, to breed in
thofe quiet, undisturbed places. Of all his
Company, which was forty-fix in one Ship,
and fixteen in the Pinnace, fcarce fo many
were left alive, as were able to bring the Pin-
nace thorow very horrid dangers, to their own
Country.
If
196
A Supplement to
Gronelan-
If any one defire to know what became of
ders in the eight Gronelanders brought at feveral times
Denmark. into Denmark, the account is this: The King
▸
commanded great care fhould be taken of them,
appointed certain perfons to attend them, to
give them liberty enough, fo as they prevented
their eſcape. No Neceffary or Convenience
was wanting; their Food fuch as they could eat,
Milk, Butter, Cheeſe, Fleſh, and Fifh, but raw.
They could eat no Bread, nor boil'd Meat, but
nothing ſo much abhorr'd by them as Wine, or
Brandy. Their pleaſanteſt Beuvrage was Train-
Oyl. But whatever was done to, or for them,
could never take away that Melancholy and
Chagrin which they continually lived in for
the want of their beloved Country. They
could never be brought to learn much of the
Danish Language, or to apprehend any thing of
Chriſtian Religion. Three of them were fent
back towards their own Country 1606. the moſt
towardly and hopeful, who might ferve for In-
terpreters and Brokers to the Danes; but two of
them, Oxo and Omeg, died in the Ship, and the
third (becauſe the Danes durft not land or trade
by reafon of the great numbers of Natives that
appeared in Arms on the Coaft, ready to re-
venge them that had been before carried away)
was brought back into Denmark, to his former
Treatment. An Ambaffador arriving there
from Spain, the King was pleafed to fhew him
thofe Savages, and their dexterity in rowing,
which was by all the Spectators admired. The
Ambaffador fending them Money, one of them
had the courage to buy him Clothes after the
Danish Fashion, got a Feather in his Cap, Boots
and Spurs, and all things ala cavaliere; he came
"
བ
་
alfo
the North-east Voyages.
197
alſo to the King, and defired to ſerve him ; but
this fervor was quickly decay'd, and the poor
man returned to his fadnefs and complaints.
Some of them endeavoured to get to Sea in their
little Boats, but being retrieved, dyed of Me-
lancholy. Two lived divers years at Koldingen
in Jutland, where they were employ'd in diving
for Pearl-Mufcles; in which their skill and
dexterity was fuch, that every one that faw them
believed they had practifed the fame employ-
ment in their own Country. Such Succefs they
had,that the Governour promiſed himſelf great
Profit thereby; and that in a fhort time he
fhould fell Pearls by the quart, if they continued.
But his Covetoufnefs deftroyed his Gain; for
not content with what they fished in Summer,
he alſo compelled them under the Ice in Win-
ter time; where one of them fell into fuch a
Diſeaſe, from the cold fo contracted, that he
dyed. After whofe death the other never en-
joyed himſelf; but finding an opportunity, he
got his little Boat, and before he was overtaken
got to the main Sea. But being brought back,
they repreſented to him the impoffibility of his
ever getting home to Groneland; but he flighted
their Advice, and told them, That he intended
to go northward fo far, and when he was there
the Stars would direct him into his own
Country.
}
The Country is moftly all High-land and The Soil,
Mountains, cover'd with Snow all the Year, but &c, of
the fouthern parts more than the northern, Groneland
They have very little or no Wood growing.
there, except fome few Buſhes, and not many
Plants or Herbs; confequently not many Beafts
0 3
there
198
A Supplement to
there nouriſhed, but their chief fubfiftence is
upon Fishing. There are divers Mountains,
which promife rich Mines of Metal; and fome
have been found to contain it actually, others
only to make a fhew. The Inhabitants know
neither fowing nor planting; tho' the Soil
feem'd to be fertile and pleafant, efpecially be
tween the Mountains. The northern parts, by
reafon of the terrible Ice and Cold, are wholly
undiſcover'd; the fouthern confift of many
Ilands, different in fhapes and bignefs: which
feems to be the reafon, that in theſe Seas are
many various and ſtrong currents, and (as Ivor
Boty faith) very many dangerous Whirlpools
towards the Weft and North, none of which
however have been found by our Mariners.
The Country feems much fubject to Earth-
quakes, elfe very healthful; only it was obfer-
ved, that those who went thither infected with
any Venereal Diſeaſe grew worfe immediately,
and could not there be cured. Which they at-
tributed to the purity of the Air, perhaps they
might have done it more rationally to the
Cold.
Beafts. Ivor Boty fpeaks much alfo of their great
numbers of Cows and Sheep; but our Men
found no Beaſts there, but Bears, Foxes, (very
many of which are black) Rain-Deer, and
Dogs, whereof are two forts, a bigger, which
they uſe to draw their Sleds; and a leffer,
which they feed for their Tables. Our Men
obſerved this peculiarity both in their Foxes
and Dogs, that their Pizzles were of Bone.
Tho it is very likely, that there are the fame
forts which are in Lapland and Samoieda ; but
our
1
the North-eaft Voyages.
199
our Men have not fearched any more than the
Shores, both becauſe of their fhort ftay, and the
Treachery of the Inhabitants.
Of Fishes there is great both Plenty and Va- Fiſhes.
riety, Whales, Seals, Dog-fiſh; but in theſe are
caught the greateft quantity of Sea Unicorns,
whoſe Horns are fo much efteemed, and kept
as Rarities in the Cabinets of Princes. The
Natives here are fo well ftored with it, that
they have fufficient both for truck and their
own ufe. They make of them ( beſides other
Utenfils) Swords, and Heads for their Darts
and Arrows; which they work and grind with
Stones, till they make them as fharp-piercing as
ours. This Horn grows in the Snout of the
Fiſh, and is his Weapon, wherewith he fears
not to fight the Whale, and to affault and fome-
times endanger a Ship. The Fifh itſelf is as
large as an Ox, very ſtrong, ſwift, and hard to
be caught, except left on the Shore by the Tide,
or entangled by the Weeds.
Fowls are here in great abundance and varie- Fowls.
ty. Our Men have feen thofe they call Baß-
Geefe, or fuch as once a year come to breed in
the Baß, a famous Rock or Ifland near Edin-
burgh. The Natives alfo have a very great Art
and Dexterity in making and fetting Snares and
Springs to catch them; which they do chiefly
for their Skins and Feathers. Two or three of
our Men with their Guns killed in one day
Fifteen hundred, and found them worſe tafted,
but better clothed than thofe of the fame kind
in theſe Countries; they could not eat them
till flay'd, their Skins being very thick, tough,
04
and
200
A Supplement to
11
of the
and more cover'd with Feathers; which alfo
were not eaſily pluck'd off; which is the reaſon
that the Natives drefs their Skins as they do
thofe of Beafts, and Seals, and make Garments
of them, uſing them to all purpoſes like other
Furrs; with the Feathers outward in Summer,
inward in Winter: which is alfo obferved in
all other cold Countries, as well as Groneland.
All Perfons, that have been there, give a
North light wonderful and ftrange account of a certain
North-light, as they call it, not eafily conceived
by them who have not feen it. It appears ufu-
ally about the time of the new Moon, and tho'
only in the North, yet doth it enlighten the
whole Country: fometimes alfo Norway, Ifeland,
and even theſe Regions of ours, as Gaffendus
(vita Piresk, & exercit. In Do&torem Flud) faith,
himſelf obferved, and at large defcribes. Nor
fhould I much doubt to affirm, that it is that
which is ſometimes feen in England, and eſpeci-
ally in the Northern parts, call'd Streaming. It
is faid to be like a great Pillar (or Beam) of
Fire, yet darting out Rays and Streams every
way, moving alſo from place to place, and lea-
ving behind it a Mift or Cloud; continuing
alfo till the Sun-beams hide it.
Division of The Country ſeems to be inhabited by di-
theCountry vers Nations, differing in habit, manners, and
language. Thofe whom James Hall found and
brought with him, differed much from thoſe
with whom Gotske Lindenaw had to do. That
part which the Norwegians are faid to have an-
ciently poffeffed, was an inconfiderable part of
that whole Country, and they found feveral
Na-
the North-east Voyages.
201
Nations there befides themſelves; govern'd by
feveral Kings; tho' they write not, that they
had Wars one with another, but only againſt
them. Our late Diſcoverers in 66 deg. 50 min.
found a Country which the Natives (as they
could underſtand them) called Secanunga, who
alſo faid, that they had a great King, carried
upon Mens Shoulders, and they called him Ca-
chico. But more particulars than thefe, I find
not.
The Inhabitants are generally of a low fta- Inhabitants
ture, black hair, flat nos'd, broad fac'd, lips tur-
ned up, and of a ripe Olive colour, fome of
them alfo quite black. Their Women (for their
greater ornament doubtlefs) ftain their faces in
blew, and fometimes in black ftreaks, which
colour they let into the Skin, by pricking it
with a fharp Bone, that it will never be taken
nor worn out. In all things they reſemble the
Samoieds and Laplanders. They are very active
and ſtrong, yet could fome of our English run
fwifter, and leap farther than any of them;
but
they were hard enough for any of ours at
wraftling. They are alfo very couragious, and
fometimes defperate; for rather than be taken
by our Men, they would throw themfelves
down the Rocks and Mountains. Extreamly
thievifh, treacherous, and revengeful they pro-
ved; nor could any kindneſs or fair-dealing
win them; but as true Barbarians, never omit-
ted any opportunity of fulfilling their Defires;
they would ſteal when they faw the Mariners
look upon them. After they had been well
ufed and treated at their Tables, they would
ſhoot at, fling Stones, wound and kill our Men,
་
if
202
A Supplement to
1
✔
if they could. Yet are they apprehenfive
enough, and quickly conceive yours, and ex-
prefs their own meaning. If they had not feen
what was asked them, they winked, or cover'd
their Eyes; if they underſtood not, ftopt their
Ears, and the like. They delight exceedingly
in Muſick, to which they would keep time both
with their voice, hands, and feet: wonderful
alfo affectionate one to another, and to their
Country. In one Voyage there went a Danish
Mariner, with black hair, flat nos'd, and other,
though not very exact, refemblances of a Grone-
lander; as foon as they faw him, they came
about him, kiffed him, hung upon him, and
fhewed to him all poffible demonftrations of
Kindneſs and Affection. And thoſe who were
in Denmark never enjoy'd themſelves, nor had
any content, but continually pined away, and
languiſh'd with Difcontent for their condition,
and love of their country. Their Religion,
fuch as it is, feems to be unto the Sun; for
when our People invited them to converfation,
bartering, &c. they held up their hands towards
the Sun, and cried Yotan; nor would they
come near us, till our men had done the like.
But John Munck, and divers others, having gone
farther into the country, found images, fuch as
we make of Devils, with horns, beaks, claws,
cloven feet, &c. very ill made; Altars alfo and
quantities of Bones of Beaſts, as of Deer, Foxes,
Dogs, and the like, near unto them. They
feem alfo, as all Idolaters, given to Enchant-
ments and Sorceries. Our men have feen them
lying flat upon the Earth, and muttering their
Prayers or Charms into the Ground, worship-
ing the Devil, whofe proper habitation they
con-
the North-east Voyages.
203
conceive to be under them. In fome Difeafes
they tye a ſtick to a great ftone, to which they
pay their Devotions; and if they can lift it up
eafily and lightly, they think their Prayers are
heard, and Recovery granted. In Winter they
retire from the Sea fide, unto the warmer Val-
leys, where they have their Houſes and Towns,
which are commonly Caves at the foot of an
hill, round like an Oven, cloſe to one another,
and paffages in the inner parts from one to ano-
ther; their Doors, which are low and round,
open to the fouth; and they dig trenches alfa
to draw away the water that falls or drains from
the hill. The entrance, and fome part of their
houſe, ſtands without the cave, which they
frame very handfomly and commodioufly of
the ribs of Whales join'd artificially at the top,
and cover'd with Seals-skins. They raife alfo
one part of their floor higher than another,
which they ftrow with moſs to ſleep upon. But
in their fiſhing-time they have Tents, which
they remove from place to place in their larger
Boats. They fet up four Poles, and cover them
with Skins, which ferves very well in fummer
when fiſhing is done, they return with them to
their Houſes. Their manner of bartering, is
to make two heaps, one of fuch things as they
deſire, the other of what they would part with ;
and they ceafe not to take away from the one
or other, till the Trade is ballanced. The
chiefeft things of ours which they valued, were
Knives, Needles, little pieces of Iron, Looking-
glaffes, &c. for theſe they would fell their Bows
and Arrows, their Boats, and ftrip themſelves of
their Clothes, but never, like fome other Barba-
rians, fell their Wives and Children.
Their
204
A Supplement to
Their Cloa
thing.
Their Boats
Their clothing is either of Birds-skins, with
the Feathers and Down upon them, or Seals,
Dogfish,or the like. Seals they ufe moſt in their
fiſhing, becauſe that fish there abounds, and are
eafily deceived, by feeing one clad in their own
Livery befides, that thefe kind of Furs are
not fo apt to be wet, though dip'd in Water.
They wear the hair fides outward in fummer,
inward in winter, and in great colds carry two
or more fuits one upon another. They drefs
their Skins very well, making them dry, foft,
and durable,and fow them alfo very ſtrong with
Sinews of Beafts, and Needles made of Fifh-
bones.
But in nothing do they fhew fo much Art,
as in their Boats or Canoes. They are made
of that we call Whalebone,about an inch thick
and broad, and theſe not fet like ribs, but all
along from prow to poop, faft fowed to one
another with ſtrong Sinews, and covered over
with Seals-skin. They are from ten to twenty
foot long, and about two foot broad, made like
a Weaver's Shutle, ſharp at both ends, ſo that
he can row either way; and in making this
pointedneſs they are of all things moft curious,
for therein confifts the (trength of their Veffel.
In the middle of it are the ribs, both to keep
the fides afunder, and to make the hole in the
covering, wherein the Rower fits. They have
a deck made of the fame materials, which is
cloſely faften'd to the fides, in the midſt where-
of is a round hole, as big as the middle of a
Man; fo that when he goes to Sea, he fets
himſelf in that hole, ftretching out his feet for
ward
the North-eaft Voyages.
205
ward into the hollow of the Boat; he ftops up
the hole ſo cloſe with his frock, or looſe upper
garment, that no water can enter, tho' it were
in the bottom of the Sea. His frock is ftrait
tyed at the hand-wrifts, and to his neck, and
his capouch fowed alfo cloſe to it; fo that if
the Boat be overturned or overwhelmed in the
Sea, he rifes up again, without any wet either
upon his Skin or in his Boat. They have but
one Oar, which is about fix foot long, with a
paddle fix inches broad at either end; this
ferves him both to ballance his Boat and move
it which he doth with that incredible fceleri-
;
ty, that one of our Boats with ten Oars is not
able to keep company with them: The Danish
relation faith, that they rowed fo fwift, that
they even dazled the Eyes of the Spectators;
and tho' they croffed frequently, yet never in-
terfered or hit one another.
Their fifhing ordinarily is darting; their darts Their Fib
are long, ftrongly barbed, and at the other end ing.
have Bladders faftened to them, that when they
have ftruck the Fiſh, he may ſpend himſelf with
ftrugling to get under water, which yet he can
not do, and fo is eaſily taken.
Beſides thefe, they have greater Boats for the
removing their Tents and other Utenfils, as alfo
to carry their Fish they have caught to their
Houſes; theſe are thirty and forty foot long,
and have fometimes ten, and fometimes more
feats for Rowers. Cardinal Bembus (in his Ve-
netian Hiſtory) faith, that in his time one of
thefe,with feven Perfons in it, was by ftorm caft
upon the coaft of Britany. I know not whether
it
206
A Supplement to
it be worth mentioning, that they have Kettles
and Pans made of Stone (fome fay of Load-
ftone) that endures the fire wonderfully, but
not having tools fit to hollow them fufficiently,
they make up the edges of Whalebone.
Its Difco-
veries.
:
L
FREES LAND,
FRISE LAND
or
leth in 60 deg. more wefterly than any part
of Europe: diftant from Ifeland leagues.
It is reported in bignefs not to be much leffer
than England; a ragged and high land, the
mountains cover'd with fnow, and the coaft ſo
full of drift Ice, that it is almoſt inacceffible.
It was firft difcovered to us by Nicolao and
Antonio Zani, two Venetian Gentlemen,that were
here fhipwrack'd. They defcribe the Inhabi
tants to be good Chriftians, very civil, and to
be governed by a great Lord whofe Name was
Zichmay, whofe mighty conquefts, and ſtrange
accidents may be read in Hackluit. It is not
our bulinefs to write or repeat Romances.
Thoſe men whom our Seamen (touching there
accidently) faw, were like in all things to the
Gronelanders, both in features of body, and man-
ner of living, as much as they could judge fo
like, that many of them thought it continued to
Groneland; in which opinion alfo they were
confirmed by the multitudes of the lands of ice,
which
the North-east Voyages.
207
which coming from the north, argued land to
be that way for many of our Mariners hold,
that falt water doth not freeze, but that all the
Ice they find in the Sea comes from the Bays,
and mouths of freſh-water Rivers; for the ice
it felf is fweet and freſh, being diffolved, and
ferves to all purpoſes, as well as Spring or River
water. Befides, the falt Sea (they fay) is always
in motion, and fo cannot freeze. But the Dutch,
who winter'd in Nova Zembla, took notice,that
the ſalt water freez'd, and that two inches thick
in one night.
There feems to be good fifhing every
where upon the coaft. In their foundings they
brought up a fort of pale Coral, and little Stones
clear as Cryſtal. They call'd it West England.
and one of the higheſt mountains they called
Charing-Croß.
THE EN D.
カー
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