The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)

A BRIEFE DECLARATION OF A SECOND NAUIGATION MADE IN ANNO 1595, Behinde Norway, Moscouia, and Tartaria, towards the kingdoms of Cathaia and China.

Reading edition

The 2 of July, wee set saile out of the Texel, in the morning at breake of day, holding our course north-west and by north, and sayled about sixe [24] miles.

After that wee sailed north north-west 18 [72] miles, till the 3 of July in the morning, being then as we esteemed vnder 55 degrees; then the wind being north-west, and north north-west, calme weather, we sailed west and west and by south 4 [16] miles, till the 4 of July in the morning: after that, the winde being north north-west and rather more northerly, wee sayled west and west and by north 15 [60] miles, till the 5 of July in the morning, and after that 8 [32] miles more, till the sunne was west [¼ to 4 P.M.]

Then we wound about and sailed 10 [40] miles north-east, till the 6 of July in the morning, and so held on our course for the space of 24 [96] miles till the 7 July, the sunne being south [¾ p. 10 A.M.], and held the same course for 8 [32] miles, till midnight.

Then wee wound about and sailed west south-west fourteene [56] miles, till the ninth of July in the morning; and then againe wee wound north-eastward till evening, and so sayled about tenne [40] miles.

The 13 of July wee wound about againe, and sailed south-west and west south-west 10 [40] miles, till about three houres before euening; then wee wound againe, and sailed north north-east 10 [40] miles, till the 14 of July, the sunne being south south-east [9 A.M.], and then north and by east and north north-east 18 [72] miles, till the 15 of July in the morning: after that north and by east 12 [48] miles vntill euening; then wee saw Norway, and then wee sayled north and by east 18 [72] miles, till the 16 of July in the euening; at that time the sunne being north-west [½ p. P.M.]; and vpon the 17 of July, north-east and north-east and by north, 24 [96] miles, till the sunne was in the west [¾ p. 3 P.M.]

Then we wound about againe, being halfe a mile [2 miles] from the land, and sayled east and by north three [12] miles, till the 3 of August, the sunne south-west [1 P.M.]; and then along by the land about 5 [20] miles.

The 24 of August in the morning betimes, we went on board of the lodgie, to haue further information and instruction of the sea on the east side of Wey-gates, and they gaue vs good instruction such as you haue heard.

How a frightful, cruel, big bear tare to pieces two of our companions.

Sunday in the morning wee had the winde north and north-west, with a great gale, and then the admirals pinnace kept vs company, and sailed by vs with one saile from morning to evening, south south-west and south-west and by south, for the space of 6 [24] miles.

The course or miles from Ward-house into Holland I haue not here set downe, as being needlesse, because it is a continuall uoiage knowne to most men.

THE END OF THE SECOND VOYAGE.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Dae Jan Huyghen van Linschoten comis op was—whereof John Hugh van Linschoten was commissary or supercargo. This well-known traveller was bor Note 2 · Die de saeck vry wat breedt voort stelde—who represented the matter very favourably. ↑Note 3 · Petrus Plancius, a celebrated theologian and mathematician, born in 1552, at Drenoutre in Flanders. He was one of the principal promoters an Note 4 · The original has 305 miles, which are equal to 1220 geographical miles. The distance meant is from the pole to the Arctic circle. ↑Note 5 · Page 5. ↑Note 6 · Gheberchte van Pireneen—the Pyrenees. ↑Note 7 · Als dese aen de Noordt Zee ligghende Nederlanden—than these (our) Netherlands, which lie on the North Sea. ↑Note 8 · By den Noorden om—round by the north. ↑Note 9 · De Waygats oft Strate de Nassou. See page 27, note 4. By the Russians these straits are called Yugórskyi Schar.—Lütke, p. 29. ↑Note 10 · Cape Taimur. See page 37, note 1. ↑Note 11 · Die opperste Piloot was. ↑Note 12 · Opper Comis—chief commissary or supercargo. Jacob Heemskerck was a native of Amsterdam, of a family of distinction still resident there. He Note 13 · Ons den behoorlijcken eedt afghenomen is—we had been duly sworn. There is no reason for supposing that any special oath was administered, bu Note 14 · Noorden ten oosten—N. by E. ↑Note 15 · Ontrent zuyder son—when the sun was about south. (Omitted.) ↑Note 16 · N. ten o.—N. by E. ↑Note 17 · Tottet seste glas int eerste quartier.—Six half-hour glasses of the first watch would make the reckoned time to be 11 P.M. But from the cont Note 18 · Watch. ↑Note 19 · Op de ly legghen—lying to. ↑Note 20 · Des naenoens—in the afternoon. ↑Note 21 · The bow of the ship. ↑Note 22 · “Thirteenth.”—Ph. ↑Note 23 · Totten 24 n. w. son—till N.W. sun [½ p. 7 P.M.] on the 24th. ↑Note 24 · “Fifteenth.”—Ph. ↑Note 25 · 71° 15′ N. lat. ↑Note 26 · 72° 20′ N. lat. ↑Note 27 · “19.”—Ph. ↑Note 28 · Meest—mostly. (Omitted.) ↑Note 29 · “North-west.”—Ph. ↑Note 30 · Trompsont—Troms-oe, a small island on the coast of Norway, in about 69° 40′ N. lat. ↑Note 31 · Met weynich coelts—with little wind. ↑Note 32 · Ysbrandt de vice admirael. The admiral was Cornelius Nai. They had both taken part in the former expedition. See page 36, note 3. The title Note 33 · De windt was n. o. ten o. ende z. o. meest z. o. ende z.—the wind was N.E. by E. and S.E., but mostly S.E. and S. ↑Note 34 · De Noordt-caep. The northernmost point of Europe; unless, indeed, we regard Spitzbergen as forming a portion of this quarter of the globe. T Note 35 · De Moer mette Dochters. Three remarkable islands, so called, lying off the coast of Norway. ↑Note 36 · Doen quam tschip van Ysbrandt de vice admirael ende wy tsamen, ende maeckten malcanderen seer reddeloos—then the ship of Ysbrand, the vice-a Note 37 · Doen streecken wy de seylen—then we took in our sails. The translator appears to have carried this expression into the preceding sentence, o Note 38 · Hauled them up again. ↑Note 39 · S. w.—South-west. ↑Note 40 · Guessed, i.e., estimated. ↑Note 41 · Noordtkien. The extreme northern point of the main land of Norway, and consequently of the continent of Europe. ↑Note 42 · Soo dreven wy in stilte—so we drifted in a calm. ↑Note 43 · Two hours. ↑Note 44 · These were some merchant vessels, bound for the White Sea, with which the expedition had fallen in, and which now parted from it. ↑Note 45 · Here again, as on the 15th of August (see page 36, note 1), the note of the sun’s bearing can only be regarded as approximative. It must, in Note 46 · Steeck—stiff; that is, good for anchorage. ↑Note 47 · Steeck—stiff. ↑Note 48 · Met veel cleyne stipkens—with many small specks. ↑Note 49 · An hour and a half. ↑Note 50 · Swarte stipkens—black specks. ↑Note 51 · Zijn Excell. van Oraengien ende zijn broeder—his Excellency of Orange and his brother. These islands were so named by Cornelius Nai on the f Note 52 · Meest steeck grondt met swarte stipkens ghemenght—mostly stiff ground mixed with black specks. ↑Note 53 · Van de 70 graden—from the 70th parallel of north latitude. ↑Note 54 · Steeck—stiff. ↑Note 55 · Stipkens—spots. ↑Note 56 · Ende was ghestadich hout loef ende draghende—and we kept continually luffing and falling off before the wind. ↑Note 57 · Two hours. ↑Note 58 · Beelthoeck. See page 27, note 4. ↑Note 59 · De Samiuten landt—a part of the country of the Samoyedes, lying in the extreme north-east of the present government of Archangel. ↑Note 60 · Wel moghelijck—well possible. ↑Note 61 · Traenbay—Train-oil Bay. ↑Note 62 · Den ysganck—the drifting of the ice. ↑Note 63 · Diepste—the deepest. ↑Note 64 · See page 10, note 2. ↑Note 65 · A very unscientific, and indeed incorrect, mode of expressing the fact, that they were in 69° 21′ N. lat., as resulting from an observation Note 66 · Opt lande van de Weygats—on land from the Weygats. De Veer adopts the vulgar error adverted to in page 27 (note 4) of the present work, and Note 67 · Diversche sleden met velwerck, traen, ende dierghelijcke waer—several sledges with skins, train-oil, and such like wares. ↑Note 68 · Op den Beeldthoeck—at Image Point. ↑Note 69 · Samiuten—Samoyedes. ↑Note 70 · Van de Weygats—from Weygats. (Omitted.) ↑Note 71 · De gheleghentheyt der zeevaert—the particulars of the navigation. ↑Note 72 · Opt Waygats. Here, however, De Veer speaks of the Island of Waigatsch. ↑Note 73 · Wy … verder z. o. aen trocken nae den oever van der zee—we went further S.E. towards the sea-side. It is manifest, that while going towards Note 74 · Schipper—captain or master of the vessel. Most probably William Barentsz is meant; though in page 63 Cornelis Jacobszoon is spoken of as the Note 75 · The sea of Kara. ↑Note 76 · Cruijs-hoeck; by the Russians called Sukhoi Nos. ↑Note 77 · De Twist hoeck—Cape Dispute; so named, because, on the first voyage of Nai and Brandt Ysbrandtsz, a dispute arose between them as to whether Note 78 · See page 33, note 6. ↑Note 79 · The Petchora, a considerable river, which rises in the Ural mountains, and flows into the Arctic Ocean to the S. of Novaya Zemlya. ↑Note 80 · Met bast tsamen ghenaeyet—sewed together with bast:—the inner bark of the linden or lime-tree (Tilia), of which is formed the Russian mattin Note 81 · Trayn—train-oil. ↑Note 82 · Voorby de reviere Oby—beyond the river Oby. ↑Note 83 · Linschoten has “to another river, which they said was called Gillissy”, meaning the large river Yenisei, which carries a great portion of th Note 84 · Dattet gat soude toe vriesen, ende alst begon te vriesen soudet dan stracks toe vriesen, ende datmen dan over ys mocht loopen tot in Tartari Note 85 · Die zy seer veel … hadden—whereof they had many. (Omitted.) ↑Note 86 · Van voren tot achteren—from stem to stern. ↑Note 87 · Vleysch—meat. ↑Note 88 · So hebbense daer alle t’samen van ghegheten, met hooft, met staert, met al, van boven af bytende—they one and all partook of them; and, biti Note 89 · Cruijs hoeck—Cross Point. See page 54, note 8. ↑Note 90 · Twisthoeck—Cape Dispute. See note 1 in the preceding page. ↑Note 91 · N. o. wel soo oostelijk—north-east a little easterly. ↑Note 92 · De fock—the foresail. ↑Note 93 · Aent vaste landt—to the main land; namely, the coast of Russia. ↑Note 94 · Samiuten—Samoyedes. ↑Note 95 · In twee hoopen—in two bodies. ↑Note 96 · Two lines of Phillip’s translation, being from *, are printed twice by mistake. ↑Note 97 · Dese gheleghentheyt ghevonden—availing himself of this opportunity. ↑Note 98 · Wysende—pointing. ↑Note 99 · Wysende nae’t z. o. op—pointing towards the south-east. ↑Note 100 · Met een partye volcks—with a number of persons. ↑Note 101 · Effenwel niet—not altogether. ↑Note 102 · Rheeden—reindeer. ↑Note 103 · Sledges. ↑Note 104 · Pinnace. ↑Note 105 · Sulcken beelden voor haer Goden—such images for their gods. ↑Note 106 · Image Point. See page 53. ↑Note 107 · Ontrent zuyder son—the sun being about south. ↑Note 108 · From this it is manifest that a previous dispute had taken place, which is not recorded. ↑Note 109 · Hem uyt ghehoort hadden—had heard him out. ↑Note 110 · Willem Barentsz. Nai did not call him captain, but addressed him by his name. ↑Note 111 · Willem Barentsz, siet wat ghy seght—mind what you say. ↑Note 112 · Ons werp ancker—our kedge-anchor. ↑Note 113 · Op een laghen wal—on a lee shore. ↑Note 114 · Fore-sail. ↑Note 115 · Met diversche reyse zijn werp-ancker uyt te brenghen—by repeatedly carrying out their kedger (and so warping out). ↑Note 116 · Cape Dispute. ↑Note 117 · Mosten stedts wenden—were forced continually to tack. ↑Note 118 · De Wachters. The stars β and γ of the Little Bear were called by the earlier navigators of modern times le Guardie, les Gardes, the Guards, Note 119 · Staten Eylandt. See page 37, note 4. ↑Note 120 · Den ysgangk—the drifting of the ice. ↑Note 121 · Schieten—to shoot. ↑Note 122 · Namely, pieces of rock-crystal. See page 37. ↑Note 123 · Die by hem in de cuijl lach—that lay near him in the hollow. ↑Note 124 · De beyr beet den eenen terstond thooft in stucken—the bear instantly bit the one man’s head in pieces. ↑Note 125 · Haer roers ende spietsen gevelt—lowering their muskets and pikes. ↑Note 126 · See page 26, note 2. ↑Note 127 · Cornelis Jacobsz. de schipper van Willem Barentsz. William Barentsz was not in the capacity merely of commander of his own vessel, but in th Note 128 · Hans van Nuffelen, schryver van Willem Barentsz—i.e., his clerk or writer. ↑Note 129 · Een Schotsman. From the intercourse which then existed, as now, between the opposite coasts of the German Ocean, there is nothing surprising Note 130 · In stucken spronghen—shivered in pieces. ↑Note 131 · By de wal henen—along the coast. (Omitted.) ↑Note 132 · Cape Dispute. See page 55, note 1. ↑Note 133 · The Sea of Kara. ↑Note 134 · Boat. ↑Note 135 · Image Point. See page 60. ↑Note 136 · W. z. w.—W.S.W. ↑Note 137 · Moddich—dirty. ↑Note 138 · Met sneejacht—with drifting snow. ↑Note 139 · Also dat wy deur dreven—so that we drifted before it. ↑Note 140 · Die stroom quam stijf—the current ran strong. ↑Note 141 · Ende was tot den avondt—and till the evening it was. ↑Note 142 · Aent vaste landt—to the main land. ↑Note 143 · Voeren heel in de bocht achter het eylandt mette steert—went quite into the bay behind the island with the tail. This is a small island lyin Note 144 · Een groot afwater—a great fall of water. ↑Note 145 · Ende de stengh om hoogh—and set the top-mast. (Omitted.) ↑Note 146 · Quam het ys weder om het oosteijnt vande Weygats in dryven—the ice came again drifting in round the east end of Weygats. ↑Note 147 · See page 36, note 2. ↑Note 148 · Watch. ↑Note 149 · Courses. ↑Note 150 · Stippelen—specks. ↑Note 151 · Kanin Nos. See page 38, note 3. ↑Note 152 · De fock—the fore-sail. ↑Note 153 · Dreven—drifted. ↑Note 154 · N. ten o.—N. by E. ↑Note 155 · Met beyde mars-seylen—with both top-sails. ↑Note 156 · Van den avont—from evening. ↑Note 157 · One watch or four hours. ↑Note 158 · Till half our second watch was out; that is, till 2 A.M. ↑Note 159 · Two courses. See page 7, note 4. ↑Note 160 · This and the preceding sentence should properly form but one, which should read thus:—After that, in the second watch, we tacked north-ward,Note 161 · Watch. ↑Note 162 · Courses. ↑Note 163 · Kilduin. See page 7, note 4. ↑Note 164 · Maer quamen te laech—but fell short of it. ↑Note 165 · Two watches, or eight hours. ↑Note 166 · Teghen—towards. ↑Note 167 · Guessed. ↑Note 168 · Waerhuys. See page 39, note 1. ↑Note 169 · And then eighteene [72] miles more, east-ward,15 till the tenth of July in the euening; then we wound about againe and sailed south-west, ei Note 170 · Then againe wee sayled north-east,17 20 [80] miles, till the 18 of July, the sunne being north-west; from thence wee sayled north-west and b Note 171 · From thence againe we wound about, north-east and by north and north-east, till the 20 of July, while sixe glasses were run out, in the firs Note 172 · Then we sayled south-east and by east 26 [104] miles, till the 21 of July in the euening, when we set our watch, and held on the same course Note 173 · The twenty-third23 of July wee sayled south-east and by south fifteene [60] miles, till the sunne was south south-west and saw land about fo Note 174 · After that we sayled north-ward tenne [40] miles, till the twenty-fifth25 of July at noone, and then north north-west eight [32] miles, till Note 175 · The sunne being south south-west, wee wounde about againe and sayled north-east and by north, till the seauen and twentie of July, the sunne Note 176 · After that, we wound about againe, east and by north, and sayled eight [32] miles, till the 30 of July, when the sunne was north [½ p. 10 P.Note 177 · From thence wee sayled east-ward 8 [32] myles, till the first of August about midnight, in calme faire weather, and saw Trumpsand32 south-ea Note 178 · Then we wound about again, because there lay a rocke or sand, that reached about a mile and a halfe [6 miles] out from the land into the sea Note 179 · Then we tooke the height of the sunne, and found it to be seauentie and one degrees and ¼. At which time till noone36 wee had calme weather:Note 180 · Then we sailed east north-east till the 6 of August, when wee had the sunne west north-west [5 P.M.], and then Isbrandt, the uize-admiral, c Note 181 · Then wee hoysed vp our sayles againe,40 till the sunne was north-west, and after that halde vp againe41 with an east and east north-east win Note 182 · The sunne being south [¾ p. 10 A.M.], the North Cape lay south-west and by south from vs about a mile and a halfe [6 miles], and the Mother Note 183 · Then wee wound about againe, when the North Cape lay west and by south from vs about 9 [36] miles, the North-kyen44 being south and by west Note 184 · From thence wee wound about againe, with an east north-east wind, and sailed south-east and by south 8 [32] miles, till the sunne was south-Note 185 · Then we sailed south-east and by east about 4 glasses,46 and the Iron-hogge with her companie (being marchants)47 took their course south-wa Note 186 · The sunne being south,48 and the height thereof being taken, it was found to be 70 degrees and 47 minutes; then in the night time wee cast o Note 187 · Then we sailed east, and so continued till the 17 of August, the sunne being east [½ p. 4 A.M.] and cast out our lead, and found 60 fadome d Note 188 · After that we held diuers courses because of the ice, and sayled south-east and by east and south south-east for the space of 18 [72] miles,Note 189 · Then we sailed east, and oftentimes casting out the lead we found 20, 19, 18, and 17 fadome deepe, good grounde mixed with blacke shels,55 a Note 190 · Then we sailed vnder 70 degrees,56 vntill we came to the Wey-gates, most part through broken ice; and when we got to Wey-gates, we cast out Note 191 · The right chanell betweene the Image Point61 and the Samuters land62 was full of ice, so that it was not well63 to be past through, and so w Note 192 · The 20 of August, the height of the sunne being taken with the crosse-staffe,67 wee found that it was eleuated aboue the horizon 69 degrees Note 193 · The 21 of August we went on land within the Wey-gates69 with foure and fiftie men, to see the scituation of the countrey, and being 2 [8] mi Note 194 · And to assure vs the more thereof, wee might perceiue it by the great number of images, which we found there upon the Image or Beelthooke71 Note 195 · And when wee entered further73 into the land, wee vsed all the meanes we could, to see if we could find any houses, or men, by whom wee migh Note 196 · The twentie three of August wee found a lodgie81 or boate of Pitzore,82 which was sowed together with bast or ropes,83 that had beene north-Note 197 · Which shippes they sayd (when they spake with vs), were to saile into the Tartarian Sea, by the riuer of Oby,85 to a place called Vgolita86 Note 198 · The 25 of August we went againe to the lodgie, and in friendly maner spake with them, we for our parts offering them friendship; and then th Note 199 · About noone wee hoysed vp our anchors with a west north-west wind; the course or stretching of Wey-gates is east to the Cruis point,92 and t Note 200 · The 26 of August in the morning we hoysed anchor, and put out our forke-saile,95 and so sailed to our old road, there to stay for a more con Note 201 · The 28, 29, and 30 of August till the 31, the winde for the most part was south-west, and William Barents our captaine sayled to the south s Note 202 · The maner of their apparell is like as we vse to paint wild men; but they are not104 wilde, for they are of reasonable iudgement. They are a Note 203 · Their sleades106 stood alwayes ready with one or two hartes in them, that runne so swiftly with one or two men in them, that our horses were Note 204 · After that we tooke our leaues one of the other, with great friendship on both sides; and when we were in our penace,107 we al put off our h Note 205 · And after they were gone from vs and were some-what within the land, one of them came ryding to the shore, to fetch a rough-heawed image, th Note 206 · Hauing left the Samuters, the sunne being south-ward,110 William Barents, our captaine, spake to the admirall to will him to set sayle, that Note 207 · The 2 of September, a litle before sunne rising, wee put foorth our anckor115 to get out, for that the winde as then blew south south-west; Note 208 · When wee put out our focke-sayle,117 the sunne was east and by south [½ p. 5 A.M.]; and then we sayled to the Crosse-poynt, and there wee ca Note 209 · The 4 of September, we hoysed anchor because of the ice, and sailed betwene the firme land and the States Island, where wee lay close by the Note 210 · The 6 of September, some of our men went on shore vpon the firme land to seeke for stones, which are a kinde of diamont,125 whereof there ar Note 211 · The beare at the first faling vpon the man, bit his head in sunder,127 and suckt out his blood, wherewith the rest of the men that were on l Note 212 · We perceiuing out of our ship and pinace that our men ran to the sea-side to save themselues, with all speed entered into our boates, and ro Note 213 · The ninth of September, wee set saile from the States Island,134 but the ice came in so thicke and with such force, that wee could not get t Note 214 · The tenth of September wee sayled againe from the States Island towards the Wey-gates, and sent two boates into the sea to certifie vs what Note 215 · The 11 of September in the morning, we sailed againe into the Tartarian Sea,136 but we fell into great store of ice, so that wee sailed back Note 216 · The 14 of September the weather beganne to bee somewhat clearer, the winde being north-west, and the storme blowing stiffe143 out of the Tar Note 217 · The same day in the morning the winde draue in from the east end of the Wey-gates,149 whereby wee were forced presently to hoyse anchors, an Note 218 · The 16 of September, from morning to evening, wee sayled west north-west 18 [72] miles, at 42 fadome deepe; in the night it snowed, and ther Note 219 · After that wee sailed all the night againe till the 17 of September in the morning, with two schower sailes,152 north-west and by west and w Note 220 · Then we saw the point of Candynaes154 lying south-east from vs, and then wee had 27 fadome deepe, redde sand with blacke shels. Sunday at ni Note 221 · The 18 of September in the morning, wee lost the sight of the pinnace that followed vs, and till noone sought after her, but wee could not f Note 222 · The 20 of September, wee sayled south and by west and south south-west, 7 [28] or 8 [32] miles, at 80 fadome deepe, black slimie ground; fro Note 223 · The 21 of September from night159 till Thurseday in the morning, wee sayled one quarter160 west, and so till day, still west, 7 [28] miles, Note 224 · From morning till noone, south-west 5 [20] miles, at 65 fadome deepe, oasie ground: at noone wee wound north-ward againe, and for three hour Note 225 · The 22 of September wee sayled north and by east and north north-east 4 [16] miles:163 and from morning till noone, north-east, 4 [16] myles Note 226 · From euening till Tuesday in the morning, being the 26 of September, we sailed west 10 [40] miles, and then in the morning wee were hard by Note 227 · The nine and twentieth of September in the morning, wee sayled north-west and by west foure [16] miles; and all that day till euening it was Note 228 · Jae noch—yea, even. ↑Note 229 · Namely, Spitzbergen, which they had just left. ↑Note 230 · After that the seuen shippes (as I saide before) were returned backe againe from their north uoiage, with lesse benefit than was expected, t Note 231 · The 5 of May all the men in both the shippes were mustered, and vpon the tenth of May they sayled from Amsterdam, and the 13 of May got to t