North Pole

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THE NORHTH-POLE: AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE COVNTRIES SITVATE ROUND ABOUT IT. (Book the North Pole) HAving made (courteous Reader) a Generall Description of the whole Globe, and the foure parts thereof methodically, and according to the order of nature; I purpose, in Imitation of Ptolomie the Prince of Cosmographers, to begin the Geographie of particular Countries from the Pole it selfe and the Countries lying round about it, that so descending from the higher to the lower parts, and proceeding from the left hand to the right hand, I may by degrees joyne the North with the South, and the West with the East, which I pray God may be profitable to the Common-wealth. The Pole is the extremitie, or end of the Axis, which is a Line drawne through the Center of the Globe, the Latines call it vertex. There are two Poles, the Northerne, and the Southerne. The Northerne is that which is alwaies beheld towards the North, and therefore also it is called the Northerne and h 1.1 Articke Pole. The Southerne, is that which appeareth to those onely which dwell toward the South, and therefore it is called the Meridionall, Southerne, and i 1.2 Antarticke Pole. And thus much in this place shall suffice concerning the Poles. I come to the Countries situate round about the Articke Pole: which are Groenlandia or Greeneland, Frizlandia, or Freesland, Nova Zembla with some others, of which wee will entreat briefely as farre as they are knowne. k 1.3 Groenlandia, or Greeneland is so called from the greennesse thereof, & is an Island for the most part yet unknown, it is situate betweene the Northerne Circle & the Pole, the farthest paralels therof towards the South are the Degrees of 65, and towards the North the Degrees of 78. In this Island, if wee beleeve Nicolas Zenetus (who in the yeare 1480. endured much hard weather in the bordering Sea) there is continuall winter for nine Moneths, all which time it doth never raine there, neither doth the snow, which falleth at the beginning thereof, melt untill the end, yet is not this harmefull to the grasse, for here is a great increase both of grasse and fodder. Therefore here is great store of milke-beasts in regard of the great plentie thereof, so that they make store of Butter and Cheese, which they sell to those they traffique withall. There are onely two inhabited places knowne unto us in Groenland, Alba and the Monasterie of Saint Thomas, of which wee will speake by and by. The Slow Sea, which is also called the frozen Icie Sea, doth touch upon Greeneland. There is in Greeneland a Monasterie of the Preaching Order: and not farre from it a fire-vomiting Mountaine like Aetna, at the foot whereof there is a fountaine of running waters, by whose great heat they do not onely make hot all the roomes of the Monasterie like a hothouse, but also they bake their bread and dresse their meat, without the helpe of fire. The whole fabricke of the Monasterie doth consist of brittle sandie stones, which the Mountaine doth cast forth in the midst of the flames. This fountaine doth warme the neighbour gardens so that they continually flourish with divers kindes of flowers and herbes. And the Sea neare unto it, by the vertue of these waters, is never frozen, but lyes continually open both for the fish and the use of man: which makes so great a concurse of fish to resort hither from colder places, that not onely these Monkes,* 1.4 but also the Inhabitants round about do live plentifully. Frislandia or Freezland was an Island altogether unknowne to the Auncients: being greater than n 1.5 Ireland. The Climate is very intemperate. The Inhabitants have no fruits, but live for the most part upon fish. The chiefe Towne thereof hath the same name with the Island, and it belongeth to the King of p 1.6Norway. The Inhabitants for the most part live by fishing. For in the Haven thereof so great a plentie of all kind of fish is taken that many ships are loaded with them, and so carried to the Islands lying neare it, as Zieglerus writeth. The same man writeth that the Sea next to the Island on the West being full of rockes and sands, is called the Icarean Sea, and the Island in it is called by the Inhabitants Icaria.* 1.7 This Island in our time beginneth to be known again, & that by the Discoverie of the English. Nova Zembla is an Island situated under the 76 Degree. Here the aire is very sharpe, and the cold most vehement and intolerable. It is a wild, woodie, and rugged Country, where neither leaves nor grasse grow, nor any living creatures, but those which live by flesh as Foxes, and Beares, whereof there is great store not onely in this Island, but in most of the Northerne Countries. There are Sea-monsters here whose bodies does exceede the bignesse of an Oxe, and are commonly called Walruschen: they are headed like a Lyon, their skin hairy, they having foure feete, and two teeth sticking forth of the upper part of their mouth beeing smooth, hard, and white, and are worth as much as Elephants teeth. The Bayes here are called Weggates Bay, Forbishers Bay, and Davises Bay; Weigates Bay is streitched out towards the East even to the place called Crucis Angulus, toward the Aerctapelietes to the place called Dissidit Angulus, a a little enclining to the East. On the Southerne side of the Continent of Weggats Bay, William Barendson found some wild men called Samiutae. The shape of their cloathes which they use, is like that which our Painters do bestow on woodmen, or Satyres, but yet they are not wild men, but endued with a good understanding. They are cloathed frō head to foot with the skins of beasts called Rangiferi: for the most part are of q 1.8 low stature, broad faced, small eyed, short and splay-footed, and very nimble both to runne and leape. They have coaches unto which they put one or two of these Rangiferi, which will draw it with one or two men in it with more speede then any of our Horses can do. Forbishers Bay was so called from Martine Forbisher an English man, who in the yeare 1577. seeking a passage to Cathaia by the North, arrived at this Bay, in which hee found both Islands and many men, concerning which wee will adde some things. The men thereof being strangers to all civilitie, do eate and feed upon the raw flesh of beasts and fishes. They are cloathed with the skins of wild beasts taken in hunting, and they eate raw hearbes like beasts. Their Tents are covered with Whales skinnes; the cold being continually very sharpe in these parts. They use Dogges which are like unto our Wolves, and having yoked them together, they do make them draw things over the ice. Their weapons are Bowes and Arrowes, and slings. There is no wood there, but much Deere. The men do not plough the ground, as beeing content with that it bringeth forth of its own accord: they live by hunting: their drinke is the warme blood of wild beasts, or else ice water: there are no Rivers nor Springs, because the violence of the cold doth so shut up the Earth, that springs of water cannot breake forth. The men are very laborious, strong, hunters, and cunning fowlers: they use a certaine kinde of boate made of leather, wherein one man can but sit, who maketh use but of one Oare, his right hand holding his bow wherewith hee shoots at the birds. The like hath beene seene in England. Davises Bay also was so called from Iohn Davis an Englishman, who in the yeare 1585. and the two following yeares did search along the Coasts of America, or rather the Southerne Coasts of Greenland from the 53. Degree to the 75. to finde out a passage that way unto China. Concerning the foure Euripideas in the table those things which you see are taken out of the Register booke of Iames Cnoxen Buscoducensis, who doth report that a certaine English Minorite Frier of Oxford, being a Mathematician, did describe the Countries lying neare unto the Pole, and measured them with his Astrolabe in this following shape, as Mercator hath gathered them out of Iames Cnoxeus Booke. Hee saith that these foure Seas are carried with such violence to the Innermost Gulfe, that ships being once entred can never be driven backe againe with any winde, and that there is never so great a winde, as that it can drive about a wind-mill. But these things are as true as Lucians fables, seeing they who have viewed these places in which those seas are said to be, do finde no such Euripi, or swift flowing Seas at all, namely the Hollanders who have discovered the Sea even to the 81. Degree of Latitude. But concerning the habitation of the Northerne people, let us heare Iulius Scaliger in his 37. Exercitation, where he thus speaking concerning a voiage from the Northerne Sea towards China. There are (saith hee) divers arguments brought by divers men on both sides, and it is diversly judged of, whether it be possible to saile by that Sea. But these are ours. They would have us to saile from the mouth of the River Duvina, all along that Countrie which encompasses all Scythia even to the East corner: in which winding course wee are to change the Northerne wind for the Westerne. But those which speake thus, it is certaine they do not know the nature of this Sea, nor of the Windes and Coast: For the West and East windes are so rare in this Sea that they are almost scarce knowne. But so many North windes are there here that it seemes Nature hath committed the government of these parts unto them alone. There are many foards blinde and muddle. In winter, which continueth ten moneths, the superficies or upper part of the Sea, is as hard as any pavement. In Summer there are continuall mists, which in the afternoone as fast as one is expelled another rises. Besides, the Ice is very dangerous, the great pieces whereof floting up and downe, are like moving Islands running one amongst another. It is certaine that by the late Navigations of the Hollanders in the yeare 1594. and in the two following yeares, it was hoped, that wee might saile out of the Northerne Sea to the Eastern parts of the World. But very difficultly, in regard of the Ice, and long winter nights. William Barentson did denie that it was possible to saile by the Bay of Nassovia to China, not onely for the Ice, but also because hee found by divers observations, that it was not a Sea but a Bay, and especially because hee found there was no Tide nor Ebbe: and yet hee was in great hope that a way might be found out by the most Northerne part of Nova Zembla. But seeing there are every day new voyages made to discover the passage that way to China, experience will teach them at last whether it can be done or not. It is manifest that our ships have sailed even to the 81. Degree of Northerne Latitude, and yet found the Sea open: but yet afterward at the 76. Degree they have beene hindred with great pieces of ice, and the night comming on, so that they could proceed no further. The Sunne left them the 4. of November in the yeare 1596, and was seene again the 24. of Ianuary in the following yeare, all which time these valiant Argonantes, for so I may call them, hid themselves in a little shed which they built up in Nova Zembla, untill the 14. of Iune. For though the voyage of the r 1.9 Argonantes is made so famous by posteritie, yet if it be compared with this it will seeme but a toy; for who hath beene, for the space of 13. Moneths separated from the societie of men, before the Hollanders, who wanting all necessaries, and enduring extremitie of cold, did even under the 76. Degree of Latitude, build themselves houses to receive them, and defend them from the violence of the weather, in which they lay buried and covered over with deepe snow almost ten whole moneths? I conceale that which they suffered in returning, being compell'd to leave their ships and betake themselves to their boate. I omit to speake of the cruell, fierce, and great Beares, and Sea-Monsters, with which they oftentimes were enforced to fight. All which troubles, labours, and difficulties they most valiantly by the protection and favour of the Divine power did overcome.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

THese Parts have been call'd by the name of Artick, because they are near the Artick Pole: they are called Northern, because of the North, in which they are scituated; * Boreales, from a Greek Word which signifies the North-Wind: they consist of Islands and Peninsula's, where there are Bears, Foxes, and Rain-Deer, in abundance, the Inhabitants living commonly on Hunting or Fishing.

The Seas of these Regions make a part of the the great Ocean, which is here known under the name of Northern and Frozen.

The Ice there lasts a long time, because to these Parts the Sun during several Months discovers not himself, and when he appears, he doth not heat or thaw it.

The Bays and Streights of Hudson, Davis, and Forbisher, are in the Inferiour Hemisphere;

that of Weygats, otherwise of Nassaw, in the Superiour Hemisphere, on the North of our Continent: Cabot, Willoughby, Forbisher, Davis, Hudson, and other English men, have sought a Passage to the East-Indies through the three former Streights; Barenson, Heemskirk, and other Hollanders, have done the same, thro' that of Weygats; but all to no purpose, by reason of the Ice, which is almost continually there, and stops Ships in their Navigation; and this it is, that has hindred 'em from going beyond the 80. Degree of North Latitude.

Three Courses have been commonly steer'd in these Northern Seas, to Archangelo into Moscovy, for Furs; to Spigelberg, and Greenland, for Whales; and into Norway, for Herrings and Timber.

The Artick Lands are Estotiland, Greenland, Island, Spigelberg, Nova Zembla, to which may be added, the Land of Jesso, tho' it be in the Northern temperate Zone.

Estotiland is towards the North of the great Continent of America.

Greenland is of a vast extent to the North of Estotiland. Christian the Fourth, King of Denmark, call'd it His Philosophers Stone, because the Ships he sent thither could hardly find it out. His Successours keep a Governour there, at Bearford. The Greenlanders Cloaths are made of the Skins of Wild Beasts, and their Wastcoats of Birds Skins, garnish'd with their Feathers: the Flour of the Bread they eat, is made of Fishes Bones: they drink Sea Water, without receiving any inconvenience by so doing.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

Artick or Northern.

• Island, Schalliot, Hola, Hancfiord, Keplawick.
• Estotiland, Hope-advancet.
• Groenland, Bearfort, Erichs-haven.
• Nova-Zembla, Delsche-haven.
• Spitsberg, Wybe-haven, Groen-haven.
• Terra de Jesso, Matzumai.
• New-Denmark.
• New North-Wales.
• Isles of Cumberland, Raleg Mont.

The Artick or Northern Countries.

I call by the name of the Artick Countries all those Regions, which lye toward the Northern or Artick Pole, which are newly discovered. Their situation is almost all in the Frigid or Cold Zone. The Extent of them is so irregular, that I know not how to write any thing of them. 'Tis enough, That they are discovered, and to set down the Names by which the Natives call them, as we have them from divers Travellers thither. Nevertheless we may describe their Bounds which part them in our Upper Hemisphere, from Muscovy and Tartary by the Frozen-sea, and in the other Hemisphere by the South-sea, Christian-sea and Hudson's-streights, which separate them from the Northern America.

According to our last Relations, the Air is extreamly cold; the Sun appears but little in several places for above the greatest parts in the year; but in some places more, some less, according to their distance from the Equator. In general it may be said of them, They have much Pasture, large Meadows, many Forests, where the Inhabitants maintain a great number of Beasts; That they live in some of the Countries upon Hunting and Fishing; That they have no Corn nor Wine. All the Country is Islands and Peninsulae. They have divers sorts of Beasts, especially Bears, Foxes and Deer. Hudson, Davis and Frobisher's Streights are in this Lower Hemisphere, so called, because Gavot, Willoughby, Frobisher, Davis, Hudson and some other Englishmen, endeavoured to find a Passage that way into the East-Indies, as the Dutch did, by the Streights of Weigats or Nassau, which are on the North of our Continent, but both to no purpose, because of the continual Ice which hindred their Sailing, which prevents the Sailers of Europe that they can't go beyond the 80 degree of Latitude. Nevertheless some say. That some Dutch Pilots went to the 88 degree, and found a Passage towards China; but that Passage is unknown to the other Nations of Europe, who make ordinarily but three several Voyages towards the North; 1. To Arch-angel in Russia, for Furrs. 2. To Spitsberg in Greenland, for Whale-fishing. 3. To Norway, for Wood and Herrings.

However, it may not be improper here to give a brief Account of the several Navigations and Discoveries made toward the North-east and North-west, viz. Nova Zembla, North-east Greenland or Spitsberg, and North-west Greenland, commonly call'd Groenland and Engroneland. In the year 1380. Nicholas and Antony Zani, two Brothers and rich Citizens of Venice, having set Sail from the Streight of Gibralter for Flanders and England, were accidentally driven Northwards by violent Storms even as far as Friseland, Iceland and Groenland; but in 1497. John Cabot and Sebastian his Son of the same Nation receiv'd a Commission from our King Henry VII. to undertake the like Voyage, who made a Draught and Description of some North-west parts of America, and brought along with them 4 of the Natives.

Sir Hugh Willoughby was the first that attempted to discover a North-east Passage into the Indies; and to that purpose set out with three sail of Ships in the year, 1553. It is very probable that he landed on Nova Zembla and Greenland; but we have no Memoirs of this Voyage, except certain imperfect and short Notes that were taken off from his Table after his death, wherein it is express'd, That the Fleet under his Command parted from Seynam, which lies in 70 deg. North Latitude, on the 2d day of August; That on the 14th they were above 160 leagues from the same place to the North-east, and continu'd sailing until Septemb. 14. when they came ashore on a high, rocky and desert Country, from whence the Cold and Ice forc'd them to return more Southerly, which they did till they reach'd a River in Lapland call'd Arzina, where, by the continuance of foul Weather they were shut up in the Harbour, and the next Spring were all found frozen to death in their Ship.

A few years after this misfortune, viz. about 1556. one Captain Stephen Burroughs, sometime Comptroller of the Navy to Queen Elizabeth, prosecuting the same Design, pass'd the North Cape, and sailing farther Eastward discover'd the Waygats, or Streight that runs between the South part of Nova Zembla and the Country of the Samoieds; thus, continuing his Course, he arriv'd in 112 deg. 25 min. of Longitude, and 76 of Northern Latitude. Afterward he sail'd to 80 deg. 11 min. Latitude, and return'd thence to Nova Zembla, having cruis'd (as it is most probable) on the Coasts of Greenland, since he makes mention of the desolate Country, the blew Ice, and great numbers of various Fowl thereabouts.

The first Person whose name we find celebrated in History for endeavouring to search out a North-west Passage into China, was Sir Martin Frobisher, who, in three several Voyages, made divers new Discoveries of large Bays, Streights, Islands, Capes, &c. and impos'd on them different names. For in the year, 1576. arriving with two Barks at the height of 62 deg. N. Latit. he descry'd a great Inlet, call'd Frobisher's Streights, and sail'd into it 60 leagues with main Land on each side. He met with Inhabitants along the Coast, whose Canoes or little Boats were made of Seal-skins, but had wooden Keels. The Ships Company exchang'd Toys with these Natives for Salmon and other Fish, and brought home certain Marcasites which were taken for Gold Oar; but after they had made a more exact search the next year, with a design to carry away a quantity thereof, it prov'd to be nothing but black Lead. At the same time they found a Silver-mine, which nevertheless lay so deep within the Rocks that it could not be dug; as also, a dead Fish about 12 foot long, somewhat resembling a Porpois in shape. It had a Horn growing out of its Snout (of the same nature as those commonly call'd Unicorn's Horns) which is still preserv'd in a Repository at Windsor, and reaches 6 foot in length. In 1578. the same Sir Martin undertook his third Voyage, wherein, having pass'd as far as it seem'd convenient to him, he took possession of the Land in the name of Queen Elizabeth, and call'd it Meta incognita.

In the year 1580. Arthur Pett and Charles Jackman having receiv'd a Commission from Queen Elizabeth to follow the Track of Stephen Burroughs, rambled over the Northern Seas, and in all likelihood landed in Greenland; but there is nothing particularly known concerning their Voyage, except that they pass'd the Streights of Waygats and launch'd into the Ocean to the Eastward, where, meeting with vast heaps of Ice, they were constrain'd to return with great peril and labour; insomuch, that they lost one another by reason of the foul Weather, and Pett was never heard of since.

In 1583. Sir Humphry Gilbert, by the direction of Sir Francis Walsingham, principal Secretary of State, sail'd, upon the same design, to Newfoundland and the great River of S. Lawrence in Canada, took possession of the Country in the name of Queen Elizabeth, and settled a Fishing-trade there. This Voyage was made upon suggestion of a certain Greek Mariner, who positively avouch'd to some English Gentlemen, That himself had pass'd through a great Streight to the North of Virginia from the North-west Ocean, and offer'd to be Pilot for the discovery, but died before he came into England.

In 1585. Mr. John Davis having undertaken with two Barks to search out the North-west Coasts, made farther Discoveries in those parts, and nam'd the first Land he came to Cape Desolation, being a part of Groenland, where he found many pieces of Furr and Wool like Beaver, and exchang'd some Commodities with the Natives, who often repair'd to him in their Canoes bringing Stag-skins, white Hairs, small Cod, Muscles, &c. Afterward he arriv'd in the Latitude of 64 deg. 15 min. where was found a great quantity of such Oar as Frobisher had before brought into England, and steer'd thence to 66 deg. 40 min. as far as Mount Raleigh, Totness-sound, &c. In 1586. he made a second Voyage to the same Coasts, searching out many places toward the West; and the next year, in a third Voyage, came to 72 deg. 12 min. the Compass varying to 82 deg. Westward. Then he gave the name of London Coast to the Land, and the Streight being 40 leagues wide, was from him call'd Fretum Davis.

Thus the English Nation alone, for a long time, frequented those Northern Seas till 1578. that a Dutch Ship came to Cola, and a year or two after another to S. Nicholas, by the instigation of an English Man who set himself against the Company of Russian Merchants; whereupon the Hollanders crept in more and more, and in 1594. sent William Barents, a skilful Navigator, and some others, to find out a Passage from thence to the Indies. In 1596. the same William Barents, accompanied with two other Dutch Pilots, viz. Jacob Heemskirk and John Cornelis Ryp, first discovered Bear or Cherry Island, and pass'd from thence to Greenland; but Barents being separated from them, sail'd along the Coasts of Nova Zembla to the 76 deg. of Latitude, until at length his Ship was driven ashore, and broke in pieces by the Ice, so that all the Mariners were compell'd to Winter there, and endur'd the utmost extremity of Cold. Afterward, with much difficulty, in 2 Boats, they got to Cola in Lapland; but William Barentz dy'd before their Arrival, to the great grief of the whole Company.

In 1603. Stephen Bennet was employ'd, but went no farther than Cherry Island, and brought from thence a certain quantity of Lead Oar. In 1608. that famous Navigator Mr. Henry Hudson, was sent forth to discover the North Pole, and sail'd even to the 82 degree of North Latitude; but being satisfy'd that there was no North-east-passage, he was appointed to make the like trial in the North-west Seas. Therefore in 1610. he set Sail again, and proceeded 100 leagues farther than any had done before, giving several Denominations to certain places, as Desire provokes, Isle of God's Mercies, Prince Henry's Cape, King James's Cape, Queen Ann's Cape, &c. besides the Streight and Bay that still bear his name. But the Ice hinder'd him from continuing his course farther, and the Sedition of his Men from returning home.

In 1611. Sir Thomas Button, Servant to Henry Prince of Wales, eldest Son of King James I. being enjoyn'd by that renown d young Prince to pursue the North-west Discoveries, pass'd through Hudson's Streight; and sailing above 200 leagues to the South-westward over a Sea above 80 Fathom deep, descry'd a large Continent, call'd by him New Wales. Afterward, having endur'd great Fatigues in his wintering at Port Nelson, notwithstanding the loss of many of his Men, he search'd out the whole Bay, which is now known by his name, even back again almost to Digge's Island, and found out the large Tract of Land which he nam'd Cary's Swans Nest. Moreover in the years 1612, 1615, 1616. James Hall and William Baffin, proceeded much farther in the North-west parts, and impos'd names on divers places discover'd by them, besides that the English Merchants perceiving these Northern Voyages to be so very profitable, encreas'd the number of their Shipping to 13 or 14 yearly, under the Conduct of Poole, Fotherby, Edge, Hely, and other skilful Pilots, from whom several Sounds, Bays, Promontories, Princes, &c. have receiv'd their respective names.

In the mean while the King of Denmark observing the progress of the neighbouring Nations in these Northern Seas, began to consider that the Traffick of his own might be much advanc'd by the like Discoveries, being also desirous to renew his ancient pretensions to those Countries in case any thing should be found out worth the claiming. Therefore he caus'd two Ships and a Pinnace to be sitted out in the year, 160•. Of these, Captain John Cunningham, a Scot, was Admiral; Godsk Lindenaw a Danish Nobleman was Vice-Admiral, and the chief Pilots were James Hall and John Knight, Englishmen. Godske arriving on some part of the Country, barter'd some small Wares with the Natives, took 2 of them, and return'd to Denmark. The other two Vessels came to Cape Farewell, sail'd from thence to Frobisher's Streights, gave Danish names to certain places, seiz'd on three of the Inhabitants, and at Cunningham's Ford met with a kind of Silver Mine, which was afterward try'd by the English, and found to be of no value. In 1606. 4 Ships and a Pinnace were sent thither under the same Godske, Lindenaw Admiral, and James Hall Pilo•-General, who brought away five of the Natives. In 1607. James Hall receiv'd a new Commission; but the Sea-men mutining as soon as they made the Coast, brought the Ship back again into Denmark, without effecting any thing. However, his Danish Majesty set out two other Ships mann'd with Norwegian and Iselandish Mariners, and commanded by Christian Richardson a Holsteiner; but these return'd before they came in view of the Shore. The rest of their Expeditions are unknown until An. 1619. when John Munck was sent out with two Ships, which arriv'd safe at Cape Farewell, from thence this Pilot steer'd to 63 deg. 20 min. (as it is probable near Digg's Island) and winter'd there, ca•ling the place Munck's Winter Harbour, and the Continent New Denmark. The South-part of Hudson's Bay he l•kewise nam'd Mare novum, and •hat part toward Groen•and, M•re Christianum. But of all h s Company, which consisted of 46 in a Ship, and 16 in a Pinnace, scarce so many were left alive, as were able to bring the Pinnace through extream danger to their own Country. However, in the year 1653. Frederick III. King of Denmark, determining to advance the Northern Tracts and D•scoveries, caus'd three Ships to be fitted out with skilful Mariners, enjoining them to take a most exact account of all the Coasts and Places where they arriv'd. These, having pass'd the Streight of Waygats, met with some Inhabitants of Nova Zembla in their Canoes or little Fishing-boats, and steer'd from thence to Greenland. These particular Adventures are contain'd in the French Relations of the Danish Voyages publish'd at Paris by M. Peyrere and Martiniere.

We do not read of any more Voyages from England to find out the North-west Passage since the last Expedition of William Baffin in 1616. until the Reign of King Charles I. when Captain Luke Fox was sent upon the same design in 1630. in his Majesty's Pinnace nam'd the Charles, victualled for 18 Months. He traced Frobisher, Hudson, Davis, Button and Baffin, meeting with Whales, much Ice and Fowls, and built a Pinnace in Port Nelson, where he found several Remains left by Sir Thomas Button, but no Natives or Inhabitants, though in other parts of those Seas he saw some Savages. About the same time, viz. in 1631. Captain Thomas James being employ'd by the Merchants of Bristol for the like purpose, sail'd from Cape Farewell by the Islands of Resolution to Milli and Nottingham Isles, as also that of Mansfield, from whence he steer'd over a large Bay to the Westward near Port Nelson, and nam'd the Land New South Wales. Hereabouts meeting with Captain Fox, they congratuled one another, but were soon separated by foul Weather; so that Captain James still continu'd roving up and down, and giving name to divers places, as Cape Henrietta Maria, Lord Weston's Island, The Earl of Bristol's Island, Sir Thomas Roe's Island, Earl of Danby's Island, Charlton Island, &c. In this last he winter'd in the Latitude of 52 deg. 3 min. and having built a little Pinnace out of his Ship, pass'd over to Cary's Swan's Nest, whence he return'd by Cape Charles and Salisbury Isle, and arriv'd on the Coasts of England in 1632. The Voyage of this most skilful Navigator was publish'd in 1633. by the special Command of King Charles I. containing a very accurate and judicious Account of the Hardships he endur'd; as also of the Streights, Capes, Bays, Tides, Soundings, Variations of the Compass, Natural Rarities, &c.

The last Voyage, in order to make a more perfect Discovery (if it were possible) of the North-east Seas, for a Passage to the East Indies, was undertaken in the year 1676. by the ingenious Captain John Wood. Having receiv'd a Commission from King Charles II. he arriv'd in the 76 degree of North Latitude, but unfortunately lost his Ship nam'd the Speedwell on the Coast of Nova Zembla, and return'd home in the Prosperous Pink that accompanied him under the Command of Captain Flawes. His Opinion is, That it is impossible to Sail this way to China, Japan, &c. conformably to that maintain'd by Captain James with respect to the North-west Passage, being both induc'd thereto by the situation of the Land, the reversion and uncertainty of half Tides, the motion of the Ice, &c. Besides, that the Fogs, Snow, Froste, vast Islands of the Ice, and the tempestuousness of the Weather, are altogether insuperable.

ISLAND is an Isle that belongs to the King of Denmark, and which some Geographers take for the Thule of the Ancients, tho' with little probability, according to Procopius, who says, That it had three Kingdoms: The name is taken from the extream Cold there. The situation of it is under the first Meridian and Artick Circle, both of which part it into two equal parts almost, the one from West to East, the other from North to South. It is about 65 leagues wide and 140 long. The Air is extraordinarily cold, but very healthy. They have large Meadows, where they feed Horses, Cows, Oxen and other Beasts: They have white Bears and Hares. They catch on their Coast Whales, and so great a quantity of other Fish, that they dry a part of them to give their Cattel, when they want Hay. The Sholes of Ice that come down from the North upon it, carry away with them their Trees, and many Beasts. There are three Mountains which are always covered with Snow, that nevertheless cast out Fire; the most remarkable of which is call'd Heela, to which no Man can come nearer than two leagues, without danger. At the foot of this Mountain are several Mines of Brimstone. The two chief Towns are Hola and Scaholt. Their Houses are made of Wood, covered with the Bark of Trees, Skins or Turfs. There are other Villages upon the Coasts and along the Rivers, which remove their Houses. The Havens of Hancfroid and Keplaurch are very populous, because of the Commerce there from Hamburg, Denmark, Lubec and England, who supply the Inhabitants with whatever they have need of, and receive in exchange for it Tallow, Hides, Butter, Whale-Oil, dry'd Fish and Sea-horse Teeth, which are esteemed as good as Ivory. The Inhabitants live a long time, yet have neither Physicians nor Apothecaries. They are very strong and faithful; their Cloathing is ordinarily of Beasts Skins. Lutheranism is followed there in most places; the rest are Idolaters. The People of this Island are the best, and make the faithfullest Servants in the World. Their greatest Delicates are Meat half rotten and full of Worms.

Estoitland is on the North of America, and is divided from it by Hudson's Streight. Antonius Zomi the Venetian, is said to have discovered it in 1390. or thereabouts; and John Scolve, a Polonian, found it out again in 1477. He was lost in the Sea, as well as Michael Corterealis. This Country is very fruitful, especially in Gold. The Inhabitants are very industrious. The English possess on the Coast Terra Labrador or New Britain, or Terra Cortereales, but they know nothing but the Coast.

GROENLAND, Groenlandia, call'd also Groinland, and more anciently Engroenland, lies (according to the report of the Islanders) like a half Moon about the North of their Country, at the distance of 4 days sailing. Cape Farewell, its most Southern Promontory, is situated in the Latitude of 60 deg. 30. min. but how far the Continent may extend it self Northward is altogether unknown. The Eastern and Western sides are encompass'd with two vast Oceans, but at what degrees of Longitude is not as yet discover'd. This Land is suppos'd to have been first descry'd by a Norwegian Gentleman nam'd Eric Rotcop or Readhead, who having committed a Murder in Island, to save his Life attempted to makean escape into an another Country, whereof he had only heard some obscure flying Reports. This Gentleman was so fortunate as to get safe to the Harbour of Sandsbasm, lying between two mountainous Promontories, one on an Isle over against Groenland, which he call'd Huidserken or White Shirt, by reason of its being covered with Snow, the other on the Continent bearing the name of Huarf Eric. He winter'd in the Island, and afterward passing into the Continent, impos'd on it the name of Groenland or Greenland, from its flourishing Verdeur. His Son being sent to Olaus Trugger King of Norway to procure a Pardon, easily obtain'd it upon Information of the new Discovery. Thus, in process of time, a Plantation was settled there, and two Cities were built, viz. Garde and Albe; the latter was honoured with a Bishop's See and the Residence of the Norwegian Vice-Roy, the Cathedral Church being dedicated to S. Antony. However, these new Inhabitants having been long since destroy'd, either by the Natives, the Rage of an epidemical Disease call'd the black Plague, or otherwise, very little Intelligence concerning Groenland has come to us since the year •349. Nevertheless in 1389. (as they say) the King of Denmark determining to re-establish his Dominion in those parts, sent a Fleet thither, which having suffer'd Shipwrack, he was discourag'd from any farther Enterprize, until of late that Navigation was somewhat renew'd by Christian IV. who was wont to call this Country his Philosopher's Stone, in regard that it could not often be found when his Ships undertook a Voyage thereto, and because a certain Dane in 1626. brought some Sand from thence which was of the same colour and weight with Gold.

The Air in Greenland is so excessive cold that the Danes cannot dwell there, neither does the Soil produce any thing but Moss, with some few Bushes and Plants, the Country consisting for the most part in High-lands and Mountains continually cover'd with Snow, but the Southern parts more than the Northern, which by reason of the terrible Ice and Cold are very little known. Among the Beasts, the chief are Bears, Foxes, Rain-deer and Dogs; there is also great plenty and variety of Fish, as Whales, Seals, Dog-fish, &c. But on these Coasts are caught the greatest quantities of Sea-Unicorns, whose Horns are so much esteem'd, and kept as Rarities even in the Cabinets of Princes. All the Navigators that arrive here often observe a wonderful Meteor call'd a North-light, which usually appears about the time of the New Moon, and tho' only in the North, yet enlightens the whole Country; perhaps it may be the same which is sometimes seen in England, especially in the Northern Parts, and commonly termed Streaming. It is said to resemble a great Pillar or Beam of Fire, darting out Rays and Streams every where. It also moves from one place to another, leaving behind it a kind of Mist and Cloud, and continues till hid by the Sun-beams.

The Groenlanders are generally of a low Stature, of a ripe Olive Colour, and some of them quite Black, having black Hair, flat Noses, broad Faces and Lips turned up. The Women frequently stain their Faces in blew and sometimes black Streaks, letting the Colour into their very Skin by pricking it with a sharp Bone, so that it can never be worn out. These Natives are not unlike the Somoyeids and Laplanders, being very healthy, active and strong. They are also couragious, and sometimes desperate, often choosing rather to throw themselves down the Rocks than stand to be taken. But they are true Barbarians, extreamly thievish, treacherous and revengeful, not to be won by any kindness or fair dealing. They live altogether by Hunting and Fishing, make Bread of Fish-bones ground to Meal, and drink the Sea-water without receiving any prejudice by it. They ordinarily go a Fishing with Darts, which are strongly barbed and have Bladders fasten'd to them at the other end, that the Fish, when struck, may spend its strength in strugling to get under Water, yet can't do it, and so is easily taken. Their Cloaths are either made of Bird-skins with the Feathers and Down upon them, or of those of Seals, Dog-fish, &c. They wear the hairy sides of them outward in Summer, and inward in Winter, and in vehement cold Weather carry two or more Suits one upon another. They also dress their Skins very well, and sow them exceeding strong with Sinews of Beasts and Needles made of Fish-bones. But their Ingenuity appears in nothing so much as in their Canoes or Boats, which are made of Whale-bone about an Inch thick and broad, stich'd close together with strong Sinews and cover'd with Seal-skins. These Boats are wrought sharp at both ends in form of a Weaver's Shuttle, so as they may be row'd either way, being from 10 to 20 foot long, and 2 broad; they have a Deck of the same Materials fasten'd to the sides, in the midst whereof is a round hole as big as the waist of a Man, so that when he goes to Sea he sets himself in that hole stretching out his Feet forward into the hollow of the Vessel, which is row'd only with one Oar about 6 foot long, having a Paddle six Inches broad at each end, serving both to balance and move the Boat, which is done with incredible swiftness, insomuch that one of our Skiffs with 10 Oars is not able to accompany them. Indeed we are inform'd by the Danish Relations, That the Groenlanders row'd so swift that they even dazzl'd the Eyes of the Spectators, and tho' they often crossed, yet never interfer'd or fell foul one upon another. As for their Religion they are Idolaters, and seem to have a great veneration for the Sun. They have also been seen lying flat on the Earth, and muttering certain Prayers or Charms to the Devil, whose proper habitation they believe to be under Ground. John Munck and divers others that have travell'd farther into the Country, found many Images, such as we commonly make of Demons and hellish Fiends with Horns, Beaks, Claws and cloven Feet, near which lay quantities of Bones of Beasts, as of Deer, Foxes, Dogs, &c. suppos'd to have been offer'd to them in Sacrifice.

NOVAZEMBLA, was so call'd by the Russians, the Word in their Language signifying New Land, but was known to the Ancients (as it is probable) under the Name of Carambria. It lies on the North of Moscovy, separated from thence by the Straits of Waygats or Nassaw; but whether it be an Island or joyn'd to the Continent of Tartary is not certainly known. It was discovered by Stephen Burroughs, in the Year 1556. and since visited by several Persons both of the English and Dutch Nation, who have in vain attempted to find out a Passage that way into the Tartarian Sea, and so farther to Cathay, China, Japan, &c.

This Country (according to the Information of Captain John Wood, who lost his Ship there) is for the most part perpetually cover'd with Snow, neither can one walk on the few bare Plats of Ground, by reason that they are boggy, upon the Surface whereof grows a kind of Moss, bearing a small blew and yellow Flower, under which Green-Sod, in digging about 2 Foot deep, appears a firm Body of Ice. The same ingenious Pilot assures us, That the Snow lies here, contrary to what it does in any other Country, since in all other Climates it melts soonest away near the Shore, but here the Sea beats against the snowy Cliffs, that in some Places are as high as either of the Forelands in Kent; the Sea having wash'd underneath the Snow a prodigious way, and the Snow hanging over, most fearful to behold: But there are many Rivulets of very good Water, melted from the Snow, which run down every quarter of a Mile from the Hills into the Sea. On the Hills are found abundance of Slate-stone, and on the Shore very good black Marble with white Veins. The Dutch, who wintered in Nova Zembla, mention no other Beast than Bears. Foxes and such others as live upon Prey, for that (say they) there is neither Leaves nor Grass to afford any Fodder for tame Cattle; nevertheless Captain Wood found the Track of many large Deer, and saw a small Creature much like a Coney, but not so big as a Rat, together with some few little Birds like Larks. Moreover some English Merchants that resided in Russia, have affirm'd that there is a spacious Lake upon Nova Zembla, wherein are bred a great number of Swans and Geese, which molt their Feathers about S. Peter's Day; and that at that Time the Russians pass over thither to gather these Feathers and kill the Fowls, which they dry and bring into their own Country for Winter-Provision.

SPITSBERG, Montes Acuti, aut Spitsberga, otherwise call'd North-east GREENLAND, took its Dutch Name from the sharp-pointed Rock and Mountains, with which it is environ'd, Spitz in that Language signifying pointed, and Berg a Hill or Mount. It reaches from the 76th Degree of North-Latitude to the 82d, but how much farther, as also whether Island or Continent, is not as yet discovered. Indeed our Mariners generally take it for an Island, and the Dutch only conjecture that the Land is extended more North, because the Ice stands firm and does not float as in the open Sea. The South Parts look toward the Promontories of Finland, Lapland, the North-Cape, &c. The next Land on the East is Nova Zembla, and the large Territories of Greenland or Engraenland on the West, but these at so vast a distance that they cannot be reckoned as its Confines. The principal Harbours are, 1. South-haven, which is capable of containing above 40 Ships at one time, and wherein faulty Vessels are often repair'd. 2. Mauritius-Bay, so call'd by the Hollanders, where some have winter'd; and near it stand a few Cottages, which they built for the trying up their Oil, with a Piece of Ordnance for their Defence. These Houses they termed Schmearemberg, from Schmer, signifying Grease, and the Harlem-Cookery, but all other Nations usually burn theirs before their Departure. 3. The Northern-Bay, where is an Island the Dutch name Vogel-Sang, from the great Noise the Fowl make there in taking their Flight. 4. Monyer's-Bay, the farthest North of the Western-part of Greenland. 5. Muscle-Haven, lying at the Mouth of the Straits of Waygats. 6. Walter Thymen's Ford, which the Enlish commonly call Alderman Freeman's Inlet, and is a large Mouth of a River, as yet undiscover'd.

The whole Country is so encompassed with Ice that it is very difficult to come near the hores, Sand and the Air is so extreme cold that the Europeans cann't dwell there with safety of their Lives; as neither in Groenland nor Nova Zembla. The Soil, as much as hath been hitherto discovered, is nothing but Rocks or Heaps of vast Stones, so steep that they seem ready to tumble down; and indeed many great Pieces often break off from the Tops with a terrible Noise. The greatest part of the Mountains are of Red Earth, and communicate that Tolour to the Snow upon them▪ which often appears marbled, and resembles as it were the Boughs and Branches of Trees, giving a bright Lustre to the Air or Skies, as if the Sun shone. There are also 7 bright blue Mountains in a Line, which tinge the Snow and Ice with the same colour, and betwixt them many sharp-pointed Rocks, the Holes whereof afford Nests to an infinite multitude of Fowls, whose Dung being mixt with the Moss, washed down by the melted Snow, makes Mould in the Clefts and Valleys, which lying open to the Sun-beams, when the Ice is dissolv'd, produceth some few Plants, as a kind of Cabbage-Lettice, Scurvy-Grass, Sorrel, Snakeweed, Mous•-ear, a kind of wild Strawberry, divers sorts of Ranunculus's semper vives, &c.

The Beasts of this Country are only these, viz. Foxes white, grey, tawny and black; Rain-Deer, which grow extreme fat by feeding upon yellow Moss; white Bears of a prodigious Size, some of them being 6 Foot high, and their Skins 14 long; Water Bears, that live by what they catch in the Sea, where they have been seen swimming 12 miles from any Shore, Seals or Sea-Dogs and Morses. Very few Land-fowl breed here, of which the most remarkable is the Snite or Strand-Runner, of the bigness of a Lark, with a four-square Bill resembling a Rasp, that feeds on Worms and does not taste fishy: But of Water-Fowl there is great variety, as Snow-Birds and Ice-Birds, so call'd from their running upon the Ice; Mountain-Ducks, Willocks, Red-Geese, Stints, Gulls, Noddies, Sea-Pigeons, Sea-Parrets, Kirmews, Mallemucks, Pigeon-divers, Lumbs, Rathshers or Aldermen, Burgermeisters or Mayors, Rotger-Divers, S•runt-Jagers or Dung-Hunters, &c. Most of these Birds, except the Strunt-Jager, Kirmew and Mountain-Ducks, make their Nests upon the high Rocks, to be secured from the Bears and Foxes. They fit in so numerous Flocks, especially at the time when their young ones are hatch'd, about the latter End of June and beginning of July, that at their taking Flight they shade the Ground from the Sun-Beams, as it were a Cloud and make such a Noise that one can hardly hear another speak. There are also great quantities of Fish in these Seas, as Seals or Sea-Dogs, Morses or Sea-Horses, Hays, Dragon-Fish, But's Head, Unicorns, Sword-Fish, Mackarel, Lobsters, Garnels, Shrimps, Star-Fish, &c. But the chiefest Profit that draws Men to those desert and disconsolate Places, ariseth from the Whale-Fishing, of which perhaps it may not be impertertinent here to give a particular Description.

As to the natural History of Whales, the Writings of Authors are confused, some reckoning 10 several Species, and others, as Wermius and Bartholinus, making them up 22. giving them various Names from their Difference in Colours, Fins, Teeth, Whale-bone, Oyl, Sperma Coeti, &c. But the Fish properly call'd the Whale, for the catching of which our Ships chiefly undertake the Voyage to Spitsberg and Greenland, differs from other Whales in his Fins and Mouth, that is altogether destitute of Teeth, instead whereof there are long, black, somewhat broad and horny Flakes, all jagg'd like Hairs. The Head is commonly the third part of the whole Fish, yet some have bigger than o•hers. Their Lips are plain, smooth and black, somewhat bended, like the Letter S, and end underneath the Eyes, before the 2 Fins, being lock'd one into another when drawn together. Within, on the uppermost Lip, lies that which we call Whale-bone, of a brown, black and yellow Colour, with Streaks of several Colours, others being of a blue and light blue Tincture, are reputed to come from young Whales; the smallest Whale-bone is before, in the Mouth, and behind toward the Throat, but the middlemost is the largest and longest, reaching sometimes about the length of 2 or 3 Men: these are covered all over with long Hairs, like Horse-Hair, hanging down on both Sides round about the Tongue; on one Side, all in a Row, are 250 pieces of Whale-bone, and as many on the other, besides some others so small that they cannot be conveniently cut out, which is a peculiar Trade, abundance of Iron-Tools belonging thereto. The lower part of the Whale's Mouth is generally white, and the Tongue, lying amidst the Whale-bones, is very close ty'd to the undermost Chap or Lip; it is large and white, with black Spots at the Edges, consisting of a soft spongy Fat, so hard to be cut that it is often flung away, tho' otherwise it would yield 6 or 7 Barrels of Train-Oil. On the Head stands a Hovel or Bump, and at the Top of it, on each Side is a Spout-hole, bended like an S, or the Hole of a Violin, out of which the Whale blows the Water, especially when wounded, so fiercely that it roars like a hollow Wind, or the Waves of the Sea in a Storm; which Noise may be heard at a League's Distance. The Eyes lye very low, almost at the End of the Upper-Lip, and are not much bigger than those of a Bullock, with Eye-Lids and Hair like those of a Man; the Chrystal of the Eye is not much b•gger than a Pea, clear, white and transparent, the Colour of some is yellowish, and of others pure white. The Shape of the whole Fish is not unlike that of a Shoe-Maker's-Last, if you look upon it from beneath; their Belly and Back are generally reddish, but underdeath the Belly they are white, yet some of them are Coal-black, some of them are also curiously marbl'd on their Fins, Back and Tail. The young ones are bigger than a Hogshead, when first brought forth. At the Sides of the Pudendum, of the Female, stand out two Breasts, with Teats on them like those of Cows, which nevertheless are, as it were, sheath'd within till the young one comes to suck; some of these Breasts are all over white, others speckled with black and blue Spots, like a Lapwing's Egg, the Milk that issues from them being white and sweet, but of a somewhat fishy Taste. The Bones of the Whale are hard, as those of large four-footed Beasts, but porous as a Sponge, and filled with Marrow. H•s Flesh, which appears course and hard, like that of a Bull, is alone by it self, and the Fat lying at the Top, between the Flesh and Skin, is about 6 Inches thick on the Back and Belly, as also a Foot thick upon the Fins, proportionable to the Size of the Fish, but the Fat of the Under-Lip is often thicker than 2 Foot. The Tail does not stand up as those of most other Fishes, but lies horizontal, as that of the Fin-Fish, But's-Head, Dolphin, &c. being three, three and an half, and sometimes four Fathom broad; with this the Whale winds himself about as a V•ss•l is turned by the Rudder, and his Fins serve instead of Oars, so that he rows along as swiftly as a Bird flies, and makes a long Track in the Sea, which remains divided for a while as that of a huge Ship under Sail.

As for the Food of the Whale, the Anc•ents thought that he liv'd upon the Froth of the Sea, churn'd with his violent beating on the Water: others say, he is nourish'd with such Weeds and Plants as the Sea affords, since good store of them have been sometimes found in his Stomach: But it is most probable that his ch•efest Meat are a certain sort of small Crabs, otherwise call'd Sea-Beetles or Sea-Spiders, with which the Bays of Greenland are so cover'd that they seem all over black; these frequently hang thick on his Fins and Hairs, and are afterward suck'd into his Mo•th. Indeed not only the Crabs themselves, but also great quantities of little Stones, call'd Oculi Cancrorum, have been taken out of hi• Stomach. The Whales, as well as other Beasts, have the•r peculiar Distempers and divers Enemies; of these last the chief are, 1. A kind of •owse or Insect, having many Feet and a Head like an Acorn, with 4 Horns, which eats through the Skin to devour the Fat. 2, The Saw-Fish or Sword-Fish, which has a long Bone on the End of his Snout, set on each side wi•h Teeth like a Saw; he seldom gives ov•r encoun•ring the Whale till he has kill d h•m, yet eats •p nothing but his Tongue. 3. The Hay, a long round and thin Fish, yet very voracious, whose Mouth, shap'd as that of the Sword-Fish, is full of sharp Teeth, 3 upper and 3 under Rows one by another; with these he bites great Pieces from the Whale, as if dug out with a Spade, and of•en devours all his Fat. These Fishes are also very eager after the Flesh of Men, and assault many that go to swim or wash in the Sea; they are usually taken with a Bait of Flesh fasten'd to a Hook with a strong Iron-Chain, for they would soon sheer a Rope asunder with their Teeth.

The manner of Catching Whales is thus; When any are seen or discover'd by their Blowing or Spouting up of Water, which may be discern'd at a great distance, upon notice given, all the Mariners get into the Long-Boats, which hold about 6 or 7 Men a piece. These row till they come very near the Whale, and then the Harpoonier, who always sits before in the Boat, takes an Opportunity to throw out his Harpoon; which is an Iron shap'd at the Point like an Arrow, and fix'd at the End of a Stick or Pole, having two Beards, sharp at the Edge and blunt on the backs, otherwise it would tear out and all the Labour would be lost. The best Harping-Irons are made of clean and fine Steel, not too much hard•n'd, so that they may be bended without snapping, for 20• Pounds (a middling Whale being valued at so much) are often lost for want of su•h a well-temper'd Instrument, which is light behind and heavy toward the Point, so that fling it which way you will it always falls upon the Point: To the End or Handle of the Harpoon is fastned a Rope 5 or 7 sathom long, and about an Inch thick, being more plyable than the other Cords that are afterward tyed thereto (for it is made of the finest and softest Hemp, not daub'd with Tar, so that it swells and grows hard in the Water). In every one of the Sloops a whole Heap of Lines lye between the S•at•, divided into 3, 4, or 5 parts, and each of them is of 80, 9• or 100 Fathom long. The first of them is tyed to the Fore-runner or small Line, and as the Whale dives they tie more and more Line to it. These Ropes are thicker than the Fore-runner, wrought with strong and tough Hemp, and tarr'd over; but the Line-Furnisher or person whose business it is to look after the Ropes, a• also the other Men in the Long-boa•, must take great Care that they be not entangled, or that they may not run toward the Side of the Boat, lest it should be thereby overset, but they must run out just before in the middle, commonly call'd the Stave by the Sea-men. The Harpo••er darts the Harpoon with his Right-Hand just behind the Spout-Hole of the Whale (if he can conveniently) or in the thick Fat of his Back, for he dies sooner if w•unded thereabout than if he were launch'd into the Belly or through the Guts; but about the Head the Harp•on can do him little Hurt, b•cause the Fat is very thin there upon the Bones, so that it breaks out more easily, and the Whale finds means to escape. However, for the most part the Seamen do not much mind where •hey launce or push them, doing it as well as they can, since there is no Time to take great Deliberation. The Beast, as soon as wounded, runs away with the Long-Boat as swift a• Wind, and diving underneath draws the Rope very hard, so that g•eat Care must be taken to give him Rope enough lest the Boat be overset. In the mean while all the other Sloops row out before, and take notice which way the Line stands, for if it is stiff and heavy, the Whale still draws it with main Strength; but if it hangs loose, so that the Boat both before and behind is equally high out of the Water, then the Men hale in the Rope, laying it in good order, that if the Whale should draw on again, it may be given him without being entangled. It is also to be observ'd, That if the Whale runs upon the Level, too much Rope must not be allow'd, lest in turning much and often about he should wind it about a Rock or heavy Stone, so that the Harping-Iron would be loosen'd and tear out, which has often happen'd. Whensoever the Whale rolls upon the Ground, the Long-boat lying still, the Lines are drawn in again by degrees, and the Rope-Master lays them down in their proper Places. If he runs underneath a great Ice-field, and the Rope is not long enough to follow him, they draw it in as much as is possible, and cut it off, losing the piece of Rope and the Whale; and indeed they frequently run away with the Lines belonging to 5 or more Sloops. Where great quantities of small Ice are crouded together it is very dangerous and difficult to pursue the Whale, for he is so cunning as to retire thither immediately, and the Long-Boats are very often dash'd to pieces against the Rocks of Ice. But when he rises they fling one or two more Harping-Irons into him, accordingly as they perceive him more or less tir'd, and then he dives under Water again, some swim eaven all-a-long, playing with their Tail and Fins, so that great Care must be taken not to come too near them, for they can beat a Long-Boat to pieces at a Blow. Thus the Seamen wait till the Whale is pretty well tir'd, and then kill him outright with Launces nevertheless not without great Danger, for the first that Dart the Harpoon are drawn along at a good distance from him; but they that endeavour to dispatch him with Launces, are as well upon his Body as at his Sides, and receive many severe Blows, all the other Men in the Sloops rowing diligently, sometimes forward and sometimes backward, whilst the Whale lifts himself up and often beats so violently with his Tail and Fins that the Water dashes up into the Air like Dust. The Launces are fixt to a wooden Pole above 2 Fathom long, or somewhat shorter than a Pike-staff; the other part of the Launce being commonly a Fathom long and pointed before, as that of a Pike, is made of Steel or tough Iron, so as to bend without breaking: For the Harpooniers, having made a deep Hole in the Whale's Back or Sides with their Launces, continue thrusting them first one way then another; but if one or more are got out of their Hands they soon take another, every Sloop being furnished with at least 5, 6 or 7; yet sometimes the Whale has them all out of 3, 4 or more Boats sticking in his Body. After he is struck he spouts Water or Blood with all his force, so that the Noise thereof may be heard as far as the Report of a Cannon; but when he is quite wearied it comes out only by Drops, for he has not Strength enough to force it upward; some Whales blow Blood to the very last, dashing the Men most filthily, and dying their Sloops as deep as if they were painted with Vermilion, nay the very Sea is ringed red along wheresoever they swim, the Malemucks commonly flocking thither in great Numbers. Those Whales that are mortally wounded, heat themselves so excessively that they reek, so that the Birds sit on them and eat their Flesh whilst yet alive. They are surest struck with a Harpoon, as they spout Water, and so do not mind the striking of the Oars, for when they lie still they listen, and are sometimes above and sometimes under Water; but it is very dangerous to assault the Females, especially when big with young, for they defend themselves very long and are harder to be dispatch'd than the Males.

The Long-Boats often waste 6 or 7 hours, nay even a whole Day before one is seen; but when he is thus kill'd they convey him to the Ship's Side, fastning that part where the Tail is cut off to the Fore-Castle, and the Head toward the Stern: Then 2 Sloops hold at each End of the Fish, whilst the Harpooniers stand in them before or upon the Whale, clad with a leathern Suit. These 2 Men, who have their peculiar Wages, viz. about 4 or 5 Crowns apiece, slice his Sides with long Knives, raising the Blubber or Fat from the Flesh, which the more it is loosen'd, as the Hide is flea'd from an Ox, the higher it must be hal'd up with the Pulleys, that it may be more easily cut. Afterward the Fat is cut into small pieces in the Ship, and kept in Vessels or Cardels (as they call them) until they try it up into Train-Oil. The Blubber of some Whales is White, others Yellow, and of some Red: The White, being full of small Sinews, does not yield so much Oil as the Yellow; the Red and watery Fat comes from dead Whales, taking its Colour from the Settling of the Blood, and affords the worst and least Oil, but the Yellow Fat, which looks like Butter, is the best. The Fat being thus chopt into small Pieces, and slic'd thin, is boyl'd in Cauldrons or Coppers: Afterward the Liquor is laded out into a Vessel, half full of Water, that it may be cool'd, and that the Dirt, Blood and other Dregs may fall to the bottom; then it is put into Troughs, to be more cool'd, and conveyed thence into the Cardels or Hogsheads, which generally hold 64 Gallons. It is reported that one Housson, a Diepman, in the Year 1634. got 26 Hogsheads (Cados) out of the Tongue of one Whale, and 120 out of its Body. The Train-Oil is us'd by divers Tradesmen, as Frize-makers, Curriers, Cloath-Workers and Soap-Boilers. The Greenland Ships, of the largest size, carry 30 or 40 Men, and sometimes more, having 6 Sloops to tend them, and hold from 800 to a 1000 Cardels of Fat: The lesser Ships contain fewer Cardels, viz. from 400 to 700, and have commonly 5 Sloops or Boats belonging to them. There also go some Galliots to Spitsburg to catch Whales, which have only 3 or 4 Sloops.

The Hollanders attribute the first discovery of Greenland or Spitsberg to three of their own Pilots, viz. Jacob Heemskerk, William Barents and John Cornelius Ryp, imposing Names on the several Creeks and Promontories, according to their Fancy. But it is certain that they only follow'd our Steps, and that had our Men been as diligent in that particular from time to time, as also no less careful in making of Sea-Charts on such occasions, divers Discoveries would have been unquestionably asserted to this Nation, which are now almost disputed from us. Indeed it is not to be doubted but that Sir Hugh Willoughby, in the Year 1553. and Stephen Burroughs in 1556. landed in this Country long before the arrival of the Dutch Fleet, under the above-mention d Commanders; therefore the later had no other way to derogate from Sir Hugh's Honour, but by conferring on him an imaginary Title of an Island, which they call Willoughby's Land, a Place near Nova Zembla: However, in 1610. the Russia Company of English Merchants, sent a Ship, nam'd the Amity, under the command of Jonas Pool, for Whale-Fishing, who fell upon the Country formerly descryed, tho' then not much regarded, and call'd it Greenland, either by reason of the green Moss, with which it was cover'd, or perhaps mistaking it for Greenland, a large Northern Continent before discover'd. He also gave Names to many of the principal Places on the western Side, as Horn-sound (because an Unicon's Horn was there found) Ice-Point, Bell-Point, Black-Point, Knotty-Point, Lowness Island, Cape-Cold, Ice-Sound, Fowl-Sound, Deer-Sound, &c. This was the first Time that any Benefit was made by the Fishing in these Seas. In 1611. the Company hir'd 6 Basques, expert Fishermen, and furnish'd them with 2 Ships to fish for Whales; the first that was taken by them yielded 12 Tuns of Oil, and they likewise kill'd 500 Morsses. In 1622. 2 other Ships were sent, which caught 17 Whales, together with some Morsses, and made 180 Tuns of Oil. The Hollanders came thither the same Year with one Ship, conducted by Andrew Swallows an Englishman, whilst another English Pilot likewise brought a Spanish Vessel. Afterward many other Voyages were undertaken on the Company's account, and these Coasts were frequented by the English, Dutch, Danes and other Nations; nevertheless we find little worth relating of Greenland till the Year 1630. when some English, commanded by Captain William Goodler, were forc'd to wander up and down the Country, and to winter there, a large Relation whereof has been publish'd by Dr. W. Watts, to which we shall refer the Reader. Some English, in like manner, winter'd in Greenland, A. D. 1633. and another Company in 1634. but the latter all perish'd there. The last that has brought us any considerable News from this Country is Frederick Martens a Hamburger, who set sail from the River Elbe, April 15th 1671. and return'd thither on the 21st of August. He set forth a large and very accurate Description of the Land, and all things therein, as Mountains, Plants, Beasts, Fowls, &c. chiefly upon a desire to satistie the Curiosity of some Gentlemen of the Royal Society. This Work was first written in High-Dutch, and has been lately printed in English.

In these Countries there is a continu'd Day for 4 or 5 Months in a Year, and a perpetual Night for 3 Months, so that for the most part there is either all Light or all Darkness. The English that winter'd in Greenland, in the year 1630. entirely lost the Light of the Sun, Octob. 14. and saw it not again till Feb. 3. It is reported by those that staid there in 1633. that Octob. 5. was the last Day they beheld the Sun, tho' they could see to read in the Twi-light, which continu'd till the 17th: That on the 22d the Stars plainly appear'd all the 24 Hours, and were visible during the whole Winter. That on Jan. 15. they perceiv'd for 6 or 7 Hours about Noon, so much Light as they could make a shift to read by it: And that on Febr. 12th they discerned the Sun-Beams upon the Tops of the Mountains, and the next Day his whole Body. Our Men that remain'd in Greenland in 1634. and all perish'd there, left in Writing before their Death, That the Sun disappear'd October 10th, and was seen again Febr. 14. The Hollanders that winter'd in Nova Zembla, A. D. 1596. on November 2d, new Style, or Octob. 23. old Style (according to Purchas) saw the Sun not fully above the Earth; when it rose South-south-east and set South-south-west. After Novemb. 4th, N. S. or Octob. 2d, O. S. the Sun was no longer seen, but the Moon appear'd Day and Night as long as she continu'd in the highest Degrees. On Jan. 24th they perceived the Edge of the Sun above the Horizon, and on the 27th he came totally in View, being in the 5th Degree 25 Minutes of Aquarius. It is difficult to assign a Reason of these various Appearances, unless they proceed from the difference of Latitude, wherein the English and Dutch took up their Winter-Quarters: But the Cold in Nova Zembla was more intense than that in Greenland.

The English that were constrain'd to winter in this Country lived upon Venison, as Rain-Dear, Bears, Foxes, Morsses, &c. The Bear's-Flesh was tolerably pleasant and wholesome, but the Liver caus'd their Skins to peel off; which was also observ'd by the Hollanders, that abode in Nova Zembla. As the Sun and Day began to appear, the Fowls and Foxes crept abroad, for which they set many Traps and Gins, insomuch that a vast number of Birds were taken, and at several times above 50 Foxes: These last prov'd very good Meat, and the Dutch in Nova Zembla were likewise much reliev'd by them in their Scurvies. Afterward, in going abroad to seek Provisions they found great quantities of Willock's Eggs, that afforded no small Refreshment: But the effects of the Cold upon their Bodies were wonderful, raising Blisters on their F•esh as if they had been burnt: Iron stuck to their Fingers when touch'd, and their Stockings were all over sing'd as they sat by a great Fire, yet their Feet felt no Warmth, and their Backs were frozen. However, our Men either had not altogether endur'd so much hardship, or at least were not so ready to complain as William Barents's Company in Nova Zembla; for the Cold was so excessive sharp in those parts, That (as it was related by them at their return) their Shoes froze as hard as Horn to their Feet, their Sack and other strong Liquors were likewise frozen, and a Barrel of Water became perfect Ice in one Night. They also add, That their Carpenter taking a Nail out of his Mouth the Skin and Flesh follow'd glu'd to it with Ice. That in their Huts they were wont to apply S•ones heated at the Fire to their Feet, and other Parts of their Body, to keep them from freezing: And that they suffer'd many other Calamities, the particular Circumstances whereof it would be too tedious to recite.

The Land of Jess•, Terra Esonis, is altogether unknown, unless that it is a great extent of Land, except some Coasts of it, which lie in the 4•d Degree of Latitude. The Situation of it is between Asia and America, by which it is parted by 2 great Arms of the Sea, which are the Straits of Josis or Tessay, which separate it from Great Tartary, and joyn the Northern-Ocean to the Sea of China, and the Straits of Anian Eastward, which part it from America. The Nature of the Soil and Air is not known; 'tis thought that they are like Canada, and that the Country is fruitful in all Things. The Inhabitants, so far as we know of them, live upon Fishing and Hunting, and they are cloath'd with the Skins of Beasts. Their Canoos, or little Galleys, are fastned together with Cords, made of the Bark of Cocos, which never rots in the Water. They trade with the People of Japan, and are subject to the Emperor of Japan, paying him Tribute: Upon which account it is that this Emperor forbids all Strangers, which trade to his Kingdom, to have any Commerce in the Land of Jesso. The Natives are Idolaters.

As for New Denmark, New North-Wales, the Isles of Comberland and Raley, we know nothing of them but the Names and some Coasts, so that all we have to say of them is, That these Countries lye on the North of America, toward Hudson's-Sea, that they are very cold, and that we have little account of them.