he northern coasts of Asia and Europe. The enterprising
merchants who had been engaged in former expeditions, now resolved to
send one to that part of the world which though so near to them was so
little known. It is true that a small squadron which was sent out for
the purpose, and with which I sailed, failed in reaching its
destination, owing to the advanced state of the season, but it was
found that the northern coast of the continent ran off in a
southeasternly direction, and great hopes were entertained that an
expedition sent out at a more favourable season, would be attended
with the happiest results. Although many who had engaged in
enterprises like these, had lost both money and courage, yet, induced
by the accounts which we brought home, and by my advice, the city of
Amsterdam resolved to make another and final attempt. It fitted out at
its own expense, a couple of vessels, and having provided them with
all things necessary, entrusted them to the care of myself and three
others, viz: Jacob Heemskerk, John Cornelius Ryp, and William
Barents.

"On the 10th of May, 1569, we left Amsterdam, accompanied by the good
wishes of the whole town, and as a favourable wind filled our sails,
we made our way so rapidly towards the north, that by the 5th of June,
we encountered vast floes of ice, which covered the sea as far as the
eye could reach. Four days later, we discovered land, which was not
noted down on the chart; it proved to be an island some four miles
long, and evidently hitherto unknown. Some of the men took one of the
boats and went ashore; they found many gull's eggs, and had a narrow
escape from losing their lives. They ascended a hill of snow which was
as solid as a block of marble, but in attempting to descend, they
found themselves obliged to slide to the bottom, and were in imminent
danger of being hurled upon the sharp rocks by which it was
surrounded; happily, they received no injury. The next day we had a
hard struggle with a polar bear, for dangerous as these creatures
were, we always felt desirous of attacking them, and we now undertook
to take one alive. Accordingly, seeing a big fellow not far from us,
we took a boat, and set out with the intention of capturing him, by
throwing a noose over his head, but when we came near to him we did
not dare to attack him, on account of the ferocity he exhibited, but
returned for more men, muskets, and pikes. Ryp's people were coming to
our aid; we went after h