The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)Veer, Gerrit de
History
The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)
Veer, Gerrit de
Barentsz, Willem, approximately 1550-1597; Northeast Passage
“From Bear Island we set out, shaping our course W.N.W., thinking
to find towards the north a better passage; for those of the other
vessel wished constantly to draw towards the west, whilst I desired
to go more eastwardly. We made until night, W.N.W., 64 miles, and
during the night till the morning, N.W., 60 miles.
“June 14. Made till night, N. ¼ W., 88 miles. Then the weather
clearing up, we found ourselves in the neighbourhood of ice, and we
fancied we could see land to the north, but we were not certain.
“June 15. We hove to, sounded, without finding bottom with 150
fathoms. Sailed until noon S.E. and S.E. ¼ E., 20 miles, having
attained 78¼° latitude. Then we sailed, wind aft east, 28 miles;
and afterwards, till night, N.N.E., 20 miles. We passed a large
dead whale, on which were several sea-gulls.
“June 16. Foggy weather, wind west, we sailed until noon, N.N.E.,
84 miles. Came into the ice, and we had to keep away in order to
follow the edge of the ice, N.E. 20 miles. Again we had to put back
S.E. 24 miles, clear of the ice, till shaping a course S.S.W. 16
miles, we came again in the ice, which was in the morning.
“June 17. Weather calm until noon. We then found the latitude of
80° 10′. We tacked, having the wind right ahead to keep clear from
the ice (estoyons passe si, ou 6 lieues?) Wind till night, west;
found bottom at 90 fathoms. During the whole watch we continued
steering S.S.W. 16 miles, having wind from the S.E. We then saw
land, but still kept on towards the W.S.W. The land trended for
about 32 or 36 miles, from W. ¼ S., towards E. ¼ N. It was high
land, and entirely covered with snow, and it extended from the N.W.
to another point.
“June 18. S.W. ¼ W. 24 miles, and there we found the latitude of
80°. With wind W. and N.W. we sailed against the wind along the
land till noon, the 20th. Then we had the western point of the land
S.S.W. 20 miles. Continued to sail S.S.W. and S.W. ¼ S., 20 miles,
and came close to a large bay, which extended into the land towards
the south; and another bay, before which was an island, and that
bay extended far towards the south. Then sailed anew from the land,
and till night continued steering N.W. ¼ N., 8 miles, and came
again in the ice, owing to which we had to return towards the
south.
“June 21. It blew very hard and snowed much from the S.W., and we
steered close to the wind, until night, anchored close under the
land, near our companion, just before the entry of the channel. At
18 fathoms sandy bottom. At the east point of the mouth was a rock,
which was moreover split, a very good landmark. There was also a
small island or rock, about 1⅓ from that eastern one. On the west
point also, was a rock, very near.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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