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t»j-I

HISTORY

O F T H B

VOYAGES

AND

DISCOVERIES

MADE IN THE

N O

TBANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF

JOHN REINHOLD FORSTEH, I. U. D.

AND ELUCIDATED BY

A NEW AND ORIGINAL MAP or the Couk.

TRIES SITUATED ABOUT THE NoRTH POLE.

'.'41

Uiv

Orbis fitum dicere , . . impeditum opus et facundiae niinime
capax . . . Tcrum afpici tamen cognofcique dingifTimuni.

Po M P o K I u s Me L A in Prooemh,

DUBLIN:

'tfinted for LuKE White, Dame-ftreet, and Pat. Bitrne,

Grafton -ftreet.

MDCCLXXXVI,

F16

\ t

C 'O N T E N T S.

Book 1.

'F THE MOST ANCIENT DISCOVERIES —

Chap. I. The voyages and difcoverles of the Phcenicians
Chap. II. The voyages and difcoveries of the Grecians
Chap. III. The voyages and difcoveries of the Romans

Page
I

ibid.

K II.

Discoveries MADE IN THE MIDDLE Aces -— 31
Chap. I. Difcoveries of the Arabians ■- ibid.

Chap. II. Difcoveries of the Sa*ons, Franks, and Normans 44.
Chap. Ill, Difcoveries of the Itah'ajisand fotne other nations 89
Sec. 1. Travels of Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela

Sec. II.
Sec. III.
Sec. IV.
Sec. V.
Sec. VI.

Sec. vir.

Sec. VIII.
Sec. IX.

Sec. X.
Sec. XI.

Sec. XII.

Sec. xiir.

Sec. XIV.

of Johatines de Piano Carpini 92

of Andreas Luciura^l — 9^

of William of Ruyfbroek 96

ofHaitho, King of Armenia 113

of Marco Polo of Venice 1 1 7

of Odericof Portenau 147

of Sir John Mandeville 148
of Francifco Balducci

of John Schildtberger
of the ambalTadbrs

Rokh — :

of Jofaphat Barbaro to Tanna
of the Chevalier Nicolo Zeni
of Pletro Q^n'rini
A z

Pegoietti
150

• S3

of Mil za Shah

•58
165

'78
- 209

ClVSRAL

CONTENTS.

CfCNCRAL VIEW of the ilate of affairs at this period
it: iftnrcs and Remarks ■ ' ■■ ■

Page
a4s

Book III.

DlSCOVfeHlBS MADE IN TUB NORTH IN MODERN TIMB9

252

Gbnbkal OBSBRVATIONS " ibid.

26$

266
268

271
a74

Chap. 1. Difcoveriesof thcEngllfli in the North

Sec. I. 1497. John Cabot and his three fons
Sec. 11. i<;53. Sir Hugh Willoughb/
Sec. 1 1 1, i 5 5 5 . Richard Chancellor —

Sec. IV. 1556. Stephen Burrough —

. Sec. V. 1 567. Martin Frobiflier —

Sec. VI. 1 577. Frobiflier's fecond voyage
Sec. VII, 1578. Frobiiher'i third voyage aSo

Sec. VIII. 1580. Arthur Pet and Charles Jack man

287
Sec. IX. 1583 Sir Humphry Gilbert
Sec. X. 1585. John Davis

289
298
302
308

3'«
317
320

3*7

Sec. XI. 1 586. Davis's fecond voyage
Sec. XII. 1587. Davis's third voyage
Sec. XIII. 1 591. George Weymouth
Sec. X(V. 1605. John Knight —

Sec. XV. 1607. James Hall ■

Sec. XVI. 1607. Henry Hudfon — —
Sec. XVII. 1608. Hudfon's fecond voyage
Sec. XVIII. 1603,1611. Divers voyages made to
Cherry or Bear Ifland — 328

Sec. XIX. 1610. Hudfon's third voyage 332

Sec. XX. i6i2. Thomas Button > ■ ■• . 344

Sec. XXI. 1614, Capt. Gibbons ■ ■ » 347

Sec. XXII. 1614. Fotherby and Baffin 348

Sec. XXIII. 1615. Fotherby - — 349

Sec. XXIV. 161 5. Robert Bylot — 350

Sec. XXV. 1616. Robert Bylot and William Baffin

35a
Sec. XXVI. 1616, 163 1. William Hawkbridge 357

Sec. XXVII. 1631. Lucas Fox ^— 359

Sec.XXVlII. 1631. Thomas James — 367

Sec. XXIX. t668. Zachary Gillam and De Grc-

feiller — 376

Sec. XXX.

CONTENTS.

iMBa

252

ibid.

26$

266

268

271

272

a74

280
:knian
287
289
298
302
308
3«i

317
320

3*4

de to

328

33*
344
347
348

349
-^350
Zaffire

35a
357
359
367
Grc

376

:xx.

Pa Re
Sec. XXX. 1676. John Wood and WntintnFlawes

383
Sec. XXXI. 17 19. Knight and Birlowr 386

Sec. XXXII. 1722. Capt.Scroggs — 387

Sec. XXXIll. 1737. Ihe Hudfon't Bay Company

fends out two iltips 390

Sec. XXXIV. 1741, Chriftopher Middleton and

William Moor — 390
Sec. XXXV. 1746. William Moor and Francit

Smith 392

. Sec. XXXVI. 1773. Captain Conilantine Joha

Phipps, now Lord Mulgrave

397
Sec. XXXVlI. 1776. James Cook — 309
Sec. XXXVIII. 1776. Richard PickciTgiJl 407

Sec. XXXIX. 1777. Michael Lane — 409
Chap. II. Difcoveries of the Dqtch in the North — 410
Sec. I. 1593. Cornelis CorneliiTon Nay and William

Barentz 411

Sec. II. 1 595. Seven iKips from Amfterdam, Zealand,

Enkhuyfen, and Rotterdam 416
Sec. III. I $96. Jacob van Heeniflcerk, William

Barentz, and Cornelia Ryp 4 r 7
Sec, IV. 1609. Henry Hudfon — • 421

Sec. V. 1611. Jan Mayen 422

Sec. VI. 161 1, 1614. Voyage of a fhip fitted out by

Dutch merchants 423

Sec. VII. 1614. Dutch Greenland Company 423

Sec. Vlll. 1633. Wintering of certain failors at

Spiilbergen — — 423

Sec. IX. 1640 or 1645. RykeYfe's voyage 424
Sec. X. 1643. Voyage of the ibips Caftiicom and

Breflces ■ 424

Sec. XI. 16 J4, 1641. Voyage round the North

Pole at the diftance of two de-
grees from it — 426
Sec. XII. 1 654—1 707. Various difcoveries made ar

different times — 428

Chap. III. Difcoveries of the French in the North — 4 ^o

Sec. I. 1 504. Voyage* of the Bifcayans, Ncrmans,

Bretons, and others — 431
Sec. II. 1524. JvianVeraazani — — 4^2

Sec. 111.

CONTENTS.

I'agc
Sec. III. 1534. Jaques Cariier . — , 437

Sec. IV. 1535. His fecond voyage — 438

Sec. V. 1540. His third voyage — 441

Sec. VI. 1 542. Francois de la Roque de Roberva^

44«
Sec VII j I $98. Marquis de la Roche

. Sec VIII. 1709 Captain Frondad

np. IV. Difcoveries of the Spaniards in the North
Sec. 1. 1 5 24. Eftevan Gomez . — —

1537. Francifco Ulloa- and others
Sec. 11. 1542. Juan Rodriguez deCabrillo
Sec, 111. 1556. Andrea Urdanietta —

Sec, IV. 1582. Fiancifro Gualle -—

Sec. V. 1592. Juan de Fuca, alias Apoftolos
lerianos ' ■ ■

443
444
445
447
ibid.

448
448
448
Va-
450
45 z

453
pre-

454

Sec. VI. 1596. Sebaftiano Vizcaino — -
Sec. VII. 1 602. His I'econd voyage ■
Sec. VIII. 1640. fiartholomeo de Fuente's

tended vdyage — —
Sec. IX. 1775. Don Bruno Heceta, Don Juan de
Ayala, and J. Francifco de la
Bodega y (^adra — 455
C^ap. V. Difcoveries of the Portuguefe in the North 458
Sec. 1. 1500. CafpardeCprtereal — 460

Sec. II. 1578. Fifty Portuguefe veflels fi(h off New-
foundland Bank — 461
Sec. III. 1555. Martin Chaque ' ■ ■ 462

Sec. IV. 1620, 1621. Father de Angelis and Jacob

/* Caravalho

Sec. V, 1 62 1, 1649. Jo^o ^^ Gama
Sec. VI. 1660. David Melguer —

Chap. VI. Difcoveries of the Danes in the . Jorlh
Sec. I. 1 564- Dithmar Blefkens
Sec. II. 1605. Gotlke Lindenau and

463
464.
ibid.
466

Sec. III. aSo6- Their fecond voyage
Sec. IV. 1607. Karften Richardt

Sec. V. 1,619. Jens Munlc

Sec. VI. i636. The Danifh Greenland

Sec. VII. 1769.

Baron
voyage

von

James Hall

467
~ 468

— 469

47»

Company

47'
Uhlefeld's pretended

Ciiap. VII.

CONTENTS.

Chap. VII. Difcoveries of the Rufllans in the Noith — 473
General obskrvations on the difcoveries made in the
North, together with Phyf J, Anthropolgicai, Zoological,
Rotanicai, and Mineralogical refledions on the obje^s oc-
curring in thofe regions ■ ■ ■ ■ 483

P R E F A C v..

;<l

The Translator's PREFACE.

H E Author of the work, of which the fol-
lowing Iheets are a tranflation, is too well known
to (land in need of any recommendation to the
public. That he had, for a long time previous
to this publication, made the Northern Geography
of Europe his particular ftudy, we are informed
by the Hon. Mr. Daines Barrington, in the Pre-
face to his elegant Edition of Alfred's Orofius.
If, to this confideration, we add the circumftance
of his having himfelf made a long and fuccefsful
voyage of difcovery in the coldeft climates, his
multifarious erudition, and more particularly his
great acquifitions in nati^ra! fcience, we Ihall be
ready to own, that it would not be very eafy to
find a Hiftorian fitter to record the Northern Dif-
coveries, than the Writer of the prefent compila-
tion.

The fubjed is confeiTcdly of the greateft impor-
tance •, and, though treated in a very different
manner, bears a ftrong affinity to that of thejuftly-
admired Hijlory of the European Settlements^ to
which, if it is inferior in point of ftileand rhetori-
cal ornaments, it will perhaps be found equal in
profundity of refledion and philofophical invcfti-
gation, and fuperior with refpedt to accuracy and
extent of information. — Errors there miift be in

a every

*»".*«'

'"7

Translator's PREFACE.

every human undertaking, and confequently this
compilation is not without its fhare. Many of
thefe have been redtified in filence by the Tranf-
lator, who has carefully compared almoft every
page with the original writers, whence this work
is chiefly extracted. Other miftakes of his Au-
thor he has openly noticed, and that principally
for the fake of foreigners, and thofe who have read
the book in its original language. Such is the
note to page 341, in which, however, the Tranf-
lator has perhaps gone too far in affcrting, that
the anecdote there referred to has not even the
Ihadow of truth to fujiport it. In fad, he rather
fuppofes, on the contrary, that Dr. Forfter him-
felf, or elfe (which is more probable) his infor-
mers have, ly confounding two different ftories,
inadvertently blended truth with fairehood,and
thus rendered the whole anecdote fubjedt to con-
tradidion.

The Tranflator has likewife omitted a long
note full of inventive againft Mr. Harrington, as
he could by no means prevail on himfelf to make
the following Iheets, which were fo happily cal-
culated for inftrudion and innocent amufement,
the vehicles of abufe and calumny. — Mr. B. it
feems, negleded to mention Dr. Forfter's name
in his edition of Alfred's Orofius, probably for the
fame reafon as he omitted to mention the name of
the perfon who laid down the map for the Spanifh
Voyage, publifhed in his Mifcellanies, viz. be-
caufc he did not attach any high degree of glory
to the bufmefs of map-making, and was confci-
ous of his right to publifli what he had purchafed.
This omiflion, however, might have been con-
fidered in fome meafure as blameable, had not the

Doctor

Translator's- PREFACE. iii

Doctor himfelf, by a filence of more than eleven
years, entirely exculpated him in this refpect.
Why Mr. B. did not own the obligation aTier-
wards in his Mifcellanies, is a quell ion that no
one perhaps but Dr, F. will a(k. Again, why
the Dodtor did not claim his property before,
he himfelf belt knows, and perhaps may not wilh
any one to enquire. Mr B. in his Preface to
his Verfion of Alfred's Orofius, has done ample
juftice to Dr. F.'s remarks. The map was not
worth contending for ; but if it were, no one
woul<;l be difpofed to difpute it with the authgr
of ihofe excellent remarks.

Of Mr B — *s Verfion the Tranflator has made
a free ufe in the following pages, excepting in
thofe few paflages in which it differs from that
of Dr. Forfter.

a 2

The

i<.

The Author's PREFACE.

HE work here offered to the public is of a
very different kind from thofe with which it is
continually peftered, and which are the joint pro-
duce of illiterate writers and greedy bookfellelrs.
This, on the contrary, has employed the whole of
my attention and induftry for thefc laft eighteen
months ; though, like every other produdlion of
human nature, it flill has its faults and imperfec-
tions.

The numerous refearches, upon which, more
efpecially in the ancient part and that relative to
the middle ages, I was obliged to enter, the mul-
tifarious departments of learning from which I
have derived fome of the following notes and re-
marks, the orthography of a proper name, the
exprelBon of a number, may appear at prefent
very eafy to many of my readers ; and perhaps I
fhall hardly gain credit for the a(rertion,or at leaft
it may be confidered as a mere boafl, when I
confefs that a fhort annotation, the proper name
of a place or perfon, or theexpreffion of a number,
has frequently coft me whole hours, and fome-
times days.

Not content with merely Hating fads, I was
alfo defirous to olace them in the clearell light.

With

CE.

ic is of a
ich it is
oint pro-
okfellelrs.
whole of
eighteen
udtion of
mperfec-

AuTHOR's PREFACE. v

With this view I have laid down a new map of
the countries about the North Pole as far as the
50t!h, and in fome places, the 45th degree, com-
prizes the lateft difcoveries, with tolerable accu-
racy and precifion ; and muft on that account, it
it is prefumed, merit the preference to all others
of the kind.

As this work contains a great number of proper
names as well as fads, I thought proper to annex
at the end of it a very complete Index, of the
great utility of which I was perfedly convinced by
the recolledtion that, for the fake of finding fome
(liort trifling paffage, I have often found myfclf
linger tlie necclTity of reading the major part of a
book.

:h, more
jlative to
he mul-
which I
and fe-
me, the
prefent
lerhaps I
at leafl:
when I
er name
lumber,
d fome-

I was

ft light.
With

INTRO-

INTRODUCTION.

xVi

•MONG all the difcovcrics which have tended to
enlighten mankind, to promote commerce, and to ad-
vance Europe to the glorious zenith of power and re-
finement in which it appears at prefent, navigation has
indifputably contributed much, it not more than all the
the reft. On this account alone, even were we not to
confider the numerous, bold, and curious manoeuvres,
and the grand, though minute and complicated mecha-
nifm which it conftanJy difolays, it might jufl-ly claim
^n exalted place, if not a diftindkive preference amongft
the arts. We commonly regard failors merely as a
ruftic and unpoliftied race of men : vifiting, as they do,
many different countries, and thofe frequently at a great
diftance from each other, their drcfs cannot, without
much trouble, be any where in the fafhion, neither can
they be expefied, nor indeed would it be rational for men
in their fituation to attend to elegance and finery, ratlicr
than to convenience andeaie. This fingularity of appear-
ance is alone fufficient to render them ridiculous in the
eyes of the more polifhed inhabitants of towns and cities,
and the plain and homely manners which they f;ejierally
coptra<St in long voyages, fecluded as they arc from the
reft of mankind, are apt to infpirc feme of the moft re-
fined amongft us with difguft ; whence the tranCtion is
eafy to an utter contempt of their wav of 'ifc, as aiib of

this

viu

INTRODUCTION.

this very ufeful profcflion which conne£^s the moil dif-
tant parts of t^ ' world in th^^ bands of fociety and con-
cord.

Of all the arts id profeffions which have at any time
attracted my notfce, none has ever appeared to me more
aftonifhing and marvellous than that of navigation, in the
ftate in which it is at prefent, an art which doubtlefs ^-
fords one of the moil certain and irrefragable proofs of
the amazing powers of the human underitanding. This
cannot be made more evident, than when, taking a re-
trofpedive view of the tottering, inartificial craft, to
which navigation owes its origin, we compare it with a
noble and majeftic edifice, containing looo men, toge-
ther with their provifions, drink, furniture, wearing ap-
parel, and other necefTarieS for many months, befides
100 pieces of heavy ordnance ; and bearing all this vail
apparatus fafely, and as it were on the wings of the wind,
acrofs immenfe feas to the moft diilant ihores. We are
fo much accuitomed to talk and to judge of many differ-
ent fubjc6ts in the grofs, that fuch particular and de-
compounded ideas as thefe occur to us but feldom ; and
very frequently we are not poffeiTed of a fufHcient de-
gree of fpeculative knowledge to be able to trace an idea
of this kind up t© firil principles. The following ex-
ample may ferve for the prefent to delineate at full length,
as it were, the idea above alluded to. But firft I mufl
prcmife, that a huge, unwieldly log of wood, with tlie
grcateft difficulty, and in the moil uncouth manner, hol-
lowed out on the infide, and fomewhat pointed at both
ends, and in this guife let on a river, for the purpofc of
transporting two or three perfons belonging to one and
the fame family acrofs a piece of water a few feet deep, by
the afTiilance of a pole puihed againil the ground, cannot
with any propriety be conlidered as the image of naviga-
tion in its iirft and earlieil flate. For it ieems evident
to me, that people in the beginning only took three or
four trunks of trees, and faitened them together, and
^Jien, by mgans of this kind pf raft, got acrofs fucji

waters

INTRODUCTION.

ijt

noft dif-
and coo-

: any time
me more
)n, in the
ibtlefs ?if-
proofs of
g. This
ng a re-
craft, to
it with a
len, toge-
!aring ap-
s, bcfides
11 this vail
the wind,
We are
my difFer-
and de-
lorn i and
Hcient dc-
^e an idea
iving cx-
11 length,
rft I muft
with the
ner, hol-
at both
Lirpofe of
one and
: deep, by
cannot
naviga-
evidcnt
three or
ler, and
lofs fuc|i
waters,

'■k

■aJi,

waters as were too deep frr them to ford over, and
acrofs which they could not well fwim with their
children and various kinds of goods which they might
wifh to preferve from being wet. The canoe, how-
ever, is a fpecimen of the art in a more advanced
Itate, as this kind of craft is capable of having direc-
tion given to it, and even of fo capital an improve-
ment as that of having a fail added to it. For which
reafon I chufe this vehicle for a ftandard, in preference
to a mere raft, to which, imperfedt as it is, it is fo
much fuperior. Let us, then, compare this with a
large majeftic floating edifice, the refult of the inge-
nuity and united labour of many hundreds of handf^,
and compofed of a great number of well-proportioned
pieces, nicely faftened together by means of iron nails
and bolts, and rendered fo tight with tow and pitch,
that no water can penetrate into it. Now, in order
to <Tive motion and dirtc'cion to this enormous machine,
foine aftoni{hing,ly-lofty pieces of timber have been
fixed upright in it, and fo many moveable crofs pieces
have been added to it, together with fuch a variety
of pieces of ftrong linen cloth, for the purpofe of catch-
ing the wind and of receiving its impulie and propc!-
ling power, that the number of them amounts to up-
wards of 30. For changing the direction of thclc
yards and lails, according to particular circumfrance",
it has a}fo been requifite to add a vaft quantity of
cordage and tackling, and nevcrthclefs, even a!l this
would not be fufnciei'.t for the pcrfeft direction and go-
vernment of the veffel, if there was not fafiened to the
hinder part of it, by means of hinges and hooks, a
moveable piece of wood, very fmali mdeed in propor-
tion to the whole machine ; but the leait inclination of
which to either lide is fuificient to give immediately a
different direction to this enormous large mafs, and that
even in a ftorm, fo that two men may dircdl: and eo*
vern this fvvimming iflsnd with the fame or rather with
greater cafe than a fmgle man can do a boat. But it,
befides, wc confidcr that, in a veflel like this, not a finjiic

piece

«; INTRODUCTION.

piece is put in at random, but that every part of it hat
its determinate measure and proportion, and is fixed
precill'ly in that place which is the moil advantageous for
it i that, thioughout every part of it, there is diltributed
ail aftonifliing quantity of blocks, ftays, and pullies, for
the purpofc of diminilhing the fridlion, and of accele-
xaiitiL; the motion of thefe parts ; that even the bellying
and vaulted part of the fabric, together with its iharp
termination underneath, arc proportioned according to
the niceit calculations and the moft accurately determin-
ed rules ; that the length and the thicknefs ot the mails,
the li'/e of the booms and yards, the length, width,
and li rcngth of the fails and tackling are all in due pro-
portion to one another, according to certain rules found-
ed upon the principles of motion : when we confider all
this, i fay, our admiration increafes more and more at
this great inailer-piecc of hsman power and underiland-
ing. Still, however, there are wanting a few traits to
Complete this defcription. A man in health confumcs,
in the fpace of 24. hours, about 8 pounds of vi<Sluals and
drink ; confequently 8000 lb. of provifions are re-
quired per day in fuch a fliip. Now let us fuppoi'e
her to be fitted out for 3 months only, and we ihall
find that (he muft be laden with 720,0001b. of pro-
vifions. A large 42-pounder weighs about 6 100 lb. if
made of brafs, and about 5500 lb. if of iron i. and
generally there are 28 or 30 of thefe on board a fhip
of 100 guns, the weight of which, exclufive of that of
their cairiages, amounts to 183,0001b.: onthefecond
♦leck there are 30 twenty-tour pounders, each of which
weigh about 5100 lb. and therefore all together,
153,000 lb. and the weight of the 26 or 28 twelve-
pounders on the lower deck amounts to about
75,4.00 lb. ; that of the 14 fix-pounders on the upper
ileck, to about 26,600 lb. ; and befides that, on the
round tops even there are three -pounders and fwivels.
Nov.', if to this we add, that the complete charge of

* a forty-

'III

INTRODUCTION. il

a forty-two pounder weighs about 64 II). and thut at
lealt upwards of 100 charges arc rciiiiircd for each
<run, we (hall Hnd this to amount nearly to the fame
weight as the guns thcmlclvcs. In addition to this
we mult rcftcdt, that every (hip mull have, by way of
providing againft exigencies, at kaft another fet of
liiils, cables, cordage, and tackling, which altogether
amount to a confiderable weight. 'J "he Itores likewif*
confiding of planks, pitch, and tow ; the chclts be-
longing to ibc officers and lailors ; the lurgeon's
ftores, and various other articles rcquifite on a long
voyage ; as aM'o the fmall arms, bayonets, fwords, and
piltols, are n^ inconfiderable load ; to which we muft
finally add the weight of the crew, which is not very
trifling, fo tfl t one of thefe large (hips carries at
Icait 2162 tuns burthen, or 4,324,000 lb. and at the
fame time is (leered and governed with as much caiir
as the fmallell boat. Now, the confideration of the(c
circumftances alone are fufficient to excite the moll
ferious reflections in a contemplative mind ; and yet,
if fuch a fliip failed along the coalt only, and never
loll fight of the ihorc, as the navigators of old ufcd
to do, we might Hill be tempted to look upon navi-
gation as an eafy and trifling bufmefs. But the find-
ing the llraif^hfell and fhoucft way over an ocean of
more than bo or 8o degrees in longitude, and 30 or
40 in latitude ; or acrofs a tract from 4000 to 6coo
miles in extent, by day or by night, in fair weather
or in foul, as well when the (ky is over call, as when
it is clear, and often with no other guidft than the
compais (which dees not even poir.t diredly to the
north it! all places) ar.d the being able to determine
tlic tnu' pcluicn of the Lhip at lea by the height of
thp (ui^ though this latter be enveloped in clou'cis, or
to direct one's courfc by the moon and the ih\r&
with fuch exadnefs and precifion, as not to make a
miftake of the value of hnlf a degree or -70 miles ^
this at lead (hcv/s the pro^grcfs and great perfection
of an art practil'ed by a let of people of whofe under-

ibudiji^-s

1X11

INTRODUCTION.

•:h

lit

ftandlngs many conceited and fupercilious landmen
have but a mean opinion, and whofe plain and fimple
manners they frequently take the liberty of turninj
into ridicule,

A violent ftorm of wind will make us tremble
with fear, even in a ftrong^ welUbuilt houfe, and in
the midft of a populous city ; yc^t we have feldom or
never either {een or experiericed the vaft power of the
enraged waves, when beat about by the winds, and
tlaflicd againft each other, till they feern transformed
into froth and vapour, and the whole furface of the
ocean prefents to the eye a confufed fcene of immenfe
watery mountains, and bottomlefs precipices ; and yet
/)n fiich a fea as this the true feaman, provided he has
but a £ id (hip, ride§ with cal-n and unTiaken courage,
;ind thinks himlelf as fafe in the midft of the ocean as
in the bcft fovtihcd caftle.

This art, carried to that height of perfe£lion in which
we have delcribcd it, ciofely. connedts the moft diftant
regions, furnilhes the houfes and fprcads the tables of
the luxurious natives of Europe with the rarities, dain-
ties, and treafures of both the Indies, bears prote6lion
nnd fafety to the remoteft (hores, and diftufes terror and
«Ieftru6l:ion beyond the moft extenfive feas. In fhort,
it is the greateft and moft aftonifliing of all human
invcntio IS, and produced by the moft vigorous exertion
of the intelle£lual faculties of man, whom, in defpite
of his natural debility and feeblenefs, it muft neceflarily
jnfpire with the higheft degree of pride, were he not,
on other accounts, but too liable to that failing,

It is, however, gradually, and by little and little
only that this art has attained to that degree of per-
fevSlion in which it now fubfifts, after having for whole
ages before advanced towards it with a flow and almoft
imperceptible pace. A minute enquiry into the whole
i'yftem of nature j into the powers of the loadftone ;
into the nature of the planets ; their determinate pe-
riodical revolutions ; their influence upon each other,
and upon the winds and tides ; a more accurate know*
ledge of the nature of the air j of its periodi<tal currents ;

■ ir

INTRODUCTION.

Mil

of its conftituent parts, and of the various dcnfity of
its different ftrata ; a knowledge of the difference of tb«
gravitating power at the different parts of the earth ;
and of many other fciences, in which by the help of the
mathematics in thefe later times only, confiUerable advan-
ces have been made, have alfo of late greatly contribu-
ted towards the perfedion of navigation ; and as un-
doubtedly thefe fciences arc very far from having as yet
arrived at their higheft pitch, they muft of courfe receive
a daily increafe, and by confequence likewiie continually
impart new improvements to this art.

Before navigation could attain to its prefent perfe6lion,
it muft have advanced flowly through many iucceflive
gradations ; and how rude and imperfedt mull it have
been above 2000 years ago ? Hov/ contradlcd and limited
alfo muft the ideas of mankind have been uith regard
to foreign countries and nations ? This our northern
part of the globe, however, and Europe, began at an
early period to contribute to the exttnilon of human
knowledge in relation to foreign countries and nation;'",
by means of voyages of difcovery, by commerce and hv
conqueft. Thefe three fources of the enlargement of
our knowledge of people and countries I mention tojre-
ther, becaufe we are ufed with an implicit confidence
to repeat after the great Momefquieu (a), **thatcoiiu-
" tries are now dilcovercd bv voyages on tl\t ila, but
** that formerly the fea was Jifcovered by the conqueft
** of countrie; ." And 1 may with great juftice add
mere chance likewife, as a fource not lefs fruitful than
the former. Ihe peopling of the iflands in the South,
Sea by a Mahiyan nation, is perhaps to be attributed to
mere accident alone. They probably fet out for a
neighbouring illand, in order to fee their friends, and
were driven by a ftorm to an ifland, of which they had
not the leaft previous knowledge. When in the year
1774, we landed for the fecond time at Huaheine^
we found three men and a woman from the ifland of
O-mateivOy or O-mateoy who in their beat had been cait
away on this former ifland by a ftorm ; and Capt. Cook^
in his Iftft voyage in 1777, tound in an ifland at a grc':it

(a) Efprit dcs Loix, lib.sxi c.

diilancc

■ <

lU.

.«

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

diftance from 0-raiedea, three countrymen of Omai's,
who were the only furvivors of 50 perfons, the reft
having been gradually deftroyed by the ftorm, and by
hunger and thirft.

In fad, voyages made for the gratification of curio-
fity, and for the extenfion of commerce, feem to have
greatly contributed to the promotion of knowledge, and
to the introuuiSlion of milder manners and cuftoms into
fociety. For it is highly-cultivated nations only, that
explore diftant countries and nations for the fake of
commerce, in like manner as the feeking them forthe
gratification of curiofity, pre-fuppofes a ftiil higher de^
gree of cultivation and refinement.

On the other hand, the more rude and uncivilized,
march armies into foreign territories for the fake df
conqueft. Though it cannot be denied, that even in
this way, nations, which have arrived a( a high de-
gree of culture, have added confiderably to the know-
ledge they were before pofl'efled of, with refpeft to dif-
ferent nations and countries. All thefe are the varied
means which an infinitely wife Being has appointed for
the purpofe of humanizing mankind, of drawing them,
if I may fo cxprefs myfelf, out of their native ftate of
barbarifm, and of diffufing amongft them the liberal arts
and gentler courtefies of life. It is, however, hy Navi-
gation principally that we learn, that men and nations
exift not for themfelves alone, but like wife for the fake
of others. In long and diftant voyages the bands of fo-
ciety and friendfhip, too apt to be relaxed when we find
ourfelves independent, are cemented by our wants, of
which it is impoffible at that time not to be fenfible.
Urged by diftrefs and hard(hip, we are then willing to
receive the afliftancc we cannot do without, even from
ftrangers. Our mutual neceffities give rife to mutual
favours and reciprocal benefits, till the gentle fpirit of
humanity and kindnefs, thus kindled from a fpark of lau-
dable felf-intereft, and gradually encreafing by repeated
exertions, burfts forth at laft into a glorious blaze of ha-
bitual benevolence and univerfal philanthropy.

Without voyages and without navigation, unculti-
vated and favage nations look upon themfelves as the
only, or at leaft as the principal, inhabitants of the
e^rth.

The

F Omai's,

the reft

, and by

of curio-
n to have
edge, and
loms into
only, that
e fake of
;m for the
higher de^

incivilized,
he fake of
at even ia
a high de-
the know-
)e6lto dif-
the varied
jpointed for
ving diem,
ve ftate of
liberal arts
, by Navi-
ind nations
Dr the fake
ands of fo-
len we find
wants, of
be fenfible.
willing to
even from
to mutual
:le fpirit of
lark of lau-
y repeated
llaze of ha-

unculti-
llves as the
Ints of tlie

The

INTRODUCTION. xv

The ancient inhabitants of our native country afllimed
the name of Teutfche^ i. e. Germans, from the word
Thiud^ which fignifies a people. Before other names
were introduced, every habitable part of Egypt was
fcallcd Thebe (b), from ^o»«? (TJjeveh) the habitation.
Thfe people of Greenland call themfelves Inmit men,
i. e. natives, and the Kamtfchadales alTume the name of
itel men, or inhabitants ; for the fame reafon the Eu-
ropeans are likewifc called by the Greenlanders Kab-
iunas^ i. t.Jirangers^ or foreigners, in like manner as
all ftrangers amor^ft the Moguls were termed Uigur ^ or
'Jugur* Thus, too, the Sajfen^ or Saxons intitled them-
fclves the conjiant, fixed inhabitants of the country. And
Influenced by the fame principles, the Chinefe, who,
though far from being in a flate of high cultivation, ate
txtremely proud and conceited, are of opinion that their
country is the center of the univerfe, and that their na-
tion is the only one, which on account of their know-
ledge ard underftanding may be faid to have two eyes,
whilft on the contrary, all other people en the earth
have but one j as alfo that they are the face of the world,
and other nations only the backfide of it ; or, as the
f rench would fay, qu'ils appartiennent aux parties hon-
teufes du monde. It is only in confequence of repeated
intercourfe between diftant nations, that the knowledge
of nations and countries has been developed. In the
beginning, all the Sclavonian nations were called Saurc-
mates } when they became better known, it was found,
that each tribe called itfelf in general 5/flt;/',* or Sclare^
with another peculiar or fpecific name annexed to it,
c. g. Ruffian, Polonian, Bohemian, Serbian, Polabian,
Vandalian, Crobatian, and Bulgarian flaves.

The greater the diflance of the difcovered countries
was from the refpeftive feats of learning and civilization
at any particular period, the longer time it was, before
in confequence of repeated voyages and expeditions, anv
certain information concerning them was diffufed through
thefe more refined and cultivated parts of the world.
But then this knowledge of diftant nations and countries
was likewife always in proportion to the ftate in which
the difcovering nation itfelf was, with reljjeit to learn-

(b) Herodot. Lib. II. Cap. 15.

Iflff)

l§

XVI

INTRODUCTION.

in?.

culture, and refinement of manners. It was at i
late period only that the Romans learned that Great-*
Britain was an ifland j and even in the days of Horner^
it was fuppofed that a total darknefs pervaded Crimea^
or the land of the Cimmeriansi becaufe in that country,
the nights were much longer than in Greece. The
cold induced the Arimafp'tans to wrap themfelves upf
during the winter in fuch a manner that there appeared
but one aperture in their head-drefs for them to look
through i this circurriftance gave occafion to the Bof-
phorian Scythians to inform Herodotus that thefe people
had but one eye. In like manner, too, they told him,
that beyond the country of the Arimafpians there was no-
thing but feathers, by which they meant nothing more
than a great quantity of flakes of inow (c).

The moft remote northern regions could not pofllbly
have been difcovered all at once, but only one after ano-
ther, and by degrees ; and fo long as upwards of 3270
years ago, the Phenicians and Egyptians had fome know-
ledge of Tartejfus^ or Tarjhljh^ for at that time lived
Mofes, who makes mention of Tarjh'tjh \ and Herodo-
tus, who was alive fo long as 2iQ,i years ago, was ac-
quainted, though imperfedly, with Great-Britain and
Pruffia. The tirft he knew to be the country of Tin,
and the fecond that of Amber. So early as about 2106
years ago, Pytheas of Marfeilles had knowledge of the
lame countries, as alfo of Thule^ or Iceland.

In lefs enlightened times, a great deal of this know-
ledge was lott, and accordingly in the time of Vefpajiariy
the Romans thought they had made a great dilcovery,
when they had found that Great-Britain was an
ifland (d).

In Hill darker times, geographical knowledge became
yet more contracted, till at length in our days new dif-
toveries have been made, which have brought us bet-
ter than ever acquainted with the North, and have left
us little more to difcover with refp«^ to thefe regions,

(t) Herodot. L. IV. Cap. 17 and 31.
frl) TaeituB, vua Agricolc.

HISTORY

t was at i
lat Great-
o{ Homer<
ed Crimea^
lat country,
Ece. The
■nlelves up
e appeared
m to look
the Bof-
hefe people
' told him,
;re was no-
dding more

not pofllbly
J after ano-
ds of 3270
Dme know-
time lived
id Herodo-
0, was ac-
iritain and
ry of Tini
ibout 2106
:dge of the

this know-
Vefpaftatiy
dilcovery,
was an

re became
R5 new dif-

\t us bet-
have left
regions.

HISTORY

OF THE

VOYAGES, &c.

BOOK

CRY

OF THE MOST ANCIENT DISCOVERIES
MADE IN THE NORTH.

CHAP. I.

Of the Voyages and Difcover'm madt by the Phoenicians.

TH E north was certainly not a region likely to be
chofen by any people voluntarily and witliout
compulfion for a habitation, as long as there was room
for new colonies towards the eaft and the weft. It might
however happen that famine, diflentions with their
countrymen, and many other caufes, compelled feveral
families and tribes to remove farther towards the north.
For the greater degree of the cold of the winters there,
the deficiency of fuch plants as grew fpontaneoufly, and
might be ufed for food, together with the earth being fhut
up by the froft for the fpace of many months, were fuffici-
ent to deter any race of people from making choice of
thofe regions for their abode. Notwithftanding which,
hiftory informs us, that thefe countries were inhabited

B eveii

Ift

i'V..

■j( ■

i'::

1 VOYAGES AND

even at an early period. It is, however, no lefs cer-
tain, that the notions entertained by the antients, re-
lative to the north and its inhabitants, or, as the Gre-
cians ufually called them, the Hyperboreans^ were different
at different periods. Accordingly it will be our endea-
vour, in the following pages, to fhew, how this idea has
been extended by degrees, in proportion as new difcoveries
were made in geography, and the different nations with
which the earth was peopled, became better known.

It has been known from thne immemorial, that
the Phaenicians were the firfl people who attained to
an extenfive knowledge of the earth and its inhabi-
tants ; a knowledge which they acquired, indeed by the
great extent of their voyages and commerce. That we
may be the better enabled to (hew, with any tolerable
degree of certainty, at how early a period the voyages
of difcovery made by the Phoenicians began, and how
far they extended, it will be necelfary for us to take a
ihort view of the hiftory of this people.

At a very early period of antiquity, there exifted a
race of men on the ihores of the Red Sea, or of the
mofl northerly part of the Arabian Gulph. Thev dwelt
in caves formed by nature in the range of hills that
ran along the fea-coaft, and fprcad themfelves alfo by
degrees farther away from the fea-fide into the deferts,
where,, in like manner, they inhabited indifferently, and
without making any fixed fettlement, every hole and
cavity in the earth, nay, under every thorn [Rhamnus
Paliurus Linn. & Nabeca Forfkal] whofe branches
could afford them even a fcanty fhelter. They had
neither cattle nor any kind of agriculture ; but near the
fea, lived on fifh and other marine animals, and in the
dcferts on Jocufl^s, and on the tender tops and young
ftoots of broom, and fome miferable, paltry fruits from
off the few plants that grew wild in thofe parts. This
wretched way of life procured them various names and
appellations from their more polifhed and civilized neigh-
bours. The Hebrews called them Hontes, and the
children of Enai ; both which denominations had a
reference to their living in holes and caves : and the
Grecian name of Troglodytes is merely a tranflation of
the former of thefe terms. From their diet they were
likewife called in Greek hhthyophagl or filh-eaters, Arx-

dophagi

DISCOV£RIES IN THE NORTH.

y lefs cer-
itients, re-
,s the Gre-
rc different
our endea-
his idea has
difcoveries
ations with
mown,
orial, that
attained to
its inhabi-
deed by the
That wc
ly tolerable
the voyages
n, and how
s to take a

e exifted a
, or of the
Thev dwelt
hills that
ves alfo by
deferts,
rcntly, and
hole and
[Rhamnus
branches
They had
ut near the
and in the
and young
ruits from
rts. This
names and
zed neigh-
and the
3ns had a
and the
nflation of
they were
ters, Ar/-
dopbagi

^ophagl or V cuft-eaters, and Hyhphagi or wood-eaters.
This is an evident proof, that when they fcparated from
the other tribes who were occupied in cultivating the
earth and tending cattle, they were not upon good terms
with them ; and that, in all probability, they carried
nothing with them, when they fled into the wildernefs to
avoid the effefts of the difpleafure and vengeance of their
brethren. Confequently, they looked on all their neigh-
bours in the light of enemies ; and whoever went un-
armed into the deferts which they inhabited, was fure to
be robbed by them. On the other hand, whenever any
one of this race went near the dwellings of the more
civilized tribes, there was a general hue-and-cry raifed
immediately, which quickly obliged him to betake him-
felf again to the wildernefs. In the mean time neceflity
made them bold and inventive. They were the firft to
venture on the Red Sea, on a wretched float made of the
fprays of trees fattened together, (a) in order to get their
livelihood by fifhing. By land they were obliged to range
alone all over the deferts in quefl of food j when, if they
met with a woman of their race, ihe was per force
obliged to fatisfy their lufl: : the next thorn, or hollow in
the rock, was their bedchamber ; and none of them, in
this cafe, ever fpared even their neareft of kin. On
this account the whole race was held in the greateft
deteftation by the other nations. It is thus likewife that
they are defcribed by Job (b),, and the very fame pi6lurc
of this people we find in Diodorus (c).

Part of this people went fo early as before the call of

Abraham, into the Land of Promije (d). In this coun-

'try they took from Canaan, the father of their tribe, th«

name of Canaanltes ; a name they gave tliemfelves in

l^ublick monuments * fo late as after the vi(5lory of Alex-

(*) PIId. Lib. vii.c. 55.

(b) job, chip, 30. V. I — 8. .

(f) biofior. Sicul. Biblioth. Lib. iii & Strabo. Geograph, Lib. Jslv.

{d) Gcnt-fis, chap, la. v. 6. 13. v. 7.

* The celebrated Mr. Jolin Swintoii in the GentUmaiCs ATaftazine for
Dec. 1760, p. i;5o, hai given a delcripiion and drawing of a com (liuck
hy the City of LaoJiceu, and beirins; a Spinilh or Phcenician infcription i
Oil .vliich coin Laoiiicea it ceiled a Motf.ir-C'ity, or Mtircftlis'm Canaan,.

ander

tViC'5

'U.m

1 1'„.

VOYAGES AND

ander the Gi'cat, In the reign of Antlochus Epi'phanes,
wi ich conlHtutes a period of more than 1742 years.
The ftiepherds poflefled the internal part of the country ;
and the part inhabited by the Canaanites extended from
the lake of Genezareth quite to the Mediterranean. In
this new habitation, commerce, together with the fa-
brication of a few articles of luxury and curiofity, was
their chief employment, and what they fubfifted by.
This they carried to fuch an extent, that at laft Ca-
naanite and merchant became fynonymous terms. To
ithe Greeks this nation was known by the name of
Phaniciam^ a name, which this latter people probably
beftowed on them on account of the palms {ipomi,) which
grew in that country in great abundance *.

The forni of their govenment, and their man-
ners ttill retained a great deal of their primitive rude
and wild ftate. To every little tribe they had a king or
prince. The fame fpirit of freedom and indepen-
dence, by which they were aftuated in the wildernefs
and oh the fhores of the Red Sea, ftill remained with
them at the time when they lived un'der the govern-
ment of a prince in walled and fortified cities. Even
fo late as a thoufand years after this, they were reproach-
ed with their iicentioufnefs, impure delires, and Ihame-
ful practice of promifcuous copulation j and in like
manner the deceitfulnefs of their difpofitions, their ava-
rice, cruelty and perfidy became almoft proverbial.

I'he wars of the Elamitic princes (c)^ together with
the earthquake (f) which followed foon upon thefe
, induced the few Horites, which ftill remained
Icattered on the fhores of the Red Sea, to go over to
their brethren in Palejiine. Here their occupation, im-
mediately after their arrival, was navigation and com-
merce (g) i and they carried Egyptian and Aflyrian
commodities from one place to another in the Mediter-
ranean. In the very firft commencement of their na-

• It is pcfllble, however, that Efau's other name, Edom^ which figni-
fies tfJy and whom the Greeks have changed into a king Erytkras^ may
have ill'o contributed towards the appellation of Ptctnieians ; as fom^fig-
nities likewifea red date-coionr. ^

(e) Genefis, chap. 14. v. 1, 4.

(/) Genef. chap. 19. v. 24, 15, 28. Herodot. L. i. C I. &c Judin.
Lib. xviii. c. 3.

igj Herodomg, J. c.

vigation,

i Epiphnnes,
1742 years,
the country ;
tended from
rranean. In
with the fa-
Liriofity, was
fubfifted by.
at laft Ca-
terms. To
le name of
iple probably
^e(»|) which

their man-
imitive rude
lad a king or
nd indepen-
le wildernefs
mained with
the govern-
ities. Even
;re reproach-

and (hame-
and in like
their ava-
verbial.
ogether with

upon thefe
ill remained

go over to
upation, im-
3n and com-
nd Aflyrian

le Mediter-

of their na-

)w, which figoi-
Erythas^ may

IS i at 4>o(VjJ fig-

:. I. 8e Juflin.

vigation,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH 5

vigation, they made ufe of longjhips^ and arrived at fuch
an acquaintance with nations and countries, as at that
period, in the infancy of the world, nuturally aftoniftied
the reft of mankind. For about 600 years after Noah's
flood, the navigations of the Sidoniam in the Mediter-
ranean, their trade, and the flouriftiing circumftanccs
they were in in confequence of thefe, were fo famous,
as to be made mention of by the dying patriarch Ja-
cob, {h) .

Very early we find mention made of Tarjhijh, the Spa-
nifli Tartejfus (/), as of a European people. Forfo far,
atleaft, is true, that Moses muft have heard from the
Pho&rAcians, that there adually exifted fuch a people ;
which people, confequently, muft have been vifited by
them. But this fa6t he learned in the flower of his age,
when he was lefs than 40 years old, at the time when he
accompanied the Egyptian King Seftoris in his grand
expedition through />.fia and Europe ; confequently
about 730 years after the deluge*. According to this
calculation the Phoenicians Jiad at that period extended
their navigation as far as Spain, and even as far as to
the other lidc of the Straits of Gibraltar ; and by confe-
quence they were acquainted with all the coafts of the
Mediterranean : for in thofe days, in all their voyages,
navigators followed the coafts, and went to as little dif-
tance from it as polTible. This diftant navigation was
continually extending j and, beyond the Straits, they
went as well to the left hand and fouthwards along the
coaft of Africa, as likewife to the right hand and north-
wards along the coafts of Spain and Gaul, 'till they at
laft reached the Britifh fhore, and there found both lead
and t'lity both which metals were known fo early as in
the time of Moles [k). And thefe metals were, ac-
cording to the univerfal teftimony of the ancients, no
where to be found but in the Britifh iflands (/). Ac-

(h) Gcnef. chap. 49. v. 13. »

(i) Genef. chap. 10. v. 4.

• ViHe J R. Forfteri Epiftols ad Jo. Dav. Michaelem, hnjus fpicilegi
«m geographige Htbrxorum exterc jam confirtnantes, jam caftigantci,
p. 1—7, 6c p. 19—44.

( k) Numbers, chap. 31. v. 14.

(/) Herodotus^ Lib. iii. cap. 1 1 g. where he confelTes, that it was brought
aloog with amber from the farthed exueiaity of Europe.

cordingly

.•ill

i VOYAGES AND

cordingly they were calleJ the Sorling or Siil/y iflands s
likcwife the Cajftterides, or 77«-iflands ; and in the lan-
guage of the country, this land is CTiWt^ Bro -or Brte-
tain, viz. the land or tin : an appellation which it pre-
ferved in the times of the Romans, and indeed has pre-
ferved it even to this day. Nay, as Pliny exprefsly fays
* ♦ that a certain Midacritus firft brought lead and tin
from the Cafliterian iflands, we have reafon to fuppofe
that the nam? of this perfon was corrupted, and we can
almoft take upon us pofitively to affert, that it is a Phoe-
nician name. Befides tin and lead, which the Phoeni-
cians, and no other nation whatever, fetched from Bri-
tain (w), they likewife brought amber from the -noft
remote regions of Europe. To the Greeks amber
was known fo early as in the times of Herodotus, and
perhaps of Homer ; and yet we are well aflured, that it
was only to be had from the countries bordering on the
German Ocean ; but no Greeks ever went to thole
parts : for the utmoft extent of their commerce was to
the Phoenician colony of 'Cadiz \ confequently, the
trade of the Phoenicians muft have extended as far as
Pruflla, which is one of the moft aftonifliing voyages
that ever was undertaken \y any people in the infancy of
the world.

This early acquaintance of the ancients with the north
of Europe cannot be denied under the pretext, that af-
terwards, in the times of the Greeks and Romans, ra-
ther lefs, if any thing, was known of thefe regions than
is fuppofed to have been known to the Phoenicians : for
it is the very fame cafe with refpeit to the circumnavi-
gation of Africa. It is at prefent proved almoft to a
Jemonftration *, that the Phoenicians and Egyptians

*• Plinil Hlft. Nat. L, vii. ftp. t,6. Indeed the name of mhaakpi-
TOS appears originally to have been MEAKAPTOI, which wai propcrl/
one of ihe appellations of the Phoenician or Tyrian Hercules. And the
word Hercules or Harokel in the Phoenician language fignified a mer-
chant.

(m) Strabonis Geograph. Lib. iii. fub fvnem.

* Vid. ^oh Matth. Gefneri PraltSlionet de Pbaenicum extra Columnm
Kerculis Navigalionibus, at the end of his edition ot theOrphici ; likcwitc
jtug. Lud, Scblozer''s Sketch of a General Hiftory of Commerce and
Kavigajion in the remoted antiquity; and the Chevalier Joh. Dav.
Michaelii'iSpicilegtum Geographic Hebrzornro eztcrs pod Bochaitum.
I'ars prima, p. 8i-— lOJj.

have

"iw

Illy iflands 3
in the lan-

lich it pre-
eed has pre-
xprefsly fays
ead and tin
1 to fuppofe
and we can
t is a Phce-
the Phoeni-
l from Bri-
n the •. 110ft
eeks amber
odotus, and
red, that it
ring on the
nt to thole
Tce was to
lently, the
;d as far as
ng voyages
s infancy of

th the north
ct, that af-
omans, ra-
egions than
icians : for
ircumnavi-
almoft to a
Egyptians

of MHAAKPI-
was properl/
es. And the
niiied a mtr-

vtra Cdumnns
lici ; likcwile
ommerce and
er Joh. Dav.
I Bochaiturn.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 7

liave more than once undertaken and happily accom-
plifhed the circumnavigation of this quarter c^ the globe.
Even the celebrated voyages to Ophir of the Phceniclans
and Hebrews in Solomon's time, were nothing elfe ttun
circumnavigations of Africa f, and vet thev were all
forgotten ; and when K*ifco Gama in the years 1497 and
1498 failed round Africa to the Indies, it was conhdercd
as an abfolutely novel undertaking, and a voyage that
had never been attempted before.

In order the better to fecure to themfelves the very im-
portant commerce of thcfe countries, the Phoenicians
founded c<Jonies and cities every where in the moft com-
modious places, as far as their voyages extended.

About 80 years after the Trojan war, the city of Gades
(or Cadix) was founded in a fmall ifland not far from
Tarteffus in Spain, and foon afterwards that of UtUa in
Africa (»). They had long before this traded thither,
and had already found their way to Britain ; they had
likewife made voyages to Greece, Thrace and Italy, and
had even peopled and founded cities in Cittium, Thera,
Argos, Thebes, Samothrace and Thafus ; nay, they
had, in all probability, extended their commerce as far as
the Black Sea to Bithynia aiid Colchis. Their very lu-
crative traffick however to Africa, and efpecially to
Spain, induced them to ereil on the hither fide of it, on

•j" The land of Ophir is, in my opinion, the fame with that which
was otherwifg called Africa. The Phocniciaaa fent out for the purpofe by
the Egyptian King and Conqueror Sejeftrit and his father Pamaijii or
ylmqfis I. gradually difcovered, together with the Egyptians who were
joined with them, the coafts of all Africa : hence we meet with fuch ad-
mirable, and, in fait, comprehenllve account! of the natives of Africa fo
early as in Moleb's time, in the xth book of Genefis. Now gold and other
precious commodiiies being found in many parts of Africa, this newly
difcovered country became celebrated and got a great name : and this ia
the Egyptian language is Ov-<f>t(t, and, with the addition of the word xa^,
which fignifiea a countrjy Ou-<fii^t-iui(y (i. e. tie celebrated country J Opbiri
and Ophirikah. The third epoch* of the circumnavigation of Africa fell
in the time of Solomoit, nearly 500 years later, Three hundred and
eighty years after this Nccho gave orderk for the circumnavigation of Afri-
ca to be performed ; and in the reign of Ptolemy Euergetet II. one Eu-
JoxMt failed once more round Africa, which is 450 years later than the
voyage of Necho: and yet in Sirabo's time many people doubled of the
poffibility of making the tour of Africa by fe».

^§) Veil. Paterc. Hift. Lib. I. cap. i.

have

■ ij If

VOYAGES ARD

an idand near TartefTus, a fortified place, which thejr i
might make yfe of as a rcpofitory or ftorehoufc for the '
Spanifh trade. From hence they fpread as far as Britain
and Pruflia, and filled their magazines with the com-
modities which they had got by way of barter for their
glafs, purple die, cloth, and all forts of manufa«Slurcs
and produdions of ingenuity and art, and vended again
in Phoenician and all the countries and towns on the
{hores of the Mediterranean, and that almoft always to •
advantage.

Shortly after this, we find Phoenician colonics on every'
ifland in the Mediterranean, in the Balearic iflands, in
Sardinia, Corfica, Sicily, Malta, and many parts of the
northern coaft of Africa.

Nothing, however, is more worthy of remark, than
the foundation of a now Phoenician State on the African
Coaft. About 140 years after the building of the Tem-
ple of Solomon at Jerufaipm, Eussa or Dil>o fled from
'Tyre in order to avoid the felicitations and perfecutions
pf her brother, who was king of that place. She landed
firft in Cyprus, an ifland on which at "mat time there Had
long been Phoenician trading towns "nd colonics, uid
which her father had very lately brought more unde; 1 ib-
je6lion than ever. {0). Here {he was accompanied by
a prieft, and her followers took wives along with them :
and fo {he failed with her younger brother Barcas and
her fiffer Anna to Africa, As foon as fhe arrived, (he
bought a piece of ground of the Africans, for the pur-
pofe of building on it a fortification i to this, from the
oxes hide, on which when {he made the negotiation, {he
fat by way of carpet after the eaftern manner, {he gave
the name of Byrfa. About 25 years after this, juft up-
^er the fort which was f.tuated on an eminence, and
whither more and more Phoenicians continually reforted,
{he laid the foundation of a new city^ which accordingly
was called Cdrtha-chadta or New-town : or as it was ab-
breviated by the Greeks, Karchedon^ and according
fo the Latin pronunciation, Carthago, The fertility of
the adjacent foil, the excellence of the harbour, the
happy fcite of the town, in the center of fo many

(f) Virgilis i£naeis, L. I. v. (21, 6ti.

rich

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. ^

rich iflands and countries conveniently fituated fcr car-
rying on a lucrative commerce, together with the in-
d'ullry of the inhabitants, all contributed greatly to the
rapid increafc and improvement ofthe colony. It was
not long before, in confcquencc of the enlargement of
its territory, it became a feparate State ; and this m-
confiderable State foon increafcd to a kingdom, which,
from the firft building of the city to its dtftruaion, in
all 70D years, extended its dominion over a confiderable
portion of Africa, and over a great part of Spain, Si-
cily, Corfica, and Sardinia, as likcwife over the Bale-
i.ric Iflands.

'i'hc internal regulation of the State, the moft perfect
and refined policy often (hewn and pra«Slifed by it, the
numerous wars carried on for the prote«Slion and exten-
iion of its commerce ; the emoluments ariftng to if
jVom this coijimerce (which was extended to the moft
icaiote countries) as well as from the filver mines of
Spain, and from the adlive diligence and unwearied
iiiduftry of its inhabitants, contributed very much to the
rapid increafe of their power, of their riches, and of
their profperity in general.

The great variety of profeflions and arts, which fub^
fiflcd at Carthage in the moft flouriftiing ftate j the fpi-
rit of emulation, the (kill arifm^ from experience, and
the great art exhibited by them m the conftrudion and
navigation of their Ihips ; the fpirit of enterprize and
the courage rfegulated by prudence which manifefted
itfelf in au their undertakings, foon put them in a con-
dii:ioi\ to extend their commerce to thofe nations with
which the Phoenicians had, till then, carried on an ex-
clulive trade.— r-Soon after the State of Carthage had
acquired a fufficient degree of firmnefs and confiftence,,
the power of the Phoenicians decayed. For about 120
years after the building of Carthage, Salmanajfar^ king
of Ajjyria^ made war on the united States of Phoenicia »
and the cities in Cyprus, as well as the cities of Akra,
Sidon and old Tyre, revolted from the kingdom of
Tyre. Thefe internal troubles and infurre<£lions among
the Phoenicians themfelves, joined to the vidories of the
Aliyrians, confiderably weakened their power. In the
fpace of 150 years more the States of Tyre, after hav-
ing fqltained a' 13 years fie^e, became fubjeiSlto Nebu-
"^ ^hadnexar^

V O Y AGES AND

!' m

ih\

tbadnezar^ king of Chaldtsa, The reft of the Phoeni-
cian States had like wile fallen into the hands of the
ChaldxanS) and the whok commerce of this nation was
now entirely annihilated. This event ferved greatly to
throw the trade of the Phcenicians entirely into the
hands of the Carthaginians. In confequence of this,
the |)ower and credit of this /latter people, as well as
their riches, encreafed greatly j on which account it
was, that about this period, or ratker later, they form-
ed the defign of getting into ft ill more branches of
the trade of the moft remote countries, by means of
voyages of difcovery made for the purpofe. Being
therefore at that time in the height of their profperity,

g) they fent out two fquadrons of ftiips with this view,
ne of thefe was under the command of Hanno, and
went out of the Straits of Gibraltar to the fouthward.
sJong the African coaft. The other wa^conrniaaded
by Imilco or Himilco, and failed out of the Straits
northwards along the coafts of Spain and Gaul to 6ri>
tain *. Accurate accounts of both thefe voyages were
drawn up and were preferved in the archives of Car-
thage. The fouthern voyage is defcribed in a Greek
fragment. And on the fubje^t of that of the northern
Admiral, there are extant fome obfcure, mutilated Latin
verfes. In Ihort, it appears that the voyages which had
been relinquished by the Phoenicians in confequence of

(^) Pliaii H'dor. ntt. Lib. ii. Cup. 67, & L> v> c. t.

• Rufus FeJIuj AvieMM^ Orte marititH^, vtrfn 17 — 41$. Avit»Mt ftyt
cxprefsj : that tti which he there relates, is taken out of the Punic
himilco^ which he had feen himfelf ( and that he had extraded from the
very iomoft of the Punic Annals, and had made it public to pletfe hit
fiieod Probut, Kotwithftanding this affertion, thiii geographical frag-
ment appears to be very much mutilated, and very incoherent. In it he
fpeaks much of lead and tin, and of (hips cafed with leather, (which in
^amtfLhatka wouJd ^e galled MaiJeiny and in "W^htCoraeles) and men-
tions that in thoie parts the Et{fl-rymni lived, to yvhom the people of Tar*
tefTos and Carthage went, for the purpofe of trading with them. ■ Yet
1 will not deny, but that it (bmeiimet appears, as if thefe tin countrit s
f iigrecably to what Avienus fayi) all lay in Spain ; on which account I
confider iris fragment of Avienus as very imperfe£t and much mutilated.
. ., ■ Thus much, however, is certain v that at the very fame time
(h^t Hanno failed to the fouthward, Himtko made a voyage towards the
Korlh, to the tin countries) and that an accurate account of this voyage
'was preferved in the annals of Carthage, which were Aili extant in the
middle of the ;th century, at the time when Avienus wrote (viz. about
the year 4;?). Perhaps the Etift'rjmni wcie iituttcd at the promontory
of Qtriuun in Prit4in.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. if

the deftru(^ion of their towns and of the ftate of flavery
to which they were reduced after the couqiieft made of
them by the Aflyrians and Chaldaeans, gave occafion to
the Carthaginians to make themfelves better acquainted
with the countries whence their kinfmen and allies the
Phoenicians, had derived fuch confiderable advantages,
and being once in pofleffion of thofe advantages, they
ufed every means in their power to exclude odiers from
participating with them. It is therefore not to be won-
dered at, that although fome few reports got abroad,
that Braetain was the tin-country, or tiiat Baltia on the
river Rhodun, where the Aefti lived, not far from the
Gutioni, was the country that produced amber, nevcr-
thelefs their pofterity in later times had not the leaft
knowledge left of the true fituation of thefe countries,
it being the intereft as well of the Phoenicians as of the
Carthaginians after them, to conceal as much as poffible
the real fituation of thefe countries from others. In a
fubfequent period the Romans, being as defirous to dif-
cover thefe fources of the wealth ot" the Carthaginians
as they were to conceal them> fent a veflej out for that
purpofe, with orders for it to fail in the wake of a Phoe-
nician ihip bound for Britain. This was fcon obferved
by the wary Carthaginian, in confequence of which he
ran his veflel purpofely among the rocks and fand-banks,
fo that it was loft together with that of the inquifitive
Roman. The patriotic commarjder of the former was
indemnified for his lofs by his country ; and thus the
way to the Britifh tin mines was for a confiderable time
longer (q) concealed from the Romans. Bijt now the
North lilcewife, together with all the nations and regions
in that quarter, continued to be unknown ; and an ac-
quaintance with it was rendered ftill more difficult by
this felfifh concealment ; and in all probability the civili-
sation and refinement of the manners of njankifid was
ilill farther retarded by this circumftance,

(^) Straha Lib. iii. Tub Gactq.

CHAP.

VOYAGES AND

CHAP. II.

Of the Voyages and Difcoveries made by thi Grecians.

TH E Grecians were originally a people, that had
at an early period of time pafled from AJia Minor
to the peninfula which they inhabited. In procefs of
time they were civilized by new-tomers from Afia Mi-
nor, Phoenicia and Egypt, From Jfta they received many
arts and profeffions, together with agriculture and the
cultivation of the vine. The Egyptians feem to have
introduced among them the regulations of civil eftablifh-
ment, matrimony, laws, and many of their religious
do6lrines. From the Phcenicians they learned naviga-
tion, commerce, aftronomy and the ufe of letters.

As foon as they had got fome kind of eftablifhment,
which was merely in the form of little independent
States, they began to pradlife navigation : and their rude,
unfettled way of life, their internal commotions and mu-
tual diflentions, together with their warlike turn of
mind, difpofed them to piracy. But when they arrived
at a higher degree of civilization, they were infenfibly
k 1 to commerce. At an early period they undertook an
expedition towards the North, through the Straits
whidi feparate Afia from Europe, into the Black Sea
as far as the river Phafis, celebrated for its golden fands.
They returned by fome rivers, which they failed up, and
after a confiderable time and going a great way about,
at length arrived again in their native country. As ro-
mantic as this expedition appears, it is neverthelefs
founded upon truth. The Argonauts, without doubt,
vifited a great many countries in the North. Only we
cannot at this period of time determine what circuit they
took in their way back. They went, no doubt, to the
Hyperboreans^ a nation, the fituation of which v/as, ac-
cording to circumftances, frequently varied by the Gre-
cians. Indeed, every tradt of country that lay towards
the North, or that was (heltered by its fituation from
the violence of the north wind, might lay claim to .;his
appellatioi).

Thu5

ecians.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. i$

Thus they at firft met with the Hyperboreans beyond
riiofe trads of Thrace, which lie to the north of Greece j
for Boreas, the ravilher of Orythia, hved in the land of
the Cicones. (s) Afterwards, when the world had ac-
quired a more extenfive acquaintance with the northern
regions, they removed this people to the other fide of
the Black Sea, the Danube and the Adriatic Sea, where
lived the Sauromates, the Arimafpians and the Celts.
($^ At a ftill later period they placed them beyond the
Riphaean mountains, where they had fix months day an4
fix months night, and where, without contentions and
quarrels, in a warm and extraordinarily fertile country,
they pafled their days in repofe and hr.ppinefs, till fatiated
with life, their heads adorned with flowers, they preci-
pitated themfelves from a certain rock into the fea. (u) It
is eafy to perceive that thefe accounts are formed out of
various others aukwardly put together. In the infancy of
navigation th^re went a report among the Grecians con-
cerning certain Fortunatt IJlands (as they were termed)
lying at a great diftance to the weft ward (probably the
Canary Iflands and the Ifland of Madeira) which vverc
warm and fertile, and peopled with a race of men living to
a great age, in a calm, delightful ftate of repofe and hap-
pinefs. (x) On the other hand, the account of days and
nights of fix months long belongs to the d^fcription of
Thule, as indeed we (hall have occafion in the fequel to
mention. Were thefe northern regions where the nights
and days were imagined to be oi fuch an extraordinary
length, aftually the fame with the Fortunate IJlandi^ they
might in this cafe be the Hyperborei of the Grecians. But
unfortunately they have nothing in common with thele
odiers, but their being fituated beyond the Straits of
Gibraltar. The Fortunate IJlands lie to the fouthwcft of
the Straits, and Tljule almolt dircdly to the northward
of them.

Probably at an earlier period, and before the Fortunate
Iflands were pitched upon as the feat of the Hyperbore-
ans, the refidence of thefe people was tiansferred to Spain,

(/) Hymnus Orphicus (79) in Boream. v. 1, 8e Ovid. Metam. vi, 709.

(t) Stiabo, Lib, ii.
^ («) Mela, Lib, iii. 5. Plia. Hift. Nat. Lib. iv. u, & Lib. vi. 13. Sc-
lin, xxi.

{x) MaKajaf* yiitrof Strabo, Lib. i. & Flin. Lib. vi. c. 35, 6c Plutarch
ia Sertorio.

For,

VOYAGED ANd

For, according to fome accounts, the prefents wfjicff
this nation fent to Delos for Apollo, came through thtf
hands of the Scythians (or Celtae) to the Hadriatic
-Gulf, from thence to the Dodonaeans, then by the Sinus
Maliacus to Caryttus and Tenos, and fo at laft to De-
los. (y) One fees very plainly from the track by which
thefe prefents came, that they came from the weftward :
and as beyond the Adriatic Celts, there lay only the Spa-*
niards farther on towards that quarter, the HyperboA-
ans and thefe people, according to the foregoing accounts,
muft have been one and the fame nation. There it is
likewife probable that they might have offered up affes
in facrifice, which are uncommonly beautiful in this
country, (z) where the laurel, with which they were
wont to encircle their templps, ^rew in abundance, and
whence Hercules brought the olive which he planted in
Pifa. (n) The different fituations of the country of the
Hyperboreans here mentioned, fhew very evidently the
progrcfs of human affairs and opinions. At firft tlie
Greeks were very near the extremities of the North.
But in proportion as their knowledge of different coun-
tries and nations increafed, the extremity of the North
was carried farther back ; indeed in the infancy of navi-
gation they had no jufl idea of the fituation of countries
with refpe£t to the Heavens. They therefore continually
carried their North farther on to the weftward, viz. to
Poland and Bohemia on the other fide of the Riphaei, to
Gaul, to Spain, and at laft to the Canary I/lands.

The firft celebrated Grecian writer, who had any
knowledge of the North, though that was but very im-
perfeft, was Homer. He fpeaks of the Cimmerians,
who live in conftant darknefs. (b) This is undoubtedly
an error, for the Cimmerians did not live in Italy ; but
in the Crim, and beyond that in Rufllia, where the nights
in winter are very long, which gave rife to this fable-
But Homer, in his travels to Phoenicia and Egypt, had
coUefted many accounts from travellers who had uiuler-
taken long and diftant voyages ; and he made a point

fjr) Heredot T.ib. iv. 31.

(S) Pindar, Pyth. Ode x. 46, & feq.

I^a) PitiiLir Olymp iii. 5;;.

{b) itom«;ri Oiyd, A. 14 — 19.

nts w^icb
trough thtf
Haariatic
the Sinus
ift to De-
by which
iveftward :
ly tlie Spa-»
lyperboA-
; accounts,
^here it is
i up afles
id in this
they were
lance, and
planted in
ntry of the
idently the
t firft die
lie North.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. is

to interweave evcrv thing he had heard into the body of
his poems. Conlequently, it is not (o much to be won-
dered at, if he was fometimes miftaicen in the fituation
of countries with which he was acquainted onlybyhear-
fay : but, on the other hand, thofe which he had a6hi-
ally feen himfelf, were fo much the more prefent to his
imagination. His defcriptions of Greece appeared fo
iiriking to the Greeks, and fo decifive on account of
their exaftnefs, that in every difpute concerning their
refpeilive boundaries, they applied to the poems of
Homer, and the authority of thefe records was refpe£led
and acknowledged by all parties.

In defcribing what Telemachus taw at die houfe of
Menelaus, Homer makes mention of Ele£frum or Amber i
and in two places more he defer ibes *' golden collars fet
with amber," which makt?. it probable either that thefe
materials had been brought to Greece by the Phoenici-
ans i or elfe that Menelaus had received them by way
of prefent from the JCing of Sidon. This mineral,
which was fo much efteemed by the ancients, was
brought to them from Pruflia ; confequently, neither it,
nor the country it came fr* , could be totally unknown
to the Greeks, any more than tin, a metal with which
Homer was likewife acquainted, and which probably
was in thofe days brcught from Britain.

Thefe meager accounts, however, are not calculated
to give us much information. Herodotus, who lived
408 years before Chrift was born, even at that early pe-
riod was acquainted with the Cafpian and Black §cas,
with the Wolga, the Don, a great part of RufTta and
Poland, together with the Crim and Beflarabia, and the
Rivers MoTdau and Danube. His knowledge of thefe
places was undoubtedly very exaft, as he had convcrfed.
much with the Scythians, and from them had learned the
fituation of thefe countries, feas, and rivers, and the
manners and cuftom& of the refpedive inhabitants of
thefe regions. With the country of the Celtx, how-
ever, he was npt at all acquainted, for he affirmed that

(0 Homer! OdyfT. A. 73. O. At^, & 2. jjj.
(</) Homui Iliad, z. 474* '

the

v|6

VOYAGES AND

thelfter took its rife in the country of die Chtnefe znd
Pirthenu The Cafljterian Iflands, whence tin was
brought, were known to him by name ; and in like man-
ner he had heard of the- country that produced amber,
fituate at the extremity of Europe j but to the true fitu-
ation of thefe countries he was an utter ft ranger.

About 70 years after the time of Herodotus, the Pho-
csean colony, Majfilia^ appears to have formed the de-
fign of partaking of the wealth which the Phoenicians
and Carthaginians had acquired by their commerce. The
expeditions of Hanno and Himiico were every where
•^ll^keh of; but the way to the Tin Country, and to
the wefl:ern part of Africa, remained unknown to all.
The Maffilians, therefore, about this time, fent out
EuTHYMENES, to fearch for the way which Hanno had
taken, when he made his difcoveries in the South } and
PvTHr.AS was commiflioned to follow the track of Hi-
miico, and to make difcoveries in the North. Of Eu-
thymenes, (e) little more than the namfe is handed down
to us ; but concerning Pytheas, divers writers give us
information, (f) He was certainly a man that fiad great
knowledge of nature, was thoroughly verfed in aftrono-
my, and was indued in a high degree with courage, and a
true philofophical fpirit of obfervation. He was one of
the firft among the Greeks who were acquainted with
the real caufe of the ebbing and flowing of the fea, and
afcribed thefe phenomena to ti^e influence of the moon.
In the Mediterranean, the ebb and flood is fo fmall, that
it has Jseen hitherto fuppofed that it could not be ob-
ferv^d there at all. We find, however, by the lateft
obfervations made at Toulon, that even mere, three
hours fifteen minutes after the moon has pafled its
meridian the tide rifes one foot, and in the higheft
fpring tides, augmented by the concurrence of other
caufes, it fwells as high as two feet. This elevation,

(t) Seneca Nat. Qureft. Lib. iv. cap. a. & Marclan Heracleota. p.
63. £d, Hudfoni inter Geogr. Crxcoi minores. T. i.

(f) Plutarch. <]e placitis phiioloph. Lib. iii. art. 18. Strab. Lib, ii.
Hipparchos Comment- in Arat. Lii.^. ii. c. 5. Cleotnedes de Sphera.
Gemious Ift^oscif. c. 5. t*lin. Hid. Kat. Lib. >i. cap. 75. iv. c. 16.
vi.34.

hpwever,,

Chinf/eznd
:e tin was
n like man-
ced amber,
le true fitu-
er.

s, the Pho-
ed the de-
Phoenicians
lerce. The
/ery where
try, and to
own to all.
e, fent oUt
Hanno had
outh I and
ack of Hi-
i. Of Eu-
anded down

DISCOVERIES It? tHE NORTH. 17

however, v»^a» (o inconfiderable, that none of the
ancients took notice of it, but as foort as they had
got through the Straits of Gibraltar into the great
Ocean, the tide became (o new and fo ftriking a phe-
nomenon to them, that they then for the firft time
Jooked on it as a fubjeft of wonder and aftonifhment.
Such, in fail, it appeared to Laelius, when he bore
up againft the Carthaginian fleet, commanded by
Adherbal in thefe Straits., The light Carthaginian
veiTcls were obliged to give way more to the tide,
and two of them were funk by one Roman fliip (g)»
Alexander's fleet fufFered greatly at the mouth of the
Indus {h)i and Julius Caefar was likewife very little
acquainted with the currents caufed by the tide,
when he arrived in the Britifti Ocean (i)^ on which
occaiion he lofl; a good many (hips. This phenome-
non, as may be fuppofed, excited all the ftudious
men of antiquity to give their opinions concerning it.
Cicero, Strabo, Seneca, and Pliny, have all made
inention of it, and attributed the caufe of it to the
moon (Jt). But thefe writers lived three hundred
years after the deceafe of Pytheas, of whom it is re-
corded, that he aflirmed '* that the flood- tide de-
pended on the increafe of the moon, but the tide of
ebb on its decrease (I)." Were we at prefent in
pofleflion of the works of Pytheas, which, in fa<9t,
were fliill extant in the fifth century, we might then
know, whether the author, who has handed down to
us this faying of Pytheas, has reported it precifely
in the terms in which it was delivered j for I have
fome reafon to doubt whether his meaning has been
rightly underftood. It is not the tide of flood, but
the encreafed height of the tide of flood that depends
on the new and full moon, in like manner as the
leflfer height of it is obfervable in the firft and laft
quarters. This could not poflibly efcape the obferva-
tion of Pytheas, who had failed fo far upon this fea, and

(e) Livii Hill. Lib. xxvili. c, 30.

(») Qi CuKii, Lib. it. c. 9. Arrian. Exped. ^ !ex. Lib. vl, c. 1 8.
(i) C«rar de Bcllo Gall. Lib. iv. parag. 85. 86. Edit, Elzev.
(i) Cicero de Naiura Dfeor. Lib. ii. c. 7. Strabo, Lib, iii. Seneca de
l>rovidentii, c. i. Plin. Hid, Nat. Lib ii. c. 97.

(/} Plutir<;kus de Phciiis S>t Diftis Philofoph. Lib. iii. art. 1 7.

C (agreeably

VOYAGES AND

(agreeably to the method pradlifed at that time) con*
ilantly along the coaft. But it is not at all unlike^
ly that fomc Philofopher, who without having ever
a£lually feen the Ocean, had contented himfelf with
navigating it in his own chamber, ihould have not
been able to comprehend this paflage of Pytheas, and
have mifreprefented it accordingly.

Pytheas, even before he fet out on his journey,
appears to have occupied himfelf in obferving the
Heavens. Before his time, it was believed, that the
•Polar Star, or the outermoft ftar in the Bear's Tail,
was next to the Pole : but he pointed out three more
ftars, with which the North Star formed a fquare,
and in this fquare was the true place of the Pole, (m)
He likewife erected at Marfeilles, his birth place, a
pillar or gnomon, and from the proportion which
the height of this gnomon bore to the length of the
Shadow caft by it at the fummer foldice, he found,
with great exadnefs and precifion, the north latitude
of the City of Marfeilles, or its diftance from the
Equator. Hence Eratofthenes, and Hipparchus, in-
ferred very juftly, that this latitude amounted to 34.
deg. 17 min. a precifion, which in the theii infant
ftate ot* Aftronomy, one could hardly fuppofe any per-
son capable of. in faiSt, WendElin prevailed upon
Gassendi to correal this obfervation ; who accord-
ingly found that it hardly differed a minute from thef
real latitude («).

It muft be confeffed, that Pytheas, with fach ex-
tenfive as Well as folid acquifitions in fcience, was'
perfectly well qualified for the great enterprife ta
which l^e was appointed. He failed out of the
Straits alorvg the coafts of Portugal, Spain, and Gaul,
till he defcribed that of Britain, along which he like-
wife coafted till he came to the very norther nmoft
point of it, and from thence failed fix days longer till
he difcovered Thule (0), where at the fummer fol-
ftice, the fun did not fet for 24 hours. From this
deteription of Thule, fome have im^agiried it to be

' (m) HSpparchi Comment, in Arat. Lib. ii. c. ;.

(n) Galfencii Proporiio Gnomonis ad Solftitidlem Umbram Obfervatft
..MafliliT, Anno 163^. Oper. Tomo iv. p. 565 & I'eq.

{») Plin. Hill. Nat. Lib. it> c. 75, 3c iv. c »5.

Icclaiid.

DISCOVERIES lU fri.> NORTH. 19

time) corf*
all unlike'
laving ever
mfelf with
1 have not
rtheas, and

s journey,
ferving the
:d, that the
ear's Tail,
three more
1 a fquare,
5 Pole, (m)
th place, a
;ion which
igth of the
he found,
rth latitude
e from the
irchus, in-
jnted to 34,
len infant
fe any per-
illed upon
»o accord -
' from the

ex-

fach
ience, was*
erprife to
ut of the
and Gaul,
:h he like-
thernmoft
longer till
nmer fol-
From this

it to be

iin ObfervftU

Iceland.

Icda'nd. But if we confider, that in the martner of
failing ufed at that time, it was impoflible to get from
the northernmoft point in Britain, to Ictland^ in the
fpaceof fix days, we (hall rather be Inclined to fup-
pofe that it was the Shetland Iflands that he reached*
For though, in fa6l, it is only within the Ar6lic
Circle, or in lat. 66? deg. that the day is 24 hour*
long at the fummer folftice, yet it cannot be denied*
but that by means of the refraiSlion of "*'« atmofphere
it is ftill fo light at this period) even t.i ihe 60th de-
gree of latitude, that one may read, Write, and tranf-
a6t any bufinefs whatever without any othei' light
than that of the fun. And indeed, this great man's
knowledge of Aftronomy enabled him to inf^r with-
great certainty the total elevation of the fun above the
, horizon ; for at every place he came to« he afked the
inhabitants in what part of the heavens the fun rofe
and fet. Now, thefe points he found approached each
other in proportion as he went farther to the J^Jorth-
ward; whence he might eafily conclude, thatatabout
the 66th deg. the fun never fet at the time of the
fummer folftice*

Pliny fays likewife that Pytheas had feen the tide
on the Britifli Coaft rife to the heighth of 80 cubits,
or 120 feet. But we know, that it is only in narrow
feas, fuch as the Britifh Channel, that the tide rifes
to any great heighth. The greateft heighth to which
it rifes at Breft, is 23 feet. In Briftol tooj it mounts
as high as to 42 ; and in St. Malo, to 48 feet. The
text, therefore, in Pliny, is certainly corrupted *.

A day's journey on the other fide of Thulo, ac-
cording to rytheas, the fea was coagulated, whence
it is called Ctunium **. 1 he fadt is^ that he knew

from

* Plin Hid Nat. Lib. li. c. ,97. Oiitgenii culitis fupra hrUonnlam
intumefcere d-J}us, Pytheas Mnjiiitnfis auiior eji. Perhaps the fyl'atlc vi
has been r.irittoci atier OSo by the copylfts, io that the paffige fliould bt
te^d, 0^: •vicenis cubitis, &c which mAesit 41 feet, i. e. equal to
the greateft htighih of the tide at Briftol.

** Plin. HiU. Nat Lib iv. c. 16. A Thale '•anius diei navigaiione
ware coHcrttum^ a nonnulli* C'r«»/«m appcllatum. And in c. 13. Sej>-
^emtrionalis Occiinus ; atneiUkium cum Hcciteus adpellat, a Paropamilb
amne, qua Scythiam a luit, quod nomen ejus gtntis lingua fignlficat r#«.
gelalKtn- Philemon Mciimcruftm a Cimbris vocari, hoc eft, moriuum
inare, ufque ad promonioiium Rubeas : ul'.ra deinde Crtnium. — i— Taci-
tut dc Moiibus Ctirm.'C. 45. Trans Suionis. aliud piarr pigtum ac prnpe

C X imaiotutQ

VOYAGES AND

til

from the relations made him by the inhabitants^ tha
part of the North Sea in fevere winters was covered
with ice ; which part indeed at times, in cafe of a,
hard frofl, was concreted in fuch a manner, and,
as it were, coagulated in the fpace of one night, as
to be entirely converted into ice.

Pytheas, however, not content with having made
the(e difcoveries, was deflroas likewife of becoming
acquainted with the region whence the Phoenicians
ufed to fetch their amber. He muft certainly have
had fome directions, either oral or written, which
he followed in his enquiries: otherwife it muft ap«>
pear abfolutely impoflible for him to have penetrated
quite to the farthermoft part of the Baltic, and there
hit cx'd&\y on the very fpot of the Southern Coafl:
where it is foond in the greateft abundance. And
yet, we have great reafon to fuppofe him to have been
perfectly well acquainted with the fpot ; as we may
very plainly perceive even from the fragments of Py-
theas preferved in the writings of the later Geogra-
phers, that he knew the fituation of the whole place,
and that he was likewife acquainted with the neigh-
bouring nations, and the adiilcent rivers; and that
he was even no ftranger to the names given to thefe
places by the inhabitants themfelves.

immotnm— «><][Wl extrftmus cidentis jam folis fuigor in ortils edortt,
adeo slarus, ut fidera hebeXet> Dionyf. Periegeles. v. 3s, 33*

norlw juiv axMtfc-i HEnHrOTA Ti ICPONION rt

AXXof i'av xAi NEKPON t^nfxtrat, iimk u<^iffn

Ht\tu

And Orphens Argonautk, v. 1079,10(0.

EfAirtn J' A*ciav«, KPONION is ixjKX»a-xa<r;

naylor YnEPBOFEHN /UipeuK, NEKPHN Ti 5a\*(rrnU
Strabo, Lib. ii. obferves from Pytheas of Marfeilles, that in the vi-
cinity of Thule to the Northward, the lea is neither land, nor lea, nor
air, but a mixture of all.

One may plainly perceive that all the aathori cited above, have taken
the expreflions by which they defcribed the FrczcH Northern Oceai$, from
one and the famefource, viz. from Pytheas of Marfeilics, who had heard
them himfelf made ufe of by the Celtic or Gaelic inhabitants of the
neighbouring regions; for even the names mentioned here are Uaelic
and Weifh. Mori-marufa comes undoubtedly from Mer^ in WelA, Sea,
and Marta, dead\ which Pliny has very properly tranflated «* the Dead
Sea." Muri-croinn in the Iri(h language fignifies an incrufled, thick,
coagulated fea; and confequently the epithet of Mare Croniutn is by 00
tncaas 10 be derived from Kfore; ot Saturn,

The

)itantSj tha
vas covered
n cafe of a,
anner, and»
le night, as

laving made
if becoming
Phcenicians
rtainly have
tten, which
it muft ap-
e penetrated
ic, and there
athern Coail:
lance. And
to have been
; as we may
nents of Py*
Iter Geogra-
whole place,
1 the neigh-
rs; and that
ven to thefc

in ortUs edarit,
ih 33'

•retv,

that in the vi-
id, oor fca, nor

ove, have taken
ern Ocean, from
who had heard
labitauts of the
ere are Gaelic
, in Welft, Sea,
ted «' the Dead
ncruded, thick,
Ironium it by no

The

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 21

The information he gives us on this fubjc£l is as
follows : •* on the (hores of a certain Bay ( Aeftuari-
♦* urn or Firth) called Mentonomony lives a people
«« called Guttoniy and at the diftance of a day's voy-
«* age from thence is the ifland Jbalus, (called by
•* Timaeus Baltia) upon this the waves throw the am-
** ber, which is a coagulated matter caft up by the
*< fea i they ufe it for firing inftead of wood, and
«* alfo fell it to the neighbouring Teutoncs (^)**.
All this is as exa6l as it is poffible for it to be \ for
upwards of 1700 years after, we find traces of the
truth of this ; the provinces of Nadrauen and Scho"
iavonia are to this very day called Gudde, and their
inhabitants Guddah in the Lithuanian tongue of the
3udavians, Galindians, and Natangians {q). The
Bay is the Frijh and Curifl) Haf^ or fea. It is from 8
to 16 miles wide, and this ufed to be a (hort day's
trip, confequently the oppofite ifland or iflands, were
on the very fame fpot where they are now. The
name of Mentonsmon fignifies the promontory of pine-
trees, (mendaniemi) and in fadi on both peninfulas or
necks of land here, we find large foreils of thefe
trees. The fpot on Samland, where the amber was
caft moft plentifully on the (hore, bore, fo late as in
the time of the Cru fades, the name of Witilandy or
IVittlandes Ort, i.e. Whiteland\ now this in the Li-
thuanian tongue 's Baltikka, from Baltosy i. e. white ;
and therefore I (hould prefer reading in Pliny, Jbal-
tica or Baltia^ inftead of Jbalus, Neither was it cuf-
tomary with the inhabitants to burn amber inftead of
wood, but only to fet It on fire, probably by way of
fumigation or perfume ; and they fold it to thofc
Teutones or Germans that lived neareft to them.

From Pytheas's, or fome c ther ancient relations of
the Greeks, it was moreover known, that the fub-
ftance known by the name of amber, came from the
river Raduhtiy and this name was foon changed by
the Greeks into Eridanus, (viz. the Po) or Rhodanus,
i. e. the river Rhone; in like manner as the Wends^
or Vandals, who lived to the weftward of the Viftu-
la, were, without the leaft fhadow of reafon, con-

ifi) Plin. Lib. xxxvli. c. t,

(q) Pretorius Aft. Bomffic. ii. p. 900,

founded

VOYAGES AND

■'<j

founded with the Veneti, refiding; on the coaftc ' th?
Adriatic. Confcquently, with i^fchylus, they look-
ed for amber in ibcria or Spain, or with Euripides
and Apollonius, on the (hores of the Adriatic.

This is the fubfbnce of the relations of the DiT-
Coverics made by Pytheas j relations, which even
after all the famfications of names made by thofe
who copied after him, arc found to be as accurate
and exadt as they are imported. But of what con-
fequence thcfe Difcoveries of Pytheas were to his
native country, we are entirely ignorant, as not the
leaft intelligence on this fubjedt has been preferved to
our days. Since that time, the affairs of the Greeks
continually declined more and more ; fo that we
hear nothing farther of any Voyages or Difcoveries
fnedc by them in the North, as their power and
dominion paiTed into the hands of a quite differene
^atioi).

G H A P.

III.

Pf the Voyages and Difcoveries of the Romans in the

North^

THE Romaqs in the ftrfl years fubfequent to
the fettling of their ftate, gave themfelves very
little trouble about knowledge or learning of any
kind ; agriculture and war being their principal oc-
cupations ;' infomugh, that they fdmetimcs fet Gene-
rals at the head of their jrmie?, who, a few days
before, had held the plough with their own hands.
Confcquently they likewife knew very little of fuch
countries and people, as lay beyond their next ntigh-
, hours.

At a period when the Phoenicians had long be-
fore vifi ted the coafts of Spain and Britain, when the
Grecians had in like manner already navigated the
whole Mediterranean, the Romans had hardly any
knowledge at all of commerce and navigation,
'^hofe Greeks who had carried their arts into Hetrutia,

and

■'"?

le coaft ( ' th^

js, they look-

'ith Euripides

driatic.

s of the DiT-

which even
lade by thofe
e as accurate
of what con-

wcre to his
t, as not the
n preferved to
of the Greeks

fo that we
>r Difcovcries
ir power and
uite difFerenc

)mans in the

ubfequent to
rmfelves very
ing of any
principal oc-
es fet Gene-
a few days
own hands,
ittle of fuch
• next ncigh-

ad long be-
, when the

avigated the
hardly any
navigation.

ito Hetrucia,
and

■

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. A3

and who fometimcsftrayed as far as Rome itfelf, had,
however, difFufed in Rome fo much information con-
cerning Greece, that they had in this city fome know-
ledge of the famous oracle of Delphi, and had
heard of the laws of Draco and Solon. Moreover,
when commerce had brought the Carthaginians to the
'toafts of Italy, the Romans, foon after they had
expelled the royal family of the Tarquins, made a
treaty with this people. For 364 years after the
foundation of their ftale, they had not yet heard of
that great and numerous people the Gauls, who at
that time lived not fourfcorc miles from the gates
of their citv; and, ind?ed, at that very juncture
likewife toolc it, but were not able to keep pcfltflion
of their conqueft. About 107 years after this event,
the Romans were continually employed in fighting
thefe Gauls in the neighbourhood of the city of
Rome. About 64 years after this, the Romans muft
have already been in fome meafure acquainted with
Spain, as they had nt this period made a league with
the Sagunti ; and vvo years after this, the firrt Ro-
man army that ever was in Spain, marched thither
under the (;lommand of theScipios; and in about ten
years fubfequent to this, they had entirely driven
the Cartliaginians out of the country, and remained
fole pofleflors of that very wealthy region. AM Italy
had by this time been over-ran and conquered by the
Romans. The Gauls, who refided in the upper part
of it, were already fubjc6t to them. And they now,
in the 156th year antecedent to the Chriftian aera, for
the firft time waged war on the other fide of the
Alps. In 33 years after this, that part of Gaul,
which is bounded by the fea to the fouthward, by
the Alps to the eaftward, and by the Pyrennaean
Mountains to the weft, and extends northwards from
Geneva, along the river Rhone, to tha Cevcnnian
Mountains, and along thefe, weftward, to tl e Ga-
ronne and the Pyrennees, was a Roman Province.
But of the remaining part of Gaul, the Romans had
but very confufed ideas. Their merchai^ts, indeed,
carried their wines to the thirfty Gauls all over the
country ; juft as the Britons, "at this time do run
to the North Americans, and the Europeans trad-
Mig to the Weftern Coaft of Africa and to Gui,

nea,

VOYAGES AN»

nea. do btandy to the Negroes. This occafioned tk9
internal part of Gaul to be better known to the Ro-
irtans than it had been before. Scarcely eight years
had paffed fince the fubje6tion of the Provincia Nar-
boneiilis, when they had the news at Rome of the ap-
proach of two northern nationst which were called
Cimbri and Teutones. The former of thefe probably had
that appellation forn l^ampfeny to fight, viz. Ksm-
petij or combatants ; for long after the period here
alluded to, therorthern heroes continued to diflingufb
thsmfelves by this name. The latter apparently got
their title from being the allies, or Theodaiti, i. e. com^
faniom of the fCsempers *. According to the .accounts

given

* Some may perhaps chufe to derive thi« namfc rather from ThioJ^ s
f'lk or people, than from TheoJan^ a companion \ but I confefs I do not
fee why the name ot ptople fliouir' be given to the Teutones ia preference
t<^ the rett of the nations of Germany, as it is notorious, tn?t all th*
ancienc Germans, when there were fevenl of them together, and thcf
were a(kcd, who they were ? ufed to call themfelves Thiod, i. e. peo-
ple, an appellitiin which the Romans miOonk for (he proper name of
this nation. Befides, they are not called, Tbiod 'Thiaady or Tbiud^ i. e,
TeutftI.e, butch, or Germans; \i\xlThe»dau., or TeQtona. Finally, the
word Thiod may perhaps itl'elf be derived from Thetdan, A folk, or peo-
ple, is a focicty of men conneOed together by fome band or tie, either
that of their common orrgin, or that of their mutual intereft. Befides
thi.<, many denominations of feveral of the German tribes, as handed
<fown to us, krm to owe their origin to fome fuch appellation or other
milconllrued by the Rom?ns. It i« plain, for example, that '.be diffe-
rent hords when they made their entrance iaio Gaul under the command
of Ario'.idusj mnfl haveanfwered to the enquiries of the Romans, that
they vje.r^ fyebrmantt/My Guertnans^ or Germant^ i. e. warriors) an ap-
p^UGtion, however, which was adapted to them, only as long as ihcy
kept together, and compofed one great army. The confederacy Ger-
man nations on the banks of the Upper Rhine, which icbfided about the
time of Coodantine and Julian, and in virtue of which, every man fit
to bear arms, was obliged to take the fiel^l, occafiontd them to be called
Allemam^ \. e. all men. The confederated nations of lower Germany,
who in ronfcquence of their love of libert; , as well at in the defence of
it, weie higb-Jpiritedy brave^ and haughty , were called Freaks^ or
franki- It has, however, even been doubted by many, whether the
Cimbri were really Gertnans or not. But the fa£t is, that they dwelled
quite in the northern extremity of Germany, which was afterwards in-
habited by the Jutlanderi. Nay, according to Strabo, Lib. 7. they were
even to be found between the Rhine and the Elbe. They fohfiftcd in
his lime till on the fame fpot where they had lived firft ; and had then
made a (refent to Auguftus of a large cauldron. With large and (lout
bodies, they had red hair and blue eyes, like all the Germans of thole
times; and according to Plutarch, in his life of Marina, it was the
cuftom among the Germans to call all Marauder^;, or fuch as made war
and plu' ring their buiinefii, Kimhersy or Kxmpers, i. e. combatant«.
It is ther tore 'ery evident, that thefe people were the Goths andSaion*
^hp dwelt on (he peninl'ula, fi^uated to the north of the Elbe, on occa-
1^00 of anextraoidioary and dreadful inundalioa, many of them were in-
duced,

ccaftoned th«
n to the Ro*
\y eight yoara
'ovincia Nar-
neof theap-
I were called
! probably had
;, viz. Ktem-
le period here
to diftingufh
»parently got
aHf i. e. conp-
> the .accounts
given

er from TihJ^ a
I confefs I do not
ones in preference
rious, tn?t all the
gether, and thef
Thiod, i. e. peo-
e proper name of
/, Of ThiuJ^ i, e,
iat. Finally, the
A folk, or peo-
and or tie, either
intered. Befides
;ribe(, at handed
lellation or othtr
r, that tht diffie-
(ler the command
he Romans, thac
warriors) tn Mp-
as Jong as ihcy
:onFcderacy Ger-
bfidet] about the
h, every man fit
hem to be called
ower Germany,
in the defence of
led Freakt, or
whether the
at they dwelled
8 afterwards !n-
7. they wer«
hey fwbfifted in
and had then
large and {lout
rmans of thole
tts, it was the
;h as made war
e. combatants,
oths and Saxons
Elbe, on occa-
them were in-
duced,

DISCOVERIES IN THB NORTH. 15

g!ven of this people, the^ made their firft appearance
at Noricum, viz. in the (outhern part of what is now
called Auftria, Stiria, Carinthia, and the Ukrain.
It was there that they beat Papirius Carbo. A few
years after this, we find them already in Gaul, in the
courttryof the Allobrogi, and in the year after, near
Touloufc ; then, after having conquered Mallius and
CsBpio, they advanced as far as Spain, where thejr
remained near two years, and at length, in the courHp
of the third year, returned towards the £afl, but di-
vided and left the Teutones and Ambrones (a people
from Helvetia) to oppofe Marius ; while the Cimbri, on
the other hand, retired through the upper part of Germa-
ny, as far as Trent, and to the banks of the Etfchr, where
Catulushad taken hispoft. The Teutones and Am-
brones were the firft that were routed by Marius ; and
the fame fate befel alfo the Cimbri after the two armies
had made a junction near Vercelli, about loi years
before Chrift. This a^lion, however, gave the Romans
a high idea of the valour of the Germans } and they now.
learned that they were a numerous nation, inhabiting a
tra<Sl of country that extended even to the Ncrth-Sea.

In the year 59 before Chrift, Ca^far was made Conful ;
and immediately began a war in Gaul, which lafted al-
moft ten years, during which time the Romans, under
the command ofCsfar, not only became perfe<;tly well
acquainted with Gaul, and the country of the Belgae,
but likewife crofted the Rhine twice, and forced their
way into Germany : Casfar eveii built a fleet, with whick
he crofted the Britiih Channel, and landed twice in Bri-
tain.

duced, having probably loft all their catt>.i ')y the flood, to quit their
country and turn robbers. They beciiine tiiereforc Ksempers, in like
rranner as the defcendants of their northern neighbours became Wicki
ingers. The route their army tcok, as well as that of their companions,
the Teutones, who were likewife Germans, (Iretched along the Elbe as
far as Bohemia, where they were repulled by the Boii. Upon this ther
turned about to the ealt, going along the Carpathian mountains, till they
came to the Black-Sea apd the Danube j here, turning about again to the
weft, they marched to the Skordiflcers and Tauriflcers, two nations from
Gaul, and direaiy upon this they met with the Roman Conful near Nereja
for (he firft time. We may therefore fafely conclude, that as in fucceed-
ing ages, in confequence of their being better informed, the Germans and
their name have been loft and totally vaniflied ; in like manner the deno-
tninationof Kemners and Kimbers, or Cimbri, has likewife lunk into
obliwon, thefe people havjng beeo found to be Saxons and iohabilaus of
Ju^i.ind.

7hc

s«

VOYAGES AMD

1 m

The opportunity which had before offered to the
Romans by the conqueft of MithridateSj as well as at
his deathy of getting acquainted with the Bofphorus
and the environs of Crimea, prefented itfelf to them
again, when, about ^7 years before Chrift, Afander,
vrho had made h*mfeh mafter of the Bofphorus at the
death of Pharnaces, was nominated king by AuguftusI
Cxfar. During the life of this fame Auguftus Caefar;
the Romans got alfo better acquainted with the
weftern (hores of the Black-Sea or Thrace : and in
like manner the whole range of Caucafup together
with the numerous petty nations dwelling in thofe
parts, were laid open to them by the vidtorious arms
of Pompey.

So early as ten years before the birth of Chrift,
Drufus advanced with an army as far as the Elbe, and
it feems probable, that Domitius, the grandfather of
Nero, crolTed it fix years after. Eight years after
this, Tiberius was feen on the banks of this river.
Next Varus and his whole army were flain by the
Germans between the Ems and the Lippe ; and Ger-
tnanicus went thither alfo in order to explore thofc
countries which had been fo fatal to Varus. In the
year 17, he went to the Wefer by the North Sea, or
vverman Ocean ; and on that occafion difcovered,
near the mouth of the Wefer and that of the Elbe,
many iflands ; fome of thefe were rich in amber,
which the Germans called glafs, and the iflands
themfelves, the Glafs-iflands. Here the Romans
got better acquainted with amber, which was dill
held in great efteem among them.

A. D, 41, Claudius made an expedition to Britain,
and from this period the Romans continued to fpread
all over Biitain ; and though the Britons now and
then ufed all poflible means to defend their liber-
ties, and (Iruggled hard to ihake off the yoke, the
Romans nevertbelefs went on, advancing gradually
with vi^orious arms towards the north, til! at hil
the whole of Britain, quite to the Grampian moun-
tains, fubmittcd to their empire. Agricola fent the
Roman fleet to the Orkneys, and fubdued them alfo.
Thule, however, was only feen at a diftance j and
the Roman fleet havin? in very calm weather circum-
jii^ylj^z^cd ^11 pritain, afcertaincd this cxtcnuve coun-
ty

fered^ to she
IS well as at
e fiofphorus
elf to them
[1;, Afander,
iiorus at the
by Auguftusi
kiftus Caefar^
d with the
ice : and in
"uF together
ng in thofe
korious arms

1 of Chrift,
le Elbe, and
and father of

years after
f this river,
[lain by the
; ; and Ger-
'xplore thofe
us. In the
>rth Sea, or

dlfcovered,
f the Elbe,

in amber,

the Iflands
Romans
was ilill

to Britain,
ed to fpread
s now and
their liber-
yoke, the
gradually
ti!! at lall
ian moun-
a fent the
them alfo.

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. ijr

try to be an ifland. Agricola took this opportunity to
procure, by means of the merchants trading to Hi-
bernia or Ireland, an exad account of the fituation,
extent, and population of this country, as well as of
the manners and cuftoms of its inhabitants. From
what he could coiledl from thefe accounts, he was of
opinion, that one Roman legion, with their atten-
dants and fliips, would be fufficient to fubmit this
ifland to the dominion of the Romans, arid to prevent
any infurredion therein. This is therefore a frefli
proof of the truth of the aflertion, that the ancients
did not make their difcoveries merely by their militanr
expeditions, but that, very frequently, navigation af-
fifted in enlarging their knowledge of different coun-
tries and people. In faft, it was not their conquefts
which merely ferved to enlarge the circle of their in-
formation ; but their merchants were alfo very eager to
pufh ftill further forward than their vi6torious armies.
For in general men are capable of the greateft and moft
difficult undertakings, when their defigns and anions
are aduated by ambition, avarice, and other paffions ;
and they execute them with judgment and refolution ;
and the beneficent Creator of mankind makes ufe even
of the paffions of men, to accomplKh his inf<4iitel)r
great and benevolent defigns of introducing into all
parts of the world civilization and refinement of man-
ners, together with the ktiowledge of the true and
only God.

The victories as well as the defeats of the Romans
in the wedern and noi^h-eaftern parts of Germany,
ferved likewife to this purpofe, that it gave them at
lead fome idea of the vaft extent of this brave and ne-
ver perfedly fubdued nation, whofe affiitance in war
they courted on account of its known valour. The
Romans and Italians had been enervated by luxury
and defpotifm, fo that they were become unfit for
military fervice ; particularly, as the manner of carry-
ing on war at that time required ftrength of body,
pevfonal valour, ftfift difcipline, great fkill in tactics,
and great prefence of mind. The finews of the young
Romans had been debilitated, and the growth of thetr
jimbs had been checked by early enjoyment and ex-
ec fs of voluptuoufnefs. In fadt, a delicate fmooth-
jfaced youttj, vain of his perfon, which it is his

chief

'.,/,,

VOYAGES AND

chief ftudy to fet ofF to advantage, and whoTe whole
care is to recommenci himfelf to the great, by wit,
(dri^is, and flattery, has feldom the courage to face
death and dangers without (hrinking. The fpirit of
iiiiiipation and licentioufnefs, which at this time reign-
ed in Rome, rendered the youth of that ftate unfit
to live under the conftraint of fubprdination ; and,
indeed, how is it to be fuppofed that they could pof-
fibly exhibit any marks of fpirit in away of life which
tbe^y detefted ; or that they (hould have prefencc of
mind, or be fit for forming qui : and fadden refolves
in circumftances and occurrence to which they were
abfolutc ftrangers ? Whole armies, therefore, were
xaifed amongft the Batavians, Germans, Pannonians,
and other nations on whom luxury had not as yet 0ied
its baneful influence. But the fidelity and valour of
the Germans made them deferve the honour of beit.g
chofen in pre . '•ence to others tp be the body-guards of
^ the Emperors, (n) This circumftance gave occafion
to the Romans to become better acquainted with the
lituation and nature of the country, and the manners
andcuftomsof a people which had found means to ac-
quire fuch honorable diftinciions by its intrepidity and
valour.

. The defire of getting amber in great quantities de-
termined Nero to fend Julianqs, a Roman Knight, to
the amber coaft. He landed fafely in Prufl&a, and
leckons it almoft 600 miles from Carnuntum in Pan*
nonia to (he coail. He brought home an immer.fe
quantity of amber, which was all to ferve for the
pomp and decoration of one day, on which the Em-
peror gave an entertainment of gladiators. How much
locver like a merchant Julianus may have carried on
this amber-trade, yet ftil! he could not have avoided
learning a great deal concerning the country and its
inhabitants, by being amongft them. But Pliny,
who relates this event to us (i>), feems himfelf to have
Jknown but imperfe*51ly where this coaft was. For in-
ilance, amber had been found in great abundance, in
his days, along thecoait of Friefland, near the mouth

\ft) Tacit. Annat. I. i. piragr. 17. Edit. Elievif,'i640.
t/'jriin.Iia. Nat.Ub.x^x.ii. c. 3.

I
I

whoTe whole
eat, by wit,
rage to face
^he fpirit of
is time reign-
it ftate unfit
nation ; and,
;y could pof-
of life which
3 prefencc of
dden refolves
ich they were
jrefore, were
Pannonians,
ot as yet Ihed
n6 valour of
our of beit.g
)dy-guards of
gave occafion
nted with the
1 the manners
means to ac-
trepidity and

uan<:ities de*
Knight, to
PruiEa, and
turn in Pan-
an immer.fe
erve for the
ch the Em-
How much
e carried on
lave avoided
ntry and its
But Pliny,
pfelf to have
as. For in-
undance, in
ar the mouth

;o. • >

■A/

DISCOVERIES IN TH« NORTH. 19

of the Ems. The ifland on which the fea ha4 caft it,
was called Burchana \ in our days, Borkum. Now
Pliny feemt to have miftaken this amber ifland for the
real native country of amber, and confequentiy it
fcem' evident, that the conceptions the Romans had of
the North, were not altogether clear and accurate j
for in general, Pliny fuppofed, that the Baltic was
conne<fled with the Cafpian and the Great Indian
Seas (f), though Herodotus had already fhewn, that
the Black and Cafpian Seas, to the northwards, did
not join to any other fea ; confequentiy, all the (ex
beyond Germany and PruHla, was in the days of Pliny
leis known than it had been long before, in the times
of the Phoenician navigations.

It is vn:e,that the conqueft of Dacia under Trajan*
had ferVed to extend the boundaries of the empire to-
wards that fide ; but his immediate fucceflbr, Adrian*
withdrew all the Roman armies out of this new pro*
vince, and thereby again precluded the means of pro*
curing any more intelligence concerning this part of
the North.

The great Marcomannian war, which Marcus Au-
relius was obliged to enter upon, furnifhed opportuni-
ties of colle<3ing many particulars which might fcrv«
to determine with greater accuracy than before, the
e)^tent and fi ation of thofc countries. But this pe*
riod was deftitute of hiftorians, at Icaft of fuch a9
might have tranfmitted to us exadt accounts of the
fituations of the belligerent powers. Luxury, depra-
vity of manners, the decline of the army and of the
whole Roman ftate, paved the way, at a diftance, to
the great revolutions vk^hich threatened this diftraded
empire. It was among the Romans themfelvcs thac
the northern nations learned the arts which enabled
them to conquer them with greater facility, and to
fhake the very foundations of their government. Itr,
norance and a vitiated tafte, which always go hand m
hand with effeminacy and luxury, continually infi-
nuated themfelvcs more and more into the Roman ftate,
while true learning and genuine ufeful knowleoVe
daily decreafed.

(0 Plin. Hift. Nat. Lib. vl. c. 13.

VOYAGES Aito

Of the l^inlandersy Ejihonians, or Aejliers^ togetfref
with all the Schalavonian tribes, in thole times known
only by the appellation of Sauromatesi or Northerni
Medesy (of which nation they either were, or pre-
tended to be, the defcendants) as alfo of the Gothsi
the Romans fcarcely knew any thing but the namesw
Norway (Nerigon) Sconen (Scandia) Dunney * and
Vaeroe^ were, according to them, illands lying near
tie Icy Sea, as well as Thule, whither they ufed to
fail from Norway^ as well as from the northernmoft
point of Scotland^ Thefe obfcure notions of the Ro-
mans refpedting the geography of the northern nations,
are confequendy ftill very incoherent, and of no man-
ner of ufe.

* Pliny exprefTes himfelf thus. Lib. iv. c. \6. Sunt qui & aliit
(infults) prodant, ScanJiam^ Dumnamy Bergts : maximanque omnium
iitrtgony ex qua in Thylem navigetnr. A Thule unius diet navigatione,
tn&re concretum, a nonnulHs Cronium appellatum. It it evident, that
the wholfj coaft is meant here ; and though the learned Counfelhr Sichht-
K«r, wh(<fc information ou ihcfe points in general is univerfally refpefled,
in his iHlroduBion to the Univerfal Hiftoty »f the North, an excellent
woik, chufes to uoderdand by BergeSy one of the two fons of Hercnles
mentioned by Mela, via. Albion and Bergion^ who gave the names of
Albion and Bergion (or Ow{*« Juvtrnoy Hilemia) to the Britifli IHand.": ;
yet, I cannot perfuade myfelf to take it in this light; and it feems more
prot>able to me, that the appellations of Dumna and Bergos belonged to
(he iflands Dumneey or Dumntjy near Helgoland, and Foeroe^ near MaU
firom, for the continued feries in which thele countries are difpoled,
feems to render this fuppofition i|i a manner necefTary. For the fame
reei'on, I fltouid never think of looking for Thule in Iceland, but rather
in Shetland.

BOOK

rs, togethef
imes known
r Northern
:re, or pre-

the Gothsi
the names^
mney * and

lying near
hey ufed to
lorthernmoft
5 of the Ro-
lern nations,

of no man-

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 51

BO o K n.

OF THE DISCOVERIES MADE IN THE
NORTH IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

C H A P. I.

0/ the Voyages and Di/coveries of the Arabians in tbt

North.

ROME had been fo much weakened and enervated
by its riches and luxury ; by the neg;le<% of dif-
cipline among the military ; by the diviflon of its
power into an eaftern and a weftern empire ; by the
ambition of a great number of private then, who all
pretended to the imperial crown ; by the abfolute cor-
ruption of manners among the people, and by the fcho-
laftic diflentions of its biSiops j that the neighbouring
nations foon perceived this weaknefs, and began to
attack the Empire with united force. Even before
thedividonof the empire had taken place, the Mar-
comannt and their allies from 166 to 180, had driven
the great Emperor Marcus Aurelius to fuch ftraits,
that he had been compelled to difpofe of the fumptuous
imperial wardrobe and furniture by public au£lion, in
order to provide the fupplies necenary for carrying on
the war; a ftep which (hews very plainly the defperate
iltuation of the empire. At fo early a period as the
year 240, the Franks conftituted a confederacy of un-
daunted nations in Lower Germany, which at length,
in the fifth century, A. D. 486, laid the foundation of
the Frankifh, or French kingdom. The Goths like-
wife, fo early as in 244, were in motion in Dacia,
and foon after we find Rome plundered by king Ala-
•ric, and his IVeJlern or Vift-Goths^ and a new empire
founded by his hiccefforsin the fouthern parts of Gaul
and Spain. The EaJ}, or OJiro-Goths, under Dietrick
of Bern, went to Italy and re -took this empire from
the Heruli, who had bora the fovereign fway about 20

years

VOYAGES Asro

Ir!

Vears after the termination of the weftern empire ; thid
failed about 60 years, viz. till 554. In the fouth-
vreftern part of Germany, fo early as in the year 268,
arofe the confederacy of the AUemanni, which exifted
for a long while after. Soon after this, viz. in the
year 286, we find the Anglo-Saxons and Franks making
their predatory incurfions into Britain, till the Britons^
on account of the oppreffions they fufFered from the
Pi£ii and Scots^ found it neceiTary to clall in the Saxons
to their affiftance, who in 449, arrived under their
Kings Hengiji and Horfa^ but kept pofleiHon of the
country themfelves, aVid eftablilhed feveral fmall
ftates, which in procefs of time were united into
one. The Vandals^ Suevi and Alani,, ravaged the Ro-
man dominions in 407, as far as Spain, and the Ibr-
merof thefe people at length even went over to Africa
in order to eftabliih a new dominion there. So early
as in the beginning of the fifth century, the Burgundi
had advanced from their ancient abodes on the fliores
of the Baltic, to the river Maine ; and for the affiftance
they had afforded the Romans againft the Weftro-
Goths, took a part of Gaul to themfelves. In the
land of Rugen on the Baltic, and in that part of
Germany which is now called Brandenburg, were the
Longobardi^ or Lombards, who in the year 548 were
received by the, Emperor Juftinian in Pannonia,
where, in concert with the Awari, they fubverted the
empire of the Gfpides, and A. D. 568, eftabliihted a
new fovereignty in the upper part of Italy, which laft-
ed upwards of 200 years. Thus was the Roman Em-
pire difmembercd and parcelled out by Qumerous ar-
mies compofed of the different nations of Germany,
and the v/hole weflern part of it was now in the hands
of princes defcended from Germans. The £aft was
ravaged by the SchaJavotuans, Huns, Awari, Bulgari,
and a variety of other nations ; and the great power of
the Perfians had even forced its way to the fliores of the
Heilefpont, whilff the Chriftians in the Roman Em-
pire, forgetful of the principles of their great founder,
who preached as well as pradifed univerfal love and
benevolence, were continually quarrelling, profecut-
ing, and killing each other on the fcore of difference
of opinion in matters of religion.

.■I?

npire ; thift
I the fouth-
e year z68,
bich exifted
viz. in the
nks making
Lhe Britons*
:d from the
I the Saxons
under their
ilfion of the
\reral fmall
united into
ged the Ro-
md theibr-
er to Africa
e. So jearl.y
he BurguneU
41 the &ores
the affiftance
he Weftro-
res. In the <
hat part of
•g, were the

w 548 w«re

Pannonia,
ibverted the

;ftabli(hed a

which laft-

Ionian Em-
kmerous ar-
Germany,
the hands
£aft was

IV, Bulgiiriy

It power of

lores of the

Loinan Em-

kt founder,

lal love and
profecut-
diiference

ii'M.

biSCOVERIES IN tttK WORTfl. 35

To fuch a ftate of moral corruption and political
debility, the great Roman Empire, in thofe days th«
feat of all knowledge, civilization, and refinement,
Was now tiebafcd. At this period there ftarted up in
Arabia, an illiterate man, of the name of Moham*
m«dy endowed with a good underftanding, and lively
imagination; and of a dark and melancholic difpofi-
tion, yet not infenfible to the phyfical influence of
love. At his firft fetting out' in life he was poor,
though he belonged to the noble family of the Ko-
reifchites ; but tailing in love with Chadidfcha, the
widow of an opulent merchant, he married her, by
which means he became rich, and in confequence of
this, led a more inactive life than he had formerly
done, and had leifure to give himfelf up entirely to
the eccentric reveries and projeds with which in hit
younger years he had often indulged himfelf in th«
iblitary defart.<t on the road from Mecca to Damafcus.
The want of the bodily exercife to which he had been
Siccuflomed, together with a rich diet, and the weak-
nefs refulting from amorous cxcefles, gaveti greater
play to his imagination, and rendered it more irregu-
lar than before. l*he unconneded and \txy much
adulterated religious maxims which he bad picked up
from Jews and fuperftitiors monks, he reduced into
an ill-digefted fydem, the only tolerable part of which
was, that which concerns the unity of God and his
glorious attributes; With the language and exprefli-
ons of poetry he was not entirely unacquainted j as
the belt Arabian poets ufed to meet every year at the
annual fair of Okad, to read their poems publickly to
the people, and to contend for prizes, feven only of
whom obtained the honour of having their prize poems
hung up in the Kaaha at Mecca, With fuch founda-
tions, and with thefe previous attainments, Mohammed
appeared all on a fudden in the capacity of a prophet,
who faw vifions, was haunted with apparitions, and
preached a new religion. In the beginning there were
but few that approved of his new doctrines, and he
and his adherents were ridiculed and perfecuted in his
native country, Mecca. But in the year 622, he fled
to Medina^ to the enemies of the inhabitants of Mec-

ca, and that whole

city went

over to

his party.
Strength*

^•

VOYAGES AND

Strengthened by fo powerful a fupport, the enthufi-
aftic prophet became h pcrfccutor. His i»ew party
became the tool of his pcvenge. He took Mecca, and
thereby procured himfcli an addition of territory, and
a frcfh army of profelytes. The fword being once
drawn, vidlory and the new religion foon fprcad over
all Arabia. The predatory tribes of Arabia were now
united by the ftrongefl ties of religion, and, with the
enthufiaiiic zeal of profelytes, fubjugated every thing,
from the Indus to the Pyrennean \fountains, to the
religion and dominion of the fucceflbrs (or Caliphs)
of Mohammed. Upon this the fciences foon began
to flourifh amongft thefe people formerly fo rude and
illiterate ; and poets, phyficians, philofophers, natu-
ral-philofophers, hii^orians, and geographers, now
made their appearance. With but few of thefe lafl,
however, the Europeans are acquainted, either on
account of their ignorance of the language, or be-
caufe the writings of thefe men are, for the greater
part, to be found only at Morocco, in Egypt, in Sy-
ria, and at Conftantinople, buried as it were in Tur-
kifh libraries, inaccefllble to Chriflians ; and the re-
mainder, in the almoft-as-inacce»I?hlc libraries of
Rome and Spain; or elfe, perhaps, becaufe the print-
ing of fuch works actually, produces but little profit
either to a book Teller or editor j and the great are ge-
nerally more inclined to employ their fortunes on the
means of their own advancement, or to beilow them
on their flatterers, and on the indulgence of their
pallions, than by their liberalities to encourage an
edition of an old Arabian geographer. In facl, the
only Oriental authors, who have written geographical
works that have been printed, and are now extant,
are, Sieherif al Edrifi^ who wrote h\s Geograpbicfil Re^
creations in 1153 i JUulfeday Prince of Hamath, who
publifhed a fyttcm. of geography in 1321 ; NaJJir Ed-
dirty of Tus, in Perfia, the friend of Holaku Chan,
whom he perfuaded to make the conqueft of Bagdad,
and to abolifh the Caliphate, wrote in 1260, .his //-
chanian Tables on the longitude and latitude of places;
and Ulugbek, the nephew of the great Titnur^ who, in
X437, wrote his Geographical Tables.

The

the enthafi-
s »ew party
I Mecca, and
territory, and
being once
n fprcad over
bia were now
nd, with the
1 every thing,
tains, to the
(or Caliphs)
s foon began
y ib rude and
tphers, natu-
raphers, now
of thefe laft,
d, either on
uage, or be-
)r the greater
;gypt, in Sy-
were in Tur-
and the re-
libraries of
fe the print-
t little profit
reat are ge-
tunes on the
beflow them
nee of their
ncourage an
In fact, the
geographical
now extant,
rapJiical Re-
amath^ who
Najfir Ed-
laku Chan,
of Bagdafi,
260, .his //-
of places;

DISCOVERIES IN THS NORTH. 35

The Arabian generals had long before this been or*
dered by the Caliphs to tranfmit, in the courfe of their
vidiories, cxad and accurate defcriptions of the na-
tions and countries conquered by them ; none, how-
ever, of the woiics we have referred to above, can
certainly be rcckonca in the number of fuch as were
drawn from thefe authentic geographical recoids*
Some of them content themfelves with communicat-
ing merely what they have gathered from common re-'
port, concerning diilant nations ; for this reafon, thefe
accounts are no where Icfs to be depended on, than
where they relate to our northern part of the globe.

The author of the extracts from Scherif dl EdriJJi
is a Chriftian, and though it feems as if he had ex-
tracted from the original author all that he fays in the
fedion on the fixth climate, there is neverthelefs room
to fuppofe, that this Chriftian abbreviator has advanced
what is found in his work relating to the Chriftian
countries, either from his own knowledge of thef<t
countries, or from the acccints given of them by
other authors. But whether thefe relations are origi<*
nal or borrowed, tbey are fo meagre and mutilated^
that it is evident they have contributed but little to
give us any information concerning the regions of the
North. The countries they are acquainted with are
Britany and PoitoWj then come Franc4^ Normandy^
FlanderSf Hinu (i. e. Hainault). Lorrain^ and Berri }
with fome countries of the Frank Burgundiansy and
the Allemannian Burgundiam ; then Litnania^ or AlU-^
mania \ the land of Bakir (doubtlefs for Bafir,^ or Ba-^
varia) Carentara (or Cartntbia) Louvain^ Friejeland^
Savoy^ and fome parts of the ifland of England. In
Allemannia and Saxony^ he names the towns of Har*
iei, KulozaU Mafchliaty and Hallah. Towards the
north, on all parts, is the dark Jea. Germania^ Ge-
thuliay and Rujia ; the land Bergian, or Btrgen, Rujfid
and Komania, Ueradia on the Black bea ; the coun-
tries of IVailakan (or Walachia) Chozaria (or Chaza^
ria) Bolyfaria^ Befcgert, Lan (or Mania). In the land
of the Afconian Turks is the river Jtbel (or iV$lga)
which falls into the fta Tabarejlan (or the Cafpian
Seaj. The land Sa/nridi^ or of the IVal^hian Turks '^

D2 the

VOYAGES AN

the land Slftany the land Choffach (i. c. of the Cc/"-
facki) the land Torkoi^ and the wall of 'J^igog and il^-
gog (in the Caucafu^.) which was built oy Dfulcarnaini
(or Alexander) ; in the dominions of a certain Chakan
Odkoij who was a Mahometan. Beyond this wall ar-
rived the travellers, dispatched by the Caliph, at the
towns of LochtHarty Jraban, Berfagian, Turarty and
Samarkand. From thence their route pafTed over Ra^
(or Rages y in Media) to Sorramanrai. In the dark fea
are defart iflands, and ruined cities, to which, whilft
they were inhabited, (hips ufed to go in order to buy
amber and coloured ftoncs. Then he defcribes the
ifland called England in the dark fea, the ifland of
Scotia (or Scotland) and the ifland Irlanda {or Ireland).
The land Boloniay Sveda, Finmark, Icelandy RuJJta,
the farther Romania^ Bolghar (or Bulgaria) Befegert^
and Begenuk, This, is pretty nearly the idea he had of
Europe and the northern regions. Many of thofe
countries the reader will undoubtedly be able to re-
coeni7e ; others of them are totally unknown to us,
in like manner as it is impoffible to know again the
greateil part of the towns in thefe countries.

The Prince of Hamath fays, he knows in the north
the countries of the Franks and of the Turks, A-
mongft them is the empire of Buligahy i. e. Jpulia^
Kallafrijab {Calabria) Baftlijfa (perhaps BaftUcatay the
ancient Lucania) eUMara (i. e. Morea) part of which
belonged to the Grecian Emperor, and part to a na-
tion of the Franks, called Kithalany i. e. Catalonians.
Clofe by this is the land Malfagutb (or Atnalji) and
to the weft ward the land Jklerens: then he defcribes
Romey and St. Peter's church : then follows the land
Tojkarty i. e. Tufcanyy and the two Borkaniy or Vol-
canos, one of which is in Sicily. Th? province 01-
Kirmy or Crimea, with the cities of S<rlgaty Sudacj
and Kafa. Then he defcribes the Bofphorus and Con-
j(lantinople. To the countries of the North apper-
tains alfo Kumager*y a city in the empire of the

. Tatar

•• s

^^':

N
at

• Kunager feem« to be the ruir^s of 3 large town, which are e»en «t
prefcnt to be found on the c^art of the river Kuma^ not far from the
fUv* wlitr« it reeeivei the Bjvetay and v.hicb u ftili calleU Madfebiar.

TUi»

of the Ccf-
gag and ma-
DfuUarnaini
;rtain Chakin
this wall «r>
iliph, at the
Turafiy and
fed over Ray
the dark fea
hich, whilft
order to buy
lefcribes the
the idand of
(or Ireland).
dandy RuJJiay
ia) Befegert^
dea he had of
my of thofe
able to re-
^nown to us,
>w again the
ics.

in the north

Turks, A-

i. e. Jpulia^

ajilicatay the

lart of which

lart to a na-

Catalonians,

jfmalfi) and

Ihe defcribes

>ws the land

\nSi or Vol-

►rovince 0/-

fgaty Sudacj

IS and Con-

orth appcr-

ipire of the

Tatar

liich are CTCn »t
It far from the
llleU Madfchiar.

^ TkU

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 37

Tatar Borkab, which lies in the middle between the
Iron Port (Derbtnd) and J%ok^ or Afoph. Next to this
lie the Lokzi^ or Lefgi. In the habitable part of the
North, arc alfo the Ruffian countries, which are fttii-
atcd towards the north of the town Balar (or Bulga-
ria). Then follows Barthanyah (i. c, Britania) in the
feaj Bfrdil, (Burdegalay Bourd^nux) Scbont Jahth, a
town in Ga/likljah, i. e. Calliday and their capital
Samurahy perhaps Santa Maria , or San Maria. Fiz/t^
or P//f/>7, i. c. Pifa. On the oppofue fide is the illand
SarJaniJah (i. c. Sardinia) Lombardia (Lombardy) Ga-
nawah (Genoa) Bandakijah (Venice). One of tht
citizens here is their Prince, and is called Duk. They
are in pofleflion of the ifland Nakrapanty i. e. Neero-
ponte. Rumijah el Kobroy i. Cv Home the Great, ntu-
ated on both fidcS the river T>/r/ (viz. the TiWer) the
feat of the Caliph of the Chrifti ips, who is called
Al-Pap, Borfchany or Borgany the capital of the Bur-
gansy i. c. Burgundians, who have been conquered by
the Allemanni. Jtfchanijahy i. e. Athens, the city of
the wife Greeks : Konjianthinijahy or Buxanthijahy 1. e.
Conftantinople, or Byzantium. Makdunijaby the city
of Alexander the Great. Sakgi {Jzaky or Jfapb) a
town at the mouth of the Thana ( Tanais, or Don)
wh';rc it empties itfelf into the fea Nithnfch (thePalus
Maeotis and the Black Sea). Ahzuy a town fituatcd
eaftwards on the Bofphorus, or Straits of Conftanti-
nople. This is probably Jbydus. Jkga Karmany on
the fea Nithafchy is Akierman. Thernau is lituated at
three days journey from Sakgiy or Afaph, and is there-
fore in all probability Taganrok. Sari Karman (proba-
bly a place called Inkermany in the peninfula of Cri-
mea) is five days journey from Kirrrty or Solgaty i. e.
EJki Crinua* Kerkri is a Turkifh word, fignifying
40 men, and by this name is called a certain y^ry
ilrong caftle on the top of an inacceflibic mountaioi

This is the town which Prince Abulfeda means, «nd, from the fitustinn
oa the Kmma, it m«y perhap* formerly have been called Kamagtr, juft
•8 ti part of the Hungarians, or Mad;chariy fiom the c'rcumftar qe of
(k^r dvtUini ottr ihii river, were called JTuMMr, or Komaui.

Clofc

5l VOYAGES AND

Clofe by it is the higheft mountain of all, GhaterTheg
(at prefent called ITchettirda). Sudac is a fortified
harbour, (and ftill bears the fame name.) Sulgatwzs
formerly called il Kerm^ but at prefent the province is
called by this name. (In our times EJkri-Krim).
jfCaf<f W^i on a plain to the eaft of Sud^.c^ and is a port
and ftaple town ; oppofite to it is Tharapezun (Trebi-
fond) but to the e;iil and the north is the defart of
JCaptfibiak* Ol-Kars (now called Kerfch) is a fmall
town between Koffa and Jzok^ at the mouth of the fea
of Azok, Azok.is a famous city at the mouth of
the Thana, in the fea of Azok, which in ancient
books is called the fea of Manitafih*^ or Manjetz^*
Serai **, a large town, and the refidence of the Tar-
tars, which in my (viz. Albufeda's) time, are the
Ufbecs. It is fituated in the plain, at the diftance of
two daj^ journey from the Cafpian Sea, to the fouth-
caft. The river yfto'., i. e. Wolga ***, runs froni
the north-weft to the fouth-eaft ; on rhe northern coaft
of it is Sarai. (The remains of this. great town are
itill to be found on this fpot.) Oiak is a town on the

* The fet of Astf having formerly in ancient writings been called
Manitaji h, and the fmall lakes and the river Manjeiz^ even in ihefe
rtays deriving their names from it, feems to be a frefti proof m favour of
the opinion of Mr. Pallas> that the BUck and Cafpian Sgzi were formerly
connected with each other by thefe parts, and both together made but
one fea.

•* Sarai was an ancient refidence of the people who formerly Inha-
bited this country ; but by which of them it has been built, is as diffi-
cult to afcerrain as; the true fituation of it. On the banks of the /^eb-
tubuy or the ea(lwaid arm of the Vfolgn^ from which it ieparated near
ZarisBin, feveral lemains of very ancient buildings have been found,
feme to the nonh-eall of Zarifin, k<nd others to the eaS, near Chara-
chudjcbtr and ^areiapoJ^ as al(o low«r down near Dfchi^it and Stlitran-
nii-G»rodtk, What AbulfeJa fays oi" its being at the diftance of two days
journey from the Cafpian fea, (hould rather point out Seliirannoi-Goro-
Jek, than Zaretopcd for this place. It appears to have beea built by
BJtu Khan^ between me year^ 1 256 and 1 166.

*** Athil is the name oi" the Wolga, amongft (he Ruflian Tartars,
whu, ftiiftly fpeaking, call it Idt': or Atel; which tiie TJchuvjafihi have
tiansfurmed into Adal, This word lignifies a river in general, whence
the TyiAMwa/irifri call the Wolga, JJiiadaJ, or the Great River ; but the
Kama they call Schorah-adal, i. e. the White River, becaule the water
of it is Whiter thin that of the Wolga ; the river IViatka the Tartars
^all Naukred Idtl. The Calmucks trarflaie the ward Atel by Eljchil.
The Morduaus, on the contrary, have given to the Wolgi the namt of
the Rh^u, which pcrfe£^ly tel'eroblcii the deuumiuatioa Rl'Uy made uleof
by Ptolemy.

weftern

■m

all, GhaterTheg
c is a fortified
c. ) Su/gat was
the province is

£Jkri-Knm),
:, and is a port
apezun (Trebi-

thc defart of
ch) is a fmaJI
outh of the fea
the mouth of
ch in ancient
\ or Manjet%,
:e of the Tar-
time, are the
he diftance of
I to the fouth-
^*, runs from
northern coaft
jreat town are
a town on the

"lings been called
f/ss, even in ihefe
1 proof in ftvour of
leas were formerly
together made but

who former!/ inha-
built, I's ■( diffi.
I)ank8 of the Acb-
it lieparaied near
have been f&und,
eaO, near Chara-
hii^it and Stlitran-
ftance of two days
£ Selitrannoi-Goro-
ive been bnilt by

■ • ,■»■

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTri. 39

weftern fliore of the Athl (or Wolga) half way be-
tween Sarai and Bolat The empire called Jrdu^
which belongs to the ''.'irtarian king of Borkahy ex-
tends as far as Okak. [This Okak is undoubtedly
Uwjeck, which lies 7 werfts to the fouth of SaratoK
and was formerly a famous Tartarian town.] Botar
or Boigar*, a town in the moft remote part of the
habitable northern countries, to the eaftward of the
Jthsl (or Wolga) at no great diftance from the river.
This t«wn has three baths ; the inhabitants are Ma-
hometans, and belonging to the fe6l of the Hane-
;*'tes. Herp grow no fummer fruits on account of the
mtenfe cold ; neither are there any grapes. Accord-
ing to the relat'Of of an inhabitant of thefe parts,
there is hardly any vnd to the days in fummer, and the
nights are but veryfliort; which, indeed, is very pro-
bable ; the town being fituated in upwards of 48 de-
grees of northern latitude, and, agreeable to the prin-
ciples of aftronomy, fubjedl to a very long twilight.
Balanrar, or Athol^ is the capital of the Cbozars.

Such is the information furniflied by the Arabians
on the fubje£l of the geography of the North, down
to the year 1321.

So early as about the fecond century, the Huns
had made approaches towards lake yfral and the Caf-
pian Sea, and inhabited thefe regions ; foon after which
they turned their thoughts to xlill greater cnterprizes,
which under Attila, in the years 434, 454, were
crowned with amazing fuccefs ; his dominions ex-
tending from China quite into Gaul. As to his fons,
fome of them remained mafters of the country from
Dacia as far as Noricum ; others retired towards the
Don, and fome crofling the Don, withdrew to Mount

♦ Bolgar is in our dayi ftiil called Segari, and cpntains the rcmarkabl«
and beautitui ruins which Mr. Pallas has defcribed and givm drawings of
in hi« travels, parti, pa. iti, fie fcq. The Arabian inlcripiiona bear
date, A. D. naff— 1341, The Armenians reach from n6i to 1578.
k IK not in the lead improbable then, ihat this town of Bolgar viat known
to Abulfeda, who wrote as late as in the year 1311. The firll Bulga-
rians the Kuropeans v/ere acquainted with, were pn.bably a tribe of
Turks —They feem to have been even nt that time civih/ed to a confi-
dcrable degree, as appeara from their ornaments, furniture, drefs, coins,
afid edifices. There were, iudxcd, many Armenians auiorgU them.

Caucafus j

4» VOYAGES AHB

Caucafus ; and all the fubje^ls of the powerful emplro
of the Huns recovered their liberties* The Turks, i|
people who at firft had dwelled to the fouthwards^ on
the banks of the lake Saiffan^ of the river I.rtifch^ and
on Mount Jltai^ rptirea in the fixth century to the
eaflward of lake Aral, and of the Cafpian Sei^ Here
they fpread o^t by degrees into their numerous tribes^
as Chazars^ Peifchenegs^ Uxes, Polovzee, Bulgars^ &c.
and took pofTefiion of the whole fou^hern part of Ruf-
iia, Moldavia, BefTarabia, and Crimea. Thefe were
the people wbofe pofleffions and fituation Conftantrne
Porghyrogenetes delcribes in his Thematx. The^
were alfo the beft foldiers of the Arabians and their
Caliphs, after this latter nation was enervated by
luxury and defpotifm. In confcquence of this cir-
cumftancc they foon arrived at fuch a pitch of power,
that they ufed todifpofe at pleafure of the throne of
Bagdad, and eyen took into their own hands the ad<-
miniftration of the larger provinces. At length, foniQ
of their princes eftabliihed great empires, \s\ whicl^
they governed for a while in an independent manner,
till the Moguls, under the command of Zinghis-Khan,
and his defcendants, over-ran with their armies ajmoft
the greateft part of Afia, and a confiderable part of
Europe, as far as Breflaw. Many of thefe in Afui
adopted the religion of Mahomed, and the Arabiaii
letters, as alfo the ufe of the Perfian language ; by
which means they both acquired a great deal of in-
formation, and became -very much refined in their
manners. In Perfia, under the aufpi^es of Hoiaghu--
^hatfy Jt^aJ^tr-Eddin drew up a table of the longitudes
and latitudes of places, for the purpofe of corred^ing
bis aftronomical obfervations. The fame thing was
^one immediately upon this by the nephew of the great
Timur, Ulug Bek, who likewife in the year 1437,
compol'ed tables of the latitudes and longitudes ot
places, for the purpofe of correcting his agronomical
obfervations. Theifl are in many points fo fiinilar to
each other, that it is very evident that the prince has
made ufe of the work of the Ferfian aftronomer.

Of the coMntri.es to the North of the Cafpian and
Black Sea, both of them have particularly mention-
ed the three £mpires of Choxfir, Rus, and Bolgar,

DISCOVERIES XM thb NORTH. 4f

In the firft of thefc is Bahngar^ the capital of the
king of the Chazars, which Abulfcda lilcewife had
before denominated Atbol and Balangar* The
Chozars lived in Crimea, and in the defert plains
of Nogaii but it I* impoifible at this prefent period
of time to point out their capital. The town called
Kujavahy muft certainly be KUw (or Kiow), But
Sakfm^ the fecond Ruflian town, it is alfo impoflible
to indicate with any degree of certainty. Finally,
in the empire of Bolgar^ there is mentioned a city
of the fame name. What '.-.nowjedge thefe people
had of Korafan^ Choarefntj and Mawaralnakan., does
not deferve to be noticed here, many of thefc places
being extremely well known at prefent. But for
certain reafons, we will give the reader an account
of what information they had concerning Turktjian^
or thofe countries which in our days are called the
IciTcr Bukharia, the country of the Kalkas^MongaU^
and the northern part of China. To this country
belongs Choterii a well kxjcwn town in the I^eiier
Bukhari-*, tlie capital of a. fmall empire, which at
prefent is fubjc^l to the Chinefe. , A!malig/t a town
in a country called Gete, not far from Mount Ar>
jatu. When, in the year 1490, Tinnur prepared to
make war againil this country of Gete^ his army
marched from Tafikent near the Sibon^ to Lakt IJfikoU
not far from Barkct^ or Bankf then they came to
GheuktopUy from thence to the mount called Jrjatu^
and fo to the town Aimalig. They then crofTed the
river Ab-EiUy came to Itfcbna-Butfchna, and UJier
Keptadfchij and, finally, arrived on the banks of the
Jrtijhi v/here they learned that Prince Kamareddin
was gone into the martcn-and-fable forefts of Dau*-
las. Hence it follows that this place is fituated be-
tween Tafchkent and the Irtifch^ and, indeed, on this
fide the river Ab-EiU^ which at this day empties itfelf
into the Sihon. And as the armies of Timur return-
ed over lake Eutrakgheul^ fituated near Harafckar^
and haftened by the way of Akfu to Samarkand on ac-
count of the winter approaching ; this Aimalig murt
not be confounded with Kaballg^ Bifchhalig^ ami ItiJI
^efs with Karacctrumt the feat of the Moguls on tht

jiv*r

♦»

VOYAGES ANi>

fiver and lake Onghln. A Florentine named Francifco
Balducci Pegoletti^ (whofe travels till lately lay buried
in oblivion, when they were firft drawn out of it by
the references made to them by Profeffor Sprengel)
dcfcribed at fo early a period as the year 1335* the
route from Jxof to Pekingy and in this route, at a
diftance of 45 days journey (travelling on aflcs) be-
yond Otrart he places the town of Jrmalecco^ which
undoubtedly is Almalig in the land of Gete^ to the
north-ead of Tafcbkent^ and on this fide of the Irtifch.
— I'hc two geographers next lay down Kabalig, a
place not known to modern times, more to the caft-
wards of Almalig, Then Autan Keluran (like wife
unknown) ftill more to the eaft than Karakum —
Farther they have Bifchbalik-t a place probably the
fame with that which the Chinefecall Ilibaliky which
confequently is fituated on the banks of the river ///.
Then comes Karakum^ i. e. the black j'andy a place
which was alfo called Karakorutn, and ufed to be the
refidence of the Mogul Emperors, of the race of
Zinghis Khan. Finally, they fpeakof Chanbalik^ or
Ca/nbalik, which is what is now called Peking. The
Florentine continues the route from Mmalig by the
way of Camexuy which mud certainly be Cami^ or
Hamily with the addition of Tfcheu^ which means a
town, and is a word which the Chinefe ufe to add to
the name of every place of the lead conftderation,
and which the Florentine has endeavoured to exprefs
by the fyllable xu. This town was known to the
famous traveller, Marco Polo of Venice. From the
former of thefe places to the latter it is 70 days jour-
ney. Pegoletti next reckons 65 days jo'urney to a
river, of which he has not given us the name, but in-
forms us, that from this river it is eafy to come to
Kajfai. I'his Kojfaiy is Kijjen^ a place on the great
river Kara-Muren^ or Hoang'ho. From hence it is
30 days journey to Gamalecco, the capital of the land
Gattffi^ 1. e. Kambalig^ in the land of Kat/jay, by
which is meant the northern part of China.

'J'hefe countries, though they have been frequently
laid walte by various great revolutions and the hollile
attacks of barbarous and uncivilized nations, have
nt'veithelefs retained, better than could have been ex-

pe«^cd, the names of their towns, rivers,

lakes, &c.
through

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 43

through fo many centuries : for the want of good and
drinkable water in thofe countries, is an obftrudioii
to the building of towns or cities in every part of
them. The cities therefore are fuffered to remain, and
their names are prefervcd, even after conquefts i and
for a fimilar reafon the names of the rivers and lakes
are preferved with equal care, viz. on account of thcfe
fubjeds being fo rare, and fo feldom to be met with.
The people too of thofe countries have almoft always
fpoken the fame, or at lead a kindred language,' a cir-
cum{^ance which has likewife contributed to prefervc
fo well the names of the rivers and lakes.

By what has been faid above, it appears, that thcfe
fragments of the knowledge poiTefled by the Oriental
Nations with refpetH: to our northern parts of the
globe, are very imperfe<a. P'or though it muft be
owned that thele people made exteniive military expe-
ditions, and over-ran a great many Countries, yet at
the fame time it muft be obferved that they were not
much ad<^idted to writing i and fuch of them- as were
adlually pofiisff'^d of learning, feldom wrote on Geo-
graphical fubjcCts^ or, if they did, their performances
were very defedlive.

Kublai'Khan indeed was the firft Emperor of the
Moguls, who fitted out a large fleet on that part of
the eaftern ocean called thi; Chinefe Sea, which he did
for the purpofe of conquering Nhon^ ot^ z% Marco
■ Polo fays, ZipangrL This enterpri{e however njifcar-
ricd, in confcquence of the intervention of a violent
and dcflrudive (torm, and of other misfortunes *.

CHAP.

• Kuhhi'Khan reigned from the ycir 1159 to |i94ofibeCh!iftiinarii,
when he t^DC a Hect and army to Ntl>}n (or Japanjy for tWc purpole of
cori.)Uering thai couniry The fliips campofiDg ihis (Icti, *fie very
mut-h Tnattered by the llorm, and it is probable that i'omr cf ihcm vcnf
not have been able to get back lo Japan and t hina. About tbi^ pt riod
there fpru;:j up in America, alraoil at one and the lame time, two >>reat
empires (thofe of Mexico and Peru) whi.h had regular inftitutcs cf re-
ligion ; notions of rark and fubordinaii:>n, weie ia Tome meafuie civiliz-
ed, were conneAed with each othrr by variooii kindi of affcciation, prac-
tilcd agriculture, and inihe mainmoniil ftate did not allow ol polygamy.
In M.xico, indeed, they even bad a kind of hieroglyvhic vi,titm(j, to-
gether with many other maiksof cultirniouj notwitbfUfiding ihai boi\»

ihtit

VOYAGES ASB

CHAP. ir.

Of the Voyagei and THfcoveries made In tbe North, by the
baxons, Franks, and Normaqs.

TH E Roman empire having been' ravaged and
through t low by many foreign nations, and par-
ticularly by thofe which were of German origin, in-
fomuch that the Romans were unable to oppofe them
in all parts of the empire; (bme provinces fufFered
exceedingly from thefe ravages. Britain had to the
northward very troublefome enemies in the PiSls and
Scots^ while the fouthern part of it fufFered by the de-
predations: of the Franks and Saxons, 1 he Britifli
nation implored the affiftance of the Roman Chief,
/Etius, which he however refufed them. In this fitu-
•ation nothing more was left for them, than forthwith
to call the. Saxons to their fuccour. Accordingly,
A. D. 449, thefe latter went to Britain ; not however
to deliver Britain from opprellion, but rather to con-
quer it, and to take pofTeffion of it in form for them-
felves. The firft party was foon followed by others,
and, in a 0iort time after, Britain was parcelled out,
under the Anglo-^Sgxons, into feven fmall kingdoms.
As to the unfortunate Britains, fome of them Were
brought under the yoke, and road« flaves of, or, (as
they were then called) Villains: others retired into the
mountains of Galloway^ Cumberland^ IVales^ and Corn'
tuall, in the weftern part of the ifland ; while others
crofled the fea, and took refuge in the country called
after them Britany. But it leems that theft: people
had for a long time before been ufed to infefl thecoafts

thefe rmpircA «re furroanded OD all fides by favage and rqde nationa
Very inconfidcrlble in point of extent, and are befides at a dlllance from
each other. Now all thii favourR the fuppofition, that thefe two colo-
niei came thither by Tea, m (he twelfih and thirteenth centuries} jier-
hap» iliey «:« Tome of the people that were loft in the expei^ition to Jar
fill, thtu ihipi (living beea driven by il^e Clorn to America.

;h, by the

gcd and
and par-
gin, in-
jfe them

fufFered
I to tho
*i£is and
' the de-

Britiih
\ Chief,
liis fitu-

rthwith
-dingly,
lowcver
to con-
r them-
others,
ed out,
gdoms.
n Were
or, (as
nto the

others

called

people

z coails

DISCOVERIES in i-hi NORTH* 45

of France and Britain by Tea with their depredations,
jnfomuch that the Romans give to.a certain tx^Gt of
the French and Britifh coafts the appellation of the
Saxon Boundaries \ and placed them under the protecti-
on of a Count [Comes littoris Saxonici,] Neither did
the Franisy who had been conquered by the Emperor
Probus, and whom he had tranfplanted t6 Pontus^
forget that they formerly bad lived on the fea coaft^
and had made piracy their profeffion and livelihood ^
for as foon as a favourable opportunity offered, ther
fcized upon what ihips they met with, and ravaged all
the lands lying along the coafts of Afia minor and
Greece, and then, fetting fail for Sicily, furprifed the
city of Syracufe, famous for its navigations, where
they killed a great number of people. After they ha4
plundered the whole African coaft, from which how-
ever they were at length repulfed by fome troops fent
againft them from Carthage, they proceeHed to the
Straits of Gibraltar, in the Great Ocean, and arrived
at laft, enriched with fpoils, amongft their country-
men, between the Rhine and the Wefer(tf). Such
a naval expedition as the above-mentioned certainly
refiedb great honour on this enterpriiing people, par-
ticularly when we confider the (hips of thofe days and
the miferable Cvindition of thefe vefiels ; as alfo, how
few they had of thofe aids which are requifite to navi-
gation, being pofTefTed neither of charts nor com-*
pafles, and (as being in (o rude and uncultivated a
ftate) having but a very imperfe(^ knowledge of aftro-
liomy. It ihould feem, nevcrthelefs, that thefe Franks^
thus tranfplanted to the interior part of the Pontus,
on the Black Sea, muft have had fome conception of
the fituation of the countries they.vifited, and of the
ancient place of their refidcncc ; for it is contrary to
every dictate of common-fenfe, to imagine, that they
Ihould by mere accident have got juft into the tradt
which led to their native country. This and other
fuch enterprifes gave the Frankiih tribes courage, to-
gether with (kill in naval matters, and at the fame
time infpired yet more of them with a difpofition to
piracy and navigation. Accordingly they went with

(«) ZoHm. Lib. i. paragr. €6. edit. QyoQ, J^iimca ia ptnegyr. C(U|>
ftiatii C«r«rii, Cap. i8^— tad Vopifcut is proU.

numurous

VOYAGES AND

numerous fleets and armies over to England, whertf
the city of London, which even at that early period
iva*. grown rich by commerce, fell into their hands.
Jjut Condantiuii Csefar beat them foon after, and de-
livered England froin thefe cruel marauders. •

Betides the Franics and Saxons, who feem to have
acquired confiderabic knowledge of the maritime af-
fairs and countries of t;he North ; we alfo find, that
about the year 753 of the Chriftian aera, the Danes
ventured with their fhips as far as Thanet on the
Kentiflj cc aft, and ravaged the country. Thefe were
fo ^J ' V three other Danifh fhips, which came
froi; 'iera'ande^ and the crews of which even land-
ed A. D^ 78; ; : JVeJifexy that part of the illand which
fell to the (hare of king Brithrkk (or Beorhtric), In
the. year 793, the Convent called Lindisfarne, on
the ifland which is now called Holy-IJUmdy was plun-
dered of every thing in it by the Danes j who having
acquired additional courage in confequence of the
confiderable booty they had made there, the year im-
mediately following, viz. 794, plundered likewife the
Convent on the mouth of the Tyncy which had been
built there by King Egfrid, It was no unpleafing
circumftance to thefe Heathens to find that the good
monks had preferved in their convents fuch immenfe
riches, which it was cuftomary for the Chriftians of
thofe days, in confequence of the opinion they enter-
tained of the merit of good works, to heap up with
bountiful hands in thefe repofitories.

The ftill more remote country of Ireland was not fe-
cure from the predatory invafions of the Danes. So
early as in the year 795, they appeared on the coafts
of that ifland, and, after having ravaged the Orkneys
and the Wejiern IJlands, they made their appearance
again fo early as in 798 in Uljiery which province
f'ufFered greatly from their ravage?. But long before
this period the Normans had made fome predatory in-
curfions into Ireland, as appears from the life of St.
Findanus, who was of a noble family in that coun-
try, and had been carried ofF from thence by theni,
Thefe pirates afterwards landed on the Orkney

■■i.-

(h) Scriptorct rtrutt Altma^aictmin C^ldi^ni, Tom, i. p. aot.

Iflands,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 47

IHands, when Findanus ran away from them, and,
after having undergone various fortunes, having wan-
dered through France and Lombard/, and remained
four years in Alemania, he finally, in the year 700,
embraced a monaftic life.

In general, we may obferve, as an acknowledged
faft, that all the different nations and people, which
afterwards were known to the world under the deno-
minations of Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians, were
not diftinguiflied by thefe names in the earlieft agcsj
as the countries they inhabited were not at that time
divided, fo as to admit of it. Every petty diftriift,
fometimcs even a fmall ifland, had its peculiar fove-
reign. No general name confequently could be be-
llowed on the whole country taken coUt£liv* /♦.
The petty fovereigns in thefe countries feem to ua\
been mere feudatory lords, of lords of manori>. who
undertook expeditions by fea as well as by land with
their vallals. Their mother-country, as well c; ac-
count of the fmall quantity of cattle on it, aoi in con-
fequence of the negle<Sled ftate of agricult e, was
very unfruitful ** : they therefore, after their fubjedU
bad once experienced the beneficial emoluments ac-
cruing from a piratical expedition, found no' great
difficulty in perfuadkng them to frefh undertakings of
this nature. The firfl fhips, which the northern
nations made ufe of, were boats, either hollowed out
of large trunks of tr^es, or elfe made of wicker, and
cafed over with leather f. Long fhips, of a larger

fize,

. • The names however of Suiintty In Tacitus *nd of Ntrigotiy ia
Plipy, feem to have been geaeral oamea of thefe countriefi ; yet it i«
much to be doubted, whether they are to be taken in that fenfe \n which
they have been ufed flnce. Neverthelefs we have the word Dania in (b
early a writer ai Guidg of Ravenna^ ytho probably wrote hia book in the
7tb century.

, •• Ohther told king Alfred^ that he wa» in poffcflion of twenty be«ve«,
twenty (heep, and a& many fwine ; and that the trifling quantity of land
that be had in tilth, he ploughed with horfea ; and yet Ohther waa oo«
of the riched and mod conftderable men in hia country. In like manner
Jiiam if BrtmfMy affirms, that Nerdmanland is very barren, without
chufing to determine, however, whether this barrennet's is to be afcribed"
to the coldnels of the country or to the mountains -with which it is co-
vered. Adamut dijitu Dania ad eaUem Hi/i. Eccla. Cap. 138. parag.
146. edit. Ludg. Bat. l59(, 4to.

+ Boau like thefe, made of wicker and cafed over with letiher, are
ailed Ciradtt ia Englaod, where th^y aia aill o uft oa (h* rivers Dee

aud

^>^jaife.

4B VOYAGES ANd

fize, were called Chiule, Cyule, Ceol (an appetlationi
whence the German and f-^nglifh term " Jhip^s keeli*
is derived, as well as the Englifh word Ktelman^ \. e*
people who work in the veflcls belonging to the col-
liers. With thcfe two kinds of veflels, neither of
which were of any tonfiderable fize, the latter of
them carrying 200 men at the moft, thefe northern na-
tions undertook their piratical expeditions. But the
fmallnefs of the number of men on board each veflel
was amply compenfated by the multitude of the vefTels
themfelves. Infomuch that £ven Tacitus, in thofe
early ages, makes mention of the fleets of the Suionx*
This people appears to have fprcad at firft within the
boundaries of the Baltic to Finland, Efthonia, and
Courland, whither it was very eafy for them to pafs
over from Gothland. The Normans^ or rather the
Horwtgiaru, followed their own coaft, according to
Uhther*s defcription ) confequently they circumnavi-
gated the extreme point of their peninfula, and of Eu-
rope, viz. the North Cape, and coming at laft to the
Cwen Sea, arrived at the Dwina and among the Biar-
nians that lived on its banks. The Dams failed along
the coaft as far as the Britifh Channel, and at length
went to Britain itfelf.

At the end of the 8th century the Dana and
Norwegians, who, taken collectively, bore the name
of Normans, ventured to go to England, Scot-
land, the Orkney and Shetland lilands, the Weftern

»v

«ik1 Severn ; in Ireland they tre termed Curach. Czfar, Co early a*
in his time, found them in Britain, and made afe of thetn himl'elf.
CUiftir d* belle eivili paragr. 259. Ed. Elzev. 1(35. Lntami Ph^rful. Lib,
w. 131. /*//». Hift.Nat, Lib. iv. cap. 16. vii. tap. 57. Min. Ptbfhift.
cap. 2$. The Efquimaux tnd Greenlandert, and Hkewife the Kamc*
ichtdalles have (hips made of fi(h bones, with a few wooden cluinpK and
benda, and covered over with the ikina of Marine animals. The peopi*
iaft«mentioned call them Baidars. Even the Greeks made.ufe of boat*
of wicker, covered with leather, which they took with them on board
of their large (hips, calling them XMfaCiM, and in Latin Carabi. Pron»
this kind of craft the Ruflianc have in all probability taken their trrin for
a (hip, which they call a Korabt\ It is certain, that the vctTcls belong-
ing to the Saxon pirates were made of leather. For in the poem upoA
wtfvi/n/, this circumftance i* mentioned exprsfsly :

Quio et armoriciit piratam Saxona tradlut
Spirabat, cai pelle iaiuro fulcareBritaaliunn
iU«>dHf> est itToio glaucum naie fiodctc jitim)K»,

Iflands,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH 49

Iflands, and even to Ireland i all \^ich places they made
the fubje<Ste of their depredations, carrying with them,
wherever they went, defolation and flaughter. At length
they fucceeded in making themfelves malters of Ireland,
and remained fuch from the year 807 to 815. The
Orkneys, the Shetland and Weftern Iflands, were now
in like manner regularly peopled by the Normans.
Some of them even formed the refolution of fixing them-
felves M Ireland. The attempt, however, did not fuc-
ceed immediately, and they were obliged to put off the
execution of their defign to a more convenient time.

The booty and we3th which they carried home in-
cited others among them to advance with their fleet along
the ceaft of Britain to France, where, as has been ob-
ferved, they firft landed in 820, not having dared, in
the reign of Charles the Grtat^ to invade that coaft.
The indolence of Charles's fucceflbrs, and the civil
wars in which they were continually engaged, put it out
of their power to make the necefl*ary preparations on the
northern coaft of France for repelling the Normans,
who, rather excited than difcouraged by the weak refift-
ance they met with, repeated their attacks fo frequently,
that at laft they prepared to make a complete conqueft
of thefc countries, and take polTeffion of them.

Though Egbert in England, upon the union of the
lefler Saxon divifions, or, as they are called the Heptar"
chy^ became a powerful Sovereign, yet the Normans did
not fuffer themfelves to be intimidated by his power ;
but, in 832, made an attack on the Kentiih coaft, in
which they met with fuccefs, carrying off with them
abundance of booty \ though, the following year, having
landed in Dorietftiire, they were obliged to make -a pre-
cipitate retreat.

About the year 835, the Normans went to Ireland,
under their leader Turges, and maintained poileflion of
their conqueft for tlie fpace of 30 years.

In 840 a fleet fitted out by thefe people, made for
the coaft of France, where, having penetrated into the
internal part of the kingdom, they committed great
ravages. Some of them indeed, in 844, proceeded
as far as to the coaft of Andalufiaj and even P//?/, in
Italy, together with the once flouriihing city of Lunay

^ WAS

VOYAGES AND

was brought into fubjeftion by them, A. D. 857. But
thefe were, in fat^b, their expeditions to the South,
which we (hall content ourfelves with barely mentioning
in this place.

Their voyages, on the other hand, were continually
more and more extended lilcewife in the northern regi-
ons. Jn the year 859 they went eaftward to the coaft
of EJihoma^ and brought the inhabitants of it under
fubje6tion, and in 862, three Normans, who were bro-
thers, founded a new fovereignty in Nowgorod and its
vicinity.

Juft about diis time, viz. in 861, one of thefe pirates,
of the rnime of N addodd, was thrown by a ftorm on an
ifland never before difcovered ; and called it, on account
of the fnow which lay on the high mountains belonging
to it, Schnfi or Snow-land^ Naddodd was but a very
fhort time in this newly-difcovered ifland ; yet it ap-
peared to him a very good country; in confequence of
which a Swede, by name Gardar Suafarsson,
who was fettled in Denmark, undertook an expedition
-to bnowland in 864 } and having failed quite round it,
•named it Gardarhohn^ i. e. Gardar's Ifland. Here like-
wife he fpent the winter ; and going to Norway in the
fubfequent fprin?, reported that dvis newly-diicovered
country was entirely covered with wood, and in other
refpedls was a fine tradl of land. This account of the
place induced another Swede, of the name of Flocke,
who by his voyages had acquired a great name, as
well as the conAdence of the people in the north, alfo
to go thither. He arrived fafe : but having wintered
there likewife, on the northern fide of the ifland met
with a great quantity of drift ice,, on which account he

fave this ifland the name of Iceland, a name it ftill
ears. It (hould feem too that he was not at all
pleafed widi the country, iince he dcfcribed it, on
his return to Norway, as a very indifferent foil and fitu-
ation. Some of his companions, on the contrary, gave it
out as a country flowing with milk and honey, l^hefe
contradictory reports feem to have damped in many
^people the def^re of viftting this ifland. At laft,
m ,the year 874, Ingolf, and his friend Lief, re-
folved upon making another trial. Accordingly, thefe

tW9

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH. 51

two friends repaired thither together ; and the coun-
try was Co far from appearing to them in a bad
light, that, on the contrary, its natural advantages
induced them to fettle there, which they did about
four year' afterwards. Ingolf took thither people,
cattle, and all kinds of neceflary tools and imple-
ments 'y "^nd Lief, who in the mean time had been in
England to the wars, carried thither his booty. The
firft difcovcrers of this iHand, from the circumftancc
of their having found fome Irifh books. Bells and
Bifhops Crozicrs on it, imagined that fome people
from Ireland had refided there previoufly to this pe-
riod. But it appears more probable to me, that a
party of Norman pirates, who had previoufly landed
in Ireland, and carried off from thence a confiderable
booty, and among other things the above-mentioned
articles, Sad been driven thither by a ftorm, as had been
the cafe with Naddodd, and left thefe articles behind
them.

The contradi^ory reports concerning this country
by the people who firft vifited it, muft certainly have
been exaggerated on both Tides. However, it may be
obferved, that although thofe who firft inhabited the
idand, doubtlefs conftderet) it as an advantageous fpoti
,yet, the pofture of affairs in the North at that junc-
ture, probably contributed much to their fettlement in
this cold region *. "^

About this time, Harold Schoenhaar, one of
ithe petty fovereigns in Norway, began to conquer and
[bring into fubjeaion the o^her chiefs of that country ;
and in 875, eftabliihed the Norwegian monarchy.
GoRM THE AhfciENT likewife attacked all his neigh-
bours round him, and united the petty ftates in Jut-
land and the Danifli Tflands into one: as Inoiald
Illrode had done long before in Sweden. H was
impoifible for fuch great changes in the pofture of ajT-'

* The fin. ^ifcovcrer* oF Iceland Found forefts oF* confiderable extent
•n the ifland ; and there are Aill to be feen in different parts of it, the
roots and ftump of Urge fir-irees, which confirm this alTertion. We
know likewife trom authentic infortnation, that corn hat been cultivated
in Iceland; though at prefent, excepting a f«w (lunted birch-trees, and
other underwood, there is not a treeoo the ifland, and no corn will grow
on it The fafl is, that the ftraits between OU (or the Eafltm part of)
Greenland and Iceland, having been for nnany years paft choakcd up with
iiic, b«vc wcaficned a great change in the temperature of this latier iflaud.

E 2 fairs^

VOYAGES AND

fairs, and thofe fo contrary to the old eAablifhmenCfy
tc be efFei^ed without making a vaft number of
malcontents. Thefc, at this juncture, found a fure
refuge in Iceland ; and at length fo m^ny, even among
the great people, and fome indeed of the blood royal,
repaired to the new afylum, that King Harold thought
proper, by way of putting a (lop in fome meafure to
thefe emigrations, to publifli an edi£l, according to the
tenor of which, no man was allowed to go to Iceland
without previoufly paying to the king half a mark of
ftandard filver. The great wealth accumulated by fhe
piratical practices of the whole collective body of bold
Normans in thefe regions from the year 516, when they
firft appeared off the French or Gallic coaft (and con-
iequently during a period of more than 360 years) muft
neceflarily have extended the power of fome of their
petty fovereigns, and at the fame time muft have pro-
duced a gradual change in the manners, way of living,
fentiments, and poluical eftalliihments of tne i>ortherii
nations. Accordingly, it appears to me, that thefc
very piratical expeditions laid in fome meafure the
foundaticii of the political changes that happened almoft
at one and the fame time in the northern kingdoms.

In the courfe of their expeditions, the people of thefe
kingdoms became acquainted wii*;h the different ftates
of Chriftendom in the South. On this occadon it was,
that the moft zealous among the monks, as well as
many others, whcfe fole view was the acquifition of
riches, and to lead a voluptuous life, refolved at length
to get fent out to thefe countries as bifhops. Confe-
qucntIy,Chrift and his pretended vicegerent, the pope,
were foon preached among thefe people. The fcrip-
lures were introduced every where j codes of law were
compiled and committed to writing ; and the rude and
wild way of life of thefe people was confiderably huma-
nized. Commerce and various arts, as well as im-
provements in agriculture, gained ground j and thefe
barbarous regions became in fome meafure enlightened,
and the manners of their inhabitants refined.

In the mean time the Danes had again invad-
ed England, and that with fo much fuccefs, that
King Alfred, in the beginning of his reign was
obliged to reliuquilh it entirely to the ravages of

thefc

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOHTH.

thcfc plunderers. In Ireland they ereiSlcd a fovcreignty
at Dublin^ which fell to the (hare of Ainlav, or Olap»
as that at Waterford ^idi to Sitrik, and that at Limt'
rick to YwAR. In the year 868, the Ferroy or Bhe^
Iflands were difcovered, and afterwards peopled, no in-
habitants having been found oh them. In like manner
the Orkneys too were peopled with Normans, as alfo the
Shetlan(!i Iflands. The fame advantages attended the
Hfbridesy or Weftern Iflands, as they are now called,
though by the Normans, who came to them from the
Njrtti and the Orkneys, they were denominated the
Southern Iflands *.

But foon after this, Alfred emerging from his retire-
ment, on a fudden made his appearance, and his iub-
jc£ts by his appointment likewife coming forward at a
certain fixed time, immediately fell on the Danes quits
imawares, and made great havock amongfl them. Al-
fred did not chufe to difpatch the remainder of his van-
quifhed foes } but gave them their lives, and permitted
them to live in Northumberland, a province which had
been laid wafle and depopulated by their countrymen.
By this humane conduct he gained the heart even of
many of the Danes. Among others, there was a Nor-
man at his court, by name Ohther, who had made
hirafelf famous by his travels. There was another too,
a Jutlander, of the name of Wulfs'^an, who in like
manner gave the king an account of his travels into
RufliH. All thefe accounts the learned Prince collefted
with great care j and having purpofed to give a tranfla-
tion of the Hormejia of Orosius, in the Anglo-Saxon,
his mother-tongue, he interwove in this tranflation the
relations of Ohther and Wulfftan, with the refult of the
information he had got clfewhere concerning the flate of

* It wt» only by the Scotch thm (on «ccount of their weftern fituatioa
with re'pcft to them) ihey were teimed the Weftem Iflam'i ; but tli*
Danes, who went to thetT> from the North, gtve them the name of So-
deroe ; hence originates the ti^le of the biftsop, in whofe diocefe thefe
iilands were, together with the Ifle ot Man ; \\ he (lill is cilied, though
the reafori of it be not rightly >auwn, Bifliop of Sndir and Man. But it
is eafy to perceive that ihia St,dtr can be no other than the Sedarof of the
Panes, [Or rather the Sadiar^ by contradion from the Swedifli Stder^
Aotfth and C/«r ifltod-^] Npit vf the traaflaior.

the

VOYAGES AND

the three parts of the world known at that period. It
J8 very evident, from comparing then together, that
Alfred's account of Europe is not that of OroHus, but
rather that the Englifh Prince has principally fet before
us the ftate of Europe as it was in his own time. In
fa£^ we are poiTefled of fuch flender information concern?
ing the Geography of the middle ages, that fuch an ex-
hibition as this is of Europe and uie northern regions
conformable to the ideas of that age, and that from fo
refpedable a fource, muft be extremely valuable. I fhaU
therefore in this place infert that part of it, which re-
fpedls the North of Europe,

The Geography of the Northern patis of Europe, ac"
cording to King Alfred^ almoji literally tranflated from
the Anglo-Saxon,

Now will I alfo ftate thofe (i. e. the boundaries) of
Europe, as much as we are informed concerning them.
From the river Danals (Tanais) weft ward to the river
Rhine (which takes its rife in the Alps, whence it runs
northward to the arm of the Ocean (i), that furrounds
Britannia, and fouth to the river Donua (or Danube)
(2), whofe fource is near that of the Rhine, and runs
eauward in the north of Greece, till it empties itfelf into
the Wendel Sea (or Mediterranean) (3) and north even
unto the oceanic which men call Cwen bea, (or the White

(i) Alfred calls the Great Sei,, or Ocean, Garfecg, t word of which
I cftonot (iod the origin, cither in the German langunge or any of ita
ikioiircd dialed^. A little narrow fca he conQantiy calls Sae, er Sta.

(i) In the orir;inal the Danul * conft'inily calif d the De»i«i.

(3) As diicftly at the comn.orcemetit of the Mediterrtoetn Sea,
where it joins tne Atlantic Ocean, is fitiiatet! tne province of Andalufia,
in Spain, which province derives iiB iiane from the Wandals or Vandals,
who inhabited it ; and as thefc Vandals afterwards lived in ATrica, oo
thecoads of tbe Mediterranean, it is not at all to he wondered at, that
Alfred, a prince delct ndcd from German aacellors, fiiould call this part
of the Mediteriaoean by ihe name of fftnJtl-Saa, a name of Gernnan
«(igiu.

Sea),

DISCOVERIES IK TH« NORTH. 55

Sea) (4). Within this arc many nations, and the
whole of this traftof country is called Germany (5).

Hence to the north of the fource of the Danube*
anJ to the eaft of the Rhine, .are the £^ Frtftuan
(6), and to the fouth of them arc the Swaefas, or
buevac,(7); on the oppofite bank of the Danube,'
and to the fouth and eaft are the Baeztfnvare (8),
in that part which is called Regnejburgb {()). Due

eaft

(4) It h well kn )wn, that the indent inhabitints of tli(» north mide •
ciiflinAion between the Cntnai tnd (he Lapkndtrs^ hy the former uq-
derfttnding the Finlinders, fo thit Cwenland, according to them, wt«
Finland. Hence it i^ eafy to perceive, that Adam of Bremen* when he
i'peakt of the Amaztnt and of the land of Ftmalu, a* being Cwm-
/««J^ totally milUkes the (ignification of the word Cwenland. Cvten^
in the nortnern languages, means a viaman \ in that of Icelaud it <•
Kninna. Uphilaa calls a woman S^uenSy Sf^ino ; in the Anglo-Saxon
dialed^ it U Kwen ; in the Alemannic, Quena. Hence the Englilh have
got the word ^een. Now, as previous to this period die Fintanders ioo
habited all this tra£l as far as Kalfin^eland ; Cwenlmnd conlequcntlf
reached as far as this fpot ; in procels of time, the Swtons and Gtthtf
coniinaally advancing fnrther and farther towards the noith, the Finlan-
ders at lall had nothing left but what is dill called Finland, and confe-
quentlji C<ttfjr«/aw</ was much diminiihed in extent. Adam of Bremen
haf, throughout hi? whole treatife, confounded the proper name ofKwtbii^
.t. e. the Kwehn nation, or Kwehn country, with Kwen, or ^ibn. It
is likewife obfervable, that where this Kioehn Sea was lituated, it waa
Crar/^r^, as Alfred calls it, or Ocean, and not a Sea like the Mediterra-
nean on the Baltic. Coi^fequenily this Kviehn Sta was the White Sea,
and no part of the Baltic.

(s) By confequence all that tnfk of country which is Included between
the Rhine, Danube, Don, and Dwina, the White Sea, and the Ocean,
was at that ^t'loi Germany. The northern Waraegrians were become
r lets of the whole of RufTia ; therefore the whole country, as far aa
t' • Don, or Tanau, was Gcimany, according to the royal Geogr'apher,
«n(i in faA, evei^ place where the Germaniibore the fway.

(6) The Eaft Fianks were to be fr>und in that part of Germany, which
reached from the Rhine to the Ssalc; in the North, to the Ruhre and
CalTcl -, ind in the Soutli, nlmoft to the Necker ; or, according; to EgtM-
iiitJ, from Sa:fony to the Danube. They were called Eaft Franks, ia
order to diftinguilh ihem from the Franks that inhabited ancicitt Gaul.'

(7) The Suorfas of the Roysl Ge«ifr«plier make pirt «>f the Aieroan-
ric Contrderacy, v.hich howtvcr, po(ieri<'r to this, gave to the whole no-
lien and pn vince the name oi'S-u-ahs. Par' * nodexn Swtbia is com-
jui:>d in this leeion, which, even in thf '»f Alfred and Jordan,
w.s called hy the iiame it now bear';.

(R) Bnegihivnn. That by this wo d is meant Bavarians, there it i.a>r
the leail doubt ; but whence are ihcy fo called, is the queftion ? It his
teen obferved, th it all names of reople or uatinns, that end in ware or
wari«n% as e. g. ihs Arn/:Jl"^ttriai>s, ^•fHfrrivariam^ BarnSluariant^ Chat-
tuatiani, ^c indicate th' remains of fuch tribe or people. Thus alTo
ilt remaiudtr ot the t' j that were exterminated by the Suevi, and who

toitlU

5«

VOYAGES AK

eaft from hence are the Beme (lo), and to th r.;>fo»
jaft the T/jyringas (il) ; to the north of tUcfV ace the
Old-Saxon (12), to the north-weft are the Fry/an (i3)»
and to the weft of OU Seaxum is the mouth of the
yfelfa (or Elbe) (14), as alio Fr)faH (or Friefeland).
Hence to the north- weft is that land which is called
Jftgle (15), Sillende {ib)i and fone part of Dena[i'j).

lettled tt Noricnm, were called Sejnvariant. Bv the incient* tht7 were
termed Btieariiy or Bajaarii^ fo tntt the Batgtbvmrei were the Boij or
BatghttH remaining after the flaughier made of them by the Suevi. Ftd.
Thunman^i ffttdifihe FtUer. P. 40, 41.

(9) ^fgiffi^fS wtB, as we may gather from this exprcflion of Alfred's,
« province ai well a* a city. Perhaps the diltriA of Rtgtnfiurg^ or ^a-
tijben,

(10) The Btme are without difpute the prefent Bohemiaiir, whom
Alfred farther on mention* under the denomination of Btttmas. This
appellation they had fiom the word BoitrheiWy or Dwelling-pif cc < f the
Bmj, who were exteim nated by the Suevi.

(1 1) We cannot eafily miftake the Thyringai ; end the liiustion < f their
eruntry is ftill the fame as it was in ihot'e t^^^ : though the Thuringen
«f that pericd muO aeceflarily have taken in a greater circuit than our
pu)dern Thuringeo doesj as the k'ng of that country was at. that tinae
powerful enough to be able to wage war w ith ihe king of the Franks.

(it) By the words AUStcxaji %n<^ Alt'Ser.xum^ is meant t!v country
that lies on the eaOern fide of ihe Elbe. It dill preferves in, ar.cient
Bflme, vis. Old SaJJem (CM SaxQoy) or JL-lfat •« in Lutin, which bv dt-
Ul^rees has degenerated to it<! prelent dt.nunnination of Holflein. This
country was of great impor'^aceip the cjcsof King Alfred, as it was
ihe hsbiiationof his anc(ftors>

(13) Without difputc the Pin! *r .• lived f^ the north-.wcft of Thurin-
g'n,between the PJbe and the P . \ t'.ong rho fea coaft ; confcquentiy
t^ey lay to the wellwRrdot Old c o^j^ as Alfred afterwards indicates.

(14} This pionunciation of ihe word Elh- {/^>-lft] is ftill retained in

the Swer<i(h language^ and the names of j

I'ii.iin

Ciotbaelfy Daltl/en, ftill

in ufe. E^y taken in its genual /cccpiaiion, fignifies a river.

(15) The word Heme refer to Old Sea*umy and with refpcft to Old
Snxony, Angle \f, \ believe, to the ncrth-weft, and not to the northeiinf
*' the reviewer of my remark.^ upon Alfred a(r..tts in the 6th part of the
ad volume of fh<.- Gctiingtn FiiUIi^icul Library. F'-r the Angelis were
viihout diipute the sAjPaiiceof theSaxonii in their expedition to England,
and indted in all probatiljiy a peculiar bisnch of this nj ion •■, therefore
pobably they dwelt in Old Saxo: y, «n the other f;dc of the Cder; and
the lame fituaiion had SilltnJc, or the illc ot Zt eland, part of De. mark,
1 make thiiS remark merely becaufe it might otherwife hnve been iirn{,'in«
1 Irom the later fituatioii of the Eif^ets between Eaft and Weft-
}'■ alia, th It the Engers, Enghs or Anfl^lej, had likewtie refided on the
•,«tftcr« fide 0^ the Elbe. Alfied, io his dtfciipiion of Old Saxony, wcntoi)

DISCOVERIES iM THs NORTH.

.57

To the north h Afdrede (f8) ; and to the north-
eail the Wolds (19), which are called Aeheldan
(20)} from hence caftward is fPinedaland (21),

which

■'IC.

fthe

time
ks.

>untry

■cient

b\ dt-

Thi.
It wat

lurln-
ently
tet.

fled ia
Aill

Old

•eafl,
if the
were
land,
jf'ore

and

ark,
pin.
'eft.

the

toq

in progreflion ; fo th« firft to the northwenwird «re the Angles, and
then Denmark, to %vhich alfo belongs the lalUmentioned ifland, Zee-
land. 1( cannot, however, be denied, l>ut that fome of the Angles may
have likewife rcMed on the Danifli iflanda, as Krtig Alfred bimfelf tciU
U!i at much in Ohihcr*!> relation.

(16) SilUnde^ and (17) Dena^ are doubllefs Zealand and Denmark.

(iP) That the Apirtit are the ObitriUiy no rtalbnahle ptrfon will
deny i though the pun-loving and pedantic writers of the Chionictes of
the middle age* have gone fo far as to make thenn out to be the Ahdf
rites. A little farther on, thefc people are likewife termed Afirede,
They are not, however, to the north of Old Snxony, but rather to the
eaftward of it Perhaps the copyift inferted the word Ntrtb inAead of
Baft. Or clle we ihruld read as follows : " To the Northtaft u Ap-
dredc, and to ihe North the Wolds.''

(19) (10) To the north-eaft of the Obntritei dwelled the Wihti^ the
Kamt, &c. But thef* it wa« not AUred's intention to indicate, but
merely the Wendt, who lived on the Havely and were termed Htvtlli^
or Httvtldi^ ind f-^metimes HrvelJuns. This happy obfervaiioo of the
reviewer before alluded to is ciowbMefs better than mine > only en that
cafe, iodcad of north ead we muA read foath>eall-i for thi» ia the ficu-
ation of Havelland with reipe£b to old Saxony.

(i\) (ai) IVtntdmland, fays Alfred, lies to the eaft of Old Saxony,
and thi^ is precifely the fits t.i'>n of Mecklenburg, where the WeniiiKn
Sclavi lived. They wire called tVtndt^ ar Vandals, from the fituation
of their country near the lea; iot iVtda, or fVanda^ fi^niiies watei, or
jta \ hence too they were i!enominat€<< Famerani'ims, i. e. people wii»
lived by the h% fide— ./n mcnm. TW.t i* right alio on another acconn',
via. becaufe Waliflan, in the leqnef, exprelsly fays, that H^emedlani
Vfas always to the right bapd of him in his journey fiom H<<cthum to
Ilfin^, and that the Viltula runs from fVecitc/laad into the t/Uttre^ or
the Haf.

Conlequently Weonrdlflnd, or ff^iatdland, mufl have been the mo-
flern Meckleiiburgh aru Pomerania. The reviewer of roy Comment,
in the Philological Library, blames me for taking the Wendt for the Ld.
tovianii,' a miflake which I never committed. My rnap, iaulecd, plainly
(hews that t did r.ot: I only laid, that ihiv people (poke the Letto>ian
or Prufii.in langi.agc, and therefore were different from the other Sclav i.
They were, however, conne£\ed with the other branches nf the S» iavi j
and to were the Lettovian? and Prufliins, the words <?f whole ianpuage
ate even to th's day, almofl all Sclav. (h. I am likewife accufcd b\ ihia
gentleman 0: having afterward* given up or clfe forgot fht; alovt-mei.-
tionei! o; in on of niine, and abloluiely looked on this WciKienlamion the
Viltula, 10 be the Danifli illind of Funen. TI.e fatl i^, however, ih. t
1 have never altered my fentimentK on \,h\% fubjn^ ; luit on the contrary,
abide f.tmly by thtm, and moreover do not take the ifle 01 Puren f< r
this I'arr.e V/endenland ; but do no more than merely follow U ultOan
ill this point, who, as foon as he is come out of the harbour ( f Hatihuiv
ha', ihc touniry of Weonoih!-nd (not Weonodiand) to th*. lifrht 01' him .
%ti6 '.an^cland, Laeland, Falflei, and Sihoncii, to th« Irit : hen ht
p: Uv I > Burgeuduland, Blain^ay Aieo' t, Eiviiand, and (jfiiiimi- st'-r

tlliib

> w

$H VOYAGES AN*

which men call Syfyle (22). To the South ^eaft at
feme diftance is Maroaro[2^)i and thefe Marfforo
have to the weft the Thyringas and Behemas^ z^ z\(o
part of the Batgthware -^ and to the ibuth, on the
other fide of the Donua^ is the country called Co"
undra{2^).

Southwards towards and along the mountains
which are called the Jlpis^t lie the boundaries
of Baegthwarty as alfo Swaeva (25) } and then

tbis he memions IVttntdlmndy which At ether time* he ciIU ft^inodland^
aad wa» elwajs to the nght-hand of him. To me nothinif: tppeert phia-
<r then the differeace between fVimJUann and fVttHtthlanA ^ this Utter
lies acar Langcland, the other to the wed of the V^flvla, along the lea
eotift. But with rcipea to SjJjUy it muft be owced, that Alfred feems
te have made a inin«kc. There is an taconfiderabtc place called Stifli,
«r Stijff, which in fiiuaied on the BaUic, in Wagerland^ between Trave*
titande and Eaijn, and is ftil) calird Sjffel. I'hix is to the wedward
about the beginnbg of the tracts innxbited by the Wends. But there it
soother diftri£t> that-of Siu/Httj of which Dithmar, ot Merfebarg mxkes
mcntioo. It lies not far from ihe Mulda^ below Ealenburg, in Saxony;
•iidat thia piefeat time there i* in that diOriA a paiiih called SeJelttSf
JM Se«ieii's> or Seuiediiti. A* this p!ace was likcwife inhabited b/
Wcods, Aiu-*-'. ifoflfibJy might have heard jf both thefe place*, and mif-
taken the one for the other. For immediately alter the U^'tudt and
Syfyie-, he fpeaks of the Moravians. This, in fa£l, is too great a t;a|».
But (his Sylylt conneAs the We.ids on the Baltic, who have likcwife ^
A/V/ in their country, with the Moravianf, or rather with their acigh"
iMiiart the Delamenfam, o( whom mention is made farther eo.

(13) By the /Vt«r«f;r« are meant the people of Moravia, fo ealled
from the river A^ara-liai and (he fitustion triat is given them here, ia
likewife right. They lie to the fouth-caft of oU Saxony, ^t feme dif-
tonce frotn it. Oftr fummt dal. Mr. Barri/iRiOL's trsnflatioa of this
pafTsire ii very crioneous. When I wrote my remarks on JElfted't Ort'
Jim$y I hiu not the Anglo Sayr^n original before me ; as it was then in the
hands of the printer*, ' .<:fore ufed Mr. Harrington's tranflation only,
which I then fuppoted to be accotrate; and was oonleqaently now and!
then led into minak?;: by it,

IV- aflertion that Moravia (which at that time was & very pow^rfnl
kt<'Vfdom, ander the aufpices of Swato/nuk, and confequently wa« of a
mt:ch greater extent than it Is at prefent) was bounded by Thuringia and
Boheti^iA to the weft, as well as b; part of Bavaria, it pcifeAly agree>
able lO ' n.ib.

f ^*^} €xv;-ndra mart certainly be Ca.inihlj, or the country of the Ctf
rtniaxi, cr ^arendirt, and this Csrinthia includes Aultria and Styria.
Ihe r«feiv>'ij h;c5 their own peculiar princct, of fome ot which the
Bsmev, are inown to us; as for exarrile, Bcritth, who put himfelf
iBn(5er the proteflior of the Franks in 731, and fVtntmir, who aflifled in
takitig the Hring of the Awari with Duke Henry of Forii in 796.

(45) The louedaritt (01 Gematrct) for the boundaries of Bavaria an4
S««bia i^o the Somh ««re the Alj)s.

DISGOVERIKS IN THE NORTH. s^

to the caftward of the Carmdrt Country^ and beyond
thcWafte (26), -in PulgaraloKd (z-j) (or Bulgaria) ;
to the eaft is Grtcahnd (28) (or Greece), to the eait
of Maroara is Wifleland (29), and to the eaft of th;:t
is Datia (30)* tfiough it formerly belonged to the
(;»«<?« (31) (or Goths). To the North-eaft of Ma-
roaro are the Dtlamenfin (3a). £aft of Delamenjan

(x6) It 11 fomewhtt finguUr, th«t the Reviewer, who hit fo frequenelj
Ukeo upon him to cenl'ure mt, (hould here, of his own authoritr, pur,
by wfty of note (Orig. vnftwards). He cinr.nt furely have looked nt
this pafTagc very narrowly in ihe uricinal ; for there it (tands word f<>r
word thus : And thnnt be lajian CarendranUndt htgttndan tham v>*/--
M<f« h Pulgarmland. So ihtt iElfrcd eitprefaly fays " eaflward ;" antl
the word wertenne does not fignify weft, but a v/le or defett. For jufl:
hereabouts it was that the Awari were fo much thinned by Charlem2);nc,
that their priftine habitations were a perfe«a defert. Na>\ this very cii-
cumftance (hews, that the accounts here given us by jl^lfred coincides
evaCVIy with what pafTed in his time; ibr fo foon after as in R93, the
Msdfchiari (or Hungarians, as they are now called) came and took pot'-
fcfllon of this tra^ of country. The geograpiiy of this par: therefore w
very accurate and exaA, and not fo full of chafms and ccotradiAions as
the reviewer above-mentioned would make us believe.

(17) By Pulgaraland is meant the extenfive kingdom of Bulgaria of
thofe times, wh^ch extended to both fidea uf the Danube, and comnrirf d
the modern Bulgaria ami Wallachia, with part of Moldavia tnd mf[»-
rabia. The Bulgarians were probably a tribe of TurkiOi origitr, whsch
dwelt on the other fide of the Wolga in Cafan, where they had t\\t\r
metropolis called Btlgar^ but i^fierwards, together with the Huos w.An
the command of Atiila, made nearer approaches to the domains of the
(Ireek emperors in F.urope, where they eic^led a new (late onihe Kor;k
fide of Mnunt Htcmus.

(i8) Grecalattd (or Griekenland, as the people of the northern couu^
tries called it) is the domains of the Greek Byzantinian Emperor*.

(zp) H^ijltland is the trafl of cour.iry that lies on the Wifie^ or Vif-
tula (in modern Gerroao IVtiJlel) coofcquenily it is principally great ani
little Poland.

(30) Datia therefore, in all probability, i^ not Moldavia and Tranfy lv.tr
pia, as has been fuppofed ; for thefe countries arc fomewhat mare to the
f lUfhward. But, indet-d, the bearings here laid down, may likcwife, ia
fuch diftant regions, very well be fuppofed to difftfr a point or uvo from
the real fituaiion.

(31) The Gottan are the Goths, who for fume time inhabited Daci*.
Ai there were a famous nation in hiftory. King Allied was willing, at
leaft, to point out one of their dwelling places.

(3j)The Delat/ienjan, or DeUmenjan^ are a people frequently, bv tf •
\»riiers of the mfddic ages, termed Dalfminr,er- This to llicvr ihi.-.r
erudition, they ^omttime^ wioie Dalmatiant. The pe(.ple ami i*ct- lute
a'luded to, weie fnuated in the environs of Lopipialjchy or a« the Sclavv-
pians called it, Hlommatfch^ Glopimatfch, Confequenlly it was roui.J
•bout MeilTco on both ijiks of the Elbe, that the Daieiriozeo reiiJed.

are

e«

VOYAGES AN»

are the Hmthi (^3)* and North of the Delamenfan
arc the Surpe (34), to the Weft a!fo are the SyJiU*
To the North of the Horithi Is Maegthaland (35)»
and North of Maegtbaland is Strmtndi (36) quite to
the Rtffin (37) (orKiphaean) Mountains.

To the bouth-weftef Dtna is that arm of the ocean
that furrow nds Brytannia^ and to the North is that
arm of the fea Which is Oft Sea, to the £aft and to
the North are the Narth Dent^ either on the con-
tinent or on the ifland, to the £a(l are the Alfrtde ;
to the South is the mouth of the Kibe, and fome
part of Old Saxony (38). The North Dene have, to
the northward,, that lame arm of the Tea which is

(33) "^^^ Votithiy or H»riti\ irt a Scltvenian people, with whom wt
arc unacquaioUd ; though I (houltl be apt to conje£(ure that the part of
Ccrmany in which ihey refhied was fomewheie abuut GorlUx, or el c
■car Quarlitif not far from great Glogau ^ for to the North of the Df
Jaminziank lay the Strhy of Lower Lufaiia.

(34) The Surfiet, or Surjts are eafilf didinguillted ; in fa£V, they art
the S^riimn Sclavonians, or the Sorii^ Srrbi^ and Siriii of the old writet t
«f chrooiclea. The nnodem Wenda of Lufatia call themt'eives Sferbs, or
Sforbs. A a the Daleminziana lived on both fidtfa of the Elbe, to tht
Korth-ecft of Moravia, and towards the £a(l were bounded by the Ho^
ritbi in Upper Lulatia, the Sorbt nnud necetTarily be the fame with th«
Wends of Lower Lufatia i, and the Sy/tliam ab ut Seufelif^ are, accord*
ing to /Elfrcd'b account, only to the weftward of the Soiba of Lower
Lufatia.

(3^) It ?< not poflible that Maegthaland (tk^fxM be the terra fatminarum
•!>f Adam von Bremen, as the reviewer in the GottiHgen Pbihkgical Li»
irary aflfert.* it to be. For, i. if the word Maegthaland be fuppofed t*
be a cranflatioo or terra rceminarum, or Knutnlana^ it i« evidently a mil*
take ; for thia in the Anglo Saxon dialed would be ff^/mannalanJ, i.
But fuppofing it to mean Maidenland, Hill it is wrong; for in this cafis
it would he written MadtmhnJf and not Maegthatani. 3. We are to
lok for thia fame Maegthaland direAly to the northwards of Ujiper Lu«
I'tia and Lower Sileiia, and confcquentiy in Gieat Poland, and not near
tI.c Eflland of Adam von Bremen. Perhaps, indeed, the name of this
t.-ouniry is Wrong fpctt, and it (hould be IVartalandy as it is fituated on
tl»e bunks of the Wartt. But this is mere conjecture I

(36} (37) SermeuJe is the mutilated and difguiled name of Sarmatia^
a mere falvo and difguife for ignorance, like the RiJ/iii Mountains} or
&iphatan Mouniains of the ancient geographers.

(3K) In order to undcrAind the following paiTages clearly, it will b«
nrceffary to be pr^vioufly acquainted with the [idint of view from which
iSlfied makes his fuivey. Here it leems to be on the Eider* To the
S >tt h-eart is the Brittiih Channel. To the Eaft and North are the North-
Danes. To the Eall are the Obotritet, and to the South it the mouth of
ti.rElbcaadOUSaxoo;.

called

DISCOVERIES in the NORTH. 6i

lelled Oft Sm. To the Eaft is the nation of the Ofti %
and Jfdrede to the South. (The Ofti have, to the'
North of them, that fame arm of the fea) fo arc the
^neJasaM the Burgendas (36). And ((till more) to
the South is Haefeldan (40). The Burgendan have this
fame arm of the fea to the Weft, and the Sveon to the
North } to the Eaft are the Strmende, to the South the
Sur/e (41 ). The Sveons have to the South the arm of the
fea called OJii, and to the North, over the vtraftes, is
Cwenlandy to the North- vircft are the Scridi-F'tnnas (42),

and to the weft the Northmen (43).

OkbiTf

(ij) Burinda$ ii without doubt the Ifland of Btrnbtlm ; for rrom 801^
geudabtlm (or Borgenda Ifland) ii baa been gradually a,ltcrcd to Bcrrtti'
h}lm^ Bergen^ and at length 10 Btrnbtlm. Pliny reiers the Surgundiimes

to the yindili in the Norih of Germany. Lib. iv. c. 14. Mamertiou*

fays in Genathliaco, c. 1 7, (hat both there nations were netrlj exterm^
Dated by the Gotha. Aaimiaaui.Marcdllnus lib xxviii. cap.^ $. bform*
m, that they had often been at variance with the AliemaDni on iccouoc
of the fah fprings at Halle on the Sale. After the havock made of iheia
by the Ootht, they feem to have betaken themielvei to this iAand for re-
fuge, which therefore took iu name from them. They were governed bjr
■ king of their own. Farther on, Wulfitaa very plainly al'cribes IM
fame btuatirn to this country. (

(40) Here we mud again remind therctder, that it it occeflary tokaow
King i€lfred*s point of view in order to underftand hik defcription. H«
muA now be fuppofed to ftand in the ifle of Zealand. In the north \% ih«
arm of the Tea* by him called the 0(1 Sea ; to the e«(l are the Ofti^ wb*
confeqncntly lived in Pruilia, m wi 1 be (hewn ftill plainer t little iarther
on. He does not mention Sconen ; for this belonging to Denmark, 19
natarally inclnded in it. There ii nothing, therelore, nearer to the eaft-
ward than Enhonia. 'To (he Souib of Zealand i» the country oftb*
Obotrites. Now comet a parcnthefit, in which the king faya, that tfaie
fame arm of the fea is likfwife to the north of the OJii ; and then proceed*
to menUon the Wends and inhabitana of Bernholm, as being fittiated td
the fooib of the Danes, at lead of thofe that refided in Sconen ; and *
food didance farther to the fouihward is HaemtUany which in ibis place it
very properly fpelled with an H.

(41) Now JElfrti takes a new point of view. Bornholm has to the
wed of it the fea, to the northward the Sueones, to the ead behind Edho-
nia are the Samiatiant, and behind the Wends above-mentioned and the
Haveilandert are Sorbian Sclavooians.

(4») 57/r StriJffiimaj. The Geographer of Ravenna, fo early as in hia
time, makes mention, in book iv. chap. Hand 46, of iht Pairia Xtrt/tm-
ntrum aiid Sirdiftunirumy which latter he rttvewife calls SerJtfenni. trt-
t»pius in Hifl. Citb, L. ii. p. 161, calls them Scritifioi, and places them (o
far didant as TbuU, Jordanas de rebus Ceticis, cap. 3. fpeaks of the
Cr(/>iiiiir, of whom there are three different iaations ; and VauLs Diact-
imf, m bi* Niji. Lengtb. U i. cap. 5, term* th^m Sthttwiui tai Scriu-

bijtit

VOYAGES AND

i Ohthere (44) told his lord (King iElfrcd) that he
fivcd to the North of all the Northmen. He quoths that
he dwelt in that land to the norths ard, oppofite to the
U^ejl Sta \ he faid, how-ever, that the land ot' the North-
nnicn is due North from that fea, and it is all a wafte,
except in a few phtces, where the Finnas (45) for the
moft part dwell, fgr hunting in the winter, and in the
fummer for fifhing in that fea. He faid that he was de*
termined to fird out once on a time, how far this coun-
tnr extejided du: North, or whether any one lived to the
North of the wafles. before mentioned. "With this
intent he proceeds J due North from this country,
leaving all the way the wafte land on the (larboard,
or right hand, and the widfc fea: to the Baecbord, or
left. He was within three days as far North as the

whale*'

W»/ .• Adtm von Brfmen Serite/!n*i. Conreqo'enlly King ff.VttA\ or-
thography \* arpirenily jt'.ft. Accordihg to Adam von Uremen ihey
liivcd, In cenfintt Sufcium vel Narlmannorum antra Stream, They
iherrfbre bordered both on Sweden and Norminnaland. They were ex-
t^mely fwift, and indeed more fo than the wild animalu of the counirt.
I^ml fr-aritffrUJ 9^tm*^ that they took theirnarftc from he word which,
in this barbarou!" language, fi^oiBed tjiffring or leap ; as by means of 4
chrve pt^ce of wood, formed with great art, ihey leaped forwards with
ihch fwiftneft, (hat they ovcrto(>k animals in theii flight. One cannot
here help^ immediately recognizing the large y«««>yKc^/, ot ftkrit'Jhoei, 1ft
tfle at prefent in many of the moft aoitiierty regions of Europe. Hence
|oo it wa^that ihefe people were called Sckrtit'Finlandert : according to
tfte univetfai teftimony of authorn, they lived by bunting and fowito«.

'(43) Here again h another point of view for the dctermiuation o? (he
fihiation of the Sueones, or Swedes. To the fouth they have the Ofl'Sea^
of Baltic; towards the eaft the Sarmatians In Livonia, and the country
fihce called Efthonia ; to the north, beyond the Defert, is CtvenlanJy fh«
ntodem Finland, and to the north-well are tiiei'e FinlanJers who \ivi eu
tiVely by hunting, or the ScriJfinlonJirs ; and U(tly, tu the north arc the
JftrtbmiB.

(44) Ohthere was a great roan from Norway, and, a« fome affirm, front
29u»mmJalen^ or, at is reported by others, from Nordland, which com-
prifes the extremity of Morway toward* the Nbrih ; he undertook a voy
a^e oFdifc«»very towards bermien^ and another to Sweden ; both of which
Alfred here defcribes from Ohtherp'i own mouth. This is (Extremely a«-
cnrate and s'tthentic, and entirely in the Rile' of thofe times^ when fo
many of the Normans went abroad in fcarch of adventures, ^uth thee
voyagei, together with that of WulfTlan, are the belt accounts we have
of the middle ages in the north of Europe, and throw a great light on
geographical fcience.

(4;) Ohthere calls the inhabitants of this Defert Finnasy and in fa^
if appears, that the modern Laplandera are really Pinlanders ; and thit
the nsrme of Laplanders was not bellowed on ibcm till ot late years \ the
Danes RiU v«lUug ibis ^n^otry Fiotn^rk.

DISCOVERIES iH THE NORTrt. €)

whale-hunters ever go, and then proceeded in his
courCe due North, as far as he coul'd fail within ano-
ther three days, whilft the land lay from thence due
£aft« Whether the Tea there lies within the land, ha
Jcnows not j he only knows, that he waited there for
a iM'cft wind, or a point to the North, and failed near
that land eaftward as far as he could in four days,
where he watted for a due north wind, becaufe the
land there lies due South. Whether the fea lies within
the land he knows not. Upon this he failed along this
country due South as far as he could in five days.

Upon this land there lies a great river, at the mouth
of which they lay to, becaufe th^y could not proceed
far further on account of the inhabitants being hoftile,
and all that country was inhabited on one fide of this
river, nor had Ohthrre met before with any land thac
was inhabited fince he rame from his own. All the
land to his right, during bis whole voyage, was a
defert, and without inhabitants (except fiihermen,
fowlers, and hunters), all of whom were Finnas, an4
he had a wide fea to his left (4b). The Beormas (47),
indeed, had well-peopled their country, for whith
reafon Ohthere did not dare enter upon it ; on the other
hand, the Terfenna (48) land was all a defert, except
when it was thus inhabited by fifliers and fowlers.

(4$) The track of Ohthere** vovage n traced out in the map, wher*
the figures Ihew the nunaber of days he was ip faili'xg from place to
place.

(47) The Betrmat are ih^ Biarnniett of the northern writers, and ih*
Country of t'ermia it ftill mentioned in the title of the Emperors ofRafl^t.
After this expedition of Ohtbcrc, many more Normans went to Biarmis
in fearch of adventores.

(48) TtrfenniUand is mentioned at being difFerent from the country of
the Strut Fmmat. We have already (cen ja(l above (41) that Gaido of
Ravenna had fo early as in his time diflinguiOied them into ktrtjir,mi and
6criufinni\ the latter lived entirely by hunting, for which purpofe iit
winter they made ufe of Scbrit or fnow-(hoe« \ while the former fubHlleJ
oa their rein-deer. The word RirtfiHnat m Ravenna, (hould therefor*
certainly be written Rtntfinnas ; and in 'he text here Rhanejinnaty or
perhaps (from the circumllance of thefe ^-rapie reitding and journey/ng la
fledges). Ftr-fi»nas (from the word Faroy m German Fahreu, figiii;vii,g
to go in a carriage of any kind, to travel). For Ohthere tells us, in tad,
that the Finnas had r«in-d«er, aiul made «fe of decoy-devr, in order ta
catcb the wild oats.

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VOYAGES AND

The Bcormas told him many particulars about their
land, as well as of the other countries near them j but
Ohthere could not rely upon their accounts, becaufe
he had not an opportunity of feeing with his own
eyes (49) ; it feemed, however, to him, that the Be^
fir mas and the F'lnnas^ fpolce the fame language (50)-
He went the rather, and fliaped his courfe to each of
thefe countries, on account of the horfe^whales, be-
caufe they have very good bone in their teeth, fomeof
which he brought to the king, and their hides are good
for fhip-ropes (51). This (ort of whale (52) is much
lefs than ths other kinds, it being not longer com-
monly than feven ells; but (Ohthere fays) that in,
bis own country is the beft whale- hunting, becaufe the
whales arci eight-and-forty ells long, and the largeli;
fifty } that he has killed fixty-fix in two days.

Ohthere was a very rich man in fuch goods as
are valuable in thofe countries (namely, in wild deer)
and had, at the time he came to the king, (Ix hundred
tame deer, none of which he had purchafed (53) ;

(49) This nice ftri£Voers of Ohthere, not to mention any thing to which
he had not been hirafelf an eye-witaei's, is, as it were, a pledge to as
for the authenticity of the refl: of his relation, and maket the whole the
more valuable and refpeClable.

(so) It is highly probable, that the Biarmlans were a branch of the
great Finlandiih (lock; fur they even had nQQAjtmaUy which Ib the
name of the Finlandifh Deity, and they were rich and in pofTtrfUon of
gold and precious (tones v they moreover had fixed and fettled habitaticns,
and confequently were not wandering herdfmen or hunters, like their
neighbours> the Finlanders. The identity of their language likewile
(according to the teflimony of Ohthere) with thefe latter j^ple, is %
proof of tl^eir Finlandiih origin.

($0 The hide of the fca-horfe is even at this day ma><o ufe of in Ruf*
fia, particularly for coach-harnenes. They have one defeifV, and that is,
that when they are wet, they give adouilhingly, more, indeed, than
any leather I ever faw.

(5a) King iElfred very properly terms the fca-horfes whales; as ia
fad they belong to that cl^is of animals, which are aquatic, or vivipa-
rous, luckle their young, and have a warm blo-d.

(i;3) The exprefllon in the original is unhebchtray !. e. never offered
for fale, or unbought. There is a peculiar (impiicity in thin exprelliori,
perfedly according with the manners of the patriarchal ages. Abra-
ham'R riches (befiiies his cattle) confii^ed likewife in 318 fervants, non«
of which he had bought, but who were all born in his own houft; in
like manner, Ohthere, though in a much poorer country, was in pol'-
fcHion of 600 (lei^r, all of wh.ch be had brought up hhnfelf, having nei-
ther bought Ror caught an) of thcna.

be fides

^ ill

Discoveries in th* north.

befides this, he had fix decoy rein-deer (54)* which
are very valuable amongft the Finnat, becaule they
catch their wild ones with them.

Ohthcfe himfelf was one of the moft confidcrable
men in thofe parts, and yet he had not more than
twenty horned cattle, twenty flieep, and twenty
fwine } and what little he plowed was with horfes.
The rents in this country confift chiefly of whaC
is paid by the Finnas (55), in deer-fkins, fea-
thers, whale-bone, and fhip-ropcs^ made of whales
hides, or thole of fcals. Every one pays according
to his fubltance ; the wealthieft pay the ilcins of fif^
tccn martens, five rein-deer, one bear*s-/kin, ten
hampers (56) full of feathers, a cloak (57) of bear's
or otter's-ikin, two fliip-ropes (each fixty ells long)
one made of whale's and the other of feal's-fkin.

Ohthere moreover faid, that Northmanna-land was
Very long and narrow, and that all of the country
which is fit cither for pafture (58) or plowing is ort
the fca coaft, which, however, in in fome parts very
rocky; to the eaftward are wUd moors (59) parallel

(54) t)tcoy reindeer mad doubtlcfs be highly vtiued among a people
that lived by hunting, and on the fleOi and produce of thefe animals. In
India they have elephant? of this kind, which have been trained up to
catch the tvild ones. [See a circunn(l«otial account of this in The Lift
9nd Aiventuris ef Jehu Cbrift$phtr Pfelf^ toith a Defcripiiav tf Cejlon^
lately publifhed.] In the fanne manner, iikewife, almofl every butcher
in London has a weather, Which goes regularly to meet the uieep ju(l
brought home from tne market, and inAdioufly leads them into a flaugh-
ter-houfe under ground; whither having, by frequently leaping in aoj
out, enticed the whole fit ck, he at laft leaps out once for all, and leaves
his new acquaintance to the murderous kr.ife of ihit butcheti

(55) The term made uTe of in the original for this tribute ii Gdftl^
whence the French word Gabellt. But this (hews, that fu early at to-
wards (he end of the 9th century^ the Normans had compelled the Fio*
landers to pay them tribute.

{i,6) In the original, om^r^t. Xan^^^eri ha& a long note on this Word,
which he explains by the amptota 0. the Latins. Mr. Banihf^teM ha« traof^r
lated it bujkflt \ but in my opinion, both of them are miitaken; a* X-
rather fuppoi'e it to be the fame with the modern Englifh word Hgwiftrf
ipold Englilh, lianaper, which is derived from hand-biar.

(§7) Kyrtel in the origina'. In German, iuettei, or cloak.

(51) Orig. Etlan. (59) Afcra, moor, a black turfy foil: It 13 well
known that in Lapland and Finland there is at prcftnt a great number of
thefe iincultiv.ited moors ; and the Ftira La/'fiii(a itfi;-lf gWe* abtfndaat
•rcof of this circumftance.

F to

-•*■«

! n.

0< iS

.Li

VOYAGES AN»

to the cultivated land. The Finnas inhabit ihtk
moors, and the cultivated land is broadeft to the
eaftward (60), and grows narrower to the northward.^
To the Eaft it is lixty miles broad, in fome places
broader ; about the middle it is perhaps thirty miles
broad, or fomewhat more : to the northward (where
it is narrowed) it may be only three miles (from the
iea) to the moors, which are in fome parts fo wide,
that a man could fcarcely pafs over them in a fort-
night, and in other parts, perhaps in fix days.

Oppofite to this land, to the South, is Siveoland
(61), oti the other fide of the moors; (quite to
that land northwards,) and oppofite to that again to
the North, is Cwenland* The Cwenas fometimes
make incurfions againft the Northmen over their
moors, and fometimes the Northmen on them ; there
are very large frefh meres (62) amongft the moors*
aiid the Cwenas carry their fhips (63) over land into
the meres, whence they make depredations on the
Northmen ; their (hips are fmall, and very light.

Ohthere faid alfo, that the (hire (64) which
he inhabited is called Halgoland^ and that n >
one dweit to the North of him } there is like-

(60) To the Eaftviard\ fo in ft ft It ftaods in the origfnal : but it is
very pkin that it Ihould be to the ituth\ and particolarly if one has the
ttiap of Norway before one, one fee* at a glance, from the form ot the
country, that no other word can be ufed here than Stuth : befuies this,
it ia ju(i afterwards oppofed to ntrth<ettrds\ and confcqucntly there caa
be no doubt but that it is a n\il>ake of the copyift.

(£1) This paiTage is very obfcure. Thus much however is evident,
viz. that between Ohthere''8 dwelling-place in Halgoland and Sweoland,
which lay over againft it in the fouth, there were large, extenfive moors;
and farther, that oppofit* the moft northerly part of Sweoland, was
Cmnnlandy I. e. Finland. Thefe Cwenas, or Finlanders did not join
immediately to Northmanna-land ; but the tnoorv of the defert tra£k
were inter^fed between theft rwo cotiatries.

{6t) A lake^ or large colleftion of frefh water, is ftili called 'Mere
in the north of EngUnd ^ and the fame word is here ufcd io the lame
fcnfe by ifElfred.

(£3) Thefe portable (hips, which were fo fraalj «6d light, muA doubt-.
Ufi have been mere boats,

(£4) In the origioal. Stir.

wife

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

wife a part of this fouthern land which is called
SciringeS'heal (65}, which no one could reach in x

month)

ibl*

ifc

[dt,) Thfc name of this place his given i great deal of trouble to for*
mer commentators oniSlfrcd, viz. Sir John Spelman, Bulfieusi Surtiner,
John Phil. Murray, and Lanijcbeck, who have all chofen Ijiots totally
different to place Scirifigti-beal in. Spelman and others look for thii place
near Dintzic, where, in iheir opinion, the Scyres formerly rcfided. But
firll, the fpot where the CScjres lived, is by no means determined v an^
next, it is evjdent that Ohthere went continually along the coiil from
Halgoland to SciriHjrei-heaty and that this latter was to the lei't of him
during (he whole pafTage thither. The latie Mr» Murray places it at Ska-
nor ; but I cannot think this to haVe been 6ve days voyage from Hzthumf
in jHtland, as Ohthere fays it was, Langcbeck is for carrying it to Kan'
gahelht on the Giutelf, near Marllrand ; and aflerts, that the namt
of this place is written wrong, and that for Sciringe$-htal wfe (hould
read Cyninges-heal. If this word occurred indeed but once, I would aU
low Langcbeck to be in the right ; but, in fa£t, we meet with it five
times in the fpace of a few lines ; and each time it is written, without
the lead variation, Sciringet-beal ; on which account it does not appear
to me at ail probable, that it ihotild be fpelt in any other manner. zdly«
The voyage from Halgoland to KtHgabtHe is not fufficiently entenfive to
take up a month to accohiplifh it. 3dly, Kgngahtlle is too near Jutland^
to require five days for making the trip, as Ohthere fays it does. Having
demondrated the inlufhriency of thefe conjectures, it is ndw incumbent
■V)n us, in our turn, to point out where Si inngts-heal tS^MiWy is fituated.
Paul Warenfried, in his Hiji. Lcngebard^ lib. i. cap. 7 and 10, makes
mention of a dithidt, called Sctrunga, in which the fVinili^ or Lombardt^
refidcd for fome time, ere they removed to A/auringa, and from ihenc*
ilill further on to GetljnJ, jintkabet^ Bethaiby and PurgunJaib. Now
:his Scorunga fecms to have been the diltrift in which the port of 5fi>/»i«
ges- heal was. This Scorunga was nut far from Gttland ; confequently
It was fomewhere in Sweden. Add to this, that Ohthere, having ex-
prefsiy defcribed Sueoland as being to the fouihward of the place of his
habitation; immediately afterwaids fays, ** There is a part in this fouih*
ern land v/hich is called Sdnnges-beai.'^ By this he I'eems to indicate
very plainly, that this place is no where to beibught tor but in Sweden.
Bui ail this will appear llill more evident, if we take the pains to follovr
tiie irackof his voynge. FirO, he has Iraland, i. c. Scotland to the right
ofl.tn; as likewii'e the iflands which lie between Scotland and Halgo-
land, viz. the Shetland and Orkney iflauds i but the continent is con-
llantly to the left of him, quite till he comes 10 Sciringes-htal. But far*
ther, a large bay (Iretches to the norihwardt deep in that country, along
thecoad of whiih he kept continually failing; and this bay commences
(juice to the fouthwaid 61 Scifingn-htal. It is fo broad that a man can-
not fee acrofs it, and Gttland lies dire<ftly oppofite to it. But the fea»
which extended from Zealand to this Ipot, goes many hundred milet
farther up in the country (that is to fay, td the eaflward). From Scirin-
ges-heal, Oh'.here could go in five diys to Htetlum^ which lies between
the Wends, S.\xon!, and Angles. Now, by means of this voyage, w«
are enabled to deleriiiine with ftill greater cxad\ne!'s the fituation ot (h»
place Vrc are in fcarch of. In oider'to get to Haikum li om Sciringes-ktaK
he left Gitland to the right, and foon afterwaids Z^o!iifiil liktwifc, logt-
ther with (he other iu.,uu, whirh had bcca ihe h^buatioos 6f tho /^t •

M'' '

srvr

' 1!

mL^

I'll

i w

U|H:

VOYAGES AND

month, if he lay to at night, though he had every day
a fair wind j during this voyage he muft fail near
the land, on his right hand wrould be Ireland (66),
and then the iflands which are between I ral and and
this land. For this country is to Sciringes-heal^ all
the way on the left. As you proceed northward, a
great fea to the fouthward of Sciringes-heal, runs
up into this land ; and is fo wide, that no one can
fee acrofs it. Gotland (68) is oppofite on the other
fide, and afterwards tht^ fea of Sillende lies many miles
up in that country. Ohthere further fays, that he
failed in five days from Sciringes-htaly to that port
which men call Haethum (70), which is between the
Wineduniy Seaxum^ and Anglen^ and makes part of
Dene.

When

g'e!i, before th'-y landed in England ; while thore which belonged to Den-
mark were to the left of him for the fpace of two days. Sciringes-htal
confequertl J is in Sweden ; at the entrance of the Gulf of Biothnia,
which runs up into the land northwArdr.; juft on that fpot, where the
Baltic pafling by Zealand, fpreadt out into a wide gulf extending feveral
hundred miles into the land : if one goes to Jutland from Sciringf«-heal,
one mull of neceiSty pafs by Gotland. Now jull here it is that I find
the SviaSci^fren, or Swedifh Skim (adulter of little iflands furrounded
by rocks). Htaly in the northern languages, (ignifies a port, as in fuch
places a (hip may be kept in I'afety. Sciringes'heal therefore was ** tbe
hai bour in the ibiirs^''* and was probably at the entriiiicc of the Gulf of
Bothnia, and confequently where Stockholm now is ; and the ira£l of
Innd before which the Sbtcrs lay towards the fea, was the Scerunga oF
Paul Warnrfried.

(66) Iraland, fayiiClfred-, yet he means that country which we now
aall Scotland; and a little farther on he mentions our modern Ireland in
thefe terms: Igberma, that <ae Sccllatid hatad. This fhews theictore,
(bat the people removed from the one country to the other, and peopled
item alternately,

(67) As I havealreaHy remarked above, that Ohthere here means the
land along which he had hitherto been failing : this word is of great ler-
?icc towards determining the fituatioo of Sciringe-Jbeai^ and befidesOiews
the fitui^tion of the two bays which here begin to fdparate from each
other.

(68) Getland is without doubt the ifland of Gotland, as m^y be fee*
ftill more plainly in Wulfftan's Voyage to Trufa. It cannot therefore
■>«an Jutland, as Langebeck affirms it doet.

(£9) ilvlfred calls the fea which reaches from Zealand to nctlnnd the
iiUtnde Sta^ and after huving made mi-ntion of that arm of i: which runs
out to the northward deep into that land, along the coall oF which lu:
had hitherto failed, farther fays, this fe» extends yet many hundred
miles farther in the fame direction in which he had failed from Zealand
to it, via. from well to eail.

(70) This port of Hitthum has given -iBtfred's Commentators a great
deal of trouble. Hcwrvcr, they are all agreed in affirminR. the
place thst is here meant, to be .?/./«.•->, as this lattrr is called Haiti ahy by
the Anjlo-Saxon tth^twcid. A Norwegian poet gives it ihe .umt ol //.y-

thabi't^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORT if. 69

the
ler-

ich

('en
jrc

ihe
ins
|1m
kd
Ind

cat

the

<»•

When Ohthere failed to this place from Sciringes*
heaU Denmark was on his left, and on the right wa4
a wide fea for three days, as were alfo two days hc-
ibre he came to Haetbum, Gotland^ Sillende, and many
iflands (thefe lands were inhabited by the Angles be-
fore they came hither) ; and for two days the iflands
which belong to Dene were on the left.

Wulfjian (73) faid, that he went from Haetbumta
Trujo (74) in ky^n days and nights ^the ihip being

under

thabat, tsd others write it Htydahtt^ sad by Adam of Bemen, it i» call*
cd {Jcidaba ; this in their opiwon i;* Hitihum : yet it appear* to me that
(he difference between ti<fthaby %ni H<rtkuin is not Td veiy inconfidcra-
ble i neither indeed it it p.-jffible for th's placu to be Slelwic, at the fiio-
aiion of it docs not accord wiih ihs»t of ihc fp )t dclVnbed ly Ch'.licic and
WuUftan. In fa£l, if Slelwic be //*////»», I muft lopj/elV, thai I cannot
in the lead comprehend the track of the voyage cf u:htr of theft an-
cient navigators. Ohthere teils u«, that in lailin.; from Sdringeshial \.o
Hathum^ he had Denmariito the le:t, and the open Tea for tiie fpace of
three days to the right ; but that for two days beiort he reached Hzihum,
he had Gotland and Zealand lo the right, and the iflands which belonged
Co the Danes, to the left. But had he been goinf; to Slcrwic, fat would
have found all the Danifh iflands lie to the right hand of him, ai.d not
one, befides Fcmern^ to the lelt. Now, I beg leave to eiiCjuire, how
can this fituation of Slelwic be made to correfpond wUh Hxthum } The
very fame may be laid with refpcft to Wulfftan's Voyage ; though indeed
this fiioation attributed to Slefwic is rather more applicable to Hxthum.
But now I will take the liberty of fuppofing, that, as io the dif)ri£t of
Aarhuus there is an extenfive tra£k of land czWaAjilheiAe (for it is in fa5l a
heath) ; the prefent town oi Aarhuus (in Englifh onr-htuje) is new, and
in the 9th crniuiy lay higher up towards Al-heiiUy or Al-ktaih \ aiid
confequently the harbour may at that time have had the name oi Al-lte-
thuniy or Hxthum. So that if Ohihere fet out from Stackholm, Goth-
land was to the right of him, and lb was Zealand ; and he Tailed between
Zealand and Funen, in which cafe all the Danifh iflands were to the lefc
hand of him, and he had the Sckager Reck and the Cuttegat^ a wide fcay
10 the right FAriher, when Wulfllan went from Aarhuus, (or Ha;thum,)
tp Trui'o, he kept IftenatHand (aai fyinodland) i. e. Funen (or Fionia)
to his right hand ; and to 'he Itft were LangelanJ, Latlnnd^ Faljier, and
^^fcnegy ti well i» B)rnf-gltn, BUimg Moc/^rf, Oelatid, tnd GulfaitJ. IVat
Pf^enienlaHd remained to the right hand of him, quite to the mouth of the
Viftula.

(7a) King i¥lfredl fays here, in exprefs terms, that the £«;///, before
they came to England, had refuied on the Danifh .iflands. Confequently
it is impoflible that Ungern on the Wefer, which was of a poflerior date,
fltould have been the piillioe country of the Angles.

(73) The flrongell pofTible proof that Slefwic was not Ha:thum, trifes
from the coofideration that, were that the cafe, the Danifli iflands muft,
with rcrpe<5\ to thofc that were going lo Htrthmmy have lain to the right:
hand ; whereas Ohihere fays, they lay to the left.

(73) ^r'u//?,*^ appears to have been a Dane, who, perhaps hid becsTre
«crjuainted with Ohthere in tbecourfeofhis expedition, and had gone wiik
him to iMiglaid.

(;^) TUn- is it tkit time * l^ike bfXWMn Elbitignd PiuiiiaB HoNat!*!

CMlletf

7©

VOYAGES AND

under (iiil all the time) that IFeomtbland (75) was on
his right, but Lnngaland^ La'eland^ FnlfUr^ and Sconeg,
on his left, all of which belong to Denemcarcan (yb)-
V/e had alfo Burgeudahndy on our left, which hath ;
a knig of its own. After having left Burgendaland^
the iHands of Becingt-eg^ Meore^ Rowland^ and Got^
landy were on our left, which country belongs to
Sueon (77) ; and Weoyiodland (78) was all the way
on our right, to the mouth of the Wijle (79). This
river is a very large one, and near it lies Witland
(80) and Weomdland^ the former of which belongs
to EJium, and the Wifles does not run through
Weonodland, but through Ejlmere (81), which lake
is fifteer^ miles broad. Then runs the lUing

(82) fromi

called 7Vu/ff, or Dravfen^ from which, probably, the t"wn he mendos-
«d, which flood on the baiikf of the Frijch Haf, took its name.

^75) We h»ve before in two different placex in the notes remarked
the difference between fVeonoiklitnA and fVinodlandy the firlt of which is,
n all probability Fuehnrn (Funen or Fioniay) which places is ftill called

(76) Thiit WtnetfifanA is not Wendeland, appears from the obferva-
tion of Wulfftan, that all thefe countries belong to Danmark, which could
KOt be faid cf fVinodland.

"* (77) The cautilries hera mentioned, which all belong to Sueon, or Swe-
•ep, have need of a few remarks by way of elucidition. By Becingu-eg
is certainly meant BUkingtyi, or Bleking; and the / mud have been icU
cut in the hurry of tranfcribing : this Bleking, conformably to the cidora
of many writers in thofe times, he calls an ifland. Metre is wthout
difpiite, the Upper and Lowr r Meehrt in Smolandy Ecttiiand is Oelandy
and Gotland is doubtlei's the Ifland of Gctland^ and not Jutland, as Lange-
beck affcrts it to be in a note to a pafTage v/here it occurs above ; for all
thefe countries weie provinces of Sweden.

(78) fVtonodland^ or Winsdlandy extends to the mouth of the Vlflula \
and is, evidently, u peculiar and independent country, aiid different from
the H'^tenttHand of the Danes.

(79) fViJle is th" Sclavorian orthography, or ruhtrffifa. The Ger-
man)., on the other hand, c^l! this river the IVeichJel-y the Pruflians,
IVad'el \ by other nations it is called the Vlflula.

(Ho) Witland is a traft in Samland in Piufiia, which was celcbr.ited for
the amber it produced ; and at the time of the crufades It was called by
th»i fame name, a.sis manifeft from two diffeient ancient retonls. The
word ilfelfis a tranflation oi BfltHka, i.e. the White-ldnd.

(81) The Efimere is (as we may perceive from the termination of.
the word) a lake of frefh water, into which the Elbe and ViHula empty,
thf-mfelves. It is at prefent called the Frifch-Haf, or frefh-water fca. Htf
in the Dutch andSwedifli languages fignifyyir<?. In f*me place:!, it is sbve

th:c9.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 71

(82) from the cailward, into Eftmcre; on the
bank of which ftands Trufoj and the llfing flows
from Eaftland into the Eftmcre from the Eail »
and the VVifle from Weonodland from the South ;
the llfing having joined the Wifle takes its name,
and runs to the Weft of Eftmere, and northward
into the Tea ; when it is called the Wifle's mouth
(83)* Eaftland is a large tra6^ of country, and there
are in it many towns, and in every toivn is a king
(84) ; there is alfo a great quantity of honey and flfh,
and the king* aad richeft men drink mare's milk
(85), whilft the poor and the (laves ufe mead (86).

They

three German miles broad ; and this i(rertion of ifllfredV who rcckont
by Rnglint miles, ig perfeAly accurate and jul>.

(8i) flfi"/: ii indilpmabiy the name of the river Blhing^ which flows
from Lake DranftM or Trufo, (vid. 74.) and by one of its aims jo'ni< with
tlut arm of the Vifluia c^led Ntngai, or Nogat, .ind both thus united,
i-mpiy themfelves into the Haf^ whjle the other arm runs Into the Haf
by itftjf.

(83) Everything (hat J£AhtA here mentions concerning the fituatioa
of that part of the world, incomeftibly ihews, (hat he had his intelligence
immediately from the mouth of one who was perfe£tly well acquainted
with the place. The llfing comes out at Efthonia, yet not from the
Kaft, as iEl red fays it does, but ixotn \kt SoAth. Excqiting, indeed,
that he means that arm cf the Elbtng which runs into the Viftula or N07
gat. But the Vidula comes out of Wendenland from the South ; and,
the tVro rivers having ^ifembogucd tiheml'elves into tt-c Haf, this latter
flretchet, no doubt, from WcU 10 North, that is in a Norih-eaft direc-r
tion, and at Pillau goes into the Tea. Jt is poflible, that thit« as v/ell as
the wedern arm, mayjbave formerly born the name oifViJtemuMJy or th«
mouth of the Vidula.

(84) This account ef the ftateof Pruflia at that tim«, ,w^ile under tht
Enhonkns, who had already built many cities there, each of which had
» chief (or as he terns iti a kingj is perfe£lly confonant to the conditio^
in which ijt was {pundby the adventuters in the crufades many centuries
afterwards.

(85) This piece of intelligence, that the richeft pe^rfons of the country
were content with mare's milk, at the fame time ibat the poorer Tort of
the (hives drank mead, is extrcrnely (ingular. If> however, we confidcr^
that this mare's milk was not barely milk, but milk which had undergone
a kind of fermentation, and vat tranfmuted into a fpecics of brandy,
fuch tf the inhabitants of the defert plains of Afia Media drink in great
.quantities, calling it Kamyfs, while they ditlinguifli their double-diltillcd
brandy by the name o^ Arrack \ if, I fay, we take this into confideration,
wc (hall find it eafier to conceive why (he principal people of the land
only had the prerogative to get drunk with brandy, while their fubjedVj
drank nothing but mead. For we know that it has been, and is ftill,
J;e cooftant praelice with all rude oacultivtied aation;, to leave to their

fupcriors

■1

4 y

;iiii, ' ^hn

1 1|l;

<* >

'!:i

7»

VOYAGES AN

They have many contefts amongft thcmfelvcs, and the
people of EJium brew no ale (87), as tlwry have mead
in profufton.

There is alfo a particular cuftom amongft this na-
tion, that when any one dies, the corpCe continues
unburnt with the relations and friends (89) for 4
month or two, and the bodies of kings and nobles lie
longer (according to their refpe<^ivc wealth) fome«
times for half a year, before the corpfc is thus deftroy^
ed ; and it continues above ground in the houfe,
during which time drinking and fports laft, till the
day on which the body is confumed* Then, when
it is carried to the funeral pile, the fubftance of the
dcccafed (which remains after their drinking-bouts and|
fports) is divided into five or fix heaps (fometimes
into more) according to what he happens to be worth.

fiiperiors the excluftve privilege of intoxictting themfelvci whenever they
rlc«re, I( is cnly the iren of rank among (he Turk's, Perfian , and Ma>
hy% that make ufe of opium; it is only the people of quality among th^
Ptabeiicars who intoxicate iheml'elves with the juice of the root ot the
A-wa^ a fpecies of pepper ; and it is only the piiacipal Tfhuktfchis that
ran get drunk with the infutlon of the inebriating fungui, purrhaftd from
the Rofliana. AJan of Bremen {[>nr*^r. i3R.)fayi, that the ancient Pruf-
fians ate horfe-flefh, and drank riie milk t>t their mares to intoxication ;
and Ftter »/ Dui/hurg (paragr. So.) relates of thefe people, that at their
feaftti, they drank water, meaii, and mare's milk.
' (H6) Afeaif, even fo early as in tbel'e times, had the name of Aft/la in
Angio-Sayon ; in the Littuianian tongue it it called Mid Jus i in Polifh,
Mied\ in RuiTian, .\7ed ; in German, Mffh. Hence it!ippea,rs probably
to me, that mead i<; a beverage of great antiquity, as the name by which
it is known Is exactly the fame in languages ot fo different an origin.
With thele it is perhaps worth while to compai? the Greek verb fnflu**
Iintexicale. 1 rriuft once moie repeat the general remark I made bet'ore,
vis. that WolftUn murt have been very well acquainted with the country.
Abounding, as it did, in forefls of lime-trees and in lakes, Pruflia had a
protufion of the iintft honey and fi(h ; and the towns, horfes, cloaths,
weapons, drinking-bouts, and games of its inhabitantR evince, that they
were not ignorant of agriculture, and thati they w^re in a tolerably
flourifhing ftaie, and had ariived at no contemptible decree ot cul-
tivation.

(87) King/Elfrcd obfcrves, that thefe drinking bouts occafioned many
fiays He alfo gives a rcafon, why the Efthonians brewtd no ale, \\hich
i', that they had fuch a vaft abundance of honey, that it was cafier lor
them to make rnead than to brew beer.

(88) That theantitni Pnifiians burned their dead and buried them to-
gether with their horfe.% weapon?, cloaths, and valuable p. (IclTiuns, ap-
pears from a treaty concluded thior.gh the mediation of the An It',' aeon o
Liege, in »]uality of the Pope's Legatf, between tht Ceini.i: Knights
and the newly-cunverted Prufliaus, wherein the Prufiiiiis t: p: c: ly I'lO-
mife never in future to burn their dead, nor buiy them with tl.eii luirfes^
arm, cloaths, and valuables. , '

I'hcre

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH,

There heaps are difpofcd at a mile's diftance from each
other, the largoll he;ip at the gwattit dillance from
the town, and fo gradually the fmallcr at ledcr inter-
vals, till all the wealth is divided, fo that the lead
heap fhall be nearelt the town where the corpfc lies.

Then all thofc are to be fummoncd who have the
flcctcft horfes in that country, within the diftancc of
five or fix miles from thefc heaps, and they all ftrivc
for the fubftancc of the decraled ; he who hath the
fwiftcft horfe obtaUis the moft diftantand largeft heap,
and fo the others, in proportion, till the whole is
iViz.'d upon. He procures, however, the leaft, who
takes that which is neareft the town ; and then every
<'ne rides away with his (hare, and keeps the whole
of it ; on account of this cuftom, fleet horfes are
extremely dear. When the wealth of the deccafcd
hath been thus exhaufted, then they carry the corpfe
from the houfe to burn it, together with the dead
man's weapons and cloaths; and generally they fpcnd
the whole wealih pf the deceafed, by the body'^
continuing fo long in the houfe before il is buried j
and by what h laid in heaps on the road, and is
taken away by the Grangers (89).

It is alfo a cuftom with the Efiuniy that the ]bo-
dies of all the inhabitants (hall be b|jrncd ; and if
any one can find a fingle bone unconfumed, it is
a caufe of anger. Thefe people alfo have the meanj
oi producing very fevere cold, by which the dead
Vody continues fo long above ground without putre-
fying •, and if any one fets a veflcl full of ale or water,
they contrive that the liquors (hall be frozem, be it
fummcr or winter.

The part of King Alfred's Geography, of whlck
we have here given a tranflation as literal as could be
don? confiftently with the different gvnius of both
languages, without difputc conftitptes, with relation
to the ftate of the North of Europe in the 9th ctn-

(89) !t is eafy to perceive, that ihi« power, fo much admired by
^mg y^ilfred, ot producing told either in fi^mmer or v/inter, by whiiii
the puir«'fa(f.i n of dead bodies was prevented, and beer and water wfic
frozen, was u.e efTei5l of agood ice-celhr, and this cveiy Prufflan oi a:v
confequence had in, ot elft hard k)y his hoiite,

tury,

'i lii

i,:J

■ 'm

:-m

VOYAGES AN»

tury, a record of the utmoO importance. As >EI-
frcd in his youth had been in Rome, whither, even
at that early period, zeal for the Chriftian religion
carried people from every country, he might in all
probability have colledcd in that city the materials
tor his Geography, and his other hidorioil acquifiti-
ons, which in thofe times of deplorable ignorance
and darl^nefs, give him a very high rank among,
writers. This fragment likewife is a confirmation of
what we have before advanced, viz. that the voyages
and predatory expeditions of (he northern pirates
have very much contributed to the illuflration of
Geography and of the Hiftory of Nations.

The art of navigation too was in thofe days heI4
in great eftcem by the people of the North. Amongi):
them it was even confidered as peculiarly praise-
worthy, to understand the flrudure of a Lhip, and
the beft method of condrucfting it fo as to be ftrong
and firm, and at the fame time a quick failer ; and
as fmith was an appellation peculiarly appropriated
to every one that wrought in metals, all artizans and
bandicraftfmen went likewife under tl>^ fame general
denomination ; and accordingly a m;in of the name
of Torjieriy was, on account of hi? great (kill in (hip-
building, called the fiip-fmith. 7 he direction of a
lhip by means of oars, and dexterity and perfe-
verance in rowing, were in thofe days considered in
fo advantageous a light, that King tfarold Hardrade^
and Earl RogmuaUy lord of the Orkneys, prided
themfelves greatly on their fuperior (kill it> handling
the qar. Howing, however, was not the only me-
thod they had in thofe ages of getting a velfcl forwar4
\r\ its courfe. They had likewife fails withal ; and
their manner of ufing them makes them defervedly ce-
lebrated. Moll of the people pf antiquity, wl>o were
famous for navigation, made ufe of fails ^wK. feldom,
and that only when the wind blew dire£lly at their
backs, fo that they could fail with a full wind, or
right before the wind. If the wind blew hard, an4
fomewhat fideways, they were obliged to run im-
mediately into a harbour, which indeed in a fea like
the Mediterranean, is very Cfifily done. But the

|iumerovt$

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH.

numerous and cxtcnfivc voyages of the Normans on
the Great Ocean, particularly to England, the Ork-
iiry<, Ireland, ^jaiil, and even into the Meditrrrancan^
fufticicntly indicate, that they knew how to nfe their
iaijs, even when they had only a fide-wind. It dots
not appear, however, that this great art of fctting
the failsof afhip according to the wind was generally
known in thofe times ; as, of fiich as did poflefs it
it was affirmed, that as fonn as their veflels had their
lading, they had only to fet their fails, and fct off di-
rectly, without troubling chemfclves in the lead
from what quarter the wind blew. This propcity
was attributed to the fhip called the Drache Ufanatit^
and to Frcycr's fhip the SkySladner^ in the Edda,
and in Tor/iens Vikingfons Saga. It wasfuppofed, that
this was efFedted by lorcery i though, in radl, it pro-
ceeded from nothing more than a certain degree of
fkill and dexterity in fetting and ihifting the fail?,
founded on exf>erience and mechanical fcience. This
way of failing with the wind half, or almoft quit«
contrary, or, as it is called by the mariners, near the
wind, is in reality one of the greateft and moft inge-
nious inventions made by man. As the mariner's
compafs has 32 points from which the wind may
blow, which have been diftinguiihed by pcculiai
names ; and from which foever of thefe the wind
Wows it is in the power of the mariner tn avail
himfclf of one and the fame wind, to carj-y him to
twenty different points or quarters of the globe;
fo that, the fix points excepted which are on caci^
fide of the line of direction in which the wind blows,
he is able (o fail with this wind on any other
courfe.

• The compar? ib a magnetic piece of fled, v.hlrh Ir moveabU \n t
•i'Cular direftion, on the ix)int of a very fharp reciDc, wiiliin a conuiil
cap : to this piece of ftcc;l, in order to make it Mill more ulVful, is af-
fixed a circular palleboard, on which are delineated the 31 tJiiTtrfoi
winds or point of the compaft. Now the magnetic needle, conflantl/
pointing to the North Pole, the compafs, fallened to it, retains it* |>i>-
iition, notwiihflanding ihe a'terations that may be made in the fnin't
courfe; and as the l)ox, containing the compafs, is placed dircc'lty be.
foie the mail at the helin, who flands with his face turncdf tow•a^us tt.e

prow

Nil

i 9

K ' '...'

VOYAGES AN0

S'l"

IMIi!

This important fciencc, with refpeft to ordering
the fails, mud either not have been very genera),
at leaft not known in Ohther's time; for we read in
jiis voyage to Biarmieny that he was obliged to lay fo
long at two different places exprefsly for the fake
of waiting for a better wind ; and he names in ex-
prefs terms the wind, which would ferve him for
failing with full fails. On the other hand, the opi*
liion that was then harboured concerning magical
ihips fccms to prove the fkill of their pilots, or con*
du6lors, in relation to managing the fails, fo as to
hj\ iikewife near the wind.

The conftrudl on too of the northern vefTels was
ptaHy different from that which was followed by
the Greeks and Romans in theirs. The fhips of the
porthern nations were built of the floutefl oak that
could be procured, and were made with high forct^
rallies a^id poops \ thofe of the Mediterranean, on the
contrary, were low and flat, and were chiefly impelled
by means of oars j the whole of their i^ruclure too,
feemed much /lighter than that of the veiFels ufcd
by the northern nations* The ihips of the northern
people, appointed for Jong expeditions, were like-
wife covered at the top; while thofe ufed in the
Mediterranean were covered at top in a few particular
cafes only. For which reafon the Roman writers,
whencfver there were any covered ibtps in a fleer,
ntvKt fail to inform us of this circumftance, and to

prow of the {hip, he has it i« his power to fee, witN the greateft precN
lion, towards which point of the compal's the ecD> .^ of the (hip is div
jrAed. Now every circle, ••■q in fa£t the coropafs is dothiog elfe, being
divided bjr mathcmaitcians into 3^0 degrees, 11 < foch degrees are com<r
prifca in one point of the coirpafs ■, and as aceordifig to the prefent me-
thod of failing near tke toini (i. e. of failing as near to the point, whence
the wind blows, as pofli^le) we are fix poipts from the wind ; it follows,
that at 67-1- degrees from the wind, we are able, as it were, to fail
t^ainft it, and that on either fide of the point whenCe the wind blows,
Now twice 67-5- is 135, therefore we are able to fail 10115 degrees of the
horizon with each wind. It is true indeed, that as in failing ittar ih^
foiMd^ the wind come* into contraft with the fails and the vcfTel fide-
wsys only, and in an oblique direction, the latter by this m«ans always
lofes fomewhat in her courfe in confequence of U»is dire^Uon 5 but the
•radl amount of this can only be deternpipcd by aftual obfcrvation oa
l|«ard the (hip.

difcrimlftatc

difcl
thafl

imr
acql

cal
of

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH. 77

difcriminate with great care the number of thefe from
that of the open veifels.

All the advantages here enumerated of the mode of
navigation in uie among the northern nations, joined to
conffant pra£kice, <- /e thefe reftlefs people a great apti-
tude to, as v/ell ab inclination for, a fea-faring life. The
immenfe riches, which moil of their adventurers had
acquired both by ftratagem and violence in their pirati-
cal expeditions ; the fame attendant on the performance
of valorous a£^ions at fea ; their religion itfelf, in the
very fixture of which was interwoven a love of intre-
pidity and perfonal courage ; and, laftly, the expectation
of a delightful reward in a future life for fuch as died in
battle, who with Othine in Valhallay drank mead and
beer, poured out to them by the beautiful Valkyriurs^ m
horns and the fkulls of their conquered enemies^ and
feafted on the roafted flefli of the wild boar Scrimner \ all
thefe circumftances principally contributed to fpirit up
the northern nations to undertake the moft dangerous na-
val expeditions } coniequently they f !lied out, animated
by the moft daring confidence, wherever they had the
leaft hopes of acquiring glory. The greateft dangers^
nay, death itfelf, i^r from deterring, on the contrary, ra-
ther feemed to excite them to accompliih their defpe-
rate undertakings. For which reafon thefe people were
fometimes feen to attempt things, the very idea of which
would have terrified others. As they were continually
employed in navigation, it naturally followed, that many
of dieir ihips were caft away on entirely foreign coafts,
coafts which they had never feen before, and of which
neither they nor their cotemporaries had ever heard the
leaft mention made.

Thus the firft difcovery of Iceland was, as we. have
feen above at page 50, to be attributed to a mere
accident of this kind. But the population of this
ifland was efFe6^ed by the continual migrations of the
people thither from the neighbouring countries. The
Shetland Iflands, which by the people of the North
were conftantly called the Hiahaland Ulands) together

with

t ,' IS

,,»i^

VOYAGES ANh

li:

with the Orkneys^ as likewifc the Soderoe or Wefterri
Iflands, and the Faroar or Ferro Iflands, were fub-
jugated by Harold^ King of Norway, in confequence
of his finding that the peculiar turn of that age for
piratical expeditions exhaufted his kingdom of his fub-
je£ls, who ufed to fettle on thefe iflands in order to
carry on their depredationst. Upon this he gave Rogn-
waldjarl (or Earl) of Maen and Raundel, the Ork-
neys and Hialtaland to him and his heiri for ever, as an-
Earldom (Jarlrik) without tribute : and the latter
made a grant of it as a mefne fief to his brother Si-
gurd. But he dying foon, an'd his fon Guthorm not liv-
ing long after him, the Earldom devolved to Rognwald'i
fon Haliadj who became fo odious to his father on ac-
count of the drowilndsof his nature, that he bequeathed
the Earldom of the Orkneys to his baftard fon ^ynar^
from whofe pofterity, likewife, the latter Earls of the
Orkneys arc actually defcended.

It was about this time that the enterprizeis of certain
Normans in Ruflla took place. OJkold and Dir went
whh a party of their followers along the Dnieper down
as far as KioWy where, at this time, the Chazarsj a
Turkifh race, maintained the fovereign fway over
the Sclavonian inhabitants. Here they now laid the
foundations ofanewftate, which, however, was after-
wards united with that of Novgorod.

One of the numerous fons of Roghwald, Earl of
the Orkneys. Hrolf by name, having in defiance of
King Harold's prohibition, harafled the coafts of Nor-
way by frequent depredations and ravages, had been
confequently banifhed from Norway. Upon this he
repaired to the Soderoe^ where there rcfided a. great
number of malcontents and fugitives, and having in-
gratiated himfelf with them, conducted them, A. D.
876, along the coafts of England and Germany, to
the mouth of the Seine. Here he found the throne
filled by the Carlovinian race, but the country at the
fame time fo much weakened by the, imbcci|lity and
inadlivity of its rulers as well as by its internal dif-
fenlions, that it was by no means difficult for him

DISCOVERIES Iff THE NORTH. 79

to ravage and lay wafle a great part of it in the
moft cruel and barbarous manner, fiut he foon, to.
gether with his train, difcovered that it would anfwer
much better to them to feize on a confiderablc part
of it for themfelves, and make it their conftant reil-
dence. Finally, after a great many battles, truces, trea^
ties of peace, and infringements of diefe treaties,
they were at length acknowledged as the rightful own-
ers of a large traa of this country } and Hrolfy or (as
the French called him fubfequent to his being baptized)
Robert, in 912 received the Dutchy of Normandy from
the hands of King Charles, by way of ficf, and ef-*
poufed Charles's daughter, GiJJa, By his firil wife he
had a fon called William, who fucceeded him in the
throne, and from whom the Norman kings of Eng-
land defcended, as did the kings of Sicily and Na-
ples of the Norman race from a near relation of his,
the conqueror Tancred,

The Normans continued to eftablifh themfelves in
Ireland, and to gain ground in the North of England
and of Scotland, perpetually harrafTing all thefe coun-
tries by their depredations. But in the year 982 or
983, on occafion of the banifhment of an offender, a
new country was difcovered. Among other petty fo-
vereigns. King Harold had brought one of the name
«f Thorrer under fubjeftion. His great uncle Ther^
wald had lived at the court of Earl Hayne, and had
been obliged, to fly on account of a murder he had com-
mitted} and accoidingly went to Iceland, where he
fettled a confiderable tradb of country with a new colo-
ny. His fon Eric Raude^ or Redbeadj having been
perfecuted by EyoIfSaur, a powerful neighbour of his,
on account of Kaude's having killed fome of the lat-
tcr's fervants, his revengeful fpirit at laft prompted
him to kill Eyolf likewife. This, , and other mii'de-
meanors he had been guilty of, obliged him likewife to
quit his country. He knew, that a man of the name
Gunbiorn had difcovered the banks called GunbiornU
Sihierea on the weftern fide of Iceland, but likewife
ftill more to the wcftward a country of yet greater

ejctcnt.

■i

VOYAGES AND

\ti-:>.

extent. Beiftg condemned to banifliment for the fpacc
of three years, he determined upon making a voyage
of difcovcry to this country. Soon after he had fet fail,
he faw the point of land called HeVjolfi Nefs^ and after
failing a little longer to the South-weft, entered a
large inlet, which he called Ericas Sounds and pafled
tile winter on a pleafant ifland in the vicinity of it. The
following year he explored the continent, and the third
year returned to Iceland, where, with the view that a
confiderable number of people might be induced by his
reprefentation of matters, to refolve upon going to thb
newly-difcovered country, to which he gave the name
of Greenland, he beftowed the moft lavifli praifes on
its rich meadows, its wood, and its fifheries. Accord-
ingly, there fet out for this place 25 veflels, laden with
people of both fexes, houfehold furniture, and cattle for
breeding, of which veflels 14 only arrived fafc. Thcfe
firft colonifts were foon followed by more, as well from
Norway as I eland ; and in ttie^ fpace of a few years
their number encreafed fo much, that they occupied not
only the eaftern, but likewife the w^ern part of Green-
land ; and, indeed, they were fo nutnerous, that it was
ftippofed there were almoft enough of them to form the
third part of a Danifli Bifliop's diocefe.

This is the commoii account of the firft fettlino of*
Greenland, ^nd it refts on the credit of the NorAern
Hiftorian and Icelandic Judge, Snorro Sturlefon^ who
wrote this account in the year 1215. But others aflert^
that Greenland was known long before this time, and;,
for confirmation of what they advance, appeal dircdly
to a Bull of Pope Gregory I V . and to the Letters Pa-
tent of the Emperor Lewis the Pious, the latter 0/
which is dated in the year 834, but the former in 835.
In this Patent, as well as in the Bull, permiffion is
granted to the Archbiftiop Anfgarius, to convert the
Sueones, Danes, and Sclavcmians ; and it is added, the
Norwahen^ the Farriers^ the Greenlanden^ the Haljing"
alandcn, th« Julanders^ and the Scridevinds. Now this

neccfTarily

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 8i

iTCceflarily implies, that all the countries here mentioned
muil have been already known previous to the years 834
and 835 ; and what is yet more, that Iceland was at
that period known by the name it yet bears, though it is
univerfally allowed, that it was at firft called Smwland
by Nadodd, its difcoverer. (Vide pag. 50). Herci
then, there appears an evident contradidion. We fee
very plainly, however, that, fuppofmg both the Charter
'and Bull to be genuine, the words Gronlandon and
IJlandon fhould in all probability be read differently, and
perhaps ^enlandon and Hitlandon. By the former is
meant Finland ; and Hittand^ or Hialtaland, is the name
of the Shetland Iflands. By adopting this alteration the
whole difficulty is unravelled j but it may likewife, not
without reafon, be doubted, whether pofTibly all the
names of nations inferted after the ** Sucones, Danes,
and Sclavonians," have not been interpolated at a later
period: as St* Rembert, the immediate fuccefTor of
Anfgarius, and who wrote his life, mentions only the
names of the Sueoncs, Danes, and Sclavonians, whom
Aufgarius was allowed to convert ; together with other
nations fttuated in the North*. It is therefore not im-
probable, that fome conceited copylft^ at a later period,
was defirous of making particular mention of the people^
who might appear to him to be comprifed under the de-
fcription of other nations Jituate in the Norths and there-
fore very fagacioufly adds^ the Norwahers^ Farriers ^
Greenlanders, Haljingaianders, Icelanders, and Scride-
vinders ; without once refleding, that in St. Angarfus'd
time the Greenlanders and Icelanders had not been dif-
covered. So that, the authorities of St. Rembert and
Snorro Sturlefon, remain firm and unihaken, maugre
thefe falfified copies of the Papal Bull and Imperial
Letters Patent i and we may relt aiTured, that Iceland

' --rm

* Conftliutum ttgatum, in omnibus circbmquaqne gentibus SnennOm,
fiveDanorum, nee non etiam Slavorum, aliarumq; in Aquilonit paiti-
bus, t;entium conftitutarum. t^ita S. Anfchani apud Langebeck SeripU
Htji. Dan. Tom. i. p. 4151, 45*. Even Adam of Bremen> Hifl. EccUi
tiS. I. cap. 17, mt-ntioBs by name thefe three nations only, to which he
adds, ct aliikconjiiceniibut in circuitu populis."

was

VOYAGES AN»

was not difcovered before the year 86 1, nor inhabited
before 874 ; and that Greenland was hardly difco-
vered previous to the year 888, or 889, or inhabited
before 892. The former of thefe countries appears
at that time to have had wood upon it. Nay, a com-
paratively modern writer even fpealcs of an orchard,
which the Monks of St. Thomas endeavoured to keep
in good order and increafe its fertility by means of a
warm fpring which they carried through it.

The paflion which the Normans had always mani-
fefted for making difcoveries, ftill prevailed among
them even in the cold regions of Iceland and Green-
land. An Icelander, of the name of Heriolf, was ac-
cuftomed, together with his fon Biron, to make a
trip every year to different countries, for the fake of
trading. About the year looi their (hips were fepa-
rated by a ftorm. Bifon being arrived at Norway,
heard that his father Herjolf, was gone to Greenland.
Upon this he refolved upon following his father thither j
but another ftorm drove him a great way to the
louth-weft of his track. In eonfequence of this, he
defcried a flat country, covered all over with thick
woods ; and juft as he fet out on his return, he dif-
covered an ifland likewife. He made no ftay at either
of thefe places, but haftened as much as the wind
would allow him to do, which had nbw fallen great-
ly, by a north-eafterly courfe to Greenland. Here
this event was no fooner known, than Leif the fon
of Eric Redhead^ who had an inordinate defire to ac-
quire glory, like his father, by making difcoveries and
founding colonies, fitted out a veflel, carrying 35
men, and taking Biron with him, fet out for this
newly-difcovered country. Having fet fail, the firft
land he faw was rocky and barren. Accordingly, he
called it Helleland, or Rockland. Upon this he came
to a low land, with a fandy bottom, which, howe-
ver, was over-grown with wood j on which account
he named it Marklandy or Woody land. Two days
after this he faw land again, and an ifland lying be-
fore th*^ northern coafl: of it. Here was a river, up
which tney failed. The bufties on the banks of it

bore

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

bore fweet berries ; the temperature of the air was
mild, the foil fertile, and the river well ftored with
fifh, and particularly with very fine falmon. At laft
they came to a lake, from which the river took its
rife. Here they determined to pafs the winter, which
they accordingly did j and in the fhorteft winter day,
faw the fun eight hours above the horizon : this there-
fore fuppofes that the longeft day (exclufive of the
dawn and twilight) muft have been i6 hours long.
Hence again it follows, that this place being in the
49th degree of north latitude, in a fouth-wefterly di>
reftion from Old Greenland, muft either be the river
Gander.^ or the Bay of Exphits in Newfoundland^ or
elfe fome place on the northern coaft of the Gulf of
St. Lawrencei Here they erected feveral huts ; and
they one day found in the thickets a German of the
name of Tyrker^ who had been miffing, making him-
felf very happy at having found grapes, from' which,
he told them, in his country they ufed to make wine.
Leif having tafted them, from this circumftance, which
appeared to him very remarkable, called the country
Wiulanddat Code ; i. t. the Good Wine-country ♦.

In the following fpring they returned to Green-'
Jand. This occafioned Thorwald, Leif*s brother, ta
take a trip thither with the fame fuite as he had done^
in order to make farther advances in this new difco-^
very. Having explored thk land that lay to the weft*-
wards, the . next fuihmer he inveftigated that which
lay to the eaftwards. The coaft was covered with
Wood,. and befet With iilands j but they could neither
perceive a human creature, nor indeed atiimals of any
kind upon it.

The third fummer after they examined the ifl^s,
where, on a point 61" land they damaged their (hip t6
fuch a degree, that they found it necefiary to build
a new one, and the old veiTel was laid up on th<^

* It 11 Irue that gr«p«t grow wild in Canada ; Injt, thongh they art
good to eat, yet nobody has «er been able to ipake any tolerable wioe
o." their juice. But wJiether thefe wild grapes aie to be found ai far to
the eaftward as Newfoundlanc'. I cannot fay. The fpecies of vines which
grow in North-America, are called by Linnxus, A0//> lahujcay vul-
fina et arbtrea.

G 2 promontory,

$4 VOYAGES AND

promontory, which for that reafon they called Ktaler
Nefs. Then they once more examined the eaftern
fhore, and now they diicovered three boats covered
with leather, in each of which there were three men ;
thefe they feized : but one man found means to get
ofF, the others were all wantonly aind cruelly murder-
ed by the Normans. Soon after this, however, thev
were attacked by a great number of thefe people with
bows and arrows. A fence made of planks fcreened
them in their (hips againfl them, and they defended
themfelves with fo much fpirit, that their enemies hav-
ing given them battle for the fpace of an hour, were
obliged to decamp again. I'o thefe original inhabi-
tants oi the country, on account of their being very
ihort in ftature, they gave the name of Skroellinger,
i. e. cuttings, or dwarfs. Thorwald, who in the fkir-
mi(h had been dangeroufly wounded by an arrow*
died* and over his ton^b on the promontory were
placed two croiTes, agreeable to hi$ requeil:, which
promontory obtained from this circumflance the name
of Krojfa-nefs. His companions pafled the winter in
fFinland, and in the beginning of the fpring return-
ed to Greenland.

^^ ,In the fame year, Thor^ein, the third fon of Eric
Raude, fet fail for fVinland^ with his wife Gudrid^, the
daughter of "Jhoabern^ his children and fervants, a-
mounting in all to 25,foft]s; but they were by a
ftorm caft on the weftcrn fliore of Greenland. Being
pbliged to fpend the winter there, he, as well as many
more of his retinue, died^ probably of the fcurvy. In
the fpring, Gudrid topk the corpfe of her deceafed huf-
band home.

TIjorftHy an Icelander of fome confequence, furnamed
Kallfefner, and a defcendant of King Regner-Lodbroky
married the widow Gudrid^ and thereby thought him-
ifelf intitled to the poiTeiTion of the newly-difcovered
country. Accordingly, he fet out for Winland with
a vaft quantity of houfhold furniture and cattle, and
vith 65 men, and 5 women, who begun to eflabliih

a re-

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 85

a regular colony there. They were immediately vi-
fited by the Skraliingersy who began to barter with
them. From the circumftance we have mentioned
before, viz. that thcfe people were of a low ftature,
and had boats covered with leather, it feems probable
that they were the anccftors of the prefent hjkinauxj
who arc the fame people as the Greenlanders, and in
the language of the jbenaki are called Ejkimantfik^ on
account of their eating raw fifli j in like manner as
the Ruflians in their official papers of flr.tc called the
Samojedes Sirojg{P ^/ , becaufe they alfo eat raw frozen
ii(h and flefli,

The natives gave the Normans in exchange, the
moft coflly furs for other wares. They would alfo
willingly have bartered for their weapons, but this
Thorfm had exprefsly forbidden. One of them, how-
ever, found an opportunity to fteal a battle-axe, and
having made trial of it immediately on one of his
countrymen, whom hp killed with it on the fpot, a
third perfon feized this mifchievous inftrument, and
threw it into the fea. In three years time, the Nor-
mans having got a large ftock of very rich furs anij
other articles of merchandife, Thorjin returned to
Greenland. The riches he brought home, created in
a great many of his countrymen a defire to try their
fortunes in IVinland, At length Thorjin went back
to Iceland^ where he built himfelf a very elegant
houfe on an eflate of his, called Glaumha^ which he
had purchafed in the northern part of Syjfel, After
his deceafe, Gudrid his fpoufe made a voyage to Rome,
and ended her days in Iceland, in a nunnery, which
her fon Srtorro, who was born in Winland, had found-
ed for her. *

* The defdendants of Snorrty Thorfin^i fon, were people of f'^mt
eminence in Iceland, for Thorlak, the Ion of Runulf\ a nephew -jf Sntr-
ro, wts in the year 1119 made Bifhop of Sialhc/It. Thorlik'fi fon,
Brander, was Biftiop of the fame place in 1163. A defcendam of Snor-
roy by name biorns, was alfo a Bifhop in Iceland, and to the fame digni<
ty wa« promoted Hatuko,, an Icelandic judge, who lived in '■?o8t aqd
wrote a Topography and Chronicle cf Iceland, which ii ckllcd Haukjlok^
i. e. H,iuku's book, after the name cf the author.

After

VOYAGES AN i>

After this Finhog and Helgo^ two Icelanders, fitted
out each of ' n a Ihip, carrying 30 men, with which
they made a gc to Winland. They took along

witn them Freiai.^ a daughter of Erie Raude\ but by
her turbulent difpofition Ihe occafioned manifold divi-
fions and quarrels in the colony, in one of which^ Helgo
and Finbog were killed, together with thirty men.
Upon this Freidii returned to Greenland, where fhc
lived univerfally dcfpifed and detelled, and died in the
greateft mifery. The remaining Normans were dif-
perfed i and it is probable, that their defcendants were
ftill in being for a long time after, though nothii^
farther pofitive was heard concerning them v for it is
faid, that A. D. iiai, about 100 years after the dif-
covery and f^rft cultivation of the land, Biihop Eric
went from Greenland to Winland, in order to con-
vert his countrymen who were ftill heathens. From
this period we have no more intelligence with refpe£l
to Winland, and it is highly probable, that the tribe
ftill exifting in the interior parts of Newfoundland,
which difFers remarkably from all the American Sa-
vages as well in (hape as in their manner of living,
and lives in a ftate of conftant enmity with the EJki-
maux refiding on the oppofite northern coall:, are de-
fcended from thofe ancient Normans.

Now it appears from hence, that the ancient Nor-
man people were, ftridly fpeaking, the firft difcover-
crs of America^ and that, in faft, nearly 500 years be-
fore the difcovery of it by Chrtjiopher Columbus in the
year 1493, and before the difcovery of Newfoundland
by Sebajiian Cabot in 1496. And, as it has long been
a conteftcd point, who were in reality the firft dif-
coverers of Jimerica^ it is to be hoped, that this cir-
cumftantial detail of the difcovery of the ancient Win-
land will meet with the readier excufe. The fa£ts
themfcives have been colle6led from a great number
of ancient Icelandic manufcripts, and have been hand-
ed down to us by Thormond Thorftsus in his two works
intitled, Vetoii Groenlandia Defcriptioy Hafnitgy 1706,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. $y

in Rvo, and Hifteria Vinland'ite Antiqua^ Hafntee^ 1 705^
in 8vo. Wc alfo find cnrly mention made of the coun-
try called Wtnland^ in Adam von Bremen's Church
liijlory^ p. 151 i in like manner, very exadt relations
of thcfe difcoveries have been prefcrvcd in Arngrim
yonas's Specimen Ijlandlte Hijioricum^ and in many
other writmgs ; fo that it is hardly poflible to harbour
the Icafl doubt concerning the authenticity of this
relation.

The only intelligence we meet with pofterior to
thefe firft difcoveries, is, that when about the year
009, Leif^ the fon of Eric Raude, made a voyage to
Norway, and was by Kin^ Ohf Tryggefon perfuadcd
to take upon him the Chriftian faith, he took Chrif-
tian Priefts over with him to Greenland, for the con-
verfion of the remainging part of his countrymen.
He landed there A. £). 1000, and his father, iiV/V,
tojgether with many people, v.ent over to the Chriilian
faith.

About 100 years after this, the Chriftian religion was
difFufed all over the country ; upwards of 190 farms had
already been laid out, with many fmall tenements on
them ; on the eaftern fide more than 12 churches and
two convents had been erected j ana on the wefterrj
coaft were built four churches. Tiiis great increafe
appeared to the inhabitants fo confider«blc, that Sok,
the nephew of Leif^ having alfembled the whole peo-
ple at Brettahlidy where the Judge, or Lagmann, al-
ways ufed to refide, they were unanimoufly of opinion,
that they might, with great propriety, have a bifhop
of their own j and, in fadt, one Eric was pitched upon
for this office ; but it is fuppofcd that, inftead of
going to Greenland, he went (Irait on to W inland,
in order to convert the Normans, who were ftill hea-
thens : however, nothing farther was ever heard con-
cerning him. A learned pricft, of the name of Arnold,
was therefore, at the requeft of the Greenlanders, no-
minated their Bifhop by Si^utdy King of Norway;
and, having been confccrated by the Archbifhop of
Lunden, in Schonm^ went to Greenland. We have an
account of about 1 7 of thcfc Bifhops j but the SkraU

lingers^

VOYAGES AND

lingers^ or prcfent EJkimauxy bcg.m to (hew thcm-
fclvcs about the year 1376, and it is probable, that
thefc people have at length extirpated the whole Nor-
man race, particularly, as in the beginning of the 1 5th
century, an entire ftop was put to the navigation from
Denmark and Norway to thofe |)arts. Neither was
it poflible. to go thitner from Iceland; for it is re-
markable, that the whole caftcrn coaft of Greenland
is furroundcd by icc-ficlds, which have lain there from
time immemorial, and increafc every year, and occafion-
ing fuch cold weather, even in Iceland, that it is
found to be at prefent far colder there than it was
fome centuries ago, when it was ftill poflible to fow
corn, and when forefts were to be met with in many
parts of the country. Even in Gr<:enland there was
a grove near the Bifliop's refidenc*^, for the feeding
of cattle, of which there are now no traces left in
the whole weftern part of Greenland, which, how-
ever, is poflelTcd of a milder climate than the other
parts. 1 hofe circumftances have been the caule that
nobody has been able to approach, even from Ice-
land, the inhabitantF, thus cooped up and imprifoned.
To this muft be added, that in the beginning of the
15th century, an innumerable multitude ot people
were carried ofF from the year 1402 to 1404, by
the hinck death, as it was called, or the peftilehce :
fo that, what with the diminution of their numbers,
the want of afllftance from Norway and Iceland, and
the increafing cold, the Norman ' inhabitants were
weakened to fuch a degree, that at laft it became an
eafy matter for the SkralHngen to make war upon
them, and to extirpate them. In this fituation thofe
countries remained till the beginning of the i6th
century, when a new fpirit for invettigating the earth,
and for geographical refearches, burft forth in Eu-
rope, and was continually kept alive by the accounts
of the great difcovcrics made by the rortuguefe and
Spaniards.

CHAP,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 89

' "I

CHAP. in.

0/ the Difcovertet made by the Italians In the North, at
well by Land as by Sea.

IN general there were but two motives, which in thcfe
dark middle ages could induce people to undertake
voyages to diilant countries. In tad, it was a fpi-
rit of commerce and zeal for the diffufion of the
Roman Catholic religion which imparted the cou-
rage and mental vigour neccflary for great enterpii-
zes, to men whofe fpirits had been dcbafed, and the
energy of whofe minds had been dtllroyed by fuper-
ftition, aided by the preflure of dcfpotifm, and of
the feudal fyftem. Confequently it was fclf-intereft
and enthufiafm alone, that operated on the torpid
and uncultivated minds of mankind in thofc ages.

In the north of Europe and Afia, barbarifm pre-
dominated, and that not unfrequenHy combined with
the moft favage abule of that authority, which fupc-
rior force and power hud thrown into the hands of
the niofV rude and uncultivated nations. From the
north-ead; of Afia numbers of favage hordes iiTued
forth, one after another, and diftufed incxpre/Iible
mifery over the whole human race in all thofe coun-*
tries, which had the misfortune to lie in their way.
The bad form of government of the dates in thofc
times } wlchout fortified towns, without any good
military arrangements, without funds in the treafury,
for fupplying the expences of their wars ; together
with the difmemberment of the fmall itates, which
were fubjeft to petty Princes, unable to defend them,
and the enfeebled condition of the greater, rendered
their conquefts but too eafy to thefe encroaching
^eftroyers of the univerfe. From the fea, which in
the remoteft eaft ferves for a boundary to the coaft

■ ■ i iii

!#S'JiS

:®"^>f:ii

VQYAGES AND

;l ; I

of China, as far as the Oder an^ Danube, every
thing was expofed to the ravages of thefe people,
who, like a whirlwind, lay every thing wafte before
them ; and from India and its mountains, quite to
the Icy-Sea, the Moguls (for fo thefe barbarians were
called) were the univerfal anr! uncontrouled mailers.
The terror which thofe Moguls had fpread every
where, determined the Pope to endeavour to (lop the
progrefs of their, ^rrefiftible power by ambafTadors j
and at the fame time to inflame their minds againfb
the InHdels, or Mahometans, in Palefline and in
Egypt. The Emperor Frederic II, . invited all thc-
European Princes to oppofe this torren:, which, in
a manner, overwhelmed every country by the con-
jun(Slion f their collective forces. But what ferved
to protedl the European dates againft the farther de-
predations of thefe favage conquerors, was on one
ifide the difunion fubfifling among the Chiefs of the
Mogul tribes, and on the other, the following cir-
cumftapce, viz. that the valour as well as the rapa-
cious difpoHtionof the great, was diminiihed byrich-
€s and voluptuoufnefs. The ambafTadors that were
fent to the Mogul Princes, were all of them mere
Monks, becaufe they alone were able to bear the
terrible humiliationi, when fucb kind of mefTengers
were made to fufFer. The Moguls then believed, as,
the Chinefe do at this prefent time, that all the am-
bafTadors from other Princes, who, according to the
caftern cuflonra, brought them prefents, were come
merely to acknowledge their fupremacy, and to fub-
mit themfelves to their Emperor and Khan ; and
therefore they Very frequently obliged thofe ambafTa-
dors to make fubmifTions of a very extraordinary na-
ture, and to go through a ceremonial, which was,
fometimcs highly degrading to humanity.

Belides tholie ^lonks, fomc noble Venetians like-
wife, who however were carried thither merely by
the defire of gain went to thb country of the Mor
guls as far as to the refidence of the Khans. Fi-
nally, we have alfo fome accounts of a tew mili-
tary men, who have penetrated a good way into the
north-eaftern parts of Afia, which are eyen as yet un-,

kaown.

DISCOVERIES jM THE NORTH. 91

. known. All thefe relations are of very great importance
for the purpofe of bringing us acquaihted with the north,
^nd with refpeft to the hiitory of the manners and cha-
radlers of the northern nations. But our aim being
merely to give a general (ketch of the whole of the
hiftory of thefe people and countries, it is impofliblc
for us to be fo full and copious as the variety of obje£ts
prefented miy indeed require, but which would by no
means correfpond with our prefent plan.

Previous to mentioning the voyages of the monks in
the North-eaft parts of Afia, we will make a few fliort
remarks on the narrative of the travels of a SpanifK
Jew. He was called Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela^ a fmall
tov.'n in Navarre. His father was Rabbi Jonds ; and
probably lived alfo at Tudela. On the ftrength of the
teftimony of Rabbi Abraham ZuJtut, a celebrated aflrono-
mer, and profeflbr at Salamanca, who lived in the hf-
teenth century, it is fuppofed, that this Rabbi Benjamin
travelled from 1160 to 1173, or thereabout, and wrote
his travels afterwards. Young Barratier^ that early
literary genius, aflens, that Benjamin never made the
journey in reality, but patched up the whole work
from the writings of his cotemporaries. It is true,
many of the incredible tales which he mentions, ap-
pear to be very Itrong proofs of this affertion :
there are other circumftances which militate againft
it. For example j where' he fays, that he has heard
himfelf from a certain Rabbi Mojes^ in Ifpahan, a hif-
tory of the unbelieving Turks. (Chap, xviii. &c.).
The anomalies to be met with in ,his work, are to be
attributed to the miftakes of the copyift, to his own
want of memory, and to many other circumftances *.

* But thefe incredible tales tre til in the tafle of thofe times; and
the other travellers of ihol'e ages, who are neverthelefs believed to have
travelled in reality, are fjuitc as full of incitdible relations. The whole
difference If, that the tales which ihey relile arc Chiiftian tales, whil«»
thele are )cwi(h. The others frequently take notice of the miracles of
praeaded Claiiliaa riicts, and be, et thoie of Jewifh Rabbiea.

VOYAGES AND

At the ienJ of his travels he fays, that Prague in Bohe-^
mia is the beginning of Hclavonia. Then he fpeaks of
the Ruffian Linpire, which extends from the gates of
Prague to the gates of Phin ]>s a large town at the
beginning of the kingdom. In that country are the
animals called IVai-regres w^"ia*i>>n and Neblinatz ynvhli*
On the meaning of thefe words the interpreters are not
agreed ; but it appears clearly, that Phih is no other
than Kiow, the capital of the Ruffian Empire at that
time. We fhould therefore here read pa and indeed
the interpreters, from the final nun being wanting,
might ealily have fuppoftd, that this name ought to have
been written differently. Now follow the names of
the animals ; Ruffia has ever been famous for its grey
foxes, or grey fquirrels ; thefe in the Ruffian language
are called Pyjeworka j in the Hebrew text therefore,
we (liould read \y^:t*iVNi IVaiwerges^ which is as nearly
rcfembling the Ruffian as a Spanifli Jew could poffibly
write it: and by the animals called i>K3^bai ZeblinatZy
are meant Sables, the fkins of which, Jordanis had be-
fore him called Sapphi/ifias pdks. For they have ever
been a rare and choice fur. Excepting this little.
Rabbi Benjamin has nothing at all relating to this our
northern part of the globe.

II. l^he news of the victories of the Moguls, who
on one fide of the Gafpian Sea, under the command of
Tufchi-Khan, the fon of the great Zinghis'Khan, and
under that of the fon of Tufchi, Batu-Khan, advancing
through Kiptfchaky Rujfta^ Poland and Hungary had pe-
netrated into Sile/M } while the fame people on the
other fide of the Cafpian Sea, had, under the command
of Zagathai Khan, another fon of Zinghis- Khan's and
of his nephew Holaghu-Khan, made their appearance
en the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. This news having
reached the ears of Pope Innocent IV. he thought it ad-
vifeable in the convocation held at Lyons, A. D. 124.5,
that fome of the clergy fliould go as ambaffiidors to thefe
formidable conquerors, partly in oroer to pacify them,
jujd to tur;i their conquefts to fome other objed, and

partly

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH* 9^

partly to endeavour if poflible to convert them to
the Chriftian faith, and to diredt their arms againft
the Turks and Saracens. For this purpofe fix monks
were pitched upon, fome of whom were Minorites^
and others Dominicans^ John de Plano^ or Palatia
Carpini^ an Italian minorite, with friar Benedict like-
wile of the fame order, as alfo brother Afcelin or
Anfetnty brother Alexander^ brother Albert^ and brother
Sim»n of 5/* ^intin^ all Dominicans. Out of thefe,
yohn de Piano Carpini^ and brother Benedict went to
the North of the Cafpian Sea, to Batu-Khan^ and to
the chief of all the Moguls, the Emperor Kajui'
Khan ; but brother Afcelin^ with his afTidants, brothers
Alexander Albert ^ and Simon of St. ^intin^ went to the
South of the Cafpian Sea, through Syria^ Perfia-t and
Khorafany to Baiju-Nojon^ or as the monks called
him Bajothnoy, This latter expedition contains no-
thing inftrudtive with refpeft to the northern regions;
we will therefore keep to the expedition of John de
Piano Carpini, who travelled through Bohemia and
Poland as far as Kiow, and from thence to the mouth
of the Dnieper to Korrenfa, a general of the Moguls.
Finally, they croffed this river in winter when it was
frozen, and fet out to go eaft wards over the Don and
PVolga, to Batu-Khan. Having waited upon him,
they were Informed by him, that they muft go to the
Cuyne (as they called him) or rather to the Kajuk-
Khan, They travelled therefore on horfeback in the
coldeft weather, and many days without food, through
the land of the Comaniansy to the northward of which
are, Rujjjiay Bolgarioy and the Morduines, as alfo the
Baftarks (or rather Bafchkir*s) who are in pofleffion of
Upper Hungary, and behind thefe are the Parofttes*
and the Samojades, who are faid to have faces like
thofe of dogs. To the South of the Comanians are

* Meaning, perhaps, the Parmtfittiy or Ftrmicrt, or, as the Ruffiana
call them, ttrmiakt.

the

VOYAGES A NO

the Alan'tans^ the Clrcaffians^ and the Chazars *, the
Grecians, the city of (Jonftantinople, together with
the Iberians, Chathions **, and Brutakh f ; then the
Jands of the Cythians X^ Georgians^ yfrmenians, and
Turks. Continuing now their Journey, they came
into the country of the Kangitta\\y who were all
fhepherds like the Comanians, and did not pradtife
agriculture.

From the land of the Kangltla, they came to that
of the Bifermini (i. e. BuTurmeriy Mufurmen, or Ma-
hometan inhabitants of Turkejian) who in faft fpoke
the fame language as the Comanians^ but profcfled
the religion of Mahomet. To the South of it were,
Jerufalem, and Baldachy {Bagdad) and the whole
country of the Saracens. To the North of it is
Black'Kathaya (or Karakithai) §, in which the Em-
peror has built himfclf a palace. From thence they tra-
velled for fome days along a lake which was all the while
on their left hand, and in which there were many
iflands. The Emperor being not yet formally eledted
and eftablifhed on the throne^ they could not yet go into

* The ./^/dwf tnd C/Vrd^ffj are (liil the inhibitants of Caucafuc, but
whtt ptrt of it they inhabit, and whether the Chatmri, dill inhabit thoie
regions, I tm eatirely ignorant. In the time of the Emperpr Ctnjiantin
Perphjrogenala, A. D. 949, the Chazars lived jn Ciimea, near the
month of the Kubany and to the North of the Sta ef A&cf.

** This name it probably Kakiti^ a province of Gurgijlany or Ctttiioj
which is called I.ere Iberia.

"f The Brutaks, or Brutachsy are probably (\II1 exiting, for we find
in the range of the Caucafus, inaamerable remnants of irnal) nations.
la the origioal map of Caucafus, by Major Genrra! Frantndorf^ we iind,
to the South of the Alanians, % people called Brutani; but as it is eafy
in the RuHian language to confound the n with the ^, it is very probable,
that the name of this people tliould be Brutackt. In a note, it is added,'
that they are an independent people, and have * language of their own,
as alio filver and copper coin.

% CytHant. \n all probability this (hould be the Cycbiant^ or, as the
word is generally written, Zichians.

|] Kanghita\ thefe people are alfo frequently called Kanglii^ or Koni'
lis. They extend from the Jaii, or, as it i» now called, Utal, to the
Slrr, or Sirdaria ; and iheir habitation!! extended even to the river
Tatasy or Talajb^ and Iffikul. The country they lived in was an uncuU
tivated defert plain,

^ Oktaikhatiy or U^aJai Kbatiy built in Katakithai the town Owy/, or
C ha my I,

his

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 9^

his Hordt. They went therefore to the land of the
Naymansn who are heathens, and inhabit a very high,
mountainous, and cold country, for in fa<^, it fnow-
ed there on the 29th of June. I'hen travelling on
for three weeks longer, they arrived at length at the
Cuynis^ or Kajuk-Kban^s, who was then juft going
to be elected Emperor ; where they were well receiv-
ed, and treated better than other ambaflfadors. Hav-
ing had an audience of the Emperor, they were dif-
mifled, and went back the fame road by which they
had come.

The count / of the Tartars is. in that part of the
eaft which borders on the north ; towards the eaft
they have Kathay and the Solangians ** ; To the fouth
the Saracens^ to the fouth-weil the Huirs (or Uigurs)
to the weft the Naymam and to the north the Great
Ocean. The place where they waited on the Emperor
was called Syr a Horda.

They acknowledge but one God, the Creator of
all things, vifibleand invifible ; v/ho diftributes to all
mankind rewards and punifhments, according to their
deferts. But they do not pay any particular worfhip
to him. On the other hand, they have many idols
made of felt (called in the Ruffian tongue JVoelocks)
which they fix up in their houfes ; fome are even made
of filk, and are more honoured than the others. To
thefe they facrifice fome part of what they eat and
drink, as alfo the hearts of the beafh they kill. In
(hort, they feem to have profefied the Scbaman religi-
on, which is an elder branch of that of the Bramins
and of Dalai Lama, They were accuidomed to leave
thofe that were dangcroufly Tick to themfelves, and
afterwards, when they died, to return and bury them,
which the Calmucks ftill do at this time. They were
polygamifts, and had many virtues, but were not
without their failings.

III. The views of the Moguls were merely to put
the Chriftians off with fair words, and then, on the
firft opportunity that offered, to carry the war into their
countries when they leaft expefted it, and agreeably

•* The Sslangts are, without doubt, the very Time nation wilh the
AlatiJjhutianSy who are (lill to this diy c*lled Suliinians.

V O Y A G fe S ANri

to their coriftant cuftom, to ravage and dcftroy ever^
thing they came near.' In the years 1246 and 1247*
another ambaflador arrived from the Pope, who was
aifo a Monk, and was named Andrew Luciumeh
But, notwithflanding this, the preparations for war
againft the Chriftians went on without interruption^
The Emperor fent feveral troops againft the people
that had rebelled againft him in Korea, and died foon
after, having removed from Karakoruniy more weft-
ward to Kamfatkit by which means this defign of his
was entirely fruftrated,

IV. To the new-ele<5led Emperor Mangu Khan,
who was chofen in the year 1251, and of whom ic
was reported in the weft, that he had been converted
to the Chriftian religion. King Lewis IX. of France,
fent, in the quality of Ambaftador, a Brabantine
Friar, of the minorite order, by name lUlliam
Ruyjbroek, otherwiie called Ru/brock, Rubruckf and
Rubruquis,

Ruyjbroeck went from Conftantinople by fea, to thcf
Black Sea, to Gafaria (Crimea) to that part of Sol-
deya, which is otherwife called Sogdat, or Scldadiai
and at this prefent time Sudak, to the weftward of
which is the town called Kerfona (Cherfone, or
Cherfon) which according to Inkermahy is the modern
Schurzi, or Gurzi, or Scherfon* But to the eaft, at
the mouth of the Tanais, is Maricandis, and the
tovfn Matriga, or Materca*-, for the Don, before it
falls into the fea, forms yet another lake towards the
north, the depth of which is not aboye fix paces, while
in length it is 700 Italian miles. To this Materca
merchants go from Conftantinople to buy dried fiih,
viz. Sturgeons^ Thofes, or Tunnies^ and Barbels. Be-

* Maricandis and Matriga, or Materia^ rouft be (ought for on the
fhores of (he Straiis. The (irfl name appertains to a village or iflami,
\vhich lies oppofiie to (he Straits, and is ai this prefent time called Ta-
wtnda. At the mouth of one of the branches of the river Kuban is the
town of Temruci, which was formerly called by the Ruflians Tmuttak-
ban^ an.i by the Greeks, Tamatarcba; that is Va-wrt/frca, ox Afaten/iy
and Matriia. Some Kuflian Piinces even had their refidenccs in Ttnw
trakhan'-, Prince Mjlijlaf, for inltance the Ion of fVladimir the Gre<ity
aod brother of Jarifiaf l, was Prince of Tmuirakhan.

yond

whi
wh<

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ^j

yond the mouth of this lake Is 9!iichia^ which is not
fubjeft 1 > the Tartars, and the Suevi (or Suani) and
the Iberians* The whole country, from the mouth
of the Tanais as far as the Danube. weftward, all is
fubjeft to the Tartars, and even beyond the Danube
cowards Conftantinople. The whole of Walachiay
which is the country belonging to j([fan *, and the
whole of Bulgaria^ quite to Solinia, (or Solonoma**,)
pay them tribute.

Along thefe ftiores, between Karfona, Soldeya^ and
the mouth of the Don<i there are many high promon-
tories. But from Seldeya to Kerfona are about 40 cailles,
each of which has its peculiar language ; amongft
them arc many Goths, whofe mother- tongue is the
German ***♦ Going from Soldaya acrofs the moun-
tains, they came into a plain, where they found a
foreft, and where, near the land's end, there arc
ftagnated falt-lakes, the fait of which cryftalizes like
ice, and was fold, by Sartach and Batu, at the rate of
a waggon load, fuch as could be drawn by two
horfes, for two pieces of cotton ftufF, or for one hyper^m
bwotty which is the value of about two dollars. Ships
alfo tak i n ladings of this fait. Then he went acrofs
a ioS€ which is drawn at the end of Gazaria from
one fca to the other (perhaps near Perekop). Upon
this they travelled to the eaft ward on the, north lide

* A. D. i±35, 7»*«y^)i became King of Bulgjria, and reigned till
1141, when his fon Kohmatiy i'ucceedcd him in the throse till it^K,^ dnd
uab in his turn fucceeded by Ajjfan*% fecond fon, Michaely who waged war
againd the Tartars, and again^ Jobn yatatzes. But how comes if thca
to pafs that Ruyjhrteek gives Walachia to Aflan, and not Bulgaria, the
empire he inherited from his father, of which he neverthclela makei
mention immediately after ?

•* By this probably is meant Tbejftlonieay or Satonicti.

«•* ^Bj;/Sr««i is the firft who fpoite of thefe G«//ix in Crimea. AT*
ter hin™, a Venetian, named Jofaphat Barharo, has made mention of
them A. D. 1436, in his yiaggio alia Tanna^ parag. 20 ; and afterwards
Bujbeck fpoke to fome of thofe Goths, Ambalfadors from the Crimean
Tartary, A. D. 156a, and gives us a catalogue of words of their lan-
guage. Upon this teUimony of Ruy/broeck depends the ixiftcnce of the
Caflella Judeorumy or rather Gothorum, which are laid down in fome an-
cient maps of Crimea, and which even that refpeiftabie geogr.ipher, fa-
ther DanvilUy has admitted into his maps, and transformed them inta
CbateauM dtt Jcifu

H of

VOYAGES AND

of the Tea, and law many Comanian fepulchres, and
JCaptfchak Comaniansj vfhQ reached from the Danube
to the Don, and to the river Etilia, or Wolga* Be-
tween the two lafl; rivers, it is lo long days journey
more. To the north of K^ptfchak-Comania is Rulfia,
full of forefts : this country is daily ravaged by the
Tartars ; and when the poor people have no more
gold and filver left to give, they drive them away
together with their children, lilce cattle, and make
them tend their flocks. Beyo;nd the Don, they found
a people called Moxel* ; the principal Lords of which
the Tartars had taken with them to Germany, where
they were killed. They are all heathens, and have
a great quantity of hogs, wax, rich furs, and falcons.
Then follow next to thefe, the Merdas, called in
J^atin, Merduas**, who are of the Mahometan reli-
gion. P'arthcr on to the eaftwards is the great river
Etili^***, which is the largeft river Ruyflroeck ever
faw. It coiues from the northward and from Great
Bulgaria^ and to the fouthward empties itfelf into a
large lake., or fea^ which takes four months to travel
round its circumference. To the fouth are large
jnpuntains, which are inhabitated by the Cergis f (or
Kermis) and the Alanians (or AkasX) whq are Chritti-

an^

f Mikfcba is the name tJie MorJuani call themfelves by; thefe peo-
ple therefore are probably the Moxel oS Ruyjbroeck.

■ ♦* By thtfe /Tfc/t/i/a;, or MerJas, are in all probability meant the
ffcheremlfer, who call themfelves Mari-Murt^ or the people of Mari '^
but F "^ rofck{\n the fame manner as Guaguintis has done) very errone-
oiifly Is them Mahometans, merely becaufe they do not work on Fri-
day?, a prai£\ice which they probably learned from the neighbouring Ma-?
hometau Tiitars ; for tffey themfelves are all heathens.

*•'• The river Wol^a is called IJel by the Tartars, the 'r.fchwwafchet
c^ll \\.Atel^ K^r AtaU from which the word Etil'ta feems to be derived.
Taken in its general fi^nification, the word means a river i and thio ii> ia
fai.'^, as Ruyjbroeck calls it, the greaieft river in Euiope.

f The Cergis^ or Kergis, are the fame as the Tfcherktefchians^ or Cir-
taffiaiii,

X The Alanians are called by Ruyftroeck Akaf, prol>ably from 0:UgaJ
(Atlgai^ AJkat and Akas.) But it is the -Tjchfrk^fcbians v/ho call thcm-
tflves AJigat, and not the A'anians. I find in the manulcript lemarks of
»he late profelTbr Tbunman oa Bergcron''s coW^Siwa cf travels, which are

■ • ; ■ to

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH. 99

ans and make war upon the Tartars. Towards the
jgreat Tea, viz. the Cafpian, are fome Mahometans
called Lefghif who are tributary to the Tartars. Be-
yond thele is the iron gate, (Derbend*,) built by
Alexander the Great, to hinder the irruption of the
Barbarians into JPerfia.

Having travelled for feven days to the caftwards
from the Don^ they came at length to the camp of
Sartach the Ton of Batu^ and having had an audi-
ence of him, they went to the Wolga, three days
journey, and in boats five days Journey, down to the
camp of BatU'Khan, on the Eaft fide of the river.
They had an audience of him alfo; and foon after,
having followed his camp for fome time, they went
with a ^/«a/(Mogol) of diftin^tion to the eaflward,
through the land of the Cangla, who are defcendants
of the ancient Romani (Komani), being previoufly
provided with pelifles and boots of felt. Having
travelled for the fpacc of twelve days from the
Wolga eaftwards, they came to the river yagag
(Jaik-t or Aral)-, which runs from the North out of
the land of the Pafcatir ** into the fea above-men-
tioned. The language of the Pafcatirs is the fame
as that of the Hungarians. To the weftward of them

CO be round in the libriry of the Univerfity %\. Halle, that againft the
word Alat he has written in the margin Adiga ; but this vas reverted
by the mark made by profeffor Guldenjiadt, in BuJcHng^i IVetkiy Intel-
Itt^eneer for the year 1773* according to which the Tfcheriafcbians all
themfelvet Adiga. But the Alanians^ next neighbours in the monntains
are the Diketiy or Adikcti, whrnce Adktti, Adkefi, and finally, Aias.
And as the Ruflun princec in Tmutrakan had a Lordfhip in this neighbour*
hood, it is very poflible that they may have cor.veried fome of the nati-
«n» (iwelltng in the Caucafus to the Chridian religion, of which indeed
ihr Kullians have lately difcovered many traces.

* Ot this pafs and of the ancient wall, which rnns from Derbent to
the wedward, Bayer treats in hia Dlfliertatton De Murt Caucajeo^ in the
Commentar. Petiopolii. torn, i, pag.4ie, to 436.

*♦ Pafcatir is alio written Bafckart^ or Bafcart. This country wss
the feat of the ancient Hungarianrj or Madfchars {Magyar). The B
is often u fed for My and viceverfa; fo that Bafckart and Madjihart
feem to be abfoiuteiy the fame. The KuiHaat call the people that inha^
fticthisiincient i3fl/fif'tfr/, Bafehiirs^

W ? is

100

VOYAGES AND

1% Bulgaria^ but their country has neither towns nor
villages of which none are to be met with fron»
thence- forward, neither to the Eaft, nor to the
North ; fo that the LeJJer Bulgaria is the laft coun-
ity in which there are any. From this land of
Pafcatir^ {Bafcharty or Bafcart)y came by the Jium^
who are now called Hungarians, and confequently
this is Great Bulgaria. It is reported of the Hum^
that they penetrated through the Pafs of Alexander
in the Caucafus, and mounted on their fwift horfes,
laid wade every country as far as Egypt, and on the
other fide as far as France. They were ftill more
powerful than the Modern Tartars (or Mogols),
and were oppofed by t\\& Blacs {IVlachs), Bulgarians^
and Vandals. For thefc Bulgarians 'came from Qreat
Bulgaria, and thofc beyond the Danube near Con-
ftantinople, as well as thofc near the Pafcatir, arc
the JlatSi which is the fame as Blacs ; for the Tar-r
tars cannot pronounce the B. Now from thefe are
defcended thofe who are in the country of JJ/an,
For they are both called Ilac [both thcfe and the
other) in the language of the Ruffians, Poles, an4
Bohemians. The language of the Sclavonians is the
fame with that of the Vandals. All the Sclavoni-
ans were connefled with the Huns, and now they
are alfo united with the Tartars. What I, viz,
Ruyjhroeck^ have related of the land of Pafcatir^ I
have learned from the monks Predicant, who went
thither before ever the Tartars came abroad ; and from
that time they were fubjugated by the neighbouring
Mahometan Bulgarians, and many of them became
Mahometans*. Having travelled on to the eaftward

from

• Tlii^ Important pafTage feettis not to nave been perfeflly well con\-
prchended by many people, nor made all the advantages of which it i^
capable of aiYoiding. As well the ancient .'nd piimitive Bulgarians^ as
al!b the Bofchnrtiaus, or Madfchars^ I'eem to be either a nation which
is delccnd<rd from a Turkifh tribe, but which having lived tor a long
time arnongH, or in ihe vicinity of the eaUein and northern Ruflian
tiibcF, which Ipeak the lunguage oT the Fiulandcrs, have in conlir-
tiTience thereof adopted much of the language of tl-.ole people,
or clfe they are entirely of Finnilh eMraftion ; ih;it is to lay,
they originate from the iatiic ptopit from whona the Finlmdtr.,
■ ■ ■ • ' E.fthuman-,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. lor

from Holy-rooJ day, or the 14th of September, to
Ali-faints day, or the ift of November, they found
that the people were already gone with their flocks to
the South ; they therefore diredc 1 their courfe to the
fouthward over fome mountains. In this journey they

BnhoaianSf Laplanders, Livonian*, Pcrrtiiflns, Srrjanians, Wofvols,
Wotiaks, Tfcheiemiflt'S, Morduanians, and the JCondiaa Oniaka
defcendf ts there ia a great «frimty between the languages of all
thefe people. The Balchartlans, Madfchars, or Bafchkirians, arc
defcended from the Finianders,' but thrfe, and the Tfchuwafches have
adopted the languages of their conquerors, the Tartars. But Ruyfbroeck
if certainly much millaken, when h^ make« the Hunt alfo proceed from
the fame i\ock. It mull be ownedi however, that tribes of very dif-
ferent and quite foreign nations went along with 4he Huns; even Goths,
Sclavonians, and Alanians; it is therefore not lo be wondered at, that
Ibme tribes of Finianders likewii'e, or even Turks, (liould have ad-
vanced with them in their grand predatory and deval^atory expeditions to
the weftern countries, as far as France and Italy. Of ihefe tribes it was
the Bulgarians (fo called, perhaps, after their capital Buljar, from
whith too afterwards, \\\e great river /itel, or £///, got the name of
fi^tlga)^ and ihe fValaths, or fVolochs^ or fVolegarSy or fVelgarty (and
conftquently thefe fame Bulgarians) which A. D. ^89, fettled on the
north fide of the Danube. The Fcndah mentioned here, are indubita-
bly the fVenJs, or that tribe of the Sclavooians which oppofed the Mo-
guls and the Tartars who fought under the banners of the latter. RujJ-
orofck fecms to confirm the conje^lurc, that the Bulgarian! and the
fVotogi, or ff^elecbi^ or IVlacs^ or //of J, are one and the fame people.
He fays; •' from Great Bulgaria come as well the Buigariam beyond,
'* the Danube, as alfo thofe near the PaJ'catir arc the /'ar, which, how-
** ever, is the fame as fi/df," (or in the manner in which the fl is f re-'
<|uehtly pronounced, fVUc). In fa£V, we (hould read here, *' thefe are
" the //af." The original runs thus, " de nllii enim Major! Bulgaria
*' venerunt Mli Bulgari; etqui funt ultra Danubium prope Conllantino-
** polin & juxta Pilcatir funt Ilac, quod idem eft quod Blac." Here it
i&ttM as if the article hi (hould be tupplied, and the paiTage (hould be
read " hi funt Ilac." But when Ruyjbrtntk fays, '* that the name of
*< thefe people in the RulHan, Polonian, and Bohemian tongues is //or/'
fie is much midaken, for in all thefe languages it mud be, ff^lack^ ot,
lFlech\ and even Nefl»r q%\\», t\\vm ff^eltchs. The land oi AJj'an is
Bulgaria on the Danube ; confequently, he means pnly to indicate, that
the Bulgarians who firft fettled on the Danube were PVtkgians. The
Bulgarians or fVohgians on the Danube, liad an criginal language of
their own, but having much intercourfe with Ihe Sclavetiians, Alban.anst
and Remans, this produced a jargon compounded uf Albanian, ficla"
vonian, and Latin, or of the lingua mjlicn, or language of the Romi(K
peafants; this mixed language is ftill ([^ok^ in IVa lack la. Before I end
this remark, I (>iall rnly add, that probably in Ceimany and France, th«
cultom of cadiating horfes was fiift learned fmm thefe eaftcrn nation*;
for in French, a callrated horle or gelding is called un hengn, probably
frpm the Hungarians ; the German name for it ii, ff'alhch, taktn, a
if (houjd fetm, from thofe fi'aU/.iant ; and ev^n in th« Po!i(h langua^p *
gelding is called a fP'tsltah.

met

102

V OYAGES AND

i I

met with wild alTes, called Kolan ♦, which refemblcJ
mules. At the end of fcvcn days, they faw fome very
high mountains at a diflance. Here they came into a
plain which was well watered, and found the land
cultivated. And foon after this they arrived at a town
called Kenkat, The guides could not even tell Ruyf-
broeck the name of the country. It was watered by
a large river proceeding from the mountains : this
river, however, did not difcharge itfelf into any fea,
but lofl itfelf in the ground, and produced large
marihes there. Here he faw vines growing, and pro-
cured wine to drink. 1'he next day they came to
another dwelling, nearer to that chain of mountains,
which beyond the Cafpian Sea, forms the Caucafus,
and runs on to the eaftward of it. He found here,
that they had entirely pafTed by the Cafpian Sea.
Here too, Ruyjbroeck enquired after a town called
Ta/asy in which lived fome Germans, fubjedls of
B.^ryy according to what he had heard from Friar An-
drew. But he obtained no information concerning
them till he arrived at the court of Mfinghu-Khan j,
and all he learned there was, that the tov» n calle 1 Tal<>^
lay about fix days journey farther in the mountair:'.
At the court of Manghu-Khan he was told, that the
Khariy with the confent of Batu^ had placed thefe.
people at the diflance of more than a month's journe/
to the Eafl, where they wrought in the gold mines,
and forged arms ; fo that he could not get to fee them. ,
It is true, in his road, he had got fo near, as to be
within three days journey of them, but he did not
know it, nor, indeed, if he had, would he have «
ventured to go fo far out of his road on this ac-
count f. From this laft place, they went to the

Eaftward

• The wild afles in thefe parts are ftill called Kuhn ; this therefore
is a confirmation of /f«);/J/-«fil's veracity. Farther particulars concern-
ing theVe wild afles are to be found in the ad vol. of M. Palias's North'
em Colle&iant^ [Nordifche Beitrage] page la, &c.

•f* It is evident, that the author went through the whol« defart, frAm
the fVelga lo the Jaik, or Ural, the Jenba^ and the nonh of Jake
44ral, as far as the boid«rt of Tiirketian. The town of Kinkat \%

about

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 103

Eaftward along the mountains before-mentioned, and
came to the fubjcdls of Manghu-Khan, who paid
great honours to the ambafladors of BatUy for Bntus
ipeople aflume more confcquence than the others, and
•do not obey fo willingly. A few days after, they
came into the mountains where the Kara-Kothaidns ♦
had formerly dwelled j here they met with a large
river, which they were obliged to crofs in a (hip.
They then dcfcended into a valley, in which they
found the ruins of a caflle, though the walls of it
were only of clay ; the country round about it was
cultivatccf. Thence they came to a good town, call-
ed Equiust the inhabitants fpoke the Pcrfian tongue\
and profcfled the Mahometan religion. The next
day, having croifed the high hills which communi-
cated with the great mountains to the fouthward,
they arrived on a large and very beautiful plain, on
the right of which was a ridge of high mountains^
and on the left a lake 15 days journey in circumfer-
ence. This country is watered at pleafuro by the
dreams coming from the mountains, which at lail
JHow altogether into this lake. When they returned
in the fummer, they went along the north fide of the
lake, vvhere there were alfo very high mourttairts. In
the above-mentioned plains there had formerly been
many toWns^ but they had almoft all been demolifhed^
that the Tartars (i. e. Moguls) might graze, theif
herds there j for about this fpot there are the fineft
paAures for cattle* They found a large town called

about the fpot where now Kafchknnat i« iltnit( d. The rivers Tfchui
snd lalat, both of vhich are in that neighbourhood, lofe themlelret
both in marrtiy lake*. The country thereabouts is fertile tnd pleai'ant ,
4nd it is not unlikely that there was formerly o" the river Taldt a town
of the fume name. In fa£l, there is to the callward, at this pret'ent
time, the town called Bslak, or Hitn/ai^ or Baulak, though not at fo
great diClance fronn thence as Ruyfbioectt had been informed it Was.
Thefe parts alfo protluce good wines.

• The weftern Khitans conquered the countries round Turfan and
Kaffhkar, frbhi the Ob and Irtijch to the Amudaria (Oxut Gihon,
Dlaihun) : znd Si rJtri a (Jaxarut^ Sirt, Sihon) and the country wa;.
called KhitAr^ after the conquerors of it; the Khitdians, and, becaufe
the inhabitants were obliged to pay tribute to the Khitaiant^ Kara-
Khitai i in the eafl, all fmall, iniigniiicant nations that pay tribute, be*
inp called /Cirfl, O'- black; while the free nations, on the contrary* aie
tfsllcd <white ; the Rufllan Czar, for inllauce, is by the people uf the
fifl ceiled the •wUti Caar.

Kailac

194

VOYAGES ANB

Kailac * {Cailacy or Cealec)^ where there wi?i a
market, or fair, to which a number of merchants
reforted. Here they waited a whole fortnight for a
fecretary of Batu*Sy who was to affift their guides in
the difpatch of Batu's affairs at the court of the
Khan. The whole of this country was wont
to be called Organuniy and they had a language,
as well as written charadlers, peculiar to them-
felves. But it was altogether occupied at this
time by the Kontomanni, The Ne/lorians, in their
divine worfhip, were accuftomed to make ufe of the
language and written characters of this ptople. Here
he likewife found theNeftorians mixed with the Hea-

* The whole of this country may be pointed out with the greateft
exaflnefs. For the large lea, or lake, mentioned by the authoi., is the
Balckafch Nor, or Paikafi, which, in the new large map of Ruflla*
publiflied in the year 1776, by the Academy of Sciences at Peterfburfh*
it and republiftied in Mr. Coxe's ul'eful and entertaining Account^ tht
Ruffian Difccveries^ is called Lac Tetigis, i. e. the Lake Sea ; for TetigeSf
or Zenghia, ligniBes a fea or lake-, and this lea it to large, that it ia
biirdly poflibleto travel round it in lefs thati i; days. It is about zl de«
grees long, and i-^ degree broad, and confequently about 480 miles ia
circumferance, which is at the rate of 31 miles per day ; and thefe are,
in fa£l, long days journeys, unlefs one has relays of horfes. Into this
lake leveral rivers difcharge themfelve':, but particularly rhe //r, not
far from which the Kalmuck Longarian Khans ufed to pitch their winter
camp (Urga) on the banks of the river Korgei (or Harkas) in like man-
ner as their I'ummer camp ufed to be on the banks of the 7ekts, which
ran weftwards into the lU. All thefe rivers come from the Mus-Taut
or the Icy-mountains, and run together with the Hi into the Palkaji,
By the town Equiut is meant the Akfu, fituated on the river Tekes,
The town of Kailak is alfo to be found in the' above-mentioned map,
being there called Golka, and placed on the banks of the ///. Th«
country called Organum, i% in my opinion, the Irgenekon (or Irgana-
itn) of Abulgaji BayaAur Khan, vol. ii, cap. 5, for it fignifies a valley,
furrounded by deep mountains, which exactly anfwers to Ruy{broeck\
defcription of the country of Organum. The Kontemanians are people
entirely unknown; neither can I any where find any traces of them.
We mufl therefore endeavour to feek them out. They were certainly
ft Mogul tribe ; for they were in the number of thofe particular fubjefis
of Maflghu Khan, who had difloriged the Kara-Kithaiann. The Mogu!»
h^d long before extended to a great diftaoce northwards along the bank%
of the OA, Irtifck, and Ifchim, quite to the ocean. The people of that
tribe, which lived on the banks of the river Khonda, or Kenta, were
vailed Kontomanni, in like manner as the Turks were called Turkomanni,
Now thefe Kontomanniant appear in the courfe of time, and after the
dcftruCtion of the empire of the KarO'Klitans, to have fettled on tli;;
banks of the river ///') and of the lake Kalcbifch, or Palkaft. This
river Khofida, or Konda, was afterwards added to the title of the Czar,
in which we find inlerted the provin-e of Ohdoria, a name derived fron»
the river 0^, ftodtbat of Kindinia, from thcA'«nt/a.

thens.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 105

thens, of whom there are different fpecies. But firft
are the "fugurs^ whofe cauntry is (ituated between the
mountains above-mentioned to the eaftward of Orga-
num. But in all the towns the Nejiorians live promifi
cuoufly amongft the Mahometans, and are fcattered
every w^ere up and down in the Mahometan towns as
far as Perlia. Thefe Nejiorians are Heathens, worship
idols, and have paternofters, or beadrolls with about
100, or 200 beads on each; the words in which they
pray, are, Ou Mam HaSfaui^ i. e. *' Ood^ thou knowejl
it^** as one of them explained it to Ruyfbrocck ♦•
They alfo believe that as often as they repeat this
prayer, fo often will God reward them. From thefe
people it is that the Tartars or Monks have got their
alphabet and mode of writing. They begin to write at
the top of their paper, on the left-hand fide, drawing
their line downwards, and fo go on repeating their
lines from the left to the right * *. Zirtghis Khan gave

his

• Thefe Ncftorian;!, who haJ feveral ufages anH cnftotns correfpond-
tng wiih Chrinianity, but were at the fame time idolaters axe undoubt-
edly profeflbrs of the Dalai-Lamai religioa. They have, like the Romoa
Catholic Chridians, loS beads, and their prayer is, (lri€lly fpeaking,
ms follows : HOnfMani-Pema-Hum. Thi« is, in fa6t, the profeflioa of
faith of tbe followers of this religion ; but neither figniiies, as Ruyftro*
eck afferts it does, GeJ^ thou knemeji ity nor, as the Phyfician M^Jfer"
fchmid fuppofed. Gad have mercy upon ui ; but the true and real import
of it is, " that the Beginning and End of the higher magic, of iMaa/,'*
who holds tlie flowers of the Lotus, who hears thofe who pray to him la
thefe words, is propitious to them, and renders them happy. Vid. ^f/-
phabet Tibet, p. 500, &c. M. Pallas pronounces thefe words thus, Om
ma loie pad ma (bum. But it ihould rather feem that the d in fad \n
mute, and alfo that we Ihould read, not ma taie^ but, ma ni, Thej
have rolls or cylinders, which they twirl round, for they turn on an
axis, and have a weight fixed to them for the purpofe of accelerating
lh« motion, and they believe, that all the prayers contained on thof«
rolls, arc virtually, and to all intents and purpofes, pronounced at eactt
turn of the roll; and all the time they are twirling them, they
continually repeat. Htm mani pema hum. It is pnflible, that the religioa
of Dalai Lama may partake fomewhat of the Nellorian fyftem of Chrif-
tianity ; but in iiSX it is a branch of tbe Brahminic and Sctamanic fu-
perfti^ions ; and hat alfo for its founc. tion the AJanichtraH do£Vrine of
the two principles. Now Manes having attempted to incorporate thi»
doAriae of the two principles with the ChriRian religion, it is no won-
der, that in many points, the religion of the Manichtean Chriftians ac-
«ords with that of Lamai.

•* The Neftorian Chriftians undoubtedly penetrated as far a» the
n«rtU of China, and prop^gait*! the CUriftian rel-gi«a thcie. They

made

io6

VOYAGES ANA

.r '

rir

m
m

' ;

his daughter to the king of the Jugurs, and the town
of Karakarutn * itfelf is in a manner within their ter-
ritory ; and the whole country of Prejier John, ** and
of his brother Vut, lies round about their dominions.
The Moals (Moguls) live in the plain paftures to
the North, but the Jugurs in the mountains to the
.South. Between the fame mountains, to the Eaft.of
the Jugurs are the Tangutians. Thefe are a brave, in-
trepid nation, and once took ^inghis Klhan, but re-
leafed him again. They have exceedingly ftrong oxen,
the tails of which are bufliy like thok of horfes, and
which have alfo long hair along their backs and under
the bellies ; their legs are fhorter, but they are much
fiercer than other oxen ; they draw the large houfes of
the Moguls, and have long, taper, and Iharp hornSj

^lacie.ufe of ttie Syrian c(tara6ler in Wr'ting, an^ it iiirai this likewifti
vhich was fiift introducfd into thefe conntries. The charafttrs anJ
mode of wriiingof the Calmucis, Moguhy and Manjchutians^ are taken
from the Vigurian, and theie again fiom the Syrian. The Syrians alfo
nill continue to this day to write exadly as the Calmucks do. viz. the/
hegin at the top, and draw a line down to the bottom, with vihich line
the letters are in conta£^ from the top down to the bottom of it ) a.id lu
they continue to write one line afttr the other, at each line going far-
ther on to the right, and carrying their writing from tie lop to the bot-
tom ; mt in reading, the Moguls and Calmuck^ in like manner a»
the Syrians, turn the hif fidcways, and read from the right to the
left. Thifc I have feen iryfelf. during my flay in the great defert plain
beyond the Wo'ga, where I was intimately ac(|uainted with a great num-
ber of Calmucks, and enquired minutely into every particular relative
to their religioa and learning, their inaoncrs, their governments, and
their Princes.

* This fame Karakarum is alfo called Karoiarutn^ Karakurtn^ Ka-
rakum ; and by the Chincfe HcUn. It was the capital of the Moi^ui
Emiieiors, and was fituatcd on the eaft fide of the river, Orcbou ; for,
notwlthftanding that Danville places this town on the Ongui Muren, yet
Ftjcher''s determination upon this point, in hie InlrtJuSlian to tkt Hijlarf
»f Siberia^ ^ i8, feems to me to be more juft.

** Prefer John (or Priefler Johann, as the Germans call him) is
the Unkchan^ a word which has been ftrangely perverted' and twilled,
in order to make it form the name of Johann or John. He was Prince
ot'ihc Naymanniy and his name was Togrul \ having ferved the Chinefe
a'^ainll nati .ns which had rebelled againll them, he was dignified wiih
tiie honorary title of Uangy or f/n^, out of which wai foon fabricated
the appellation of Uncchariy or Unkchan. But how it comes to paf.,
thai he is called a Chrinian, and even a ChriAian Priell, feems almoft
iBOompieheiiftblc,

which

Discoveries m thi north. 107

>vhich the owners of the beafis are obliged to faw 6fF*#
After the Tangutians come the people of Tebet, v^o
ufed to eat thieir dead parents ; but they have left off
this cuftom, on account of their being held in univerial
deteftation for itj neverthelefs^ they ftill make large
drinking veffels of the IkuUs of their parents. There
is much gold in this country. Thcfe people arc very
ugly^; but the Jugurs are of a middle fize like us.
The language ot the Jugurs is the root and fource of
the Turkiih and Komanian languages. Behind Tehet
are the people of Langa and Solanga *♦, whofe ambaf-*
iadors Kuy{broeck faw at court, each of whom had
brought along with him more th'n ten waggons drawn
by fix oxen. Behind thefe, are the people -called Mucj
Avho dwell in towns, and whofe cattle are h tame, that
riiey come entirely of their own accord when called,
and allow themfelves to be handled at pleafurc, though
they ri'n about wild. Then comes Great Kathaya^
the inhabitants of which, according to Ruyjbroeck^ are
the Ser^s of old, for from this country come the beft
filken fluffs, (Serica). The Seres zre {o called, from a
town in that region, and in this country is a town
which has walls of filver and ramparts or towers

* The Buffalo, here defcribed ty Ruyfbroeck, is the Colmack Buf-
falo, which ui'ed to be called Sarluci^ and, in the language of Tiiet^
Jak. Since /ielian^s lime, no one of the ancients, befiues Ruyfl>roeck,
has given a defcription cf thcfe Buifaloei with long-haired coats and
thick tails, which latter are ufed in the Indies as Ry-flaps. Aftervrard*
thefe animals were feen by Marco Poloy and now lately by BagUy an
EnglifluTian, in this very country of Tibet. Vid. Philojophital ttn^
1777, Part ii. vcl. 67, pmg, 484. Finally, the beft account we iia\»
of tliem, has been given by Pallas^ in hiii Nonhern GvileBiens^ vol. i.
pag. I. to z8> plate i.

** The Country and people of Tangut are by fome authors, particu-
larly the Arabians and Perfians, miOaken for Tihet the feat of Dalai
Lama ; but Marco Polo fays, th.it Sachictt, or Soijcheu^ is fituated in
Taguth, or Tengutb ; in like manner, Kkamil, or Khami, belonged alf<»
to Tanguth ; and fo did Kampitton^ or Kf-anlJ'cheu. it appears proba-
ble, therefore, that the Tanguth of Ruyibroeck is the lame with this.
The land oiTtbtt is duubtleis the modern T/ir/, or, as it ftiould in ftiitit

f>ropriety be called, Bulau. But of the countries of Langa and ScIaagA.
ying beyond Tebety i have not the fmalleft knowledge, but am apt t<»
think that in RuyfbroeckU original manufcript the words were n»)i
♦' beyond Ti-Af/," but " bcycnd Tanttut i" and in this cafe the coun-
tries here meniioned muO be tliofe of the Lamulti^ and Solemamt, the
parent (locks of the p«o[))e now known by the name of the Manijl/.m, •
0r Mmndfihuriant.

toS

VOYAGES AN»

of gold ♦. And many provinces of Great Katbay arc
not as yet brought into fubjedlion by the Mogols.
Between the great fea and them lies India. The Ka-
thayans are of a low ftature, and (peak through the
nofe, and, like all the eaftern nations, have fmall eyesi
They perform works of great art and ingenuity, and
have ikilful phyficians, who judge of difeafes by the
pulfe. Ruyftroeck faw many of them at Karakarum*
Each father teaches his fon his own trade. The
Neftorians ahd Mahometans are alfo in Kathay, and
are looked upon as foreigners, come Arorn foreign
parts. The . Neftorians inhabit fifteen towns of the
country of Kathay. Their Bifhop refides in the city
of Segin **. Here Ruyjbroeck takes an opportunity

• The fuppofition that the Katlayans^ or Inhabitants of north China,
•re the fame with the Seres of the ancients. Teems to be without foun«
tfetion. The Seres lived in '^turkeftan^ Celt, and Uigur. They were
the people, who at that time ruled over a great tra£l of Afia, and pro-
bably hud alio extended their dominion over the northern part of
China. The nation that bore the fway had always the denomination of
Golden given to it. Hence the golden horde of the Moguls on the
Wolga :, and hence the powerful Prince to whom the Moguls were fub-
jcft, even befoic Zinghis Khan, was called jiltyn Khan^ cr the Golderi
Khan. Hence, tooj the Chinefe call themlelves Kiny i. e. the Goldca
or Sovereign Nation. In the language of Tibet, Scr means gold. Vid.
^nt. Geer^ti Jl^iatet. Tibet. Roma, fjfiz. pag. 654. And hence per-
haps Set kind was called the Golden India. The Seres were confe-
quently at that time the ibvereign, dominating, or golden reople.
Their capital bore the fame name, according to Ruyfbrocck ; p.-bably
this ^flW^B town is that part oi Peking which is called Tjekitty and
contains the palace of the Emperor; and, as fabulous a found as thefe
wall* of filver and ramparts of gold may earry with them, it ib nevcr-
rhelefs evident enough, that it is the appellation of A'/'n, or the Golden-
Town, which hus given rife to thefe exaggerated repot ts of the fable.

Non ejl de nihiliy qu:d puhlica fatna fufutfatj
£1 fertcm vtri fabula Jtmper hahtt.

•♦ This town of Segin is undoubtedly Sigaw, the capital of SdenJ^^^
n province in the nonh-caftctn part of Chin*. Here, in the year i6i5,
% ftone was found with Chinele writing on it, but with S)rlan Uticr.i
round the «dge, which mentioned, in txprei's terms, that the Syrian
INedorians had already, in the year 636, fent Olopuen to China, to pi each
the gofpel ihere \ that the Emperor, Tai-J'um-ven, had approved of this
fiep, and had ilTued an edIO, ordering that it (hould be preached all
over China } that in the royal town of liiitifati, a church had been built ;
that A. D. 651. th« Cbii/Uaa religion AiKas known in all the provinces of

China J-"

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH, fo^

of relating miiny things concerning the Neftonaii
piiefts, their bigamy, ignorance, avarice, fimony,
drunkennefs, &c. i'o that the morals and condudl of
the Moguls and Tuinians*, though they are idolaters,
ajc far more regular and exemplary than ihofe
found amongft thefe Chriftians,

Having quitted the town of Kailac^ they came
the third day after to the great fea or lake, which
jippeared to be as boifterous as the ocean itfelf j in
the middle of it was a large ifland. The water
was rather brackifli, though potable. On the other
fide, between high mountains, was a large valley^
and to the South-eaft another great lake or • fea,
connected with the firft by ^ fiver **. The win^
all the time was very violent, infomuch that they
were in danger of being blown into the fea. At the
farther end of the yaV; there are feen, to the north-
ward, mountains ^uite covered with fnow. Hav«
jng gone through thefe mountains, and through a
dreadful pafs, betw.3en rocks, they at lall canie (o
the country of the Naymans, who had formerly been
fubje£t to Prefter John. They continued their fo«te ta

•Thina ; th^t in 6$^ and 713 the Bonz.es had ra!<ed a perfetatwn tgttn%
the Chiiflians; that A. I). 747 another prieft, named Kicpt, went thi»
ilier Irom Taifin (Pcriia) and that in 7^7, the Emperor ^»-lum-'ven-mti^
had I uilt more churches, and his fucctn'ors had continued to proted the
Chrillian religion, and that in commemoration of all thefe event*, thia
(!v;[;e had been eredtrd A. D. 782, in the feCond ye^r if i|ie reign of the
Kaiptror T^jw, in the time of the Patriarch cr Catholifigs HaHa^jefw:.
Thii* (Iwne exhihits alfo an abltia>i\ of the wh/lc Chrillian dcf^rine The
]<eri['>n that erected thii> tlone Dyles himfclf a Choir-B<ihop of Kumdau
(Nankin) the cipit.dofthe eai^cm eiiijjire. It is probable, th»^ there
rciicki! iiktwile a Uilhop at ^n^an fu \ lo that the account given h^re by
P-uyftroeck, cveiy way eHs'ali(hes and conf.^mj the authenticity of thit
icinaikable monument, which has been called in quellion by maijy evo!
oi i>ur inouein literati,

. * The Oriental Chriltians give to Mani, or Mnnet^ ihe name oiTht'
naoui^ and to his feci that oi ytl-Thena-jUih, "'hich word flgnifies the doc-
tii'ic of the two Piincijilcs. Vid. H:rbeln. Biblhtheque Orientule. The
'Tuinians of Ruyfbrocck are therefore no oth^r than Mamchsani.

** The above-mentioned fecund fea, or lake, fituattd to the fouth-
eift of the lake PaUaJi, or BaUhaJih^ is likewife to be found in-tlin
Kieat ginival niaiiofthc Kuilian empire, pub!i(l»cd by the AcaJcmy oK
Sciences in 1776; together with another lake; of ihtfe, the ftcond am',
(bird lakes are joined to ea^h other by rneane of a river, »nd it is pm
likle that the fecond and H:[f alfo, agreeably to what Kuy/bfytck biIm«
abjyc, may be united in the fame manqer.

'110

" J

V O Y A G E S Aiftt

the North, and after travelling fome time, entered 4
large plain, which at a diilance looked lilce a fea,
for there were neither hills nor mountains to be feen,
and the next day they came to the court of the
great Khan *. But the trad^ of country which they
had now palled over in five days, would, had they
been guided by their landlord, have taken them up a
whole fortnight, for he had propofed to take them
round about by Onam and Cherule **, the firft diftrids
in the poffeflion of Zinghis-Khan \ but their conduc-
tor prevented this fcheme being put ifi execution.

Manghu Khan, followed by his camp, went twice
to the fouthward, and afterwards began to turn back
again to the northward, that is to fay, to Karako'
rum* From this f:rfl; camp of the Khan, to Kathay^
it is about twenty days journey to the fouth-weft,
and frorn thence directly Eafl^, is the real country
of the Mog;i!3, where (at the diftance of about ten
days journey) Zingis Khan's court-camp, or head-
quarters, ufed to be, viz. in O^i^nand Cherule, or on
the banks of the Onon and Cher Ion. In thefe countries
there are no towns. Towards the North too, there
are neither towns nor villages, but only poor fliepherds
called Kerkis (or Kirgifes). There are alfo the Orangey
or Orengay, who wear fmall fmooth bones on their
feet, on which they run with fuch fwiftnefs over the
ice and fnow, that they can even overtake the game;
they are in purfuit of. There are in the North yet
more nations, who are poor and of Ao account, an4
who live in ancient Hungary, as far as to the Paf"
tatirs,

** The refiiencc of the Great Klun was not far from Karakarum^
and M Danville places it on the river On^hin. But we have already
•bfcrvtd, thai A'j;<»/^jr«m muft be looked for on the eall fide of the
iiver Orevcn, at ihe entraiKe o?' 3 l.ngj plain, which at prtfent feparates
the R\uT)an icrriinrje? from iWe of tlie Chinefe within the great wall,
(In the hanks of the Oichcn are the ruins of a place called ErJeni-tfckao,
Thrs fignifics the icble i^ix^, and proLabiy the word Balga^ or Ba/guJ/nn^
is for brevity's lake oiuiiiid. This tcWM ef the ntble Ktn» is Ka-
ratorum.

*•* TheHe countries of Onam and Chfrulr, are the counties lying
«i<>ng ft 'e of the rivers OniH and Kkcrhn, where Zinghii Khan was born,
jutci which were the firil ever T.hich ht bort the fovercign fway.

Ruyfbrocck

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. «r

Ruylbrocck having now had fcvcral audiences of
the Emperor, and having been there for many months,
was at laft difmiired v^ith handfome prefents. He wait
two months and fix days travelling from Karahrum
to the Wolga, where hentetvirith Batu\ with him he
travelled about for the fpace of a month. At lail, in
the middle of Odlober, they began to go to the fouth-
ward along the Wolga to Sarey j here the Wolga di-
vides into three difFerent branches, each of which is
twice as wide as the river Nile is near Damiatt.
Lower down, the river divides into four other fmailer
branches. On the banks of the middle one, is the
tov/n of Sum/rient*y which has no walls, and when-
ever the river overflows, is entirely furroundcd with
water like an ifland. The Tartars had befieged
this place, which is inhabited by Alanians and Ma-
hometans, for eight years, before they could take it.
The Tartars never went farther to the fouthward
than. this place in winter. In thefc parts there is
pailure, herbage, and cattle in abundance, and a
great quantity of reeds, in which the Tartars hide
thcmfelves in winter till the ice thaws again.

After this Ruyfbroeck travelled through the above-
mentioned uncultivated defart, in which fometimes
there was no water to be met with till he came to the
mountains inhabited by the Alanians, who make head
againft the Tartars. It is on this account that the
Tartars are obliged to fend every tenth man hither,
under the con)mand oi Sartag^ in order to check the de-
predations of thefe people. At the end of the plain'
which lies between the Moguls and thefe Alanians,
is the pafs called the Iron-Gate. This part of the

* The town of Sarey iVfms to hive been built not Tar from the mode 'n
Ziritz.in, on the eaftern brar.ch of the Wolga, or the Achtuha^ it no great
dlftance from Zarfwfcd, where many traces arc ftill to be met with of
the former exirtence of a lirge town But the t')\vn oi Sumcrkeni h *.
place entirely unknown. Neverthelefs it fecms as if the fpoi v^hcre ths
town had been, and where tht Woiga beg'ns to divide info feveral
branches, was not far from /^flrachan (which lormerly tvab called Uaiilchi
Anlur Khan); for there are alfo on both fiiles. of the Wolga ruins ot fome
towns exiting, which ruins have been chiefly ufed for the purpofe of mak-
ing raitp;t:e.

country

tis

VOYAGjES Ati9

country is inhabited hy Mahometan*, <:allcd tej^hu
who alfo defend themfelves againft the Tartars. The
Tartars, who efcorted Ruylbroeck, wore breaft-pUtes
and curiafTcs, which they had taken from the Ala-*
nians in war*; thefe people excelling greatly in all
kinds of iron-work. Near the Iron-gate is a fortifi-
cation taken from thefe Alanians : here they already
found vines, and got wine to drink. The next day
they reached Derbend^ or the Iron Gate. The town
occupies the whole plain lying between the Cafpian
fea and the high mountains. Its length from the
mountains to the fea is half an hour's, walk, but the
breadth only about a ftone's throw. At the higheft
part of ii there is a ftrong caftle. After two days jour-
ney, they met with another town called Samaron
(Scbabran^ Schabiran) in which lived a great number
of Jews. Two days after this they came to Samacb
(SchatMkie), Here a level champain opened to their
view, called Moan (or Mahan^ and at prefent Mok"
ian). Through this runs the river Kur^ whence the
Kurgtans (or Georgians) whofe capital is Ttphlis, take
their name. -In this fame campaign runs likewife the
river Araxesy whic|i, coming out of Armenia Major,
takes its courfe to the fouth-weilward, in this beauti->
fUl plain, to the weftward of which lies Georgia^ lived
formerly the Krofmiam^ or Korajtnians \ (thefe arc
the anceilorsof the prefent Turks, who laid the foun-
dation of the 0/w<?ww» empire). At the entrance of
the mountains is the town of Ganghe, which was
their capital. As they went upwards along the
Araxes, they were afterwards condudled to Naxunt
(or Nakcbroan). After this Ruyfbroeck went into the
dominions of the Turkiih Sultans, and travelled
through Sebae (or Siwas) Cefarea^ in Capadocia, and
Iconium. From thence he reached Kurck (or Kvrke) a
haven in the King of Armenia's dominions ; then
Layece (or El-Agns) ano'ther harbour, from whence
he croffed over to Nikofm^ in the inland of Cyprus;
from thence he went to Ant'mhia, in Syria, and a?
laft to Tripoli \ from which place he fent an account
cf his whol? journey in writin^j, tp Lewis, King of
F:aBce.

V, Haitkot

II.

the

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 113

V. HaithOf or HaitOi was th; fon of Livon or Leort
II. nephew of Haithol. king of Armenia Minor. At
the deceafe of his father he would not accept of the
crown, bat left the empire to his brother 7'hores, or
Theodor\ and after having in all the troubles and
wars in which they were involved, aflifted his royal
relations in a<Stion as well as in council, he took, at
Epifcopia in Cyprus, the order of the Praemonftra-
tenfian Monks, A. D. 1305, during t.he reign of his
nephew Leon III. Subfequent to tl l^e went to PoitoU
in France, and diftated in French to Nicholas Salconi
the hiftory of the events that had pafled in the Eaft,
fmce the Moguls firft made their appearance : this ac-
count Salconi, by order of the Pope, tranflated into
Latin, A. D. 1307. His hiftory conAlls, i. in what
wrhten information he could find relative to the hif-
tory of the Tartars j this narrative reaches from
ZJnghis Khan, down to Mangu Khan. 2. In the re-
latiort of fuch incidents and events as had either hap-
pened to Haitho I. king of Armenia himfelf, or which
had come within the fphere of his own knowledge.
He having even been, in the year 1254, together
with his wife and child, at the court or head-quar-
ters of Mangu-Khan, at which time he met with Ruyf-
broecjc, who was then on his return home^ and had
fome fconverfation with him* Thefe fads Haitho re-
lated to >his children, and grand-children, and ordered
them to be taken down in writing. 3. The Monk
Haitho knew from his own proper experience all that
had happened in Afia (ince the reign of Ahaka Khan,
{ox rather Abaga Khan) from the year 1265 to 1283,
and might juftly have faid, quorum pars magna fui.

Haitho's Oriental Hiftory contains, befides the hif-*
torical part, a geographical one likewife, of which I
fhall briefly mention thofe particulars only which re-
late to the northern parts of Afia.

The Empire of Kathay is one of the moft exten-
five, opulent, and populous empires of the univcrfe j it
is entirely fituated along the fea coaft. The inhabi-
tants believe themfelves to be the only people on earth
tliat have two eyes i to the Latins thev allow one, and

1 ' to

114

VOYAGES AND

to all other nations none at all ; they have fmall eyes
and no beards. Their money confifts of fquare pieces
of paper, ftamped with the king's feal. To the Weft
this Empire is bounded by the Empire of TarftSy to
the North by the defart of Belgian^ and to the South
are innumerable iflands in the fea. They are flcilled
in works of ingenuity and art, but are very timorous.
From thefe traits one immediately recognizes the Em**
pire of China.

The Empire of Tarfa has three provinces, the fo-
vereign rulers of which call themfelves kings } the in-
habitants are called Jogur, (J^g^^'i Uigur), Ten tribes
of them are Chriftians, the reft are Heathens. They
abftain from meat and wine, and eat nothing that has
ever had life in it. They raife a great quantity of
corn, but no wine. Their towns are very pleafant,
and contain a great number of temples in which idols
are worftiipped. They are not inclined to war, have
their own peculiar manner of writing, which, indeed,
is adopted by all the neighbouring nations, and they
learn all arts and fciences with great facility.

To the Eaft this Empire is bounded by Kathayy to
the Weft by Turkejian^ to the North by a certain defart,
and to the South by a very rich province fituated be-
tween India znd Kathayt called Sym (or rather Peim)^
and in which diamonds are to be found. — By what is
here faid, it appears that Haitho is defcribing in this
place the country of Uigur ^ in conjundtion with that
of Gete \ but how it comes to be called Tarfts, I really
do not know.

The Empire of Turkejian is bounded on the Eaft
by the Empire of Tarfa,, and to the Weft by Khoraf-
min ; to the South it extends as far as to the defart
which lies juft in the front of India. There are but
few good towns in it ; the large plains afford good
pafturage for the cattle, confequently the inhabitants
are almoft all of them graziers and fhepherds, and
their dwelling is in tents and huts which are capable
of being tranlported at pleafure. Their capital is Ocerra
(or Otrar), The inhabitants raife but a fmall quantity of

corn.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 115

torUf and no wine ; their drink is beer and milk, and
their food rice, millet, and meat. They are known
by the name of Turks, are of the Mahometan re-
ligion, and fuch of them as live in the towns, make
u^ of the Arabian letters.

The Empire of Khorafmin (or Khuarejm) is popu-
lous, fertile, and pleafant j in it they raife a great quan-
tity of corn, but little wine j it contains many good
and ftrong towns j the capital of it is Korafma (or ra-
ther Korkang), This Empire borders on a defart of
a hundrisd days journey in extent ; to the W^ft is the
Cafpian fea ; to the North the Empire of Ku/nania ; to
the South (here we fhould read Eaft), the Empire of
Turkejian* The inhabitants are Heathens without either
letters or laws. The Soldinians (or Sogdidns) are the
moft intrepid of warrriors, have a peculiar language of
their own, ufe the Greek characters in writing, fol-
low the ufages and rites of the Greek Church, and arc
fubjcdl to the Patriarch of Antioch;

The capital of the empire of Khuarefm, is, ac-
cording to the Prince Ulug Beg, the city of Korkangy
neither has any author ever mentioned a place called
Khorafme* Haitho having faid before, that Turke/ian
was bounded on the welt by Khorafmia, it is clear,
that here we muft read eaji inftead oi fouth. The
Soldini, mentioned above, who were Chriftians of the
Greek Church, are entirely unknown.

The empire of Kumania is undoubtedly of vaft extent,
but, on account of the inclemency of the climate, thinly
inhabited. In winter the cold is fo intenfe in fome
parts, that neither man nor Dealt can remain there ;
and in others, the "^ extreme heats and fwarms of flies
in fummer are equally infupportable. Kumania is
quite level and flat, and without any wood, except
fome orchards near the 1 >wns. The inhabitants live
in tents, and their fuel is the dung of their cattle.
It is bounded on the eaft: towards Korafm'ia by a de-
fart ; to the weft is the great fea, viz. the Black
Sea, and the fea of Tcnue {Tanna, or Jzof) ; to the
north, jt is bounded by tJK empire of Knjf:a (Kiozv) ;

I 2 and

)i6

VOYAGES Avo

and to the fouth it extends to a large river callei^
£tilt (i. e. the jyolga) which partes by the capita!
Thi» river is frozen over every year, and men and
beafls walk on it as on dry land ; along the banks
of this river there are fmall trees ; on the other fide
of the river there are people, who, though they are
not Kumanians* yet are *fubje(Sl to the Khan. Some
live alfo towards the high mountains Cocas (i.e. Cau-
cafus). In the mountains are white kites. This range
of mountains runs between the two feas ; to the weft
is the great (i. e. the Black) Sea } and to the eaft,
the Cafpiah Sea, which has no connection with the
ocean^ but is like a lake, though it is called a fea
on account of its fize, it being the largeft lake in the
univerfe. It divides Afia into two parts ; that part
towards the eaft is called Lower Afia^ and the weftera
part, Qreai Afia: this lake contains a great quantity
of good fifh. In the Cafpian mountains there are
found buffiJoes, and many other wild beads. In this
Tea- there are alfo many iflands on which the birds
build their nefts, and particularly the falcon, commonly
known by the name of Pegrim (Faucon Peierhi, the
Pilgrim-Falcon) and Efmetliones (or EfmerUoneSy Merlins)
and Bonfacci (or the Bondree and Sacre^ the Honey
Buzzard, and the Sacre) and many other birds not
to be found in any other part of the world. The
largeft town of the empire of Cumania, is Sara (or
Saray). This town was large and of great renown;
but it has been ravaged and almoft entirely deftroyed
by the Tartars, who took it by ftorm» It is obvious y
that Haitho defcribes here that part of the empire
of the Moguls, which was fubje6t to Batu Khan,
The Black-Sea he calls the Great Sea, becaufe it is
connected with the Mediterranean and the ocean ;
and the lea de Tenue, is the fea oiTanna^ or of Azof^ for
fo the town at the end of the Don was called at diiterent
times. The empire of Kaffia cannot well be fuppofed to
be any other place than Kiow^ or Kiavioi the capital of
the Ruffian empire and refidencc of the Grand Duke.

The

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 117

The reading, too, which we have propofcd with re-
fpedl to the names of the birds, is probably the bcft.

As worthy of notice as arc the particulars above-
mentioned, which are the contents of the firft five
Chapters, the fixtcenth Chapter is no leis I'oy on ac-
count of fome geographical information it contains
refpeiSling the ancient feats of the Tartars (i. e. the
Moguls).

Beyond the large mountain of Belgian, or Bilkhatiy
the Tartars lived at firft, without religion and with-
out the ufe of letters. Their chief occupation con-
fided in tending their flocks ; and fo far were they
from being of a warlike difpofition, that they readily
paid tribute to any one that demanded it. All the
tribes of the Tartar race were known by the name of
Mogies. They increafed to that degree, as to com-
pofe feven capital independent nations. The firft was
called Tatar, after a province of the fame name, in
which they at firft had lived ; the fecond was called
Tangot (i. e. Tangut); the third, Kuntit \ the fourth,
Jalair (or Tholair) ; the fifth, Sonich ; the fixth,
Monghii and .he feventh, Tabeth. The Chiefs of
thefe nations, prorppted by a vifion, and by a com«
mand from God, had chofen Changie (i. e. Zinghis)
for their fovereign Lord and Ruler. After this we are
told, how he came through the mountains, when the
fea withdrew nine feet, and made a way for him where
there was none before. This feems to be the fame
hiftory with that of Irgone Kon, which is alfo related
by Abulgaji, The mountain Belgian, can hardly be
looked for anywhere elfe than in the environs of lake
Balchas in the country of Organum, or Irganekon,
According to the Nighiarijian, a colleftion of Orien-
tal Hiftory, the Turkotnanni likewife came from a
place called Belgian, or Bilihan.

VI. Marco Polo, a noble Venetian, whofe father,
Nicolo Polo, had before been in the eaft with his bro-
ther Mattheo Polo, on commercial affairs, in 1260,
and had returned with him in 1269, was by his fa-
ther taken alpng with them on this voyage A. D.
1271, when he was but 11 years old. Marco learned
iJt the court of Kublai Khan to fpeak and write four

languages

VOYAGES AND

languages wh'ch were in ufe in the country; and the
Emperor made ufe of him in weighty matters, and
on embaiTies in which it took htm up a journey of fix
months to reach the place of his deftination. He wa$
in the fery'ice of the Emperor 17 years, and at laft,
V/ith his father at.d uncle, returned in the year 12959
fafe to Yenice. It is prefumed he wrote his remarks
in Latin, and in prifrn, as on his return he was taken
prifor T by the Genuefe, who were at that time at
war v/ith the Venetians. He was a man of grea(
fenfc, probity, and piety, whofe domeftics unani-
moufly gave him a good character, and confcquently
his narrative is every way deferving of our confidence.
His father, Nicolo^ who was the honefteft man in the
whole country, conftantly certified the truth of the
narrative contained in his fon's book ; and his uncle
MauheOy who was a piou? as well as very wife man,
fiven on his death-bed told his Confeflbr, that thefe
ireiations were true in every refpeft. A Monk tran-
(lated his book into the Italian language, and from
the Italian it was again tranflated by another JVIonk
into Latin. Thefe multiplied tranflations are the
raufe of the names of the countries and towns appear-
ing fo much disfigured as they do. |t is therefore to
be wifted, that fome man of great erudition would
compare thefe various tranflations with the manu-
fcript to be found in the library of Wolfenbuttcl,
and publifh a new and correct edition of this ufcful
book, which is of the greateft importance with refpedt
to the geography of the middle ages. This book has
moreover been tranflated into a great many modern
languages, e, g. into German, French, Dutch, and
Portuguefe *. We fhall extradl from it fome very
ihort obfervations only relative to tac north.

A. D. 1260, the two brothers having embarki:d at
Venice, with a cargo confiding of a great many va-
luable articles of commerce, went by the way of the

• There was llkewife a trandation publidird in Tnglini, in 1579, un-
der the title oif The moji nabte and famous Travels cj Aiunus ia-im,
|/>ndon, 6vo.

Mcdi-

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 1x9

Mediterranean, and To through the Dardanelles to
Conftantinople. After a ftay of a few days, they
failed acrofs the great fea. Mar Magghre (i. e. the
Black-Sea) to a harbour called Soldadia (or Sudak),
From whence they went by land to the refidence of a
great Tartarian Lord, named Barcha (properly Bereke
Kban, who reigned from 1256 to 1266) who lived
in the towns of Bolgara and AJfara*, He received
them very kindly, and they made him confiderable
prefents in jewels, for which he made them returns
by other prefents of double the value. Having re-
mained there for the fpace of a year, they were de-
firous of returning to Venice ; but a war breaking
out fuddenly between Alau {Holaghu^ probably the
Iranian, or Perfian Khan, Holaghu Khan, to whom
the whole of Perfia belonged quite to Syria) and
Barcha i the armies approached each other, and the
battle turned out in favour of Holaghu, The roads
were now unfafe j fo that they could not return by
the fame road as they came, and they were advifed to
travel by a large circuit round about the Empire of
Berekekhan ; following this counfel they came to a
town called Ukakah (alias Guthakha, Grikhata, Khor'
iangy Urghen%)y and a little farther on they crofled
the Tigris (or Gihon), one of the four rivers of Pa-
radife j after this they travelled for the fpace of fcven-
teen days in a defart, in which they faw neither town,
caftle, nor village, but only a few Tartars living in
huts. Having left the defart, they came to a very
good town called Bokhara (Bochara), in the province
of Bokhara in Perfia, the fovereign of which was
called Barach j (Berrak Khan). Here they ftayed for
three whole years, being unable to advance any far-
ther on account of the great war that fubfifted be-
tween the Tartars. At this time there came from

* Bolgara is without doubt Bolgari^ ihe capital of Bulgaria, t Jown,
which according to monuments (li II extant, a£lu.illy exillcd from 1161 to
1578, and was inhabited; io that it is very poflible, th»t Bereif Kban
may have fometimes refided there. But ^JJsra is the town of Al-Stray^
which was ne\v buHt by Baatn Khan oq the /Idulia^ a bianch of the

Holaghu

120

VOYAGES AND

Holaghu to Bokhara f a man of great talents and un<«
derftanding, who was going as ambaflador to the great
Kublai-Khan* Meeting with thefe brothers, who had
now become well acquainted with the Tartarian
tongue, and having converfed with them for many
days, he; perfuaded them to take a trip with him to
the great king of Tartary, and promifed them great
honors and advantages. They, on their parts, being
perfeftly aware that it was impoffible for them to re-
turn home without imminent danger, went along with
the anibafTador, together with a number of Chriftian
fervants which they had brought with them from Ve-
nice, ftiaping their qourfe at hrft towards the N'^rth-
eaft. it being winter, they were a whole year on the
road, and they were often obliged to wait on account
of the fnow, or of the waters having overflowed the
roads, till the fnow was melted, and the waters had
retired. At length they arrived at the refidence of the
great Khan Kullai, who gave orders for them to be
brought before him, received them very gracioufly,
and treated them with great di{lin6tion i he alfo in-
terrogated them much concerning the Roman Em-
peror, the K'ngs and Princes of Europe, their differ-
ent governments, their military force, their jurifpru-
dence, the manners and cuftoms of the different na-
tions, their religion, and finally, concerning the
Pope ; to all which queries they made proper and
fuitable replies. After fome time, Kublai- Khan czWed
them before him, and told them, tjiat he would fend
ihem as ambaffadors to the Pope at Rome, with let-
ters to defire his holinefs to let him have ipo wife and
judicious men,, well (killed in the Chriftian doftrinc.
He ordered a man of diftinflion, named Chogatal
(Gcgaka^ Gcgataly Cogatal) to accompany them, and
gave them thefe letters, as alfo a golden table, on
which the imperial feal was engraved, and in virtu?
of which, the bearer or bearers thereof are intitled
(free of all expence) to relay horfes, provifions, con-
voy, and any thing elfe they may defire or Ihnd ir^
need of. " '

Having

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. iii

Having travelled on for the fpace of twenty days,
the zmbzttkdot Chogatal fell fickj they therefore left
him behind, and went on without him. Their gold-
en table procured them every where the beft reception.
The fnow, the ice, and the overflowing rivers, re-
tarded them, fo as to occafion them to be three whole
years on this journey : at length they arrived in an
Armenian harbour, called la Giazza ^otherwife Glaza^
Galza, and more properly ftill, al yJjqjfa), and went
immediately to Jcre {or jfncona, properly Mko), where
they were informed of the death of Pope Clement IV,
by the Pope's 'Legate, Theobald Vifcount of Flacenzia,
Upon this they took (hipping, audi going by the way
of Negroponte, arrived at Venice among their rela-
tions anu filciids, where they refolved to ftay till the
election of a new Pope. Here Nicole Polo found, that
his wife, whom he had left big with child, was dead ;
but Marco, the fon he had by her, was alive, and
nine years old *. Having waited for the election of a

{*ope

* The dates in Andrew Mullcr's edition are ralfe throughout; thofe
however in the Italian tranflaiioo, piinicd in Ramujit'i CoUeiStion, are
more accurate. They fei out A. D. iz6o, and Aayed one year with
Berckt Kbany ii6i. Then they flayed three years in Bekbara, vii. till
I Z64. One year they fpent on the road to Kublaihan, which brings it
to 1 165. They were three years ip returning ; but then they Ipenc
iome time with the Khan, (or the puipoi'e of con verting with him, and
receiving their dif^afhes, for which we may reckon at leaft on? year.
So that it amounts to four years in all, and conl'equently they did not re-
turn till the year* 1169, and Marcoy the A n ot liiccloy could be but nine
years old, though I^amHfio has made him 19, and 4II the others i§.
But the chronology of the other Piinces and Kings mentioned in this
^ook do not allow us to adopt thefe dates of Ramufio and Andrew Mnl-
ler. For firft, it is certain, that Kublai-Khan was Itill alive, though
advanced in year , when they took their departuie: and they were on
their way home, 'vhea they firtl received the news of his death. They
wrre intormed of his deaih, on ihtir way home. Now Kublai Khan
reigned fiom I2>;9 to 1294, and died al the age of 80 years, liui if
A';c»/» and Mattheo had let out on their firft journey in 1150, they would
have ariived there in 1155, before Kublai-Khan had afcendrd the
throne; they muft therefore have let out on their firft journey in 1260,
and have CDme back in 1169, foon after the death of Popt Clement ly.
Faiiber, they mull have ftt out again in izyi, for at that time Pope
Gregory A', vvas elefled, from whom ihty had letters to take to Kublai-
Klian. Their fird journty happened at the time thai liaidwin 11. who
jeigned from iZ34 to ii6i, was Hill Emperor of Byzantium. The Khan
ti KhiptiLh^ik wa!> Beiekc, who reigned fioin I2j6 to n6t, lo thnt

^hiy

12S

VOYAGES Av»

pope two years in vain, they fet out with young
Marco Polo., who was now i '' years of age, for Jcre»
The Legate gave them letters for Kublai Khan, and
they fet out for the harbour of Giazza. In the mean
while news arrived from Italy, that this fame Legate
had been eledled Pope, on which occadon he took the
name of Gregory X. He immediately difpatched mef-
fengers with letters to the King of Armenia, to give
him notice of his e\e6kion, and to requeft, that in
cafe the AmbafTador to the Khan had not yet left his
territories, they ihould return. Thefe letters found
the Pff//ftill in Armenia ; they returned '^erefore in a
galley to Akko, where the Pope gave them his letters
to the Khan, befides a great many prefents, and fenC
along with them two learned Monks Predicant, viz.
Friar Nicholas, of Vicenza, and Friar William, of 7r#-
poli. Immediately upon this they returned by fea to
ftl Ajajfa, and fet out on their journey from that place
by land to Armenia. There tl'ey learned, that the
Sultan of Babylon (in x^^gypt or of Kahirah CBibars)
tl Bendokdari (or Benhokdare) had made an incurfion
with a great army into Armenia, where he committed
the moft cruel ravages. This news alarmed the two
Monks to fuch a degree, that t^ ^y remained with the
Grand-mafter of the Knights-Templars, and after^
wards likewife returned with him ; but the three
Poli proceeded boldly through many dangers, and,
by perfeverance and labour, got over every difficulty j
To that at laft, in the fpace of three years and a half,
they arrived at the Khan's, who, while they were
flill at the diflance of 40 days journey from him^
fcnt to meet them, and took care that at every place

they could not have commenced their travels for the firfl time before
iii;6. Nay they coud m.t well have fet out on their journey before
iZi^S, for, Holaglni, who was at war with Bereke i^iian, did not befin
his rtign before ix$8, and he reigned till the year 126$. it is evident,
therefore, that the fird time, they could not have lUid out above 1 1
yr arc, and confetiuentiy Marco, the fon of Nicolo, could not at the tim«
of his faiher'» rtiurn be more than 11 years ©Id, nor left than 9} which^
letter conjerture is very prpbable.

they

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. xij

ihey came to, they fhould be provided with every
thing neceffary, till at length they arrived fafe at his
court. Kublai Khan received them with great kind-r
nefs, and with many marks of diftindion, in the
inidft of all his illuftrious Barons (Taifchisj Nojones^
and Saijans). They were afked concerning the health
of the Fope; when they gave a circumrtantial ac-
count to the Emperor of every objedl of his enquiry,
^s well as of what had befallen them in their jour-
ney. The Khan then enquired, who Marco was ?
and being informed, that he was the fon of Nicolo,
he received him very gracioufly, and had him imme-
diately regiftered among the moft diftinguilhed of his
officers. In confequence of this, Marco was very
much refpe6led l)y every one at Court, and not only
.*ii a flhort time acquired the manners of the Tartars,
but learned likewife four difFerent languages, each
of which he was able to read and write. On this
account the Khan, willing to make a trial of his ca-
pacity for bufineis, difpatched him on an affair of
importance relative to the empire, to a town called
Karazan, the journey to which place took him up fix
intire months. He executed the whole bufmefs with
judgment and discretion, and perfedly to the fatis-
fu6tion of the Khan ; and knowing, that the Khan
was very fond of hearing of uncommon phenomena,
Arap-'e occurrences, and other novelties, and that he
was very defirpus of getting information refpcflin^
the manners and cudoms of the people, he made mi-
nute enquiries every where after whatever was re-
markable, and taking it down in writing, drew up
an account of the whole, which he prefented to the
Khan. By this means he got fo much into the
Khan's good graces, that in the twenty fix years he
ftaid with the Khan, the latter was continually
fending him through all his kingdoms, and made
vie of him as his ambaffador. Now it is princi-
pally from this caufe, that this fame Marco faw and
heard fo many new things relative to the Eaii, of

ail

S24

VOYAGES AND

all which he has given a defcription in the books he"
has written on this fubjedl. After the two brothers,
Nicolo, and Mattheo, as alfo the young man Marco
Polo, had lived many years at the court of the
Khan, and had amailed great quantities of jewels and
gold ; confldering that the Khan grew old, and that
after his deceafe it might have become difficult for him
to return home, Nicolo one day begged of the Khan
to permit him and his family to fet out on their tra-
vels homeward. At this, however, the Khan was
very much hurt, and offered them additional riches
and honors, but refufed their requeft. Juft at this
time died Bolgana^ the confort of king Argon in the
Eaft Indies ; who, on her death-bed, had defired Ar-
gon, after her dcceaft, to chufe a wife from amongft
her relations in Kathay, where the great Khan reign-
ed. Accordingly, he fent three ambafTadors to Kublai
Khan^ to whom the Khan granted Kogatin (Gogatin,
Gogonyn), one of his near female relations ^ upon
this the ambaifadors fet out with her, but returned
after having been eight months on the road, the paf-
fage all the way to the Eaft Indies bejn^ obftrudlied
by a war which had juft broke out, In the mean
time Marco Polo had been by fea to India, and had
juft returned from his voyage. The ambafTadors be-
ing now apprifed of the conveniency and fafcty of ^
pafTage by fea, by the perfuafions of the Polj, re-
quefted of the Khan to fend them by fea to India,
and to grant them the Poli, as being good and ex-
perienced feamen, for their conductors, and to per-»
mit thefe latter to return home, However unpleafing
this requeft was to the Khan, he djd not, however,
refufe j when, together v/ith the queen and the am-
bafladors, they fet fail with I4 four-maft fhips, four
or five of which Cfirried froui 250 to 260 perfons.
After lofing a great many men, they pafl'ed by the
liland of Java, and at length arrived m the coun-
try of Argon. He, they found, was dead, but one
Chiac/itq (Akata), governed in the name of young
Knjan, the fon of Argon, a minor, to whom Chia-

catQ

DISCOVERIES lit the NORTH. 125

cato had alfo deflin^d the princefs Gogailn for a con-
fort J he, however, was at that time with the army
making a campaigii on the frontiers of Perfia. Chia-
cato, by the recommendatien and at the defire of
Kublai Khan, furnifhed the Poli with 200 horfes and
money for their journey, and, after a tedious journey
by land, they at length reached Trebifandt (i. e. Tre-
bizond) from whence they proceeded by the way of
ConJiantinopU and Negroponte to Venice, where they
arrived fafe, A. D. 1205. On their way they learn-
ed the death of Kublai Kharty and deemed themfelves
very happy in getting to their native country, after
having furmounted (o many difficulties, andf having
been abfent from it in the eaft, for the fpace of 26
years (viz. from 1269 to 1295.)

Marco Polo having dei'cribed the fouthern provinces
belonging to Perfia, comes at length to the unknown
northern regions, and fetting out from the country
of the AJfajfmes in Dilem^ and from a town belonging
to them called Mulete (or Alamut) not far from Kaf"
vin, arrives at the town of S^purgan (Esferain) and
immediately ^fter, at Balach (balkh) a city of great
celebrity, though its marble palaces are now deftroy-
ed by the Tartars. At two days iourney from thence
to the eaft we find the caftle of 'Thakan (Thalkan) in
the neighbourhood of which a great quantity of corn
is grown. But to the fouth of it there are moun-
tains of fait, which is fetched from them to the
diftance of 30 days journey. The inhabitants, though
Mahometans, make a common practice of drinking
wine, which indeed they have perfectly mature, of a
very full body, and excellent in its kind. As to
other particulars, they are of an extremely mifchiev-
ous and wicked difpofition ; they are, however, good
huntfmen, and their cloaths are made of the fkins of
the beafts which they kill.

At the diftance of three days journey farther on,
is the lo^n o{ Scajfem (ScafTe, al-Schafch); through

the town runs a very large ftream fthe Sirr

Daria, or Dfaihum). In this country there arc

many

126

VOYAGES AND

many porcupines. The inhabitants have a languagfe
of their own. At the diftance of three days journey
more, is the province of Balaxiam (Balafcia, Bala-
fagan), the inhabitants of which are Mahometans^
and fpeak a language peculiar to themfelves : the ex-
tent of the country is about twelve days journey.
In the mountains there are found beautiful uones of
great value, called Balajfe^ particularly in the moun-
tain of SUhtam, where the king alone has the privi-
lege of digging. There are alfo mountains with
veins of Lapis Lazuli ^ which is reckoned the fined
in the world; as alfo veins of filver, copper, and
lead in great quantity j but the weather there is in-
tenfely cold. Jn this country they have very fwift
borfcs, whofe hoofs are fo hard that they want no
ihoeing. In the mountains are caught the Sacre fal-
con (Falco Sacer) j the Lannar (Falco lanarius cinereui
Brifs,) the Gofs-hawk (Falco ajiur Brifs.), and the
Sparrow-hawk (Falco nifus), which are all, in their
kind, very excellent, and, by the inhabitants, who
are all very keen fportfmen, are made ufe of for the
chace. They grow much wheat and Indian corn j
they have no olive oil, but make this article of food
of nuts and the feeds of the Sefamum, which of all
oils is the moft palatable. The great number of nar-
row pafles and ftrong holds they nave in this country
render the inhabitants perfectly fecure againft any in-
vafion from an enemy. The air on the mountains is
fo falubrious, that the fick almoft always recover
their health on taking a journey to them, as indeed
Marco Polo experienced in his own cafe. On thefe
mountains there are flocks of from 400 to 600 wild
Iheep, of which but few are to be caught. The wo-
men of rank make themfelves a drefs of muflin, con-
taining from 60 to 80, or even 100 ells, and, (in or-
der that they may appear the more bulky below the
waiftjj crumpled up from the waill downwards, like
trowlers, and (lie who appears the biggeft, is confi-
dcred by the men as the greatt-ft beauty.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ny

At the diftance of about lo days journey is the
province of Bafcia, (alias Vafch, on the river Vafch,
which falls into the Gihon). The inhabitants are
Idolaters, and very much addicted to forcery and
witchcraft ; live upon flefh and rice, and have a lan-
guage of their own. They are of a very tawny com-
plexion, and are accounted very malicious, faithlefs^
and cruel. They wear golden ear-rings fet with dia-
monds and pearls.

The province of Chefmur (Khefimur, Khafchimir)
is at about feven days journey from Bafchia, The in*
habitants have a language of their own, and are of a
brown complexion ; neverthelefs, the women are
very handfome. Their principal food is flefh and
rice. Their country is covered with towns and caf-
tles, and being furrounded by defarts and mountains^
they have nothing to fear from any enemy. Their
king is not tributary to any one. There are many
and large bodies of hermits among them, who live
in a very frugal and abftemious manner, and are in
great efteem among the people. The natives never
Vied blood, nor kill any animal ; therefore, the/
make ufe of the Mahometans for flaughtering the
beafts of which they eat the flefh. Corals are held in
great efteem among them, and fell at a very high
price.

From Balaxima one comes to a number of caflles
and dwellings on the banks of a river, and at length
jnto the province called Vochan (alias Vocham or Vak-
ham, on the river Vafch). The inhabitants are ho-
nefl and valiant, and have a language of their own»
but follow the law of Mahomet. Their Lord is
fubje£l to the King of Balaxiam, In going out of
this province to the eaftward, one travels for three
days continually upon the afcent, till at lafl one
comes to fo elevated a fpot, that one is apt to take it
for the higheft in the whole world. On this fame
fpot, between two mountains, one finds a large lake,
from whence a very beautiful river flo^^-s through a
plain, containing the bed and richefl paftures in the
world, for if cattle arrive there ever fo lean, they re-
turn

128

VOYAGES AN»

turn home in lo days quite fa*: and in good condition.*
In this diftridt, too, there are a great number of wil(i
beads, and particularly of ^"^y large wild fheep^
fome of which have horns of the length of fix palms,
or about i8 inches ; and others of two or three palms
at leaft : of thefe the fhepherds make fmall porrin-
gers, and large diihes for their victuals ; and even
the folds in which they keep their flocks are made of
thefe horns. The numberlefs wolves that are in
thefe parts devour fuch immenfe quantities of thefe
goats, or fhccp, that their horns and fkeletons are to
be found piled up in heaps, in order to point out the
way in the fnow*. One travels' for the fpace of 12
whole days on this plain, which is called Pamer,
Confequently one muft carry all one's provifions along
with one. On account of the great height of the
mountains, there are no birds to be feen here, and
even the fires do not burn fo clear, by reafon of the
cold, as it does in other places, fo that one can
hardly drefs any victuals by it**. Having accom-
plilhcd this 12 days journey, one muft travel 40 days
longer to the eaftward, and that continually ct moun-
tains and through vallies, croffing many rivers, and
pafling through defarts, in which there are neither dwel-
lings nor even a blade of grafs ; fothat one muft carry
all the provifions one ftands in need of along with one j

* It U remarkable, that fo many centuries ago Marco Polo has taken
notice of the extraordinary height of ihefe inland Afiatic campaigas,
and at the lame time made accurate and juft obfervations on thefe wild
(heep, which by the ancient nations were called Mufmmesy and by the
French and Italian!! are termed Mouflons, Mufloni^ and of which the
horns have bcLD alfo defcribcd by modern writers to be fo large, that
>4he Korfake^ or fmall foxes ot thed lart, can hide their.felves in them.

•* This truth, difcovered by M. De Luc^ one of the mod attentive
natural Philofophers of the prefent age, on the mountains of Savoy and
Switzerland, viz. that on the highett muuntaiiis fire burns more flug«
gi!hly, and the e(Fe£ts it produces are more inconfiderable than at the
level of the fea, we find here very carefully n iticed by Maico Polo,
above foo years ago. Vid. J. A, dt Luc^ Rtcktrshts Jur la medificationt
Je i'a:mejfitrt. i^*< 903, 919.

and

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 129

and this country is called Beloro (alias Belor, or Be-
]ur). The fummits of thefc mountains arc inhabited
by an idolatrous, favage, and cruel race of men,
who live merely by hunting, and are cloathed in the
(kins of beafts.

From thence one comes to the kingdom of Cafcar
(alias Chafcar, CalTar, Kafchgar, and Haficar) which
at prefcnt belongs to the great Khan, and is five days
journey in length. The inhabitants are Mahometans,
and get their livelihood by commerce and manufac-
tures, and particularly by the working of cotton.
The face of the country is covered with towns and
cadles i they have fine gardens and lands, which
produce grapes for making wine, and other fruits in
abundance. They cultivate cotton, flax, and hemp,
in great quantities ; and the land yields plentifully all
the necefl'aries of life. From this province numbers of
traders go to all parts of the globe j but they are fo
extremely covetous, that they do not even allow them>
fdves to eat, and much iefs to drink any thing that is
good. Bcildes the Mahometans, there live alfo fome
Neflorians in thefe parts, who have a public church
here, in which they worfhip the Deity after their
own manner.

Samarchan (or Samarkand) is an excellent town and
a plain, which produces abundance of all kind of
fruits that man can pofTibly wifh for. The inha-
bitants are part of them Chriflians and part of them
Mahometans, and are fubje(5l to a nephew of the greac
Khan.

From hence, in five days journey, one comes to the
province of Cardan (alias Carcham, Carcam, Hiar-
kand, Jarkim, Jerket, Jerken, and Urkend.. The
inhabitants are of the Mahometan perfuafion, and
there are alfo fome Neftorian Chriftians here; but
all are fubjed to the nephew of the great Khan. They
have all the neceffaries of life in great plenty, but
chiefly cotton. The inhabitants are good artizans,
and have, the greateft part of them, thick legs, and
goitres or tumors in their necks, which proceed
from the quality of the water which they drink.

K Goinj

130

VOYAG ES AND

Going from hence to the caft wards one corrics to
the province of Cetan (otherwifc Cotam, Hotunif
Khoten, and Khotan), which is fubjcdl to the ne-
phew of the great Khan. This country is eicht days
journey in length, and is full of towns andcadles.
The inhabitants are Mahometans. The country
ubounds in all the neceflarics of life ; here they culti-
vate cotton, flax, hemp, wheat, wines, and other
produdlions of the vegetable kingdom. The inhabi-
tants live by trade and manufadturcs, and are unfit for
war.

Purfuing this track, one comes to the province cal-
led Peym (Peim, or Peym), which contains many
towns and caftles. Through the capital of the fame
name there runs a river, in which many precious
ftoncs are to be fnund, viz. Chalcedonians and
Jafper. In this province are to be had all necefla-
rics of life, and a great quantity of filk is produced.
The inhabitants arc Mahometans, and immediately
fubjed^ to the great Khan ; they live by trade and
manufactures. In this country they have a very par-
ticular cuflom, which is, that if a man goes on a
journey, and (lays away from his wife above twenty
days, fhe may, if flie pleafes, marry another man,
and when the man returns, he may, in like manner,
marry another woman. All thefe laft mentioned
countries, viz. Kafchgar^ 'Jerkin^ Kboten^ Peytriy and
Stgrtanty to the town called Lop^ are reckoned among
the frontiers of Great Turkey.

The province called Ciarcian (Ciartiam, Sartem),
was formerly very beautiful and fertile, but it has
fmce been deftroyed by the Tartars. The inhabi-
tants are Mahometans. In this country there are a
great number of caftles and towns, the chief of
which is likewife called Ciarcifin. There are many
rivers containing precious ftones, chiefly Chalcedo-
nians and Jafper, which are carried for fale to Ouchah
(Kathay), and of which, by r^wfon of the great quan-
tity there is of them, they make great profit. From
Peym to the end of this province there are many bitter
and fait waters in the ftrata of fand which are to be

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 131

met with every where in thefe parts i but frefli wa-
ter fit for drinking is very rare. And if it happens
that an army of Tartars, either friends or enemies,
marches through} if of the latter, they plunder the
inhabitants of their goods; and if friends, they kill
their cattle and cat it up ; whence it happens, thac
the inhabitants, on perceiving the approach of an
army, retire with their wives, children and cattle,
to the diftancc of feveral days journey into the Tandy
defart, near a fpring of good water, where in thaC
cafe they live. For it is to be obfcrved, that after the
wheat harveflj every one of the inhabitants hides
his corn in caverns under the fand, unknown to
any one but himfelf, as the place is immediately
covered over with fand by the wind j and they car-
ry home at one time only jud as much as will
i'erve them for the I'pace of a month. Going fromi
Cidrcian backward, five days journey in the fand,
one comes to nothing but bitccr waters, except thac
at the entrance of the great defart, one meets with
the town called Lop. From the town oi' Lop you
enter immediately into the great defart. The inha-
bitants of Lop are Mahometans, and fubjctSls of the
great Khan. In this town, thofe that intend to tra-
vel through the defart, reft for many days, and pre-
pare all that is necefTary for the journey, and load
many ftrong afles and camels witn food, proviflons,
and merchandife. But if their provifions are fpent
before they are quite through the defart, they kill the
afTes and camels and eat them. They muft lay in a
ftock of provifions fuiHcient to laft a whole month,
and if it does not, they eat the afTes rather than the
camels, becaufe thefe latter can carry heavier bur-
thens, and are fatisfied with lefs food. During the
whole thirty days the road goes through fandy plains,
and over barren mountains, but at the end of each
day's journey they meet with water, though not in
fufHcient quantity, but only for about 50 or lOO
men : in three or four of thefe places the water
is even bitter, but in all the other noclurnal baiting-

K 2 places,

i3»

VOYAGES AND

places, which are twenty-eight in number, the vrZ"
tcr is freih. In the delart neither birds nor beads
are to be found, there being nothing for them to live
upon. It is alfo very eafy, in cafe one loiters be-
hind, to lofe one's company, and confequently pe-
riih miferably.

Having travelled through the defart in this man-
ner for the fpace of thirty days, you come to a
town called Sachion (Schatfcheu, Tfchatfcheu, on
the riv'sr Sirgentfchi, which runs into the Poionghir^
and in the Kara-nory or Hara-nor, or perhaps itfhould
be SchotfcheUy or Sotfcheu^ on the river Ezina, which
difcharges its waters into two lakes) : this town is irt
the dominions of the great Khan, and in the pro-
vince of Tanguth. In it there are fome few Nefto-
rian Chriftians, as alfo Mahometans, and finally^
Idolaters, who have their own peculiar language.
They do not live by commerce, but by agriculture,
and the produce of their own country. They have
many convents full of idols, which they worlhip
with the greateft devotion ; and if they beget a
fon, they recommend him to one of thefe idols, in
horK>ur of whom they feed a ram at home, which,
at the expiration of the firft year, they carry to
the temple, together with the child, on the day
which is confecrated to the above idol, and after
xilling the ram, boil the fleih of it, and fet it
before the idol, while they fay their prayers, in which
they recommended the Ton to the idol, and beg of
him to keep their fon in health ; and they aflert^
that during this, the idol has extracted all the vir>
tues and tafte of the meat; Ltpon this they take the
meat home, and eat it in company of their friends
and relations invited for that purpofe, but the
bones they preferve very carefully in a hand fome
veffel. The priells of the idol have for their (hare
the head, the feet, the entrails, the (kin, an<l part
of the flefh. Thefe Idolaters obfcrve alfo fome very
fingular cuftoms in the burning of their dead ; if
the deccafed was a man of rack, they go to the

ailrologer.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 133

aftrologer, and tell him the year, day, and hour, on
which the deceafed perfon was born j the Sage then
examines the figns, the planet, and the ftar under
whofe influence th* defuno: was born, and, according
to thefe, determin( o the day and the hour on which
he is to be burnt ; and if the planet docs not reign at
that time, they keep the corple for a week, or even
for fix months together j now being obliged to keep
it in the houfe, they get a coffin made of boards three
inches thick, very clofely joined together, and painted
over. In this they lay the corpfe, together with ma-
ny fragrant perfttfnes, camphirc, and other fpices j and,
after hlling up all the chinks with pitch and lime,
cover the coffin with filk. During the whole time
that they kct the corpfe thus, a table is fpread for it
with bread, meat, and wine, and left {landing for a»
long a time as it would taki a living perfon to eat and
drink his fill. Moreover the aftrologer will fometimes
deem it unlucky to carry the corpfe throujgh the door ;
when to pleafe the planet, ? hole muu be broken
through the wall, and the corpfe carried out that
way. Should any one t^ke it in his head to object
to all this, and refufe to comply, the ghoft of the
deceafed would certainly be difpleafed at it, and do
him a mifchief. When the corpfe is carried out of
the town, they have little wooden houfes built for it
in the ftreets, in which they fet it down and place
viftuals before it. The proceilion is accompanied with
mufic, Whilft the body is burning, they paint on
a paper, the figures of men and women, together with
the reprefentations of coins, horfes, camels, and cloaths j
and burn thefe together with the corpfe, in the belief
that the deceafed will have an equal number of man-
fervants and maid-fervants, money and cattle, at his
difpofal in the other v.'orld. I'he mufic muft play
during the whole ceremony of the incremation of the
body.

Kamul (alias Chamvil, Hamil, Hanii, Khami, Came-
xu) is a diftrid belonging to the extenlive province of
Tanguthy and is fubjed to the Great Khan, It is
fituated between the above-mentioned great defart and
a^ioiher fmaller one, 'I'he' opitnl bears the fame

name

»34

VOYAGES AND

name as the diftridt itfelf : it produces fruit and grain
of all forts, which ferve for the maintenance of its in-
habitants, as well as of the foreigners that travel
through it. The inhabitants fpeak a language peculiar
to themfelves, and worfliip idols. Thefe people feem
to be born for nothing elfe but enjoyment j and, in-
deed, their chief occupation is mulic, finging, and
dancing, and other amufements. If a traveller arrives
in their country, and is defirous of taking up his lodg-
ing with any of them, they immediately lay the
llri6teft injunctions on their wives, daughters, fifters,
and other female relations, to be in every refpe6l at
the ftranger's fervice j at the fame time the hufband
leaves the houfe, and procures in the town whatever
h requlfite for the acGommodation and kind reception
of his gueft i neitlicr does he return to his houfe till
the latter has left it. The women in the mean while
obey the ftranger as if he was their hufband ; and it
muft be confefled, that in general they poflcfs no fmall
{hare of vivacity and beauty. The prevailing opinion
in this country is, that by fhewing fo much hofpita-
Jity to the travellers, they render a very acceptable
fervice to the Gods, and they ;:ttribute it entirely to
this cuftom, that the Gods bellow on them a profu-
fion of every worldly good, and a protedion againft
all dangers, together with the increal'e of their fami-
lies. When Mangu Khan fat on the throne, having
heard of this indecent cuftom, he commanded that
they fhould preferve and promote the chaftity of their
wives and daughters, and keep houles for the recep-
tion of ftrangers and travellers at the public expence.
This mandate they punctually obeyed for the fpace
of three years. But within this time the produce of
their fields and gardens happening not to fucceed, and
having met likevvife with other diltifters in their do-
meftic conccrs, they fcnt ambafl'adors, moft humbly to
petition the Emperor for the repeal of his mandate.
Mangu Khan, having heard their remonftanccs, an-
fweitu as follows : " I conceive it to be my duty to
put a ftop to this fcandalous cuflora ; but I'lnce you
^lory in your fhame, you may even bear it, and con-
tinue

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 135

tinue henceforth to make your wives perform their
iifual charitable offices to ft rangers and travellers."
The meffengers who carried back the repeal of the '
Imperial prohibition, were received with great re-
joicings by the whole nation, and the ancient cuftom
is ftilT kept up there to this day : (that is, when Mar-
co Polo was in that part of the world j for how mat-
ters ftand there now, it is impoffible to fay).

Beyond the province of Cha?nul is the country called
Chinchintalas (alias Chinchincalas, Sanghin-Talgin, San-
kin-talai, Chitalas^Dalai) which to the north is bound-
ed by the defart ; it is 16 days journey in length, and
belongs to the territories of the Great Khan, and ha$
towns and boroughs in it. The inhabitants are fome
of them Neftorian Chriftians, though the number of
thefe is fmall ; fome again are Mahometans, and the
reft Idolaters, In riiis country is a mountain which
yields fteel-ore and Andanicum (other wife audanicum)
as alfo Salamander (i. e. aft)eftos) of which they make
a kind of cloth which is indeftruftible by fire.

Leaving the province of Chinc/jintaias dire£t\y behind
you the road goes caftward (or rather fouthward)
through an almoft uncultivated country, for 13 days
journey, to the province of Suchur* (alias *^ iccuir,
Souck, or Suck, on the river Suck, which '^tT^pties

♦ The countrj defcribed but very Utely by M. Pallat^ where the ge-
nuine rhubarb grows, and from whence it is carried by the merchants o(
BQcharia to the Ruiiians at Kjacita^ is to the fouthwell of the lake Koke-
far, not far from the town of Selling on the river Stlingol^ which dif-
charges itfelf into the Chattungot, nr,'as 'he Chinefe call it, Hoanght
(alias Choango) which is alfo called Karamuren. This whole traft it
compofed of high nnountains, bare of '.vood, where the rhubarb grows
put of chinks of the rocks. The roots that are fit for ufe fhoot out (talks
of an amazing thicknels, and being dug up in April and May, are clean-
ed and hung up pn the tiees. The leaf we are tcld is round, and but
(lightly indented ; confequently the Rheum compailum^ or undulatum^
mu(l be the genuine rhubarb plant. This indication of the real native
country o*' rhubarb induced me to lock in thefe parts lik( wife for the town
piUcd Suckutr^ or Suckuty which I e fily difcoveied, together with the
provioce of the faips came^ in the province and town oi Suck.

itlblf

'36

VOYAGES AND

itfclf into the river Pegu^ to the northward of Tibet^
and to the fouth-eaftward of Kokonor) ; this pro-
vince has feveral towns and boroughs, the capital of
which bears the name of the country. The inhabi-
tants, a few Chriftians excepted, are idolaters, and fub-
Je6ls of the Great Khan. They are of a very tawny
complexion, and live without commerce on the pro-
duce of the earth. The Reubarbar (Reobarbar, or
Rhubarb) which grows on the mountains here in great
abundance, is carried by the merchants all over the
world. On thefe mountains, too, grows a poifonous
plant, upon eating which, the cattle caft their hoofs.
The cattle belonging to the natives knov/ this plant,
and carefully avoid it j it is ^erefore neceflary, on a
Journey to thcfe mountains, always to make ufe of
the cattle of the country,

The city or town called Kampiou (Kampitiou,
Kampiciou, Kantfcheu, in the province of Schenfi,
on the Etzin6 Moren) is the capital cf all Tatim
guth i it is elegant and very large. Part of the in-
habitants are Neftorian Chriftians, and have three fiije
large churches j part of them are Mahometans, and the
reft idolaters, 1 he numerous convents they have for
their ecclefiailics are filled with idols made of wood,
earth, or ftone, and covered over with gold, fome of
which are about 10 feet long, and lie on the ground,
being furrounded by the fmaller idols, which Tetrp to
pay homage to them, in the manner of difcipies. The
pnefts of the idols lead far mere regular lives, and
are lefs addi6led to voluptuoufnefs than the other ido-
laters. They abftain from certain meats, gnd from
fuch z^s of concupifcence and difhonourable deeds,
as are there commonly confidered as not to be very
finful. Fof if a woman makes the firft advtuices to
?, man, it is according to their confcience no fm to
enjoy her. But if the men make the firft advances,
in that cafe they lock on it as a fin. The laymen
have many wives, fomqtimes thirty and more, and

fomc*

DISCOVERIES IM THE NORTH. 137

fotnetlmes lefs, according to their circumftarices, for
they get no portion with their wives ; but, on the
contrary, give the wife a fortuhe, confiiling of cattle,
fiaves, and money. But the firft wife always has the
precedence ; moreover, if they find that one of their
wives does not live in harmony with the other, or if
(he difpleafes them, they may difmifs her. They
marry their relations and kindred, and even their
mothers in law. They have a kind of cycle or peri-
odicd revolution of lunar months, and in each of thefe
they abftain for three, four, or five days, from blood
and from the fiefh of beads and fowls, and worfhip
their Gods according to the courfe of thefe lunar
cycles. In the mean time they commit many other
deadly fins, and live like beafts j as Marco Pola fuf-
ficiently experienced, vvi.^n he with his father and
uncle, on account of their bufmcfs, refided for about
a year in this place.

Travelling 12 days journey from Kampion (Kampi-
tion, Kantfcheu) you come 10 a town called Ezina
(Eziva, Etzine is the name of a river in the nortli-
eafter'i part of Schenfi, which difcharges itfelf into
the lake Snhuc-Nor, and Sopu-Nor), which borders
on the great Sandy Defart, and is in the province of
Tanguth. The inhabitants are idolaters, and live vn
their cattle and by agriculture, but have no traffic.
In this country we find many Lannar falcons (Falc9
Lnnarius) and very good Sacre falcons (Falco facer),
'J here are alio forell of pine-trees, inhabited by wild
afies, and many other wild bealis. The inhabitants
keep a great number of camels and other cattle. Such
travellers as intend going through the great defart^
which is 40 days journey in length, buy their provi-
fions here, as they afterwards meet with neither men
nor inhabitants, excepting 2 few ftragglirg people here
and there on the mountains and in the valleys. At
the end of thefe 40 days journey to the northwards, is
the town called Carachoran (alias Taracoram, Cara-
coram, Korakarum, Karakoran, Karakum, Karakaiiii,
and Holin). All the diftrids juft defcribed, viz. Sncbiou

(Schalfcheu)

138

VOYAGES ANU

(Schatfcheu) Chdmul (Khamil) Chinch'italas (Sankinda*
|ai) Succuir (Suck) Campion (Kantfcheu) and Ezina
(Etzin6) are in the great province of Tangut.

Carachoran (Carchoran, Kara^Koran) is a town of
three Italian miles in circumference. It is the place
from which in times of yore ihe Tartars originally
came ; for want of flones, it is furrounded by an
earthen bulwark or rampart only. On the outfide of
this there is a great caltle, with a very elegant palace>
in which the Governor ufually refides.

In going to the northward from Carachoran (Kara-
koran) and from mount yiltay, where the Emperors
are buried, one comes to a large plain called Bergu
(Bargu-fm is the nzrrt of a. river on the eaft fide of
lake Baikal). The inhabitants are called Metrites (alias
Medites, Meclites, Markaets) they are quite favage,
and live on the fleih of wild beafts, (the largeft of
which are like flags, which moreover they ride, of
rather harnefs to their carriages) as alfo on the birds
and fifli which they catch.

In travelling from the province of Campion to the
eaft (fouth-weft) for five (fifty) days, one comes to the
empire called Ergimul (Erigimul, Eriginijl) which is
fubjeft to the Great Khan, and belongs to the province of
Tanguth. In it there are fome Neftorian Chriftians, and
Mahometans, as alfo Pagans. The capital of the coun<
try bears the fame name, Erginul (Erdfchi-nur), witl^
the country itfelf. In going from thence to the fouth-
Weftward to Kathav (North-China) you come to the
town of Singui (Sigan in Schenfi) fituated in a diftridt
of the fame name, which is alfo in the province of
Tanguthy and is fubjeft to the Great Khan. The
inhabitants are fome of them Neftorians, fome of the
religion of Mahomet, and others Idolaters. In this
country there are great numbers of wild oxen, black
anti white, which are nearly as large as elephants, and
have a way fine appearance. The hairs all over

PISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. J39

their bodies are fliort, excepting on the flioultlers,
where they are nine inches long, and as fine and white
as poffible, fo as even to furpafs fillc j and Marco
Polo brought fome of thefe hairs to Venice, where
every one admired them as great curiofities. Many
of thefe wild oxen have been tamed, and made to
cover common cows. The race engendered by thefe
is fit for the hardett labour, and capable of bearing
the grcateft fatigue. Their owners make them carry
the moft heavy burthens, and plough twice as much
ground with them as v/ith oxen. In this fame coun-
try, too, one meets with the finelt mufk. It is pro-
duced by a little animal of the (hape of a gazel or
antilope, and of the fize of a goat. The form of it is
as follows : The hair is coarfer than that of a ftag ;
the feet and tail are like thofe of a gazel, but it
has no horns, as the gazel has. It has four teeth,
two in the upper jaw, and two in the lower, which
are above three inches long j tv/o of them point up-:
wards, and two downwards. Thefe teeth are as white
as ivory j and the animal has a beautiful ihape •.
About the time of the full moon it has an abfcefs in
the region of the navel, which yields the finelt rnufiC
The flefb of this creature is good to eat. Marco Polo
brought the head and feet of one of them to Venice.
The inhabitants of tiiis country live by commerce and
handicraft profeffions, and the country itfelf produces
a great quantity of corn. It is a journey of twenty-
iive days to travel tlirough this province. There are
pheafants in this country, twiqe as large asi ours.

• It is but a very little while fince there was 4 live niulk-jr''at at Fer-
fatlUs ; to whicli the defcription here given anlwers perfedVy wcl), except
in this one particular, that it hath only two fuch leeth of three iuchcs long
in tl.cuppei j 'W, "lit in the under jaw there are eight cutting teeth, bc:-
fidesfiv grir.ders in each jaw bone. There muft tlicrerote be t. mnVikc
either in Marco Polo's dclciiption, or in the tranflation of it, or ellc h\n
mu/k yoat mult have been different from that which was kept alive at
Verlaillts, as ail'o ;r6ni ihat, ot which I have itcn the fkin (lufled, in Si.*
Afliton Lever's Mufeum. Th^tthic animal (lum d fetrett its mulk attlie
time of the !ull moon only, aiui that it is an abrcefs, is one of the prt-jii-
dices appertaining to the childhood of Natural Hiftury.

and

140

VOYAGES AND

and but very little iefs than peacocks. Their tails are from
24 to 30 inches long *. There are alfo other pheafants,
in d'/.e and appearance like ours ; as alio many other forts
of birds, with the moft beautiful plumage. The in*
habitants arc idolaters, rather fat, have fmall nofes,
black hair, and no beard, except here and there a
fmgle b;\ir on the chin. The women of rank have
beautiful hair, are ve^y fair, perfectly well formed in
all their limbs, but extremely lafcivious. The men
marrying, according to cuftom, as many wives as
they are able "^o maintain, they do not feek rich but
bandfc v/omen, and confequently make great pre-
sents tG /^ L.ciicr and relations, in order to obtain
their wiv :.

If now you tra>fd for eight days from^r^/w«/ (Erdf-
chi-nur) to the eaft (to the weftward) you come to
the diftridt of Erigaia (alias Eggaya, Organum, and
Irganekon), in which there are many towns and cities.
It is in the great province of Tanguth ; its capital is
Calacia (alias Cailac, Gailac, Golka). The inhabitants
are idolaters, and the Neftorian Chriftians have three
elegant churches here. They are all fubjed to the
Great Khan. In the town of Calacia they make of
white wool and the Anefl hair of camels (perhaps
Chamoii) a great quantity of Zambelottes (Schamlotte,
Kamlotte) i. e. Camlets, which are the moft beauti-
ful in the world, and which are exported by the mer-
chants to all parts of the globe, and particularly to Kathay
(or North China). Tenduc (Tenduch, Teuduch) is a
province to the eailward which formerly belonged to
Prefter John, but at prefent is fubjedl to the Great

* Thcfe Urge pheafants belong '.indoubtcdijr to the extraordinarily
beautiful genus which Lsnmeui (alls Vtafianus Arguiy of which in Eu-
rope there are to be found fome featheri only of the wings and laiia, in
the collfflions of the curious ; but as for the entire animal, |>erha|'a no
European, befides our traveller, has ever feen it. This is the more re-
maikable, at it is now alreidy ^00 years that this beaut'ful bird has beiq
known, and yet we have never had a compleat defcripticu of it.

Khan.

DISCOVERIES in the NORTH. 141

Khan. It contains various towns and cities, and the
capital of it is Tenduc. This province has a king of
the family of Prefter John, whofc name is Gtorgef
and to whom the Great Khan has ceded it, on condi-
tion, however, of the King's acicnowledging his fu-
periorityi and thcfe Kings generally, marry the
daughters of the Great Khan. King George is a
Prieft and a Chriftian ; the greater part of his fubje6ls
alfo are Chriftians. In this province they find ftonef,
from which they prepare very fine Ultramarine Blue,
and that in great quantity. They alfo manufacture
here Zambellottes or Camlets, of camels hair. The
inhabitants live by agriculture, commerce, and han-
dicraft profeffions. There are, however, ^efides the
Chriftians, many Idolaters and Mahor> Jta r here.
There is alfo a fort of people called jfryn, :>ecaufe
they have been begotten by two difFercn; races, viz.
by the Idolaters at Tenduc and the Mahometans*
Thefe are without difpute the handfomeft Men of any
in thefe parts, as well as the moft ingenious and the
moft fubtle in commerce.

This province was the principal refidcnce of Prefter
John, in the North, whilft he reigned over the Tar-
tars, and King George is the fourth from him ; and
there are two kingdoms here, over which this fame
Prefter John formerly reigned, and which in our part
of the world (viz. Europe) are known by the
names of Gog and Magog \ but by the inhabitants of
thefe countries are called Vng and Mongul*, The

inhabitants

* The celebrtted Prefter John it, at wat fald before, in the note to
page 610, the Uni'Cban^ or UnkcbaH,, an appellation derived from the
Chinefe Uang^ or IVang^ bat by others tranihrated to Aunsk^ or Ave- ■
umk Khan. He reigned over the Karaites, a tribe refidiog near the
river Kallajfui (Karafibi) which difcharges itfelf into the Abakan, and
afterwards into the Jenifea \ and here at this very day live the Kirgijes^
who have a tribe among then>, which they call Karaites, Vid. Fifthtr*$
Sibirifcbe Gejchicbtey or Hijiory of Siberia, pag. 698, 709, and 710.
Bat, after the manner of the Chriftians of thofe times, who conftantlf
foaght to introduce their Bible by hook or by crook on every occafion^
the Oriental Chriftians no fooner had heard the leaft mention made of
UngkbuHy than the name immediate!jf brought to thtir remembrance

that

142

VOYAGES AND

inhabitants of Ung are Gog, and thofc of Mongul are
Tiirtars. Travelling for lieven days eaftward through
this province to Kathay, one meets with many towns
and cities, the inhabitants of which worfhip idols ;
others are Mahometans, and others again are Nefto-
rian Chriftians. They live by commerce nnd manu-
factures ; for they make ftufFs wrought v.itli gold
and flowers, and other fillccn ftufFs o^ all kinds and
colours, like thofe made amongft us } alfo woollen
ftufrs of various forts* Thefe people are fubjeCl to
the Great Khan. There is alfo a town here called
Sindicin (alias Sindacui) where all the arts and occu-
pations are carried on, which furnifh the various
kinds of weapons, arms, and warlike inftruments,
requifite for the ufe of an army : in the mountainous
part of this province, is a place called Idifa (Ydifu)
■where there is an excellent filver mine, from which
this metal is extracted in great quantities.

Going three days journey farther on, one arrives
at the town of Cianganor * (Cianganior, Cyangamor,
or Tfahan-nor) which fignifies the White Lake : in
this place the Great Khan has a palace, which he is
very fond of inhabiting, there being many lakes and
rivers thereabouts, in which there is a great number
of fwans, as alfo many plains, with cranes, phea-
iants, partridges, and birds of various kinds, in

that of John; and as perl aps this UngkhoM had fuffercd himfelf to be
converted to the Chrillian religon by the Netlorians, and had even
bet-n perTuadcd to take Priell'ii orders, they, without any more ado,
transformed the Piiell Ungkhan^ into thePrieft ^ohanit^ or Preller Johnj
snd tarlher, as in the Prophet Ezekiel, rnention is made of (?»^ and Mc
fo^, by the fame fpjiitual alchemy they turned Un^ into Go^^ aud the
AJog^uls inio Magtg.

* TI\is Cionranor is even according to Marco Polo's explication, the
fVhite Sea, i. e. that lake on the banks of which the fovereipn ufiially
refides, and th's is pr<p'''ly called in the Mogul language, Tfahan-nor.
It is v;ry poflible indeed tf^u it was fnmewhat more than three day:, jour-
ney from the countiy of the Karaids and the town of '■J'enAuc, to the
Tjakawnot ; but no other Tfahan-nor can be meant, but the lake of
this name, fuuaied in 4; dcg. 30 min. N. lau amiii^ueg. lun^. It
ap[ieais that Marco Pdio does not point out the fituatiuos of his places in
their proper order, but i;oes from one to anothen juil as hin fancy lead*
hini, though pcihapi. they do not lie immediately contiguous.

large

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 14I

large flocks. The Great Khan is fond of hawking
there with falcons and gerfalcons, and catches birds
innumerable. There are five different kinds of Cranes
here. The firft is quite black, like a raven, with
large wings : the fecond has ftill larger wings, which
ate white and beautiful, and the wings are ornament-
ed with round eyes, like thofe of the peacock, glitter*^
ing with gold ; the head is black and red, and finely
(haped ; the neck is black and white. The third fort
refembles the Italian cranes. The fourth is a very
fmall kind of crane, beautifully marked with a mix-
ture of red and blue feathers. The fifth fort is grey*
with a red and black head, and is very large withal.
Very near the town is a valley, containing an afto-
nifhing number of partridges and quails, for the
maintenance of which the Khan orders in fummer*
millets to be fown, and other feeds, as thefe birds
are fond of eating the harveft of which feeds is never
got in, that they may find plenty of food ; a greac
number of people alfo is appointed to take care that
nobody catches them, not even in the fpring, when
they low the millet. Thefe birds are therefore fo
tame and accuftomed to their food, that the keeper
needs only whiflle and throw their meat on the
ground, when they immediately come to him. The
Great Khsn has alfo ordered many fmall houfes to
be made for them to ftay in during the night. Now
whenever he comes to this province, he finds thefe
birds in the greateil abundance ; and in the winter,
when they are quite fat, he orders great quantities
of them to be brought over to him on camels and
other beafts of burthen, as he is not ufed to ftay there
himfelf, on account of the intenfe cold.

In turning from the province to the fouth-weft,
three days journey, is a town called Xandu (Ciandu,
Cyandi, Tfchangtu), which was built by Kublai
Khan, and in which he has had a palace erected, of
art and beauty, and ornamented with
other choice kinds of ftone. On one
pahce is a park including a plain of

marvellous
marble and
fide of the

VOYAGES ANtt

more than i6 Italian miles. In this inclofurc arc fino
rich meadows, ihrubbericS) and rivers, and animals
of all kinds are kept in it, fuch as (lugs, hartSy
deer, and other animals, which the Khan has or-
dered to be brought thither to feed his falcons and
gerfalkons with, which he keeps there whilfl they
are moulting. When he rides out, he orders a
leopard or more to be carried behind a man on horfe-
back, and when he n;ives his command, the leopard
is let loofe, and immediately catches a hart, flag,
or deer, which is given to the falcons for their food.
In the midft of thefc meadows is a grove, in which
there is a very elegant houfe, japanned all over,
and ornamented with a great number of gilt co-
lumns and dragons, throughout which upwards of
20w filken cords are expanded, to prevent its being
thrown down by the wind, it being made of cane,
and confequentjy very light. This houfe may be
taken quite to pieces, and put together again at plea-
fure. Every thing in it is arranged for the pleafure
of the Khan, as he fpends here three months every
year, viz. j«»^, Jufyt and Auguji. But on the
aSth of Augufl; he adjourns to go to another place
in order to perform certain facrinces. In fa6l, ths
Khan has a ftud of horfcs and mares as white as
fnow, perhaps 10,000 in number, of the milk of
which none dare venture to drink, but thofe who
belong to the family of Xtnghii-Kban^ except the
family of Beriat, which once having behaved with
great prowefs in a battle, were honoured with the
privilege of drinking alfo of this milk. Part of this
mare's milk the Great Khan is accuilomed to fprinkic
with his own hands in the air and on the earth, as
an offering to the Gods and the Spirits, in urder
that his fubje£ls, wives, chiidren, cattle, and birdi^,
the corn, and fruits of the earth may flourifli and
profper. Three months of the year, viz. December-t
y^nuary^ and February, Kublai Khan rcfides aC
Cambaluj properly called Khan Balgajfun, or, for
ihortncfs, Khan-BalgOy which the Arabian authors

have

DISCOVERIES IN THB NORTH. R45

have converted into Khanbalick^ or KhanbaUgh\ and
the Italians to Cbanbalig^ or Chanbalu, Cambalu^ and
likewife Gamalecco, It fignities Kingjiowriy and is a
translation of the Chinefe word King-Tfcbing^ which
is at prefent the northern part of the city of Pt-
King, u e. of the northern refidence, and contains
the Imperial palace. This town is at the begin-
ning of Katbay, to the fouth-eaflward, and the. name
of It AgniHes the Town of the Sovfrtign Lord (or
Khan). The ftreets in it are ftraight, is full of
ilately edifices, and the Imperial palace is large and
magnificent. There is alfo within the town an ex-
tennve park, with plenty of game, and feveral groves
and (hrubberies, together with lakes, and other pie-
ces of water.

1 hefe arc, in brief, the contents of the defcrip-
tion of the northern parts of Afia, by Marco Polo.

Befides the remarkable circumftances mentioned
here, we farther find the following piece of intelli-
gence, viz. that in Kathay, or North China, they
make a wine of rice and fpices, which is very pa-
latable, and intoxicates fooner than real wine. But
fac more ancient is the account given by a Maho-
metan traveller, A. D. 851, tranflated from the Ara-
bian, and publiflied by Eufebiut Renaudot, He fays,
*' They (viz. the Chinefe) have a kind of wine made
'< of rice ; they have no other kind of wine in the
** country, nor indi^d is there any other brought
** to them } they do not drink wine, and do not
** even know what it is." Thus we find the moft
ancient account of brandy in China, where they in
all probability have learned this method of malcing
an intoxicating liquor, by means of fermentation
and by the afliilance of fire, from the northern (hep-
herds, who To frequently have conquered that coun-
try^ for if we take a review of all thofe nations of
ihepherds in the north of Afia, which have horfes,
we (hall find already prevalent amongft them, the
ufe of the fermented £nd intoxicating rhilk of mares,
which they call Kumyfs (Kofmos)} and this liquor

I« beinjr

146

VOYAGES AUD

being drawn ofFby the afliftance of fire, is called Af"
raif which name is alfo at prefent all over Chi-
na and India, and even in Europe, given to the rice
brandy.

Another remark of Marco Polo's defervcs to be
mentioned relative to pit-coals, which he calls black
combuflible flones, which are dug out of the moun-
tains, and which, if laid on the fire, will burn like
wood, and continue burning for a long time j fo
that when they are kindled in the evening, they
continue to burn for the whole night. Thefe ftonj
are very much ufed, as in fome places wood is very
fcarce.

Laltly, 3farco Palo confirms what Ruyfbroeck and
Haitho, and other, authors af^ier him, have faid con-
cerning the ufe of paper money in China. He
fays it is made of the bar'' of the mulberry tree,
the leaves of which ferve for food for the fiikworms^
the fined innermoft bark is feparated from the ex<*
terior coarfe bark ; it is then rubbed and ftampt,
and the whole made up with a kind of nze fo as to
look like cotton paper. Thefe coins are all black,
of an oblong-fquare form, the greater as well as the
fmaller, and are made with great prccifenefs and
formality. Every of&cer engaged in the pi;ocefs puts
his mark upon each piece ; and laft of all, the In-
tendant api>ointed by the Emperor for this purpofe,
makes a ftamp upon it with red cinnabar, from
which ilamp it receives its currency and value.
The counterfeiting of this coin is puniihed with
death, nor dar^s any body refufe to receive it on
pain of death ; and all payments are made in this
money. It is pretty evident, that as well the bark
of the morus papyrifera, or paper-mulberry tree, as
of that with which the filkworms are raifed in
China, and perhaps alfo that of the white and black,
and of the Tartarian mulberry-tree, is fit for the
manitrfa£luring of paper ; and as ftill all tlie paper
in China and Nipon (Japan) is made of the bark of
the mulberry-tree, it v.'ould be certainly worth while,
in the prefent prevailing fcarcity of rags, to culti-
vate that very hard fort, the Tartarian mulberry-
tree, as not only the leaves of it will produce good

food

Nahon

probad

lymita|

Itage,

quentll

The

Thefe I

BtUanX

Tom,

nabiceJ

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 147

fbod for niic-worras, but alfo its bark may be ufcd
with great advantage for the purpofe of making
paper.

Vll. Oderic of Portenau *, a mmorite Friar, in the
year 131 8, travelled to the eafiern countries, and
went, in company with other Monks, as far as Chi*
na ; after his return, he didtated the whole Recount
of his journey, but without any order or arrange-
ment, and juft as it occurred to his memory, to
Friar William de Solona (or Solangna) at Padua,
A. D. 1330.

From this relation we learn, that Oderic failed
from Conftantinople acrofs the great (i. e. the Black)
Sea to Trebizond, where he (aw a man travelling
along with a flock of more than 4000 partridges,
which had been made (o tame, that whenever he fat
down to reft himfelf, they all gathered round about
him, like tame fowls, and in this manner he tranf-
ported them to Trebizond, where the Emperor took
as many of them as he wanted, the remainder being
taken back by the man to place whence he had
brought them. After this, Oderic went to Armeniar
Major, and A%aron ('Erz-el-Rum) from thence to
Tauris (Tebrig) Soldania (or Sollania) CaJJan (alias
Kaffibin, or Kafvin) and Geji (or Yezd) which is fi-
tuated where the Sandy Sea [Alare Arenofum) begins,
and at length to Konnum (alias Kom, Komru,
Ohomrun, or Gombron) ;md finally to Ormes (or
Ormus). From this laft place he went to India,
then to Manxi (South China) and after pailing through

WM^.

* This OJerlr is likewifr ftyled Je Fon JuHi de Poftu V'dhonis (reaJ
Kahonis): he is alfo called Olderuus nnd Oderifius. "Wm^ Portenau \%
probably the Mutatit ad Ncnum mentioned in the Iiinerarium Hierofo-
lymitacum, being derived from Arr, in the Kymerian tongue, a lUtion,
tiage, or baiting-place, and Nav^ or NatUy nine ; Portus Naenis confe-
quenily it Portenau. In Friuli this place is at prefent called P:rdanone.
The account of his travels he has intiiied De jVliialHihus MunJi.
Thefe travels, together with the Hilloiy o! his Life, are lo he found in
B$llandi A&ii S. S. m. Jan. d. I u, as ally in IVaJdimgii Annates Minor,
Tom. iii. He diei' at Vdme^ A. D. 1:131. BafdU Ajqumi^ an Italian Bar-
nabite, publifhed at UMut in 1737, La Vila t Viaigi del beatt Oderic »
da Udine^ in Svo.

L 3t many

•» *

148

VOYAGES AND

many difficulties, at length arrived at the capital of
tile empire, Kambaleth (otherwife called Kambalklc,
or Khan-Balga) which is fituated beyond the river
Khara-moran (Kara-morin, or Hoang-Ho). Having
feen many ftrange and marvellous things in Kathau
he proceeded 50 days journey to the wcftward, to
the country of Prcfter tohn, and to the c&pi: il cal-
led Tozan otherwife Kofan, Tfahan, or Tiahan-
Nor). Upon this, after a long journey, he came
to the province of Kajfan (Kafan, or Turkeftan)
which is upwards of 50 days journey in breadth,
and 60 in length, and is full of populous towns, and
likewife produces abundance of excellent provifions,
particularly chefnuts. At length he came quite to
Tibek (Tibet, or Tebet) in the capital of which re-
fides an jibaffi, the Pope and Chief of the Idolaters.
The women in this country wear their hair plaited
in more than 100 braids. If anyone dies, and the
Ton of the deceafed wifhes to do his father honour^
he calls together a number of eccleHaftics, who, fol-
lowed by all the friends and relations of the defun(5^,
carry the body in great pomp into the fields ; there
th«^ cut off the head, and give it to the fon ; the
flelh they cut off ^piecemeal from the bones, praying
all the while devoutly. As foon as ever they depart,
come the vultures, which are qui*^- ufed to this bu-
fmefs, and carry off all the flefh. In confequence
of this, the deceafed is acounted a good man, and ft
faint, the angles being fuppofed to carry his corpfe
to Paradife. The fon in the mean time takes the
head home, and eats the fleih of ii. Of the fkuU a
cup is made, out of which he and all the relations
of the defunct drink with feftal folemnity.

As we have only a few imperfed fragments left
of the journey of Friar Oderic, it is hardly worth
while to make any farther extracts from the re-
mainder.

VIII. John de MandevUle was defcended from an
ancient and very noble family in England, He
was born at St. Al ban's. His inquifitive turn of

mind,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 149

mind, and his undaunted refolation prompted him to
Lnquire into all the fciences, and that with equal fuc-
ceis. He had ftudied phyfic as well as n>«.thematics,
with diligence and attention ; and likewil'e, following
the fafhion of thofe times, had made great progrefs
in divinity, und written l^ks in all thefe fciences.
He was equally expert in the exercifes proper for a
gentleman ; and thus, in fearch of new adventures,
he fet out .\. D. 1332 (1322) on a journey to the
Holy Land, by the way of France j and, after an
abfence of 33 years, returned to his native country,
having travelled nearly over all Afia, and having
ferved in the army of the Sultan of Egypt, Mandy-
bron (Malek el Nafer Mohammed, who reigned from
1310 to 1341) and in that of the Great Khan in
China (Schun Hoamti, or Tokatmur). He died at
laft on the 17th of November, 1371, at Liege,
where healfo lies interred. He drew up an account
of his Travels in Latin, French, and Englifh. The
beft of thefe works feems to be that publimed in Lon-
don in iarge 8vo, 1727, in the old Englifh dialed):,
for all the others are merely extracts However, it
is with this journey, as it ufed to be with the writ-
ers of Chronicles in the middle ages. One always
•copied from the other. The Travels of Friar Oderic
contain many things which are likewife to be found
in the Travels of Sir John Mandevillc. The copy-
iils feem to have had the intention of compieating
their copy from another author who had written on
a (imilar fubjedl, and this is probably the reafon of
the exa<^ ':orrefpo.idence obferved between them.
Beildes the Latin, French, and Englilh editions,
already mentioned, there are alfo tran/lations of
thef; travels into the Italian, Spaniih, and German
languages.

The accounts of the fouthrrn parts of Afia do not
concern us; we Ihall therefore content oiirfelves with
obfcrving,, that in Mandeville's e, the war was al-
ready begun with the revolted l:'nnce of Manzi^ or
South China, who entirely drove the defcendants of
'/Anghis Khan out of Kathay, or North-China. Cam-
balu however wa? ilil] the refidence of the Great
Khan, where he refidcd for the fpace of three years.

The

f50

VOYAGES AKB

The province of Kathai (by which probably h
meant Kara-Kathay) has the kingdom of Thdrftr to
the eaft, and to the weft the empire of Turquefan
(Turkeftan). It contains many beautiful towns,
the principal of which is OSiofar (or Otrar). The
empire of Turquefcen'xs bounded on the weft (fouth-
weft) by Perfia, and on the north ion the weft) by Co-
rafine (Khuarefm). This empire is very large, and to
the eaft ward (to the northward) is contiguous to the
defart. It abounds in all kind of provifions} the ca-
pital is alfo called Cora/me (alias Khuarefm, or, ac-
cording to Abulfeda, ko^kang), It is bounded on
the weft (north-weft) by the empire of Kommania,
which is very extenfivc, but not fo well inhabited;
for in fomc places there is an infupportable iieat, and
in others as intolerable a degree of cold j the fwarms
of flies, too, vyhich infeft this country, render it un-
inhabitable.

IX. Francifco Balducci Pofglettt^ an Italian, wrote
in the ye?ir 1335, a fyftem of commercial geo;^!.:phy,
of great importance, confidering the period in which
it was Written : the title is ; Di divifament't di paejiy
( di Mefure, di mercatanziet cd altre cofe hifognevoli di
fapere a mer^aiantii di diverji parti . del morido*. No
hiftorian has hitherto profited by this treatii'o. Pro-
feflbr Sprengel has been the firft to make ufe of it in
his Extent aiid Imrafe of Geographical Knowledge,
We (hall therefore :r""rt here a tranflation of that
part of it which rel; .<> ko qur prefeiit Mndertaking,
entire, and without any abridgment j he calls it,
Avifamento del viaggio del Gatiap per lo Cammino della
Tana ad andam etornare con mercatanzia^ i. e. an indi-
cation of the route that may be taken with merchan-
dife from Tana (or Azof), to Gattay, (Kathay, of
North China) and from thence |?ack again.

* This Commercial Geography has been reprinteil entire in a book
v/hcre one would hnrilly think of looking foi it, viz. in the 31! vol. ot
the work intitled Della Dedma t J'.lla mitre gravezze. Lijbona e Lucca,

«(

cc
<(

«* In

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 151

** In the firft place from Tana (ov Azof ) tc Gi«-
tarchan (i^ (or AltiAhan) it is twenty-five nays
journey with waggons drawn by oxen ; but with
waggons drawn by horfes it is only ten or twelve
days journey. On the road one meets with a
great number of armed MoccoU (Mogols.) From
Gintarchan to Sara (2), by the river, it is but one
day's fail j but from Sara to Saracanca (3), it is
eight days journey by water j one may, however,
travel either by land or water, whichever is moft
agreeable; yet, with merchandife, it is cheapefl
to go by water. From Saracanco to Organci (4)
it is twenty days journey travelling with camels.
Whoever travels with merchandife will do well to
go to Organci-, it being a convenient country for
the expeditious fale of goods. And from Organci
to Oltrarra (5) it is thirty-five or forty days jour-
ney with camels. But in going from Saracanco
flraight on to Oltrarra, it takes up fifty days

(1) Gintarchany or Zintarchan^ is by Jofaf>hat Barbart tllb ra|le4
Citarchan ; and fViijen fays, in his Noord en Otji TartaryCy pa. 709,
jtflracatt vtas van euds genaenit Citracan, i.e. Adrakan was anci«
ently call«d Cttracan, By the Caimucks it is called Hadfcht A.dar Kbam
Balgajfun^ or the city of Ha'ifchi Aidi^r Khan; whence all thole uamek
are derived, of Ziiarkhan^ Sfttraihatiy and jljlrakhan.

{i) Sara is undoubtedly the town of •'^aray^ fo often fpoken of abovcj
and fituaied <m the eaftcrn arm ( the Wolga, or Atbtuba The 4ftra'
r/'j«r mentioned by Balducci PegiUtii, wi< ivot on the fane (pot where
that town (lands now, but the amieni AUrachan was demolilhed together
with <S(^) ray, by the Emperor Timur, in the winter of 1395. The t^ld
town of Saraj was pretty near the ancient Aftrukhan,

(3) Saracanco is very probably the town formerly exining on the river
Jaik, or U<aly the remains of whichare iiill called Siratfhik

(4) It is eafy to recognize Organci in the town of Unen^ in Kheu>
carel'm. This place i« called likewife by Abulfeda, DJchordfchanta,
and by the Perfuns, Ktriang. But there were two towns of this name,
viz. the Great and the Leffer (frgena. The one v/as very near the place
where the Giknn difcharj^es itlelf into lake Aral, this was culled Old
Urghenz'- another of this name, called Nenu UrgheH%^ U to be found
near Cbiiva, on the Gikun.

(5) Oltrarre is properly called Otrary and alfo Farah^ which latter
name is to be found in fo early a writer as Abulfeda. It is fituated oa
the ri^er Sihon^ or Sirr. The Chincfe, who cantiot pronounce the letter
r, mH it Uitala,

** journey j

1 ■■

K
v^'.

"^:

I ?^

1S«

VOYAGES AND

** journejr ; and if one has no merchandife, it is z
** better way than that by Organci. From Oltram
** to ArmaUcco (6), it is forty -five days journey tra-
<' veiling with afies, and in the road one meets every
« day with Moccols (Mogols). From ArmaUeco to
'* Canuxu (7) it is feventy days journey on aflfes, and
** from Canuxu to a river called Kara Morin (8) it
** is fifty days journey on horfes. From this river
** the traveller may go to Cajfai (9), to difpofe of
** his loading of filver there, this being a very good
** country for the expeditious fale of merchandize^
*' and from Cajfai he goes, through the whole land
*' of Gattay with the money he has received at
•• CafTai for his fdver ; this money is paper money*
** called Babtfihiy four of which Babifchies make a
•* filver Sotnno, From Cajfai to Gamaiecco (10),
*' which is the capital of the land of Cattail it is 30
♦* days journey."

If the reader has any idea of the difficulty attend-
ant on making out fo many names of places difguifed
by ? vicious orthography, a difficulty which is ftill
more ir.':reaftd by the neceffity there is for determin-
ing with accuracy the fituaticn of thefe places, and
thuir probable diftarice fiom each other, he will per-
haps be ready to allow, that the tafk is certainly not
very trifling, nor to be accompliihed without much
labour.

(«) ^Irmaleut it the name of a town called Almalig^ which, accord-
iXMf to ^Ja^r Eftufi^ and Ulugbbeghy ii in Turke/ian. From Scberfeddin
yi..y (he author of thfiiifeof TV'Mvr, itappesrt, that this^/ma/^; isfitu-
l^ted between the town of Tafchkent and the river Irtiich, in the country
of GeU^ on the banks of the river Ab'Eile^ which at this very day dif-
cbargeii itfelf into the 5/fl«, or Sirr-Darim.

(7) Came-xu i* probably nothing more than the name of Khame, or
JfChfimi, with the addition of xu^ inftead of TfcttUy which in the Chi-
nefi I in^uage rignit>8 a town.

(3) '.'he river nbt. 'e-memir..ied is don''tJcfs the ICara Morin^ i. e.
}'l,ire Jlj.Tan, but which the Chinefe call Hiang-ht,

(9) Kir^Vii feems to be the place called Kijen^ on the northernnnoft
wiiioing o' the Htcng "'u

(10) Gamaiecco is without doubt Camialigf or Peking) in like mano
ne; Zi Caltajf b y ut for Kataj,

Balducc'i

•fHV

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. 153

Balducci Pegtltiti certifies alfo the exigence of tlie
paper money in China, previoufly mentioned by
Huyfiroick^ JHaitho, Marco Polo^ and Oderic of Por-
tifiaUf which fome of the above au'hors 'iefcribc as
being made of cotton paper ; others, on the contra-
jfv, remark very juftly, that it is made of the baric of
the mulberry-trre. Oderic of Portcnau calls it Balht
Balducci Fcgokti Bali/ch* ; Mandevllle fays it is made
of leather. A Jefiiit named Gabriel de Magaillans^
pretends, that: Marco PoU was miftalcen with regard
to the paper-money : but it is pretty clear, by the
teftimonies of about fix travellers, eyc-witnefles to
the fa£l, that fuch paper-money adlually did exifl in
the times of the Emperors of the Mogul race, or of
the regal tribe of Yuy and then only, having been
aboliihed afterwards.

X. John Schildtbergeri from Munich in Bavaria,
went from Hungary, A. D. 1394, with the army of
king Sigifmund, againft the 1 urks, but in 1395 was
taken prifoner by them, and by Bajazet I, or, as he
conftantly writes it, IVeyafit, who reigned from 1389
1402, was fent into Alia. On Bajazet's being
jfeated and made captive by Timur, i>child:berger
wa« taken prifoner likewife, and accompanied the
Emperor Timur in his expeditions ; and even in the
Jail, during which he died, in the year 1405, at
Otrar, or Farah, though Schildtberger fays, that he
died in his capital of Samarkant. He- was afterwards
with Scharoch (SchahRokh), and remained with the
auxiliaries which Schahrokh left with his brother
Miranfchah to fight again ft Kara-yofeph, a Turkoman-
nian Emir, of the black-weather tribe. Miranfchah
having been beheaded by order of Kara-Jofeph,
Schildtberger followed Jbubachir (Abubekr), Mi-
ranfchah's fon. With Abubekr there lived a Ton of
a king of Great Tartary, of the name of Zegra.
This Zegra received a mellage from Edigi '^- (Aideku,
Ideku, or Yedighey-Khan), purporting that he

would

* About thU time many abufes had got footing amongfl the gohL-n tribe
on the Wolga. Mamay and 7tdighei^ had not, il is true, the title nf flic

Great

J54

VOYAGES AKD

vrould give up to him the fovereignty over Kaptfcbak,
Zegra (etting out on this occafion for Great Tartary,
Schildtberger and four others went along with him.
Their route carried them through Stranat which pro-
duces |ood filk ; then through Gurfty (Gurghia, or
Georgia), where there arc Chriftians } after this into
the country of Lahinfchamt where ftlk isalfo cultivat-
ed } and then through another called Schurban (Schir-
wan), where the fulc is produced, from which ftlk
ftuffs are made at Damafcut and Kaffer, Next they
paffed through a town called Bur fa (the mountain of
<tl Burs) which is fituated In Turkey *, and from
whence the fine filk.is fent to Venice and Lucca, of
which velvet is made : this is an unhealthy country :
then through another called Temur capit (Demirkapi,-
or Derbend), that is, in the I'artarian tongue, the
Jron-Gatgy which feparates PerUa from Tartary.
Then he went through a town of great ilrengtn,
called OrigenSi fituated in the middle of the water of
Edil. After this he paflcd through a mountainous
country, called Setzahty in which there are many
Chriilians, who have a Bifhop, and fome Carthufian'
Monks, who, hovrevcr, do not perform the church
iervice in the Latin, but in the Tartarian language,
to the end that the common people may underftand
what is fung and read. They were now come into
Great 7 artary to Edigi, who had fent word to Zegra
to come over^ and that he would give him the crown.
This Edigi bad juft at that jun6lure aiTembled all
his troops, and was going to march them into the:
land of Ihifftbur (BiiTibur, or liTibur). They were
obliged to march for the fpace of two months before
they could reach it. In this country there is a range

Oieat Khan of the goKicn tribe in Kaptlchak, but tbey had in i%€t the
power in their hand», and fet Khans from imong the royal family on the
(hrone, an<t depored them again at their pltal'ure. They were defcend'
»nts of Tufthin Khaa ; it is therefore uo wonder, that after Timur's
death, Tedighei Khan ihould endeavour to raife ?egra to the throne,
who was of royal defcent.

* It is evident, that Schildlbcrger miftikcs here the mountain -^/fiar*
for the (own of Burjoy which was fituaitd in thole pans, and which at
t|ul lime belonged \o tb^ Turkifli Sultaoi of ibe race of Ofmao.

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. 155

of mountains, of 32 days journey in length, and at
the end of it is a defart, which is the end of the earth.
The defart is uninhabitable on account of the reptiles
and wild bead's with which it is infclled. In the
mountains there are favages roaming about, who are
hairy all over, excepting on the face and hands.
They live on green leaves and roots, and on what-
foever slfe they can get at. In thefe mountains alfo
there are wild alTes as big as horfes, together with
other wild beads. I'he dogs in this country are
made to'draw carts and fledges, and fcrve their maf-
ters likewife for food. 1 hey are as b'g as aifes.
The inhabitants of J^bur believe in Chrul, They
bury their young people who die in celibacy, with
munc and rejoicing, and eat and drink on their graves.
In this country they cultivate nothing but beans, and
never eat any bread, Schildtbc.ger likewife obferves,
that he faw all this bimfelf, when he was with Zegra,
the king's fon.

Having conquered Bijpbur^ they went to W(ihr
(Bulgar, or Wolgar) and conquered that alfo ; and
then returned into their own country. It is a -cuf-
toni obtaining in that country, that the King of
'Great Tartary has an Ohmnnn over him, who has the
power to clc6r a King and to difmifs him ; and alfo
has power over the Lords of the land : this dignity
was at that time in the hands of Edigi ; and the
king, together with the Qbmann, all the nobility,
and the whole people, with their wives and children,
wano'er up md down, winter and fummer, with
their cattle and their whole property, in huts,
which amounts to ^bout the number of one hundred
thoufand.

Now there was at that time a king in Great Tar-
tary, named Schu^ichbocbetiy or Kcm (Schadibeck-
Khan) the fon of Timur Utluck^ the grandfon cf
Timur-melik-a^len, and great grandfon of Urus-Kh/in -,
hs reigned from 1401 to 1406. The inftant he heard
that Edigi was t.pproaching, he took flight, but was
purfued and killed in the fkirmifh. Edigi g&vc h m a
jucceiTor, named PoI(it (Pulad-Khan, fon of Schadi-

beck).

»S6

VOYAGES AND

.1', ■

beck). He reigned for the fpace of a year and a half
(from 1406 to 1408). After him Segel Alladie [Zidy
Khan, the fon of Tokatmyfch, )r Toktemyfch-Khan)
got poflelfion of the throne : but he was foon driven
away by Timlr, the brother of Polat (Timur-Khan^
fon of Timur-Utluck) who reigned 14 months. His
brother Thtbak, taking the field againft him, with a
view to difpute the fovereignty with him, killed him,
notwithftanding which he never attained to the
throne, but his brother, Kerunhardm, afcended it,
who however reigned but five months. Theitak now
endeavoured to diipoflefs his brother of the fovereign-
ty ; but he did not enjoy it long ; for at this junc-
ture came Edigt, and let up Zegra in his place. But
Zegra was Khan only for nine months, for Machmet
(Moharrmed-Khan, fon of the above-mentioned Tf-
mur KhcHy and grand fon of Timur Utluck) fought a
pitched battle with Edigl and Zegra, in which the
iirft was taken prifoner, and the fecond fled into a
country called Kejiihlpfchah (Defcht-Kiptfchak.)
But Macbmet was in his turn driven away by Wa-
r6ch\ from whom, however, foon after, Machmet re-
took his dominions, which were a fecond time taken
from him by Doblaberd, who kept poflefHon of theni
but three days, when he was in his turn dethroned
by JVarocb, He was, however, afterwards killed by
Machmet y who aflumed the fovereign power : now
Zegra endeavoured to feat himfelf once more on the
throne, but he was killed; and Schildtberger, with
the four other Chriflians, attached themfelves to
Manujlzufcb, who had been Zegra's council ^r, and
who went on his journey to Ka^'a in Crimea, where
there are Chriftians, and where there are fix different
religions prevalent among the people. After a ftay of
five months in Kaffa, Manu/izufcb crofTed an arm 0/ the
Black Sea (the flraits of Zabake) into a country call-
ed Zeckchas (Zilchia) where he remained fix months.
But the Sultan of Turkey fent to the fovereign of
the country, requefting him not to allow Manujhufcb
to flay in his dominions. He therefore went into the

land

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 157

land of ^tf^riV/ (Mangrill, or Mingrclia). Schildt-
berger and his Chriftian companions now refolved
to return home, as they were at the diftance onl/
of three days journey from the Black Sea; they
tooic leave therefore of Manu/izufchy and going to
the capital of the country 01 Bathan (Bedian, Be-
dias) defired they might be conveyed acrofs the fea,
which was, however, refufed them : upon this they
rode four days along the coaft, till at length the/
efpied a Kokan (or (hip) which was at the diftance of
about eight Italian miles from the ihore. They then
made a fignal to the fhip by means of fire, which
thereupon fent people to them in a zulUn (boat) to
whom they made themfelves known ; and having,
by rehearfing the Lord's Prayer, Ave-Maria^ and the
C5reed) proved themfelves to be Chriftians, and the
men having^arried an account thereof to the Captain
of the (hip, thev came back with zullen (boats) to
fetch them. After going through many dangers, they
landed at laft at Conftantinople, where they were well
received by the Grecian Emperor (Johannes PalseO'-
logus), who fent them in a galley to the caille of
Gilt (Kilia), on the lower end of the Tbonauw (or
Danube). Schildtberger having parted with his
friends, went with fome merchants to a town called
JVbitetown (Akkierman, Afprokaftro, Tfchetat-alba,
Belgorod) which is fituated in Walachia. From
thence he went to the capital of the Lcfler Walachia
(Moldavia), called Sedhof (Sutfchawa, formerly the
capital of all Moldavia). Then they came to a town
called in the German tongue Lubich (Lwow, or
Lemberg) which is the capital of all White Ruflia),
where Schildtberger lay fick for near three months ;
and, finally, he went by the way of Cracow^ the
capital of Bolen (Poland), and Prefsla (Breflau), the
capital of Silefta^ thr' i^gh Mifnioy. Eger^ Ratijbon,,
and Freyjingeriy back to Munich, having been from
home upwards of thirty-two years.

m--&

This

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I.I

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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

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C/j

IS8

VOYAGES ANO

This narrative of SchiKItberger's furniflies tisf
with many particulars which afcertain the fituation
of Tartary at that time. The fucceffion of the
Khans of Khaptfchak is very deferving of our atten-
tion ; as is alfo the following circumilance, y\x*
that we no longer find any mention made of Saray
and AJirakhan ; for if I am not miftaken, his Origens
is Agrachan, As to his faying that it ftands in the
middle of the EdtU or Wolga^ this is probably a
miftake, for Edil fignifies any river whatever; in
fa6l, AJirakhan^ as well as Sarayy has already been
demolilhed by the Emperor Timur, about the year
1595. He fpeaks of the wild afles in the moun-
tainous defarts, and the dogs which were harneffed
to fledges. The town IfTtbur, or Bijftbur, is the an-
cient Ruffian town of Ijoorjk. In ihort, he muft be
allowed to be a fenfible writer, and «#man of ve-
racity,

XI. The ambafTadors of the Emperor Timur*s fon,
Schah Rokhy in the year 1420, went from Herat, the
refidence of Schah Rokhy to Kathai, to the court of
the Emperor Tonglo, and had audience of him*
This journey has been defcribed by the famous
Perfian hiftorian. Emir Khond (or Emik-'Khovandy or
Mirchond), in his book " of the wonders of the
** world.'* The worthy Burgomafter of Amfterdam,
Nicholas Witjen *, has inferted this journey, tranflated
from the Perfian language into the Dutch, in the fe-

* This remarkable work o^ Nichclat Witfen is very rare, either of the
two editions of it being extremely feidom to be met with; iox JVitJ'en
fuppreflTed this work from motives with which we are not acquainted.
This is the realbn why it is fo teidom to be found even in large collec-
tions of books. The library of our Uniwerfity is in polTeflion of a copy of
it) which formerly belonged to the Emprefs of Rufiia*s library, and was
purchafedfbr the faid libiary, at the fale of the late M. Thunman's el-
ie£ts, for eighty rixd.. liars. I have now the pleafure to inform the
pubiick, that Schaahcamp the bookfeUer at Arafterdam, has at length
procured from the heirs of fVitfen the remaining copies of this book,
together witn the plates ; and according to the advices I have received
from Amfterdam, he imcnds to accornmodate the pubiick with it in the
month of May ; but at the fame time I am informed " that it will not
*' appear in fo com(>Icat a ftaie as that of the genuine imprcffion," though
it will be fet off with a new preface, and " with as many plates as iho
** editors have b«ca able to find.'*

cond

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. i^f

cond edition of his excellent woric, intitled Nord en
Ooji Tartarye., from page 435 to 452. We will herd
give an extract of the moit interefting part of it.
And though this journey was not undertaken by
Italians, yet as, like all the other travels inferted
above, it throws fome light on the interior parts of
the North of Afia, with which we have hardly the
leaft acquaintance, we think ourfelves juftined in
prefenting it to our readers, as an important addition
to the common ftock of knowledge with refpe<S to dif-
ferent countries and nations.

" The ambafladors of MirzaBchah Rokb, of whom
Shadi Kho'dfcha was the principal, fet out from Herai^
A. D. 1419, about the month of November, and
went to Balkh, In January 1420, they proceeded to
Samarkand^ from which place they did not depart till
February, when they went to Jaafchkent, and Afperah^
and immediately after came into the territory of the
Moguls : on the firft of April they arrived in P/V/-
gutu (Palchas?) a, place belonging to Muhammed BecL
They then went over the water of Z^w^tr (Abi-lenger,
Abi-longur) ; and vifited the Sultan Schadi Gurgahn^
the fon of Muhammed Beck, who received them kind-
ly ; and in' eight days after this they came to that dif-
trift which was the refidence of the yel, the tribe of
Schier Begrahm. This was a defart, where the cold
is fo intenfe, that even at the fummer folftice the
water is fometimes covered with ice two inches
thick. Some time after having learned that the
ambaiTadors of Oweys Khan had been attacked and
plundered, their fears occafioned them to travel over
the mountains with the greateft expedition, not>
withftanding that it rained and fnowcd continually,
infomuch that, by the 12th of May, they reached
the town of Turfan (Turkhan, Tarfaan, or Tark-
haan). The greateft part of the inhabitants here
were Idolaters, and worfhiped a large idol called
Schamku, which they kept in a temple. Two days
after this the ambaiTadors made their departure, and
in three days more came to Kharadziah ( Harafchar,
or Jfaraliif or rather Haracoja)^ Here they had

fcarcdv

.'5 '

'4 si

i6a

V O Y AG E S AND

fcarcely been five days, before there arrived foma
Kathayan fecretaries, who took down in writing the
names of the ambafTadors, and the number of their
retinue. Nine days after this they came to a town
called Naax (or Naar), where there are feveral
Zeijids, or defcendants of Mahomed, who are fettled
thereabouts at a certain place called Termed, In two
days more they came to the town of Kabul (Kamjl,
or Khamil), where the Mahometans have a fine
mofque, built by their fuperintendant Emir Fakhra
Eddien. From thence they travelled for the fpacp
of twenty' five days through a defart, during all
which time they came every fcCond day only to a
watering place. They alfo faw lions ther6, contra-
ry to the opinion of fome who pretend there are
no lions in Kathay ; they obferved likewife, a very
particular kind of wild bulls, called Gau Khottahs^
which were endued with fuch ftreiigth, as to be able
to , lift a man from oflF his horfe, and had very hairy
tails, which, are in great eftimation over all Afia i
they being by fome carried about on long poles by
way of ornament, and by others hung round their
horfes necks ; while on other occafions they are made
ufe of for fly-flaps. Next they came to a fmall
Kathayan town called Katafekt-Jcheu (Sektfcheu,
Schatfcheu) ; and the latter part o[ the journey hav-
ing been through the defart, where they were for the
fpace of ten days without water, they were met by
the order of the Emperor, in a pleafant green field,
by fome Kathayans. Thefe latter erefted tents for
them, and entertained them with roafted geefe, fowls,
and other forts c^f flefh-meats, as alfo with dif-
ferent kinds of fruits, dried and frefh, which were
ferved up to them in china difhes; ^fter their re-
paft they were regaled likewife with all forts of
inebriating liquors. The huts in which thefe en-
tertainments were given, were ornamented ■ with
green boughs of all kinds ; the entertainments,
however, were not fo elegant and expenfive as
thofe with which they were ufually welcomed in

large

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH* i6i

large towns. At this place very exaft lifts were
made of all the fervants belonging to the embafly,
the ambaflaciors being at the fame time very earneftly
requefted to ftate the exa£t number and no more,
and the merchants having been ftated in the num-
ber of fervants, were on that account obliged to
perform the fervices falling to their lot. The lift
of the fervants belonging to the Emir Khod/chaf
and to the amhalTador Kukfchah, amounted to two
hundred people j and that of Ardewahn to fifty.
The ambaffadors of Mlrza Ulug Beky the fon of
Schah Rokhy had fet out before; but thofe of Mtrza
Ibrahim Sultan *, were not as yet arrived. It is re-
markable, that amongft the many viands, fruits, and
liquors, that were fet before them, there was alfo a
pot of Chinefe tea, a potation which the jefuic
Trigault imagined had come into ufe of late years
only in China **.

Irom this place their route lay again through a
dcfart, in which, after fome days, they met with a
Karaivul***, or out-poft, which was not only very

* Mirza Ibrahim Sultan was alfo a fon of Schah Rokh, and his domi-
nions extended over the province ol Farsy the capital of which was
Schiras.

** Tea is called by the Chinefe Tfria, and its ufe is very ancient.
We have two Arabian authors, the one of which *viote A. D. 851, and
the other 867. The molt ancient of thefe mentions, that even at that
early period, the Chinele made frequent ufe of a 1 infufion of the leaves
of a (hrub, ^alled by them Sah^ or 7fc/:a ; and the ui'e of this herb muft
by this time have become abfolutely neceffary to the Chinefe, for th«
Emperor had a i;reat income from a tax he had laid upon tea *, a fai![Y,
which involves the fuppofition, that by long ufe, this |/lant was become
fo unavoidably nt'effary, that they might confidtntly venture to lay a
lax on it. Eufebius Kenaudot has publifhed a French tranflation of thefe
two Arabian writers of travels, the title of which is, j4ncievnet RJatimt
Jet Indet et Je la dine, traduilet de /' yJrabe far /' jibbs Rinaudot a
tar is. 1718. 8vo.

*** This Perfian word is alfo introduced into the Tartarian language,
and from thenc« the Ruflians have tranfplantcd it into theirs; for a guard,
or watch, is called in the RuiTun language, a karaul.

ftrongly

, 4

f«.

.14.! I'ivJ

• ♦

i. 1

ifl

l62

VOYAGES AND

ftrongly fortified, but alfo very full of pcopltr.
Now this was a pafs in the mountains through
which all travelleis muft unavoidably go. Here
their retinue was examined again. From this pafs
they came to the town of Natfchiu (Nang-tfieu,
Naatfieu), which is very large, and encompafled by
a flrong wall, and has many markets for all kinds
of merchandife and meat. The markets are very
clean fwept, and are laid with a ftrong cement of
ilucco. The four principal ftreets crofs each other
at right angles. From Nang-tfieu they came to
another town called Kamtfchu. After fome time
they came to the Abi Daraan (or the water of Daraariy
which immediately after is called Khararaan, and
probably ought to be Kcira-Moran), which they
crofled on a pont volant, or flying boat-bridge, and
came to a very fine town with magnificent tem-
ples } here they alfo found three houfes, with fome
elegantly dreffed and very beautiful public women
in them, moft of whom were natives. The Per-
fians called this town in their language [Rhofnabadd)
the habitation of beauty. After this they pafled
through fome more towns, and came to a river
which was twice as large as the Oxus (or Gihon),
and then they met with feveral more rivers, which
they crofled by means of bridges and ferry-boats,
till they arrived at Chiendienpuhr, a very large and
populous town ; there they faw a cafl: image of
yellow metal gilded, a hundred feet high, which
had a great number of hands, each of which held an
eye ; this image was placed on a pedeftal of po-
Jiftied ftone, and furrounded by fix tiers of baluf-
trades. At length, in December 1420, they reach-
ed the city Chaan-Balug (Khanbaligh). The work-
men here v/erc ftill occupied in building the walls
of the town, which is fquare ; and of which the
external wall meafures four miles on each fide.
The ambafl'adors being arrived at the imperial pa-
lace, which was very magnificent, were, after fome
tiine, prefented to the Emperor, and having taken
rcfrelhments, were difmifl'ed. Some days after, the

Emperor

ver.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 163

Emperor gave them an elegant entertainment, and
they were daily well received at court, where they
remained five months. The Emperor then made
prefents to the ambafTadors, and gave them alfo fome
other prefents for their mafters, which latter pre-
fents chiefly confifted of falcons. It is farther to be
©bferved, that each of the principal ambaflTadors was
prefentcd with feveral Balifch of filver ; hence it ap-
pears that a Balifch is either a coin or a weight ;
and as we have feen before, that the paper money
of the Zinghijkanides was alfo called Balifch, it feems
evident that thefe Balifch were pieces of filver of a
certain value; we know, however, that the amount
could not be very confiderable, as filver has al-
ways been fcarce in China, and the principal am-
baflador had only ten Balifch given him, while the
others received no more than feven or eighth Fi-
nally, I find alfo amongft the prefents many things
of which we have not the leaft knowledge ; and laft
of all, 2000 or 5000 Dzjau, or Tzjau, which Witffh
interprets to be an unknown fpecies of coin. It is
poffible, however, that Witfen may have been mif-
taken in this, juft as he was in the Balifches of fil-
ver, which he makes out to be head-pillows ; and
indeed to me it appears probable, that it was Tfcha^
or tea, of which we Ihould perhaps underltand
here, 2000, or 5000 Kafch, or Kanderins, i. e. cer-
tain very fmall Chinefe weights. But what is no
lefs remarkable, is that tin appears alfo here amongft
the prefents, in feventy> and twenty-four fmall
pieces.

Juft before the departure of the ambafTadors, one
«f the Emperor's favourite conforts happening to
die, great preparations were made for her funeral,
when the palace, which was quite new-built, and ja-
panned and gilded all over, was ftruck by lightning,
and, together with many out-buildings, burnt dow.n
to the ground. Thefe events aff"e<^ted the Emperor fo
n)uch, that he fell fick, and died of mere grief and
i'oi row ; and for the remainder of the time that the
Ambafladors ftaid there, his fon conducted the af-
fairs of the empire.

M 2 About

i64

VOYAGES AND

About the middle of May, 1421, the ambafladora
fet out again from Cbanbaligh., accompanied by fome
of the chief officers of the Empire, and were again
regaled in all the towns in the fame manner as they
had been in their way thither. In about a fortnight
they arrived at Sckaatty or Segaan (Sigan-fu) ; they
were likewife permitted to purfue their journey un-
interrupted, and without having their baggage fearch-
ed, as was otherwife ufually done. Thirty-five days
after this, they came to the river Kharamuran ; and in
nineteen days more they reached Khamtfm (Khant-
fcheu) ; here every thing was reftored to them, that
liad been taken from them by the Kathayans, when
they were on their road to the capital, as well
as what they had left there to be taken care of till
their return. In this town they ftaid feventy-five
days, and foon after came to Nangtfchiu. They did
not fet out again on their journey before the month
of January, 1412, when they came to Karaul, the
out poft before- mentioned, near the pafs in the
mountains. From the middle of January, to the
tenth of March, in order to avoid the bad roads,
they travelled with great difficulty and labour through
the defart, and reached, in fifty-five days, Chotan
(Khotcn, Hotum) about the beginning of May.
In the beginning of Auguft they came to Kha»
figf (Kafchar, or Hafiker). In fifteen days from
this, they arrived at Andegan (Andifchdan, or Dedf-
chan) i and In about twenty days more, reached
Herat, the refidence of ^chahrokh, in the firft part
of September, 1422.

This expedition is alfo remarkable, inafmuch as
the ambafl'adors returned by a road very different
from that by which they came; for the tracks of
thefe routes are in fome places nearly five degrees
of latitude diftant from each other. We find tea al-
A'ady in ufe here. We fee that at this period the paper
balil'ches are no longer ufed, filver balifches, which
however feem to be very fcarce, being made ufe of in
their (lead. Tin muft have been a commodity of

peculiar

rum
died

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 165

^/Ccullar value even amongft the Chinefc. We cannot
here avoid remarking with pleafure, the honorable re-
ception given by the Chinefe to the AmbaUkdors j the
particular attention with which they regiftered tJie num-
ber of their retinue ; and the exadt probity with which
they prefer ved, and reftored the things cntrufted to
their care. Finally, I muft obfervc farther, that gilt
and japanned dwelling-houfes, like the before-menti-
oned, muft necefllirily be very much expofed to thun-
der, as the gold afis as a condu6lor, and draws the fire
of the lightning flraight into the inner rooms, which
are compofed of wood, and varniflied with fo combuf-
tible a fubftance as lac, and where, confequently, it mult
hardly be poflible to extinguifh it."

Xn. yofophat Barbara^ a Venetian, was, by the
republic of Venice, in the year 1436, fent ambalfador
to Tana^ a town now called j^zof, which at that time
belonged to the Gemefe\ and alfo afterwards, viz. in
1 47 1, to Perfia, to VJfum Hajfan (alias Aflambei), at
that time a Turkomannian prince, of the tribe of the
white weather. He was fixteen years among the Tar-
tars, and on his return to his native country, gave an
account of both thefe his expeditions. This relation
has been printed in a fmall and fcarce colleftion,
publifhed by Antonio Minutio, at Jldus's prefs, at Ve-
nice, in 1543, and was afterwards inferted, by Gic-r
nianne Baptijld Ramufto^ in his large colle(ftion of tra-
vels, coniifting of three volumes in folio. It is to be
alfo found tranflated into Latin in the Scriptores re-
rum perficarum^ publifhed at Frankfort in 1607. He
died at a very advanced age in his native country,
in 1494.

The journey to Perfia to VJfun Hajfan containing
but few accounts of thofe parts which are the pecu-
liar objedls of our refearches, I fliall communicate
only fome fliort extradts from the firft journey to
Tantti or Azof.

\i I 1

Jofaphat

l6a

VOYAGES AN

m'M

yofaphat Barbara began his journey to Tana in 1 436*
and explored that country with great a/fiduity, and
fpirit of enquiry that does him honour, partly by land,
and partly by water, for the fpace of fixteen years.
The plain of Tartary is bounded on the Eaft by the
great river Ledil^ (vVolga) on the Weft by Poland,
on the North by Ruflia, and on the South by the
Great (or Black) Sea, Alania, Kumania, and Gazaria^
which altogether border on the fea of Tabacke (Zaba-
chi from 'lYchaback-Denghifli, i. c. the Brachfen Sea),
Alan'ia has its name from the people called Alaniy
who in their own language call themfelves As>. They
were Chriftians, and their country had been ravaged
and laid wafte by the Tartars (i. e. the Mogols).
This province contains mountains, rivers, and plains,
in which latter are found many hills made by the hands
of men, and ferving for fepulchral monuments ; on
the top of each of them is a large ftone with a hole
in it, in which they fix a crofs, which is likcwife made
of a piece of llone. Thefe fepulchral monuments are
innumerable ; and it is faid, that fometimes there are
great treafures buried in them. But it is no years
iince the religion of Mahomet was introduced amongft
the Tartars (or rather Mogols) ; before that period,
indeed, there were forae Mahometans here, but, at the
iame time, every one was permitted to follow what-
ever religion he pleafed. In confequence of this fome
worshipped wooden images, and idols of fir, which
they carried about with them on their carts ; but the
compulfion to the Mahometan religion take its date
from the time of Hcdighi (alias Edigi, and Jedighei),
v/ho was a general of the 1'artarian Emperor Sida-
hametb Khan. '^I'his Hcdighi was the father of Nau-
rus, of whom Jofapbat relates, that in his days Ulu-
Adahwneth (i.e. the great Mahomet) was Khan. But
this Nauriis happening to have fome milunderftanding
with the Emperor, went with the Tartars that adhered
to him, to the river Ledil (i. e. the Wolga), where
triere was one cf tliC Emperor's relations called

Kbezk

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 167

J^hezi MahametJ i. e. little Mahomet. Thefc two
refolved to wage war againft Ulu Mahameth: Accord-
ingly they marched by Giterchan (or Aftrakhaii) and
through the plains ofTumen (i. e. the great Defart ex-
tending between the Wolga and the Don, quite to
the Caucafus), clofe to Circirffia, and turned off to
the river Tana (or Don)- and to the fea Tabache
(Tfchabaki), which was frozen over, as was the river
Tana> They marched in different parties, and at a
confiderable diftance from each other, in order to Hnd
food for their cattle ; fo that fome of them eroded
the Don at a place called Palajira^ while others
croflcd this river where it was covered with ice, near
Bofagaz^ which two places arc at the diftance of
J 20 miles from each other. They came upon JJlu-
Mahumeth fo uncxpc6lcdly, that he fled with his wife
and children, and left every thing in confufion behind
him } when Khezi-Mahomed became Emperor in his
flcad, and in the month of June croflcd the Don
again.

Going from Tana weft-wards, along the coaft of
the fea of Tabache to the left, and then for fome dif-
tance along the- Great (or Black) Sea,* quite to the
province of Mengleria (or Mingrelia) ; one arrives
after three days journey along the fea, at" the province
of Chremuch (otherwife Kremuk, and Kromuk), the
fovereign of which is called Biperdiy i. e. Deodati,
Etven by God y and his fon is called Chertibei (or
Khertibey), i. c. the true and real Lord. He is in
pofleffion of a ♦beautiful country, adorned with fertile
fields, a great number of fine woods, and confiderable
rivers. He can raife about a thoufand horfe. The
great people of this country live on plundering the
caravans. Their horfes are good, the people thcm-
felves valiant, and very artful ; they have nothing
ftrange in their appearance. This country abounds
in corn, as alfo in meat and honey ; but produces
no wine. Beyond this province are others, which
have a different language, and are not far from each
other, viz. 2. Elipehs (Chippichc, Kippike) 'X, Tatar-

kofia

*»!

)■ ■.

i68

VOYAGES AND

kofia (otherwife Tatakofia, TitarcofTa, Tatartofia, Ta-
tartupia), 4. ^ohai^ 5, Chenerthei othcrwife Chcucrthci,
Khewcrthci, Kha^batei, Khabarthei, Khabarda), 6, As^
i. c. the Alani. Thefe provinces extend for the fpace
of twelve days journey quite to MengUria (Mingre-
Ua). This Mingrelia borders on the Kaitacchi (or
Chaitaki) who live about the Cafpian mountains,
partly alfo near Giorpanioy and on the fhorcs of the
i3Iack Sea, and on the range of mountains which ex-
tends into Circaflia. On one fide it is encompaflcd
alfo by the river Phafu!^ which empties itfelf into the
Black Sea. The fovereign of this province is called
Bendian (Dadiau), and is in pofTeflion of two fortifi-
cations near the fea, the one of which is called Fathi
(Badias), and the other Savn/hpoU^ (otherwife Sabafto-
poli, alfo Ifguriah, or Dioflcurias) j and befides thefc^
he has fcvsral other caftles and fortified rocks. The
whole country is ftony and barren, and produces no
other kind of corn than millet. They get their fait
from Kaffe, They manufa<Sture fome dark fiuffs, and
are a beuttly people. In this country, white is called
Tetarti, and properly fignifies filver coin j in like man-r
ner the Greeks call lilyer coin Jfpro, the Turks Akeia^
and the inhabitants of Zagathai, Tengb^ all of which
fignifies white i hence, as well at Venice as in Spain,
certain coins are ftill called Bianchl, This lafl: obfer-
vatlon exhibits a furprizing conformity of fo many
different nations to call one and the fame thing by a
name of the fame, or fimilar import).

" Now going from Tanna acrofs the river, along the
fea of Tahache^ to the right hand from the mouth of
the Don quite unto Kaffa^ one comes to an iilhmus
■which connects the ifland with the main land, and is
called Xiichala j fimilar to that which connedls the Mo-
rea with the continent, and is called EnimlUia. Here
arc large fait lakes, in which the fait cryftallizcs.

*.^ Going into the peninfula, on the fea of Tahachcy
the firft province one comes to is Kuman'ia named
thus after the people called Kumanians. Then fol-
lows.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOHTH. 169

lows the chief province, which is called Gazzuria
(Chazaiia) where alfo Kaffa is. The ell (pico), by
which in thofe parts, and even in Tana., every thing
is meafured, is called, from this country, the Gazzarimi
fcll (pico de Gazzar'ta).

" The low country of the Ifland of KafFa is go-
verned by Tartars, wKo have a fovereign called Vlubiy
the fon of Azicharei. They are able, in cafe of need,
to bring into the field three or four thoufand horfc.
They poflefs two walled, but not ftrong, places ; the
one, Sorgathi *, (Solgathi), is by them alfo called
Jncremia (Chirmia), which fignifics a fortification ;
the other, Cherchiarde**^ (Kerkiarde) means, in their
language, forty places. On thq Ifland, even on the
piouth of the fea oiTabaccha^ is a town called Cberz ***,
(Kerfch, or Kars), which by the Italians was called
^ofpljorus Cimmenus. Then comes Kaffa f, SaU
flaia tf, (alias Soldadia, Soldaja, more properly Sug^
daja, and at prefent Sudak, or Sudag), Grafui |tt»
(or Grufui) Cymbalo X^ (Cjmbalo, Symbolpn Hormos^

* Sorj^atH Is the pliee which Abulfcda, previous to this author, hid
failed Solgety or Kir m\ it is at prefect called EJkikjrymy i. e. the Old
Citadel.

** Keriiertfa is the Kerkr't of Abulfeda, iituated on an inacccfliblc
mountain, and figniHcs, in the Turkifh language forty men Som«
call the place Kjrk, and the Poles give it the name *f Kirkje!. Thi«
was a cadle belonging to the Jews, or Goths, who dwelled in thefe
mountain*, and of whom but a (hort time fince there we-e Come tracec
remaining ; they had a language pf their own, \vhich contained Vitny
vords common to it and the German.

*•* Kerz. is cyen now called Kerfchy and was the ancient Pautiia'
fttum of the Bofphorian kings, and lb early as in Philip of Macedonia
time bore the name of Bofphorus. It is the Ql-Kart of Abulfeda.

'I' Kaffa^ or Kapha, is nearly on the fame fpot. where, in the times
of the Greeks and Romans ftood the town of TheeJofia.

•f"(" SalJaiffwas fo early as jn Abulfeda's time called Hutfak^ as, in-
deed, it is at prefent ; it was formerly very famous, and a, town of great
trade.

•ff-f- Crafui is a place at prefent em ircly unknown ; it, however,
probably Hood where now, under the denomination of Krufimuftn^ thtip
feem to rrmain fome traces of the name.

;|; Cimbalo is certainly ivfx^oXwv >.i^iav, and is the haibour of Bulukm
iawa qf the mP^ernb.

'It

170

VOYAGES AM

or Limen), Sarfina*, (orCherfon) and Kalamiia**i
All thefe places are at this prefent time fubjeft to the
Turks. — Farther on from Kaffa, in the Ifland ^^cre
it is encompafled by the Black Sea, lies Gothia, and
Hill farther Alania^ which is fituated without the Ifland,
towards Moncaftro ***. The Goths fpeak. Ger-
man : I know it from this circumftance, that when
the fervant whom I had with me, and who was a
GeiTnan. fpoke with them, they imderftcxi him to-
lerably well, juft as a native . of Ftirli in th6 Pope's
dominions might underftand a Florentine f , From

this

* SarfoH (otherwlfe 5jr/awa, Scherfon^ and Sthurfchi) was formerly
cnlled CherjoH Trachea^ and the foundations of it were laid almoll 6oe
jears before the birth of Chrift, by the inhabitants of Heraciea in PontuS'
It was alfo called Ctcrfonejus^ i. e, the Peninfula, for thereby was meant
the whole of the P'-iinfula between this harbour of Chcrfon, and that of
Symboton, which was entir'iiy inhabited by Greeits. The Ruffians took
Ihe town in the reign of W.adimir tie Great, and in their ancient an-
m!s cal! it KorfuH.

*♦ Kalamita appears to me to be an adulteration of the word Kli-
inatft. For all thofe towns which 'jnfaphat Barbare names, from Kaffa
to Cherfcit, belonged formerly to the fortified cadles and towns called

•*• Moncaftro is a place at the mouth of the Dniefter, which the
Tnrks at this prefent time call Ak-kiennan ; the Wallachians, I'fchetat
Mha\ the Ruffians, Belgortdt, the Greeks, Aff>ri> Kafir o \ and the
Genoefc, 350 years ago, called it Moncaftro, Now all thefe different
•ppellations htve their origin in the name given lo this place by the Ro-
mans, who called it y^/ia yji/'tf.

•f* This circumftance is worthy of obfervation. Kuyjhroecl had before
lemarLed it, (our Author remarks it too) and fo does Bufieck. Father
AlobnJorf met with many of the (laves in the galleys at Conftantinople,
who were defccnded from the Goihs, and fpoke a lanj"^ge very like
theCernian. Now, at this time, v.hen Ruffia is in pc.offion of tl\e
Crimei, it is to be witTitd, that the few remaining traces of the Gothic
language may be inquired after, and particularly, that ftrift fearch may
b<; made amorsg the relic's of this Gothic people, which muftftill dwell
loirrwhere in the Crimea. This language would ferve to explain and
jiiullrnie the few remains Wv poffefs oi" Bilhop C/^/<7r's tranflation of
the wiolpel into Gothic ; while the names and curtoms of this peopl?,
ifigether with miny of their f hrafes, and peculiar turns of exprcffion,
would throw great 1 ght on the manners and ciiftoms of the auciept
'Jerrsans. Nay, it is poffibU^, that fome famiiies of the flift raiik
nmon^; them m ly have preferved to this day feveral bookR, the findinsj of
f'liich would pruvc a very important diftovery indeed, Ou» ingenious

travelleir

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 171

\hi$ vicinity between the Goths and Alanians, originates,
as I imagine, the name of Gotitalani, The Alanians
were the firft inhabitants j the Goths came at a later
period, and conquered tlipfe countries, and, as the two
nations mingled with eac other, this mixed name like-
wife came into ufe. All thefe profefs the Greek reli-
gion, as do likewife the Tfcher kaftans.

And as I have before made mention of Tumen and
Githercan (which latter is otherwife called Citracan and
Aftrakhan) I will relate fome remarkable circumftances
concerning them. Going from TtimeK eaftwards, and
to the fouth-weft, feven days joi--ney, one arrives
at the river of l,edil (otherwife the Erdir, Erdil, Atel,
Athol, and Wolga) on the banks of which is fituated
Githercan^ a little, infignificant town (terrazuola, ter-
rlciola) laid wafte, as it were, and in ruins. Formerly
it was very confiderable and celebrated ; a^ before
the devaftation of it by Tamerlane, the fpices and filks,
which go to Syria, were carried by Githercan, and fo
to Tana, from whence they were fetched, by fix or
feven large gailies to Venice j for at that time no other
nation befides Venice traded to Syria. The Edil is
a large and very broad river, which difcharges itfelf
into the fea of Baku^ 25 Italian miles below Gither-
Both in this fea and in the river, innumerable

£an.

fifh are taken. In this fea (which is likewife tolera-
bly fait) there is a great number of fifti, like Tunnies
(Morone) and fturgcons (Schenali). One may fail
up this river to within three days journey from Mufco
(Mofcow, or Mofkwa) mRuJJia. The inhabitants of
Mufco go with their Ihips every year to Githercan
to fetch fait : and down to this place the pafiage is

traveller here compares the difference between the language of a Goth
nt Crimea, and that of a German, to the difference between the dialcft
of the inhabiunts of Furli in the Pipe's dominions, who train out their
v<ords in the pronunciation to a great length, and tliat of the Floren-
tine?, who ipealc fiom the throat; both which people, though thty ai«
near neighbours, yet fpeak very different dialet^s, but at the fame time
liii e able to comprel.cad each oih^r.

eafy,

17*

VOYAGES AND

cafy» as the r'lvrr Mofco runs into the ^cca, and thif
again into the ErdiL In this river there are a great
many iflands and forefts j fome of the iflands are 30
miles in circumference, and the woods contain trees
of fuch a fize, that one of them when hollowed out,
will make a boat, which will take eight or ten horfes,
and twice as many men to draw it. Croffing the
river, and going 1 5 days journey to the north-weft of
Mofco., along the fame river, one meets with innu-
merable hordes of Tartars. But, if one travels to
the north-ward, and reaches the confines of Ruflia,
one arrives at a fmall town called Rifan (or Rezan)
which belongs to a relation of the Crrand Duke of
Ruflia, John. The inhabitants of it are all Chrifti-
ans, and follow the ufages of the Greek Church. The
country abounds in corn, fiefh, honey and other good
tilings. They Ukewife import Bojfa * here, which is
a kind of beer. In this country there are woods and
villages in great number. Somewhat farther ftill, is a
town called Colona (or Colonna), The fortifications of
both places are made of wood, of which materials like-
wife all the houfes are built, a? nothing is feen in thefo
parts built of ftonc or bricks, Three days journey
farther on is the province of Mofco, where John,
Duke of Ruffia, refides. Through this province runs
the river Mofco (Mofkwa, or Mofcow) which in feve-
rai places has bridges over it, and from which in all
probability the country takes its name. The cattle is
fituated on a hill, and is encompafl'cd round about
with woods. 1 he fertility of the country with re-
fpe6t to corn and flefli, may be underftood, from
this circumftance, that fieih is not fold by weight,
but they give it out in large p^eces, as much as
would weigh four pounds. Seventy hens may be
bought for a ducat, (from four to five (hillings each.

* At this prefent time they have In Rnflia iin inebriating; liquor, prcr
pared from millet, which is tailed C ^, and is very heady- ^ his pro-
bably is ^what is meant here by our au ikt,

though

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 173

though the value varies in Italy according to the
different provinces) and a goofe is worth three mar-
ketti or little marks (i. e. fomewhat lefs than a
penny). It is very cold in this country, fo that even
the river freezes over. In winter they carry to mar-
ket oxen and other beafts, ready flaughtered, and
with their entrails taken out, and fet them on their
feet, which are frozen as hard as a (lone, in fuch
numbers, that if any one chofe to buy up 200 of
them it might eafily be done ; as to cutting them
up, it is impofTible, for being as hard as marble,
they are delivered out whole. As to fruit, one meets
with none, except a few apples, nuts, and fmall
walnuts. When they have a mind to travel from one
place to another, efpecially when the diftance is ve-
ry great, they travel in winter, as at that time every
thing is frozen : they then travel very comfortably,
excepting the inconveniences arifing from the cold.
At this feafon of the year they take with them on
their Sani (or fledges, which are to them what our
waggons are to us) evenr thing they have a mind,
with the grcateft eafe. In fummer, when it is very
dirty, and there are large clods on the road, a cir-
cumftance which proceeds from the country being
extremely woody, and for that reafon, in a great
meafure, uninhabitable, they do not venture to take
long journies. They have no grapes but make a kind
of wine from honey, or a fpecies of beer from mil-
let, in which beer they put hop-blofforas (fiori di
brufcandoli) of which the odour is fo powerful as
to occafion fneezing, and which intoxicate like wine.
And here I cannot pal's over unnoticed what the
Grand Duke did, on finding that his fubjeds were
fuch drunkards, and, in confequence of their drunk-
ennefs, neglected bufinels of every kind ; as indeed
he took in hand many other things for their fervice.
He gave orders, in fact, that no more beer ihoul4
be brewed, nor mead made, nor hops ufed, by
which means he obliged them to lead fober and re-
gular lives. This happened about 25 years ago.

Before

174.

VOYAGES AND

Before this period the Ruffians paid tribute to thdf
Emperorof Tartar/ ; but now they have conquered
a country, called Kafan^ which fignifies Kettle, and
is fituated at the diftance of five miles from Mofcow*
This country lies to the left of the river Ledil (or
Wolga) as one goes to the feaof Bochri (or Bakhu).
This country has a conflderable trade, and a great
quantity of furs is got from thence, which are car-
ried by way of Mofcow to Poland, Pruffia, and
Flanders. Thefe furs come from the north-eafl, at
a great di fiance, out of the empire of Zagathai*^
and from Moxia**, which northern diflridls are inha-
bited by Tartars, part of whom are idolaters, as are
the Moxians to this day.

Now as I have fome accounts concerning the
Moxians, I fhall relate what I know of their religi-
on and fituation. At a certain time they are wont
to take . horfe, which they lead into the midfl of
their a. ;mbly, and bind its four feet to an equal
number of flakes, likewife his head to aflakedrivea
into the earth. Upon this, one of them takes his
bow and arrow, and places himfelf at a conflderable
diflance, and fhoots at the heart of the animal, till
he has killed him. After that he fleas him, and
fluffs the fkin, but the flefh they eat, after having
performed certain ceremonies with it. The fkin they
fluff with flraw, and fow it together, fo as to make
it appear entire ; and flick flrait pieces of wood
through the fkin that covered the legs, fo that the
creature may feem to fland on its legs jufl as it did

.not

* Zagathia was the name of one of the fons of Zinghis Khan ; and as
that part of the empire fell to his (hare, which comprehended Turkeflan^
Maiuaralnahara, and Kuarej'm^ in the fequei thefe provinces were cal-
led the empire of Zagathai.

** Moxia is the country of the MsreluanianSf part of whom give thcm-
fclves the name of Meifcia,

when

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

T •■ "

when alive. Laftly, they cut the branches of a large
tree, and making a ftage on the top of it, fet the
horfe upon itj when they wor(hip it, and offer up
to it fables, ermins, grey fquirrels (vari) and foxes,
which they hang on the tree(juft as we offer up
wax-lights to the faints) in fuch a guife, that the
tree is hung all round with thefe furs. The food of
this people confifts in a great meafure of flefh, and
that chiefly venifon ; and likewife of fifh, which they
catch in the rivers ; and fo much for the Moxians.
Of the Tartars, I have nothing farther to obferve,
than that many of them are idolaters, who carry the
idols which they worfhip about in their carts : fome-
times one meets with thofc who are accuftonied to
worship each day the animal that meets them Hrft,
when they go out of their houfes.

The Grand Duke has likewife taken Nowgorod^
which fignifies hiewcajile. It is an extenfive diftridt,
which is eight days journey to the north-weft of
Mofcow. It was formerly governed by the people.
The inhabitants were people without any fenfe^and
reafbn, and had a great many heretics among them :
but at prefent the Catholic faith makes its way by
degrees, though even now fome believe, and others
,not : in the mean time, however, they lead more
rational lives, andiufticeis properly adminiftered.

In going from Mofcow to Poland, it is 22 days
journey ere one reaches the latter. The firft place
one meets with in Poland is a fortified place called
Trocki* \ but one cannot get thither othervvife thaa
by travelling through woods and over hills, as it lies
in a defcrt. There are, it is true, fire-places from
place to place, where the inns are befpoke before-
hand, in which travellers may, if they pleafe, reft
themfelves awhile, and make a fire. Sometimes,
though extremely feldom indeed, one meets with a
fmall hamlet a little way out of the road. Going

* 7',of^/ is likewife railed Trejck, »nd is a w«ll-known town in Li-
tkuiini*, in the neighbouvbooi of fy'ilna,

from

■..1

•H

176

VOYAGES AND

from Trocki^ farther on, one meets with more hilla
and woods ; there are, however, fome habitations,
and nine days journey from Trocki is a fortified place
called Loniri (or Lonin*). After this one comes
into ** Lithuania, where one meets with a diftridi
called Varfonich *** , which belongs to certain Lords,
who are fubje^t to Kazi?nir, King of Poland. The
country is fertile, and contains a great many walled
towns and villages, but none of any great impor-
tance. From Trocki it is feven days journey to Po-
land, and the country is good and beautiful. Here
one meets with Merfaga f, a tolerable good town^
and here ends Poland, concerning the towns and
provinces of which country I (hall fay nothing far-
ther, for want of proper intelligence, excepting
that the King, together with his fons and his
whole houfehold, are very good Chriftians, and that
the eldeft of the Princes is the prefent iCing of
Bohemia.

Travelling four days more, we got out of Poland,
and reached Frankfort^ a city which belongs to the
Margrave of Brandenburg. We were now in Ger-
iDany j but I fhall fay nothin'g of this country, as
it is a place where we are, as it were, at home, and
with which befidcs moil people are well acquainted.

Novr

* 0( Loniri, or Lenin, I have not the lead knowle(igc ; I am tliercfor*
apt to imagine that we (hould j-ead Slonjni, which was formerly a place
ot great note, ami ufed to be a duchy allotted to the appenaged Princea
cf the Grand Ducal Houfe of Lithuania.

•* Here we mud read out of, not />i Lithuania } for Warjaio is not
la this province, but in Majurea, or Mafoyia.

*** By Farjonich in ail probability is meant the city o^ fVarfaiv.

■\- Of pAcrfar.a it is not eafy 10 dttermine the fitaation ; though I am
apt to conclu(?e, from its fituation on the borders of Poland towards the
Brandenburgh territories and the neighbourhood of Frankfort on the
Oder, that by it Mfjeriz, or MieJz.jnuyez, muft be meant. In the
mean time, with rtffeiiT: to ihefe thre-: lalf-mentioned names of places in
Poland, the fituation of which I have endeavoured to invtlligate in the
notet, I have been icveral times Itruck vath the rdleclion, that in the
explication of the .-imes of ihefe places, which, as Jofaphat Barbaro
fays, are fituattd in Cwaatrits with which we are v^oil acquainted, theie
appears Itl's ci.rtainfy and lersdifnee of probabiliif, than in the txpli-
cation ot tii'j namts of thole pl.iccs that lie in much more tinknown
legions 1 and indeed I myl'elf have icceivcd leis luticfaftion from them.

May

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOkTH. 177

Kow we muft fay fomewhat concerning Giorgiania,
which lies directly oppofire to the laft-mciitioned
places, and bordeh upon Mongrelia [yixugx^W^) . Tha
ICing of the province is called Pancratius. He is the
Sovereigh of a delightful country^ which produces
bread, wine, fleifa, corn, and other fruits of the earth
in great abundance. They make a great quantity of
wine on the trees, as in Trehifonde, The people
are very handfome and well made \ but they have
tnoft horrid manners and the worft cuftoms of any
people I ever (tiet with. Their heads are fhaved^
excepting fome few hairs, all round, which they
fulfer to remain, in the fame manner as it is pra6ti-
fed by our Abbots, who have a good income. They
wear whifkers about fix inches long. On their headft
they wear a cap of various different colours, with
^ feariier at topi They cover their bodies with a
tolerably long, though ftrait jacket, which is cloven
behind quite up to the loins, for otherwife they could
not moUnt their horfesV in which refped I do not
{>lame them,' as I fee. that the French wear the fame.
On their feet and ancles they wear boots, the foles
of which artf made iii fuch a manner that when
the wearers (land Upi^ight on their feet, the toes and
heels touch the ground. Bu: in the middle they
are fa high from the ground, that one may truft
one's fift under the fole, without hurting one's felf,
and thenccj when they walk, they do it with difH-
culty. I fhoiild blame them for this, did I not
know that they wear the fame in Perfid. At their
meals thefe people have the following cuftom, agree-
able to what I faw in the houfe of one of their
■great men. They have a quadrangular table, half
an ell over, with a rim to it. In the middle oi it
they fet a heap of boiled millet without fait, and
without any fat or other addition to it ^ this they

May not the greater progreff made in point of cultivation in fuch coun*
(riet asare more knuwn and occupied by civiiited and Chiidian nations
be the caufe, that we arc not abk tX prefent lu ie(;ugnize thelc pitcet
inent'oncti 400 y<ar« ago.

N ufe

t, »

Jf'tl

178

VOYAGED ANB

ufe irfftead of fauce. On another fimilar table tltey
place, over coals, fome wild boar's fleih, which i»
fo little roatled, that the blood runs out, when they
cut into it ; and of this they are very fond. I, fof
my part could not touch it, and fo took up with
a little millet. There was wine in abundance, and
it went round the table with great hofpitality. O-
ther proviftons we had not.

In this country there is a great number of large
woods and mountains. There is in it a diftrid cal-
led Zifiiit (Tiflis) befide which runs a river named
Tigris* (or Tygris) : this is a very good country^
but thinly inhabited. It has likewife ftill a fortifi-
cation t> Gori (Gonieh) which lies towards the
Black Sea.

This is what I have to relate concerning my
Journey to Tarmaf the countries in that part of the
world, and the events that are worth mentioning.

§ XIII. The family of the Zinof, in Venice, i»
very^ ancient, and is not only 6{ the higheft Tank of
nobility, but is likewife celebrated for the perfor-
mance of great anions, ais alio by reafon that the
higheft offices and dignities in the ftate had been fil-
kd from time immemorial, by men of merit belong-
ing to this family. About the year 1200, Marin
Ztno ai&fted in making the conqueft of Conftantino-
ple, and he was Podlfta^ or Governor of that place
sbout the year 1105. He had a fon named Pietr9
Zenoy who was the father of Rinieri Zem, who, in
1282, was Duke or Doge of Venice, and governed
it for the fpace of 17 years,- and carried on a war
aeainft the Genoefe with great fuccefs. He adopted
bis brother Marco'^s fon Andna^ who was afterwards

• U is not the Ttgrit ^vhich rum by' the Cde T//7/J, or T*;7j^, fcot
rather the Kur^ or the Kjrus of the ancients, and the Mrknari of the
Georgians.

•f Nor far from Tifiuy and to the weftwan^ af It there is a place cal-
led Gori\ but (his i* (liH ft a confiderable di'.nnce from the Black Setf.
Gtnith lies on the (horet of this fea. There is likewife the provinc*
of Quria^ fituate^ betweea the PhmJKb aad the Batlun (or Bathys).

Captain-

fca,

aga

jfath

i-aJ.

(he

the

threi

Anto

Capi

from

o^aj

fecon

great

with

in ore

ners

i:ende^

acquix

view j

9 /hip

ilraits

(entipr

Oprm

length

part o<
neverth
againft
weath^i
But, f<
rorldnd
that tin
^ame w
ivhich i
«eed.
Latin,
i^ nava
Admiral
ever, at

|^ot

the

DISCOVERIES ifi the NORTH. 179

Vapuin-General of the Venetian, fleet, fitted ou(
againft the. Qenoefe. His Ton, Rinieri il. was the
father of Pittro, who, in 1362, ,wa.s Captain-Gene^
l-al of the ftate in the league pf tHeChciftians, againft
%he TMrks, arid had the.firhame of bracoruj froni
the dragon which he l)ore in. his .ihifld. Hi^ ha4
three fons, viz*. Carl^^ Leone ^Uoto il , Gayffiiere^ an4
Antonio* .Of. x\\%(e, Curio Leone^ was Pcociirator and
Captain-Qeneral of the Repu()li(;, and refcued her
from irptninfnt danger in war, in which .the power
of almbft jill. E.urppe was joined againft her. The
iecond fon, Nicolo^ w<«s,a Knight, ,and having (hewn
great valour in t,he , i«(l-ment;ioned wi^r of Chipggia
with the Genoefe, he had a ftrong defire to travel,
in orde.r th^t, by getting a^quaintji^d with the man-
ners and ian.guag«s of foreign nations he might
irendeir hiinf<;lf ft^U naqr^ ufeful tc, his country, and
acquijre^. to himfelf ci;edit f|nd l^onou^. tVith this
view (being a man of great property), he iitted out
s^ fliip at his owq expence, a^d failed througji the
ftraits of Gibraltair to the tiorthjnrards, with aa in^
tentipn to viiit England aqd Flanders )., but, by 4
ilorm that . lafted /fev.e'.al days, ,the Veilel w^ at
]^ngth caft away on the coaft of Friejlani (Friilan-:
da) i the. crew, howtver, were faved^ with great
part of the qargo. This happened in the year 1380 ^
neverthelefs they. were. fpon Attacked by the natives*
againft whonr) they, virere hardly able, weary and
weather-beaten as they, were, to defend themielves*
But, fprtunately for them., the reigning Prince of
Borland (Porlanda) by name Zichmni, who was at
that time, in Friefland, hearing of their misfortune^
tame with all fpecd to give them his afliftance, of
ivhich iuieed thjey ftood at that juncture in great
^eed. ^ter difcourrme (pme time with them in
Latin, finding that Nicoio Zeno was very expert both
JjP naval and martial affairs^ he gave him the poftof
Admiral of his whole fleet, which the latter, how-
ever, at firft refufed. >{icolo not long afterwards

N 2 virrotd

r I

I*!
Bi; ■ r

, iiji

lin-

i8o

VOYAGES AND

1 1 '''
if

''I

wrote to his brother Antonio, inviting him to come
to Friefland, who accord ingljr Toon arrived there j and
Hved four years wit. 'ni, and afterwards ten more
with Prince Zichmnt ne. The whole of this re-
lation was written by Francifco MarcoHni^ having b^n
extra<Sted by him from the letters fent by yfntonio ZeM
to his eldeil brother Carlo : in it he laments, that
thele writings having fallen into his hands in his
carlieft youth, he had (child like) torn them, and
afterwards, finding them to be of great confequence,
he had colledled together what remained of them»
and put them into order, in order that a difeoVery
of fo much importance might not be entirely forgot*
teit.

This is thcaccount given of the zffA'irhj Ramu/kt
Vol. II. p. 232, fol. 2. From the manufcript re-
lation of Marcolini, others have, it feems, extraS-
ed the accounts which they have given of thid difco-
very, and though thefe relations have very much the
air of the marvellous, yet it is evident, that upon
the whole there is every reafon to fuppofb them au-
thentic : and as tt may be farther objedled, that the
countries mentioned in them no longer exift, we
intend, towards the conclufion of this relation, to
expatiate on this topic, and not only to give a fuffi*
cient reafon for what we Ihall advance, but like*
wife anfwcr every objection that may be made.

Nicolo Zeno having been Shipwrecked in 1380 on
the ifland of Friejland^ in confequence of their hav-
ing been overtaken by a tempeli-, and likewife hav-
ing been faved by Prince Zichmnt from the rude at-
tacks of the inhabitants, put himfelf, with all his
men, under the pi'oteftion of this Prince, who was
Lord of certain fniall iilands which lay to fjpiG fouth
of Friefland, which were called Porland^ an^ were the
moil fertile and populous of all. the iflands there-
abouts. He was befides this, Duke of Sarany, a place
which lies over againft Scotland. Of thefe north-
ern parts, I (i. e. Antonio Zeno) have drawn up a

chart.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 181

ch»rt» which hangs up in my houfe, and although it
be inuch decayed by time, may fcrve to give Tome in-
fight (o the curious in thefe matters.

ZUhmni^ the Lord of all thefe countries, was a
man of great courage, and famous for his (kill in
navigation. The year before Nicolo's arrival there
fviz. A. D. 1370*) he had defeated the King of
Norway (Hakon; in a pitched battle, and wasi now
come with his forces to conquer Friefland, which is
much lareer than Iceland. On account of the know-
ledge Nicolo Zeno had of maritime affairs, the
Prince took him and all his crew on board the fleet,
and eave it in charge to his Admiral to treat him with
thehigheft rcfped, and to a(k his advice in every af-
fair of importance.

Zichmtu's fleet confifted of thirteen velTels, of
which two pnly were rowed with oars -, the reft were

■V I

ri: a

i ■ '■ r

• Though this FrieflanJ^ together with Ptrlani and Ssrauy^ appear
to be countries which hsve been fwallowed up by the fei in cont'equenct
«f earthqatkcs and other great revolutions in the tbove-nneationcd elc-
nent, y«t I cannot heip conamunicating in this place a conie^iur, which
has (truck me whilt\ I was enoployed on this fubjea. Precii'ely in this
fame year 1379, Hahn^ King of Norway, inverted with the Orkneys,
• perion of the name of Htnry Sintlair, who was one of the defcendants
in the female line from the aacieot Earls of Orkney. This name of
Sinclair appears to me to be cxprefTed by the word Zichmni. The ap-
pellation of Faira^ Ntrth Fara^ Seutb Fara^ or Fara't Land^ have pro-
bably given rife to thjit qf Friejlatd. Porland' mud be the Fara Iflands
(the Far-very or Farland) find Seranj is the Soderee, or Streona^ \, e.
the weftern iflands. Add to this, that the names of the Shetland Iflanda
correfpoad with many of thofe conquered by Zichmni in Fdland : Bras
is indobiiably Btajfa Stnnd^ Talai >:ppeais to be TV//, or Zeal^ Brtai is
firajjoy IJcant it Unfly Trans is prwiably Trondra, and ftill more fimiii«
tndes of this kind affording yet greater foundation For thefe conjectures.
Nay, the amftzing qusntity or fifh (h^'was caught yearly off the Orkneys,
or, according to ZenuV account, off Friefland, and with which Flanders,
Britania, England, Scotland, Norway, and Denmark were fupplicd, and
the inhabitants of Friefland greatly tnrichcd, relates doubtlefa to the
herrings that are caught here every year in great abundance. Iceland
was too powerful for Sinclair (or Zichmni) to conquer. Nicib Zent
vifited likewife Eajl Greenland.. But Ellotiland and Drogio, which were
difcovered afterwards, appear to be fome country that lies to the foulh«
ward of Old Greenland. Perhaps Nev^iundiand^ or Winland^ where
Ibroe Normans had fettled previous to this, who likewife, in all probabi*
l«ty, had brought with them from Europe the Uatin books which were at
this tim« in the K.iqg*s library there.

fmall

1" A

\ "

VOYAGES ANp

• i

j ■

PTM

\ )

1 Biil

■Hl3

fmall barks, and only one of them was a fh}(\.
With all thcfe they failed to the uredwards, and^
without much difficulty, made themfelves maflers o(
Xedovo and llofi*^ and divers other fmaller ifland^ :
and turning into a bay called Sudero^ in the haven of-
the town named Santjiolt they topic feyeral fmnll barks
laden with fi(h**; and here they found Zichmniy
Who came by land with his army, conquering all the
country as ne went, X**^y ^ayed nere but a fhort
^ime, and {baped their courfe to the weftwards till
they came to the other cape of il^e gulph or bay, and
here turning again, they found certain iflands and
broken lands, all which they brought under fubjec-
^ion to Zichmnt, Thefe feas were in a manner no-
thing but (hoal$ and rocks, infomuch, that if Nicoh
)Leno, and the Venetian marinei's, had not been their
pilots, the whole fliet, in the opinion of all that
were in it, had been caft away, fo (mail was the fkill
of Zichmni's men, in refpedl of ours, who had been
trained up in the art and pra£lice of navigation from
^heir childhood. Now the fleet having done as we
have juft beforfe nrie^tion^d, the Admiral, by the ad-
vice of Nicolo Tfenoy determined tp go afiiore, at a
town called Bondendany with a view to get intelligence
^hat fuccefs Zichmm hzd ill his wars; where they

t It ic hirdly poflible to mention all the little !fl,4nds, tnd the places
fituVted on the Itrgcft of the Orcadian if^andt; whith by ihe ancients
wai called /'<m«M, and; on account of it« iue, bore likewi(e'the name
of Maittlan^f ^lfo of flrap-ty^ i.e. Gr»fs-ru the Great Ifl'and. The
(own bad the name of' hirkiututgy oi- the Iplarbour'ncar the Church,
and is at this time dallcd by the ^oti Kirkv/all,

•• This a Very earfy mention mide'of failed fiflj, but yet within the
l.ifi-tint)e of ^iil^l^I Beuckels fon,' the fuppofed inventor of thb art of,
pickling herrings, \vho di«(i in 1397. Bm ProYeflbr Sprengel has Hiewn;
ikixX lierrings were caught at Gerktmve^ i. e. Yarmouth) ib early a$ ig
the year tiSj; nay, in Lf/anJ't CttltS. Vol. III. p. 173, we meet with
a proqf that pkkied herrings were fold in 1173; and thtfre are extant
German records which fpeak of them fo cfarly asin 123J. Vid. Ctrkcn
Ctitx DipUmal. Br^ttJtnburi, T,^. p. 45. T. II. p. 4.31.

heard.

^' 4

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH. igj

heard, to their great fatisfa^kion, that he had won a
p'eat battle and put to flight the army of his enemy 4
in confequence of which the inhabitants fent Ambaf^
fadors from all parts of the ifland to yield the country
up into his hands, taking down their flags and en-
signs in every town and caftle i they therefore thought
good to ftay in that place for his coming, it being re-
ported for certain that he would be there very fhortly.
At his coming there were great congratulations ana
rejoicings, as well for the viAory by land, as for that
by fea } for which the Venetians were honoured and
extolled in all parts, infomuch that there was no con*
verfation but of them, and of the great prowefs of
Nicolo Zent : the Prince, on his part, caufed Nicolo
to be brought before him, and, after having beflowed
ihe higheft commendations upcn him, and in parti-
cular praifed his great valour and naval knowledge,
by which two things he acknowledged that he had
feceived an inef^imable benefitf fuch as the faving of
his fleet and the taking of many towns without any
p;reat difficulty, he knighted him, and rewarded hit
men with many rich ana liberal prefents. Then, de-
parting thenoe, they went in triumph towards Frief-'
Und^ the chief city of that ifland, fituated on the
fouth-eaf^ fide of it, within a gulph, of which there
are many in the ifland. In this gulph, or bay, there
are fu(:h great quantities of fifh taken, that • many
(hips are laden with them to ferve Flanders^ Briiwia^
England^ Scotland^ Ntrway, and ^tnmark^ which
brines great riches into the country.

1 nis was the -contents of a letter (ent by N'tcoU
diem to his brother Antonio^ in which he invited him
to come to him to Friefland; accordingly the latter
fet fail, and after having pafl mai\y d^nger&, arrived
at kis brother's. Antonio flaid in Friedand fourteen
years in all, ten years aloQe* and four years with
bis brother Nicola^ who ingratiated himfelf fo mucb
^n the Prince's favour, that this latter made him Ad-
^itsA of the fleet fent Qiu 09. ^he ex^editipa to £/f'

Umd^

i, I

. f

( 1

l%i.

VOYAGES AHB

land^ which ]ies between Friejiand and Norwaj^^
(lere they committed great ravages ; but hearing th^t
the King of Norway wai coming towards them wit)^
a confiderable fleetv they departed in hafle^ the win4
blowing with fuch violence that they were driven up**
on certain ihoals, wher^ a great part of their ihips
was caft away j the reft w«re fayed upon GriJIandt 4
large ifland, but uninhabited. The King of Nor*
way's fleet was overtaken by the fame florm, and pe*
riflied. Of this Zichmhi was apprized by one of
the enemy's Ihips which, as well as they, was call
away upon the coaft of Grijiand • ; when, after hav-
ing repaired his own fleet, perceiving that ht had
been driven fo far northwards, he refol\^ed to make ar^
attack upon Ic 'and, which belonged to the King of
Norway \ but finding it too well fortified and de-
fended, and refle<5ling that his fleet was both fmall
and ill equipped, he was glad to retire. He there-
fore fell upon the other iflands, of which there arc
feven in number, viz. Tains (Zeal) Broas (Brafla
Sound) Ifcant (Unft or Vuft) Trans (Trondra) Mi-
mant, Dambert, and Br4s (Brafla) all of which he
plundered, and built a fort in Bret, where he lef^
Nicolo Zeno with feveral fmall barks, men and ;ara-
munition, while he himtJf went hack to Frieiland.
In the fpring Nicolo Zeno refolved to go out on diff
coverics , and having fitted out three miall fhips, he
fet fail in July, and fhaping his courfe to the north-
wards, arrived in Engroveland (Engroneland, Groen-
land, or Greenland) where he found a monailery of
Predicant Friars, and a church, dedicated to St.
ThomaS; hard by a mountain that threw out fire like
i^tna or Vefuvius.

They have here a fpring of boiling hot neater with
which they heat the church, the monaftery, and
the Friars chambers. It comes likewife fo very hot
into the kitchen, that they qfe no fire fordreiTing their

* Grijiand feems to be the name of the iflan^, which lies in the
nrighbouiliood of Icelaod to the laflward, and is by the moderns called
Enkhu^Aen.

yiduals i

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. X^

vi£luals ; and putting their bread into brafs pots with-
out any water, it is baked as though it was in a hot
oven. They have alfo fmall gardens covered over in
winter, which gardens being watered with this wa-
ter*, ^re defended from the fnow and cold, that in
thefe regions, fituated fo near the Pole, is extremely
great, in this manner they produce flowers, fruits,
and different kinds of herbs, juft as they grow in
temperate climates ; ^o that the rude favages of thofe
parts, feeing thefe fupcrnatural effe&s, take thefe
Friars for Gods, and bring them divers prefents,
fuch as hens (P»Uit thefe, however, can have been
nothing elfe than Ptarmagam) flefli (viz. of rein-deer)
and various other things ; bcfides this they reverence
the Monks as their Lords. When the froft and fnow
is coniiderable, they heat their houfes in the mani^er
above mentioned ; and by letting in the water, or
opening their windows, are able in an inftant to tem-
per the heat at their pleafure. In the buildings of
their manadery they ufe no other matter than what is
prcfented to them by this fire j for they uke the burn-
if\g iiones that are caft out, in the form of fparks
or cindars, at the fiery mouth of the mountain, and
when they are at the hotteft throw water on them*
by which ipeans they are entirely difiblved, and are
converted into a very good lime, which is fo binding,
that when it is ufed in building, it lafts for ever,
and the very fparkles, when cold, ferve inftead of
flones to niaice their \yalls and vaults, for v;hen they
are once cold, they canpot be broken, except indeed
they be cut with fpme iron tool ; and the vaults that
are made of them are fo light, that they need no
prop to hold them up, I^ut continue always whole
and entire. On account of thefe great convcnien-
cies, the Friars have made (p many walls and build-
ings of different kinds, that it is really wonderful to
fee them. The coverings or roofs of tiicir houfes
are for the mod part made in the following manner :
Firft, they carry the wall up to its full height, and
then they make it inclining or binding in by little

and

%.MA r '"

1 1 '

VOYAGES AUn

and little, till it forms a regular vault. But indeed
they are not much troubled with rain in that coua*
try ; for the climate being, as I have faid before, ex-
tremely cold, the firft fnow that falls does not thaw
lor the fpace of nine months, at wrhich time their
winter ends.

They liye pn wild fowl and fifh ; for in confeqiience
of the warm water running into the fea, in a large and
wide haven, which, by reafon of the heat of the water,
never freezes, there is fo great a concourfe in this
place of fea fowl and lifli, that they take as many of
them as they can poflibly have occadon for, with
which they maintain a great number of people round
about, whom they keep continually employed, both
in building and in taking of fowls and Afli, as well
as in a thoufand other necefiary occupations a^d a^air$
lelative to the monaftery.

Their houfes are built a\>out t)ie hill on every fide,
of a round form, and zS f<Bet in width } as tliey got
upwards they are made narrower and narrower^ a lit-
tle hole at the top being left for the air and the lieht
to enter at ; and the floor of the houfe is fo hot, that
thofe v(ho are in the houfe feel no cold at all;. Hi*,
ther in the fummer time come many barks frpm the
neighbouring iflands, and from the cape above Iji^i-x
way, and from Tronden (or Drontheim) and bring die
Fathers ^11 kinds of commodities and merchandize,
according to what they wiih for, taking in exchange
fi|b (^hich they dry either in the fun or el(e by means
of the cold) and the (kins of divers beads; for whicht
they have wood for fuel, and wooden utenfik very in-
genioufly carved; together with corn, and cloth ta
make their clothes V'ith. For all the nations around
them utt very defirous of bartering with them for thefe
two compiodiries, fo that the Monks have a^ they.
eaj(i defire without either pains or coft. To this mo<-
jfiaftery refort Monks from Norway and Swedetty and
from other countries, but principally from Jctland,
Httt is continually a great number of barks which

can;?o5.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ify

ijcannof: get away by reafon of the fea being frozca
over, but wait for the fpring of the year, to diflblye
f he ice. The fi fliers boats have the form of a weaver's
Ibuttle. They are made uf fiih bones, cafed over
with the fkins of fiihcs ; thefe they few together in
many doubles, and by this means make them fo tight
and fubftantial, that it is furprizing to fee how they
will ill ftorms bind themfelves faft within them, and
Jet the winds and waves carry them they care not
whither, without any fear either of their boats fplit-
ting or of themfelves being drowned : and if they
happen to be driven upon a rock, fljll they remain
found without the leaft hurt or damage. They like-
wife have a kind of fleeve at the bottom, which is
always tied' fall in the middle } and when there comes
iiny water into the boat, they let it run into one half
of the fleeve, then fattening the end of the fleeve with
iw6 pieces of wood, and looflng the band beneath,
ihey convey the water out of the boat ; and this ope-
ration they repeat as often as is neccfikry, without the
leaft danger or hindrance. ^

Farther, the water of the monaftery, being of a
fulphufeous nature, is conveyed into the cells of the
principal I^riars, by means of copper, tin, or ftone
{)i|)es, fo hot, that it heats the place like a ftove.
Without carrying alonjg; with it any difagreeablc or
unwholeforne ftench.

Befides this, they convey frefh water, lit for drink-
ing, in a walled' canal under ground, in order that it
may not freeze, into the middle of the court, where
It falls into a larjge copper vefl^el, which ftands in a
refervoir of boiling hot water; and by this means
they heat the water for their own drinking and for
watering their gardens.' So that from this moun-
tain they have every jsoflible convenience ; and thus
thefe good Friars make it their chief ftudy and bufi-
iiefs to keep their 'gardens in order, and to ereft
C^ommodious and elegant buildings ^ neither do they

' want

i8l

-VOYAGES ANi»

>rajst for good workmen, and ingenious artizins s
lor they give great wages, and to thofe that carry
them fruits and feeds they are bountiful beyond
ineafure ; fo that there is a great refort of work*
men and artifts of every denomination, as there are
great profits to be made, and provifion is very
cheap. Mod of th^fe Monks fpeak Latin, and
particularly the fuperiors and principals of the mo*
naftery.

And this is as much as is known of £ns;reveland
(En^roneland, Groenland, or Greenland) from the
Klation of Nicolo Zeno, who gives likewife a parti-
£utar defcription of a river that he difcovered, as is
to be feen in the chart that I (viz. Antonio Zeno)
have drawn.- Nicolo, not being able to bear the fe«
vere cold of thefe northern climates, fell fick, and «
)ittle while after returned to Friefland, where he died.
He left behind him two fons, one of whom was nam*
ed 7«^», and the other Thomasy which latter likewife
l>aa two fons, Nicola, the father of the celebrated
Cardinal Zeno, and Peter, from whom are defcended
ihe reft of the Zenos, who are now living.

After the death of Nicolo, his fortune, as well as
his dignity and honours, devolved upon Antonio -, and
though he made great fupplications and entreaties for
the purpofe, ye^ he was not permitted to return to his
native country : for Zichmnii being a man of a high
fpirit and great valour, had refolved to make himfelf
mafter of the Tea. For this end he made ufe of the
talents and advice of Antonio, and ordered him to
go with a few b^rks to the weftward ; as in the fum-
mer feveral iflands had been difcoyered in thofe feas
by fome of his fiihermen. Of this difcovery jfntonia
gives a defcription in a Letter to his brother Cat \
which we here give juft as it was written, having
made no other alteration in it than tha( of a few an-
tiquated (Italian) words. (Letter III.)

'* Six and twenty years ago four fiftiing-boats,
which had been overtaken by a violent ftorm, were
toffed to and fro in a terrible manner on the fea, for
the fpace of a great many days \ whcp, at length, the

tem^ieft

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. i8f

tempeft ceafing, and the weather growing fair, thejr
difcovered an ifland called E/t»tUami, which lay above
a thoufand miles to the westward of Friefland. One
of the boats, with fix men in it, was caft away of»
this ifland, and the men were immediately taken hf-
the inhabitants, and condu<5ted to a fine and popu-
lous city, where the King of the place was, who lent
for various interpreters, but none could be found,
who underAood the fifhermens language, excepting
one, that fpoke Latin. This man, who bad in lik«r
manner been cafl by accident on the fame ifland,'
aiked them, on the part of the King, of whtt coun-
try they were} and, having been made acquainted
with their cafe, informed the King of it, who, upon
this, ordered that they ihould flay in the country :
thefe orders they obeyed, as indeed they could not d<|
otherwife, and flayed in that country five years, and
learned the language of it ; one of tnem indeed was
in various different parts of the ifland, and affirms,
thtit it is a very rich country, abounding With everi'
commodity and convenience of life ; that it is Httw
lefs than Iceland, but much more fertile, havihg in
the middle of it a very high mountain, from whicli
fprung four rivers, that pafs through the whole
country.

** The inhabitants are a very ingenious and fenii*
ble people, and have arts of every kind, and handi*
crafts, as we have ; and it is highly probable that for-
merly they have had feme traffic with our Europeansj
for he fays, that he faw fome Latin books in the
King's library, which at prefent they do not under-
hand; fot they have a language of their own, and
letters and characters peculiar to themfelves*. They

trade

l-'-"'^
"' m

. ft. 1

M i-

t*i

t 'l

mMm

* In H«klay(*« ColjcdioiT of Voyages, Vol. III. p. 1*4, it it iddcd,
** Tbey have mioek of all mann«r of meial's, but efpccially they abouoJ
with gold.'* This paflage, however, is slot to be found in the Italia*
•'i^inal of Ramufiu.

[Piom many circumftances it appears that Haktuyt*fi Co!le£lIon waa
inade principally with a view to excite bi$ countrymen to prufecutc new
^licoverici io Aioeiica, aaJ 10 prcmoie the trade to that quarter of the

globe.

1 «

nqp

V OV A 6 E S AKb

trade with Engroneland^ and get from thence fufs^
brimflone, and pitch. To the foUth of them there
lies a very large and populous country, which abounds
greatly in gold. They fow corn, and make beer
(cervofa) a liquor whicn is drank by the people of
the North, as wine is by us. They have large and
cxtenfive woods j they make their buildings with
walls, and have a great number of towns ana caftles.
They build (hips and navigate the Tea 9 but they have,
not the load done, and know nothing of the ufe of
the compafs: on which account the^ fifhermen were
held in high eftimation, infomuch that the King fenC
them with twelve ftiips to the fouthward^ to a coun-
try called Drogio, In their voyage thither they had
fuch contrary wdathef, that they thought they mufl;
have periihed in the fea ; but, efcaping that dreadful
kind of death, they met with another dill, more ter^
rible} for they were taken prifoners in the country,'
and were moft of them devoured by the favages, who.
feed on mens fleih, eifeeming it the moft delicious of
all food. But this fifherman, with his comrades,,
(hewing them the way to take fifli with nets, faved
their lives } and would go everyday t6 the fea and the
freih rivers, and catch great quantities of fifli^ and
give it to the principal people of the country ; by
which means he got into fo great favour, that he was
beloved and highly refpe<Sted by every body.

*' The fame of this man being fpread abroad in the
country, there was a. Lord in thofe parts, who was
very deilrous of haf'ing him with bim^ in order to
fee ho\^ he prac^ifed his wonderful art of catching
fiih ; infomuch that he made w^r with the other Lord
with whom the fiiberman Was before; and in the end
prevailing, as he was more powerful and a better

flobc. Con/idering it in this light, and that hardly tny thin^ wta
thought worthy of notice in that age but mines of filver and mountarai
•f gold, we need not wonder at the inter))olation. But the patTage it-'
Mi is to be found io Oitclius. &tc (hv lame ColU^ion, page 117.}

warnort

Warno
reft of
yiears
bad I

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 191

Warrior, the fiflierman was fent to htm, with thef
reft of his ccTtpany ; and for the fpace of thirteen
yiears that he reftded in thefe parts, he fays, that he
had been fent in this fiaihion to more than twenty-
five different Lords, ;as they were continually at war
with each other for the poileilion of him ; fo that, ii^
wandering about the country in this manner, with"
out any fixed abode, be was perfe<5i]y well acquainted
with all that .region. He fays, it is a very extenfive
country, and, as it were, a new world ; but the in-
habitants are a rude, unpoiiihed people, without the
•lyoyment of any convenience of life ; for they all go
naked, fo that they ate miferably pinched with the
cold I neither have they the fenfe to cover their bodies
with the fkins of the beafts which they take in hunt-
ing. They are not in pofleffion of any kind of me-
tal, and live by the chace. 7'hey carry fpear» of
wood, made iharp at the point, and ufe bows, the
firings of which are made of the fkins of beafts.
They are a very uncivilized people, and, in the wars
they make one with the other, commit dreadful ra-
vages, fo as even to devour each other. They have
Governors, and law$ very difFcrent from each other :
but farther to the fouth«weft the manners are more
civilized, in proportion to the increafing mildnefs of
the climate, infomuch that one there meets with ci-
ties and temples, dedicated to idols, to whom they
offer up men in facrifice, and afterwards eat them.
The people) too, in thofe parts, are not without
fome degree of knowledge, and make ufe of gold
an4 filver.

*< Now this HHierman, after having refided a great
many years among them, purpofed, if it were poiH-
ble, to return to his own country ^ but his compa-
nions, defpairing ever to fee it again, wiihed hiui
health and happinefs, and ftaid behind : fo, bidding
them farewel, he fled through the woods, by the
way that led to Drogis, and was received with, great

kindnefs,

'li%

ll'fi

VOYAGES Attn

kfndnefs by the Lord that lired near to the place (ronf
whence he came, who knew him, and was a greac
^exny to the other Lord ; and thus^ going from
one Lord to another, with all of whonri he waft al-
ready acquainted, having palTed through their handf
before, after a long time, and virllh much difficulty^
he arrived at Drogioy whei*e he (laid three years }
when, fortunately hearing of fome of the inhabit-
ants, that feveral fmall veflTek were arrived on the
coaft (a* piece of intelligence which infpired him withr
great hopes of accomplifhing his purpofe) he went
to the fea-fide, and afkihg them what country the/
wereof, learned, to his unfpeakable fatisfalElion, thaC
they were from Efidtihnd. Upon this lie requeued
that they Would take him 'on board, -which they did
very willirtgty ; and as be could fpeak the langusige
of the country, which none of their company could
do, they made uf6 of him as thfeir iaterpreti^r $ and
after wiir<ds he n>iade' repeated voyifges thither in com-
pany with theirf, infomuch tBat he became very rich ;
and fo,' equipping a bark of his own^ he returned tor
FrieJIandy where he made a report to his Lord of ihtf
difco^ry t>f this wealthy country; and his iirange
and marvellous account was credited, as every thing
he faid Was confirmed by the teftimbny of the fail''
ors.

•* Accordingly this Lord (i. e. Zichmni) is deteN
mined to fend me out with a ilecft to thefe parts, and
there are io many that defire to rfiake the voyage with
us, on account of the novelty and uncOmmonnefs of
the thing *Hat I believe wc (hall be very well m^n-^
ned and u .ed out, without any expence to the pub"
lie in general.** — ^And this is the tenor of the Letter
before mentioned, which I have here fet down,' in
order to give an account of another voyage made by
Antonio Zeno, who fet fail with a great number of
fhips and men, though at that time he was not Com''
mandcr in Chief, as he at Hrft thought to have been,
for Zichmni went in perfon ; and upon this fubjedt I
have a letter to the following purport :

*« Our

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 193

" Our great preparation for the voyage to EJiotiland
was begun in an unlucky hour ; for, three days before
our departure, the fifhcrman died, wlio was to have
been our guide : notwithftanding which, this Lord
would not give up the enterprize j but, inftead of the
fifherman, took with him for his guides fcveral failors
who had returned with him from the ifland. And fo,
ihaping our courfe to the weftwards, we difcovered
feveral iflands, fubjc6l to Friefland ; and, after pafling
by a flioal or two, we arrived at Ledovo^ where
we ftaid a week to refrefli ourfclves, and to provide
the fleet with neceftaries. Departing from hence, we
arrived on the firft of July off" the ifland of Ihp ;
when, the wind being in our favour, we did not ftop
there, but went farther on. Shortly after, being on
the main fea, we were overtaken by fo dreadful a tem-
peft, that for the fpace of eight days we were tofTed
to and fro by the winds and the waves, without know-
ing whereabouts we v/ere. By the violence of this
ftorm we loft a great part of our (hips ; afterwards
the weather proving fair, we collected together the
wrecks and fhivers of our {battered veflels ; and, hav-
ing got a good wind, failed till we defcried land to
the weftward, to which directing our courfe, we ar-
rived in a good and fafe harbour. Here we faw an
infinite number of armed men come running furioufly
to the fea-fide, as it were, for the defence of the
ifland. Upon this, Zichmni commanding his men to
make figns of peace to them, they fent ten men to
us, who could (peak ten different languages, none of
which, however, we underftood, excepting one that
was an Icelander. This man being brought before
our Prince, and afked, what was the name of the
ifland, by what people it was inhabited, and who go-
verned it, anfwered, that the land was called Icaria^
and that all the Kings of it were named Icari^ after
the name of its firft King, who^ according to them,
was the fon of Dtvdalusy King of Scotland, who con-

O qu&red

3il

■■ ti

'94

VOYAGES ANO

fluered this Ifland, and left them his Ton to be therr
King, together with thofe laws by which they ftillr
were governed. After this, he . faUed farther on ,
but, being overtaken by a violent ftorm was drown-
ed ; in memory of which fatal accident they called
that fca th« Icurian Sen^ and the Kings of the ifland
Icari t and forafmuch as tliey were contented with the
ftate which God had given them, and did not chulis
to make the Icaft alteration in their manners and
cuftoms, they would not receive any ft ranger ; and
therefore reqiiefted of our Prince, that he would not
feck to violate thofe laws which they had received
from this their King of glorious memory, and had
hitherto duly obferved ; which, however, (hould he
attempt, it would turn out to his manifeft deftru£li-
on, as they were abfolutely refolved rather to lofe
their lives than give up their laws. Neverthelcfs,
that we might not imagine they (hunned all manner
of intercourfe with other people, they told us, by way
of conclufion, that they were very willing to receive
one of our men, and advance him to be one of the
chief amongft them, and that merely with a view to
learn my language, and to gain information concern-
ing our manners and cuftoms, in the fame manner
as they had already received amongft them thofe
other ten men who had come into their country from
ten other different nations. To all this Zuhmni re-
turned not the leaft reply j but, ordering his men to
look out for fome good harbour, made as though he
was going to depart j when, failing round the illand^
he efpied at length a harbour on the eaftern fide of
the ifland, where he put in with all his fleet. The
mariners now went on (hore to take in wood and
water, which tliey did with all poflible fpeed, for fear
of being attacked by the natives. Neither indeed was
this precaution taken in vain, for fuch of them as
refidcd near that fpot, made lignals to the others by
means of fire and fmoke, and immediately took to
their arms, and the others going to them, they all
came running down together to the fea-fide upon our
men, with bows and arrows, and other weapons, Co

that

as
by
to

all
K>ur
Co

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. iqi

that many of them were killed, and others dangeroufly
wounded. And though we made fignnls of peace to
them, it was to no purpofe, for they were only the
more enraged, and fought as though their all was at
ftake. We were therefore obligea to depart, and to
^ail on in a large circuit round the idand^ being all the
while accompanied on the tops of the hills amd on
the fea coaft by an infinite number of armed men ;
and juft where the point of the ifland bends to the
northward, we met with many large fhoals, on which
we were in continual danger, for the fpace of ten
days, of lofing our whole fleet j but that very fortu-
nately for us, the weather was fair during the whole
time. We failed on, however, till we came to the
caftern cape ; and faw the inhabitants ftill keeping
up with us on the tops of the hills and on the fea
fliorc, and by loud cries and {hooting at us from afar,
giving us the moft manifeft token of their unconquer-
able natred and averfion to us. We therefore re-
folved to ftay in fome fafe harbour, and endeavour, if
pofTible, to Ipeak again with the Icelander j but all in
vain ; for thefe people, fcarcely a degree above the
brute creation, ftood continually under arms with the
intent to attack us, if we once attempted to land*
Upon this Zichmni, feeing that he could do nothing
with them, and that if he perfcvered and obftinately
adhered to his firft intentions, the fleet would have
been in want of provifion, weighed anchor, and failed
with a fair wind, for the fpace of fix days, to th«
weftward ; but the wind fliifting to the fouth-weft,
and the fea growing rough, we failed four days with
the wind in the poop, and at length difcovercd land,,
to which, however, we were afraid of approaching too
jiear, as well on account of the fea being extremely
rough, as of our being unacquainted with the coaft.
But, by the providence of God, the wind ceafed and
the fea became calm. Upon which fome of our com-
pany rowed to land with oars, and returned with the
agreeable tidings that they had found a very good-
country and an excellent harbour. On the receipt oi this
piece of intelligence wc towed cur fhips and fmall

O 2 b-rks

mi M '■•%

u.m

ill

196

VOYAGES AND

barks into the harbour, which when v/c entered, we
defcried at a fmall dillance a huge mountain that emit-
ted rmolce, which gave us great hopes that we (hould
find fome inhabitants in the illand : and though the
place where the fmokc appeared to ifl'ue was at a great
diflance from us, Zichmni would not reft till he had
fent 100 foldicrs to explore the country, and bring back
word what people they were that inhabited it. In the
mean while they took in wood and water for the ufe of
tlic fleet, and caugiit vaft quantities of filh and Tea fowl ;
and at the fame time found fo great a number of birds
eggs, that our men, who bcff)re were half familhcd,
had more ihan they could eat. While we rode in this
harbour the month of Jime * commenced, at which
time the air in the ifland was as mild and temperate as
one could wifti ; but feeing nobody, we began to fuf-
pucct that this delightful place was defolate and unin-
habited. To the haven we gave the name of TV/«,
?id the point that ftretched out into the fea, we called
Cape Trin. The hundred foldiers that had been fent
out, in the fpace of eight days returned, and informr!
us, that they had been all through th( idand quite to
the mountain, and that the fmoke we faw proccx:.!;d
from a fire at the bottom of it, and that at the lame
place there was a fpring, from which iflUcd a liquid
of the nat..re of pitch, which ran into the fea. Li'ce-
wife that the interior part of the country was inhabited
by wild people, who hid themfelves in caves j were
(hort of ftature, and very timid ; for as foon as they
faw our people they fled to their holes : moreover, that
in that part of the ifland there was a large river and
fafe harbour. 5Cichmni, after receiving this piece of

long

• So long before as when (lie fleet was arrived ofF the Ifleof Ilofe,
'it was ihe ilt of July ; and now we ate loK), " commenced the month of
Junt;'^ which iTiews very evidently, th.it there rputl be an error in one
of thcfe pafTages; and as Zcno foon after this tells in, that the people
under hii command complained that " the winter was coming on/*
there can be no duubt but that in this place, inftead of yew, we (houlJ
read Augujl.

intelligence,

DISCOVERIES IN' THR NORTH. 197

intelligence, confidering that the ifiand was bleft with
a pure and healthy air, a good foil, fine rivers, and
many other advantages, rctolvcd to people it, and
build a town on it. But his people, quite wivricd
out with fo long and tedious a voyav,c, began to niui -
mur, faying, that they chofc to return to their own
country ; for the winter approached very fall, and were
that once come, they fhould not be al le* to get away
again before the enluing funimer. On which account,
retaining only the barks with oars, and fuch of the men
as were willing to Iby with him, fcnt all the rclt, with
the Ihips, back again, and chofe that I, though fore
againft my will, fhould command them.

** Taking therefore my departure (as indeed I wa«j
obliged to do) I failed for the ipacc of 20 days to
the eaftward, without having fight of any land ; then,
fhifting my courfe towards the fbuth-ealt, in five days I
difcovcrcd land, and perceived that 1 was near the
ifiand of Neone *, and knowing the country, found
that I had already palled by Iceland 'y fo that taking in
refrefhmcnts of the inhabitants, who were fubjecl: to
Zichmni, we failed in three days, with a fair wind, to
Fr'ujland\ where the people, who by reafbn of our
long abfence, thought they had lolt their Prince, re-
ceived us with demonftrations of the greateft joy."

Beiides what is contained in this Letter, I knowr
nothing more, than what I gather by conje(Sture from
part of another Letter, which I will here fet down,
viz. " That Zichmni built a fmall town f in the-
harbour of the ifiand he had difcovered, and that he
took great pains to explore the country, and difco-
vered the whole of it, together with the rivers on both
iidcs of Engroneland (Greenland) forafmuch as I fee

* Neome feenjs to be the idanil of Sircmtg, one of the Faro IHands,
as it is, in fa£V, to the I'outhward of lceland> and only three days lail
from the Oikneys, or Farat IJlanJs, i. e- Friefland.

•^ Hakluyt tranflatts it thus, *' built a town," The original fays,
fece una terra.

i^^f^-

»'

r98

VOYAGES ANB

it particularly defcriy>,.J in the map, but the narrattv^
of it is loft. The paflage aiJuded to of the Letter runs
thus :

*' As to the particulars you are defirous to know of
me concerning the cuftoms of the people, the animals,
and the adjacent countries, of all thefe I have written
a feparate book, which, God willing, I intend to bring
with me: in this book I have given a defcription of
the country, the wonderful fiflies, the laws and cuf-
toms of Frtejland^ Iceland^ Ejiland, the kingdom of
Norway^ E/iotiland, Drogio, and, finally, the life of
the Chevalier Nicolo Zeno, our brother ; with the
difcoveries made by him, and the ftate of Greenland
(Grolanda), I have alfo written the life and afts of
Zichmni, a prince as worthy of immortal fame as any
that ever lived, on account of his great valour and
humanity ; therein, too, I have defcribed the difcovery
of Engroveland (Engroneland, or Greenland) on both
its fides, and the town that he built. I fliall therefore
fay no more on the fubjedt in this Letter, as I hope foon
to be with you and fatisfy you concerning many other
things, in perfon."

All thefe Letters were written by Mefler Antonio to
his brother Carlo.

This is the whole of the account of the voyages
made in the North by the two Zenos. Many have
been inclined to rejed: the whole of this narrative, as
being falfe and fabul©us, becaufe the names of the
countries, Friefland, Eftland, Porland, Sorani, Elloti-
land, Drogio, and Engroveland, are no longer any
where to be met with. But after I had narrowly in-
fpe£led it, and tranflated it myfelf from the Italian of
Francefco Marcolini, preferved in Ramufio's collection,
it was in the higheft degree evident to me, that the
whole of this relation is true, as, in fa£l, it contains
within itfelf the ftrongeft proofs of its pwn authen-
ticity^

Th?

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 199

The author of this relation, MarcoUni^ has extradted
Jt from the original letters of the two Zemsy one of
the moft confiderable families in Venice .; 1 family
on which no one would have the boldnefs to palm
ftories of this kind, fuppofing them to be abfolutely
falfe. It muft doubtlefs be well known, and be de-
monflrable from accounts to be found in original re-
cords and archives at Venice, that there were fuch
people actually in being as thefe brothers. Carlo, Ni-
colo, and Antonio Zeno ; that tlie Chevalier undertook
a voyage to the North, and his brother Antonio fol-
lowed him thither j that this fame Antonio laid down
all thefe voyages and countries on a map, which he
brought with him to Venice, and which hung up in
his houfe in Marcolini's time (where it was in the
power of every one to fee and examine it) as a fure
pledge and an inconteftible proof of the truth of this
narrative. This being then the cafe, how is it poflible
for any one to harbour the leaft doubt concerning the
truth of thefe relations, much more abfolutely to rejedt
them as fabulous ? Should, however, any one perfift
in fuch incredulity, nothing farther can be oppofed to
him ; as in this cafe there muft be an end to all faith
in hiftory ; and it would be but labour in vain to en-
deavour to convince one who purpofely ftiuts his eyes
againft the truth.

But it is alledged likcwife, that the whole narrative
has the appearance of a mere fable. In what part
of the North is Friejlandy and the other countries
mentioned in the narrative ? Who has ever heard of
a Zichmniy that in 1379, or 1380, vanquiftied the
King of Norway, who at that time was called Ha-
kon f It muft be confelled that there is feme degree
of plaufibility in all this. Yet we think we can do
a great deal towards clearing the whole of this hiftory
from the difficulties which attend it.

And

200

VOYAGES AND

Ar\A firji<i we fhall endeavour to get over the geo-
graphical objcdtions. Long before I had taken in
hand this vv^ork on the Difcoveries made in the North,
the countries defcribed by the Zenos appeared to me
to have actually cxifted at that time, but that they had
been fwallowed up fince by the fea in a great earth-
quake. This opinion I Itill held in the winter of
1782, "when I laid down my map of the countries near
the North Pole. It is founded on the probability that
all the high iflands which have been hitherto difcovered
in the middle of the fea, either have volcanoes in thpm
flill burning, or elfe exhibit the mod evident traces
of extin6l volcanoes, fuch as craters, lava, puzzolana,
black flags, and pumice-ftone. This can be proved
beyond a Ihadow of doubt to be the cafe with refped:
to Madeira, the Azores, the Cape Verd Iflands, St.
Helena, Afcenllon Ifland, Otaheite, and the whole
clufter of the Society Iflands, Eafter Ifland, the Mar-
quefas, many of the new Hebrides and Friendly
Iflands, and even with refpccl to Iceland and the Fara
Iflands. It was therefore probable, that thefe iflands,
mentioned in the narrative of the Zenos, were like-
wife volcanic, and had been by a violent earthquake a
fecond time buried in the bottom of the fea. But af-
terwards refledting, that fo great a revolution muft.
however have left behind it fome hifl:orical veftiges, or.
traditions. I began to examine over again the names
of the countries defcribed j and now I found that they
atflually bore the ftrongefl: refemblance to the Orkneys^
the Shetland, F^ro, JVeJicrn Iflands, &c. and as I have
already made fome mention of this above, I fhall only
flightly touch upon the fubje£t at prefent. The Zenos
having reprefented Borland as entirely compofed of fmall
iflands, has fuggefted to me the idea that all thefe ge-
neral names of countries appertained to whole cluft:ers
of iflands taken colledlively. Accordingly Ejlland ap-
peared to me very much to refemble the Zetlandy
or Shetland iflands ; and on comparing the names
of Talns^ Broas, Ifcant, Trans, Mimant, Damhere, and
Bres, with thofe of 3v//, or Zeal (probably Teal) Bur-

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. aot

Tfjy, (or Sura^ of ^-vhich name there are two places^
IVeJiburna and Eaft-Bura-, when taken c®lledively
called the Buras) tfnJJ^ Trornla, Mainland, Hmrier (a
place in Mainland to the northward). Brajfa, or
Brejja, the refemblance appeared to me (b obvious,
that I could no longer harbour the leail doubt
about the matter. After this L began to coniider
where the other iflands and clufters of iflands were to
be fought for. The land of Sorani, of which Zichmni
was Duke, lay over'agalnji Scotland (according to
the Englifh tranflation in Uakluyt) but the Italian
original of Marcol'tm^ fays {pojia della banda verfa
Scotia) it lay on one fide of Scotland. Here the So-
deroe, or fouthern iflands of the Nornrans and Danes,
naturally fuggefted themfelves to me, ifles, which are,
in fa6V, the fame with thofe called at prefent the
Wejiern IJles^ and lie directly clofe to Scodand, but
which in refpeft to the Shetland and the Faro Iflands,
lie to the fouthward. Now, from the word Soderoer
(Soder fignifying fouthern, and Oer iflands) is formed
by contraction Sofoer, and (varying, the termination of
the plural) Soroen, which again might, by a corrupt
pronunciation, be eafdy tranfmuted to Sorani. Zeiu)
relates that he had found tlie bay of Sudero near the
ifles of Ledovo and Ilofe. Now thefe are the Soderoe^
and the ifles of Lewis * and of Hay. Sanejiol ap-
pears to me fituated near the Ifle of Lewisj and to be
that clufter of iflands which are called Schantfcer.,
whence the word Sanejiol is evidently derived. The
town of Bondendon is nothing more than a place in
the Ifle of Skye, called Pondon, or Pondontown, a name
Vviiich, by a very flight change in the pronunciation.

* The Ifle of Z.fw/j was by the Normans called Ledkut^ from which
appellation probably originated the name oi' Le J ovo. Vid. Fennatit's Vaur
tr y.cotitintl, and a yoyage to the Hebrides, 1781 Part I. page 326, the
ad or 4th edition. The Sodcroe were all the Wv^ftcrn Iflands that lay to
ilie loiith ot Point y^rJn.imurchnn, in Scotland, in <;7 deg. N. lat, aiul
fhoje that lay ip the north were called the No/tbem Illand^.

X02

VOYAGES AND

is eafily transformed to Bondendon. From this con-
qucit of the Wejlern IJlands^ Zlchmni's fleet returned
in triumph to Friejlandy the capital of the ifland of
that name, in a bay of which, quite to the fouth-
weftwaid, it was fituate. Here then we have again
an illand, or perhaps even an afiemblage of iflands,
under this denomination. They are famous for the
vaft quantities of fifh, which are ihipped from them
to Flanders, the coaft of Bretagne, England, Scotland,
Norway, and Denmark. The place here fpoken of
is then no other than the ifland of Faira^ or Fera^
which is alfo called Feras lanl^ and belongs to the
Orkneys^ being fo encompafled with various iflands,
that it appears to lie quite in a gulph or bay ; and
here, too, a great number of herrings are caught
yearly. So that this fpot appears to be Fairejlandy
by abbreviation, Fricjland.

. The defcent upon Ejihnd was interrupted by th6
news of the arrival of the King of Norway. Both fleets
fuftered by the ftorm, but that of the Normans more than
Zichmni's ; and fome (hips from both fleets, that had been
faved from the general wreck, arrived at Grijland, an
uninhabited ifland. This GriJIand\\t%hr to the north-
ward, and near Iceland. It fhould feem confequent-
ly that it was' the ifle of Grimf-ey-t which lies to the
north of Iceland. Indeed 1 fhould rather take it for
the ifland of Enkhuyzen, which is fuppofed to lie to
the, eaftward of Iceland, and which, from the name it
bears, we may conclude to have been feen b) fome
Dutch mariners ; but as many navigators, and but
very lately M. Kerguekn have very diligently looked
put for it without being able to find it, in all proba-
bility it is merely an ifland, formerly thrown up a-
bove the furface of the fea by the repeated concuf-
itons of the volcano in Iceland, but afterwards by the
fame fea fwjillowed up again entire. However, it is
likewife poflible, that this ifland Enihuyzen was no-
thing more than a large floating mountain of ice,
and thus could not have been feen again. Upon the
whole, therefore, it iecms more natural to fuppofe that

Grijlund

DISCOVERIES IN THE KORTH, toj

Crijland is the Grimf ey of the moderns. For this
latter word, according to the old orthography, might
yery well be written Grijlav.d, Now thole words,
which in Zeno's narrative have the word land added
to them, are by the Danes and Icelanders terminated
in oe^ or ey j and confequently Grijland is neither more
nor lefs than Grimf-ey, Zichmni was defirous like-
wife of making an attempt on Iceland ; but found
that country too well defended, and his fleet, which
was Ihattered by the ftorm, too weak to give him
any hopes of fuccefs in that quarter. He now turn-
ed his arms againft the other iflands of Ejliand^ i. e.
Shetland, and made a conqueft of th-in. Formerly
thefe iflands went by the name of Yaltaland, or Hit'
land, which, in procefs of time, w.'cs changed into
Zet land and Shetland-^ and hence the EJlland of Zeno
is eafily deduced, particularly, if we at the fame time
have recourfe for the i.ames of thefe iflands taken fe-
parately, which names we have already compared with
each other, and explained.

Nicolo Zeno undertook, from Brejfa, in the Shetland
iflands, a voyage to Greenland j for his Engrovcland,
as well as the Engror 'nndoi the Englifti tranfiation,
is no other than Greeniand, of which he gives a very
€xad defcription, as well as of the monaftery of St.
Thomas. He fpeaks of the uncultivated favages, who,
according to this account, fo early as in the year
1380 odd, were on the eaftern coaft of the ifland
near the monaftery of St. Thomas. The trade of the
Friars was carried on by means of fliips, which went
thither from the Orkneys, the Shetland and Faro
Jflands , as like wife from Drontheim in Norway, from
Sweden, and other northern regions. Zeno even de-
fcribes the fmall leathern boats in which the Green-
landers tie themfelves fafl: j fo that it is evident, that he
made ftrift enquiry into, and fav with his own eyes,
<?vcry thing which he relates.

After the demife of Nicolo Zeno, Antonio goes
to Ejlotiland, and, on this occafion, informs us by
what accident it was difcovered. He fays, that it was

. <i

«l

;^f j

4n >

I ''51

'\\m

ft04

VOYAGES Ai^d

more than looo miles to the weftward of Friefland ;
that the inhabitants were civilized, had arts and han-
dicraft trades, carried on a trade in furs with Green-
Jand, and brought back from thence brimftone and
pitch J that they were in poflelfion of Latin books
which they no longer underftood, but had a peculiar
language, as well as letters and a written charadter
of their own. To the fouthwards there were coun-
tries abounding with gold : here they had walled cities,
and built ihips i they likewife pra<^ifed agriculture and
brewed beer. All thefe particular delignations are
ftrong indications of a people that had its origin from
the northern nations of Europe. Nay,'^ it is evident,
that this Ejioilland cannot pofiibly be any other coun-
try than that of IFinland^ which was difcovered in.
the year looi, and which we have fhewri at page
83, with r tolerable degree of certainty, to be the
Nnvfoundland of the moderns. It is beyond all dpubf.
that feveral Normans fettled in this country ; thefe
carried thither with them the arts and handicraft trader
then known, and traded to Greenland, from whence
they originally came. It is very poffible indeed that
their language might have been altered by their mix-
ture with the natives J and a fiflierman- from the
Orkneys might be very well fuppofed to have been
ignorant of the Runic. That Latin books were found
in the collecSlion belonging to the King, or Chief,
is not furprizing, as it is well known, and indeed has
been obferved at page 87 of this Hiftory, that Eric^
Biihop of Greenland, went in the year 1 121 to Win-^
iand, in ofder to convert his countrymen in thofe
parts, who were fVill heathens. But it is not to be
fuppofed that this Bifhop would have been at the pains
to make a voyage to IVinland above a hundred years
after the firft difcovery of it, if he had not known
with certainty, that there were at that time many of
the defcendants of his countrymen in that region. Now,
as this prelate was never known to have returned to
Greenland, it is not improbable that he died in Win-
Jand i and confequently the Ladn books found in this

lattejT

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 205

latter country might have been carried thither by
him. The Normans had alfo introduced into it the
art of brewing beer, and agriculture. The people of
this country underftood navigation too, and vv^ent back-
wards and forwards to Greenland ; but at the time
when the Normans firft fettled in Winland, the ufe of
the compafs was not known. For the commonly re-
ceived opinion is, that Flavio Gioia^ of Amalfl, in the
kingdom of Naples, made the difcovery of it in 1302;
though others maintain, that Marco Polo, who was
in China and the Eaft from 127 1 to 1295, brought
home with him the ufe of the compafs from China,
where it is faid to have been known long before.
On the other hand, Fauchet^ from a palfage in Guyot
de Provence, a Provencal poet, who flourilhed about
the year 1 206, and mentions the compafs by the name
of la marinette^ concludes, that this inftrument was
then in ufe among mariners. In fhort, it is evident,
that the Orkney fifliermen at this time made ufe of the
compafs in their navigations, an inftrument at that period
not known to the inhabitants of EJlotiland.

The land of Drogto lay mcyc to the fouthward than
EJlotiland^ as did all the other countries through which
the fiflierman wandered during the fpace of 13 years,
and among which he at laft found nations, who lived
in a very temperate climate ; and had cities and temples,
wherein they offered up human beings by way of facri-
fice, and devoured their flefli. Thei'e people, too, were
riot totally without information, and were poflefled of
gold and filver. Nearly thus were the firft inhabitants
of Florida defcribed, who were in pofTeflion of cities
and temples as well as of gold and filver, at the time
when their country was firft re-difcovcred by the Eu-
ropeans.

Antonio Zeno now proceeds to relate the hiftory of the
laft voyage of difcovery which he made with Zichmni,
in cr-^er to explore the country that had been feen,
and thus circumftantially defcribed by the fifherman.
t: — From Fnejlandy i. e. Faira, in the Orkneys, the

fleet

» i.i

^^^!

■m

ao6

VOYAGES AND

fleet goes to Ledovoy or Lewis^ one, of the wcftcnf
idands, and then to Jlofe, viz. Hay, or, as it was probably
called, lU-oe. When they had failed a little way to the
weftwards, they were toffed to and fro by a tempeft,
for the Ipace of eight days, and as foon as the wind be-
came fair^ defcried land. Here the inhabitants would
not fuffer them to make a landing, but fpoke to them
by an interpreter, who was a native of Iceland. The
country was called Icaria : after this follows a ftrange
ilor)k of one Dadalus, Kin2 of Scotland, and his fon
Icarus, who became their King and Legiflator. This
country, which had been newly peopled, was no
other than Ireland, where they had the recoil e£lion
of the piracies of the Normans deeply imprefled on
their memories, and therefore would not permit thefc
warriors, who were quite unknown to them, to land.
It was perhaps from the county of Kerry that this
name of Icaria took its origin j and the name of Icarus's
father muft of courfe be Dadalusy who, in all proba-
bility, was fome Scottifli Prince, with a name founding
fomewhat like this word. From this place they failed
fix da3rs to the we ft ward, with a fair wind ; but in
four days a ftorm from me fouth-weft drove them to
the northwards, when they defcried land, with a burn-
ing mountain, whence ilfued fmoke and fire, and a
river which flowed with afphaltus. A half- wild, dimi-
nutive race of men, lived here in caverns. In the;
fequel, Zeno himfelf tells us, that Zichmni had ex-
plored the whole country, and together with it had dif-
covered the rivers on both fidei of Engroncland^ i. e.
Greenland, and built a town there. So that it is
beyond all doubt, that the country difcovered by
Zichmni was Greenland. At the fame time it is
remarkable, that he met with no Europeans, nor any
of their defcendants, nor even with the Monks found
a few years before by Nicholo Zeno in the cloifter
of St. Thomas. The inhabitants are, according to
the defcription here given, real Greenlanders, ihort
of ftature and half wild, but live in caverns, which,
in fa£l, arc at this jundture .the winter habitations of

the

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 107

Ae natives of Greenland. This fecms to intinutte,
that the natives of this country, or the anceftors of
the prcfcnt race of Greenlandcrs, between 1380 aiul
1384, or thereabouts, had extirpated *:he new comers
from Europe, together with the Monies. Farther, it
is evident, frr»m this narrative, that the eaftern as
the weftern coaft of Greenland, not only was known
to the Europeans, but they were both laid down in
a map by Antonio Zeno.

This fame perfon, in returning to FrUJIantfy faW
the ifland of Neome, which I t, ' ' to be Strom^ey
one of the Faro iflcs ; a circumftance which feems to
point out with ftill greater certainty the courfe of
his navigation. I take the liberty or obferving here,
en paflknt, that Portland likewife belonged to tiie
domains of Zichmni, and that by this name in all
probability are meant the Faroery or Faro Jjlandsc
the great number of (heep which were fed there
having furnifhed thefe iflands both with weapons and
a name ; for Far^ in Dani(h, figniBcs a ram, Now«
Far-Qiy or Far-land'^ is eafily tranfmuted into Por-
land.

In confequence of the preceding elucidations, I flat^
ter myfelf that the unprejudiced part of my readers
will not be difpofed, from any confiderations refpc^V-
ing the geography of it, to harbour the leaft doubt
concerning the truth of this relation, having endea-
voured to make it appear, with as much probability
as the fubje6t is capable of, that the countries vifited
and defcribed by the two Zenos, are of the number
of thofe which are already known, that Greenland
was vifited by them, and that thefe illuftrious adven-
turers were even not unacquainted with America.

We will now turn to the hiftorical proofs. It i«
true, among the Princes or Sovereigns of the Ork-
neys, between the years 1370 and 1394, we find no
fuch name as Zichmni^ and confequently no Orca-
dian King or Prince, who about this time vanquilh--
ed the King of Norway in a pitched battle. The
Hiftory of the Orkneys at this period will probably
I'erve to throw fome light upon this fubjet'i.

The

ii
m

9o8

VOYAGES AND

The ancient Earls of Orkney, the dcfcendants of
the Jarl E'lnar-Torfy were extindl ; in confequcnce
pf which the King of Norway, Magnus Smaky about
the year 1343, nominated Erngifel Sunafon Bot^ a
Swedi(h nobleman, Jarl^ or Earl of Orkney^ and the
treafure of the earldom was feized upon for the Crown.
In the year 1357, Malic Conda, or Mollis Sperre, by
his guardian, Duncan Anderfon^ made known to the
ftates of the Orkneys his pretenfions to the earldom,
as being rightful heir to it in the female line j which
pretfenfions the ftates laid before the King. After-
wards (in 1369) Henry Sinclair (de Santa Clara) like-
wife put in his claim as rightful heir in the female
line, and in 1370, was nominated to this earldom by
King Hakon. Now, as befides this, Alexander of
Ardy or Le-ard, claimed the Orkneys as a defcen-
dant in the female line, and there were many that,
under this pretence, harrafl'ed the iflands by repeated
adls of piracy, Hakon rcqucftcd of David, King of
Scotland, to put a flop to this growing evil j in con-
fequcnce of which requcft, King David forbad, on
pain of death, any of his fubjecls to go to the Ork-
neys, except with a view to trade. In 1375, Ha-
kon appointed Alexander Le-ard, for a year, to the
earldom. Thefe frequent changes feem to fliew, that
the Kings of Norway, on account of the troubles at
that time exifting in Sweden and Norway, were not
very well able to defend the Orkneys, which, there-
fore, continued to be expofed to the depredations of
the pretenders to the earldom. Want of money, too,
oblio-ed the Norwc";ian monarchs to favour all thefe
claimants, and grant them letters of inveltment, ac-
cordingly as the latter furni(hed them with money.
In confequence of this the degraded and malcontent
Earls had continual bickerings with the newly-inveft-
ed Lords, and even fometimes regularly waged war
with them. Now Henry Sinclair appears to have fairly
vanquiflied Le-ard^ and taken poiieflion of the Ork-
neys, and upon this to have made fuit to the King
to be invefted with the earldom, which fuit the
King, after Sinclair's victory over Le-ard^ granted.

DISCOVERIES IS' THE NORTH. 209

Al the fame time, however, Henry Sinclair was oblig-
ed to pay him lOOO golden nobles, and promife to
accommodate matters with Maltis Sprrrty and the
other claimant, Alexander Le-Ard^ fo that they fhould
make no farther pretenftons to the Orkneys, but en-
tirely give up their right and title to thtfe iflands ;
and liiice the year 1379 there are veftiges to be
met with in hiltory, that Henry Sinclair was ftill
£arl of the Orkneys In the year 1406, and like-
wife in the poilejnon af Hialtalandy (or the Shetland
Iflands). With thefe few hiilorical anecdotes we are
now able to elucidate m<:ny particulars which before
feemcd involved in obfcurity. The name of Sinclair^
or Siclaif, is eafily taken for Zichmni by an Italian
who only hears the word pronounced ; and as this
Sinclair vanquished Alexander Le-Ard^ who reprefent-^
ed the King of Norway in the Orkneys, and as he
made himfclf mafter of thofe iflands, of which h^
then, and not till then, applied for the invcftiture,
and obtained it in 1739; '^ might with no grea^
impropriety be affirmed, that ho had beat the King
of Norway, viz. in the perfon of his vaflal. The
thoufand golden nobles, too, doubtlefs contributed
fomewhat towards King Hakon*^ making no great
difficulty of the matter. So that after thefe clucida-

reafon left to doubt of the

of the Zenos, which yet,

to the geography of the

tions there can be no
truth of this narrative
confidercd with refpeft

North at that period, is of great importance.

XIV, Pietro ^irini^ a Venetian nobleman, was
a merchant and maiter of a fliip in the ifland of Can-*
dia^ which at that time was in the pofleflion of the
Venetians. With a view to acquire fame as well as
profit, in the year 1431, he undertook a voyage from
Candia to Flanders, and ti wards the end of autumn
fufFered (hipwreck on the coaft of Norway, not far
from Roji Ifland. Here he wintered, and the fol-

'!■

11* *•':

lowing

210

VOYAGES AND

lowing fummer travelled through Dronthelm to //W-
Jienoy in Sweden, and arrived again in 1432 at Ve-
nice. He has himfulf given an account of the voy-
age, and two of his fellow-travellers, Chrijlopho Fi"
cravante^ and Nicolo di Michiel^ did the fame. Both
thefe works are to be found in RaTnufto\ ColleSiion^
publifhcd at Venice, in two volumes, A. D. 1583,
page 200 — 211. They have likewife been published
in the German language, by way of extradt, from
Ramufio, by Hieronymus Megiferus, in a work called
Septentrio Novantiqiius, Printed in 8vo at Leipfic,
1613.

Sluirini informs us, that on the 25th of April,
I431, he fet fail from Candia, on a wcflward courfe,
but, meeting with contrary winds, he was obliged
to keep near theeoaft of Africa. On the 2d of June
he pafled the Straits of Gibraltar, and through the
ignorance of his pilot ran upon the (hoals of St. Pc-
tro, in confequence of which the rudder was thrown
off the hinges, and the fea entered the (hip at three
places. In fa£l, it was with great difficulty that
they could favc the vell'el from going to the bottom,
land run into Cadizy where they unloaded her, and in
25 days, havmg put her into perfedt repair, took her
Jading in a?ain. In the mean time, having heard that
the Kepublic of Venice was at war with that of Qc-
noa, he augmented the number of his crew, fo that in
the whole it amounted to 68 men. On the 14th of July
he fet fail again, and bore up for the Cape of St. Vin-
cent ; but, by reafon of a contrary wind, which blew
from off the land in a north-eaft dircdlion, and on that
road is called Jgioney they v/ere obliged to traverf©
for the fpace of 45 days at a great dillance from the
land, and indeed near the Canary Iflands, in tracks
which were very dangerous, and with which they
were entirely unacquainted. But at length, jud as
their ftoek of provifions began to fail, they had a
fair wind from the fouth-weft, and Jire6ted their
courfe to the north-eaft : fome of the iron -work,
however, gave way, on which the rudder was hung.
In the mean time they mended them as well as they
could, and on the 25th of Augufl, arived fafe at
Lijhon,

Here

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ait

Here having carefully repaired the iron-work of
t )cir rudder, and taken in a frefti (Vock of provifi-
CMis, they let fail again on the 14th of Sept. They
were now a fecond time tolled to and fro by contra-
ry winds, till the 26th of 0(5toberi when they reach-
ed the port bf Muresy whence Qj^iirini, with 13 of
the crew, went to San Jago di Comp$Jiella^ in order
to perform their devotions. They returned with all
polllble fpeed, and fetting fail with a fair fouth-weft
wind, kept, in hopes that the wind would conti-
Due, at the dillance of 200 miles from the land, and
Cape Finijierty till the 5th of November, when the
\yind ftiifting to the eart and fouth-eaft, preventc4
them from entering the Britifti Channel, and carried
them beyond the Sorlingiany (or Scilly) Iflands. The
wind now encreafed in violence, and on the loth
of November^ carried the rudder a fecond time from
off its hinges. They flung it indeed by ropes to the
quarters of the (hip, but it fooh gotloofe again, and
was dragged after the (hip for the fpace of three
days, when the ufed their uthiofl efforts, and made
it fall again. But their veifel now drove continu-
ally farther from the lartd ; and as the crew con-
fumed the visuals and drink without limits or mO"
deration, at length tVvo or three of them were fet to
guard the provihons, who twite a day di((ributed to
each man his (hare^ Quirini himfelf not> excepted.
In this condition, by the advice of the carpenter^
they conflrudted, out of the mainmaft and the fpare
yards, two rudders with triangular boarded ends, in
order to prevent the veflel from going unfteady.
Thefe new rudders were properly faftened^ and
proved very ferviceable^ a circumflance which infpired
them all with fre(h hopes } but, by the violence of
the winds^ likewife this their laft refuge was torn
away from the (hip. On the 26th of Novemberj the
f^orm encreafed to fuch a degree, that they had no
doui)t but that that day would be their la(l. The
llorm indeed, by degrees, became fomewhat lefs vr-
uJeni ; but they were driven out to fea, W. N. W<

P 2 and

I r' I'm, I I

■fi

' ! ' ■ ;|

212

VOYAGES AND

and the fails, which had been perpetually fatigued
by the rain and wind, were now torn to ihivers;
and though they clapt on new ones, yet thefc
did not laft long. Now the fliip drove without either
fails or rudder, and was Ailed with water by the
waves which continually beat over it, infomuch that
the crev; , debilitated jy labour and anxiety, were
fcarcely 2:ble to keep thi water under. Having heav-
ed the lead, and found ground at 80 fathoms, they;
fpliced &1I the four cables together, and rode at
anchor for the fpace of 40 hours. One of the crew»
terrified at the dreadful working of the Ihip hi con-'
fequence of the tempefl; and the fwell of the fca,
cut the cable at the forecaftle of the ihip, which
now tiiove about as before. On the 4th of Decem-
ber, fuur large waves breaking over the ill-fated
vuiiel, filled it fo full that it was almuft ready to
fmk. The crew, however, fun;moning up all their
refoiution and fpirits, baled the water out, though
it reached up to their waiHs, and in the end quite
emptied the veflel of it. On the 7th the tempeft
ericreafed to fuch a degree, that the fea flowed into
the veflel on the windward fide, and their deftruc-
tion feemed to them invitable. But now they were
of opinion, that if the mainmaft were cut away, it
would lighten the (hip. They therefere fet about
this bufinefs immediately, and a large wave fortu-
nately carried away the maft, together with the yard,
which made the (hip work lefs. The wind, too,
and the v^aves, became fomewhat more calm, and
they again bailed out the water. But now the maft
was gone, the vefl'el would no longer keep upright,
aiid lying quite on one fide, the water ran into it in
torrents, when, bein^ exhauded with labour and want
of food, and finding that they had not ihength left
iufficient for clearing the vefi*el of the water, they re-
folved at length to fave themfelvcs in the boats, of which

the

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH, 213

the larger held 47, and the fmaller 21 men. ^irini^
who had the choice which boat he would go in, at
lad went with his fervants into the great boat, into
which he faw the officers enter. They took with
them a ftocic of provifions, and as Toon as the winds
fend the waves were become fomewhat more calm,
which was on the 17th of December, they quitted
the (hip, which, among other coilly articles of com-
merce, was laden with 8co cailcs of Malmfey wine,
9nd a great, quantity of fweet-fcented Cyprus wood,
ginger, and pepper. On the following night the
imall-boat, with the 21 men in her, was feparated
^rpm them by the violence of the ftorm, and they
never heard of her more. Indeed they were them-
felves obliged, in order to lighten their boat a little,
to throw over-board their flock of wine and provifi-
ons, together with all their clothes, excepting what
they carried on their backs. The weather proving
fair for a time, they fleered to the eadward, with a
view to get, as they fuppofed, to Iceland ; but the
wind chopping about, drove them to and fro again.
Their liquor beginning to fail, and befides many of
them being exhaufled in confequence of the precede
ing fcarcity of provifions, as well as of the inceflant
labour, long watchings, and other hardfhips they
had undergone, a great number of them died : the
fcarcity of drink in particular was fo great, that each
man had no more than the fourth part of a cup (and
that not a large one) every 24 hours. Witn falted
meat, cheefe, and bifcuit, they were better provided :
but this fait and dry food excited in them a thirfl
which they were not able r:> quench. In confequence
of this, fome of them died fuddenly, and without
having previoufly exhibited the leafl fymptoms of
any complaint ^ and in particular it was obferved,
that thofe were firfl carried off who had before this
period lived in the mofl riotous manner, who had
drank great quantities of wine, or entirely given
themfelves up to drunkennefs, and had hovered con-
tinually

214

VOYAGES AND

tinually over the fire, without ftirring at all but t<^
fhift from one fide of the fire to the other. Thcfe.
though they had externally the appearance of being
ilrong ^and healthy, were yet leaft of all capable of
Rearing the hardfliips they were obliged to undergo*
in confequence of which they died two, three, and
four in a day. This mortality prevailed among the
crew from the 19th of December to the igth, the
corpfes being thrown into the fea. On the loth the
]aft remainder of the wine was ferved out, and every
one prepared for death. Some of them drank fca-
water, which hallened their deaths, while others '.lad
recourfe to their own urine, and this latter beverage,
joined with the precaution of eating as little fait pro-
vifion as poilible, contributed moil of all to the pre-
fervation of their lives. For the fpace of five days
they continued in this dreadful fituation, failing all
the time to the north-eaftward. On the 4th of Ja-
nuary, one of them, who fat at the fore part of the
boat, defcried, fomcwhat to the leeward, as it were,
the (hadow of land, and immediately informed the
crew of it in an auxious tone of voice. Their eyes
vf€te now all turned to the objeft, and continued
itedfaftly fixed upon it, and by break of day they faw,
with extreme joy, that it was really land.

The fight of this infpired them with frefh vigour,
fo that they now took to their oars, in order to ar-
rive the fooner at the ihore ; but this, on account
of its great diftance, as well as of the (hortnefs of
the day, which was only two hours long, they could
not compafs. Befides, they could not long make
ufe of their oars, as they were fo weak, and as the
night foon overtook them, which, long, as it was,
feemed ftill longer to them from the impatience na-
tural to men in their condition. The next morning,
by day-break, they loft fight of the land however,
to the leeward, they difcovered another mountain-
ous country very near them. That they might not,
on the following night, lofe fight of this, they took
the bearings of it with the compafs, and then imme-
diately

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 215

Hiatcly fet fail for it with a fair wind, and arrived at
It about four o'clock in the evening. When they
?pproached near to it they obferved that it was fur-
rounded by a great number of (hallow places, for
they beard very diftindly the fea breaking upon them.
They gave themfelves up, however, to the guidance
of the Almighty; and once their boat being brought
upon a fhoal, a vad wave came and carried it off
again, at the fame time fetting them entirely out of
danger, and upon a rock which now was their great
fecurity and prefervation. This was the only place
where they could land, as the rock was encompafled
on every other Me by other projecting rocks. They
therefore ran their boat on to the land, when thole
that were in the fore part of the boat, leaped diredly
on (hore, and finding it entirely covered with fnow,
they fwallowed the fnow in immenfe quantities, fill,
ing with it their parched and burning Homachs and
bowels. They likewife filled a .kettle and water-
pitcher for us, that from weaknefs (laid in the boat.
I muft confefs, fays Quirini, that I fwallowed as
much fnow as Lfbould find it very difficult to carry-
on my back. It feemed to me as though all my weir
fare and happinefs depended on my fwallowing it.
However, this extravagant quantity of fnow agreed
fo ill with five of our men, that they died that fame
night, though, indeed, we conHdered the fea-water
they had fwallowed as the caufe of their death.

Having no ropes to fallen the boat with, and thus
prevent it from being dafhcd in pieces, they remained
in it the whole night. The next day, at dawn, thefe
16 poor wretches, the only remains of 46, went
a-fhure and laid themfelves down in the fnow.
Hunger, however,, foon obliged them to examine
whether (here was not fome provifion ftill remain-
ing of their ftcrk; but they found nothing more
than a few crumbs of bifcuit in a bag, mixed with
the dung of mice, a very fmail ham, and an incon-
fiderable quantity of cheefe. Thefe they warmed by
means of a fmall fire, which they had made of the
feats .of the boat, and this, in fome mcafure, ap-
pealed

2l6

VOYAGES AN©

peafed their hunger. The Hay after, having convinc-
ed themfelves, beyond a c.»ubt, that the rock they
Avcre on was uninhabited and quite deferted, they
were going to quit it, and accordingly, after filling
five fmall cafks with ,fnow<r water, got into the boat,
when the indant they entered it, the water ran into
it in torrents through all the feams, as during the
whole of the preceding long night the boat had been
dafliing againfi: the rock, infomuch that it went ta
the bottom immediately, and they were all obliged,
quile wet through, to go a-fhore agi'n. They now
made of the oars and fails of the boat two fmall
tents, by way of (heltering themfelves from the wea-
ther, and with the knees and planks of it, which
they hewed in pieces, they kindled a fire to warm
themfelves by. The only food that was now left
for them conuftcd in a few mufcles and other fea- (hells
which they picket >p on the (horc. Thirteen of the
company were in v.-e tent, and three in the other.
The fmoke of the wet wood occafioned their faces
and eyes to fwell up to fo great a degree, that they
were afraid of lofing their eye-fight ; and what ftill
added to their fufFerings, was that they were almoft
devoured by lice and maggots, which they threw by
handfuls into the fire. Quirini's fecretary had the
ilefti on his neck eaten bare to the finews by thefe
vermin, which, indeed, occafioned his death. There
died alio three Spaniards befides, who were of a
Tcry robuft frame of body, but probably loil their
lives in confequenee of the fea-water they had drunk *.
The 13 Itill remaining alive were fo weak that they

were

* U. is hip*ily probable that ihi« ohfervation is founded on fafl:, at well
9s that meiiU»iic(l a Utile before, vh. thai |.he hardeft drinkeis, who at
the lame lime were thf moft ioadiv* ptopie, were the firft viftim.- of
deaih : for ev»-n now we find that in long voyage*, (uch as are idle and
in.tdive, and drink a greai quantity of tlrong liquors of any kind, ar^
tlways the tirll to be attacked with ih* I'curvy and are carried nff )ud-
»ff nly by it. In the mean time I cann t refrain from relating an incident
which a4\ually happened, !<nd which was conimunicaitd to me in Enp-
land by peiluu& 01' uiiqueitionable vcracily. A vdTel uii its voyage front

Jamaica

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. i»y

"wcre not able, for the fpacc of three days, td drag
•away the corpfes from the fire-fidc, v/hcrc they lay.

fvleven days after this, Quirini's fervant going
along the Aiore to pick up mufcles, the only food
they had, found on the farthcft point of the rock,
a i'mv.W houfis, bufilt of wood, in 'which» as well as
,'ouiid about it, they faw fomc cour-dung. From
this circumdance they had rea'bn to conclude that
there were both men and cattle in the neighbourhood
of this fpot ; an idea that fervcd to revive their
(drooping fpirits, and infpired them with frefh hopes.
This houfe offered them good (helter and houfe-room,
and all, but three or lour of them, who, wcre too
weak, went to occupy it, taking with them feveral
bundles of wood from the ruins of their boat. Witii
grtat diiBcuhy they crawled thither through the dce.^
fnow, the diilance being about a mile and a half.
Two days after this, going along the (h<»re to feck
their u(ual fuud of mufcles and other fea (liells, one
o\ the company found a very large fiih, caft up by
the fea, which appeared to weigh about 200IK
weight, and to be <juite fweet and frefh. This f.fli

Jamaica to England had fofTcied fo much fron-i the ftoiinxliy whic^ it
was overtaktn, ih..t at len(;:h it was on ilie poii t o! finkinj;. The crtw
hid recourle in all halte lo ihe boat. TIks great hurry lh«y were ui«
havirgocr 'iontd them to take with them but a fmall quantity cf provi>-
li'jns and ).(|uoi', tliey loon b«gan to be affli^ed with hunger as well Ai
■ third in a high degree, when 'he Captain adviled them by no meant ta
diink the fea-water, as the cfle£ts of it would be extremely noxiouis;
but rather to toliow his example, and, thinly cladi dip in the (ea. He
himtelf pradifed this conlUnily, and mt only he, but all thofe who fol-
lowed his example, found thai, when tht y came out cf the water* both
thtir hunger and thirll were perfeflly appeai'ed for a lon^ time. Maiiy
ot^ the crew laughed at him and at thole that followed his initruiHionR,
but at length grew weak, exhaufted, and died oi hunger and thii A ; njy,
fame I'f them, urged by dcipair, threw themlelves ttitn ihe lea : but
the Captain, and fuch as feveral times a day dipped inio tl^efcs, prtferv-
ed iheir lives for the fpaceof 19 da)s, and at ihe end oh that period were
taken up by a velTel which was falling that way. It (hould fecm that rhey
absorbed, by the pores of iheir bodie.*!* as much pure water as wr.s fuffi-
citni for iheir nourifhment, all the lalt being at the lame time Iffi be-
hind. In faft, I was told that the lalt was depofited on the exerior !ur-
taie o'" their bodies in t'".e lorin of a tUiu |>cilicle, whi^h i.hey '.'.ere
obliged repeatedly to rub yjff.

iH!

I .HI

1 -'m

liS

^•- VOYAGES AND

was cut into fmall flices, ?»nd carried to their dwell-
ing, where they diredtly fet about boiling and broiU
ing it. But the Onell of it was (o extremely tempt-
ing, that they had not patience to wjait till it wa^
thoroughly drefled, and eat it half raw. They conti-
n<ied gorging themfeives with this fiOi, almoft without
intermiflion, for the fpaceof four days ; but at lengtl)
the evident decreafe of this their (lock taught them tp
be more ceconomical with it in future, fo that i(
lafted them ten days longer. Thofe three that ilai^
behind in ope of the firft huts had fent one of their
number to look for the red, and as foon as he was
refrelhed with fame of the 6ih, hjs carried a part of
it to his companions, and now they all afTembled to-
gether again in the wooden hoyel they had difcovered.
During the whole time that they lived on the fifh the
weather was exceedingly tempedMOUS, fo that they
certainly ;Ypuld not haye been able to look put fpr
uiufcles,

Having made an end of their fifti, they were oblig-
ed to return to their firfl refource of picking up
mufcles wherever they could find them i ar\d there
being about eight miles from them a rock, inhabite^^
by fifhcrmen, it fo happened, that a man, with two
of his fons, came to this rocky iflot, which (as Ft-
«varante informs us) was called Santi (Sand ey, or
Sand oe) to feek after fome cattle which had ftrayed
away from them. The fons went ftrait to the hove},
where thefe unfortunate wretches were, for they had
\<:ti\ fmoke afcend from it, a circumftance which
i^reatly adonifhed them, and became the fubjedt of
their difcourfe. Their voices were heard, in fa<£t,
by the people in the houfe ; but they fuppofed the
nolle to be nothing more than the fcreaming of the
fea-fowl, which had devoured the corpfes of their
deceafed companions. Notwithftanding which Chrif-
topht-r Fiorovante went out, when fpying two
youths, he ran in again in ha(^e, and called to the
reft aloud, that twamen were come to feek thfm out.
Upon this the whole company ran out immediately

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 219

to meet the lath, who, on their parts, were terrified
at the fight of fuch a number of poor famifhtd
wretchep. Indeed, thele latter had debated with
rach other, whether they fliould not detain one or
two of thefe vifitors with a view to make thcmfelves
more certain of procuring aflilbnce } but ^Irini
diffuadcd them from putting in execution fo very
iinadvifeable a plan. They all accompanied the
youths to their boat, and intreated the father and fons
fo take two of their peo, le with them to their ha-
bitations, in order the frjtoner to procure them aillft-
ance from thence. For this pur.pofe they chofe one
Gerard of Lyons, who had been puri'er of the (hip,
and one Co/a^ of Otranto, a mariner, as thefe two
men could fpeak a little French and German.

The boat, with the fiftiermen and tlie two
Grangers, went to the ifland of Kujlene (Roft, or
Roftoe) on a Friday. On their landing, the inha-
bitants were greatly aftonilhcd at their arrival, but
were not able to underftand them, though thefe lat-
ter addrefl'od ihcm in different languages, 'till at lali
one of. the (Irangers began to fpeak vjerman a little
with one of the conip.my, a German Prieft of the
order of the Monks Predicant, and informed hira
who they were, and whence they came. On the 2d
of February the fellival of the Puriiication of the
Virgin Mary fell on a Sunday, when the Prieft ad-
moniihed all the people in Rujlasf to <^ft the unhap-
py Grangers to the utmoft of their power, at the
fame time reprefenting the di£iculties they had un-
dergone, and pointing to the two familhed wretches
prefent. Many of the congregation were foftencd
even to tears, and reiolved to bring away the reft
of thefe miferable people as foon as pnfliblc, which
they did the next day. In the mean while, to thwfe
that remained behind in ^anti^ the time of their com-
panions abfence appeared an age; and what with
hunger and cold together, they were almolt dead.

Tlicir

i!:;"

210

VOYAGES AND

Their joy at the firft fight of the fix boats that went
for them is not to be defcribed. The Dominican
Prieft enquired which of them was the (hip's Cap-
tain ; and when Quirini made himfelf known as
fuch, the former prefented him with fome rye bread
to eat, which he looked upon as manna, and fomc
beer to drink. After this the Prieft took him by the
hand, and defired him to choofe out two of his com-
pany to go along with him. Quirini accordingj[y
pitched Upon Francis ^iriniy of Candia, and Chrijlo-
pber Fioravante, a Venetian ; when they all four went
together in the boat of the prfncipal man in Ruf-
tene. The reft were diftributed in the other five
boats. Nay more, thefe good Samaritans went like-
wife to the firft dwelling-place of thefe unfortunate
people under the tent, and taking away with them
the only furvivor of the three men who had ftaid be-
hind, from weaknefs, buried the others. The poor
invalid, however, die<l the next day. The boats
arrived at Rujieney and Qiiirini was quartered with
the principal perfon in the ifland. The fon led him
by the hand, on account of his great debility, to
his father's dwelling; when the miftrefs of the houfe,
with her maid, advanced to meet him, and Qijirini
going to fall at her feet, ihe would not permit him,
but got immediately a bafon of milk for him out of
the houfe, by way of comforting him and reftoring
his ftrength. During three months and a half that
Quirini fpent in this houfe, he experienced the
greateft" friendfliip and humanity from the owners;
while, on the other hand, he endeavoured by com-
plaisance to acquire the good-wijl of his holts, and
to requite their benevolence. The other part-
ners, too, of his misfortunes, were diftributed in-
to the difterent houfes of the place, and taken good
care of.

The

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 221

The rocky ifle of Rod lies 70 Italian miles to tho
weft ward of the fouthernmoft promontory of Nor*
way, which in their language they call the fVorld'%
Backjtdt (Culo Mundi). It is three miles in circum-
ference. This rocic is inhabited by 120 fouls, of
whom' 72, like good Catholic Chriftians, received
the Communion on £after-day with great devotion*
They get their livelihood and maintain their families
by fiffamg, as there grows no corn of any kind id
this very remote part of the world. For In all this
time, during the three months of June, July, and
Auguft, they have but one continued day * ; as the
fun never fets with refpe<5t to them. In the oppoftte
months of the winter they have alio but one conti-
nued night, and they are never without the light of
the moon. They catch, during the whole year, an
incredible quantity of fi(h ; thefe, however, are of
two different forts only ; one, which they catch in an
incredible number in the greater bays, is calledy/0cf-
fijh (Gadus morrhua) and the other is a kind of Hat
fiih, of an aftonifhing fize, for one of them was
found to weigh near 200 pounds. The ftockfiih is
dried, without fait, in the air and fun, and as there
is not much fat and moifture in them, they grow as
dry as wood. When they are prepared for eating
they are beaten with the back part of the hatchet, by
which manoeuvre they are divided into filaments like
nerves : after this they are drefled with butter and
fpices to give them a rcli(h. With this comf'^ity
the people here carry on a coniiderable trade beyond
fea with Germany. The halibuts are cut into pieces
on account of their fize, and then faked, in which
ftate they eat very well. With thefe fifh they after-
wards, in the month of May,' load a (hip of about
50 tuns burthen, and fend them to Bergeriy a place

* Fioravante fayi, that from the loth of November to the aoth af
February the night was zi hours long, and that on the contrary, from
the 10th of May to the loth of Auguft they cooftantly iaw either the
jTua id'elf or elt'e the light proceeding from it.

222

VOYAGES ANb

in Norway, about looo ' ilf^' diftant from iherh ;
whither likewil'e at this time '>i the year a great num-<
ber of (hips, from 300 to -^^c tons burthens, carry
ail the produce of Germany, Kngland, Scotland, and
Pruffia; together with every thing ncceflary in regard
to food, drink, and cloathing; and thefe Afh they
barter for thofe commodities and neceflaries, b^cauit;
their country being entirely barren and unfruitful,
they confequently hive no ufe for money, imme-
diately as the exchange is made, they return home,
landing in one place only, whence they carry wood
for the whole year for burning, and for other exigen-
cies.' . ;i.-.-
The inhabitants of thefe rocks are a well-locking
people, and of pure morals. They are not ,in the
leafi afraid of being robbed. Accordingly they ne-
ver lock up any thing, but leave their doors and every
thing open. Their women alfo are not watched ia
the fmalleft degree; for their guefts lay in thi: fame
room with the hufbands and their wives and daugh-
ters, who, when they went to bed, ftripped quite
naked in their prefence. The beds of tin, foreigners^
who were faved from the wreck, flood clofe to thofe
in which flept the grown-up fons and daughters of
their landlords. Every other day the father and fons
went a fifhing by break of day, and were abfent for
eight hours together, without being under any con-"^
cern with refpedt to the honour and chaftity of their
wives'ind daughters. In the beginning of the nwnth
of May their women ufually begin to frequent the
baths. Cuflom and purity of morals have made it
a law amongft therh, that they fhould firft ftrip
themfelves quite naked at home, and then go to
the bath, at the diftance of bow-ftjot from the
houfe. in their right-hand they carry a bundle of
herbs to wipe the fweat from off their backs ; at the
fame time laying their left-hand fomewhat extended
on their middle, as if they thereby wifhed to cover
the parts of fhame, though, in fa6t, they did not
feem to take much pains about it. in the bath they

were

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

223

were feen promifcuoufly wifh the men *. They had
nol the leaft rtotion of fornication or adultery, an4
did not marry from fcnfual motives, but merely in
order to conform to the divine commandSi They
alfo abf^ained from fwearing and curfmt^* At ths
death of their relations they (hewed the greateft re-'
fignation to the will of God, and even returned
thanks to the Almighty in th^ir churches for having
fpared their friends fo long a time, and for having'
fuffered them to live fo long with them, and in thaC
he now called them to himfelf to be partakers of his
heavenly bounty. They alfo (hewed fo little of ex-
travagant lamentations and grief, that it appeared

* I'he calVom of men and women frequrnting the baths at one and
the fame time is vtry ancient, for it exilled among the Romans, and u£
them the Grecians Learned it, according to the teilimony of Plutarch^
in the Life of Cato ine elder, p. 348, edit. Aubriamt Francoj. \6th f$l.
But in the courl'e oi time this raftom gave rife to fuch fhameful lewd
practices, that the Empcri>rs 4drianut ttid Marcut AnUninni found it
necefTaiy to prohibit it by law. Sfiartian in yila Adriani tt Jul. Capi-
tilin. lit Marco. HeUogabalut^ on the contrary, bathed himleif along
with the-women, and as it was coontenanced by the Emp«ror*s example,
^ia practice mull again have become univeifal. jEl, Lamprid. im Helti'
gabala and AUxandro Severe: for his fuccciTor, v^^rx/io^fr, prohibited it
dfie(h. The'e laws, h«wever, leem to hsiv« fallen into oblivi n, fince
even the Chriflians retained ihii immoral praAice, alFording occafion (a
many fynedk to compofe decrees for the prohibition cf it. The Count il
of Laudicca, in the 30th citnon, forbids the bathing of men with wo-
men. But this decree, though often rigoroufly iniifted on, was conti-
nually ttantgretTed agarni), and even Pricfts and Friars bathed in cnm-
mon with the wonijEu, *iili the Council, held at Trulln, agnio prohibited
it by the 77tb cano/i. And the Empecor Judinian, in his 1 17th Ncvell^
among the lawfiil caufes of divorce mentions like wife that of a inariied
woman's having bathed at the fame time with men, without the pcr-
mifllou of her huftand. Rufila very probably recti ved the cultom of
bathing, together with the Chriftian religion, from Condantinople, and
irom thence the immoral practice abovc-rncntioned, whicf>, however,
principally fubfiUs in the country, feems to have been introduced amun)^
tliem. People of dillinflion, indeed, have always their own bathj^
which no one ule» but themfelves. The rubber here mentioned, toa-
fifliag of herbs or tods is alio uled in RulTia. The RnfTians, indeed,
always I un immediately out of their hot baths into fonte neighbuuiio^
pond, and iai.he winter time roll theaJielves in the linow. ' I^;

Tuft

114

VOYAGES AND

ju(l as If the deceafed had laid himfelf down anJ
fallen into a fweet flccp. If the perfun who died was
married, thu widow, on the day of burial, prepared
a fumptuous banquet for the neighbours j wh^n Ihc
herfelf as well as her gucfls, appeared in their bed
cloihes i. and on this occafion ihe intreatcd the gueds
to eat and, diinlc heartily in memory pf the deceafed^
and to his eternal repofe and happinefs. They went
conftantly to church, praying there very devoutly on
iheif knees, and kept the faft-days very (Iri^lly.

Theii houfes were made of wood, and were of a
round form, with a hole in the middle of the roof
for the admiillon of the light, which hole in winter
they covered with a tranfparent Hfti-ncin, on account
of the feverity of the cold. Their clothes were
made of coarle cloth, manufatflured ^t London and
clfewhere. As to fui s, they wore them but fcldom ;
but, in order to ufe themfelves the better to the cold,
they v/ould lay their new-born infants, the fourth
day after their birth, naked, under the (ky-light,
ivnich they then opened in order to let the fnow fall
upon then; i for it fnowcd almoil continually durin;;
the whole winter that Quirini's people were tiiere,
from the 5th of February to the 14th of May. la
confequence of this treatment the boys are fo inured
to the cold, and become fo hardy, that they do not
mind it in the leaft.

The Ifle of Roil is furrounded by a great number
of fea-fowi, which the inhabitants in their language
call Muxi*. They are fond of living near man-
kind.

♦ The Norwegians call tWt TpecSes of Tca-mew or gull, Maaft. It is
tfaereibre, io all probability, the Latut Caniidut^ a new fpccirs, and
1|uite white, of the gull kind, which, in the Voyage of Capt. Phippt
(now Lord Mulgiave} /owari/f tht North Pote^ Ltndin, 1774, p. 187,
188, iR called Ldrut ehurntus-, and in J»/ni Miller* t Plateit Piatt Xlh
l,mrmt Alknt\ but in Otho FobriciasH Fauna Groenlandica, p. 103, and
In MHUtr*! Prodrom. Ztol. Dan. p. VIM ; it is deoominated the La^
rut CandiJuif and Teems to be the tame bird with that whicU in Frederic
Garten' t y»jagt ta Spitjhergtm^ p. 56, Tab. I. a. is called the Paths
k4rr\ tad w Letwl't Dtfcriftien cf Laplandy (he n'atd Maaj'f, The

C'jean-

t)ISCOVEkIES iM THB NORTH. 125

kind, and are as tame as the common pigeons.
They make an inceflant noife, excepting in the fum*
mer, when it is one continued day, and then they
are filent for about four hours, and this filence fervcs
to point out to the inhabitants the proper time for
them to retire to reft. In the early part of the
fpring arrived alfo an amazing number of wild-
geefe, that made their nefls upon the i/land, and
that fometimes againfl the walls of the houles. They
likewife were very tame, infomuch that when the
miilrefs of the houfe went to take fome eggs out
of their nefls;, the female would walk flowly fron>
the neft, and ftay away till the houfewife had taken
as many eggs as (he wanted for baking. As foon as
the good woman was gone^ the goofe would immedi^
ately fet herfelf on the neft again.

In the month of May the inhabitants began to
prepare for their voyage to Bergen^ and were willing
alfo to take the Grangers along with them. Some
days before their departure the intelligence of their
being at Rojioe reached the wife of the Governor over
all theic iflands ; and her hufband being at that time
abfent, (he lent her Chaplain to Quirini with a pre-
fcnt of ho fiockiiih, three large flat loaves of rye
bread, and a cake: and at the fame time let him
know that £he had been informed their hods had not
uled them well, and defired them to mention in what
point they had been wronged, and that they (hould
receive inftant fatisfacSlion \ it was alfo recommended
to the inhai>itants to treat them well) and to take
them over to Bergen along wirh them. They thank*
ed the Lady, and giving their teftimony to the in*
nocence of their hods, fpoke of the reception they
had met with in the higheft terms; and as Quirini
bad dill remaining a firing of amber beads, which

Crecnlandcr*!* however, gi e It ihe name of Va^avnrfui. It is a vrry
bold bird, aiul it found only a great v.ay to the nurihwaid, in I^inmark,
Norway, Ifland, Crrenlaii'l, and Spitibergen. This maafc^ or I'ta-gull,
'•piobibly ihe white lea I'ovvl .l/sAri/ deltribcJ abjvc by Quirini^

ai6

VOYAGES AND

he had brought from St. Jago in Galllcia, he tooJc
the liberty of fending them to the Lady, and defired
her to pray to God with them for their fafe return to
their own country.

When the time of their departure was come, the
people, by the advice of the Dominican Friar, forced
them to pay two crowns for each month, that is,
feven crowns a-piece; and as they had' not ca(h
enough about them, they gave, bclides money, fix
filver cups, fix forks, and fix fpoons, together with
fome other articles of fmall value, fuch as girdles
and rings. The greater part of thefe things fell into
the hands of the rafcally Prieft, who, that nothing
might be left to them of this unfortunate voyage, did
not fcruple to take them, under pretence that it was
due to him for having afted as their interpreter. On
the day of their departure all the inhabitants of Roft
made them prefents of fr^, and, at taking leave, the
women and children (bed tears, as did alfo the Grang-
ers themfelves. The Prieft, however, accompanied
them, in order to pay a vifit to his Archbifliop, and
give him part of his booty.

At their departure from Roft, the feafon was fo far
advanced, that, at the end of the month of May,
during their run, they faw the image of the fun 48
hours above the horizon ; but, as they continued
failing farther on towards the fouth, they loft the
fun for a fhort time, though but for one hour, it
being all the while broad day-light. They failed
conftantly between the rocks, and they perceived
here and there, near the projecting points of the
land, marks of deep and na\ igable water. Many of
thefe rocks were inhabited j and they were kindly re-
ceived by the inhabitants, who gave them meat and
drink without accepting any recompence. The fca-
fowl, that when awake were always fo loud and
noify, they found had bunt their nefts upon all thefe
rocks, and the ftillnei's and filence of thefe birds was
a fignal for them alfo to retire to flcep.

t)ISCOVEJlIES IN THE NORTH. 227

In the courfe of their voyage they met the Biihop
bf Trondon (prQiitheimj who, with two gallics, was.
making the tour of his diocefe, which extended all
over thefe countries md iflands, attended by above
200 people. To XY is Prelate -they were now prefent-
e^, who, whep he w^s infortped of their misfortunes,
their r^nk, ai)d family, expreiTed great compafTion for
thein. He g^ve them ;i letter of recommendation for
Trondqn, his archiepifcopal fee, where St. Olave, one
of the icings of Norway, was buried, which procured
theip a kind reception ; and a horfe was given to
Q^irinif But a^ the lv>ng Qf Norway happened at
that time to be at yvar with the Germans, their hoft,
iffho W4S likewife nia^er of the veHel, refufed to fail
^ny farther^ l" landed at a little inhabited ill? near
Drontheiniy and, after recommending them to the in-
habitants, returned direidlly. The nejjt day, being
Afcenfipn-I)^y» they were conduced to Orontheim,
into the chiirch of St. Qlave^ which w*is very hand-
fomely ornamented, and where they found the Lord
Lieutenant with all the inhabitants. There they
heard mafs, {ifter which they were conduced before,
the Lord Lieutenant, who immediately aflied Q^irini
if he fpoke Latin ? and being informed by him thal(
he did, invited him, together wijth all his attendants,
to his table, whither they were ,condu(^ed by a Canon.
They were afterwards take.i, by this fame Canon, to
good comfortable lodgings, and amply provided with
all kinds of neceflaries.

Quirini wiflied for nothing nnore than to return to
his own country ; and he therefore defired advice and
aififtance to enable him to return home by the way of
Qermany or England. That they might avoid tra-
velling too much by fea, which was not fafe on ac-
count of the war, they were advifed to apply to their
countryman, Giovanne Franco^ whom the King of
Denmark had knighted, and who refided at his caftle
of Stichimborg (Stegeborg, in Eaft Gothland) in thq

0^2 kingdom

'' Mh

228

VOYAGES AND

kingdom of Sweden, 50 days journey from Drort-
theim. Eight days after their arrival, the Lord
Lieutenant gave them two horfes and a guide, to take
them to Stichimborg : but as Quirini had p^efented
the Lord Lieutenant with his (bare of the ftockAih,
a filver feal, and a filver girdle, he received frcm the
latter a hat, a pair of boots, fpurs, and leathern
cloak-bags, and a fmall axe, with the image of St.
Clave, and the Lord Lieutenant's coat of arms on it,
together with a packet of herrings, fome bread, and
four guilders Rhenifh. They had befides this, a
third horfe from the Archbiftiop of Drontheim ; and
now, being twelve in number, they all fet out toge-
ther on their journey, with their guide and three
horfes, 7'hey travelled on for the fpace of 53 days,
chiefly to the fouthward (fouth-eaft) and frequently
met with fuch miferable inns on the road, that they
could not even procure bread at them. In fome
places they ground the bark of trees, and, with milk
and butter, made cakes of it, which they eat inftead
of bread. Befides this, they had milk, butter, and
cheefe, given them, and whey for drink. They ftill
proceeded on their journey, and fometimes met with
better inns, where they could have meat and beer.
One thing, however, they every where found in great
aibundance ; and this was a kind and friendly recep-
tion, fo that they were extremely welcome wherever
they went.

There are but few dwellings in Norway, and they
often arrived in the night, at the hour of repofe,
though it was not dark, but broad day-light. Their
guide, who knew the cuitom of the country, opened
the door of the houfe, in which they found a table,
furrounded by benches, covered with leathern cufhi-
ons, fiufFed with feathers, which ierved inilead of
matrafles. As nothing was kept locked up, they
took fome of the victuals they found ready there, and
then went to rei\. Sometimes the niauers of the
houfe happened to come ia, and fee them afleep, and
were muc)i amazed, 'till the guide, who heard them,

acquainted

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 229

acquainted them with all the particulars, upon which
their aftonifhment was mingled with compaflion, and
they gave the travellers every neceffary without taking
any rccompence, by which means thefe 12 people
and three horfes did not fpend, on a journey of 53
days, more than the four guilders they had received
at Drontheim.

, On the road they met with horrid barren moun-
tains and vallies, and with a great number of ani-
mals, like roes (reindeers^ Cervus tarandus) bcfides
fowls, as hafel-hens, and heath-cocks, which were as
white as fnow (probably ptarmigans, tetrao lagopus)
and pheafants of the fize of a goofe (probably the
tetrao urogallus). In St. Olavc's church they faw
the (kin of a white bear, which was 14 feet and a
half long. Other birds, fuch as gerfalcons (Falco
Gyrfakus) gofs-hawks (falco ajlur Brife.) and various
other forts pf hawks are whiter here than common,
f)n account of the great cold of the country.

Four days before they reached St'tchimhrg (Stege-
borg) they came to a place cAXtd. Vejihena (Wedftena)
where St. Bridget was born, and had founded a r.o-
naftery of Nuns, together with Chaplains of the Lt..^
order. At this place the northern Kings and Princes
have built a moft magnificent church, covered with
copper, in which thry counted 62 altars. The Nuns
and Chaplains received the ft rangers very kindly,
who, after two days ftay there, at length let out in
order to wait on the Chevalier John Franco^ who did
all he could to comfort them in their diftrefs, and re-
lieved them in a manner that did honour to his ge-
nerofity. A fortnight after, there was given at St,
Brigitta's church in Wanfiena^ a plenary indulgence,
of which the people of Denmark, Norway, and Swe-
den, as well as thofe of Germany, Holland, and
Scotland, came to partake. Some of them came
from the diftance of 600 miles.

They went to the indulgence at Wnclftena with
the Chevalier fohyi Franco^ in order to ice wheiher
they could not procure fomc intelligence there of any
(liips bound for Germany or Engh'nd, there b< ing

al'A^avs

'\M

tio

VOYAGES AND

dways at that time a great concourfe of people^
The Chevalier was Ave days on the road, and had
more than loo horfes in his train. Hert they took
leave of their beneficent countryman^ who had fiir-ii
ni(hed them plentifully with clothes and tnoney tor
their journey, and had ordered his f6n Mdthew, a vcrjr
aniable young man, to accompany them to the dif-
tartce of eight days journey to Lod^fe (otl th^ Gbtha
Elf) where they were lodged at his own houTe, the!
ihip not fetting fail diredly. He had lent them his
own horfes all the way from Stichi;nborg ; and, as
Quirini was ill of a fever, he mounted him on a
horfe, which had an eafier pace than ever he had ttiet
with in one of thefe animals beforr. From Lodefd
three of his crew went home in a veflel bound for
RoJIocif and eight of them accompanied him to Eng-
land, where they came to their friends in London^ by
way of Ely and Cambridge ; andj after a two months re-*
fidence there, continued their route through Germany
and Bafu^ and at length, in the fpace of 24 days, arrived
fafe and in good health at Venice,

We fee in this moft unfortunate voyage of Quirini)
in the firft place, a concourfe of misfortunes, which
one would hardly fuppofe human nature able to fup-
port: but great fpirit, vigorous efforts, perf'^verance,
and the employ of the moft rational means that can
be devifed, often make things pofTible, which, in other
circumflances, would be abfolutely impoffible j and
thus ferve to (hew, in an eminent manner, of what
ji,reat advantage the ul*e of reafon and refolution is in
difficulties and dangers.

One obfervatlon of Quirini, having been fo often
conhrmed fince, dcferves attention. '1 hofe who, when
the fhip was in great difhels, had given all up for
loft, and, witliout moderation, had drunk the fine
Malvafia wine, which they had on board, when the
want of provifions began to be felt, and the fcurvy
commenced ;ts ravages, foon died, and that fuddenly j

v.'hile

DISCOVERIES IN THB NORTH.

231

while thofe lyho had lived temperately held out longer,
and, in4eed, for the moft part, faved their Jives. In
like inanner thofe who had approached too near the
lire, in order to warm themfelves, paid for this rafli
action with their lives ; while, on the other hand,
fudji as had recourfe to the unnatural expedient of
drjnking their own urine, an expedient which is like-
wife to moft people highly difgufting, even when
urged to it by the moft intolerable thirft, efcaped the
jaws of death. We may obferve farther, that the drink-
ing of fea-water proved very beneficial to thefe ad-
venturers, and that the great quantity of fnow they
had fwallowed on their landing did not hurt them in
the leaft. The different Vinds of ftiell-fifh and the
flefh of a dolphin,, upon which they fed, undoubtedly
ferved to keep them all alive.

I'he Pefcription of the ftate of Norway, and of
its commerce, together with the picture of the man-
ners and cuftoms of its inhabitants, are extremely fine
fragments of the hiftory of mankind. The three north-
ern kingdoms were at that time governed by King
Erich, of Pomerania, and, confidcring the times,
the ftate of them was not abfolutely bad. We
fee that the cattle made the principal food of the in-
habitants, that corn was very fcarce, and that, juft as
it does now in the mountains and in barren years,
the bark of trees, mixed with a certain quantity of
flower, milk, and butter, ferved them for food. Mo-
ney, on the other hand, was fcarce ; and a little filvcr
plate, and a few trinkets, were very acceptable pre-
sents. To Quirini, as a Venetian, the length of the
days in fummer *, and that of the nights in winter,

the

• Though the day-light Infled very long, or rather, ihoagh it was but
one continued day, when Quiriiii went trom the i^e of Rofloe to Dron-
•heim, his guides uled neverthelel\ to go to lleep, when the reft and the
Itillnefs of the hird:- gave them the figiial for ib doing. This circum-
(lance, therefore, explains in a new ytt decifive manner the pafTage ia,
Ohiber'a dc.cription of hi*; voyiye to Sciringet-hfal (Vid. fupra p. 67)
vhfiic he fays, ** No one lould tail u it. iua n<onih, if he lay-to at nighi,

though

232

VOYAGES AND

the great quantity of water-fowl, that were fo Kttle
fhy, and the Angular chaflity and the purity of mo-^
rals of the northern nations, muft neceflarHy have ap-
peared extremely ftriking. And, laftly, we fee the
^oclcfifli and herring trade, even at that time, in a
ilourifhing (late. In (hort, it i9) in my opinion, one
of thofe voyages, which, from the general utility of
their contents, are s^s inftru6live as they are import
lant,

arts.

General View of the State »/ Affairs at thit

Period. ^

FROM the 4th and 5th centuries, the barba-
rous nations of the North had in Spain, Gaul, and
England, nay, in Italy itfelf, raifed the provinces they
had taken from the Romans, a fecond time to the dig-
nity of kingdoms. But the form of their Govern-,
ments, the preceding wars they had fuftained, and the
devaftations attendant on thefe wars, together with the
dreadful cruelty with which the new pofleflbrs ravaged
thefe countries on taking poflefllon of them, in the
wantonnefs of their power llaughtering the poor inha-
bitants by millions ; all thefe circumilances were at
the fame time produdive of great debility in thefe
Ticwly-founded kmgdoms. The country, ftripped of its
labourers, lay uncultivated, was over-grown with bufties,
and in procefs of time was covered with thick, gloomy
foreib, the habitations of voracious wild bcaits, atid
alylums foy robbers. The brooks and rivers, formerly

though hf had i fair wind every day ;" fo that it was the <:uftorTi to lay-
r.o at night with their vcfltl.s, even in the cafe of continual day-light ; and
this ci|(i<>m fubfidtd fo eaily as in the time of Ohther, and was ohfcrved
alio in Quirini'* time, 533 years aficrwaids. It is tvidem, thcrefope,
that this feemingly-lufpicious txjireflion was not uied \vithout defign or
ineaaing, but bad iu origin aad foundation in the m^inncrs of the couur
try.

• kep^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 233

kept within due bounds by banks and dylces, now
broke through thcfe limits that had been fet them ly
the iiiduftry of man, and overflowing the meads whicn
bad before been refcued from their ravages, remained
on them fo long, 'till thefe latter were converted into
putrid marfties, replete with noxious vapours. In
iine, the earth, embcllilhcd in confequcncc of a high
degree of population, of cultivation, and of a luxu-
ry, carried perhaps too great a height, funk again
into a wild and dreary dewrt, alnioft unprofitable and
iifclefs to man. Cities, once the feats of induftry,
arts, and commerce, were pillaged and deflroyed by
fire, and the few remaining inhabitants, bewailing iiL
the fad ruins the lofs of their former profperity, wirh
dejected minds and deprefled fpirits, became the vaflals
oi their inlblent vi«Sl:ors. As for law and }uflice they
were at this time utterly baniftied out of Europe.
Every man of courage, ftrengtn of body, dexterity in
wielding weapons, and in the management of thehorfe ;
who had influence enough to aflcmble a train of dif-
orderly banditti, became their leader, and gloried in
impoimg, far and near, the iron yoke of flavery and
oppreflion. Thefe petty tyrants (of which there were
many) fat in their caftles, and paid cafual homage to
a fovereign almoft without power or authority, while
each of this lawlefs train committed fuch outrages as
he was able upon the reft of the people, whom toil
and tyramiy had now nearly exhaufted. Popcrv, and
its fuperftitious rites, effedually baniflicd religion and
its facred influences. For the worfhip of God in fpirit
and in truth, was fubftituted tliat of faints ; for virtue,
probity, and purity of life, were introduced penanco,
corporal chartifements, works of fupcrcrogatioi. and the
power of indulgencies. All freedom of thought wns
totally fupprefled by the influence of legions of Monks,
^nd the frowns of a haughty and jealous Hierarchy.
Numberlcfs pretended miracles, and cndlcfs fcholaftic
fontroverfies, completed this mifcrable fyftcm of bar-

barilin

a3*

VOYAGES AND

barifm and idolatry. In fliort, the corruption of man-
ners pervaded all ranks and clafles of men, proceeding
(rom the Prince on his throne to the Monk in his cell,
and [to the Pried attendant on the altar ; and thence
ariftng again to the Abbots and Bifliops, up to the
very head of the Church, who founded and fuftained
his papal authority, by perfecution, treachery, and mur-
der. There was no longer the leaft fparlc of know-
ledge or information to be found in all Chriftendoni.
The great vafTals could feldom read, and hardly ever
write. 1 afle, the arts, decency, and decorum, were
not .r: ?xpe«Sled in the defoiation, the gloomy ob-
fcuri an. he depth of barbarity in which the whole
of £ui :>pe w; ' -nvolved. The poor oppreflpd flave in
the country bewailing his wretched ftate, led merely aix
animal or rather a vegetable life. In the few towns
that remained, die iiyiabitants, in like manner, lived
deprived of liberty, ahd expofed to all the oppreflion?
of the great feudatory tenants of the crown and their
vafTals, which the caprice, infolence, and pride of a
barbarian could at any time fuggeft. All the dreadful
efFedls of the wildeft and moft unbridled paflion, nur-
tured and- fupported by lafcivioufnefs, drunkennefs,
avarice, revenge, and iuperilition, are to be found
pourtrayed in the few rude annals and memoirs pro-
duced in thefe unfortunate ages. The Philofopher—
the Philanthropift — is ftruck with horror, in contemp-
lating the depth of niifery and humiliation to which,
from the want of information, and in confequcnce o^
moral as well as political corruption, mankind is capa-
ble of linking. But, in contemplating this pi£lure, he
will naturally be led, on the other hand, to confide^
the means which an all- wife Providence has, with more
than paternal kindnefs, made ufe of to bring men back
to that happinefs in fecial life, for which they were
originally deftined. In fa6t, it is thpfe inordinate de-
iires, thefe infutiable paflions, this wild enthufiafm, and
this faiutical I'uperflition, by which tb.e Authoi; of our ex-

iftcnqe

DISCOVERIES In the NORTH. 135

iftcnce condu^Sh us again into the paths of virtue afid
knowledge, and to a ftate of exalted felicity.

-D«us ille fuit-

<^i princeps vitx rationem inveoit «am que
Nunc appellatur fapienfia ; qu ppe per artettt
Fludibus e laniis Titam, lantirqlie tentbrifc
In tam iranquillo, &c tam clara lues locavit.

Lucret. Lib. V. v. 7—12.

In the caft, at Conftantinople, the altercations of
the clergy, and the ambition of thofe who grafped af-
ter the Imperial dignity, had introduced the fame grofs
ignorance and immorality into every rank nd condi.
tion of life ; and in the other parts of Alii > t" Ara-
bian Caliphs, or fucceflbrs of Mahome*, iij^ rronfe-
qucnce of their voluptuoufnefs, their inadlivity, and of
their impolitic reception of a number of Generals of
the Turkifti race into their kingdoms, Ciul at their
courts, had dwindled away into infignit'nant Mahome-
tan Priefis. Syria and Paleftine had iong been fub-
je6l to Arabian Princes, who, in the ftate of refine-
ment to which they had arrived at that period, be-
haved to the Chriltians of thofc provinces with great
moderation j and from motives of policy and love of
lucre, the pilgrims from the weft, whom fuperftition
and idle conceits had brought in crouds into thofe parts,
to vifit the holv fepulchre, were received very favour-
ably. But the Seldl(:hukidian Turks, as well from fu-
perftition as from a miftruft of thefe pilgrimages, which,
indeed, v/crc too frequently repeated, and with roc*
numerous trains, began to opprefs the Chriftians and
ufe the pilgrims very ill. Thefe grievances, which
were continually encreafing, appeared to Hildebrand,
Biftiop of Rome, important enough to induce him to
fummons all Chriftendom to make war againft the
opprellbrs of Chriftianity. But the difputes in which
Gregory VII. by his pride and ambition, had involved
hiraiclf in Europe, prevented him from heading him-

felf

236

VOYAGES AND

fclf the army thus raifcd. Soon after, it happened
that an enthufiaftic Prieil, who is known to pouerity
by the name of Peter the Hermit, was eye-witnefs to
the injuries and opprefTions under which the Chriilians
in the eafl, as well as the pilgrims, groaned. His
cwn heated i^iaginatlpn, the perfuafions of the Patri-
arch of Jerufalem, and the approbation of Pope Urban,
incited him to travel through all the countries of Eu-
rope, with tears in his eyes, ftirring up the fuper-
ilitious people to wreak their vengeance on the ene-
mies, as they were termed, of Chriftianity. Every
individual now, even to the very children, was filled
with holy rage, and people ran in flocks to take part
in this meritorious expedition. Thoufands of them pe-
rifhed miferably ; and, having undergone many hard-
fhip9, the Chriftians at lad got poflefTion of a wild,
Avalle country, without either cultivation or inhabitants,
in which, however, lay Jerufalem, Bethlehem, Naza-t
reth, and other places of facre'd fame ; and Conflan-
tinople itfelf, together with Cyprus and Greece, fell
into the hands of the European Chriflians, Thefe
great peregrinations, however, of Chriftians, frantic
with fuperflitious zeal, who frequently marked the
whole courfe of their expedition by tlie mofl atroci-:
ous crimes, and the mofl infamous actions, and were,
for the greater part, the very fcum of the earth ; thele
peregrinations were the caufe of a revolution through-
out all Europe, which, in fa£^, was attended with too
great confequences to pafs unnoticed by an inquifi-
tive mind.

' The landed nobility, and the Princes their Sovei
reigns, wanted money to equip them as well as to
maintain them on thefe long expeditions j in confe-
quence of which they fold the privileges which they
had hitherto made fo bad ufe of, over their poor fub-
je<5ls. To thoufands of people they gave liberty in
exchange for money ; and beftowed on innumera-
ble cities great privileges ; and among others the
power of chufing their own magiflrates from among
thcmfelves, that of governing ^hemfelves by their
ow(i laws, aiid according to tlicir own free eleflion,

tl^at

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOftTH. 237

that of levying their taxes among themfelves, at their
own difcretion, and the privilege of defending them-
felves. Every burgher now might bequeath the for-
tune he had acquired to whomfoever he would, after
bis death ; he tnight marry without firft aflcing leave
for that purpofe of his liege Lord } he might appoint
whomfoever he pleafed to be guardians to his chil-
dren { and, after having commenced a legal procefs,
might accommodate matters with his adverfary,
without paying the fees in his Liege's court for an
adjudication which had not been made ; and mer-
chants and artizans were relieved from the intolerable
opprefHon of gifts and other extortions, with which
they had before been harrafled. Previous to this pe-
riod the great feoffees only appeared in the aifemblies
of the nation, as reprefenting the (late, but now this
privilege was beftowed on many towns and cities, in
order tomakeacounterpoife to the too-preponderating
powers of the great feudatory tenants and nobles i
and, indeed, it was foon obferved that thefe inno^
vations were attended with the moil defirable con-
fequences with rcfpeCt to the general good of man-
kind.

The citizen, who was now aflured that the fruits
of his induilry would be reaped by himfelf and his
children, was thereby excited to work with re-
doubled ardour, as well as to the invention of new
arts and trades. The merchant was kcu to bra^'e
dangers with frefh courage, and, infpired by the
hope of gain, to trud his life and property to the
mercy of the winds and waves : and every one, of
what profeilion foever he was, turned all his thoughts
to the procuring of an honefl livelihood by induf-
try, talents, and perfeverance. Finally, for the
greater fecurity of the fubjed^, the perpetual frays
and fkirmifhes of the great vaflals with each other
were put an end to, and the civil peace was every
where eilablifhed. It was therefore found neceffary
to apply to judges for the diftribution of juftice.
For this purpofe new laws were introduced for
cafes that had never before been determined ; and

recoufle

;^i

!ll^->

'ir'M

2fi

VOYAGES Awo

recourfe was had to the long-forgottcn Homan coA6
of laws, in order to learn from it the principles of
equity and juilice, which had been fo long ne-
^Icd^cd : from the ecclcfiadical law were borrowed
in part the regulations and forms of law fuits,
bcfidcs 4 great inany rules and cuftoms, as the clergy
were in ^hp excluftve pofleifion of the little know-
ledge and learning that yfM left in tl)e world at
that period* The mameful pra6lice of judiciary duels,
V^hich were commonly thojugh blafphemoufly railed
tb* yu(i£fffent of Qtd, was aboliflied, and the practice
was introduced of making appels to the higher Courts^
Europe now began, by little and little, (o enjoy
the blefled fruits of thefe yoking (hoots of liberty
whjch h^d been fo lately planted. From the eaft,
she prifline nurfery pf the ^rts and fciences, a fe-
^ond time were brought, by ipeans pf the very cru-
fades themfclves, new lights for the information of
the hum^n underftanding, new arts and manufac-
tures for the employment of the towns and cities,
and new plants ana animals for the improvement
of rural oeconomy. In Italy, the Qenoefe, toge-
ther with the Venetians and the people of Pifa,
))y Iqnding their ihips to the crtifaders, as well as
\>y their Iharc of the bopty, had greatly enriched
themfclves, and confcquently had not only a fair oc-
caflon cpnfiderably to augment the number of their
yelTels, but likewife to learn the places whence they
could import filk, cotton, fpices, and all the pre-
cious comipodities of India, eafier than by the way
of Conflantinople ; and in a fhort time they, with
the reft of the free ftates of Italy, were in the fole
pofleflion of the whole trade not only of the Mediter-
ranean, but alfo of the Black Sea. Even ths Qcr-
man towns that lay fcattered up s^nd down all along
the coafts of the Baltic and the German Ocean,
l>egan to unite in a confederacy, for the purpofe of
promoting and extending their trade, a confederacy,
which they didinguifhed by the title of the Hanfe^ a
word of like import in the old German language. The
Greeks too, and the Arabians, afforded the Europeans

manv

t'.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 439

hiany opportunities of acquiring new fcience anJ frefli
information } and though this ingrafted wifdom wa<(
principally ennploycd by the ChrilHans on religion
f.nd fpccufative philofophy, yet from this period learn-
ing began to be a regular occupation among the
people of the Weft. Public fchools were founded,
and the learned had riink and precedence beftoxred on
them, befides enjoying other advantages j fo that bf
degrees the dawn of fcience diffufed iifclf every
where, by which means the rude and unpoliihed
weftern world was prepared for a long time before-
hand for the Reformation, for the ftate in which
learning fubfifts at prefcnt, for the ftill cncreafmj^
fpirit of Toleration, and for the tree fpirit of en-
quiry by which thefe our times are diftinguiflied.

In Paleftine and Spain the rude warriors among
fhfr Chriftians had frequently occafion to experience
the magnanimity, courage, ind gallantry of the
Saracen Knights. All thefe qualities imparted fomc-
thitig fo peculiarly great and fplendid to the cha-
racters of the Knights above-mentioned, that the
Chriftians confidered it as an honour not only f
imitate them in every article, but even to furpafs
them, and particularly in their attachment to religion,
in their defence of opprefled innocence, in their re-
fpedt for truth, and in the gentlencfs of their man-
ners. The foundations of real honour, the greater
humanity with which war is now carried on, and the
politeilefs and reciprocal generofity fubfifting even
between foes, of which we have frequently in thefe
times the happy experience amidft the horrors ne-
ceft*arily atk:endant on war, are the pure and genuine
fruits of the knight-errantry of that period.

All this, taken colled^ively, without doubt con-
tributed to liberate the human mind from thofe fetters
•of fuperftition, ignorance, and Oothful indolence, by
vvhich it had hitherto been fhackled. Individuals
nil ":ht now venture to acquire knowledge and infor-
mation, without dreading either fire or fword, as ihe
pujiilhnu'nt of their audacity. A thirft after know-
led j^c

i?l

:|!lr#.

240

VOYAGES AN»

ledge was dlfTufed over all Europe, and the publitf
difcovered a particular avidity for accounts and re->
lations concerning foreign and remote countries^
and long, extenfive voyages and travels into diilant
parts. The sftablifliment of the more quiet |)of-
feffion of private property, encouraged the merchant
to ftill greater undertakings, exciting him, from a de*
fire of gain, to navigate unknown feas, and to brave
every danger. On the other hand, the enthufiaftic
defire of difFuflng the doArines of Chriftianity, and
of fubjef^ing whole nations and countries to Chfiiw
and the Roman Pontificate, ftill continued to be a
great motive for undertaking new travels into dif-
tant regions. The fpirit of Kight- errantry, too, and
the de/ire of atcbieving heroic actions in the wars,
fuch as might aflure everlafting glory and renown
to the performers o^ them, contributed their ibare
towards inducing many perfons to range up and
down the moft remote countries.* The encreafing
trade of the Italians, together with the great pi'o-
^refs they made in the arts, as well as the great pro-
hts made by the northern merchants who were
united in the Hanfoy or Hanfeatic league, excited
from time to time feveral entcrprifing minds to un-
dertake voyages, which, confidering the ignorance
which ftill prevailed in refpedt to foreign nations
and countries, were then much more dangerous than
they are at prefent. The important difcovery of
the magnetic needle for the purpofes of navigation
gave new advantages to this art, and made a great
addition to the knowledge poftefled by thofe times in
relation to different people and countries: and where-
as before this, people had fcarcely ventured to go
out of fight of the ihore, they now boldly failed
acrofs the greateft feas. Now, if we even put the
date uf this invention fo early as the year 1200, yet
then we find the compafs fo commonly known
about this period, that the fifhermen in the Ork-
neys made ufe of the compafs (o early as i^Q years
afterwards, viz. about the year l3l>o.

The

Discoveries it* the north. 141

The immenfe riches which the Venetians had ac-
quired by th6 monopoly of the Eafterti and Indian
trade, the (kill and experience they had attained in
navigation, as well as the information they had ob-
tained relative to the diflant nations and climates,
prepared the world for thofe great and important
difcoveries, and the revolutions confequent thereon,
which have given to Europe and the weilern world
a quite different form to what they had before.

By the taking of Conflantinople, in which the
Turks at length fucceeded under Mahomet the IId»
the Greeks were difperfed into different parts of
the world. Some of thefe fled to Italy^ whither
they carried their learning, arts, and handicraft pro-
feilions. This incident ferved in fome meature to add
to the knowledge of the people among whom the/
fojourncd, to refine their tafte, and to give greater
perfe(5tion to theiif manufai^ures, and conifcquently
likewife to their navigation. I'o the people of tl^e
Weft, who, by means of their conquefts as well as
their commerce, were continually extending them-
fclves over the globe, the vaft and encreafing power
of the Turks ferved, by way of barrier, which lay
in their way invincible obftacles to their penetrating
any farther to theeaftward. Confequently they were
now obliged to turn the courfe of their navigation,
trade, and difcoveries in the wefl towards the northern
and fouthern regions, where they did not meet with

any fuch obdacles ; an undertaking which at
W.1S likewife crowned with the greateft fucceft*

laft

STRICTVBtS

242

V OYAGES AM»

Strictures and Remarks on BOOK IL

I. Of Andanicum, or Steel.

PAGE 135: According to the account given
here by Marco Polo, of the province of ChinchtntalaSy
there is in this diftridt a mountain which produces
fteel ore and Andanicum. At the time that I tranf-
cribed this paflage, I was not able to give any inteU
ligence concerning the meaning of the word. But
RamuHo, to the ad Part of his Collection of Voyages,
has prefixed a Dichiarazicne d* aUnni luo^hi ne libri
de Marco Pole ^ in which (page 14) he affirms that
the word Andanicum * fignifies the bed fteel ; and
farther, that when any of the Orientals had a fpear
or fabre of Andanicum^ he valued it fts highly as though
ij^had been the moft precious jewel.

• The origin of the vjord Andanicum hat canfcd me a gfctt deal oF
trouMe -, tor at Ramufio fays, ihac he had Icarnrd the meaning of thit
wbrd oi Mf£er Miihelt mambre^ the Turkifh Interpreter to the Repub-
lic of Venice, and as likewife Chinchiotalas is not at a great (lifidnce irom
the aacient TurkeDan, 1 thought my elf juflified in looking into the
Turkifh language fur its origin; but finding in this tongue only the word
^j^ dfcheok, which roi^ana war, I con^cdiired thai a nation a»
warlike as the Turks have been for many _,«;ars |'afl, mi^ht have called
the beft kind of Heel, which they ultd for thoir fpeais and l?bres,
Dfchenkfeku i «• 'A'' varritVy afireeably ro the figurative mode of ex-
preflion not unufaal v/ith the £aftern Nations ; conceivincr at the fame
time, that an l.alian might have pronounced "his word Damko, fit At-
DanUt, or, by elifion of ihe /, ytJ-Daniii, which comes pretty near ru
Andanicum, or AnJanict. Still, however, 1 had my doubts with rtlpta
to this e./mology. Therefore I had recuurlc to the Perfian l«nguage,
and found iheie, together with two more words which figniiy Jleei, the
word jjjTl^, dfchenk^ or dj'thanck^ which apparently makes the neareft

approache* of any to the word ad-danck and al-danck^ and thus may have
gi\en rife to that ol andanikt.

Our ini-eniou^ ProfelTor, Di. Knapp^ fuppefes, that this Andanicum
might have been alio called Andatuum, anti this been deriveJ fiom ihc
Aratiic jjl)^ J lo unjbenth the fmsord^ or from ^jjj^ of which many
f^bllantives are i'ormcd, which (i^n\i'j Jbarpneji^ point, P«l'Jbf &c. ob-

ferving, at the fame tim ;, thai ihe wor^* |,J(Jlj^ or £'i''w| «f ««'*'»/«'>
mutrnnatus, fiiltlut, bear a great refembUnce to each other. I am net
capable of deciding thin point, and therefore iesve it to be determined hy
others, who, having caore ikiil ia thit deparlrocnt of fcieuce, are better
ifliitlcd to jud){e of the matter.

II. Of

Discoveries in the nortiI. 243

II. Of Rhubarb, and the Place colled Suckuk.

AT page 135, Marco Polo informs us, that, upba
the mountain.^, in the country of 5«cZ»ar, grows the
beft Rhubarb^ in great quantities, from whence th«
merchants carry it ail over the world. Accordingly
Ramufio enquired ot one Hadfchi Mehemet^ a Perfiaii
itierchant from Tabas in Ghilan^ concerning the Rawerdy
or Rewend Tfchin^ ii e. Rhubarb^ and where it grows,
^s well as concerning the whole commerce of this
commodity ; this merchant having fome months bft-
fore brought a great quantity of Rhubarb to Ve-
nice.

Hadfchi Mehcmet (called here Chaggi Memet) had
been himfelf to Succuir and Campioriy in the country
of the Great Khan; and, indeed, excepting Ambai-
fadors to the Khan, no merchants are fuffered to
penetrate farther into Kathai than to Succuir and
Campion. Both thefe towns are built of brick and
frceitone. The Great Khan fends his Viceroy thither
to govern them. They are merely inhabited by
Idolaters, and there are no Mahometans to be met
with till one comes to Camul. The name of the
Great Khan at the time when Hadfchi Mehemei was
in Kathai, was Daimir Can*k

* Daim'tr-khan would feem to be the fame as Timur-iChan^ the im-
mediate ',' tcelTor to Kuhlai-Khaii i but ttie former bore the fovereign
Iway in China and Kathay from the year 1194 to 1307^ and, is Ramufii*
Nvrote about the yiar i$;3, this Khan could not ue meant here-, tnJ
iiv.ieed had a Mogul Emperor at that tirrie filled the Throne, the Ferfiaa
&.11I Bukhailan merchnntK would n< t Itave been hndcred from penetiating
Ittithir into Kaihay ; for ihls reftritSlion tcmmcnced only wiih the reign
rf the new lace of tne family of Miw, which had expelled the Mogut
t.ut of Ch na P/o'iably at that time T^Jthi tjsng^ or Kiat Si ig was Em-
peror, who reigned fuil 41^ years, Jroir »'•«• year 1511 10 i5'>6, and un-
ticr whole aufpiLfS the Jeiuit'. tttablifi emfclves in China. But why

HuJjchi iVUhtLitt call* him D imi; Kuun^ 1 conlefs 1 tanui^t :a the ieiJt
V'ln^icluuii.

R 2

The

244

VOYAGES ANO

The town of Succuir^ in the province of '^ap^uf.fv
is large and populous, and is fituated «>n z plaiii)
through which run a great number of fmall rivulets.
It has abundance of provifions of eveiy kind, and a
great quantity of filk is raifed there on the leaves of
the black mulberry- tree. It produces np wine, but
the inhabitants brew a kind of drink from honey, in
imitation of beer. On account of the cold of the
climate no fruits grow there except pear?^ app!es,
apricot*!, peaches, melons, and water-melons.

The Rhubarb plant grows all over this province,
but no where better than on fome neighbouring rocky
mountains (q^fe Montagne,) on which there are a
great many fprings, and forefts confiiting of different
kinds of high trees. The foil, however^ is of a red
(roflb) colour, and almoft always boggy, on account
of the great quantity of rain that falls, and of a vad
number of brooks by which the country is interfoft-
cd. The leaves of this plant arc commonly two
fpans in length, are narrower at bottom, an i wider
at top. The margin of the leaf is furrounded by a
woolly matter. The ftalks on which the leaves grow
are green, and about a fpan and four inches lung ;
the leaves themfelves at firfl are green, bt.t in time
become yellow, and fpread vaftly on the iurface of
the earth. In the middle grows a flem, which
bears flowers round nbout, of the ibape of a clove
gilliflower, (viole p:f -"'^ole) and are of a milk white
and light-blue col Ji The fcent of them is flrong
and naufeous, fo th.u thefe flowers are both unplea*
fant to the fniell and to the fight. The root is one,
two, and fometimes three fpans long •, the colour of
the bark is a chefnut-brown. It is as thick as the
lower part of a man's leg j fome, indeed, are as thick
as a man's loins. Out of the great root pro-
ceeds a confiderable number of very fmall radicles,
which fpread greatly in the earth. I'hefe are

taken

^' '\VA> .,it

-^ 1'^^

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 245

taken away, when the great root is to be cut in
pieces, which is yellow internally, with many l>cau<
tiful red veins full of a clammy yellow juice that
ftains the fing»'rs and hands of a yellow colour.
Were the root hung up immediately, all the juice
would run out of it, and the root itfelf would be-
come light and unfervic^able. The pieces, there-
fore, are Hrfl laid upon long tables, and turned three
or four times a day, in order that the juice may in-
corporate with, and, as it were, coagulate in, the
fubHance of the root. Four, five, or fix days after
this, holes are made through them, and they are
hung up on firings, expofed to the air and the wind,
care being taken at the fame time, that the fun-
beams (hould not come to them ; and in this manner
the roots become dry, and arrive at their full per-
fection in the fpace of two months. The roots are
dug up in winter, before they put forth their leavef,
becaufe at this time the juice and the whole virtue of
the plant is confined to the root. The fpring, how-
ever, does not commence in the provinces of Campion
and Suauir before the end of May. Thofc roots
which are taken up in fummer, when they have pvt
forth their leaves, continue to be light, fpungy, full
of holes, and without fubftancej neither have they
the yellow colour of thofc that have been dug in the
winter, but, notwithftanding that they are red, they'
are not equally good with thofe which were takers
out of the ground before the fpring. Thofe who
dig the roots on the mountains, carry them, either
on carts or upon horfes barks, down into the plain,
and to Succuir ; v/hen they fell them at the rate of
16 fmall weights of filver (Saggio, each being of the
value of 20 Venetian foldi) for a cart-load.

To make up one fmall horfe-load of perfidly dry
Rhubarb, it will take fevcn loads of green roots,
newly dug out of the ground. The Rhubarb, when
green, is fo very bitter, that one cannot venture

cvca

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146

VOYAGES AND

even to taftc it. If the roots are not cleaned an4
cut immediately within the fpace of five or fix Jays
after they have been taken out of the ground, they
grow foft and rotten. In Kathay the root is in nq
cftimation, and in fome places they ufe it for fuel, or
clfe in the difeufcs of hoifcsj and indeed no more
of them are dug up than what arc befpoke. But
there is another f:nall root far more efteemed, which
growi^ on the Rhubarb mountains o( Succuir : this
root is called Mambroni Tfchin, and is very dear
withal. They ufe to grind this root on a ftone with
rofc- water, and anoint the eyes with it, bv which
means they find attonifhing relief. All over Kathay«
they make ufe alfo of the leaves of another plant,
called Tfchiai Tfcbin (Chincfe tea) which grows chiefly
in the province called Katfchianfu. The dried leaves
of this plant are boiled in water, and of this dccodliori
they take fafting a cup or two as hot as poffible ;
when it is looked upon to be very fcrviccable in head-
ati^f^ fevers, complaints of the ftomach, rheuma-
tifm, and feveral pther difeufcs i but particularly in
the gout.

With regard to th? road which leads from Succuir
and Kampicn to Conftantinoplc, Hadfchi Mehemet rc-
lates.> that going thither with the caravan, he had
taken a road quite difFerent from that by which he
returned ; for juft as he was ready to fet out with the
CMivan, on his way homewards, the Tartars with
t^„ green caps (who thence are called Jefchil-Bafch)'"^
had refolved to fend an ambafl'-idor with a nunx-rous
retinue to Conftantinopie to the Grand Turk, through
the defart part 6f Tartary to the northward of the
Cafpian fea, for the purpofe of concluding a treaty
pf alliance with the Turks againft the Sophi, their
mutual enem?. Foiefeeing now many advantages

^T .' Ufljfcks »•< caHed Jtfclilhafch (i. e. GieenheaHs) on account
of the gieen vsps which they wear in their turbans, in like manner a»
t\,^ Pe finns on ti count of the led bonnets in their turbans, are calle<l
Kifilbaj^b (or Kcdhcad?). .

therein.

*:■ f^y

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 147

therein, even fetting afidc that of the road, he had
nndertaken the journey with them as far as KafFa
(in Crimea) ; but if he had co.ne back with the
caravans, he mud have pafltrd through the follow-
ing places. At the fame time he remarked, that
the length of the road was meafurcd by days jour-
nies, confiding of eight farfengi (parafangs) each,
and each of thefe again were C(<mputed to be equal
to three Venetiiin miles, (of whuh latter 58 or 59
jnake a degree.)

Kampion (Kampltion, Kampicion, or Kantfchcu,
in the province of Srhenfi, on the river Etzine-
Moren) is a large city, furrounded with a thick
double wall, filled up with earth, and fituated in a
fertile, well-cultivated plain. The houfes arc of
brick, two or three dories high, and elegantly paint-
ed. The temples are magnificent, being built with
free- done, and ornamented with idols of a gigantic
fize, gilded all over, and fome fmailer ones, having
fix or feven heads and ten hands, each hand holding
a^fcrpent, a bird, a dower, or other fimilar devices.
The inhabitants are numerous, are extremely fkilful
jn done-mafonry, and have very large blocks of
ftones brought them from the quarries, on waggons
with 4.0 wheels, drawn by five or fix hundred horfes
or mules each. Their long garments are made of
black cotton, and in winter arc lined with wolf's or
(beep's furs. But the people of rank make ufe of
fable and marten furs for this purpofe. Their hats,
which are black, are pointed at the top like fu-
gar-loaves. White is with them the colour for
mourning. They are not tall. They make ufe of
prefixes for printing their books. From this city of
Kampion to Gauta (Ganta, Kenta) it is fix days
journey, and but five from Gauta to Sur'uir''^ (ac-

♦This Sncetiir^ which has alfo bem mentiorcd before at page 170,
in Marco Polo's accouni of his travel-, at that tirnc I look for the city of
Smck^ or Sutk, on the river Sudy vhich dilchargc? itielt info the ri- er
Pegu, to the northward ot Tihet, and 10 the foutliward of K^tencr 1 but
by this relaii'.n o^ Hmlfchi Mehtmet, I am n<iw convinced, ihat we trmd
Jock for this town farther to the north. vjid, on the liver Eit^ine tK'r,-r^
perhaps on the lake Scbuk, Suhuk^ or Sabtk, imo which the above riv( r
run*. In ti-'ele parts there are hiph mountains, and I'everal pieces of wa-
ter, and the wiiole fuuation is very convenient for rhubail) moumaia^,
flic^ as thofedcfcrihed hj Hadfcbi Mchemri.

cording

Vi'A

:!: 'I

VOYAGES AN

cording to Marco Polo, Suclcur). From Succuir you

fo in 15 days to Kamui {zUsiS Khamul, Kamil, Hami),
[umi, Khami, Camexu), Here the habitations of
the Mahometans begin, and thofe of the Idolaters
terminate. From Katnul to Turfan (Tnrfan) it is 13
days journey. From Turfon they went through three
towns, the Hrft of which, named Cbialis (Goez calls
it Chaiis, it is alfo called Cialis) is 10 days journey
from thence } the fecond is called Chuchi (according
Goez, Kufcha) at the didance of 10 days more \
and, laflly, Acfu (Akfu, the white river) 20 days
journey farther on. Irom Acfu io Qafcar (Chafcar^
CafTar, Kafchar, Haficar) it is 20 days journey
through a horrid defart, but till then they had pa(«
fed through inhabited regions. From Cafcar it is 25
days journey to Samarkand \ from Samarkand to
Bothara (Bokkara) in Corajfam (Khorafan) five; and
from Bochara to Eri (Heri, Herat) 20 days journey.
From Eri to Veremi {Varami to the fouth-eait of
Kalbin, in Iiakadfchemi) one may travel in 15 days 1,
from thence to C/7^^/n (Kafbin) it is fix } from Qajthm
to Soitania (Sultania) four; and, finally, «from SoU
tanin to Taurii (Tevris, Tebriz) which is a largo
town, it is fix days journey.

From this circumitaniial relation of Hadfchi M*'
bemet we learn, that the genuine Rhubarb plant is
not the Jfihium palmatumt as it is even now fr^*
quently fuppofed to be ; and we are induced, on the
contrary, to credit the information given us by M.
Pallas, relative to this (ubiedL We alfo find, that
to cultivate Rhubarb in IDurope to advantage, we
mult look for a foil in a mountainous country, wa-
tered by a number of rivulets ; it (hould have a ftra-
turn of flone under it, and perhaps contain Iron.
A foil if this kind may, in all probability, be cafily
found in tjie lofty mountains of Mansfield, Halber-
ftadt, and of Silefia ; as likewife in Upper Silefia.
Laftly, we alfo learn from the preceding account, of
how great a confcquence it is to the gooilnefs of
Khubarb, that the roots be dug up exactly at the

propec

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 449

proper time, and that the proper methods of clean-
jing and drying it be purfued. Perhaps the infor-
mation here given may Trvc to promote the culture
of Rhubarb in Europe, and likewif^ Germany, and
particularly in the Pruffian territories. Finally, thefe
relatione; fcrve to eftablifh, with greater preciiioa
than before the fituation, of the places lying between
the Cafpian Sea and the Chinefe wall*

III. Of the Gothic Language.

IN page 97 and 170 the reader will find, irr the
narratives of Ruyjbroek and yofaphat Barbaro^ an ac-
count of fome Goths in the Crimea, who fpoke a
language rcfcmbling the German. This has been
confirmed by Bujbeck and Father Mo}mdorf\ and the
former even gives us a very confiderable lift of Go-
thic words. In the year 1779, the learned Profefibr
SemmieTy in a frftal Programma, explained and iU
luftratcd a feftival celebrity of the Court of By-
zantium, called TO roTGIKON. In the twelve days
between Chriftmas and the feftival of the Epiphany,
a number of people, drefled in a ftrange, uncouth
imanner, reprefenting Goths, advanced in two dif-
ferent parties, and walked in proceflion in tha Empe-
ror's prefencc, and finally fang a fong in the language
of their own country {tium fitXot) accompanied by the
Pandure. Upon this, Conftantine Porphyrogcneta,
in his Book de Ceremoniii aula Byxantinte^ p. 223,
cites fome foreign (bunding words, which, in all pro-
bability, conftituted part of the tiMtoi fux^. At page
224 i<nd 25, there is added a Ai|<*8» rm u rat Fcr^tKut
ntvfuvc*i'{or a Di«itionary of the words fung in the Go-
thic) j together with another explanation of thcfc-
words. Thefe are doubtlefs by a more modern hand,
and give the explication of Gothic words from t' a
Latin, the Greek, and even the Hebrew ; therefore
we cannot rely greatly on thefe explications. Dr.
^cmmler, in the Programma mentioned above, gives

mM^

250

VOYAGES AS9

it as his opinion, that all thefc words, without any
diftindion, are Latin. As much as I rcfpc<£l the
uncommonly extenfive and withal folid erudition of
this great literary Genius, yet I cannot be perfuad-
ed, by the arguments he adduces, to look on the
whole of this compofttion as Latin, efpecially as
Conftantinc exprcfsly intitles it •ntu$¥ ftif^tf^ a domcf-
tic (i. e. a Gothic) long. Kodinus fays, that in htS
time, at the Court of Hyz&ntium, the Waringers at
Chriftmas h J paid their duty to the Emperor, and
wiflicd him health and happinefs in their own, i. e«
in the Engliih, tongue (iy*A««-j). Anbther party, viz,
confifting of Wardariotians, likewife paid their com-
plicients in their, viz. in the Perftan language (Ti^rir*).
Confequcntly it appears th.it we may conclude from
hence, that it was confidercd as an addition to the
magnificence of the Court feftivals for people of fo-
reign nations to wiflj the Emperor joy in their own
languages. Hence I fufpe6t, that the words, cited
by Coiiftantlne, arc Gothic ; and as thefe words are
fung by two choruflTes, it came into my head that
poffibly the Gothic words might occur in this re«
lique of antiquity, tranflated into another language.
Moreover, it appeared to me, that agreeably to what
ProfefTor Semmler has already (hewn us^ there is ac«
. tually a great number of Latin words in it; and the
rather, as I found that, previoufly to this conjedur^
of mine, the fecond interpreter of the words ha4
placed them on oppoCte fides, as though they had
been actually fung by two choruffes. 1 therefore
thought it might be worth while to examine intp
this fragment of the Gothic tongue, and, as far as
it was poffible to be done, to explain it, As W9
have fo few reliqucs of this language, they are all
extremely valuable. It appears, moreover, that at
the Imperial Court of Conftantinople the Gothic
Life-Guards made a pradtice of going through this
ceremony, as long as they actually belonged to the
Emperor's Guards ; but afterwards the Goths, on the
one hand, becoming fcarce and difficult to be procured,
and on the other, having lolt likewife their reputation
for valour, the Imperial Body Guard was chofen from

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. i^i

the Franks and Waringians, Saracens, Pcrfians, Far-
ffanians, Chazarians, and other nations, as the late
Profeflbr Reiflce has already (hewn in his Note<i upofi
Conftantine Porphyrogeneta. That in copyinj; lucli a
mimber of words from one or more foreijin Ian-
guaccs, fome mirtakcs muft necefliirily have been
committed, few of my readers, who have at all at-
tended to this fubjedt, will be ^Ipofed to doubt. We
Vvill therefore firrf place all the words one after ano-
ther, and then fet about arranging and explaining them
in the manner in which it appears probable that they
ivcrc fung by the two choruuc^.

yttuHatt' Pavxf' flyiK/iiiUf' tcytit' yeevottTtt' tXxytZtvitit'

JVKIfTy?" XyitC' €«»«• 0^«' TKTB* €«»/£?• /?6*U C.f^O^i' ilftT-

uvic>lt(' tiiff-tc><Zxliii' tuftc' hv(' ^£«;' ri^xKtiici' t»*x yv-

In the fame order in which the words {land here,
they are placed in the explications above-mentioned^
fomc 'fmall aberrations excepted.

ykv^eiii is in my opinion Gothic, and tranflated int«
Latin in the next word ficyxf. Godsy or Goda^
in the Gothic language, is the German worj
Quty «ind the Englifh Good. In certain dia-
lects of this tongue the o is pronounced as
au in German * [or ot4 in Englifh) and there-
fore founds like Gauds. This could not be
written otherwife by a Greek, than Gauzaf
with a z; and confequently it is properly
tranflated by Lonai or bona.

^i»»«, is alfo written ?<« The weck^ in the Anglo-
Saxon, is called vooccy or tt/V, which comes
from the Gothic word wik, a feries or or-

* The word IVautd itfelf is in FnylKK wrj, fn German mert \,
farther, the Cmhic wore! Dtiur is in Englifh dm, and in Oerrrun Tkor ;,
and Dattilsy ijjjnifying dead in the (Joihic, in Dutch is JcoJ, tna in Cct-
fOia t$dt.

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VOYAGES Afcb

der of things which return in conftant rota-
tion : /8<«>j therefore is wike, or week. The
Latin correfponding with this, has only Xi*?.
or probably ht? ; and, in my opinion, Z
(hould be prefixed to this latter word j fo
that wi^e is tranflated by feptem dies.

«y<«Y«u^tii?£; fhould be lead thus, etiyw/»uttv rty or T«y,

and fignifies /fecial good days, sAwtji €a»* Jiw.

pMfTVi. In the Gothic language, as well as in the
Englifh and modern German, the fyllable un^
prehxed to a word, imparts to it a fignifica-
tion contrary to that which it otherwife bears r
e. g. unable, unfeeling in our own language,
and in the Gothic we have unagein, without
fear ; unbairands, unfruitful i unbarnahs, child-
lefs J uttbruija, ufelefs ; ungalauhjands, unbe-
lieving, &c. and, in the prefent cafe, unkau-
ytdas, evxtf^TK^, without trouble or Jhrroiv, hap"

pily, in good time. €ov« et^x, bona hora.

N. B. The ctyicc put here after »yxe§lt<5 is not
to be found in the firft interpreter, and is
probably redundant.

»*T» C«vT85 fhould perhaps be rOAA BANSTANS, Goda
banjiansy or ban/lins^ good crops, or barns j
bona horrea, jiovec v^^tx inftead of Qtm ec/M^t.

ivifKvxnti. The Latin words immediately following
this, viz. t^t (r«PL/3«Ttt5, which Profeflbr Semm-
ler very properly reads, vide Salvatos, muft
be ufed here for the pi!»'pofe of afcertaining
the Gothic ; and though it requires a
confiderable change in the letters, we can-
not read otherwife in the Gothic than «-«<x,
fee, vide j as the Greeks could not exprefs the
Gothic q. or qu, otherwife than by their x,
and after «-«<i6, Aau^r?, or Xxva-ntfy which to-
gether make fxtx. >^xv(nrtt, behold the faved,
fitti <rx}£xm.

vttya

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 255

tmx ^i«wf . I explain this firft by the fubfequent Latin,
which here, indeed, is Jiirf triC*, but fhould
doubtlefs have been written ^us vn^Ztit Deus
ferva, God fnve^ or preferve. Now this in
the Gothic might be, ?»i» A»vrn, Fana laufei \
as the copyill probably not well knowing
what to make of the ancient digamma, took
it for an N ; and the A in Axvm is eafily
miftaken for a A. But Fana laufei fignifies
Lord or God preferve.

Ktjtit vHvx. In the exprefTion ^ivfieit^vyyv immediately
following, Profeflbr Semmler thinks he de-
fcries the word Domino, or rather as it appears
to me, Dominutn ; and the phrafe **/3i« m*» n
probably the Gothic quivaiz Fana ; which
means the Lord alive. S<>^«»«» viavr Dominutn
vivum (fc. Deus ferva).

^iM yvt$Xvi. The Latin following this fhould be ywCt
<A«5S?, jube hilares ; consequently the Gothic
might poflibly be written /8*a«« yyg,A«f?, wilja
jubilons, bidding them be merry j or, as the
Italians would fay, giubtlare.

This fpeclmen, I hope, will ferve to convince many
cf my readers that the ftrange, uncouth words above
cited, are to be confidered as a collection of fuch Go-
thic and Latin acclamations as were at that time in ufc
at the Byzantinian Court.

If we had time fufficient, and were any confiderable
advantage to be expefted from it, I am apt to believe it
would be poflible likewife to reftore and explain the
few remaining words. In the mean time this fragment
of the Gothic language Ihews clearly enough, that even
in the tenth century, the Gothic words of this feftival
were not entirely configned to oblivion, though at the
fame time the Goths in the Crimea were no longer
much known. Thefe people, however, have conti-
nued

r. ? ti I

<'f ' ;

* K

244

Voyages ani>

nued to exift even to thefe our days ; a circumflancft
which naturally excites in us an ardent wifli that, under
the protection and aufpices of Catherine II. the
learned may be enabled to fearch in the Crimea for
the remnants of this celebrated nation and language*

I I'

BOOK

SISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 255

BOOK III.

«F THE DISCOVERIES MADE IN THE
NORTH IN MODERN TIMES.

^'r-l

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

TH E ftate of improvement in which Europe was
with refpeit to knowledge and general informa-
tion, the extenfion of commerce, the liberty beftowed
on bondfmen and flaves, the progrefs of induftry in
the towns and cities, the almoft-independency of their
internal government j the riches, power, and confe-
quence which thefe towns in Germany, Italy, and the
Netherlands, had acquired chiefly by commerce and
navigation ; the improvements made in the adminiftra-
tion of juftice, and the confequent decreafe of the
right claimed and exercifed by every individual of
avenging his own wrongs ; the gradually encreafing
power of the Kings and Princes, and their endeavours
to annihilate the influence of the higher order ofvaflale;,
and of the Nobility, in matters of Government ; the
eftabli{hment of (landing armies in France and Italy,
and the neceflity arifing from thence to augment the
revenues of the ftate by all polfible means ; all thefe
circ-^mftances had produced a great alteration in all
the forms of Government in Europe. The thougl\ts
of all the European Princes were entirely bent on thtir
own aggrandizement, and that either by new con-
quefts or by the augmentation of their power in their
own ftatcs. Portugal had fo early as in 1250 driven
the Arabian Princes out of their native countries ; and,
in order to prevent the MAuritanl;4n Arabs from en-

tfnnii

"'( s :

25^

VOYAGES Ariij

tering Into any confederacy with thofe that ^ill rdJ
mained in Spain, and thus caufing frefh difturbancesj
the Portuguefe went over to the coaft of Mauritania^,
where now Fez and Morocco are, and there endeavour-
ed to do as much injury as poflible to the enemies
(as they were called) of the Chriftian religion; and
having conquered Ceuta in the year 141 5, fortified
feveral harbours fituated in the vicinity of it on the
fhores of the great Weftern Ocean. A. D. 1418,
Jobn Gonjalez Zarco, and TriJIan Vaz^ after having
weathered a violent Itorm, difcovered an ifland which,
on account of the afylum it fo happily afforded them,
they called Porto Santo. It was impoffible to be in
Porto Santo without feeing Madeira, in cafe the wea-
ther was fair i and, failing to the ifland which had the ap-
pearance of a cloud, they called it, after the faint of the
day on which it was difcovered, St. Lawrence, and
Ihortly after, on account of the great number of foreft»
that were upon it, Madeira. 1 o thefe forefts they fet
fire in 1420, and cultivated fugar with great fuccefs
on the fpot. 1 he Infant of Portugal, Don Henry
thirfting after ftill greater difcoveries, and at the fame
time very well verfed in geographical knowledge, as
far as it extended in thofe times, fent out Gonfah
Velho Cabral for the purpofe of making new difcoveries
to the weftward. "J he firft difcovery he made in this
voyage, which he undertook in 1431, was that of a
few barren rocks, which from the continual motion of
the fea by which they were furrounded, he took oc-
cafion to call las Formigas (the Ants) and foon after
he defcried the ifland of St. Maria, which in the year
1432, having had a grant of it from the Infant Don
Henry, he peopled and ftocked with cattle.

At this period it was that Antonio Gonfalez was fent
out with two caravels, a kind of fmall fhip, to the~
coaid of Africa, on new difcoveries. Hitherto it had
been the practice to feize upon the tawny Moori(h
Mahometans that were caught wandering up and

down

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTI

257

dering up and down in that quarter of the globe,
and to fell them for flaves, as being enemies of the
Chridlan faith ; but in the year 1442 fome of thefe
prifoners were redeemed by their relations, who gave
in exchange for them, not only other negroes who
were of a quite black complexion, and had woolly
hair, but alfo a certain quantity of gold duft. From
this time forward, the defire of difcovering the gold
country, and that from whence the negroes caroc,
encreafed daily. In 1443, Nunno Trijian difcoveied
Cape Arguin^ or Akaget^ and the Jlland of Cranes
{llha de Garzas). The next year was feen the ifland
of St. Miguitl (or St. Michael) one of the Azores.
Lanzorote took a great great number of prifoners on
the coaft of Africa, and Cadamo/io made the difco-
very of the river Gamhra. A. \j. 1445, another of
the Azores, or (Hawk-Iflands) was difcovered, which,
from the circumftance of its being the third ifland
difcovered, was called Terceira, In the fame year
Denys Fernandes difcovered a promontory covered
with frelh verdure, thence called by him Capo Verde,
and alfo the Capo Verde IJlands, which lay over-
againll it. Between that period and the year 1449,
the reft of the Azores, St. George, Graciofa, Fayat,
and Pico, had alfo been difcovered j for thefe four
iflands being partly feen from Terceira in fair weather,
it was impofHble for them to have .remained much
longer undifcovered. After the death of the Infant
Don Henry, the ifland of Fayal, which was named
fo, not after the beech-trees which grew on it, but
after a new fpecies of myrica (myrica Faya) was
made a prefent of by Ifabella, Duchefs of Burgundy,
to Jobji Von Hurter, by the Portuguefe called Jos:
de Utra, and Hura, a native of Nuremberg ; King
Alphonfo V. having before made a prefent of this
ifland to the above-mentioned Duchefs, who was
his After. Hurter, who had become connefted, by
marriage, with the illuftrious Portuguefe family de
AlacedOf Wfcnr, in 1466, with a colony of more

S than

. f niHt -•'

?■ ^m

Wl^'t'

258

VOYAGES AND

than 2000 Flemings of botli fexes, to his property,
the ifle of Fayal. The J^uchcTs, though at a time
when the nation was afflitStcd both with a burdcn-
fome war, and a great deaith, had provided the Fle-
mifh emigrants with all neccflaries for two years,
and the colony very foon encreafed there. In the
year 1472 fome attempts were made liitewife to peo-
ple the Capo' Verde iflunds ; and the year before the
iflands of San Tomajfo, llha do Principe^ and Anho-boriy
had been difcovercd, together with the coaft of Gut-
neoy and particularly the Gold Coajl, Guinea, on
Martin Beha'trri% globes, was alfo denominated Genea ;
and, according to Leo Africanui *, it was called by
the Arabians Gheneoa^ and bv the negroes, Genni.
1 he fituation of this golden country was kept fecret
by the Portuguefe with as much care as that of the
tin-country had formerly been by the Carthaginians ;
notwithftandii.g which, the French, contrary to all
probability, pretend to have been io early as in 1346,
or at Icuft in 1364, from Dieppe^ along the weftera
coafl of Africa, quite to Delia Adina^ on the coaft
of Guinea, The great profits accruing to Portugal
from the bees-wax, ivory, oftrich feathers, negro
Haves, and particularly from the gold of this coun-
try, determined King John II. to fend, in 148 1,
twelve (hips to this coaft, under the coiimnnd of
Don Diego d^ Azetnbuya, and to build a fort there for
the protection of commerce, which fort was called
St. George del la Mina. A. D. 1483, Diego Caniy or
jfaiob de Cano, and Martin Behaim, from Nurem-
burg, fet fail with two caraurls for the purpofe of
making new difcoveries. (This Martin Bebaim mar-'
ried afterwards at Fayal, about the year i486, 'Johan-
na dc Macedo, daughter of the Chevalier ycvji von
Hurter, and in 1479 had a fon by her named Martin).
Firft, they found the country of Benin., where there
grows a kind of fpice, which was pretended to be
pepper, and which was tranfportcd in great quanti-

* Let Afrii. p. 3^5. Ed. Elzevir, i5o.

ties

i-'

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 259

tits to Europe. This fpice^ however, it muft be
obferved, was no other than the grains of Paradife
(amomum grana Paradift). They are alfo called
Graines de maniguettej or malaguette. After this, in
1484, they lighted on the coaft of Congo. The
Portugucfe continued exploring the whole of this
coaft with great diligence and attention. Bartholo'
meo Diaz, with three (hips, failed farther to the
fouthward than any of his predeccfTors, and at length
got fo far that, in i486, he defcribed the fouthern-
moft promontory of Africa, which, on account of
the violent ftorms that prevailed therfe, he called Cabd
de tados los Tormientos', but which the King cf Portu-
gal, who was now in hopes of foon making a much
greater difcovery, viz. of finding a new route
to India, called Cabo di bona Efperanzd, The re-
nown and advantages which the Portuguefe had ac-
quired by the above-mentioned voyages induced ma-
ny perfoiis, well verfed in mathematics and naviga-
tion, to endeavour to participate in thefe difcoveries.
German?, in particular, Netherlanders, and Italiansj
were intent on acquiring by this means fkill, fame,
and opulence. A Jacob van Brugge, and a IVilJjelni
von Dagora^ which latter afTumed the name of Sihei^
ra, both Netherlanders^ peopled fome of the Azores
iflands. Job/} von Hurter, and Martin Behdim, both
natives of Nuremberg, were Lords of Fayal and Pico,
Antonio de Nolle, an Italian, difcovered St. JagOi
one of the Capo Verde iflands^ of which he alfo
afterwards was Governor ; and, in like hianner,
Jean Baptijle, a Frenchman, became proprietor of
Mayo, another of thefe iflands. Bethencourt, a French
gentleman, was the firft who took pofleffion of the
Canary Ifles j and foreigners of all nations, confpi-
cuous for their rank in lifei knowledge, arid entcr-
prizing fpirit, mixed with the Portuguefe adventurers
in every undertaking. Now, although the Portuguefe
did not permic other nations to take pofleffion of
the lands they had difcovered by their unwearied zeal^
At a vaft expence, and by undergoing fo many dan^
gers, yet they were in no ways averfe to allow fuch
foreigners as chofe to enter into their fcrvice, and to

S 2 incorporate

, V

■

■■B|.|J

^^^B'l

■

^Hl|l

^■hI

^^^K' H>4

B^l^iji

» 1!

2^0

VOYAGES AND

incorporate with them by manying into Portugucfc
fatnilics, to fljarc with them the profits of their ex-
tenJive difcoverics.

All the (hips which the immortal Don Henry fent
on thefe voyages were in part provided with good
pilots, who underAood Geography, Aftronomy, and
Navigation, to the full extent of that degree of
perfection to which thefe fciences had been brought
at that time. He had alfo taken care to have all
the young nobility in his fervice inftru6ted at Ter-
naubel-i near Sagre^ in Algarva , in geography, navi-
gation, and in the art of laying down charts and
maps, by a very fkilful mathematician of Maljorca^
for whom he had fent for this purpofe. In confe-
qucnce of this, all the difcoveries were laid down on
maps ; and accordingly we find, that when Pedro di
Coviliam^ and Jlonfo de Payva^ fct out for the pur-
pofe of making new difcoveries, A. D. 1487, they
took with them a map of the globe which had been
drawn by Galfadilla^ Bifhop of Vifeii^ an extraordi-
narily fkilful mathematician. John II. King of
Portugal, ordered his two body-Phyficians, Roderic
and Jofeph^ together with Martin Behaim^ who were
all three excellent mathematicians for thofe times,
to invent fomething by which the courfe of a ihip,
and the particular place ihe is in at fea, might be
determined with greater certainty than before. In
compliance with this charge they made improvements
in the aflrolabe, which till that time had been ufed
only with a view to aftronomy, fo that it could be
likewife ufed for the purpofe of navigation. It is alfo a
well-known fadt, that when Martin Behaim went
to Nuremberg in 1492, in order to vifit his relations,
he made a globe, upon which l.e laid down all the
regions and countries known at that period : from
this globe we learn, amongft other things, that he
was of opinion that, in failing farther to the weft-
ward, one might at length come to Kathayy or
North China, and to Ciparigu, or Japan ; hence,
too, we find drawn upon this globe the Greater

and

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 261

and Lejjer Java, and the iflands of Ku^.'lyn aivl Jn^
gama, defcribcd by Marco Polo. Now, agiceaMy to
this opinion, which was farther confirm' d by the
circumftance of exotic fruits having been oftrn calt
on (hore at the Azores by the currents and wcftc "i
winds, even a boat with the corples of people of a
ftrange and unknown country having been once
brought thither by them, it feemed more than barely
probable that there mu(l be an inhabited country tu
the weftward, which, however, was all along fup-
pofed to be India. A Genoefe, Chnjiopho Colom by
name, who to a confiderable (hare of mathematical
and cofmographical knowledge, joined great ikiil in
navigation, had been a long time in Portugal, and
had married Philippina Afnia Perejlrella^ the daughter
of Bartholomeo Perejirelloy who had been one of the
firft that contributed to fettle Porto Santa and Madei-
ra, It was impoflible for him to have been igno-
rant of the important difcovcrics which the Portu-
guefe had made vi^ith fuch envied fuccefs. He rnuft
alfo necflarily have been acquainted with the pre-
vailing notion of thofe times, viz. that in failing to
the weftward a (hip muft inevitably at length arrive
at the Indies. He therefore requefted King John II.
of Portugal, to let him have fome (hips to carry
him to the ifland of Cipangu (or Japan) of which
there was fome account in the writings of Marco
Polo. The King referred him to Diego Ortiz, Bi-
(hop of Ceuta, and to his two Phyhcians Rodcric
and yofephy all of whom looked upon the opinion
commonly entertained concerning the fituation of
Marco Polo's Ifland of Cipangu, to be vifionary, and
confequently, feeing but little plaulibility in Co-
Jom's pUn, abfolutely rejected his petition. Colom,
who was a man of a determined difpofition, and not
eafy to be (haken 111 his refolves by fuch refufals as
thefe, quitting Portugal, where they did not chufe
to accept his propofals, went himfelf, in 1484, to
Spain, and fent his brother Bartholomeo to England,
in order to make the fanie propofals to King Heii-
X^ Vn. Puring the f^ace of feven years Cbrijiopber

Colom

K )

M«il

^63

VOYAGES AND

Colom follicitcd the Court of Spain for afliftance in
the execution of his great plan, and met with no-
thing but tedious delays. His brother had in the
mean time been plundered by pirates, and was de-
tained in prifon. In 1488 he made King Henry a
prefent of a map of the world, drawn up by him-
fclf. Henry VII. a Prince of unbounded avarice,
and by no means fit for great enterprizes, fufFercd
Barthohmto to depart the kingdom without doing
any thing for him, when this latter immediately
went to Charles VlII. at Paris, who gave him the
firft intelligence of his brother Chrijhpber's important
difcovery.

In the mran time, Chrtjiopher Cohni, wearied out
with fruitlefs attendance and deluded expectations,
was juft on the point of leaving Spain. He (bid,
however to make one more trial, and not receiving
expeditioufly enough the wifhed-for anfwer, fct fail
in order to go to his brother in England. In con-
fequcnce of the conquell lately made of Grenada,
and of the earneft follicitations of two of her cour-
tiers, men of enlarged views and unprejudied minds.
Queen Ifabella was at length determined to grant a
iupply of thefcanty fum of ao,ooo" guilders for the
fervice of this expedition. A boat was now fent
after Colom ; accordingly h^ went afliore again, and
^n agreement was concluded with him in dye form.
Colom fet fail from Palos, in Spain, on the 3d of
Auguft, A. D. 1492, and the next fpring, on the
15th of March, returned to Palos^ with important
news of forhe iflands having been difcovered by him.
Gold, cotion, and pimento pepper, together with a
great number of parrots of variegated plumage, and
Tome rare and uncommon animals ; as alfo feveial in-
habitants of the ifland Haiti (or St. Domingo)
which he brought with him, exhibited inconteHible
proofs of his difcovery. The attention of all Europe
was no\v turned to this great event. There were many
who were likewlfedeftrous ofiharing in the honours of
having difcovered new countries ; among thefe was
Amerigo Vcfpucciy whp had feen the mainland of the
rew-lound countries, if not btfore, at leuft foon after

Cbrijiopher

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 263

Chn/iopber Colonic anJ, by fomc fmgular effi^ft of
cliaiice, the whole of this extcnfivt.' quarter of the
globe has been called, after him, America, Finally,
about the fame time, viz. in the year 1496, Vofco
Gama^ failinc; round the Cape de todos los 'Tormientos
(or rather de bona E [per <inza) arrived fafe in the Ealt-
Indies. Now there arole an emulation between the
Caftilians and the Fortugutfc, of extending their
difcoveries continually farther and farther, and of
rendering them Hill more profitable and important.
At D. 1500, Pedro Alvarez Cabral failed for the
Indies, and defcribcd by chance a large coalt which
he called the Land of the H'jly Crojsy and which ac
prcfent, after the name of a certain wood whicli
dyes red (a name prcvioufly to this period knovva
to the Arabians) * is called Rrafd.

For a long time after this it was not known that
the extcnfivc continent newly difcovercd was any
other than the Indies. It was in procefs of time,
however, found out that a coaft, extending as this
did, many hundreds of miles to the northward and
to the fouthward, could not poilibly be that of the
Indies; and Vafco Nunnez de Balbao having at leii'^th,
viz. A. D. 1 5 13, defcried the ocean again beyo/id
the ifthmus of Manama, there was no farther doubt
about the matter. Portugal in the mean time de-
rived immenfe trcafurcs from the Indies, and Spain
fcemed to have enriched herfelf no lefs. All Europe
muft necellarily have contemplated thia acctflion of
wealth and power with afloniflimcnt and diflatisfac-
tlon. Spain, the Netherlands, a great part of Italy,
and in Germany the Auftrian hereditary dominions,
were now all united in the perfon of the Emperor Charles
V. and the treafures of the Weft-Indies encourao-ed
and enabled him to ufurp in Germany ftill more pow-
er than he had had before over the Princes of that em-
pire. Francis I. of France, who ventured to mcafure
forces with him, was defeated and taken prifoner near
Pavia. The armies he made ufe oi for the execution
of his ambitious dcftgns, were chiefly compofed of

* Abulfcda Tab. XVI. exhibcns Infulas maris Oiientalis. Lameri^^
pij(trix ligui lirafiili &; canuae Indicie.

Spaniards,

iNI

A'l

264.

VOYAGES AND

Spaniards, a nation which by (o many bold ejcploits,
and by being in conftant a£lion, was endued with
an uncommon degree of valour, and inured to hard-
fhips and fatigue. Thefe military operations which
took place in Italy, in the Netherlands, and in aU
moft every part of Germany, ferved but the fooner
to diifufe the treaCures of both the Indies over all
thofe countries ; and both war and wealth not only
introduced a great mixture of the manners, together
with the refinements in luxury of foreign nations,
but likewife gave rife to fimilar attempts in all the
Princes of Europe to oppofe the encreafing power
and opprcflions of the Pope and of the Emperof, by
the improvement of their finances, by {landing ar-
mies, and by the undaunted fpirit which thefe cir-
rumltanccs were calculated to infpire. The diffe-
rent nations of Europe began now to vifit each
other more than ever ; and their refpeilive Sovereigns
courted the friendlhip even of Princes at a diftarK:e,
with a view to acquire additional flrength by means
of treaties, and to be the better enabled to execute
the plans they had formed either of aggrandizement
or defence. Men of talents and genius now began
to feel their own powers ; the facred fire of freedom
was now lighted up in every generous breaft, and
(lifplayed itfelf as well in thought as in adlion ; in
fliort, Europe was quite transformed. The two In-
dies, the fources of fuch material alterations in the
conftitution of Europe, became the obje6ls of the
wiflies cf all the European Pri. ss, as well as of
every private man who, to a competent degree of (kill
in navigation, cofmography, and aftronomy, joining
an undaunted ziid refolute fpirit, fancied himfelf
equal to the execution of great enterprizes. It could
not therefore well be otherwife, but that in every
commercial and maritime nation people fhould bs
found who offered thcmfclves to go to the Indies by
fome new route.

Since the difcovery of the navigation to the
two Indies, almolt all maritime nations have
made attempts either to go to the Indies by new

trak?,

.*•/;

. -1

.a >

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. 465

tracks, or clfc merely with a general view to difcover
new countries. The limits we have prefcribed to
ourfelvcs in this work, confine us folely to the dif-
coveries made in th North ; notwithftanding which,
we found it necei.ary to connedl; the thread of our
narration by the above introduction ; and fhall only
obferve, in addition to what we have juH: flated, that
the attempts made to arrive at the Indies by a new
and fhorter route, have given rife to many voyages
in the North. But many of thefe voyages of difco-
vcty have alfo originated in other caufes, which we
fhall take occafion gradually ij unfold one after the
other.

It wUl be neceflary, however, for the fake of or-
der, in treating of thefe difcoveries, to arrange them
under the heads of the different nations which have
participated in them; we Ihall therefore here give a
brief account of the Difcoveries made by the Eng-
liih, Dutch, French, Danes, RuCans, Spaniards,
and Portuguefe ; and conclude the whole with fomc
general phyfical, zoological, botanical, mineralogi-
cal, and anthropological Obfervations, and with a
few words concerning the probability there is of get-
ting through the Northern Seas into the great Pa-
cific Ocean. *

;;:i;J

'"W

I < I*

Major rerum mihi naftitur ordo.-

-VlRCII..

CHAP.

Of the Difcoveries made hy the Enp;Iifh in the North.

ENGLAND, in the reign of Henry VII. after
the lofs of all the countries which the Kings of
England had poffeffed in France, and the long civil
war that lubfifted between the Houfes of Tork and
Lancajiert was ftill in a very weak (late. The timo-
rous.

L IB

f I

(> \(

266

VOYAGES AND

ill

rous, miftruftful, and (Economical difpofition of
Henry, contributed in a fpecial manner to the pre-*
fervation of tranquillity at home and peace abroad.
In confequcnce of this, commerce and manufadures
incrcafcd greatly, and London contained merchants
from all parts of Europe. The Lombards and the
Venetians in particular were remarkably numerous,
fo that even a ftreet in London was named after the
former of thcfe people. The Eafterlings from the
Hanfe-towns likewife did a great deal of bufincfs
there. Thedifcovcry of the Weft-Indies by Chrijio^
pher Colom in 1492, made a great rumour, and firft
created a wifh for a voyage, by which fimilar difco-
veries might be made,

I. At that time there lived in London a Venetian,
by name yoJ^n Cabota^ or Cabot, who had three fons
with him, Lewis, Sebajiian, and Snnches. Sebajiian
was but young, but had neverthelefs made great pro-
grefs in the Belies Lettres, and efpecially in the doc-
trine of the fpherc, that is to ii.'^, in every fcienco
fubfervient to the rrathematical knowledge of the
earth and to navigation, ^ebajlian, hearing of the
fuccefs of Colom, was infpired with a defire of like-
wife acquiring renown by fimilar enterprizes ; and
King Henry VIL in 1495, or 1496, impowered tho.
father and his three fons to fail, under the royal flag,
with five fhips to the Eaftern, Wefterri, and North-
ern Seas, and there find out fuch countries and iflands
belonging to the Heathen, as had not before been
difcovered by any Chrifti^n power. In the 13th year
of this King's reign, "John Cabot obtained permiffion
to fail with fix fliips, of 2C0 tons burthen and under,
on new difcovcrics. He did not fail, however, till
the beginning of May, 1497, and then, by his own .
account, had but two Ihips fitted out and flocked
with provifions at the King's cxpcnce; but the mer-
chants of Briftol ftnt with him three or four fmall
veflels laden with coarfe cloth, caps, and other trifling
wares. He failed for fome time without feeing any
land at all. His crew was k-ginning to murmur,
when at length, for fear of a mutiny, he lleered more
to the fouth-wcft, and, after fome time longer failing.

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 267

jOn the 24th of June, dcfcried fome land, to which,
alluding to this circumftance, he gave the name of
Prima Vijid', and which the tnglifh, making ufe of a
word of fimilar import, called Newfoundland. Other
authors remark, that he met with many large moun-
tains of ice, that he found the days lengthened, and
the countries he vifited free from froft. Some fay he
went to 67 deg. 30 min. N. lat. ; others reckon his
moft northerly track to have been to 58 deg. N. lat.
He himfclf informs us, that he reached only to 56
deg. N. lat. and that the coaft in that part tended to
the eaft. This fecms hardly probable, for the coaft
of Labrador trends neither at 56 deg. noc at 58 to
the eaft, and at 67^ deg. is the coaft of Greenland.
I fhould therefore fuppofe that Sehajiian Cabot had the
firft fight of Newfoundland^ off Cape Bona V'ljla. Pe-
ier Adartyr's account fays, that Cabot called the ncw-
difcovered land alfo Baccalaos, from the circumftance
of his having found there an immciife quantity of
large fifties, which the inhabitants called Baccalaos.
This word Baccalaos is by the inhabitants pronounced
with the Spanifti double //, Baccaljaos, whence the
Germans and Dutch have taken their term of Kab'
liljau, bearing the fame fignification. This inclines
me to fuppofe, that Prima Vijla^ the firft land difco-
vered by Cabot, was thf headland in Newfoundland,
which is ftill called Cape Bonavi/la^ and this conjec-
ture is ftill farther confirmed by the fituation of the.
ifland of Baccalao^ which lies not far from thence.
The inhabitants that Cabot met wiih here vveredrcflcd
in the fkins of animals j he likewife faw fcveral flags
and white bears, which ufcd to catch the Baccalaos
fifti in the fea. He alfo found at this place black
hawks, with partridges and eagl s of the fame co-
lour ; and remarks, that the inhabitants there had a
great quantity of copper.

Having refreflied himfclf and his crew here, he
failed to the fouth-weftward, till he was nearly in
the fame latitude as the Straits of Gibraltar, and in
the fame longitude as the Ifland of Cuba. Accord-
ing to this remark of Peter Martyr^ Stbajlian Cabot
(nuft have been about as far as Chefapeak Bay in Fir-

^iiiia.

I ( k '

ft68

VOYAGES AND

ginia. He was now obliged, through want of pro*
vifions, to fet out on his return, when he took along
with him three inhabitants of Baccalao, or New-
foundland. But great preparations being made at
that time for a war with Scotland, it did not appear
at all probable to him that any ufe would be made of
his difcovery j he therefore went into the fervice of
Spain, where he was made Piiote Mayovy and ex-
plored the coaft of Brafil, and the river Plata; after
which he undertook fome other voyages in the fer-
vice of Spain. In a writ of King Edward VI. iflueti
out in I549» one Scbajiian Cabot was alfo promoteci
to be Grand Pilot of England, With a falary of
l661. 13s. 4d, per ann. fterling : but if it be the
fame perfon, he muft at that time have been very
old.

II-. We do not find, that fince this, during the
reign of Henry VII. and in that of Henry VIII,
any great c.;terprifes and voyages to the North were
undertaken. The avaricious difpofition of the former
prevented him from any new undertakings after the
firft expedition of Sebaftian Cabot, who, in fadt,
although he had difcovered a great extent of land,
reaching from the 56th to the 36th degree of north*
crn latitude, had brought home no treafures in gold
and filver, which alone were coveted in thofe days ;
neither was the turbulent, voluptuous, proud, and
cruel difpofition of Henry VIII. any great encourage*
ment to men of abilities and enterprize to undertake
voyages of difcovery, and thereby expofe themfelves
to the King's fickle and tyrannical temper in cafe of
inifcarriage, as fuch expeditions depend merely on
wind and weather, and may eafily turn out unfortu-
nately. After his deceafe, came, in 1548, a Sebaf-
tian Cabot, who was not only appointed Grand Pilot
of England, but was allowed befides, a falary for
life of 1 661. 13s. 4d. in conjideraticn of the good and
acceptable fervice done and to be done by him. This
exprefiion feems to indicate, that this Sebajiian Ca-
hi was the fame pcrfoi^ as, fo long ago as in 1497,

h<id«

had,

young

have

born

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. a6^

had, with his father, yohn Cahot^ made the difco-
very of North-America, Newfoundland, and Terra
di Laborador. By his own account he was very
young at that time : let us therefore fuppofe him to
have been 22 years old in 1497 ; confequently he was
born A. D. 1475, and of courfe in 1548 was 73
years of age. Now, if Sebajiian Cabot ^ or Gavota,
had been a young man, and different from the firft
^\{covt,xtx {z% Per e Bergeron fuppofes in \iy%Traite des
Navigations^ chap, x.) he would have gone himfelf
upon the voyage we are about to mention : but even
his rank as Governor of the Society of Merchants
aflbciated for the purpofe of making difcoveries of
unknown lands, dominions, illands, and other places,
ihews that he muft have been at this time a man of
great experience, and in a very refpedtable fituation.
It is therefore probable, that either from difcontent,
or fome other caufe, this Sebajiiait Cabot had quitted
the Court of the Emperor Charles V. in Spain,
and returned to England. In the reprefentations
he made on this fubje^t, he endeavoured to prove,
that it was poffible to find a way by the nt)rth-caft to
Kathay and India, in cafe any one undertook the
voyage.

A Company of Merchants formed an afTociatlon,
at the head of which he was placed. This Society,
in the year 1553* • fent out three ihips under the
command of Sir Hugh fVilloughby, Knt. for the pur-
pofe of making difcoveries. In the month of June
they got as far as Halgolandy the birth-place of Oh-
ther: going farther on, they arrived at Roji, where
^irini had wintered, and proceeding farther ftill,
at Lafot and Seynam (Senju). Diredly after this, the
Edward Bonaventura^ commanded by Capt. Richard
Chancellor, was feparated from the Admiral's fhip by a
ftorm. The Admiral foon after defcried land, but
could not land on it, on account of the ice ar '
the fliallownefs of the water. He fuppoftd it to be

160

■■■'!!'•'

■

-.. ip:-

Iff

\\nii

'W-

^ •■'■!«

Ifi

' »

M S3

17©

Voyages and

160 leagues diftant from Seynam, in the dire£liort
of eaft by north, and in 72 degrees north lat. Con-
fequently it muft have lain to the eaft of Kola, Per-
haps this Und was the coaft of NovaZembla, or the
iiland of Kolgow. Sailing now again to the weft, he
came i* length to a river and harbour, where he de-
termined to winter. But, not having a fuificient
quantity of wood for fuel, and being perhaps attack-'
ed by the fcurvy, they all periftied ; though it ap-
peared, by the papers they left behind them, that they
were ftill alive in the month of January 1554. The
account fays, that the river or harbour, in which
Sir Hugh Willoughby anchored, was called Arzina*
A river of this name is found in Rufllan Lapland,
between Kola and the cape which the Ruffians call
For, that Willoughby faw Spitzber-
at all probable ; though Wood aflert*
the moft fouthern part of Spitzbergen
in 77 deg. N. lat. and confequently

Swjatoi-Nofs
gen, is not
that he did ;
being at leaft

four or five degrees more to the North than IVillough'
iy*s Land.

As foon as Willoughby had got fight of this land,
the Bona Confidential Capt. Durforth^ was feparated in
another ftorm, and returned to England. The Ed-
ward Bonaventurei under the command of Richard
Chancellor, arrived at the harbour of St. Nicholas, af.
the mouth of the Dwina^ and Chancellor went to
Mofcow to the Czar Ivan Wajfielewitfch. The Grand
Dukes had till then been obliged to fufFer very much
under the yoke of the Tartars. But now they had
entirely fliaken it o?i, and Ruffia was no longer di-
vided and parcelled out, as it had been before,
amongft a number of petty Princes, but had now
one fole Sovereign, the Grand Duke, who confe-
quently was a Prince of confiderable power. This
country bordering upon no other Chriftlan countries
but Poland, Livonia, and Sweden, and, on the con-
trary, having for neighbours to the fouth, the Turks,
7'artars Perfians, and other favage nations, the mer-
chants Oi the Hanfe-towns took great advantages

over

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. iyt

•ver thert)h in tnattqrs of commerce. It could not
therefore. but have been very agreeable to Ivan lVaJftele»,
fjuitfcli to fee theEnglifh arrive in his dominions. Ac-
cordingly he made them the moft ample offers, grant-
ed them great privileges, and treated them with much
kindnefs and friendfhip. Richard Chancellor fold his
cargo, and, taking in other commodities in lieu of
thoTe he had difpofed of, returned in the year 15549
with a letter from the Czar Ivan IVaJJielewitfch, to
England, where at that time King Edward VI. be-
ing dead, Qi":en Mary^ his fifter, fat on the throne.

III. The profits refulting from this firft naviga-
tion to RufTia, made the trading company {lill more
eager to turn this fortunate event and the friendly
difpofition of the Grand Duke Ivan Wajftelewitjchy
to the beft advantage; Queen Mary and her confort,
Philip, King of Spain, were therefore pleafed to
grant to the Company of Merchants Adventurers for
Difcoveries in the North, North-eaft, and North-
weft, a charter with many privileges, under their
Governor Sebaftian Cabot. Their Majefties wrote
likewife a letter to the Grand Duke Ivan WajfteU'
w'ttfcby and empowered Richard Chancellor, George Kil'
lingworth, and Richard Gray^ to treat with the Grand
Duke about the commercial privileges and immuni-
ties which he might be pleafed to grant to this new-
ly-chartered trading Company. The fhips which fet
fail with thefe Plenipotentiaries, and with a (xtih
cargo of merchandize, were the Edivard Bonaventure
before-mentioned, and the Philip and Mary. They
were very kindly received by Ivan Wajfielevjitfch^ and
having .obtained from him a grant, with very exttn-
five privileges, difpofed very profitably of their cargo
at Kolmogori, Wologda, Mofcow, and Great Nowgorcd.
Thus the Englifh Company was at once richly re-
warded for their enterprize of finding out a fhort
way to the Indies. I'hey continued, however, to
give commiffion to their mariners, to make diligent
refearches after the way to India and to Kathay.

'. . In

1 1 !».■; I

,272

VOYAGES AND

In the ^car i'>56, the fame two fhips, under the
command of Richard Chancellor^ returned from the
Dwina and the Bay of St. Nicholas, to England.
In the mean time intelligence had been received con-
cerning the two fhips loit on the firft voyage, and
the Botia Efperanza^ as well as the Bona ConfidenUa^
fet out alio on their return home with rich cargoes.
The Grand Duke, Ivan Waflielewitfch, had dif-
patched by thefe (hips an Ambaflador, with his reti-
nue, to England. But of all thefe fhips only ore
got back to England j all the others were loft. Ri-
chard Chancellor peri(hed, and the Ambaflador Ofep
(Jofeph) Nepea, with the greatcll difficulty faved his
life on the coaft of Scotland, where, however, he
fuftained a very confiderable lofs in clothes, articles
of merchandize, and prefents. As foon as this be-
came known in England, the AmbafTador was fent
for to London, where he was received with great
magnificence ; the Company made him feveral rich
preients, and fent him back to Ruffia in 1557, in
their own fljips. On his audience, he was very po-
litely received by the King and Queen, and their
Majcfties gave him fome prefents to take over with
him to the Grand Duke. 1 hus fhips continued to
go every year toRuffia, where they carried on a very
extenfive and proHtable trade, which Dantzick and
the other Hanfe-towns endeavoured to obftru6l as
much as poffible.

IV. A. D. 1556, the Company fent out a pinnace
under command of Stephen Burroughs or Burrow^
who had been, with Richard Chancellor^ in the capa-
city of Matter, in his firft voyage in the year 1553.
This veffel, merely dcftined for difcoveries, was nam-
ed the Searchthrift. At their departure the Go-
vernor of the Company, Scba/lian Cahta, paid them
a vifit, and is called, in the relation publiftied of
the voyages, the good old Gentleman, This feems to
be a very evident proof that this Sebajlian Cabot
is the fame with him whi had difcovered New-
foundland, and who, if at that time he was 22
years old, at this latter period muft have been 81.
Burroitgh went to the coaft of Norway, faw Lafot and
the North Cape, which latter he had named thus on his

firft

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

firft voyage in the year 1553* ^"^ ^' length came to
Cola, From thei^.ce he went, in company with fome
fmall Ruflian veflels, or lodjes, as far as Kanyn-Nofs^
or Kanda'Nofu Immediately after one is paft the cape
of this ifland, one finds the caft, north-eaft, and north
winds prevail more and more. After this he arrived
at 30 leagues E. N. E. from thence, at the harbour
of Morfchiowez (Morzowets) in 68 deg. 20 min. N.
lat. From thence he failed 25 miles to the eaftward,
and at the diftancc of eight leagues in the N. by W.
found the ifland of Colgoive (Kolgow ojhow). After
this he came ?^ Swetimtz (Swjaetoi Nofs) ; from
whence he foon arrived in the dangerous mouth of
the Petfchora. The whole land here confifted of low
fandy hills. At length he reached Nova Zembla (New-
land) and the iflands of Waigats *. But Burrough,
finding it impoflible to advance any farther on ac-
count of the north-eafterly winds, and the great
quantity of ice, and moreover the nights beginning
already on the 22d of Auguft to be very dark,
determined to return, and to fpend the winter in
Colmogori 'i though the Ruffians laid much to him in
favour of the mouth of the river Ob^ and concerning
the great quantities of morfes, (or fea-horfes), to be
met with there. Jn Nova Zembla they faw not a

kll'

* JVaygatty according to the opinion of fome learned men, takes its
name from the Dutch wjaiVn, i. e. to hloio, to be windy ^ andjja/, i. e.
a hole or ilrait, and is c:\\\*:d'wa4iagaty becaafe in thefe Units the wind
blows with great violence. But as thefe ftraits were already called
fVaigats by Burroughs before the Dutch had feen them -, and moreover,
as the Englilh had already heard the nameS of Nova Zembla and ff^aigats^
from one Lojbak^ a native of Ruflia, this name mull be rather of Ruflian
than of Dutch origin. Barent% found afterwards on N-.nja Zembla fome
carved images on a hrad-Und near the ftiaits, in confequente of which
he called it Afgoeienhuek^ the Cape of Idols. Now, in the Sclavonian
tongue, /#^<j;<j/ means to carve, to make an image. l^fijati-Noffwould
therefore be the Carved or Image Cafe ; and this Teems to me ><^ be the
true origin of the word JVaigatSy which proptriy ftiould be csUcd Wa»
jaidjlwoi Proliviy the Image Straits.

* T human

A t

jti 'sill

274

VOYAGES AND

human being, but caught a creat number of birds^
and faw foi white foxes and white bears. On the
main land we. he Samojedesy a heathen nation, who,
living in the neighbourhood of the river Petfchora,
were even at that early period fubjcdl to Ruffia, and
were tolerably peaceable and friendly j but thofe of this
nation, who lived on the river Ob^ were of a hoftile,
cruel, and ferocious difpofition. Having wintered in
Ruflla, he returned to England in the year 1557,
and was afterwards made Comptroller of the King's
navy.

V. The attempt to difcover a north-caft paflage to
India having mifcarricd, people began again to enter-
tain the hopes of fucceeding by a north-weft pallage.
Accordingly, Queen Elizabeth fent Martin Forbijher
out with three fmall (hips in 1567. On the nth of
July he faw land in 61 deg. N. lat. which land he
fuppofcd to be the Friejland of Zeno \ and here he found
a great quantity of ice. On the 28th of the fame
month he faw land again, which he took for the coaft
of Labrador. On the ift of Auguft land again ap-
peared, and a large ifland of ice, which the next day
fell to pieces with a dreadful noife. On the nth he
was in a ftrait, though perhaps it was merely a found.
After he had made them fome prefents, the inhabitants
came on board the (hip, and the next day one of them
went on board in the ftiip's boat, and was taken a-fhore
again j but the five failors who were with him, went
to the natives contrary to orders, and neither they, nor
the boat, were ever feen again. Upon this, they feized
on a native and took him along with them j but he
died foon after his arrival in England. Amongft
other things which they carried home with them was
a black, fhining, and very heavy ftonc, which was gold
marcafite, (Pyrites aureus) as it contained a confidera-
ble quantity of gold.

VI. The gold found in this ftone encouraged the
members of the Society to fend the next year (1577)
three other fhips. Martin Frobijher was again Com-
mander

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 275

mander in Chief. When he had got to the diftance
of fix days fail from the Orkneys, he met with a great
quantity of drift-wood, which was continually driven
forwards with a current fctting from the b. W. to the
N. E. After 26 days failing in a welt and north-
weft dire6lion, he went from the Orkneys to the
country which was by them taken for Friefland.
Soon after, he came to FrobiJher\ Streight^ where,
even fo late as the 4th of July, all was Itill covered
with fnow and ice. Neverthelefs he could not per-
fuade himfclf that the cold was fo intenfe as to freeze
the fea-water, and fo much the lefs, as the diffcrejice
between the tides of ebb and flood was above ten fa-
thoms ; indeed, Frohijher found ice at the diftancc of
upwards of 1000 miles from any land wliatever, and
tliis ice confiflcd of frefh, and not of fait water. At
the fame time it is inconceivable how this ice ihould
break off from the entire mafs, the air being fo (harp
here, and the rays of the fun falling fo obliquely, as
never to be elevated, even when it is at the higheft,
more than 23 degrees 30 min. above the horizon. It
muft therefore have been either very rapid llreams and
torrents of frefh water, or elfe a high flood, which
can have had force fufficient to detach thcfe enormous
maflles of ice, and carry them into the fea. Fro-
bi(her, not daring to approach nearer with his ihips
on account of the ice, went on fnore with boats, and
having examined every thing, and alfo feized on a
native of the country, he returned again on board, and
brought word, that in the bowels of the bare and
barren mountains, probably great riches were hidden.
He landed on feveral other fpots, and at ^\zxy place
attempted to lay hold on fome of the natives j but they
fometimes defending themfelves bravely with their
bows and arrows, fome of which were armed with
iron points, but moft of them with fliarp ftones or
bones, the Englifti fired, too, on theii-'-part, and
wounded fome of them, who then, in order to avoid

T 2 bt-ing

s .[

; \

ik' { ^-mR

^^ '■/■■'■

III

)^H

Igm^i. ' :\ 3^

Hj /; i^^

176

VOYAGES ANU

b^eing taken, leaped into the fea and drowned them-
felves, an adion which appeared very extraordinary to
the Englifh, who intended to cure their wounds, and
carry them over to England. The Grecnlanders ufcd
every art poflible to be pradlifed in order to entice
the Englim to land, inlbmuch that one of them
feigned himfelf lame, and got another to carry him ;
however, they could not lay hold on the Englilh :
thefe latter, on the contrary, frightened the Green-
landers away by firing off their olunderbullcs, when
the pretended cripple ran away with the reft very
fwiftly, and without limping in the leaft. The Eng-
li(h examined their huts (made of the fKins of rein-
deer and the hides of other animals) and found fome
of the clothes of the five Englifhmen who had been
mi/Tmg the year before. They found alio fome other
miferable habitations of the natives, made of ftones
heaped up together. After this follows a defcription
of their boats for one man, as alfo of thofe for the
women, their darts, clothes, and furniture. Of two
women whom they found there, they took one along
with them, together with her wounded child ; the
other was .left on the fpot, on account of her ex-
treme uglinefs. The failors, moreover, fufpeded this
woman to have a cloven foot j but her bulkins being
taken off her legs, her feet were found to be ex-
a6Uy like thofe of other human beings. They then
took fome more of the glittering ftones along with
them, and fet fail again for England. During the
voyage the Greenland captives, both man and wo-
man, behaved with great decorum, and exhibited a
degree of chaftity and modefty which was not ex-
pected from vhcm. The Admiral's ftiip was fepa-
rated from the two fmaller ones in a ftorm, both
of which, however, got fafe, the one into Briftol,
and the other into Scotland, as did the Admiral's ftiip
in Milford Haven.

The

DISCOVERIES XN the NORTH. 277

The remark of the author of Frobifticr's voyage*
on the current which carried the great quantity oif
drift-wood they met with, in a direction from fouth-
weft to north-cull, has llncc been frequently confirmed.
,For it is by this current that I'o many Wclt-lndian
woods and fruits arc cait on Ihore in Irchuul, Scot-
Jand, the Faro Iflands, the Wcllcrn Ilhind?;, the Ork-
neys, the Shetland Ifi.mds, Icchuid, and Norway * :
and it is probable that the black and red beans or
peafc, which were afterwards, in the third voy?.jd;e, found
in the huts of the Grecnlanders, and which it is to
be prefumcd, came from the ahrus precaiorius, but
were fiippofcJ to be fruits from Guinea, had been
brought by the fame current. In the fame manner the
Icelanders are furnilhed with wood for firinti, and re-
ccive other great advantages, by means of this current;
and other Icafaring people have, in Nova Zcmbla and
Spitzbergen, as alfo in Greenland, and even on the
northern ;rnd eaftcrn coalls of Siberia, every where
found great quantities of this drift-wood, which was
of great ufe to them in building their dwellings, as
^ifo for Hrc-wo(Kl.

That this part of Greenland difcovcrcd by Frobi-
iher, which is iituated more to the fouthward than aijy
part of Iceland, or than Drontheim, in Norway, is
neverthelefs far colder and more furroundcd with ice
than thefe latter places, feems chiefly to proceed from
tlie following circumftanre, viz. that the couniry of
Greenland Itretches very far to the northwards, and
is full of inlets, running deep into the country, and
founds, where, in hard winters, mafles of ice of an
afloniftiing (ize are generated by the mountains of
fnow which are blown down from oft' the high rocks,
and in the fpring, in confequence of the thaws, of
heavy rains, and of the fea-water dafhing upon them,
are converted into ice. Thefe mountains of ice are
torn off" by the tides and torrents of rain-water, and
at length carried out to fea. But frequently they arc

* Works of the Society at Droatheim, Vol, III. page 13, a8.

»ifl|:(P

(•

■if"

'■; t

27^

VOYAGES AMD

fo numerous, that in the ftraits between Iceland
and Greenland they are preffed together by ftorms,
and without previoufly melting, freeze into one mafs
fo as to form large fields of ice ; particularly if they
happen to be formed on fand-banks or (hallows, and
cannot go any farther; for they extend to fuch an
aftoniihing depth in the water, that hardly one fif-
teenth part of them is above the furface of it, and
fometimes many thoufand feet of fuch a mafs are un-
der water. Now, as by thefe enormous mountains
and fields of ice, large tracls of the ocean are en-
tirely covered with ice, and cbnfequently no vapours
from the fea, which are ufually mild and damp, can
reach the land in Greenland, or at leaft but in very
fmall Miantities, the cold muft be thereby prodigioufly
augmented, when in addition to this, the north winds,
already of themfelves fufficiently cold, blow over thefe
immenfe fields of ice, and in their courfe are con-
tinually cooled more and more, till at laft they arc
rendered fo cold as to be abfolutely infupportable.

Here again we meet with an inftance of that cruelty
which has ever marked the difcoveries of the Europe-
ans. It was concluded to make captures of thefe
poor people at all events, and pretended that it was
defigned for the'r good. It is not furprifing that the
innocent inhabitants could not form any favourable
conception of the benevolent views of their conquer-
ors, who brought devaftation into their country, and
deftru<Stion upon their families, or that they fliould re-
fift their unprovoked attacks ; but the Europeans gene-
rouily imagined that to cure them of the wounds they
had inflicted, after having deprived them of their li-
berty, and perhaps their limbs, was an ample reward.
Defpair, however, at laft infpired thefe injured people
with refolution, and taught them to prefer death to the
more lafting afHi(Slion of captivity, and to the lingering
pains of their wounds. By this event again feme fa-
milies were deprived of thofe who protected and main-
tained them, and were expofed to the danger of ftarv.
iiig in this rough and miferable country. Now, fup-

ponng

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 279

pofing the Europeans had the laudable intention of
doing them fervice, and of inftruding them in the
Chriftian religion, yet furely thefe violent proceedings
were not the morf likely methods of effecting their
purpofe, nor could the religion of Chrift have any
great attra£lions for a people groaning under the op-
preflion of its teachers j and who could not but per-
ceive their violation of its moft fundamental precept,
that of philanthropy. But befides what the profeflbrs
of Chriftianity were far more intent upon was, to pro-
cure intelligence whereabouts in that country gold
was to be found, which at that time was coveted by
all the Europeans, a circumftance, which proves to a
demonftration that their zeal for the converfion of fouls
was all pretence, and that avarice and a thirft after
wealth were the real motives of all the voyages which
were then undertaken, whilft the cruelty and rapa-
cioufnefs by which they were diftinguiflied, have ftamp-
cd them with indelible difgrace, and only ferved to
depopulate ftill more regions already too thinly peopled.
The modefty and decorum, too, of the two Green-
landers, were the fubje6ls of much ailonilhmcnt, as
if chaftity and virtue were the fole property and ex-
clufive privilege of the Europeans and nominal Chrif-
tians i whereas they are too often found in greater
purity amongft unenlightened nations ; and rinally,
what are we to think of Chriftians that could mil-
take an ill-favoured old woman for the devil incar-
nate, and were not to be convinced to the contrary
till they found that fhe had not a cloven foot? Men
who are ftill under the influence of fuperftition, like
this, are but ill qualified to become leaders of the
blind ; men who can treat with fo much inhumanity
a people, whom, in fpite of prejudice, they arc com-
pelled to acknowledge are poflelied of great and folid
virtues j furely fuch men are totally unfit to propa-
gate a gofpel which only breathes the gentle fpirit of
Charity and Peace,

lit, I jjj

li'

. I

)< ' ;.

i&o

VOYAGES AMD

All the dcfcriptions given of the drefs, the implfe-
mcnts, the manners, and the language of thefe Green-
landers, evince that the modern Greenlanders have
hardly at all deviated from their anceftors in any one
of thefe particulars.

That at fo early a period arrows with iron points,
and iron knives, were found amongft thefe Green-
landers, fliews, in my opinion, that they are very care-
ful to hoard up the iron which have been brought to
that part of the world by fhipwreck and other acciden-
tal occurrences. It feems alfo probable to me, that
they may have preferved from generation to generation
part of the iron which their anceftors had acquired at
the deftruftion of the Norwegian colony. It is true,
that upwards of 900 years had elapfed nnce this me-
morable event : yet tiiis piece of occonomy is by no
means unlikely ; for in 1773, I bought in the ifland
6f New Amjlerdam^ a fmall nail that had been left there
in 1643, and confequently 130 years before, by Abel
^ an fen Tofmann.

VII. Queen Elizabeth was extremely well fatisfied
with the difcoveries of Martin Frobijher j and the re-
port he made, as well as the probability of reaching
Kathai (China) having been examined into, the pro-
fits alfo likely to accrue from the gold ore which he
had brought home, having been duly weighed and
confidered, it was refolved, that in the new-difcovercd
country, on which her Majefty beftowed the name of
Meta Incognita (the unknown Goal) a fort ihould be
built, and that f6r the defence of it, 100 men, together
with three ftiips under the command of the Captains
Fentony Bcji^ and Filpot^ fhould be left there. The
100 men were to confift of 40 feamtn, 30 pio-
neers, and 30 foldiers j amongft which were alfo ba-
kers, goldrefiners, carpenters, and other fuch necefl'ary
perfons. Fifteen fmall veflels were fitted out for this
enterp'ize, and the command of them was given to
Admiral Martin Frobilher.

They fet fail from Harwich on the 31ft of May,
A. D. 1578. When they were paft Ireland, they
again met with a ftrong current fetting from S. W.

ing

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 2*81

to N. E. On the 20th of June, they difcovered Weft
Friefland, which they now called IVeJi England. Hav-
ing landed there, and taken poffeflion of it, they fpied
feme huts or tents, from the form, conftrudtion, and
furniture of which they concluded them to be per-
fectly fimilar to thofe they had found in Meta incognita.
The inhabitants took to their heels ; the huts were
fearched, and amongft other things a fmall box with
little iron nails was found, as alfo fome pickled her-
rings, and fome well-cut deal boards ; whence it was
concluded thai: thefe people muft either carry on fome
trade with other civili'zed nations, or elfe be very good
artifts themfelves. Near thefe huts they alfo faw fome
dogs, two of which they took along with them, and in
lieu of them left feveral prefents, confiding of fmall
bells, looking-glaffes, and other toys. They faw whales
in fuch fhoals as it is ufual to fee porpoifes. The fhip
Salamander ^ being under full fail with a fair wind,
ftruck fo hard againft a whale, that the fhock made the
fhip ftand ftill. The whale made a terrible hideous
noife, rofe with his body and tail above the water, and
immediately after plunged again into his element. Two
days after this they found a large dead whale floating on
the fe^, which they fuppofed to be that which had been
flruck by the Salamander. They could not get into
Frobifher's Straits on account of the ice, which the
Admiral took to be a collection of ice formed from frefh
water, it being in his opinion impofllble for the fea to
freeze, particularly as here the tides ebb and flow above
ten fathoms; moreover he found ice at the diftance of
J CO miles from the land, which ice being melted, yield-
ed frefh water without any fait in it. Probably the ica
had been carried thither that year by the eaiterly and
wellerly winds, which were frequent there, and the
large flakes of ice were continually changing their pofi-
tioii, fo that the (hips often came into great danger.
The burk Dennis, indeed was funk by a Ihock fhe re-
ceived from one of thefe large flakes of ice j but, hav-

uig
the

fired
(hip

off a
itfclt,

gun

in time, all the

however, was loll,

crew

with

was
part

faved ,
of the
timber

%%t

VOYAGES AMD

ii I

timber intended for the habitation of thofe who were t<r
winter there. A ftorm from the fouth-caft put tlic
fleet into the moft imminent danger ; for they were fo
frequently befet and blocked up by the large flakes of
ice, that they found it a very difficult matter to guard
againft the repeated fhocks and prefTure of it j till at
length a weft north-weft wind difperfed all this ice, and
freed them from the moft imminent danger. As they
approached again towards the land, the appearance of
it was fo much changed by the fnow and thick fogs, that
they could not in the lealt diftinguifli whereabouts they
were, A very ftrong current in a dire6lion from north-
eaft to fouth-wett, carried the fhips entirely out of their
courfe. f robiftier was of opinion that the caufe of this
current was that the fea flowing conftantly from the Bay
of Mexico towards Iceland and Norway, and finding a
refiftance on thofe coafts, as alfo from a current com-
ing round the North Cape from the Siberian Sea to meet
it, is repelled with redoubled force to the northern coaft
of Greenland, and fo takes its courfe along the coaft
from north-eaft to fouth-weft.

The Admiral now fent the fliip Gabriel into an inlet,
and found that (he could go through it into Frobijher's
StraitSy and round the ^een*s Foreland, which was an
ifland, again into thofe Straits, v^hich he had before
miftaken for Frobijher's Straits. He now explored the
numerous ittands in its vicinity, and withftood the mur-
murings of his crew with magnanimity and fortitude ;
and, after ftruggling a fecond time againft the dangers
of the ice in a frelh ftorm, arrived fafe in the Coun-
tefs of Warwick's Sound. Going on ftiore, he fearched
for minerals, and found that in the vallies of thofe parts
the air is fometimes aftoniftiingly hot, yet, the ieaft
wind blowing from over the ice will fuddenly change
all this heat into the moft piercing cold. Three fhips
had been miffing, which for a long while had kept out
at fea in great danger, but at laft came into a harbour,
where the crew repaired the ihips, and, by fitting the
pieces together which they had with them ready for the
purpofe, built a pinnace, in which they went in queft

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 183

of the Admiral, whom they accordingly found. Now
likewife afTays were made of the ore found by C?ptaln
Beft, as alfo of that difcovered by the Admiral, and all
the (hips were loaded with connderable quantities of
both. At this time it was refolved not to leave any
body here for this year, confidering that the feafon was
already fo far advanced, and great part of the timber for
the dwelling as well as the proviiions for the 100 men,
had been lofi:. It had been determined that they (hould
fet out on their voyage homewards on the laft day of
Auguft ; but a violent ilorm obliged them to fet fail
immediatelj In the courfe of the whole voyage they
loft but 40 men in all the fleet. The inhabitants were
extremely (hy. It was fuppofed that thefe people traded
with other nations, as iron in bars was found amongft
them, alfo iron heads for darts, needles with four-fquare
points, and copper buttons for ornaments on the fore-
head, things they were by no means capable of making
themfelves. They ufed to kindle their iires by rubbing
two fticks together. They drew their furniture over
the ice with dogs; their kettles were made, with great
art and ingenuity of ftone (viz. lapis ollaris). In
Bear-Sound they had built a houfe of lime and ftonc,
as alfo an oven ; and had left in the houfe toys of dif-
ferent kinds, and dolls for the natives. When the
Bufle Bridgnvfiter returned, fhe found a land to the
fouth-eaft of Friejland^ in 57 dcg. 30 min. N. lat.
along the coafts of which, that were covered vi'ith
woods, and in feme places with grafs, thej' failed for
th;ee days.

From the whole tenor of this voyage of Frobiflier
we learn his opinion concerning the origin of the ice,
which is found in fuch abundance in the northern
icas. Firft, we fee, that though Sir 'John PringUy in
his (lifcourfe addreflcd to Captain Cook^ beftowed fuch
high encomiums on him for having made ufc of the
ice iwimming in the fea, for the purpofe of providinjj

the

!'•'< '1

' 5M

! ,

j.^^ ^

\)%

284

VOYAGES ANV

the (hips urwkr his command with frefti water ; yet
nothing is more certain now, than that he was not the
firft who knew that the ice found in the fea being
melted would produce frefli drinkable water; for Fro-
bifher had aflerted this fo early as the year 1578, and
confequently 194 years before Cook made the experi-
ment. In fadt, he had Hackluyt on board his (hip,
in whofe colledlion of voyages there is this very voy-
age of Frobi flier's, and he ufed to read this book by
Way of amufement. Nay, in Haekluyt^s work, imme-
diately after this voyage of Frobifher, follows that of
yohn Davisy performed in the year 1585, in which it
IS exprefsly mentioned diat he had loaded a whole boat
with ice, which yielded good frefli water. So true is
it on one hand, that by the ignorance of men many
things have been cried up as new and important dil-
coveries, which neverthelefs had been known and
brought into ufe long before ; and on the other hand,
that provided we can but find fome man of confe-
quence to found our praifes, we may be certain of
being extolled, even for fuch things as deferve no
praife at all. Cook is a great man, who has merit
fufficient of his own without the addition of this cir-
cumftance j it would therefore be unjufl: to magnify him
at the expence of other men of merit, who lived at an
earlier period.

It is true that the mountains of ice confifl: of frefli
water frozen; but from this it does not follow, that
all the ice in the fea has been generated from rain and
fnow. Mr. Nairne fliewed, in 1776, that when Fah-
renheit's thermometer is at 27! degrees, the frefli par-
ticles of the fea water will freeze, and leave nothing but
ftrong brine behind. Barentz faw the feri at Nova
Zembla fuddenly frozen over, to the thickncfs of fe-
veral inches ; it is therefore nothing new for fea- water
to freeze, and for this ice, neverthelefs when melted,
to produce frefli potable water. Without doubt, it is

poflible

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 285

poflilie that fome ice mountalAS may be produced ii\
the fpring from the fnow and torrents of fre(h rain-
water : but it does not follow from hence, that all the
ice found in thefe feas have the fame origin. More on
this fubjeft may be read in my Obfervatiom made during
a Voyage round the World,

It is remarkable, that the fliock of a fhip under full
fail fhould be fo powerful as to kill fo large an animal as
a whale at one ftroke, I remember in our voyage round
the world, that one day feveral whales appearing about
our veflel, while fome of thefe unwieldy animals amufed
themfelves with diving under the water on one fide of
her and coming up again on the other, the ihip in her
courfe grazed againft the back of one of them, which,
in purfuing thefe gambols, had probably not gone deep
enough ; for when it came up on the other fide, the
whole fea was immediately dyed red with its blood;
though at the fame time we had but a very moderate
breeze ; and the dirediion taken by the whale went right
acrofs the motion of the Ihip. Now had we been
failing before the wind with a ftiff gale, and at the fame
time the whale had met us in a diredt line, its death
would have been unavoidable.

I have alfo mentioned in my Obfervationsy that the fea
between the Tropics by reafon of its being conftantly
propelled by the eafterly winds, in the Atlantic towards
the continent of America, and in the Pacific Ocean
towards China, New Holland, and tl'.e Molucca Iflands,
flows north and fouth along the coaft of the American
continent, and comes in the temperate Zone from
fouth-weft to north-eaft, in the northern hemifphere ;
and from north-weft to fouth-eaft, in the fouthern
hemifphere. Coufequently we find, that in the north-
ern hemifphere a current fets in from tlie Bay of
Mexico north-eaftwards towards Ireland and Norway;
and from the coaft of Brafil, in the fouthern hemif-
phere, another current drives the waters of the ocean
paft the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Spa.
But, .011 the other hand, this current runs northwards

againft

:<: .-, i'

I'': ii '■ !

■', I :*

tSfll

S^^^B-,.

. .J M

'!;M

sSj^H

: iis'^fll

■

tS^

VOYAGES AN9

againft Norway, and is repelled again from eaft to
weft on the weftern coaft of Greenland in the north-
ern Frigid Zone. In the fouthern hemifphere the
current going from the Cape, breaks againft New
Holland, and then in the Frigid Zone goes again to
the weftward, which is the reafon, that beyond Terra
del Fuego, near Cape Horn, and in the Streights of
Le Maire^ we obferved a ftrong current coming from
the eaft, which we alfo took notice of even near
Staaten Land and Newyears IJlands. In the South Sea,
too, there are fimilar currents, viz. between the Tro-
pics from eaft to weft, in the temperate Zones from
weft to eaft, and in the frigid Zones again, from
eaft to weft. Thefe currents in the fea partly occa-
fion alfo fimilar currents in the air; which is the
reafon that in the temperate Zones the weftern winds
predominate in like manner as in the frigid Zones.
The eaft winds occur more frequently than any other
winds ; fo that Frobiftier's remark is perfed^ly confift-
ent with truth. For the frequent mention of an ore
being found in Greenland, there muft certainly have
been fome foundation. But what degree of fkill the
afl*ayers pofTeiTed which our navigators took out with
them, it is not poffible to determine, much lefs whe-
ther real gold ore was ever found in this country. Ir
is poffible, however, that there are iron as well as
copper ores in Greenland, which perhaps contain
confiderablc quantities of ftlver and gold. CrantZy in
' Hijiory of Greenlandy Book I. chap. 4. §. 26,
Items in fome refpc6t to confirm this fuppofition.
Indeed the northern regions cannot be faid to be en-
tirely deftitute of gold and filver, as the mines in
Aedelfiors and Kxngjberg are known to every one,
and as the Ruffians have found in Bear Ifland
pieces of native filver, of a confiderable fize, and
branched out into the moft beautiful ramificati-
ons.

That the Greenlanders ft ill make kettles for their
own ufe of the lapis ollaris, is alfo afcertained by
the above-mentioned CrantZt in the place before re-
fsrred to, § 25.

^ ^ It

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. aS?

It is very improbable that the Greenlanders fhould
have carried on a trade with any civilized nation,
and received from them iron bars, and copper but-
tons, for the ornaments of their foreheads. The
iron and copper found amongft them had doubtlefs
been hoarded up by them ever fince the deftrudtion of
the Norwegian colony, or elfe they had been fur-
nifhed with thcfe metals by the (hips wrecked near
this coaft, or, at the utmoft, they may have got
fome native copper from the American favages dwel-
ling in Hudfon's Bay, either by barter, ftratagem, or
force J for even at prefent pieces of unwrought cop-
per are found amongft thefe favages, which they hav«
beaten with great difEculty into the form of bracelets.
In other refpedts, the manners of thefe Greenlanders
are perfe£lly conformable to thofe of the prefent na-
tives.

If the BufTe Bridgwater rezWy, and bona fide^ found
a land overgrown with woods and grafs in 57 deg.
30 min. N. lat. it muft have funk afterwards into
the fea, as it has never been feen again in the voy»
ages repeatedly made fince to Hudfon*s Bay, Green-
land, and Labrador} or elfe thefe navigators mufl
have been pretty much miilaken in their reckonings
and muft have taken Iceland for quite a new coun-
try, and formed the woods in their own imagina-
tion.

VIII, Frobiflier having effected nothing in three
voyages made to the north- weft, for the purpofe o^
difcoverin^ a pafTage to Kachay and India, the Com-
pany of Kuflia Merchants were defirous of trying
once more, whether it was poilible to find out a way
to thefe empires by the north-eaft j as the wealth
which the Portuguefe daily acquired by their voyages
to India was very confiderable, in confequcnce of
which a new paifage to Kathay (or China) and India,
became the obje(5t of the wifhes of all the maritime
nations of Europe. They therefore difpatched two
fhips in the year 1580, by way of making a trial,
under the command of Arthur Pet and Charles "Jack"
man. Accordingly they failed from Harwich on the
;^oth of May, and after fome time reached the North

Cape

%r\

*-i ■ , .;■>!

,; t'

; Hi

2»8

VOYAGES AND

Cape and IVardhoufe-t but the caft, north-eaft, and
fouth-eaft winds prevailed for a long time, and hindered
them from purfumg their voyage: at length, having
worked through great quantities of ice, and been often
deceived by falfe appearances of land, on the i8th of
July they arrived off ff^aigatz. They then failed through
the Straits, and foon met with a large quantity of folid
ice ; fo that, after feveral fruitlefs attempts to get
through it, thev were obliged to return. It is remark-
able, that in the fca extending between Nova Zembla
and the continent, wherever they founded, they foon
came to ground j that is to fay, they had from 4 to
33» 68, 70, and 95 fathoms. Not far from Kotcoyeve^
or Kolgewy they ran upon a fand-bank. They law the
land Hugri (or Jugria on the banks of the retfchora)
and the Bay of Morzowetz. At length they made the
North Cape, and on the 26th of November arrived
fafely at Ratcllff. The other (hip, the William., com-
manded by CharUi Jackman,, having been feparated from
them in a very thick fog, was obliged to winter in a
harbour in Norway ; from whence fhe fet fail in the
month of February, in company with a Danifli fhip
bound for Iceland j fmce which time there was never
any farther intelligence to be obtained concerning her.

This attempt at a north-eaft paflage, which, like the
former ones, proved abortive, chiefly ferves to corrobo-
rate two phyfical remarks mentioned above. The firft
is, that in thefe high northern latitudes we meet with
frequent eafterly, north-eafterly, and fouth-eafterly
winds. The fecond regards the great Ihallownefs of
the water of the northern or Icy-Sea, which has been
noticed not only then, but alfo llnce, by more modern
navigators. We find alfo in this voyage the ufual
complaints with refpe£l: to the enormous quantities of
ice and the terribly dangerous fogs with which they were
annoyed, and which every where occur, as well in the
northern as in the fouthern hemifphere, in the cold re-
gions near the Poles, and both of which greatly con-
tribute to hinder any progrefs from being made in thefe
dreadful feas.

IX. Though

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. aS^

IX. Though none of the former voyages to the
North had turned out to any advajitas^c, yet there
were always others who endeavoured to n\i.k.c new
difcoverics, partly in hopes of ; diually finding coun-
tries abounding in gold, filver, and fji.ccs, and partly
from a notion that in the puifuit of tat'ir dilcoveric^,
they might hit upon a -new way to India. Q^iecn
Elizabeth, therefore, in 1578, made a grant to air
Humphry Gilbert, of all the lands which he fliould
difcovcr and take poflefTion of; in confcqucnce of
which, he made preparations for his voyage. How-
ever, I cannot deny but that there are ftlH fomc
obfcurc accounts extant of voyages of difcovery un-
dertaken long before this. We find that fo eaily as
1502, Hugh Elliot and Thomas AJhhurjl, merchants of
Briftol, obtained letters patent from Henry W.{, for
the eftablifliment of colonies in the countries newly
tjifcovered by Cabot. But whether they ever made
V)fe of this permiiiion, and fet on foot any voyages
thither, we find no traces to inform us, either in the
writers who were their cotcmporaries, or in thofe
that immediately fucceeded them. But likewife, in
the reign of King Henry ViH. A. D. 1527, two
fhips, the one of which was called Dominus vcbifatm,
were by the advice of Robert Tborne^ of Briftol, fent
to make di/coveries to the norih-weftward. The on«
of thefe veflels was loft in a dangerous gujph, be-
tween the fiorthcf n parts of Newfonndland, and the
country afterwards c.tlled, by Qiieen Elizibcih, Meta
Incognita, The fecond fliip, after the lols of the firil,
£hapcd its courfe ti^wards Cape Breton^ and the coall
of Arambec, In their way thither theTe navigators
often went on (hore, and explored thefc unknown re-
gions, and arrived again fafe in England in the be-
ginning of Otiobcr. But the precedin.;^ very imper-
f^'£t account is all that m known oi thia expedition.
However, from hence it appears, that Cape Britoriy
which is here at fo early a period called by tnis name,
mull have been named thus by Sthnjliun Cabct, when,
\i\ company with his father, hi; dilcoverctl Neivfound-
l^nd^ or BaccallaoSj and afterwards failed along the
cpalt of An;crica ;is far as Chfapsak Bay, With re-

U gard

<if

'1 '<■'

5 '

r;l

■; '!:;1

ii ^■■f

2C)0

VOYAGES AND

gnrd to the coaft of jframhic^ I am free to confefa
that as yet the fituation of this coall is entirely un-«
known to me ; though I rather fuppofe it to be the
coaft o^ what is now called Nova Scotia, or perhaps
of even a more fouthcrly region.

Afrer this voyage we hnd it alfo mentioned, that a
perfon of the name of Hon, fet fail in 1536, from
London, with two ftjip&, the Trinity and the Alinion^
about the latter end of April. They arrived zi Cap*
Briton^ and from thence went to the north-eaftward,
till they came to Penguin Ifiandj an inland iltuated on
the fouthcrn coaft of Newfoundland, and which wa>
named thus after a kind of fea-fowl, which the Spa-
niards and Portuguefc called Penguins, on account of
their being fo very fat, and which ufed to build their
nefts and to live in aftoniftiing quantities on this little
rock. After this they went to Newfoundland* Here
they faw fome of the inhabitants, who came to look
at their (hip; but, being purfued, fled to an ifland^
where a piece of roafted bear's flefli was found on a
tvooden fpit. They alfo afterwards frequently ufed
to (hoot white and black bears ''hemfelvcs, and found
the fle(h of them very palatable. But ;it length
their ftock of provifion dccrcafcd, fo that they were
neceiTitatcd to eat fome Afb which an ofprcy had
csj-ried to her neft for the purpofc of feeding her
young } and beiides that, were obliged to feed uport
perbs and roots of all kinds ; nay more, when the
fcarcity of food increafed, it was pbferved, that
fome of the failors were mi(fing one after another,
who were at length difcovered to have been killed
and eaten in the woods by their own comrades. The
Captain reproached his people very feyercly for this
piece of cruelty ; at length, however, they were
again reduced to fuch extremities as to be ready to.
^aft lots whofe turn it (liould be to be devoured next \
when the following day a French ihip arrived there,
of which they made thcmfelves mafters, and left theirs
to the French, after having diftributed to them a fuf-
ficient quantity of provifions. They arrived fafe in^
England, where, foon after, a complaint was prefer-
red agaiaft them by the Fiench, for the forcible fcizure

made

DISCOVERIHj in the north. 291

made of their vefTcI ; but the King being; informed of
the dire neccflity which had compelled them to com-
mit this adl of violence, indcmniAed the French out
of his own purfc, and did not punifli this a6l of piracy
as it would otherwifc have richly defcrved to have been
punifhed.

It is pretty evident that thefe adventurers knew
very little of the immenl'c ftore of fi{h to be found
on all the banks round aboul the ifland of Newfound-
land, or elfe they would have made a better ufe of
it for their maintenance. For there arc many ac-
counts extnnt which mention that, fmce the year
J 504, the French from. Normandy and Bretagne, and
the Spaniards from Bifcay, as alfo the Portuguefe,
ufed to carry on the cod fifhery on thefe banks, with
a great number of (hips. This fifhery muft there-
fore have been carried on at ]ea(l 32 years without the
Engliflimen having the leaft knowledge of it j nei-
ther, indeed, did they feem to have any conception
in what manner people in diftrefs muft endeavour
to live, even without bread or other provifions in
common ufeamongfl the Europeans. It is in fa6l in-
conceivable how any men, at a time when want and
famine flared them as it were in the face, could be fo
ina(Stive and infcnfible as thofc people have been de-
scribed to us. Humanity ftartles at the high degree
of calloufncfs and the forgetfulnefs of every duty ex-
hibited by thefe people, when we reiid that one of
them came behind another who was digging up fome
roots out of the earth, and killed him, with a view
to prepare himfelf a meal from his fellow-creature's
fle£hi and that a third, fmelling the delicious bdour
of broiled meat, went up to the murderer, and, by
threats and menaces, extorter* from him a fhare in
this {hocking meal *,

li'

MM^^:

• This faft is here mifrepreffnttd. The man who quarrelled with
the murderer did not know on what kind of flefli the Utter was feaDing ^
and when he was informed of it, \\ent, it feemi, and divulged the mat-
ter to (he red of his cQOipanioni. Vide Hakiuyt's Vojagee, Vol. III.

P- '30. _^ _

291

• VOYAGES AND

It appears alfo, by an a£l of Parliament, paflfcd Iri
the reign cf King Edward VI. A. D. T584, that
for the better promotion of the fifhery in Iceland
and Newfoundland^ the exad^ion of money, fifh, or
ocher rewards, under any pretext whatfoever, from
the Englifh fifhermen and mariners going on this
fervice, was prohibited. This ferves at leaft to
prove, that the Englifh, even at that time, were
accultomed to fifh on the banks of Newfoundland ;
as alfo, that many other nations at the fame time ufed
to carry on a lucrative filhery, which it was intended
to wreft out of their hands by thefe means.

The Captain of a vefiel from Briftol, by name
jintony Parkhurjl^ in 1578, gave the learned jR;V/j«r<^
Hakluyt a very authentic and good account of the
great cod-fiftiery which was then annually carried on
in the vicinity o^ Newfoundland j by which it ap-
pears, that at that- time about 50 Englilh (hips were
employed on this fifhery. For the lame purpofe there
ufed alfo to come about ico Spr<nifh fbips, and about
20 or 30 from Bifcay, which latter went thither
with a view to the, whale-fifhery only. All the
Spanifh (hips taken together, made about 5 or 600
tuns burthen. Moreover, there came about 50 Por-
tuguefe fhips to fifh for cod, and their fnips might
carry about 3000 tuns. Finally, there came alfo
from France, and that chiefly from Britanny, 150
{hips, carrying all together about 7000 tuns. Park-
hurft gave likewife a very pidlurefque defcription of
the immenfe quantity of fifh which arrived yearly ofF
Newfoundland y as alfo of the remaining produdts of
the country, fuch as game, birds, and fowls, furs,
fait, copper, and iron, and other profitable articles
of commerce.

In the fame year 1578, Sir Humphry Gilbert oh-
taincd from Qiieen Elizabeth a munificent grant for
the peopling and occupation of all fuch heathen
countries as were not at that time peopled and oc-
cupied by any other Chriftian power. In confei]U("nce
of thi?, many of his friends and acquaintance joined
him j fo that it was hoped this preparation would in-

creuf^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 293

treafe to fuch a fleet as would be able even to encoun-
ter a royal fquadron ; but juft as they were ready
for falling, many of them declined their former en-
gagements ; notwithftanding which Sir Humphrey,
with a few friends and ihips, ventured on this ex-
pedition. They had hardly fet fail, when a violent
florm damaged the fleet very much, and occafioned
the lofs of one of their largefl: fbips. Now, though
the adventurous Knight fufFered a great lofs thereby^
having engaged in this affair a confiderable part of his
fortune, by which means his eflate was deeply involv-
ed ; he neverthelefs endeavoured by every means in
his power to put his plan in execution, and gave
avvay tracks of land on the mouth of the river Canada^
to other people, on condition of their peopling and
flocking them. But finding that they did not intend
to fulfil thefe conditions, he refolved at lafl to un-
dertake this voyage once more himfelf, as there were
but two years remaining before the entire expiration
of the royal grant. He made therefore every poffible
effort, and was moreover affifled by fome friends with
money as well as advice, and at length fet fail with
five fhips and about 160 men from Caufon (Caufand)
Bay, near Plymouth, on the ilth of June, T583.
They met with ftorms and abundance of fogs,
chiefly on the great fifhing-bank that lies before
Newfoundland. On the nth of July they faw land ;
but finding nothing before them but bare rocks, they
ftiaped their courfe more to the fouthward, and ar-
rived at length at Penguin T/Tf/W*, where they took
in a gocd flock of fowls. After this, they repaired
to the Ifland of Baccalaos, and to the Bay of Concepti'
c«, where they met again with the Swallow, one of
the {hips they had lofl in the fog. Then they ran into
the bay of St. John, where they found a great number
of (hips, Englifh as w^ell as foreigners, which were

' !t

! f

* This Pcngutn Ifland muft not be confounded with that Penguin
Ifland wliivli w«s I'ccn by Hoie ; for that is on the fouthern coaftof New-^
foutiJland, while thit is on the eaftern, and is now called Fcgo.

there

.:ii

294

VOYAGES AND

there on account of the cod-fifhery. Sir Humphr^
Gilbert now took pofTcilion of the ifland, and of all
other lands that lay 200 leagues from it in all dire«5li-
ons ; and received rich prefents from all the Captains
of the fhips that lay ofF that ifland, particularly from
the Portuguefe, who were very numerous there. B'f
one of thefe he was informed that, about 30 years
before, Icveral hogs, as well as horned cattle, had
been landed on the ifland of Sallon (Sable Ifland).
After having taken poflelfion, the Admiral made en-
quiry concerning the nature of the country, and he
and his people began to explore it themfelves. This
country was found to be in fummcr very hot, but ex-
tremely cold in winter; yet not fo cold as tobein-
fupportable. The fea I'urrounding Newfoundland
abounded fo much in f.(h, that there were but few in-
ftances of any thing equal to it clfewhere. In the
bays and rivers there were falmons and trouts, and in
every part of the fea bonitos, turbots and large lob-
ftersj alfo a kind of large herrings, equal to thofe of
Norway. There was a great number of whales ;
Wood grew with thegreateft luxuriance over the whole
Country, which therefore was capable of furniftiing
mafts, planks, timber for (hipping, tar, fifli, and
potaih, in gccat abundance. There was alfo game of
all kinds, fo that they could eafily get hides and all
forts of furs. Moreover the foil was very fertile, fo
that by cultivation they might obtain great quantities
6f hemp, flax, and corn, and manufacture the former
pf thefe into ropes, cables, linen, and other com-
hiodities. Add to this, that all kinds of fowl were
found here in great plenty. They likewife difcovered
trdn ore, lead, and copper. Vzy, Mafter Daniel, a
hative of Saxony, an honeil and religious man, and
a very expert miner and aflayer, brought Sir Humphry
Gilbert a kind of ore, faying, that if he was in
fearch of filver, this certainly was what he wanted,
and that he would (lake his life that there was feme
Tilver in this ore. As there was a great number of
tbreign (hips then in the harbour, Sir Humphry did

not

England
ther;

tJISCOVgRIES IN THE NORTH. 295

hot chufe to have this affair much talked of, and or-
dered the ore to be carried immediately on board.
While he was on fhore, many of the people going to
a neighbouring bay, feized upon a (hip, and having
put thecrevir afljore, failed away with it ; fome of his
people ran away and hid themfelves in the woods ;
others fell lick of the dyfentery or Hux, and many
died of that diftemper; the fleet, therefore, was di*
vided : one (hip remained with the fick^ and fome
were fent home. But he, for his part, Was defiroiis
of purfuing his difcoveries, and of taking pofTciHon
of fome other countries Which lay to the fouthwardy
and therefore fet fail in or'itr to find the land of Cape
Briton^ as alfo the ifland of Sablori, where there was
faid to be a great quantity of cattle. Sailing to and
fro in thefe parts, with contrary windsj the great
Admiral (hip ftrucic on a fand-barik, in a thick fog,
and was wrecked ; fome few peoplli, however, faved
themfelves in a fmall boat, but all 'the reft were loft;
This misfortune, together with the circUmftance of
the fcafon of the year being advanced, determinedf
the Commander in Chief for the prefent to return to
England. Accordingly they (haped their courfe thi-
ther; Near England they were overtaken by another
(lorm J when a fmall veflcl, on board of which th^
Admiral then happened to be, went to the bottom
with him;

With refpect to this unfortunate voyage^ I (hall
only make my reitiarks on fome particulars, ^'"-ft,
it appears^ that very foon after the difcovery Oi Nc,
foundland, the fifhery on the banks or (hallows to the
caft and foUth of this country was carried on by the
Portuguefe, Bifcajrahs, French, and other nations,
who ufurped this fifliery on the coaft of a country
which the Crown of England had difcovered at its
©wn expencc. As long as Spain, Portugal, and
France, wereftrong and powerful at fea, the Engli(h
did not venture to difpute with them the title to this
fiihery ; but as foon as Spain was engaged in a war
with England J the latter, in 1585, fent a fquadron
into thcfe feas, under the command of Sir Francis

Drake,

ar<56

VOYAGES AND

Drake, who T izcd a!I thi* Portiiguefe Ihips, am! car-'
ritd them, as good and lawful prizes, to England j
and in proccls of time, as the power of Kngland in-
crcafcd at fi-a, file endeavoured to cxGliidc entirely
front this fi-flKTy, of fo great importance to the Ro-
niarn Catholic powers, both Portugal :u)d Spain, who
were declinino; very falh In the ^car 1756, England
took all the French fifhing veflels that vifited thofe
feas, whereby France loft upwards of 25,000- fcamen,
and during the whole remainder of the war, was in-
capable of manning hrr fleet properly. By the peac«
of Paris nothing was left the French but the iflanil
©f St. Pitrre^ and the two A'Uqucbns., together with
a paltry titl* to the flflicry, cramped b-y a thoufand
reitri^ions. They have, however, itipulattd rather
more freedom for thcmfclves, and made better condi-
tions, in the laic peace of 1783. The Americans
who, from the beginning, have always taken a fliavc
in this fiflicry, have alfo-boen confirmed by the fame
peace in this prerogative, now that they have acquir-
ed independence. In the i'ccond place, it is very clear,
in the inltance mentioned here, of the Portitguefc
having ftocked the ifland of Sablcn with tatne do-
melUc animals ; tlwt this nation, as well as the Spa-
niard*;, djrcilly after the firit difcovery of America,
and of the new route to India, ufed to ftock all the
Ulands and continents with tame, doi cftic animals,
which they turned loofe there, and which in fome
places have increafed greatly ; c. g. the immenfe
number of wild horfes and oxen found in Chili and
Patagcnia, proceed from thofe which the Spaniards
had at firlt turned loofe in thofe countries. At Jfcen-
fisn IJlatid there are ftill in being fome wild goats
which the Po» tuguefe had left there ; and in like man-
ner there are yet lome wild goats remaining at St. He-
lena, in the illand oi yuan Fernandex^ too, there was
in fhe former part of this century a great nuniber of
wild goats i but they are very much diminifhed, and
perhaps are even entirely extirpated, fince the Spaiiiards
have turned fome dogs loofe there, which have nearly
devoured all thefe aiumals. There were likewife grcrjt

numbers

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 2f)7

numbers of wild oxen, hogs, ariJ fowls on the iflc of
Tinian ; but the dogs left on the ifliind have in like
manner thinned their numbers greatly, and have ren-
dered them very (hy. On the Munillas^ or Luzon, and
on fome ottier of die IMiilippinc illauds there are dill
confideruble herds of wild iiorfcs and oxen, proceed-
ing; from thofe which the Spaniards had left there. In
hcty the firlt difcovercrs of the new world were men
of humanity, and were defirous of providing for fuch
unfortunate people as might happen to be caft away
on thofe coafts. On the other 'land, the falfe policy
of modern times is tyrannical and callous, exporting
dogs to thofe places, which tlie i'ni\ difcovercrs of
them had flocked with ufcful and domeftic animals.
Are thefc, then, the happy confequences of the fo-
much-boalled, < nlij^;htened ftate of the prefcnt age,
and of the r .innement of manners peculiar to thcfc
our times ? Father of mercies ! when will philanthropy,
now' almoft banifhed from the univerfc, again take up
its abode in the breaits of men, of Chriftians, and of
the rulers of the nrth !

This talcing ^ licflion of Newfoundland, cfre<Sled
A. D. 1585, on the part of the Crown of England,
is the foun'^iation of the rights this nation has to the
fiftiery carried on by her fubje^ls in tluifc feas, which
would be Hill more profitable for the Englifh if New-
foundland was better peopled. But the revolt of the
thirteen North- American Colonies, the great de-
creafe of population in Great-Britain, in confequence
c!^ the frequent wars fhe has been engaged in, and
many other confiderations, make the Knglifli ex-
tremely averfe in every refpedt to promote the popu-
lation and cultivation of thele very fine iflands. There
are in Newfoundland^ as well j's at Cape Breton., fuch rich
roal mines, that if the Crown would but grant leave
to work them, their produce would be fufficient to
fupply all Europe and America abufidantly with this
commodity; and fornc are c\cii fo commodioufly fitu-
ated, that the coals might be thrown directly from

f \-

tlie coiil-w&rks thtnifeUcs into ilie iliips

j'-^)

iis thpy
lift

tt)s

VOYAGES ANr>

lie clofc to the fhorc. This piece of intelligence t
had from my late friend, the great circumnavigator,
Capt. Cooky who for feve«*al years fuccefllvely, had
explored the fhores of this ifland, taken their bear-
ings and refpeiStive diftances, and laid them down on
charts.

X. Some tnerchants, and gentlemen of landed pro-*
perty, as alfo fome noblemen belonging to the Courts
m 1585 formed an afTociation for the purpofe of fend-
ing out two (hips on difcoveries, under the command
6f yohn Davis, a very experienced navigator. They
fet fail from Dartmouth on the 7th of June, and, on
the 13th of the fume month, left Falmouth. Firft
they failed to the wcftward, and then to the north-
weft. They met with a great number of whales
and dolphins, one of which latter they killed with a
^ear, took it on board, and eat it, when the flefh
fcemed' to them as well tafted as muttoni On the
igth of July they heard a great noife in the fea dur-
ing a thick fog. The current fet to the northward ;
with a line of 300 fathoms they found no ground j
and they difcovercd that the noife they had heard pro-
ceeded from the waves daihing againft the ice. They
loaded their boat quite full with this ice, which, wheA
melted, produced good palatable water. The next
day, viz. the 20th of July, they (aw land, which
eonfifted entirely of fummits of mountains in the form
of fugar-loaves, quite covered with fnovv, fome of them
indeed reaching above the clouds. They named tliis
horrid land the Land of Dcfolation.

The v.'holc of this land was io farroimded with ice,
that they could not come near it. They imagined
they favv foreils upon it, and in the fea ibund fome
drift-wood, out of which they took up one entire tree,
with the roots upon it, which was 60 feet long, ^nd
14 fpans in circumference. On the 25th they ihaped
their courfe to the north-weft in hopes to find the
wiftied-for pafiage. After four days iailing^ they agaia
liwlandon the 29th of July, in 64 deg. 15 min. N.

kt*

DISCOVERIES IN THB NORTH. 299

lat. in which land they found many convenient har-
bours and deep founds, one of which they named
Gilbert* s Sound. I'hey went on fhore, and faw fome
of the inhabitants, cloathed in feal (kins, with whom
they foon became friends, and obtained almoft any
thing for which they fhewed but the fmalleft inclina-
tion i for the natives gave away their clothes, boats,
and arms, and in lieu of them, accepted any thing that
was offered them. The Engliftiexprefling their wiihes
for more furs, the inhabitants promifed to return thtf
next day. They did not, however, venture to comfi
near the Englifh, till both parties had repeatedly
pointed tjo the fun, and then ftruck their breafts.
Here they found again Afufcovy glafs (Mica metnhrc-
nacea Linnai) as alloths fame kind of ore as had been
found by Sir Martin Frobifher. Next morning the
wind being favourable, Davis would not wait for th<t
return of the inhabitants, but purfued his courfe to
the north-weftward. On the 6th of Auguft hd
again faw land, in 66 deg. 40 min. N. lat. The
road was named Totnefs Road; the found which en-
compafTed a high mountain glittering like gold, Exeter
Sound ; the mountain itfelf, Alount Raleigh j the north-
ern promontory. Dyer's Cape, and the fouthern, Cape
fpaljingbamy after the then Secretary of State, Sir
Francis IValJingham. Here they met with four white
bears, three of which they killed, and the next day
they difpatched another enormoully large one, the
paws of which meafured 14 inches in breadth. Oil
the 8th of Augvift, Davis failed fouth fouth-wcft
along the coaft. On the nth, he faw the moft
fouthern point of this land, which he called the Cape
of God's Mercy, and having failed round it, he found
a large ftrait, which in foine places was 20 leagues
broad. The weather was mild, and the fea bore the
colour and appearance of the ocean. Davis was now
in great hopes of finding at hift the pafTage. He
failed up the (traits 60 leagues, and in the middle
6f them found many iilands, and an open pafliiec ca
both fides. In making this refcarch, he divided hii
(hip?, fo that one of them was to e.'^plorc the north

paflagr,

ill ifapiif

.!l'

'' fA

\'Mn

300

VOYAGES AND

paflage, and the other the fouth. But the foulh-caft:
winds, bad weather, and thick fogs letting in, th /
were thereby prevented from advancing any farther.
They went on (bore, and found traces of p<;ople dwell-
ing there, and likewife faw dogs with pricked ears and
thick bulhy tails, one of which animals had a collar
about its neck. Two fledges, the one of which was
made of fir, fpruce, and oaken boards ; the other of
whalebone, were alfo found there, together with fome
carved images, and the model of a boat. In this fea
they met with a great many iflands, with large founds
palfing between them : they rowed farther on between
the iflands, and faw feveral whales, which they had not
feen at the mouth of the Straits to the eaftward.
They proceeded by the affiftance of the tide which
went along with them from the eaft to the weft, and
the rife and fall of which was fix or (even fathoms
(i. e. from 36 to 42 feet). Here, at 300 fathoms,
they could find no ground. But the molt remarkable
circumftance was, that going along with the tide to tlie
fouth-weft, they were met all at once by a ftrong
counter tide, without being able to imagine the caufe.
The depth of the fea at the mouth of tiie Straits was
about 90 fathoms ; but the farther they advanced in it,
the more the depth increafed, and here there was no
ground at 330 fathoms. But the wind being againft
them, they refolved to turn back. On the 10th of Sep-
tember they faw the Land of Defolatio»y where they
refolved to go afliore ; but, a violent ftorm arifing, they
could not put their defign in execution, Upon this,
they haftened homewards, and on the 30th of Septem-
ber arrived again fafely at Darttnouth.

Thus it appears that Davis was the firft who in later
times faw the weftern coaft of Greenland, on which
Cape Dffdatlon lies. He afterwards difcovered land
farther to the weftward, on the ifland which he after-
wards himfelf called Cumberland' s Ijland. On this ifland
alfo is Mount Rale'jgh^ Totnefs-Road^ Exeter Sounds
Dyer's Capey and Cape fFal/ingham. The fea between
Cumberland's Ifland and the weftern coaft of Green-
land was afterwards named Davis's Straits 5 and as in
the fequel all the land quite to Buttcn^ Iflands^ on the
coaft tJf Labrador, was difcovered bv Davis, Davis's

b traits

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 301

Straits were alfo extended as flir as this fpot. He like-
wife faw the Cape of Goa's Mercy^ and the ftraits which
he ahb afterwards called Cumberland Straits. 1'hcfe
then are Davis'a difcoveries on his firrt voyage, which
Ihcw him to have been an honeft, and, at the fair.c
time, c?nerprifing man. He ordered his people by no
means to injure the natives on Cumberland Ifland, and
by his friendly condu6l and prefents, he gained the good-
will of thefe harmlefs creatures, who have the fame
origin with the Greenlanders and the Labrador EJklmaux.
So true it is, that gentle ai. Immane treatment will
in the end gain the affections of every one, and ferves
to cement mankind together by the fecial ties of phi-
lanthropy and frienddiip ; an aliertion vhich rr reives ad-
ditional confirmation from the kind aad even affcilicji-
ate behaviour of the Moravian brethren in our times
towards the Greenlanders and the Efkimaux in Okak
-.'.nd Na'n:^ on the coafl: of La^brador •, in confequfncc
of which they live with thofe people on the mo{} friendly
terms, while the other Europeans, who reude in Hud-
Ion's Hay, and the fifhermen about Newfoundland, are
accuP.omed by circumvention and fraud, as well as by
acls of repeated violence, to raifc quarrels and debates
on every the leall: occafion with this mifcrable handful
of human beings, by which means they fow in the rude
;md uncultivated minds of thefe innocent people the
I'.'eds of hatred, malice, and miihuft, which they per-
petually nourifli by their continual opprefnons.

Ilie tide which met Davis in the fouth-weflern arm
of Cumberland Straits^ between tl>e clufler of iflands
there, and which was contrary to that by which he
went, mull undoubtedly have appeared very ftrange to
him, and perhaps he might talce it as a proof that this
tide came from fome other ocean, perhaps from the
■yveilern one : but if we only caft an eve on the map
of the North Pole, v/e fhall cauly conceive, that the
fame tide which had forced itfelf through Dai-is's
Straits into Cumberland Straits, may alio have cow.r
through thofe of Hudfofi, round the liland r>f Gc'.d
Fcrtuyie^ as far as to the end of Cumberland Straif-,

** . near

I * .

V 1 f-1

;^i:.

302

VOYAGES ANt

near the group of ifiands where the two tides muft ot
courfe have inct, and tlie one have retarded the other.
We fee, then, how cautious we ought to be in form-
ing and adopting conclulions of this kind, and more ef-
pecially ^hen, upon the strength of them, we are about
to enter upon an expcnfive undertaking. It is the fame
thing with regard to the increafmg depth of the fi:a,
the tranfparcncy of th^ fea- water, and to the abundance
of whales which were fecund at the end of Cumberland
Straits j they ceafe to be proofs of the cxiftence of a
paflage here, as foon as we are acquainted with the
real lituation of the neighbouring countries, which was
not difcovcred till fome time afterwards. Davis faw
here Mufcovy glafs, and fuch ores as Frobifher had
brought home from the coaft. I am myfelf in pof-
fcflion of fome Mica and Mufcovy glafs from Green-
land ; and thcncc it becomes probable that the foil of
almoft all the mountains in eaft and weft Greenland,
and on the illands beyond Davis's Straits, are of the
fame nature and contam the fame kind of ftones.

XL On the 7th of May, 1586, Captain Jdm
Davis fet out from Dartmouth, with four fhips, on
his fecond voyage. Two of thefe (hips went into
the Straits between Greenland and Iceland, to feek
for a pafiage there. Nearly where Statenhoek is
now, Davis faw land, but the ice hindered him from
proceeding farther. He was therefore obliged to fail
to 57 dcg. N. lat. in order to avoid the ice. Hav-
ing weathered many florms, he came in 64 deg. N.
lat. to a land lying to the eaftward of him, entered
into a harbour, then known by the name of Gilbert's
Sound ; but which is at prefcnt called, in the Danifti
language, God Haah (or Good Hope). Here they
found many inhabitants, with whom they entered in-
to a friendly intercourfe, and who, in return for fome
trifling prelents, rendered their vifitors many friendly
fervices, but neverthelefs could not reftft the tempta-
^on of ftcding from ^he Europeans, even before

their

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 303

their fuces, all the Iron and iron utcnfils tlicy could
^ct at. And though Davis always endeavoured us
Ofiuch as poHiblc to put the bcli conibu£^icn on
«vcry thing, yet they carried the boldnefs of their
thefts rather too far. The tnglilh attempted to
frighten them with their fire-arms, which had fome
«fte6V, but they foon returned and made their peac*
again j which they, however, broke afrcfh by throw-
ing larg« ftoncs, of half a pound weight, into the
Ihips, by one of which the boatfwain of one of the (hip«
was felled to the ground. At length Davis yieldt;*!
fo the preffing entreaties of his crew, and they feized
the ringleader of thefe ailailants, and foon after, get-
ting a fair wind, the (hips fct fail on the nth cf
July. The great quantity of ice they nov/ met with,
and the intenfe cold which froze all the rir^rinq;

COO

i>( the {hips, difheartencd the crew and made tnctn
iickly ; infomuch, that though Davis was already far
advanced to the northward, yet the danger of the
voyage, and the murmurings of his crew, determined
him to fleer to the eafk foulh-eaft, when, on the jik
of Auguft, he difcovered land in 66 dog. 33 min. N.
Jat. and 70 deg. W. long, from London. Here he took
fomc provifions out of the larger Ihip, and endea-
voured to encreafe the burthen cf his, by taking \n
additional ballaft. He purchafed from the inhabitants
fome fcal-lkins, quitted the large fliip and failed with
the fmaller one to the wefl", and again in 66 deg. 19
min. N. lat. found land, which was at the diitance
of 70 leagues from that which they had left laft.
On the 15th he departed from this land to the
fouthward, and on the , i8th faw land in the
N. W. On the fame day faw land again in the
S. W. by S. On the i7th of Auguft he was in 64
deg. 20 min. N. lat. Here he met with a (Ironi^
current, fetting U the wcftward. He explored the
land, and found that it confifted almcft entirely cf
iflands. Till the 28th of Auguft he fliaped his ccurfc
jconftantly to the fouthward, iVom the 67th to the 57th
deg. N. lat. coafting all the while. Here they (aw
aflonifhing quantities of mews and other fea-fowL

i hey

r ';

i )

\ m

304

VOYAGES AND

They alfo caught with a very indifferent apparatus,
upwards of 100 large cods. At length on tht 28th
of Auguft they arrived in 56 dcij. N. lat. in a har-^
bour two leagues in breadth, and failed up above 10
leagues into it. The (hores on both fides of it were
covered with fine forefts. Here they lay at anchor
till the I ft of Sept. and in the mean time had two
heavy ftorms. The forefts were compofed of fir, pine,
alder, vew, ofier, and birch. Here, too, they faw a
black bear j and of the fowl kind they faw phcalants
(Tetrao PhtifiantUui^ or long-tailed grous) IJarbary hens
(meaning the Tetrao Canadenfn, or fpottcd grous) Par-
tridges (viz. the Tetrao togatin, or ftiouldcrknot grous)
Wild-gcefe, ducks, blackbirds, jays, (meaning the Cor-
vus Canadenfis^ or cinereous grDus) Thruilics (viz. the
Turdus mtgratoriuSf or rcd-breafted thruih) and many
other fmall birds. Of the pheafants and partridges
they killed a conftderable number, ai)d likewife caught
a great quantity of cod. Having fet fail on the ift
of September, they ranged along the coaft till the 3d,
when a calm afforded tliem leifure again for hilling.
On this coaft, which was in 54 deg. 30 iiiin. N.
lat. they caught a great many excellent cod ; and
fome very experienced filhers on board the fliip afRired
the Captain, that they had never fecn larger fhoals
of thefe fifti. They went on till the 4th, when thev
came to an anchor, being quite furrounded with woody
iflands. At about eight leagues from this fpot, they
had fecn a ftrong current palling between two lands,
and taking its diretSlion to the weftward, which gave
them hopes of finding a paflage there, and particularly,
as towards the fouth there lay a great number of
iflands. At this place they had left a quantity of fifh
on an illand, and lent five young failors to bring it
aihorc ; but the inhabitants, who lay fecrctly lurking
in tlic v/oodr., ft;ot at them on a fudden v/ith their
arrows, fo that tv/o of them died, two were dange-
roufly wounded, and but one efcaped, which he did
by fvv'imming, though his arm too was pierced with an
arrow. The people on board, it is true, llipt their ca-
bles, and bqre up tq the IhoiCi but the mifchief was aU

ready

biSCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 305

teady done ; however, they fent two difchargcs of a
double mufket atnon^fl thcfe cruel and treacherous
ravages, and thereby forced them to fly. Immediately
after this, too, they met with a violent ftorm, which
had nearly driven them on fhore, though they had p.
ly taken in their yards and booms. At length,
wind abating, they found their anchor again^ and,
ing new moored their fliip, weathered out another rtor.'i,
and at length fet fail on the nth of September, and,
in the beginning of Odlober, landed fafely in Eng-
land.

The two fhips which were to feck for a palfage be-
tween £afl Greenland and Iceland, left the Captain on
the yth of June in aboiit 60 degrees N. lat. and had
orders to feek for a paflage as far as 80 deg. N. lAt.
if not prevented by the land. So early as on the 9th
they faw large .fields of ice, till the nth, when they
defcried land, which on the 12th they found to be Ice~
land, in 66 deg. The inhabitants here had ftockfifli,
ling, and fkatcs (Rata Bath) in abundance, alfo horfes,
toxen^ aui' Ihecp, and hay to feed their cattle with.
Their houfes were built of ftonej and covered with
wood, over which was laid another covering of turf.
Their tools and utenfils wei-e like thofe in England,
of wood, brafs, copper, &c. On the 16th of June they
left Iceland, and failed flrait on to thb north-weft. On
the 3d of July they were between two firm fields of
ice, and neverthclefs failed on between them, till late
in the night ; when they tacked abbut and made for
Greenland, On the 7th they Taw Greenland. The
land was high and of a blue colour ; but they were
prevented from landing by the firm and folid ice
which lay before it : they therefore continued ranging
along the coaft. On the 17th they faw the Land of
Defolation, fo called by Davis the year before. But
the ice hindered them from landing there. On the
3d of Auguft they anchored in Gilberts Sound, their
place of rendezvous j but Davis had fet fail from thence

X on

ft'^il^h^

•' l;.)"';:

3o6

VOYAGES AND

on the nth of July. They traded peaceably with
the Greenlanders till the 30th of Auguft, when a
quirrel happened about a boat that had been bought
of the latter, and which they would not deliver up.
Several men were killed on both fides, and others
wounded. On the 31ft of Auguft the\' fet fail, and
came into the I'names, as high as Ratcliffy on the 6th
of Oftober.

This voyage of Capt. John Davis is in every refpedl
of the highelt importance. The great fault of it is,
that in confequence of his not having named the coun-
tries he faw, it is very unintelligible. Thus much,
however, we are able to collect from it ; that he a fe-
cond time put into Gilbert's, Sounds which had been dif-
covered the year before, and was fituated on the weft
fide of Greenland. After this, Davis went again, in
foggy weather, into Cumher/and Straits^ as far as the
group of iflands there, and it was entirely owing to
the nmrmurings of his crew that he at length ran into a
harbour ca the fouth fide of Cumberland btraits, or in
the ifland of 6V// Fortune^ in 66 deg. 30 min. N. lat.
and 70 deg. \V. long, from London. He again met
with land, fituated ' on the north fide of Cumberland
Straits, or in Cumberland IJland. Thferi he tacked about
to the fouth, and faw land continually to the weftward.
On the 19th ot Auguft he was in 64 deg. 20 min. N.
Idt. fomewhere about the Bay of Good Fortune. In 57
deg. he faw land again, and confequently he was al-
ready on the coaft of Labrador, On the 28th of
Auguft he put into a deep inlet in lat. 56. The
former of thefe is nearly v/here the iflands are fituated
which lie directly before the colony of the Moravian
brethren, called Nain. The latter is probably the in-
let that lies to the weft of Nantucktuht. In like man-
ner the place fituated in 54. deg. 30 min. N. L. near
the large inlet, where they found the great fea running
to the weft, is the inlet of Eyivncktohc. From
whence they fo<^n- haftened eaftward for England.
• I'he voyage of tiie other ft^ips is full as indeterminate.

H-jwever

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 307

HolVevcr the firft part of Iceland they met with (hould
feem to have been fomewhere about BardeJirandfyJTely
in the Wefifildinga Fiordung^ perhaps in Patrickpord
Harbour* To the north-weft of this place is that part
of Eaft Greenland, through which probably the ftrait
goes, which conies from Chrijiiari's Haab^ and which
is at prefent entirely blocked up with ice, whence it is
that there is annually fo inuch ice likewife at this fpot>
as to prevent the (hips from advancing any farther*
This was alfo now the cafe with the bold and enter-
prizing EngUIh, and they were obliged to range along
the coaft to the fouth-weft, till they came at length
round by Cape Farewell to the Land of Defolation and
Gilbert's' Sound. Coiifequently they hardly went as far
as 67 deg. though they were to have gone to 80.

The inhabitants of the different countries where
Davis touched were treated by him with great ten-
dernefs ; and yet thofe of Greenland at length gave
flagrant proofs of their perfidy, and were guilty of
continual infractions of the peace ; but it fhould fecrti
as if Davis's people had not always told him by what
means the Greenlanders had been provoked to thefe
violations of the peace j their attacking the Englifh
with flings and flones feems to indicate a great ani-
moiity on the part of thefe people, and confequently
their having received fome previous offence. But on
the coaft of Labrador the inhabitants appear to have
had lefs humanity, and to have been more unpolifhed
in their manners than thofe of Greenland ; though in-
deed it is not improbable but that thefe people may
have been, previous to this period, ill-treated, and ex-
cited to vengeance by the Europeans that ufed to fifh
on the coaft of Newfoundland, and towards the north.
Iron, being fo folid and indeftru(5tible a metal, had at
all times fuch a ftrong attraction for thefe poor wretches,
that they could not pofTibly refift the great temptation
it lay them under of ftealing. The Europeans, too,
were always fo remifs in their care of this article,
as to make it very eafy for them to commit this
theft, and thus provoke the vengeance of thefe latter.

X 2 The

u
111

. 11

^i^

f; \

'■" 1

3o8

VOYAGES ANl>

The defcription of Labrador^ here prefented to u«, feems
alfo to ^gree pertedtly with that given of this coalt by
Lieutenant Curtis^ in the Philofbphical Tran»a6tions :
forefts, birds, and game in abundance, together with
an aftonifhing quantity of fifh.

XII . Finally, we come to the third and moft impor-
tant of Davis's voyages of difcovery, which was made
in the year 1587. There were three fhips fitted out,
one of which only was deflined to the purpofe of
making difcoveries, the two others being intended for
fifhing. Leaving Dartmouth on the i th of May,
they failed ftrait on to the coaft of Weji Greenland,
and landed on the i6th of June on one of the iflands
in 64 deg. N. lat. Here Davis parted with the two
other (hips, ordering them to follow the fifliery to 55
or 54 deg. N. lat. and to wait for him till the end of
Auguft. He fhaped his own courfe N, W. and fome-
times N. as alfo N. W. by N. and even N. by E.
Being come to 67 deg. 40. min. N. lat. i. e. oppofite to
Di/ka Road, he faw a great number of whales, and of
thofe fowls which the failors call Cortinous. Here fome
inhabitants came in their fmall boats, and bartered
their darts armed with pointed bones, for a knife.
The next day upwards of 30 boats came 10 leagues
diftance from the land, ana brought young falmons,
fea-birds, and caplin (Gadus minutus Linnaei) which
they exchanged for needles, bracelets, nails, knives,
fmall bells, looking-glafl'es, and other trifles j but they
brought only 20 feal-fkins. On the 30th of June
they weie in 72 deg. 12 min. N. lat. and as the fun
during the whole time, and even at midnight, remain-
ed above the horizon, the variation of- the needle was
found to be 28 degrees weft, the image of the fun be-
ing 5 degrees above the horizon. The whole of this
coalf was called London Coajl. The fea had for the
whole time been open to the weft and north, and the
land on the ftarboard fide had all along been to the
eaft. But, the wind ftiiftinj^ to the north, they could
not fail any farther to that point of the compal'si
however, Davis called tliis point of land Hope Sander/on,

after

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

309

after Mr. William Sandcrfon^ who contributed the largeft
fhare in fitting out the Ihip for the difcovery, and then
fhaped his courfe to the weft. After failing 40 leagues,
he found a very large field of ice. Here he would
willingly have failed again to the northward along the
ice J but the north wind would not permit it. He
tried once more to force his way through it, having
perceived a fmall opening, but was foon obliged to re-
turn after having fpent two days between the ice.
The weather being fair and calm, they coafted along
the ice to the fouthward. Finding that the fun had
great power, Davis thought it would be better to wait a
few days, and then, when the ice fhould be wafted away
by the wind, the fea, and the fun, to make another ef-
fort to the weftward; he therefore ftood over to the
eaftern coaft. But his people were too timorous to
anchor here, and he ftood out to fea again to the weft-
ward. The poor inhabitants, notwithftanding that the
waves ran high, followed them out to fea, and bartered
for fome. trifles. D^wj having tarried feme time longer
in this fea, near the ice, furrounded with fogs, at length
difcovered Mount Raleigh^ in Cumberland ijland. On
the 20th of July he arrived at the entrance of Cum-
herland Straits. By the 23d he had failed 60 leagues
up thefc ftraits, and anchored among a great number of
Iflands, fit^ated in a clufter at the end oi the bay,
and which he called after the Earl of Cumberland,
Whilft they were at anchor here, a whale palled them,
and went weftward in among the ifles. The variation,
of the needle here was 30 degrees weft. When they
returned to fea by the fame way by which they were
come, they were overtaken by a calm, and it was ex-
ceflivc hot. Bruton, the mafter of the thip, going on
fhore with fome of the failors for the purpofe of hu.nt-
ing, faw fr^veral graves, and alfo found train-oil ipil-
Jed on the ground. 1 he dogs of the mitives which they
faw were fo fat that they v/erc fcarccly able to run.
Davis having left CiimberUind Straits^ and being ag;iin in
the open fea, difcovered, between b2 and 63 J<.^ N,
lat. an opening which, after my Lord LumU)^ hi. cal-
led Lumley\ Inlet, Here he found ftrong and boiiierou$

currciits,

■i

f^s,

310

VOYAGES AND

currents, like catar. As, which alfo hurried away the
ihip very fwiftly along with them. On the 31ft of Ju-
ly he faw a headland, which he named IVarwick^s Fore-
land, The direiftion of the Current was to the weft-
ward, and the water formed a whirlpool, with a loud
roaring noife. On the ift of Auguft he faw in 6r
deg. 10 min. N. lat. a promontory on the fouth-
weft fide of the inlet, which he called Chidley's Cape»
Having had nothing but fogs and calms for feveral days,,
they came at length to an id . id, which Davis, after
Lord Darcy-t named Darcfs Ij. y/>d. On the top of it
they found fome animals of the flag kind j but having
landed to flioot them, and having chafed them two or
three times round the ifland, the deer fwam over to
another ifland at three leagues diftance. One of them
was very fat, as large as a cow, and had very broad f^et,
as large as ")fe of an ox. While they were looking
about for thv^ (hips, which Davis had ordered to fim
here, and to wait for him till the end of Auguft, their
vefiei ftruck upon a rock and fprang a leak ; which,
however, they were afterwards fo fortunate as to ftop,
even during a ftorm. On the 15th of Auguft he
came to 52 deg. 1 2 min. N. lat, where he faw a great
number of whales : but not being able to find any
trace of the two (hips, they having fintft»ed their fifhery
in 16 days, and failed home, he refolved to (hape his
courfe for England. On the i6th of Auguft therefore
he quitted this coaft, and on the 15th of September
arrived at Dartmouth.

Davis feems to have poflefted a confiderable fhare of
humanity, induftry, and refolution. He went farther
to the north than any of his predeceflbrs ; and if the
ice had not prevented him, he wOuld certainly then
have made the difcovery which was afterwards happily
cfFe6ted in 1616, by Baffin.

The northern regions, notwithftanding all the fogs
that are to be met with there, feem in general to enjoy
a dearer fky than the fouthern countries fituated under

tliO

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 311

the fame parallel of latitude. Neither at 66 deg. 30
min. S. lat. (where, however, we were three times)
nor even when we had got as far as to 7 1 deg. 1 2 min.
S. latitude, did we ever fee the fun above die horizon -,
and when it did fhine out in the day time, ilill fo
many fogs were colledled towards evening, that we
could never fee the image of it, though it continued
to be broad day-light, and that even at midnight.

During all the three warm feafons which we fpent
in the fouthern hemifphere, at a great diftance from
the Equator, though not fo far fouthward as Davis
was to the north, we met, it is true, with mild days,
yet never faw ^e thermometer rife more than a few
degrees above the freezing point ; it appears, therefore,
very remarkable, that Davis (hould mention more than
once the weather;^ being extremely hot in 72 and 66
^eg. N. lat. The caufe of this great heat can there-
fore only be attributed to the great (j^uantity of land
by which they were furroundea. The want of knd
in the fouthern hemifphere is, on the contrary, the
caufe of the more intenfe cold there, as I have proved
in a more ample manner in my Obfervations *.

The animals of the Aag kind, found on the coaft
of Labrador^ may have been either the American flag
or the reindeer, or elfe the elk, or what is called the
moofe deer. I am rather inclined to think that it
y. o this latter which Davis faw here.

XIII. The Englifh at length found it advifeable to
fend a fquadron, conlifting of four brge fhips, to the
Eaft-Indies. The execution of this great entcrprizc
was entrufted to Capt. George Raymond^ and after his
death to Capt. James Lancajier^ The fquadron fet fail
in the year 1591, and Lancafter returned in 1593^^
Having encountered a heavy ftorm near the Cape,
and being in danger of finking with his (hip, his own
crew endeavoured to perfuade him to go on board one

• Qhfcniatitnt madt during a Fcjfaie rtuni the Wtrld^

k ■^

!-i:.(K*i

m i ■ W

m\m

.i"»

ilH

■"i;. 1

t^4 t

V OYAGES AND

of the other vefTcls ; but he with great magnanimity re- '
fufed it, and refolved at all events to keep his poft.
However he took this opportunity of writing by the
other fhips to England. In his letter he alfured the
Company, that he would ftill try every means to favcf
his (nip and cargo ; and in the mean time could in-
form them, that the pafiage to the Indies vvas in the
north-weft of America, v in t2 dcg. 30 min. N. lat.
This declaration from a man of fuch extenfive know-
ledge in navigation, and who had fo fair an opportu-
nity of collecting many different relations and accounts
from the Portuguefe in the Indies, could not fail of'
having great w-eight in England. To the information
colledted, tiiere may alfo be added that given by fome
Portuguefe, taken prifoners by the Englilh, viz. that a
fhip of their nation had fome time before failed upwards
along the coaft of China to the northward, and had
found an open fea to 55 deg. N. lat. The two Com-
panies of Ruflia and Tnrky Merchants refolved, there-
fore, to have this paflage fought for at their joint ex-
pence ; and accordingly they fitted out two mips, the
command of which was entruHed to Captain George
Weymouth or JVaymouth.

Weymouth fet fail from England in the Difcovery^
on the 2d of May. He went round Scotland to the
northward, by the Orkneys. On tlie i8th of June he
faw ice, and the fouthenimoft part of Greenland. Soon
after, viz. on the 28th, he went to the weftward, and
in 62 deg. N. lat. difcovered Warwick's Forelandy
which he found to be nothing more than an ifland.
Fle next came to Lumlefs Inlet, where there was
a ftrong current to the weft ward, in 61 deg. N.
lat. at the diftance of 12 leagues from the coaft of
the American' continent. On the ift of June the
•• ir was cold, with fogs and fnow. On the 2d he
dcfcricd a large mafs of ice ; he hoifted out his boat,
and took on board two loads of ice, which made
very good frefli water. He met with many cur-
. rents

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 313

C^jrrents along the coaft of America, which appeared
to him not like ^ continent, but as if it conliUed of
nothing but iflands. On the ^d-jind 8th he faw the
land of America, which was nigh, and covered with
fnow, in 60 deg. 53 min. N. lat. On the 17th the
weather was very glooitiy, foggy, and cold, fo that all his
rigging and fails were covered with ice. The next day it
was dill very cold, iiiforr.uch that his rigging ftrll conti-
nued to be frozen, and he could m)t get forward in the
leaft with his fhip. His crew had confpircd to mutiny
againft him, and intended to return llrait to England.
But, being informed of tiiis plot in time, he prevented
its being put into execution. Oi^ the 22d, being al-
ready in 68 deg. 55 min. N. lat. (or rather 63 deg,
53 min.) he feiit for the moft refradlory among them,
and punifhed them fevercly ; he alfo had the boatff
hoillwi out in order to take up fome ice, to make into"
frefli v/ater. This large iflaiKlofice burft afundertwo
pr three times, with a noife like that of thunder, by
which means nearly one of the boats, that had al-
ready got in half its lading, was very much damaged.
On the 25th he favv^ the entrance of an inlet, in
61 deg. 40 min, N. lat. O^ the 30th the weft
and north-weft winds blew very hard, and the fea-
fon being aU'eady far advanced, many of the crew
were fick in both fhips. He determined tliereforc
to return, though he had already failed near 100 leagues-
up the inlet, which was 40 leagues broad. The va-
riation of the needle was 35 degrees to the weft. By
the 5th of July he had got quite' clear of the bay. '- He
then failed along the ccaft of America, involved in' al-
moft continual fogs, and between numerous iflands of
ice. In 55 deg. 30 min. N. lat. he faw an illand. He
continued ranging along this coaft till the 14th, in foul
weather, and between mnny illands. In 56 deg. he en-
tered an inlpt, and, by nir.ny probable reafons, was in-

duced to hope for a
in 55 deg. 50 .min.
the needle to he

v/cftvvards.

ever comes

p.ifihge.
N. hit.

deg.

17 d

in 55
he found the
eg. 15 min. and 18 de

20 min. and

the
ice

variation of

5. 12 min. to

The couft was clear of ice. If any

here, it comes from the north. lie

obferved

■Si.

•IVJ

...-^-t^

3«4

VOYAGES AND

obferved that a whirlwind carried the fta-watcr to an
extraordinary height in the air. He had failed 30
leagues up an inlet, in 56 deg. N. lat. a circum-^
itance which undoubtedly muft have proved his dc-
ilru6tion, if the wind but for one day only had blown
from the north, fouth, or eaft. On the 4th of Auguft
he defcried the Scilly Iflands, and the next day arrived
at Dartmouth.

The account given by Lancajier^ as he returned
to England, and thus was able to prove the truth
and auSicnticity of it by entering into minute de-
tails, and anfwering particular objections, muft have
had great weight with the Ruflia and Turkey Com-
panies j for it induced them to give orders for a
new expedition for the purpofe of making the difco-
vcry. 'X'he £aft-Indies, the very profitable trade to
thofe parts, and the immenfe wealth arifing from this
trade, were the objeds of the defires of all the ma-
ritime powers of i^uropc. The Portuguefe and the
Spaniards, at that time united under the fame mafter,
were in pofleffion of all the detenfible places where
:iny refrefhments were to be had on the voyage.
"W ithout places of tliis kind for the fupplying of velltls
with provifions and water on fo long and tedious a
paflage, it was then, and indeed is partly ftill, impofll-
bk to undertake a voyage to the Eaft-Indies which
took up at leaft fix months in going, and as long a
time in returning. All nations were therefore bufy
in feeking a new route to India, in the courfe of
which they might cftablifh for their own ufe fimilar
floro-houfes and places of refrcfhment. This deter-
mined the Fngiilh, and afterwards alfo the Dutch^ to
feck for fuch a route, as well in the north-eaft as
likewife in the north-weft. Now as it appears by^
Lancafttr'% account, that the Portuguefe had advanced
with their (hips as far as to 55 deg. N. lat. to the
northwards of China, and had tound a iizt and opei»
fea without any land at all j as alfo that, according to
Ibme probable arguments, the pafiage to the Indies
muft be fought for fomewhere in 62 deg. 30 min..
>J. lat. to the north-weft of America, it would fetni
that the Portuguefe fhips went cither into the vici-

nlt;^

unanimous

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 315

nity of the ifland of Sagalin Angahata^ of the river
^mur^ and fo on as far as the neighbourhood of the
river Uda^ where at prefent is the RuHian lettlement
Vdjkoiy (fuppofing they failed along the coall of the
continent to the northward of China) : or elfe, in
cafe they failed by the iflands cf Lekiu^ "Japan^ or
l^'tfon (which had been difcovered by the Portuguefe
in 1542) Matfmai^ and the Kurilesj they murt nc-
celfarily have reached Kamtfchaka^ in 55 diig. N. lat.
and Lantajler muft have founded his account of the,
cxiftence of a paffage in 62 deg. 30 min. N. lat.
merely on a conjeaure taken from the voyages of
Davis,

The tide which flows into the capacious opening
called Hudfon's Bay, caufes in it, according to the
unanimous teftimony of the different navigators who
have been there, at 66 deg. in Cumberland-Straits^
from 60 to 62 deg. in Hud/on' sStraiis, and at 59
deg. where probably another Itrait divides the land of
Labrador, a ftrong current ; and perhaps there are
more entrances into the fame ftrait, at 56 deg. 15
min, N. lat. at 55 deg. f min. and at 54 deg. 40
min. which have not as yet been explored enough,
and yet have a ftrong current. It is probable that
the tide, which preffes by fo many different ways into
Hudfon's and Buffings Bay, may run out again through
Bavis's Straits *. , ,

This voyage affords again two inftances of ice hav-
ing been taken up out of the fea in boats, and con-
verted into frelh water fit for drinking. Ihis there-
fore is already the third confirmation we have of this
matter, which confequently can no longer be (aid to be
unknown j much lefs is it in our days to be extolled
as a great and new invention, fince by fo doing, a
man would only difcover bis ignorance in nautical
hiftory,

* This is partly afccrta'ncd by what fVrymauth himfelf \mA alKaily
remarked. Speaking ot" the Coall of Labrador, he fays, il is fiee from
;ie, bm if any ice comes, it comes from the North. Confecjueiiily it
muH he brought through Oavii,'s Stitit.

When

i- •♦.

<k'

( t i .

-ill

3i6

VOYAGES ANH

When the mild weather begins to operate upon
iflands of ice, upoi» rh- enormous mafTes of ice called
mountains, they will Tometimes fall to pieces. The
breaking up of fuch a. nuge mafs of ice is always ac-.
companied with a very loud noife, fimilar to that of
thunder. Two or three times in our voyage round
the world we were very near one of thefe burfting
mountains of ice, and confequently heard the noile
made by it. But as the center of gravity in thefe
pieces of ice is quite different from that of the intire
mafs, it frequently happens, that they roll over in
the water feveral times before they come into the fitu-
ation requifite to preferve their balance. One of
thefe pieces rolling over this manner, came fo near
our /hip, that had it been lo or 12 feet nearer, it
would have hit her ; in which cafe (he would un>
4oubtedly have been daihed to pieces, or at lead
very materially damaged. I muft confefs that this
tremendous fcene is ftill prefent to my imagination in
all its horror, and will, I believe, never be erafed
from my memory. For furely a more dreadful fitu-
ation cannot be conceived than to range about, im-
prifoned, as it were, in a folitary Ihip, between
dreary mafTes of ice, on an immenfe ocean, many
hundred miles diilant from any land, and remote from
all human afliftance ; and in this ftate, confliantly fur-
rounded by gloomy fogs, to be under continual ap-
prehenfions pither of running foul of one of thefe gla-
fical mountains, whilft under a prefs of fail, in confe>
quence of which the Ihip muft be inevitably dafhed to
pieces ; or elfe, in cale this enormous niafs fhould
burft, to behold its fragments (Which however are
larger than Peter's mountain in the Saal diftridl)
rolling about m the fea with unwieldly turbulence,
approach the vefTel with a tremendous nrife, and per-
haps fuddenly plunge both it and the unfortunate crew
to the bottom of the vaft abyfs.

With a fair wind, clear weather, and an open fea,
it is tolerable failing in thefe icy feas ; but when once
fogs, and cold freezing vapours attach themfelves every
where to the fails and rigging, fometimes forming
lumps of ice 8 or 12 ounces in weight, which are

detached

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 317

detached by the leaft pufF of wind, and fall on the
heads of the Tailors ; when the fails and tackling be-
come fo ft iff and brittle by the froft, as to break on
the application of the fmalleft force ; then the navi-
gation in thefe parts becomes extremely difagreeable
and dangerous. Thefe were the circumftances which
extorted complaints even from the intrepid JVeymoutb^
and obftruded his prorrrefs in unknown feas covered
with ice.

In thofe cold climates, too, Weytnoutb faw a water-
fpout, a phenomenon which Davis alfo had remarked
before. This obfervation feems to be a confirmation
of the remark which I formerly made in the obfer-
vations on my voyage round the world, viz. that
\vater-fpouts are chiefly feen in narrow feas, where
there is land at no great diftance from each iide of it.

XIV. The King of Denmark had been induced^
by the fame of the difcoveries made in the north by
other powers, to f^ive orders likewife for a voyage to
be undertaken. The Engliih being already at that
time looked upon as the moft experienced and by
far the moft ikilful mariners in Europe, he had ap-
pointed in the year 1605 the Englifh Captains John
Knight and James Hali, to command the ihips fent
out upon this expedition. But in 1606, Knight was
appointed in his own native country to condu£b a
fimilar voyage of difcovery, by the Ruflia and Eaft-
India Companies. He fet fail from Grave/end, and
reached the Orkneys on the 26th of the fame month,
where he was obliged, by contrary winds, to lie for a
fortnight. On the 12th of May he put to fea again.
Onthei6th he was in 58 deg. igmin. N. lat. The
variation of the compafs was 8 deg. On the 21ft he
"found himfelf in 57 deg. 50 min. N. lat. The
weather was foggy, and there was a ftrong current
that fet to the northward. On the 22d he faw a
great quantity of gulls, and rock-weed. On the 23d
he obferved an owl. On the 28th he was in 57 deg.
57 min. lat. and the variation of the needle was 14
deg. 30 min. to the weft. There were black ftreaks
in the fea- water, and alfo currentSj fonic of which fet

,!iii

m - m

3»«

VOYAGES AND

to the north, others to the weft. On the 29th he fournl
the iatitude to be 58 degrees, and the current now fet
to the fouthward He faw a confiderable number of
white fowls, that made a chirping noiiie lilce fparrows.
He alfo obferved many dead cows (or rather crows)
floating on the water. On the I3ch of June he faw
]and, which appeared to him like iflands, in 57 deg. 25
min. but there was a great quantity of ice driving to the
fouthward. In fai5l, he proceeded as far into the ice as it
was pofTible to do ; but, in a ftorm which arofe foon
after, the (hip fuftcred fo much from the ice with which
fhc was encompafled, that (he had nearly been cru/hed
to pieces. On the 1 9th he faw land agam at 15 leagues
diftance, in 56 deg. 48 min. N. lat. where the needle
varied 25 degrees to the weft. The tide came from the
northward. On the 24th a very high north wind fnapped
the rope in t\v'o by which the (hip had been made faft to
the land ; and by the great quantity of large mafl'es of
ice that was colle(5led here, the rudder was torn away.
Capt. Knight therefore found himfelf obliged to enter an
inlet, and run his (liip a-ground, in hopes of faving at
leaft their clothes, provifions, and furniture ; but before
{he could be brought afhore (he was half full of water.
He then had the water pumped out, that they might be
able at leaft to ftop the leak. They begun alfo to fet
up the (loop, and to take their boat over the ice into the
water, in order to feek for a more convenient fpot for
repairing the (hip. They could not, however, meet
with any fuch fpot, as every thing was ftill covered with
ice ; neverthelefs they found that there was wood grow-
ing on the land. — Thus far had Knight proceeded in the
relation. — On the 26th he himfelf, with his pilot's mate,
and three failors, all well armed, went in the boat over
to alargeifland, tofeekfoi.- a convenient harbour, to re-
pair the (liip in. He left two men in the boat, and went
himfelf with three others, one of whom was his brother,
to the upper part of the illand. The two men that

had

'fe-

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 319

had been left in the boat, waited, but all in vain,
from ten in the morning till eleven at night. One
of them fpunded the trumpet two or three times, and
the other as often fired off his piece ; but, hearing
nothing of the Captain and his companions, they re-
turned to the fhip. The whole crew was feized with
the utmod confternation, and they pafl'ed the night in
anxiety and grief. The next day 7 men, well arm-
ed, went with an intent to fearch for their Captain and
his companions, but they could not get to the iOand
with their boat on account of the ice. They then
cleared the (hip, as they alfo did on the 28th, and
at the fame time kept the pump going brifkly, with a
view to find out the leak and ftop it. 1 he natives,
however, came over the rocks to their boat and Hoop,
when the centinel gave the alarm, and, though very nu-
merous, the lavages were fortunately repulfed. The
crew now carried the flores again on board, made hafte
to Rni(h the iloop, and at length, with their leaky fhip
and the floop, which was neither caulktd nor payed,
went away from that fpot, rowing the fhip along b*?-
tween the ice, though Ihe had no rudder. After. /ards,
out of two pickaxes they made two pintles to hang their
rudder on. They kept the pump continually going, and
taking their main bonnet, and, bafting it with cakum,
applied it on the outlide of the ibip under the keel,
where the great leak was, which efleftually prevented
the water from rufhing in as faft as it did at firfl ; ne-
verthelefs they were obliged ft ill to keep the pump going,
and in this manner proceeded to Newfoundland, where
they at length ran into a bay near Fogo on the 23d of
July, repaired their fhip, and refted themfelves . From
thence they fet fail on the 22d of Auguft, and landed
on the 24th of September at Dartmouth.

This voyage took fuch an unfortunate turn, that
though much was expected from Knight' % profeliional abi-
lities, as well as from his accuracy in making obferva-
tions i yet all was fruftrated by tlie unhappy death of

tbi$

, .■'•11

3io

VOYAGES Auri

this defcrving man. It was probable the former tirxieU
ties of the Europeans to the EJkimaux, together with
the great greedinefs of the latter after iron, that occafion-
ed the death of the good Captain Knight, and animated
the favages to attack the reft likewife. There is nothing
elfe in this voyage worth remarking, but that the fame
current which had been feen before by fo many, but
which fet to the northward, was alfo obferved by Knight.
The owl which he faw probably came from the Faro
ifles, as his courfe went pretty near them^ though, on
account of the fo?s, he was not able to difcern them.

XV. James Hall had already been out three years
fucceflively, viz. from 1605 to 1607, in the Daniih
fervice, on voyages of difcovery in the northern parts^
and in this laft voyage, in confequencfe of the crew
mutinying againft him, was obliged to. go to Iceland,
without having fee* any. thing more than the coaft of
Greenland. This may perhaps have deterred him fromi
going any more to the north m the Danifh fervice.
We hnd but very little related of this voyage, except that
he fet fail from King/ion upon Hally with two fhips, the
one of which was calleii the Patience, and the other thei
Hiari's Eafe. The firft thing mentioned is the obfer-
vation he made, on the 19th of July, on the longitude
of a place which he calls Cocking SoUnd^ but which is
iil 65 deg. 23 min. N. lat; and is otherwife called Raali
Reviery and, according to his rfeckoning, is 60 deg. 30^
min. weft long, from London. The next remark made
is, that Hall was killed by a Grcenlander with a fpear
an the 22d of July. Before this event happened, they
never had any difputo; with the natives, neither had
they any afterwards ; only thefe latter had been ob-
ferved now and tlien to point at Hall, and mention him
by the name of Captain, from which circumftance
they tonje6lured, that the murderer muft have been a
brother or fome relucion of the five Greenlanders, who
in the year 1606 had been carried ofF by the Dunes.
Before Hall's death tliey made a diligent fearch after

minerals,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 321

minerals, arvi on this occafion had difcovered feveral
rivers and k/j hours, and had like wife I'een the traces
of a large ft? ^; or elk, as large as thofe of an ox. Af-
ter his deceale they refumed their fearch in the bowels
of the earth, and found many places where tlie Danes
had already, dug before them : they found alfo ftones
with bright (hining colours ; but thefe, when they were
brought to the teft, yielded nothing but mere flags ;
for they contained no metal, but refembled Glacies
Maris, or Mofcovy talk.

As they could neither find any minerals, nor induce
the inhabitants to carry on any further trade, they left
RummelFord (Rommels- Fiord) in 67 deg. N. lat,
where lu*. needle varied ^4 deg. 16 min. and arrived
the fame day at Kinp's Foord (Kongs-Fiord.) They
now (haped their courfe to the fouth, as another of the
iailors had been killec by a Greenlander, in confequence
of an attempt the failor had made to pull him by force
out of his boat. On the 18th of Auguft they were in
58 deg. 50. min. N. lat. till the 6th of September they
had continual ftorms. They were in 61 deg. 18 min.
N. lafc. the variation of the compafs was 6 degrees
eaftward, and they had ground at 68 fathoms. On
the 8th of September they reached the Orkneys, where
they anchored, and procured from the inhabitaiits fowls,
geefe, and fheep, in exchange for old clothes and
Sioes : and on tlie iith they made Kingjhn upon
Hull.

William Baffin, who was but very young at the time,
and who has written the account of this voyage, adds
to it, that probably thofe glittering Itoaes, oi cUfFerent
colours, did not contain any metal. From this it
Ihould feem, that thefe ftones were Labrador — or glim-
mering fpar. Perhaps they are found here alio j and
nobody can give a better account of the matter than the
Moravian brethren, who are refident in thofe partn.
That there are mountains of white alabafler here wc
^re allured by Baffin. At a place about 40 miles up

faid to be fome trees j for near

little grove of trees not more

Y than

the country there are
Maals Rivier they faw

I '^' '0m

~'^: ..;'^Pi

322

VOYAGFS AN»

than fix or feven feet high, confifting of willows, jum-
per and other trees of this kind. They found alfo a
great quantity of angelica ; this perhaps was the Hera^
cleum Sphondylium, or cow's parfnep j and it wjls fup-
pofed that the people ufed to eat the roo>3 of it, as they
were found in their boats.

A great number of foxes was feen here, fomc of which
were quite white. ITiere were alfo large anrtnab of
the ftag kind here, (viz. reindeer) which had very
large hoofs. The Grecnlanders fifh during the whole
fummer, and dry their fifh and feal's flelh on the rocks
for their winter provifion. They have little boats, two
feet broad, and fometimcs 20 feet long, clofely covered
ever virith feal-flcins, with a round hole in them, where
the owner of the boat gets in, and envelops himfelf
with fkins, fo that no water can get into the boat.
Their oars have two blades, one on each end of them.
They take hold of the oar in the middle, and work al-
ternately with it on each fide. They row fo fwiftly
that no (hip can keep pace with them. In thefe boats
they catch fcals, fea-horfes, falmons, and other fifh,
which they pierce with a dart or harpoon. The point
is made of bone, the line of whalebone. In fummer
they live in tents, in winter in houfes, which are half
under ground. They do not live conflantly on the
fame fpot, but wander from place to place, jufl as it
happens to be convenient for their fifhing. They ufu-
ally worfhip the fun. When any flranger comes to-
wards them, they point up to the fun, and call aloud,
Jlyout ; and, if you extend your hand in the fame man-
ner to the fun, and pronounce the fame word, they
approach towards you, but otherwife they will not
venture to come near. They bury their dead in a
pit encompaffed with floncs, to prevent the foxes from
eating them, aiid in another pit next to this they inter
die bow, dart, arrows, and other utenfils of the dc-
ceafed. They eat raw flefh and drink fea-water, yet
they are not cannibals. They are very defirous, how-
ever, to obtain iron by any means whatever.

From

* Dtvid CranU*a Hlftory of Greealaac', P«rt (. Stole IV. Cbap.
.S- i 35*

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 313^

From this account vrt have another inftance to what
lengths this people will carry their vengeance, as we
find that they made a point of revenging the capture
of their five countarymen on the Captain. Notwith-
ll4nding which another of the Tailors Was tempted to
try to carry ofF another Greenlander, who, however,
had courage and adroitneflt enough to punifh with im-
mediate 7 death the man that attempted to deprive him
qf his liberty.

. All the preceding obfervations of Baffin are excellent.
There is one, ho»/ever, upon which, with Crantz ♦,
we find ourfelves obliged to malce fome ftridures ;
this is, that they'worlhip the fun. The mariner fees
the Grecjilander, newly rifen from his bed, go im-
mediately oiit of his hut, and look ftedfaftly at the
heavens and the rifing fun, in order to know from
them what weather he is to exped in the courfe of the
day. Now this a6t is confidered by the failors as an
adoration of the fun, a thing of which tlie Greenlander
never had the leaft thought.

XVI. The idea of finding a paffage to the Indies^
fomewhere in thd north, was, notwithf^mding the
fruitlefs attempts that had repeatedly beei. r^ade, not
yet given upj on the contrary it Was fuppofed to be
an eafy matter to difcover it under the direction of a
man of (kill and refolution. T*he former enterprizes
had been backed partly by Government, partly by the
fird people in the country, and partly likcwife by
merchants. But then, after a fimilar attempt, their
zeal had foon abated again. It is true, the voyage
of Capt. jfMmet Lanca/ter, in the years 1591, 1592,
and 1593) ^^ India, by the Cipe of Good Hope, had
indicated the poiftbllity of the paftage ; but then it had
likewife (hewn the difficulties attending it. He failed,
too, a ^cond time, in 1601, to the £af^-Indies, as
Commander of a fleet belonging to the nevvly-eAa-

I'l,

iifit I '

M"!

Hi
'Mi

•i r

Y z

IMM

VOYAGES AVD

1 1 '

bliihed Eaft-India Company, and returned in 1603 to
England with great riches. Sir Henry Middleton, as
alfo Sir Edward Michelbeurn, returned fafe in 1606
from the Indies to England, each of them with a.
very richly-laden fleet, t rom hence one would be apt
to imagine that thefe fuccefsful expeditions to the Indies
had entirely ilifled the paflton for making new attempts
tp find out a paflage by the north. There was never-
thclefs a fociety of relolute and wealthy . men found,
who not only believed in the probability of the paflage,
but alfo were aware of the advantages that would rc-
fult from it, and who, therefore, with a refolution,
perfeverance, and noble liberality, almoft unexampled,
furnifhed the money neceflary for three expeditions.
To the command of thefe expeditions they appointed
Henry HudfoHy a great and experienced feaman, whofe
knowledge, capacity, and intrepidity, are fcarcely to be
equalled, and who certainly, in unwearied aflidujty,
and unremitting labour, was furpafled by no one in
thofe times. Hudfon^s Journals, and the names of the
Gentlemen who employed him in thefe expeditions,
have not been tranfmitted down to us ; and upon
the whole, what is come to our knowledge concerning
his navigation, are only fragments. It was reiolved
to fearch for this paflage by three diff^erent routes,
either ftrait on by the north, or by the north-eaft, or
by the north-weft : and all thefe three voyages were
actually performed by Hudfon.

Hudjon begun his firft voyage in 1 607, and fet (ail
from Gravefend on the ift of May. On the 13th of
June, in 73 deg. N. lat. he law land, which he
called Hold with Hope. This land is fltuated between
6 and 7 degrees to the north of Iceland, on the eaft
fide of Greenland. He had found the weather far
colder in 63 deg. tlian he did here ; for here it was
quite mild and agreeable. On the 27th they were in
lat. 78 deg. and ftill had mild or rather quite warm
weather. On the 2d of July it was very cold, thougti
they had not altered their latitude* On the 8th of
July they were ftill in the fame latitude of 78 deg.

when

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 325

when they had calm weather, and an open fea, in which
there was a great quantity of drift-wood floating.
Whenever the fea appeared green, it was. always a free
and open fea ; but when it looked blue, it was gene-
rally covered with ice. On the 14th of July Hudfon
fent the mate of his fhip and the boatfwain on fhorc
in 80 deg. 23 min, N. lat. They found the veftiges
of reindeer, and faw fome water-fowls, and alfo found
two ftreams of very frefh water, of which, the weather
being hot, they drank with great fatisfaclion. The fun
remained even at midnight 10 deg, 40 min. above the
horizon. Hudfon failed as fer as 82 deg. N. lat. and
would have proceeded ft ill farther if he had not been
prevented by the great quaii|ity of mountains and fields
of ice by which he was encompafl'cd. This, however,
did not ceter him from making yet another trial, whe^
ther he could not find about tl»e part where he had
feen Hold with Hope^ a wuy quite round Greenland^
which he confidered an ifland ; and then return home
by Davis's Straits, But this pallagc was likewife ob-r
ftru6led by the ice, and he was obliged to fail back
to England, where he arrived on the 1 5th of Septem-
ber ao. Gravefend.

By this voyage more of the eaftcrn coaft of Green-
Jand was discovered to the northward than had beeif
done in any former voyage. The great degree of
warmth felt in the high northern latitudes appears to
me to be owing merely to the lands fituated fo high
up towards the north j for in the fouthern hemifphere,
in which in 30, 40, and 54 deg, S. lat. there is no-
thing to be feen but fea, the fea abforbs all the rays
of the fun, which confequently are not able to pro<Iuce
any heat in the air ; for it is only thofe rays of the
fun which are refledted from the earth, and its une-
qual furfaces, that crofs each other in every dirc6tion,
and thus produce heat in the air. It appeared there-
fore very ftrange to Hudfon, that, in fo high a lati-
tude, he (hould meet with warmer weather than that
which he had experienced in 63 deg. at fea. But ho
could not but know at the fame time, that it is not

from

:{i

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■> :

I
f

iiii

1 -

-J

'1^^

1L M
■ml^. ,

326

VOYAGES ANB

from the vicinity or prefence of land alone, that w^
are able to form a conclufion refpe£Hng the warmth of
the weather ; for winds blowing over the ice, and
through very cold regions, contratSl in their courfc a
degree of cold, of which, without having experienced
it, it is hardly poflible to form any idea. Even be-
yond 73 dee. N. lat. between Greenland and SpitZ"
terpen^ he ftill met with drift-wood, which probably
had been carried thither from out of the mouths of fome
Siberian or American rivers i a circumfVance, however,
of which we have not obferved the leaft veftiges all
over the fea fituated near the South Pole, becaufe there
IS no land in thofe parts, and nothing is to be feen but
fea. The honour of the <^fcovery of Stitzbergen con-
fequently belongs to Hudfon, The firft who afterwards
failed thither on the whale fifhery, were Englifhmen.
It was a long time ere the Dutch refolved upon going
thither ; however, they found fo much profit arife from
. this expedition, that in the beginning of this century
the Dutch and the Hamburgh people were almoib the
only whale-fifhers in the Spitzbergen fcas. For at
Jengrii the Englifh fent no more than one fhip thither
every year, till the attention of Government was di-
re^ed to it, when Failiament found it neceffary to
grant confiderable premiums to the Spitzbergen (or,
as they are improperly called, the Greenland) naviga-
tors and whale-fifhers, by way of encouraging the Eng-
lifh to purfue this bufinefs, which premiums are Itill
continued in part every year. In the firft years the
Englifh were fo inexperienced in the whale-fifhery, that
though they fitted the fhips out in England, yet they
were obliged to let half of the refpeStive crews be
Dutchmen. Spitzbergen, cold as it is, neverthelefs
affords food for fome reindeer, wliich, as this country
is furrounded on all fides by tlie fea, muft come to it
over the frozen fea from Greenlend, where thefe ani-
mals are alfo met with in very high latitudes. In thefe
high northern latitudes the image of the fun continues,
as is well known, from the Ardic Polar Circle on-
wards, during the whole of the a4 hours above th«
lioriionj and the nearer we come to the Pole, the

higher

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ^ij

higher the irrutge of the ^iun appears above the
horizon at midjiight, and the lower it finks at noon,
till at lail, jufl under the Pole, it continues the whole
24 hours at an almoft equal height above the horizon.
Hudfon, with great intrepidity, endeavoured to ap-
proach the Pole, and indeed went as far as 82 deg.
N. l^t. and is without doubt the firft who has advanced
beyond 80 deg. to the northward. It is true the ice
prevented him from failing .^y farther, notwithftand-
ing he fh^ped his courfe once more towards Greenland,
where he was in hopes to find a paffage, and return by
Davis's Straits ; but the ice again obftru<Sled his way.
All this, however, evinces the intrepid fpirit, unihaken
fortitude, and courage of the man who was felc6led for
this ereat enterprise.

XVII. Hudfon having in vain fought for this paf-
(age diredly by the north, the members of the Society
at whofe expence and under whofe direction the firft
voyagp had been undertaken, refolved to make another
attempt the very next year, and Hudfon was to have
the command of this expedition likewife. He ht fail
on the 24th of April, 1608, and endeavoured to find
the pallage in the north-eaft, between Spitzbsrgen and
Nova ZembUtt difcovcred by him the preceding year j
but here ,alfohe found infurmountable obflaclcs in the
ice he met with. At the fame time it is to be regret-
ted that no narrative has been prefervcd to inform us
how high a latitude Hudfon failed by this route.
The reflet not anfwering his expe£lation, he failed
along .the land of Nova Ztmbla, where he found the
climate mild and agreeable, and the coafl free from
ice. He therefore thought it would be poiTible to find,
on the furthermoft fide of Nova Zembky a paffage,
which till then navigators had in vain attempted to
difcover in the interior fea beyond IVaygatz Straits ;
but here alfo he found fo much ice in his progrefs,
that he was obliged to abandon his defign. Accord-
ingly he made all poriibe haftc to fcarcli for this

paflagc

li:

■^if

,1'

. '■ '

•- '■*

■

wmM

■

Wm.'Mi

328

VOYAGES AMD

paflage by Lumley\ Inltt ; but the feafon being af*
ready far advanced, the days beginning to fhorten,
and the weather growing cold and ftormy, he wat
obliged to poftpone this new attempt to another year.
He haftened therefore to England, where he arrived
fafe on the 22d of Auguft. This voyage, of which
but kwy and thofe very few imperfe6t accounts, are
come to our knowledge, juftly excites in us a wifli
that it were pofTible to nnd in any part of England
.the journal of this great navigator} for we cannot
doul t that the obfervations made in the courfe of
icMf. attempt, though it did not fucceed, muft yet be
-jxt t iiely important and inftrudive to pofterity with
Viifped' ■ ohyfical geography.

XVI 11. iiefore wc begin the relatiou of Hudfon't
laft remarkable voyage of difcovery, we find it ne-
cefTary to make a few remarks on feveral other un-
dertakings of this nature. Already the Dutch had
difcovered, under the command of William Bareniz
and He^;mjkerky a fmall ifland in 74 deg. 30 min. N.
lat. to which, on account of a very large bear they
had killed there, they gave the name of Bear Jjland,
They then failed to the N. N . W. and in about 80
deg. II min. N. lat. again difcovered land, which
proved an extenlive country. They failed along the
weft fide of it as far as 79 deg. 30 min. and there
found a bay. This extenUve country was afterwards
difcovered by Hudfon in 1607, and was called by
the Dutch Hpitzbergen^ but by the Englifh Green-
land, becaufe they looked upon it to be really a con-
tinuation of Greenland. In 1 603 Sir Francis Cherry^
an Engliihman, fent a (hip out, at his own expence,
which in 74 deg. 55 min. N. lat difcovered an
ifland, on which a tooth of the fea-horfe (Triche-
chus Ro'.marus) was found, as alfo lead ore. This
ifland the failors called Cherry Jjland^ in honour
of Sir Francis Cherry^ and alfo took pofTeiTion

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 329

^f it in his name. Now this was the fame with
Bean IJkmd difcovered in 1596 by William Barentz*
In 1604 another (hip fet out for Cherry IJland, the
proprietor of which was a Mr. tVeldetii and Stephen
Bennet the commander* They fet fail on the 15th of
April, arrived on the ift of Mav at Kola^ in Lapland^
and remained there till the ift of July, when they
continued their voyage, and on the 8th made Cherry
IJland. The current was fo ftrong, that they could
not land ; they therefore failed round the whole Ifland,'
and anchored at the diftance of two miles from the
land. They then landed and (hot fo many birds,
that they loaded their boat with them. On the oth
of July they faw a great number of foxes, or rather
what the Ruffians call Pefxii v . the ari^ic fox
(Canis Lagopus), They found this pa: of the ifland
to be in 74 deg. 45 min. N. lat. Th<;y then weigh-
ed anchor, and went on the loth to another bay,
where they found above 1000 fea-horfes, lying m
heaps one upon the other afleep^ of which, however,
they killed but 15. On the ( ler hand they found
as many teeth lying about as filled a whole hogfbead.
Thefe were in all probability the remains of fuch of
thefe animals as had died there of old age, or elfe
had been devoured by the bears. Before the 13th
f hey had killed more than. 100 fea-horfes, of which
they ufed only the teeth.— In 1605 the fame people
went again with the fame (hip to this ifland, where
they landed on the 2d of July. They killed a great
number of fea-horfes, which they now however ufed
alfo for the purpofe of making train-oil. Five fea-
horfes produce one tun of train-oil, and they filled
II tuns. They difcovered alfo a vein of lead, under
a mountain, which thry called Mount Mi/ery, and
they took above 30 tuns of the ore with them to
England. — In i6ob the fame people undertook with
the fame fhip another voyage to Cherry IJland^ where
they landed on the 3d of July, in 74 deg. 55 min.
N. lat. They ftaid there till the ice was diflblved,
as before that time the fea-horfes do not go on fliore.

?'1S

ft-l

!i ' : P'

^30

y O Y A G E5 A19P

|n about (ix hours they killed 7 or 800 of th^m, and
Kyi^p white l^rs. From the fca-horfes, they got 22
|uns of pil and Riled three hogdieads with their teeth.
•—^n j(6o8» t))ey made another trip, when the wea-
ther yras fo hot on the 21ft of June, that the pitch
g^It^d, aQ4 K9Ji down the fides of the ihip> In the
. a^e of 7 hpurs they killed more than 900 fea-horfes,
^hich yielded them 31 tuns of train-oil. 1 hey took
two yo^ng fea-ihorfes alive along with them, the fe-
Xtale di<d pn the voyage, but the male lived ten
IVfceks after their arrival in England, where he had
^en .taught fcveral tricks. — In 1609 a fhip, called
the jfmify, fitted out by Sir Thonias Smith, and the
]^uflta Company, and commanded by Jonas PeoU^
went on a voyage to Cherry JJhndy as alfo to make dif-
Coveries towacd? the North Pole. Poole fet fail from
hlackwall, near London, on the ift of March, and,
after enduring very fcverc cold and ftormy weather,
difcovered the foutbcrn part of Spitzbergen on the i6th
of May. ,He failed along the coail, took the found -
V\g% as he went on, gave a name to every point of
Und, and to every bay he met with, and made fomo
Very exa<^ and excellent obfervations for the benehc
pf navigation. Qn the 26th of Mav he was oJH
fair Foreland, a point of land which ftands on the
well fide of Spitzbergcn, on the ifland called Foreland^
or Voorland* ^"j the Dutch this point is called Vogel-
hoek. ^e fent his mate On fhore, from whom he
learned that all the ponds and lakes were unfrozen,
which induced him to expedl a mild fummer ; and
as the fun had io much power here, he judged that
a paiTage was as likely to be found in this place as
any where elfe, it being far lefe cold here than he
had found it to be in 73 deg. N. lat. In the mean
time, having made two ufelefs attempts to get be-
yond 79 deg. 50 min. N. lat. the ice obliged him to
turn back again and look out for fifli, in order to pay
the expence of the voyage. On the laft day of Au-
guft he arrived fafe at London. In this voyage Poole
and his people were in great danger from the fca
horfcsi and one of his people was furrounded in

the

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 331

the water by thefe creatures, which wounded hira
very dangeroufly in the t^igh, fo that it was with the
grcatelt diflltculty that he was faved from dedruclion.
This animal, which bears a great affinity to the fcal
kind, is very much fought after for its teeth, which
are ufed for the fame purpofes as ivory, for its fat«
which yields train-oil, and for its very thick (kin
"which is. covered with a yellowifh hair. Thefe crea-
tures live in large families together, on cruftaceou*
animals, fifli, erafs, and rock-weed. Formerly, when
they were not To much fought after and killed, it was
an eafy matter to come near them, while they were
ilceping on fliore by the hundreds together j but at
prefent they arc become very ihy in confcquence of
the eagerncfs and fury witih which they are .killed^
perfecuted, and deftroyed, with fpears by the human
race. They are rarely feen on the land, and in cafe
they are there, they do not go far from the ihorc,
and always take care to place ptje of their number on
the watch by way of centinel, or elfe they will lay
themfelvcs down to fleep on a fmall flat piece of ice.
If the fpot where they lie op £hore isvery ftecp, they
ai:e ufed, ,w|ien attacked], to put their hind legs be-
tween their two long .projet^ling tuiks, and, with
freat force and veloqity, ,rqll over into the fca. They
ring forth one, or, at the,njpft, two live young ones
at a time. When they a^e clofely befet, and in dan-
ger, or find th^t tjiey are WQunded, they grow very-
furious, and endeavour to dp mifchief both to the
boats and men with their long tuiks. They have a]fg»
more courage i^i the water than they have on ihore.
In i6|0 the Ruflia Company again fent two fliipsour,
which killed fome white hears qu Cherry J/Jand^ and
likew'fe took two young opes with them to £ngland :
they alfo killed many (cals, and fhot a great number
of birds. On the J5th of June they hoifted a flag,
and took polleflion of the iflaiid in the name of the
Company. On .Gull ifland they difcovcrcd thrtr
veins of lead ore, and in the northern part of it, a
■coal-pit. Throe other Qilps came alfo to the ifland

:f|

5 ft

:, :.:i;i

■f\

'■^ -■•■J

33^

VOYAGES AKD

in order to fi(h, and killed more than 800 fea-hcrfes/
At length Poole was fent out again in 161 1. He (laid
in Crofsroady off Spitzber^en, till the 16th of June,
on account of the ice and the badnefs of the weather.
After this he failed 14 leagues to W. by N. and fell
in with a field of ice. From thence as far as to 80
degrees the ice lay clofe to the land ; but the ftrong
currents deterred him from venturing in between the
ice; he therefore flood to the fouthward, hoping by
this means to get to the weftward of it, but found it
lie the next hand, S. W. and S. W. and by S. and
ranged along it lao leagues. Near the ice he could
get no ground with 160, 180, and 200 fitthoms. He
therefore returned to Spitzbergen to follow the whale
fiibery, but had the misfortune to lofe the (hip.

All thefe voyages to Cherry I/land^ had been under-
taken chiefly with a view to the killing of fea-horfes.
This place has been often miftaken for Jan Mayen*s
illand ; but it materially differs from that, as well in
latitude and longitude, as alfo in ihape } for Cherry
Ifiand is nearly fquare, and Jan Mayen^s ifland is long
and narrow. In Cherry IJland the Englifh have found
many veins of lead, and in more modern times the
Ruffians have alfo difcovered virgin filver, of which I
have myfelf feen fome very fine fpecimens of a den-
dritic form *, as alfo others in the form of 0(Slae-
drous cryftalsr Befides this, coal-pits are faid to be
found here. This ifland confequently feems to a-
bound in all forts of ufeful minerals* But nobody
has yet obliged the public with the mineralology of it.
The fea-horfes and whales which formerly were found
here in fuch great abundance, have been much dimi-
nifhed in their numbers by the chace of them, they
having at length retired to fome other parts lefs fre-
quented by men. ^

XIX. Henry Hudfon had made a voyage to America
in 1609, where he had difcovered HudforCs River,
and, after having traded fomewhat farther ftill, was

* See alfo on this fubjtA Ccorgi'g Editioa of Bruaaich's Mineralogjr,
pag. a«i.

returned

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 33J

returned home. He had undertaken this voyage in
behalf of the Dutch. He ofTeied to undertake ano-
ther voyage, which they however refufed, and in con-
fequence of this, finding himfelf releafed from his
engagements, he entered again into the fervice of the
Engliih Company, which had already employed him
in two former voyages ; and Hudfon fet fail from Black'
wall, near London, on the 17th of April, 1610. The
Company which had joined in fitting out the (hips for
this expedition had made it a claufe, that Hudfoa
ihould take with him, by way of ailidant, one CoU-
burne (Fox calls him Coolbrand) a very experienced
and able feaman : Fox fays, that he was preferable to
Hudfon in every refpedl. fiut this great confidence
of the owners in Coleburne*s flcill excited Hudfon't
envy : accordingly he fent him from Let on the river
Thames to London with a letter to the Proprietors,
in which he alledged his reafons for having taken this
ftep. All thofe who have given an account of the
voyage, afTert that this rafli ftep of Hudfon was in
part the fource of his own misfortunes, and had fet
his crew an exarr.ple of difobedience to the com-
mands of their fuperiors, and of the negle£t of that
confideration and refpe<St which is due from every one
to his Commander. On the 15th of May he had
got as far as the Orkneys and the northern end of
Scotland, which he found to be in 59 deg. 23 min.
N. lat. Oi\ the 8th he faw the Faro Iflands, in 62
deg. 24 min. On the nth he came to the eaft fide
of Iceland, and failed along its fouthern coafl, till he
reached the wedern coaft of it. It mufl have been
fomewhere thereabouts that he put into a harbour,
>vhcre he met with a friendly reception from the in-
habitants, but alfo at the fame time had the misfor-
tune to find great difTcntions amongft his crew, which
he could not appeafe without great diiHculty. On
the ifl of June Hudfon failed farther to the weft, in
66 deg. 34. min. N. lat. On the 4th he faw Green-
land very clearly over the ice that lay before it. He
now kept along the coafly which was^ every where fur-
rounder

^..11

' A

J)^lEl,*J

334

VOYAGES AND

rounded v/ith ice. On the 9th he was off Frobiflier*«f
Straits* On the 15th he deCcribed the Land of De^
fulat'ion in 5(5 deg. 27 min. N. lat. He failed to the
jjorth-weft, to 60 deg. 42 min. The current fct to
the N. W. On the 23d he came in fight of a great
quantity of ice, in 62 deg. 19 min. On the 25th
he faw land to the northward, and kept ftill failin? to
the weftward in 62 deg. 19 min. But now he plyed
to the fouthward, in hopes of finding the coaft on
that fide. In 62 deg. 16 min. he had fti>l a great
quantity of ice before him. On the 8th of July h^
left the (hore again, and faw extending from theN.
W, by W. quite to the S. W. by W. a champaign
laiju covered with fnow, and named \t Dejire-pra-
voked. He continued ftill plying to the weftward,
and, on the irith, being apprehenfive of a ftorm, an-
chored behiiid three very rocky ifldnds, in a very
uneven ground, and found it but an indiiferent har-
bour at high water ; he had palled over rocks, one of
which was the next morning two fathoms above wa-
ter ; for the tide rofe here above four fatliom;^. It
came from the north. The latitude was 62 drg. 9
min. and this harbour^ in which were the illiinds
called by him the IJlamls of' God's Metcy^ fcems to lay
clofe by the large illand of Good Fortune^ to the north
of MudJon\ Straits^ in 308, or 309 deg. E. long,
from Firro, On the igth he found that he was in
61 deg. 24 min. and faw in the land to the fouth-
ward a bay, to which in a former voyage he had given
the name of Hoid with Hope, Till the 21ft he plycd
to the northward, and found the fea more grown
than he had feen it fince his departure from England.
On the 23d the height cf the Pole was 61 deg, 33
min. On the 25th he faw land to the fouth (viz.
the Coaft of Labrador) which he named Magna Bri-
tannia, On the 26th he found the latitude to be 6a
deg. 44 min. On the 2d of Auguft he difcovercd a
high promontory to which he gave the name of Sa-
iifhurys Foreland. He then failed 14 leagues farther
VV. S. VV. and at about midway found the fea full
of wbirlpools and cuirents. Having failed feven leagues

more.

'«!

DISCOVERIES IN THi NORTH. 335

more, he found himfelf at the entrance of a ftrait^
not above two leagues broad, and which was at the
diftance of 250 leagues from the northernmoft fide
of Davis's Straits. On the 3d he paiFed through
thefe ftraits, and named the cape on the right hand*
or (larboard fide. Cape Diggs^ and that on the left, or
larboard fide. Cape lydjlenbolm. Some of hi3 people
having been fent on fhore, obferved the tide to rife to
5 fathoms, and that it came from the north. Hav-
ing failed through the ilraits, he obferved, that the
land trended to the fouthward, and that there was a
wide fea to the weftward.

This is all that is to be found of Hudfon's narra-
tive ; the reft muft be fought in the Harrative of a
fcaman, named Habakuk Prickeit who was in the fer-
vice of Sir Dudley Diggu Amongft other things he
mentions, that when Hud Ton was ncir the Land of
DefolatioKy they met with a great number of whales,
fome of which fwam along-iide the fliip> while others
paiTed under her without touching her. After this,
while Hudfon was ftiil in Davis's Straits, between a
great quantity of ice, he faw a large mountain of ice
overturn, which ferved them as a warning not to go
near thcfc high maflcs of ice. It feems Pricket was
ignorant of the real caufe of this overturning of the
ice-mountain, which, in fadt, lies in their burfting
afunder. Near Dejtrc'provoked they faw mountains of
ice a-ground in fix or (even fcore fathom water. On
the ifland of God*s Mercy Pricket fprung a covey of
partridges, but killed only the old one. The whole
country was barren and gloomy, having nothing on
it but plaflies of watc;r and riven rocks, as if it were
fubjeft to earthquakes. They alfo found fome drift-
wood lying afhore here. Then they came again a-
mongft a great quantity of ice, and feeing at length
on the fouth fide of the ftraits, land, with high pro-
montories, he called the firft Prince Henry's Cape,
that with two hills, which was farther to the weft,
liut on the fouth fide, was named King James^i Cape ;

but

336

VOYAGES AWD

)

but towards the north were Tome iflands whic' he
called ^een Amis Foreland. All thefe lay to the
northward in a bay, in which there appeared to be a
great deal of broicen land, lying quite clofe to ths
main land. At length, after a ftorm, they faw anc -
ther mountainous part fo the northward, which they
named Mount Charles, oi Cape Charles. To the weft-
ward was more broken land, forming a bay, in which
poifibly a good road might be found for (hips, and
the promontory here was named Cape Salt/bury. Be-
tween the main land to the fouthward and an ifland
was a ftrait with a ilrong current ; the two promon"
tories enclofmg it were called Capf Diggs and Cape
Waljienholm. On Diggs's ifland they found a herd of
animals of the ftag kind (viz* reindeer) but could not
get within a muiket-fliot of them. From this part
forward we have only Prkket\ relation to guide us.
They failed fouthward, and had the land to the eaft-
ward of them. After a run of about 20 or 30 leagues,
the fea grev/ fliallow, and they got among rocks and
broken land, and the fea grew ftill (hallower and
(hallower, fo that they were obliged to anchor in
15 fathoms. Not long after, they weighed, ?»nd
ftood to the fouth-eaft along the land, till they had
land on both fides. They then ftood again into h
large fea, but at length round it to be only a bay,
and here they took in water and ballaft. In 53 ^t^,
N. las. v^as an ifland. Various remarks having been
made by the crew on occafion of Hudfon's entering
the bay and goin^ out of it again, he difplaced
the mate of the (hip, Robert Ivet, as well as the
boatfwain, and 'Appointed Robert Bylot to be mate,
and fVilliam JVilfon to be boatfwain. At length, on
Michaelmas- J_)a 7, they ftood in among a clufter
of iflands, and called the place Michaelmas Bay.
They anchored in very (hallow water; but in weigh-
ing again, they loft the anchor, but fortunately faved
the cable. In the dark they ran a-ground upon

a rock.

Discoveries iw tHE KoktH. 337

a. rock. The tide carried them however ofF from it
again without their having received any damage ; and
after failing to and fro for a long time, Hudfon re-
folved to anchor in the bay where he then was, and
fpenJ the winter there, it being already the latter end
of OiStober^ Having found at a fit place, they fe-
curcd the (hip by running her aground, and here flic
was frozen in, ten days afterwards. Hudfon no>^
thought of huibanding their provifions, for he had
only taken with him victuals for fix months, though
he might have taken more. He fought however only
to ftretch out their provifions till the fpring, when
he might go to Ctipc Diggt^ where the fea-foWl bred*
In the mean time he propofcd regards to thofe thai:
killed either beafl^ fifli, or fowl. In the middle of
November died the gunner^ in confequence, as it is
here infinuated, of the hard and unkind treatment ht
had met with from Hudfon. Hudfon had in London
taken into his houfe a young man, named ttenry
GreiHi of a refpedable family, but who had lofl the
afFedtion of all his friends and relations by his ill
behaviour and extravagance^ and had fpent all that
he had. By the affiflance of a friend, Hudfon had
procured him four guineas from his mother, to buy
clothes Withk This voung man he had taken along
with him, without the knowledge of his owners .
and he had already been guilty of feveral mifdemean-
ors I for at Harwich he had attempted to defert with
a failor, and in Iceland he had fevercly beat the ihip's
fo'^eon. Hudfon had, however^ always taker, his
part. Now the feafon being far advanced, and the
ground Covered with ice and fnow, Hudfon requefl-
ed the carpenter to build the houfe for them to win^'
ter in j but the carpenter refufed to do it, on the
pretence that he was not a houfe-carpenter, but -m
ihip'-carpenter, and that Hudfon had not given or-
ders for the building < <e houfe till the fnow and
Uofl had fet in. In the courfc of this quarrel,

Z KuJfon

;i;tt

■■• ^l^lwjtl

,.»m

: Ih'l

338 V o Y A G ?^ S A r P

Heclfon was fo much provoked as lo bat :hc carpen-
ter j and this latter now being abo..: lo o.gin upon
the work, and wanting a corvipanioi;, and at the fame
time pofitive orders haying been given that nobody
fhoiild go any where by- hjmfelf, on account of its
.being unfafe, Green accompaniied him. This circum-
ilance made a wide breach between Hud Ton and the
.yoiing man, who from that time forward took eve-
,ry opportunity of leffening the former in the cfteem
of every one in the (hip, and alicnatiug their hearts
fro^ him, as well as of laying the foundation to the
.'ungrateful and cruel behaviour he afterwards expe-
rienced from them. During the whole winter they
had fuch abundance of ptarmigans, that of thefe and
other forts of ^rous, they killed above a hundred do-
zen. Ip the fpring, when thefe birds left them,
thej^ were replaced by fw^ns, wild-geqfe, ducks, and
teal, which, however, were more difficult to come
at, becaufe they di^ not. (lay there to breed, as it
was expe(^ed they would do ; but ^3 fad as they came
from the fouth, proceeded to the larth, fo that in
a fliort time there were none at all tp be feen. And
now the great fcarcity began i they cat mofs, and the
frogs which were beginning to couple. Thomas fVo^d"
htijet a young man who had gone out Avith them as
\ volunteer, and who had ftudied the mathematics,
brought them branches and buds of a tree, which
were full o\ a fubftance like turpentine; thefe the
furgc'on b / ,.!, and m^de a diet drink for them,
and the bi.*!:'.!, buds were applied hot, by way of
poultice, to fuch as had pains in their limbs, who
alfo found an immediate relief from the application.
I imagine that thefe buds were from the Tacamahaca
Tree (popttlus halfamifera) the buds of which are
very ad hell ve,^ in confcquence of their containing a
glutinous refin; like turpentine, of which they have
alfo the fmcll. The dccodtion was certainly a very
powerful antilcorbutic remedy, and the warm appli-
cation of the boiled buds Icrved to relieve the pains
and fwclliogs of their limbs, which were rendered
fore and painful by I'curvy and rheumatifm But,
if) i\xi\y the young ihoots, or (as they are called

DISCOVERIES itJ rm NORTH. 333^

in America) the hu^ of the fpruce fir (P'tnus Mart"
ana ^ Pinus Canadenfis) are alfo a remedy againft the
fcurvy. A native paid them a vifit, to whom they
gave a knife and fome other trifles, in return for
which he brought them fome beaver-furs anid deer-
fkins i he alfo promifed to come to them again, but
never appeared afterwards. They caught iome fi(h»
and got the (hip ready for their departure^ after
Hudfon had, wi(h tears in his eyes, diftributcd all
the remaining proviflons in equal (hares. Immedi-
diately after the departure of the ihip, Grein^ toge-
ther with fome others, and in particular IVdfon^
Michatl Pierce^ and the difcarded mate, Ivet^ mutined.
They put Henry Hudfon^ together with his fon,
fohn Hudfon^ who was but a boy, JVoodhoufe^ the
matliematician, Philip Staffe^ the (hip's carpenter,
and Hve more failors, in all nine perfons, into th«
(loop, to whom they only gave one gun, fome fpears,
with a very fmall (lock of proviflons, and then aban*
doned them to their fate, with a want of feeling
hardly to be equalled. Thofe who remained in th«
(hip failed along the eaftern coaft. They landed
often, and not being able to catch any fi(b, they
gathered a herb they called Cocklt-grafs (which it may
be prefumed was a kind of tang^ or rock-weed, per-
haps the Fuati Saccharinus) and without which they
muft unavoidably have perifhed. At length they
reached the ftrait and the capes, where they fiw fra
birds brooding on their nefls, and killed a gre^^t
number of them; but here they ran a-grojnd upo^
a rock, on which they were obliged to remain eight
or nine hours ; for they ran upon it during the ebb,
which came from the eafl, as the tide of flood did
from the wefL As foon as they were afloat again,
they purfued their courfe, and endeavoured to get
fome fowl near Cape Diggs, Here they faw feven
boats filled with the natives, with whom they made
friends. But (hortly after, they were attacked by
thefe favages, who killed Green, and wounded the
others fo defperately, that three more of them, chiefly
the ringleaders in the mutiny, and thofe the ftouteft
niep in the (hip, died in a day or two .fterr Now

Z 2 B)l9t

I '

■■s

im.^

''4

340

VOYAGES AKO

Bylot became their leader. They killed 300 more Tea-
birds, and being driven back by the wind, they killed
100 more. At length they proceeded farther, but
were driven to fuch ftraits for want of food, that
they were obliged^ after iingeing off the feathers, to
eat the Ikins which they had torn ofF from the fea->
£owls, as alfo their entrails. At firft they attempted
ro go to Newfoundland, but were prevented by a
S. W. wind, and Hiaped their courfe for Ireland.
Their diftrefs encreaftng, they took the bones of the
birds which they had eaten, fried them in tallow,
poured fome vinegar on them, and eat them as a great
dainty. Juft at the time when they had loft all hopes
of reaching Ireland, Robert Jvet died. They had put
their laft fowl in the fteeprng-tub, and were at the
end of their proviAons, when they defcried Ireland.
Here they with great difficulty obtained fome provi-
Aons, and arrived at laft, by the way of Plymouth and
Gravefend^ in London.

This voyage notwithftandlng all the important dif-
coverieK made in the courfe of it, coft poor Hudfon
and the few people whd were with him, their lives.
Never perhaps was the heart of man pofTefled by in-
gratitude of a blacker die, than that of the infamous
villain Green. Hudfon had faved this wretch from
perdition, had cherifhed him with the utmoft kind-
nt'is in his own honfe, and had but with too t.^uch
wc-aknefs taken his part, even then when he had
been guilty of the greateft mifdemeanors ; notwith-
ftanding which, this outcaft of fociety had the wick-
cdnefs to ftlr up the reft of the crew againft their
commander, and to cxpofe his benefa<Slor and fecond
father, without clothes and arms, and without provi-
Acns, in a fmall boat, to the open fea, in an inhof-
pitiib'e climTte, where none but favage beafts, and
ftill more favage men, dwelt; and where, during the
greateft part of the year, all is covered with fnow
and ice. It is fcarcely to be believed, yet it is cer-
t.unly true, that the foundation of all this lay in the
bad conftitution of the laws with refpeft to naviga-
tion and fcamen. It is fcarcely 40 years Ance an aft
vvas pafll'd, by which the feamen belonging to the roy-
al navy who fliould refufe to-obey their officers orders,
after fuffcring fliipwrcck, were made liable to be

j/unifhcd ;

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

141

punlfhed } and, eveh now, it is only the officers of
the royal navy who have th; privilege of puniihing'
fuch as have committed any mifdemeanor, or have
been guilty of any infraction of the articles of war. •
On board the merchantmen, and even on board the
(hips belonging to the £aft-lndia Company, neither
the Captains nor any of the mates have power to pU'
nifli any individual ; if they do, the feaman at their
return may lodge a complaint againft them, and de-
mand fatisfadion } which fatisfadtion indeed is feldom
refufed, as it is well known that the power ufurped
by thefe gentlemen but too often exceeds the "proper
limits. Self-intereft, and the fear of having the whole
or part of their pay ilruck oif, in cafe of their refu-
fal to do their refpe<Slive duties, are the only ties by
which the crew. are bound to obey the Captain's or-
ders ; and hence it is that we fo frequently hear of a
fhip*s crew rifing againfl their captain, and either
killing him or putting him on (bore fome where, and
running away with the vefTcI. New voyages of dif-
covery would have been often undertaken at the ex-
pence of private individuals, but the fear q( the
crew's mutinying, and by this means interrupting
the progrefs of the difcovery, has in thefe days prov-
ed an obftacle to every undertaking of this kind ;
for this reafon, at prefent none but men of war can
be employed in thefe expeditions. Mr. Alexander
DalrympUy a very able navigator, and whofe zeal for
making difcoveries is equal to his refolution and cou-
rage, would have long ago collected amongft his
friends as much as would be requifite for undertaking
a voyage of difcovery ; and to this end petitioned
Government to extend the laws refpedting the regu-
lation of the royal navy, only to the fhip in which he
was going j but met with a refufa- *. The ciucl
behaviour of Green and his accomplices towards Hud-
fon did not, however, remain long unpunifhcd. The
faithlefs EJk'nnaux killed him and his chief aiTidants in
iniquity ; and the others fuffercd fuch great hardlhips,
and were driven to fuch dreadful llraits, that hu ina-
nity (hudders at the idea.

• The author ha* been grofsly deceived with refpefV to t!iis anecdote,
which has not even the Ihadow of truth to lupport iti and u only inlcil'

-mm

ed here to be contradided. [E T.

iiudfun

J4a

VOYAGES AN»

Hudfon found the eaftern coaft of Greenland co«
v?red all over with ice, in the fame manner as it is
dill found to be at prefent. The dreadful overfetting
of the mountains of ice has alfo been obferved by
Hudfon's continuator, Pricket, By the great quan-^'
tity of ice accumulated in Davh*s Straits, Hudfon
vras obliged to go to the weft ward, and confequently
without intending it, to make the difcovery of the
firait and bay caHed after his name. What bv men
is often termed chance, is, without doubt, unoer the
diredion of infinite power and wifdom, which is but
too often miftaken by ihort-fightcd mortals. At Cape
Diggs they found reindeer, fsrrely and fcurvy^frrafs
(CochUaria officinalis) both of which herbs are excdlent
remedies againft the fea fcurvy, whence the latter has
taken the name it bears in £ndifh. It ftruck me
very much in my voyage round the world, to find
that the ihores of all the countries which we vifited
were abundantly furnifhed with herbs, which, are
antidotes to the fcurvy. In the Tropical iflands vre
found wood-forrel (Oxalis) pepperwort (Letidium'
cleraceum 6f pifcidium) and r. new fpecies of ladies -
fmock {Cardamine farmtntofa) ; and at New Zealand
and Tierra del Fuego, a fpecies of well-crcfl*e (Jrabit
betergpbylla) and celery (Jpium decumhens). It woul^
feem as if Providence had intentionally diftributed on
tbefe fpots, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the
fea-coaft, and oi the people returning from long
-voyages, fuch plans as might be ferviceable in miti-
gating the dreadful fymptoms and efFeds of the fcur-
vy. Neither has the afHi£ted mariner far to go after
them, as, almoft the fird ftep he takes on ihore, he
finds under his feec-thofe wholefome plants, fo well
adapted to his wants. But it is poflible to miflake
this invariable order of nature in the produdlicn of
them for mere chance ? and can the determination
of the fpots where thefe plants chiefly grow, have
been left to a mere accident ? And if, in anfwcr to
this, it be faid, that this foil and fituation are
bell adapted to tho growth and encreafe of thefe

plants.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 343

pl^nnts, and that other animals eat them as well as
mjcn ; I muft then take the liberty to afk again ;
but who is it that has connciSled this circumftance of
their being fo Angularly antifcorbutic, with the par-
ticular fpot where they grow, and with that other
circumOance of their thriving the bed near the Tea
(hore i If it be mere accident, what is the reafon then
that it takes place not in one country only, but
every where alike? And does it follow that mankind
is excluded from making ufe of thefe plants, be-
caufe animals are fond of them ? or, indeed, is it
not rather a proof of fuperior wifdom, when diffe-
rent effects are accompliflied by the intervention of
one and the fame caufe ? Certainly, to mifconceive
the intentions of this fupreme wifddm, this more
than fatherly kindnefs, in this admirable regulation
of the works of nature, is nothing lefs than to de-
grade the intellective faculty of man, his nobleft
prerogative, and reduce him to a level with the
ftupid and fenfclefs brutes 1 Should, however, after
all that has been faid, fome fceptical mifcreants flill
infiit upon this topic, we can only fay, that we do
not in the lead envy them their boafled enlarged
ideas and philofophy.

It is really inconceivable what an ailoniihing quan-
tity of different kinds of grous there is every ychr
caught and eaten in the fadlories of the Htidfon's
Bay Company. Of ptarmigans alone they kill more
than 10,000. ' While HudCon's Bay was in the hands
of the French, from the year 1697 '° I7H» ^ French
Governor at Fort Bourbon^ together with his garri-
fon, confiding of 80 men, cat in one winter 90,300
fpotted grous and ptarmigans, and 25,000 hares.
To the above account muft be added in the fpring,
the immenfe number of fvvans, geefe and ducks,
which are eaten there ; befides which, they c-'tch a
great many reindeer. It is therefore aftonilhing, that
Hudfon, who ufed to act with fo much prudence
and forccaft in every thing, ihould not have taken
care to have preferved out of the hundred dozen

©r

"t '^^

|!:[h

■' I^fl

■

v' inl

■

V'U

344

VOYAGES AND

of ptarmigans which they caught In the winter, at
Icalt foiQe few dozen for a Itore of provifion in the
fpring, and on the voyage. But probably the mutiny
of his crew was the caufe of this nej^ledt.

The villains, who behaved with (o much cruelty
to Hud Ton, bound themfelves to this atrocious wick- '
ednefs and inhuman deed, as though it had been a
laudable, beneficent afl, by an oath, which , ac-
cording to the EngliOi cu(loni, they took on ihe jDi-
ble, in fa^, they fwore that every thing they were
going to undertake, Jbould be to the glory of God-, and
harm to no man^ which, however, was a moft horrid
abufe of a facj^ed z&. of religion, and the moft
ihameful piece of hypocrify that it is poilible to con-
ceive.

XX. The account of Habakuk Pricket^ that when
Hudfon's (hip had ilruck upon a rock near Diggs\
IJIand, (he had been heaved off again by a high tide
coming from the wejiwardj excited new hopes in the
Society which had planned the former voyages, that
ilill> in fome part of the weftern coaft of Hudfon's
Bay, there muft be a ftrait, through which this tide
could come from the wed } for if this part of the
fea difcovered by Hudfon w^s a mere bay, the tide
muft needs come into it from the caft or the enr
trance: now, fuppofing the tide to come from the eaft,^
it muft needs diminifh ^n height in proportion as it
advanced father into the bay ; bu,t here it was exz&-
ly the contrary, for it happened to be lower at the
entrance than farther into it^ and therefore it was
H'gWy probable, that this weft'^rly ^nd higher
tide a^ually proceeded from a (ea which had noi.
connexion with the mouth of Hudfon's ftraits,
Befides, h,umaQity feemed to demand, that in cafe
the unfortunate Captain Hudfon and his com-
panions lhouI<;l happen to be ftill ; alive, they
ihould be refcued from the dreadful ftate of mi-
fcry into which they had been plunged by the
moft hardened of villains. Accordingly they fitted^
om ;WQ Ibips for this expedition, the one of

v<hivlv

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 345

ivhich was named the Refolution^ and the other the
Difcovtry'*. Czpt. Thomas Button^ a very experienced
navigator, whom the King afterwards created a
Knight on account of fome fervices he had done to
the crown, and who was then in the fervicc of Prince
Htnry^ was ele£led commander of the whole expedi-
tion, and the command of the Difcovery was given
to Capt. Ingram, fiefides this gentleman, Button
took with him feveral other very (kilful men. His
firft mate in the Refolution was Nclfon, a man of
great experience and knowledge : and it was after
this perfon that he named the river where he winter-
ed, Nelfon*i River. Moreover, he had two gentle-
men with him, of whofe knowledge and experience,
we muft, even from Button's own tcflimony, form 4
very high idea. I'he one was his relation and fa^
vourite, by name Gibbons \ and the other was Capt.
Hawkridge. The name of his mate was Joftah HtA-
tart, a man poflefled of very jufi "onceptions of fuch
an undertalcing, and of the probibility of a paflage.
Finally, he was alfo accompanied by Habakuk Pricket^
who had made the laft voyage with the unfortunate
Hudfon. They were vidlualled for 13 months, and
fet fail in the beginning of May 1612* They fhaped
their courfe to the wcftward, and arrived o9i Hudfon^
StraitSt which they entered to the fouth of the Kefo-
lution IJlandSi and for fome time were blocked up in
the ice. At length they came to Diggs's IJIandy where
they (laid eight days, and in that time fet up a
pinnace they had brought with them in pieces from
England. After this, they went farther to the wcft-
ward, where they faw land, to which they gave the
name of 6V?ry*s Swans Neji. From thence they pro-
ceeded to the fouthward of the weft, and came in
60 deg. 40 min. N* lat. again to a land, which

• It is very remarkable, ihat in ihe Uft voj-agc o*" dlfcivCTj. under-
taken by ihe glorious and unfortunaie Capt. Ce:k to tr.e South Sea and
the noilhcrn parts between Ada aril Amtrica, th(..c t.cic likcwile the
names ot' the fhips cmpKyH tjB that exptditioa.

Jbjk

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

1.0

I.I

U2 ■2.2

2.0

1-25 |U 1.6

* 6"

►

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///.

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

rO^

^9)'

34^

VOYAGES Axn

on this account was called Hopes checked by Euttorii
Here they were overtaken by a terrible ftorm, fo
that they were obliged, on the 13th of Auguft> to
put into a harbour, to repair the^ damages done to
the (hips. But immediately after, the dreadful win-,
ter fet in, and Button was obliged to winter there
in 57 deg. 10 min. N. lat. in a fmall creek on
the north fide of a river, which he named Port Nei-
foTty after his deceafed Aril mate. He fecured both
the (hips, as well as he cpuld, againfl ftorms,, ice
and the tides, with piles Qf deal driven into the
ground, and a mound of earth. They wintered in
the ihips, keeping three fires conftantly ; notv/itb-
iianding which many of his people died, though be
took the greateft car-s.' of them ; and they con fumed
x8oo dozen =: 21,600 ptarmigans and wood-grous.
Button himfelf was indifpofed during the firfV three
or four months of the winter. The river Nelfon
was not frozen over till the j6th of February^ al-
though a,t times it had been very cold ; yet the mild
winds immediately following upon the cold weather,
had brought un a thaw. Button had obferved, that
in former voyages, inactivity and the want of em-
ployment had but too often been the occafion of dif-
content, murmurings, and fecret confederacies in the
crew againil their fuperiors in command ; he refolved,
therefore, to prevent this by allotting to every one his
tafk, and even to the beft of them he gave employ-
ments fuitable to their ftations and capacities; for of
feme he enquired, what was to done in cafe \.\\t wa-
ter fhould happen to be fpent in their prefent place
of abode ? and in what manner they had bed proceed
in the difcovery, which was the end of their prefent
voyage ? Others he enjoined to give him in writing
an cxacl calculation of their voyage till then, with
the mutual diftances of each place, the (hip's courfe,
the latitude and longitude, the variation of the com-
pafs, the different foundings, together with other ob-
fcrvations on the wind and we;^ther, the tides, &c.
fo that nobody could find leifure from idlenefs and
want of employment for fuch dangerous affociatinns.

The

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOUTH. 347

The ice began to clear out of Nelfpn^s River fo early
as on the 21ft of April, but it was not till two months
after, that they fet out again with a view of exploring
the whole wcftern coaft of the bay, which he called,
after his own name. Button's Bay. The neighbour-
ing land was hamed New IP^ales, In the 60th degree
they found a ftrong current, fctting fometimes to the
eaft, and at other times to the weft. This circum-
flance induced Hubbart to name this part in his map,
Jiubbarfs Hope, The higheft latitude to which But'
ion*s refcarches extended, was about 65 deg. The
obfervations which he had an opportunity to make
there on the tide-flux were fuch as not to leave him
the lead doubt of the poiHbility of a northern paf-
iage. Some iflands, lying to the fotith-eaft from
Carey* s Sivan*s Nejl^ he named ManfeTs (Mansfield's)
Iflands. On the weft fide of the land called Carey^
Swan's Nejl, he came to a kind of a bay, which he
called Nonplus ultra. The fouthernmoft poi/it of the
land was Cape Southampton ; and on the caft fide of
the land was a promontory to which he gave f he name
of Cape Pembroke. He reckoned 10 lea<^ues from this
cape to iWiz«/^/'s (Mansfield's) Iflands. Between Cape
Chidley and the coaft of Labrador they found another
flrait, through which they failed, and from thence,
in 16 days, arrived in England, in the autumn of
1613.

It is a great pity that Button never publifhed his
Journal ; for, from all the difperfed and unconnefled
accounts now remaining, we leurn no more than
that this Journal really contained fome very impor-
tant obfervations on the tides, and other objedts of
natural philofophy. The great quantity of ptar-
migans and grous there is in thofe regions is very
evident, from the circumftance of Button and his
people having eaten 1800 dozen of them.

XXI. The fame Society which had promoted But-
ton's and fo many former voyages, in the year 1614,
fent on the fame errand Capt. Gibbons^ the kinfman
and friend of Button; in the Difcovery^ the very fame
ihip in which Button had made his voyage of dif-

covery.

'I*.

■r :r

It; I

348

VOYAGES AND

covcry. But he was fcarccly arrived at the mouth-
of HudforC% Strmts, when a large quantity of ice
quite encompaiTed him, and carried him by means of
the current and the winds, into a bay on the coaft of
Labrador^ in 58! deg. N. lat. which his people on
this account named Gibhns's Hole. Here he was
obliged to lie for the fpace of 10 weeks, in the greateft^
danger all the time of loHng his (hip and his life.
Bein^ at length freed from this danger, he immedi-
ately fet fail for England, partly bccaufe the Ihip had
been very much damaged by the ice j and partly alfo,
becaufe the feafon was too far advanced for going upon
any fVefli enterprizes in thofe cold regions, Fox calls
the land where the bay lay, Stinenia, an appellation
for which I can give no reafon *♦ It was, without
doubt, the coaft of Labrador; and Gibbons^s Hole is
nearly on the fame fpot with the colony of the Mo-
ravian brethren, to which they have given the name
of Naift.

XXII. The fame year, 16 14, fotherby and Baffin
were fent out with a fingle (hip on a voyage of dif-
covery in the north, and that probably by the Ruilia
Company. With great difficulty, and after feveral
fruitlefs eifays made with the fliip, they fucceeded,
however, at length, in getting with their boats to the
firm ice, which enclofed iJ^^/5^tffA. This forms the
north-eaft point of Spit/bergen, and is fituated on what
is called the Deer Field (or Rennen Felde). The Mof-
pn Jjland lies to the north-eaft of Ked "^taQh. To
this Red Beach they went on foot over the ice, in
hopes of being lucky enough to find fome whale-
bones there; they were, however3^ foJC o^nce deceived
in their expeftation. Fotherby adds, <* Thus, as we
could not nnd that which we defire:' to fee, fo did
we behold that which we wiflied had, not been there
to be feen, viz. a great abundance of ice, which lay
clofe to the ihore, and ftretched out in the fea as far

* In the Table of Errata annexed to Fox'« bonk, the word Stinenia is
changed for America : but (his ahd leveral other errors (whidi are here
cune£led) fucceeding writers, and with ihem Dr. Forfter, have been
ied into by Fox's having at^furdly placed that table in the middle cf hi^i
Book,

JIS

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 34^

as we could difcern." On the ift of Auguft they
failed from Fair Haven (a place fnuated between
Hakluyt^s Headlandy which is 1 ike wife called ^/»/?*r*
darner Ijland^ and the ifland of Vogelfang^ ly»"g off the
north weft point of Spitxbergen)^ with a view to try
whether the ice would admit them to pafs towards
the north or north-eaft. They failed from Capt
Barreuy or Vogelfangy N. eaft by eaft, eight leagues,
when they met with ice, lying eaft by fouth, and
weft by north. On the 15th of Auguft they found
ice in the fea, which was frozen as thick as a half
crown piece. . '

This very (hort account of another attempt to
feek for a pafTage in the north, by Spitzbergen, is
a frefli proof of the great exertions made to difco-
ver this pafTage to India. Thofe alfo who have hi-
therto believed, with M. de Buffon and Mr. Dairies
BarringtoTiy that fea- water could not freeze, will here
find a frefh proof to the contrary : for if even in
the fummer feafon, fix weeks after the fummer fol-
ftice, it freezes in one night as thick as a half crown
piece, how hard muft not the fea be frozen during;
the fevere cold of the long winters in thefe parts?

XXIII. In 1615 Fotherby was again fent out to
the north, in the pinnace Riihard^ by the Ruftia
Company. He could not get farther this than in the
preceding year, on account of the ice. On this oc-
cafion he refers to a chart, in which he had laid down
what was already known and difcovered in the fpace
comprifed bet'veen 80 and 71 deg.N. iat. and within 26
deg. W. long '"rom Hakluyfs Headland {reckoning weft-
Ward). For hi^ part, he fays, he could have wilhed to
have beeri' able to advance farther tharl he did, but
the ice always prevented him from fo doing; however
there was iiill a large fpace of fea between Green^
land and King yames's Newland (which is alfo called
Spitzbergen) where perhaps a pafTage might be pol-
fible, though this fea be much ob(Tru<9;ed with ice.
Since this attempt the Englifh RuiTia Company feems

not

.'.y

i|ip

5,1

VOYAGES AMD

not to have concerned itfelf any farther with making
cifcovcries in the north.

XXIV. The fame merchants who had fupported^
the former enterprizes with fo much ardour, and at
fo great an expence, were ftill buoyed up with the
hope that at length they fliould fucceed in difco-
veririg this paflage. Accordingly, in 1615, they fent
out the Difcovery, which had already been on the voy-
ages of discovery made under therefpc^ive commands
of Httdfon^ Button^ and Gibbons^ now, for the 4th
time, and for the fame purpofe, under the command
of Robert Bylot or, (as Purchas calls him) Byleth,
Bylot^ too, had been each time in the (hip now en-
trufted to his care, with Hudfon^ Button, and Gibbons,
He had with him in the capacity of mate, IfilUam
Baffin^ who had made the voyage with Hall in 1608,
and had been oiit afterwards with Hudfon, Button, and
Fotherby, and confequently had acquired great expe-
rience, aJ5 well as veryjuft conceptions of the nature
of thofe regions, and of the voyages that might be
undertaken to thofe parts. Bylot fet fail on the i8th
of April J on the 6th of May he faw Greenland on
the eaft fide of Cape FarewelL Shortly after he fell
in with a great quantity of ice, Baffin faw a mafs of
ice, which meafured 140 fathoms, i. e. 840 feet above
the level of the fea^ and fome aflert, that there is
never more than i-yth part of the ice above the wa-
ter. But by referring to my Obfervations, page 60,
it will appear, that as, according to Matron fur la
Glace, p. 264, ice is only i-i4th part of its height
above the furface in frefh water, or, according to Dr,
Irving^ in Capt. Phipp's voyage towards the North Pole,
Appendix^* 141, no more than i-i5th of its height

It,

* ThU calcoUtion might well have been fpared. It is founded on
Fox's afrertion. (Vid. Ax'/ Ncrtk-Koefl FoXy p. 137.) that Baffin ftw
ice 1^0 fathom above water. But this is evidently a blunder of Fox,
proceeding from his having miflakcn Baffin's account publiflied by Pur-
chas. Baffin himfelf fays, it was 240 feet \ and thence infers, that it wat
i4o/rt/^«w/, or 1680 fttt frm tht bttttm, Vid,. Purcha»'$ Pilgrims,
Part HI p. 837.

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH, 351

in fnow-water ; therefore jce in fea- water mav pro-
bably he only i-ioth of its height above the furfacc,
and that confequently 840 feet inftpad of 7 ought to
be multiplied by 10 to meafure the whole height;
lb that this mafs of ice was 8400 feet high, which is
indeed a mod tremendous height) ! In 6i deg. i6min.
N. lat. he came to the firm ice, and put in amongil;
it, in hopes that every tide it would open more and
more. Having paiTed fome days apiong the ice, on
the 27th of May he defcried the Refolution Ifiands.
On the I ft of June Ire difcovered a good harbour on
the weflr iide of tWc Refolution IJlands. At the change
of the moon the water rofe and fell nearly 5 fa-
thoms. The variation of the compafs was 24 deg.
6 min. The northern channel, or LumU/i Inletj
was 8 miles in the narrowett places. On the 8th of
July he came to the Salvage IJles (Savage Iflands)
which form a confidcrable group : here he found a
great number of natives, with whom he traded.
Their dogs were moft of them muzzled, and wore
collars and harnefles for the purpofe of drawing their
mafters furniture when they remove from one place
to another. They arc of a black-brown colour, and
have very much the appearance of wolves. Their
fledges are (hod or lined with large filh-bones. This
lAand lies in 62 deg. 32 min. N. lat. about 60 leagues
from the mouth of the ftrait. The variation of the
compafs is 27 deg. 30 min. a fouth-eafterly moon
makes a full tide, which rifcs almoft as high as at
the Refolution Iflands, and comes from the eaft. On
the 29th of June, the weather being cleared up, he
at length faw Sat/bury Ijhnd, On the ift of July he
difcovered a group of iflands, which he named Mill-
Ijles^ becaufc of the grinding of the ice among thefe
iflands. The latitude of them is 64 deg. As he was
ftandinp- along thefe iflands the lea came with the tide
from the fouth-eaft, and drove his Ihip with great
force into the eddy of the iflands. On the nth he
difcovered land to the weftward, which being a head-
land he named Capt Comfort. The latitude of it is
65 degrees N. The farther he proceeded in the

inlet*

A t'i''i

In , n ,

> I'

' \Y

t".

352

VOYAGES AMD

inlet, the fliallowcr it grew. This cape was on the
land of Carty's Stvan's Neji. Bylot went only to 65
deg. 25 min. N. lat. and to about 86 deg* 10 min*
ivefl long, from London. Having tacked about to
return, becaufe the land trended to the north eaft,
he found. on the i6th, near a point of land, a great
number of fea-horfes lying on the ice, and from this
circumftance named it Boint Sea-horfe, Here he ob*
ierved that the flood came from the fouth-eaft, and
the ebb from the north-weft. On the 26th he paiTed
between the iflands Sail/bury and Nottingham, He
came to an anchor at Diggs's IJJandy where his peo-
pie killed a great quantity of fea-fowl Oii the rocks
for their food, and at laft arrived again at Plymouth,

XXV, The public-fpirited gentlemen who had
had the former voyages on difcoveries made at their
own expence, were willing to fet on foot one more«
The gentlemen alluded to were Sir Thomas Smithy Sir
Dudley Diggty Mr. John tVolJhnholme^ and Mr. Alder-
man yonesy together with fome others. They again
chofe Robert Bylot for the Captain, and JVtlliam Baffin
to be pilot. I'he fhip Difcovery went out now for
the fifth time on a voyage of difcovery. They fet
fail from Grave/end on the 26th of March, i6i6«
The firft land they faw, being the 14th of May, was
within Davis*s Straits in 65 deg. 20 min. N. lat. Se-
veral Greenlanders came to. their ihip, and received
feme fmall pieces of iron from them. 3ut feeing that
he was failing away, they appeared much difTatisfied*
Bylot did not come to an anchor till he was in 70
deg. 20 min. near Davis's London coajl^ where the in-
habitants fled before them in their boats. In this
found, which was a very good one, the tide did not
rife above 8 or 9 feet. Two days after, he failed
farther to the northward. On. the 30th he reached
Hope Sanderfon (the farthefl land that Davis had been
at) in ^2 deg. 20 min. Continuing his courfe, he
came in 72 deg. 45 min. to fome iflands, where
he found nothing but women, whom he treated with
kindnefs, making them prefents of iron. To thefe
iflands he gave the name of Women s JJlts, Here the

tide

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 353

tide did not rife above 6 or 7 feet. The women had
black ftrcaks on their faces, which were raifed above
the furface of the fkin. Bylot now failed farther on
to the northward, but met with a great deal of ice.
He therefore looked about for a harbour, till the ice
Ihould be wafted and gone, and ilood into one in
Jat. 73 deg. 45 min. Here tlie inhabitants came im-
mediately to them, and brought them feal-fkins and
unicorns * horns, in exchange for iron. Hence he
named the found Horn Sound. He flayed here a few
days longer, and then fet fail again. The wind was
ftill contrary, but the ice was almoft all diflblved,
infomuch that he bad it in his power to go again to
JVomen^s IJlandst ffom which he failed 20 leagues to
the weft ward, without finding any more ice. On
Midfummer-Day all the ftiip's tackling was covered
with froft, neverihelefs the cold was by no means
intolerable. The fea was free and open, but the
wind was contrary. He therefore flood off from
the ihore, and flood in for it again. He then let
fall an anchor to meafure the tide, which afforded
him however but little hope. The weather now grew
very foggy, he therefore failed along the coaft, rhe
next day he came to a fair cape or headland, which
he named after Sir Dudley Diggs, It was in 76 deg.
35 min. N. lat. and clofe adjoining to it lay a fmall
ifland. A* t^^ diftance of 12 leagues from the cape
he faw a confiderable inlet, in the middle of which
was a fmall ifland, which caufed a double current.
Here he anchored, but the fliip drove with the cur-
rent though ftie had two anchors out. He was there-
fore obliged to weigh and ftand out to fea. This

• Thefe horns *re very improperly called by the name they bear ; for
it is well known that the iiarh<waly or lea unicorn, a kind of whale foiinii
in Greenland, has twofiich horns, which are long and wreaihcd, but that
feldom both horns are found together in the fifli ; piob^bly they may lole
»ne of them in their wars with each other, or in the combats they have
with other fiflj. There has been an inftance of a fea-umcorn having run
hit hora into th« bottom of a (hip, where he had brok« it off and lett it.

''■ >ti;'

inlet

S54

VOYAGES AHB

inlet he nzmed fVol/Ienhelme*s Sound \ it fpreads out m
feveral fmall inlets, and is very convenient for the
whale-fifhery. Another ftorm now arofe, which obliged
him to lie a Hull ; and when the weather cleared up
again, he found himfelf in a large bay. He then fet
fail again, and flood over to the fouth-weft fide, where
he anchored in an inlet, but loft both anchor and
cable, the wind blowing with great violence from the
tops of the mountains. He was therefore obliged to
ftand off and on, the bottom of the bay being ftill en-
tirely covered with ice. This bay contained a great
many whales, on which account he alfo named it
JVhale Sound. The latitude of it is 77 deg. 30 min.
The weather being very fair, he kept along by the
land, till he came to a large bank of ice, behind'which
lay the land. On feeing this he flood back about
eight leagues to an ifland to which he gave the name of
Hakluyt's IJland. This ifland lies between two inlets,
riz. JVhale Sound and Sir Thomas Smith's Sound; which
latter runs to the north of 78 deg. and is alfo extremely
remarkable in one refpe£l, viz. becaufe in it there is the
greateft variation of the compafs of any part of the
known world. For, by divers very exact obfervations,
he found it to be above five points *, or 56 degrees
varied to the weftward. This inlet feems to be very
conveniently fituated for the whale-fifhery, it being
the largefl in the whole bay. That which induced
him to fail over to the ifland was that he intended to
fearch for whale-bone there. But the weather was
fo bad, that he could not land with the boat. The
next day the wind came more outward. The fea
was grown fo high, that he weighed anchor, and it
was tvfo days before he could find a good anchoring
place. This day the weather cleared up, and he dif-
covered a group of iflands at the diftance of about
10 or 12 leagues from the land. He could have wifhed

* The mariner's compafs is divided into 31 different points, or winds.
Now the whole com pals comprizing 360 degrees, each of thefe 31 point!
or winds mult amouot to iii. degree* ; confequently (ive points are cqu«l

to j6^ degrtf?.

indeed

indeed
permit
thefe i
Gary's
a flifF
accomp
entranc
Jones's
out fine
the fhij
again,
lated, tl
lying 01
eafy ga]
coafl, ^
and beg
1 2th da
named it
ing a pa
this inlet
. the fljon
came to
land as
furround
to the (
, .the ice,
it till he
in again
quite coi
to run ab
faft lockc
He kept
he founc
could not
41 min.
great qua
leagues.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 355

indeed to ftand over to them, but the wind would not
permit it, nor would he fpend any more time after
thefe iflands, which he diftinguiflied by the name of
Cary*s IJlands. He then Hood to the weftward with
a ftifF gale of wind, which was fucceeded by a calm,
accompanied by a fog, when he found himfelf at the
entrance of a large inlet, which he called Alderman
yones's Sound. In the afternoon the weather turned
out fine and clear ; and he fent a boat on (horc, whilft
the fhip kept on her courfe j but the wind getting up
again, the boat returned on board, and the men re-
lated, that they had fcen a great number of fea-horfes
lying on the ice along the coaft. Then having an
eafy gale of wind at h. N. E. they failed along by the
coaft, which began to trend more to tlie fouthward,
and began to have the appearance of a bay. On the
1 2th day he opened another great found, or inlet, and
named it James Lancajier^s Sound. Their hopes of find-
ing a paflage began now to decreafe every day. From
this inlet to the fouthward a ledge of ice ran all along

. the fliore j he therefore kept clofe by the ice till he
came to 71 deg. 16 min. where he could fee the
land as far as 70 deg. 30 min. Being now almoft
furrounded by the ice, he was obliged to ftand more
to the eaftward j for he expelled to be foon clear of

, .the ice, and defigned to have kept on the off'-fide of
it till he came to 70 deg. when he intended to ftand
in again to the fouthward ; but matters turned out
quite contrary to his expectation, for he was obliged
to run above 60 leagues through d)e ice, and was often
faft locked in it, thoijgh he kept his courfe due eaft.
He kept conftantly fo near the ice, that many times
he found it diiiicult to get clear of it j and yet he
could not get near the land till he came to 68 deg.
41 min. i when he faw the fhore, but by reafon of the
great quantity of ice could not come to it by 7 or 8
leagues. This was on the 24th of July, flere he

A a 2 continued

*n:]i

356

VOYAGES AND

continued for three days more, endeavouring ib come
to an anchor, in order to try tlic tide ; but the ice
carried him at length into the latitude of 65 deg. 40
min. upon which he left the weftern coaft entirely,
being now diredtly oppofite Cumberland StraitSy where
he had no hopes of a pafTage. He therefore found
himfclf under the neceflity of putting an end to his
voyage of difcovery, as the proper feafon for it was
already clap!cd, and his crew but weakly j fome of ththi,
indeed, being abfolutcly fick, and his cook even dead.
He now flood over to the coaft of Greenland^ aiid camt
to an anchor in the harbour of Cocking Sound, in lat,
65 deg. 45 min. Going on fhore on an ifland there,
they immediately found fome Greenland fcurvy-grafs
(Cochlearia officinalis varietas Groenlandica) forrel (Ru-
nt ex acetofa) and orpine (Sedum acre) in great quanti-
ty. They boiled the fcurvy-grafs in beer, and in a
week all the fick were perfedtly recovered, and con-
tinued well till their arrival in England. Soon after
their landing the inhabitants came and brought them
fome younj^ falmons and other fifh, which they barter-
ed for glais beads, counters, and pieces of iron ; and
which contributed very much to the recovery of the
crew. It was quite altonifliing to fee the great fhoals
of falmon that were fwimming to and fro in this har-
bour. The tide rifes in it about 18 feet. The crew
being perfedly refreflied, he fet fail again, and, in 19
days, faw land on tfie coaft of Ireland. On the 30th
of Auguft he anchored in Dover Road.

This voyage likewife, though in the higheft degree
worthy of attention, is but very imperfeftly known to
us from Baffin^s relation j and all the charts of the
newly-difcovered Baffin's bay have been merely laid
down from the obfervations made in his journal ; for
Purchas, who has publiflied fo many wretched, paltry
maps, was afraid of the expence attending the publi-
cation of Baffin's important chart, and it is therefore

probable

DISCOVERIES m the NORTH. 357

probable that it is entirely lod. The ftiDalc Grcen-
hindcrs on IVojnen^s IJlands had black. Ihcaks on their
tiices, raifcd above the lurt'ace of the fkin, and the
fame kind of decoration has been oblcrved to be ufed
among the Tungufts in Siberia, as alio on fome y^-
kutcs *. I'he gradually dccrcalc of the tide to the north-
ward feems to me to be a pretty llrong proof of its
coming from Davis's Straits, and that confequently this
liaiHn's \\.\y has no connection either to the north-
ward or the weftward v/ith the great ocean ; in which
cafe no p.iliage can be expelled to be found in the
whole bay. It is, however, aftonifhing, that Ba^n
Ihould haVc been the only perfon hitiierto that has ex-
plored this bay, and that after him no one has ever
ventured upon this fca. The whales, which are found
iicre in great abundance, may perhaps have purpofely
fcleiSled t'lis bay, which no mortal belldcs Baffin has
ever ni'vigated, for their refidencc, on account of the
fccurity ic affords them. The whale is a fubtlc ani-
m.il, and very capable of diftinguilliing the places v/here
frequcr.t chafe is made after him. — It is altonifhing
that all thofc who were afflidled with the fcurvy on
board of Bylot's fhip, (liould have been rertored with-
in eight or nine days by the ufe of frelh herbs and
Tifh. This proves that nothing contributes more to
caufe this kind of putrid fever than the want of fweet
air and of frefli provifion. It is pofllble, without doubt,
to retard, in fome meafure, the progrefs of this difcafe,
by the infufion of malt or fwcet-wort ; but as to curing
it radically, that can only be effeclcd on fliore, by
means of frefh provifions, and a diet conilfting chiefly
of vegetables.

XXVI. This lad unfuccefsful voyage of Bylct and
Bajin feems to have put almoft an entire liop to tiie
inclination of the enterprizing focietv above-mentioned
to promote any farther voyages to the north j neither
indeed do we find any one recorded for a long fpac?

I >

<h- m

H' fj'U'

* Vide jfohM Gea. Cmeli>t''s Trivzh to Sibeiia, Part I. ea^c 79. Pan
II. page ao8, Georgi'i Travels, Vol. I, page 254.

358

VOYAGES Avtfl

of time. Something, however, is mentioned of a voy-
age made by Capt. JVilliam Hawkbridge, or Hawk"
ridge. This is the fame perfon who, in 1612 and
1613, had accompanied Sir Thomas Button in his
voyage of difcovery. But the account is very imper-
fea: : for firft, it is entirely unknown in what year
this voyage took place : 2dly, neither is «t known at
whofe expence or at whofe inftigation it was under-
taken : nor, laflly, is it poflible to difcover the name
of the fhip in which Hawkbridge failed, nor from
what port he went, nor where he landed on his re-
turn to England ; it feems probable, however, that this
expedition took place after that of Bylot in 1616 ; be-
caufe Fox defcribes it quite at the end, after Bylofs ;
and that it was before that of Fox and Jamesy which
took place in 1631 ; becaufe the fame writer places
it exprefsly before his own.

Hawkbridge failed to the weftward, and, on the 29th
of June, found himfelf in the great entrance to Lum-
lefs Inlet \ and in fa6t: was the firft that ever was in
this inlet, for all his predeceflbrs had only imagined
that they were in it, but had at length found it prove
otherwife. He did not leave this inlet till the 8th
of July ; on the 9th, he found the pirmace again,
which had failed out with him. He was retarded for
a long time by ftrong currents and contrary winds.
Near Cape Charles he found a fmall ifland, and the
ground thereabouts feemed to promife a great quanti-
ty of fifii ; neverthelefs he caught none, "^he latitude
of the ifland was 62 deg. 19 min. The variation of
the compafs 3 deg. 9 min. The tide rofe 21 feet,
and fet to the fouth-eaft. On the 27th he failed farther
after making many efforts to this purpofe, he

faw liind on the 7th of Auguft, which appeared to him
to be Salijbury IJland. Towards the bottom of the
bay the latitude was 64 ^f^^. 30 min. j the variation
23 deg. 10 min. At length, on the 10th of Augufl,
ke came to Scahorfe Point. On the nth he went
deeper into tiie bay, till he at lafl found the lat. to
be 65 deg. N. He therefore tacked about, and ftood
for Diggs's Ijlar.d^ in order to try the tide there.

After

concern

■4

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 359

After this, he ftaid a few days off the King^s Foreland
and Mansfield Ijland. A little farther on, feeing firm
ice, he returned. On the yth of September he was
again near the Refolution Ifio 'U, On the loth the
pninace loft i.er boat, and pr< ably he haftened home,
for here the account breaks off.

This attempt of Hawkhridgis has difcovered no-
thing new, but that between Carey's Swans Ne/i and
the eaflern iflands he went as far s 65 dcg. where
Bylot, however, had already, in 1615, been before
him.

XXVII. After a long paufe, the fpirit v f enterprize
and invefti^ation again burft forth. Lucas Fox, a
man who from his earlieft years had ufed the fea,
and who was to have gone out with John Knight, in
the capacity of mate, in 1606, and fmce that time had
collected all the information he pofTibly could arrive at
concerning the progrefs that had been made in the
voyages of difcovery undertaken to the North, form-
ed an intimacy with feveral fkilful mathematicians of
his time, amongft whom he particularly cites Thomas
Sterne, who had carefully coUefted all the journals
and charis of the former voyages, with a view to his
profeffion, viz. the making of globes. After this he
renewed his former acquaintance with the famous ma-
thematician Henry Brigges, who made him acquainted
with Sir yohn Brooke, when feveral rcfpedlable peo-
ple formed an aflbciation for fetting on foot another
voyage of difcovery, which was, hov/ever, put a ftop
to by Henry Brigges's death. In the mean time Capt,
Thomas yames had perfuaded many merchants in Bril-
tol to fet on foot a voyage of difcovery in the north,
and thefe folicited Mr^. Brigges and Sir John Brooke,
to allow both fhips to go out together on this expe-
dition, a requeft which was willingly granted. Sir
Thomas Roe, who was returned from his embafly to
the Court of Sweden, and old Sir John Woljlenholmc^
were appointed by the King, to procure every thing
that might ferve to promote this voyage. The bre-
thren of the Trinity Houje were alio to give their
affiftance, and young Mr. Wdftenholme, afterwards Sir

John

360

VOYAGES AND

yohn Woljienholme^ was to be Treafurer to the whole
enterprize. The King {Charles I.) gave alfo one fhip
to it, and ordered it to be fitted out with all necefla-
ries in the moll complete manner, and to be vidualled
for 18 months. When Capt. Fox was prefented to
the King, his Majefty gave him a map, contrining
all the dil'coveries made by his predeceiTors, with in-
ftruclions and a letter to the Eniperor of Japan, in
cafe he fhould get into the South Sea, and reach Ja-
pan by the pafTage he went out to difcover.

Capt. Lucas Fox fet fail from Deptford on the 5th of
May, 1 631, in his Majefty's fliip CZ^tfr/^j, of 80
tuns burden. Oh the 15th he broke his main-yard
in two. He went to the Orkneys j but not being able
to procure a new main-yard there, failed on. After
pafling Cape Farewell in a fog, he fhaped his courfc
towards Hudfon's Straits. When he came near the
ice, he found that to the leeward of every lar^^e ifland
of ice, there floated a great many fmall pieces, form-
ed by the continual beating of the fea upon thefe
illands, and undermining them fo that they fell to pie-
ces by their own weight. At. length, on the 20th of
June, Fox faw land on the north fide of Lumley's
Jnlct. He was then in 62 deg. 25 min. N. lat. Find-
ing ice in this inlet, he was defirous of getting into
Hudfon's Straits ; but here like wife there was floating
a great deal of ice. He ftood over from Cape War-
wick on Refolution IJland, to Cape Chidley, or Button's
Ifiandi^ of which he diftinftly faw four. On the 23d
the morning was foggy, but later in the day the fun fhone
fo hot, that the ice as well as the pitch on the fides
of the fliip began to melt. In the ftrait was ftill a
great quantity of ice,' of which he obferves two forts :
firft, mountainous ice, of a very confiderable fize and
height, fome of which reached from 20 to 40 yards
above the furface of the water \ and next, jiaked Ice^
fome of which was above a rood, and fome two acres
fquare, but mod of it about one or two feet above the
v.atcr, and eight or ten under ; he water. On the 30th they
pafl'ed by a piece fomcthing higher than the reft 5 on this

lay

I; n

DISCOVERIES IV the NORTH. 361

lay a large ftone, weighing at leaft 5 or 6 tuns; beAdes
which there were other ftones on it, and Tome mud.
Thefe mountains of ice are formed on fliore by the
fnow, which the wind blows on to the fteep brow of
fomc high mountain, to which it adheres, and is
compacted into a firm and folid piece of ice, which
in the fpring becomes loofe at the approach of a thaw,
and rolls into the fea, carrying with it the earth,
flones, mud, and trees, which it before enveloped.
One night a mountain of ice came driving ilrait on
towards the Hiip j as it was deeper under water than
the jiaked ice^ the current confequently made it drive
fafter over than the latter, fome of which was be-
tween the {hip and the mountain, elfe this huge mafs
being already perforated by the action of the water
upon it, in confequence of its percuilion againft the
{hip might have burft ; when the broken pieces fall-
ing into the vefTel, might eafily have funk it, as this
mountain was 9 or jo fathoms (i. e. from 54 to 60
feet) above water, and who can fay how many under
it ? (perhaps 9 or 10 times as much, and confequently
the whole height of the mountain of ice was about
540, or even 600 feet). On the firft of July Fox was
oppofite to a fecond ifland, feparated from the Refolu-
iion IJlands, which in fome maps is called Terra I^ivea,
The weather was hot and clofe, but calm, fo that
they could not ftir for want of wind. On the 4th
he fent a boat to the north land, where they found
feveral huts deferted by the natives, as alfo a piece of
drift-wood, and the footing and dung of an animal
of the flag kind. On the 14th he faw a fea-unicorn,
about 9 feet long. The back, of it was black, with
a fmall lin upon it j the tail lay flat, tranfverfe with
refpedt to the ridge, and between the two peaked ends
was, as it were, indented. The fides were dappled,
black and white; the belly was all over of a milk
white ; the body, from the gills to the tail, was
fhaped like a mackerel's; but the head refemblcd that
of a lobfter, and on the fore part of it grew a wreath-
ed horn, fix feet long and of a black colour all over,
excepting jufl at the tip. The fame evening he faw 20

562

VOYAGES ANU

more fea-unicorns. On the 15th, feeing the iflands
of Saltjbury and Nottingham at 7 leagues diftancc, he
went fomewhat to the fouthward, out of the way of
the ice, and had ground in 160 fathoms. The ftones
brought up by the lead were of the fame kind with
thofe that ufuaily lay upon the ice, and are carried by
it from the main land ; thefe ftones confequently be-
ing by degrees detached from the ice, fall to the bot-
tom ; fo that in the fpace of fo many years it is not
to be fuppofed that any fpot on the bottom of the fca
hereabouts can be free of them. Here he obferved
that the needle had loft its powers, and gives his con-
jectures on this phenomenon, and on the caufe of it,
which he was inclined partly to deduce from want of
motion in the fliip, in confequence of its being be-
calmed, or from the action of the neighbouring
mountains, which perhaps might contain fuch mi-
nerals as had an inf uence on its magnetic powers j or
elfe from the cold benumbing it, and operating upon
it in the fame manner as it does upon us, or rather
from the fliarpnefs of the air interpofed between the
needle and its attra6live point, weakening the force of
its direction *. He was now near Nottingham IJlandy
whither he intended to fend his boat. He had ground,
with mufcle-fliells and ftones, at 35 fathoms. The
ebb came from the N. W. Their latitude was 63
deg. 12 min. On the 15th Fox made a very import-
ant obfervation : the ifiands Refolution^ Salijbury^ and
Nottingham^ were all three of them high on the call

* The celebrated Mr. Henry Ellisy who in 174(7 and 1747 made a voy*
*ge in the Dobbs galley to HuJfon\ Bay, obferved between the iflanda
and the higher latitudes, that the magnetic needle had loft its power.
As the probable caufes of this phenomenon, he afligned, ift, the mine-
ral!", by which poPibly the needle was ftrongly attrafted (as for inftance,
it is in the ifle of Elba) id, the proximity oF the magnetic Pole, and
finally, the cold vf the climate, which latter he confideied a* the tru*
caule; finding that the compaffes, as foon as they were removed into a
•warmer place, immediately recovered their ufual power and diretlion.
We fee, however, that Fox had obferved this fadt before hiro, and af-
igned nearly the fame caufes for it. After this can we refrain from ex«
claiming with tti* wiff maa, Then is ntthing new under the fun f

fide.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 365

^de, and low on the weft *. Here hq alfo faw a great
many Tea- horfcs. He faw the fame day, at a diftance.
Cape Pembroke on the main land of Gary's Swans Nejiy
where likewife were many fea^horfes. On the i8th
he was pretty near this 1 aft'- mentioned land, and on
the 19th, on a flake of ice, faw a white bear, which
after fome time they killed. It yielded 48 gallons of
oil i they ate the flefh of it boiled, and found it to
be good ; but when roafted, it tafted fiftiy and rank.
The fame night they faw a dark ftreak in the horizon,
and in the iky to the northward the meteors, known
by the name of Henbanes, or petty Dancers, which
were confidered by Fox as the fore- runners of a
ftorm to follow within 24 hours ; an event which did
not, however, happen. On the 21ft they were not
advanced much farther. They came to Carey's Swans
i^eji^ where they chaced many fwans, but caught
none, on account of the marflies, brooks, and pools
of ftanding water, fo frequent on this fliore. On the
24th they faw feveral feals in 62 deg. 20 min. N. lat.
but as for fowl there were but few of any kind. On
the 27th it was warm, even at night. There he faw
abundance of rock-weed and tangle (or Tang). Near
the main land on the weft-fide of Hudfon's Bay, he
difcovered an ifland in 64 deg. 10 min. N. lat. which
he named Sir Thomas Roe*s Welcome. They found
feme burial places of the natives, but not one human
creature alive. The fpears left behind in thefe fe-
pulchres were headed, fome with iron and fome
with copper. On the 28th he obferved a great num-
ber of filh leaping in the water, together with many
feals, and alfo a whale. He came at length to a
white ifland, to which he gave the name of Brook Cob-

I r <M

• Thif phyfico-geographical obfervation is of the higheft importance,
and feems to me to prove that at that time, when ihe It* built impeiu-
oufly into Hudfon's Bay, and tore away thefe iflands from the main land,
it muft have come rulhing from the call and fouth-eaft, and have walli-
ed away the earth towards the wcft ; a circumilance which hasoccafion-
cd their prcftnt low pofition.

h(/mf

~kU\

VOYAGES AND

bam^ after Sir John Brook, (It is alfo now called
MarhU IJland), They found fwans and ducks, and
a young bird with a long neck and head, of which
Fox did not know whether it was not an oftrich (pro-
bably it was a fpecies of crane). Their dog purfued
for a long time a rein-deer, but the quarter-m fter,
having neither gun nor. fpear with him, was obliged
to let the creature efcape, though the dog had brought
\t to a iland, boJth the deer and the dog having hurt
their feet very much on the- rocks, fo that they bled
copioufly. They faw alfo near the iHand about 40
whales, which were proba|)ly afleep there. Fox then
failed along the weftern coafl: oiF the main land, which
he kept conftantly in fight, and before which there
lay a great many fmall rocks. On the 20th the maf-
ter went on ihore on a fmall ifland, on which he
found a confiderablc quantity of fea-fowl (viz. black
guillemots, the Colymbus Grylle Linnai). He brought
alfo from thence a live dun fox (the Canis Lagopusy
or at^lic fox) and had feen two fea-horfes, one of
which he ftruck with a lance, which neverthelefs
efcaped, for want of the afliftanceof fome perfon be-
fides himfelf. They alfo brought a great quantity of
fcurvy grafs on board, from which Fox ordered the
juice to be prefled out, and mixed with a hogfliead of
ftrong beer, and commanded that every one that chofe
itfhould have a pint of it for his morning's draught}
but not a man on board would tafte it, till fuch time
as it was entirely fpoiled, and they were all terribly
aifli£ied with the fcurvy*. The ifland was called

Dun

* This is the confltnt complaint of all the Commanders of fhips st
fea. The private men will never fubmit to any innovation being made
in their manner of living; and were they to be ever fo fick, will not
make ufe of prefervative remedies. The infufion of malt, four crout,
together with (he bilcuits made at the Cape writh rye flour, and prepared
with four leven, were held by our crew in abhorrence \ and it was only
with great difficulty, and after having feen the officers make ufe of all
thefe means, and obferved the benefits refuiting with regard to their
health and prefervation cainft the fcurvy, that they confented to take
thtm too. It was juft the fame when at Nev) Zealand Capt. C:jk or-
iltrcd a kind of celeiy and creil'ct to be boiled with the peaie-foup i

tor

DISCOVERIES in tHE NORTH. 365

Dun Fox IJland, On the 31ft they came to a quantity
of iflands, which Fox named JBriggs's Mathematics.
The land along which they failed on the 3d of Auguft
was low, with here and there a little fand-hill, like
the coafts of Holland and Flanders. The farther
Fox removed from the fVeUomc^ the fmaller was the
height to which the tide rofe. On the gth he de-
termined at length to go into the Rivey Neljon, at the
mouth of which he faw feveral white whales. Here
he fet up his pinnance, and here found the remaihs
of Button*s winter dwelling, and faw numberlefs
white whales of the Aze of porpoifes. On the 15th of
Auguft the weather was very hot. On the 17th, high-
er up the river, they found blackberries, ftrawberries,
goofeberries, and fome vetches. They alfo faw the
footing of an animal of the flag kind, and hard by this
fpot the wooden frame of a tent ftanding, which had
lately been made, together with the nre- place, the
hair of deer, the bones of fowl, and other tokens,
that not long before men had been there. On the
1 8th they ^aw from on board the ihip a reindeer trot-
ting along the ftrand, but could not overtake him.
Having found Button's crofs overturned, they eredt-
ed it again, nailing an infcription on it, engraved on
a leaden plate, and named the land New Wales* As
they were not able to fail on the 19th, on account of
the wind being contrary, he once more fent the car-
penter on fhore to fell the beft of five trees feledled
by the mafter, to fupply the place of a main-yard.
None of them was of any tolerable flze, the wood
here being univerfally fmall ; for the thicknefs of the
mofs in which they ftand hinders them from taking
root deep in the ground. Hence it is, that for a (hort
While they grow out of the mofs pretty ftout, though

for many refufed to eat it till they faw the Captain^ the officers, and aif
the reft of us to eat it, ^vhen at iait they too condefcended to do the fame.
The fame difficulties occurred, when we iirft began to eat the dun-diverb
•ad pinguias in Tierra del Fugo^ as alio feals flelh ; but indeed, at
Icafth, from our example, the ct ew learosd to «at aimoft ooy thing.

thev

l-.iW

J66

VOYAGES ANB

thcjr neve: grow taM, and are eafily beat down by
dorms, and then peri(h. Of all the five trees point-
ed out, not one was ferviceabie, they being all rotten
within. The highcft tide that fpring had rifen to 14.
feet. But then the eafl: fouth-eaft, and eaft north-
eaft winds had forced the tide in, or elfe it would not
have rifen higher than 12 feet. From this place Fox
went along the coaft to the eaftward. On the 29th
of Auguft he for the firft time had fight of Capt.
James and his (hip, and converfed with him. On
the 2d of September he came to Cape Henrietta Ma-
ria, where the Ihores of the bay took a foutherly di-
rcdlion ; and thus far Hudfon had explored the bay«
Now likewife all the coaft was explored between Port
Nelfon and Cape Henrietta Maria. Confequently
there was no farther hope left for a paflage in this
part of the world, from 64 deg. 30 min. to 55 deg.
10 min. N. lat. Fox therefore was now defirous of
making fome frefli attempts beyond Nottingham IJland^
where before he had found every part choaked up.
with ice. To Cape Henrietta Maria Fox gave the
name of Tfoljienholme Ultimum Vale, Already, on the
6th, the mauer and the boatfwain were Tick. On the
7th Fox came to Carey's Swans Nejiy on which they
would have been ftranded if he had not happened ac-
cidentally to go upon deck. On the 8th he found
himfelf in 62 deg. 21 min. and to the north of him
was Cape Pembroke, At leno;th he camt to Seaharft
Point, and on the 15th faw Mill IJIe. The fails were
frozen as ftifF as vclJum. On the i8th he faw a
headland, which he named King Charles*^ Promontory,
and the point that lay to the north of it he called
Cape Maria, after the Queen. The former of thefc
is in lat. 64 deg. 4.6 min. the latter 8 leagues more to
the northward. To the north-weft of King Charleses
Promontory are three iflands, which together form an
equilateral triangle, and which he called the Trinity
Iflands after the brethren of the Trinity-Houfe. An-
other ifland, fome what farther fror-, the land, he
named Cook's Ijle, after his friend Wulter Cook, The
Queen's Cape was in N. lat. 65 deg, 13 min. On

DISCOVERIES w the NORTH. 367

the 10th he faw another promontory, fituated fome
leagues within the Ar£lic Circle ; this he named
Lord WeftorC^ Portland^ it having in fadt fome rc-
femblance with the Point of Portland in the firitilh
Channel. To the northward of this promontory the
land ftretches to the fouth-eaft, and this he called
Fox's Farthe/i, But the ifland, along the eaftern ccaft
of which Fox made thefe difcoveries, is in fome maps
called James Ijland^ though the extenfive country in
the fouthern part of Baffin*^ Bay^ oppofite to Difco
IJlandj is alfo called James*% Ijland, which has intro-
duced a great deal of diforder and confuAon into geo-
graphy*. Now Fox let out upon his return, and
gave names to every point of land on this coaft, and
to every inlet, and adjacent ifland ; and after paffing
on the 5th of Odtober, when already many of his
crew were fick, near Cape Chidleyj where the head of
his (hip by frequent dipping into the fea, was, as it
were, candied over with ice, the current drove him
with great impetuoflty to the fouthward. At length,
having croflfed the Atlantic, he got through the Chan-
nel into the Downs, on the 31ft of Odober, without
the lofs of a fingle man or of any the lead part of
the (hip's tackling.

The whole narrative of this voyage, together with
the occafional remarks made by Fox, ihews that he
was a fkilful and experienced navigator, and that he
even did not overlook fuch particulars, as would ra-
ther feem to belong to natural philofophy ; as, for in-
ftance, his obfervations on the ice, the tides, the
compafs, and the northern lights, which latter he
calls Henbanes and the Petty Dancers, We may add,
that Fox was of opinion, that if a paflTage were yet
to be found, it muft neceflarily be in Sir Thomas Roe\
ff^elcomey the tide being higher there than in any other
part of Hudfon's Bay, and there being moreover a
great number of whales about this fpot.

XXVIII. We have before obferved, that Cap?.
Thomas James had been fent on this voyage by foniC

* It would therefore be better to ctll this land Fox's IJlandy the ex-
trtnoe oorthero point of it having been difcovered by him.

merchants

"'■■' i

368

VOYAGES AM»

merchants at Briftol, in
tuns burthen, named the
London, and was prcf
King Charles I. and like

a ftrong-built (hip of 79
Maria. James went up to
d, by Sir Thomas Rae^ to
V, had letters given him
foi the Emperor of Japan. Directly upon this, he
fet fail from Briftol, viz. on the 3d of May, 1631.
On the 4th of June he came within fight of Green-
land, but was encompafled by mountains of ice. On
the 9th they had already Cape Farewell in the eaft.
On the lotn they were off Cape Defolation, from
whence to the iflands of Refolution it is about 140
leagues. The faw a great many high mountains of
ice : between the ice were many grampufles (Delphi'
nus Orca). The fea looked black, the fog was con-
tinual, thick, and fHnking. On the J7th he faw
the ifland of Refelution. At this juncture the motion
of the needle was impeded, a circumftance which
jfames attributed to the thick, heavy, and piercing
fogs. A ftrong current fet into Hudfon's Straits.
The fails and rigging of the (hip were frozen. The
ftraits were full of ice, ami as they were endeavour-
ing to proceed forwards, they were faft inclofed in it,
fo that they were driven with it to and fro. 'James
was entirely unacquainted with the voyages that
others had made before him to the northward, and
had purpofely avoided engaging any of the people who
had, previoufly to this, made a voyage to the north-
weftward, or to Spitzbergen ; confequently he was
entirely ignorant of what he muft do in this cafe, or
of the beft means of faving himfelf in fuch a fitua-
tion. The want of experience with refpedl to this'
point expofed him to inexpreflible fufFerings between'
the ice, and to the moft imminent danger of perifh-
ing in it, together with his (hip and crew. Having at
length worked through Hudfon's Straits with incredi-
ble difficulty, be ftood ftraiton to the wefternfhore of
Hudfon's Bay, where the veflel flruck more than once
on the rocks. He feldom got fight of the land on ac-
count of the ice. At length he met and converfcd
with Capt. Lucas Fox, between Port Nelfon and Cape
Henrietta Maria, as he called it, but which is in fadt
no other than lVolJlenholmt% Ultimum Vale* Then,

after

biSCOVERIES IN THB KORTH. 369

after he had taken leave of Foxi^ he came htrnfclf to
this promontory, which he firll named Henrietta Maricy
after her Majelty the Queen of England. 'I he feafon
for making difcoveries was now pretty nearly over ;
he fought therefore, quite at the end of the bay, for
a place to winter in. Aft.r encountering m:my ftorms,
and thoufands of perils, amongft the ice and the many
rocks which are found in that part of the fea, and
his fhip having two or three times Itruck on the (hoals,
he ran her himfelf a-ground on the ifland, which he
afterwards qallcd CharUton Ifland. With great diffi-
culty and danger they carried their provifions, cables,
fails and rigging, clothes and utcnfds, and a thoiifand
other neccflaries on Ihorc. T hty made themfelves
fomc miferable huts, of pieces of wood^ which they
placed in an inclining pofturc rou/id a tree, and co-
vered them with boughs of trees and with their faih",
which were foon covered over with a good thick bed
of fnow. Befulcs this hut, riiey built another, and a
ftore-ihoufe. 'I'he hands, feet, ears, or nofes of every
one of them were froft-bitten. Their clothes that
had lain under water in the Ihip, they were obliged
to dig out of the ice, and, after thawing them by the
fire, to dry them again. As they entirely gave their
(hip up for lollj they fet about building a Anall pin-
nace, with which they hoped, after having once got
over the winter, to fave themfelves from this dreary
place of exile. 'I'he cold was moft terrible here, in
N. lat. 52 deg. 3min. Wine, fack, oil^ beer, vinegar,
and even brandy froze to folid ice ; fo that they were
obliged to cut the firft of thefe liquors with hatchets and
axes. A well which they had dug, froze alfo : but
a fpring, at 200 or 300 flops from their dwelling,
did not freeze below the furface^ though at the fui fiice
it was covered with ice and fnow. The fun and the
moon appeared on the horizon twice as long as they did
broad, on account of the great quantity of vapours with
Nviiich the atmofphere vras fdled. The ifland wa»
tjuite covered with forefts, but contained but few rein-

Ht'cr, and fome

art^lic

foxes.
Bb

On the 3jft of Ja-
nuAry

'■!«■

370

VOYAGES AMD

nuary tlic atmofphcre was fo clear, that Capt. Jamee
could very plainly perceive more ftars by two thirds
than he had ever feen before in his life. The fca is
frozen over every night, two or three inches thick.
The half-flood breaks this ice, and drives the flakes
over each other, which freeze immediately togetlicr;
by this means the ice in a few hours time becomes
five or fix feet thick, and the number of flakes and
fields of ice is increafed to that degree, that the fca
is entirely filled with them, and the water cools more
and more every day, fo that at length it becomes in-
tolerably cold J for when Capt. James's people waded
in the fea-watcr in the month of December, though
it froze upon their legs, yet they did not feel it near
fo fenfibly as in the month of June, when to their feel-
ings it was fo (harp and piercing, that thev could not bear
t« wade in it*. In the month of I'cbruarv, that

, horrible

* It is very prcbsiblr that the generation of ice here indiCTtec! my he
one of ihv various meant; vhich Nature a^lualy maki-ii ulc of in the
oecononiy ofuur fyRcm. Shoit fighied and weak is that n.ortal W'hi>, i.u
obkrvin^ any particular method tinplo)ed by Naiun* in her (/peiaiions,
immtdiafciy c includes, that is the only way in which (he o[Kr*iei>.
Nature policfles a vaft variety of means for the atcomjliflimenl <jt h- r
purpofct:, of which that feeble creacure Man, csn foim n) adiqu le ujci !
Bnt the nioie wc cuntempUce this v;:fl proFufion of means, all ttndiiig lo
the fitrneend. thcfe wonderful and varied liokR in the complicatrd chain
of Nature's fylU-m, the belter we (hall become ac.iuainied with then;>
and the nearer will the refledling niiud approach to the i^t eat I'ourcc of
Being,

Qui mare ic terras vaiiifque mundura

tempcrat hoiis. Hon.

" Snow and hail, fire and vapour, wind and (lorm, fulfiiiini^ hii
wurd !" David.

Some, but by far not ail of ihsi'e means I liave memiincd in my Oh;er-
•vatiois The diily auRm«.'utati -n oi ihe co'diiels of thi; iea in winter, is
a^ certain as the greater inctf-ale of' the ict; there at that !'< afoii ; ytt ihc
circumftance here lelated of the ftiip's criw havii g bttu moie Icnfibli;
of cold in the'raonth of June than in Dicenibt;r, miy iiut be ultupcih.r

vtith. uc

DISCOVERIES IN TUB NORTH. 371

horrible difeafe, the fcurvy, made its appearance. They
bled at the mouth, their gums were fvvohi, and foinc-
timcs black and putrid, and all their teeth were loofe.
Their mouths were fo fore, that they could no longer
eat their ufual food. Some complained of (hooting
pains in the head, others in the bread, others felt j.
weaknefs in their reins, others had pains in their thighs
and knees, and others again had fwollen legs. Two
thirds of the crew were under the hands of the fur-
gcon, and neverthelefs were obliged to work hard,
though they had no (hoes to their feet, but indead of
fhoes faitened clouts about them. In the open air
the cold was quite infupportable, no clothes bcin<^
proof againft it^ nor any motion fufficient to keep up
their natural warmth. It froze the hair on their eye-
lids, fo that they could not fee, and it was with diffi-
culty that they could fetch their breath. In the woods
the cold was fomewhat lefs fevere, yet here they were
StfHided with chilblains on their faces, hands, and feet.
The leaft degree of cold was within doors. On the
outfide, the houfe was covered with fnow two thirds of
its height, and withinfide, every thing was frozen and
hung full of icicles. Their bedding was quite ftifr',
and covered with hoar fro(^-, though their beds were al-
mo(t clofe to the fire in their finall dwelling. The
water in which the cook foaked the fait meat froze
within doors, though it ftood but three feet from the
fire. But, during the night, when the fire was not fo
well kept up, whilft the cook flept only for four hours,
all was frozen in the tub into one lump. When af-

without roQndation. Heat and cold, at long as we do not judge of them
by a certain unalierable ttandard, are, witlirerpedt lo ihe huo.uu body,
mere relatire idea*. Now the external air in the month of June being
much warmer than it it in December, the coidnel's of the fea- water muit
■aiurally have afFid\ed the bodies of the failors more fenfibiy in June thaa
in December ; to this we may add, that in the Ipring Capt. jame»'> peopi*
were almofl: eniiitly debilitated by cold, fatigues, and icorbu. c- c>.m-
jilaints, which was notyet the cafe ia Deceir.bei, jult in the beginning
of the winter.

Bb2

terwards

aV':r

372

VOYAGES ANi!»

tcrwards tlie cook foaked the meat In a copper kettle^
clofe to the fire, to prevent it from freezing, the fide
near the fire was found to be quite warm, while the
oppofite fide was frozen an inch thick. All their axes
and hatchets had been fpoiled and rendered unfit for
ufe, by cutting the frozen wood, fo that Capt. James
fcund it neceJfary to lock up the carpenter's axe, in
order to prevent it from being fpoiled alfo. The green
wood that they burned in their dwelling almoft fufFo-
cated them with fmoak ; that which was dry, on the
contrary, was full of turpentine, and produced fo much
foot, tliat they themfelvcs, all their beds, clothes, and
utenfils, v/ere covered with it ; and, in Ihort, they
looked like -I'imney-fweepers. The timber, knees,
beams, and bent pieces, wanted for the con{lru»5tion
of their pinnace, caufed the greateft difficulty, as the
trees, before they could fell them, were obliged to
be thawed by the fire. After this, the pieces were
firil hewn out in the rough, then dried again, and
at leji2:th worked into the laft form that was to be
given them, and fitted into- each other j for which
purpofe they were obliged conftantly to keep up a
lar^c fi.ic near the flocks, as otherwife it would have
been impofiible for thc^.i to have wprked there. Many
of thtin were dlfubled by the fcurvy, or had frozen
limbs, boil^, and fores j others, were every morning fo
contracted in their joints by the rheumatifm, tliat it was
ncceilary x.o reftore the fijpplenefs and pliancy of their
Hmbs by fomenting them every morning with warm
water and a decodion of the fir-tree, before they were
able to go a ftcp forward, or to make ufe of their
h;=nds. In the month of March the cold was as fcvere
as in the rnidd of winter ; in April the fnow fell in
preater quantities than it had done duiing the whole
winter, but the flakes were large and rather moiil,
while in the winter, the fiiow was dry, like dull ;
even on the 5th of April, the fpring which we men-
tioned, tliat they hp.d ibund, was frozen. An ifland
v.'hich vs'as iiiiiute at the dillaiicc of four lergiies from

thuni.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

373

them, they could never fee from a fmall hill in fine
weather, and when the air was clear j but, on the
contrary, when the air was thick and full of vapours,
the ifland was vifible, even from plain, level ground.

They now began once more to clear away the ice
in the fhip's hold, and to feeic for the rudder, which
the ice had beat off the year before ; they wifhed lilce^
wife to fee whether poiiibly the iliip was not tight
enough to carry them fafe home. With this view
they all worked very hard, and were fortunate enough
to clear the ice away by degrees, to get the anchors
on board, to find the rudder again, and to bring it
on deck, and likewife to find the Ihip tighter than
they had expected. Having cleared away fome of
the ice, they found water in her hold. At low water
they flopped up the holes which they had bored in
her then^lelves the preceding autumn with a view to
fill the hold, and thus to render her heavier than be-
fore, and keep her Iteady, fo that the fea miglit not
lift her up from the bottom, and in letting her down
again, dafli her to pieces. They found both the
pumps, thav^cd the water which was frozen in them,
and fet about pumping the water out of the hold.
On the laft day of April it began to rain, which to
them was a fign-of the fpring's approach. On the 2d
of May it fnowed again, and was excefTively cold.
This made the ficic very low-fpirited, and their dif-
orders ihcreafcd to fuch a degree, that they fainted
away whenever they were lifted out of bed. Geefe
and cranes came now flying in great numbers, but
they were extremely fhy. Even 01; the 8th, the froft
was fo intcnfe, that the ice would beaf a man, On
the 24th the ice broke in the bay, with a very great
noife : in the day time the fun (hone very hot, but at
night it froze. On the laft day of May they /aw
here and there fome vetches fpring up, which were
carefully gathered, and drefled for the fick, During
the whole month of May the north winds ciiiefly pre-
vailed. On the four firft days of June they had much
fnow, fleet, and hail ; and it was fo cold that the pools
were covered with ice, and even the water in tiieir
pitchers was rro?,en within doo^s, and their newly-waPned

M ■

5' ta

374

V O YAGES AND

linen continued frozen the whole day. They now hove
up the anchor, and found the cable in good condi-
tion. On the 9th, all the ficlc were fo far recovered
by the eating of the green leaves of the vetches, that
they could make fhift to creep about in the houfe, and
were even able to bear the air ; and thofe who had
been leaft enfeebled were grown tolerably ftrong. Tl^e
green vetch-leaves were dreff^d twice a day, and eaten
with oil and vinegar. They likewife bruifed the leaves
and mixed the juice with their drink. They alfo ate
them raw with bread. On the nth they hung on
their rudder, which, for many days before, they had
not been able to accomplilh, on account of their
weaknefs. They alfo lightened the (hip, by heaving
out her ballaft. On the 15th all the fick v/cre (o
far recovered, that they could walk about ; their pa-
lates and gums were quite found and well, and their
teeth were no longer loofe, fo that they could now
eat their green vetches with beef. The fea was ftill
frozen and full of ice. On the i6th the weather was
vej-y hot, and they had thunder and lightning : it was-
fo ftot indeed, that they were obliged to bathe in order
to cool themfelves. But now an incredible quantity
of mufquitoes (Clucx pipiens) made their appearance^
which tormented them extremely j at the fame time
there was feen a great number of ants and frogs :
but the bears, foxes, and fowl, had totally withdrawn
themfelves. On the 20th they got the fhip into deep
water, though there was ftill abMrnd;jnce of ice lying
about. 1 hey alfo began to rjg thp (hip again, and
to carry their provifjons on boarq, tbgether with their
fail*, clothes, and other neceflafies. On the 2d of
July they fet fail again. At Cape Henrietta Maria
they met vvith feme flags, but their dogs could not
overtake them ; James, therefore, put thele latter
animals on Ihore, they being a dog and a bitch, and
left them there. They got, however, half a dozen
of young geefe. After working with infinite labour
and difficulty through great quantities of ice, till the
22d of Auguft, he came to Careys Swans Nejl, and at
}en;;th to Nottingham IJIancl. Upon this, confidering

thiit

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 375

that the feafon for making difcoveries was now elapfed,
that he had but a fmall flock of provifions left, and
that his {hip was very crazy and leaky, he refolved
to make for England with all pofllble fpeed. He was
of opinion, that there was no paflage to be found,
and that for the following reafons: ift, Becaufe the
tide in every part of this fea comes from the eaft
through Hudfon's Straits, and the farther it goes, the
later it arrives at every place within the ftrait and bay.
2dly — Becaufe thefe feas contain no fmall fifn, fuch as
cod, ftockfifli, &c. and few large ones, which likewife
are feldom feen. Neither are there any whalebones,
nor any fca-horfes or other large fifh found on the
fhore i nor is there any drift-wood here. 3dly — Be-
caufe the ice in 65 deg. 30 min. N. lat. lies in large
fields or flakes on the tea, becaufe it is generated in
the flat bays, but if there was a great ocean farther on,
nothing but large mountains of ice would be found,
fuch as are at the entrance of Hudfon's Straits, and
farther on to the eaftward. 4thly and laftly, Becaufe
the ice drives eaftward through die flraits into the
great ocean, by reafon that it comes from the north,
and has no other way to go out by. — Having clear-
ed the ftrajts, they crofied the Atlantic, and cam^
to anchor in Brijiol Road on the 22d of 0£lobe/,

It cannot be denied, that Jameses voyage contains
fome remarkable phyfical obfervations with regard to
the intenfenefs of the cold, and the great quantity of
ice in thefe climates ; but relative to the difcovery of
new regions, countries, and feas, we do not find
the fmalleft hjnt. His arguments to prove the non-
exiftence of a paflage in thefe feas, are by no means
fatisfadlory. Por, ift, his firft pofition is true only
in part : in the fouthern recefs of the bay the tide dc-
creafes in height greedy, and alfo arrives there far later
than at the mouth of the (traits ; but it does not fol-
low from thence that this is every where the cafe, par-
ticularly it is not fo in Sir Thomas Roif JVelcome^ where
the tide is even higher than it is at the mouth of Hudfon's
Jitraits j and yet even there it does not come from the

wtlh

;il

376

VOYAGES ANjii

weft. 2d, Fox found many whales near Brook Cobka^n
Ifland (Marble Ifle) and 2i\(o mdny fea unicorns i con-
fequentiy this argument holds good only with refpei^i
to the other parts of the bay. The 3d and 4th argu-
ments are, in fadl, one and the fame ; and as there is
always rtuch water coming from the northward, v^hich
breaks the ice there in pieces, and drives it out of Hud-
fon's Straits to the ealtward, this would rather induce
one to draw an inference in favour of an influx from fbine
other fea.

XXIX. After the enterprizes of Fcx and James^

there feemed to be no farther difpofition in the public to

give its fupport to fimilar undertakings. But in the mean

-time a burgher of Canada, named De Grofelie^ or De

Grojfeliers^ an enterprizing man, and who had travelled

very much in thofe parts, had happened to come with the

Canadian favages into the land of Outaucas (Utawas,

fituate on the river of the fame name) and at lenjith

penetrated fo far into the country, that he got inteliigence

concerning Hudfon's Bay, and its fituation. When he

was returned to ^ebec, he joined with fome of his

countrymen in fitting out a bark for the purpofe of ac-

complijhing this difcovery by fea. Soon alter he fet fail,

And landed within the mouth of a river, which tlie favages

call PinaJJiwet fchieivar.^ i. e. the tearing Jiream^ which

is fituated bi!t one league from the river Pa-juiriuiwagau^

or Port Nelfon River. He fixed his refidence on the

fouth fide, on an ifland three leagues up the river The

Canadians, as being good fportfinen, arrived at length,

in tlie midft of winter, 2.1 Port Nelfon River (which the

VxtnchcdWcd Riviere de Bourbon) and there difcovereda

fcttlement of Europeans. He therefore went thither

with his people, in order to attack them, but found

only a miferable hut, covered with turf, and cor/aining

fix half-ftarved people. A fhip from Bo/ion, in New-

Engknd, had put them on fhore, on purpofe to look

out for a place where they, together with the whole

crew, might pafs the winter. The ice had in the

mean time driven the fhip, with the reft of the crew,

out to fea again, nor divl they ever hear any thiiig

fai-tlia

DISCOVERIES iw the NORTH. 371

f^irthcr of either. But that very fame winter Crt^
feillier received intelligence that at 7 leagues from the
place of his refidence, there fubfifted another fettle-
nxent of Englilhmen on the banks of Port Nel/on**
River. He intended to attack thefe alfo •, but learn-
ing that they lived in a fortified place, he chofe a day
for this undertaking on which the £ngli(h are ac-
cuftomed to make merry. Accordingly he went on
Twelfth-Day to put his defign in execution ; and
found them all fo drunk, that though there were So
men of them, tl ..y could not defend themfelves ia
the leaft; fo that he made them all prifoners, though
he had no more than 14 Frenchmen with him. In.
confequence of thin, he remained mafter of the coun-
try. GrafeilUer afterwards explored the whole diftrift,
and returned with his brother-in law, Ratiffon^ to
Quebec, loaded with abundance of rich furs and Eng-
liJh merchandize. He left, however, his nephew,
Cbouartf and five men in poffcffion of the conquered
port. Inftead of being well received in Canada for
his good conduct, he had a difpute with his employ-
ers on account of Tome plunder, for which Grofeillier
and his people had not accounted. He therefore fent
his brotjSer-in-law, RatrJ/on^ to France, to complaia
of the injuftice he had fuftered, who, however, wat
|iot liftened to. He then went himfclf to France,
and reprefented to the Minifters the importance of
his difcovery in the moft favourable light he could^
but neither he nor his reprcfentations met with the
leall attention. The Englifti Ambafl'ador at Paris,
Mr. Montaguey who was afterwards created Duke of
Adontague (and to whom the prelent Britifh Mufeura
formerly belonged, the Englifh nation having bought
it of his heirs) having heard of Grofdllier's offers,
and of the unjuft treatment he had met with from the
Miniflers, fpoke with him, and gave him and his
brother-in-law letters to the Count Palatine Rupert^
in London. This Prince was a great patron and en-
courager of all laudable and ufeful enicrprizes, and
law perfcdly well, that great advantages would re-
fult to England from fuch a feuljcmeiu. Accord-

i'i

;iM

37l VOYAGES akd

ingly a King's (hip was fitted out in 1668, under the
command of Capt. Zacharias Gillam, and the two
Frenchmen went with him. Capt. Gillam went as
far as to 75 deg. N. lat. in Baffin's Bay, and then
flood into Hudfon's Bay, in the moft foutherly end
of which, on the 29th of Sept. he entered Rupert's
River; where he pafled the winter. This Rupert*s
River comes out of the great lake MiJlaJJie^ and dif-
charges itfelf into the fouth-eaftern corner of Hud-
fon's Bay. On the 9th of December they were fro-
zen in, in the river, and went on foot over the ice
to a fmall ifland overgrown with poplars and Ame-
rican firs. In April the cold was almofl entirely
gone, and the natives draggling in thofe regions,
who are pofleflcd of greater fimplicity as well as
goodnefs of heart than the Canadian favages, came
to vifit them. On the other hand, the Noclways, or
EJkimatix (who probably bad their name from the
rtver Nodway, or indeed may have given their name
to the river) are far more uncivilized and cruel. It
was here that the Englifli built the firft ftonc fort,
which they called Fort Charles, and to the country
round it they gave the name of Rupert's Land. At
length, after having completely performed his com-
miiHon, Capt. Gillam returned and left (he fortification
garrifoned with a fufficiert number of men.

But K. Charles 11. even before Capt. Gil'am had fct
out on his voyage homewards, had granted to Prince
Rupert, and to divers Lords, Knights, and mer-
chants, afTociated with him, a charter, dated the 2d
of May, 1669; by which his Majcfly rtiled them
the Governor and Company of Adventurers trading from
England to Hudfon's Bay; and in confidcration of their
having, at their own coils and charges, " under-
taken an expedition to Hudfon's Bay, in the north-
wefl parts of America, for the difcovery of a new
pafTage into the South-fea, and for the finding of
fome trade for furs, minerals and other confiderable
commodities, and of their having already made, by

fuch

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 379

fuch their undertakings, fuch difcoveries as did en-
.courage them to proceed farther in purfuance of the
(aid defign ; by means whereof there might probably
arife great advantages to the King and his kingdom,"
abfolutely ceded and gave up to the faid undertakers
the whole trade and commerce of all thofe creeks,
feas, ftraits, bays, rivers, lakes, and founds, in what
latitude foever they might be, which are fituated
within the entrance of Hudfon's Straits ; together
with all the countries, lands, and territories upon
the coafts and confines of the faid feas, ftraits, bays,
Jakes, rivers, creeks, and founds ; fo that they alone,
and to the exclufion of all others, fhould have the
right of trading thither; and whoever (hould infringe
this right, and be found felling or buying within the
f^id boundaries, fhould be arrefled, and all his or
their merchandizes (hould become forfeit and confif-
rated, fo that one half thereof (hould belong to the
King, and the other half to the Hudfon's Bay Com-
pany.

Such was the beginning of a commercial compa-
ny, which has fubfifled without interruption ever
ilnce the year 1669, and (lill fubfifls the fame, ex-
cepting that from the year 1697 to 17 14, the French
have been in pofTeflion of Fort Bourbon^ or Tork Fort^
on the river Nelfon, They have at prefent only four
fettlements in the whole extent, vaft as it is, of this
bay. The ftrft. Fort Prince ef ffales, on the river
Churchilly is alfo called Fort Churchill^ on account of
its being ere£ted on the river of this name, and is
the moft northern of thefe factories. It is in 58 dec;.
55 min. N. lat. and 95 deg. 18 min. weft o{ Greenwich,
'l\\t fecond is Tork Forty on the River Ntlfony where
the French formerly had their Fort Bourbon. The
third is farther from thence to the fouth-eaft, and
hears the name of New Severn. The laft and moft
Ibuthern one is fituated entirely within Jafnes's Bay^
and is called Albany Fcrtj on the river Albany.
I'ormerly there were alfo fomc fadlories at Moofe Fort^

38«

VOYAGES AND

at Fort Rupert^ and on the eaft lide of James's Bay in
Slude River ; but it feems that at prefent they arc no
Ipnger either occupied or vifitcd by the Hudfon*s Bay
Company. The entire fum which conftitutes the
original funds of this Company, amounts to 10,500!.
fterling ; every holder of lool. ftock has the right of
voting, and every one who is poflefled of more than
lOol. of the faid original ftock, has as many votes as
he has (hares or hundreds of pounds. But if a (hare
be divided among feveral pcrfons, they are intitled
all together to no more than one vote. By degrees
this iociety has railed the price of their wares, and
lowered that of the commodities of the natives of
America and of the E/kimaux to fuch a degree, that
the commodities exported from England to Hud-
fon's Bay, will only freight four fmall (hips, which
fcarcely require 130 failors to man them, and amount
to about 4C00I. reckoning tht m at prime coft. Thcfc
exports confift of mufkets, piftols, powder, (hot,
brafs and iron kettles, axes, hatchets, knives, cloth,
blankets, baize, flannels, ftcels and flints, gun-worms,
hats, looking-glafl'es, fi(h-hooks, rings, bells, needles,
thimbles, glafs beads, vermilion, thread, brandy, kc.
&c. With thefe commodities they buy (kins, furs,
caftor, beaver furs, whalebone, train-oil, and eider
down, to the amount of more than i2C,oool. fter-
ling. Now this would be at the rate of 25,500!.
for every loocl. difburfed by them, or 5250I. per
cent. But from this wc muft deduct the duties, the
cxpence of ^ ' iig out the (hips, the pay of the of-
ficers and faii.^is, the maintenance of the fortifications
and fadpries, and of the people belonging to them ;
and yet, even then, there remains to them a very great
profit. The general opinion is that the proprietors of
this ftock, who are at prefent not 90 in number, gain
about 20CO per cent. As for certainty with refpe«^
to this matter, there is none j for the Company tranf-
acts all its afFairs with the greateft fecrecy. Thus
inuch, however, is certain, that no trade in the
world is fo proritubl<J as this of Hudfoj;i's Bay.

Bur.

a gre
of a
this
its r
free

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 381

,But, on the other hand, it is equally certain, that
as the Englifh nation in no branch of commerce is
a greater lofer than in this, nothing but the fandity
of a charter granted by Government, can protect"
this commercial Company, fo very detrimental to
its mother country. If the trade was made entirely
free and open, more than 50 or 60 Ihips would go
every year to Hudfon's Bay, and, inftead of i;jo
failors, 2500 would be annually maintained and
brought up for the fcrvice of the ftate. Thefe 60
(hips would alfo yearly export to the value of ioo,oool.
or I20,oool. of wart;s and Englifli manufadtures^
which would greatly cncreafc the manufa<5turing bu-
finefs, and would provide for a conAderable number
of poor, and give them employment and mainte-
nance. Add to this, that thefe North- American pro-
vinces might alfo be better peopled and planted with
Engliih colonies. For, were they but removed to
the didance of fome miles inland, and from the fea^
which is covered with vaft quantities of ice, and by
this means rendered intenfely cold, they would find
weather far milder, and a more temperate climate ;
where they might cultivate themfelves, in great abun-
dance, all thofe neceflarics of life which it is at pre-
fcnt inripoflible to raife on the Ihores of Hudlon's
Bay. This would enable them to eftablifti by de-
grees, ftill farther and farther inland, fettFements
and habitations, of Europeans. Now the farther they*
went to meet the Indians, and to carry their merchan-
dize to them, the more confiderable would be the
ftock of beaver and deer-lkins, and other furs and
peltry, that they might get from the(e people, and
afterwards carry in large European boats to the
fa6lories by the fea-fide. A good huntfman among
the Indians can kill 600 beavers ; but he can carry
no more than :lco beaver-fkins to the factories on
the fea in his fmall boat, made of the bark of birch :
the remaining 500 he makes ufe of for his bed and
bcd-cloaths, or hangs them up on trees as tokens of
remembrance., when any of his children happen to

die .

■ -}: ■!*

38i

VOYAGES AMD

die; or elfe he Hnzes the hair ofF, and, broiling thtf
fkin, eats it as a dainty at their fcafts } or perhaps
throws them away, and leaves them to moulder and
rot. It is dill wori'e with refpedl to the deer-fkins,
of which the Indians, comparatively fpealcing, carry
but very few to the factories by the fea-fide ; for in
the year 1740, at their firft public lale, the Company
fold about 26,970 beaver fkins of different kinds, and
only 250 deer-flcins, and 30 elk-fkins, when they
kept back three-fifths of their merchandize for the
next au6lion. Now the Indians have a notion, that
the more deer they kill, the more the number of th<"in
will increafe ; for which reafon, when they come into
a country where the animals are very numerous, they
wantonly kill as many as ever they can, though in
fadl they make no ufe either of the fkins or of the
flefh, on account of the great plenty there is of them }
the confequence of which is that they are all left to
rot on the fpot. But if they had a place, not too far
diftant to refort to, inhabited by Europeans, to whom
they could fell their /kins and harts-horns, they would
undoubtedly rather prefcrve them than deflioy them
thus wantonly and without occaflon. Confequently,
by making more new fettlements of Europeans in
the country, the quantity of merchandize would be
augmented five or fix, or perhaps ten- fold, fiefides
t.ic mutual concurrence of a variety of chapmen
would allure the Indians to make greater efforts Co
procure a larger quantity of goods, and confequently
encreafe and extend the trade very much. To this
we may add, that in the northern parts of Hudfon's
Bay there are a great many whales, fea-horfes, and
leals, the killing of which would be very profitable,
and might ferve to freight part of the fhips in tha
bay. Higher up in the country likewife there is ex-
cellent timber fit for mafts and yards for the royal
navy, as a!fo very fine oaks, which would make
keels, knees, bent timbers, and planks, as alfo pipe
ftave^ in abundance, an article which at prefent be-
gins

DISCOVERIES IN THfi NORTH. 383

gins to be fcarce almod every where, and is fold
at fuch extravagant rates, that it is almoH; impoiB-
ble to go to the price of it. Now, if there were
plantations of any tolerable exten^ in thofe parts,
the felling and forting of fuch (hip and other timber
would caufe the money to remain in the kingdom,
which is now carried out of it; and the royal dock«
yards would be fupplied with ftores of good (hip-
timber and mads at a much cheaper rate than they
are at prefent. But however detrimental the trade of
the Hudfon's Bay Company is to the Britifh ftate,
it is neverthclefs ilill carried on ; and though the
Company is now and then threatened with an enqui-
ry, by a Member of Parliament or two, yet th« Pro-
prietors always take care to adduce fuch folid and
weighty arguments againft it, that matters are fufFered
to remain in the old pofition, and they are left unr
difturbed in the pofTeiTion of their lucrative com-
merce.

XXX. The mifcarriage of the attempts made in
Hudfon's Bay, and the eftablifhment of the Hudfon's
Bay Company, were now powerful obftacles to the
undertaking of new difcoveries in thofe parts. 'John
JVood^ however, an experienced feaman, who had paid
particular attention to the voyages that had been
made to the North, propofed once more to feek
for a (horter way to Ja^)an, China, and the Eaft-
Indies, between Nova Zembla and Spitzbergen. The
King gave the (hip Speedwell for this expedition,
and the DukeofYork^ Lord Berkley^ Sir Jofeph WU-
Itamfon^ Sir john Banks ^ Mr. Samuel Peeps, Capt.
Herbert, Mr. Dupey, and Mr. Hoopgood, bought a
pmk called the Profperous, and gave the command
of it to Capt. WUliam Flawes, that both might fee
out together on this voyage of difcovery. On the
28th of May, A. D. 1676, they fet fail from the
Buoy at the Nore, On the 17th and iSthof June
they found themfelves in 70 deg. 30 min. N. lat. had
7 dcg. variation, and faw a great number of whales.

3«4

VOYAGES ANtt

On th* 19th, in the morning, after foggy weather
and rain, they faw abundance of fca-birds and finHOi
(Balana Phyfalus), Soon after they defcricd land,
viz. the iflands at about 20 leagues to the weft of
the Korth Cape. From hence they ftccrcd nearly
north-callward, and fo early as on the 22d of June,
in 75 dcg. 59 min. faw ice, which extended from
W. N. W. to E. S. K. The pieces that were
broken off from the ice formed various whimfical
figures The large ice-field, though low, was yet
very uneven and rough ; the flakes lyinii fome by the
fide of, and others upon each other. In fome places
they obferved high hills of a quite a blue ice, whilft all
the reft of the ice was as white as fnow. Here and
there alfo they found drift-wood between the ice.
^omc ice which they took up and melted yielded
frefli water. Near the ice they had ground with 151?
fathoms, and the lead brought up v/ith it a green and
foft ore. The current fet along-fide of the ice S. S.
Eaft. -Jn the 26th of June they faw two fea-horfes
lying on the ice; but thefe animals, though they were
wounded, made their efcape from them int'^ the fe?.
At midnight they had ground, with 70 fathoms and
green ore; the next evening they faw land from the
eaft to the fouth-eaft. It was at the diftance of 15
leagues, and qu'te covered with fnow. On the 7.'ji\\
they found that the ice lay clofe to the land of
Nova Zembla^ fo that they could not pafs between
the land and the ice. On the 29th the (hip ftruck
wn fome rocks that lay hidden under the water.
They faved only a few provifions j nd tools, and with
great difficulty got the crew on Ihore, after lofing a
great quantity of provifions, together with the Cap-
tain's papers and othor things, by the overfetting of
one of the boats. IJcing aftiorc, they were at a great
lofs how to get away from thence. On the 8th of
July they efpied nt length Capt. FJawes's fhip, and
made a great fire, in order to Ic t him know where they
were, upon which he Avnt his boat to their relief, and
took them all on board his fh'p. Almoft the whole of

Novd

great

deg.

DISCOVERIES IM THE NORTH. 385

Kova Zembla was covered with fiiow, and where there
Was no {how the land was marftiy, as it were, and over-
crown with a kind of mol's, bearing a blue and yel-
low flower. Having dug two feet deep, they found
every thbg frozen like ice. 'J he lower hills arc
free from mow, but the higher mountains are in all
probability covered with an eternal fnow. They
found in the country reindeers in abundance, alio
fome artSlic foxes, and a fmall animal, like a rabbity
but not quite fo large as a rat, and fome birds like
larks. Every quarter of a mile almoft, there is a
flream, which however proceeds only from the melted
fnow. The mountains they found confifted of flate,
but nearer to the fea they met with good black mar-
ble with white veins. The variation of the needle,
IFood found to be 13 deg. to the weft ward. Tha *
tide rifes eight feet, and flows diredly againft the
ihore, but not along it, which he confidcrs as a proof
that there can be no pafl'age to the northward ; but
as the .tide in thefe feas muft neceflarily come from
the weft and fouth-weft, it ftands to reafon, that at
fuch a diftance from the influence of the moon, it
muft be very weak, and confequently cannot rife to a
great height j and then as the tide comes from the
fouth-weft, it cannot flow otherwife than in a dire£k
line againft the ihore of a headland that ftands out to
the north-weftward. The fca-watcr he found very
fait and very heavy, nay, falter in his opinion, than
any he bad ever tailed in his life : though at the »ame
time it was fo clear and limpid, that tt the depth of
80 fathoms he could plainly fee the bottom of the fea,
and even diftinguiih the different mufcles there. The
point ofF which fVood loft his ihip he named Point
Speedwell^ after his fliip, and fuppofed it 10 be in 74
deg. 30 min. N. lat. and 63 deg. E. long, from Lon-
don. But as, according to his chart, this point muft
be the fame with that which in the Dutch and the
new Ruilian charts is called Trooji Hoek^ or Point Com-
fort^ it would rather feem, that the latitude of the
"place ihould be 77 deg. 40 min. and the longitude 85
deg. eaftward from i" erro ; whilft, according to his
coinput.'Uion, it was only So deg. 34 min. from Ferro.

C c Thou-^h

*^^:

r i.

%.\

■ ■■ i\
4' *i

386

VOYAGES AND

Though Jf'ood\ journal contains hardly any thing but
the ihip's reckoning, yet he does not appear to have
been fufficiently exadt in his computations and obfcr-
vations. — Having now faved all the remainder of the
crew, they failed ftraight back to England. In their
way homewards they faw the Faro Iflands, and next
came within fight of the Orkneys and Caithnefs<f \n
Scotland, and at length arrived, on the 23d of Auguft,
at the Buoy at the Nor-e, from whence ^cy had fet
out.

' XXXI. The royal charter having been granted to
the Hudfon's Bay Company, partly on the account
that they had undertaken, at their own expence, a
vopge of difcovery for the purpofe of finding a paf-
fage into the South-Sea, and had made fo great a
progrefs, as to be in hopes of difcovering it, it fliould
ieem that thefe motives aUedged by the King for
granting the Company fuch extenfive privileges and
advantages., would have excited them to purfue this
difcovery iVxW farther with uncommon ardor j but in
fail thefc very advantages which had been granted to
them, produced the dired contrary efFeft. The great
profits they actually derived from this trade made
them fear, Icail Government, in cafe of the paflage
being found out, might recall their charter, and grant
it to the Eaft-India Company, or perhaps even open
a free trade to thofe parts. On this account they en-
deavoured to conceal as much "as poffible the true fitu-
ation and nature of the coafts of this country, of the
feas, of the neighbouring nations, and, above all, of the
profitable trade carried on to thefe parts. As the property
of all the lands bordering on Hudfon's Bay is vefted in
this Company, and as the favages adlually repair thi-
ther, for the fake of trade, from very remote parts to
the fouth-weft and weft of the Bay, it may truly be
laid, thai: about 80 people in England are the propric-
• tors of a country far more extenfive than England^
Scotland, and Ireland, taken together. The members
of this Company are accufed of having even endea-
voured to bribe thofe who had any knowledge of thefc

feas

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 387

feas and coafts, and who were apprized of the proba-
bility of a paflage into the South-Sea. However,
that they might not be faid to do nothing, they fent
the Captains Knight and Barlow out, with a fhip and
a floop, for the purpofe of making difcoveries. Ac-
cording to Ellis's account, this happened in 17 19.
On the contrary, Drage^ the clerk of the California^
aflerts that it was in 1720; but nothing more is
known concerning them, than that they went out, as
nothing farther has ever been heard with refpect tQ
either of the two ihips.

XXXII. As neither of thefe (hips ever returned,
they were fuppofed to have been damaged, or perhaps
even deftroyed among the ice, and their rcfpedlive
crews, it was conjectured, had been faved, and might
poffibly be ftill fubfifting in fome part of the land
within the 63d deg. N. lat. This report being ap-
parently founded on the vague relations of the £fki«
maux, there was no dependence to be placed on it.
However, as foon as the Hudfon's Bay Company re-
ceived this information, they immediately gave orders
for another floop to be fent out to make fearch after
the people that had gone with the two fhips of Knight
and Barlow, and at the fame time to make what dif-
coveries and obfervations they could. Accordingly
the floop fet fail from Churchill river on the 20th of
June, 1722, under the command of Capt. Scroggs.
\n lat. 62 deg. he purchafed from the inhabitants
fome raw whalebone, and fome fea-horfes teeth.
In 62 deg. 48 min. he fent his boat out after a
piece of drift-wood, and found it to be a foremaft,
which had been broken off 5 fett above deck. Scroggs
proceeded till he came into the Welcome, where he
named one point Whalebone Pointy and the fouthern-
moft ifland was called Cape Fullerton. Here he faw a
great many black whales, and alfo fome white ones.
Having fent his boat on ihore, the people that went
in her faw many reindeer, geefe, ducks, and other
wild-fowl. He computed that the tide rofe 5 fathoms,
for he had meafured it with the lead and line from
on board his Ihip while it lay at anchor, when he
found 12 fathoms ground at high water ; but at low

C c 2 water

\v^

I' a

} i't

'Wi

388

VOYAGES AtiD

water only 7, which would make a difFerenqe of 5
fathoms. This obfervation, however, was defe£live ;
for as a fljip that lies at anchor always changes her
place with the tide> Scruggs muft neceflarily have pre-
fuppofed, that the bottom of the fea, where the fliip
lay at anchor, was every where at an equal diflancd
b(;low the furfece ; a very falfe fuppofition, the expe-
riment on which it was founded being made, not by
a fettled ftandard a(hore, but by a line from the ihip.
Two riorthern Indians, whom Seroggs had with hini»
aiid who had parted the winter at Churchill, told him
of a rich mine of native copper, which was to ba
found on the coaft, quite laid open, fo that, in fact,
they needed only to go thither with a boat, and might
immediately take in a lading of it; they had even, as
a proof of their aiTertion, brought fome pieces of cop-
per with them ;to Chur.chiiU They had alfo at
Churchill drawn on parchment with charcoal, the fitu-
at ion of the coaft from thence to the fpot j and as far
as the (hip was then come, the fketch perfectly cor-
refponded with the real fituation of the country. One
of thefe Indians had teftified a defire of being dif-
niified, as he was only about tliree or four days jour-
ney from the ufuai place of his abode, a requeft which
Scroggs^ however, refufed him. Scroggs mentions in
his journal, that he had l>een in the IVelcouie^ but
could go Jio farther, on account of a ridge of rocks
that lay in his way. But it appears evidently,' that
he never had been in the IVelcome^ but only in a
bay, which is, in fa6t, known by tliree different
names, being called Pijiol's Bay, Rankin's Inlet, and
alfo James Douglas's Bay. That well-known iflancf
called Marble Ijlandy and which likewife was before
known by the name of Brook Cohham, .ies at the
mouth of this bay, and confequently it cannot be
miftaken. The ridge of rocks was the occafion of
Scroggs not proceeding any farther. The Indians,
who very much wiilicd %o return home, had pur-
pofely made up a ftory concerning fome hindrance
or obftaclc, only to induce him to tack about, and

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 389

let them go. Many of his crew, too, were defirous
of returning that fame feafon to London. They
, were therefore anxious left the fhips belonging to
the Hudfon's Bay Company (hould not only be al-
ready arrived at Churchill, but even might be gone
home. Now the boat which Scroggs had fent out,
being advanced fomething farther into the bay, the
people who wifticd to fet fail for England, returned
immediately, faying, that they had been as far as the
ridge of rocks mentioned by the favages, and could
not go a ftep farther. Now this was fufficient to
perfuade Scroggs to return home, an'*, to give out,
that he had himfelf been to the ridge of rocks, though
the fa«St was quite otherwife.

This voyage which, like all the reft, mifcarried,
had many original defers. Scroggs was by no means
fit for condudtipg an expedition of this kind, being
dcftitute as well of the previous knowledge, as alfo
of that active and enterprizing fpirit, neceflary on thefe
occafions. Neither were the people employed in the
voyage inclined to purfue thefe refearches with con-
ftancy and ardor, their voyage home to England being
their chief obje<3:, an object which made them lofe
fight of every other j and finally, they did not go the
right way to profit by the information given them
by the favages, or to make it worth while for thefe
people to go farther with them. And here I cannot
help making fome obfervations on the multiplicity of
appellations given to one and the fame place, and on
the confufion it caufes in geography. But this con-
fufion becomes ftill greater, when the fame name is
given to two different places or countries. In JVager
Straits^ which we Ihall have occafion to mention
hereafter, is a haven named Douglas''^ Harbour ; and
the place fometimes called Rankins's Inlet^ is by others
called Pijiol Bay, and alfo Mr. James Douglases
Bay, Now it muft certainly be allowed that the
man who firll introduces fuch appellations, as tend

¥■

y I

■ 1

3^o

V OYAGES AND

to create confuTion, is not very foUicitous about the
perfpicuity and exa<Sbiefs of geographical defcription }
and we are forry to find that, in confequence of af-
fuming, befides the Cook's Strait between the two
iflands of which New Zealand is compofed, another
Cook's Strait in the North, between Afia and America,
the greateft geographer of the age fhould come under
this defcription.

XXXIII. The accounts given by Button and Fox^
together with the report of the laft navigator, Capt.
Scroggs, excited in the year 1733, the attention of Mr.
Arthur Dobbs to all thefe circumftances, and particu-
larly to the high tide in the Welcome. He alfo re-
ceived fome information refpedling thefe points from
Capt. Chri/iopher Middletotiy who had navigated thofc
feas many years in the fervice of the Hudfon's Bay
Company. Accordingly he applied to the Company*
and by dint of importunity obtained, in the year I737»
a floop, together with a fhallop, which, however, went
only to 62 deg. 30 min. N. lat. where they found a
great number of iflands, and fomc white whales ; and
in a cove where they anchored, the tide flowed 10 or
12 feet, and came from the north. The above im-
perfeft account is all that is known at prcfent of this
voyage of difcovery.

aXXIV. Mr. Dobbs finding that this voyage, made
by order of the Hudfon's Bay Company, hav" been
performed in a very flow, tedious manner, with very
little ardor,, and indeed with a wilful negligence, ap-
plied to Government, which ordered a bombketch or
Jloop^ called the Furnace^ to be fitted out, the conduct
of which was entruiled to Capt. Cbrijiopher Middle^
ton., who till then had been in the fervice of the Hud-
fon's Bay Company. To this was added the Pink Dif-
covery., commanded by Capt. William Moor, Both fhips
went cut in 1741, and came to Churchill River.,
where they fpent the winter; and having got every
thing ready, let fail again on the ifl of July, 1742.
Middleton, according to the inftrudtions given him,
was to fleer to the N. W. after having gone through
Hudfon's Straits, and paflcd by Careys Sii-ans Neji.,

and

during

being

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

391

and to purfue the fame courfe till he (hould fall in ,
with the north- weft land, at Sir Thomas Roe's JVel-
^antty in 65 degrees N. lat. On the 4th he faw Brook
Cobhatriy or Marble IJland^ covered with fnow, in 63
deg. N. lat. and in 93 dtg. 40 min. W. long, from
London. The variation of the compafs he found to
be 21 deg. 10 min. weft ward. On the 13th he faw
a very high cape or headland on the north-weft fide
of the Welcome^ in 65 deg. 12 min. N. lat.
and 86 deg. 6 min. W. long, which he named Cape
Dolfbsy and behind it he difcovered an opening bear-
ing N. W. which he entered. This ^z named
IVager River^ after Sir Charles IVa^er. The northern
promontory upon this river was afterwards named
Cape Smith. The entrance into Wager River is in
65 deg. 24. min. N. Jat. and 88 deg. 37 min. W.
long, from London. Withii! this valt body of water
they found great quantities of ice, and behind fome
iflands on the north fide of it was an inlet which they
called Savage Soundy in confequence of having feen
Ibme EJkimaux Indians there : on the fame north fide
alfo there was another inl^' where the EJkimauxy
which were come along wii.. them from Churchill,
fhot fome reindeer, and thence it was nr.med Deer
Sound, (Thefe Efkirr.aux having never been here
before, had not the leaft knowledge of the country.)
Having fpent fome weeks in this ftrait, they went at
length farther to the north-ealtward along the coaft,
on which they at laft difcovered a very fair headland,
and behind this headland the coaft trended to the weft-
ward ; this tiiey took for the moft northern point of
America, and named it Cape Hope, Having worked
during the whole night through a great quantity of
ice, in the morning after the fun had difperfed the
fog, they faw land all around them, and alio a large
bay, which they entered, and went to the very end
of it. The tide came from the eaft, and flowed
flowly, as it does in a place where it has no paflage.
The variation of the compafs was 50 deg. Nothing
being to be expeded here, he called it Reptilfe Bayy
and afcended a very high mountain, from whence he

faw

>*ir

39*

VOYAGES AND

faw the whole ftrait, which was about i8^ or 20
leagues in lengthy lying in the diredion of S. E. by S.
At a diftance he faw high land, which he took to
be Cape Comfort^ on the land now made out to be an
ifland, on which Carey*s Swans Nejl is, and oppofite
to which, in an oblique diredlion, is Lord WefiorC^
Portland, difcovered by Fox. Middleton having vi>-
fited all thefe parts, bore away to the fouthward again,
in order to explore, agreeably to his inftrutHons, the
weftern coaft of the Welcome from Cape Dobbs to the
ifland of Brook Cobham, but found no opening there.
Near this ifland he fent the tv/o EJkimanx he had
with him aftiore, after making them handfome pre-
fents, and immediately afterwards fet fail for England.
The ftrait from Repulf' Bay eaftward, towards Capr*
Comfort, lies nearly in 67 deg. N. lat. and had no
anchoring grct^nd clofe to the Ihore, but was very
deep, and confequcntly very dangerous for the fhip?,
which were without a harbour or any place of fecu-
rity, in cafe of a ftorm. Concerning this voyage,,
there arofc a very warm difpute between Mr. Dobbs
and Capt. Middleton, The firft was of opinion, that
the latter had wilfully concealed or at leaft mifre-.
prefentcd fome difcoveries, in order to curry favour
with the Hudfon's Bay Company, who had always
been difpleafed whenever any voyages of difcovery,
or expeditions for finding out a paflage into the South
Sea, had been undertaken in Hudfon's Bay, which had
been ceded to them by Government.

XXXV. This difpute was carried on with much
acrimony on both fides. The arguments adduced by
Mr. Dobbs, which were founded on fails, mentioned
by Middleton himfelf, were examined, and it was the
general opinion, that Mr. Dobbs was in the right.
The Aim of io,oool. fterling was raifed in fliares of
jool. each, for the purpofe of undertitking a nevi?
voyage of difcovery, and at length two Ihips were
fent out, viz. the Dobhs galley, commanded by Mr,
IVilliam Moor, and the Califorvic, under the command
of Mr. Fra. Stiiitb, which fet fail toc;ether from Grave-
fend o\i the 2Cth uf May, 1746. Bein^^ ai;rived at no

^redt

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. ^9^

J^reat diftance from Cape Farewell^ they pafTed for
btne time through a great quantity of drift-wood^
which Mr. Henry Ellis defcribes as being pretty large
timber. He is of opinion, that as Egede had feen in
Greenland, in 67 deg. N. lat. birch-trees, dms, and
other kinds of wood, about 18 feet high, and as
thick as a man's leg, this drift-wood mufl proba-
bly have come from thence ; and that as the weflern
coails, as well of Nonvay as of Greenland, are
colder than the eaftern, fo the timber growing on
the eaftern might furpafs in fize that growing on
the weftern coafts. But the quantity of wood grow-
ing in Greenland, and even in the ftill warmer coun-
try of Iceland, is fo fmall, that if for ten years to-
gether only as much of it fhould be converted into
drift-wood, as is a(^ually feen floating about, not a
Aick of it would have been left in the end. Beildes,
the wood never grows fo near the fea as that it could
be eafily wafhed into it. Finally, an enormous quan-
tity of drift-wood is found in the fea between Kamt'
fchatka and America^ and along the northern coaft of
Siberia. Near Bear's Ifland, off* Spitzbergen, as alfo
off Iceland, we find drift-wood in abundance, a$
well as on all the iflands extending from Kamtfchat-
ka to America, Is this, too, to be deduced from
the few trees which grow in Greenland, far from
the fea, in a valley, (beltered from the cold winds i
This, it muft be owned, is far from probable ; but
the great rivers in Siberia, which pafs through re-
gions quite overgrown with wood, to the diftance
of many miles, and into 'vhich other large ftreams
difcharged themfelves, which ftreams alfo come out
of woody countries ; the Petfchora^ for inftance, th«
Qbj the yenifea^ the Lena^ the Chatanga, the Jnaba^
ra, the Jena, the Kolyma, the Indigirka^ the Anadyr^
and the Aniur^ are all large and confiderable rivers,
which, at the thawing of the ice in the fpring,
carry from their overflowed or undermined banks an
inconceivable quantity of trees aiong^ with them into

i
i

\ ' *1l

* .Hi

394

VOYAGESand

the Tea. What vaft quantities of wood the rivers of
the American continent, in King George ^ Soundj
Sandwich Sounds and Turnagain River ^ in the CheU'
wereny which empties itfelf into Norton's Sound, and
in Gygy, carry along with them into the fea, we ftiall
not find it difficult to conceive, if we do but con-
fider the fize of the rivers, the elofenefs of the trees
in the forefts, and the great floods which conftantly
take place in the fpring. The river St. Lawrence^
and many other North American rivers, carry vaft
quantities of wood along with them into the fea, as
well as thofe in Newfoundland and Labrador, as I
have been aflured by people who had been upon the
fpot, and even fpent the winter there, and confe-
quently had feen the breaking up of the ice, and the
thawing of the rivers. To this muft be added, that the
rivers in Hudfon's Bay, but chiefly the Churchill, Hayes,
Port Nelfott, Albany, and Mocfe Rivers, together with
many others in like manner carry wood into the fea
from the innermoft parts of the country, where alfo
grows timber of a confiderable fize. From all thefe
confiderations taken together, wc are likely to form
31 better conjedture from whence all the drift-wood
found in the northern fcas, proceeds, than by having
recourfc to the trifling and fcanty woods of Grcen-
J^Hid.

On occafion of the firft large ice which they found
in the neighbourhood of Hudfon's Straits,, Mr. Ellis
fuppofes the hil to be, as Middleton fays, viz. that
it proceeds from a quantity of ice and fnow accu-
mulated for many years back, which is detached every
fix or feven years only, and carried into the fea by
a great inundation; at the fame time, however, he
endeavours to combine this with the opinion of
Egede, whoexprefsly afTerts, that it is nothing but
large pieces broken oft from the ice formed on (hore.
There may, however, be ftill other caufes befides
the foregoing ; e. g. in the beginning of winter the
ice on the whole lea in Baffns Bay, Davis's

Strait s^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 39^

^'traitSi and Hudfon*s Bay^ fets in l^illcalm weather fome
inches thick : now, when by ftorms and high tides,
this ice is broken into flakes, thefe flakes are driven
over each other, and freeze together, Jo as to forna
thicker maflTes than before, and at length accumu-
late, fo as to make entire mountains of ice. I have
myfelf, in the Polar Seas, feen mountains of ice,
compofcd of regular layers lying over each other,
and each of them nearly of an equal thicknefs. fiut
fome of thefe mafics would have '^ ip layer of ic«
quite tranfparent, and over it anotuci quite opakc,
Avhich occafioned me to conclude, that ihe ice be-
fore its being broken into flakes by the wind or tide,
muft have been quite covered over with fnow, and
that the fea wafhing over the fnow, had ;:onverted
it into a thick opakc ice, till the winds drove the
flakes over each other, and thus formed a mafs,
compofed of alternate layers of tranfparent and opake
ice. It is, however, alfo poflible for a mafs of
fnow to be blown, by ftorms, over a high promon-
tory, on to the frozen fea lying beneath it, and there
compofe a very high mountain of fnow, which in
the fpring, being moiftened by the rains, by rivu-
lets formed of melted fnow, and by the fea itfelf,
freezes in this flatc to a folid and compact body.
Now this huge mafs is a mountain of ice, which
the ftorms and high tides detach from the fhore,
and drive to and fro in the fea j and who can take
upon him to enumerate all the different modes in
which ice is generated ? But to return, the adven-
turers made faft to a large piece of ice, and filled
their empVy cafks with frefh water from the ponds
they found on the ice. On the i8th of July they
had a violent ftorm, with thunder and lightning,
which all thofe, who were ufcd to navigate to thole
parts, looked upon to be fomething exceedingly rare
and extraordinary. Ellis is of opinion, that the
northern lights kindle and difperfe the vapours, re-
quifite to the formation of thunder and lightning.
J3ut though this may be one reafon for the defi-
ciency here fpoken of, it ftiould alfo be confidered,
that where the earth is covered, with fnow for io

lon'T

. '\:

396

VOYAGES AND

Jong a time, as it is in, this cafe, no fuch elcilric
vapours can afcend from it. But if thcfe cleftric va-
pours come, in great abundance, as they do for in-
ifance from the volcanoes in Iceland and Eaft
Greenland, they will then likewife caufe thunder-
ftorms.

The breaking afunder of their flake of i«e obl'ged
them to make faft to another, till they got more
room, and by good fortune were able to proceed in
their voyages.

On the nth of Auguft they difcovered land to the
vreft of the IVelcomty ^d came to Marble IJland,
Here they made obfervations on the time, direction,
vejocity, and height of the tide ; and found that
the tide came fr6m the north-eaft, and confequently
followed the courfe of the coaft ; and farther, that
at the full and new moon they had high-water at
four o'clock ; and that the tide rofe to the height
of 10 itQt. They then went immediately to their
winter quarters at Port Ndfon^ where they met with
but little aflifta nee from the fervants of the Hudfon's
Bay Company. On the ift of July, i747» they
again fct out in order to make frclh difcoveries, for
v/hich purpofe they had made their long-boat parti-
cularly convenient, by railing, lengthening, and ad-
ding a deck to it ; this being done, they named it the
Refolution. Not far from Knight^s IJland the needles
of their compafles loH: their magnetic quality ; after
many trials they found it necefl'ary to keep the com-
pafles warm, when their magnetic power began again
to fliew itfelf. They faw feveral EJkltnaux, one of
whom, an old rnan (hewed their little (hip, which
had ftruck once already, the beft way ; which is
certainly a proof of the good difpofition of thefe
people, when they are treated humanely and with
kindnefs. Their boats, which they fent out, dif-
covered a very large and broad inlet, but which has
never tbeen explored quite to the end; by fome it
was named Cowmen's InUt^ after the fecond pilot,
mate of the CaliforiiiH; but others named it Chef-
terfield's Inlet, in PFager Water they failed in boats
quite to the end of it^ wh<ye it terminates in rivers

and

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 397

and in a frcfh-water lajce» fo that there is certainly
no paflage to be cxpcftcd in that water. The Eflci-
maux fold them frcfli buiFaloes fleih (probably fleih
of the m\^Jk ox of thefe parts, a kind of baftard ox,
not mentioned by Linnaeus) and alfo furniihed them
with dried deers flclh and dried falmons. In this
water they faw feals and black whales in abundance.
Having made fome more fruitlefs attempts, they
failed again for England, and befides Chejierfield'%
Inlety and another inlet that is fituated beyond
Knighfs IJland, there is no farther hopes for a paf-«
fage in thefe places, fo carefully explored by them.

aXXVI. After this laft voyage of difcovery, all
farther attempts to find a paflage in the north were
fufpended for a long time. The arguments adduced
by that great navigator and commander. Admiral
Anfon, had rendered the Englifli nation attentive to
the fettling of Falkland' % IJIands in the Pacific Ocean.
Accordingly the late Admiral, at that time Com-
modore Byron, was fent in 1764, to Falkland's IJlandsy
and returned in 1766. Dircdly upon this, the Cap-
tains Walli$ and Carteret fet out on another voyage
round the world in 1766, and returned in 1768. In
this fame year 1768, Lieutenant Cook was fent cut
with a fingle (hip, accompanied by Mr. (now Sir
Jofeph) Banks and Dr. Solander, to obferve at O-
Taheite the Tranfit of Venus through the fun i and
haviug fulfilled his commiffion, went out on dif-
coveries ; and brfides difcovering many iflands in the
neighbourhood of 0-Taheite, found alfo, that New
Zealand confifted of two iflands, which are fepa-
rated from each other by the genuine Cook's Straits.
After this he difcovered on New Holland a coaft of
more than 600 leagues in extent, and, after failing
through the Endeavour Straits to the Molucca Iflands,
and Batavia, at length, in .771, arrived fafe again
in England. — Now the grand queftion ftill remain-
ed to be decided, whether there are any large
trads of land fituated in the fouthern hcmifphert;?

Cook

: '-i

'-'^"

:H't1

- m

f/'':!
p '

•;:H;fc?

398

VOYAGES AMO

Cook was fent out alfo on this important and ex«
tremely difficult undertaking, in which my fon and
I accompanied him. He fet out in 1772, and was
the Hrfl who failed eajiward round the globe, all
the other twenty circumnavigators having made the
voyage wtjlivard. From this expedition he returned
in 1775, crowned with honour and immortal fame.
But whilH we were navigating round the South Pole,
Teas choalced up with ice, his Britannic Majefty
was gracioufly pleafed to gratify the wifhcs of the
Royal Society, by fending two (hips out in 177^* for,
the purpofe of exploring the Frozen Sea near Spltz-
bergen. The one was called the Race-horfe, com-
manded by Capt. Conjiantine John Pbipps^ now Lord
Mulgrave\ the fecond was the Carcafs^ under the
command of Captain Skeffington Lutwidge. They
fet fail on the 4th of June from the Nore. On
the igth they were in 66.deg. 54 min. N. lat. and
in o deg. 58 min. wcfl: longitude from Greenwich,
"^rhe variation of the needle was 19 deg. 11 min.
W. The next day there being a calm almoft the
whole day throughout, they founded .with a very
heavy lead the depth of 780 fathoms, without get-
ting ground. At this depth Farenheit's thermome-
ter was at 26 deg. and in open air at 48I- deg. On
the 28th, about midnight, they faw land to the eaft.
On the 29th they were in N. lat. 77 deg. 59 min.
pretty near Black Pointy on Prince Charles*^ IJland^
which the Dutch call Zuydhoek van bet Voorland, One
of the mountains on Spitfber^en, in 7,8 deg. 22 min.
they found to be 1503 yards, or 4509 feet high.
On a low Ifland oppolite the IVaygatSy or H'tnlopen
StraitSy they iaw two reindeer, ttie one of which
they killed, and found it very fat. They alfo faw
there a light grey-coloured fox, and an animal fome-
Vvhat larger than a weafel, with fhort ears, long
tail, and i:s fkin fpotted white and black. The
ifl::nd abounded with fmall fnipes ; the ducks were
now hatching their eggs, and a great number of

the {hore. The
middle

wild-;^eefe were feeding

along

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 399

middle of the ifland was covered with mofs, fcur-
vy-grafs, and forrcl, and a few ranunculufcs then
in flower. Soon after they were befet by the ice ; at
length, however, they difengaged thcmfclves from
it, after having been to the fouth-wcft of the fcven
iflandsr They tried alfo how far they could go to
the weftward j but the ice lay there very clofc, and
as immoveable as a wall. During a hard gale, thejr
tried the temperature of the fea in that ftate of agi-
tation, and found it conlidcrably warmer than thae
'of the air; an obfcrvation which had been made al-
ready by Plutarch. Finding now, that on account
of the ice it would be impofHblc to proceed any far-
ther, they refolved to fail homeward.

XXXVlI. Capt, Cook being returned, in I775t
from hi:i fouthcrn voyage, without h<<ving made tho
idifcovery of any large continent, it ftill feemed nc-
xeil'ary to learn the fituation of the lands in the Tea
between Aiia and America, and for this expedition
Cook again was chofen. The Refolutiorty on board
of which he had before made the voyage round the
Southern Pole, was given him again, together with
the Difcoveryy the command of which was given to
Capt. Charles CUrkt, who had already, once with
Byron and twice with Cook, made the voyage round
the world. Both Ihips left the Thames in the year
1776} but Cook fet out on his voyage to the Cape
on the 1 2th of July. Clerke^ a man of a noble difin-
terefted fpirit, had been fecurity for the debts of his
brother Sir John Clerke, at the time that he went on
board a King's (hip to the Indies. He having died
in India, his creditors would have come upon Capt.
Charles Clerke for payment. Some people of rank
who wifhed him well, advifed him to go into the
King's-Bench, as the fum that Sir John owed was
pretty confiderable, and much more than his brother
Charles was able to pay. An adt of grace which
came out foon after, let many thoufands of prifo-
ners at l.berty, and, amongft others. Captain Gierke
regained his freedoni towards the end of July, and
let fail in the D'j'cou.ry from Plymouth on the ift

•'1

( 1

ii II

' m

400

VOYAGES AND

of Auguft. They arrived in Table Bay on the totft
of November, where the Refolution had been alrea-
dy three weeks before them. Cook now explored the
iflands difcovered by Marion and Kerguelen, went to
Van Diemen's Land, Crom thenge to New Zealand^
and lofing the advantage of the wind, was obliged,
ftead of going ftrait on ^o O'^iahiilUy to fail fir<l

to the Fr,,ndly Ijlands^ a id in going along, difcover-
ed a few more iflands nut feen before. From thenqe
he went to 0-Taheite, and the neighbouring Soci-
ety Iflands, and having left Qmai there, vvent into
the South Sea J in order to explore the northern he-
mifpherc. Here hedcfcried, not far from the Equa-
tor, an uninhabited low ifland, abounding with
turtles, which he thence n^med Turtle If and. After
this he went tc the Trppic of Cancer, in the vici-
nity of which he difcovered a group of iflands,
where the inhabitants received him with great kind-
nefs, and where he procured very gopd refrefliments
fcM his c.x%w» On the 7th of March, 1778, in 43
deg. 10 min. N, Isc. and 235 deg. 50 min. E. long,
from Qrfenwichy they difcovered Cape Blanco^ on the
comi of North-America; On the 30th, with a view"
to I'jpair their ihips, they went into a harbour
which they pamed King Qeorge^s Sound, but which is
now gent^rfilly called Nonika Sound, and which is i^
49 deg. 38 mia. N. lat. and 233 deg. 12 min. E.
long. froii> Greenwich, Capt. C<fak, having taken in
water and refrcihmentf>, and got new maiis for his
fliip, fct fail again. On the 12th of May both
fliips ran into an inlet, which they named Sandzvich
Sound, now called Prime JVilliam'^ Sound ; it was fitu-
ated in about 60 deg. N. Jat. and CAtcnded far into
the land. Farther to the weftward he found another
found, and a confidcrable river that emptied itfelf
into it, which he named Turna^rain River, As the
coaft began to tiend to the louth-wefV, ?.nd they
met with many rocky iflands along the coart, they were
ol^ligcd to take every precaution poilible to avoid be-
ing (hipwrecked. Once, in a very thick fog, the
Refolution 'as alarmed v^'irh . a gieat noile; they
threw out tSe had, and ininicdiately uficv anchored,

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 401

as did the Difcovery lilcewife j an(| a few hours after.,
^he fog clearing up, they founa themielve^ in a deep
harbour, quite Airrounded with rocics, between whicH
they had pafled in the darlc : this they named Provi^
dence Bayi and found that it was in the ifland of Oona-
lajhka^ an ifland difcovered by the^Ruflians, and Atu-
ated in 54 deg; 18 mjn. N. lat. After a fhort ftay^
Cook purfued his courfe along the .oaft of America,
and gave names to many points of land and bays,
though for a great part of this track he w^as not able
to get npar the coaft, on account of the fhallownefs
of the fca. The halibuts {Pieurone^ies Hippogloffus)
and cod (Gqdus morrhua) which they caught in iiich
quantities, that ihey not only vtrere enabled to pro-
vide an agree^bl^ fre(h food for the whole crew, but
could alfo fait down'feveral thoufand pounds, ferved
conflderably to encreafe their ftoclc of provifions,
which began to dimini(h very faftj and viAbly to de-
fray. At length Capt. Cook arrived on the coafl of
Afia^ in 66 deg; 28 min. N. lat; and 188 deg. 3
min. E. long, frorti Greenwich, and then flood along
this coaft into the flraits not far from thence, which
feparate Ada from America. Thefe ftraits on the
Afiatic fide are inhabited by the Tfchucktfchi, who very
frequently go .over to the American coaft, though
they are likewise often at war with the inhabitants of
thofe parts. As probably the North -Americaris,
wheii they peopled this part of the world, crofled the
ilraits before the Tfchuktfchi did, thefe ftraits diight
to be called after them \, but as we are ignorant of the
name of the trilie which crolP*d them firft, and as
hefides the Tfchuktfchi ai-e a lavage and barbarous
jiation, thefe ftraits ihould perhaps be named after
Semen DeJ'chnew, a CofTack Chief (or Kafatfchia Go*
Iowa) who in 1648 firft went out of the Kolyma with
two Siberian Kotfchi (a kind of Ihip) to the Anadyr
and the Olutora, and confequently was the firft who
fitiled through thefe ftraits : or perhaps after the
C/coclxfift Gwofdef, who, in 1730, failed between 65
and 66 deg. from the coaft of the ITchuckfchi to X
foreign coaft oppofitc to it. Neverthelefs it woula
be ftill rr.orc proper to make this ftrait a kind of

D d monumeiit

i^-i

,.<

402

VOYAGES AND

monument to the very dcferving and truly great na-
vigator Veit Beringy by naming it, after him Bering*^
Straits, And here agftin, in fpite of the enmity with
v^hich 1 am falfely charged againft my friend, the
immortal Cooky I cannot refrain from putting in my
caveat againft the naming of this ftrait after him.
His name will never be forgotten even though there
were not already a ftrait called after him in thie fouth.
He knew perfectly well what was moft fuitable for
htmfelf. The ftraits he difcovered in New Zealand
he named after himfelf, Cook's Straiti, as being the
fruits ,of his own refearches and perfeverance. He
was never ufed to reap where he had not fown, and
confequently, had he lived, would have earneftly de-
clined this honour fo very officioufly beftowed on him,
which moreover belonged to a deferving predeceflTor
of his; and indeed it is poffible that he himfelf had
determined to give the name of Bering to thefeftraits.
This digreffion I owe to myfelf. Had certain perfons
been fatisfied with iimply aflerting, that they confi-
dcred the name of Cook's Straits as preferrable to that
of Bering's Straits, by me propofed, I (hould, on my
part, have contented myfelf with adducing the rea-
fons for my conduct in this place, and left it to the
public to judge which of us was in the right. But
as my enemies ftill continue warmly to inlift that it
was my differences with Capt. Ccok which determined
my choice in the adoption of this name, I could not
prevail on myfelf to pafs this matter over in filence ;
and ftill lefs, as i have already explained myfelf con-
cerning it many years ago, and nevertliclefs. an op-
portunity feems to have been anxioufly fought for
again to obtrude this falfehood on the public. — But,
to return to our fubjedt. In the middle of the ftraits
afe three fniall iflands. Cook ranged along the coaft
of America as far as 70 deg. 45 mln. N. lat. and
i*98 deg. E. long, from Greenwich, when he found
himfelf entirely furroundcd by the ice, and prcvent-
ct from either proceeding farther on to the north-
■^ard, or even follov;ing the courfe of the coaft;

for

foM
poin
JceC

of tt

iowii

ftrait

yond

the I

fouth

of thi

inPr

noodha

charg(

Secret

James

theC(

abundi

Jatter

254] bs

back 3]

coverec

explore

found

every

tremel)

paid di

after he

the beg

Refoiuti

of Owh

from th

had bee

was fto

engaged

confequ

Terreeok

* Capt,
It will be
<-'a|)t. Cook
«8tiye writt

DISCOVERIES ta THE NOHTH. 403

fot the ice clofed almoft evef y where on a low defart
point of land, which from this circumftance he called
Ice Cape. After failing for a few days along the edge
of the ice, he came again to the Aiiatic Coaft, fol-
lowing the courfe of which, he foon got into the
ilraits again* The whole fea in thefe flraits, and be-
yond them, was far from being deep ; neither was
the land in that part very high^ but more to the
fouthward both the height of the land and the depth
of the fea increafed. Cook again came to Oondlajhka^
in Providence Bay^ which the inhabitants call Samga-
noodha ; here he fpoke with fome RuiHans^ whom he
charged with letters for England^ to Mr. Stephens^
Secretary to the Board of Admiralty, and to Sir
'James Harris^ at that time the Englifh Ambaflador at
the Court of Ruflia. At this place alfo they caught
abundance of falmon trout and halibuts^ of which
latter kind of fiHi they caught one that weighed
254]bs. Afterwards he made the beft of his way
back again to the Sandwich IJIandt, which he had di(-
covered juft before his arrival on this coafl. Having
explored thefe iflands for the fpace of fix weeks, he
found them to be 15 in number*. Here they got
every kind of refremmcnt neceffary, and were ex-
tremely well received by the inhabitants, who almofl:
paid divine honours to Capt. Cook. The Captain,
after he had taken in refreshments, fet fail again in
the beginning of February j but the foremaft of the
Refolution having given way, he returned to the ifland
of Owhyhee. But the reception they now met with,
from the inhabitants was quite different from what it
had been before. At length the Difcovery's cutter
was ftolen, which in fuch a voyage as that they were
engaged in, they coild not well do without. In
confequence of this, Capt. Cook went to King
T^erreeohoGy in order to perfuade him to go on board

♦ Capt. Cook himfelf, however, leaves this number undetermined.
It will be fiifficiently obvious to pvery reader that the above account of*
Capt. Cook's third voyage wa« written before the publication ot the nar-
tativc written by hini(t:lt° aad Capt. King.

W d a . his

Wi 1

*Wi,

il'

M|yM

kill

HI .

ifi

404

VOYAGES ANI>

his fiiip, intending to keep hi.n there till the cuttef
fliould be reftored. But the King being rather averfir
to go, and moreover one of their Chiefs having been
fhot by fome of the people that had been fent out in
the other boats, they began to pelt Capt. Cook with
ftones, who endeavuureo to revenge the infult, but
killed the wrong man< He now faw his danger, and
began to haflen towards the boats ; but one of tha
Chiefs ftabbed him from behind between the (boulders
with a large iron dagger, of which Cott himfelf had
made him a prefent. Cook had, howevet, Hill ftrength
enough left to pufh forward, but was beat to the
ground with ftones and tomahawks, and at laft kill-
ed. Thus fell this truly glorious and juftiy->admired
navigator. — If weconfider his extreme abilities, both
natural and acquire'^^ the firmnefs and conftancy of
his mind, his trul; paternal care for the crew en-
trufted to him, the amiable manner with which he
knew how to gain the friendfliip of all the favage
and uncultivated nations, and even his conduct to-*
Wards his friends and acquaintance^ we muft ac<«
knowledge him to have been one of the greateft men
of his age, and that Reafon juftifies the tear which
Friendmip pays to his memory. He was not free
from faults, but thefe were more than counterbalance
ed by his fuperior qualities ; and it is very unfortu-
nate that on this laft voyage he ftiould have had no
friend with him, who by his wifdom and prudence
might have with-held and prevented him from giving
vent to his paflions, which in fadl became fo detri-
mental to himfelf, as to occafion his deftru6tion*
The young men that were with him muft have been
In fome meafure undifciplined and diforderly, other-
wife he would not have loft his life. For the young
c fficers in the boats having fired perhaps unnecefla-
rily and prematurely, and thereby killed one of the
Er'ies (or Chiefs) of thefe people, the death of this
man flirred up in them the fpirit of revenge which
they vented on Cookm preference to another, imagin-
ing tl'«?y had performed a very great aftion when
they killed him.— Capt. Gierke now became the firft in
command, and Lieut. Gore fecond. Their firft care

was

DISCOVERIES IK THE NORTH. 405

JWas for the fecurity of fuch of their people as were
at the obfervatory, as well as of thofc who were bufi-
ed in repairing the maft, and others that were filling
the water-caflcs. Being prevented from filling their
calks by the throwing of ftones and other a6ls of
vic'ence, they took vengeance on the natives for thefe
outrages, and at the fame time for the death of their
great Commander; and, having provided themfelves
with every necefTary, as alfo taken in more frefh pro-
vifions at the other iflands, they failed at firf^ for
fome time wefhvard, and then flrait to Kamtfchatka^
where, on the 30th of April, they entered the harbour
of Awctjka^ or St. Peter and Paul^ the Refolution be-
ing arrived there fome days before. Here they got
refrefhmcnts and ftores of every kind, and got under
fail agam on the 12th of June, but could not get
out of the bay on account of the wind being con-
trary. On the 1 5th they were furprized by the erup-
tion of a volcano at the diftance of about 8 leagues
W. S. W. from them, but which neverthelefs filled
the whole atmofphere with afhes, that lay about an
inch thick on their decks, and, after a dreadful uoife,
there fell a fhower of pumice'-floncs, of the fjze of
hazel nuts. In the evening they had thunder and
lightning, and the next day they proceeded on their
voyage, ^n their courfe they were never far from
the Ihore; and they frequently faw drift-wood and
whales. They failed again through Bering's Straits,
and fell in with the ice on the American fide of them,
beyond the 70th degree. It was folid and extended in
large fields in a Ihallow fea, which was from 25 to
27 fathoms deep. Tqey again faw a great number
of fea-horfes, fome of which they killed, and to the
eaftward faw feveral white bears running on the ice.
They faw alfo fome albatrofl'es, and the ivory giiil
(Larus eburnem) which Capt. Phipps had alfo obferv-
ed near Spitfbergen, as alfo the grey phalarope [Tritr-
ga lobata). They now went to the coaft of Afia, and
followed the courfe of it up to the ftraits, where they
faw the iflands that lie in them ; and the weather
jgrowing clear, they defcricid alfo the fhores of both

ContinentSy

4o6

VOYAGES AND

Continents, which are only at about 28 leagues afunder*
Their (hips being very leaky, and many of the crevt
on board both of them fickly, they refolved once
more to run into the harbour of St. Peter and Paul,
in Komtfchatka. Juft in ftght of this harbour died
Captain. C/^r^^, in the 38th year of his age. He was
9 man of great abilities^ Having been, bred up in the
naval academy at Portfrnouthj he was a miofliipman
in the war which began ip 1756 ; and being in an en-
gagement Rationed in the mizen-top, the maft was fhot
^way, and he fell overboard j the failors were drown-
ed, and he was the only one who efcaped, having *
faved himfelf by the rigging and the fides of the
fhip. His firft voyage round the world, he made
with Commodore Byroti^ from the year 1764 to 1766 i
the fecond he made with Lieut- Cook, as mailer's
mate, from 1768 to 1771. In his third voyage he
\vent out as ftcond Lieutenant with Cooi, from the
year 1772 to 1775; and this laft voyage he made in
the capacity or Captain. In his fecond voyage he
calculated the tables for the Ephemerides for two
years ; he was alfo a v^ry experienced and intrepid fea
officer, of a fprightly difpofition, almoft bordering on
levity, but blended with much benevolence and magr.
nanimity. His Juvenile extravagapcies had enervated
him to fuch a degree, that at length, in thofe cold
|-egions, he funk: under manifold - attacks of mifery.
Mr. Gore now took the command of the Refolution,
and ftationed Mr. KtKg as Captain on bo&rd the Dif-
fovery. They topk care of the fiqk on ftiore, repaired
the Ihips, and, having well refrelhed themfelves, fet
fail again on the gth of 0«?i;ober, 1779, and following
the cburfe of thp coaft, paifed by the Kurile Iflands,
defcried Japan j after which they failed through a con-
fiderable quantity of pumice-ftone, and indeed between
25 dcg. 56 min. and 23 deg. 56 min, faw a volcano,
which to all appearance had thrown- out thefe pumice
ilones. On the ift of Dec. they arrived at Macao,
where they procured fome prefent refrelhments, anq
alfo took fome on board for their future occafions, and
^cn ftt i il iigain on the 13th of January, 1780, On
. ' ' tl^e

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 407

the 1 2th of April they reached Simon^s Bay at the
Cape of Good Hope. On the 9th of May, proceed-
ing on their voyage, they arrived on the 22d of Ay-
guft at the Orkneys, and at length, on the 4th of Odo-
ber, at the Nore, after an ablence of four years, two
months,, and twenty-two days.

XXXVni. At the fame time that this voyage was
undertaken for the difcovery of a paflage to the north-
ward between Afia and America, the Board of Admi-
ralty fent Lieut. Richard Pickerfgtll in the brig Lion,
to Davis's Straits, in order to try alfo on that fide
how far it might be poflible to difcover a paflage there.
But on this occaficn the Admiralty committed more
than one fault in the choice of their meafures. Lieut.
Picker/gill had made the voyage round the world in
the capacity of midfhipman under Capt. IVallis, from
1766 to 1768 ; afterwards he had been twice round
the world with Cook, from 1769 to 177 1, and 1772
to 1775; The firft time as mafter's mate, and- the
fecond time as Lieutenant He was well fkilled in his
profefTion,' and, like Cook, Gierke, and many other of^
iicers of the Britilh navy, was capable of making
aftronomical obfervations, and could, befidcs, lay
down charts with great accuracy and exaftnefs \ but
on two or three different occafions, when Cook, hurried
away by his paflion, had treated the Lieutenants and
Midfhipmen rather too harflily, and in a manner
hardly fit for a gentleman to bear with, he had hap-
pened to exprefs his opinion on the impropriety of
fuch treatment* This, together with Picker j'giWs be-^
ing too fond of ftrong liquors, feems to be the rcafon
of his never having been promoted, like his two firfl
Lieutenants, to the poll of Captain of the third rank,
or Majler and Commander, This foured PickerJgiW^
temper, and rendered him lefs zealous and attentive to
the fervice, and induced him to feek oftener than ever
to drown his cares in the bottle. The fliip entrufted to
his command had already been ufed by the Admiralty for
feveral years for furveying the coafts of Newfoundland
and Labrador, The name of the pcrfon to whom this
•" bufinefs

4o8

VOYAGES AND

bufinefs was committed was Michael Lam \ this office
having been given him, when C«oi, who till then had
been employed to explore and make drawings of the
coafts of Newfoundland, was fent to the South Sea.
This Lane had confequently for many years the chief
command of the Lion^ and was now as mailer in the
feme ihip, fubordinate to Lieut. Pickerfgill. This
muft naturally hurt l,ane\ two fuch diflatisned and fret-
ful fhipmates mufl neceiTarily be torments and burthens
to themfelves ; and the fuperior officer being withal of
an open difpofition, was v^ry much expofed to his fulU
as-much difi'atisHed but more clofe and circumfpeA
fubaltern. Lane. DifTenfions happened frequently;
Pickerfgill made the other fenfible that he was his
Commander. Lane fubmitted in filence, but cplle£led
together a number of trifling circumftances, which af-
terwards when he made his complaints, fubje£led Pick-
erfgill to a trial. The next year the command was
taken from the latter and given to Lane. At length
Pickerfgill was entirely negle<Sted by the Admiralty : in
confequence of which he accepted the command of a
privateer, and once, going on board his (hip late in the
evening, his foot flipt, and falling into the Thames, he
was drowned. On the loth of June, 1776, Pickerfgill
pafled by the Scilly IJlands, On the 29th of June, with
320 and 290 fathoms line, he found a fandy bottom in
56 deg. 28 min. N. lat. and 17 deg. 44 min. W. of
Greenwich, which induced him to c;all that fpot the
Lion*s Bank, and particqlarly fo, as he found there,
what is ufually feen on all \)aiiks at Tea, a vaft quan-
tity of fea-fowl, fuch as gulls, dun divers, &c. &c.
Soon after this, he could no longer get any foundings,
nor were there any more fowls to be feen. On the 7 th
6f July he was otf Cape Farewell, and on the 1 2th, ofF
Cape Defolaiion. he now ranged ajpng the coaft of
Greenland. On the 17th he entered an iiilet, which he
named Mufkito Cove, fituated in 64 deg. 57 min. N.
lat. and 52 deg. 565 min. W. long, from Greenwich.
In 59 deg. 90 min. W. long, and 65 deg. 38 min. N.
Lit. he found himfelf near a very large field of ice, and

behind

DISCOVERIES iM THE NORTH. 409

jbehind it faw fomething that had the appearance of
land. On the 4th of Auguil, at midnight, he was in
68 deg. 14 min. N. lat. and 58 deg. 50 min. W.
long, and faw every where great quantities of ice,
which made him by degrees tack about and (land to
the fouthward. On the i8th he faw land appearing
liice iflands, in 65 deg. 3 min. N. lat. and 54 deg.
2 min. W. long, and they caught a confiderablc
quantity of halibuts. After this he went to the coafl
of Labrador, from whence he fet fail on the 26th of
September, and at lad arrived fafe in England.

XXXI X. Pickerfgill having, in confequence of his
difpute with Lane^ loft the command of the Lion^
Lord Sandwich was pleafed to give it to the latter *,
who in 1777, was fent out on the fame difcovery,
and came back without having difcovered, as far as I
know, a paflage or any thing like itf. The hiftory
of thefe voyages being on the eve of being publifliea
under the infpetSlion of the Board of Admiralty, we
ihall probably obtain more particular information con-
cerning the expeditions of Pickerfgill ^nd Lane, The
obje^ of Government in thefe two expeditions was,
that if by good fortune a paflage fhould be difcovered
on one fide, (he two expeditions might poilibly meet,
^nd co-operate with each other.

Although the Englifli have for thefe laft 200 years
expended confiderable fums upon thefe difco/cries,
they have nevcrthelefs not been fortunate in their un-
.^ertakings. To the Britifh nation this paiTage, in
cafe it be pofliblc to bring it about, would be of infi-
jiite advantage, and would be alone fufficient, provid-
ed they could keep it entirely to themfelves, to extend
their trade far beyond that of all Europe bcfides.

,,3'i!l

• We know from better authorityi that it was given to Capt. Tounf.
Vide Introduftion to Cook's laft Voyage.

"f" This again is a miftake ; for we a:e affurcd that " PickerJgiU wt«
not ta attempt tken ihe difcoveiy of the paflage, being diredlcd oaly t»
f xplore tl>« coads of Bifiia'ti Bay. IbiJ.

CHAP.

410

VOYAGES AND

CHAP. II.

Of the Difcoveries made in the North by the Dutch,

PHILIP II. of Spain, having cruelly oppreffed
his fubjecls in the Netherlands, with rcfpedt to
their religious and civil liberties, thefe poor oppreffed
pcoph", who had no other choice left but death or
flavcry, were infpircd with the refoVution of defend-
ing their rights and liberties, which in this cafe were
the rights of mankind in general, to the utmoft of
their power. At the fame time they faw very plainly
that the fureft means of refifting the power of Spain,
which was at that time fo formidable and extenfive,
and likewifc of procuring themfelves the means and
force requifite for fo very cxpcnfive an oppofition,
would be to difcover a way to the Indies, where they
might not only have it in their power to attack their
enemies, but likewifc to enrich themfelves. The
\»fual way to the indies round the Cape of Good
Hope, was on the one hand very long, and on the
other, the Spanilh and Portuguefe, both of whom
were at that time fubjeil to the fame mafter, had got
poffcflion of all the places in which it was poflible to
lind refrefhments and water, or where, in cafe of
need, there was a good harbour. Confequently there
were no other means left to go to the Indies, accord-
ing to the way of thinking of thofe times, than to
dilcovtr a new route that would lead thither. Now
the Englifh having already made many attempts fince
the year 1553 to find a pauage by the north toKathay
and India, it was natural for the Dutch, too, confi-
dering the zeal, adtivity, and courage they were at
that time poifefTed of, 10 think at an early period of
Cocking for this pafTi^ge. So that int?reft and the pow-
erful

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 411

trful motive of revenge were the principal induce-
ments with thofe merchants of the United Provinces,
who Arft fet on foot thefe voyages of difcovery ; and
though none of the voyages were fuccefsful, as the
Dutch' foon after went to the Indies by the way of
the Cape of Good Hope, and acquired advantages
there far beyond their expectations, yet it cannot be
denied, that the Dutch have in former times contri-
buted, next to the Englifh, more than any other na-
tion, to the knowledge of the different countries and
nations of the north.

^ I. Balthazar Moucheron^ a merchant of Middlcburg,
in Zealand, propofed, that a new paflage fhould be
attempted to Kathay and Japan by the north. So early
as in 1593 ^^^^ merchants formed an aflbciation for
the purpcfe of fitting out a fhip from Zealand, I'e
this afTociation acceded fome more merchants from
^nkhuyzen and Amjlerdam^ who all together, with the
concurrence of their High Mightinefles the State*
general, and of Maurice, Prince of Orange and
NafTau, as High Admiral, fitted out three fhips. The
yt^tX fent from Zealand was called the Swan^ that
from Enkhuyzcn the Mercury, and that from Amfter-
dam the Boetf or Mejfenger. The command of the
firfl was given to Cornells Cornelijfon Nay, who likcwife
was appointed Admiral on this expedition ; Brand
Xfbrands, or Titgales, was Captain of the Enkhuyzen
veflel ; and JVilhelm Barentz, of Schelling, was Captain
of the Ihip from Amfterdam. This laft is defcribed
as being a very fenfible and acSlive man, who had a
perfect knowledge of navigation, Gerard (Gerrit)
de Veere wrote the hiflory of Bareniz's voyage, and
jfohn Hugh van Linfchoten gave the relation of the ad-
ventures of the Zealand and Enkhuyzen fhips. Ba~
rentz had, befides his own vefTel, a fifhing yacht with
him from SchelUng, which was to accompany him, in
cafe he fliould part from the other fhips. On the
5th of June, 1594, thefe fhips, the Amflerdammer
excepted, fet fail together. On the 23d of June they
arrived at Kilduyn, in Einmark, or the Ruflian Lap-
iapd, jBy the 2gth ^(irp^tz had got m?dw fail, and it

wai»

\i<

»'i

41*

VOYAGES AM»

was acreed that they (houU meet again at KlUuyn, lit
cafe tney did not fee each other near fVaigatz. At
Kilduyn there is a good cod-fifhpry. The other (hip*
fct fail on the 2d of July. On the 4th they were 26
leagues from KolgoWt where there w*8 a great quan-
tity of ice and of feals, J\\\ over th'* part of the fea
they had 50, 60, and 65 fathoms depth of water.
On the 14th of July they chaped a young whale un^
%\\ they |iad driven it on (nore. The length q( it was
34 feci, the t^il 8 feet broad, and it had 268 rays ia
the bread fins. The weather was as warm ^s it ufur
^Uy is in Holland in the dog-days \ and they were
much tormented by the gnats, j^rom Swatoinofs to
the Petfchora the water of the fe^ is thick and muddy,
and but Uttle fait, on account of the great quantity
of melted fnow which it contains. They »pct witki
drift-wood jp abundance. On the coaft of the iiland
of Waijats there are great heaps of wood> ^nd large
trees, and fome even with their roots on, lying one
upon the other, is if they had been piled up on pur-
pofe. Seeing no trees grow here, they conclMdecl
that this large colledion of them piuft have conriC
from the continent. They obferved that the face of
the country was covered with a fine verdure, and
cmbelliHied with alj forts of herbs, flowers, anct
abundance of leeks. The weather wzs hot, and the
gnats very troublefome. They had puffed betweeri
flic ifland of IVaijats and the fo^thc^n iilapd, an4
now fought for a pafTage ^Ifo to the fouthward of the
ifland. They found a land, which they took for an
ifland, and 0|i it upwards of ^ or 400 Idols : fome
Were male, others female, others reprefented chiU
dren, on others again appeared from fqur to eight
faces, both male and fcrpale. Thefe Idols all flood
with their faces towards the eafl, and at (heir feet lay
a great quantity of the horns of reindeer, Some of
thefe Idols were old and quite rptten ; others had been
newly carved, whence it appears probable to me that
the Samojedes, who ufed to rove about thef? parts,
had carved the images above-mentioned, in remem-
brance of their parents, wiyes, and children, but not
wi^h any intent to worfh'p them as Idols. The na-
tions

DISCOVERIES iH tHE NORTH. 413

lions in the South Sea we found had on the fepulchral
monuments of their princes the fame kind of carved
images of both fexes, in memory of the deceafed,
which they called Tilhi\ or Stu/s i and alfo ufcd to fet
vicStuals before them. The Dutch thought thefe
images were Idols, and thence named the promontory
on which they found them, jlfgoden-hoek, or the Cape
•f Idols* fiut the RufHans do not feem to have con-
sidered them in fo ferious a light; for the appellation
of JVaijati-nefs^ the Promontory of Images^ or Carved
Promontory^ plainly thews, that they did not take
them for Idols : and upon the whole, a period of more
than 228 years having elapfed fince the Ruflians firft
faw thefe images, (viz. in 1556) and named the pro-
montory after them, may eafily have caufed fome al-
teration in the manners of thefe people. At prefent
they have one fupreme- God, who is good, and one
fubaltern bad one. ThcKoedefnichy or Tadtbes^ a kind
of Priefts or favourites of the evil fpirit, advife them,
to carry about %hem a certain kind of fmall idols, of
which, however, they otherwife take but little i)o-
tice. Perhups the RufTians, who firft difcovered the
Samojedes, may have (hewn their diflike of thefe fup-
pofed Idols, and may even have exprefled this diflike
very emphatically ; for religious zeal is fometimes apt
to break out into threats, and even violence : and
hence the Koefdeniks may have advifed them no longer
to have fuch large images, to avoid giving offence to
the Ruflians \ but rather fmall ones, which they might
carry about them, and which confequently not being
To eafily (etn by the Ruffians, they would not be fo
liable to incur their difpleafure. Thus far is cer-
tain, that when Rurrough explored Nova Zembla in
1556, 'le then heard the name of lyaijaty or IVaigatZy
from L,o}bak.y who v/as a native of Ruflia ; confe-
quently the Dutch were not the firft who difcovered
it *» 1 he ice here gave the Dutch not a little trou-
ble.

H'at.

\- I

• The real tFaa'-gnt Strait, which Is alfo ctlled HinUpen^ U near
fipiubergen, and is ruuatcd Lei ween the real Spitzbeigen and ihe ea(^em
p»rt gf ic (which is ill'o 6«Ji<tU AWo FricJIaad, an J SudffltrlanJ) and tiie

:ili

VOYAGES AMD

ble. The Dutch landed on the fouthern fliore of the
ftrait, but had nearly be?rt cut off by fome favages.
Afterwards they converfed again with fome other
Samojedes, who, however, undcrftood the Ruflian
tongue. The fea beyond the llrait was in quality,
colour, and tafte, like the ocean « They fniled along
the coaft of Nova Zemhla, and faw neither inlet nor*
harbour. The great quantity of ice here obliged
them to turn back j but when it was fomewhat dif-
perfed, they failed on again^ and by the time that
they had got to the diftance of 40 leagues from ff^ai-
gatz, they met with a deep blue fea and but little ice:
they alfo faw the coaft, beyond a certain point trend-
ing more towards the fouth-eaft, and confequently
towards China. Having difcovered this, they failed
back in order to be the firft to carry this good news to
Holland. They failed again through Waigatz^ which
they named Naffau Strait, and to an ifland tliat lay
juft before Watgatz they gave the name of Staatert
IJland, Dolgoi'Ojirof they called Mauritius \ to a
final 1 ifland near it they gave the name of Orangi
IJland, and to the continent that of Ntw TValcheren,
'i'hey then crofled over the gulph which leads to the
White Sea, pafled by Kilduyn, and ran into ff^ardhuysy
from whence they finally made the beft of their way
to Holland, and the Admiral turning off towards Zea-
land, they ran into the Tetcei^ and arrived on the 26th
of September at Enkkuyzen*

Barentz, who had taken quite a different courfe,
arrived off the coaft of Ntnia Zemhla on the 4th of
July, near a point of land to which they gave the
name of Langenefs, and which i? fomewhat to the
weltward of that body of water, which divides the
whole ifland of Nova Zembla. They ranged along the
coaft, and gave to a bay there the name of Loms Bay^
from- the great quantity of birdf; ihey faw there of this

ifiind called the NcrJq/lerland. This njme hns, in {i&, been gi\'en t»
the flrait by Spitzbergen, on account of the violence wiih which the
louth wind blows there ; for viaaien, means to blow violently, and gtitt
me 118 a (Irait, gap, or hole ; conrequent4v it might be tranllaied, tvinJ*
fielt. But the Rufiiao JVaijat ha<> anotWr origin. Vide Nute to pag«

name^

name
blefi
nefts
fecur

DISCOVERIKS IN THE NORTH. 415

»amc. The bodies ol thefe birds are of a confidera-
ble fize, and their wirgs very fmall : they build their
nefts on very high aii.'', fteep mountains, in order to
fecure themfelves agz.nft the wild beafts ; and lay but
one egg, which you may take from them, without
the parent's offering to fly away. Then they came
to an ifland, which they named the Admiralty IJland.
In 75 deg. 20 min. N. lat. there was a promontory
which they called Zwartenhoek (Black Point) and in
75 *^^S* 55 "^'"* ^^^ IFilliam's Ifland. Here they
found drift-wood and fea-horfes in abundance. The
harbour beyond William's Ifland, where they killed a
white bear, was named Berenfort. On a certain jfland
they found tvo large croffes, a circumftance which
occafioned them to name it Crcfs ijland, A point of
land in 76 deg. 30 min. they nam.ed Cape Najfau,
From thence they went or. to Troojlhoek (Comfort
Point) and Ypjoek (Icy Point) and to the Orangi
I/lands. Here turning back again, they failed paft all
the jefore- named places, till they came to an ifland
lying beyond Langenefs to the fouth-wefl, to which,
on account of its colour, they gave the name of the
Black IJland, From hence Barentz proceeded to an
inletj which he fuppofed to be the fame place at which
Oliver Bennel had been before, and to which he had
given the name of Conjiant Search*, On a promon-
tory fomewhat farther on, they faw z, crofs, and thence
named it Crary^ij^if (Crofs Point). Then became to
an inlet named St. Laurenzhotky and 3 miles farther to
another naned Schanjhoek (Sconce, or Fort Point).
Proceeding flill farther, they difcover«d a fine fafe

* It is evident that the navigators meniioned hert, who had been la
Koia Zembla previous to ScfVB/z'ii arrival theie. w«re Eng lidimen ;
for the name Oliver Bennel is cnlirt ly Englilli, and the name of the in-
let, which liareniz call? Ccnflint •^^trh, can hardiy be fuppofed to have
bten any oih(.r han Conjiant Search; but in which of the known voyages
of the Knj^iilh into theie parts, this pLce was thus named, or whether
Oliver Bennel ma :e a vi.ynge for the folc purpofe of making difcoveries,
or was cafl away here in his way to ether regions, cannot eafily be deter-
luinrd fu( want of jirt.pcr iufurniiition oo this fubje6t.

harbour,

4t^

VOYAGES AUa

harbour, where thejr found fome meal or flour oii
ihore, and thence named it Meelhaven (Flour-haven);
At length they faw two fmall iflands, to which theyi.
gave the name of. the IJlandi ^St. Clarei Being come
to the iflands of Matfeoi land Uolgoy^ they faw the Z^a-
lanil and Enkhuyfen (hips which were juft returned
from Waigai% j and the people on board of which ima-
gined, that Bttrentz had failed round Nava Zemblai
After rejoicing with each other at their happy meet-
ing, they failed home together.

II. A. D. 1595, feven (hips were fitted out, viz;
two at Amfterdam, two at Zealand, two at Enkhuy-
zen, and one at Rotterdam. On the 2d of July
they failed out of the Downs. On the 17th of Au-
guft they found ice in lafge flakes. On t^e 18th they
faw Mauritius IJland (or Dolgoy Oflrof). On the
19th they were oppofite fFaigntz Straits^ but found
them blocked up by the ice* They waited in fome
inlets in and before the ftraits ; but the ice continued
for a long time, and on the 2d and 3d of September^
being arrived off Stasiten Idand, they were obliged,
on account of the ice and fogSj to run in at the back
of the ifland. In a general council it was refolved,
that they fhould make another attempt to get forward.
Every night the ice froze at leaft an inch thick. They
faw two hares on the ifland, which they killed j but
a white bear^ which they alfo faw, efcape(f< The;
tide came from the eaft, for which reafon they ima-
gined there was a large fea that way. On Staaten
Ifland they found fmall tranfparent cryflals ; but, in
feeking for them, two of their people were devoured by
a white bear. By reafon of the ice they were obliged to
go within the ftraits as far as Twijihoek. On the nth
they refolved to make one more trial, but in a few hours
found it nccefl^ary to tack about again, on account of
the ice which obftru£ted their courfe. On the 15th
it was determined in a ^^eneral council to return, it be-
ing impoflible to get through the ftraits on account of
the ice. Having fuft'ered much from ftorms and

bad

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 417

W^ weatW, theyycre ty the jotK of October to
th'e rouiU^wfR' of frflarSu^s. It was but feldom that
they faW' thfe mbbn. The light of the ftars nearly
cqmpQnfated for the want of the fun ; and befides that,
the' Aurora Horeans contributed much to light them. .
A't length, oh the 26th, they arrived again in their
native country.

III. Notwithftanding that the States General had .
refufed to advance the money reqvifite for defraying'
theexpences of another voyage, this did not deter the
City of AmfierdamUmtv fitting out two fhips in 1596.
The chief cominand of them was given to ^acoh von
Heemjkerkj and the plj^ce of firft pilot to JVtlliam ba^
reniz, Ip. the fpcond (Hip yan Carnelis Ryp was maf-
ter'^ and, at the farne time, fupercargo of the mer-
cKatidize on l)oard of herj. On the 18th of May tliey
failed 9\it of the ^//V, and on the 22d faw the Shet-
land' lilands and FayerhiiL On the 2d of June they
faw two parahelia, or mock funs, in 71 deg. N. lar.
A difpute now' arofe between Bareniz and Ryp-, con-
cemfng ihe courfe the ihips were to take. I'he firft
was of opinion that they ought to fail more to the
eaftward^ but JRy/i maintained that they vvere in the
ri|^ht courfe; for all along be; was againft failiiig to .
fva'^atz Straits, ^On the 5th, they fpr the firft, time,
faw ice, and pafled" fafely through it. On the 9th
they favv an ifland in 74 dejg. 30 min. which they con-
jectured might be about 15 miles in length. Here
they met with a great number of gulls, and brought
away their eggs. They afcended ^ fteep mountain
of /now, and. were obliged to Aide down it again.
They likewife faw a large white bear, which it took
them two hours to kill. The fkin of tnis animal was
12 feet long; fome of the crew ate part of the flefti,
but it did not agree with them. This ifland they
called 5Mr Ifland. Oh the 17th and i8th they faw
a great quantity of ice, and failed along it till they
camtj to a point of land that lay to thefouthwprd of
it. On the 19th they faw land again, and found that
they were in 80 deg. 1 1 min. It was an cxtenfive

£ e country,

^i .;: f

4i8

VOYAGES ANO

country, and they failed along the weflern coaft of*
it to 79 deg. 30 min. where they found a gocd road,
but were prevented by the ice from going nearer to
the land j they anchored, however, in a bay that
ftretched right north and fouth into the' fea. Here
again they killed a large bear which was I3 feet long.
On one ifland they found a great many barnacles
(Anas Bernicla) one of which they killed with a ftone,
and got upwards of 60 eggs. On this ifland they ob-
ferved in the 80th deg. of N. lat. grafs and clover
growing, and reindeer feeding on it, while, on the
contrary, all the animals in Nova Zemhla, which is
lituated far more to the fouthward, were of the car-
nivorous kind, bccaufe no grafs grows there. The
Variation here was 16 degrees. They failed along
the land to 79 degrees, and difcovered u large inlet,
30 miles long at leaft, but were obliged to tack about.
On the 28th they came to the point which is on the
weft fide, where they found fo great a number of
birds, that thefc latter even flew againft their fails.
On the I ft of July they again faw Bear IJland. Jan
Cornells Ryp came on board their fhip, and told them
that he intended to fail along the eaft fide of the land
to the 80th deg. BarentZy on the contrary, went
to the fouthward on account of the ice. On the 17th
of July they difcovered Nova Zembla, not far from
the fhores of Loms Bay. On the 20th they .vent
aftiore on Cro/s IJland, where they found two croflTes
erected. They went up to the croflies in order to ex-
amine them } but being without arms, this curiofity
had nearly cotl them their lives, for two bear? had
taken a fancy to them, and it was with the greateft:
difliculty that they efcaped thefe voracious animals.
On the 17th of Auguft they were near Troojihock,
about which there was a great quantity of ice. On
the 19th they failed round Cape Deftre, where they
plainly faw the land trending to the fouthward.
This fliip was in great danger from the ice, being,
in fa£t, quite encompafled by it; and they were
obliged to carrv provifions on (hore, and prepare for
the winter. They (hot at a bear, but the cold was
fo intenfe, that the fliot did not take place. They

found

biSCOVERIES IN TH6 NORTH. 419

found a river, and a great quantity of drift-wood.
On the 15th of Septeipber the fea froze two inches-
thiclc. On the i6th the fame, and they fetched wood
upon fledges for the purpofe of building up their ha-
bitation. On the 2d of Odober the materials for
the hut were ready, but they could not get into the
ground, which was frozen (o hard, that they could
not even thaw it by means of fire. They there-
fore heaped fnow round about their houfe, in order
to make it tolerably warm, as alfo to fee u re it againft
the wind. Their beer, too, was frozen, even the
ftrong Dantzick foppen beer. . They fufFered greatly
from the cold, and were continually at war with the
bears. They roafted a Vi^hite fox, which tailed like a
rabbit. On the 3d of No'> nber they loft fight of
the fun i the bears kept away likewife, but the foxes
began to make their appearance. Neither did the bears
return till the fun appeared again. 7'he foxes they
caught in traps. On the 7th of December they had
nearly all been choaked by the fmoke of pit-coal.
The cold now increafed to a dreadful degree. On
the 24th of January they faw for the firft time the
face of the fun iigain, which, for more than a fort-
night before this, had been uftiered in by a kind of
twilight. They were aftoniihed at this phenomenon :
as, according to their calculations, it (hould have
happened about 16 days later. But, in fa<Sl, it ought
to have been juft fo as it was. In thofe regions the
refra<^ion of the rays of the fun is fo confiderable on
account of the air containing fuch a great quantity
of vapours, that this phenomenon is very poffible.
Not being provided with a fufficient ftock of wood,
they were obliged to get in more with incredible pains
£^nd labour, the drift-wood being all covered with
fnow. About this time they faw the fea open, and
began to entertain fome hopes of their deliverance.
But on the 14th of February theeaft north-eaft winds
2»rought on another froft, which deprefled the fpirits
of thefe poor people, and drove them almoft to de-
fpair. On the 8th and 9th of March, the wind

£ e 2 blowing

420

VOYAGES AND

Mowing from the Touth-^weft, drofc the ice away;'
but on the loth a very ilrong north-eaft wind brougliti
baclc again enormous fields, and- mountttinft' of ice«
In the months of April and May th«-fea was at length'
entirely clear of the ice, andith^y^^ began to think^oM'
their voyage home» In the month of June' they
fkted out the boats for thieir return, and- were
frequently vifited by the 'bears, many of whkh^thiy
killed. Some of crew having eat pan o( the liver of '
a bear, it made them- very ill, and aftet thiey re*- •
covered from their diforder, the fkin aJl over^ theflt",
bodies fell off in fcales. Having brought a<^y alt *
the ftores and provi^bns they> coti4d- convey 0*1'
board their two little veflels, they fet fail on the 14th'
of June, having Barentz and one of the crevt^ fick oti'
board. They were again encdmpafied by the ice, and
Barentz^ together with one Nicholas Ar^reifs^ died on -
the 20th. They came often into great danger bet^eeli'
the ice. They alfo loft a confiderable ijuatttity of
provifions and merchandize j neverthelef^ thiey gdt
their veflels over the ice into the water, though not
without great difficulty, and begun to fail on a fea
tolerably clear of it. They landed now and then to
look for birds and eggs, as alfo for fuel todrefs them
by. Not far from [Faigatz they found two fmall vef-
fels with Ruffians, fome of whom remembered feveral
of the crew, having met with them on their former
voyages. With greiat difficulty they arrived- at length
SLtKandnoes (Kanyn nofs) and alfo got fome provifi-
ons from fome Ruffian veflels, but were' feparated
from the fmall boat by a flidrm* In the mean time
they failed with their fmall open boat in I30 hours
acrofs the mouth of the White Sea, which is 120
miles broad: here they lighted on a Ruffian bark
and fome Hfhermen, from whom they got provifions,
and immediately after, met with their comrades again
in the other boat. They arrived at Kilduyn^ where
they learned that three Dutch (hips were then at
Kohi two of which were juft ready to fail. They

fent

DISCOVERIES IN TH€ NORTH. 421

•font two Tailors there with a Laplander, and in three
•days received a letter from Capt. fan Cornells Ryp,
.informing them, that they had long ago been givtii
'Up as loft. Cornelis Ryp went to them with refrefli-
>ments, and took them to Kola to his (hip, whio rhey
went with him, to the number of 12, back to Hol-
land, and reached Ailifterdam on the ift of Novem-
'ber, 1597.

From the relation of this voyage it is evident that
'^cemjkerky CarerHZi a"<J ^yP^ ^^^ ^o early as in the
year 1595 ^^'fcovered Bear Ifland, which was 'fmce
ieen by the £ngli(h in 1603, ^^® S^^^ '^ '^^ name
of Cherry Ijland^ snd afterwards frequently vifited it.
•In like manner 'Hvdfony in 1607, faw Spitsbergen^
which had 1)een difcovcred n years before by the
9i)utoh, and which he erroneoufly took for part of
•Greenland. Hence ismanifeft the difficulty of getting
on in the {hallow fca that lies to the northward of
Siberia, on account of the ice; as well as the effects
of an intenfe degree of cold (which are very evident-
ly fuch, that even the water of the fea will freeze
over in one night) as alfo the extreme coldnefs and
long duration of the eafterly winds within the Polar
Circle. The wonderful effeft of the refraiSlion of
the fun's rays, by means of which the image of the
fun appears above the horizon, even whole weeks
fooner than it otherwife would according to the ordi-
nary courfe of nature, may be confidered as another
of the many inilances of the tender care of the Al-
mighty over all his creatures, in thus reftoring the
light of the day as early as po/Iible to the inhabi-
tants of thefe regions ; a kindnefs of which we in
this part of the world cannot be fo fenfihlc, hav-
ing never experienced the privation of the day-light,
and of the all-enlivening light of the fun.

IV. In the year 1609 Henry Hudfon fet fail with a
yacht, fitted out at the expence of the Dutch Eaft-
India Company. He left the Texel on the 6th of
April. By the 5th of May he was off the North Qipc^
■ and

m ■

■ W

422

VOYAGES AND

and foon reached Neva Ztmbh, where he found th0
whole country blocked up with iirm and folid ice.
He therefore left this coaft on the 14th of May,
and difcovercd on the coaft of America a river, which
\s fti)l named after him, HudforCs River, on the mouth
of which is New Tori ; and fomewhat higher up ufed
t« be New Belgiuniy which the Dutch had formerly
actually colonized. But with regard to difcoveries in
the north, Hudfon's voyage was entirely fruitlefs.

V. The iflard of Jan Mayen was difcovered in
161 1 hy 4 rTian of this name. It is fituated about
71 ilea 1.} ?at. and 8 deg. 15 min. E. long, from
Ferro* ^t j* 'ong and narrow, and ftretches from
north-eait to fi I i^-weft. As (he whales uf-^d fomc-
times to come from Old Greenland near the couft of
this ifland, there were formerly a whale-fifliery and
a manufadory for train-oil upon it ; lilcewife a great
number of white bears, fea-hprfes, and other marine
animals, together with fome foxes. But the iiiand
being rather fmali, and the bait on it, or the whale
carrion, but fcarce, the fi(h foon found out their
enemies, and withdrew to the ice, where they en-
joy more fecurity. Accordingly this fifhery was
chiefly ufed from 161 1 to 1633, but fince that time
the ifland has been gradually negledted. At prefent
it is feen or viftted only by mere chance. It was
once in honour to Prince Maurice of NaiTau, named
Mauritius Ifland, in Greenland \ bu^ then we muft be
careful to tliftinguilh it from another Mauritius Iftond
on the north- weft point of Spitzbergen, whiph al fo
bears the name of Amflerdammer Ifland, and is by
the Englifh called Hackluyi's Headland. On this
Mauritius Ifland, in Greenland, or Jan Mayen Ifland,
feven failors were left to winter, from 1633 to 1634,
all of whom, however, died, chiefly of the fcurvy.
Their journal was brought down to the 30th of April,
foon after which period probably they died ; for the
people who arrived there from Holland, on the 7th
of June, 1634, found them already dead,

VI. \ti

DKCOVERIES in the NORTH. 423

VI. In the Philofophlcal Tranfadions, No. 118,
we find an account of fome merchants in Holland
having font out fliips, which had failed on to 79 and
Ho deg. N. lat. 100 leagues to the eailward of and
beyond Nova Zemhiat and had met with an open fca,
clear of any ice. Now at the 80th deg. one degree
of longitude is only 10 geographical miles. But one
hundred leagues are 300 common Englifli fea miles ;
confequently the Dutch were not at the fartheft,
quite 30 degrees to the eaftward of the mofl cafterly
point of Nova Zembia, perhaps about Chatangay in 125
deg. E. long, from FerrOf which is in fadt no great
matter, and did not render it neceflary for this dif-
covery to be concealed with fuch care as wc are in-
formed it was.

VIL Some individuals, who were defirous o*^ • n--
tinuing the navigations to the north, pref ntec \n
1614 a petition to their High Mightincfles the States
General, praying to beeftahlifhed in a free navigation
to the northward of Davis's Straits, Greenland,
Spitzbcrgen, and Nova Zembla ; whir^ privilege
was accordingly conferred upon them by a chartej*
bearing date the 27th of January, 1614 ; and from
that time there has fubfifted the Northern, or, as it
is otherwife called, Spitzbergcn or Greenland Com-
pany, which ufed yearly to fend fhips out to the Po-
•Jar regions, employed in the whale-fifliery and killing
feals. It cannot, however, be alTerted, that any im-
portant difcoveries have been made in the north by
this Greenland Company; for thefe aflbciated mer-
chants were fatisficd with the moderate profits arifing
to them from the whale-fifliery and the killing of
feals.

VIII. In 1633 the Dutch Northern Company fcnt
their (hips out as ufual to Spitzbergcn, but gave or-
ders withal, that fome volunteer failors fliould be left
by their own confent at Spitzbergcn, to winter there;
for which purpofe likewife feveral offered themfelves,
who parted the winter there, but fufFered greatly by
the cold. They had many fkirmi/hes with the bears,

Ihot

1 i '■ ' ifa

i '"!!

'Sr ■

424

VOYAGES AND

(hot fomc reindeer, caught and ate reversal, roxc;s, kil-
led a (ca-horfe or two, prepared fome whalebone, that
had been caft on fhore by the tide, but did ,nPt .kill
one whale, and returned (afe to Holland in ,i6,.1^4*
They had wintered in the north b^y on MftHr}t\ui
IJland (or Hackluyt's Headland) qear 3pU?^b^''gc.n*
That fame year again feven more failor"; w?i"e l9ft,9n
the ifland, by their own confent, but died of ttie/ci^r-
vy in 1635. Their journal was brougti|t do)vn to t|ie
26th 6f February only, and ifi 1635 they were ^\\
found dead. Since that time no more men have been
left to winter there.

IX. A. D. 1640, or 1645, ^yp ^> f*"®"™ Vlitlan{iy
an old Greenland trader, came, on the eaft fi{|e pf
Spitzbergert, to a group of very fmall iflands, whi^h
had never yet been feen nor frequented by any of
the former navigators to Greenland, and having al-
ways been very fond of (hooting fea-horfcs, the im-
menfe number of thefe animals that lay here on the
fhore, furnifhed him with an opportunity of dif-
playing his own fkill in the difpoiition an^J arrange-
ment of the bufinefs, as well as the dexterity of his
people. In a fhort fpace of time, many hundreds of
them were killed, and great profit was made of the f|it
and the teeth.

X. In the year 1643, the Dutch £a(l- India Coiji-
pany gave orders for two (hips to be fen t from India
to the north, in order to explore the rouje frorn Ja-
pan northward, and even to go as far as to North-
America, and to fcek for the paflage there. In con-
fequence of thefe orders, two (hips fet fail together p/i
the 3d of February, 1634, from the harbour of the
jfland oiTernate\ thefe were the Cojlricom^ commanded
by Capt. Martin Herizoom van Vriez \ and the Brejkes^
under the command of Capt. Hendrick Corfielis Schaep.
On the 14th of May the two (hips were feparated by a
ilorm at the cliftance of 56 leagues from Jeddo, the
capital of Japan ; and both of them faw the land of
yefo. The Brejkes failed through the ftrait between
Jefo and Japan^ in 41 deg. 50 min. N. lat. and i|i
long. 164 deg. lb min. eaft of i e.ieriffc. They faw
land again in 43 deg. 4 min. N. lat. In 44 deg. 4
min. fame velfels came off to their (hip from the (liore.

DI5COVEiRIES ,JN THE NORTH. 425

In 43 dcg. 45 mill, they defciicd land again, as alA»
ill the latituidc of 44 deg. 12 min. and longitude 167
dcg. 21 niin. In lat. 45 deg. 12 min. and long. 169
dcg. 36 min. the land appeared at a diftance like a
great jmnib?r ^f iflaflds ; b^t on Qoming nearer to it.
It ieenied to be .one continued tra<^ of country. In
hu. 46 dcg. 15 min. and long. ,172 deg. 16 min. as
ai(p in iong. ,17.2 deg. 53,niin. tbey bad fight of fomc
high mount^ains. They alfo faw ftillmore land in lat.
47 dcg. 8 min, gnd.lpng. 173 ^eg. 53 min. We fes
trorn this relation, j»s well.as frpm that of the Cajlri^
coin<t that ^he jiland I'^^o con^ins, iri fac^, a. quantity
of illands, at p^efent )cnown to the RuflHans under
the name of theKuril>s. The Dutch imagined they
had difcoyercd in "Jefo^ a large e^tenfive countrvt
and, in the l^teil accoynts we have from the Ruffi-
ans*, tl)is defcription likcwifc is given of the land
pf Matmm^ in which the Dutch mention that there
is a pl^cfd n^med Jcqueis^ which the Ruffians call
4tkls. 'l-he (iirj^it between Matmai and Japan is about
60 werfls (or 34 geographical miles) broad ; and has
a ve;ry ftrong current, as have almoft all the Ihair-t
between the Kurile Ifl^nds. Matmai is a town in
the pofieflion of the fapaneje \ the Chinefe trade alio
to the land of Afatmai', but the hairy Kuriles are a
free people. It is alfo ftill uncertain whether Matmai
is^n ifland or not. But there is a probability that it
is, ^s the inhabitants have not yet been made tribu-
tary by tne Chincife; which is alfo confirmed by Va-
th^r 1 1: eroMymus de /ingelis^ who mentions the ftrait of
TeJ/oi, which feparates Matmai from the continent,
and has alfo a ftrong, rapid current. This country
ieems to have got the name of Je/o,, or Efo, from the
people who inhabit it. The Japanefe call the Kurilcs
Jefo, and it is thence that the land of Matmai has ob-
tained this appellation from the Portugucfe and Dutch.
The land w'th the St. Anthony's Peak^ defcribed in the
journal of Cajiricom, feenis to be the ifland Iterpu^ or
£torpu, which, according to the lateil accounts (Viu.

• Piillas'e New Northern CoUedlont, Vol. IV, page « 36, {Qermaii.)

Pallas's

, i.f

I ' i '!■

4-26

VOYAGES AND

Palla's Northern CollecSlions, Vol. IV. page 133)
confifts entirely of a high ridge of mountains with
many heads. In this cafe Urup muA be the Staaten
Ifland of the Dutch ; in like manner, Tfchirpo-oi will
anfwer to Company Land, and the ftrait between Urup
and Tfckirpo'oi will be the Straits of Van Fruz. On
the iCurile Iflands there are many volcanos, fome of
which are ftill burning, others are already extin6l,
while others, quite new ones, are frequently burft-
ing forth into flames, like that which made an erup-
tion on ths 8th of January, 1780, on the ifland of
Racbkoke, or Rakchotki, the efFeds of which caufed
lilcewife a dreadful earthquake, and which occaAon-
ed great ravages and devaluations in the iflands of Kc'
toi^ Schimufchir, Tfchirpo-oiy and Urup. Now, though
v/e (hould allow the authenticity of the accounts of
»he Dutch, who in the Cnjiricom and Brejkesy imagin-
ed that they faw here one continued and extenfive
trad of land, it cannot neverthelefs be denied, that
thcfe numerous volcanos give one room to fuppofc,
that many an entire and undivided tradt of country
mnv have been torn afunder by earthquakes, and par-
celled out into fmall iflands. So that what we read
in the relations of the CaJirUom and the Brejkes does
not appear to me fo very incredible.

XI. At the time when the Northern Company in
Holland was ftill in the fulinefs of her fplendor, (viz.
from 1614 to 1641) a (hip was difpatched to Green-
land for the purpofe of fetching train-oil, which ufed
to be manufactured in Sewerenberge ; but there being
not a fufiicient quantity ready to complete the full
lading, the Captain finding the fea quite open, failed
ftrait on to the northward, and at the diftance of
two degrees from it, went twice round it. This he
ufed to relate publicly, and to refer to his crpw as
witnefles of the faft. Vid. Zorgdrager's Greenland
JVhale- Fijhery (German) Vol. II. chap. 10, page
162. — ff^ood zUOf as he himfelf informs us, was told
by Mr. Jofeph Moxon, in 1676, that being in Hol-
land about 20 years before, (confequently in 1656)
he had heard a very refpcilable creditable Dutch

Captain

DTSCX)VERIES in the NORTH. 427

Captain of a (hip fay, that he had navitjated under
the very Pole, where he found the weather as warm
as it ufed to be at Amfterdam in fummer. In fine,
Capt. Goulden likcwife, who had made upwards of 20
voyages to Greenland, told King Charles the Second
that, being about 20 years before in Greenland, he
found himfelf with two Dutch Greenland naviga*
tors near Egei IJland*^ to the eaftward of that coun-
try, when no whales appearing near the ihore, the
two Dutch Captains refolved to fail farther on to-
wards the north ; which in faft they did, and a fort-
night afterwards returned, and related that they had
been as far as the 89th degree, and had met with nu
ice, but with a free and open fea, with large and
hollow waves, as in the bay of Bifcay. The varia-
tion of the compafs there was 5 degrees. One of
thefe Captains afterwards happened to go to England,
when Captain Gould took him to fomc of the Mem-
bers of the Northern Company, whom he fully con-
vinced of the truth of his relation. Vide /fn Ac-
count of feveral late Voyages and Difcoverics. Lond.
1711, p. 145; as alfo the Hon. Air. Boyle's Hijhry of
Cold.

XII. It is the lamentable fate of the learned not to
be able, with all their pains, to obtain the informa-
tion thfjy would wifh with refpeft to all the objects
of their refearches. In the beft charts we find fomc
accounts, or rather hfnts, relative to countries pre-
tended to be difcovered by the Dutch ; but it is a
very difficult matter to determine where more parti-
cular and circumftantial accounts concerning thetn
arc to be met with. I fhall now mention four or
five countries difcovered by the Dutch in the North,

• Edge's IJland is probably one of the iflands bclongirg to that group
dil'cov 'edhy Ryte yje. dpt. Themat Eilge, who made lO voyagtv l(»
iCreenlu d, diicovcred this ifland A. D. i6i6; and in i<5|t, an iflaml
Jying oW S/HtJbergiHy was, afipr Mr. fPychf, calld fi'ycbe'f IJland.

rJI.

concerning

42S

VOYAGES A.ND

concerning which J can ■communicate little more
than their names. I puders a coUedion of about 700
volumes of voyaj;;es, written in various languages,
neverthelefs I muft confcfs, that in all thefe I have
not been i.^ble to Hnd out any thing that has the leaft
j-elation to thefe difcoveifies : perhaps this my ac-
knowledgment may 'nduce fome learned. man or other
40 .favour me with fome information concerning
them, to whom I fhall, in that cafe, be infinitely
obliged, for having thereby furnifhed me not only
with the means of adding to the flock of my owu
knowledge, but alfo of rendering my Hiftory ofithc
Difcovcries in the North, much more complete than
it is at prefent; fori readily confefs, that even in my
own opinior., my work has not attained to that ft»te
of perfection to which I had purpofed to bring it, but
/rom the acco-^tplifhrnant of which I have been hin-
dered by a thoufand ^(/Hculti'b, impoflible for me to
overcome in my prefent fituation. In 75 deg. N.
lat. and about 5 dcg. E. long, from Ferro, we fip.u
on the caftward coaft of Greenlandy Gale Hamkens
hond^ which is faid to have been feen in 1654.
Gale Hamkens was a Dutch Greenland trader, who as
ciuly as the year 1639 had the command of the firft-
rate fliip> the Oranjehoom^ and who, when Capt. Dirk
yllberts Raven had lolt his fliip the Spitjbergen^ in the
ice near Spitjlergen, took up the faid Captain and the
few people remaining of his crew j and this is all I
know about him. So that whether he difcovered this
point of land himfclf, or any other navigator has
given it this name in honour of him, I confcfs I am
not able to determine. In 78 dcg. N. lat. and 10
deg. K. long, from Ferro, a land is laid down on
the eallward coalt of Greenland, which is called the
Land of Edfiffi. It was difcovered in 1655, but by
whom, as alio whether it was named thus, after a
man, a ihip, or after the town of Edam^ in North
Holland, 1 cannot pretend to fay. Farther we find,

DISCOVERIKS IN THE= NORTH. /f^t^^

in 73 deg. 30 min. N. lat. not far from the firft
meridian dratrn throirgh Ferro, an ifland over which
is written the name of Bontehty with the date of the
year 1665 i the firft difcoverer of which I am I ike wife
miacquainted with; neither can I determine the
cfueftiori, whether it was named Bontehet after its-
difcoverer^ or after a fhip) or any- man of that coun"
try. Again, there is in 79 deg. N. lat. and 10 deg.
K. long< from Ferro, a land marked with the date
of 1670; but this is all that I know 'concerning it.
Finally, precifely in 80 i^g* N. lat. and 100 geo-
graphical mil» to the eaft of N^nheajlland in Spitz-
bergen, there is to be feen the mark of a high land.
This land was difcovered in 1707 by an experienced
and fkilful Greenland trader, by name Corneiis Gillis.
He had failed, without feeing any' ice at a.!l, to the
northward of the Se-Ven IJlandsy a great way beyond"
the 8lft deg. then he failed eastward, and at lai^
fouth-eaftward, fo that he always kept to the eaft of
Northeaft-land, and at length at 25 leagues front
thence in 80 deg. defcried a very high land, which
probably nobody had ever feen before him. Van
Keulen has laid down this land in his map of Spitz-
bergen, merely on the ftrength of the account given
of it by Capt. Gillis. Vide Barrington^s Mifullanies,
Lond. 1 7 81. 4to. pages 80 and 85.

Thefe are all the accounts of the difcoveries made
in the north by the Dutch, that have ever come to
my knowledge. That aftive public fpirit, by means
of which the Republic of the United Netherlands
rofe to its prefent pitch of grandeur, and by which
all their enterprizes in the i6th and 17th centuries
were fo ftrongly charaderized, is by degrees evapo-
rated and fpent. They have begun to purfue a fyf-
tem diametrically oppofite to that which led them to
fame, dignity, and honour. That contemptible fpi-
rit of party in matters of religion and politicks which
occupies itfelf only with trifling objects, thereby ne-

gleding

I ,s

430

VOYAGES Attn

g)e<5ting thofe that are truly grand and important}
that falfe fyftem, in purfuance of which, facrificing
every thing to commerce, the Republic has endea-i,
voured to remain neuter, and, in defiance of the moft
Tulemn treaties and conventions, has frequently re*
fuled that aillftance to her allies for which (he had
previoufly-ftipulated, carrying on her trade in peace,
without putting 'ler land and Tea forces on a refpe^la-
ble footing, and thereby expofing herfelf to the juft
clamours of her neighbours, fo that at length (he has
been under the necefHty of depending entirely on the
protection and favour of a power, which, if not en-
dowed with the greateft magnanimity, might have
made itfclf mafter of the beft and moft important pof-
feilions: this mode, I fay, of a(5ting and thinking,
has entirely fupprefTed in individuals all inclination
for great enterprizes or for any undertakings for the
good of their country. Thus circumdanced, no far-
ther difcoveries are to be expe«ited from that quarter*
Perhaps, indeed, there, are but few remaining to be
made in the northern hemifphcre.

CHAP. III.

Of the Difcoveries made in the North by the French.

TH E difcovcry of America by the Spaniards,
and that of the route to the Eaft-Indies by
the Cape of Good Hope, b- the Portuguefe, do not
appear to Have had fo much effe<St on the French as
to excite them to fimilar enterprizes. A ihadow of
falfe grandeur had fafcinated her Kings and Nobles.
The alluring baits which engroficd her whole atten-
tion

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 431

tion were the crown of Naples and the duchy of
Milan. For the fake of conquering thefe countries,
both of which neverthelefs at length cfcaoed her
grafp, France laviihed her treafures and the blood of
her heroes. Hence her navy was negle£led, and the
romantic fpirit of Chivalry which the Tons of France
acquired in thefe wars, inlpired them at the fame time
with a contempt for every thing relative to trade and
commerce i till Henry the Great, with his favourite
Sully ^ and Lewis XIV. with his great Minifter, Col-
bert, did all in their power to procure to merchants ,
and manufacturers, as ufeful members of fociety, that
refpe6l to which thefe profefTions, inafmuch as they
enrich the ftate, are in fat^ entitled. In the mean
time it was thefe prejudices chiefly which prevented
France from paying that attention to voyages of dif-
covery which they deferved. The whole of North-
America and Brafil would at this time be the property
of France, had the Kings of this country and their
Minifters better fupported the firft voyagers, had they
given greater encouragement to the population of
thefe new lands, and had they in general paid more
attention to navigation than they in a£lual did. It is
not therefore furprizing to Rnd, that France has con-
tributed but very little towards the difcoveries made
in the North.

I. Already, fince the difcovery of Newfoundland
by Sebajiian Cabot, in 1496, the Europeans had begun
to make advantage of the land of Bacallaos, and of
the great quantity of fifli in the vicinity of it. In
the year 1502, fome Briftol merchants had already ob-
tained grams for edablifhing colonies there. As ear-
ly as the year 1504 the Bifcayners, the Normans
from Normandy, and the Bretons from Britanny in
France, vifited the fouthern coaft of it, for the fake
of fifhing. It is even fuppofed, that the ifland of
Cape Breton^ which lies near the continent, hrtd its
name from thefe very Bretons. ' 1 1506 Jean Denis

failed with his i^WotCamart., a \ve of Rouen ^ from

Honjleur to Newfoundland He is faid to have been
the firft who laid down and publiflied a chart of

the

W^:

43^

V O Y A r E s A'tiv'

^hr cba/l of this country. In 1568^ a'naVlgAior, hr
uiLmt Thomas Auhert ( accord fng; to Ramufio^ /oi. Jlh
page 4-23, but Prcvot, in h'xs Utjioire da l^o^hgei^ c.'ills''
him Hub^t) went witi; a fh?p called the Petifee, from
Dieppe to Newfoundland, and brought the firft fa-
vage naiiivfe'ffom thrertce to Faris." ' The'flilp belonged;
to thie Captain's Fath(?i-,' Jean' Jnj^o, V'ifiOunt of
Dtepj)e. But all ihefe arfc ratHer lobfe' hi'rtts thau"^
regulat-'adcount^ of the empire^ and' plistes' ^xploted'
by the French ; neither ha^'any th1ng^rilbf6' than vAixt"^
we have m«^ntioned, been handed dowh t6 oUr timfeS,
and that only by the means oT Rafhujib:'

II. The'firfl: who adaally miade a Voj':J^6, oifwhich
thehiftbry is prcferved tou^,wasyj^Z/«^<?r<7zz««/, bybirth
a Florentine, who, in th^ fcrVlce of Francis the Firft,
fet out with four fliipfe oh a'crulze' agaihfl: the Spani- "
ards ; but was cOmjifelled, by a ftbrm, to run vrhh
two of his fhips, the Nortnandy and the Da'uphinc^
into a harbour in Britady. He continued to cruize
againft the Spaniards with fuccefs, and at lengta te-
folved to undertake a voyage with the Dauphin mt rely
for the purpofe Of difcovering new countries.

On th^ 17th of January, 1524, Vefazzani failed
from the uninhabited rocks near Madeira*^ 5PC>
leagues to the weftward, in 25 days. After weather-
ing a dangerous ftorm, he continued his voyage
twenty-five days longer, in' which fpacfe of time he
made 400 leagues more, uni then fa^ before hini a
low land, on which he;' ■ ered many fires. But his'
fears pi-eventing him froii 1. iding, he failed 50 leagues
to the fouthward along the coau, without finding a
harbour. He therefore returned again to the north-
ward, but, meeting with as little fuccefs as before, he
anchored in the open fea, and fent his boat on (hore,
upon which great numbers of the inhabitants appear-
ed on the coaft, running backwards and forwards,
and exhibiting at once marks of aftoniflimeht, joy, and
fear. The Tigns which the French made induced

* Thefo uninhabited rocki are called by the Portngucfe llhas Deftr'
tas ; the Engljfli call them the Dejtrtcn. They are liiuaied 10 the call

fome

DISCOVERIES IN THE NCRTIT. 433

ri)me to ftay, and having by degrees recovered from
their fright, they at length brought foine provifions.
They were naked, but wore aprons of fine furs, and
bunches of feathers on tlieir heads. They were well
ihapcd, had fine black eyes, long and flrait black hair,
and were very fwift of foot. The country here and there
was watered with fmall rivers. Our navigators faw
fine plains and conftderable forefls, as alfo thickets and
groves of cyprefs, laurels, and palm-trees, and of fome
trees entirely unknown in Europe. It is difficult to de-
termine where Verazzani landed firft ; but it would
appear, that he firft arrived on the coaft of America, in
that part of Georgia, where at prefent the town of
Savannah is, and that afterwards he failed fouth wards
as far as to the 30th degree of latitude. What induces
me to think fo, is that Vcrazxam mentions his having
feen palm-trees on the fpot where he landed : now.
thefe, as far as I know, grow only in Florida ; nor
would it have been poflible to fail from any other place
on the American coaft, 50 leagues to the fouthward i as
the coaft from 40 deg. to 33 deg. ftretches from north-
eaft to fouth- weft. Upon this he fhaped his courfe
a^ain to the northward. Having proceeded in this di-
rection for fome time, he found himfelf in lat. 34 deg.
;md faw the coaft trending eaftward. It is true, that
the coaft is flat, and has no larbour, but then there are
no recks. The climate and air are wholefome. Being
come to the fpot, where the coaft trends to the eaft,
ilicy faw many fires, and, placing fome degrees of
confidence in the favages, lent tlieir boat on ihore ;
lut the fea was fo rough that they could not land. A
young failor, trufting to his fkil! as a fwimmer, and
tl\e invitations of the favajies, ventured to Iwim aftiore
with fome trifling prefent . He approached fo ner.r
the fhore, that tac water reached no hin-her than his
waift J but his fears predominated fo„ that he flung the
picfents on Ihore, and threv/ himfelf again into the fca
with an 'ntenticn of fwimming to his boat. But now
■ji w ave tali hiiu back on ihore with (uch a force, that \\<i

F i Uv

'1' •'«»l¥<«
111

'pii

434

VOYAGES ANO

fyHO

lay quite ftupitied and fenfelefs on the ftrand. Tffcr
favages ran immediately to his affiftance, and carried
him a little way ofF from the fea. At tlie firft outfet he
could not collect himielf, and great was his terror oi\
recovering, to find himfelf entirely in their power ! He
let up aloud cry, and they re-echoed it with violence
in order to encourage him ; then, placing him at the
foot of a hill, they turned him towards tlie fun, kin-
dled a fire, and ftripped him naked. He now no longer
ifoubted but that they were going to oiFer him upon it
as a facrifice to the Aui. They were of the fame opi-
nion on board the fliip, and in the boat, though unable
to aftord him any aififtance. But he found himfelf
niiftaken in his apprehenlions, for they only dried his
clothes, and did not even take him nearer to the fire
than was neceflary to warm him. Still, however, he
trembled ; but the favages careffed him in the moft
friendly manner, admiring the whitenefs of his com-
plexion, and the hair on thofe parts of the body, where,
as it is known, the American fevages have none.
'r\.'Vr reftorcd his clothes, and fet victuals before him.
Hav'in J fhewn an eager defire to return to his friends,
they conducted him to the flurc, and after having em-
t>iuccd him with great tciidernefs, withdrew a little to
Ihew him, that he was entirely at liberty, following
him witli their eyes until they had feen him again in
his boat, and oi\ board the Ihip. Now aU this muft
have pafled fomewhcre about New "Jcrfey or ^taaten
ijlund^ or perhaps on Long-Ifland. — They now failed
driller on, and tiw the coaTt trend again to the north-
vv ird. After a run of 50 leagues, Vera-z.'z.ant anchor-
ed off a delightful country, fuU of the fined forefts,
ilere 20 of liis men landed, and went about two
leagues up into the country. The inhabitants fled be-
iiire them, but they caught an old woman who had hid
lv'r*"<;lf iu the high grals, wit'i a young woman about
18 years of age. The old woman carried a child on
!;ur liacJ:; an'' had belides, two little boys with her.
'I'lie young woman, too, carried thice children of her

ovvu

Discoveries in tHE north* 43^

l>wn fex. Seeing themfelves difcovered, they began to
Oirielc, and the old one gave them to underftand, by
figns, that the men were fled to the »;oods. 'I'hey
on-cred her fomething to eat, which ihe accepted, but
the maiden refufed it. T}iis g;irl, who was tall and
well fhaped, they were deftrous of taking along with
them, but as ihe made a violent outcry, they contented
themfelves with taking a boy away with them. Thefe
people were half clothed with a tiflue, compofed of grafs
and reeds. They had nets. Thfeir arrows had bone
points. Their boats were hollowed out of one piece
of timber. The trees were not fo fragrant as thofe
that grew on the places where they landed before i
many of them, however, had vines climbing up to
their very tops. No houfes were to be feen» After hav-
ing lain at anchor here three days, they failed farther
•on along the coaft j where they difcovered a very fine
country, and at the fame time found the mouth of a
large river.

The favages pointed out to them the deep places in
this river ; but a ftorm coming on on z fudden, obliged
them to fail away to the caflward., where they found
a well-cultivated ifland (the ille of Nantucket^ or elfe
that of Martha'^ Vineyard) and a little further on a
good harbour, in which they faw more than 20 canoes
belonging to the favages. Here they found a very fine
race of people, who at the fame time were very
pleafmg ; however, the men were extremely jealous.
Ihe women wore ornaments of wrought copper.
Their houfes were round, made of wood, and covered
over with draw. The mouth of the river was in 41
deg. Here they laid in a large (lock of provifions,
and on the 5th of May, failed farther on to the north-
ward. After a run of 150 leagues (equal to 71 deg.)
they difcovered a high land, quite over-grown with
forefts. The inhabitants of this country were eiy
favage ; they were covered with the fkins of animals,
and lived on roots, which grew in the earth fponta-'
neouflv. Twenty-five of the crew who landed here,
>\'ere received bv the inhabitaiitt. with u vclley of ar-

Ft2 row.-..

43^

VOYAGES AMD

rows. Here they found alfo ornaments made of cop-*
per. Then failing farther on, they came, after a run
of 150 leagues more, to 56 deg. IN. )at. ne.ir a country
where the Bretons had already been betore. I'his
country, along the coaft of which they had already failed
upwards of 700 leagues. Was called New France *.
Vira%zapil\s provifions beginning to diminirti very faft,
he failed ftrait on to France, whence he dated his
to King Francis 1. on the 8lh of July, 1524.

It is faid, that Verozzani undertook another voy-
age to the new-dilicovered country* of New France ;
b'Jt it. is abfolutely impolfible to fay in what year this
laft voyage was made. Ramufio, however, very pofi-
tively aflures us, that when Verazzani landed, he and
the people who went afliore with him, were cut to
pieces and devoured by the favages, in the very
light of the reft of the crew, who had remained
on board the fliip, and who were unable to come ta
their refcue. Before I conclude this article, I muft
beg leave to add two very Ihort obfervations : the firft
refpects the fimilarity of the fates attending Verazzani
and the immor':ai Cooky both of whom were killed,
cvit into pieces, and devoured by a rude, uncultivated
people ; both alfo were poflefled of an extenfive know-
ledge of navigation, intrepid courage, and the great-
eii: perfeverance. 'I'he fecond bus already been made
before me by others, but is neverthelcfs as true as it
is remarkable. It is as follows : The three great em-
pires of thofe times, Spain, England, and France,
made each of them ufe of an Italian to conduct the
voyages of difcovery fet on foot by tliem. Spain em-

were ac(

* In an oIJ map I have feen ihc land it Nurumheii^a laid down juTl
^heiL A^T.i Hio.ia is at prelent. At page ijo I freely confedcd that I
t.oulil not I't^htly comprcheiui the name ot y»>i«^?f, which was given
tlicre to the toalj of the land, afiei wards named Nova Stttia ; it is, how-
ever, without doubt, no other tl-jan this lame land Je Nurumhena^ or
N:rimbi;;ia. NevcrthL-lefs the origin of this appellation remains Hill un-
known to n^e ; iiulels it be, indeed, that lome of the toys, which wcr«
pittenitJ 10 the favages, cnniilling of lookiDg-^jIafle.s, btlls, &t. &c.
wpti' of Nurtvth':rfr nianutatLlure, and that thu?, by the nanne given l*
thccLUiitiy, ihey mcam to prei'crvc ih« tncniurj of this fact.

picycd

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 437

liloyed Chiljlophcr Cclom, a Genocfe ; England, Sebttf-
iian Cabot y a Venetian ; and France, yerozz-vii^ a
Florentine. A circumllance which Tufficiently piovcF,
that in thofe times no nation was equal to the ltr.li.".r.s
in point oi maritime knowledge and extcnlive experi-
ence in navigation. But notwitiiilanding all their
knowledge and experience, the Italians have not been
able to acquire one inch of ground for themfelves in
America : all the difcoveries made by thefc Italians
devolved to the {hare of thofe nations which hail fcnt
them out on thcfc errands. The penurious mercantile
fpirit of the Republics of Venice, Genoa, Florence,
Pifa, and other free ftates, part of whom had already
paikd under the yoke of a mafter, their mutual bicker-
ings and petty wars, and their ihort-fighted felfifhnefs,
made them overlook the benefits relulting from fuch
great enterprises, and attach themfelves to mere trifling
details, which rendered them unfit for carrying on ex-
peditions of fuch importance to the ftate, though pri-
vate perfons had courage and magnanimity enough not
only to plan theie itnportant voyages, but alfo to put
their plans into execution.

III. The difcoveries made by Ferazzani having been
of little or no advantage to the realm, all thoughts of
a voyage of difcovery were for fome time laid allde :
but in the year 1534, the Admiral Pbiiip Chabot re-
prefented to the King, how advantageous it would be
to eftablifh a colony in a country from whence Spain
derived fo much wca!ih. Accordingly y^wry CV/rZ/Vr, of
St. Maloy was prefented to the King, and his propofals
were accepted. On the 20th of April he fct fail from
St. Malo^ with two fiiips ;:nd 122 men, and on the
loth of May he faw hoim V'tjla^ in NewfoundUmd j
but the land was as yet covered v/ith fnow, and tcnvnrds
the fliore there were great quantities of ice. Six de-
grees farther to the louthward, or S. S. E. he faw a
harbour, to which he gave the name of St. Catharinis
Harbour. He then returned to the northward, and near
the IJle of Birds, at the diftance of 14 leagues from
Newfoundland^ he fav/ a great white bear. After this

I'l '

4<S

II ;■§; tl|.v!

438

VOYAGES AND

he failed almoft quite round Nr vfoundland^ where ha
found fine harbours, but a bad toil. I'he inhabitants
were of a good fize, tolerably well fhapcd, and wore
their hair tied in a bunch on the crown of their head,
which they liicewife adorned with feathers. Then he
went to the continent, where he ftood in to a deep
bay. In this bay he fuffered great heat, and thet\cc
named it Baye des Chaleurs. In fome old maps, it is
liicewife called Spanift) Bay. In fa6l, Velafo is faid to
have been here before Carticr^ when, find.iig no me-
tals of any kind, he cried out, jica nadn, Here is
NOTHING * i from which expreflion was formed Ca-
nada, the name by which this country was afterwards
Icnowi . In the Bay des Chaleurs there was a great
number of feals. Cartier now vifited the coufts of the
bay of St. Lawrence, and having fct fail again on the
15th of Auguft, he arrived on the 5th of September
«ic St. Maloes.

IV. Cart'ur gave an account of his voyage, and this
induced the Vice- Admiral, Charles le Mouy Siiur de
Melleraye, to procure him more rcfpeft and authority
from the King, as alfo three fhips well rigged and
manned. On the 6th of May, 1535, Cartier with his
whole crew, repairing to, the cathedral Church at St.
Maloy prayed for the bleiling of God on their under-*
talcing, and with it received Tikcwife that of the Bilhop.
On the 19th he put to fea, having on board a num-
ber of young men of di.Tindtion, who were defirous of
making their fortunes under him. The (hips were
were loon after difperfcd by a Horm, On the 2Cth

* This dcrivatirn of the name of Ct/nada fmrn ihc Spanifli /•untiinliT,
hiving been fo ollcn r'curred to, I cannot help Hating I'omc oljcif^ioitR
•jgainU it. The Spaniih won) tor tti e is iw>t e/f^, but a^ui ; ar.d ili«
f Jimation ot Canada from Aijuiiiodn^ apptarj foiced and unnatuial. It
Cinnoi, however, be denied, that thi> appellation has by many bien de-
rived from thence ; for in ancient maps we often find Ca: da NaJa^ or
Frimentcrium Nihtli^ But, from a Can<jJ/<j» vocabulary, annexed to tie
original cdiiion of the ("eccnd voyage cf JtKjues Cartier^ Paris, 1545, h
appears, that an aflfemblage ot hoiiie«, or habitations, i. e. a /ttfir, was
by the natives called Canada. Cartier fays, //c apf>ti.tnt une Villi' -

Cnnada\ and nothing feems more natural than th*t v.hrn the French
afked hew they calUdfuch a place, viz. a certain aiTerrb age of habiisr
jaiions or huts, or the town, the fav-ages fliould aniwer ihem, Ccr.odt:^
2 town. Now this \va< ii;iagiaei; 10 be the particular and [urpcr name
ef tV<c country iiltl. i anUantiicc the Vihoic counuy cbtilhtd the n&mc
^r Canada^

guiph
alfo

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 439

of June they met together again at their general place
t>f rendevoouT.^ in the bay of Newfoundland, On ihc
I ft of Auguft he was obliged, by a ftorin, to t;ik.c
refuge in the harbour of St. Nicholas^ on the northei n
coair of the mouth of the river St. Lawrence, which is
in 49 deg. 25 min. N. lat. On the 10th, Cartier bore
up again into the great bay, which he named the bay
of St. Lawrena j and though the river which runs in-
to it was at firft called the river of Canada^ yet it
has in the courfe of time changed this appellation for
that of the River of St, Lawrence^ after the bay or
gulph of that name. The name of St. Lawrence was
alfo in the beginning only given to an inlit, fituatcd
between the illand of Anticojll and the northern cojift
of the main land, but in the courfe of time has been
extended to the whole of this large bay. On the 15th
he came to the Ifland which he named Ajjcmptfion (or
AflUmption Ifland) but which by the favages was calJc«l
Natifcctccy whence the Englilh have made the name
Anticojli^ a name by which it is known ac ihis very
<lay. After this they failed up the river, an(., on the
ift of September, ran into the river Seguenay. Then
he failed farther, and named an ifland which he
faw covered with hazel-trees, Ifle aux Coudres (Hazel
or Filberd Ifland). Here, feeing land on both fides
of the river, he looked about for a harbour to pafs
the winter in. Higher up he found a ftill finer and
larger ifland, covered with an infinite number of
vines *, growing fpontaneoufly in the groves and fore (Is,

•Oneofihe chie'and ftiongeft objed\'ons tha! has been mailc •painfl the
f>p nion that NituffiinJlattd w»» the yVinianil of ihe ancient Normans (virte
j'agc 83) if. that no \ iiicK crew there Ipor tanioiilly : but Cat tier'i liccl.ut
JjJatitl, or ihc IJIe ef Orltanty having been found c: veied uilh vincf, and
the latitude of this ifland beinp ix.Cliy the laiiic with that of Ntwiound-
land. And indeed of the moll fouihern parts of ih it country, and moiecvcr,
the clinnaie of Newfoiindl;ind b. ing, on account of its vicinity to the - ctan,
rather milder than that of the itlc of Orleans^ 1 can no longer doubt but
that fewral lorts of .vitd vines crew ,^ lo on Newfoundiamt, and cl itfly
the fpecie^ before ineniioned : A'///j vuipina^ labrufca et nrboiea. But at
rvf hve not as yet any Flora of Newfoundland, we cannot affirm this
with abfoiute certainty -, however it is highly probable that this is the
rale.

and

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

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1.25 1.4

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80

(716) 872-4503

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44®

VOYAGES ANii

and hence named it Bachus IJland : this name, how-
ever, is now forgotten, it being now called the IJIe
of Orleans. Cartier went ftill higher up the great
river, and faw a river coming from the north, which
he named St. Croix ^ having difcovered it on the day
of the Elevation of the Holy Crofs j but at prefcnt this
river is known by the appellation of Jaques Cartier's
River. Here he convcrfed with Doiinaccna^ a Chief
of the favages, who was defirous of keeping all the
advantages arifmg from Cartier and his crew to him-
lelf, and accordingly advifed him not to go to Hocheh-
gQ'i a large fcttlcment of the favage?. But Cartier left
two {hips in the rivir of 5f, Croix ^ and went with the
third, la grande Hermine, higher up. In lake St. Pierre^
he, not having depth of water fufficient, could not
proceed any farther with his fhip. He therefore armed
his two boats, and went with them up to Hockdaga*.
This place contained about 50 dwellings, each of v. hicii
was 50 paces long, and 14 or 75 broad. All tliele ha-
bitations were enccmpafled with pallifadoes. 'i. here v.'l.s
but one gate or entrance to it ; all arcuiid the fortifi-
. cations there was an elevated ftage, which was to be
afcended by a ladder. On this itage lay a great quan-
tity of ftones, both large and fmal), ibr tl.e defence cf
the fortification. The Europeans were well received
here : but it was not long before inactivity, the confined
and putrid air in the clofe and dirty habitations of tlie
favages, the faked and poor provifion they were obliged
to put up with, together with the want of change of
cloathing, occafioned the fcurvy amongft Cartier^s people ^
and 25 of them died of this dil'calc, till at length
they learned from the favages the beft remedy for it,
and began to u(e it. This remedy ccnfills in a dc-
co«Stion of the leaves and inncrmoft bark of the white
North-American pine-tree (Finns Canudcnfn Linn,

* At prefent this pl«ce i« no longer called Hichcliga^ bjt Mjntrea'.
The lirli name is entirely forgotten. This A/v-n/rw/ in the fcconii place
in CanaJ.i, being next to^Jebec. The illand on which it is fitiiatcd is
highly cultivated and pretty populous, in (.ciTipirilb'o with the rtll 0."

Ej;iin(Ue

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 441

Eplnette Blanche). By means of this, Cartier and his
crew were perfe(5tiy recovered within eight days j niy^
even thofe, too, were cured, who laboured under ve-
nereal complaints. In the next fpring Cartier returned
with what remained of his crew to France ; and h iv-
ing, partly by ftratagem and partly by force, carried olY
Donnacona fr..Ti the river of St. Croix, prefented him
to the King, and expatiated largely on the advantages
which were likely to refult from a fettlement in that
country, and chiefly by means of the fur-trade ; fhevv-
ing, at the fame time, that from the mildnefs of the
climate and the fertility of the foil, every produ«Stion of
the earth might be expelled. But the filly prejudice at
that time prevailing amongft all the nations of Europe,
that only fuch countries as produced gold and iilver
■were in any wife valuable and worth taking pofleflion
of, had alfo at this juncture fo great an influence on the
French, that they flighted the falutary advice of Cartier^
and would hear no more of the eltablifhment of a colon/
in Canada.

V. Neverthelefs there were fome people found, and
thofe even at Court, who formed more jull conceptions
of the matter. A certain Nobleman of Picardy, by
name Francois de la Roque, Lord of Robervai, who was
of great weight in his own province, and whom, on
this account, Francis I, frequently ufcd to call the
Little King of Fimeu, v/as more zealous than the reft
for purfuing thefe difcoveries. The King, therefore,
on the 15th of January, 1540, created him Lord in
Norimbega, an^his Lieutenant- General and Viceroy in
Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay, Newfoundland, BdU Jfe^
Carpon, Labrador, the Grsnt Bay, and Bacallaos, By
thefe great titles Roberval was induced to appear in
the countries here mentioned, with a grandeur and
magnificence fuitable to his dignity. Accordingly he
fent for canons from Normandy, and even from Cham-
paigne, and fitted out two fl.iips at his own cxpence.
Carlier was to go before as Captain, a^ Itc himfelf

could

. -ifci

■■ li 111,'

442

VOYAGES AND

could not be reaf?y with his two (hips fo foon. Cnr-
iifKy therefore, let tail with five (hips on the 23d of
M;w, 1640. After meeting with many Itorms, he
landed at length in Ni;ivfoundlnncl^ in the harbour of
Carport ^probubly J^uirpon, or Kir pan, ori the northern
point of the illand). Roberval not arriving, Cmtier
■went ftrait on to Canada^ where he ipoice with Jgona^
the fucceflbr of Donnacona^ who had died in France.
JHaving Inade prel'ents to each other. Cm-tier went to
the diltancc of four lca2;ucs from St. Croix into a fmart
river, which feemed more convenient to him than the
river of St. Croix itfelf. Here they fuw a great quan-
tity of black grapes ; and fowcd dilterent forts of garden
feed?, fuch as cabbage, navew, and lettuce, which im-
mediately fprung up. They likewife erected here a
fmall citadel, to which they gave the name of Cbarle-
hnurg*. The country was pleafant, and was furnilhcd
with a fpring : it contained iron, and was full of chryf-
tal-ftones, and even of gold-duft. Cnrtier armed two
boats with a dell'jn to go over the water-falls to Sa-
guenfr)\ but found it impoflible, and, having difcovered
the jx'rlidioufncfs of the natives, became doubly v/atch-
ful. Having waited in vain till 1542, for the arrival
of the ViceroyM.de Roben>nl-i and confumed all his
provifions, belidcs thut he had great rcafon to fear an
attack from the favagcs, he fet out on his return to
France ; but quite une>:pc(Sledly found Roberval at New-
foundland, who h;id left France only in the month of
April 1542, and had arrived in the ro9.d of St. jfohny
in Newfoundland, juft before him, with three (hips fuU
of men, women, and children. Rcherval^ indeed,
wanted to oblige Cartier to return with him to America ;
but this latter gave him the flip with his fquadron in tlic
night, and failed to Britany.

* Hence it would feem that this fit ft fettlemenr of the French mud
hivf been at no great (lill.nce from ^«r/'Ci-an<l the Utile river of Charl(x ;
»nd, in r»£t, there ifc Itill i. place called Charlijbmrgy about this fpot.

VI. Roberval

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 445

VI. Roberval went with his three fhips to the coaft
of Saguenay, built a fort on a mountain near the river
of St, Lawrence, and fent his firft pilot, Jean Alphcnfe
de Xaintoigne , a native either of Portugal or Gallicia,
to the northward, to difcover a paflage to the Eaft*
Indies. But he did not go beyond 52 deg. N. lat.
Hoherval muft have returjied to France, for we find
mention is made of many more voyages ha\ing been
undertaken by him. The war between Francis I. and
Charles V. prevented Roberval from attempting any
other voyage till the year 1549- But in that year he
fet fail again, together with his brother, one of the
braveft men of thofe times, and they were both reported
to have perifhcd, thou^jh no farther information con-
cerning the particular circumftances attending their de-
itru6lion has been handed down to ns.

VII. For fome time after this, people did not care
to undertake any more voyages to America, as they
could procure no gold from the newly-difcovcred north-
ern part of it, not confidering, that the real value of
the fur trade and of the hfhery furpafled by far that of
all the gold in Peru, and fecured to the ftate more
permanent advantages. In 1598, the Marquis de la
Roche went in the quality of Lord Lieutenant to thefc
countries^ and 40 of tne people fent out with him,
having been taken out of the prifons, he landed them
on the miferr.ble jfland called IJle de S(ibh\ and flood
awp.y for Acadia^ which fince has obtained the name of
?^in)a ^cotin^ from whence, after having made, in dif-
ferent parts of it, fuch refearches as he thought neccf-
fary, he returned to France, without having had it in
his power 'o take back with him the poor wretches
from the IJle de Sable. In France many misfortunes
befel him, which prevented him from returning to
America ; and this affected him fo much that he died
of vexation, Henry IV. hearing of the unfortunate
wretches left on IJle de Sable, fent Chetodcl to bring
th^m away. After feven years ftay oil this miferable

iAand,

I.'

■ ) ;

ili

fti 1

:i !ii

44+

VOYAGES A N' D

ing

ifland, only 12 o( them were alive, whom the K
delired to i'ec, juft as they wore when they left the place,
in their feal-f]<ia clothes, and with their long beards ;
and afterwards made each of them a prefcnt of 50 dol-
lars, and remitted them the punifhment of the crimes
for which they had formerly been put into prifon.

immediately after this man, Pontgrave de Chmtvin
went with a grant from the King for an exclufive trade
to Tadoujfak, on the mouth of the Saguenny, where he
bartered for furs, and returning the next year, continu-
ed to trade, and had alfo determined to go there a third
time, but was prevented by death. After this we find
fome accounts of the voyages of Samuel de Champlain,
a man of a noble family, to Canada ; but the difco-
veries made by him are very inlignificant, and a great
many of them do not come within the limits of our
plan. What the favage Otfchagah (perhaps one of
the Otfchagvds nation) has laid of the pafTage from
Lake Superiour into Lnke BourhoHy and to the two
OuifiipiqufSy which are joined to Hudfon's Bay by
means of the river Nelfon^ is equally uncertain. None
of thcfe rtlationr., any more than thofe of certain French
officers, arc fufficicntly authentic to ferve as a founda-
tion on v»'hich a map might be laid down, or for a cir-
cumitantial defcripticn ot thcle countries, and one that
may be depended on.

VIII. Philip Buache^ in his Conftdcratkns Geogrrf-
phlques et Phyftques^ Parts^ ^to. 1753, mentions the
voyage of a Captain F/(7«^rt<^, who, in the year 1709,
failed from China to Spanifh North- America. This
is the only (hip that ever crofled the South Sea in fo
high a latitude. In 165 deg. \L. long, from Ferro, he
found a ftrong current fetting from the north, and in
the month of May met with heavy rains and violent
flaws of wind. Being come to 188 deg. E. long,
and 45 deg. N. lat. he found a fea as calm as a pond,
which made him fuppofe that to the windward of him
there muft be a land which obftrucicd the current.
Before he cair.c to b(. 44 dec. and long.' 197 deg.

ealt

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOHTH. 445

«aft of Ferro, he met v/ith dreadful weather, violent
flaws from N. N. E. and from the euft, and ftrong
currents fetting to the north and north-weftward. Herti
likewife he faw a great number of whales. In 40 dcg.
N . lat. the fea was green. Farther on, currents were
to the fouth-eaft. At length, on the 24th of July,
he reached the coaft of California, having had, through
the whole courfe of the voyage, variable weather and
winds, violent ihowers of rain, heavy feas, and fome-
times dead calms.

I'his is idl ihat I have been able to colle6l con-
cerning the voyages of the French, and the difcovcries
made by them in the north. Upon the whole, it is
to be obferved, that this nation has but lately begun
to beftow that attention on voyages to diftant regions
which they deferve. What has been formerly under-
taken in this refpedl has been chiefly done by private
perfons at their own expence. Government has fel-
dom given its fupport to enterprizes of this nature,
or if it has, it has not done it with that zeal and ar-
dour thefe objects deferve. It cannot be denied, how-
ever, that Government has alfo fet on foot fome verv
conliderable voyages of difcovery, and thofe at a con-
fiderable expence j voyages, too, in which obfervati-
ons have been made of great importance and general
utility.

CHAP. IV.

Of the Difcoverles made by the Spaniards in the North.

IT was to a concurrence of many fortunate circum-
ftances that Spain was indebted for the difcovery of
'ihe Weit-lndiai) illands beinj made for her in ths

Year

" );'

: 'ij

"^-.m

•\\

" I- ':i

■ 'A

446

VOYAGES Atiti

year I492, by the immortil Genoefe^ Chri/iopher Coldnt*
The important advantages which they reaped from this
^lifcovcry, emboldened all the high-fpirited and refolutc
men of the nation to proceed in this career with almoil:
inconceivable adlivity. The riches thus acquired ferv-
ed for fitting out a great number of (hips, and for the
execution of frefli enterprises. The great difcoveries
made by the Portugueze in Africa, the circumnaviga-
tion of the Cape of Good Hope in 1496, and the
finding out of a paiTage by fea to the Eaft- Indies,
rendered the Spaniards ftill more and more intent up-
on new difcoveries. Each of thefe nations endeavour-
ed to extend its difcoveries, and to profit by them as
much as pofliblc. Ships were fcnt out every where
on voyages of this nature. Vincent le Tilnnc aiferts,
that at ihc time when Thomns Aubert (or Hubert) went
to Canada^ viz. in 1508, the Spaniard, Vclaj'co^ went
thither alfo, and that he failed up tlic river, which
was afterwards called St. Lmvrence^ for about aoo
leagues., and then coafting along Labrador y came agniti
to the river Nevada^ which Cortereal had already dii -
covered before him. But fo little credit is to be given
to the relations of Vincent le Blanc in general, tliat we
likewife cannot place nmch depcndance on thi$ itorv
of his with rclpe£l of the voyage of dilcovery made
by the Spaniard Velafco and confequently cannot de-
termine whether and how far it is founded in truth.

J. Alexander VI. Bifhop of Rome, agreeably to
tl)e prejudices of thofe times, in 1493* divided the
difcovciry of new lands between the t)pamfh and tlie
l*ortuguczc, by the famous Linen de Di7narciUio-i^ vvhitii
ill fait began at 36 deg. to the weftward of Lifbon,
or at 27 deg. 29 min. v/ettward from the hri'c meri.liai:,
viz. that which palTes through Ferro, 01 3^2 deg. 31
min. eaftward from Ferro ; but which, fur the great-
er convenience of both powers, was altered in 1494,
by the treaty of Tordefdlas^ in fuch a manner that
Portugal might be enabled to conquer the kingdom
of Fez, and Spain, on the otiier hand, might have it

in her power to do the faniv by Jlgierii i?"^0'> '^««''-^<

and

DISCOVERIES IN THE NOHTH. 447

and Telefm ; and confequently the Llnea dc Dcmarcatim
was now to be drawn at 370 leagues to the wcftward
of the Cape Verd Iflands. The Spaniards having;
moreover found their way welhvard to the Molucca
Iflands, by means of A'ltigelhaens flrft voyage round
the world, and both parties extending their 180 de-
grees from the line of demarcation very unjuttly with
a view to enlarge their dominions, attempts were
made in 1524. to fettle thefe difputcs by Commiflarics
at Badajox and Elvas ; but nothing was determined
upon till the Emperor Charles V. in 1529, happen-
ing to be in v.'ant of money, by the treaty of 6V/r^-
gojfa gave up his pretenfions to the Molucca Ulands,
in lieu of which he accepted of 350,000 ducats from
King yohn III. of Portugal. In the mean time the
Spaniards continued to have a very difficult, and, on
account of the ftorms ufually experienced there, like-
wife a dangerous route, to go through the Straits of
Magellan into the South Sea and to Peru and Chiliy
as alfo to the Philippine Iflands ; they therefore natu-
rally wifhed to lind a nearer way. The attempts made
by the Engliih and French to find a paiTage by the
north to China and Kathay, and into the isouth-Sea,
made them fomcwhat uneafy, left it fhould be difcover-
ed and occupied by a foreign natioii, and thus they
tiiemfelves rcmaii; excluded from it ; they, too, there-
fore, v/ere delirous of trying to find a pallage from the
South-Sea into the Atlantic. But before this enter-
prize could be brought to bear, the Emperor Charles
V. in the year 1524, fent EjTevan Gomez from Co-
runna, to find out a pafiage to the Molucca Iflands
by the North of America. But finding it impofllblc
to do this, he brought fome Indians from thefe iflands
along with him, and, in 1525, arrived at Tc'/f/^^. Vide
'Miguel Fenega'sKiiiory oi' California, p. 124. Cortezy
the Conqueror of Ms.-nco^ had received intelligence of
the attempt of the Portugue'zc Cafpar Coriereal^ to
find a pafiage, and of his having ahxady difcovercd a
firait, and named it Aulan. in co:ifcquencc of this

iiitelli^ence

■mm

\\\

"iii

44»

VOYAGES ANi»

intell'gcnce he fent out ^ (hips, well manned, under
the coinm::nJ of Francijco Ulloa^ for the purpofe of
rmclin^; out this pafTage. This event feems to have
fv.ippencu in 1537, though very little has been handed
down to us concerning the refult of this expedition,
j'.s Cortez. being willing to appropriate to himlelf the
'A'h'Antx'rt which might arifc from this difcovcry, if
made, took the command of the expedition upon him-
(clf, but returned without having done any thing.

After him, the Viceroy Mcndoza^ fent people out iit
1540, as well by land, under the command of Fran-
cifco Vdfquez Coronado^ as a!fo by fea, under that of
Francijco Alar^on^ for the purpofe of finding out the
ft raits known by the name of Anion ^ and of explor-
ing the coaft to 53 deg. N. lat. Alarcon went no
farther than to 36 deg. when his fhips being in bad
condition, and his crew fickly, the coaft moreover
beginning to trend to the northvyard (probably to the
north- wefJ:) in which cafe he muft have removed itill
farther from the land troops, who were even then at
the diilance of 10 days march from him, he rr-turn-
cd. Vide Antonio Hcrrcra\ Defcription dc la: InditHy
Amber e$ ^ fol. 1728; which has alfo been publifhed in
Latin at Amfterdam, in folio, 1622 ; a5 alfo in h :
de Laet^ novus Or bis feu Americce utriiifque Defer ip-
tio J Antwerp et Lugd. Bat. ap. Elzevir, fol. 1 633.

il. The news of Alarcon' s ill fuccefs having reach-
ed Spain, orders were given for another expedition,
Juan Rodriguez de Cabrilb^ a, Portugueze in the fervic e
of Spain, was appointed to command it, in the year
1542, but he went no farther than to 44. deg. N. l:ir.
where he found it very cold. Tlic ficknefs of the crew,
the want cf proviiion?, and the circmnftance of the
lliip's being too weak toftand the turbulence of the fca in
tiiofe parts, obliged Cabrillo to rctutn, without proceed-
ing as far as he had been inftrucired to do. however,
they faw land in 42 deg. N . lat. on the coaft of Nortli-
America, which land they named Capo Mendocinoy by
way of compliment to the Viceroy ; and rliey found th.it
from thence to the harbour da la h'adii'Jddd, the who'?

wus

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

449

was one contir ed land, without the intervention of a
ftrait, or any other reparation.

III. Befides what was done by thefe fhips, it has
been advanced, that in the year 1568, a Spanlfh no-
bleman of the name of Saluatierra^ on his return
home from the Weft-Indies, accidentally landed in
Ireland, and related to the Lord Lieutenant, thut
Andreai Urdanietta had, about the year 1556, or 1557,
adtuallv found a pafl'age, and had ihewn him, eignt
years before his arrival in Ireland, a map of Mexico,
on which he had laid down this paflage. Urdanietta com-
ing from the South-Sea to Germany, and afterwards
fpealcing with the King of Portugal, had related to his
Majefty the difcovery he had made, who earnertly en-
treated him to obferve a profound filence with re-
fpeft to this affair j as, if the Englilh fhould get to
the knowledge of it, they would become extremely
troublefome to the King of Spain, as well as to him-
felf, viz. the King of Portugal. This Urdanietta was,
in fad, no more than a Monk, but had an extraordi-
narily extenfive knowledge of mathematics and navi-
gation ; in confequence of which he was employed on
many voyages and expeditions, particularly oix that
undertaken to the Philippines in 1564, under the com-
mand of Andreas Miguel Lopez Legafpi,

IV". A. D, 1582, Francifco Gualle had orders from
the King of Spain to examine if it was true that
there exifted a paflage to the eaft and north-eaft of
Japan, by means of which the South- Sea was con-
nedcd with that fituated to the north of Afia. His
own report on this fubjedl is as follows : — " Shaping
'* my courfe (viz. eaftward from Japan, from 32 deg.
" N . lat.) to the E. N. E. about 300 leagues from
Japan, I found a very hollow fea, with currents fct-
ting from the north and north-weft, till I had failed
above 700 leagues, and was at the diftance of 200
leagues only from the coaft of New Spain (or Cali-
" fornia) j and it was not till then that 1 loft the

G 5 " currents

4(
(C

,•'-1,

r.t

450

VOYAGES AND

" currents and the hollow Tea. Whence 1 am firmly
** of opinion, ami ftedfaftly believe, that a channel or
" llrait is to be found between the continent of New
" Spain and Tartary or Afia. During this wholt;
*' run of 700 leagues we faw a great number of whales,
** and of tljofc filh which the Spaniards Cidl Jtwn
" ( ruiuiies, Scomber Thynnus) a great number ot
*' which are caught near Gibraltar in Spain ; as alfo
** Jlbucoras (Scomber Hippos) and Bonitos (Scomber
" Pchimys) j all which are fifli that ufually haunt
** channels, ftraits, and currents of the fea * ; ..nd
** all thcfe circumftances, taken together induce me
*' to believe, that there muft be a channel or Itrait
" here f."

Juan de Fuca was, ftriiStly fpeaking, a Greek, from
the iflund of CephaLtiia,t his real name was Jpojbhs
VaUrianos. He had been upwards of 40 years in
the fcrvice of Spain as mariner and pilot, and had
alfo loll a confidcrable fortune on board the Aca-
pulco fhip, which was talcen from the Spaniards by
Cavendijhy which, however, he certainly over-rated
in valuing it at 60,000 ducats (perhaps he meant dol-
lars). At Venice he became acquainted with John
Doiulafs^ an Englifli pilot, and an excellent mariner,
to whom he related his adventures, and at the fame
time informed him that he had difcovered a paffage.
He likewife offered to go to England, and, in the
fervice of Queen Elizabeth^ to fliew this pallage, on
condition of being indemnified for the lofs he had fuf-
tained in the Acapulco fhip. For he, Juan de Fuca^
had been fent out by the Viceroy of Mexico, as

* For my part, I cannot fay that all thefe kind of fifh are fo particu-
larly fond of channels and ftra ts ; fir, in the courfe of my voy.tge loimd
the world, I have more tharj once feen ihefe fpecies of mackerel, ami
ptrtic'jlarly the Bonit:s^ in great quantities (nay, we even taught fome of
them) i;j the m'ddie of the Atlantic, at a great diilance from „'Vis laud.
Whale,, we faw in the high louthern latitudes, and that chiefly near the
ice, far from any land. Hcwever, the greatelt quaiiity of ihem Uiat (
faw was in a llrait which has a very ftrong current, viz. the StmiU cf le
M^ire.

f Vide Jt Cju'.$ DiidJ, \o. lib. 5, (n/i, 3. and R:u:i(r dc Linjcho.'tn.,
i*p. 54.

pilot

DISCOVERIES i^. THE NORTH. 451

pilot to 3 (hips under the command of a Spaniard,
to difcovcr the ftraits of Jniiin ; but the foldicrs that
were on board, to the number of 100, having muti-
nied, and befides that, the Captain having conducted
himfelf improperly, the whole voyage had been fruf-
trated. But in 1592, the Viceroy had fcnt him out,
with a fmall caravell and pinnace, to dilcover thcfe
ftraits. Now, having feen, between 47 and 48 deg»
N. lat. that the land trended to the north and north-
eaft, with a large inlet, he had failed into this inlet
and continued failing in it for the fpace of 20 days.
The land ftretched fometimes north-weftward, and
fometimes north-eaftward, and even at other times,
fouth-eaftward, and the fea grew much wider than it
was at the entrance, and contained many iflands. He
landed feveral times, faw feveral people clothed in tlie
fkins of animals, and found the country very fertile,
and abounding in gold, filver, and pearls. Being now
already come into the North-Sea, and having alfo
found the fea wide enough every where, and near 30
or 40 leagues wide in the mouth of the ftrait whcie
he entered, he at length refolved to return, having,
on the one hand, adVually accompliflied the difcovery^
but, on the other, being too weak to be able to de-
fend himfelf againft tbe lavages, in cafe there had been
a neceffity for fo doing. Accordingly he arrived at
Acapulco in 1592, and was in hopes of receiving a
confiderable reward from the Viceroy, for wiiich pur»
pofe he waited two years in vain. He therefore went
to Spain, where the King received him as kindly as
the Viceroy had done \ but obtaining no reward after a
long attendance, he fet out by ftealth for Italy, in-
tending to go from thence to Cephalonia^ and pafs. the
remainder of his days in peace amongft his relations in
his native country. This relation of Fuca's in many
inftances feems to be rather fabulous, which renders
the remaining part of it very fufpicious *.

• Vide Lucas Fox's North-weft Fok» London, 410, 1635, p. 163,
166 \ and Purchat Pilgrims Book IV. Part 3.

Gg 2

VI. The

452

VOYAGES AND

VI. The great atchicvcmcnts of Sir Francis Drakty
who, in the year 1578, tooic poirefTion, in a harbour
beyoiul Ciuiforiiiii, of a land in 38 deg. 30 min. N.
lit. -A.\\\ nanKxl it New /^Unon^ as alfo the expeditions
of" Sir Tho/nas Cavcnnifi)^ became in the highell degree
obnoxious and trouMcibme to the Spaniards in the be-
uinnir.g of their trade to the Manillas j add to this,
ti'.at x.\\^ report ftill rublifled refpe6ting the ftraits of
Ar.lan^ a:;d encfcal'ed the uneafuiefs of th" Spaniards,
as the whole coaff, from Culhnacayi (Culiacan) to Aca-
fv.lco^ was without fortifications or defence. On this
accoui;t the Court comrniiTioncd Sebajiian Vizcaino^ a
vr^n of great courage and underftanding, to explore
the northern coaft. Accordingly he failed Irom Aca-
ftilci^ in tlie year 1596, with three (hips, to the ifland
if Mt,>\catlah^ in new Galllcia, and to Fort San Se^
hiijium^ wiicrc they tooic in water, and invefti gated the
coalt for riicre than ico leagues to the northward. \\\
cnc pl.ccc they loit 17 men, and were obliged for want
of provilicns, to return to New Spain.

VII. After this fruitlefs voyage, King Philip III.
ordered his Viceroy, Don Gafpar de Zunigciy Count of
Monterey^ thr.t as the fliips going from the Philippines
to New Spain, ufually came lirtt in fight of Capo
Mcnckcino^ fearch fliouid be made in thofe parts for a
good harbour, where the fiiips might, in cafe of ne-
ceflity, find Ibelter, and take in water and other rc-
teflirnents ; the high north winds raging fo furioufly
on that coaft, that fuch a place of refuge was very
necelTary ; particularly for ihips that failed quite acrofs
the South-Sea. All pollible preparations v-^re imme-
diately made for this voyage. Sebajiian ^ tzcaivo fet
fail frcm AcapuUo on the 5th of May, 1602, with two
iliips, o^ie frigate, and a fmall long-boat. Keeping
along the coaft, they dcfcribed all the harbours, iflands,
and recks on it, and at the fame time fuftered greatly
from the terrible north- weit winils that prevailed
there. At length, in about 36 deg. 44 mIn. N. lat.
they found a very convenient and fccure harbour, af-
fording

DISCOVERIES IN TF1E NORTH. 453

fording excellent wood for (lie tn;ius and yams of a
/hip, as alio vcr)' fine oaks for the planks and tiiidxr.
Thcv Jikewifc tound pine?., willows, and poplar^ ; to-
gether with beautiful lake?, fine paftuiage, a::d excel-
lent land for ploughing. Ke' • were bears and wild
oxen of two different lizcs i ,c one as large as a buf-
falo, and the other of the lize of a wolf, yet made
like a flag, with a long neck and large horns like
a flag's horns, and a tail of 3 feet long, and 14-
foot broad. Their hoofs were cloven, like thofe of
our oxen.

Adjd to this, there were flags, rabbits, luire;;, wild
cats, gceft, ducks, pigeons, partridges, blackbirds,
kites, and cranes in abundance ; of various forts of
mufcles there was great plenty, as alfo of lobilers ;
and befides that, there were feals and whales. The
harbour was furrounded by Indian habitations (^Ranche-
rias) the inhabitants of which were a well-made,
good-natured people. This harbour they named Mcn^
tereyy in honour of the Viceroy. They aU'> faw
Cape Mendocino in 4.1 deg. 30 min. N. lat. and as
they had a great many fick people on board, they rc^-
turned to the coall of New Spain. The fmall boat
faw a piomontory in lat, 43 deg. which they named
Capo Blanco. Enfign Alartin Aguilar^ v/ho commanded
the boat, and the pilot Florcz-, were now of opinion,
that having made Cape Mendocino, as they had been
ordered to do, it would be necefiary to turn back and
Jook for the coafl cf New Spain j but their report,
which is to be found in Torquemadas Mcnarquja Indi-
ana^ contains not a fnigle v/ord concerning rn inlet,
creek, or harbour ; much lefs is there a dcicripticn
given of any flrait. Confequcntly the whole hiliory cf
Martin Jgitilar's firait:^ v.'hich is mentioned in fo
many charts, is founded on a mere fabic. In hnc,
having fufFered greatly from the fcun')', and led many
of the crew, they returned to Jcapulco ni the beginning
of the year 1603.

VIIl. Now we are coming to a very famous expe-
dition which, if it was to be dependecl upon in cvcrv
refpecl, would lejive us not the Icait doubt about the

real

1 ^

f'if

lu- '- '*■

■nl

,'1 1 ■; 1

'ifi

•^'^fcii!:

:\y:M

iiiii

i,,.!/ !|

454

VOYAGES AND

real exiftence of a paflagc. In the months of April
and June, A. D. 1708, in an Englifh monthly publi-
cation, intitled. Memoirs of the Curious^ there was in-
ferted an account of a voyage of difcovery made by
g Spanifli Admiral, Bartbolomeo de Fontt, which he
himfcif defcribep in a letter. By what means this letter
came into the hands of the editor, is not meritioned.
Some have pretended that it was genuine, while
Others have infifted on the contrary. Amongft the
former is undoubtedly to be reckoned the author of a
work, intitled, The great probability of a North-wefl
Pqlfage^ deduced from Ohfervations on the Letter of
Admiral de Fonte. London^ /[to. 1761. The author
was Theodore Swaine Darge, the lame perfon, who,
when clerk of the (hip California, had publifhed an
account of the voyage to Hudfon's Bay in the year
1748. We fhall not refer to any of his opponents,
but only obferve, that it is difficult to conceive,
fmce the Spaniards have io carefully explored the
coaft of North-America in 1775 j fince the immortal
Cook has navigated this fame coaft ; fmce the Ruffian
adventurers have begun, mare than ever to frequent
land accurately inveftigate ^his coaft ; fmce the Hud-
fon's Bay Company has, very lately only, caufed a
journey to be madie by land to the Frozen Sea ; it
is difficult, I fay, after all this, to conceive where we
are to infert the Archipelagus of San Lazaro^ the Rio
de los Reyes, the Lago Rello, the river Parmentire, the
Lago de Fuente, the Efirecho de Ronguiello, the river
Harsj the river Bernardoy the Lago Velafco^ and the
peninfula of Coniba{fet ; all which, however, are found
in the narrative or rather reverie of de Fonte. None
pf the Spanilh authors, who in other refpe£ts fet fp
high a value on the difcoveries of their countrymen,
know any thing a^ all of this voyage, which appears
to be the production of fome idle vifionary. Indeed
this ziuthor has in general a very improbable way of
writing ; for he fpeaks of the fait water of the lakes,
and of a flux and reflux in thefe lakes, and neverthe-
^(s finds it i^eceftaryj in v^'der to proceed farther, to

hav«

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 455

"have recourfe to boats, as he is obliged to go over
lome water-falls or cataracis ; but, in the name of
common fenfc and reafon, how is it pollible for the
tide to get over a cataracl ? and how does he con-
trive to find fait water even beyond a cataratLt ? But a
man muft have a great deal of idle time on his hands,
or elfe be very Itrongly infedled with the Cacoethes
i>cribendi^ to undertake a ferious refutation of fach ab-
furd and incongruous dreams. Indeed they would make
fuch a figure in this work as an extradl of 20 pages
from the well-known Daniel de Foe's New Voyage
round the World, by a courfe never failed before^ would,
when blended with the genuine materials for hiftory
gathered from ftate-papers, or with a colle^lion of
authentic records.

IX. The laft of the Spanifh voyages, which w^s
made in 1775, by order of the Viceroy of Mexico,
Don Antonio Maria dc Bukarelli y Orfua, for the pur-
pofe of making difcoveries to tne nortliward on the
weftern coaft of America in the South-Sea, has to all
appearance been preceded by feme earlier voyages, of
which the public has never had the fmallelt intelli-
gence, it being well known that Spain keeps all her
American aft'airs and tranfa6tions as clofc and as fecret
as poflible. For it appears, that the Spaniards have
not only miffionaries, but alfo a harbour and a Com-
mandant at Monterey, There are like wife regular
packet-boats to this place ; and they fay themfeives,
that as far as this port, there is no occafion for any
inftrudions with reipedt to ihe navigation the route
that leads thither having been failed in fo often fmce
the eftabliftiment of the colony, and the mod advan-
tageous mariner of making this voyage being fo well
known already. The longitude of it is 17 deg.
weftward from the harbour of 8an Bias, and the lat.
36 deg. 44 min.* N. The two fhips were com-
manded by Bruno Hcceia, and the command of the
galley was given to Lieut. Don Juan de Ayala, and
Lieut. Don J^on Francifco de la Bodega.

In company with them failed the Monterey packet-
boat, cajled the San Qarks^ compianded by Don Mi^

11*

,1.. ';f

1 1 iiSi

.i '

'!" \W

liiJi

-,^m

|R';''

456

VOYAGES AND

guel Maurrique, The author of this relation was
Don Jntonio Maurelle^ fecond pilot on board of the
galley Sonora. But already before this voyage of dif-
covery, viz. in 1774, fome (hips had been fent out
to 55 deg. N. lat. The frequent voyages of the
Englifti to the South-Sea, under Byrotjy tVallis^ and
twice under Cook., had roufed the attention of the
Spaniards ; as well as the many difcoveries of the Ruf-
fians in the eaftern ocean, which were chiefly made
between the years 1767 and 1773. In confequence of
this, they twice, if not three times, fent out (hips from
Callao to 0-Taheite, and in 1774 to the northward
along the weftern coaft of North-America, as far as to
55 deg N. lat. and now again in 1775, in which year
the fhips fet fail in company with the packet-boat on the
1 6th of March. The Commander of the Don Carlos
having betrayed evident marks of infanity, was fet on
fhore, and the command of the packet-boat was en-
trufled to Don Juan d* Jyala^ and Don 'Juan Francifcs
de la Bodega y ^. dra remained fole Commander on
board the Sonora. On their very firft outfet they met
with flrong currents. On their paflage they faw nifin
ef war birds (Pclecanus Aquilus) Gannets (Pelccanus
Baflhnus) and Tropic-Birds (Phaeton ^thereus) as
alfo Boobies (Bolfos, Sterna Stolida). They had con-
trary winds and currents to ftrive againft. They did
not, however, run into Monterey, but refolved rather
to fail to 43 deg. N. lat. and there to repair their
fhip?, and to take in frefti water. In their way thi-
ther they, faw a very extraordinary fpecics of rock-
weed. The flalk by which the plant was fattened to
the rock, was a long tube, with the upper part (haped
like an orange, from the top of which fhot forth
great broad leaves, whence they called it ddeza de
Naranja, or the orange head. Immediately after, they
faw a fpecics of rock-tWeed with long- leaves like rib-
bands, which is ufually called ZacuU del Mare, They
faw alfo feals, duck?, and fifh. '] he lat. was 38
'deg. 14 miu. On the 8th of Juiu; ahey faw the

couil

coal]

afteJ

pretj

aboij

arrt

iror

eithi

the

and!

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH.

457

toaft pretty diftinftly, and the current very ilrong
to the fouth. On the 9th they ran into a harbour
in 41 deg. 7 min. which they named de la Trinidad^
after the feaft of the Holy Trinity. The inhabitants
pretty much refembled thofe whom Cook difcovered
about nine degrees farther to the northward. Their
arrows were armed with points of flint, copper, or
iron, which latter was perhaps obtained by barter
either from the Lngliih in Hudfon's Bay, or from
the RufSans. The country thereabouts is fertile,
and capable of great improvement. Continaing: their
courfe, they came into the vicinity of the ifland de
Dolores^ very near the land, and anchored there, pur-
pofing to take in water ; but by this ftep they loft
their boat and the beft of their people, who were
killed by the favages. Some of thefe who, with
perfidious dilTimulation, were coming to invite them
on ihore, they likewife (hot in return ; after which
they went farther on towards the north. On the
1 7th of Auguft they faw land again in N. lat. 57 deg.
2 min. Here they faw a mountain, to which thty
gave the name of St. Hyacintho^ and the promontory
they called Cabo del Enganno, Ihe top of the moun-
tain was covered with ihow, and the remairving part
with wood, as was the country near the harbour dt
U Trinidad. At length they entered the port of Gua^
daluppe^ in 57 deg. n min. and 34 deg. 12 min. to
the weft of San Bias. However, they foon got under
Tail again, and, on the i8th, came to an anchor in
the harbour of Remedios^ in 57 deg. 18 min, N. lat.
and 34 deg. 12 min. to the weft of San Bias. Here
they erefted a crofs, and took pofieflionof this coun-
try — a country which the Rullians had difcovered
and frequented long before. They got but one maft,
lome wood, and a little water, and then proceeded
to the fouthward. In 55 deg. 17 min. they faw the
harbour of Buiarelliy and took in wood and water.
By this time they had many of their people ill of the
fcurvy ; on which account they were obliged to
hafteu to Mont^re^. In 38 deg. i3 min, they en-
tered

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i I

45^

VOYAGES AND

tercd a harbour, which they called de la Bod^griy after
the Lieutenant of that name ; here they Joft their
boat by a high tide, and afterwards went to Monte-
rt y. At this time they were almoft all of them af-
iliiSted with the fcurvy. Being recovered, and having
refrclhed themfelves, they fet fail again, and on the
1 6th of November came again to the harbour of San
Bias.

The Spaniards have in former times undertaken
tery confiderable voyages of difcoveryj but, in the
)aft century, fuperftition, indolence, and the de-
cline of their manufactures and trade, together with
a falfe fyftem of politics and other caufes, threw^
them into a kind of lethargy, out of which, how-
fcver, they begin to awake, under the prefent Govern-
ment.

CHAP. V.

Of the Difcoveries and Voyages made by the Portugufe

in the North.

UNDER the fpirited and patriotic dirc£lion of
the Infant Dm Henry^ of glorious memory, the
Portuguefe were become the difcoverers of a great
many different countries. The fcience of Geogra-
phy, and the art of Navigation, were more indebted
in the 15th century to this nation than to any other.
The renowned name of Vafco Camay fired the men
and youth of Portugal to emulation and glorious
exploits i and heroes, without number, were feen
treading in the fteps of their predeceflbrs. Im-
menfe riches refulting from the commerce with the
Indies, were coi.'inually navigated up the Tagus.
The advantages refulting from this wealthy com-
merce

\\M '^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 459

merce brought with them In their train luxury, pride,
and all the vices incident to profperity, which lerve
to relax the finews of induftrv, virtue and true re-
ligion, and thereby gradually to undermine the well-
being of the ftate. The lofs of Its ancient Royal
Family, together with the circumftance of the crown
having patted into the hands of Philip II. of
Spain ; the conquefts made by the Dutch in India
and Brafil, and the daily-increafmg opprefllon on
freedom of thought, by the growing power of the
Monks and of the Inquifition, chiefly contributed to
degrade this nation, once fo active and renowned for
noble enterprizes, to a ftate of ignoble indolence and
ibrdid infenfibility. For fome time indeed, they rc-
fumed their wonted fpirit, in confequence of the
revolution and of the acceflion of the family of
Braganza, to the throne. But the new fource of
riches opened in the gold and diamond mines of
Brafil, ferved only ftill more to degrade this nation,
which was already quite in its wane. Her commerce
with the Englifti drained her of her riches, and in
Jieu theicof furniftied her with the fruits of their
jnduftry ; agriculture, the liberal arts, trade, tadics,
and navigation, were neglected to fuch a degree,
that of each of them nothing remained, but a mere
Ihadow. Thefe evils, it is true, Pombal endeavoured
to remedy} but he was too odious, his nieafures too
cruel and unjuft, and the nation fallen too low for
it to be poflible for him to revive her fpirit. This
land, however favoured by nature, is ftill too deep-
ly enveloped in the darknefs of fuperftition. Its
lazy, greedy, and too-numerous Monks are too much
difpofed to fuck the fat and very marrow out of it.
The Government is too little acquainted with the
true principles of political oeconomy, and is not fol-
licitous enough to render its indolent citizens adtivc
and induftrious. Arts and fciences, trade and agri-
culture, the true pillars of every ftate, are funk too
low, a circumftance which increafes daily the weak-
ijefs and feeblcnefs of the ftate. She is coufequently

l!ii

■ ■ "

tto

VOYAGES AND

in grc.1t d.Tn^cr of being fwallovycd up the firft oppor-
tunity that may oftl- by her neighbour, Spain^ who
ciu.ily incTeafes in power and greatncl's.

But at the period when Portugal was (till in her
glory, while her fons were ftill animated with the
Jpirit of enterprize and aclion, and when the Go-
vernment attended to every objet^^t of importance that
prefcnted itfelf; at this time Portugal looked upon
all the difcoveries made by Spain in the new world,
as upon fo many encroachments made on her own
lights and property, maugre the donation made by
an ufurping Pope, and of the compromife for half
the world, which fhe had relucStantiy agreed to. It
"was a fimilar kind of jealoufy that infpired Cafpar de
Cortereal, a man of birth and family, with the reib-
Jution of difcovering new countries, and a new route
to India. He fet fail from Lifbon in 1500, or as,
others affirm, in 1501. In the courfc of his naviga-
tion he arrived at Newfoundland in a bay, which he
thence named Conception Bay, an appellation it ftill
retains. He explored the whole caftern coaft of the
ifland, and went at length to the mouth of the
great river of Canada, After this, he difcovered a
land, which he at firfl: named Terra Verde, but which,
in remembrance of the difcoverer, was afterwards
called Terra di Cartereal. That part of it which,
being on this fide of the 50th deg. oi N. lat. he
thought was ftill fit for tillage and cultivation, he
i\2Lmt6 Terra de Labrada; a tra^l which Sebajlian
Munjier, in his Cofmography, has called Terra Agri-
cola. It is highly probable that Cortereal, being
come to Button's IJlands and Cape Chidley, did, bona
Jidey fuppofe this to be the ftrait that leads into the
Indian Sea. It is likewifc faid, that this ftrait ob-
tained at that time from Cortereal^ the name of Jnian,
after two brothers of that name. After making this
important difcovery, Cortereal haftened to communi-^
cate the interefting news of it to his native country
and he had fcarccly delivered his intelligence before
he haftened back again to vifjt the ;oaft of Labra-
dor, and to go to India through the ftraits of Ariiauy
which he imagined be had juft difcovered. But no-*

thing

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 461

thing farthei was ever heard of him ; (o that he muft
either have been murdered by the EJkimaux favagcs,
or have periihed in the ice. Upon this, his brother,
Aliclael de Corttreal^ undertook the fame voyage with
two (hips, and probably met with the fame fate as
his brother. No intelligence having been heard of
cither of the two brothers, their eldeft brother,
Joiio Vafquirz de CorUreal., who was Chamberlain to
the King, refolved to undertake the fame voyage, ia
hopes of Rnding his brothers j but the King would
not by any means allow him to expofc himlelf to io
imminent a danger.

II. Amongft the nations who carried on a confi-
derablc filhery off t..j banks of Newfoundland, wc
find at a very early period the Bifcayners, Spani-
ards, and Portugutfe ; for fo early as the year 1578,
Capt. Anthony Parkhurji counted 50 Portuguefe (hip»
off the coaft of Newfoundland, which all together
carried at leaft 3000 tuns burthen. Here we muft
obferve that fo confiderable a fifhery never fprings
up all at once, but is eftablifhed by degrees only;
confequently it muft have been carried on a good
while before it could have rifen to the height at
which it then was. Now the French having fifhed
on this coaft io far back as in the year 1504, it is
very probable that the Portuguefe either at the fame
period, or at leaft not long afte muft have fiflied
there aire. 1 his evidently ftiev the great extent
of the navigation, as well as the a<!:^ive and induf-
trious difpofition of the Portuguefe at that time,
fince they carried on the fifhcry on the banks and
coaft of Newfoundland with fuch fpirit as to em-
ploy upwards of 50 fail on this bufmefs, at a time
when as yet there were but very fewEnglifh ftiips
that followed the fifiiery.

III. In Lucas Fox^ Book, called 77>^ Nortb-weji
Foxt London, 4to. 1635, page 162*, we find an
affidavit made by one Thomas Cowles, an EngH^
failor, of BadmbiJIer in Sjmerfetjhire. This affid-'ivit
was made ia the year 1579, i» an age when an oath

_ * Tills relation ib taken by fix, from Pufchat''i PUgrimt. Part I!l.

was

462

VOYAGES ANO

vas flill univerfally confidered as a moft ferious and
religious adt. The contents of it are, that Cowles
being fix years before (confequently in 1573) ^^
Lifbon, in Portugal, I heard one Martin Chacke^
or Chaquey a Portugue: ariner, read a boolc, which
he, Martin Chacke^ had v. ritten and publifhed in the
Portuguefe language 6 years before (viz. in 1567).
In this book he affi med, that 12 years before (viz,
in 1555) he had fet fail from India for Portugal, in
a fmall vefl'el of about 80 tuns, accompanied by four
vtry large ihips of great burthen j but was feparat-
cd from the other four in a florm with a wefterly
wind. He had .paHed by many iflands, and at lengtb
failed through a gulph near Newfoundland, accord-
ing to his reckoning in 59 deg. N. lat. and after
having (hot the faid gulph, he had Teen no more
land till he fell in with the north-weft part of
Ireland, from whence he had fliaped his courfe for
Lifbon, where he arrived a month or five weeks
fooner than the other four (hips. Were this rela-
tion of fuch a nature as to be in any wife depends
ed upon, it would be a ftrange proof of a pafTage
having been adtually difcovered. But the fingle
unfupported teftimony of a failor, who had heard
the defcription of a voyage like this read in a book,
which perhaps was only a romance, carries not the
leart weight with it ; and confequently it would be
as abfurd to place any dependence on it, as it would
be, after having read M. Bufching^s Kxtraft from De
foe's Romance, intitled, ** A New Voyage round
the World, by a courfe never failed before," to con-
clude, that fuch a voyage had been a^ually under-
taken in the years 1713 and 17 15, and that a rich
gold country, together with a pearl iftand, fuch ^s
are there defcribed, had been really and bona fide
difcovered. Befides, we are fure at prefent, in con-
fequence of Hudfon's Bay having been fo often ex-
plored, that we need not feek any more for a paf-
fage in thofe parts. The voyages of the Spaniards,
Knglifli, and Ruffians, along the weftern coaft of
America, have aJfo at prefent rendered it pretty pro-
bable

DISCOVERIES iw the NORTH. 4^3

table that no palTage is to be expe»5lcd there ; anJ that
the imaginary ftrait^jf ^njoyy or Jm'an, can only cxift
in the weak brains of idle vifionarics, fuppofing by
this name to be meant a {hait, leading from the
South-Sea into Hudfon's Bay. For in other refpedls
the ilrait between Afia and America, which I have
named Beering's, and others, 6Ws, and others again»
Defchneff'^ Strait Si might lilce wile juft as well be cal-
led the Strnits of Anian.

IV. The Jeluit ile jfngelis^ a native of Portugal,
went in the years 1620 and 162 1, to the coaft of
Matfmai, as did aifo Father Jacob Caravalha. Both
of them relate, that on the ifland of Efa^ or Tedfo^
in the vicinity of the town of Matjmaiy there arc
very rich filver mines, in which there are about
50,000 Japanefe at work, feme of them voluntarily
and by their own choice, but the others are crimi-
nals condemned by the laws to labour, among
whom there were at that time many Chriftians ; and
in a river that runs clofe by the town of Matfmai^ or
Matfumai^ there is colle«5ted a great quantity of gold-
duft. The inhabitants of the eaftern parts brirg to
market the ikins of a filli (the fea-otter) which they
buy from fome of the neighbouring iflands, which
are three in number. The animal to which thefc
(kins appertain is called a raccoriy and a (kin coHs
about 20 crowns. Every inhabitant of Matfmai is
his own mafter i they are a flrong, wcJl made, good-
natured people ; they wear their beards long, and
large ear-rings, either of filver or filk. Their wea-
pons corvfift of bows and arrows (which latter are
poifoned) of fpears, and of fnort fWords or dag2;crf.
They wear CuiraiTes, compofed of fmall woode;i
boards. In Matfumai they i^et wine in exchanj^e for
furs, birds feathers, and different kind.; of ii/hes ;
they aifo barter for rice, together with filk, cotton,
and linen clothes. They worfhip the fun, the moon,
and the Gods of the mountains and fcas ; a)rJ have
at the beft but a very imperfedt idea of a future ftate ;
they, however, are a very humane, fou^^b^c-, and oood
fort of people. Thefe few particuluii, are all that
is known of the nature of the land of Efo and Alat-
fumai.

V. W

' .^'

it't

' ' 'I

464

VOYAGES ANrt

V. In a map of India, publifhed for the firft time
at Lifbon, in 1649, by Ptttr Texeira, Cofmographer
to the King of Portugal ; and which, as well as
many other of his works, proves him to be a very
Ikilful and accurate geographer; we find firft, a group
of iflands laid down at 10 or 12 degrees to the
north-eaft of Japan, in 44 and 45 deg. N. lac. and
then a coall: {Wretches from weft to eaft, with the
following words annexed : " Land of Joao da Gamoj
the Indian, fcen by him in failing from China to
New Spain *. In what year this voyage happened
is not known. Neither is it poflible to determine
with any certainty, who this Joao da Gama was. He
feems, however to have been a feafaring man, born
in India, but of Portuguefe extraction. This land,
laid down by Texeira, is probably no other than the
ifle of Urupy or the ifland Samujjir, or Scbimujfyr^ the
latter of which is about 130 werlts, i. e. 76 geo-
graphical miles in length. It is true, Ttxeira has
laid down the coaft, ftretching out in one continued
line quite to the ftraits of Anian (Eftreito de Anian)
which lie between Afia and America \ but one may
plainly perceive from this very draught, that he
had no exadl information with refpeCt to the con-
tinuation of the Afiatic coaft; for, according to
him, the ftraits of Anian are in 50 deg. N. lat.
which is certainly very far from being the cafe.

VI. Laftly, I find in Mr. Buache\ Confiderations
Geographiques et Phyjiques, Paris, ^to. 1753, page 138,
an account which iays, that in 1701, a failor from
Havre de Grace had feen, 28 years before, at Oporto^
in Portugal, afhip called /o Padre ettrnoj command-
ed by Capt. David Melguer, who died juft at that
time, and at whofe funeral he was prefent. This Mel-
guer is fald to have left Japan with his (hip Ln

* Terra q. uic Do Jca) ia Game Inity da China fira Ntva Efpaha,

Pudrt

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 465

Padre eterno, on the i6th of March, 1660, and to
have failed along the coafl of Taitary, till he came
to the 84th (leg. of N. lat. and then to have Oiaped
his courfe between Spitzbergen and Old Greenland,
and fo failing to the weft of Scotland and Ireland,
t6 have at length entered the harbour of Oporto.
This is the moft material part of this relation, which,
kowever, deferves no credit; for, ever fince the years
1637 and 1638, the Portuguefe and Spaniards have
been abfolutely baniihed from Japan, and that for
ever. How then was it poflible for a Portuguefe (hip,
22 years after that period, to fail from Japan, a place
where this nation was no longer admitted nor fuffered ?
This confideration alone is fufficient to prove, that
the whole account is a mere rumour, and a flory
trumped up by fome failors, devoid even of the Icati;
fliadow of probability arifing from internal evidence.
At prefent we have no farther accounts concerning
the navigations of the Portuguefe to the North.
They content themfclves with navigating to their
pofleilions in the Brafils, to the coall of Africa, the
Azores, the Cape Verd Iflands, and Madeira. It is
but fddom that any of their (hips go to Goa, Ma«
cao, and Timor. The prefent wretched ftate of
the whole of their trade and navigation, together
with the profound ignorance in which they are plung-
ed, make it very difficult for them to purfue thefe
navigations ; confequently no more voyages to the
north are to be expedtcd from this nation, ftnce ic
cannot reap any benefit from them.

■• '

»w.

CHAP.

1 11

I t

466

VOYAGES AND

CHAP. VI.

Of iht Difcoverlei and Voyages of the Danes in ihi

North.

THE defceftdants oC the ancient Normans, who
had been ufed tc crofs the moil diilant Teas,
with an intrepidity which has never yet been furpaf-
fed, not even in the prefent improved ftate of navi-
gation J thefe people, whofe far-extending fhores are
for the greateit part furrounded by the fea, and part
of them indeed gain their whole fubfiftence out of
the fea by filuing, mufl undoubtedly underiland more
of navigation, and be more habituated to the coldnefs
of the climate than any other nation. Neither can
it be denied that, to this very day, the Norwegians
and Danes are excellent failors. Towards the end of
the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century, the
chief of their navigation confifted in their voyages to
Iceland and Greenland. But even thofe to Green-
land were at length entirely negledled.

I. In the year 1564, in the convent of Helgafjcet^
in Iceland, the Governor of the ifland having con-
fifcated all the revenues of the convent for the ufe of
the King, there was found a blind Monk, who lived
there in indigence and mifery. This man the Go-
vernor fenC for, and learned from him, that in his
younger years he had been thrown into a convent by
his parents, and that in the 30th year of his age,
the Bilhop of Greenland had taken him along with
him to Drontheim in Norway, to the Archbifliop :
but, on their return, the Bifhop had left him in this
convent of Helgafjal^ in Iceland : all this pafTed in
1546. He next gives a defcription of Greenland,
and of the convent of St. Thomas, in which he had
formerly lived, which in every point is like that given
by the Zenos^ except that he had added fome more

fables

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 467

fables to it. And, as from what he told them, it was
concluded that it was an eafy matter to fail to China
through the frozen fea, the Governor gave orders for
one of the King's fhips that had wintered in Ice-
land, to be provided with every neceiTary, and fent
to Greenland. Accordingly they fet fail on the 31ft
of March, 1564, and made Greenland on the 20th
of April, but were prevented from landing by the ice,
neither could they come to an anchor on account of
the great depth of the fea. They went afliore there-
fore in the boat, clambering over the ice as well as
they could. Near the fhore they found a dead Grcen-
lander in his little boat. Soon after their landing
they were attacked by a white bear, which, however,
they got the better of, and killed. A ilorm arifing in
the mean time, they went on board the fhip again,
and failed caftward from Iceland to the northward,
with the purpofe of going through the White Sea into
the fea of Tartary, and fo on to Kathay ; but they
Were prevented by the ice from proceeding farther,
.md therefore returned to Iceland on the i6th of June*
This relation is to be found in Dithmur BlefkerC'i
JJlandia^ Jive populorum^ et mirahiliuni qua in ea Infula
reperiurHur, accuratior Defcriptio, Lugd. Bat. 8vo.
1607.

II. Chtijiian IV". King of Denmark, too, was de-
firous of reviving the knowledge of Old Greenland,
which had made part of the dominions of his ancef-
tors, and with this view gave orders for a voyage of
difcovery to be made to that country. For tiiis pur-
pofe he fent for feme (kilful pilots from England and
Scotland, viz. John Cunningham, yames Hall, and
yohn Knight, He likewile fitted out three fhips, and
appointed as Admiral, to command the expedition,
Gvtjke Lindenau, a Danifh nobleman, who, for his
information, took with him the ancient Icelandic ac-
counts of Greenland, together with the journal of
David von Nelle'& Voyage to Greenland, made by or-
der of King Frederick II. On the 2d of May, 1605,
they ftretched out of the found to fea. As they came
near the ice, Hail fliaped his courfe fouth-weft ;

H h 2 Gof/kt

M''

I 'fir

r'.it

468

VOYAGES AND

Gotjke LlndenaUy on the other hand, directed hit
iiorth-eaft, and arrived on theeaftern coaft of Green-
land. The natives came on board his (hip. They
drank train-oil, and were very eager after iron and
iteel. Littdenau^ after ftaying here three days, de-
tained two of them forcibly on board his fhip, who,
however, made a iVout refiftance, while, to procure
them their liberty, the other fava^es (hot ofF their ar-
rows, and threw ftones at the Europeans legs, but
were foon difperfed by the firing ofFof a gun. Gotjkt
Lindenau then haftened to Copenhagen, where he ar-
rived fafe by himfelf.

James Hallvftnt to the weftern coaft of Greenland,
where he found a great many harbours, very line
)and, and good pafturage. The inhabitants here were
more fhy. They found many places flaming with
burning brimftone ; they likewife found a filver ore
in the form of a black powder (Jihtr malm) every
hundred weight of whjch yielded at Copenhagen 26
ounces of filver. Cape Farewell, in 59 deg. 50 mini
}^. lat. he named Cbrj/iianus, after the King his maf<*
ter. Five leagues farther on, the needle varied 12
deg. 15 min. to the weft. A ftrong current drove him
northward againft the ice on the American coaft; but
on the coaft of Greenland the current fets to the
fouth. In exchange for iron, nails, knives. Sec. he
got feal-Hcins, fea unicorns horns (narhwal) fea-horfe
teeth, and whale-bone. Having ftaid. fome time in a
harbour in 66 deg. 33 min. and traded with the inha-
bitants, they attacked him once on a fudden with
l^ones and arrows } but, by firing a falcon amongft
them, they were quickly difperfed. He was again at-
tacked twice in the fame manner. He then went into
a harbour near Mount Cunningham^ which he named
Der>mark*s Haven. On this fpot there were about 3D0
of the natives. The deep creeks in this part of the
fea abound with falmons, herrings, whales, and feals.
They faw there ravens, crows, pheafants, partridges
(u e. ptarmigans) gulls, and other kinds of fowl*
There were black foxes in this country, and they favr

the

ftngot

DISCOVERIES i*T THE NORTH. 469

the dung of ftags, as alfo the horns of thefe ani-
mals. He then failed farther on to 69 deg. The
Ravages having behaved in a very hoflile manner, he
feized three of them, and found himfelf under the
neceflity of killing others. His captives he treated
with great kindnefs, and took them to the King«
In purfuance of exprefs orders from the Stadtholder
of Denmark, he put on fhore two malefaftors, con-
demned to die, having previoufly furnifhed them with
provifions and other neceflaries. On the 15th of Ju-
ly he was in 57 deg. and the next day, amongft fome
loofe ice, he met with a large (hoal of whales; the
current fet to the N. W. On the iftof Auguft, he
fell in with an incredible quantity of herrings, which
led him to fuppofe, that he was in the vicinity of the
Qrkneys, On the loih he came to an anchor in //<?/-
jingor Road,

III. The good fuccefs of this voyage encouraged
the King to enter upon a fecond enterprize of this
Icind, v/hich was undert.iken in 1606, in which year^
on the 27th cf May, five (hips {tt. fail from Copen-
hagen, under the command of Gotjke Llndenau and
James Hall. On the 4th of Auguft they reached
Greenland with four (hips, the fifth having been fe-
parated from them in a ftorm. They failed along the
coaft, entered the feveral harbours, and faw fome rein-
deer; but the favages treated them in a very hoftile
manner, though at firft they had began to trade with
them for iron. At their departure the Danes took
five favages prifoners, one of whom leaped overboard,
and was drowned. On their way home they found
the (hip again that had been feparated from them, and
at length on the 5th of Odobcr, arrived in Copen-
hagen.

IV. Though nothing new had been difcovered by
this voyage, and no advantage had accrued from if,
yet the King refolved once more to fend out two
ihips, which he did in 1607, under the command of
a Holfteiner, by name Karjhn Richardt. One of thcfe
veflels was commanded by James Hall. They left the
Sound on the 13th of May, and got fight of Greenland
on the 8tb of June. Endeavouring to force their

way

i Lr

470

VOYAGES AND

way to the land through the great quantity of ice, by
which it was furrounded, the (hips were Teparated.
Richardtf after making fcveral fruitlefs attempts, waa
obliged to return home, without having done any
thing J and while JF/tf// was in like manner ufing hit
beft endeavours to get through the ice, the Danifh
crew, under his command, mutinying, forced him to
tack about, and make the beft of his way to Iceland.
Confequently this expedition proved abortive.

V. It being known that in the year 1610, Henry
Hudfon had difcovered a new ftrait, and beyond it a
great fea, Chrijiian IV. King of Denmark, imagin-
ed, that in this fea there might poflibly be a paifage
to the Eaft-Indies, which would be produdlive of
great advantages j he therefore ordered two fhips to
be fitted out in 161Q, and gave the command of them
to Jem Munck. Munck failed from the ^our.d on tho
1 6th of May, in the fame year, and on the 20th of
June, faw Cape Farewell. He palled through Hud-
son's Straits, which he named after his King, Frctum
Chrijliani, or Chriftian's Straits. On an ifland in the
firft ftrait they found deer (viz. reindeer) one of which
they Ihot, and thence named the place Rehe-or Deer
ljland\ \t is in 61 deg. 20 min. N. lat. The fea near
America (viz, the coaft of Labrador) he called Mart
Novum (or the New Sea) and to that next to Greenland
(if indeed it be Greenland) he gave the name of Mare
Chrijlianum (or Chriftian's Sea). In 63 deg. 20 min.
he met with fo much ice, that it was abfolutely im-
poffible for him to proceed any farther; this made
him ftand over to the fcuthward, when he put into
Churcblirs River. Here on fhore he faw a ftone
with an image upon it, which had claws and horns.
They alfo found fome dogs that wore muzzles, and the
fire-places and remains of the huts of faviiges. They
ate white hoar's flefti, hares, and partridges, and
caught foui bhick foxes, and Tome fubles. Their
beer, wine, and brandy, were frozen, and burit the
cafks. The ice was from 300 to 360 feet thick.
The greateft part of them fell fick of the fcurvy,
which was followed by a flux. On the 4th of June

Mumk

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 471

^funck fell ill himfelf, and lay four days without either
eating or drinking, for their provifions were nearly
^xhau^cd. Notwithftanding this, he recovered, and,
crawling out of his hut, out of 64 perfons, of which
his crew at firft confifted, found but two alive. Thefc
two were overjoyed to fee their Captain, and they all
three endeavoured to comfort each other, feeking for
food amongft the fnow. They dug up fome roots,
which they ate, and which proved a powerful refto-
rative to them. On the 18th, the waters being open,
they began to fifti for falmons and trouts, and foon
after entirely recovered their healths. At length they
left the larger fhil> in the river, which he named
Munck's Harbour^ and fet fail with the fmaller veflel.
They now loft their boat, and the ice broke their
rudder, which they repaired with great difficulty}
hov/evcr, when the ice broke up, they found their boat
again, which they had loft jo days before. After
weathering a very dangerous ftorm, which had broke
their maft, and had nearly carried away their fail,
they at length landed fafe in a harbour in Norway,
and, a few days after, arrived at Copenhagen, where
the King, who had long given them up for loft, re-
ceived them with great aftonifhment. This Munck
"was afterwards employed by the King in the years
1624, 1625, and 1627, on the northern fea, and on
the Elbe, and died on the 3d of June, 1628, in the
courfe of a naval expedition. The King had in the
year 162P eftablifhed a new Greenland Company^ which
was to have fent out two fhips every year on the
whale-fifhery \ but this Company was diilblved again
in 1624, on account of their being fo poor, that
they could not follow the whale-fifliery any longer \
and the King gave leave to any Danilh burgher,
whatever, to go to Greenland.

VI. In 1636 the King again eftabliflied a new
Greenland Company^ which accordingly fent out the
firft ftiips on the 6th of April ; but, agreeably to the
ftupid prejudices of thofe times, did not pay the leaft
ftUention to the killing of fcals, or the cod-falmon-

'U i

i!i ■ 'k

472

VOYAGES AND

and whale-fifheries, nor to any other ufeful produc*
tion of the country ; but confined their fearch to gold
and filver only. A great quantity of glittering fand
was brought over from Greenland, which, however,
proved to be mere rubbifli. By this incident the pro-
prietors were quite diiheartened, and the Company
diflblved itfelf.

VII. In the month of November, 1773, a letter
from M. de la La7ide, was inferted in the journal
des Savans, fetting forth, that on the ift of June,
1769, a Danifh King's fhip, called the Northern
Crotuftf and commanded by the Baron von Uhlefeldy
had fet fail from Bornholm in Norway ^ (where, by the
bye, there is no fuch place as Bornholm) furnifhed
with provifions for 18 months, and providtd with
aftronomers, draughtfmen, and every neccflary. This
fhip, it feems, had found in Hudfon's Bay, a pafilige
into the American fea, above California. In the
ftraits they found a great number of buffaloes and
wild beafts, and, after having fufFered great hardlhips,
they arrived on the nth of February, 1773J through
the flraits of Le Matrey near the Ifle of Rofs in Ire-
land, and went into Bremen, becaufe of the Sound
being frozen, and at length, after an abfence of 3
years, 7 months, and 11 days, arrived at Copen-
hagen.

It is eafy to perceive, that the whole of the pre-
ceding rel.ition is the invention of fome genius of
moreleifure than veracity, who, knowing the world
to be extremciy folicitous cojicerning the refult of
Capt. Cook's expedition, has endeavoured by this
fiditious voyage, to divert their attention and expec-
tations from it. Indeed the particular aim of the
author feems to have betn, by pre-occupying the
attention of the public, to make it indifferent with
regard to Cook's difcoveries, and take from the great
merit of this immortal man : but the name of Cook
will never fall into oblivion, though ten fuch

fidlitious

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 475

fi(5litious voyages as thefe were brought in oppofition
to him. Perhaps, too, a fpirit of animofity and re-
fentment, excited by the dccifive fteps which Eng-
land took, in 1771, againft Spain, on account of the
Falkland's Iflands, and againil Denmark on account
of the Queen Caroline Ivlatilda, contributed not a
little to the invention of this curious romance. In
thefc days it would not be of the leaft advantage to
Denmark, either to make new difcoveries to the
north, or to find a pafiage to the Indies j confequent-
iy there is no likelihood that they (bould be at any
cxpcncc to carry into execution a plan from whick
ihc could reap lo little benefit.

itim

CHAP. vir.

Of tJje Bifcoveries and Voyages of thg Rufllans in the

North.

A GREAT parf of the country, at prefent ca'led
RuHla, was inhabited towards the north ^eall
and north, trom the moft remote ages, by a people of
Finnijh origin, perhaps defcended from the ancient
Scythi:;ns. Towards the north-weft were tribes,
confilting of a mixture of Sauramates and Grecian co-
lon ifts, and from them are defcended the modern
Lithuanians y Lettovians., Livoniam^ and Courlanders \
as were alfo the ancient Prujfians. The whole foutlv-
ern part of Ruflia, even to the Crimea, was for fonie
time inhabited by Goths ; and between the Wolga,
the Don, and Mount CaMcafus, dwelled a nation de-
fcended from the Medes, called Saurcmates, i. e, the

Nirthmji

V: li

474

VOYAGES AND

Northern Medes. In procefN of time, when nations
of barbarians iflued one after the other, in fwarms,
from the eaft, and fome of the different tribes of
Goths had, fince the middle of the third century,
penetrated into the weftern regions of the Roman em-
pire ; part of the Sauromates found themfelves under
the neccffity of retiring farther to the northward and
weftward. Even at that early period they had the
fame political conflitution which we ftill fee take place
amongft them. Each individual of the nation was
cither mafter or flave. Hence thofe who were of
tHftindion among them, called themfelves tribes,
Shnv^ and Slawne, or Noblemen ; whence again all
fuch as were either renowned for, or even capable
only of performing great atchievements, were in pro-
ccfs of time in like manner called Slawne. Under
this denomination it was that they became known to
the Europeans, who were nor till very lately acquaint-
ed with the particular tribes of thofe nations. Thcfe
tribes had their appellation frequently from fome ri-
■vcr, town, or region. So the Polabes were named
after the Laba^ or Elbe. The Pomeranians dwelled
po moruy or near the fea. The Havellanians, near the
river Havel \ the Maroaro^ or Moravians, or Mara-'
.hani, on the banks of the river Morawa. The War-
jiabi had once their refidence near the Warmw-i and
the Polotzani on the banks of the Polota. In the
mountains [Chrebet) lived the Chrobates ; the Tollcnjians
were named after the river Tollenfea in Pomerania cite-
rior, which empties itfelf into the Peene, near Dem-
tnin. Yroxtx Sidin, or Sedin, the Stettin of the mo-
derns, oni I be was named Sidinians ; another from
Urizen (1 leunbrizen) Brizanians ; from KuJJin^ a
lown fubfifting in thofe early times, the Kijfmians-
took their name, the traces of whom arc ftill to be
found in a village near Roftock, called KeJJen, or
Kijfen\ and laftly, the Lutitzians were named after
LoitZi on the river Peine. But there are alfo fome
names of thefe tribes which are original j as for ex-
ample, the Sorbii pr Serbs^^ the Tfchcdis, of Bohemians,

the

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 475

the Lachs, Lechsy or Polatzcs, i. e. the Poles ; and
from the more modern Waregian Roji, the RuJ/ians,
about the year 862, had their name. The Itorm
which, in the train of Jttllay from the year 435 to
456, fprcad terror and dcvadatlon over the earth, was
but fliort and tranfient. In the mean time came the
Turkifti tribes, which till then had dwelled in Great
Turky (i. e. Little Bukharia) and Turkifian (where is
iiill fubfifling on the banks of the Taras the town of
Turki/ian) and eftabiifhed new empires. The empire
of the IVlag't., or TFolochi^ or Wologars, or Wolgars^ or
Bulgarians^ is in like manner called Great Bulgarta;
it is iituated beyond the IVolga, on the banks of the
Kama, Bielaia, and Samara j the empire of Borkah
or Ardu of the Afconian Turks extended on this fide
of the IVolga from Ihuieck^ near Saratof, quite to
Mount Caucafus, One part of thefe were called Ku-
mani^ or Komant., from the river Kuma^ and their
town was named jr«wrt^i?r*. Farther on refided the
Modfchiarsy MaJchurtSy Pafcat'irs^ or Bafchkirs, a tribe
of I'innifh orign, near the mountains of Ufal and
the Bielaia. Soon after this came moreTurkifli tribes;,
viz. the Chazarsy the Petjhencgs^ the Uzians^ and the
Polcwzians, and even the Bulgarians advanced into the
fouthern part of Ruflia, and into Moldavia, BelTara-
bia, and Crimea. ■ In the mean time Ruflia was go-
verned by its Great Dukes, who, together with their
Koblefle, were of the Waregian race. The divifion
of the empire into a number of fmall principalities,
the pretcnfions made by the lefler Princes to the fo-
veicignty, together with the exceflive power and
wealth of the clergy, all contributed to weaken it;
for the petty Princes were feldom entirely fatisfied
with thth Great-Dukes, whence arofc trifling con-
teftations and dcttrudtive civil wars. But in the 13th

* The ruins which at prcfent go uu'Jer the name of the ruins of M^rt-
Jchiar, aj'pei^r to be rather the remains of this town ot Kuma^r'r on th«
bank-; of ihe Kuma an\.] Dymara, The word Kumakir fignifics, in the
Tuii;ifl\ l.in.;uu>;t, the pla^i: of Kuma. In faft, there is round this vcrjr
Ipot an cxunfivo pl.tin, and by this word Kumager, we rr.uft underOanJ
^he taivn cf the plain oj Kuma. ^jf 9^3^ t^^ Sltrhr Kumakir.

Century,

'I'

476

VOYAGES AN

century, on the banks of the rivers Onon and Kerlon^
there iiarted up a new empire, which cave celebrity
to the before- unknown nation of Mongols (or Moguls)
under Temudfchiny who in 1201, foon after his victo-
ries over the Taiffit^ and over the Naimans and Mekritts^
or Merkltts, and feveral inroads made into the Land
of Tangutj had the name of Zingh'is Khan given him
by all the hordes fubjedl to his command. The vic-
tories of this great monarch were very rapid and ex-
tenfive. He gave his fons the command of fome
Mogul tribes, together with fome of the conquered
nations } and they went forth to fubdue the nations
of Afia to the power of Zinghis Khan, Tufchi Khan^
one of his fons, was, in the year 121 1, to attack the
inhabitants of Gete * and Kaptfchak, that is, of the
fouthern part of Ruffia, from the Dniepr to the Em-
ha^ or Yemba, and all the nations that lived to the
weflward. The KomaniarSy the Wlachsy the Bulga-
rians^ and Hungarians., or Madfchiars, were conquer-
ed by Tufchi. His fon, Batu Khan, attacked the
Ruflians and Polowzians, and defeated them in a
great battle near the river Kal^a, which runs into the
lea of Azof near the Don. The Mogul Chiefs, in-
folent, and elate with victory, often opprefled the
Ruflians in various ways. On the other hand, the
Ruflian Princes, induced by falfe ambition and petty
cpntefts amongft themfelves, ufed to repair to the
Golden Horde of the Khan, near the Wolga, there
to purchafe with ihameful humiliations and lavifh
preients, the title of Great Duke. The Moguls,
in the mean time, in confequcnce of their internal
and civil diflentions and wars, decreafed in power,
and the Ruflian Princes at length became alhamed
to worfhip fuch a mere (hiidow of power and gran-

• <?#/*, according to Dei Guignesy is « country (ituated to the weft and
f')»ith-weU of the river Irlifti ; but Danville place* it to the north of the
«Quuu> ot Turfan, or 10 the fOtttii of the Upper Irtiih.

deur^

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 477

deur, and to hold of thefe infolent invaders claim
to the Great Dukedom, when it would be fo much
more honourable to derive it from their own valour*
Iwan JVaJjIUewitfch was the firft Great-Duice, whos in
the latter part of the 15th centurv, broke through
this humiliating ceremony, refufinj:; to pay the cuf-
tomary tribute, and defeating the Moguls at difFerenC
times. Iwan IVaJJilewitfch^ the firft Czar^ and Self"
upholder of all the Ruflias, came to the throne in the
year I533< He made the conqucft of Cafan and
Aftrachan, and extended the power and dominion of
Ruffia to a great didance. He found that the Cof-
facs of the Don did great hurt to his fubje£ls by their
depredations, and difturbed the public peace. Jn the
year 1577* therefore, he fent a confiderable force to
punifh thefe depredators. Before this body of men
arrived, fome of them had the prudence to fly from
the approaching florm. Termak Temofeeff^ a valiant
CofTac, very expert in the art of war, and held in
great eftimation among his brethren, as being a man
of abilities and refolution, making^ his efcape, went
up the river Kama and the Tfchulfowaya, with 6 or
7000 men. Here' he met with a nephew of the fa-
mous Anika Stroganoff^ from whom the prefent Counts
and Barons Stroganoff are defcended. His name was
Maximius Stroganoff^ and he poiTefTed part d the land*
bequeathed to his anceftors by the crown. He re-
ceived this troop of banditti kindly, in order to avoid
being ufed ill by them. Here Termak had intelli-
gence that fome barbarous nations, viz. the Bafch"
iirSy WoteSy Ojiiaks, and Tfcheremljfesy bore very hard
upon the Ruflian fubjeds near the Kama, and that
they were fecretly fupported and their hands ftrength-
cned by Kutfchumt Khan of Siberia. Determined to
take vengeance for thefe depredations, he went up the
rivers in the years 1578, 1579, and 1580, and at laft
reached Tara, where he conquered feveral petty Chiefs
of the Tartars, and pafled the winter at Chimgi. His
army, however, was now diminiftied to 1636 men.
He defeated the Tartars once more in the year 1587 ;

but

1 ". ■

47^

VOYAGES AN

but the whole of his forces then confiftcd only of
loCo men. He was forced to fight many more bat-
tles, however, before he could reach the Irtifh anJ
purfue his victories; at length, having totally routed
Kdtlclium Khan, and put him to flight, he made his
public entry into Sil/ir. The Ojiiaks and ff^egulsf
Kutfchum's ancient fubjc(Sls, now I'ubmitted to Yer-
malc, and even great numbers of Tartars acknow-
ledged his fovcreignty. Yermalc had made a confi-
derable booty, and had, befides, received very valu-
able prefcnts from his new fubjcdls. He now regu-
lated the tribute they fhould pay, and fent a Coflacky
of the name oi Ataman ^ to the Czar at Mofcow, with
the news of his victory. At the fame time he craved
the Czar's pardon, fent him the choiceft furs by way
of tribute, and requeued that fome fuccours mighc
be given him. The Czar, in return, lent him pre-
sents, granted him a pardon, and confirmed him in
his new dignity. He like wife obtained the fuccours
defired ; but, in confequence of his extreme avidity
to extend his vidories, the too eafy credit he gave
to every falfe report, and of his neglect to lay in a
ilock of provifions, the greater part of his army v as
ilarved to death, and he himfelf perilhed, upon an
expedition on tht; Irtifh. Sibir, and all the new
conquefts were loft for a time j but greater forces
were foon fent, towns built, peopled, and fortified,
and in a few years the victories and acquifitions of
the Rufllan!^ went in rapid progreflion from one river
to another, from one wandering tribe to another, till
in the year 1639, Dmitrei Kopilr-fi^at length reached
the eaftern coaft of Afia, not far from the fpot where
Ochotflc now ftands. If we c?.ft but a glance on the
map, we ihall fee that in the fpace of 59 years, by
means of a kind of undifciplined chafl'eurs and light
troops, there was annexed to the Ruflian empire a
tiadt of country which extends nearly 80 deg. in
length, and in the north even reaches to the 185th de;:^.
of fong. eaft of Ferro, and confequently far beyond a
4th part of the globe j and in breadth extends above
25 ^eg. viz. from the 75th to the 50th deg. of north-
ern laiitude. We need only read the hillory of thcfe

conquclls

DISCOVERIES IN i.iE NORTH.

479

eonquefts In order to get an idea of the ftcdfaft, un-
daunted, and rcfolute difpofition of the Rufllan na-
tion. Their bodies inured to bear the greatcft hard-
Ihips, their ftrength and the foundnefs of their confti-
tutions are equal to the fpirit with which they accom-
plifbed fuch vafl conqucils. But in the mid (I of this
great fuccefs and acceflion of wealth and power, this
mighty empire which had not kept pace with the wefU
cm Europeans in the rapid progre'*s made by thele
latter towards civilization, found it difHcult to rcfift
the power of the petty kingdom of Sweden. Very
fortunately however for this empire. Providence be-
llowed upon it a man, who, though his cducatioa
had been entirely negledted, though he was furrounit-
ed by fuch as ufed their beft endeavours to give a
falfe bias to all his talents and mental qualities } who,
though he had prejudices to conquer, which might
be thought infurmountable, yet ponfcfTed fpirit and
courage fufficient to give himfelf an education, and
form himfelf, even at the age of maturity -, and was
bcfidcs endowed with penetration enough to know
thofe who were about him, and their jull value, and
not to be midaken in the choice of his new fervants;
a man, finally, who, well acquainted with the pro-
per mode of informing the minds of his people, caufed
them to make almofl inflantaneoufly, haflyilrides to-
vrards cultivation and refinement, and gave them
weight in the political fyftem of Europe. In ihorc,
a Prince, who, by his creative genius, prepared hii
people for the greatnefs and fplendor in which they
now appear, under the government of his great Niece,
to the admiration and ailonifhment of all Europe.

The difcoveries of this nation in the North have
met with very able hiftorians. The conqueft of Si-
beria has the pre-eminence over all the eonquefts of
other Princes of the earth. Uy thefe countries have
been laid wafte and depopulated, and frequently a ve-
ry inconfiderable tradt of land is purchafed with the
blood of many thoufands of men. The conqueft of
Siberia, on the other hand, cofl hardly any blood at
all} and fmce it has been conquered, this country h

populated

li.'f

4So

VOYAGES AND

populated and cultivated, and is continually advanc-
ing in wealth, population, and happinefs.

This Hirt-ory has been writien at large by M. John ^
Eberhard Fifcher, of the Academy of Peterlburgh,
with great fidelity and exadtnefs. The firft difcove-
ries ot the Ruffians along the coafts of the northern
ocean, the certainty that Afia does not join to Ame-
rica, the diftance between the Ruffian dominions and
Japan, and the diflance of the fame from America j
all this has been fet in the cleareft light by the late
learned Counfellor of ftate*, Geo, Fred. Muller^ in
the third volume of hh ColleJfion of Rujfian Hijiory,
Finally, that great naturalift, Profeflbr Pallm^ has,
with a laudable diligence and accuracy, continued in
his New Northern ColleSiionSy the hiftory of the lateft
difcoveries made fince M. Muller's hiftory was pub-
liihed, and particularly fmce the commencement of
the reign of the great Catherine II. It would there-
fore be highly improper to give here a hiftory of the
voyages of difcovery made by the Ruffians in t?he
North. This needs not, like the hiftory of the dif-
coveries made by other nations, to be colleiled, with
great pains and labour, out of many dift'ercnt and ex-
tremely fcarce works, but is in the hands of every
body, in works which are entirely new, very well
known, and written with a truly philofophical fpirit*
1 ihall now only fubjoin a few general obfcirvations.
. The capacious mind of the immortal Peter, firft
chalked out the whole plan of thefe different voyages
of difcovery, and his Emprefs, and all the fubfequent
Monarch?, particularly Anne and Elizabeth, contri-
buted every thing in their power towards carrying it in*
to execution. They went from Archangel to the Ob,
from the Ob to thejenifci. From thejenifei they reach-
ed the Lena, by travelling partly by water and partly by
land. From the Lena they went to the euftward as

• The Er.pl'fh reader will fnd the want nf theu' auilKirt in a?r»a|;
mtalure conipenfaictl by Mr- Cox^i elegant /icituni cj i/w RnJJmn Dij<e»
vcnes bitvtcin ^Jia and Ameriia, 4(0, lyf^o.

far

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 481

far as |h? Judigirka* From Ochotjk they went along
by the Kuyile Iflands to 'Japan, Beering had already
previouHy to this, navigated the northern coaft of
Kamtfchatka to the 76th deg. of northern latitude,
and now they again undertook an extenfive voyage,
in order to difcover the American continent from
Kamtfchatka, an enterprize in which Commodore
Beering, as well as Captain Tibhirikow, fucceeded.
Pefides the particular objeds of tlieir refearches, both
faw fome iflands, and Beering was ilranded upon oile
.^f them, not far from Kamtfchatka. He died there ;
and his crew made 9 fmall veflel out of the wrecks
of the fliip, and flood intQ the harboqr ©f Peter and
Paul, in Kamtfchatka. After diis, fome merchants
^nd freebooters went, with p^rmiffion of the Crown,
to make difcoveries, hunt, trade, and collect the tri-
bute ; ^nd though die veflels, in which thefe firft ad-
venturers went, confifted of nothing but a few wretched
boards faftened together with leathern thongs, difco-
vered nptwjthftanding in the year 1745 and 1750, a
group of iflands, which were called the Aleutian Illands.
Farther on, another group was found, which were
called the AndreanofF Iflands ; and laft of all they
defcried the Black-F»x Iflands, which were near the
American continent. This whole group compofes a
very remarkable archipelago, which certainly with great
jufl:ice was called, in honour of the great Catheriva II.
the Catherina Archipelago. It extends from Kauitfchat-
ka to the point of land called Alajka^ in North- Ame-
xica. From this very fame land of Kamtfchatka a
chain of iflands extends to Japan. Kamtfchatka,
North-America, Japan, the Kuriles, and ajfo the
Catherina Iflands, have all different volcancs, of which
fome are extinft, and fome flill continue burnint^.
Thefe volcanos daily occafion new and coniiderable
revolutions in thefe regions. They form a chain of
mountains, by which the two continents have been
formerly connedted, in like manner rs they have alio,

1 i in

■ '; t .

J;:

1 =

'.\t

':•;(*

■ 1*

• '11

\\\

482

VOYAGES AMD

in all probability, been joined to each other in Beer*
ing's Straits. A flood that has come from the fouth^
weft, and taken its courfe to the north-eaftward, has
alfo formed here the point of Kamtfchatka, called Lo-
patka, together with the bay of Ochotik, and the
Penfchinian Bay, and fwept away with it ih its courfe
a great quantity of earth, which has remained there,
lying on the bottom, and has caufed the (helves upon
which now the ice is fo often lodged at prefent, and
by which it is prevented from diflolving. It is not
my province to determine when this great flood hap-
pened, nor by what means it was produced. We
have occular evidence that a great and violent revolution
of this kind has a6tually happened. The iflands with
the volcanos on them, are acceflTory proofs of the truth
of my fyftem, viz. that iflands are formed from the
continent being broken into a great many pieces.

Thefe Gather ina Ijlands^ and the adjacent continent
of North- America, would afford to a diligent naturalift
a thoufand fubjecSls for interefting obfervations, fliould it
at any time pleafe the Great Catherina, for the ad-
vancement of fcience in general, and of geography
and the knowledge of nations in particular, to give
orders for the undertaking of a voyage, which would
great' y contribute to extend human knowledge, prove
extremely beneficial to the great empire Ihe rules, and
by which fhe would acquire eternal honour and fame
from a grateful pofterity.

Nos lequimur probabilia, nee ultra id quod verifimilc
occurrit progredi pofTumus, ct refellere line pertinacia
et refelli fine iracundia, parai fumus.

M. TuLHus Cic. Tufculanor. Quaeft L. II. p.
340. editi Elzevir.

GENERAL

• I

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 483

GENERAL RE xM ARKS

O N T H E

DISCOVERIES made in the NORTHj

TOGETHER WITH

Phyfical, Anthropological, Zoological, Botanical, and
Mineralogical Refledtions on tiie Objects occurring
in thofe Regions.

TH E globe of this earth, as far as we hitherto
know it, contains a much greater quantity of
land elevated above the furface of the fea, in the north-
ern part, than do the oppofite polar regions in the
fouth, which, to thofe who have explored them, have
conftantly exhibited nothing but a wide extenlive fea.
On this principle it is that I have endeavoured to
demonftrate in a former work, that in all probability
the northern regions, taken colle61:ively, are warmer,
particularly in fummer, than the fouthern. See my
Obfervations made during a Voyage round the fVorldy
page 99. In faft, the great depth of the lea abforbs
the folar rays, which like wife are not capable of im-
parting warmth to the prodigioufly extenlive, and
withal denfer fea, fo eafily as they do to the much -more
rarified fluid of the atmofphere. The land, on the
contrary, reflefts the rayb of the fun in every diredlion ;
in confequence of which they crofs each other, and
obfervations have (hewn, that it is by its colle6ted
beams only that the fun is capable of generating a
confiderable degree of warmth. This is confirmed by
the experience of all navigators in the northern regi-
ons, who, when between the 70th and 80th degrees

I i a 9f

■a ■!!

VOYAGES AND

of latitude, frequently fpealc of a heat powerful enough
to melt the pitch with which the fhip is paid. On
the other hand, in the fouth, the temperature of the air
is much colder i and in thoi'e parts they never enjoy
the comforts of a warm day.

In the cold countries there are a great many dif-
ferent fpecies of tale and mica, as likewife a great
quantity of the fteatites and lapis ollaris, particularly
in Greenland and Hudfoft's Bay, as likewlfe &t Sjiitz-
bcrgen. Volcanic produ(ftions are found in great
abundance in Greenland, Iceland, the weftern coaft
of North-America, the Catherine and Kurile Iflands,
and in Kamtfchatica. Of metals ther^ ha^ been found
native copper in Hudfon's Bay, and in the Copper
ifland near Kamtfchatka. Bear, or .Cherry Ifland con-
tains a confiderable quantity of lead, and likewife fome
native filver. In Greenland a filver, and even gold
earth are faid to have been difcoverfed.

The coaft of Greenland confifts entirely of high
(harp- pointed rocks on both fides. In Hiidfon's Bay,
ho\VeVer, thefe mountains begin to be lefs fteep, and
in fome parts of it, there are even flat level ihores.
I'celand is throughout, as well as Spitzbergen, a high
rocky country. Nova-Zembla has the fame appear-
ance. The whole northern coaft of l^iberia is flat and
low. The eaftern coaft of Afia, as far as to the
extreme point of Kamtfchatka, is for the moft part
high and rocky. The American coaft, on the r>n-
trary, is low and flat, but to the fouth of Alajka it
begms to be higher.

Hudfon's Bay, Baffin's Bay, and all the little feas
from Labrador to Cape Farewell are evidently made
by the fea having broken in upon the land. This
likewife appears from the lofty top of Cape Farewell
and the high rocks on the eaftern fide of Refolution
and SaliftDury Iflands, and of all the iflands in Hud-
fon's Bay, which terminate in flats to the weftward,
as though the earth had been wafhed away from them.

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 485

by a flood rulhing on them from the eaft. Greenland
has an inlet to the eaftwiird of it, and to the weft-
ward an ifland, vi*. Iceland. Spit?:bergen has a pro-
montory in the fouth-weft, and to the fouth-eaft an
ifland. All the (hores of the Icy Sea along Siberia
are flat, and the u^as that lie to the northwards of this
country are very (hallow. What we had to obferve
with refpetSt to the phyfical influence of the fituation
of the fea between Alia and America, near Kanitf-»
chatka, has been already touched upon at page 482.

The feas in thefe regions are very cold, and partly
covered with ice. The obfervation, that tlie ocean
freezes here even fo early as in Auguft or Septem-
ber, and that in winter it is covered ove«- in the fpace
of one night with ice feveral inches thick, is now fully
confirmed. The ice therefore is not the production
of the rivers running into the ocean, but of the ocean
itfelf. The large mafles are impelled by the wind one
over the other, and thus form thick and lofty clumps
of ice. But various ore the ways in which ice is
formed. We can never fay, this is the method which
nature purfues in producing a certain efFe<5l j for fhe
has a variety of means to accomplifh her intentions,
which man is not able t^o difcover other wife than by
flow degrees. In the b^ /inning of winter the ocean
is not fo cold as at the commencement of fummer,
fubfequent to the tedious long v/inter in thofe parts.
The winds :n the Icy Sea are very boifl:erous, and,
when they blow over the large fields of ice there, into-^
lerably cold. Eafterly winds alfo are more common
in the Arctic Circle than any other. The fame too
has been remarked before in the Antartic polar regi-
ons. FCjjs are in thefe climates very common, and
confequendy render the navigation there very dange-
rous. Thefe fogs by their prellure keep down all the
vapours which would otherwifc rife up into the at-
jnofpher&i for which rc^fon they have frequently an

oftenfive

•w 1

ii' P'

486

VOYAGES AND

ofFenfive fnTiell.— Thunder and lightning are very lare
in thefe parts ; partly by reafon that the northern
lights, which often are very frequent, confume and
vtrafte the ele6lricai exhalations, and partly becaufe in a
region covered with eternal fnow, from whence but a
trifling quantity of fnow melts away in the fpace of
federal days, the ele£tric matter cannot poilibly rife
from the earth in any confidcrable quantity, and collect
in order to form the matter of thunder and lightning.
The trifling portion which appears in tempers, is
thrown into the air from the volcanos in thefe regi-
ons. — The abundance of mifts and vapours, which arc
in part frozen, and fill the whole atmofphere, ferves
likewife to make one phenomenon more frequent and
common here than it is elfewhere. Paraheliums and
mock moons are feen very frequently in the north,
infomucli that they hav° been remarked by many travel-
lers, Thefe very vapours, which in the atmofphere fo
greatly aboun I, ferve alfo the beneficial purpofe of ex-
hibitmg the joyous light of the fun in thefe dreary and
melaiic.oly regions almoft a fortnight fooner above the
horizon than could pcflibly be done, were the atmof-
phere in a different ibte : confequently they contri-
bute to ihorten the difmal nights in thefe countries, and
to enliven nature, rendered abfolutely torpid by the
deadening blalts of winter.

It muit be true, the animated organized creation is
fcattered with a fparing hand in thefe dreary climates.
The furface of the earth is covered with but few
plants, and even thofe which nature has in her bounty
beitowed upon it, cling clofe to it, fearing, as it
were, to raife their heads from the bofom of their
mother into the air, totally deprived, as it is, of
warmth, and (lirinking from the deadly blafls of the
north and eaft winds, Nay, the earth itfelf is unpre-
pared and unfit to receive and harbour the plants

committed

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 487

aommitted to her care. Bare and naked rocks, with
a calm intrepidity, prefent their callous fronts to the
attacks of the all-ravaging froft i during the greateft
part of the year, indeed, they are covered by a thick
bed of fnow. Confequently they are preferved for a
long time without mouldering, and undeftroyed. Rain,
wind, and heat, alternating with froft j but above all,
the efFedls of heat and the fixed air floating in the
atmofphere, contribute to diflblve and deftroy by de-
grees the hardeft and moft folid rocks in temperate and
warm climates. The fixed air, accompanied by heat,
penetrates deep into the fubftance of the ftones, and
diflblves fmall particles of them, which the rains and
wind walh away and carry to a diftance, and by this
means make the furface of the earth continually more
and more capable of receiving and harbouring plants,
and all kinds of vegetables. In this earth, from a fmall
feed brought to it by the wind, at firft there is gene-
rated a diminutive mofs, which fpreading by degrees,
with its tender and minute texture, which, however,
refifts the moft intenfe cold, extends over the whole a
verdant velvet carpet. In faft, thefe mofles are the
midwives and nurfes of the other inhabitants of the ve-
getable kingdom. The bottom parts of the mofles
which perim and moulder away yearly, mingling with
the diflblved but as yet crude parts of the earth, com-
municate to it organized particles, which contribute
to the growth and nourifltiment of other plants : they
jikewife yield falts and unguinous phlogiftic particles for
the nouriftimcnt of future vegetable colonies. The
feeds of other plants, which the fea and winds, or elfe
the birds in their plumage, bring from diftant fliores,
and' fcatter among the mofles, are kindly, and with a
truly maternal care fcrceneJ by them from the cold,
imbued with the moifture which they have ftored up
for this very purpofe, and nourifhed with their oily
exhalations ; fo that they grow, increafe, and at length
Vcjir feeds, and afterwards dying, add to the ungui-
nous

4S8

VOYAGES AN»

nous nutritive particles of die earth, and at the fame
time diffufe over this new earth and moifts, more
feeds, the earneft of a rtuitierous pofterity. Here let
us ftdp for a moment to confider thefe produfttons
of the vegetable world in a nearer point of view.
They are, as we have already obferved, planted with
a fparing hand in thefe northern regions, not becaufe
nature adls the part of a ftep mother by them, but
becaufe the feverity of the cold in thefe climates dif-
turbs and puts a flop to her operations, and confe-
quently makes her employ ages to produce eiFe£):s,
for which (he has fcarcely a few years allowed her
under the benign influence of the fun in milder regi-
ons. Yet even here is Nature the fame indulgent
parent. On the few dwarfifti plants that are to be found
in thefe regions the animals thrive aftonilhingly i even
the liverworts (lichen rangiferinus & ijlandicus) polTefs
uncommonly nutritive qualities, and make the animals
which feed on them, fat in a fliort time. On the
very fliores fcurvy-grafs, and other plants of this clafs,
prefent themfelves to feafiaring perfons infe<Sted with pu-
trid fevers, and with their invigorating juices, put a
flop, in the fpace of a few days, to the ravages oi
tlie fcurvy.

And however unpromifing thefe regions may ap-
pear, yet neither the fea nor land are deflitute of ob-
je«Sls, which, befidcs an organic ftru(5lure, have the
power of voluntary motion and of confcioufnefs. From
the corals to the mammalia, every clafs of animals has
its reprefentative in this othcrwife inhofpitable climate.
Nova Zembla, Spitzbergen, and Greenland, have even
their reindeer, their white bears, and grey foxes ; and
the countrv lying to the northward of Hudfon's Bay
is inhabited by the bifam ox. Hares, mice, and glut'
tonst a^fo are indigenous in fome of thefe regions.
The fea fwarms with various forts of whales and dol-
phins } while its fhores and the dreary fields of ice that
float upon it, ferve as a habitation to the numerous fpe-
cies of feals, to which the depth of the ocean in the
immenfe number' of its inhabitants prefents an abun-
daiice gf food. Of all thefe northern regions the

northern

DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH. 489

tiorthcrn coaft of Siberia alone is conftantly inhabited
by mankind, if we except America as far as Hudfon's
Bay and Greenland. The bodices of this race of men arc
contra6led, as it were, by the cold. They are of a brown*
ifli red complexion, their hair is lank, IHlF, and black.
Their food is fifh, feals, and whales, am^ train-oil is their
greateft delicacy. Their ideas are, according to our
way of thinkinja, very confined ; yet they manifeft in the
formation of many of their implements, and articles
of houfe-furniture, a fkill, a dexteroufnefs, and capacity,
which at firft fight, one would not be apt to imagine
they poffefied. fhe complaints we frequently hear of
their perfidioufnefs and cruelty, are 'irely groundlefs.
The Europeans, indeed, have often, by adts of vio-
lence, by murder, and the perpetration of the grcatell
cruelties, drawn upon themfelves the vengeance ofthelc
kind-hearted, hofpitable people, and, at length, taught
them miftrurt. They fulfil the duties of parents with
tcnderncfs, refolution, and care, and in circumfiances in
which thoufands of Europeans would negle«Sl their,
charge. Amidft dangers, amidft the moll piercing
frofts, fnow, and winds, they venture out to fea in
fmall leathern boats to provide food for their children.
In ftiort, the more we attend to thefe objeds, the
more evidently we fhall perceive in all parts the traces
of the providence, goodnefs, and wifdom of a fupreme
being, who difpenfes his benefits over the whole uni-
verfe, and manifefts the utmoft fagacity and intelli-
gence in the accomplifhment of his purpofes j all
which in perfons of fufceptible and feeling hearts ex-
cites the warmeft fentiments of gratitude and adora-
tion, and affecting them widi the tendered emotions,
diaws from their eyes tears of heart-felt joy and ad-
miration. O that men would therefore praije the Lord
for his goodnefsy and dectan the wonders that he doeth
for the children of men !

! I''

tiikli(4l

I N X

I I

I !

INDEX.

ARHUUS, its former and prefent fituation
Abalus Ifland, defcribed by Pytheas

i'agc

- 69
21

Abulfeda, the fummary of his information relative to the

North ' 34, 36

Abubeker ■ ■ 153

Acre ■ — — — 121

Acridophagi, fignification of the name and their place of

2
98

415
II

7»

413

abode

Adigas, the fame as Circaflia ^ ■■

Adiketi, neighbours of the Alanians —

Adkofi, vid. Adiketi
Admirahy Ifland — —

^fti or Efthonians vifited by the Carthaginians
Long unknown to the Romans

Their manners and government defcribed by Alfred

Afgoden Hoek — —

Africa, original fign'fication of the Word ——

Fird difcovery of its coafl and circumnavigation of it at

different times ■ 6, 7

Agricola faik quite round Britain and fubjeQs the Orkneys to
- - • 26

121

94
171

the Roman Empire
Ajaffa al, harbour of •■

Akko, vid. Acre — ___ ,

Alanians ravage the Roman dominions

Their former place of refidence

Their Religion

Alar^on, Francifcode, his attempt to Bnd the Straits of Anian

44«
Alarlc plunders the Romans ■■ 32

Ale, why the Efthonians brewed none — . 72

Alfred, his generous behaviour to the conquered Danes 53

His tranflation of Orofius «-— 5 4

Tranflation

ifiii

I N D

P.1

H'<

2«

Tranflation of bis geographical dcfcription of the North
of Europe ■ —— 5^

Whence he had his geographical knowKdve 74,

Aleutian idamis, the difcovercrof (hem, and iheir (ituation 481
Alexander VI bifhop of Rome, portions out the newly dif-

covered countries

Allemanni, the origin of the name -■

Confederacy of this people —

All-Heathor All-Heide

Aliiialig, city of ■ — —

Amber impoitcd by the Phceniciani and Greeks
Defer ibed by Pliny ■ ■ — ■
Known to the Romans

Amfterdain Ifland ■

Ancona, viJ. Akko

Aiidanicum, the fame as Steel ■ '

Origin ot this name
Andreanoff IQ^nds — ■ • ■ '■■ —— .

Angclis, his account of the land of Efo
Anj^Io Saxons, their piratical expeditions to Britain

The place of their refidence ■
Anian, Straits of —— —

Anjoy, vid. Anian Straits

446
H
32
69

15a

26
422

»35

242
481

463

44-

447, 460, 463

349'

Anticofti, Ifland of, its different denominations ■—

Aral, River of

Arambec, an unknown coaft • . '.

Ar*Ju, b'mpire of the Afconian Turks

Argonauts, fail to the country of the Hyperboreans

Argon, bis embaiTy to Kublai Khan

A mixed race at Tenduc *— .

29c,

439

436

475

124
Ml

Ariniafpians, why they were fuppofed to have but one eye

Introdu^ion

Airak, the Beverage of the ancient Northern nations and of

the Chinefe '■ ' — 146

As, the faiDe people as the Alanians — — 166

Afimrft, Thofnas, undertakes to plaut colonies in the North 289

Afof -w — 151,165, 16^

AiTam, John, King of Bulgaria — •— 97, 99

Aifara, the fame as Saray — —

AfTumption Ifland •■■ — ■ ■■ 439

Ailracan — — - — m 1 5 1

Its trade in former times -' 1 7 1

35,38, nS

26
Baals

Athel, or Athol, i. e. the Wolga —

Attila, the extent of his Dominions ■■

Aubert, Thomas, his Voyage to Newfoundland
Auguflus Cstar, Difcovcries in the North in his reign

Baals River ■■ '■' ' ■ ■ — —

Baccalaos, the aincient name of Newfoundland,
Whence derived - ■

Vifited by Gilbert -

BalHn, Wllliain, his voyage to the North #-
Hia voyage with Bylot »

Bagdad inhabited by the Bil'ermians

Pagt

3ZQ.

289

350

Balalagan or Balaxiani the country of, its inhabitants and ita

produflions
Ba(cha(Vi Nor, a lake, its vail fize
Baldnch, vid. Bagdad
Balifli, a Chi nefe weight or coin
Baikh, city of »

Balulclawa, its ancient names
Balcia, known to the Carthaginians

Whence this name is derived
Barbaro, Jofaphat, his journey to Tana
Barentz, William, his voyages

With Heemfkerk

Barrach, vid. Bereke Khnn

Barrarier, his opinion of R. Benjamin de Indela^s travels

Bafchart

379'

ii6
104

i6|
««$

u
ti

166

4«7

luO
Bafchkirians, their lan^age and place of refidence loo, 475

Their origin — • lof

Theirniod^ of writing — 105

Bafcia, a country on the River Vafch, its inhabitants izj

Baftarkians — — — — — ^j

Baths, laws and literary anecdotes concerning them az j

lOZ, 475

328
417

438

70
481

4c z

260

117

170

Batu, Khan of the IVloguls
Baulak or Koiak, the gold mines of
Bay of Exploits, firft difcovered by Leif

Bear Ifland —

Difcovered by the Dutch
Bay deg Chaleurs ■

Becinga-ge or Blekingen — —

Beering, his voyage with Tfchirikoff
Beeting's Straits

Behaim, Martin, his artificial globe ■

Belgian Mountain, the primitive refidence of the Moguls
Belgorod . ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■

Belor Mountain —

Benedidt, a Mindorite, accompanies the Pope's ambafTadors to
the Moguls . — 93

Benjamin

1*
j

E XI

Benjamin of Tud»»la, his obfervatlons relative to the North 9

Bennet, Stephen, his voyage to Cherry Ifland

Beormas ■■

Berenfort Harbour ' "

Bereke Khan — —

Bergos, its prefent name and (ituation

Bergu, a plain, its inhabitants defcribed

Biarmians — • —

Biikhan, vid. Belgian

Bi'vfn, carried by a ftorm to !^ewfound1and

Biierniini — —

Biflibur, itsfituation — —

Irs inhabitants and produce

Btachs or Balchians — —

Black Point -^_.

Blekingen ■

Bokkaia, tKe province and city of —

Bolgar, the town of — _«. — .

Delcribed Ukewife — — .

Bontekoe, the ifland of — —

Borkah.vid. Ardu

Borkum Ifland, Amber forknerly found there —

Bornhol'.n — — —

Bofphrrus — — —

Bowdens Inlet — — -»-

Braetain, the land of Tin — —

Bretagne colonized by fugitive Critons — —

Briggs's Mathematic's iflands — —

Britain known to the Greeks, as being the tin country
Introcuclion and — —

Vifited by the Fhcenicians — —

Why it afterwards funk into oblivion —

Becomes fubje^l to the Romans

328

415

>53

30
138

Is vifited by the Franks and Anglo-Saxons

Brizinians -^ —

Brook Cobham Iflands — — —

Brutacks — «-. — .

Bukareli y Orfua, his voyage of difcovery —

Buigar, Bulgaria — — 59,

169

396
6

44
36s

s I

Conquered by Yedighey Khan
Bulgarians, their origin ■ —

Burchana, vid. Borkum
Burgendas, thefameasBomholm
Burgundians, fe»*led in Gaul — — —

Burrough, Step-: .n, his voyage and difcoverie;
Burs al, the muunta'n of, a filk manufactory there
Sufa, an imoxicating liquor Urank in RulUa '—

32»44

474

363.388

455
100

155

109

— 372

»S4

Bufurmen,

I N

Page
Bufurmen, vid Bifermini

Butan ■ — — — — 107

Button, Thomas, his voyage of difco?ery — — 345

Remarks upon it — „^ ^47

Button's Bay — — . — 300

Button's Iflands, by whom difcovered — 347

Bylot, Robert, his firft voyage of difcovery — • 350

His fecond voyage ■ 35*

Remarks upon it — — 357

C.
Cabota or Cabot, John, vrhh his fons, difcovers Newfound-
land — — 267
Strtftures with refpeft to him • '— 268
His endeavours to promote voyages of difcovery 269
Cabral, Pedro AIvaTez, difcovers the land of the Holy Crofs or
Brazil — ^ — . "- 2163
Cabrillo, Juan Rodriguez de, his voyage toNorth America 448
Cadiz, founded by the Phoenicians, and when *» 6

ThePhoenician ftore-houfes there
Caefar, how far he advanced in the North
Cailac, its inhabitants and manufaflurea
Calacia, vid. Cailac
Caliphs, the promoters of literature
Calmucs, their mode of writing -^

Their Buffaloes —

Cambalu, the winter abode of Kublai Khan, its fituation and

conveniences ■■ — 145, 16&

Camexu, the fame as Khame — — 152

Canada, origin of this appellation — 438

Canglo, are defcended-from the Canianians — 99

Canary Iflands, known to the Greeks by the name of the

8
104, 140

34
106
107

Fortunate Iflands —

Cape Breton, by whom thus named
Abounds in coals -

Cape Barren

Blanco «—

Charles —

Chidley's —

Chriftianus —

Comfort —

Defolation —

Del Enganno —

Diggs — -

Dobbs — —

Dycis «■■ « "

Farewell

i3S<

3071

«3

289
297

349
4S3
336
310
468

35 «

300

^H
358

39«

299

468

FuUertoii

iiiii

I N I?

run«?rtoii

Of .Gfld's Mercy
Henrietta Maria

Page

3«7
301

366
369
39«
403
33$
4«4
366

45a
4i'»
347
335
35^
347
39«
»99
336

4«5
463

»37

34';

129

Carpini, Joha.jde Piano, a minotiie, go?s on an einbafly to
the M«giil Khans 1"- " 93

Account of his journey - > ■■ 94

Carey's Iflands - ■■ ■ - « 355

Carthage, origin of this name " ■■,. , , 8

Flouriihing ftate gf it, founded on the ruin of the

rh^nicians -r— p — 9

Carthaginians • lake long voyages and p^sflefs an extenfive
commerce — -^ 10

Cartier, Jaques, de St. Malo, his voyage — 437

His lecond voyage
His voyage with Robervai

By whom thua named -

Hope • -

KoQg JHme^'s - — — — .

Langenefa ■ —

Maria ^ " .. ■'■ . ■'

Mendocino — — .i__

.: , Ni-fl^v ; , - ' ■

5^ Pembtrake ■ ■■

} , ^ Prince Henry's m>"

, ■; rJialidwiry , , -.— - —

^ Sov\hampftM» I ' '•■ ■ ' ^ '

.; Smith — "n.. —

; ' :-WairingHfif» - -^ -^

...Wolften^olin r

Zwartenhoek • ' ' ■ . ■'..-

Ciariivallo,. James, hi^ Hefcription of j^fo
Cafacoran " . , ■ .. . u y,

Cary*s Swans-neft > - ■^-

Carchan, promce of, its fnhabitants defcribed
Carentarians — ' -—

438

44 (

129

38, 116

Cafcar, tlie country of, its inhabitants defcribed
Cafpian Sea — —

Caffirerides, the tin iflands -"'■■■■

Chadilcha — —

Ciianml) the country and ciiy of, its inhabitants an(^cul^om^

133, 160, :4s

Chnmyl, the town of, where fituated, and by whom baiit 94

Chancellor, Richard, goes to KuITia . — 271

His fecond voyage thither i * •— 27*

Cbaques, Martin, his fi^iiious voyage — 46a

Chatlebourg

Charlebourg •—

Jharlton Ifland ^^

Chathians in Georgia — —

Chazaria, the province of —

Chazarians •

The ancient inhabitants of Crimea
Chenerthei, the province of —

Cherry Ifland, the fame as Bear Ifland

Defcriptionofit

Cherule, a country on the banks of the Kherlon
Chefmur, its inhabitants • "

Chefterfield's Inlet, vid. Bo wden's Inlet

Page

44*

94
169

16^

168

329

1 10
1Z7

Chiacato, an Indian king, equips the Poli for their journey

Chinchintalas, its iltuation, produce, and inhabitants 135

C'hirmia - — 169

Chitalas Dalai, vid. Chinchintalas ■ ■■ ' izj

Chogatal.fent to Rome with M. Polo — 120

Chremuch, the country of, the inhabitants, animals, and feitility

of it ■ — — — __ i^y

Chriftians Haab ■ 307

Chriftians Straits, the fame as Hudfon's Straits
Ciirobatians

Cianganor, the town and lake of, their fituation and Inhabi-
tants ■ 142

Ciarciam, the country of, its inhabitants and produce 130
Cicones, a northern people _— — __ |j

Ciinbalo, 2v^/3«A«y A»/wdv, the modern Baluklawa 1 69

Cimbri, their military expeditions, conquells, and fcttlements 2$

»4

93
171

599
409

Whether they were Germans
Cimmerians, inhabitants of the Crim
Circafllans ■■■

Profefs the chriftian religion .
Clerke, Charles, accompanies Capt. Cook

Continues the expedition after Cook's death
Cocas, fame as Mount Caucafus, its fituation and produce 1 16
Cocking Sound " '• — — 32$

Cogatal, vid. Chogatal

.^oleburn, accompanies Hudfon in his^ third voyage 333

Coiom, Chfiftopher, endeavours to fet on foot a voyage of

tdifirovery
Difcovers the Ifland of Haiti
Colomna, town of, adefcripiionof it
CotiipanieLand — —

Comaniaos —

Compafc, ds^riptlon and ufe of

261
262
172
426

f' N D E X.

Its inventor — —

The period of Its more v riy and general ufe
Conception Bay

Page

2cr5
240

By whom thus named

Conftant Search — — — 41$
Contomanians, relearches into their origin

Cook, James, his voyage of difcovery to the North 397

His death — — — , 404

Cook's Ifland — — — 366
Cook's Straits, vid. Beering's Straits

Coronado, Francifco Vafquez de, goes to the Straits of

Anian
Cortereal, Cafpar de, his voyage of difcover)

His brothers attempt the fame
Cotan, the province of, its cultivation
Cronium, the Icy Sea, origin of this name
Cruffldes, the occadon and confequence of
Cruys Hoek —

Cumanians, defcribed b;' Haitho —

Cumberland's Iflands ■ ■ ■ •'

Cumberland's Straits "

Cwenland, fame as Finland

Its inhabitants defciied by Ohther —

Cwennas

Cwen Sea ■

Currents in the North, remarks upon them
Cychians and Cythians » • ■ - ■

Are a free people ■

D.
DaimirKhan " —

Dalamenfans, their refidence —

Dalemln/ians, vid. Dalamenfans
Danes, how far they carried their piracies
Reiluce Alfred to great ftraits,
Ere^ various fovereignties in Ireland
Darcy's Ifland ■

Datia — -^

Davis, John, his firfl; voyage of difcovery
Second voyage — —

Remarks upon it " " ■

Third voyage — —

Remarks upon it ' ■■ " « •■

Davis's Straits -• ■ ■ ■ •-

Deer Field — — — .

Deer Sou' i " ■■■ " ■

Denis, Jean, C^lls to Newfoundland

448
460
461

13d

236

4'5
115, 168

55,60
66

285

94
97

Hi
59

3«o

59
293

30a

306

308

' 310

300

348
391

Derbent

firft that failed

. Paga
99

^ "2,154

through Beering'«

— 401

Derbent ^ *— —

Its fituation
DeninefF, Semen, the

Straits
Deiire Provoked, a land fo called by Hudfon -~ 334

Defolation — — ' z^H

Dido plants a colony in Africa ■ 8

Di trichofBern, his atchievements — -- 31

Dir, the companion of Olkold — — 78

Difco Road — - — 308

Dobbs, Arthur, propofes a voyage of difcovery 392
Domitian reduces almoft the vrhole of Britain under hia

dominion ■ — 26

Douglas Harbour — — — 391

Drache Ufanaut, the fliip fo called ■ • 75

Drogio, the country of ■' — 190

Itsfituacion * * - 205

Drautcn Lake - ■ *■ 69

365

Dumney or Dumnoe, the ifle of
Dun Fox Ifland __

Eaftland, ■ ■

Edam, land of • — ■ ■ ' '

Edges Ifland ■ •■■■'

Edigi, the fame as Yedighey Khan ■

Edom, the Progenitor of the Phoenicians — —

Cdrefli, ScherifF al, the geographer — ■

Extract from his treatife, and (Iriftures upon it
Eggaya, the fame as Irganekon ■ '

Elbing, ri\ r of ■■ •■ - ■■

Elipehe, thcfameasKippike
Elifa, vid. Dido

Elliot,^ Hugh, his Aippofed voy&ge to the North
.£naky the children of, inhabitants of caves —

Their manners

Spread along the coafts of the Mediterranean,
they are called Canaanites ■ - ■

At firft trade, and by the Greeks are called
nicians ■ ■ " ■

Engern, not the country of the Engels
Engels, relidedin the Iflands of Denmark
Engroveland, the fame as Greenland
Eowland - —

Equius, town of, the fame as Akfu
Erd(himur, the country and town of
Ergimuly the iame as Erdihimur

Kk2

203,

428
427

'53

140

aS9

where

Phos-

206

104

13S

Erigaia,

,. m

iii

•I N

Erigai'a, the fame or Organum " .

Eric, firftbifliopof Greenland, goes to ^^ inland

The books found there came from him — —
Eric Raude a fugitive, difcovers Greenland —

Gives a defcription of it — —

Eric's Sound ■ ■ ■

Erythras, vid. Edom

Efkimaux, their anceftors ■ ' *—

Efo, the ifland of ■ — —

Efthonians, vJd.Ofti
Eftniere, viz. the Frifch Haf — -< —

Euthymenes purfues Hanno's difcoveriea

Eynar-Torf, the common anceftor of the earls of Orkhey 298

Page
140

204

709
80

%
463

70
16

Eywucktoke Inlet

Ezina, the town of, abounds with ail kinds of animals

F.
Faira, the Ifland of ■ — — .

Fairas Land ■ » ■

Fair Haven — ■ — . »■ '

Fair Foreland — — ■■■

Faral, the town of, the fame as Otrar

Far-oer or Sheep Iflands, when difcovered — ■ ■

Conquered by. Harold • ■■ ■—

Pera, vid. Faira

Finbog fails from Iceland to Winland — —

Findanus, ihort account of his life

306
»37

202

349
330

53
78

86
46

The Finlanders are defcended from the $c*'*^hians

Not known to the Romans till later tunes — • 29
Lived on moors and fwainps ' 66

The ancient name of the people now called Laplanders

jFinmark, the fame as Lapland -■' ■ ' ' " . 62

Flawes, William, his voyage of difcovery ^ ■■ . '■■■ ' 3'8j
Flocke fails to Iceland ■ ■ ' ■.-.■ — — 50

Flux and rtflux of the ocean, firft obferved by Pytheas and
afcr'il)ed to the moon * '. — 17

Its height on the coa(t of Britain accurately afcertained

>9
293

454

37S
343
349
559

Franks,

by the fame

Fogolflrind, foi merly called Pengum Ifland —
Fonte, { BarCholonieo de) bis pretended difcovery

Fort Charles

Fotherby, his firft voyage to the North — ^—

His fccop.d voyage. ■ ■

Fox, Lucas, his voyage of difcovery — — *

Fo:j;'s.fartheft voyage of difcovery ■

INDEX.

Franks, origin of their name .

Spieadaafaras Britaia . •

t Praaice. piracy with, (iiccefs in t];ie Mediterranean
Are expelled out of Britain — —

Eaft, their boundaries ■ ' ^

Freidis accompanies Fiiibogin his expedition

Friefland

Frobifl^er, Martin, his attempt to fail to the North
Makes a fecond. attempt with fuccefa
Hist.bird voyage thither with a fquiu^ron

Frobiflier's Straits

Frondad, his voyage from China to North America

Fuca, juan de, his voyage

GaJe Hamken's Land .

Galea, vid. Ajafla

Gaqja, (}oao de) his pretended difcoveiies

Gama. Vafco • — ^

Gamalecco, the fame as Cambalig
Gaidar's Ifland, by whomdifcovered
Whence it derived ifs name

Page
24

45
46

180, 202
274

- 275

280

274

444
450

428

— 464

- 263

152

- 50
Geography and the knowledge of diftant nations, the fources

nf Introduction

— 141

4IZ

of
George, King, of Tcnduc

Gebrgia ^ -;

Its fituation and ancient inhabitants
Gepides, their empire fubverted by the Awari and Longo-

bardi — ; — 3*

Germans, fignification of this name ^ -^ 24

The place of their refidence according to Alfred 5 5

Germanicus vifits the country which had been the grave of

Varus and his army 26

Gete, land of -; — ■ 47^

Ghazarians, vid. Cbazarians

Ghitercan or Aftrachan, its trade in former time* 171

Gibbons, his voyage ' — 347

Gibbons's Hole -r — 348

Gihon, the river of . " »'9

Gilbert, Humphrey, hia voyage to the North 292

Dies on the paflage homewards — 295

Gilbert's Sound, » harbour ^ ' 299

Inhabitants on its coaft — 303

Gillam, Zachary, his voyage to the North 378

Gillis, Cornelia, his voyage and difcoveties — 4*9

Giorgiania, its inhabitants and fertility — 177

Glafs,

I N I

Glafs, another term for amber

Glafs lilands

Glaza, vid. Galza

E X.

P«ge

a6
121

God Haab, the fame as Giloert's Sound

Gogatta, vid. Chogatal

Galea, vid. Cailac

Gomez, Efteyan, feeks In vain for a palTage in North America

447
Good Fortune, Ifland of — ■ 306

Gore, Captain, continues the voyage after Gierke's deceafe

406

Gori, where fituated — — — 178

Germ, the ancient, unites Jutland and the Panifh Iflands 51

Cloths, their military expeditions — — 3a

Found by Ruyfbroek in the Crim *« 97

Of their language — — .170