Chapter XXI: Appendix: I (4)

[1068] On April 2nd at mean noon, Novaya Zemlya, the sun’s declination was + 4° 56′,8, which, with the observed height (corrected for refraction = 18° 37′,2), would give 76° 19′,5 as the latitude; or, deducting 16′ for the sun’s semi-diameter, 76° 3′,5. It is, however, not unlikely that the observation was made on April 1st, when indeed the sun’s declination was + 4° 40′ at mean noon at Venice, though at mean noon at the place of observation (about four hours earlier) it was only 4° 33′,6. In this case, the latitude would be 75° 56′,4; or 75° 40′,4, if the sun’s lower edge was observed.

[1069] Een colf om daer mede te colven—literally, “a colf to colve with.” The well-known game of colf or golf derives its name from the hooked stick or club (German, kolbe; Dutch, colf or kolf) with which it is played. A detailed description of the game, as played in Holland, is given in Sir John Sinclair’s Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xvi, p. 28, note. See also Jameson’s Scottish Dict., art. Golf.

[1070] Deur dattet damper weer ende teruijt vochtich was—because it was damp weather and the powder moist.

[1071] The steps cut in the snow, as is mentioned in page 136.

[1072] Nae de deur vant huijs toe—towards the door of the house.

[1073] Dat boven de deur was—that was above the door.

[1074] The house was covered with a sail, on which was placed shingle from the beach, to keep it weather tight, as is described in page 119.

[1075] Voorgaende—late, previous.

[1076] Vervulde de gantsche zee—filled the entire sea.

[1077] “21st.”—Ph.

[1078] Van den houden ghemaect hadden—had made of the hats or felt. See page 166, note 1.

[1079] Om te sien of hy daer eenighe holen hadde—to see whether she had any holes there.

[1080] Spiesen—pikes.

[1081] Af te setten—to go away.

[1082] The declination here given is that of April 19th. The corrected calculation for the 18th, with refraction 2′,0 and declination + 10° 50′,1, gives 75° 42,1; or 75° 26′,1, if the sun’s semi-diameter has to be deducted. On April 19th, the declination was + 11° 10′,1, whereby the height of the Pole would be 76° 2′,1; or, deducting the sun’s semi-diameter, 75° 46′1.

[1083] Ende stooften ons—and stewed ourselves. See page 121, note 8.

[1084] Ghereetschap—utensils.

[1085] Huijt—literally “hide”, but used in the sense of “body”.

[1086] There is an omission here in the original. The following words require to be supplied:—“which substracted from the said elevation, there rested 14 degrees.”

[1087] With the sun’s declination + 14° 8′,7, and refraction 1′8, the corrected calculation will give 76° 2′,5; or, deducting 16′ for the sun’s semi-diameter, 75° 46′,5.

[1088] See page 168, note 2.

[1089] Opt hooghste was. An oversight of the author. He meant to say that the sun was on the meridian in the north; where, of course, it must have been at the lowest, instead of the highest.

[1090] Had the latitude of the place of observation been really more than 76° the sun ought to have been visible above the horizon at midnight on the 28th April, as its declination was then already more than 14°; and as on the 30th April its declination was 14° 55′, it ought to have had its lower edge full 39′ above the horizon at the time when at the place of observation it is said to have been visible “just above the horizon”. This is without taking into account the refraction, which under ordinary circumstances, would have made its visible altitude about 36′ more. Hence it is quite clear that they were not so far north as 76°.

[1091] Coockten wy onse laetste vleysch—we cooked the last of our meat (beef).

[1092] Maer hadt maer een manghel, dattet niet langher deuren wilde—only it had but one fault, which was, that it would not last any longer. Whenever a joke is intended by the author,—who, although a serious, matter-of-fact Dutchman, was evidently a bit of a wag,—it is, by some fatality, sure to be spoilt by the translator.

[1093] Te jancken—to hanker after.

[1094] Ende also de beste spijs, als vleysch ende grutten ende anders, ons ontbrack—and as our best food, such as beef, barley, and such like, failed us. Gort or grutten, for porridge, form an important item in the supplies of Dutch seamen. When the Dutch whale-fishery was in a more flourishing state, the sailors of the vessels employed in it used to be saluted by the boys in the streets of Amsterdam with the cry of—Traan-bok! Stroop in je gort tot Pampus toe.—“Train-oil Billy! Treacle in your porridge as far as Pampus;” meaning, that after they had passed Pampus (see page 13, note 5), which is only two hours from Amsterdam, they would, during the rest of the voyage, get their porridge without treacle.

[1095] Speck—pork.

[1096] Een cleijn vaetgien met peeckelspeck—a small cask of salt pork.

[1097] Doen wast mede op—then that also was gone.

[1098] Meer als te voren—more than before.

[1099] Nu—now.

[1100] Segghende: dit weer sal hier nimmermeer vergaen—saying, this weather will never more pass away here.

[1101] The skipper, namely, Jacob Heemskerck.

[1102] Van daer te sien comen—to see about getting from thence.

[1103] Maer elck ontsach sich den schipper dat te kennen te gheven—but each was reluctant to make the skipper acquainted with it.

[1104] Vermidts dat hy hem hadde laten verluyden dat hy begeerde te wachten—because he had given them to understand that he desired to wait.

[1105] Niet muytischer wyse—not in a mutinous manner.

[1106] Want zy lieten haer gaerne ghesegghen—for they let themselves easily be talked over.

[1107] The corrected calculation, with declination + 17° 44′,9 and refraction 12′,2, will give 75° 47′,9. If the sun’s lower edge was observed, 16′ will, in this instance, have to be added to the latitude, which thereby becomes 76° 3′,9.

[1108] Daer deur—whereby.

[1109] Wore.

[1110] Van de ruyghe hoetgens—of the rough hats (felt). See page 166, note 1.

[1111] I.e., walking.

[1112] Colven. See page 168, note 1.

[1113] Sprack Willem Barentzoon den schipper aen wat der ghesellen goeden raedt was—William Barentsz told the skipper what the crew thought was best (to be done).

[1114] De schuijt ende bock—the boat and yawl. Heemskerck’s first thought, as supercargo, evidently was to save, if possible, the ship and property entrusted to him by the owner; and by waiting till the fine weather came and the sea was open, he hoped to be able to do this.

[1115] Dat men veel tijts behoeven soude—because much time would be requisite.

[1116] Bock—yawl; it being the smaller boat of the two.

[1117] “Thought”—Ph.

[1118] Reckon, count.

[1119] Dat den tijt aenquam—till the time should arrive.

[1120] De schuyten te water soude moghen brenghen—should be able to get the boats afloat.

[1121] Oft eens tijdt quam dat wy wech comen mochten—if the time should ever come when we might get away.

[1122] Den wandt vant portael—the sides of the porch or entrance.

[1123] Hemden—shirts.

[1124] Die dan wederom ghetoghen van de ghenomen hoochte—which then being taken from the observed height. This error in the original text is corrected in the translation.

[1125] The declination here given (correctly 20° 46′,5) is that of the 24th May; that of the 25th being 20° 57′,6. The amended calculation for both days will be as follows:—

May 24th May 25th.

Observed altitude of sun 34° 46′,0 34° 46′,0 Refraction - 1′,4 - 1′,4 ————————————— ——————————— 34° 44′,6 34° 44′,6 Sun’s declination + 20° 46′,5 + 20° 57′,6 ————————————— ——————————— Complement φ 13° 58′,1 13° 47′,0 ————————————— ——————————— φ 76° 1′,9 76° 13′,0 ————————————— ——————————— Or, allowing for the sun’s semi-diameter 75° 45′,9 75° 57′,0

Regarding the several observations of stars as well as of the sun (except those of March 20th, April 2nd and 18th, and May 24th, which are uncertain), as being all equally good, subject only to correction for refraction and amended declination, the result will be 75° 57′,5. Or, assuming that the sun’s lower edge was observed in every case, but not allowed for (and the observations of the stars leave little room for doubting that such must have been the case), and taking the sun’s semi-diameter at 16′, and including also the observations of the two stars, we have 75° 49′,5. In either case the latitude will be rather to the south than to the north of the 76th parallel. But, as all the latter observations of the sun were made under an erroneous impression, and evidently with a desire that they should correspond with what was believed to be the truth, the safest plan will be to content ourselves with the observations of the two stars and the first observation of the sun on February 19th, the result of which will be:—

γ Orionis 75° 43′,0
α Tauri 75° 47′,9
☉ 75° 44′,1
——————————
135
——————————
Which gives exactly 75° 45′ as the latitude of the spot.

[1126] Aenstaen—urgent request.

[1127] Fock—foresail.

[1128] De seylen—the sails.

[1129] Eenigh loopende wandt ende trosgens ende anders meer—some running rigging, ropes, and various other things.

[1130] Nae de schuyt ghegaen om die ontrent het huijs te vertimmeren—went to the boat, in order to repair it near the house.

[1131] Burghers—burgesses, citizens; that is to say, they must consider Novaya Zemlya as their place of permanent residence.

[1132] De bock—the yawl.

[1133] Vreeselijcken—frightful.

[1134] More boldly.

[1135] Nether, lower.

[1136] Stucken van robben met huijt ende hayr—pieces of seals, with the skin and hair.

[1137] Torn.

[1138] Niet seer kout maer doncker—not very cold, but dark.

[1139] Bock—yawl.

[1140] Om de bock daer mede op te boyen—wherewith to raise the gunwale of our yawl.

[1141] Van ons eerst de smaeck begeerden te hebben—they desired first to have a taste of us.

[1142] Also dat hem dit bequam als de hont de worst—so that it agreed with her as the sausage did with the dog. This homely Dutch proverb has already been explained in page 106, note 5.

[1143] Mischien—perhaps.

[1144] Den—the.

[1145] Genoech van die sause—enough of that sauce.

[1146] Geep. A well known fish (Belone vulgaris, Cuvier), which is called in English by a variety of trivial names:—gar-fish, gane-fish, sea-pike, mackerel-guide, mackerel-guard, green-bone, horn-fish, horn-back, horn-beak, horn-bill, gore-bill, long-nose, sea-needle. Considerable quantities are brought to the London markets in the spring from the Kent and Sussex coasts. In Holland they are now only used as bait for other fish. See Yarrell, History of British Fishes, vol. i, p. 393.

[1147] Nae’t open water toe—towards the open water.

[1148] Ende arbeyden met alle macht aen den bock—and worked with all our might on the yawl.

[1149] Niet seer koud—not very cold.

[1150] Maecktense met een spiegel, om also bequamer te zijn inde zee te ghebruijcken—made it with a square stern, in order that it might be a better sea-boat.

[1151] Ende maecktense also vaerdich opt bequaemste dat men mocht—and so got it ready in the fittest manner in their power.

[1152] Swaert (now written zwaarden), lee-boards or whiskers. These are the boards still seen on the sides of Dutch flat-bottomed vessels, which serve to keep them steady, and to prevent them from drifting to leeward, when sailing with a side wind, or lying to.

[1153] Van hoeden. See page 166, note 1.

[1154] Ende maeckten daer presentinghen over om van een zee waters beschermt te zijn—and placed tarpaulings over them, to protect them (the goods) from the sea-water.

[1155] Bock—yawl.

[1156] Sleden—sledges.

[1157] Dat men noch effenwel onse handen daer aen mochten slaen—so that we could likewise grasp them with our hands.

[1158] Om de buydenningen [buijkdenningen] in den bock ende schuyte te maecken—to make the bottom-boards (ceiling) of the yawl and boat.

[1159] Cleyne vaetgiens—small casks.

[1160] Schuyten—boats.

[1161] So mede als wy altemet int ys beset mochten werden—in order that whenever we should be enclosed by the ice.

[1162] Met bylen, houweelen ende allerley ghereetschap—with hatchets, pick-axes, and all sorts of implements.

[1163] Ys ende ysberghen—ice and icebergs.

[1164] Met houwen, smyten, schoppen, graven ende wechwerpen—with chopping, throwing, pushing, digging, and clearing away.

[1165] Barbier. See page 125, note 3.

[1166] Smote, struck.

[1167] Ende besloten doen onderlinghen metten gemeenen maets—and they then resolved jointly with the ship’s company.

[1168] Brengen—to bring, to take.

[1169] Ende heeft Willem Barentsz. te voren een cleijn cedelken gheschreven, ende in een muskets mate ghedaen—and William Barentsz had previously written a small scroll, and placed it in a bandoleer.

[1170] “He”.—Ph.

[1171] Abandon.

[1172] Van welcke brief elcken schuyte een hadde—of which letters each boat had one.

[1173] Bock—yawl.

[1174] Boat.

[1175] Daer wy alle naersticheyt toe deden, om die so veel te berghen alst moghelijck was—of which we took every care to preserve as much as was possible.

[1176] Harnas tonnen—coffers, trunks.

[1177] Soetemelcx kaes—in modern Dutch, zoetemelksche kaas—lit. sweet-milk cheese. This is the ordinary Dutch cheese, well known in England, and which on a former occasion (page 124, note 11) was described as koyenkaas. It is the produce principally of North Holland.

[1178] Claes Andriesz.—Nicholas, the son of Andrew, or Andrewson.

[1179] Daer als nu weynich oft geen hope toe en is—whereof there is now little or no hope.

[1180] End.

[1181] Beginning.

[1182] Dat we vast overleggen—that we considered well.

[1183] “Or.”—Ph.

[1184] Daerome hebbe ic met Willem Barentsz. de hoogh-bootsman ende ander officie luyden met alle ander gasten—therefore I, with William Barentsz. (and), the chief-boatswain and other officers, with the rest of the crew. At first sight it might appear that William Barentsz. is described as “hoogh-bootsman”. This is evidently the idea of the translator, though he takes on himself to paraphrase the term by “our pilot”. But the statement on the 20th June (page 198), that the chief-boatswain came on board the boat in which William Barentsz. was, just before the latter’s death, clearly proves that two different persons are here intended: so that, in order to avoid ambiguity, a conjunction, or at least a comma, should be inserted between the two. From the list of the ship’s company given in page 193, it may be safely inferred that the “chief-boatswain”, or first mate, as we should now call him, was Pieter Pieterszoon Vos. It is he, most probably, who on the 28th August, 1596 (page 100) is called “the other pilot”.

[1185] It was requisite for us.

[1186] Daer wy inden arbeyt geen hulpe af en hebben—from whom in our work we have no help.

[1187] Als we al schoon van dees ur af ons best deden—even if from this moment we did our best.

[1188] Ende int generael van ons allen onderteijcknet, gedaen ende besloten—and in general by us all subscribed, done, and concluded.

[1189] Hebben wijt eyndelijck verlaten—we have at length abandoned it.

[1190] Meester Hans Vos. This is the barber-surgeon, of whom mention has been made in page 125, note 3. The title of “meester”, representing the Latin magister, shows that he was a member of a learned profession, who had not improbably taken his degree of “Magister Artium Liberalium”, at an university. In Hungary, at the present day,—as we learn from the evidence of C. A. Noedl, on the recent trial of C. Derra de Meroda against Dawson and others, in the notorious affair of the Baroness von Beck,—“if a man wishes to become a surgeon, he must attend six Latin schools [meaning, apparently, that he must keep six terms at the High School or University], and learn to cut hair”.—Morning Post, July 29th, 1852.

In the journal of Captain James, printed in Mr. Rundall’s Narrative of Voyages towards the North-West (page 199), is the following entry, under the date of November 30th, 1631:—“Betimes, in the morning, I caused the chirurgion to cut off my hair short, and to shave away all the hair of my face.... The like did all the rest.” This was at a period when, as appears from the muster-roll of Captain Waymouth’s expedition, given in page 238 of the same volume, the rating of the surgeon, who thus acted as barber to the ship’s company, was next after “the preacher”, and before the master and the purser.

[1191] The names, as here given, are neither correctly written nor placed in the order in which they stand in the original text. They are there ranged in six short columns of two names each, except the last, which has only one name; but the translator has read them as if written in two lines across the page. Correctly placed and written, the names are as follows:—

Iacob Heemskerck.
Willem Barentz.
Pieter Pietersz. Vos.
Gerrit de Veer.
Meester Hans Vos.
Lenaert Hendricksz.
Laurens Willemsz.
Iacob Iansz. Schiedam.
Pieter Cornelisz.
Iacob Iansz. Sterrenburch.
Ian Reyniersz.

There were four others, who did not sign, most likely from their inability to write, or from ill-health.

[1192] Met ons bock ende schuijt.

[1193] De Eylandts hoeck.

[1194] Vier—four. The translator evidently read veel.

[1195] Cliffs.

[1196] Hooft-hoeck.

[1197] Vlissingher hooft—Flushing Head.

[1198] De Capo van Begeerte—Cape Desire.

[1199] De Eylanden van Oraengien.

[1200] Een geweldighen stroom—a strong current.

[1201] Minghelen. A measure of rather more than an English quart.

[1202] Mottich, leelich weder—nasty drizzly weather.

[1203] Wasich—damp.

[1204] Ys-hoeck.

[1205] De schipper; namely, Jacob Heemskerck.

[1206] Al wel, maet, ick hope noch te loopen eer wy te Waerhuys comen—quite well, mate. I still hope to be able to run before we get to Wardhuus. It is a matter of interest that the last words of such a man as William Barentsz. should be correctly given.

[1207] Gerrit, zijn wy ontrent den Yshoeck, soo beurt my noch eens op; ic moet dien hoeck noch eens sien—Gerrit, if we are near the Ice Point, just lift me up again. I must see that Point once more. The Ice Point is the northernmost point of Novaya Zemlya (see page 24, note 4): hence the interest felt in it by the sick man, who, in spite of his courageous talk, was doubtless aware that he should never see it again.

[1208] Liep ten westen—went round to the west.

[1209] An de schotsen—to the drift ice.

[1210] Soo vreeselijck—so frightfully.

[1211] Stand.

[1212] Redden—save.

[1213] Goet raet was duer—good counsel was dear. A proverbial expression, explained in page 165, note 2.

[1214] Ooghenblick—instant.

[1215] Werter geseyt—it was said (by some one).

[1216] Een trots ofte tou aent vaste ys conden vast cryghen—could make fast a tackle or rope to the firm ice.

[1217] Een ghedrenckt calf goet te waghen is. This is another Dutch proverb, which Gerrit de Veer modestly applies to himself, as signifying that his loss would not be much felt. The translator, not understanding the allusion or the force of the proverb, left it out; but on the other hand he, somewhat unnecessarily, introduced in the preceding passage the words “like to the tale of the mise”, which are not in the original.

[1218] Te brenghen—to carry.

[1219] Een hoogen heuvel—a high hummock.

[1220] Des doots kaecken—the jaws of death.

[1221] Allen de naeden hebben wy mede moeten versien ende dicht maecken, ende diversche presendinghe legghen—we had likewise to examine and close all the seams, and to lay on pieces of tarpauling in various places.

[1222] Te landtwaert in—towards the land.

[1223] “Up”.—Ph.

[1224] Claes Andriesz. See page 190, note 6.

[1225] De hoogh-bootsman—the chief boatswain.

[1226] Bock—yawl.

[1227] My dunckt tsal met my mede niet langhe dueren—methinks with me too it will not last long.

[1228] Las in mijn caertgien dat ic van onse reyse gemaect hadde—looked at my little chart, which I had made of our voyage.

[1229] Gerrit, geeft my eens te drincken—Gerrit, give me something to drink.

[1230] The words “next under God” are not in the text.

[1231] “100.”—Ph.

[1232] Sluijs—lock, sluice.

[1233] Capo de Troosts—Cape Comfort. See page 22, note 4.

[1234] The elevation of the sun, corrected for refraction, was 36° 58′,7 and its declination + 23° 29′,4; so that the elevation of the Pole was 76° 30′,7.

[1235] De tinnen plateelen met alle het coperwerck—the tin cans with all the copper vessels.

[1236] Voor ons drincken—for our drink.

[1237] Streckinghe van’t huijs af—direction (of our course) from the house, etc.

[1238] Cola. A small sea-port of Russian Lapland, in the government of Archangel, 540 miles N. of St. Petersburg. Population 1000.

[1239] Chart.

[1240] Het laghe landt.

[1241] Stroom-bay.

[1242] Yshavens hoeck.

[1243] Eylandts hoeck.

[1244] Vlissenger hooft—Flushing Head.

[1245] Hooft hoeck.

[1246] De Hoeck van Begheerten—Cape Desire.

[1247] De Eylanden van Oraengien.

[1248] De Yshoeck.

[1249] Capo de Troosts—Cape Comfort.

[1250] Capo de Nassauwen—Cape Nassau.

[1251] “West and.”—Ph.

[1252] Het Cruijs Eylandt.

[1253] Willems Eylandt.

[1254] De Swarten Hoeck—Cape Negro. See page 13.

[1255] Het Admiraliteyts Eylandt—Admiralty Island.

[1256] Capo Plancio—Cape Plancius. See page 219, note 4.

[1257] Lomsbay. See page 12.

[1258] De Staten Hoeck—States Point.

[1259] Capo de Prior oft Langhenes. See page 11.

[1260] Capo de Cant. See page 219.

[1261] De Hoeck met de swarte clippen—the Point with the black cliffs.

[1262] Het Swarte Eylandt.

[1263] Costintsarck. See page 30, note 4.

[1264] Constinsarck. A fatality seems to attend the spelling of this name.

[1265] Cruishoeck. See page 31.

[1266] S. Laurens Bay. See page 32.

[1267] “S.S.E.”—Ph.

[1268] S. Lauwersbay.

[1269] Meelhaven. See p. 33.

[1270] De twee Eylanden. On the first voyage they were named St. Clara. See page 34.

[1271] Matfloo ende Delgoy. See page 36, and also note 6 in page 50.

[1272] The true course is almost south-east.

[1273] Inham—inlet.

[1274] Colgoy—the Island of Kolguev. See page 35, note 2.

[1275] Candenas—Kanin Nos. See page 38, note 3.

[1276] De 7 Eylanden. “The Seven Islands (Sem Ostrovi) lie about 16 leagues S.E. by S., by compass, from Tieribieri Point, and by varying the appearance serve to distinguish this part of the coast.”—Purdy, Sailing Directions for the Northern Ocean, p. 82.

[1277] See page 7, note 4.

[1278] Namely, on August 30th, 1598.

[1279] Coel. See page 200, note 5.

[1280] “West.”—Ph.

[1281] Phillip has inserted here “381 miles Flemish, which is 1143 miles Inglish”. The miles of the text are German or Dutch miles of 15 to the degree, as is stated in page 7, note 1.

[1282] Beyond.

[1283] See page 92.

[1284] Boiled.

[1285] Matsammore. Evidently a corruption of the Spanish mazamorra, which word, according to the Diccionario of the Royal Spanish Academy, means “biscuit powder, or biscuit broken and rendered unserviceable; also the pottage or food (made with bread or biscuit) which was given to the galley-slaves”. The adoption of Spanish words by the Dutch is accounted for in page 12, note 1.

[1286] Foresail.

[1287] Leyden op ons seylen toe—tried to do it with our sailes.

[1288] Foremast.

[1289] Arger als een gat—worse than a leak.

[1290] Grootseyl—main-sail.

[1291] In den grondt gheslaghen gheweest—been capsized.

[1292] Al over boort in te loopen—to run quite over the gunwale.

[1293] Ons ander macker—our other companion.

[1294] Onser macker—our companion.

[1295] Hadden zy—they had.

[1296] Boiled.

[1297] “17th.”—Ph.

[1298] Jae zy waren ontelbaar—nay, they were numberless.

[1299] Dattet op claerde—till it cleared up.

[1300] Van de seylen een tente opgheslaghen—made a tent of our sails.

[1301] Haghel—small shot.

[1302] Verladen—re-load.

[1303] Bevonden—found out; experienced.

[1304] Swaricheyt—difficulty.

[1305] Den bock—the yawl.

[1306] Ibid.

[1307] Met schuijt ende al—boat and all.

[1308] Dat wy daer aenghemaeckt hadden—where we had added to it.

[1309] Mast-banck—standing-thwart.

[1310] Al de schuijt—the whole boat.

[1311] Ondert ander ys heen—away under the other ice.

[1312] We had entirely lost our boat.

[1313] Boat.

[1314] Yawl.

[1315] Harnas ton—coffer; trunk.

[1316] Dat deurt ys den bodem ingheschoven werdt—which was stove in by the ice.

[1317] Boat.

[1318] De buijckdenningh—the bottom boards.

[1319] “Staues.”—Ph. A misprint.

[1320] Behouwen—hewn; i.e., laboured with an axe.

[1321] Coockten—cooked; lit. boiled.

[1322] De helmstock—the tiller of the rudder.

[1323] Harnas ton—coffer; trunk.

[1324] Verstonden—understood; became aware.

[1325] Afloopen—run out; drain out.

[1326] Alst gheschiet is—as it (afterwards) happened; as we afterwards did.

[1327] Van de schuijt af—from out of the boat.

[1328] Jan Fransz.—John, the son of Francis.

[1329] Claes Andriesz. See page 190, note 6.

[1330] See page 198.

[1331] Schoten—shot.

[1332] Die wy op een schots ys nae dryvende, dan opraepten, ende op’t vaste ys brachten—which we then picked up by floating after them on a piece of drift ice, and brought upon the firm ice.

[1333] Mottich—dirty.

[1334] Fowls; birds.

[1335] Maeltijt—meal; repast.

[1336] Afgheweecken—given way.

[1337] Voort—on; forward.

[1338] Velden—fields.

[1339] Uytcomst—issue.

[1340] Floating.

[1341] That is, in girth.

[1342] Mottich—dirty; drizzly.

[1343] Het Cruijs Eylandt. See page 16.

[1344] Bergh-eenden—lit. mountain-ducks. This is the common shieldrake or burrow-duck (Tadorna vulpanser): Gould, Birds of Europe, vol. v, pl. 357. The trivial name “Bar-gander” (bergander) is manifestly a corruption of the Dutch name, and not of “Burrow-gander”, as has been supposed.

[1345] Also dattet altemet kermis was tusschen onsen smert—so that there was sometimes a holiday in the midst of our sorrows.

[1346] Drie minghelen—three minghelen, equal to nearly one gallon.

[1347] Aent landt—on shore.

[1348] Steentgiens—pebbles, or probably pieces of rock-crystal. See page 37.

[1349] Berch-eyndt—burrow-duck. See note 4, in the preceding page.

[1350] Mottich—drizzly.

[1351] In zijn huijt—in the body.

[1352] Scarcely.

[1353] Smote; struck.

[1354] Hoe langher hoe meer ons begaven—failed us more and more.

[1355] Ende dat ons voort aen tselvige niet meer gemoeten soude—and that thenceforth the same would not happen to us again.

[1356] “200.”—Ph.

[1357] Grooter—greater.

[1358] Recht voort laecken met een goeden voortgangh—right before the wind, at a good rate.

[1359] Een doorgaende coelte—a steady breeze.

[1360] In elck eetmael—in every four-and-twenty hours. See page 88, note 5.

[1361] Phillip here adds, “to bring our voyage to an end”.

[1362] Hebbende noch die heerlijcke voortgang—making still the same good speed.

[1363] Den Swarten Hoeck—Cape Negro. See page 13.

[1364] Het Admiraliteyts Eylandt—Admiralty Island. See page 13.

[1365] Dear.

[1366] Zee-monsters. De Veer knew better than to call the walrus a fish.

[1367] Boats.

[1368] Capo Plancio—Cape Plancius. This headland is not anywhere named in the account of the first voyage, though it appears in the chart of Lomsbay.

[1369] Admiralty Island.

[1370] Heerlijck—splendid.

[1371] Aldus nock een goeden voortgangh hebbende—making still rapid progress.

[1372] Capo de Cant.

[1373] Clip—cliff.

[1374] Die moy deurgaende wint—that fine steady breeze.

[1375] The habits of these birds are not much altered by the presence of men, or else they would not be called foolish Guillemots. See page 12, note 3.

[1376] Cliffs.

[1377] Hatch.

[1378] Van daer af staecken—put off from thence.

[1379] Weather it.

[1380] Laveering.

[1381] Moy openinge—A fine opening.

[1382] Daer in seylden—sailed in that direction.

[1383] Openinge—opening.

[1384] Coockten—boiled.

[1385] Mottich—dirty.

[1386] Te landtwaerts in—towards the land.

[1387] Steentgiens—pebbles.

[1388] This calculation is altogether erroneous. The sun’s declination on July 24th, 1598, was + 19° 47′,1; so that, with the observed height (corrected for refraction), the elevation of the Pole was only 72° 28′,3.

[1389] Several.

[1390] T’zeewaert in—to seawards.

[1391] Round.

[1392] Against.

[1393] Struck, lowered.

[1394] Een gheweldigen stroom—a powerful current.

[1395] Constinsarck.

[1396] That is to say, the Sea of Kara. If it be an ascertained fact, that there is not here any passage eastward through Novaya Zemlya, this current must come from around the back of the Meyduscharski Island. But its existence, and the inference which was not unreasonably drawn from it, sufficiently explain why this passage has been called a schar, and not a salma. See page 30, note 4.

[1397] De Cruijs-hoeck. See page 31.

[1398] Cliffs.

[1399] S. Laurens Bay, ofte Schans hoeck. See page 32.

[1400] See page 33, note 6.

[1401] On duytsche—un-Dutch.

[1402] So veel alsser onser mochten van de sieckte—as many of us as were able on account of our illness.

[1403] De scheurbuijck—the scurvy.

[1404] See page 56.

[1405] Over ons ontset oft becommert waren—confused or concerned about us.

[1406] Ontstelt—miserable.

[1407] In de Weygats—in the Weygats. See page 27, note 4.

[1408] Crabble: intended for the Russian korabl, a ship.

[1409] Crabble pro pal. The correct question and answer in Russian would be: Propal korabl?—is the ship lost? Korabl propal—the ship is lost.

[1410] Made signs.

[1411] In soo soberen staet—in so poor a condition.

[1412] Boat.

[1413] No dobbre. The correct Russian is nyet dobre—not good. These Russian seamen appear to have made use of a sort of lingua franca, half Russian, half English, which is still common among the persons of their class, having been acquired from their converse with English traders to the White Sea.

[1414] Van den schuerbuijck—with the scurvy. See page 152, note 3.

[1415] Lodgien: intended for the Russian word, lodyi—boats.

[1416] “Smored.”—Ph. A misprint.

[1417] Muschuijt (for bischuyt)—biscuits.

[1418] Een minghelen—about the third part of a gallon.

[1419] Boiled some of our biscuit.

[1420] Namely, at Bear Island, on the 1st of July, 1596. See page 85.

[1421] Verscheurende—ravenous.

[1422] Alsoo dat—so that.

[1423] Cinghel—shingle; beach.

[1424] Aldus aent eylandt ligghende—lying thus by the island.

[1425] The Strait of Nassau. See page 27, note 4.

[1426] Lepel-bladeren—spoon-wort or scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis), once in great repute as an antiscorbutic.

[1427] Jae meest al van de scheurbuijck alsoo gheplaecht waren, dat wy naulijch voorts mochten, ende deur dese lepelbladeren vry wat bequaem, want het hielp ons so merckelijcken ende haestich, dat wy ons selfs verwonderden—yea, most of us were so afflicted with the scurvy that we could scarcely move, and by means of this spoon-wort we were much recovered; for it helped us so remarkably and so speedily, that we ourselves were astonished.

[1428] Ran very high.

[1429] See note 3 in the preceding page.

[1430] The almost instantaneous effect of a change of diet, and particularly of the use of fresh vegetables, in the cure of scurvy, has been noticed on numerous occasions.

[1431] Patientie was ons voorlandt—lit. patience was our fore-land, that is to say, what we had constantly before us.

[1432] Want wy haddent al overgheset ende adieu gheseyt—for we had quite crossed over and bidden it adieu.

[1433] Struck, lowered.

[1434] Ende royden also deurt ys heen—and thus rowed forward through the ice.

[1435] De ruyme zee—the open sea.

[1436] Bock—Yawl.

[1437] To weather.

[1438] Boat.

[1439] Yawl.

[1440] Weathered.

[1441] Als hyt van buyten om seylde—while he was rounding it on the outside.

[1442] Struck, lowered.

[1443] The point where they thus reached the Russian coast would seem to be in about 55 E. long., on the eastern side of the mouth of the Petchora.

[1444] Een Russche jolle—a Russian yawl.

[1445] Boven op haer jolle—on the deck of their yawl.

[1446] Candinaes—Kanin Nos; the cape at the eastern side of the entrance to the White Sea. See page 38, note 3.

[1447] Pitzora—the river Petchora. See page 55, note 3.

[1448] Daert seer droogh was—where it was very shallow.

[1449] We have here a convincing proof that they were no longer under the able guidance of William Barentsz. For this reason it has, since the time of his death, been deemed unnecessary to attempt to fix the hour of the day by the recorded bearing of the sun, as had been done previously.

[1450] Ende bevondt datter groente was, met sommighe cleyne boomkens—and found verdure there with a few small trees.

[1451] Wilt te schieten—game (for us) to shoot.

[1452] Wat schummelt broodt—a little mouldy bread.

[1453] Also dat—so that.

[1454] Den inham—the bay or inlet; namely, the estuary of the river Petchora.

[1455] This was the promontory on the western side of the Petchora estuary.

[1456] Hadde deerlijck sien moghen helpen—if looking deplorable could have helped us.

[1457] Verdriet—sorrow.

[1458] Ende—and.

[1459] ’t laghe landt henen—along the low land.

[1460] Een baeck staen daer een stroom by uyt liep—a beacon standing, by which there ran a current.

[1461] Daer deur wy vermoeden datter de cours was daer de Russen heenen quamen, tusschen Candinas ende ’tvaste landt van Ruslandt—whence we concluded that it was the course taken by the Russians between Kanin-Nos and the main-land of Russia.

[1462] Zee-robbe—seal.

[1463] De schuyten—the boats.

[1464] Een goedt wiltbraedt—lit. a good venison.

[1465] Dat wy ons noch liever lyden souden, want Godt de Heere die—that we should rather make shift without it; for the Lord God, who....

[1466] Maer opt onversienste helpen—but help us when least foreseen.

[1467] Mottich—dirty.

[1468] Forced.

[1469] Bock—yawl.

[1470] Schuijt—boat.

[1471] Dicht aent strandt—close to the shore.

[1472] Lodja or boat.

[1473] Seylen—sail.

[1474] Om de schuyten inde diepte te cryghen—to get the boats into deep water.

[1475] A Spanish dollar, of eight reals.

[1476] Boiled.

[1477] Vier—four.

[1478] Soo wel de minste als de meest—the lowest as well as the highest.

[1479] There must be some mistake here. When the sun set on the 12th of August, in latitude 68° N., his azimuth was 46° 37′,7 W., which would give a variation of 35° 22′,7, or more than 3 points W. Perhaps N.N.W. should be read, instead of N. by W.; which would make the variation to have been about 2 points W. It is, however, to be feared that but little dependance can be placed on the observations made during the return voyage, after the death of Willem Barentsz.

[1480] Jolle—yawl.

[1481] Lepelbladeren—spoon-wort. See page 226, note 3.

[1482] Opghebluckt—plucked.

[1483] Een moy coeltgen—a nice breeze.

[1484] Meant; intended. Misprinted “went”.

[1485] This point, which they mistook for “Candinaes”, or Kanin Nos, was apparently Cape Barmin, on the east side of Tcheskaya Bay, over which they now proceeded to cross, under the impression that it was the White Sea.

[1486] Wat wy malcanderen mochten mede deelen—that we could divide between us.

[1487] Nae Ruslandt toe. This is a mistake in the original. The coast of Norway or Lapland is meant.

[1488] Wy ons seijl streecken, ende namen een riff oft twee in—we lowered our sail and took in a reef or two.

[1489] Onse maets die wat styver onder seijl waren—our comrades, who stood somewhat better under sail.

[1490] Aendt Noordtsche cust over de Witte Zee—on the coast of Norway, on the other side of the White Sea.

[1491] Koelte—breeze.

[1492] Vry wat—a good deal. As the sun’s azimuth at his rising was 49° 56′,5 W., the variation would be 17° 33′,5 or about 1½ points W. This, as compared with the observation of the 12th August, as recorded, shows a considerable difference. But, as is remarked in the note on that observation, the error is more likely to be on that than on the present occasion.

[1493] Koelte—breeze.

[1494] Een moye coelte—a nice breeze.

[1495] They had here reached the western side of Tcheskaya Bay.

[1496] Boats.

[1497] Kilduijn. See page 7, note 1.

[1498] Zy smeten haer handen van een—they spread their hands out.

[1499] Gantsch in een inham beset—quite inclosed in a bay or creek. They would seem to have here been at the north-western corner of Tcheskaya Bay.

[1500] Vraeghen wy haer nae Sembla de Cool—we asked them after Sembla de Cool. By this jargon, which is here a compound of Russian and Spanish, the Dutch seamen desired to obtain information respecting “the country of Kola”, in Lapland.

[1501] Dattet Sembla de Candinas was—that it was Sembla de Candinas; i.e., Kanineskaya Zemlya.

[1502] Om deur dat gat te comen daer zy voor lagen—to get through the passage, before which they lay.

[1503] Weder aen haer schip—back to their ship.

[1504] Onderrechten—to instruct; to give information.

[1505] Caerte—chart.

[1506] Waren beducht—were alarmed.

[1507] Bock—yawl.

[1508] Nu wy 22 mylen al over de zee waren geseylt—now that we had sailed 22 miles right across the sea.

[1509] Onse mackers—our companions.

[1510] Gat—passage.

[1511] Het cleyne lodtgien—the little lodja or boat.

[1512] Onviel hem n. w.—turned to the N.W. This must have been Cape Mikalkin, the S.E. cape of Kanineskaya Zemlya.

[1513] Stroom—tide.

[1514] Boiled.

[1515] Datter kersmis was—that it was Christmas. It is kermis, which means a festival or fair-day. See page 39, note 2.

[1516] Onse ander maets—our other companions.

[1517] Bescheyt—information.

[1518] Soo beduyden zijt ons noch bet—they explained it better to us.

[1519] Dattet mede sodanighen open schuijt was—that it was a similar open boat.

[1520] Hadden—had; obtained.

[1521] Hooghbootsman—the chief-boatswain, or first mate.

[1522] Volck—people.

[1523] See page 226, note 3.

[1524] Ende als wy meenden voort te varen, so moesten wy daer blyven liggen, want den stroom verloopen was—and when we intended to proceed on our voyage, we were forced to remain lying there, because the tide had run out.

[1525] Werp-ancker—kedge.

[1526] Schemeringe van eenige cruycen—the faint images of some crosses.

[1527] Desen hoeck is een kenlijcken hoeck met 5 cruycen daer op, ende datmen perfect can sien hoese aen beyden syden omvalt, aen de eene zyde int z. o. ende d’ander zyde int z. w.—this point is a conspicuous one, having on it five crosses, and the direction of it on either side is perfectly discernible; it being on the one side towards the S.E., and on the other side towards the S.W.

[1528] Die wy niet dienden te versuymen—which it would not do for us to neglect.

[1529] Ende maeckten een afsteecker ontrent de son n. w.—we took our departure when the sun was about N.W.

[1530] An hour and a half.

[1531] Dat dit een ander clippich lant was—that it was another rocky shore.

[1532] Met weynich geberchte—with few mountains.

[1533] Made sure.

[1534] Waerders—cautions; directions.

[1535] Dat daer een goede reede was—that there was a good roadstead there.

[1536] Lodja or boat.

[1537] So maeckten wy ons daer vast—we anchored there.

[1538] Zy leyden ons in haer stoven—they led us into their rooms. In Dutch, as in German, a room heated by a stove or oven is called by the name of the latter, stove or stube.

[1539] Coocten ons een sode visch, ende nooden ons seer hertelijck—cooked us a dish of fish, and made us right welcome.

[1540] Visch tot visch—lit. fish with fish; i.e., nothing but fish.

[1541] Overschot—remains.

[1542] Wy ... ons heel ontsetteden—we were quite astonished.

[1543] Cocht—bought.

[1544] Coockten—cooked.

[1545] Lepel bladeren—spoon-wort or scurvy-grass. See page 226, note 3.

[1546] Te becomen—to procure; to obtain.

[1547] Onversiens—unprepared.

[1548] Om daer eten voor te coopen—to buy victuals therewith.

[1549] Ende gedroncken van den claren, als in den Rhijn voorby Colen loopt—and drank of the pure article, such as flows past Cologne in the Rhine. There is here a play on the word clar, which signifies “clear”, “pure”, but is applied to spirits as well as to water. In common life, een glaasje klare means “glass of neat Hollands gin”.

[1550] Ons ander maets—our other comrades.

[1551] Een goeden drincpennick—a handsome present: lit. a good drink-penny.

[1552] Den cock mede betaelt—also paid the cook.

[1553] Den bock—the yawl.

[1554] See page 203, note 4.

[1555] Also wy goeden voortgang hadden—as we were making good way.

[1556] Met goeden voortgangh seylende, quamen wy ontrent de z. w. son verby de selvige eylanden langs de wal henen, onder eenighe visschers die na ons toe royden—making good speed, we passed the said islands about south-west sun, and sailed along the coast among some fishermen, who rowed towards us.

[1557] Crabble propal. See page 224.

[1558] Tot Cool Brabanse crable. A mixture of Dutch and Russian, meaning “at Kola there are Brabant ships”. The correct Russian is v’Kolye Brabantskyie korabli. Before the independence of the northern provinces, the entire Netherlands were under the rule of the Dukes of Brabant; and as the Dutch vessels trading to the northern coasts of Europe had first come there under the Brabant flag, the Russians not unnaturally continued to attach the name of Brabant to them in common with other Netherlandish vessels.

[1559] Waerhuysen. See page 39, note 1.

[1560] Dat de Russen oft Grootvorst ep haer grensen ons eenich verlet soude doen—that the Russians or (their) Grand Prince might do us some injury on their frontiers.

[1561] Boats.

[1562] Wat te lantwaerts ingegaen—going a little way on shore.

[1563] “We.”—Ph.

[1564] Wy meenden dat se telckemael de schuyten in den gront gesmeten souden hebben—we thought that each wave would have swamped the boats.

[1565] Twee clippen—two cliffs or rocks.

[1566] Twee realen van achten. This, though incorrect, was an usual expression in Dutch. It means, properly, two Spanish dollars of eight reals.

[1567] Nam een roer mede—took a musket with him.

[1568] Ende trocken noch teghen den nae nacht op ter loop—and set off before break of day—lit. towards the after-night.

[1569] Om dat wat te verluchten—to air them a little.

[1570] Spyse—food.

[1571] Quas. The well-known Russian drink. Dr. Giles Fletcher, ambassador from Queen Elizabeth to the Emperor Fedor in 1588, describes it as “a thin drinke called Quasse, which is nothing else (as we say) but water turned out of his wits, with a little bran meashed with it.”—Purchas, vol. iii, p. 459.

[1572] Blauwe-besyen met Braem-besyen—bilberries and blackberries. The latter are probably the Moroschka—cloudberries, or fruit of the mountain-bramble (Rubus chamœmorus),—the gathering and preparation of which by the females of Kola are described by Lütke, in page 223 of his oft-cited work.

[1573] Scheurbuyck—scurvy. See page 152, note 2.

[1574] Wy daer een lager wal hadden—we there had a lee shore.

[1575] Phillip substitutes for this the words “this having done”.

[1576] D’ander vast aenquamen—the others were fast approaching.

[1577] De schuyten qualijck van den wal conden houden, dat se met in stucken ghesmeten werden—could scarcely keep the boats from going on shore, and thereby being dashed to pieces.

[1578] Seer beducht—much alarmed.

[1579] Datse in sulcken weer ende reghen aende legher wal verblyven moesten—that in such wind and rain they should have had to lie under a lee shore.

[1580] See page 249, note 4.

[1581] Met lijtsaemheyt verhopende—hoping with resignation.

[1582] Ende de saecke dien dach opghevende—and giving the matter up for that day.

[1583] Meant.

[1584] In beducht—in fear.

[1585] Dat wy al lange om den hals gecomen waren—that we had lost our lives long ago.

[1586] Over onse comste—of our arrival.

[1587] Jan Cornelisz. Rijp. See page 71.

[1588] See page 85.

[1589] Zijn beloofde penningen—his promised reward: lit. pence.

[1590] Clothes.

[1591] Ghenoech in behouden haven—sufficiently in a safe port.

[1592] Dat wy tot malcanderen seyde, hy moet kunsgens kunnen—so that we said to one another, he must know some (conjuring) tricks.

[1593] Daer heb ick zijn hant noch wel—there I certainly still have his handwriting.

[1594] Een jol—a yawl.

[1595] Rostwijcker-bier. A strong beer brewed at Roswick, a town of Sweden, in West Bothnia.

[1596] Brandewijn—spirits distilled from malt; common Hollands gin.

[1597] Een stuck ghelts—some money.

[1598] Mettet hoochste water—at high water; at the top of the tide.

[1599] “The entrance to Kola, which by some is most incorrectly called a river, is one of those bays to which the English apply the designation of Inlet or Frith.”—Lütke, p. 225.

[1600] De soutketen—the salt-works. The buildings in which the manufacture of salt is carried on are called in Dutch keten.

[1601] Daer wy eens overclommen ende droncken daer eens—into which we clambered up, and there had something to drink.

[1602] Den elfden dag—on the eleventh day. This would seem to have been the eleventh day after their arrival, or after the 3rd of September, rather than the 11th of the month. Reckoned exclusively of that day, it would have been the 14th of September; and it is reasonable to suppose that they would not have parted with their boats till they had found a Russian lodja to receive them.

[1603] Den Bayaert—the boyard; a Russian title, signifying a nobleman, great man, or chief.

[1604] Int coopmans huys. This is a literal translation of the Russian gostinuy dvor’, which is a collection of shops, corresponding to the bazar of the Persians. It is usually, but not invariably, situated in or near the market-place.

[1605] Lieten die daer staen—left them there.

[1606] Veel—much.

[1607] Dat metter tijt gheschieden moeste—which required some time.

[1608] De Maes—the river Maas or Meuse.

[1609] Maeslantsluys. A town on the river Maas, opposite the Briel.

[1610] Reysde also deur Delft, den Haech ende Haerlem—thence travelled through Delft, the Hague, and Haerlem.

[1611] Bonte mutsen van witte vossen—white fox-skin caps.

[1612] Een van de bewinthebbers der stadt van Amstelredam gheweest was, tot uytrustinge van de twee schepen—who had been one of the managers, on behalf of the town of Amsterdam, for fitting out the two ships.

[1613] Int Princen Hof. This was formerly the Court of Admiralty at Amsterdam. But when the Town-House was given as a palace to Louis Napoleon, then King of Holland, the Prinzen Hof was converted into the Town-House, which it still is.

[1614] Aldaer op die tijdt mijn E. Heeren den Cancelier ende Ambassadeur van den Allerdoorluchtichsten Coninck van Dennemarcken, Noorweghen, Gotten ende Wenden over tafel sadt—where the noble lords, the chancellor and the ambassador from the most illustrious King of Denmark, Norway, Goths and Vandals, were then at table. In the original there is not a word about Prince Maurice and the Hague.

[1615] Mijn Heer de Schout ende twee Heeren van der stadt—master sheriff and two gentlemen of the town (i.e., town-councillors).

[1616] Den voornoemde Heere Ambassadeur—the said lord ambassador.

[1617] Onse reysen ende wedervaren—our voyages and adventures.

[1618] Phillip here inserts the word “dangerous”.

[1619] The names will be here repeated, for the purpose of giving them correctly, and also showing those who died during the voyage:—

Iacob Heemskerck, Supercargo and Skipper.
† Willem Barentsz., Pilot (died June 20th, 1597).
Pieter Pietersz. Vos.
Gerrit de Veer.
M. Hans Vos, Barber-surgeon.
† Name unknown, Carpenter (died September 23rd, 1596).
Iacob Iansz. Sterrenburgh.
Lenaert Heyndricksz.
Laurens Willemsz.
Ian Hillebrantsz.
Iacob Iansz. Hooghwout.
Pieter Cornelisz.
Ian van Buysen Reyniersz.
Iacob Evertsz.
† Name unknown (died January 27th, 1597).
† Claes Andriesz. (died June 20th, 1597).
† Ian Fransz. (died July 5th, 1597).

[1620] Referred to in page cvi of the Introduction.

[1621] This heading must have been written by Henry Hudson, and not by Hakluyt, as would at first sight appear.

[1622] De Veer (p. 55) writes this name Mermare. In Russian, more certainly means “sea”; but this is all that we have been able to make out of the expression.