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A52618 An account of several late voyages & discoveries to the south and north towards the Streights of Magellan, the South Seas, the vast tracts of land beyond Hollandia Nova &c. : also towards Nova Zembla, Greenland or Spitsberg, Groynland or Engrondland, &c. / by Sir John Narborough, Captain Jasmen Tasman, Captain John Wood, and Frederick Marten of Hamburgh ; to which are annexed a large introduction and supplement, giving an account of other navigations to those regions of the globe, the whole illustrated with charts and figures. Narbrough, John, Sir, 1640-1688.; Tasman, Abel Janszoon, 1603?-1659.; Wood, John, Captain.; Martens, Friedrich, 1635-1699.; Robinson, Tancred, Sir, d. 1748. 1694 (1694) Wing N154; ESTC R18669 230,732 472

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Red Sorrel I mean that which was shewed to me at Bremen by the Dutch Gardener which was of the same size but the Leaves of that of Spitzbergen are Red. I desire the courteous Reader to accept at present of these for a Sample to shew him that on these rough barren and cold Mountains there yet grow some Plants for the Nourishment both of Man and Beast The Herbs grow of their perfection in a short time for in June when we first arrived at Spitzbergen we saw but very little Green and yet in July most of them were in flower and some of them had their Seeds already ripe whence me may observe the length of their Summer I proceed to the Description of those Plants which I had time to delineate and begin with those that put forth their Leaves only at and about their Roots and have but few or no Leaves on their Stalks Then shall follow those that have single Leaves on their Stalks then those that have pairs of Leaves or opposite ones afterward those with three Leaves and then conclude with the imperfect Plants CHAP. II. Of a Plant with Aloe-Leaves IT is a very pretty Herb and puts forth thick prickly and sad green Leaves like those of Aloes a brown naked Stalk about half the length of your Finger whereon hang round Heads of Flesh-coloured Flowers in Bunches which are hardly to be discerned by the naked Eye one Flower close above another and near to one another Tab. G. marked with a. Sometimes two Stalks shook out of one Plant one bigger that the other Yet each Stalk has two of these Bunches of Flowers I could not delineate its Seed for want of time The Root consists of many small Fibers We gathered it in great plenty on the 17 th of July behind the Cookery of Harlem in the running Water I know not well to what kind this may be referred Caspar Bauhim maketh mention of an Herb in his Prodromus of his Amphitheater of Plants in the 5 th Book and 15 th Chapter which he calls Limonium Maritimum which he describeth with small roundish and thick Leaves like House-leek between which spread forth small Stalks with pale red Flowers but the Root doth not agree with our Plant for his is long red and parted at top whereas this Root consists in many small Fibers and is not red CHAP. III. Of small House-leek THE Leaves of this are indented and very like those of our Dasies for which I should have taken it also had not it been for the Flower only the Leaves are thicker and more juicy like those of House-leek or as we call it those of the lesser House-leek The Leaves grow round about the Root betwixt them is a small Stalk of the length of your little Finger which is round and hairy and generally without Leaves save only where it divides into another Stalk at which place is a small Leaf The Flowers grow in scaley Heads like unto the Flowers of Stohceas are of a brown colour and have five pointed Leaves as I think with five small Chives within like unto the Flowers of Wall-pepper or Stone-crop I found only the Flowers for the Seed was not yet ripe The Root is somewhat thick and strait with many strong and thick Fibers from the sides of it it may be referred to the House-leeks and called small indented or crenated House-leek with scaly Heads This Plant I found in the Danish Harbour or Bay on the 18 th of July it is figured in Tab. F. at a. CHAP. IV. Of Crows-foot SOme of these Plants are figured in the Tab. G at c and e and the Tab. H at c and in the Tab. I at d. These four following Plants are all Crows-feet only distinguished by their Leaves The Roots are differing that of the first hath many small Fibers and the fourth hath a thicker and longer with tender and small Fibers The first burns the Tongue like Persicaria or Flea-bean but somewhat less than in our Countries The Leaves of the fourth do not burn so I found them both in the Danish Haven the first in great quantities they flower in July The second hath somewhat differing Leaves from the two former for although the lowermost Leaves agree with them of the first yet they are less and those that grow higher and come up after the lowermost are in two places deeper cut so that the first part of the Leaf that stands out before is not very unlike a Tongue but the two sides are but a little indented in Table G it is marked with e. There is also a difference in the Leaves of this Plant as well as in the two before mentioned for the Leaves that are nearest to the Flowers are small and deeply cut and that with two incisions and it burns the Tongue The Flower is small and hath six and sometimes seven Leaves The Seed-vessel is like unto the former only it is less The Root is like that of the first only it hath more Fibers there is also a kind of thick sheath that surroundeth the Stalk as is also to be seen in the fourth I found this Plant near the first in the Danish Haven the 16 th of July The third is yet smaller but fuller of Leaves only they are less and not so deep cut although they have also four Incisions like the second in this I did not find that difference in the Leaves between the lowermost and those that are nearer the Flower it is in the Tab. H marked with c. The Flower is of five white Leaves its Seed-vessel I could not yet see Its Roots are small Fibers I found it in the South Haven on the Sixteenth of July it burns the Tongue the Leaves are thick and juicy I found in the same place another small Plant exactly like to these only the Flowers thereof were of a purple Colour and the Leaves not so juicy wherefore I did not draw it CHAP. V. Of Scurvy-grass THis Scurvy-grass sends forth a great many Leaves from one Root that spread themselves round about it upon the Ground The Stalk grows out of the middle of these Leaves which is a great deal lower than in our Country with a few Leaves underneath the Sprouts The Flowers are of four white Leaves they grow many on the same Stalk one above the other when one Flower fades another cometh in its room when the Flower is past the Seed appears in a longish Box as you may see in the Figure when on the contrary in ours the Seed is found in a round one The Root is white somewhat thick and streight with some small Fibers below A great quantity of this Plant is found on the Rocks where they are not much exposed to the East and North Winds I found it most in the South English and Danish Havens the Earth was quite covered with it in the Danish It was the first Herb I found in Spitzbergen when we Landed the first time it was so small that I could
hardly discern it to be Scurvy-grass but afterwards we found it in its full perfection and it seeded in the Month of July It is observable that the Leaves of this Herb have but little sharpness at Spitzbergen and therefore it is much weaker than the Scurvy-grass of our Countries so that we eat it instead of Salads in Spitzbergen which we could not do our Scurvy-grass My Figure is like that cut given in the Third Book and the 35 th Chapter of the German Herbal of Matthiolus See Tab. H at a. CHAP. VI. Of an Herb like Stone-crap THis Plant is doubtless a kind of a Stone-crop but the Leaves are rough or hairy not so thick nor so juicy as ours are neither doth it burn or bite like unto ours Before the Flower fully appears it looks like unto that of Esula but when it is quite blown and opened it is of a purple Colour and hath sometimes five sometimes six and sometimes I have seen nine Leaves the Stamina of the Flower I did not tell neither did I ever see the Seeds thereof The Root thereof is very small and one Plant grows close to the other We found this Herb on the low Lands of the English Haven Afterwards we found abundance of it amongst the Mosses on the 26 th of June In the Tab. F. it is marked with c and in the Tab. I. with a. CHAP. VII Of a Snake-weed THis is small Snake-weed and is found very rarely in Spitzbergen the undermost Leaves of this Plant are the biggest but they are not above the bredth of ones Nail they grow singly on the Stalk yet not above three of them except the lowermost the nearer the Flower the smaller they are they have within not far from the edge many small knobs or spots answering to the points of the Leaves wherein the Veins or Nerves are terminated besides the Leaves are not quite plain but somewhat rumpled at the brims Out of the Root sprouts forth sometimes single and sometimes double Stalks as you may see in the Cut and this by-stalk is always somewhat lower than the chief Stalk The Flower grows in a close Spike with many small Flesh-coloured Flowers it was so smal that I forgot to tell the Leaves thereof The Seeds were not then come to maturity The Root sheweth of what kind the Plant is and wherefore it may be called Bistorta or Snake-weed for it lieth twisted in the Ground it is about the thickness of your little Finger where thickest hath small Fibers is brown without and Flesh-coloured within and of an astringent Taste I found this Herb in the Danish Harbour on the 18 th of July My Figure agrees most with that which Camerarius hath given in the Fourth Book and Third Chapter of Matthiolus it s marked with a in the Tab. I. CHAP. VIII Of an Herb like unto Mouse-ear THis Herb bringeth forth smooth edged Leaves by pares they are rough and like Mouse-ear The Stalks are smooth at their first putting out but afterwards they grow rough where the uppermost Leaves grow they are roundish at the bottom At the end of the Stalk groweth a white Flower out of its Perianthium the number of its Leaves I did not tell nor had I time enough to observe the Seed The Root is round and slender with small and tender Fibers It seemeth this Plant should belong unto the hairy or rough Alsine and perhaps it may be the third or fourth kind of the hairy Alsine of Dodoneus in the Fifth Book the Tenth Chapter of his first Latin Herbal if the Leaves of his were not cut as these are not I gathered this Plant in the South Haven on the 17 th of July See d in Tab. G. CHAP. IX Of a Plant like unto Periwinkle THis Plant runneth upon the Ground and bringeth forth roundish Leaves by pairs on creeping Stalks The Leaves as I think are like those of Periwinkle but they are somewhat rounder and the largest of them are bent in before The Stalk is somewhat knotty and woody The Flower appeareth at first wrapt up like a Leaf but after it is grown out a little more one may see it to be a Flower it grows out between the Leaves on the same Stalks The colour and shape of these Flowers I could not at that time observe because they were not yet blown much less could I gather the Seed The Root is long slender round woody and knotty it hath small branched Fibers at the bottom I found it in the South Bay behind the Cookery of Harlem on the 19 th of June and 17 th of July Since I neither saw the Flower nor Seeds and in probability it would have put forth more Leaves I cannot determine whether it be the Pyrola minima whereof Clasius giveth us a Cutt and Description in the Fifth Book of his rare Plants in the 20. Chapter or whether is may be Pseudochamae buxus of the Hortus Eichstetensis which is given by Clusius in the 72 th Chapter of the before-mentioned Book by the Name of Anonymos Coluteae flore and accurately described and Camerarius in his Hortus giveth it us under the Name of Anonymos Pervincae folio In the Tab. G. it is marked with b. CHAP. X. Of an Herb like a Strawberry THis agreeth in its Leaves with the Strawberry for it hath three cut Leaves on the end of the Stalks and its Flower hath commonly fives Leaves seldom but four and is like a Strawberry Flower the Stalks are round and rough and so are the Leaves On the Stalks you see two Leaves one against the other of a differing figure and bigness for one looketh like a Hand and the other like a Finger the size also is different for some have but three Fingers and others have more The Flower is yellow the Leaves of the Flowers ar roundish how many I observed not The Root is woody somewhat thick with small Fibres a little scaley at the top it tastes dry and astringent like Tormentill In the Herbals I could find none liker it than that which Lobelius calleth Fragaria Sylvestris minime Vesca sive sterilis and in the universal Iferdumish Herbal in the 70 th Chapter of the 17 th Book by the Name of Fragaria non fragisera vel non vesca yet it differs in the Flower and Leaf for the Leaves in my Plant are cut deeper and the Flower of his is white In Tab. H. it is marked with b. THE FOURTH PART OF THE VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN OF THE ANIMALS OF Spitzbergen The PREFACE of the Animals but chiefly of the Birds in general THE Animals of Spitzbergen here described are either those with two or with four Legs About Spitzbergen also are some Creatures that live only in the Water and have no Legs except one would take their Fins that are about their Breast for Legs because as hereafter shall be shewn their Fins are jointed like Legs underneath the Skin Some live in the Water and also upon the Ice and Land
sometimes one way sometimes another Wind at South-west and by South a small gale I hoisted out my Boat and sounded but no ground at 140 Fathoms I tried the Current with my Boat but found little or none worth notice the Sea ripled in many places I sounded on them but no ground at 108 Fathom several Beds of Sea-weed driving to and fro in knots these Weeds are five or six Fathom long in strings with broad leaves on them of a brown colour at the root hangs a Clod or Rock of 2 or 3 pound weight several Sea-Fowls flying and swimming near the Ship being quite clam my Men kill'd some of them with their Birding-pieces for they were very tame not moving at the report of of a Gun they are very like to Sea-Gulls and good meet some Seals and Whales seen February 5. were seen several beds of Rock-weed and Sea-Fowls much like Gannets some black others white pied and grey small Seal-fishes like so many Dogs for their Heads resemble Bull-dogs which they 'l keep above Water a long time and look at the Ship they are very nimble at diving and skipping out of the Water This Afternoon at seven a Clock I was in the Latitude of 41 degrees South and Longitude West from the Lizard of England 52 deg and 50 min. and in Meridian distance from the Lizard 895 Leagues Meridian distance from Port Praya 616 Leagues Longitude from Port Praya West 36 d. 34 m. This Night I advised with Don Carolus where it would be best for us to hale in with the Land in what Latitude or at what Cape or Harbour on this Coast of America being now to the South-ward of the River of Plate and according to my Instructions before the Coast to be discover'd and a Trade set on foot with the Natives He told me I might do what I would for he did not understand the Coast nor where 't was inhabited 't was his whole Discourse in the Voyage that he had been here in a Galley and knew all the Coasts from the River of Plate to the Streights and thorow the Streights all along the West Coast to Baldavia and Lima being arrived here as far as I can perceive by him he knows nothing of the matter nor any thing appertaining to Navigation all I can fancy of him is that he may have liv'd with a West Indian Governour whom he has heard talk of these Parts February 8. at 7 a Clock this Afternoon the Wind came to the West South-west a stiff gale I stood to the Southward much Rock-weed pass'd by the Ship to day and several Sea-Fowls seen very cold for the Season being Summer which Don Carolus began to complain of and told me he did not think we should have come so far Southerly I shew'd him by my Plates how far we were to go through the Streights and along the West Coast he said the Spaniards went to Chile a nearer way I answer'd 't was into the River of Plate and over Land which we could not do My Company are all in good health but some of a puny Race grow weak in being so long on Shipboard I give them Vinegar once a Week which is very good to prevent the Scurvy in their Mouths also I order'd every Man to wash his Mouth Face and Hands before the receive his daily Allowance of Bread and appointed one Man to see it performed if any neglected it the Steward kept their Allowance for one day likewise every Man is commanded to keep himself clean and free from Lice upon forfeiture of his daily Allowance to the Party accusing him by these means the Ship is kept neat sweet and clean tho' the dirty foggy Weather is a great Enemy to this Discipline February 19. I sounded often to day and had fifty and fifty three Fathom dark black Sand wth some bright fine Sand in it Beds of Rock-weed Seals and Porpoises such as are in the European Seas seen to day three Whales many Fowls flying about and some Penguins in the Sea swimming near the Ships at 2 a Clock in the Afternoon the Wind was at E. b. S. a stout gale and a great Sea I stood to the Southward close haled under my Courses the Pink half a Mile to Wind-ward of me udner her's she out-sails us now it blows and puts us past our Top-fails and steers along with us with only her Main-sail set the Sea runs lofty Monday February 21. At a quarter of an hour past eight this Morning I saw the Land bearing West of me and distant about 4 Leagues I sounded and had 21 Fathom small Stones and Sand still I stood in West by my Compass The Land makes but an ordinary heighth towards the Sea side but farther up round high Hills and looks reddish the Northermost Land I could see which was Cape Blanco bore North-north-west of me about two Leagues and the Southermost Land at the face of the Cape The Land trented away to te Southward of me Southwesterly of an ordinary height by the Water side but up in the Land are Hills like Tables on the top a little higher than the rest the Land makes in Hills and Valleys all along like Downs of an ordinary heighth at nine a Clock this Morning I braced the Head-sails to the Mast and lay so half an hour till the Fog cleared up that I might make the Land plainly being within five miles of the shore side which made a kind of Bay breached on the shore I sounded and at 17 Fathom had rough ground with some small stones drawn up in the Tallow of the Lead which was dinted by Rocks between nine and ten a Clock there was a fine clear by which I saw the Land very plainly it look'd reddish like seared Grass no Woods to be seen on any of the Hills or Valleys but all as bare as the Grass-Downs in England I durst not send my Boat a-shore for fear of losing her in the Fog or being sunk at the shore whereon the Sea breaks very much the Wind was at North and by East a fresh gale blew almost along the shore and being out but 24 hours before made the Sea run high the Land lies by the Sea-side South-south-west and North-north-east as far as I could see to the Southward no fire or smoak to be see upon the Land Course made true after several Courses from yesterday Noon till to day at nine a Clock when I was 3 Leagues off the Land true Course is West 6 d. 50 m. Northerly distance sailed fifty miles seven tenths Departure West 50 miles difference of Longitude West 1 d. 15 m. difference of Latitude North 0d 6 m. Latitude by account is 47 d. 14 m. South no Observation this three days being foggy Weather Meridian distance from the Lizard West 1014 League 1 mile 7 tenths Longitude at 9 a Clock from the Lizard West 61 d. 56 m. 6 tenths Longitude from Port Praya West 44 deg 38 m. 5 tenths Meridian distance from Port Praya West
a half into the Land in the Valleys between the Rocks grows abundance of wild Pease which had green leaves and blewish blossoms both tasting like green Pease-leaves in England growing on vines and tangled together also very sweet smelling Herbs much like Tares very green and white and yellow Flowers likewise green Herbs much like Sage but grow in knots near the ground like Lettice these Herbs with the Pease-leaves made a good Sallad to refresh such as were inclining to the Scurvy for want of which fresh Trade several of my Men were falling into it Here are abundance of very good Muscles and Limpets on theRocks and an Island frequented by many Seals and Fowls in the River were pied Divers as big as Ducks some of them grey and black shags Ducks and other Sea-Fowls breed on them amongst the Rocks and Bushes to day I went upon one of these Islands and caught as many young black Shags in their Nests as loaded the Pinnace when I have discovered better the particulars of the Fowls and other things seen here I will mention them hereafter Night coming on and it beginning to blow hard I went aboard with Herbs Fowls and what else I had got to day and divided all things equally among the Company the Boys Dividend being as large as my own or any Man's it blew very hard this Evening and looked very black in the South-west an ordinary gale I kept a Light out all Night in the Poop for the Pink this day all the Company eat of young Seals and Penguins and commended them for good Food I judged this a very fit Harbour to fit the Ship in for the main Mast must be unrig'd and a new gang of shrouds fitted and Ballast be had and it might be a means to fall in with the Pink for from the tops of the Hills we could see a great way into the Sea so that if she should come near the Coast we could not miss her We found 2 Springs of fresh Water one in a Valley close by the Water-side in a gully above the Ship half a mile up the River the other up a Valley between the Rocks just a-brest where the Ship rode about half a mile from the River's side right from Coopers-Bay in the same Valley these Springs are but small and the Water 's a little brackish or saltish for in the dry Valleys the Earth is naturally saltish the Ground and Rocks have a white Rhime of Salt-petre hanging on them I went into the Land 2 miles North-west and saw the Country hilly and dry Land without Wood or Water some craggy Rocks and Valleys low but dry and of a Salt-petre nature here and there some Bushes with prickly Branches and Leaves like White-Thorn Bushes in England the lesser Bushes have small dry Gauls growing o● them with a small dry Seed as hot in the Mouth as Pepper not a Tree to be seen the Soil is gra● velly and sandy generally with tufts of dry feared Grass growing on it I digged in several places but saw nothing but gravelly Sand and Rocks no sort of Metals or Minerals I looked also among the broken Rocks for Metals but saw no sign of any from the tops of the Hills I could see a great way into the Land which is all Hills and Downs like Cornwall toilsom travelling to those that were not used to it I could travel as far in an hour as many of my Men could in two to day we saw nine Beasts feeding on the Grass very like Deer but larger and had longer Necks but no Horns reddish coloured on the Back and aloft whitish under their Bellies and up their Flanks when we had got within a Furlong of them they fell a neighing like Horses one answered another and then all run away Tuesday March 1. Fair Weather this Morning Wind at North a fine gale and a cold Air. This Forenoon I filled the Casks out of the Spring and dug them deeper I set up a long Pole with a white Cloath upon it on a Hill near a mile into the Land where 't was most likely to be seen by the Inhabitants with it I left Beads a Looking-glass a Knife a Hook and an Hatchet to invite the People of the Country to shew themselves for I was willing to see 'em that I might discover what they had but through I went about the Hills this Afternoon I could see neither People Fire nor Smoak I saw three Ostriches but could not get near enough to make a shot at them they were feeding on Grass and at first sight of me ran ●way I had a Greyhound with me which I turn'd loose upon 'em who gave Chase to one of them and at last gave her a turn which she recovered took to the Hills and so escaped they are grey coloured and larger than a great Turky-cock in England they can't fly but have long Legs and trust to their running I saw two handfuls of Wooll among the Grass where the Natives had made a Fire it was the Spanish red Wooll which they bring out of India and very fine I brought it away with me and set the Greyhound at 3 of the large Beasts like Deer but they were too swift for him Night coming on I returned on Board at 7 a Clock this Night the Wind came to the North a fresh gale and hasey Weather no sight of the Pink to day I could see a long way on the Sea at 10 a Clock it rain'd and the Wind came to the South-East Friday March 4. Fair Weather this Morning the Wind at East a fine gale I went ashore and filled fresh Water the rest of the Seamen fitted rigging this day at 12 a Clock I went with both the Boats and forty Men to Seal-Island into the Harbour every Man with his Staff and Club we landed drove the Seals up together beset them round and in half an hours time killed four hundred young and old striking them on the head kills them presently as soon as they were knocked down we cut their throats that they might bleed well whilst they were hot then loading both the Boats with them I carried them to the Bay where the Tent was landed and laid them upon the Rocks to Night the Boat fetch'd them all off the great Male Seals are as big as Calfs and resemble a Lion in their shaggy Necks Heads and Faces as well as in their Roar the Females are like Lionesses before only they are hairy all over like a Horse and smooth and the Male is smooth all over his hind-parts their shape is very deformed for their hind-part tapers till it come to a point where grow two Fins or Feet two more grow out of their Breast so that they can go on Land a great pace and climb Rocks and Hills of a good height they delight much to lie and sleep ashore some are very large upwards of eighteen Foot in length and thicker about than a But in the Bilge and excessive fat there are
the Men for I took the Mens Coats and put about the Women but the Men would not suffer them to keep the Coats long and themselves to be naked but took the Coats from the Women and put them about themselves I proffer'd them to exchange one of my Lads for one of theirs and they laughed but the Indian Lad would not go with me but hung back I gave to the Men Knives and Fish-hooks and to the Lads Jews-trumps and Pipes and to the Women Looking-glasses and Beads I did this to gain their loves and in hopes to have Trading with them for the future they refus'd Brandy Cape Froward is the southermost Land of the great Continent of America and it is very high Land on the back-side of it the Face is steep up of a Cliff of Rocks and it is blackish grey of a good height and deep Water very near it I sounded with my Boat close to it and had forty Fathom A Man may lay a Ship close to the face of the Cape for there is Water enough there is no Ground in the Channel at two hundred Fathoms and but little Tide or any ripling as I saw but a fair Channel to sail throughout of three Leagues broad from the North-shore to the South-shore It is best for a Ship to keep nearer the North-shore than the South-shore for the Winds are more generally of the Western Quarter Cape Froward in Magellan Streights lies in the Latitude of 53 d. 52 m. South And in Longitude West from the Lizard in England 68 d. 40 m. West And in Meridian distance in Leagues 1099. and two Miles West The Compass hath sixteen degrees of Variation Easterly at Cape Froward As to the Firlining Points I cannot say any thing I wanted a Needle November 4. 1670. I was in Wood's Bay called so by my Mate's Name November 5. I was abrest of Cape-Holland near which lies Cape Coventry and Andrew's Bay also Cordes and Fostcues Bay Cape and Port Gallant but for a more exact Situation of the several Promontories Bays Ports Rivulets Soundings c. I refer the Reader to the large Draught of the Magellan Streights drawn by my own Hand on the place A-brest of the Bay two Leagues off is the Island which I called Charles-Island and Monmouth-Island more to the West-ward is James-Island and Ruperts-Island and the Lord Arlingtons-Island and the Earl of Sandwich's-Island and Secretary Wren's Island this Reach I called English Reach a League more to the West-ward of Fostcues Bay is Cape-Gallant The Streight shews now as if there were no farther passage to the Westward for the South Land rounds up so much to the North-Westward that it shuts against the North-Land to a Man's sight At this distance I saw two large openings into the South-Land one opposite to Charles-Island the other more to the Westward up of the round South Bite there I saw many Whales spouting that place I called Whales-Bay I saw several Brant-geese and Ducks here I left in the Indians Houses Beads and Knives in hopes of further Commerce I saw on the South-side a Fire made in the Grass by the Natives From the pitch of Cape-Froward to the pitch of Cape-Holland the Streight lies in the Channel West and by North nearest and is distant full five Leagues and from the pitch of Cape-Holland to the pitch of Cape-Gallant the Streight lies in the Channel West and by North a little Northerly and is distant eight Leagues From the pitch of Cape-Gallant to a low Point three Leagues to the Westward the Streight lies in the Channel Northwest and by West a little Northerly This Reach is not more than two miles broad from the North-shore to the Islands which I called The Royal Isles when I was a-brest of the Westermost Island which I called Rupert's-Island I being on the middle of the Channel with the Ship shot off one of my Sakers with a shot and the shot lodged close to the Islands side This low Point a brest of Rupert's-Island on the North shore I called Point-Passage This Evening at six of the Clock I was shot past Point-Passage half a mile to the Westward of it having a fine Easterly gale Monday Noveomber 7. Cloudy gusts foggy Weather the Wind at West and sometimes at North-west I rode fast all day close aboard the shore This Afternoon I went in my Boat over to the South-side opposite to Elizabeth's-Bay at the Point called Whale-point for the many Whales spouting thereby I travelled up the Hills two miles but could not see any Gold or Metal the Land very irregular and Rocky with mossy kind of Grass growing on it and very boggy and rotten for I thrust down a Lance of sixteen feet long into the Ground with one hand very easily Here grow many Juniper Trees some of a foot throughout the Wood not very sweet Here I saw many brant-Geese and Ducks much Snow on the inland Mountains so as I could not travel any farther I returned down to the Boat again I saw where the Natives had been by the evening of the Grass but I could not have a sight of any Here are many good Muscles on the Rocks of five Inches long and good Fish in them and many seed Pearls in every Muscle Here are also large Limpets and Sea-eggs among the Rocks All the Ripling is not worth the taking notice of for it is but an hours time on both Tides Ebb and Floud when the Tide runs strong neither are the Tides any thing prejudicial to the Navigation of the Streight but rather advantagious to help to turn from Road to Road either way For I have had a benefit of them in plying from place to place The Weather indifferent this Afternoon I went a-shore after I had done Sounding but saw no People nor any Metal the Woods very thick and several Trees of the hot Bark the other Trees much like Beech-timber some Ducks and brant-Geese seen on the Shore-side The Streight in this Reach between Elizabeth's Bay and St. Jerom's River is about two Leagues broad and high Land on the South-side which hath several brave Coves on it like the Wet-dock at Deptford and safe to lay Ships in them from either much Wind or any Sea This Bay I called Muscle-Bay for in it there are many and great plenty of good Muscles The Shore-sides are rocky steep too in most places no Ground in the main Channel at an hundred Fathom also in the Bays on the South-side it is deep Water and small Islands lie in the Bays and close along the South-shore lie small Islands Here are many Whales and I saw many Penguins and some Seals The Shores are woody on both sides but ragged Timber and boggy Ground the tops of the Hills bare Rocks and irregular several streams of Snow-water run down in the Cliffs of the Hills two Leagues to the Westward of Elizabeth's-Bay On the North-shore the Land is low and woody near the Water-side and up of a Valley in
this Low-land In this Valley there runs a fresh Water-River I went it with my Boat It is but shallow at low Water hardly Water enough for my Boat Here I saw several Arbors of the Indians making but no People This River is a very convenient place to lay Shallops or such like small Vessels in it they may go into it at high Water for the Tide riseth here eight or nine feet this River I called by the name of Batchelor's River Before the mouth of this River in the Streights there is good anchoring in nine or ten or twelve Fathom Water sandy Ground a fair birth off the Shore the Tide runs but ordinary and the Floud-tide comes from the Westward and the Tide that comes out of St. Jerom's Channel makes a ripling with the Tide that comes along the stream of the Streight I called this Road that is before Batchelor's-River York-Road This is a good place to ride in with Westerly Winds for here cannot go any great Sea neither shall a Man be embayed that if a Cable give way he may have the Streight open to carry it away for the Westerly Winds are the greatest Winds that blow here by the Trees for they all stoop to these Winds and lean to the Easterward and the West-side of all the Trees that stand open are made flat with the Winds the tops of the Mountains look to the Eastward the Easterly Winds seldom blow strong here as to what I have observed By the Shore-side which lies open to the East the Grass grows down to the Water-side and they are the greener Shores and the Trees are streight and tall on the East-side of the Hills but on the West-shores the Grass and Trees are much weather-beaten worn away and crippled and the Shore-sides much tewed with the surge of the Waters At Cape Quad the Lands shut one with the other as if there were no farther passage but as you make nearer to it you will see the opening more and more as the Streight rounds there more to the Northward again Cape Quad is on the North-shore and it is a steep up Cape of a rocky greyish Face of a good height before one comes at it it shews like a great building of a Castle for it points off with a Race from the other Mountains so much into the Channel of the Streight that it makes shutting in against the South-land and maketh an Elbow in the Streight the Streight is not past four miles broad here from shore to shore and the Land is steep too on both sides and rocky the Mountains high on both Shores and craggy barren Rocks some Trees and Bushes growing here and much Snow on the Mountains on both sides Opposite to Cape Quad on the South-side there is a fine large Bay which is called Rider's Bay I did not go into it if there be Anchoring in it it is a fair Road for any Winds the Water is very deep here in the Channel no Ground at one hundred Fathom this part of the Streights from Point Passage to Cape Quad is the most crooked part of all the Streight therefore I called this Crooked-Reach Here are two small Islands in the North-shore to the Eastward of Cape Quad. November 14. This Morning I was a-brest of Cape-Munday so I called it it being a Cape on the South-side and is distant from Cape de Quad about thirteen Leagues the Streight here is about four miles broad and the North-shore makes into the Land with great sounds and broken Islands the Land on both Shores is high rocky Hills and barren very little Wood or Grass growing on them Here at Cape Munday the Streight grows broader and broader to the Westward but keeps all one Course North-west and by West to Cape Upright which is a steep upright Cliff on the South-side and it is distant from Cape Munday four Leagues Here the Streight inclines to the Westward near half-a Point the Streight lies from Cape Munday West-north-west half a Point Northerly right out into the South-Sea if you be in the middle of the Channel or nigh the North-shore I find little or no Tide to run here or Current no Ground in the Channel at two hundred Fathom a Musket shot off the Shore on either side Here run into the South-shore many Sounds and Coves I have sailed fair along by the South-shore all this day for the North-shore makes in broken Islands and Sounds Here lie all along the South-shore several small Islands but no danger for they are all steep too the Streight is a very fair Channel to sail throughout This day at Noon I was a-breast of an Island which lies on the North-side of the Streight I called it Westminster-Island there lie a great many Islands between that and the North-shore and to the Eastward and Westward as also some broken Ground and Rocks lie about it These Islands I called The Lawyers and this I sland which I called Westminster-Island is an high rocky Island shewing like Westminster-Hall the Streight is five Leagues broad between Westminster-Island and the South-shore but between that and the North-shore there are many rocky Islands and broken Ground The Streight lies from Cape Munday to Cape Desseada West-north-west and East-south-east half a point Northerly and half a point Southerly nearest and they are distant from one another near fifteen Leagues from Cape Quad to Cape Desseada it is about twenty eight Leagues and the Streight lies near North-west and by West from Cape Quad into the South-Sea and near in one Reach which I called Long-Reach and some of my Company called it Long-Lane This part may properly be called the Streights for it is high Land all the way on both Shores and barren Rocks with Snow on them and indeed from Cape Quad into the South-Sea I called this Land South-Desolation it being so desolate Land to behold Cape Desseada lies in the Latitude of 53 d. 10 m. South In Longitude West from the Lizard of England 72 d. 56 m. And in Meridian distance 1149. The Compass hath 14 d. 10 m. Variation Easterly here Cape Piller lies in the Latitude of 53 d. 5 m. In Longitude West from the Lizard of England 72 d. 49 m. And in Meridian distance 1148. Leagues West I make the whole length of the Streights of Magellan from Cape Virgin-Mary to Cape Desseada with every Reach and turning to be one hundred and sixteen Leagues and so much I sailed from the one Sea to the other according to my estimation The best Land-fall in my Opinion is to make the face of Cape Desseada for to come out of the South-Sea to go into the Streight of Magellan they lie in East and West at the first till you come a-brest of Cape-Pillar then the Course is South-east and by East nearest Be careful to keep the South-shore in fair view for the North-shore is broken Islands and Sounds that a Man may mistake the right Channel or Streight and steer up into one of them
when we sailed South-east there we took in a Pilot on purpose chosen by the Magistrates of Hamburg On the 29th it was fair weather and warm Sun-shine all day we sailed before the Elbe and lay at Anchor by the first Buoy called the Red-Buoy in the afternoon we weighed our Anchor and sailed to Kucks-Haven in the night we had thunder and lightning and rain The End of the first Part. THE SECOND PART OF THE VOYAGE TO SPITSBERGEN CONTAINING The Description of Spitzbergen CHAP. I. Of the External Face and Appearance of Spitsbergen It seemeth because the Ice stands firm and floats not as that in the Sea doth that there should be land not far behind it As the highest Countries are surrounded with Mountains as a Fortification is with Walls and Works so are these Countries naturally surrounded with high Hills The inward Condition of this Country we do not know but it seemeth since we see one Hill behind another that it is so throughout the whole Country At the Muscle-Haven or Muscle-Bay we find plainer and leveller Ground and the farther we sail toward the East the Ground groweth the lower yet it is all stony and with prospects of smaller Hills it doth not look at all as if it could be inhabited by Men. I believe also that the Land there must of necessity be lower and lower for else we should see it higher above the other as we do the other Mountains Concerning the Beasts that live on this Land I believe they come over the Ice in the Spring when the Ice stands firm into these Countries and that the same way they go away from thence again when the long nights begin Concerning the Birds we have partly a good account of them their places and food is known as I shall mention when I come to write of them When on the 18th of June on a Sunday in the forenoon we first came to the Foreland of Spitzbergen the foot of these Mountains looked like fire and the tops of them were coverwith foggs the snow was marbel'd and look'd as if it were boughs of branches of Trees and gave as bright and glorious a shining of gloss to the Air or Skies as if the Sun had shin'd When the Mountains look thus fiery a hard storm generally ensues These Countries are in the Winter encompassed with Ice from divers places according as the winds blow as if it be East from Nova Zembla if North-west form Greenland and the Island of John Mayen it also happeneth sometimes that the Land is begirt with Ice in the Summer as they have often seen that go thither every year But when the Ice comes floating on too hard or in too great a quantity then the Ships make to the Harbours Havens Bays or Rivers as they call them that run up into the Country the wind useth to receive us something unkindly when we sail into them roaring over the dry Hills with small Whirl-winds The water in these Rivers is salt We meet here with no fresh Streams or Rivolets nor did I ever see a Spring there Of some Rivers we know their beginning of others it cannot found out because of the danger of the Ice which they are never free from some because of the hidden Rocks underneath the water which are discovered by the vehement breaking of the Sea or by great quantity of white foam The Names of the Havens you find all in order one after another in the Map of Spitzbergen as far as we have been These Havens they reckon to be the safest viz. the Safe-Harbour and the South and North-Bay which are the most known of any in Spitzbergen The other Havens of what names soever we commonly sail by because they lye open to the Sea Others we pass by because of the constant Ice that is in them and the hidden Rocks In the South or North-Haven or Bay ride commonly the most Ships I told several times ten twenty nay thirty Ships that lay at Anchor as your may see in the Plates C and D marked with c and d. Concerning the Birds we see abundance more of them by and on the Land then among the Ice chiefly when they hatch their Eggs we do not find they make their Nest up with far-fetcht things neither do they gather any thing for them from Norway Schetland or the like The Seeds of several Herbs might grow in Spitzbergen but the Herbs nature hath bestowed on those Countries are such as are fit for the Diseases and Distempers that are common there We saw abundance of Sea-horses by Spitzbergen on the low Land and upon the Ice but we saw but very few Seales on the Ice thereabout The Country as is aforesaid is stony and quite throughout it are high Mountains and Rocks Below at the feet of the Mountains stand the Hills of Ice very high and reach to the tops of the Mountains the Cliffs are filled up with Snow wherefore these Snow-Mountains show very strange to those that never saw them before they appear like dry Trees with Branches and Twigs and when the Snow falleth upon them they get Leaves as it were which soon after melt and others come in the room of them There are seven large Ice-Mountains in a Line in these Countries that lye between the high Rocks which look of a glorious blew colour as also is the Ice with a great many cracks and Holes in them they are hollowed out melted away and cut in Groves by the rain and snow-water that runs down they are increased greatly by the Snow as the other Ice that swimmeth in the Sea is also they are augmented likewise by the melted Snow from the Rocks and from the Rain that falls on them These seven Mountains of Ice are esteemed to be the highest in the Country indeed they shewed very high as we sailed by them underneath the Snow look'd dark from the shades of the Skies which shewed very neat and curious with the blew cracks where the Ice was broken off About the middle of the Mountains some foggy Clouds hovered over above these the Snow was very bright The true Rocks look't fiery and the Sun shin'd pale upon them the Snow giving the Air a bright reflection They were covered with Clouds so that you could scarce see the tops of them Some of these Rocks are but one stone from the bottom to the top appearing like an old decayed Wall they smell very sweet as the green Fields do in our Country in the Spring when it rains See c c in the Plate C. The stones for the most part are vein'd differently like Marble with red white and yellow at the alteration of the weather the stones sweat and by that means the Snow is stained or coloured and also if it raineth much the water runs down by the Rocks and from thence the Snow is tinged red On the foot of the Mountains where no mounts of Ice stand lye great loose Rocks as they chance to be fall'n one upon the other with
the Land as if it were in a River As soon as this Ice is drove thither by the winds the Ships must give way or go into the Harbour until the Winds have blown or driven the Ice away or else they are lost but if there be other Ships that escape the men are saved On this Ice I did not see many Sea-hounds but a great many Sea-horses and many Birds and Fowl We failed still on till we saw the Seven Islands but could go no farther CHAP. IV. Of the AIR THE Frost is unconstant in our Country but it is not so in Spitzbergen In the Month of April at 71 degrees it was so cold that we could hardly keep warmth within us They say that in this Month as also in May the hardest Frosts happen every year All the Rigging by reason of its being wet is covered over with Ice and stiff They do not send their Ships so soon as they did a few years ago and yet they come time enough there for if they arrive too early there is nothing for them to do because the Ice is not yet dissipated and therefore but few Whales to be seen In the two first Summer Months of Spitzbergen their Teeth chatter in their Heads commonly and the Appetite is greater than in any other Countreys The Sun sets no more after the third day of May and we were about 71 degrees when we could see as well by night as by day I cannot say much of constancy of the weather in these two first Months for it changed daily They say also if the Moon appears cloudy and misty with a streaky Sky that then there commonly follows a storm Whether the Moon doth prognosticate such storms I cannot tell because we have observed that after we have seen the Moon in a clear Sky the Air has grown foggy which happeneth often chiefly if the wind changes When the Hills show fiery it is from Foggs which after spread themselves every where and the Cold encreaseth These Foggs look blew like Indico and black afar off which upon changing of the Weather are driven along by the wind so that in less than half an hour the Sea is so covered with a thick Fogg that you can hardly see from one end of the Ship to the other On the 14th of May the Air was bright and clear and yet very cold we could see the Whales farther off in the Sea then usually at this time We could not distinguish the Air from the Sea for it shewed as if the Ships danced in the Air like naked Trees or P●●es After the same manner Spitzbergen looks at a distance like a Cloud the Mountains are so reflected by the Sea that he that knows not the Country very well cannot easily discern if from the Air and so other Countries very often appear The other three Months June July and August were very calm Concerning the Cold it is much according to the quality of the Winds so North and East winds cause very intense Frosts so that one can hardly keep alive especially if the wind blows hard West and South winds when somewhat constant cause much Snow and sometimes Rain also and moderate cold The other winds of the 32 according to the Compass whatever names they have are changed by the Clouds so that sometimes when the wind was Southwest and by South in one place at a few Miles distance there blows quite another wind What heat the Sun oftentimes affords we saw by our Eyes watering and the tears that ran continually down our Cheeks Yet this severe Cold is not always as is already mentioned for if it were how could any Herbs grow there Neither is there every year a constancy of winds or weather ruled by the Moon but an alteration as is in other places sometimes a milder and sometimes a severer Winter Skilful Ship masters and Harpooners commend those years for Whale catching that have not many foggy and cloudy days Whether according to the New and Full Moons the Spring-tydes happen cannot be known Such clear Skies as we have sometimes in a Summers day with pleasant curled Clouds I have not seen at Spitzbergen but on the contrary several dark and foggy ones Rising Thunder-clouds I have not seen nor ever heard of any body that had seen them Above the Ice the Air appears white from whence we know where the firm or fixed Ice lies as I have before observed in the Chapter of the Ice In the two last Summer Months chiefly in July before the Weigatt the Sun shin'd so warm that the Tarr of the Ship between the Seames where the wind could not come at it melted There is hardly any difference of Cold between Night and day yet at Night when the Sun shineth it seemeth to one that rightly considereth it as if it was only clear Moon-light so that you may look upon the Sun as well as you can upon the Moon so that thereby one may distinguish Night and Day from each other Increase of Cold and changing of the Compass we did not observe as far as we went It is also to be observed that the Frost doth not let a dead Body be consumed easily in the Ground as is already observed in the Chapter of the Description of Spitzbergen The second day of August in our Voyage homeward we observed the Sun first to set Concerning the Meteors generated in the Air I observed that the Rime fell down in the shape of small Needles of Snow into the Sea and covered it as if it was sprinkled all over with Dust these small Needles increased more and more and lay as they fell cross one over the other and looked very like a Cobweb they are formed by the cold of the Air and increased to that degree that the Sea seemed covered by them as with a Skin or a tender Ice which had the taste of Fresh-water as also the Sea-water that is taken up into the high Air is changed and falleth down again in sweet or fresh Rain This hapneth in clear Sun-shine and intense cold weather and it falleth down as the Dew doth with us at Night invisibly in dull weather when the Sun doth not shine you cannot see this but you see it plainly if you look when the Sun shines towards a shady place for then it sparkles as bright as Diamonds shews like the Atoms in Sun-shine all day long it falleth in so small Particles that nothing sticks or hangs on your Cloaths of it to make them wet At Noon when the Sun shines very warm these small Needles melt in the Air and fall down insensibly like Dew Sometimes we see in our Country something a little like these small Needles which is what we call Rime and falleth from the Trees in Atoms like Dust This is small Snow and may be seen as well in the Shade as in the Sun These Needles ar not the Exhalation or Vapour that uses in cold Weather to stick to the Hair of Men and Beasts I must
and have either two or four Legs We will begin with them that have two Legs or with the Birds whereof the most live upon the Water and but few of them upon the Ice or Land CHAP. I Of Birds with Toes or divided Feet OF Land-birds I observed but one sort Viz I. Of a Snite This Snite which is also called the Strand-runner because it keepeth about the Strand is no bigger than a Lark It s Bill is narrow thin and corner'd withall Our Snites Bills are at the farther end broader and roundish and cut in with cross notches like a Rasp to rasp Wood withal so that the whole upper Jaw and Bill looketh exactly like a Rasp with its handle Our Snites are also bigger than those of Spitzbergen otherwise they are very like one another in Shape and Colour this Bill both above and below is four square of a brownish colour and about two Inches long The Head is roundish and of the same thickness with the Neck The Root hath a great many Branches that are divided again and stick very close unto the Rock underneath the Water The whole Plant groweth under Water several Fathoms When we wayed our Anchor we pulled it up in great quantity from the Ground Together with this Herbs we pulled up the hairy Plant that stands by it about six Foot long and it is very like an Horses Tail only that here and there it hath some small knobs like nitty Hair or such as are split at the ends the whole Plant was browner of colour than the former and its Roots was fixed unto the former In these Plants were some redish Worms wrapt or folded up like Caterpillers with many Legs They are figured Tab. P. at i. The Herb was like Dodder wherefore it may be call'd Water or Rock Silk Amongst all the Icons that I have seen in printed Herbals I find it comes nearest to that hairy Plant which Antony Donat in his Book of Plants growing about Venice calleth in his second Book Muscus argenteus Marinus similis Plumae only this is not as white as Silver but rather yellow or brownish Of these two Herbs we found great plenty in the South Haven on the 20 th and 21 th of July There is another Sea Plant which I called Sea-grass whereof there is plenty in the English Haven underneath the Water above eight Foot long The Leaves were about two or three Fingers broad of a yellow Colour like Glew and transparent ending in a blunt point at the top smooth edged without nicks or prickles every where plain and even the Leaves grew from the Root round about it as it were out of one hole in the Tab I. it is marked with b. C. The End of the Third Part. CHAP. XI Of the Rock Plant. THis plant belongeth to those called Wier by the Dutchmen and Fucus in Latin It has a broad flat Stalk like a Leaf and yet there sprout out of it many equally broad Leavs like it as Twigs out of a Tree at the the top of the Stalks there are little narrow longish Leaves some have five others seven of these of a yellow Colour as the Herb is also and they are transparent like Glew I know not whether one may take thim for its Flowers Close to these there grow other oblong Leaves that are hollow and as it was blown up and fill'd with Wind and many lesser Bladders round about close to one another The Leaves that are blown up have nothing in them but Wind for when I pressed them together they gave a little bounce whether these small Bladders have Seeds in them or no I could not observe The Seamen informed me That from the Seeds of that Plant the small Sea Snails are produced but I am not satisfied whether they proceed from these Bladders or from Eggs as our Snails do It may be after the same manner as we find on many Leaves in our Country Bladders filled up with the Seeds of Worms or Caterpillers ●et I dare not assert it because I had no opportunity to search narrowly into the Matter ●he Root groweth out of the Rocks wherefore I call it a Rock Plant it hath some Fibers and is sometimes round I found this Herb in great plenty first in the South Bay near the Cookery of Harlem where we take up the Water then in the Mussel Haven at Spitzbergen then at Cales in Spain When this Herb is dried it looketh brown and blackish it gives and groweth wet again when a South or West Wind blows because of the Salt that penetrates it but when the Wind is East or North it is stiff and dry Among all the Figures that I have seen I find none liker than that given in the 39 th Book and the 50 th Chapter of the Iferdunish Herbal by the Name of the Alge Marina Platyceros porosa only that this is porous or spongy and white In the Tab. F. it is marked with b. The Leaves of the great Rock Herb are very like unto a Man's Tongue it is on each or both sides curled but plain before and not curled through the middle of it run two black Stroaks or Nerves to the Stalk and on the outside of them appear many black spots within the black stroaks on each side to the middlemost plain stroaks the Herb is adorned with small curles in the middle it is quite smooth to the Stalk on the end of the Leaf next the Stalk are two white stroaks almost to the middle of the Leaf bending round outwards if they were quite closed they would make an Oval The Leaf is above six Foot long and yellow and the Stalk yet longer the Stalk is round and smooth of a yellow colour like unboiled Glew near the Root it is thicker than at the Leaf and it smells of Mussels tants there call Edder and costeth when it is cleansed from the Moss a Crown a Pound as I have been informed But the Feathers of the Mountain-ducks of Spitzbergen which they call Down the Seamen put into their Pillows and Straw-sacks which if they should be cleansed would be more worth The Kirmew layeth their Eggs upon Moss and so do the Rotges The Nests of the rest of the Birds were too high for us so that we could hardly and not without great difficulty reach them If it be never so dark by reason of a Mist yet every Bird knoweth how to find their own Nest again and flyeth directly to it Concerning the Names of the Birds I have made use of those that the Seamen have given them formerly according to their own Fancy that he that heareth them called by these Names may also know how to find them by them in this Book Some of these Birds as Lumbs Strundjagers Mallemucks Kirmews and the Mews called Kutyegehfen I have also seen about England Scotland and Ireland and also in the Spanish Seas nay even upon the Elve by Hamburg I have heard the Kirmew and Kutyegehf cry but there is a difference as
well between the Beasts as Men of other Countries 1. Of the Rathsher First of the Rathsher or Alderman in English for this is the first of the thin billed Birds that have three Claws and is called so by the Seamen because he is very stately and handsome Bird but less than that which they call Burgermeister or Major in English This Bird hath a sharp narrow and thin Bill and hath only three Claws or Toes that are joined together by a black Skin but he hath no Claw behind His Legs are not very long and black as the Eyes are also This Bird is whiter than the Snow for when you see him upon the Ice you may distinguish him from the Snow he shews very beautiful with his white Body his black Bill and Eyes black Legs and Feet and besides he is very well shaped His Tail is pretty long and broad like a Lady's Fan. His Cry is somewhat lower than the little Kirmews as if he did say Kar when she cries Kir he spreads his Wings and Tail out when he flies as the Strundjager or Crow doth He doth not willingly swim in the Water as the other Birds do nor doth he much care for wetting his Feet but he stays rather where it is dry yet he loves Fish mightily and so the Proverb that we commonly say of the Cats is true of him The Cat loves to eat Fish but does not love to wet her Feet I have seen him upon the Ice feed on the Dung of a Sea-horse upon whose Body he will rest while he is alive as Crows will do in our Countries He flieth commonly alone by himself but where there is a Prey they flock in great numbers I did delineate them in the shallow Corner called shallow Point in Spitzbergen on the 10 th of July when we shot him he was not wild at all so that I could have knock'd him down with the Gun See Tab. L. at a. CHAP. II. Of the Broad or Web-footed Birds THere are several sorts of these about Spitzbergen Some of them have thin pointed Bills others have thick and broad ones Some of the thick billed one have them divided or parted as the Malle-mucken mad Gnats in English others have undivided ones as the Parret so called There is also a considerable difference in the Heels of these Birds for some of them have Heels as the Mountain-duck Kirmeu and Malle-mucks Others have them not at all as the Burgermeister Rathsher Strundjager Kutyegehf Parret Lumbe Pigeon and the Red Goose no Water sticks to their Feathers no more than on the Swans and other Water Fowl for it runs off from them as if they were oiled all over Some are Birds of Prey others not There is also a difference in their flying Some flie like unto a Partridge as that called the Pigeon others like Swallows as the Lumbs and Red Geese others like the Mews as the Mallemucke Rathsher and Strundjager others like the Stork as the Burgermeister The Birds of Prey are the Burgermeister Rathsher Strundjager Kutyegehf and Mallemucke There is also a great difference in their Flesh the Birds of Prey are not so good to eat as the others except you hang them up by their Legs for some days that the Train Oil may run out of them and the Air blow through them and then you do not taste the Train Oil so strong for else it would make you vomit The Pigeons Parrets Red Geese and Ducks are the most fleshy the old Lumbs have a very tough and dry Flesh not to disparage the Rotges Kirmews and young Lumbs when boiled and the Fat taken away from them and afterwards fryed in Butter for then one may make a shift to eat them but if you should eat their Fat it would vomit and disorder the Stomach very much Thse Birds except the Strundjager Kirmew and Mountain-duck all make their Nests upon the high Rocks where they are secured from the Foxes and Bears but some of them make their Nests higher than others They fit in so great-numbers or flocks upon the Rocks chiefly at the time when they hatch their Young ones which is about the latter end of June and beginning of July that if they flie up when the Sun shineth they shade the Ground like a Cloud and make so great a noise that one Man can hardly hear the other The Kirmews and Mountain-ducks and also the Strundjagers make their Nests on low Grouands that one would think that the high Water must needs run over them on the small Islnds where they are secure from the Foxes but not from the white Bears for they swim in the Water from one Islands to the other We took up great store of their Eggs. The Nests of these Birds are not all made after the same manner For the Mountains-duck makes its Nest of the Feathers of its own Belly mixing them with Moss The Feathers of these Nests are not the Edder Down brought us from Island for that cometh from great Birds that the Inhabitants of a Lark but when the sun shines upon it it shews blewish very like those two Colours observed on our Ducks Necks when the Sun shines upon them They feed upon the little gray Worms and Shrimps We shot some of them in the South Harbour near the Cookery of Harlem they had not the taste of Fish at all See Tab. K at a. II. Of the Snow-bird The Snow-bird is no bigger than a sparrow and like a Linnet in his Shape Bill and Colour The Bill is short and pointed its Head of the same thickness with its Neck The Legs are also like the Linnets their Feet are divided into three fore Claws with longish crooked Nails the hinder Claw is somewhat shorter but hath a long bended Spur or Nail The Legs are grayish and not very long From their Head over all their Belly to the Tail they are white like Snow but all over their Backs and Wings they are gray Some of them are gray all over but these are little Ones I can tell nothing of its singing only that it whisseleth a little as Birds use to do when they are hungry When we sailed near the Ice they came in great flocks to us in our Ship near the Island of John Mayen and were so tame that you could take them up with your Hands They run upon the Ice where I only saw them and not upon the Land which is the reason that they are called Snow-birds They kept with our Ship till we catch'd the first Whale and after that the other Birds frightned them away We fed them with Oatmeal but when their Bellies were full they would not suffer themselves to be taken up We put some of them in a Cage and hung them up in the Cabin but they did not live long We eat some of them and they were not of an unpleasant taste but very lean If I may give my Opinion why the Birds flie to the Ships I believe that they are stray'd from the Island and