THE SEARCH FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE 235 



decimated by the "black plague" and troubled by marauders. But 

 about a century later the island was revisited by Captain John 

 Davis and was claimed by Denmark. The present Danish settle- 

 ments were founded in 1721, the most northern station (72 degrees 

 48 minutes north latitude), being Upernavik, a name of frequent 

 occurrence in the stories of Arctic voyages, as a useful starting 

 point into the unknown. 



The earliest purpose in view in the prosecution of polar voyages 

 was the commercial one, the discovery of an easy passage through 

 or around the American continent by which commerce with India 

 might be facilitated. The lack of knowledge of the width of the 

 continent led to hopes that a water channel might be found across 

 it to the Pacific, and various rivers were ascended with this end in 

 view, such as the Chickahominy by Captain John Smith and the 

 Hudson by Captain Henry Hudson. Hopes also of finding a prac- 

 ticable passage around the continent on the north were early enter- 

 tained, and these led to the first Arctic expeditions, those of 

 Frobisher, Davis and others. 



England was early in this field, the pioneer expeditions starting 

 from that land. The earliest on record was an expedition said to 

 have been sent out in 1527 by Henry VIII of England for "dis- 

 coverie even to the North Pole, two faire ships well manned and 

 victualled, having in them divers cunning men to seek strange 

 regions." Its success was small, one of the two ships sent being 

 lost north of Newfoundland, while the other returned to England. 



The next expedition that calls for attention was that under 

 Sir Hugh Willoughby, who sailed from England in 1553, '"for the 

 discovery of regions, dominions, islands, and places unknown." He 

 set sail with three vessels, the largest being of 160 tons. These, 

 crossed the North Sea in company, sighting the coast of Norway 

 about the middle of July. In September they were parted by a 

 storm, two of the ships reaching the coast of Russian Lapland, 

 where it was determined to pass the winter. Here Sir Hugh and 



