154 DISCOVERIES OF 15i)7. 



least two hundred miles long, and lyeth betvveene 

 two seas."* 



The raptures felt by these unhappy men at the 

 first bhish of the sun may easily be conceived. 

 This iovfnl event was first announced to them 

 about the iGth. of January, when they perceived 

 " a certaine rednesse in the skie," though William 

 Barentz convinced them that the sun himself would 

 not make his appearance above the horizon for three 

 weeks vet to come. However, on the 24th of Janu- 

 ary, " it was faire cleare weather," says Gerrit de 

 Veer, " with a west wind ; then I and Jacob Hems- 

 kerk, and another with us, went to the sea-side, on 

 the south side of Nova Zembla, where, contrary to 

 our expectation, I first saw^ the edge of the sunne, 

 wherewith we went speedily home againe to tell 

 William Barentz and the rest of our companions 

 that joyful newes. But William Barentz, being a 

 wise and well experienced pilot, would not believe 

 it, esteem i no- it to be about forteen dales too soone 

 for the sunne to shine in that part of the world ; 

 but we earnestly affirmed the contrary, and said 

 that we had seen the sunne." On the two follovv^- 

 ing days they had thick and foggy weather, but on 

 the 27th it was clear; " and then," says the jour- 

 nalist, " we saw the sunne in his full roundnesse 

 above the horizon, which made us all glad, and we 



* True and perfect Description of Three Voyages, so strange and 

 rvondcifull that the like hath never been heard of before. Trans, by 

 William Phillip. London. 1609. 



