1597. WILLIAM BARENTZ. ^57 



compared to that in question, wliere fifteen per- 

 sons, in two open boats, bad to pass over a frozen 

 ocean more than eleven hundred miles, '•• in the ice, 

 over the ice, and through the sea," exposed to all 

 the dangers of being at one time overwhelmed by 

 the waves, at another of being crushed to atoms by 

 the whirling of large masses of ice, and to the con- 

 stant attack of ferocious bears, enduring for upwards 

 of forty days severe cold, fatigue, famine and dis- 

 ease; and yet, excepting the two who died, and who 

 entered the boats in a state of sickness and debility, 

 the rest arrived in good health and spirits at Cola, 

 where they had the satisfaction of meeting with 

 their old friend and companion Jan Cornelis 

 Ryp, who had deserted them to go to the north- 

 w^ard the year before. They had learned, indeed, 

 at Kilduyn, that three Dutch ships were at Cola ; 

 and a Laplander, whom they sent over land, 

 returned with a letter from Cornelis Ryp ; but they 

 could scarcelv flatter themselves that it was the 

 same who had sailed with them from Holland. He 

 now took them on board his ship, and, on the 29th 

 of October, they all arrived safely in the Maes, to 

 the great joy of their friends, who had given them 

 up for lost. 



To what extent of northern latitude Cornelis 

 Ryp had proceeded the preceding year, or what 

 adventures he met with, or discoveries he made, 

 is no where stated ; but as he set out with the in- 

 tention of sailing along the eastern side of the land 



