238 BARENTS SECOND VOYAGE. 



a.d. under States Island, and sent a boat on shore 



1595. 



to search for a sort of crystal, which had 

 been discovered upon this island by the ships 

 the preceding year. Here they had the misfor- 

 tune to lose two of their men by a ferocious 

 bear, which attacked the party, and was with 

 great difficulty killed. 



On the 10th of September they sailed from 

 States Island, and endeavoured to repass Wai- 

 gatz Strait ; but the ice was now so close, that 

 they made no progress until the 14th, when 

 they were driven through by a heavy gale of 

 wind. They did not, however, give up all hope 

 of being able to proceed on their voyage until 

 the 15th, when, after numerous difficulties, the 

 whole fleet set sail on their return homeward ; 

 on the 29th September they entered Ward- 

 huys, and on the 18th November anchored 

 in the Maes. 



We may here observe, that had the Zealand 

 and Enkhuysen ships the former year persevered 

 a little longer, they would have spared Holland 

 the expense of this expedition, as they must 

 soon have arrived at the neck of land which 

 separates the sea of Kara from the bay of Obe ; 

 and, turning along it to the northward, would, 

 without much doubt, have found it encumbered 

 with the southern part of the body of ice, by 



