1URENTZ' THIRD VOYAGE. 243 



The island was found to be encumbered with 

 ice on all sides, so that there was no possibility 

 of proceeding to the eastward ; and, indeed, they 

 had been obliged to pass through a great deal 

 of it before they arrived at the place where they 

 anchored. They therefore determined to stand 

 along this frozen barrier to the northward; in 

 doing which, they discovered high land on the 

 19th ; and, by an observation of the sun, found 

 their latitude to be 80° IV N. The land lay 

 to the east of them, and they had some difficulty 

 in approaching it in consequence of a strong 

 north-easterly wind which was then blowing. 

 This is the first authenticated discovery of Spits- 

 bergen, for Purchases argument, in favour of 

 Sir Hugh Willoughby having seen it, is not 

 borne out by Sir Hugh's journal, as has already 

 been shown ; and that is the only instance in 

 which any doubt could possibly arise. 



Our navigators entered a bay, running north 

 and south, and then came to an anchor. The lati- 

 tude of this place was 79° 42' N., which cor- 

 responds with the situation of Fair Haven ; to 

 which their description of the port they entered 

 will also correctly apply. 



They saw many "harts and bucks " (rein-deer) 

 upon the land; and upon a small island in the 

 centre of the bay there were a great number 



R 2 



A.D. 



1596. 



