282 JONAS POOLE. 



a.d. saw a mermaid : and calling vp some of the 

 companie to see her, one more came vp, and, by 

 that time shee was come close to the ship's side, 

 looking earnestly on the men; a little after, a 

 sea came and overturned her; from the navill 

 vpward, her backe and breasts were like a 

 woman's, (as they say that saw her,) her body 

 as big as one of vs, her skin uery white, and long 

 haire hanging down behind, of colour blacke : 

 in her going downe they saw her tayle, which 

 was like the tayle of a porpoise, and speckled 

 like a macrell." 



JONAS POOLE. 



i6io. For several years the Muscovy Company had 

 sent vessels to Cherie Island for the purpose of 

 taking walruses, in which they were very suc- 

 cessful : and, in 1609, the island was taken pos- 

 session of in the name of the Company. These 

 voyages were strictly mercantile; but, in 1610, 

 they despatched a vessel to this place, with orders 

 to proceed northward from thence, and to search 

 for " the likelihood of a trade or passage that way." 

 Jonas Poole, who had already made several 

 voyages to Cherie Island, and was well acquaint- 

 ed with the northern seas, was chosen for this 

 service by the Company ; who placed under his 



