chap i INTRODUCTORY 3 



Gillis Land was no more successful than other attempts 

 repeatedly made by our best equipped predecessors. 



The history of the exploration of this interesting archi- 

 pelago is a topic abounding in novelty, and so large and 

 important that I hope soon to devote a separate volume to 

 its sole consideration. The materials collected are already 

 so numerous, and the subject presents such extraordinary 

 ramifications and developments, that time is needed to pursue 

 the study with needful thoroughness. At present I merely 

 note in this place a few well-known facts, suited to throw 

 light on the following narrative, that the reader may under- 

 stand the purpose and plan of our journey. 



Spitsbergen was discovered by the Dutchmen Barendszoon 

 and Heemskerk on the 17th of June 1596. They were at 

 the time sailing northwards to rind a way over the Pole from 

 Holland to China. In 1607 the same coast was revisited 

 and further explored by the English navigator Hudson, sail- 

 ing with a purpose similar to that of Barendsz ; but Hudson 

 observed the prevalence of whales, walruses, and other 

 valuable animals, and fisheries were immediately established 

 by Englishmen in consequence. During the first quarter of 

 the seventeenth century the Spitsbergen waters became the 

 scene of much international rivalry, the English attempting 

 to annex the land and secure a monopoly of the fisheries, 

 whilst foreign " interlopers " of various nationalities suc- 

 cessfully resisted their pretensions. Ultimately a working 

 arrangement was made between the parties concerned ; the 

 harbours and bays on the west and north coasts were divided 

 between the rival fishermen, the Dutch taking Fair Haven 

 and Dutch Bay (which was the best whale-fishing base), the 

 English Magdalena Bay, English Bay, and so forth. 



The prosperity of the bay-fishery did not last long, for the 

 whales presently abandoned the bays and had to be sought 

 in the open sea ; but while it lasted Spitsbergen was a very 



