80 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



named Spitzbergen, or Sharp 3Iountains. They 

 examined the coast hastily, as far to the southward 

 as latitude 76° 50', Jind then saw no more land un- 

 til they approached Bear Island, (afterwards called 

 Cherry Island,) on the 1st of July. Being doubt- 

 ful of the situation of the newly discovered region, 

 with regard to tlie continent of Europe, or any 

 other known land, the two ships pursued different 

 courses, that the navigators might satisfy them- 

 selves of its true position ; and Cornelis, sailing 

 back again from Bear Island, direct north, arrived 

 at a place on the west coast of Spitzbergen, which 

 they had before denominated the Bay of Birds*. 



Barentz, in the mean time, proceeded to the 

 eastward, with the hope of accomplishing the main 

 object of his voyage, and reached the coast of Nova 

 Zembla on the 17th of July. Then persevering to 

 the northward and eastward, with the expectation 

 of getting round Nova Zembla, they got entangled 

 among the ice on the coast, and were brought to 

 the dreadful necessity of wintering in this desolate 

 and frozen country. To attempt any description of 

 their proceedings, their observations, or their afflic- 

 tions during this severe trial, would, within the 

 limit of a few lines, to which it is my wish to con- 

 fine my remarks in this place, but spoil a most in- 

 teresting and affecting narrative. " The journal 



* De BnvE, Indiae Orientalis pars undecima, torn. iii. p. 48— 

 51. 



Jl 



