100 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



tlaiigeroiis, that many have fallen and lost their 

 lives in the attempt *. 



When Barentz , and Heemskerke discovered 

 Cherry Island, on their advance towards the north, 

 when they also discovered Spitzbergen, some daring 

 fellows among their sailors, who had been collecting 

 birds' eggs, climbed a high steep mountain, resem- 

 bling those of Spitzbergen, where they unexpect- 

 edly found themselves in a most perilous situation ; 

 for, on turning to descend, the way by which they 

 liad advanced presented a dismal assemblage of 

 pointed rocks, perpendicular precipices, and yawn- 

 ing chasms. The view of the danger of the de- 

 scent struck them with terror. No relief, however, 

 could be afforded them, and they were obliged to 

 make the attempt. They soon lost the track by which 

 they had reached the summit, and were bewildered 

 among the rocks. At length, after a most anxious 

 and painful exercise, in wliich they found it necessary 

 to slide down the rocks, while lying flat on their 

 bodies, they reached the foot of the cliff in safety. 

 Barentz, who had observed their conduct from the 

 shore, gave them a sharp reproof for their rash te- 

 merity f . 



* Martens* Voyage^ originally printed in the Dutch lan- 

 guage, has been translated into English, and published in " An 

 Account of several late Voyages and Discoveries to the South 

 and North." London, 1694, 8w. 



t Beschryving, &c. vol. iii. 



