COMPARATIVE VIEW. — HOLLAND. 148 



other artificers, agreed to venture their stores on tlie 

 success of the voyage ; so tliat, in the event of a 

 clean ship, they lost tlie whole or greater part ; hut 

 in case of a full cargo heing obtained, they probably 

 received above twice the value of the articles fur- 

 nished. Tlius, when the fishery failed, the loss to 

 the proprietors or freighters of the vessels was trifl- 

 ing, though it is very evident, that, in the event of 

 great success, their emoluments were less consider- 

 able. 



This fishing which enriched the adventurers by 

 its ample produce, occasioned no small degree of 

 activity in the village of Smeerenberg, and in the 

 Island of Amsterdam in general. Such, indeed, was 

 the bustle produced by the yearly visitation of two 

 or three hundred vessels, containing from 12,000 

 to 18,000 men, being double manned*, that the 

 place had the appearance of a commercial or manu- 

 facturing town ; and of such consideration was this 

 village, that the incitement of an advantageous 

 traffic, drew a number of annual settlers to the place, 

 for the purpose of vending such stores as brandy, 

 wine, tobacco, and other commodities in constant 

 demand, — to whom the exposure to cold, and the 

 inconveniencies of the voyage, were amply com- 

 pensated by the considerable profits which they 

 derived. Not only shopkeepers, but bakers and 



* Beschryving der Walvisvangst, vol. i. p. 28. 



