188 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. 



The Third Dutch Expedition, 1596-97.^ — After the 

 unfortunate issue of the expedition of 1595, which had been 

 fitted out at so great an expense, and which had raised so 

 great expectations, the States-General would not grant the 

 necessary funds for a third voyage, but they offered instead 

 a great prize to the states or merchants that at their own 



UNSUCCESSFUL FIGHT WITH A POLAR BEAR, 



During the Second Dutch Expedition. From De Veer. 



expense should send out a vessel that should by the route north 

 of Asia force a passage to Asia and China.^ Encouraged by 



1 The sketch of this voyage forms the main portion of the above men- 

 tioned work of De Veer. Undoubtedly the adventures during the wintering, 

 the first in so high a latitude, in the first place procured for De Veer's 

 work the enormous popularity it enjoyed, and led to its being translated 

 into so many languages. 



2 The resolution regarding the offer of this prize is given below : 

 Extractt nit het Eegister der Eesolutien van de Hoog Mogende Heeren 



Staten Generael der Vereenigde Nederlanden. 



Folio 158 v=° 13 April 1596. 



De Gedeputeerde van de Heeren Staten van Holland verclaren dat heure 

 principalen geadviseert hebbende op de hervattinge van het voyagie naer 

 China en Japan, benoorden cm, deselve voyage afgeslagen hebben, ten 

 aenzien van de groote costen die nu twee Jaren achter den anderen om de 

 reyse te verzoeken te vorgeefs angewent zijn, maer dat Hare E. goetge- 

 vonden endegeconsenteert hebben, mede tgevolgh van de andere provincien 

 bij zoeverre datter eenige coopiuijden aventuriers bij compagnie ofte 

 anderssine de voerscreven reijse op heure costen ende risique, zonder te 



