130 THE SEA. 



through Waigatz Strait, they found and were impeded much by large quantities of floating 

 ice; later they reached an open sea perfectly clear of it. The land to the southward was in 

 sight, and trended apparently to the south-east. Without more ado they concluded that they 

 had discovered an open passage round Northern Asia to China, and turned their vessels' bows 

 homewards, in order to be the first to bring the good news to Holland. Meanwhile, Barents, in 

 the Messenger, crossed the White Sea, and eventually made the west coast of Nova Zembla, 

 proceeding thence northwards, naming several headlands and islands. About latitude 77 25' 

 they encountered an immense field of ice, of which they could see no end from the 

 mast-head, and they had to turn back. After becoming entangled in drift-ice, and 

 experiencing misty, cold, and tempestuous weather, the crew began to murmur, and then 

 refused positively to proceed. On the homeward voyage, after they had arrived at Maltfloe 

 and Delgoy Islands, they met the other ships, the commanders of which were jubilant with 

 the idea that they had discovered the North-east Passage. At all events, on their return, the 

 reports given by them were so favourably considered, that preparations were immediately 

 made for a second expedition. 



Near one of the islands off the coast of Nova Zembla Barents and a boat-load of his 

 men were almost swamped by an enormous white she-bear, which they had wounded, and 

 secured by a rope. The animal, in its pain and fury, more than seconded their efforts to 

 get it on board for they had fancied that they might take her alive to Holland and a 

 panic ensued. Fortunately the rope caught round a rung or hook of the rudder, and one 

 of the bolder men then struck her into the water. The rest immediately got to their oars 

 and rowed so rapidly to the ship, that the bear was pretty well half drowned by the time 

 they arrived there, and she was easily despatched. De Veer, the principal historian of these 

 voyages, gives us some graphic descriptions of the walrus. A female walrus almost succeeded 

 in swamping one of the boats, as Madam Bruin had before, but fled when a good round 

 volley of Dutch execrations were levelled at her. Some of the men, tempted by the ivory 

 tusks apparently within their easy reach, went ashore with the intention of killing some 

 of these animals, but the sea-horses " brake all their hatchets, curtle-axes, and pikes in 

 pieces," and they could not kill any of them, but succeeded in performing dentistry on a 

 rough scale by knocking out some of their teeth. The resemblance of the front part of 

 the head of a young walrus to a human face has been often remarked, and, as we shall here- 

 after show, has had much to do with sailors' stories concerning mermaids and mermen. 

 More than once has the cry, " A man overboard ! " been caused by the sudden appearance 

 of the head of a young walrus above the water near a ship's side. 



The second expedition consisted of seven vessels : six laden with wares, merchandise, 

 and money, and factors to act as traders; the seventh, a small pinnace, was to accompany 

 the rest for part of the voyage, and bring back news of the proceedings. These extensive 

 preparations were rendered nearly useless by the dilatoriness of those who had the matter in 

 hand. The vessels did not leave the Texel till July 2nd, 1595, nor reach Nova Zembla 

 before the middle of August. The coasts of that island were found to be unapproachable 

 on account of the ice. In few words, they returned to Holland, having accomplished 

 little or nothing. 



When off Waigatz some of the men had landed to search for supposed precious stones, 



