72 CKUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



1902. The great land masses of the Arctic islands have now 

 been outlined, and all that remains to be done is to fill in minor 

 details. 



The acquirement by Spain of all the richer parts of America 

 followed close on the discovery of Columbus ; at the same time 

 Portugal laid claim to the southern route, by the Cape of Good 

 Hope, to India and China, in consequence of the discoveries of 

 Vasco da Gama. 



England was thus debarred from these new fields of wealth, 

 and it was the search for a northern and unclaimed passage to 

 the East which stimulated, in the reign of Elizabeth, the 

 awakening enterprise of London and Bristol merchants to outfit 

 expeditions under brave and adventurous seamen. 



The first attempt was made to the eastward, around the 

 northern coasts of Europe and Asia. Although failing in the 

 main object, a large and profitable trade was opened with 

 northern Russia, which led to the founding, by Sebastian Cabot, 

 of the Muscovy Company of London in 1553. 



This company, through selfish motives, was unfavourable to 

 the prosecution of a search for a northern passage to the west- 

 ward, and nothing was attempted in that direction until 1576. 

 In that year Sir Martin Erobisher, filled with enthusiasm by 

 accounts of a mythical Strait of Anian, which was said to afford 

 a safe passage between the Atlantic and Pacific, through the 

 north temperate regions of America, resolved to explore the 

 strait. Aided by powerful friends, he overcame the opposition 

 of the Muscovy Company, and under the direct patronage of the 

 Queen, he succeeded in outfitting three small clumsy vessels, 

 two being of twenty-five tons burden each, the third being a 

 pinnace of ten tons. These he provisioned for twelve months, 

 and with the combined crews, numbering thirty-five persons, 

 sailed from the Thames. High pinnacle land, covered with 

 snow, was seen on the llth of July, in N. latitude 61. Off 



