THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 565 



In 1497 John and Sebastian Cabot landed in Labrador and 

 projected a voyage to the North Pole, but they did not penetrate 

 further than 67 30' N., which is about half-way up Davis Strait. 

 This was the lirst effort ever made to reach the North Pole. 



In 15001502 the Cortereal brothers made three voyages, ex- 

 tending as far as 60 N., but they resulted in nothing but disaster 

 and loss of life. Fifty years later Sir Hugh Willoughby was sent 

 out by the Moscovy Company to find a north-east passage to 

 Cathay and Indis. He w:is driven back by ice, after reaching 

 Nova Zeinbla, to the mouth of the Arzina in Lapland, where he 

 and liis crew perished after experiencing untold sufferings. 

 This was the first effort ever made to find a north-west passage. 



In 1576-8 Martin Frobisher made three voyages to the north- 

 west for scientific investigations, but beyond discovering the 

 entrance to Hudson and Frobisher Straits, leading into Hudson 

 Bay, his trips were without importance. These were the first 

 voyages to the arctic regions for scientific purposes. 



In 15857 Davis made a trip to the far north, where he 

 discovered the strait which bears his name, and surveyed a con- 

 siderable portion of Greenland coast, and added more important 

 accessions to a knowledge of the Polar Sea than any of his 

 predecessors. William Barentz made three voyages in this 

 direction in 15946, but perished during the third on Icy Cape, 

 \vithout adding anything material to what was already known of 

 the arctic regions. 



In 1607 Henry Hudson was sent out by the Moscovy Company 

 with orders to steer directly for the North Pole, but after 

 advancing to lat. 80 his further progress was barred by an 

 impassable barrier of ice. He therefore returned, but made 

 another voyage a year later in quest of a north-west passage to 

 India, but was again forced to abandon the effort. Still enter- 

 taining hope of success, he set sail for the third time, but 

 again finding his way impeded by ice, he returned, and sailing 

 westward and searching along the American coast, discovered 

 Hudson Bay, and wintered on one of the islands in the mouth of 

 the bay. In the spring of 1611 he started north again, but his 



