3560 Notices of New Books : 



and strongly in favour of Petermann's proposition, that Admiral Lutke, 

 who surveyed the island of Nova Zembla, in the years 1821 — 4, found 

 the sea perfectly free from ice on the 21st of August, as far northward 

 as the eye could reach, the southward currents, together with the pro- 

 longed influence of the sun, having carried southward or melted the 

 whole of the ice-bergs. 



The plan devised by Lieutenant Pim, whose energy and enthusiasm 

 in the cause contrast advantageously with the apathy displayed in 

 other quarters, was much in accordance with this of Petermann's ; but 

 we see no advantage whatever in sailing from the Siberian coast ; we 

 think that rapid transit by steaming direct from the mouth of the 

 Thames, possesses every advantage over a tedious journey overland. 



We shall, in conclusion, give a series of extracts from the Journal 

 kept by William Barentz, a Dutchman, of whom we have already spo- 

 ken. He was in search of a north-eastern passage to China, and com- 

 pelled to winter at the north-eastern coast of Nova Zembla, in the 

 season of 1596-7. The extracts are selected by Petermann, and with 

 particular objects ; one of the series is to show the state of the Arctic 

 Ocean as regards ice, &c, during the period in question ; another se- 

 ries (that which we quote) is designed to give an idea of the means of 

 sustenance in these high northern latitudes. 



"II. — Extracts from Willem Barentz' Third Voyage, 



Showing the Means of Sustenance found by that Expedition while 

 wintering at the north-eastern extremity of Nova'ia Zemlia, 11 

 September, 1596, to 13 June, 1597 ; with incidents respecting the 

 killing of animals. 



"11 September. — Determined to build a house vpon the land, to 

 keep vs therein as well as we could. . . . Found certaine trees, 

 roots, and all which had been driven vpon the shore. . . . That 

 wood served vs not onely to build our house, but also to burne and 

 serve vs all the winter long. 



"14 September. — Went into the land, and laid the wood in heaps 

 one upon the other, that it might not be covered over with ye snow. 



" 15 September. — In the morning, as one of our men held watche, 

 wee saw three beares, whereof the one lay still behind a peece of ice, 

 the other two came close to the ship : which wee perceiving, made 

 our peeces ready to shoote at them, at which time there stod a tub 

 full of beefe, vpon the ice, which lay in the water to be seasoned, for 

 that close by the ship there was no water : one of the beares went 



