CHAPTER XXXIY. 



THE FLEET OF JORIS SPILBERGEN— ARRIVAL IN BRAZIL— ADVENTURES IN THB 

 STRAIT OF MAGELLAN— TRADE AT MOCHA ISLAND— TREACHERY AT SANTA 

 MARIA— TERRIBLE BATTLE BETWEEN THE DUTCH AND SPANISH FLEETS- 

 RAVAGES OF THE COAST— SKIRMISHES UPON THE LAND— SPILBERGEN SAILS 

 FOR MANILLA— ARRIVAL AT TERNATE— HIS RETURN HOME— THE VOYAGE OF 

 SCHOUTEN AND LEMAIRE— LEMONADE AT SIERRA LEONE— A COLLISION AT 

 SEA— DISCOVERY OF STATEN LAND— CAPE HORN— LEMAIRE's STRAIT— AR- 

 RIVAL AT BATAVIA — CONFISCATION OF THE SHIPS— GENERAL RESULTS OF 

 THE VOYAGE — THE VOYAGE OF WILLIAM BAFFIN— ARCTIC RESEARCHES DURING 

 THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 



We have said, in a former chapter, that the Dutch succeeded 

 the Portuguese in the possession of the East Indies. During 

 the struggle between these two powers for supremacy over the 

 Spice Islands, the Dutch East India Company resolved to make 

 a vigorous effort to reach the Moluccas by the Strait of Ma- 

 gellan. They equipped a fleet of six ships, for the purpose of 

 exploring a new route. These vessels were named the Great 

 Sun, the Half-Moon, the Morning Star, the Huntsman, and 

 the Sea Mew, and were placed under the command of Joris 

 Spilbergen as admiral, who had already conducted a Dutch 

 fleet to the Indies. He received his commission from their 

 Mightinesses the States-General. He sailed from the Texel 

 on the 8th of August, 1614. 



While upon the South American coast, a mutiny broke out in 

 the Sea Mew, and the two ringleaders were condemned to be cast 

 into the sea, — a sentence which was rigorously executed. They 

 entered the Strait of Magellan on the 28th of February, 1615, 

 but were forced out again by adverse currents. They entered 

 again on the 2d of April, and saw men of gigantic stature 

 upon the hills, dead bodies wrapped in the skins of penguins, 

 and shrubs producing sweet blackberries. The mountains were 

 covered with snow, yet the woods were filled with parrots. 

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