414 HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



sadness was painted in their countenance as we left." These 

 islands are supposed to have been the most northerly of the 

 group now known as the Society Islands. 



During the long run to New Britain, the frightful effects of 

 bad provisions were made painfully manifest, for the salt meat 

 had long been decayed, the bread was full of maggots, and the 

 water intolerably putrid. The scurvy began to cut off four 

 and five men a day. Cries and groans were incessantly heard 

 in all parts of the ship: those who were well fainted at tfie 

 stench of the carcasses. Some were reduced to skeletons, so. 

 that the skin cleaved to their bones, while others swelled to a 

 monstrous and disgusting size. The journal says that "an ana- 

 baptist of twenty-five years old called out continually to be 

 baptized, and when told, with a sneer, that there was no parson 

 on board, became quiet, and died with great resignation." At last 

 the high land of New Britain put an end to their miseries, — 

 for which there was no cure on earth except fresh meat, green 

 vegetables, and pure water. 



The expedition intrusted to Roggewein having proved abortive 

 by the failure to find a Southern continent, we shall follow his 

 adventures no farther. It will suffice to say that his ships were 

 confiscated at Batavia by the Dutch East India Company, — a 

 proceeding which the West India Company resented by com- 

 mencing an action for damages. After a long litigation, the 

 Stat.es-General decreed that the former Company should furnish 

 the latter with two ships better than those confiscated, should 

 refund the full value of their cargoes, should pay the wages of 

 both crews to the day of their return to Holland, together with 

 the costs, and a heavy fine by way of punishment for having so 

 manifestly abused their authority. 



We come now to the first expedition at sea made by Russia 

 for the purpose of extending and promoting the science of geo- 

 graphy. Vitus Behring was a Dane in the Russian service, 

 having been tempted by the encouragements held out to foreign 



