234 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
bear had another object in view, for he cast himself into the 
boat with such violence that half his body was soon within it. 
The sailors were so frightened that they rushed to the fore and 
thought that their last hour was come. Fortunately the bear 
could make no further advance, because the noose that was 
thrown round his neck had fastened in the rudder. A sailor 
taking courage, now went aft and killed the bear with the stroke 
of an axe. The skin was sent to Amsterdam. On account of 
this occurrence the place was called '' Bear Cape.” 
Barents sailed on towards the north and north-east, past the 
place which he called Cruys Eylandt (Cross Island) ^ and Cape 
Nassau, a name which has been retained in recent maps, to the 
latitude of 77° 55', which was reached on the ~ July. Here 
from the mast-top an ice-field was seen, which it was impossible 
to see beyond, which compelled Barents to turn. However, he 
still remained in these northern regions, waiting for a better 
state of the ice, till the when the vessel was due west 
of a promontory situated in latitude 77° north, which was 
named Ice Cape. Some gold-glittering stones were found here 
on the ground. Such ^/incls have played a not inconsiderable 
role in the history of Arctic voyages, and shiploads of worthless 
ore have on several occasions been brought home. On the 
while sailing among the Orange Islands, they saw 200 
walruses on land. The sailors attacked them with axes and 
lances, without killing a single walrus, but they succeeded 
during the attempt to kill them in striking out several tusks, 
which they carried home with them. 
Convinced that he could not reach the intended goal by this 
northern route, Barents determined, after consulting with his 
men, to turn south and sail to Yaygats. While sailing down, 
Barents, in latitude 71° north, makes the remark that he was 
^ From two large crosses which were found erected on the island. This 
shows that the Eussians had also explored the north part of Novaja 
Zeinlya before the West-Eiiropeans. 
