BARENTS’ WINTERING. 
*249 
v.J 
unsuccessful. Finally, on the Barents determined to 
return to Holland. 
Now, however, it was too late. The haven was blocked with 
drift-ice, which was in constant motion, several times pressed 
the vessel high up between the pieces of ice, and finally broke 
the rudder in pieces. It was now evident that it would be 
necessary to winter, and for this purpose the requisite tools, 
household articles, and provisions were landed and men sent 
out to examine the neighbourhood. Beindeer tracks were seen, 
and, what was more important, there were found on the beach 
large tree-stems with their roots still adhering, and other wood 
which the marine currents had drifted to this otherwise com¬ 
pletely woodless region. The drift-wood was collected in large 
heaps that it might not be buried under the snow in winter. 
A place was chosen for a house, and the Dutch began to draw 
timber to the place. The openings in the drift-ice were on 
the ^|th September covered with a crust of ice two inches thick, 
but on the again somewhat broken up, which 
however was of no advantage to the imprisoned, because their 
vessel was forced up so high on a block of ground ice that 
it could not be got off. Bears Avere hunted almost daily. They 
were very bold and sometimes came on board the vessel. On 
the ^|th October all ice was driven off as far as the eye could 
see, but the vessel still lay motionless on the blocks of ground 
ice. Bound these the ice closed in again, to break up anew 
at a greater or less distance from the beach. On the 
was still much open water visible from the beach, and on the 
^|th and ’|th March, the sea appears to have been in one 
direction completely free of ice. 
On the ^st October, the crew began to remove into the house, 
where they afterwards passed the winter 1596—97 Avith many 
sufferings, dangers, difficulties, and privations AAdiich are de¬ 
scribed in De Veer’s work. The crew, however, never lost 
courage, which undoubtedly was a principal cause of most of 
