•260 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
appeared to contain silver, gold, and other metals. Instead of 
blubber the skipper now loaded ore, which in his opinion was 
precious, but afterwards on being tested at home was found to 
be valueless {Witsen,^. 918). 
I7th Century, year not stated. Shipmaster COENELIS Eoule 
is said to have sailed in the longitude of Novaya Zemlyato 84|° 
or 85° N.L. and there discovered a fjord-land, along which he 
sailed ten miles. Beyond that a large open sea was seen. From 
a high mountain situated on a sound, in which he rode, it 
appeared that he might sail one or two watches further to the 
north. He found there large numbers of birds, which were 
exceedingly tame (Witsen, p. 920). If we take some degrees 
from the latitude stated, which is perhaps not very unreason¬ 
able in dealing with the narratives of old whalers, which 
have passed through two or three hands, Houle may, as far 
back as two hundred years ago, have reached Franz-Josefs 
Land, and sailed along its coast to a very high latitude for 
those regions. 
1676. Wood and Flawes were sent out from England by 
Charles II. to sail by the north-east passage to the Pacific. For 
this purpose the English Admiralty fitted out a vessel, the 
Speedwell, while '' as all exploratory voyages are exposed .to the 
possibility of disaster,” another small ship, the Prosperous, was 
purchased and handed over to the expedition by private gentle¬ 
men.^ The command of the first vessel was given to Captain 
Wood, the chief promoter of the undertaking, and the other- 
vessel was commanded by Captain Flawes. The voyage was 
completely without result, as Wood did not penetrate so far, 
either to the north or east, as his predecessors or as the 
whalers, who appear to have at that time frequently visited 
North Novaya Zemlya. Wood had previously accompanied Sir 
1 These were James Duke of York, Lord Berkley, Sir John Williamson, 
Sir John Bankes, Mr. Samuel Peeps, Captain Herbert, Mr. Dupey, and Mr. 
Iloopg'ood (Harris, Nav, Bihl., vol. ii. p. 45.3). 
