LINSCHOTEN. 
277 
Strait, and that the latitude was observed 70°, which 
was more North than expected; for the course had 
been held S.E. and S.E, by E. “ We ought to attri¬ 
bute these errors/' Linschoten says, “ to the variation 
of the compass." It is however to be remarked, that 
observations at sea for the latitude, were not at the 
time to be safely relied on within a third of a degree. 
At the distance of something more than twenty 
leagues from the Waigatz, the coast was found to 
decline more Southward, forming a gulf, of which they 
did not see the bottom; but they saw the land on the 
farther side, wdiere the coast lay in a N.E. and S.W. 
direction, and they doubted not its being a continuation 
of the continent. They sailed along this coast to the 
N.E., not much obstructed by ice, but not favoured by 
the winds. The sea was deep, their soundings at one 
time being 132 fathoms, and at another time their lines 
did not reach the bottom. 
On the 11th of August, the farthest land they had in 
sight to the N.E. was estimated to be fifty Dutch 
leagues from the Waigatz. “ The coast was sandy and 
clear, and as straight and level as if it had been formed 
by line and rule." Linschoten relates, “ On the 
distant shore were seen numerous small hills, which 
had at one time an appearance like trees, at another 
time like animals. This effect was produced by the 
