BEEBEN ISLAND. 
287 
The 21st they killed a white bear, whose skin, 
the journal says, measured thirteen feet. He had 
swum to the ships, and being intercepted in endea¬ 
vouring to retreat to the shore, was pursued a 
league out to sea, and made great resistance before 
he was overcome. At one time he laid his paw 
upon the boat, fortunately for those in her, on the 
fore part; if it had been in the middle he would 
most probably have overturned her. 
On the 23rd they weighed anchor, and would 
have proceeded Northward, but fell in with ice, 
which obstructed their progress; and on the 1st 
of July they were again in sight of Beeren Island. 
Here they finally differed about the course. Rijp 
would return to the North, and Barentsz would 
sail immediately East, and neither prevailing 
with the other, they separated by agreement. They 
were each eminently anxious for the discovery; and 
it may be said, that by separating, they gave a 
better chance for making it than by remaining 
together, and at the expense of increasing their own 
peril. 
On the 17th of July, Barentsz made the land 
of Nova Zembla; but on the 16th of August, 
his vessel was no farther advanced than to the 
North-eastern extremity. The coast from hence 
