346 
A VOYAGE TO 8PITZBEBGEN. 
the ice stream turned more to the East, towards 
Novaya Zemba, and left their “ Farande ” (distant 
water free from ice). During July and August Jonson 
was busy with his trade on the banks of Spitzbergen, 
and by the 16th of the latter month he had resolved 
to go on a voyage of discovery. Arriving at lat. 
78° 18' 46" N. and 30° long., he caught sight of land, 
which for the first time in the year 1617 found a 
place on our maps under the name of Micha Land. 
The water along the south and east coast of the land 
was altogether free from ice, and the following morn¬ 
ing he landed, in order to ascend to the summit of a 
neighbouring mountain, and from this elevation to 
make a survey of the scene. It was his intention 
also to go in search of whatever game the land might 
possess, and to examine what supplies of drift lumber 
the coast could offer. He soon satisfied himself that 
AltmamTs report of the existence of three separate 
islands was wrong. Probably the error arose from 
the survey having been made from the deck of his 
ship. On the contrary, from this elevated point of 
view, the land presented the appearance of a vast 
continent, covered at intervals with high mountain 
lands, and these united by lower lands, whilst the 
coast was rocky and abrupt. 
The skipper naturally expected to find the interior 
