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THE FIRST VOYAGE OF THE DUTCH AND ZEALANDERS BY THE NORTH,
ALONG THE COASTS OF NORWAY, MOSCOVY, AND TARTARY, IN ORDER
TO SEEK A PASSAGE TO THE KINGDOMS OF CATHAY AND CHINA.
{Newly tranflated from the Recueil des Voyages qui ont fervi a Petabliffement et aux piozrex de la Compagnie
des Indes Orientales. ‘Lom. 1. p. 5 Rell
THE ancients who poffeffed a great tafte for the wonderful, have not failed to inter-
mix it with the foundations of empires, and the eftablifhments of ftates and of almoft all
focieties. At prefent shat the world is become more rational, nothing on thefe occa-
fions is recited but of the moft ordinary defcription. We even fometimes find our-
felves furprifed, and in fome meafure difpleafed, at reading the feeble commencement
of a great intrigue, fo little correfponding with the conclufion, and the ideas it has
infpired. We feel inclined to call in queftion the veracity of thofe, who difclofe to us
the motives and the fimple means by which the greateft events have been produced.
The empire founded by the Dutch in the Eaft Indies, is not one of the leaft brilliant
ornaments which acorn the hiftory of the feventeenth century. It is at the fame time
one of thofe aftonifhing events, which have not been in the leaft forefeen when the firft
fteps were made which gave them birth, and as nothing was farther from the views of
thofe who were the caufe in producing this great effect, perhaps there alfo has never
been foilluftrious a foundation, preduced almoft by accident, and with fo little defign
and power.
Athough this firft relation, which is placed at the head of this volume, only prefents
the failure of a defign, it is neverthelefs certain that the navigation it defcribes, was
the firft inftigation given to the United Provinces to go in queft of thofe rich regions of
which they have fince acquired the pofleffion. Some merchants animated with a defire
of making trade flourifh, fubmitted propofitions to the States, and obtained a permif-
fion, the confequences of which have been the fources of all the glory and profperity of
their native country.
At the head of the fociety which undertook this enterprife, was Balthafar Moucheron
of Zealand. Herequefted of the States General and Prince Maurice, High Admiral,
the liberty of feeking a northern paflage to the kingdoms of Cathay and China: which
was granted.
Three veflels were immediately equipped by the fociety, one at Amfterdam, another
at Zealand, and the third at Enchuifen. Thefe veffels fet fail in the year 1594, to pafs
around if poflible by Norway, Mofcovy, and Tartary, and proceed to China.
The veflel equipped at Amiterdam had for chief-pilot William Barentfz, of thetown of
Schelling, avery {kilful mariner. He took. with him a fifherman of the fame town, with
-his bark, to keep him company, in cafe the other two veflels fhould be feparated from him.
Thefe veflels having departed from the Texel on the fifth of June, arrived on the
twenty-third of the fame month, at the ifland of Kilduin in Mofcovy.
During the night of the fourth of July, Barentfz obferved the altitude, the fun
being at the loweft point, that is to fay N. E. half E. and he found he was in the latitude
of 73° 25/.* They then failed five or fix leagues from the land under Novaya Zemlia,
and having again obferved the altitude, they bore to the eaft.
* It appears at the conclufion of this journal that Barentfz was {eparated from the other two veflels, and
as they all joined in latitude 69°, it is very probable they were feparated at leaving Kilduin; fo that here-
after the navigation alone of the veflel of Barentfz with the bark-of the fifherman is inquired into
When
VOL. Io M
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