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CONCERNING THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE, 129
mora, or Maramarufa, by the Cimbri, according as the fame Pliny relates on the faith
of Philemon ; and that the tempeft had carried them to the coafts of Germany.
If all thefe things be true, it will be found that the relation of the Samoiedes, which
we have heretofore feen, is to be credited, and that it is of great importance, fince it
difclofes that the Ruffians every year, taking their opportunity to fail to a certain cape,
which they call Ugolita, beyond the river Obi, arrive there in five days by that fame fea
before it freezes ; {o that the voyages we would make by the north fhould be undertaken
by this fame route, which appears the moft expeditious and fure, till better difcoveries be
made, We fhould follow the example of Emanuel King of Portugal, who, before
equipping a fleet to proceed to the Eaft, difpatched perfons to reconnoitre the Red Sea,
and the routes from that fea to the Indies, in order to know its nature, and the gulfs
which might be there.
In the fame manner if we would with to pafs the Strait of Naflau, or of Weigats,
erfons fhould be fent at the public expence, who taking the opportunity of the voyage
made by the Ruffians every year, fhould join them in order to proceed in their com-
pany ; by this means we fhould afcertain if the fea beyond the Weigats is the great fea
of Tatary, or only a gulf, beyond which we cannot pafs: we thould know if Cape
‘Yabin be always frozen, or if it be poffible to fail beyond: we might, I fay, be informed
of all thefe things by the people inhabiting thofe climates, and who are acquainted with
them. d
In order to facilitate this enterprife, there fhould be difpatched a fhip of war of the
loweft rate, and not fo much attention paid to man it with a ftrong crew, as to compofe
the crew of officers and failors already accuftomed to fail in thofe climates. This veffel
fhould be ftored with provifions for a year, or even a longer time, and when arrived at
the ftrait, the place fhould be chofen which might be judged the moft proper to winter
in, from which there might be communication with the Ruflians and Samoiedes, and
where they fhould wait the time of the paflage of the Mofcovites. It would be well
alfo that fome of the Dutch who trade to Japan fhould come by that fide to Cape Tabin,
or at leaft to the places which are the moft neighbouring, and obferve the route and
the country. Thefe are the moft certain, and without doubt the only means, which
can be put in practice to clear up this great myftery, that is, whether veflels may there
meet with a paflage.
Tam aware that others are of opinion it would be furer to direé the courfe through
the main fea, and to fail around the northern coaft of Novaya Zemlia, to the latitude of
82° or thereabouts, becaufe the days and the fummer are longer there, the ice not fo
frequent, nor in fuch quantity along the coaft ; and in fine, becaufe the cold there is lefs
fevere than in lat. 76°, and below. J admit that all thefe things are thus on the globe,
which is extremely inclined and curved in this latitude, and which raifes the fun on the
horizon for nearly fix months. Neverthelefs there are two reafons why this opinion
fhould not be received. ‘The firft, that we have no knowledge of that climate, neither
if it be all fea, or if there alfo be lands and iflands. In the fecond place, fuppofing it
poilible to navigate there, the difficulty ftill remains the fame; that isto fay, that it is
neceflary to defcend from the latitude of 80° to the latitude of 70°, and below, and there
to fuffer the inconveniences and the rigour of the cold and mountains of ice, in the
mid{t of which we fhould find ourfelves; to remain feparated from all communication
with men in unknown countries; to be deprived of the brightnefs of the fun, to con-
tend with wild beafts; and finally, according to all appearance, miferably to perifh.
To this has been reduced the fuccefs of the voyages which have been undertaken to
the prefent time. The firft of thofe who vifited the northern coalt of America, was
VOL. I. s Nicolas
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