The Navigation and discoverie toward the river of Ob, made by Master Steven Burrough, Master of the Pinnesse called the Serchthrift, with divers things worth the noting passed in the yere 1556.
WE departed from Ratcliffe to Blackewall the 23 of April.
Satturday being S. Markes day, we departed from Blackewall to Grays.
The 27 being Munday, the right Worshipfull Sebastian
Cabota came aboord our Pinnesse at
Gravesende, accompanied with divers Gentlemen, and Gentlewomen, who
after that they had viewed our Pinnesse, and tasted of
such cheere as we could make them aboord, they went
on shore, giving to our mariners right liberall rewards:
and the good olde Gentleman Master Cabota gave to the
poore most liberall almes, wishing them to pray for the
good fortune, and prosperous successe of the Serchthrift,
our Pinnesse. And then at the signe of the Christopher,
hee and his friends banketted, and made me, and them
that were in the company great cheere: and for very joy
that he had to see the towardnes of our intended discovery, he entred into the dance himselfe, amongst the
rest of the young and lusty company: which being ended,
hee and his friends departed most gently, commending us
to the governance of almighty God.
Tuesday we rode still at Gravesend
, making provision
for such things as we wanted.
Wednesday in the morning we departed from Gravesende, the winde being at Southwest, that night we came
to an anker thwart our Lady of Hollands.
Thursday at three of the clocke in the morning we
weyed, and by eight of the clocke, we were at an anker
in Orwell
wannes, and then incontinent I went aboord
the Edward Bonaventure, where the worshipfull company
of marchants appointed me to be, untill the sayd good
ship arrived at Wardhouse. Then I returned againe into
the pinnesse.
Friday the 15 of May we were within 7 leagues of
the shore, on the coast of Norway
: the latitude at a
South sunne, 58 degrees and a halfe, where we saw three
sailes, beside our owne company: and thus we followed
the shoare or land, which lieth Northnorthwest, North
and by West, and Northwest and by North, as it doth
appeare by the plat.
Saturday at an East sunne we came to
S. Dunstans
Island, which Island I so named. It was off us East
two leagues and a halfe, the wind being at Southeast:
the latitude this day at a South sunne 59 degrees, 42
minutes. Also the high round mountaine bare East of
us, at a south sunne: and when this hill is East of you,
and being bound to the Northward, the land lyeth North
and halfe a point Westerly, from this sayd South sunne,
unto a North sunne twenty leagues Northwest alongst
the shoare.
Upon Sunday at sixe of the clocke in the morning, the
farthest land that we could see that lay Northnorthwest,
was East of us three leagues, and then it trended to the
Northwards, and to the Eastwards of the North, which
headland I judged to be Scoutsnesse. At seven of the
clocke we changed our course and went North, the wind
being at
Southsoutheast, and it waxed very thick and
mistie, and when it cleered, we went Northnortheast.
At a South sunne we lost sight of the Serchthrift, because
of the mist, making our way North. And when we lost
sight of the shoare and pinnesse, we were within two
leagues & a halfe of the shoare: the last land that
we saw when this mist came upon us, which is to the
Northwards of Scowtsnesse, lay Northnortheast, and
Southsouthwest, and we made our way North untill a
west sunne five leagues.
From that untill Munday three a clocke in the morning
ten leagues Northnortheast: and then we went North
and by East, because the winde came at the Westsouthwest with thicke miste: the latitude this day at a South
sunne sixtie three degrees and a halfe truely taken: at
this season we had sight of our Pinnesse againe.
From that untill Tuesday a South sunne Northnortheast fortie foure leagues, and then Northeast. From a
South sunne untill eight of the clocke, fifteene leagues
Northeast.
From that untill Wednesday a South sunne North
northeast, except the first watch Northeast: then had we
the latitude in sixtie seven degrees, thirtie nine minutes.
From that unto a Northwest sunne eighteen leagues
Northeast, & then we were within two leagues off the
shore, and saw the high land to the Southwards of Lowfoot breake out through the mist, and then we went
North and by east.
From the sayd Northwest sunne untill foure of the
clocke in the morning North and by East ten leagues
and a halfe: and then Northnortheast untill a South
sunne, the latitude being sixtie nine degrees, and a halfe.
From that untill halfe an houre past seven of the clocke,
Northnortheast eleven leagues and a halfe, and then we
went Northeast ten leagues. From that 3 leagues and a
halfe Eastnortheast, and then we sawe the land through
the cloudes and hazie thwart on the broad side of us the
winde being then at
Southsouthwest.
From that untill Saturday, at eight of the clocke in
the morning Eastnortheast, and to the Northwards fortie
eight leagues, and then the wind came up at North, wee
being aboord the shore, and thwart of the Chappel, which
I suppose is called Kedilwike: then we cast the shippes
head to the seawards, because the winde was verie scant:
and then I caused the Pinnesse to beare in with the
shore, to see whether she might find an harborough for
the ships or not, and that she found and saw two roaders
ride in the sound: and also they sawe houses. But
notwithstanding, God be praysed, the winde enlarged
upon us, that we had not occasion to goe into the
harborough: and then the Pinnesse bare her Myssen
mast over boord with flagge and all, and lost the flagge:
with the mast there fell two men over boord, but God
be praised, they were saved: the flagge was a token,
whereby we might understand whether there were a good
harbour there or not.
At a North sunne the
North cape (which I so named
the first voyage) was thwart of us, which is nine leagues
to the Eastwards of the foresayd Chappel from the
Eastermost point of it.
June.
THE sunday we weied in Corpus Christi Bay, at a Northeast and by East sunne: the Bay is almost halfe a league
deepe: the headland which is Corpus Christi point, lyeth
Southeast and by East, one league from the head of the
Bay, where we had a great tyde, like a race over the
flood: the Bay is at the least two leagues over: so doe
I imagine from the fayre foreland to Corpus Christi poynt
ten leagues Southeast and by East: It floweth in this
Bay, at a South and by West moone full sea. From that
we went untill seven a clocke at after noone twentie
leagues Southeast and by South: and then we tooke in
all our sailes, because it was then very mistie, and also
we met with much ice that ran out of the Bay, and then
wee went Southsoutheast with our foresayle: at eight
of the clocke, we heard a piece of ordinance, which was
out of the Edward, which bade us farewell, and then we
shot off another piece, and bade her farewell: wee could
not one see the other, because of the thicke miste: at
a Northwest sunne it began somewhat to cleere, and
then we sawe a head lande, and the shoare trended to
the Southwestward, which I judged to be about
Crosse
Island: it was off us at a Northnorthwest sunne, Westsouthwest.
From this Northnorthwest sunne, untill Munday, we
went Southeast, and this morning we came at anker
among the shoales that lie off of point Looke out, at a
Northeast and by East sunne, the wind being at
Eastsoutheast. At this poynt Looke out, a south Moone
maketh a full sea.
Cape good fortune lyeth from the
Isle of Crosses Southeast, and betweene them is tenne
leagues: point Looke out lieth from
Cape Good fortune
Eastsoutheast, and betweene them are sixe leagues. S.
Edmonds point lieth from point Looke out Eastsoutheast,
and halfe a point to the Southwards, and betweene them
are sixe leagues. There is betweene these two points,
a Bay that is halfe a league deepe, and is full of shoales
and dangers. At a Southeast sunne we weyed, and
turned to the windwards, the winde being at
Eastsoutheast: and at a Southeast sunne, we came to an anker,
being then a full sea, in five fadoms and a halfe water.
It hieth at this place where we roade, and also at point
Looke out, foure fadome water. At a Westnorthwest
sunne we weyed, and drived to the windewards, untill
Tuesday, a Northnortheast sunne, and then being a
high water, we came to an anker open of the
river Cola,
in eight fadome water.
Cape S. Bernard lyeth from S.
Edmonds point, Southeast and by South, and betwixt
them are sixe leagues, and also betwixt them is the
River
Cola, into which River wee went this evening.
Wednesday we roade still in the sayd river, the winde
being at the north: we sent our skiffe aland to be dressed:
the latitude of the mouth of the
river Cola is sixtie five
degrees, fortie and eight minutes.
Thursday at 6 of the clocke in the morning, there
came aboord of us one of the Russe Lodiaes, rowing
with twentie oares, and there were foure and twenty men
in her. The master of the boate presented me with a
great loafe of bread, and sixe ringes of bread, which they
call Colaches, and foure dryed pikes, and a pecke of
fine otemeale, and I gave unto the Master of the boate,
a combe, and a small glasse: and he declared unto me,
that he was bound to Pechora, and after that, I made
them to drinke, the tide being somewhat broken, they
gently departed. The Masters name was Pheodor.
Whereas the tenth day I sent our Pinnesse on shoare
to be mended, because she was leake, and weake, with
the Carpenter and three men more to helpe him, the
weather chanced so, that it was Sunday before they
could get aboord our shippe. All that time they were
without provision of victuals, but onely a little bread,
which they spent by Thursday at night, thinking to have
come aboord when they had listed, but winde and weather
denied them: insomuch that they were faine to eate
grasse, and such weedes as they could finde then above
grounde, but fresh water they had plentie, but the meate
with some of them could scant frame by reason of their
queazie stomackes.
From Thursday at afternoone, untill Sunday in the
morning, our barke did ride such a road sted that it
was to be marvelled, without the helpe of God, how she
was able to abide it.
In the bight of the Southeast shoare of the
river Cola,
there is a good roade in five fadome, or foure fadome
and a halfe, at a lowe water: but you shall have no land
Northnortheast of you then. I proved with our pinnesse,
that the depth goeth on the Southeast shoare.
Thursday we weyed our ankers in the
River Cola, and
went into the Sea seven or eight leagues, where we
met with the winde farre Northerly, that of force it
constrained us to goe againe backe into the sayd river,
where came aboord of us sundry of their Boates, which
declared unto me that they were also bound to the northwards, a fishing for Morse, and Salmon, and gave me
liberally of their white and wheaten bread.
As we roade in this river, wee sawe dayly comming
downe the river many of their Lodias, and they that had
least, had foure and twenty men in them, and at the last
they grew to thirtie saile of them: and amongst the rest,
there was one of them whose name was Gabriel, who
shewed me very much friendshippe, and he declared unto
mee, that all they were bound to Pechora, a fishing for
Salmons, and Morses: insomuch that hee shewed mee
by demonstrations, that with a faire winde wee had seven
or eight dayes sailing to the
River Pechora, so that I was
glad of their company. This Gabriel promised to give
mee warning of shoales, as hee did indeede.
Sunday being the one and twentieth day, Gabriel gave
me a barrell of Meade, and one of his speciall friends
gave me a barrell of beere, which was caryed upon mens
backes at least 2 miles.
Munday we departed from the
river Cola, with all the
rest of the said Lodias, but sailing before the wind,
they were all too good for us: but according to promise,
this Gabriel and his friend did often strike their sayles,
and taried for us forsaking their owne company.
Tuesday at an Eastnortheast sunne we were thwart
of
Cape S. John. It is to be understood, that from the
Cape S. John unto the river or bay that goeth to Mezen,
it is all sunke land, and full of shoales and dangers, you
shall have scant two fadome water, and see no land.
And this present day wee came to an anker thwart of a
creeke, which is 4 or 5 leagues to the Northwards of
the sayd Cape, into which creeke Gabriel and his fellow
rowed, but we could not get in: and before night there
were above 20 saile that went into the sayd creeke, the
wind being at the Northeast. We had indifferent good
landfang.
This afternoone Gabriel came aboord with his skiffe,
and then I rewarded him for the good company that he
kept with us over the shoales with two small ivory
combes, and a steele glasse, with two or three trifles
more, for which he was not ungratefull. But notwithstanding, his first company had gotten further to the
Northwards.
Wednesday being Midsummer day, we sent our skiffe
aland to sound the creeke, where they found it almost
drie at a low water. And all the Lodais within were on
ground.
Although the harborough were evil, yet the stormie
similitude of Northerly winds tempted us to set our sayles,
& we let slip a cable and an anker, and bare with the
harborough, for it was then neere a high water: and
as alwaies in such journeis varieties do chance, when
we came upon the barre in the entrance of the creeke,
the wind did shrink so suddenly upon us, that we were
not able to lead it in, and before we could have flatted
the shippe before the winde, we should have bene on
ground on the lee shore, so that we were constrained
to let fall an anker under our sailes, and rode in a very
breach, thinking to have warpt in. Gabriel came out
with his skiffe, and so did sundry others also, shewing
their good will to helpe us, but all to no purpose, for
they were likely to have bene drowned for their labour,
in so much that I desired Gabriel to lend me his anker,
because our owne ankers were two big for our skiffe to
lay out, who sent me his owne, and borrowed another
also and sent it us. Then we layd out one of those
ankers, with a hawser which he had of 140 fadom long,
thinking to have warpt in, but it would not be: for as
we shorted upon ye saide warpe the anker came home,
so that we were faine to beare the end of the warpe,
that we rushed in upon the other small anker that Gabriel
sent aboord, and layd that anker to seawards: and then
betweene these two ankers we traversed the ships head
to seawards, and set our foresaile and maine sayle, and
when the barke had way, we cut the hawser, and so gate
the sea to our friend, and tryed out al that day with our
maine corse.
The Thursday we went roome with
Cape S. John, where
we found indifferent good rode for a Northnortheast
wind, and for a neede, for a North and by West winde.
Friday at afternoone we weyed, and departed from
thence, the wether being meetly faire, & the winde at
Eastsoutheast, and plied for the place where we left our
cable and anker, and our hawser: & as soone as we
were at an anker, the foresaid Gabriel came aboord of
us, with 3 or foure more of their small boats, and brought
with them of their Aquavitae & Meade, professing unto
me very much friendship, and rejoiced to see us againe,
declaring that they earnestly thought that we had bene
lost. This Gabriel declared unto me, that they had saved
both the ankers and our hauser, and after we had thus
communed, I caused 4 or 5 of them to goe into my cabbin,
where I gave them figs, and made them such cheere as
I could. While I was thus banketing of them, there came
another of their skiffes aboord with one who was a Keril,
whose name afterwards I learned, & that he dwelt in
Colmogro, & Gabriel dwelled in the towne of Cola, which
is not far from the rivers mouth. This foresaid Keril
said unto me that one of the ankers which I borowed was
his, I gave him thanks for the lone of it, thinking it had
bene sufficient. And as I continued in one accustomed
maner, that if the present which they brought were worth
enterteinment, they had it accordingly, he brought nothing
with him, & therfore I regarded him but litle. And thus
we ended, & they took their leave and went a shore. At
their comming ashore, Gabriel and Keril were at unconvenient words, and by the eares, as I understand: the
cause was because the one had better enterteinment then
the other: but you shal understand that Gabriel was not
able to make his party good, because there were 17 lodias
of the Kerils company who tooke his part, and but 2 of
Gabriels company.
The next high water Gabriel and his company departed
from thence, and rowed to their former company and
neighbours, which were in number 28 at the least, and
all of them belonging to the
river Cola.
And as I understood Keril made reckoning that the
hawser which was fast in his anker should have bene his
owne, and at first would not deliver it to our boat, insomuch that I sent him worde that I would complaine upon
him, whereupon he delivered the hawser to my company.
The next day being Saturday, I sent our boat on shore
to fetch fresh water and wood, and at their comming on
shore this Keril welcomed our men most gently, and also
banketed them: and in the meane time caused some of
his men to fill our baricoes with water, and to help our
men to beare wood into their boat: and then he put on
his best silke coate, and his coller of pearles, and came
aboord againe, & brought his present with him: and thus
having more respect unto his present then to his person,
because I perceived him to be vainglorious, I bade him
welcome, and gave him a dish of figs: and then he
declared unto me that his father was a gentleman, and
that he was able to shew me pleasure, and not Gabriel,
who was but a priests sonne.
After their departure from us we weied, and plyed all
the ebbe to the windewards, the winde being Northerly,
& towards night it waxed very stormie, so that of force
we were constrained to go roome with
Cape S. John
againe, in which storme wee lost our skiffe at our sterne,
that wee bought at Wardhouse, and there we rode until
the fourth of July. The latitude of
Cape S. John is 66
degrees 50 minutes. And it is to be noted, that the land
of
Cape S. John is of height from the full sea marke, as
I judge, 10 fadomes, being cleane without any trees growing, & also without stones or rockes, and consists onely
of blacke earth, which is so rotten, that if any fall into
the sea, it will swimme as though it were a piece of wood.
In which place, about three leagues from the shore you
shall not have above 9 fadom water, and clay ground.
Julie.
SATURDAY at a Northnorthwest sunne the wind came at
Eastnortheast, & then we weied, and plied to the Northwards, and as we were two leagues shot past the Cape,
we saw a house standing in a valley, which is dainty to
be seene in those parts, and by and by I saw three men
on the top of the hil. Then I judged them, as it afterwards proved, that they were men which came from some
other place to set traps to take vermin for their furres,
which trappes we did perceive very thicke alongst the
shore as we went.
Sunday at an East sunne we were thwart off the creeke
where the Russes lay, and there came to an anker, and
perceiving the most part of the Lodias to be gone we
thought it not good to tary any longer there, but weyed
and spent all the ebbe, plying to the windewards.
Munday at a South sunne it was high water. All
alongst the coast it floweth little, onely a South moone
makes a full sea: and as we were a weying we espied
the Russe Lodias, which we first lost. They came out
of a creeke amongst the sandy hilles, which hilles beginne
15 leagues Northnortheast from
Cape S. John.
Plying this ebbe to an end, we came to an anker, 6
leagues Northnortheast from the place where we saw
the Russes come out: and there the Russes harboured
themselves within a soonke banke, but there was not water
enough for us.
At a North sunne we weyed and plied to the Northwards, the land lying Northnortheast, and Southsouthwest, untill a South sunne, and then we were in the
latitude of 68 degrees & a halfe: and in this latitude
ende those sandy hilles, and the land beginneth to lie
North and by West, South and by East, and Northnorthwest, and to the Westwards, and there the water
beginneth to waxe deepe.
At a Northwest sunne we came to an anker within
halfe a league of the shore, where wee had good plenty
of fish, both Haddocks and Cods, riding in 10 fadom
water.
Wednesday we weyed, and plyed neerer the headland,
which is called Caninoz, the wind being at East and by
North.
Thursday the wind being scant we turned to windwards
the ebbe, to get about Caninoz: the latitude this day
at noone was 68 degrees 40 minutes.
Friday we turned to the windward of the ebbe, but to
no purpose: and as we rode at an anker, we saw the
similitude of a storme rising at
Northnorthwest, & could
not tell where to get rode nor succor for that winde, and
harborough we knew none: & that land which we rode
under with that winde was a lee shore. And as I was
musing what was best to be done, I saw a saile come
out of a creeke under the foresayd Caninoz, which was
my friend Gabriel, who forsooke his harborough and
company, and came as neere us as he might, and pointed
us to the Eastwards, & then we weyed and followed him,
and went East and by South, the wind being at
Westnorthwest, and very mistie.
Saturday we went Eastsoutheast & followed Gabriel,
and he brought us into an harborough called Morgiovets,
which is 30 leagues from Caninoz, & we had upon the
barre going in two fadome and a fourth part: and after
we were past in over the barre, it waxed deeper, for we
had 5 fadoms, 4 and a half, and 3 fadom &c. Our barke
being mored, I sent some of our men to shoare to provide
wood, where they had plenty of drift wood, but none
growing: and in this place we found plenty of young
foule, as Gulles, Seapies, and others, whereof the Russes
would eate none, whereof we were nothing sory, for there
came the more to our part.
Sunday our men cut wood on shoare, and brought it
aboord, and wee balasted our shippe with stones.
This morning Gabriel saw a smoke on ye way, who
rowed unto it with his skiffe, which smoke was two
leagues from the place where we road: and at a Northwest sunne he came aboord again, and brought with him
a Samoed, which was but a young man: his apparell
was then strange unto us, and he presented me with three
young wild geese, and one young barnacle.
Munday I sent a man to the maine in Gabriels boat,
and he brought us aboord 8 barricoes of fresh water:
the latitude of the said Morgiovets is sixtie eight degrees
and a terce. It floweth there at a Southsouthwest moone
full sea, and hyeth two fadome and a halfe water.
At a Westnorthwest sunne we departed from this place,
and went East 25 leagues, and then saw an
Island North
and by West of us eight leagues, which Island is called
Dolgoieve: and from the Eastermost part of this Island,
there lyeth a sand East and by South 7 leagues long.
Wednesday at a North and by East sunne Swetinoz
was South of us 5 leagues. This day at afternoone we
went in over the dangerous barre of Pechora, and had
upon the barre but one fadome water.
Thursday we road still.
Friday I went on shoare and observed the variation
of the Compasse, which was three degrees and a halfe
from the North to the West: the latitude this day was
sixtie nine degrees ten minutes.
From two or three leagues to the Eastward of Swetinoz,
untill the entering of the
river Pechora, it is all sandy
hilles, and towards Pechora the sandie hilles are very
low.
It higheth on the barre of Pechora foure foote water,
& it floweth there at a Southwest moone a full sea.
Munday at a North & by East sunne, we weyed, and
came out over the sayd dangerous barre, where wee had
but five foote water, insomuch that wee found a foote
lesse water comming out then wee did going in. I thinke
the reason was, because when we went in the winde was
off the sea, which caused the sands to breake on either
side of us, and wee kept in the smoothest betweene the
breaches, which we durst not have done, except we had
seene the Russes to have gone in before us: and at our
comming out the winde was off the shoare, and fayre
weather, and then the sands did not appeare with breaches
as at our going in: we thanke God that our ship did
draw so little water.
When we were a seaboord the barre the wind scanted
upon us, and was at
Eastsoutheast, insomuch that we
stopped the ebbes, and plyed all the floods to the windewards, and made our way Eastnortheast.
Tuesday at a Northwest sunne we thought that we
had seen land at East, or East & by North of us: which
afterwards prooved to be a monstrous heape of ice.
Within a little more then halfe an houre after, we first
saw this ice, we were inclosed within it before we were
aware of it, which was a fearefull sight to see: for, for
the space of sixe houres, it was as much as we could doe
to keepe our shippe aloofe from one heape of ice, and
beare roomer from another, with as much wind as we
might beare a coarse. And when we had past from the
danger of this ice, we lay to the Eastwards close by the
wind.
The next day we were againe troubled with the ice.
Thursday being calme, we plyed to the windwards,
the winde being Northerly. We had the latitude this
day at noone in 70 degrees 11 minutes.
We had not runne past two houres Northwest, the
wind being at
Northnortheast and Northeast and by
North a good gale, but we met againe with another heape
of ice: we wethered the head of it, and lay a time to
the seawards, and made way West 6 leagues.
Friday at a Southeast sunne we cast about to the
Eastwards, the wind being at
Northnortheast: the latitude this day at noone was 70 degrees 15 minutes.
On S. James his day bolting to the windewardes, we
had the latitude at noone in seventy degrees twentie
minutes. The same day at a Southwest sunne, there was
a monstrous Whale aboord of us, so neere to our side
that we might have thrust a sworde or any other weapon
in him, which we durst not doe for feare hee should
have overthrowen our shippe: and then I called my
company together, and all of us shouted, & with the crie
that we made he departed from us: there was as much
above water of his backe as the bredth of our pinnesse,
and at his falling downe, he made such a terrible noyse
in the water, that a man would greatly have marvelled,
except hee had knowen the cause of it: but God be
thanked, we were quietly delivered of him. And a little
after we spied certaine Islands, with which we bare, and
found good harbor in 15 or 18 fadome, and black oze:
we came to an anker at a Northeast sunne, & named the
Island S. James his Island, where we found fresh water.
Sunday, much wind blowing we rode still.
Munday I went on shoare and tooke the latitude, which
was 70 degrees 42 minutes: the variation of the compasse was 7 degrees and a halfe from the North to the
West.
Tuesday we plyed to the Westwards alongst the shoare,
the wind being at Northwest, and as I was about to come
to anker, we saw a sayle comming about the point, wherunder we thought to have ankered. Then I sent a skiffe
aboord of him, and at their comming aboord, they tooke
acquaintance of them, and the chiefe man said hee had
bene in our company in the
river Cola, and also declared
unto them that we were past the way which should bring
us to the Ob. This land, sayd he, is called Nova
Zembla, that is to say, the New land: and then he came
aboord himselfe with his skiffe, and at his comming aboord
he told mee the like, and sayd further, that in this Nova
Zembla is the highest mountaine in the worlde, as he
thought, & that Camen Boldshay, which is on the maine
of Pechora, is not to be compared to this mountaine,
but I saw it not: he made me also certaine demonstrations
of the way to the Ob, and seemed to make haste on his
owne way, being very lothe to tarie, because the yeere
was farre past, and his neighbour had fet Pechora, and
not he: so I gave him a steele glasse, two pewter spoones,
and a paire of velvet sheathed knives: and then he seemed
somewhat the more willing to tary, and shewed me as
much as he knew for our purpose: he also gave me 17
wilde geese, and shewed me that foure of their lodias were
driven perforce from Caninoze to this Nova Zembla.
This mans name was Loshak.
Wednesday, as we plied to the Eastwards, we espied
another saile, which was one of this Loshaks company,
and we bare roome, and spake with him, who in like sort
tolde us of the Ob, as the other had done.
Thursday, we plied to the Eastwards, the winde being
at
Eastnortheast.
Friday, the gale of winde began to increase, and came
Westerly withall, so that by a Northwest sunne we were
at an anker among the
Islands of Vaigats, where we saw
two small lodias, the one of them came aboord of us, and
presented me with a great loafe of bread: and they told
me that they were all of Colmogro, except one man that
dwelt at Pechora, who seemed to be the chiefest among
them in killing of the Morse.
There were some of their company on shoare, which
did chase a white beare over the high clifs into the water,
which beare the lodia that was aboord of us killed in our
sight.
This day there was a great gale of wind at North, and
we saw so much ice driving a seaboord, that it was then
no going to sea.
August.
SATURDAY I went ashore, and there I saw three morses
that they had killed: they held one tooth of a Morse,
which was not great, at a roble, and one white beare skin
at three robles & two robles: they further tolde me, that
there were people called Samoeds on the great Island, and
that they would not abide them nor us, who have no
houses, but onely coverings made of Deersskins, set over
them with stakes: they are men expert in shooting, and
have great plenty of Deere.
This night there fell a cruell storme, the wind being at
Vest.
Sunday we had very much winde, with plenty of snow,
and we rode with two ankers a head.
Munday we weyed and went roome with another
Island, which was five leagues Eastnortheast from us: and
there I met againe with Loshak, and went on shore with
him, and hee brought me to a heap of the Samoeds idols,
which were in number above 300, the worst and the most
unartificiall worke that ever I saw: the eyes and mouthes
of sundrie of them were bloodie, they had the shape of
men, women and children, very grosly wrought, & that
which they had made for other parts, was also sprinckled
with blood. Some of their idols were an olde sticke with
two or three notches, made with a knife in it. I saw
much of the footing of the sayd Samoeds, and of the
sleds that they ride in. There was one of their sleds
broken, and lay by the heape of idols, & there I saw a
deers skinne which the foules had spoyled: and before
certaine of their idols blocks were made as high as their
mouthes, being all bloody, I thought that to be the table
wheron they offered their sacrifice: I saw also the instruments, whereupon they had roasted flesh, and as farre as I
could perceive, they make their fire directly under the spit.
Loshak being there present tolde me that these
Samoeds were not so hurtful as they of Ob are, and that
they have no houses, as indeede I saw none, but onely
tents made of Deers skins, which they underproppe with
stakes and poles: their boates are made of Deers skins,
and when they come on shoare they cary their boates with
them upon their backes: for their cariages they have
no other beastes to serve them, but Deere only. As for
bread and come they have none, except the Russes bring
it to them: their knowledge is very base, for they know
no letter.
Tuesday we turned for the harborough where Loshaks
barke lay, whereas before we road under an Island.
And there he came aboord of us and said unto me: if
God sende winde and weather to serve, I will goe to the
Ob with you, because the Morses were scant at these
Islands of Vaigats, but if he could not get to the river
of Ob, then he sayd hee would goe to the river of
Naramzay, where the people were not altogether so savage
as the Samoyds of the Ob are: hee shewed me that they
will shoot at all men to the uttermost of their power, that
cannot speake their speech.
Wednesday we saw a terrible heape of ice approch
neere unto us, and therefore wee thought good with al
speed possible to depart from thence, and so I returned to
the Westwards againe, to the Island where we were the
31. of July.
Thursday I went a shoare, and tooke the latitude,
which was 70 degrees 25 minutes: and the variation of
the compasse was 8 degrees from the North to the West.
Loshak and the two small Lodias of Pechora departed
from this Island, while I was on shoare taking the
latitude, and went to the Southwards: I marvailed why
he departed so suddenly, and went over the shoales
amongst the Islands where it was impossible for us to
follow them. But after I perceived them to be weatherwise.
Friday we road still, the winde being at
Northnortheast, with a cruell storme. The ice came in so abundantly
about us at both ends of the Island that we road under,
that it was a fearefull sight to behold: the storme continued with snow, raine, and hayle plenty.
Saturday we road still also, the storme being somewhat
abated, but it was altogether misty, that we were not
able to see a cables length about us, the winde being at
Northeast and by East.
Sunday at foure of the clocke in the morning we
departed from this Island, the winde being at Southeast,
and as we were cleere a sea boord the small Islandes and
shoales, it came so thick with mistes, that we could not
see a base shotte from us. Then we tooke in all our
sailes to make little way.
At a Southeast sunne it waxed cleere, and then we set
our sayles, and lay close by the wind to the Southwards
alongst the
Islands of Vaigats. At a west sunne we tooke
in our sayle againe because of the great mist and raine.
Wee sounded at this place, and had five and twenty
fadomes water, and soft blacke oze, being three leagues
from the shoare, the winde being at South and by East,
but still misty.
Munday at an East sunne we sounded, and had 40
fadomes, and oze, still misty: at noone wee sounded
againe, and had 36 fadome, still misty.
Tuesday at an Eastnortheast sunne we let fall our anker
in three and twenty fadome, the mist still continuing.
Wednesday at three of the clocke in the morning the
mist brake up, the wind being at Northeast & by East,
and then we saw part of the
Islands of Vaigats, which we
bare withall, and went Eastsoutheast close by the winde:
at a West sunne we were at an anker under the Southwest part of the said Vaigats, and then I sent our skiffe to
shoare with three men in her, to see if they might speake
with any of the Samoeds, but could not: all that day was
rainie, but not windie.
Thursday the wind came Westerly, so that we were
faine to seeke us another place to ride in, because the
wind came a seaboord land, and although it were misty,
yet wee followed the shoare by our lead: and as we
brought land in the winde of us, we let fall our anker.
At a West sunne the mist brake up, so that we might see
about us, and then we might perceive that we were entred
into a sound.
This afternoone we tooke in two or three skiffes lading
of stones to balast our shippe withall. It hyeth here
foure foot water, and floweth by fits, uncertaine to be judged.
Friday we road still in the sound, the wind at Southwest, with very much raine, and at the end of the raine it
waxed againe mistie.
Saturday there was much winde at West, and much
raine, and then againe mistie.
Sunday was very mistie, and much winde.
Munday very mistie, the winde at
Westnorthwest.
Tuesday was also mistie, except at noone: then the
sunne brake out through the mist, so that we had the
latitude in 70 degrees 10 minutes: the afternoone was
misty againe, the wind being at
Westnorthwest.
Wednesday at three of the clocke afternoone the mist
brake up, & the wind came at
Eastnortheast, and then we
weyed, and went South & by East, until seven of the
clocke, eight leagues, thinking to have had sight of the
sandie hilles that are to the Eastwards of the river
Pechora. At a Northwest sunne we took in our maine
saile, because the wind increased, & went with a foresaile
Westnorthwest, the wind being at
Eastnortheast: at night
there grewe so terrible a storme, that we saw not the like,
although we had indured many stormes since we came
out of England. It was wonderfull that our barke was
able to brooke such monstrous & terrible seas, without
the great helpe of God, who never fayleth them at neede,
that put their sure trust in him.
Thursday at a Southsouthwest sunne, thanks be to
God, the storme was at the highest, & then the winde
began to slake, and came Northerly withall, & then I
reckoned the Westermost point of the
river Pechora to
be South of us 15 leagues. At a Westsouthwest sunne
we set our maine sayle, and lay close by the winde, the
winde being at Northwest and by North, making but little
way, because the billow went so high: at midnight wee
cast about, and the shippe caped Northnortheast, making
little way.
Friday at noone we had the latitude in 70 degrees
8 minutes, and we sounded, and had 29 fadomes sand,
and in maner stremy ground. At a West sunne we cast
about to the Westwards, and a little after the wind came
up at West.
Saturday was calme: the latitude this day at noone was
70 degrees and a terce, we sounded heere, and had nine
and forty fadomes and oze, which oze signified that we
drew towards Nova Zembla.
And thus we being out of al hope to discover any more
to the Eastward this yeere, wee thought it best to returne,
and that for three causes.
The first, the continuall Northeast and Northerly winds,
which have more power after a man is past to the Eastwards of Caninoze, then in any place that I doe know in
these Northerly regions.
Second, because of great and terrible abundance of ice
which we saw with our eies, and we doubt greater store
abideth in those parts: I adventured already somewhat
too farre in it, but I thanke God for my safe deliverance
from it.
Third, because the nights waxed darke, and the winter
began to draw on with his stormes: and therefore I
resolved to take the first best wind that God should send,
and plie towards the bay of S. Nicholas, and to see if we
might do any good there, if God would permitt it.
This present Saturday we saw very much ice, and were
within two or three leagues of it: it shewed unto us as
though it had beene a firme land as farre as we might see
from Northwest off us to the Eastwards: and this afternoone the Lord sent us a little gale of wind at South, so
that we bare cleere off the Westermost part of it, thanks
be to God. And then against night it waxed calme
againe, and the winde was at Southwest: we made our
way untill Sunday noone Northwest and by West, and
then we had the latitude in 70 degrees and a halfe, the
winde at Southwest: there was a billow, so that we could
not discerne to take the latitude exactly, but by a
reasonable gesse.
Munday there was a pretie gale of wind at South, so
that wee went West and by South, the latitude this day at
noone was 70 degrees 10 minutes: wee had little winde
all day: at a Westnorthwest sunne we sounded, and had
29 fadoms blacke sandie oze, & then we were Northeast 5 leagues from the Northeast part of the
Island
Colgoieve.
Tuesday the wind all Westerly we plyed to the wind
wards.
Wednesday the wind was all Westerly, and calme: wee
had the latitude this day in 70 degrees 10 minutes, we
being within three leagues of the North part of the
Island
Colgoieve.
Thursday, we went roome about the Westermost part
of the Island, seeking where we might finde a place to
ride in for a Northwest wind, but could find none, and
then we cast about againe to the seawards, and the winde
came at
Westsouthwest, and this morning we had plenty
of snow.
Friday, the winde being at Southwest and by West, we
plied to the windewards.
Saturday, the winde being at South, we plyed to the
Westwards, and at afternoone the mist brake up, and then
we might see the land seven or eight leagues to the
Eastwards of Caninoz: we sounded a litle before and had
35. fadoms and oze. And a while after wee sounded
againe, and had 19. fadome and sand: then we were
within three leagues and a halfe of the shore, and towards
night there came downe so much winde, that we were
faine to bring our ship a trie, and laide her head to the
Westwards.
Sunday, the winde became more calme, and then it
waxed verie mystie: At noone wee cast about to the
Eastwards, the winde beeing at South, and ranne eight
houres on that boorde, and then we cast about and caped
West southwest: we sounded and had 32. fathomes, and
tough oaze like clay.
Munday, we doubled about Caninoze, and came at an
anker there, to the intent that we might kill some fish if
God would permit it, and there we gate a great Nuse,
which Nuses were there so plentie, that they would
scarcely suffer any other fish to come neere the hookes:
the said Nuses caried away sundrie of our hookes and
leads.
A litle after at a West Sunne, the winde began to blow
stormie at West southwest, so that we were faine to wey
and forsake our fishing ground, and went close by the
winde Southwest, and Southwest and by West, making
our way South southwest.
September.
TUESDAY at a West Sunne we sounded and had 20.
fathoms, and broken Wilkeshels: I reckoned Canonize
to be 24. leagues Northnortheast from us.
The eleventh day we arrived at Colmogro, and there
we wintered, expecting the approch of the next Sommer
to proceede farther in our intended discoverie for the
Ob: which (by reason of our imploiments to Wardhouse
the next spring for the search of some English ships) was
not accordingly performed.
