A learned Epistle written 1581. unto the famous Cosmographer M. Gerardus Mercator concerning the river
Pechora, Naramsay, Cara reca, the mighty river of Ob,
the place of Yaks Olgush in Siberia
, the great river
Ardoh, the lake of Kittay called of the borderers
Paraha, the Countrey of Carrah Colmak, giving good
light to the discovery of the Northeast passage to
Cathay, China
and the Malucaes.
To the famous and renowmed Gerardus Mercator, his
Reverend and singular friend at
Duisburgh in
Cliveland, these be delivered.
CALLING to remembrance (most deare Friend) what exceeding delight you tooke at our being together, in
reading the Geographicall writings of Homer, Strabo,
Aristotle, Plinie, Dion
, and the rest, I rejoyced not a
little that I happened upon such a messenger as the
bearer of these presents, (whom I do especially recommend unto you) who arrived lately here at Arusburg upon
the river of Osella. This mans experience (as I am of
opinion) will greatly availe you to the knowledge of a
certaine matter which hath bene by you so vehemently
desired, and so curiously laboured for, and concerning
the which the late Cosmographers do hold such varietie
of opinions: namely, of the discoverie of the huge promontorie of Tabin, and of the famous and rich countreys
subject unto the Emperor of Cathay, and that by the
Northeast Ocean sea. The man is called Alferius being
by birth a Netherlander, who for certaine yeeres lived
captive in the dominions of Russia
under two famous men
Yacovius and Unekius, by whom he was sent to Antwerp
to procure skilfull Pilots and Mariners, (by propounding
liberall rewards) to go unto the two famous personages
aforesayd, which two had set a Sweden Shipwright on
worke to build two ships for the same discoverie upon the
river of Dwina. The passage unto Cathay by the Northeast (as he declareth the matter, albeit without arte, yet
very aptly, as you may well perceive, which I request you
diligently to consider) is without doubt very short and
easie. This very man himselfe hath travelled to the river
of Ob, both by land, through the countreys of the
Samoeds, and of Sibier, and also by Sea, along the coast
of the river Pechora Eastward. Being encouraged by
this his experience he is fully resolved with himselfe to
conduct a Barke laden with merchandize (the keele
whereof hee will not have to drawe over much water) to
the Baie of Saint Nicholas in Russia
, being furnished with
all things expedient for such a discoverie, and with a new
supply of victuals at his arrivall there, and also to hire
into his companie certaine Russes best knowen unto himselfe, who can perfectly speake the Samoeds language,
and are acquainted with the river of Ob, as having
frequented those places yeere by yeere.
Whereupon about the ende of May hee is determined
to saile from the Baie of S. Nicholas Eastward, by the
maine of Joughoria, and so to the Easterly parts of
Pechora, & to the Island which is called Dolgoia. And
here also hee is purposed to observe the latitudes, to
survey and describe the countrey, to sound the depth of
the Sea, and to note the distances of places, where, and so
oft as occasion shall be offered. And forasmuch as the
Baie of Pechora is a most convenient place both for
harbour and victuall, as well in their going foorth as in
their returne home in regard of Ice and tempest, he is
determined to bestow a day in sounding the Flats, and in
searching out the best enterance for ships: in which place
heretofore he found the water to be but five foote deepe,
howbeit he doubteth not but that there are deeper chanels :
and then hee intendeth to proceed on along those coasts
for the space of three or foure leagues, leaving the Island
called Vaigats almost in the middle way betweene Ugoria
and Nova Zembla: then also to passe by a certaine Baie
betweene Vaigats and Ob, trending Southerly into the
land of Ugoria, whereinto fall two small rivers called
Marmesia and Carah, upon the which rivers doe inhabite
an other barbarous and savage nation of the Samoeds.
He found many Flats in that tract of land, and many
cataracts or overfals of water, yet such as hee was able
to saile by. When hee shall come to the river of Ob,
which river (as the Samoeds report) hath seventie
mouthes, which by reason of the huge breadth thereof
containing many and great Islands, which are inhabited
with sundry sortes of people, no man scarcely can well
discover, because he will not spend too much time, he
purposeth to search three or foure at the most of the
mouthes thereof, those chiefly which shall be thought
most commodious by the advise of the inhabitants, of
whom hee meaneth to have certaine with him in his
voyage, and meaneth to employ three or foure boates of
that Countrey in search of these mouthes, as neere as
possibly he can to the shore, which within three dayes
journey of the Sea is inhabited, that he may learne where
the river is best navigable. If it so fall out that he may
sayle up the river Ob against the streame, and mount up
to that place which heretofore accompanied with certaine
of his friends, he passed unto by land through the countrey of Siberia
which is about twelve dayes journey from
the Sea, where the river Ob falleth into the Sea, which
place is in the Continent neere the river Ob, and is called
Yaks Olgush, borowing his name from that mightie river
which falleth into the river Ob, then doubtlesse hee
would conceive full hope that hee had passed the greatest
difficulties: for the people dwelling thereabout report,
which were three dayes sayling onely from that place
beyond the river Ob, whereby the bredth thereof may be
gathered (which is a rare matter there, because that many
rowing with their boates of leather one dayes journey
onely from the shore, have bene cast away in tempest,
having no skill to guide themselves neither by Sunne nor
Starre) that they have seene great vessels laden with rich
and precious merchandize brought downe that great river
by blacke or swart people. They call that river Ardoh,
which falleth into the lake of Kittay, which they call
Paraha, whereupon bordereth that mighty and large nation
which they call Carrah Colmak, which is none other then
the nation of Cathay. There, if neede require, he may
fitly Winter and refresh himselfe and his, and seeke all
things which he shall stand in need of: which if it so fall
out, he doubteth not but in the meane while he shall be
much furthered in searching and learning out many things
in that place. Howbeit, he hopeth that hee shall reach
to Cathaya that very Sommer, unlesse he be hindered
by great abundance of Ice at the mouth of the river of
Ob, which is sometimes more, and sometimes lesse. If
it so fall out, hee then purposeth to returne to Pechora,
and there to Winter: or if he cannot doe so neither, then
hee meaneth to returne to the river of Dwina, whither he
will reach in good time enough, and so the next Spring
following to proceed on his voyage. One thing in due
place I forgate before.
The people which dwell at that place called Yaks
Olgush, affirme that they have heard their forefathers
say, that they have heard most sweete harmonie of bels
in the lake of Kitthay, and that they have seene therein
stately and large buildings: and when they make mention
of the people named Carrah Colmak (this countrey is
Cathay) they fetch deepe sighes, and holding up their
hands, they looke up to heaven, signifying as it were, and
declaring the notable glory and magnificence of that
nation. 1 would this Oliver were better seene in
Cosmographie, it would greatly further his experience, which
doubtlesse is very great. Most deare friend, I omit many
things, and I wish you should heare the man himselfe
which promised mee faithfully that he would visite you
in his way at Duisburg, for he desireth to conferre with
you, and doubtlesse you shall very much further the man.
He seemeth sufficiently furnished with money and friends,
wherein and in other offices of curtesie I offered him my
furtherance if it had pleased him to have used me. The
Lord prosper the mans desires and forwardnesse, blesse
his good beginnings, further his proceedings, and grant
unto him most happy issue. Fare you well good sir and
my singular friend. From Arusburg upon the river of
Ossella, the 20. of February, 1581.
Yours wholy at commandement,
John Balak.
MASTER Anthonie Jenkinson in a disputation before her
Majestie with sir Humfrey Gilbert for proofe of a passage
by the Northeast to Cathaya, among other things
alleageth this: videlicet, that there came a continuall
streame or currant through Mare glaciale, of such swiftnesse as a Colmak told him, that if you cast any thing
therein, it would presently be caried out of sight towards
the West, &c.
