[543] A North Pole Projection Map
This highly decorative map, projected from the North Pole, has been drawn to to illustrate the voyage and tracks of Willem Barents who, in 1596 attempted to find a way to the east via the Northeast Passage. In fact, as the map and following illustrations show, he and his men never got further east than Novaya Zemblya, where they spent the winter months in darkness. The numerous embellishments and vignettes include three compass roses, title and dedication cartouches partially blank, sailing ships and various sea creatures, also a Laplanders sleigh pulled by reindeer, are all based on the slightly larger and earlier map of the same region by Hessel Gerritsz, cartographer to the Dutch East India Company.
Map 2
(27.6x36.0), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 (German Edition) and in
1601 (Lastin Edition), although the text on the map for both editions is the
same and in Latin: 
http://www.septentrionalium.com/entry47.pdf
[513v] A Map of ‘Nova Zembla’
This highly decorative little map shows Barents’ track in search of a North-east passage, from Lapland to the north of Novaya Zemlya, where his ship was trapped in the ice and his crew survived the winter. The following plates illustrate some of the difficulties encountered on this pioneering journey. The sea area is decorated with two ornate compass roses, sailing ships and many strange creatures. The title appears at top left and scalebar with dividers at lower right, both of which are contained within ornate strap work cartouches. This map appears to derive from an original, engraved by Gerad Veer, published in Amsterdam in 1598.
On verso of
Plate 58 (17.5x24.2), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German
text, and in 1601 with Latin text:
[491] The Dutch encounter a bear in the Polar Sea
In 1596, while Willem Barents was searching for a north-east passage, some of his crew saw and shot a polar bear near Bernfort, to the north of Novaya Zemlya. Then they gave chase but it took to the water and tried to get into their rowing boat instead. It was only the noose of a rope thrown over its neck, which had caught on the rudder, that prevented the beast from getting into their boat and attacking them.
Plate 36
(14.1x18.0), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text, and in
1601 with Latin text:
[492] A life-like illustration of the fabled creatures called walruses
While anchored off Orange Island to the north of Novaya Zemlaya, they saw about two-hundred walruses sunning themselves on the beach. The were miraculous seal-like creatures with rough hair, bigger than horses, and two teeth, half a yard long, protruding from their mouths with which they took revenge on those that annoyed them. They tried to harvest some of their tusks but found them impossible to kill.
Plate 37
(14.1x17.9), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text
and in 1601 with Latin text:
[493] A map of the Straits of Nassau
This map shows the sea-route or passage, with anchorages and soundings, south of Novaya Zemlya, into the Kara Sea. Here, as shown, about fifty-four men disembarked at Traen Bay, in the hope of meeting others but all they found were foot-prints and several sledges, loaded with furs of foxes, reindeer, bears and other animals. There was also fish-lard and other goods but not a person in sight, so they eventually returned to their ships.
Plate 38
(13.6x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text,
and in 1601 with Latin text:
[494] How a monster bear attacked two of their company
After landing on an island in the Kara Sea, which they called ‘Ständen’, as shown in the previous illustration, they discovered there certain small stones, not unlike diamonds. While searching for these stones, one of the men was attacked from behind by a bear. Twenty of the others immediately ran to help him but it was too late, so they killed the bear and peeled off its skin, which they eventually took back with them to Amsterdam.
Plate 39
(14.3x17.3), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text, and in
1601 with Latin text:
[495] The wonderful vision they saw in the sky
During their third sea-voyage to the north, they noticed a miraculous sky. As shown in the illustration, this heavenly vision consisted of three suns and various rainbows. Some time later they came across a monstrous bear on the ice-flows so, intending to catch it, they took to their boats in pursuit and threw a rope around its neck. Although they attacked it with axes, one of which became embedded in its back, it turned on them, broke their oars and struck the boat so hard it nearly capsized.
Plate 40
(14.1x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text, and in
1601 with Latin text:
http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/wbarentsz04.htm
[496] An exact depiction of wild Eskimos
They discovered some people called Samvites, at a place known as Waygat to the south of Novaya Zemlya. They thought at first these people must be Savages but, when they spoke with them, they turned out to be worthy folk of a friendly disposition. They were small in build, with wide, flat faces and small eyes. Also their knees were more prominent than usual. They grew their hair long and tied it at the back in plaits. They were dressed from head to foot in furs and used pairs of reindeer to draw their sledges, which proved to be faster than horses.
Plate 41
(13.7x17.8) from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text, and in
1601 with Latin text:
[497] How their ship became trapped in the ice
While sailing through those northern seas, they were confronted by so much ice that they considered returning to Holland. But soon they were trapped and could not move, either backwards or forwards. So the men climbed down to try to hack away the ice but it split in two and three of them were nearly drowned. The ice-flow that they were on eventually drifted back to the ship and with help from the others they were able to scramble aboard.
Plate 42
(13.6x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[498] An encounter with two bears
No sooner had they placed a barrel of salted meat on the ice beside the ship, intending to water it down, than two bears arrived to help themselves. They shot one through the head and it fell to the ground but the other, seeing that its mate was dead, hesitated a little and then ran off. Soon it returned however and came right up to the ship where they confronted it with halberds and muskets. It reared itself up to its full height and, although it was shot, it simply turned and fled.
Plate 43
(13.7x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text
and in 1601 with Latin text:
http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/wbarentsz04.htm
[499] How our ship became ice-bound
They desperately hoped the ice that held their ship would eventually break apart and leave an open passage to let them through, but the longer they waited the more they became entrapped. Then, with great power and much noise, the ice began to lift their ship four or five feet above the water. With increasing dismay they saw that the ice would destroy her before their very eyes, so they hoisted her flags as a danger signal to their companions who had gone ahead. Having filled their boats with many barrels of provisions they took to the ice themselves in the hope that their provisions would keep them from starvation.
Plate 44 (13.6x17.8),
from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in 1601 with
Latin text:
http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/wbarentsz04.htm
[500] How we constructed our home for the winter
Realising there was no way of escaping the ice until the following summer they set about finding a suitable place on an island to build a house. God had been good to them, for they eventually found a place where whole trees had been washed up onto the shore, and these gave them enough timber, not only to construct their dwelling for the winter, but also firewood to keep them warm. However, it became so bitterly cold that they could hardly work at all and if they held a nail in their mouths for a moment, the skin from their lips would come away when they tried to remove it.
Plate 45
(13.6x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[501] What happened to them while collecting supplies from their ship
Having almost finished building their house for the winter, some of the men took sledges to their ship, stranded on the ice, to collect supplies. On the way they were confronted by three bears, so they quickly abandoned the sledge and sought refuge in the ship. On the way, one of the men fell through a hole in the ice but luckily the bears chased the others to the ship, where they were driven away with clubs and halberds.
Plate46
(13.7x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[502] How they spent the winter indoors
The house in which they were obliged to spend the winter had a fire in the centre of the room. Directly above it, in the centre of the ceiling, was an opening in the form of a chimney. Their beds were formed from wooden benches, partitioned off, running along the sides of the walls. To one side of the room stood a large barrel-like container that served as a sauna in which they took baths whenever they wanted them. Not far from this stood a clock, which failed to chime because of the bitter cold. Instead, they had to use an hourglass. The sand ran through it once every twelve hours but they had to watch it carefully as there was no natural light. They hardly knew day from night, so they had a bright lamp burning perpetually and they kept occupied with singing, reading and other activities.
Plate 47
(13.8x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[503] Hunting during the winter
During the winter they sometimes went out to check the traps left around the house in order to catch foxes. Once, while freeing a trap from the ice, they spied a large bear creeping towards them. One of the men fired at the bear and the shot passed straight through its heart. It staggered back thirty paces before falling to the ground. Then it was shot twice more before they set about skinning it. Its skin measured nine paces in length and seven across and they obtained one hundred pounds of lard from the bear, which proved to be very useful fuel for burning.
Plate 48
(14.2x17.3), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[504] After the winter was over
During the winter it was not possible to venture out far. In the month of May they went to see if the ice around the coast of their miserable island had melted. They found their boats were no longer sea-worthy, so they were advised to repair and renovate them. While busy working on them they were constantly pestered by bears and the only way to get rid of them was by musket-fire.
Plate 49
(14.1x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[505] How they dragged their boats and equipment to the sea
On completing the repairs of their boats they began to drag them towards the seashore. The ground on the way was so uneven with the snow and ice that had built up during the winter, that they had to cut it smooth with their pickaxes and shovels. This work was extremely exhausting, made all the harder by interference from bears.
Plate 50
(13.8x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[506] They begin their return voyage
After many difficulties they eventually cut a smooth pathway to the sea. Thus they were able to drag their two boats and all their provisions down to the sea for launching. Now being the right time of the year and, under the good leadership of Willem Barents and Nichol Andreassen, the men finally departed that desolate and inhospitable island. They thanked Almighty God that at last they could begin their long voyage back to their native land.
Plate 51
(13.8x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[507] How they nearly perished in the ice flow
They had travelled for only three days when the ice became such a hazard for their boats that they were obliged to jump out onto the ice themselves. By jumping from ice-flow to ice-flow they were able to drag their boats through with ropes, until they eventually found solid ice. Their boats became damaged and two of their crew were injured, so they laid them out on the ice while they repaired the boats. With God’s grace, they were eventually able to set off again.
Plate 52
(13.9x17.7), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/wbarentsz04.htm
[508] Further dangers on the ice with bears
After being compelled to land on solid ice once more, they placed the sails over the boats in a tent-like fashion. Then, while one man stood guard, the others rested for a while. At about midnight three bears appeared and as soon as they heard the guard’s warning the others were ready with their muskets. They shot one bear down and the other two fled, but soon returned to feed off their dead companion. Again they fired to drive the bears off.
Plate 53 (13.7x17.6), from Part III(p), first
published in 1599 with German text and in 1601 with Latin text:
[509] Further dangers from walruses
On passing Admiralty Island, on the west coast of Novaya Zemlaya, they came across an ice pack with about two hundred walruses resting on it. They sailed closer in a most foolhardy manner, the walruses turned on them and tried to attack the boat with their great tusks. With a terrific snorting and roaring, they acted as though they wanted to swallow the men whole. With the help of a brisk wind and God’s mercy, they were able to escape with their lives and continue on their way.
Plate 54
(14.1x17.8), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[510] They encounter two Russian vessels
After a long time at sea they spied two boats moored by the shore and took a chance to investigate. On landing nearby they became fearful when they spied about thirty Russians but they received the visitors kindly as they approached. They indicated to them that they were suffering from scurvy by pointing to their mouths, the Russians thought they must be hungry instead and gave them a dried fowl and a large loaf, weighing about eight pounds. They thanked the Russians heartily and gave them some of their ship’s biscuits and bread in return. The next day they bade them farewell and left.
Plate 55
(14.3x17.3), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[511] How their two boats became separated
While sailing south they encountered a storm in the middle of the night and were forced to lower their sail to half-mast. At first light they realised they had become separated from their companions in the other boat, who had few provisions, and were worried that they had perished in the storm. Later they met a ship with Russians aboard, from whom they were able to buy necessary provisions. They learnt the good news from the Russians that their companions in the other boat had also bought provisions from them so they were extremely relieved.
Plate 56
(13.5x17.5), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
http://www.ub.uit.no/northernlights/eng/wbarentsz04.htm
[512] How they crossed the Polar Sea and reached Lapland
After crossing the Polar Sea, they arrived in Lapland, where they encountered heavy rains. Being so unexpected, they entered a river and sheltered behind a cliff but encountered there a great Russian ship and several small houses. There were thirteen Russian men living there in poverty who went out fishing every day. They lived off fish and bread made from dried fishmeal and kept three women with children and two Laplanders, treating them badly by feeding them only on fish-heads and tails. This picture illustrates the clothing they all wore and how they carried their children. The story ends happily though because it was here that they again met up with their lost companions.
Plate 57
(13.5x17.5), from Part III(p), first published in 1599 with German text and in
1601 with Latin text:
[690] A short description of a voyage in search of a Northeast passage
This describes, among other voyages, the countries of the ‘Samoeds’ and ‘Tingoes’ in the land of the Tartars during the crossing at Weigates, recently discovered by the Moscovites. The central title panel is surrounded by engravings of Eskimos, a full-length portrait of Henry Hudson, a polar bear, a walrus and a sledge, drawn by reindeer, among other Arctic scenes.
Title Page
(28.3x16.5), from Part X(p), first published in 1613 with German or Latin text:
[691] A map of the island of ‘Wardhusium’ situated in Lapland
Here, the settlement on this island is shown with individual buildings, including a church and nearby, a fort. There are sailing ships and boats in the sea area and a compass rose, showing north to the left.
Plate 1
(12.9x26.9), from Part X(p), first published in 1613 with German and Latin
text:
[692] An island in Lapland called ‘Rilduin’
This shows the layout of the island of Rilduin, along with its important town and harbour in Lapland. It was discovered by the Dutch, under the guidance of Jan van Linschoten in 1594. ‘A’ is the east side of the island, ‘B’ the west side, ‘C’ is a canal, two miles long and half a mile wide, and ‘D’ is the harbour in latitude 69° 40' north and its depth is 14 to 15 fathoms. The plate includes two bird’s-eye views of the island showing the layout of an Eskimo village, complete with igloos, kayaks, Eskimos and so on. The Dutch fleet is shown moored in the harbour.
Plate 2
(19.8x18.1), from Part X(p), first published in 1613 with German or Latin text:
[693] A sledge journey to the Samojed Gods
The ‘Samojed’ people are a primitive folk, living on the Obi River. Having neither bread, nor corn, they sustain themselves on wild animals. They shoot very well, making their bows and arrows out of tough pliable wood. Their arrows are tipped with fish-bone and sharpened by flint stones. They also use fishbone for needles and make their clothing from animal skins, wearing the fur outside the skin in the summer but turning it inwards for the winter and they cover their houses with deerskin. When these people travel, they use a special kind of sledge, pulled by reindeer that look like our stags. They worship strange gods, made of wood placed in the ground, some of which are decorated with several faces. Sometimes there are deer antlers placed in the ground nearby and they pray or make strange offering to them.
Plate 3
(12.7x17.0), from Part X(p), first published in 1613 with German or Latin text:
The End of this Geographical Category