CHAP. I - Of the External Face and Appearance of Spitzbergen

Summary

The lowermost parts of these countries, that are called Spitzbergen, from the sharp or pointed hills or mountains (for Spitz is pointed), are situated under seventy-six degrees and thirty minutes. We sailed to the eighty-first degree, and no ship ventured farther that year; but how far this country is extended to the north, is still unknown.

It seemeth, because the ice stands firm and floats not, as that in the sea doth, that there should be land not far behind it. As the highest countries are surrounded by mountains, as a fortification is with walls and works, so are these countries naturally surrounded with high hills.

The inward condition of this country we do not know, but it seemeth, since we see one hill behind another, that it is so throughout, the whole country. At the Muscle-haven or Muscle-Bay, we find plainer or leveller ground; and the farther we sail toward the east, the ground groweth the lower, yet it is all stony, and with prospects of smaller hills; it doth not look at all as if it could be inhabited by men.

I believe also the land there must of necessity be lower and lower, for else we should see it higher above the other, as we do the other mountains.

Concerning the beasts that live on this land, I believe they come over the ice in the spring, when the ice stands firm, into these countries, and that the same way they go away from thence again, when the long nights begin.