Page 274
An.1686
Of the North-West and North-East Passages.
year obliged them to give over their search, and provide for a long course back again, for fear of being left in the Winter; on the contrary, I would search first on the less known Coasts of the South Sea side; and then, as the year past away, I should need no retreat, for I should come farther into my knowledge, if I succeeded in my attempt, and should be without that dread and fear which the others must have in passing from the known to the un- known; who for ought I know gave over their search just as they were on the point of accomplish- ing their desires.
I would take the same method if I was to go to discover the North East Passage. I would winter about Japan, Corea, or the North East part of Chi- na; and taking the Spring and Summer before me, I would make my first Trial on the Coast of Tar- tary: wherein, if I succeeded, I should come into some known parts; and have a great deal of time before me to reach Archangel or some other Port. Captain Wood, indeed says, this North East Passage is not to be found for Ice: but how often do we see that sometimes designs have been given over as impossible, and at another time, and by other ways, those very things have been accomplished? But e- nough of this.
The next day after that fatal Skirmish near Santa Pecaque Captain Swan ordered all our Water to be fill'd, and to get ready to sail. The 21st day we failed from hence, directing our course towards Ca- lifornia: we had the Wind at N. W. and W. N. W. a small gale, with a great Sea out of the West. We past by 3 Islands called the Maria's. After we past these Islands we had much Wind at N. N. W. and N. W., and at N. with thick rainy weather. We beat till the 6th day of February, but it was against a brisk Wind, and proved labour in vain. For we were now within reach of the Land Trade-wind, which