that these little vessels could resist the terrible icefields,
and return to England again with their hardy crews.

Then in 1585, another of our adventurous sailors, John Davis, of
Sandridge on the Dart, set sail with two barks, the Sunshine and
the Moonshine, of 50 and 35 tons respectively, and discovered in
the far North-west the Strait which now bears his name. He was
driven back by the ice; but, undeterred by his failure, he set
out on a second, and then on a third voyage of discovery in the
two following years. But he never succeeded in discovering the
North-west passage. It all reads like a mystery--these repeated,
determined, and energetic attempts to discover a new way of
reaching the fabled region of Cathay.

In these early times the Dutch were not unworthy rivals of the
English. After they had succeeded in throwing off the Spanish
yoke and achieved their independence, they became one of the most
formidable of maritime powers. In the course of another century
Holland possessed more colonies, and had a larger share of the
carrying trade of the world than Britain. It was natural
therefore that the Dutch republic should take an interest in the
North-west passage; and the Dutch sailors, by their enterprise
and bravery, were among the first to point the way to Arctic
discovery. Barents and Behring, above all others, proved the
courage and determination of their heroic ancestors.

The romance of the East India Company begins with an
advertisement in the London Gazette of 1599, towards the end of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth. As with all other enterprises of
the nation, it was established by private means. The Company was