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Narratives of Voyages Towards the North-West in Search of a Passage to Cathay and the Indies, with Select Extracts from the Early Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and other Writers

Jerome Blair

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Published in Narratives Of Voyages Towards The North West In Search Of A Passage To Cathay And India 1496 To 1631: With Selections From The Early Records Of The Honourable Museum (Hakluyt Society First Series)

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The search for a North-West Passage to Asia was one of the great quests of the Age of Exploration. For centuries, European explorers had been searching for a way to reach the fabled riches of Cathay (China) and the Indies (Southeast Asia) without having to sail around the treacherous Cape of Good Hope.

In the 16th century, the English began to take a leading role in the search for the North-West Passage. In 1576, Martin Frobisher led an expedition to Baffin Island, where he claimed to have found gold. In 1585, John Davis explored the Davis Strait, which he named after himself. And in 1609, Henry Hudson sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean.

Narratives of Voyages towards the North-West, in Search of a Passage to Cathay and India, 1496 to 1631: With Selections from the early Records of the Honourable ... Museum (Hakluyt Society, First Series)

by James Rosone

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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None of these expeditions were successful in finding a North-West Passage. But they did provide valuable information about the geography of the Arctic. And they helped to fuel the legend of the Northwest Passage, which continued to inspire explorers for centuries to come.

Early Voyages Towards the North-West

The earliest known attempt to find a North-West Passage was made by the Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real in 1500. Corte-Real sailed along the coast of Labrador, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. But he was unsuccessful, and he was eventually killed by the natives.

In 1534, the French explorer Jacques Cartier sailed into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, hoping to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean. Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River as far as Montreal, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific.

In 1576, the English explorer Martin Frobisher led an expedition to Baffin Island, where he claimed to have found gold. Frobisher's expedition was unsuccessful in finding a North-West Passage, but it did provide valuable information about the geography of the Arctic.

In 1585, the English explorer John Davis explored the Davis Strait, which he named after himself. Davis sailed as far as Baffin Island, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean.

In 1609, the English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Hudson explored Hudson Bay as far as James Bay, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific. Hudson's expedition was tragic. Hudson and his crew were abandoned by their shipmates and they died of starvation.

The Search for the North-West Passage in the 17th and 18th Centuries

The search for the North-West Passage continued in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1610, the English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Hudson explored Hudson Bay as far as James Bay, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific. Hudson's expedition was tragic. Hudson and his crew were abandoned by their shipmates and they died of starvation.

In 1612, the English explorer Thomas Button sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Button explored Hudson Bay as far as Roes Welcome Sound, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific.

In 1616, the English explorer William Baffin sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Baffin explored Hudson Bay as far as Foxe Basin, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific.

In 1741, the English explorer Christopher Middleton sailed into Hudson Bay, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Middleton explored Hudson Bay as far as Chesterfield Inlet, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific.

In 1773, the English explorer Samuel Hearne traveled overland from Hudson Bay to the Arctic Ocean, hoping to find a passage through to the Pacific Ocean. Hearne reached the Arctic Ocean, but he was unable to find a passage through to the Pacific.

The Discovery of the North-West Passage

The North-West Passage was finally discovered in 1846 by the English explorer John Franklin. Franklin sailed into Lancaster Sound and then sailed west through the Parry Islands. He reached the Beaufort Sea, and then sailed east along the coast of North America. He reached the Mackenzie River, and then sailed south to the Pacific Ocean. Franklin's expedition was the first to successfully navigate the North-West Passage.

The discovery of the North-West Passage was a major achievement in the history of exploration. It opened up a new route to Asia, and it made it possible to travel from Europe to Asia without having to sail around the Cape of Good Hope.

The North-West Passage Today

The North-West Passage is also a popular destination for tourists. There are a number of tour operators that offer cruises through the passage. Tourists can see the stunning scenery of the Arctic, and they can learn about the history of the exploration of the North-West Passage.

The search for the North-West Passage was one of the great quests of the Age of Exploration. For centuries, European explorers searched for a way to reach the fabled riches of Cathay (China) and the Indies (Southeast Asia) without having to sail around the treacherous Cape of Good Hope. The search for the North-West Passage was finally successful in 1846, when the English explorer John Franklin sailed through the passage. The discovery of the North-West Passage was a major achievement in the history of exploration, and it opened up a new route to Asia.

The North-West Passage is still used today by ships traveling between Europe and Asia. However, the passage is only passable during the summer months, when the ice is melted. In the winter months, the passage is closed by ice. The North-West Passage is also a popular destination for tourists. There are a number of tour operators that offer cruises through the passage. Tourists can see the stunning scenery of the Arctic, and they can learn about the history of the exploration of the North-West Passage.

by James Rosone

4.4 out of 5