I want you to know about these men because they were your ancestors. If you have inherited any of their good qualities, make the best of them; they will prove to be worth while. If you have got your share of their bad ones, fight these as hard as you can; for they will lead you a merry chase before you get through.
Whatever you do, remember one lesson: "Keep on smiling."
Hendrik Willem van Loon.
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
February 29, 1916.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | Page | |
| [I] | JAN HUYGEN VAN LINSCHOTEN | 3 |
| [II] | THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE | 43 |
| [III] | THE TRAGEDY OF SPITZBERGEN | 87 |
| [IV] | THE FIRST VOYAGE TO INDIA—FAILURE | 97 |
| [V] | THE SECOND VOYAGE TO INDIA—SUCCESS | 135 |
| [VI] | VAN NOORT CIRCUMNAVIGATES THE WORLD | 159 |
| [VII] | THE ATTACK UPON THE WEST COAST OF AMERICA | 207 |
| [VIII] | THE BAD LUCK OF CAPTAIN BONTEKOE | 249 |
| [IX] | SCHOUTEN AND LE MAIRE DISCOVER A NEW STRAIT | 279 |
| [X] | TASMAN EXPLORES AUSTRALIA | 303 |
| [XI] | ROGGEVEEN, THE LAST OF THE GREAT VOYAGERS | 325 |