| Summary: | This is a collection of accounts of voyages of exploration and trade to the Arctic Ocean and other parts of North America, as well as Asia. It describes navigation techniques in the Arctic, and illustrates the geography with several maps. Many of the lakes, rivers, and coastlines of North America are presented in great detail, such as Hudson's Bay, and a section of the Mississippi River. Animals and wildlife are also described, including several encounters with whales. There is an emphasis on the economic imperative for the royal families of France and Europe to harness the revenue which could come from land in North America. There are also descriptions of voyages to the Orient, particularly China, and the social practices and beliefs of those regions.
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