are raised with stones and Whale bones, and a skinne layd ouer them, to
with stand the raine, or other weather: the entrance of them being not much
vnlike an Ouens mouth, whereto I thinke they resort for a time to fish,
hunt, and foule, and so leaue them vntil the next time they come thither
again.
[Sidenote: Their weapons of defence.] Their weapons are bowes, arrowes,
darts, and slings. Their bowes are of wood of a yard long, sinewed at the
back with strong sinews, not glued too, but fast girded and tyed on. Their
bow strings are likewise sinewes. Their arrowes are three pieces nocked
with bone, and ended with bone, with those two ends, and the wood in the
midst, they passe not in length halfe a yard or little more. They are
fethered with two fethers the penne end being cut away, and the fethers
layd vpon the arrow with the broad side to the wood; insomuch that they
seeme when they are tyed on, to haue foure fethers. [Sidenote: Three sorts
of heads to their arrowes.] They haue also three sorts of heads to those
arrowes: one sort of stone or yron, proportioned like to a heart: the
second sort of bone, much like vnto a stopt head, with a hooke on the same:
the third sort of bone likewise made sharpe at both sides, and sharpe
pointed. They are not made very fast but lightly tyed to, or else set in a
nocke, that vpon small occasion the arrowes leaue these heads behind them:
and they are of small force, except they be very neere when they shoote.
[Sidenote: two sorts of darts.] Their Darts are made of two sorts: the one
with many forkes of bones in the fore end and likewise in the midst: their
proportions are not much vnlike our toasting yrons, but longer: these they
cast out of an instrument of wood, very readily. The other sort is greater
then the first aforesayd, with a long bone made sharpe on both sides not
much vnlike a Rapier, which I take to bee their most hurtfull weapon.
[Sidenote: Two sortes of boates made of leather.] They haue two sorts of
boats made of leather, set out on the inner side with quarters of wood,
artificially tyed with thongs of the same: the greater sort are not much
vnlike our wherries, wherein sixteene or twenty men may sit: they haue for
a sayle drest the guts of such beasts as they kill very fine and thinne,
which they sew together: the other boate is but for one man to sit and row
in with one oare.
[Sidenote: They vse to foule, fish, and hunt.] Their order of fishing,
hunting, and fouling are with these said weapons; but in what sort, or how
they vse them we haue no perfect knowledge as yet.
[Sidenote: It is to be supposed that their inhabiting is elsewhere.] I can
suppose their abode or habitation not to be here, for that neither their
houses or apparell, are of such force to withstand the extremity of cold,
that the Countrey seemeth to be infected with all: neither do I see any
signe likely to performe the same.
Those houses or rather dennes which stand there, haue no signe of footway,
or any thing else troden, which is one of the chiefest tokens of
habitation. And those tents which they bring with them, when they haue
sufficiently hunted and fished, they remoue to other places: and when they
haue sufficiently stored them of such victuals, as the Countrey yeeldeth or
bringeth forth, they returne to their winter stations or habitations. This
coniecture do I make, for the infertility which I coniecture to be in that
Countrey.
[Sidenote: Their vse of yron.] They haue some yron whereof they make arrow
heads, kniues, and other little instruments, to worke their boates, bowes,
arrowes, and darts withall, which are very vnapt to doe any thing withall
but with great labour.
It seemeth that they haue conuersation with some other people, of whom for
exchange they should receiue the same. They are greatly delighted with any
thing that is bright, or giueth a sound.
[Sidenote: Anthropophagi.] What knowledge they haue of God, or what Idoll
they adore, we haue no perfect intelligence, I thinke them rather
Anthropophagi, or deuourers of mans flesh then otherwise: for that there is
no flesh or fish which they find dead (smell it neuer so filthily) but they
will eate it, as they finde it without any other dressing. A loathsome
thing, either to the beholders or hearers.
There is no maner of creeping beast hurtfull, except some Spiders (which as
many affirme, are signes of great store of gold) and also certaine stinging
Gnattes, which bite so fiercely, that the place where they bite shortly
after swelleth, and itcheth very sore.
They make signes of certaine people that weare bright plates of gold in
their foreheads, and other places of their bodies.
[Sidenote: Description of the Countreis.] The Countreys on both sides the
streights lye very high with rough stony mountaines, and great quantitie of
snow thereon. There is very little plaine ground and no grasse, except a
little which is much like vnto mosse that groweth on soft ground, such as
we get Turffes in. There is no wood at all. To be briefe there is nothing
fit or profitable for the vse of man, which that Countrey with roote
yeeldeth or bringeth forth: Howbeit there is great quantity of Deere, whose
skins are like vnto Asses, there heads or hornes doe farre exceede, as well
in length as also in breadth, any in these our parts or Countreys: their
feete likewise are as great as our oxens, which we measured to be seuen or
eight ynches in breadth. There are also hares, wolues, fishing beares, and
sea foule of sundry sorts.
As the Countrey is barren and vnfertile, so are they rude and of no
capacitie to culture the same to any perfection; but are contented by their
hunting, fishing, and fouling, with raw flesh and warme blood to satisfie
their greedy panches, which is their only glory.
[Sidenote: A signe of Earthquakes or thunder.] There is great likelihood of
Earthquakes or thunder: for that there are huge and monstrous mountaines,
whose greatest substance are stones, and those stones so shaken with some
extraordinarie meanes that one is separated from another, which is
discordant from all other Quarries.
[Sidenote: No riuers, but such as the Sunne doth cause to come of Snow.]
There are no riuers or running springs, but such as through the heate of
the Sunne, with such water as decendeth from the mountaines and hilles,
whereon great drifts of snow do lie, are engendred.
[Sidenote: A probability that there should be neither spring or riuer in
the ground.] It argueth also that there should be none: for that the earth,
which with the extremitie of the Winter is so frosen within, that that
water which should haue recourse within the same to maintaine springs, hath
not his motion, whereof great waters haue their originall, as by experience
is seene otherwhere. Such valleis as are capable to receiue the water, that
in the Summer time by the operation of the Sunne decendeth from great
abundance of snowe, which continually lyeth on the mountaines and hath no
passage, sinketh into the earth and so vanisheth away, without any runnell
aboue the earth, by which occasion or continuall standing of the said
water, the earth is opened, and the great frost yeeldeth to the force
thereof, which in other places foure or fiue fathomes within the ground for
lacke of the said moisture, the earth (euen in the very summer time) is
frosen, and so combineth the stones together, that scarcely instruments
with great force can vnknit them.
Also where the water in those valleis can haue no such passage away, by the
continuance of time in such order as is before rehearsed, the yeerely
descent from the mountaines filleth them full, that at the lowest banke of
the same, they fall into the valley, and so continue as fishing Ponds or
Stagnes in Summer time full of water, and in the Winter hard frosen: as by
skarres that remaine thereof in Summer may easily be perceiued: so that the
heat of Summer is nothing comparable or of force to dissolue the extremitie
of cold that commeth in Winter.
[Sidenote: Springs nourish gold.] Neuerthelesse I am assured that below the
force of the frost within the earth, the waters haue recourse, and emptie
themselues out of sight into the Sea, which through the extremitie of the
frost are constrained to doe the same: by which occasion the earth within
is kept the warmer, and springs haue their recourse, which is the only
nutriment of golde and Minerals within the same.
There is much to be sayd of the commodities of these Countreys, which are
couched within the bowels of the earth, which I let passe till more perfect
triall be made thereof.
The 24. of August after we had satisfied our minds with fraight sufficient
for our vessels, though not our couetous desires with such knowledge of the
Countrey people, and other commodities as are before rehearsed, we departed
therehence. [Sidenote: Our departure from those Countreys.] The 17. of
September we fell with the lands end of England, and so sailed to Milford
Hauen, from whence our Generall rode to the Court for order, to what Port
or Hauen to conduct the ship.
[Sidenote: How and when we lost our 2. Barks which God neuerthelesse
restored.] We lost our two Barkes in the way homeward, the one the 29. of
August, the other the 21. of the same moneth, by occasion of great tempest
and fogge. Howbeit God restored the one to Bristowe, and the other made his
course by Scotland to Yermouth. In this voyage we lost two men, one in the
way by Gods visitation, and the other homeward cast ouer borde with a surge
of the Sea.
[Sidenote: The conclusion.] I could declare vnto the Readers, the latitude
and longitude of such places and regions as we haue bene at, but not
altogether so perfectly as our masters and others, with many circumstances
of tempests and other accidents incident to Sea-faring men, which seeme not
altogether strange, but I let them passe to their reports as men most apt
to set forth and declare the same. I haue also left the names of the
Countreys on both the shores vntouched, for lacke of vnderstanding the
peoples language: as also for sundry respects, not needfull as yet to be
declared.
Countreys new discovered where commoditie is to be looked for, doe better
accord with a new name giuen by the discouerers, then an vncertaine name by
a doubtfull Authour.
Our generall named sundry Islands, Mountaines, Capes, and Harboroughs after
the names of diuers Noble men and other gentlemen his friends, as wel on
the one shore as also on the other.
* * * * *
The third and last voyage vnto Meta Incognita, made by M. Martin Frobisher,
in the yeere 1578. Written by Thomas Ellis.
These are to let you know, that vpon the 25. of May, the Thomas Allen being
Viceadmirall whose Captaine was M. Yorke, M. Gibbes Master, Christopher
Hall Pilot, accompanied with the Reareadmiral named the Hopewel, whose
Captaine was M. Henrie Carewe, the M. Andrewe Dier, and certaine other
ships came to Grauesend, where wee ankered and abode the comming of our
Fleete which were not yet come.
The 27. of the same moneth our Fleete being nowe come together, and all
things prest in a readinesse, the wind fauouring, and tide seruing, we
being of sailes in number eight, waied ankers and hoised our sailes toward
Harwich to meete with our Admirall, and the residue which then and there
abode arriuall: where we safely arriued the 28. thereof, finding there our
Admirall, whom we with the discharge of certaine pieces saluted, acording
to order and duety, and were welcommed with the like courtesie: which being
finished we landed; where our Generall continued mustering his souldiers
and Miners, and setting things in order appertaining to the voyage vntill
the last of the said moneth of May, which day we hoised our sailes, and
committing ourselues to the conducting of Almightie God, we set forward
toward the west Countrey in such luckie wise and good successe, that by the
fift of Iune we passed the Dursies, being the vtmost part of Ireland to the
Westward.
And here it were not much amisse nor farre from our purpose, if I should a
little discourse and speake of our aduentures and chances by the way, as
our landing at Plimmouth, as also the meeting certaine poore men, which
were robbed and spoyled of all that they had by Pirates and Rouers: amongst
whom was a man of Bristow, on whom our Generall vsed his liberality, and
sent him away with letters into England.
But because such things are impertinent to the matter, I will returne
(without any more mentioning of the same) to that from the which I haue
digressed and swarued, I meane our ships now sailing on the surging seas,
sometime passing at pleasure with a wished Easterne wind, sometimes
hindered of our course againe by the Westerne blasts, vntill the 20. day of
the foresayd moneth of Iune, on which day in the morning we fell with
Frizeland, which is a very hie and cragged land and was almost cleane
couered with snow, so that we might see nought but craggie rockes and the
topes of high and huge hilles, sometimes (and for the most part) all
couered with foggie mists. There might we also perceiue the great Isles of
yce lying on the seas, like mountaines, some small, some big, of sundry
kinds of shapes, and such a number of them, that wee could not come neere
the shore for them.
Thus sailing alongst the coast, at the last we saw a place somewhat voyd of
yce, where our Generall (accompanied with certaine other) went a shore,
where they sawe certaine tents made of beasts skinnes; and boates much the
like vnto theirs of Meta Incognita. The tents were furnished with flesh,
fish, skins, and other trifles: amonst the which was found a boxe of
nailes: whereby we did coniecture, that they had either Artificers amongst
them, or els a traffike with some other nation. The men ran away, so that
wee coulde haue no conference or communication with them. [Sidenote: The
curtesie of our Generall.] Our Generall (because hee would haue them no
more to flee, but rather incouraged to stay through his courteous dealing)
gaue commaundement that his men should take nothing away with them, sauing
onely a couple of white dogs, for the which he left pinnes, poynts, kniues,
and other trifling things, and departed without taking or hurting any
thing, and so came abord, and hoysed sailes, and passed forwards.
But being scarce out of the sight thereof, there fell such a foggy and
hidious mist that we could not see one another: whereupon we stroke our
drums, and sounded our trumpets, to the ende we might keepe together: and
so continued all that day and night till the next day that the mist brake
vp: so that we might easily perceiue all the ships thus sailing together
all that day, vntil the next day, being the 22. of the same: on which day
wee sawe an infinite number of yce, from the which we cast about to shun
the danger thereof.
But one of our small Barkes named the Michael, whose Captaine was Master
Kinderslie, the master Bartholomew Bull, lost our company, insomuch that we
could not obteine the sight of her many dayes after, of whom I meane to
speak further anon when occassion shall be ministred, and opportunitie
serue. Thus we continued in our course vntill the second of Iuly, on which
day we fell with the Queenes foreland, where we saw so much yce, that we
thought it vnpossible to get into the Straights; yet at the last we gaue
the aduenture and entred the yce.
[Sidenote: The Michael. The Iudith. M. Fenton. Charles Iackman.] Being
amongst it wee sawe the Michael, of whom I spake before, accompanied with
the Iudith, whose Captaine was Master Fenton, the Master Charles Iackman,
bearing into the foresayd yce, farre distant from vs, who in a storme that
fell that present night, (whereof I will at large God willing, discourse
hereafter) were seuered from vs, and being in, wandred vp and downe the
Straights amongst the yce many dayes in great perill, till at the last, by
the prouidence of God, they came safely to harbor in their wished Port in
the Countesse of Warwicks sound, the 20. of Iuly aforesayd, tenne dayes
before any of the other shippes: [Sidenote: The Countesse of Warwicks
sound.] who going on shore found where the people of the Countrey had bene,
and had hid their provision in great heapes of stones being both of flesh
and fish, which they had killed; whereof wee also found great store in
other places after our arriual. They found also diuers engins, as bowes,
slings, and darts. They found likewise certaine pieces of the Pinnesse
which our Generall left there the yeere before, which Pinnesse he had
sunke, minding to haue it againe the next yeere.
Now seeing I haue entreated so much of the Iudith and the Michael: I will
returne to the rest of the other ships, and will speake a little of the
storme which fell, with the mishaps that we had, the night that we put into
the yce: whereof I made mention before.
[Sidenote: Our entrance and passage &c.] At the first entring into the yce
in the mouth of the Straights, our passage was very narrow, and difficult
but being once gotten in, we had a faire open place without any yce for the
most part, being a league in compasse, the yce being round about vs and
inclosing vs, as it were, within the pales of a parke. In which place,
(because it was almost night) we minded to take in our sailes, and lie a
hull all that night. But the storme so increased, and the waues began to
mount aloft, which brought the yce so neere vs, and comming on so fast vpon
vs, that we were faine to beare in and out, where we might espie an open
place. Thus the yce comming on vs so fast, we were in great danger, looking
euery houre for death. And thus passed we on in that great danger, seeing
both our selues and the rest of our ships so troubled and tossed amongst
the yce, that it would make the strongest heart to relent.
[Sidenote: Barke Dionyse.] At the last the Barke Dionyse being but a weake
ship, and bruised afore amongst the yce, being so leake that no longer she
could tarry aboue the water, sanke without sauing any of the goods which
were within her: which sight so abashed the whole Fleete, that we thought
verily we should haue tasted of the same sauce. But neuerthelesse we seeing
them in such danger, manned our boates and saued all men in such wise, that
not one perished: God be thanked.
[Sidenote: Narow shifts for safetie.] The storme still increased and the
yce inclosed vs, so that we were faine to take downe top and top mastes:
for the yce had so inuironed vs, that we could see neither land nor sea, as
farre as we could kenne: so that we were faine to cut our cables to hang
ouer boord for fenders, somewhat to ease the ships sides from the great and
driry strokes of the yce: some with Capstan barres, some fending off with
oares, some with plancks of two ynches thicke, which were broken immediatly
with the force of the yce, some going out vpon the yce to beare it off with
their shoulders from the ship. But the rigorousnes of the tempest was such,
and the force of the yce so great, that not onely they burst and spoyled
the foresaid prouision, but likewise so raised the sides of the ships, that
it was pitifull to behold, and caused the hearts of many to faint.
[Sidenote: Gods prouidence.] Thus we continued all that dismall and
lamentable night plunged in this perplexity, looking for instant death: but
our God (who neuer leaueth them destitute which call vpon him, although he
often punisheth for amendements sake) in the morning caused the winds to
cease, and the fogge which all that night lay on the face of the water to
cleare: so that we might perceiue about a mile from vs, a certaine place
cleare from any yce, to the which with an easie breath of wind which our
God sent vs, we bent our selues. And furthermore, hee prouided better for
vs then we deserued or hoped for: for when we were in the foresaid cleare
place, he sent vs a fresh gale at West or at West Southwest, which set vs
cleare without all the yce. And further he added more: for he sent vs so
pleasant a day as the like we had not of a long time before, as after
punishment consolation.
Thus we ioyfull wights being at libertie, tooke in all our sailes and lay a
hull, praysing God for our deliuerance, and stayed to gather together our
Fleete: which once being done, we seeing that none of them had any great
hurt, neither any of them wanted, sauing onely they of whom I spake before
and the ship which was lost, then at the last we hoised our sailes, and lay
bulting off and on, till such time as it would please God to take away the
yce that wee might get into the Straights.
[Sidenote: A mountaine of yce appearing in sundry figures.] And as we thus
lay off and on we came by a marueilous huge mountaine of yce, which
surpassed all the rest that euer we saw: for we iudged it to be neere
fourescore fathomes aboue water, and we thought it to be a ground for any
thing that we could perceiue, being there nine score fathoms deepe, and of
compasse about halfe a mile.
[Sidenote: A fog of long continuance.] Also the fift of Iuly there fell a
hidious fogge and mist, that continued till the nineteenth of the same: so
that one shippe could not see another. [Sidenote: A current to the
Northwest.] Therefore we were faine to beare a small sayle and to obserue
the time: but there ran such a current of a tide, that it set vs to the
Northwest of the Queenes foreland the backside of all the Straights: where
(through the contagious fogge hauing no sight either of Sunne or Starre) we
scarce knew where we were. In this fogge the tenth of Iuly we lost the
company of the Viceadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Busse of Bridgewater,
and the Francis of Foy.
[Sidenote: The Gabriel. The people offer to traffike with vs.] The 16. day
one of our small Barkes named The Gabriel was sent by our Generall to beare
in with the land to descrie it, where being on land, they met with the
people of the Countrey, which seemed very humane and ciuill, and offered to
traffike with our men, profering them foules and skins for kniues, and
other trifles: whose courtesie caused vs to thinke, that they had small
conuersation with other of the Straights.
Then we bare backe againe to goe with the Queenes foreland: and the
eighteenth day wee came by two Islands whereon we went on shore, and found
where the people had bene: but we saw none of them. This day we were againe
in the yce, and like to be in as great perill as we were at the first. For
through the darknesse and obscuritie of the fogie mist, we were almost run
on rocks and Islands before we saw them: But God (euen miraculously)
prouided for vs, opening the fogges that we might see clearely, both where
and in what danger we presently were, and also the way to escape: or els
without faile we had ruinously runne vpon the rocks.
When we knew perfectly our instant case, wee cast about to get againe on
Sea bord, which (God be thanked) by night we obtained and praised God. The
cleare continued scarce an houre, but the fogge fell againe as thicke as
euer it was.
[Sidenote: Warning pieces of safe passage discharged.] Then the
Rearadmirall and the Beare got themselues cleare without danger of yce and
rocks, strooke their sailes and lay a hull, staying to haue the rest of the
Fleet come forth: which as yet had not found the right way to cleare
themselues from the danger of rockes and yce, vntill the next morning, at
what time the Rearadmirall discharged certaine warning pieces to giue
notice that she had escaped, and that the rest (by following of her) might
set themselues free, which they did that day.
Then hauing gathered our selues togither we proceeded on our purposed
voyage, bearing off, and keeping our selues distant from the coast till the
19. day of Iuly; at which time the fogges brake vp and dispersed, so that
we might plainely and clearly behold the pleasant ayre, which so long had
bene taken from vs, by the obscuritie of the foggie mists: and after that
time we were not much incumbred therewith vntill we had left the confines
of the Countrey.