for probabilities of the passage, and first found, that this place was all
Islands, with great sounds passing betweene them.
[Sidenote: Wee neuer came into any bay before or after, but the waters
colour was altered very blackish.] Secondly the water remained of one
colour with the maine ocean without altering.
Thirdly we saw to the West of those Isles three or foure whales in a skull,
which they iudged to come from a Westerly sea, because to the Eastward we
saw not any whale.
Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying Southwest, from whence
these whales came, vpon the sudden there came a violent counter-checke of a
tide from the Southwest against the flood which we came with, not knowing
from whence it was mainteined.
Fiftly, in sailing twenty leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had
sounding in 90 fadoms, faire grey osie sand, and the further we ran into
the Westwards the deeper was the water; so that hard aboord the shoare
among these Isles we could not haue ground in 330 fadoms.
Lastly, it did ebbe and flow sixe or seuen fadome vp and downe, the flood
comming from diuers parts, so as we could not perceiue the chiefe
maintenance thereof.
The 18 and 19 our Captaine and Master determined what was best to doe, both
for the safegard of their credits, and satisfying of the aduenturers, and
resolued, if the weather brake vp, to make further search.
The 20 the winde came directly against vs: so they altered their purpose,
and reasoned both for proceeding and returning.
The 21 the winde being Northwest, we departed from these Islands; and as we
coasted the South shoare we saw many faire sounds, whereby we were
perswaded that it was no firme land but Islands.
The 23 of this moneth the wind came Southeast, with very stormy and foule
weather: so we were constrained to seeke harborow vpon the South coast of
this entrance, where we fell into a very faire sound, and ankered in 25
fadoms greene osie sand. [Sidenote: Faulcons.] Here we went on shore, where
we had manifest signes of people where they had made their fire, and layed
stone like a wall. In this place we saw foure very faire faulcons; and M.
Bruton tooke from one of them his prey, which we iudged by the wings and
legs to be a snite, for the head was eaten off.
The 24 in the afternoone, the winde comming somewhat faire, we departed
from this road, purposing by Gods grace to returne for England.
[Sidenote: Their returne.] The 26 we departed from sight of the North land
of this entrance, directing our course homewards vntill the tenth of the
next moneth.
[Sidenote: September.] The 10. of September wee fell with The land of
desolation, thinking to goe on shoare, but we could get neuer a good
harborough. That night wee put to sea againe, thinking to search it the
next day: but this night arose a very great storme, and separated our
ships, so that we lost the sight of the Mooneshine.
[Sidenote: They saile from The land of desolation to England in 14. dayes.]
The 13. about noone (hauing tried all the night before with a goose wing)
we set saile, and within two houres after we had sight of the Mooneshine
againe: this day we departed from this land.
The 27. of this moneth we fell with sight of England. This night we had a
marueilous storme and lost the Mooneshine.
The 30. of September wee came into Dartmouth, where wee found the
Mooneshine being come in not two houres before.[89]
* * * * *
The second voyage attempted by M. Iohn Dauis with others, for the Discouery
of the Northwest passage, in Anno 1586.
The 7. day of May, I departed from the port of Dartmouth for the discouery
of the Northwest passage, with a ship of an hundred and twentie tunnes
named the Mermayd, a barke of 60. tunnes named the Sunneshine, a barke of
35. tunnes named the Mooneshine, and a pinnesse of tenne tunnes named the
North starre.
[Sidenote: Land discouered in 60. degrees.] And the 15. of Iune I
discouered land in the latitude of 60. degrees, and in longitude from the
Meridian of London Westward 47. degrees, mightily pestered with yce and
snow, so that there was no hope of landing; the yce lay in some places
tenne leagues, in some 20. and in some 50. leagues off the shore, so that
wee were constrained to beare into 57. degrees to double the same, and to
recouer a free Sea, which through Gods fauourable mercy we at length
obtained.
The 29. of Iune after many tempestuous storms we againe discouered land, in
longitude from the Meridian of London 58. degr. 30. min. and in latitude
64. being East from vs: into which course sith it please God by contrary
winds to force vs, I thought it very necessary to beare in with it, and
there to set vp our pinnesse, prouided in the Mermayd to be our scout for
this discouery, and so much the rather because the yere before I had bene
in the same place, and found it very conuenient for such a purpose, wel
stored with flote wood, and possessed by a people of tractable
conversation: so that the 29. of this moneth we arriued within the Isles
which lay before this land, lying North northwest, and South southeast, we
knew not how farre. This land is very high and mountainous, hauing before
it on the West side a mighty company of Isles full of faire sounds, and
harboroughs. This land was very little troubled with snow, and the sea
altogether voyd of yce.
[Sidenote: Gentle and louing Sauages.] The ships being within the sounds
wee sent our boates to search for shole water, where wee might anker, which
in this place is very hard to finde: and as the boat went sounding and
searching, the people of the countrey hauing espied them, came in their
Canoas towards them with many shoutes and cries: but after they had espied
in the boat some of our company that were the yeere before here with vs,
they presently rowed to the boate, and tooke hold on the oare, and hung
about the boate with such comfortable ioy, as would require a long
discourse to be uttered: they came with the boates to our ships, making
signes that they knewe all those that the yeere before had bene with them.
After I perceiued their ioy and small feare of vs, myselfe with the
Merchants and others of the company went a shoare, bearing with me twentie
kniues: I had no sooner landed, but they lept out of their Canoas and came
running to mee and the rest, and embraced vs with many signes of heartie
welcome: at this present there were eighteene of them, and to eche of them
I gaue a knife: they offered skinnes to me for reward, but I made signes
that they were not solde, but giuen them of courtesie: and so dismissed
them for that time, with signes that they should returne againe after
certaine houres.
[Sidenote: An 100 Canoas with diuers commodities.] The next day with all
possible speed the pinnesse was landed vpon an Isle there to be finished to
serue our purpose for the discouerie, which Isle was so conuenient for that
purpose, as that we were very wel able to defend ourselues against many
enemies. During the time that the pinesse was there setting vp, the people
came continually vnto vs sometime an hundred Canoas at a time, sometime
fortie, fiftie, more and lesse, as occasion serued. They brought with them
seale skinnes, stagge skinnes, white hares, Seale fish, salmon peale, smal
cod, dry caplin, with other fish, and birds such as the countrey did yeeld.
My selfe still desirous to haue a further search of this place, sent one of
the shipboates to one part of the land, and my selfe went to another part
to search for the habitation of this people, with straight commandement
that there should be no iniurie offered to any of the people, neither any
gunne shot.
[Sidenote: Images, trane oyle, and Seale skins in tan tubs.] The boates
that went from me found the tents of the people made with seale skinnes set
vp vpon timber, wherein they found great store of dried Caplin, being a
little fish no bigger than a pilchard: they found bags of Trane oyle, many
litle images cut in wood, Seale skinnes in tan-tubs, with many other such
trifles, whereof they diminished nothing.
[Sidenote: A plaine champion countrey. A goodly riuer.] They also found
tenne miles within the snowy mountaines a plaine champion countrey, with
earth and grasse, such our moory and waste grounds of England are: they
went vp into a riuer (which in the narrowest place is two leagues broad)
about ten leagues, finding it still to continue they knewe not howe farre:
but I with my company tooke another riuer, which although at the first it
offered a large inlet, yet it proued but a deepe bay, the ende whereof in
foure houres I attained, and there leauing the boat well manned, went with
the rest of my company three or foure miles into the countrey, but found
nothing, nor saw any thing; saue onely gripes, rauens, and small birds, as
larkes and linnets.
The third of Iuly I manned my boat, and went with fifty Canoas attending
vpon me vp into another sound where the people by signes willed mee to goe,
hoping to finde their habitation: at length they made signes that I should
goe into warme place to sleepe, at which place I went on shore, and
ascended the toppe of an high hill to see into the countrey, but perceiuing
my labour vaine, I returned againe to my boate, the people still following
me, and my company very diligent to attend vs, and to helpe vs vp the
rockes, and likewise downe: at length I was desirous to haue our men leape
with them, which was done, but our men did ouerleape them: from leaping
they went to wrestling, we found them strong and nimble, and to haue skil
in wrestling, for they cast some of our men that were good wrestlers.
The fourth of Iuly we lanched our pinnesse, and had fortie of the people to
help vs, which they did very willingly: at this time our men againe
wrestled with them, and found them as before, strong and skillfull.
[Sidenote: A graue with a crosse layd ouer. The Tartars and people of Iapon
are also smal eyed.] The fourth of Iuly the Master of the Mermayd went to
certaine Ilands to store himselfe with wood, where he found a graue with
diuers buried in it, only couered with seale skinnes, hauing a crosse laid
ouer them, The people are of good stature, wel in body proportioned, with
small slender hands and feet, with broad visages, and smal eyes, wide
mouthes, the most part vnbearded, great lips, and close toothed. Their
custome is as often as they go from vs, still at their returne to make a
new truce, in this sort, holding his hand vp to the Sun with a lowd voice
he crieth Ylyaoute, and striketh his brest with like signes, being promised
safety, he giueth credit. These people are much giuen to bleed, and
therefore stop their noses with deeres haire, or haire of an elan. They are
idolaters and haue images great store, which they weare about them, and in
their boats, which we suppose they worship. They are witches, and haue many
kinds of inchantments, which they often vsed, but to small purpose, thankes
be to God.
[Sidenote: Their maner of kindling fire like to theirs in America.] Being
among them at shore the fourth of Iuly, one of them making a long oration,
beganne to kindle a fire in this maner: he tooke a piece of a board wherein
was a hole halfe thorow: into that hole he puts the end of a round stick
like vnto a bedstaffe, wetting the end thereof in Trane, and in fashion of
a turner with a piece of lether, by his violent motion doeth very speedily
produce fire: [Sidenote: A fire made of turfes.] which done, with turfes he
made a fire, into which with many words and strange gestures, he put
diuerse things, which wee supposed to be a sacrifice: my selfe and diuers
of my company standing by, they were desirous to haue me go into the smoke,
I willed them likewise to stand in the smoke, which they by no meanes would
do. I then tooke one of them, and thrust him into the smoke, and willed one
of my company to tread out the fire, and to spurne it into the sea, which
was done to shew them that we did contemne their sorcery. [Sidenote: Great
theeues.] These people are very simple in all their conuersation, but
marueillous theeuish, especially for iron, which they haue in great
account. They began through our lenitie to shew their vile nature: they
began to cut our cables: they cut away the Moonelights boat from her
sterne, they cut our cloth where it lay to aire, though we did carefully
looke vnto it, they stole our oares, a caliuer, a boare speare, a sword,
with diuers other things, whereat the company and Masters being grieued,
for our better securitie, desired me to dissolue this new friendship, and
to leaue the company of these theeuish miscreants: whereupon there was a
caliuer shot among them, and immediatly vpon the same a faulcon, which
strange noice did sore amaze them, so that with speed they departed:
notwithstanding their simplicitie is such, that within ten hours after they
came againe to vs to entreat peace: which being promised, we againe fell
into a great league. They brought vs Seale skinnes, and sammon peale, but
seeing iron, they could in no wise forbeare stealing: which when I
perceiued, it did but minister vnto mee an occasion of laughter, to see
their simplicitie, and I willed that, in no case they should bee any more
hardly used, but that our owne company should be the more vigilant to keepe
their things, supposing it to be very hard in so short time to make them
know their euils. [Sidenote: Their rude diet.] They eate all their meat
raw, they liue most vpon fish, they drinke salt water, and eate grasse and
ice with delight: they are neuer out of the water, but liue in the nature
of fishes, saue only when dead sleepe taketh them, and then vnder a warme
rocke laying his boat vpon the land, hee lyeth downe to sleepe. [Sidenote:
Their weapons.] Their weapons are all darts, but some of them haue bow and
arrowes and slings. [Sidenote: Strange nets.] They make nets to take their
fish of the finne of a whale: they do their things very artificially:
[Sidenote: These Islanders warre with the people of the maine.] and it
should seeme that these simple theeuish Islanders haue warre with those of
the maine, for many of them are sore wounded, which wounds they receiued
vpon the maine land, as by signes they gaue vs to vnderstand. We had among
them copper oare, blacke copper, and red copper: [Sidenote: Copper oare.]
they pronounce their language very hollow, and deepe in the throat: these
words following we learned from them.
[Sidenote: Their language.]
Kesinyoh, Eate some.
Madlycoyte, Musicke.
Aginyoh, go fetch.
Yliaoute, I meane no harme.
Ponameg, A boat.
Paaotyck, An oare.
Asanock, A dart.
Sawygmeg, A knife.
Vderah, A nose.
Aoh, Iron.
Blete, An eye.
Vnuicke, Giue it.
Tuckloak, A stagge or ellan.
Panygmah, A neddle.
Aob, The Sea.
Mysacoah, Wash it.
Lethicksaneg, A seale skinne.
Canyglow, Kiss me.
Vgnera, My sonne.
Acu, Shot.
Conah, Leape.
Maatuke, Fish.
Sambah, Below.
Maconmeg, Will you haue this.
Cooah, Go to him.
Aba, fallen downe.
Icune, Come hither.
Awennye, Yonder.
Nugo, No.
Tucktodo, A fogge.
Lechiksa, A skinne.
Maccoah, A dart.
Sugnacoon, A coat.
Gounah, Come downe.
Sasobneg, A bracelet.
Vgnake, A tongue.
Ataneg, A seale.
Macuah, A beard.
Pignagogah, A threed.
Quoysah, Giue it to me.
The 7. of Iuly being very desirous to search the habitation of this
countrey, I went myselfe with our new pinnesse into the body of the land,
thinking it to be a firme continent, and passing vp a very large riuer, a
great flaw of winde tooke me, whereby wee were constrained to seeke succour
for that night, which being had, I landed with the most part of my company,
and went to the top of a high mountaine, hoping from thence to see into the
countrey: but the mountaines were so many and so mighty as that my purpose
preuailed not: [Sidenote: Muscles.] [Sidenote: A strange whirlwind.]
whereupon I againe returned to my pinnesse, and willing diuers of my
company to gather muscles for my supper, whereof in this place there was
great store, myselfe hauing espied a very strange sight, especially to me
that neuer before saw the like, which was a mighty whirlewinde taking vp
the water in very great quantitie, furiously mounting it into the aire,
which whirlewinde, was not for a puffe or blast, but continual, for the
space of three houres, with very little intermission, which sith it was in
the course that I should passe, we were constrained that night to take vp
our lodging vnder the rocks.
[Sidenote: Great Ilands.] The next morning the storme being broken vp, we
went forward in our attempt, and sailed into a mighty great riuer directly
into the body of the land, and in briefe, found it to be no firme land, but
huge waste, and desert Isles with mighty sounds, and inlets passing
betweene Sea and Sea. Whereupon we returned towards our shippes, and
landing to stoppe a floud, we found the burial of these miscreants; we
found of their fish in bagges, plaices, and calpin dried, of which wee
tooke onely one bagge and departed. The ninth of this moneth we came to our
ships, where we found the people desirous in their fashion, of friendship
and barter: [Sidenote: Slings.] our Mariners complained heauily against the
people, and said that my lenitie and friendly vsing of them gaue them
stomacke to mischiefe: for they haue stollen an anker from vs, they haue
cut our cable very dangerously, they haue cut our boats from our sterne,
and now since your departure, with slings they spare vs not with stones of
halfe a pound weight: and wil you stil indure these iniuries? It is a shame
to beare them. I desired them to be content, and said, I doubted not but
all should be wel. The 10. of this moneth I went to the shore, the people
following mee in their Canoas: I tolled them on shoare, and vsed them with
much courtesie, and then departed aboord, they following me, and my
company. I gaue some of them bracelets, and caused seuen or eight of them
to come aboord, which they did willingly, and some of them went into the
top of the ship: and thus curteously vsing them, I let them depart: the
Sunne was no sooner downe, but they began to practice they deuilish nature,
and with slings threw stones very fiercely into the Mooneshine, and strake
one of her men then boatswaine, that he ouerthrew withall: whereat being
moued, I changed my curtesie, and grew to hatred, my self in my owne boate
well manned with shot, and the barks boat likewise pursued them, and gaue
them diuers shot, but to small purpose, by reason of their swift rowing: so
smally content we returned.
The 11. of this moneth there came fiue of them to make a new truce: the
master of the Admiral came to me to shew me of their comming, and desired
to haue them taken and kept as prisoners vntill we had his anker againe:
but when he sawe that the chiefe ringleader and master of mischiefe was one
of the fiue, he then was vehement to execute his purpose, so it was
determined to take him: he came crying Iliaout, and striking his brest
offered a paire of gloues to sell, the master offered him a knife for them:
so two of them came to vs, the one was not touched, but the other was soone
captiue among vs: then we pointed to him and his fellowes for our anker,
which being had, we made signes that he should be set at libertie:
[Sidenote: One of the people taken which after dyed.] within one houre
after he came aboord the winde came faire, wherevpon we weyed and set
saile, and so brought the fellow with vs: one of his fellowes still
following our ship close aboord, talked with him and made a kind of
lamentation, we still vsing him wel with Yliaout, which was the common
course of curtesie. At length this fellow aboord vs spake foure or fiue
words vnto the other and clapped his two hands vpon his face, whereupon the
other doing the like, departed as we suppose with heauie chere. We iudged
the couering of his face with his hands and bowing of his body downe,
signified his death. At length he became a pleasant companion among vs. I
gaue him a new sute of frize after the English fashion, because I saw he
could not indure the colde, of which he was very ioyful, he trimmed vp his
darts, and all his fishing tooles, and would make okam, and set his hand to
a ropes end vpon occasion. He liued with the dry Caplin that I tooke when I
was searching in the pinnis, and did eate dry Newfoundland fish.
All this while, God be thanked, our people were in very good health, onely
one young man excepted, who dyed at sea the fourteenth of this moneth, and
the fifteenth, according to the order of the sea, with praise giuen to God
by seruice, was cast ouerboord.
[Sidenote: A huge quantitie of yce in 63. degrees of latitude.] The 17 of
this moneth being in the latitude of 63. degrees 8. minuts, we fell vpon a
most mighty and strange quantitie of yce in one entire masse, so bigge as
that we knew not the limits thereof, and being withall so high in forme of
a land, with bayes and capes and like high cliffe land, as that we supposed
it to be land, and therefore sent our pinnesse off to discouer it: but at
her returne we were certainely informed that it was onely yce, which bred
great admiration to vs all considering the huge quantitie thereof,
incredible to be reported in trueth as it was, and therefore I omit to
speake any further thereof. This onely I thinke, that the like before was
neuer seene: and in this place we had very stickle and strong currents.
[Sidenote: The nature of fogges.] We coasted this mightie masse of yce
vntill the 30 of Iuly, finding it a mighty barre to our purpose: the ayre
in this time was so contagious and the sea so pestered with yce, as that
all hope was banished of proceeding: for the 24 of Iuly all our shrowds,
ropes and sailes were so frosen, and compassed with yce, onely by a grosse
fogge, as seemed to me more then strange, sith the last yeere I found this
sea free and nauigable, without impediments.
Our men through this extremity began to grow sicke and feeble, and withall
hopelesse of good successe: whereupon very orderly, with good discretion
they intreated me to regard the state of this business, and withall aduised
me, that in conscience I ought to regard the saftie of mine owne life with
the preseruation of theirs, and that I should not through my ouer-boldnes
leaue their widowes and fatherlesse children to giue me bitter curses. This
matter in conscience did greatly moue me to regard their estates: yet
considering the excellencie of the business if it might be attained, the
great hope of certaintie by the last yeeres discouery, and that there was
yet a third way not put in practice, I thought it would growe to my great
disgrace if this action by my negligence should grow into discredite:
whereupon seeking helpe from God, the fountaine of all mercies, it pleased
his diuine maiestie to moue my heart to prosecute that which I hope shall
be to his glory, and to the contentation of euery Christian minde.
Whereupon falling into consideration that the Mermaid, albeit a very strong
and sufficient ship, yet by reason of her burthen was not so conuenient and
nimble as a smaller bark, especially in such desperate hazzards; further
hauing in account her great charge to the aduenturers being at 100. li. the
moneth, and that at doubtfull seruice: all the premisses considered with
diuers other things, I determined to furnish the Moonelight with
reuictualling and sufficient men, and to proceede in this action as God
should direct me. Whereupon I altered our course from the yce, and bare
Eastsoutheast to recouer the next shore where this thing might be
performed: so with fauourable winde it pleased God that the first of August
we discouered the land in Latitude 66. degrees, 33. min. and in longitude
from the Meridian of London 70. degrees voyd of trouble without snow or
ice.