The 11th we came to the most southerly cape of this land, which we named the Cape of God's Mercy, as being the place of our first entrance for the discovery.The weather being very foggy we coasted this north land; at length when it brake up we perceived that we were shot into a very fair entrance or passage, being in some places twenty leagues broad and in some thirty, altogether void of any pester of ice, the weather very tolerable, and the water of the very colour, nature, and quality of the main ocean, which gave us the greater hope of our passage.Having sailed north-west sixty leagues in this entrance, we discovered certain islands standing in the midst thereof, having open passages on both sides.Whereupon our ships divided themselves, the one sailing on the north side, the other on the south side of the said isles, where we stayed five days, having the wind at south-east, very foggy, and foul weather.
The 14th we went on shore and found signs of people, for we found stones laid up together like a wall, and saw the skull of a man or a woman.
The 15th we heard dogs howl on the shore, which we thought had been wolves, and therefore we went on shore to kill them.When we came on land the dogs came presently to our boat very gently, yet we thought they came to prey upon us, and therefore we shot at them and killed two, and about the neck of one of them we found a leathern collar, whereupon we thought them to be tame dogs.There were twenty dogs like mastiffs, with pricked ears and long bushed tails;we found a bone in the pizels of their dogs.Then we went farther and found two sleds made like ours in England.The one was made of fir, spruce, and oaken boards, sawn like inch boards; the other was made all of whalebone, and there hung on the tops of the sleds three heads of beasts which they had killed.We saw here larks, ravens, and partridges.
The 17th we went on shore, and in a little thing made like an oven with stones I found many small trifles, as a small canoe made of wood, a piece of wood made like an image, a bird made of bone, beads having small holes in one end of them to hang about their necks, and other small things.The coast was very barbarous, without wood or grass.The rocks were very fair, like marble, full of veins of divers colours.We found a seal which was killed not long before, being flayed and hid under stones.
Our captain and master searched still for probabilities of the passage, and first found that this place was all islands with great sounds passing between them.
Secondly, the water remained of one colour with the main ocean without altering.
Thirdly, we saw to the west of those isles three or four whales in a scull, which they judged 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 south-west from whence these whales came, upon the sudden there came a violent countercheck of a tide from the south-west against the flood which we came with, not knowing from whence it was maintained.
Fifthly, in sailing 20 leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had sounding in 90 fathoms, fair, grey, oozy sand, and the farther we run into the westwards the deeper was the water, so that hard aboard the shore among these isles we could not have ground in 330fathoms.
Lastly, it did ebb and flow six or seven fathom up and down, the flood coming from divers parts, so as we could not perceive the chief maintenance thereof.
The 18th and 19th our captain and master determined what was best to do, both for the safe guard of their credits and satisfy of the adventurers, and resolved if the weather brake up to make further search.
The 20th, the wind came directly against us, so they altered their purpose, and reasoned both for proceeding and returning.
The 21st, the wind being north-west, we departed from these islands, and as we coasted the south shore we saw many fair sounds, whereby we were persuaded that it was no firm land but islands.
The 23rd of this month the wind came south-east, very stormy and foul weather.So we were constrained to seek harbour upon the south coast of this entrance, where we fell into a very fair sound, and anchored in 25 fathoms of green, oozy sand, where we went on shore, where we had manifest signs of people, where they had made their fire, and laid stones like a wall.In this place we saw four very fair falcons, and Master Bruton took from one of them his prey, which we judged by the wings and legs to be a snipe, for the head was eaten off.
The 24th, in the afternoon, the wind coming somewhat fair, we departed from this road, purposing by God's grace to return for England.
The 26th we departed from sight of the north land of this entrance, directing our course homewards, until the 10th of the next month.
The 10th September we fell with the Land of Desolation, thinking to go on shore, but we could get never a good harbour.That night we put to sea again thinking to search it the next day; but this night arose a very great storm, and separated our ships so that we lost the sight of the Moonshine.
The 13th about noon (having tried all the night before with a goose wing) we set sail, and within two hours after we had sight of the Moonshine again.This day we departed from this land.
The 27th of this month we fell with sight of England.This night we had a marvellous storm, and lost the Moonshine.
The 30th September we came into Dartmouth, where we found the Moonshine, being come in not two hours before.
THE SECOND VOYAGE ATTEMPTED BY MASTER JOHN DAVIS, With others, for the discovery of the North-West Passage, in Anno 1586.
The 7th day of May I departed from the port of Dartmouth for the discovery of the North-West Passage with a ship of a 120 tons, named the Mermaid; a barque of 60 tons, named the Sunshine; a barque of 35tons named the Moonlight; and a pinnace of 10 tons named the North Star.
