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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X aire details ues du modifier ger une filmage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanl.v^ / "t?- •f 11 I' i> .; o N S -P .1 J{ T S X T K 11 I? A -^ ^ '•••i A Seii> /)iVo>fny/Si'a ■ 'I OK ■ i' -^.^_^ -1 ^ . ;rf>' t ^CS<2 r ** .f^^r I4 'a ,n ii An o n t; t .» ^ iiiftfr UKr I'liiiitntmif • .» 12 -^u u ■pr~mr-w^|— ■■ — lun. uu uuii '.in ...lu ittaxfun 10\0 ^^ 60 .?ii '/;" tiw MM — lom — aii — Ra bzi a-w m^ 'Tw ffur kpi »■ |,^-„ .m,, ffi. Uni. - M-i 'oisi — ma. — rx — ku — nu. 1 ^ ***/ ■ •\ Ji 'a ,n H An n k Loiij;''.' ny!vm liondou N By VOYAGE TO HU D S O N's-B AY, B Y T H E Dohhs Galley and CalifGrnia^ In the Years 1746 and 1747, For Difcoverlnr a North West Passage; WITH An accurate Survey of tlicCcad, andall.iort Natural H'.ilory of tlie Country. To G E T H E R \V I T H A fair View of the Fad:s and Arguments fioro which the future rjnLhr'S>; of fuch a Pafume is rendered probable. By HENRY ELLIS, Gent. Agent for the Proprietors in tlie Uiid Expedition. To which is prefixed, An Hiftorical Account of the Attempts ! .erto i-naile for the finding a Paflage that Way to the Eaji- Indirs. lUuIlrated with proper Cuti, and a nen' and orred Chart of H'udfon s Bay, wiia tht Countries a jacent. LONDON: Printed for H. W h i t r i d g e, at the Royal Exchange, M.DCC.XLVIII. / -/ if- :<^ / fllJ i m\ r P 6^ ^t- 13nGG3 b9- To His ROYAL HIGHNESS FREDERICK, PRINCE oUrALES, &c. May It pkafe your Royal Highness, 1"^ H E following Sheets have fo many different Claims to yoiu Proteftion ; that I have Reafon to flatter myfelf, you will not look upon it as a Prefumption, that, with the mofl: refpeitful Humility, I offer them to your Perufal ; happy if they fhould be found worthy of your Attention, and thereby recommend to your Notice, a Subjed of fuch Importance, to the Commerce of thefe Nations, as that to which they relate. A 2 I /'■ vl DEDICATION. I H /^ V E faid, tint tl^ey Iv-ve (c'- V'jral Cliiinv: to your Royal High- c'cfs's ProtJv^jrion j and your Good-' ri'rls will aliovv mc to explain the P.c:;C)rjSj upon which I have venr- tjicd to fay this. In the firfl: ri'LC?, as tlicy relate to a Diicovery, wliich, when pcrfefted, will not oiily redound to the Glory of the Brltljl.) Nation ; but will alfo prove' the Means of promollng Navigation, extending Trade, and encreafing o!ir Shipping ; they cannot be more properly addreffjd to any than to. your Royal Highnefs \ wlio it is well knovvn, hath all tliefc in a particu- lar manner at heart. I N the next, permit me to put your Royal Highnefs in Mind, that they more clj^ecially belong to you, as tliis very De- fign was formerly patronized by your illuftrious Predeceflbr Prince HENRY; ! t t f 'C To- ligh^ • n the vcn^ firft ivery, I not if the t « « • provd ation, taring more n to well tlcUn c to in :ially De- by Irince RY; 1 ! I D ED ICy4TI OiV. V H li N R Y ; whofc Servant, Sir Thomas Button^ made a fanK)ns Voyage for the Dlfcovcry of tlid Nortii-West Paflage^ and was ful- ly perfuadcd, tliat lie ihould have jTucceeded in anotlicr Voyage ; frona which he was diverted, by the Lo!s of his Royal Patrort* Lastly, The hio;h Honour vonr Royrl Highncfs did me, in the gracious Audience you were pleaftd to allow me, foon after my Retuia ..frofii this Voyage ; the many judi- cious Qiieftions you were plcaled to a/k, and the generous Care you ex- prclfed, for the happy Progrefs of* this Dcfign, encourage me to ap- proach your Royal Highnefs upon this Occafion* I F the Confideration of thefe Motives, iTiall acquit mc of the Im- putation of Prefu omgr o your illuft umpti rious A X Name, to an At- ^ I 11 'I iMl-Mi ;i vi DEDICATIO N. Attempt of this Kind ; it will afford the higheft Satisfadion^ as well as confer the greatcft Honour within the Reach of his Wiflies, on him, who is^ with tlie moft dutiful Submif- lion and Refped, Tour Royal Highnefs's Moji devotedy and tnoji Oiedient Servant ^ HENRY ELLIS. ( vii ; afford veil as within 1 him, ubmif- PREFACE. moj} vant, .LIS. THERE cannot be ajlrmger Jn- flance of the Health and Vigour of the Body Politic^ than a 'warnt Appearance of that Spirit^ which is alloived to have conduced moji in Times paji to its Profperif)\ as lOe/l as Prefervation. The Spirit here meant, is that of encouraging Induftry^ promoting Trade^ and extending Navigation, A Spirit, to the Influence of ivhich isje owe the glorious Title we lave ac^ quired of a maritime Power ^ and the Refpedl that is paid to us in that Capacity, not by cur nearefl Neighbours only., hut by Nations as far diftant from us, as foe Limits of the World will allow. It is f,:^':, :he EffeSls of this spirit that we muft hope^ not only the Continuance ^ but the Increai afe of gOL Fortune y and therefore, as it is perfe^llyjuji^ A 4 fi i 9 Vlll P R E F A C I<: ! '\ ''I fo it* is higbl}' rcafonahk to cx[)i'B, that -lihat- evcr tends to excite ami keep this ali^je wili le cJjerijljed^ and meet not ix'ith a bar" Ac- ceptance^ hut rcitb the ruojl favourable Re- ception iikevjife of the ivhoie Miition ; and this 7nore efpecially at the prefent yunuure^ when the fame Spirit vifiblj prevndls fo mucJy in other Countries^ and our common Mijlrefs ^rade is courted by fo man\\ and fonie of them very potent Rivals. I T is very clear y that tho^ this may be done by ma?iy different Methods -, a .d that tbo* all thefe different Methods deferve Attention and Encouragement from the End at ivhich they aim^ yet there is hardly any which can claim fo high Regard as Discovery, be- caufe this takes in the whole Compajs of what has been before laid down, and contributes equally to every Part of that great Defign, The Hopes of Discovery encourages Induflry beyond any thing j J or as it charms thofe quick and lively Spirits that are riot ea/tly fixed by other Views ; /o on the other Hand it animates by the Expectations of extraordinary Profit Men of a 'Tctnper diretlly oppofite^ and who are • indvflrious onk from a Jorejight of Reward^ and confequently are more or lefs fo^ as the ProfpeB differs in that RefpeB, It promotes cp\ c/i tn\ cr.. J, UfJdt- ve 'wi'H •f Ac - ok Re- I ; and much \IiJheJs fome of may be hat tho^ "tention 'which ich can V, be- what ribiites DefJ.gn. iuflry quick :ed by imates ^tMen I'O are "jDard^ as the omotes nci PREFACE. ix ^Trade more than any thing, not only as it opens new Branches, and thereby brings a clear Accejjlon to Commerce, without adding in one i^Lape what may be lojl in ajiothcr, but alfo by qiiickeningy impro'ving, and enlarging many old Branches ; Jince it is "oijible that there is a Circulation in Trade, and what- ever creates an Exportation on one Side, muji encourage Manufaoiures, and heighten Im- portations on the other. But above all, it contributes mojl ejf'edually to the extending Navigation. A new Trade immediately calls for an Increafe of Shippi?2g, and this exadlh in Proportion to the Lemands which this new Trade creates, either J or our own Goods and Manufactures, or for the Produce of the new dif covered Country by other Nations j fo that the Benefits received from thence^ arc clearly doubled to us in this RefpeB, AFTER this Jhort Fyxplanation of the Bcnefts that arifc frctn Difcovery, we need not wonder, that the beji Friends to Commerce, who at the fame time arc the beji Friends to their Country, have always con- Jidered it in fo favourable a Light. It muJl however be allowed, that they have fome- times met with Oppofition, as what Truth 2s there, that has not been denied f what itfeful m I u X PREFACE. t/fr/hl 'Dcfign^ that has ?iot been oppojed f But the only Argument their Adverfarics could cmplo'^ is ?7C%v taken ai.va\\ for they fee me d to be always doubtful of the Event ^ they qucflloned what the Eff'Bs of Di, covery ivould be^ they faficied that Plantations might difpeople^ that tto great a Trade might im-^ poverifh, and that long and dangerous Voyages rni^ht impair and ^weaken our Strength. But all thefe Preunces^ whiJj might have been, ajid rchich really nicer e fully anfwered from Reajon^ are now Jor ever refuted bv Experience. The Wife ivere fufficie?2tly fa- tisfied by the firji Method^ but the latter mufl have convinced even Fools ; of whom it is truly faid, that Experience is the Miftrefs* V/e now know Jroni Efe6ls, that Plantations have augmented our People^ that the Increafe of Trade has occafioncd an immenfe Increafe of JVealth, and that ylttenfion to naval Ajjairs has raifed a naval Strength^ of more Ccnfequence to the Credit and Safety of the Nation^ than any other could pofibly have been, IVe may J rem hence conclude, that no Argu- ments can be now cfered againjl Dif covery, but what are built upon another Foundation, ■ rchich^ when examined^ will be fomid as fandy as i oppojed f dverfaries por they he Event ^ D/y covery ens fiiight light im^ s Foya^es StrenQ-th. ght have anfwered efuted by 'ently fa- 'tier muji lom it is \Miftrefs. antations Increafe Increafe ^0 naval of more y of the IV e been, Argii" ' [cover y^ ndatiun^ as fandy as PREFACE. XI cs the former^ viz. the doubting whether any thing of Confequence is left to difcover. This has been the chief thi?7g urged, againj} profecuting the At.t:mpts that have been 77iade for compleating that Difcovery^ nvhich is to be the Subjctl of the pollowing Pages ; and therefore it fiall be the Bufmefs of this Preface toJJjeiv, what rational Hopes there are^ that the finding a North Wejl Pajjage would be a mof valuable Difcovery to the Britidi Nation. The lajl Words are added for the fetting this Matter in its true Light ; for if the finding this Pafjage could tend only to the Emolument of fome particular Body of Meny or was barely calculated to transfer the Wealth that accrues at prefent to one Set of People unto another, however im- portant it might be to fuch as were to be Gainers by it, it would not cert airily be of fuch Confequence to the Public as to interefi the Legijlature in its Favour, But if it can be fhewn, that from this Difcovery, there is a moral Certainty, that the Exportation of our Com?nodities and Manufadures may be vaftly iiicreafed, that fever al Branches of foreign Trade may be highly iinproved there- by, that Navigation in getieral may from the?2ce be greatly extended^ and our Shipping in- creafed^ ",! I.' i I ■ ) \ % I i i xii P R K F A C E. creajedf then fit rely it dcferves to be conJider(d lis a thing oj highConfcquence to thcTiihlic ^ and an Object 'worthy of national Attention^ Pro- te^ion^ and Encouragement, I' H I S Pajpige^ whenever it is fourJ^ mufl neceffarily open a Tirade to Countries on each Side ofit\ and that this may and indeed muji prove very confiderabU\ will fufficiently ap^ pear^ if we confider the Situation and Extent of thefe Countries. On the Larboard or South Wef Side of the Channel^ and of the Sea into ivhich it opens ^ lies a TraB of Country 7naki?igPart of Am^iioi from the Welcome, or Ne Ultra to Gipe Blanco in California, ibjt is from the Latitude of 6^°. to 43**. North, t a. king in t'lventy -two Degrees of Latitude, and no Icjs than thirty in Longitude^ having an extent of Coajl upwards of fix hundred Leagues, b fides the Inlets that there may be, that mufl ofCcurfebe very advantagious. We cannot indeed preterid to any great Know^ ledge of this Country, the Coafls of which wholly, a fid the interior Parts of it in a great meafure, remain imhiown ; but we are very fenfible, that Copper, Skifis, and Purrs it mufl abound with in the Parts nearcfi the Pafjage ; and in the Countries under a better Climape^ better Things mc^y be expc^ed. At leafl. ■4 J i I /'. [1 hlic^ ay.d oriy Pro- is founJ^ nines o?i ud i?idced d Extent hoard or d of the Country 'elcome, ilifornia, to 43-. \rees of ■gitudi\ of fix t there ^agious, Knoii)* which great \e very \rrs it \efl the better At leafi. ••• xm PREFACE. / i/^^cT, 1492, entered upon • ( ts to Liches into : ef^ecially made her rreater Pact the King- rance of the innings are s in ftiort ! great Con- g bolder by :ourage and orttigueze in 1 1448 the the Cape de :he Cape of Expectation :hat Way to of this Dif- by Induftry any real lut Columbus^ iig as well of a nobler of purfuing after over- |eat Difficult fign to bear, .92, entered upon difcover a North Weft Paflage. 3 upon that Expedition, which produced the Difcovery of America, It is a thing fufiiciently known to the World, that he propofed this very Underta- king to our King Henry Vil. by his Brother Bartholomew^ which that wife Prince ac- cepted ; tho* this was not known to Colufn- huSy till after he had made the Difcovery he propofed. But notwithftanding this Dif- appointment, the Inclination that Monarch had (hewn for encouraging Things of this Nature, had fo good an Effedl, that John Cabot y a Native of Venice^ a very able Sea- man, and who had refided fome Years in England^ was encouraged thereby to offer his Services to that King, for difcovering a Paffage to the Indies^ by the North Weft j and obtained Letters Patents, dated in the I ith Year of the Reign of King Henry VII. empowering him to difcover unknown Lands, and to conquer, and fettle them, with many other Privileges, on Condition only that he fhould return with his Ships to the Port of Briftol, In the Spring of the Year following being 1497, ^^ failed from Brijioly with one Ship fitted out at the King's Expence,and three or four fmallerVeffels freighted by the Merchants B 2 there, MJ; ( .1 It f J' .■' ''l 'Ml' § m m ■if: '■•5 if: 4 7^/je fever al Expedilio?is lo tlicre, vvkli coaiTc Cap?, Cloth, Laces, i^c, upon his Difcovcry ; in vvliich upon the 24th of "Jinic^ about five in the Morning, he faw Land, vvhicli for that llccitbn he called Prima Vi/la, or firft Iccn, whicli was Part o{ Ncwjoundlandy and iii'tc'rwaiiis another fmaller lOand, which he called St. John's ; and he brought Home with liim three Savages, and a Cargo that turned to good Account ; for wliich, bcfides receiving the Honour of Knighthood, he was amply rewarded. As in this Voyage he failed as far as Cape Florida^ he is very juflly looked upon as the firfl Difcoverer of North America ; and from thence, as Sir William Moiijon obferves, our Princes derive their Claim to the Sovereignty of that Country, which they have fince profecuted with fo good Effed:, both with Regard to their own Glory, and to the Benefit of their Sabjedts. Thus we fee, that the Origin of our Plantations, and confcquently of our cxtenfive Commerce, and naval Power, was owing to tliis Scheme of difcovering a Paf- lage, by the North Wefl:, to the Indies, Whether this ought to recommend it in an extraordinary Degree to the Favour and Protection of tlie PubHc, muft be left to the me. 4 difcovcr a Nortli Weft VaK.wo r continuing our Sc:.;'ti::J^;;'-'"-'- -; '-carter be attended ^'f^ '7 - a>„,,.,ence, c.c,unve'\,rL'r,; ctr°£\;":,f^^'^^-oTinK.to1,i- Wed tint til '"'' """"ll^cal- our havin-. verv ) i ' ' °«''''>""s Frf-on. as wen : n f g ''' ''i;^ ^^- l-'^'^er at all • and' pT r "''"'"""'"S hk livered upon th^ M j , ''*^ ''^s de- " E^-Pedjnce. 'a,5 pe ;,r,,t; f- ''''' ''ofH»»yVn oTp ; / '" ''^^ Service " by North beyo^n thofc I? ?'"' "^^^ f- tat. of 67» ,o' '"'''> '"'° t'>e 7. 30. upon the i.th of ^3 i ri !• Jf ^M» •it , << (\ Jme, i^L il *i ''' I m I i^ifii ;i;!.; 6 The feveral Expeditions /d ** June finding an open Sea, without any *' Impediment, he made no Doubt at all of " palling this Way to Cataia^ which is in " the Eafl, a :d would have done it, if he '* had not been prevented by a Mutiny a- " mongft the Seamen, who forced him to '* return Home." In the firft Place, Sebaf^ tian Cabot was not a Venetian^ but an "Englijhman^ born at ^r//?c/ ; and tho* it be true, that he went with his Father, yet he was then a Boy, and confequently could not have at that Time any great Skill in Naviga- tion, but attained it afterwards. There is an Error in che Latitude of lo''. but how- ever it is plain from this Account, that the Voyage was made fc^r the Difcovery of a North Weft PafTage, which was the Reafon I produced it. B u T in a Letter written by Sebaflian Cabot himfelf, to the Pope's Legate in Spain^ he gives ftill a clearer Account of this Matter j for therein he fays, that it was from the Confideration of the Strudtuie of the Globe, the Defign was formed of failing to the Indies^ by a North Weft Courfe. He obferves farther, that falling in with Land unexpedledly, (for he thought to have met with none till he had reached the Coafts f 4 Coai to tl ingt| the mon fo dil obferl ditioi Hope allT It is Thou South he xni after ( While by a C Squadi Straits inftead cf PL Sides, there, thofe Ufage made I which princif t any all of is in if he ny a- im to Sebaf- ut an it be /et he Id not aviga- tiere is how- lat the 1 of a eafon difcover a North Weft Paffage. 7 Coafts of Tartary) he fliiled along the Coaft to the Height of fifty-fix Degrees, and find- ing the Land there run Eaftward, he quitted the Attempt, and failed Southward. It is more than probable, that this Mifcarriage fo difcou raged Sebqflian Cabot ^ who, as we obferved, was with his Father in this Expe- dition, that he thence forward renounced all Hopes of fucceeding in, and confequently all Thoughts of profecuting, this Defign. It is very likely, that he had next fome Thoughts of a Pafi^age to the Lidies by the South 3 for in the 8th of King Henry VIII. he made a Voyage to Brazil^ and was foon after drawn over into the Spmiijl^ Service. While he refided there, he was employed by a Company of Merchants to condud: a' Squadron through the new difcovered Straits of Magellan to the Eajl Indies ; but inftead of doing this, he entered the River of Plate, difcovered the Country on both Sides, follicited a Settlement to be made there, or in Paraguay^ and remained in thofe Parts about five Years. The ill Ufage he met w^ith from the Spanifi Court, made him think of returning to England^ which he accordingly did, and was here the principal Promoter of feveral Expeditions for B 4 dif. '!,( V in '^f' .. m I 1 8 Tie fever at Expeditions to dilcovering a North Eaft PalTage ; in which tho' he met with as Httle Succefs as his Father had done, in fearching the North Wert, yet to thefe Attempts we owe our RiiJJia Trade, which has been of fuch high Consequence to the Nation, as alfo the Greenland Fifi^iery, which for many Years was cariicd on with very great Profit. I T was neceliary to mention thefe Par- ticulars, in Relation to the Life and 7Vanfadlions of Sebajlian Cabot ^ for two R. albns; hrit i.> (hew that thefe Projeds of difcoverin^]; Nordi Eafl", and North Wed Paffiges, tho' they have been attended with foinc ExD'^nce, and have neither of them as yd produced what was expeded from them, yet have in their Confequences brought fo great Pioiits to the E?tgltJJ: Nation, that thf^re is no Reafon we fhould be difcouragecj from pui'fuing them fo long as any Hopes of Succefs remain. Secondly, becaufe from thio Account, we fee plainly the true Rea- fon why all Thoughts of a North Wefl Paf- fage were laid afide for near fourfcore Years, For the greateft Part of this Time SebaJ}ia?i Cabot ^ Efq; in Quality of Governor of the Ruffui Company, was the great Dircdor, and ahnolt the fule Manager of all our Ex- peditions; F frc thi to fe^ pu| m( :i( to ;n which fs as his e North owe our Lich high alfo the ly Years It. Iiefe Par- Jfe and for two Projcds rth Wed Jed with ' them as tn them, )ught fo »n, that louraged lopes of fe froru le Rca- [efl Paf- Years. \ebajlian of the lircdor, lur Ex- :dition3 :i difcover a North Weft Paflage. 9 peditions for Difcovery, as appears as well from the Inftrudlions drawn by him for the Direction of thofe who were employed to look for a North Eafl Pafllige, as from feveral Charters, Commiffions, and other public Inftruments, in which we find him mentioned with great Honour, and treated as the Father and Founder of the Englijh Navigation. It does not indeed appear, that he ever declared in exprefs Terni^ a- gainll making any farther Searches to the North V/efl ; but as it is evident from the Letter of his before mentioned, that he ab- folutely defpaired of finding fuch a Pailtgc^ it may be fairly prefumed, that during his Life-time, and confidering the great la- iiuence he had in Matters of this Nature, no Project for fuch a Difcovery would have met with any Encouragement ; and tliere-r fore we need not wonder, that even in that Age, when hardly a Year pa^ld ■y.it fpme Defign or other, for promoting C\-i;i- rperce and Navigation, was fet on lo yt, this remained as filent and unthoueht 01" as if it never had been propofedj or a fingle un- fuccefsful Attempt upon a Coafl never be- fore vifited, had been fufficient to extinguifh all Hopes, and produce abfolute Defpair of I doin^: i - ■ f '■ h ^1 m .1 -'<:|: t I i ■' V- \\ iV- i!tj ™[ < .11 i m , ' "If ■ i a 1,1 m ■l:|i:J !tM i ili,;i-4? (ff'ij \m t o 725^ fever al Expeditions to doing any Good in a matter of fuch Impor- tance, the Confcquences of which were fo well known to the enterprizing Navigators of thofe Times. » But after his Deceafe Capt. Martin Frobijher^ B. very able Seamen, who for fif- teen Years had meditated his Defign, propo- fed a Voyage for the Difcovery of the North Wefl ; and being countenanced by Ambrofe^ Earl of Warwick, a Nobleman of great Credit with Queen Elizabeth, he had fitted out two Barks, the Gabriel, and tlie Mi^ cbael, each of twenty- five Tons Burthen, and a Pinnace of ten Tons. He failed from Blackball, June 15, 1657, ^"^ when he had been about a Month at Sea, the Men in the Michael deferted him, returned Home, and reported that he was loft. The Captain however profecuted his Voyage, palTed through a Strait between two Iflands, to which he gave his own Name. He ad- vanced in this Voyage, as high as the Lati- tude of 63^ 8'. and havijig had the Mis- fortude to lofe five of his Men, whom he fet on Shore, he refolved to return to Eng- land, bringing with him a Savage whom lie had taken Prifoner. He quitted the Ifland where this Accident happened, on the 26th of to Impor- were fo Lvigators Martin ) for fif. propo- e North 4mbrofe, )f great \A fitted he 71//- ^urthen, ed from hen he le Men eturned The oyage, [(lands, le ad- Lati- Mis- lorn he Efjg- )m he llfland 26th of difcover a North Weft Paflage. 1 1 tX.Augufi\ and on the ift of Oetober he arrived fafely at Tarmouth, Amongft other Curiofities which he brought back, there happened to be a Piece of black Stone, which as a Thing of no Value, was given to one of his Owners Wives, who threw it in the Fire, where becoming red-hot, it was afterwards quenched in Vinegar, and when cold, fome Sparks were obferved to glifter in it like Gold ^ upon this, Tryals were made, and the Refiners afTcrted, that it held Gold ; upon which Preparations were made for a fecond Voyage, of the Succefs of which there were very high Expedlations. In this fecond Voyage, Capt. Frobijber had one of her Majefty's Ships, called the Aid of two Hundred Tons, and the two Barks Gabriel and Michael : He failed May 31, 1577, and on the i6th oi July^ dif- covered that Point of Land, which lay at the Entrance of FrobiJIjer' s-Straits^ and to which he gave the Name of ^een Elizabeth Foreland, It does not appear that he profe- cuted much Difcovery in this Voyage, but contented hlmfclf with taking on board about two Hundred W"eight of the fup- pofed Gold Oar, which proved afterv/ards good for nothing, made what Enquiry he could w i;»'v ;■■; I W :?•;];' 14 1 ( ' ' 'id I 1'fy- i hiii 1 2 77je fever al Expeditions to could after his Men, but to no Purpofe, curried off two Savages, a Man and a Wo- man, and on the 24th idi yJ^iujl failed for 'England^ arriving on the i/tn o^ Septemlnr following, at Fadjiow in Cornivall^ in the Queen's Ship. The Barks being feparated in their Paffage, the Gabriel came to Brif- tol, and the Michael^ aftcF lailing round Scotland^ came lidely to larmoicth. Queen 'BUzabetb was fo well plcafed with the Ac- count file received of this Expedition, that file encouraged a tliird, and beflowed upon the Continent, now difcovered, the Name of Mcta incognita. The Hopes that were entertained of thefe new Indies^ already difcovered, as well as of a Paflage to the old, which was ac- counted almofl certain, had fuch an Effedl, that a Squadron of fifteen Sail was ordered out the next Year, a Colony of one Hun- dred and Twenty Perfons was to be left be- hind, and three Ships ftationed on tlie Cuail; the Queen likewife to honour the Captain the more, made him a Prefent of a Gold Chain. He failed from Harwich, May 3 I, 1578, arrived on the Coafts of his new difcovered Country, where they met with a Storm, in which the Ship was funk;, tbuit h:\a ■I had io til they Gold little! lattci Capt| of a to Purpo fc, d a Wo- lailed for l^ ill the Icparated to 5/771 ig round Queen the Ac- Ion, that ved upon le Name \ of thefe well as was ac- n Effcd]-, ordered nc Hun- \cii bc- le Coail; Captain a Gold 7, May his new et with \iV^ tliat had ciifcover a North Weft Paflage. i '^ hriiX the Materials for tlicir HouTl^ on board ; fo that they made no Settlement, nor were they able to find Frcbijhcr's-S traits, or the Gold Mine; but alter much Toil to very little Purpofe, returned to Enghmd, in the latter End of September, It is faid, that Cupt. Frohijhcr pcrfidcd in his Opinion of a PafTiige, f)r the Difcovery of which however he never made any other Voyage. He commanded the I'riumfh in the famous Sea Fight with the SpaaiJJj Armada in 1588, and behaved fo well, that he obtained tlie Honour of Knia;hthood : and fix Years af- terwards, receiving a Wound, at the taking of Brejl, died of it, through the Want of Skill in his Surgeon, foon after his Return to Fly mouth. It is very juAly obfcrved by Capt. Fox^ that from tlic Accounts we have of thefe three Voyages, it looks as if they had a mind to keep this Gold Country to them- felves ; for except the Latitude of the En- trance of Frohijhcr s Straits, they have fet down none j and as to Meta incognita, it is now very well known to be Groenland. Mr. Egcdc, who has given us the befl Ac- count of that Country extant, fpcaks thus of thefe Difcoverics, * In all Sea Charts^ * fays : i<"' I ill %': i'\i ( ilM \M 14 7%e fever al Expeditions to * fays he, you will find LiiJ down Frobifher*s* * Strait and Baer- Sounds which they pre* * tend form two large Iflands, adjacent to * the Main Land, which I think are not to * be found, at leaft not upon the Coaft of * GroenlanJ ', for I could not meet with * any thing like it, in the Voyage I under- * took in the Year 1723, Southward, going * upon Difcoveries, tho' I went as far as to * 60°. that Way. But at prefcnt, the newer * Charts lay them down the Northern Strait * in 63°. and the Southern in 62°.* It feems not altogether improbable, that Frobij7:er'5 Strait and Ifland, which he called Queen Elizabeth* 5^ Foreland (for an Ifland he afterwards found it to be) lay on the Eail Side of Groenland^ and perhaps not in fo high a Latitude as is fet down in his Account} befides fome other Reafons for faying this, which would take up too much Time to report here, the following Paflage, from Mr. Egede's Book, may poflibly in- cline the Reader to the fame Opinion. * In my Expedition upon Difcoveries, I * found on a little Ifland, where we touched, * fome yellow Sand, mixed with fome Si- * nopleRed, or Vermillion Strokes, of which * I fent a Quantity over to the Diredlors of * the Mm I ; ts to they pre* djacent to are not to e Coaft of neet with e I under- ird, going s far as to the newer lern Strait able, that which he i (for an •e) lay on rhaps not ivn in his afons for 00 much : PafTage, (libly in- Dn. veries, I ouched, bme Si- f which dors of * the ilif cover a North Weft Paflage. i j the Grocnland Company at Bergen, to make a Trial of it : Upon which they wrote mc an Anfwer, that I fhould endea- vour to get as much as I could of the fame Sand ; but to theirs as well as my own Difappointment, I never was able to find this liland again, where I had got this Sand, as it was but a very fmall and in- fignificant one, iituated among a great many others -, and the Mark I had taken care to put up, was by the Wind blown down. Neverthelefs, there has been enough of the fame Stuff found up and down in the Country ; which when it is burnt, changes it's former Colour for a reddifli Hue, which it likewife does if you keep it a while fhut up clofe. Whether or no this be of the fame Sort of Sand, as that of which Sir Martin Frobifier is faid to have brought fome Hundred Tuns to England^ and was pretended ^to contain a great deal of Gold, and of which fom« of the Danijh Groenland Company's Shipa returned freighted to Copenhageriy in the Year 1636, is a Queftion which I have no mind to decide. However, thus much I can fay, that by the fmall Experience I I have acquired i^the Art of Chymiftry, I * have iV ••i ?■';( t;r'-i ^&m% '%, r I if;;:! tl 1 6 77je fever al Expedst!o?7s to « have tried both by Extradioii and Prccl- ' pitation, if it would yield any Thing, but ' always lofl my Labour. After all, I de- < clarc I never could find any other Sort of * Sand, that contained eith.er Gold or Silver.* h\ another Part of his Book, he queftions the Truth of FrobiJIjcrs Account of the Country, and feems to flight the Gold Sand that he carried from thence j notwithfland- ing which, he owns, that a certain DaniJJj Commander, in the Year 1636, brought home two Ship Loads of this Sand out of Dai'is's-StraUs, at the Charge of the High Chancellor of Dejimark -, which, upon tryal by the Goldfmiths at Copenhagen, was pro- nounced to be mere Sand and of no Value, and as fuch thrown into the Sea ; the Shame of which broke the poor Captain's Heart. But after his Deceafe,a fmali Parcel, which the Chancellor had kept, fell into the Hands of an abler Workman, who extracted good Gold from it, and that too in a confiderable Quantity. Sir Maj'tin Frobijher^s fhining Sand had not this good Fortune, which was fome Prejudice to the Progrefs of this De- fign, of finding a North Wefl PafTage. In FrobiJJ^ers fecond Voyage, the Gabriel was commanded by one Mr, Edward Ten^ ton. ton] grej In con] mirJ nioni fent proc< llrud direct" the : Sea 3 being failed with featedj out pn Monfo? and ad AM! in Mr. yohn 1 able N; vocate ; Pafiiige don^ an fiftance ployed . to I Prcci- ing, but 11, I de- r Sort of r Silver/ [jueftions t of the old Sand ithftand- II Dcmijlj brought d out ot :he High pon tryal was pro- o Value, le Shame Heart. 1, which e Hands ted good (iderable (hining lich was this De- \Gabriel ton^ ^ ^1 difci \ifcovcr a North Weft Pafiage. 1 7 ioUy a Gentleman of a good Fa mil 3% and a great Favourite oi the Earl of U^aruiclzs, In the third Expedition, Capt. Fnitofi commanded they W//<(^ and was Rear Ad- miral of the Fleet. He had fo good an Opi- nion of the Entcrprize, that when he was fent on an Expedition to the Ea/i Indies^ lie procured an Article to be inferted in his In- llrudions, which v/ere dated yJprti 9, 1582, directing him to endeavour the Difcovcry of the North Wefl Pafi'ige from the South Sea ', but the real Deiign of that Voyage being to cruize againfl the Spaniards^ he failed to the Coallof ^r^z/Y, where he met with a Squadron of theirs, vvhich he de- feated, and foon after returned home, with- out proceeding any farther, tlio* Sir William Monfon fays, one of his Ships proceeded andadually paiTed the Straits of Mi?^r/A/^?. Amongst others who were embarked in Mr. Fenton's Dcfign, there was one Mr, )a'vis, a -ry an John able Navigator, and who bung a warm Ad- vocate for the Probability of a North Wcfb Paflage, a Company of Merchants of Lo?2- dotty and of the Well Coantry, with the Af- filtance of fome Perfons of Diflindlion, em- ployed him on the Difcovery, and equipped C two I ; " !■ 11 - if: ^l 1 8 77.) e fcveral Expeditions to two Barks, tlic one called The SwiPAnc, of rifty Tour. ; the other 'The MoonJhm\ of Thirty-live Tons. lie failed from Vjart- mouthy yunc 7, 1585 j aiul on tlic 20th of yuly ioliowin:;, he difcovered, near the En- trance of thole Straits that bear his Name, that Land to which he gave the Name of Dt'lcLiiion, On the 29th of the fame Month, they law Land again, in the Latitude of 64^. I 9'. and tlierc lie went afliorc, and converted with the Native:^, whom he found a very civil, tradlable, and honed people. On the (.th vX Auguft^ he found hinifeif in the Latitude of 66"". 40'. in an open Sea ; ho anchored in a line Bay, near a noble Mountain, the CiiffcJ of wdiich were of the Colour of Gold, to which he irave the Name of Moimt Rdliigb ; he called the Road, Totnefsy the North Foreland, Djers- Catc ; and the South Foreland, Cape IVnl" finghiinu On the 1 ith of the fame Month, iie gave the Name of th:i Cape of God's Afi'rcVj to the Southcrmod: Point of Land, and then entered a fair Strait, thro* which lie fiiled fixtv Lj.un.ics N. N. W. with Iib.ndi in the iuiJdle, but a fair Paifagc on balh f Idc^ ; ive m^l: with Signs of People \:\){y:\ the Shore, an.l found the Tide fiow fix fix froi ' /ail \ tctn to Wc to t Side, 66^. T io m with Pluna Jhine^ He fa and in the Long! being he wa an ope of the Land Longit where tlie Na .count. ■i- h '0 line, of line, of I Dart" 20th of the En- : Name, S^imc of : Month, :itude of ore, and horn lie d honed be found o'. in an xiy, near ich were lie eMVC ailed the , Dyer's- fe IVal- Month, of God's f Land, * which . with llcigc on People Ide fiow fix difcover a Nortli Wefl. PaHagc. 1 9 i\}i or fcven Fathom, but could not find from whence it came. On the 2 ill, he fiiiled for England, and on the 30th ni' Si'p- t ember he arrived at Tarmouth, lie fecms to have been the firfl that examined the Wefl: Side of Greenland, on which he fiiled to the Height of 64". 15'. and on the other Side, lie difcovcrcd from the Height of 06*^. 40'. and returned Home fafely. This Expedition gained Capt. Davis fo much Credit, that he was fent out again with four Ships, the Mermaid, of One Hundred Tons, the SunJJjijie, the Moon^ Jhijie, and the North Star, of Ten Tons. He failed from Dartmouth, May 7, 1586, and on the 1 5th of June difcovered Land in the Latitude of 60''. North, and in the Longitude of 47^. Wefl: from London ; but being hindered from approaching it by Ice, lie was confl:raincd to bear away to the Lat, of 57^. in order to double it, and recover an open Sea, v/hich he did. On the 29th of the flinie Month, he again difcovered Land in the Latitude of 64°. and in the Longitude of 58°. 30'. Wefl: from London^ where he went on Shore, and traded with tlie Natives, of whom he pives a laree Ac- count, very little different from what the C 2 Reader S : ,M C Ha' [: i. J . Vi£' m lf.''lll,1 '■■ ?; .' ■■11; 20 The feveral Expediticns to Reader will meet with in fome of the en* fuing Pages. He found this to be broken Land with great Sounds and Inlets. About the middle of July he fent Home the Mermaid, and continued his Expedition in the MoonJJmic, On the ifl o^ Augiift he dif- covercd Land in the Latitude of 66°. 33'. and in the Longitude of ^C. Weft from London he faw many Inlets, but attempted none ; and on the 19th of the fame Month, he be- gan to return Hom.e, and arrived fafely in England in the Beginning of OBoher 5 fo that :n this fecond Voyage, he did not fo much as in the firft 3 which, perhaps, might be owing to his having the Com- mand of a Squadron. O N his Return he wrote a Letter to Mr. Sa?ide?jon, who was Tr:afurer of the Com- pany ; in which he affirmed, that he had brought the PafTage to a Certainty, and that it muft be in one of four Pierces, that he had remarked, or not at all ; adding, that farther Difcoveries might be made without more Expence, fuppofing that the Filhcry would more than defray it. In Expedtation of tills, he was fitted out a third Time, ha- ving with him the Simpine^ the Eliza- beth o'i Da/'^'noutij^ and the Ellen of Lon- don, on t the filW ward Sight had .^ he aij and ( IJlarid. which 62^ ai 15th o wrote Probab that be he con Moufon Opinio I lows tl Favour difcovcr a North Weft Paflligc. 2 r don. He failed from Dartmouth on the 19th of M^^ 3 on the 14th of "yime they difcovered Land, and on the i6th they an- chored in a Harbour, where they traded with the People. On the 30th of the func Month he was in the Latitude of 72°. 12'. on the Well: Side of Groenland \ he called the mofl Northern Point of the Land he faw Hope Sanderfon ; he then ran Wefl- ward 40 Leagues and better, without any Sight of Land. On the lyih of Ju/y he had Sight of Moimt Raleigh : On the 23d he anchored in the Bottom of the Gulph, and called the Illands there Cumberland^ JJlands : Oil the 26th he met with a great Storm, and on the 30th he difcovered that which he called humlef s-Irdct ^ between 62". and 63". He returned ioDartmoutb the 15th of September ; and in a Letter that he wrote to Mr. Sanderfon, he maintains the Probability of a FafTage through the Strait that bears his Name ; and in this Opinion he continued all Vas Life, as Sir Willlatn Monfon informs us, who tho' lie had no Opinion of the Paffige himfelf, yet he al- lows that Capt. Davis's Arguments in its Favour were very plaufible. C 3 After I ! J U:^ ![■- \ ;■ 1 .'..( , iir :^;* 'Hi ■III") -m !') 2 2 7X^ fever al Expeditions to After this third Voyage of Capt, DaviSy pLxpeditions for the Difcovery of a North Weil PalTage were for fome Years fufpended ; but flill the Opinion, that fuch a Pafllige might, and fome Time or other would, be found, continued and kept up its Credit 3 and Sir Humphry Gilbert, a very gallant, and learned Gentleman, Half-Bro- ther to the ever memorable Sir Walter Ra- leigb, wrote very curious, and for thofe Times, a very judicious Difcourfe upon this Subie(ft, and procured a Patent for fettling the We.l: Part of Atnerica, with a View, in all Probability, to this Difcovery. Some other Papers of the like Purport were wrote about the fame Time 5 and from the Authorities mentioned in them, it very clearly appears, that the Notion of a North Weft PaiTage was at this Time general, among the ableft Cofmographers, and mod intelligent Seamen in Spaiuy Portugal and Italy J not to mention the pofitive Aflu ranees given by fome, tliat Ships had actually re- turned from the Eaji-lndles through this Paffige. To give a didind and particular Account of thefc Matters would require a Vokmie : and therefore it mav be fuillcicnt for our Purpofe, to g^vc a finglc liillancc. as Crc thcl in tl fen I fin I t f ■i to 'I f Gipt. 1 ery of a | ne Years | liat fuch or other kept up ', a very alf-Bro- Iter Ra- or thofe ^ ipon this r fettling Aew, in Some ". rt were rom the it very L North Igcneral, 1 Ik! mod 1 ^al and ! llirances Illy re- Ih this Irticular Bqiiire a Bfllcicnt Blhlicc, J.J difc Vt [cover a North Weft Paftagc. 2 3 as indeed it is a very fingular one, o. the Credit of this Opinion, amongli. Men c^f the befl Judgments, who were employed in the Enft- Indies. Capt. Jiwics hancaP.cr\ who was fent in tlie Spring of the Year 1600, with f;ar lar^e Ships into thofc Part^', being the fnl Fleet ever fent thither by an Englijh Eajl India Company ; in his Return Home on board the Dragon^ met v.ith a Storm off the Cipe of Good Hope^ in which his SI p led: her Rudder, and was otherwife d.m.iged, infomnch th.it he v^-a? perfua- ded to go on board the Heclor, another of the Company's Ship^', for his Stcnrity. Bat that brave and vigilant Oiiicer, belicvino; his Prefencc mi2:ht contribute more than any Prclervcaion of the Ship thins; elfe to t liO he was in, refufed to quit Ir.T, contenting himfelf with writing a ih.ort Letter to the Company, wherein he told tiiem, they might be fare he woiild do his utmcft to lave the Ship and Cargo, by his venturing his own Life, and the Lives of thofe who were with him .idd!i:'iT this remar kable Poilcript, in the midll: of his Confnlion, TLc PdJJcige to the Eiifl- Indies lies in 62". ';o by tL\ •^T^,.^ h WciL on the America 11 C4 VUIC k m -.in it , ii] ts \\ I"; (t'T- ''i m \'\' ■|l:l '■| 24 Tie J ever al Expeditions to Side, One may from hence infer, that this Gentleman, who for his great Condu fome ■ ■( felfj (as li proc felf i into • *< 15 100 ■1 i. J to that this inightcd, •eat Cer- ; other- Place in id under 1 impro- e of the i^er con- on, that of Men ^Jl' India Circum- ^ith this , which induced )out fif- aptaia e upon ore of e com- a very- failed Ccovery Ih the led by Mr. dtf cover a North Weft Paffage. 2 5 Mr. "Jchn Drew. On the 4th of "June he had light of the Orknep j on the 28th he was in the Latitude of 62°. 30'. when he delcryed Warwick'^ Foreland^ and (landing along the Coaft, faw great Reafon to believe that it was an Ifland 3 and fuppofing it fo to be, he concluded, that Luinlef s-lnkt ^ and the next Southern Inlet muft of Neceflity be one Sea ; and as there is a great Current there, fetting to the Wefl, he thence in- ferred there might be reafonable Hopes of a Paffage. He farther obferved, that the ^j'diVi^Ll America Vs'dJ^ all broken. On the 19th 0^ July his Men mutinied, and took a Refolution to return to England, for Reafons which they gave him, offering at the fame Time, if with the Benefit of a North Wefl Wind, which they then had, he would en- deavour a Difcovery in 60°. or 57°. they were willing to run any Hazard wich him ; from whence Capt. Fox infers, that he had fome on board, who were wifer tl:an him- felf J but being in the Latitude of 68°. ^3', (as he fays) the Men abfulutely rtfuftd to proceed. On the 26th, he reckoned him- felf in the Entrance of an Inlet at 61°. 40'. into which Inlet he affirms, that he failed 100 Leagues, Wefl by South, tliat it was forty i' iS'.: i m. mm^ ll'M !'i i ■ 2 6 T'he fever al "Expeditions to forty League? broad, veiy little incommoded with Ice, aiid a PalTage with more Proba- bility to be expedted there than in iJavis'S" Straits 5 but iis the Year was far fpcnt, and many of his Men in both Ships fick, he thought fit to return to Rngland^ and arrived fafely at Dartmouth on tlit 5th of Auguft, It is Capt. Fox\ Opinion, that \\ni\\ the Lights afforded by Davisy and Wtymmthy Hudfon was principally guided in his Dif- covery. We come next to fpeak of tliis great but unfortunate Seaman, who in Point of Skill was inferior to itvj^ in regard to Courage furpailed by none, and in Point of Induftiy and Labour hardly equalled by any. He was taken into t 'le Service of a Com.pany of verv eminent Merchants, who were bent on making a Difcovery of a fliorter PaiTage to the EaJl-IndieSy whether by the North, the North Eall, or the North Weft ; and in their Service he fearched for every one of thefe ', neither does il appear from any of the Accounts now extant, that any Compa- ny were ever at fo great an Expencc, per- fifted fo long, or did fo much, towards clearing up this Point, as the Company by which Hudfon was employed 5 and yet it I does do( bei 'III r to )mmoded cr Pro ha- Davis' S' x^nt, and lick, lie d arrived f Aiigujh horn the his Dil- great hut \oi Skill Courage ' Induftiy y. He npany of bent on iTage to rth, the and in one of any of Jompa- :e, per- tovvards pny hy yet it docs dtfc ?//^(?'i;^r ^ North Weft Paflagc. 27 does not appear, that they had any parti- cular or private Views ; but took all this Pains for the Sake of thofe Advantages that mud have refulted to the Public, in Cafe their ?2ndeavours had fucceeded. It is juftly to be regretted that the Names of thcfc generous Pcrfons, have not been pre- fervcd to Poftcrity 3 but tliat all we know of them is, that they w^ere certain V/orfiyip^ fill Merchants 0/' L o n d o N j at that Tim% no doubt, and long after, when Purcbas made his Colledion, it was a Thing fo well known, that publilliing it Teemed to be unne- ceflary, from whence it unluckily happens, that what was overlooked then, mufl remain in perpetual Oblivion to fucceeding Times. The firfl: V^oyage Capt. Hudfon made, in the Service of this Socictv, was to difcover a PaiTage to the Eajl -Indies^ by failing di- redly North, in which he did not fpend quite five Months, departing from Gravefend^ the iflof A/^^y, 1607, and returning thither again the 15th of September the fame Year. In this Voyage there are fevcral Things very remarkable : On the 13th of "June they faw Land ; v. liich f^crns to have been Part 01: the Eid Qyx'?i o'l Groenland : Oa the 2111 of ih^ firne Month thev iaw Land i V i I hi. ■[•'■-:■ ■!!:•'• Vri \m^:i\ 1 ■ 1 1 ■ ' 1 '1 t" • ; ,-" •' ■J V 'I'll hi '-i ^ It I M.I .'■I 2 8 7^^ fever al Expeditio?2S to Land again, in the Latitude of 73'. to which they gave the Name of Hold ivith Hope, and there they found the Weather temperate and pleafant ; whereas in 63°. they were pinched with fevere Cold : On tlie 27th they were in the Latitude of j'^°, where they found the Weather alfo temperate, or rather warm ; but on the 2d of Juhy tho' they were in the fame Latitude, the Wea- ther was very cold ; on the ilihoi July^ \e- ing in the Latitude of 70°. tLey had c\\m. Weather, an open Sea, and a greal" Quan- tity of Drift- Wood; they obfcrved that an Azure or Blue Sea was generally incommo- ded with Ice ; but the green Sea open : On the 14th of Jul)\ Capt. Hud foil fent his Mate and his Boatfwain on (hore, in the Latitude of 80°. 23' being then on the Coaft of Spitzbergen or Greenland-, they found the Track of Beafts, faw fome Water- Fowl, and met with a Stream or two of frefli Water, of which they drank heartily, the Weather being hot ; and obfervlng the Sun at Midnight, they found his Body lo''. 40'. above the Horizon. He continued to ad- vance to near the Latitude of 82°. and would have proceeded farther, but was hin- dered by the Ice; he afterwards made an Attempt f att( W^ Da imi ! !, ' Jib!:;m i: r to to which lopc^ and eiiiperate ley were he 27th . where ^rate, or Illy, tho' be Wca- ^uly, '.e- ad cdrn i' Qiian- that an commo- en : On fent his in the le Coaft found Fowl, frefli ly, the he Sun ^ 40'. o ad- . and s hin- de an tempt * difcover a North Weft Padlige. 1 9 attempt to fail round Grocniaudhy the North Weft ; and fo to havj returned home thro' Davis's-Straifs^ but found that likewife impradicablc. Upon his Return, he was employed again to difcover a North Ea([ Padage j he failed ^pril 22, 160^', i;nd returned again on the 26th of Auguji the fimc Year ; he firft tried to pafs between Spitzbergcn and Nova-Zcmbla, but was Inndered by the Ice ; he then coailed along the latter, and found the Country tolerably pleafant ; nor was he without fome Hopes of finding ano- ther PaiTage, than by that called the Straits of Weygatz ; but failing in this alfo, he bore away from thence to make Trial of the North Weft Paftage, by entering Liimley'S" Inlet ', but finding it impoftible to arrive there in Time, he laid afide that Defign, and made the be ft of his Way home. In 1609, he went again in fearch of the North Eaft PalTage, and having examined the Coaft of NuVd'Zcmbla to no Purpofe, he bore away for Ncivjoimdland^ where he traded fome time with the Savages, and from thence proceeded to Virginia. One may rcafbnably fuppofe, that he did this with Defign to leflen the Expences of the I Voyage, I II' 11 " i 30 77je fever al Expeditions to Voyage, that the Company might not be tired with bearing continual LofTcs, without meeting any Sutxcfs ; and upon his return from hence, it was, that he undertook his lafl, and fatal V:>vage, exprefly for dif- coveiing a PafTage . the North Weft. H E failed from Blackwall^ April 17, 16 10, and plying down the River with the Lee, he took an Opportunity there of rid- ing himfelfofone Mr. Cole bur ?ie,Vi very able andfkilful Seamfin, whom his Owners had put on board him as his AfTiflant, by fend- ing him back to London in a Pink, with a Letter, in which no doubt, he gave the befl Colour he could to this flrange Proceeding ; which proved an unlucky Precedent, for the fending him out of the Ship in a much worfe Phice. In the latter end oi Ma)\ he readied the Ifiand o^ Iceland^ and put into a Harbour in the North Eaft Part of it, where he was kindly entertained ; yet here fome Difputes arofe amongd his Crew, which with fome Difficulty he pacified. On the nrH: of June he failed from Iceland -y on the 9th of tliC fime Month he took him- feif to be off Frobijler's Straits ; on the 1 5th he faw Land, which Capt. Davis called Defolaiion-y on the 24th he began to enter into into Nar 1 ILi 1 ftre- 'r Sout was 1 gave 1 foun thon Higl h'f:. not be vithout return )ok his jr dif- 3^ difcovcr a North Weft Paffige. into thofc Straits which have fincc borne his Name. On the 8th o^ Jtih, being in the Height of 60". he gave the Name of />- fire-Provoked, to the Land he faw on the South Side of the Strait ; on the nth he was anioiigft fome Illuids, to which he gave the Name of the IJlcs of God's Mercy ; found the Tide flow higher than four Fa- thoms, the Flood coming from the North, High Water at Eight of the Clock on the Chanyre of the Moon, in the Latitude of 62°. 9'. On the 3d of Augnfty he pafTed through the Straits, obferving that the Tide came from the North, flowing from the Shore five Fathoms ^ the Cape at the PafTagc out on tl)e Eafl Side, he called Cafe IVoljienholmc ; and that on the South Wefl Shore, Cape Diggs ; he failed down to the Bottom of the B.iy, and very carefully fearched the Weft Side, in which he fpent the Time, till towards the Beginning oiSep^ temper, when he removed Robert Ivett^ his Mate, for liis mutinous Behaviour : During the whole V^oyage,he ftill continued fearchina the Bay, probably with an Intent to find out a fit Place to winter in ; and the bepinnino- of November, he found a Fiace in the South Weil Part, which he judged moft proper for I t . i ■ t [ i 1 m i •l lii •1 1 32 *The fevcral Expcclitio7is to for his Purpofc ; and there he caufcd the Veflel to be huulcd afliorc. As he was viduallcd at his coming from Fjigland^ for fix Montlis only, and had been ont now full that Time, it may be prefumed that they underwent great Hardfliips, in which, how- ever, it is fufficicntly evident that he Ihared with them. In the Beginning of the cn- fuing Spring, after making a {hort Trip in a Shallop for nine Days, to try whether he could meet with any Savnges, who would furnifh him with Provifions, and being dif- appointed, he returned, and getting the Ship ready, prepared to fail for Rngland^ di- (Iributing the Bread amongft: tho(e People that v/ere on board, and with it a Certifi- cate to entitle them to their Wa^es, in cafe of his Deniife; at which time \\\i wept out of Pity for their Plarddiips. But it feems the Gentlenefs of Hudfo/i's Temper had no kind of Efficft upon thofe with whom he had to deal ; for one Henry GrceUy a profligate young Man, whom he had taken into his Houfe, and preferved fiom Ruin, bringing him on board without the knowledge of his Owners, confpired with Robert Ivcft, the Mate whom Capt. Hufdon had difplaced, and when they w^re ready to fail. ■I S 4 ■3 I % I 4 fail, ongina the Pai Difficu length was 01 count Voyag( and pi »i(hmc good F black i turn, 1 ground to fed the he was fid, for lOW full at they 1, how- ; ihared he cn- frip in :hcr he would ng dil- [ig the ind, di- Pc^ople es, in wept I djhn's thofe r* .) difcovcr a North Wcfl: Paflagc. 3 fail, turned the Captain, with his Son 'John Hudfofi, a Youth, Mr. JVoodbcufc, a Gen- tleman ftudious in the Miithcmaticks, who was a Volunteer in this Voyage, with the Carpenter and five more into the Shallop, with little or no Provifions and hardly any Arms, and mod barbaroufly abandoned them in that wretched Place, where they were af- terwards either fiarvcd to death, or murdered by the Savages. The Crew fuffered all the riardfliips they dcferved in their Return ; for in a Quarrel that they had with the Savages, Green and two of his Companions were killed -, Robert Ivett, who had made feveral Voyages with Hudjou^ and was tlic original Author of all this Mifchicf, died in the Paflage home ; and the rell with infiniic Difficulty came firl'l: to Ireland^ and at length to England. Ahhaciic Pricket^ w];o was one of them, and wrote all the Ac- count we have of the latter Part of the Voyage, was a Servant to Sir Dudley Di^}[Sj and probably by his Intereft cfcapcd Pu- aifhment. Capt. Fox fufpe^fled, and with good Reafon, that he was as deep in this black Affair as any of them s but at his Re- turn, he affertcd, that the Siiip being a- ground at Diggs's-IJlatid, in the Latitude D ot n Am \ I ■'. ^> . i; PI" 1 1 1 lllj 34 77je fever al Expeditions to of 62". 44.'. a great Flood from the Weft fet them afloat, which gave fuch Hopes of a Paftage, that the Company immediately re- folved to make another Trial, in Hopes, perhaps, of faving Capt, Hudforiy in cafe he fiirvived. The Pcrfon that was made choice of to condud: this new Expedition, was Capt. Thomas Button, a Gentleman at that Time in the Service of Prince Hcnrv. an able Sea- man, a very knowing Man in other Thino;s, and who was afterwards knighted, for Ser- vices rendered to the Crown. He had two VcfTels, the one called the Refoiutiofi^ in which himfelf failed ; and the other the Difcovery, commanded by Capt. Ingram ; they were viilualled for eighteen Months, failed in tlie beginning of May, j6i2, and entered Hudfons-Straits on the South of Re- folution, where for fome Time they were fall among t!;e Ice: He then failed to .plggs'S'IJIamt, where he ftayed about a Week, and in that Time fitted out a Pinace, which ho brought fr(;m Englajtd in Pieces. Sailing then Weitwarn, he difcovered the i./:i!ul, which iic called Cary-Sivan's-Ncft -, from theiKc proccedini]i; Southward of the W'jir, he fvll in witli Land, in the La- titude ■fi cA ¥ to Weft fet pes of a lately re- 1 Hopes, ,n cafe he ice of to /as Capt. hat Time able Sea- ir Things, , for Ser- had two flit ion, in Dther the Ligram ; Months, 612, and th of Re- ley were failed to about a Pinace, 1 Pieces. red the of the the La- titude .f. dif cover a North Well Paflage. 35 titude of 6o^ 40'. to which he gave the Name of Hopes Checked, They met there with a great Storm, which drove him South- ward, and conftrained him to look for a Harbour, in which he might repair the Damage he had fuftained ; and on the 1 5th of Auguji he put into a Creek, on the North Side of that River, which he called Fort^ Nelfon, from the Name of the Maf- ter of his Ship, whom he buried there ; and here he refolved to Winter ; in order to which, he put his fmaller Ship foremofl, and then the Refolution, fortifying both with a Barricado, compofed of Piles, made of Firr, and ftrengthened with Earth, in order to defend them from Snow, Ice, Rain, or Floods. He wintered on Board i;is Ship, in which he kept three Fires ; and tho* there is no doubt that he took all the Care he could of his People 3 he notwithilanding loft many of them, and was himfeif much in- difpofed for the firft three or four Months of the Winter, which was very fliarp. It is much to be regretted that we have no GJllini^l, regular, or complete Journal of this Voyage ; tho* it is certain, that Sir72'(3- mas Button kept a very exact Journal ; an Aoil'ad of Part of which, communicated to D 2 him I. ^ m ■ 'il h IP Hi <' .1- •'»■■ J ,\:i • I i \ f 3G T/je feveral Expeditions to him by Sir Ihomas Roe, is printed by Capt.' Fox ; but having exceeding ftrong Hopes of a Padhge, and being very defirous to keep the Honour of the Difcovery to himfelf, Sir Thomas was very induftrious to conceal* what certainly ought to have been made pubhck. All we know of the firft Part of Jiis Voyage is colledkd li'om different Ac- counts, and ihofe written by feveral Hands, and it is from thcfe we learn that the Rivefj notwithllanding tlie Rigour of the Seafon, wa? not entirely frozen till the i6th of Fe^ hniar\\ which was owing to the Winds changing frequenily, fo that they had fome- times warm thawing Days, as well as others that were piercing cold. They were not much dillrefled for h\-ovilions, fince it is af- firmed, that in the Space of the Winter, they killed no lels than eighteen hundred 13ozen of Partridges ;;nd other Fowl, which aifurds us an Opportunity of faying fomewhat concerning the Birds of this Country, that ni:;y prove both entertaining and inifrudlive to the Reader, The brown and fpotted Heathcock, which continues all the Year in the Countries about Hudloiis-Bay, is fomewhat bigger than an E?!giijh Partridge, longer bodied, and has a longer '4 Capt. >es of keep F, Sir ncealj made art of : Ac- lands, iliver^ eafon, f Fe- A/'inds fome- others e not is af- intcr, Indred ivhich ;what that idlive [^^Jlie^Heathcockr ^ ^^actirtdg-e 'k ''m, \ J 1 ■ i t ' ■■ 1 1 i , . ,:l lonl covj bov uppi COV( witl Tail! the an( clf/ccver al>ionhWQ{{ Paffage. 37 longer Tall in proportion. The Bill is black, covered with brown Feathers ; the Skin a- bovc the Eye red j the top of the Head, the upper part of the Neck, and down the Back covered with Feathers of a dark brown, niixed with a dull orange and aili Colour ; the Tail is of a dark brown, the Throat under the Bill of a yellowifli white., the Neck and Bread of a dull Orange, with Spots in tiie Form of Half-^vlcGns of black j the Bread and under the Body of the Bird to the Tail white clouded with cream Colour, fpottcdvvith black Hulf-A^3ons3 the Legs from the Knee-joint down to the Feet covered with a kind of hairy Feathers of a brown Colour, intermixed with black ; the Feet of a reddifa brown ; and three Toes for- ward having Claws pretty long and black j thcfe Toes are jagged, but tliC liinder Toes are fmooth on tlie fides. It is remarkable, that thcfc Birds are Inhabitants of the low Country in thofe Parts, tho' the fame Spe- cies with us arc only found in very high Lands, and on the Tops of Mountainc. The "Li'/jiw Partridge is of a middle Size, between our common Partridge and the Phealant, fnaped very much like the for- mer, except tliat its Tail h fomev/hat logger, 1^ 3 In i i f ■ J -^^ i ■ '■ t' I ■( .1 yf.m i ] \. 1 !.■ i ':'■ ■ :■ . 1 3 8 7]^^ fever al Expeditions to In the Summer Seafon thefe Birds are moilly brown, but in the Winter they become perfedly white, except the outward Fea- thers of the Tail, which are black tipped with white. In that fevere Seafon they re- pc'e themfclves in the Snow all Night, and in the Morning fly directly up to fhake off the Snow. In the middle of the Day they fun themfelves, and feed only in the Morn- ings and Evenings. They breed and con- tinue in thofe Parts all the Year, which is a great Relief to fuch as inhabit that Country. But after all, as the ingenious and accurate Mr. Edivards obferves, this Bird is not pro- perly a Partridge, but of that kind which we call the Heath Game, and is common to America and Europe, being found in the Mountains of J^^/y, Sivitzerland, Spain^ &c, but no where in fuch Plenty as in the Re- gions about Hudfo?2's-Bay, The Pelican is alfo common in this Country, which is fomewhat bigger than a large tame Goofe ; the upper Mandible of the Bill is narrower in the middle than at ei- ther End, and is received into the lower, except towards the Point, which widens and receives the lower into it -, the Point is red, but the upper and under Part towards the Head, m r m m ■t^ii i lis of :i- %' 1 ' ' ' i I • ' ii \ I-; v' ' V '!', t i 1 .■■,: 1 if :!,: .1 I ^^ yvr./, Hi wl cafe clif cover a North Weft Paflligc. 39 Head, are of a yellow Colour -, the Pouch when dry, rcfemblesan Ox's Bladder blown, and is prodigioufly large while the Creature is living J the Head and Neck are covered with white Feathers, the Body of a dirty afli Colour, the Quills of the Wings are black, all the under Par'^ is of a dark afli Co- lour, the Legs are fhort, with four Toes, webbed together, the middle Toe is longer than the Leg, and both the Legs and Feet are of a dirty yellow, mixed with green ; the Claws are dark. Thefe Birds live chiefly upon Fifli, and are thought to inhab; iroft Parts of the Globe ; at lead, it is cert'^in iuat they are common here, and in the Northern Parts of RuJJla y they likcwife abound in Egypt ^ and are fometimcs found nca^ cheG.'/>^ of Good Hcpe, where they are of a much larger Size ; one that was publickly (iiewn here, and brouglit from thence, being twice as big as a large Swan, and the Pouch under theBiil fo large, that his Keeper with great cafe put his Head into it. There are like wife in this Country fomc very curious Birds, with rcfpc^l to their Size and Strength; fuch as jyhite Tciikd Eagles y about the Bignefsoi a Turkey- Cock, tlat crowned, (liort necked, fall brca lied, D 4. with \*\ I ! ' I '. S\ ! W '4 i 40 The fevcral Expeditioris to with brawny Tliighs, arul liaving very lon^ iiiui broad Wings, in proportion to it's Body, but darl^er on the Back, and hghter on tlie Sides ; the Bread fpotted with white, the Quills of the Wings black, the Tail when clolld white, both above and below, except the very Tip of the Feathers, which are black or brown, the Thighs covered with dark brown Feathers, thro' which, in fome Places, a white Down appears, the Legs to the very Feet covered with foft Feathers of ;i reddilli brown ; it has four Toes on each Foot, verv thick and flroncr, ll:andino[ three forward and one backward, covered with yel- low Scales, and armed with very flrong Claws, of a iliining black, with very (harp Points ; there are befides thefe, feveral kinds of Fclcojis or Haivks^ and other Birds of prey. The gvccLt Horned Owl is alfo com- mon in this Country, which is a very fin- fjular Bird, with a Head very little inferior in Size to that of a Cat, and what are called the Horns, compofcd of Feathers, rifingjufl above the Bill, intermixed at the Bottom with white, becoming of a red brown by De- grees, and tipped with black. The great JFbiu Owl, of a bright fliining Colour, fo as fcarce to be diflinguiflied from flie Snow, is larp :rior the Q^uickHatcK.or Wolverene ' I'i ; I S.-t I mm I!- !| d is a wh( is ff upo 1 are teen the and i turcs Noin is ho and Wool blackj from under Sea ( Whali can g€ Th bics ir is not Nofe, Teeth are of flrong ; !«'<''• dif cover a North Weft Paflagc. 41 is common here likcvvife, and continues the whole Year through in this Country, where it is frequently feen flying by Day, and preys upon the white Partridge. There arc alfo ((jme Dcafls, tliat arc fingulir enough, and arc generally cf- teemcd pecuHar to this Country, I'uch as the White Bear, a Creature very different from the common Bear j having a long Head, and a Neck much thinner than other Crea- tures of that Kind ; It is faid to make a Noife, not unlike the barking of a Dog that is hoarfe : There are different Sizes, great nnd fmall ; their Hair is long and foft as Wool ; and their Nofcs and xMouths are black, and fo are their Claws ; they fwim from one Field of Ice to another, and dive under Water for a long Time. Near the Sea Coaft, they feed chiefly upon dead Whales ; but on fhore, on any thing they can get. The Porcupine of Hudjhtis-Bay refem- blcs in Shape and Size a Beaver ^ the Head is not unlike that of a Rabbit j it has a flat Nofe, entirely covered with (hort Hair ; the Teeth before, two above, and two below, are of i yellow Colour, and remarkably flrong ; it has very fmall ibort Ears, which hardly I f m I •i I t( i'T « 'M :;l it;- I -^•'■•.,1 II ii vM m ■ 42 The fever al Expeditions to hardly appear without the Fur ; the Logo too are very fliort, but the ClavvF, of which it has four on it's fore Feet, and five on the hind, are long, hollow within, like Scoops, and very (liarp pointed. It is co- vered all over the Body with a pretty foft Furr, about four Inches 1 ong; beneath the Hair, on the upper Part of the Head, Body and Tail, it is very thick, fet with fliarp fliff Quills, which are white, with black Points, bearded, and not eafily drawn out, when they have entered the Skin. The Porcupine ufually makes its Neft under the Roots of great Trees, and fleeps much 3 he feeds chiefly upon the Bark of Trces^ cats Snow in the Winter, and drinks Wa- ter in the Summer, but carefully avoids go- ing into it. The Savages eat them, and ef- tcem their Flefh both a wholfome and a pleafant Food, The ^iick'Iiatch or Wohcr^iie is ano- ther very extraordinary Bead of the Size of a large Wolfs the Snout of the upper and un- der Jaw, as far as the Eyes, is black, the up- der Part of the Head whitiili, the Eyes dark j the Throat, and under Part of the Neck, white fj^otted with black 3 the Ears fmall and round ; tlic whole Body of a red- ^ I difh dij difh Rum Sides. pretty far a -hort and th is moil bulhy carries rifcs ar hliiifclf and it i other fi furprisi Butt071. He c feveral 1 fuch as Nclfon^ ' man, an Precautic iiis Peop who com Man of i 1 boons ^ iays, that ^.vith him go- ef- id a mo- of a un- up- ^yes the i-vars :ed- lifh difcover a North Weft Paflagc. 43 dirti brown, darker at the Shoudcrs and Rump, and l-glner upon the Buck and Sides. The Furr of the whole Body ii pretty long, but not very clofe, the Feet, as far as the firfl Joint, are covered with .liort black Hair, but tiie Legs are brown and the Claws of a light Colour, the Tail is mofl: of it bro.vn, but towards the Tip bulhy and black. This Creature in going carries his Head very low, fo that his Back rifes archwife ; when attacked, he defends hi'mfelf with great Force and Obflinacy, and it is faid, will tear Traps, Ginns, and otiicr fuch Inventions to pieces, in a very furprizlng Manner. But to return to Capt. Button. He carried with him in this Expedition, feveral Perfons of great Skill and Capacity, fuch as the Mailer of the Rejolution^ Mr, Nclfon^ who was a very experienced Sea- man, and fuggeflcd to him moll: of the Precautions, taken for tiie Prefervaiion oi his People in the Winter. Capt. Ingram., who commanded the J^ifcovcry, was alfo a Man of great Abihties ; and fo was Capt. Gibbons, of Vv^hom Button in his Journal iiiys, that he never carried a better Seaman \vith him in his Life. l\z hud alfo one Cap I^X"J \ ! i-i-^ ' ,< •. . V,;r t A 1 t-l: y ::.ii Iil 'ri| W ' I 44 77je feveral Expeditions to Capt. Hanvkridge with him, who made Ibme Notes upon the Voyage, and who hav- ing tried the Tide at Savage- IJles^ found it came from the South Eail, and rofe three Fathoms. From him we learn, that he had an Encounter with the Savages at Ccpe TVoIJlenholme ^ who ciime to attack him in two Canoes, in which there were about fourfcore Perfons, and who furprifinp his Men a-lliore, when they were filling Wa- ter, killed five of them, in Revenge for his taking four of their large Canoes, of which he returned but two. He had alfo one y^^pas Jiuhart^ who w.^s his Pilot, and we (hail hereafter take Notice of a fingular Infirancc he gave of his Gipaciiy, and of the jufl Notions he had of tb.e true Way of fetkinc; the PalTise j and not to detain the Reader longer upon this Head, we (hall mention but one Man more, which was Abhacuc Prickctt^ who was with Capt. Hud" JoUy in the laft unfortunate ^^oyage, when he was bafely facrihced by his mutinous Crew. While they were lying "^dli in the Winter, Captain Button very judicioufly de- vifed a Method of employing the Time of the principal Perfons on board him, to the Scr- t ! dij Serv tisfac alio by ta main have ture, fence in fc Place kcms U was were, and h make^ they fl Qiiefli wrote ' M * your * this ] ' Men, * have * tend, ' Inhal ' ped:at ' iit to -uk<;i. difcover a North Weft PafTage. 45 Service of the Expedition, and his own S.i- tisfadion ; which at the lame Time cut oft all Occafions for Murmuring or Difcontcnt, by taking up that Space, which had it rc- rTiaincd unemployed, their Heads might have run upon Things of a Icfs ufeful Na- ture, and wliich might have created Diffe- rences and Difputes. Some he kept hufy in fettling the Courfc and Dillancc from Place to Place ; to otiicrs he propofed, as it iecms, the foUov.ing (^ci'iions, viz. what k was pofiible for them to do where they were, wlicn the Weather became open ? and how the Difcovery they were fent to make, might be bell profecuted, when they (hould be able to go to Sea ? to which Queflions, Mr. lluhart before mentioned wrote the fullowins; Anfwer. * Mr Anfwer to the firil. Demand, is under * your Favour, I think it notamifs to fearch * this River if God give Strength to our * Men, before our Departure from it, to * have the Knowledge how far it doth ex- * tend, and that we may meet with fomc * Inhabitants, Vv'iiicli mav farther our F c- ' pedlations ; but I cannot think of any Pio- \ lit to be made by it. * M V •1 11 jji'. r It \:\ .iji i( \^ I 1 il 41 1 ' ^4 \ 1 4 I Ifc.- ';'!' fE J 46 T[he feveral Expeditions to * M V Anfwer to the fccond Demand l?] * to fcarch to the Northward al.ojt tiiis * Weflern Lard, until, if it Lc pcirmle, * that we may find the Flood coming ixom * the Wcllward, and to bend our Couiies ' again fh that Flood, following the Ebb, * fcarcLing t'.at Way for the PafTage. For * this Flood, which we have had from the ' Eaftward, I cannot be perfuaded, bat « that they are the Veins of fome Headland * to the Northwards of the Cheeky and by * the Inlets of Rivers^ which let the Flood- * Tides into them ; which Headlands being ' found, I do aiiure myfelf, that the Tide * will be found to come Irom the Weft- ' ward. • Herein I have fliewed my Opinion, ' fo far as my Judgment will afford, until * further Realbns induce mc to the con- * trary.' Jojias Huhart, Whoever is a proper Judge of thefe Mat- ters, mufl: allow, thjt .lis Man was perfedly right, and laid down the only true and Icn- fible Method for difcovwring a PalHage. The River bca:an to clear about the 2 if!: of ^'Ipril^ but it is certain, that he did not get out to Sea, till more than two Months after, and then the Extradl we iiavc of his Journal, ilievvs •J ;1 -!»■■ I the i. laLj bear whel try of 61 highi R epon ih id Ls liiis fink, from jui ies Ebb, For n the , bat diand id by 'lood- being Tide Wed- nion, until coii- rf. dif cover a North Weft PaiTige. 47 fliews that he examined the Weft Side of the Bay, and gave Names to fcveral of the FLtccs remarkable therein, which they fall bear : Hio r vn Name lie left to the Bay, where he wintered, and the adjacent Coun- try he called New-Wales, In the Latitude of 60". finding a ftrong Race of Tide, run- ning fometitnes Eaftward, and fometimes Weftward, Mr. Hi hart in his Chart fet it down, by the Name of Hubarfs Hope ; the higheft he failed to the North, feems to be 65°. and from the Obfervations he made there, more efpecially of the Tides, he came Home perfecftly latisfied, that a North Weft Paftage might be found 3 and he told Mr. BriggSy the famous Mathematician, that he convinced King james of the Truth of this Opinion. But it would have been more advantageous to this Nation, if he had fuff^Tcd his Journal to be publiftied, or at leaft had given the World the Grounds upon which his Sentiment was built, as he lived many Years after this, became a rich Man, and a great Patron to thofe who fet on foot the Trade to Guinea, It is for Want of his Journal, that we have no Account when he returned : All v/c know of it, is from the Report ot Pricket^ who laid they rjct with no 'Wt^ \ i'fl Hi i ■ 1 ! jff f ,i; L'i" r .1 'Ii if iiiii i.Ui^ I Jill! 48 77je fever al Expeditio?ts to no Ice, till they were in Hiidfon's Straits^ and that they came Home in fixteeii Days. We are told, the Reafon Capt. Button did not make another Voyage for Difcovery, was the Death of Prince Henry his Mafter, which happened in his Abfence j but it may be prefumed, that he imparted his In- ilructions freely to his Kinfman and great Favourite Capt. Gibbons^ who was fent in the fame Ship called the Difco''jer)\ upon the fame Defign in 1614 ; but he was very unfortunate, for mifling the Entrance of HiidfonS'Straits^ he was driven by the Ice into a Bay in the I 3 tlis i' difcover a North Weft PafTagc. 5 3 the Variation of the Compafs to 56". or inorc thr.n five Points to the WcA\var(1, which Bajf,ne affirms to be the grcatcfl Variati' v,vas uLa. Cumbcrland-ljlmids ; here de- fpairiig of any tait er Dilcoveiy, and JVIr. Hubert^ another of his Company, beinc^ Very fiek, he bore away for rhe Greenland Coail, and putting into C^r^'/Vz-^c/^W, in the LdLitude of 65". 45'. his fick l\(jplc reco- V \'^^ \\\ a Week's Time, by giving them Seuiyy- Grafs boiled in their Beer 3 there he traded with the Natives, and obicrved that they had a wonderful fine S dmon Fidiery ; the High W.iter here at S.vcn o'Clock at the Full and Change ; aivd ihe Water rofe above ti-hteen Feet ; on the 30th o'i Au- giijl he ai rived in Dover-Road, :iv % t l.'^ Ej On m\ i If : t. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 [Si I.I 2.5 1^ ^ iiS, 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" — ' ► HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ 1 ^\ 6^ .%^ ^%^ K ilEi r m flu ll V 1 IIS?". J ■ , itti'v" IJuHii; ¥ ' »ii'JI ^i ';:,i»' 54 Hoe fever al Expeditions to On his return from this Voyage, he wrote a long, and a very fenfible Letter to Sir 'John Woljicnholme j in which he gives hini a plain and fair Relition of his Voyage, and of the clear Difcovery he had made j that nothing was to be expedled, with regard to a P^lLgc in Davii's-Straits -, but for Sal- mon, Morfe and V/iialc- Fifhing, there could nor be a more commodious Place found, whicl: Expji icnce h:.s judih^d : for t}>tDiiUh have clla'oliilicd an annual Wliale-Fifhery here, of u very grcai Vaiue. But it feems the Heartsof tiief J Gentlemen were fet upon a Paf- fa^^^^j-^ndifthatwas not found they minded no- thing elfe^fo that after thefe five Voyages, in all of which B^'/ot v;as, they gave over their Defign, which L.y dormant for about twenty Years after. William Baffir.e v/as ftill perfuadcd that a PalTage there muft: be, tho' fully convinced that in Davis' s-Straits it could not be j and of this Sentiment he de- clared himfelf a little before his Death, which happened in the Eaft-IndieSy by a Wound he received at the taking of Ormus ; and very defirous he was of making a Tryal tQ find this Paflage, frob> that Part of the World, in which he hoped to have fucceeded better. It was chiefly from this great Sea« manj! difcGver a North Weft Paffagc. 55 man, that Mr. Briggs the Mathtmatlciuri derived his bed Lights, with refpcdl: to a North Weft PafTagc ; for which he wjs a 2reat Advocate. It is true he confulted Sir ThotJias Button ; but as he tells us him- felf, abating ftrong Aflurances, fair Word?, and fine Promifes, he received little or no Information from him, except with regard to the Tides, and from them alone he con- cluded the Certainty of a PafTage ^ and that the moft probable Means of finding it, waS clofely to examine the Coafis about Ilud^ fotis-Bay-i and upon this Subject he penned a pretty large Difcourfe J the Heads of which, and thofe very imperfedly taken, are to be met with in Purcbas and iii Fox ; but the whole of his Work with his Chart, was ne- ver publlflied ; which may be jullly ef- teemed a Lofs, and a very great one, both to that Age and to this. We come now to Capt. Luke Fox, a Man bred from his Youth to the Sea, and who for Twenty-hve Years, before he undertook this Voyage, had meditated fomething of the kind, having then had an Inclination to have gone Mate with Mr. JohnK?iight, who was famous for his Skill in the Navigation of the North Seas ; but notvvithAandirig lie E 4 was ;;1 t^ m i.V Wa «.« It ' v :■< -i i w li E W f :;! «:|iil'f! 56 The feveral Expeditions to was then difappointed, he remained a care* ful and diligent Enquirer into things of this Nature, converfed with Bajjine^ Pricket^ and others who had been employed on the Dif- covery, and collcdled with great Induftry all the Journals and Hiftories of fuch Voyages as he could meet with. His Love to this kind of Knowl' dge, brought him to an Ac- quaintance with Mr. Henry Eriggs before- mentioned, who offered hiui his Ai3iflance for procuring one of the Kin2,*s Sliips, in or- der to make a Voyage in fcarch of the North Weft Paffage. Accordingly in 162901- 1630, with the Advice and Alliflancc of Sir JoLm Brooke^ a Petition was prefented (o King Charhs I. for that Purpofe, which was gra- cioufly accepted and granted 3 but the Sea- ion of the Year being clapfcd, before the Defign could be brought to bear, they were obliged to put it off to the next Year, and in the mean time Mr, Briggs died. In this Space, the Merchants of Brijlol^ at the Requefi: of Capt. Jamcs^ formed a Scheme of the like Nature, and were deli- rous to come to an Agreement with the Merchants of London^ who were to be at the Expence of Capt. Fox's Expedition, that they ihould have an equal Share in Ho- nour H i . ■ difcover a North Weft Paflagc. 5 7 rour and Profit, which ever Ship proved lo fortunate as to *^\\^. the PaOage, and this was readily yielded to by the hondon Tra- ders. Sir Thomas Roe^ a very worthy as well as a very wife Man, and a Pcrfon of great Public Spuit, rcturaing at this Time from his Einball;/ in Sivedcn^ Capt. Fo>c was introduced to him, and honoured with his Protedion, as well as that of Sir yobn IVolfleiihohnc the elder, who had been for fo many Years a con (Ian t Friend to, and Encourager of this Dilcovery ; and his Son Mr. 'John Woljlenholme, afterwards Sir John IVolJlenholme^ was appointed Treafurer -, and Capt. Fox having be^n introduced to the King, and having received a Chart, in which all the former Difcoveries were marked, his Majelly's Indrudions, and a Letter to the Emperor of '^apaji^ prepared for his Voyage at the Beginning of A/^j', 1631. The VelTel he failed in was a Pinnace of the King's, called the Charles^ of the Burthen of twenty Tons, with twenty Men and tvv^j Boys, victualled for eighteen Months, and compleatly equipped in every Refpc^d. On the Sth of May, he failed from Yarmouth-Roads j and on the J3th of lune^ was in Latitude £2^ 39'. On the 22d .ii ■ ^tiiii S;.; • i'*:'4|i •■ >■ 1*1 WW ^ i \ P4f-M % i •.n; iti ii .*=!(. . f •i ' I I .■ " mi I' i \\ lilli*'- fii, 58 The fever al Uxpedinons to 22(1 of the fame Month, he entered Hud^ fori s-S traits f and after pafling by Cary* Sivan S'Ne/l y the firfl: Land he faw was in the LatituJe of 64". i'. the iame tliat Sir ^l^omas Button y called "Nc Ultra^ but to which he gave the Name of Sir Thomas Koe' S'Welcofne y which, I think, it has ever iince retained ; he fays, it was an Ifland with high broken Land. He had fine clear Weather, an open Sea, free from Ice, no §now on the Land, but a bold ragged Coaft, like Headlands upon the Ocean, with Tangle and Rock-Weed, and great Plenty of Fifh. The Tide rofe here four Fathom, whereas his Men who tried the Tide at Cary 'Sw ail s-Ntj} ^(own^ it to rife onlyfix Feet. Sailing from thence Soutli Weft in the Latitude of b'l,'^. 37'. he faw another Head- land to the Southward of him, with fmall Iflands and broken Land upon the Main ; and here alfo he faw many FiHi and Seals and one Black Whale j fiiling fiill South- ward, he came to an Ifland in 63". to which he gave the Name oi Brook-Cohham in Honour of his Patron Sir "John Brooke .' and on the 30th of July, he faw another little Ifland about twelve Leagues from Brook'Cobhamy to which he gave the Name I of ofl th( flo] difcQvcr a North Weft Paflage. 59 of Dun-Fox' s-ljlnrd : And here, he fays, the Tide came from the North EafI-, and flowed about twelve Feet Water. In the Latitude of 62°. 5'. he fell in with fomc Imall Iflands, to which he gave the Name of Briggs's Matbematicks : And here ob- fcrvcd, that a North Wind kept up tlic Tide. He fcts it down in his Journal on the 3d of Aiigiift^ that the further he went from Sir Thomas Roe* s-Welcome ^ it flowed lefs Water, and the Tide was lefs perceptible, and the fame Obfervation he repeats more than once. He tried the Tide at Tort- Nelfon, and found it flow nine Feet. On the 29th of Aiigujl^ he met with Capt. James, went on board him, and was well entertained, but left hini on the lad of that Month 5 the Refult of his whole Difcovery was, that from the flowing of the Tide and the Whales, it was mofl likely the Paflfage fliould be in Sir Thomas Roe's- Welcome or the Ne Ultra, as Sir Thomas Button ns.mcd it. In the Beginning oiOSfober he repaffed Hudfon's- Straits ; and on the lafl: of that Month arrived fafely in the Downs, He publiflied his Voyage on his Return, which he dedicated to the King, and both in m- .V:\ .1 I ■ft- AV '' .ii-ili'' S'ii: 1. ' J t' )■,'« 60 7^^ fever al Expeditions to in the Dedication, and at the Conclufion, he lays it down as a thing certain, that the High rides he met with in the Welcome^ could not poffibly come throug'i Hud/on s- StraitSj but mufl: be propagated from a Weftern Ocean, or that which is commonly called tl.e South Sea, and he very clearly and very judicioufly traces thefe two Tides. He fhews, that the Tide coming through Hud- fon's-Strnits^ flows at the Entrance of them, that if5, at Rejolution^ five Fathoms right up and down : He obferves, that Mr. Hudfon had found the Tides at the Ille ot God's- Mercy to flow fomew at above four F.iihom.s, that at Mill-IJldnd it flows fomewhat Icfs than four Fdtiioms. A- gain, from Sea-Horfe-Poiut to Cary- Sivan's'ISIeJi it flows but fix Feet. But in the Latitude of 64^. 10'. he fjund the Tide fetting from the North and flow- ing above twenty Feet in the dead Ntap ; and coafting along this Wefl-fide, he found it flowing kfs and lefs, till at Pcrt-Nelfon it came to nine Feet -, he therefore obferves, that confidering the diflance, which is up- wards of two hundred and fifty Leagues, and the Tide meeting fo many Rubs and Checks by the way, amongll Jflands and Shoals, n a mly and He 'ud- cm, ight Mr. Ifle bove lows 1 A- ary^ But the ow- ap ; und 'ifoji ves, up. ues, and und als. dt [cover a North Weft Paffage. 6i Shoals, it is inconceivable how fuch a vafl Quantity of Water ftiould be recalled and repaired every twelve Hours, if it were not fed and fupplied from fome great and vafl Ocean. It might be both inftrudlive and entertaining, if we (hould infift farther upon this Gentleman's Remarks, deduced not only from his Knowledge, as a Seaman, but from his own Experience in this Voyage ; and comparing his Obfervations with thofe that had been made by his Predeceflors ; but as all this Matter will be more properly confidered in theConclufion, where we (hall have aifo later Fads to build upon, it is better to refer it thither, and to avoid fa- tiguing the Reader with needlefs Repetitions. Only this it may be proper to remark, that Capt. Fox^ not only continued firm in his Opinion, that there was a Paffage, but was very clear alfo, as to the Place in which it was to be looked for, and very politive, that it would be found large and open, and in a temperate Climate, which he grounded upon his own Experience, that the far<^her he fail- ed Northward in Hudfori s-Ea)\ tiie warmer he found the Weather, and the more free from Ice. We i'C I m ; 1 ■ 1 H H t ':i! I ■ > A\ H* _^iy' ■V :i' ! : ;: J ii lliinH 6 2 7^(? fever al Expcditio?^ to We have ali'cady mentioned Capt. Jame^ of Brijlol^ who failed in the fame Month, ai, well as the fume Year with Capt. Luke Fo>\ :ind on the fame Defign. He was certainly a Man of Abilities, and very ex- pert in Calculations, but he does not feem to have been fo well acquainted with the Voyages that had been made to the North, as he ou.■■., I' ■ )r\' ^ :::: \& if wn, %m: 64 T/jc fever al Expeditions to appeared. The \ ^{\\ot Jufie^ the Sea wag fill frozen over, ar.d the Bay full of Ice^ T!ic lutii was vtry hot with Thunder. Tue 19th they faw fomc open Sea j and by the 20th all the Ice was drove to the Northward. This Ifland was a dry Land covered with a white Mofs, and fmall Shrubs and Bullies, no Trees but Spruce and Juniper, the longcft a Foot and a half over. The Sea to the Northward was full of floating Ice, until the 2 2d of Jidy. In the long Account which Capt. yafnes has j^ivcn us of his Wintering, there is fuch a Detail of Mifcrics and Hardfliips, as might have been fuilicicnt to have deterred any from venturing again into this Bay 5 and no doubt, it was a principal Reafon, that all. Thoughts of profecuting a Defign of this Nature, were, after the publi(hing his Voyage, laidafide for upwards of thirty Years. After he left Charlton- IJIaucJ, he failed North Weft, and examined that Side of the Coaft, as high as Marble -IJland^ and then (lood over to the cppofite Main, and failed as high as Nottingham-lfiand ; but the Month of ^i/^u/l beiiig now pretty far fpent, and himfelf fully perfuaded that no PalTage was to be found, but to the Northward of 66°. :■■''■* ill l(i:al;!|;} lage ,iifcovcr a North WcK PaiT.i-^c. :'.j ♦36*'. hcconfcnt'jii, on tuc nn.ir.iin')us Dviire of Iii^s Slii[>'s Company, to b-.ar up the iLlni, ami to icturii liome. li-j h...i a tolerable R.iia^j.c tlroii^^Ji liudjon'S'Straits^ I10t\vithlhi?Kli;.;j, v.liicli it v/as tliO 2 2^1 r^f* Othbcr before !ic rfAchsd tlic Pv)rt of Z.?;-//- tcL He pabliilicvl a l::rgc Account of his Voyage, in \v..Lh there are abunciance of curious I'hirgs, that rccoiViincridcd it high- ly to that great Philofopher Mr. Boyk ; as on tlic other Hind, the Ul'e that he Jvas inaclc of it, an.! tlic Charailer that he has <'iven it, has reliededno fip.nll Credit on th.^ Work. It may however be doubted, whether tlic DiliicuUies Capt. "^James met with, or the lAuigcrs he run through, divi nut warp hij Judgment, fince from being a warm Advo- cate for a North Weft Paffage, lie came to v/iite as politively againft it, and to aiLrt in plain Terms, that either there vvasnoPallagc^ or if there was, it mufl be fo fituated, as not to be worth finding. Tii E Arguments he offers in Support of his Sentiment, as to there being no PaiLigc, are three, or as he flatcs theni four j but tliC lail: fjcms to be a Dedudion from tlie rtfl, ra- ther than any new Reafon j we will give a Oiort Account of them all, becaufe, when F . con - I v.\ ti ;- 1 5 r,ii:r;^ 66 TAe feveral Expeditions to confidercd and compared with what has becii difcovered fincc^ they are perhaps as ftrong Arguments for a PafTage, as any that can be offered. FirH:, then, he fays, there is a conflmitTide Flood and Ebb fet ting into Hud- fon's-Straits, the Flood Ji ill caning from the Eajkvardy ivhichy as it proceeds correfpondent to the dijlance^ it alters the I'ime of full Sea, nis alfo entering into Bays and broken Ground^ becomes difiurbed and overfets with half Tides, The Fads here laid down are allowed to be very true, and the infer- ence he draws from them is very juft, but it happens to make nothing at all for his Purpofe notwithflanding. He never ex- amined the Tide at Sir Thomas Roe's-Wel^ cofne^ for if he had, he mufl have been con- vincejd, for the very Reafons here laid down, that it did not come from the Atlantic Ocean, and confequently that there muft be a Pafiage. Fox^ who vifited this Bay the very fame Year, who tried t' t Tides where Capt. James did, but tried alfo the Tide in the Welcome.^ concluded very juftly, that the latter could not fpring from the fame Ocean with the former, and thus we fee clearly and plainly why thefe two able Seamen were of diredly oppofite Opinions, and yet both of Ihem r the wei 7" indi and frorr infer thin was, ibundl that t Hudfo he ne\ to his : He Cod, & are vet ofWhc to be j Wood. given a: true; ar then, it the Bay Conclufii if he hac he would CoQclufic them in the right, fo far as their ^Z ' -ent , -for it is very certain ^Tr "? _>«.. raw nothing in this refpc'dl Z c'S Induce h,m to conclude there was a P ffi and it is no lefs c, -,.: .."^^'^ ^''%ej from the Lights he had ' u ""^P'" ^"^' found to the South of aao " ''* ^^ /• ",P '^"'^"y fi'" i f!Or are there am n.„ of males, Sea-Horfes or atlJ ^ "" to be found on tbesL ^''''' ^^^ ^-^. Toti:^steir;A "7^"''^'^^- g'-vcn as to the forme thfrt" "^^ '^ '-;andtheConclu&„tv?fLTr Aen. it is onlv w,>h ^^^"^ J^^i but if he had me 5 the """" ^^°"^' "^^' he would undoui'h""''"^ °'^" ^''^'"^. Co«clufio„. St iL ' T' ^ '^""'^^^3' ^apt- J^a;, ,n the Neighbour. * * hood ' ( » ; 1 ■H!,u' ' ?-: i ■m am t' 6S 7^^ fcvcral Expedition to ;. hood of Sir Thomas Roe's-Jt'eJceme^ met both with fmall Y'lih ar.d large, of wliich he gives us a particular Account, and efpe- cially with regard to Whales ; for it leems at Brook-Cobkam his Men fiw no leTs than forty at one Time. It might indeed have been matter of Dii'pute in thofe Days, when thefe two Journals were publiflied, and very pro- bably it was J wl ich was moil to be depend- ed upon, in regard to Veracity; but there can he none in ours, when from repeated Voyages thcfc Parts are well known -, and in conkquence thereof, it is a thing out of Qucfticn, that all Sorts of F'(li, but more efpcciaily the larger Sorts, fuch -as Sea- Unicorns and Whales, are found in great Numbers in thefe Northern Parts; confe- quently Capt. James's Reafon, not only ceafcs witii refpecl: to thofe Parts of the Bay where a Paffage has been lately fought, but the very contiary Reafon takes place ; fince, if a Paflage was defpaircd of from the want of thefe Signs, it ought furely to be ho ^ed for, wherever thofe Si^'ns ao'oear. His third Pvcafon is this, IV e find the Ice^ fays he, in the Latitude 65°. 30'. to be lying all O'ver the Sea in Rands, and I am viojl certain^ that the Shoals and Jhoal Bays are the Argui difcover a North Weft Pafl-ige. 69 the Mother of it. Had there been any Ocean b-'yond it lojuld have been broke all to Pieces J /o^ nve Jound it coming through the Straits into the Sea to the Eajiward, To which he adds, and calls it a fourth Rcafon, Thjt the Ice feeks ^fs ivay to the Eajhoard, a nd !o «7//w.f o///'' (T?/ liudluii's-Strai (S. It is nit y . r,- cvidcn: tro;ii tnonce, tnat in hi. J lUl cv. jiir, tlic aion. Northern Paris of t])c B. inuft be eiuiicly c.oakcvl una filled up with Ice; whereas, it very clearly appears from Wiiat Fox fays, that there was leh Ice to the North ; and in the following Sheets it will be (hewii, that there is very little lee \ hut 011 the contrary, the Ice in the Southern Parts of the Bay is broken to Pieces, and driven out by that great body of Water that comes from the North ; and therefore upon \m own Principle, tliis is a dlrcd;and conviixir.ti: Proof, tliuc there muil: be a Communication w it! Ocean. As t« his additional ArgtHiient, which lie partieularly mendons, A, ■V d as (.lepcnuin'i upon rns own V h Ohi erv.iiion. we J? to may avia can led into I n, tiiat a threat dcnl of ice is lad; on s -B. V t!iru!ir>:'i t!:ie Straits by the Fiood, and very niiufcdiy comes out aiiiin witii til <^ , I .n .■)0, as well as tne reii o f th( lee 'that is bred in the B.iv, fro'Vi the Caufe? tnat ■H'C-li W: U.L 1. I, tjt I ?! • 't mix 70 TI)e fever al 'Expeditions to that himfelf has afligned. On the whole, therefore, Whatever weight Capt. James*^ Authority might have informer Times, when there mi^ht be a Doubt, whether he or Fox fpoke truth, it can have no manner of Weight now, wlien the Fadls, upon which his Reafonings are grounded, have been, with refpedt to the Northern Bay, totally over- thrown by inconteftable Experience. It has been already obfervcd, that after Fox and James all Thoughts of a North Wcfb Paffage were laid afide here ; but as at this Time, or foon after, the principal Perfons in our Colony of New Engla?id be- gan to um'ertake Expeditions, for Difcovery and Improvement of their Fi(hery and Com- merce ; it is not to be wondered, if they in their Turns, conlidering the great Advan- tages that might refult from finding a North Wefl FafTage, and their own favourable Situation, (houM make an Attempt of that kind. In this one may fafely fay, there is nothing abfurd or unreafonable ; and there- fore in the Abftradl we have of Admiral De Fonte's Voyage, what is faid of Capt. ^bapley's being taken in a Ship from Bojion^ carries in it nothing very incredible, Mr, Dobbs^ in his Remarks upon that Account, takes dtf cover a North Weft Paffage. 7 1 takes notice of the Probability that this Bof- ton Ship might have palTed through fome of the Openings near Whale-Cove^ an Inlet in lludfons-Bay j and perhaps that ingenious Gentleman would have thought it a kind of Confirmation of the Guefs he has made, if he had recolleded that this Inlet is fituated precifcly in that Latitude, which Capt. Laii-^ cafter fet down for the Entrance of the North Well Paffage, as has been before re- lated in Page 23, and to the Knowledge of which he came in the Rafl -Indies. But tho* the fmgular Concurrence of thefe two Circum fiances, may very well juftify this fhort Digreliion, in reference to the Attempts from New England^ which may polTibly procure us fome other Lights upon that Head j yet there is fomething re- lating to this Subjecft, which may poflibly appear flill more extraordinary ; in as much as it will fhew that it is not at all impofTible, that either to this, or fome other Expedi- tion, undertaken from Bojion, the prefent Budfon's-Bay Company owe that Difcovery which produced their Charter, and put them into PofTefiion of thofe Places in that Bay, in which they have Settlements at prclent, Mr. Jereniie^ who was Governor at Port- F 4 Neljon^ \m ■;V,lii: 5??,: .! r,: i \i •• mm S^i ' V iV. ,» IV i :f..'-. 7 2 7^^ fever al Expeditio:.s to Nclfon^ while it was in llic llanils of thti Frcncl\ and who, without doubt, had better Opportunities of knowing the Matters of which he writes, than mod other Feopie, crives us tin's Account of the Matter. lie lays, tliat one Mr. dc G'ro/fcla'z, an Inha- bitant oi' Cauddii^ a bold and enterprizin^ Man, and one who had travelled much in tr.ofe Parts, pufhed his Difcoveries at length io far, that he reached the Coalls of Hud- lons~]^ay from the Wrench Scttlcmcp.LS hy Land. Upon his Return, he prevailed upon fomc of his Countrymen at ^wbcck, to fit: cut a Bark for pcrfecSting this Difcovery by St A ; which being done, and he landing upon the Coafl-, whce lie apprehended no European had been before, was amazed in the very D^^pth ci Winter, to liear that fotne or his Company bad dil'covered an En- glijh Settlement, as they were pleafed to call it, near Fort Ntlfon. He went thither with a Dcfign to attack it -, but at his Ar- rival found it a poor mifcrable Cottaj^-e co- vercd with Tiirf,in which were half a Dozen l-alt llarvcd Wretches, v;ithoiit- Arms, and without Strength to uit them if they had had any. Thefe Feopie told him, that they wcie i^art of a Ship'.^ Crcv/ from Boftcny that they 3 difcover a North WcR PalHigc. 7 they were let on Shore to look ibr a Place, where the Ship to which tli^y belonged^ might Winter ; and tliat tlie next Morning the Ice drove the Ship out of the Port, which they never law more. As we have no Date to this Relation, it is impolTiblc to lay, whether it was that Siiip from Boflon^ mentioned in de Fonte^ Account or not ; but if it was, and the Crew perilhed, as very probably they might in this inhof- pitablc Country ; it affords a clear and caly Solution of that, other wife unanfwe- rable Difliculty, as to Capt. Sbapley's mak- ing fuch a Voyage, and fo confiderable a Difcovery, without its coming to be known, either in New lingland^ or in Old, But if we fhould be wrong in this Conjedlv're, it would flill remain an inconteftable Proof, that fome A.ttempts were made from Bojlon^ when they were laid afide and forgot at Lon- don and Brijlol, This Digrcflion has not led us far out of our Way, as will prefendy appear. When Mr. dc Grcifdclz had fufficiently examined the Country, he left his Nephew Chouart with five Men at Port-Nelfon River, and with his Brother-in-ljw Mr. Rattif- fgn^ and eight more returned to ^lehcck^ where ■l ■ jt^^^H ^^^■N i Jm I % ^^ H vO '^ffi 'i ]^ffl 1 , iR ft I' '■ 'i. J ::i:il; m 74 T'he feveral Expeditions to where le hadibme Dlttlrcncc witli thole wlio employed him j which at length rofe (ohigh, that thinking liimfclf extremely injuitd, he lent over Mr. RattiJJon to France^ in onier to give the Court ari Account of the Services he Jiad done, and the ill Ufage he had mit with. But it fcems the Complaints he lUide were as ill heard in France as in Canada ; and the Advantages which he infilled upon might be deduced from this Dircovery,were, from want of being underfiood, treated as vifionary and chimcriial. Mr. de Groife" ieizy not at all difcouraged by the Accounts he received from his Brother-in-law, and at the fame Time defirous of making his For- tune, by what he was very fenfible deferved one, embarked himfelf for France^ and laid before the Minifters, in the cleared Manner pofllble, the Confequences of his Difcovery ; and what they were, will be hereafter fcen ; but tho* he was a very capable Man, and no doubt told his Tale well, it however gained no more Credit than Rattiffon's Applications had done. It happened that Mr. Montague, afterwards Duke of Montague^ and Father of the noble Perfon who bears that Title at prefent, was then our Minifter in i^n?wr' ^6 The fev:ral Expeditious to * Englipj and one Frencbm^> i.itciv rcprr- fented by them to ])is MujcTtv ;U OxirrJ, and anfwcrfcl by a Royal Cffaht of a '» licl to fail into Flidfons-Bay, and tl.jiige < .o the 6'd?«//6- ' 7 ; thcfc Men atfirmiM.;, is 1 * heard, that th a Boat tlicy went out of * a Lake in Camida into a River, snwvcw * difchargcd itfclT North Wcit imo tuc * South-Sea^ into whicli thcv went ..\^^ -c^ * turned North Eall: into Hudfon's Buw* Upon thefe Hupc^ C.ipt. Zachiviah Giiinm in the Nonfuch Ketch with the F'-cnchmen on board were font upon this Difcovery j he is faid to have failed lo the Height of 75". in Baffincs's'Bi,i\\ and to have returned from hence into HudjOii's-Day, where he winter-, cd in 1668, getting into Rupert' sRi'jcr the 29th of September, where ho came to an Anchor in two Fatlioms and a half Water, the River being a M'le broad. The 9th of December ihey were frozen up in the River, and went upon the Ice to a finall llLmd full of Poplars j ail the other Trees were Spruce. Jn Aprii 1669, the Cold was ahiiofl over^ iind the Indians came down to them. They faw no Grain there but many Goofe- borries, Strawberries, and Dewotter Berries. The Lidiivis about that River are fimpler z than difcGver a Ncrtli Wcfl Paflngc. 77 limn thofc of dviaJii, I'lic Nodwn\s or Jlskimciux Lidiiins nca. IluJjlu'S'Straiis arc wiki ami bai barons. Here, rnd at this Time, the firil:Zi].';§^//y/jSciulcincnt was made by building; a little Stone Fortrefs, to wliicli Capt. Gillam gave the Title of Fort -Charles. Upon this the Undjrtikcrs were ercifted into a Company by a Charter, dated May 2, 1669. I N tlie Preamble of this Charter, it is recited, * That whcrc^is our dear intircly * beloved Coufin Prince Rupert, CjC. liave < at their own great Cjfl and Charges under- ' taken an Expedition for Hudfon's-Bax in * the North Weil Parts of America for * the Difcovery of a new PalTage into the * Scut/j'Sea^ and for the finding of fomc * Trade for Furs, Minerals, and c '^.er con- * fiderable Commodities ; and by iuch their * Undertaking have already made fuch Dif- ' coveries, as do encourage them to proceed * firtlier in purfuance of their faid Defign, * by means whereof there may probably * arife great Advantage to us and our King- * doms.' At the Requefl: therefore of thefe Undertakers, and fjr die better promoting their Endeavours for the public Good of his People, the King granted them tlie Trade and i , r? sir! l\i I ■ 'km ^ii;. -; V= [m 78 77je /everal Expeditions to and Territories in Tludfon's-Bay, and all o- thcr Trade which they rtiould acquire ex- clufivcly 5 and thus, and to thefe Ends, was the Hudfon's-Bay Company ereded. One would have imagined, that after this confidcfable Settlements fuitable to the De- fign of the Charter fhould have been made, and i^///»(?r/'s Land, for fo hisMajefty direds the new Plantation to be called, fliould by this Time have become none of the lead conddcrable Colonies in America ; at all E- vents, one would have imagined, that the great and capital Point of difcovcring a North Wefl PafTage would have been al- ways kept in View, for the Scope of the Charter is plainly to veil this exclufive Trade, and the new difcovcred Countries in fr-hem, for the public Benefit of the People of thefe Kingdoms ; but it fo happens, that we have very few Accounts of any Attempts made for Difcovery, either by Land or Sea, There was indeed about 17 19, that is near thirty Years ago, one Capt. Barlow fent to look for a PafTage, but what became him, is very uncertain, lince neither he nor any of his People have been heard of fince, only a Report prevails among the Englijh fettled in the Companies Faiflories, that this Ship was loft dif cover a North Weft Pafiagc. 79 loft, and himfelf and his Crew dcdroyed by the Inhabitants of the Country in the Lati- tude of 63°. and to confirm this, it is alfo faid, that fomc Pieces of the Wreck have been fincc found in thofe Parts. This may be true, and very probably, the unhappy Fate of this Gentleman, and thofe who failed under his Command, may have been urged to difcourage fuch entcrprizing Spirits, as were inclinable to undertake thefe hazar- dous Expeditions, inllcad of attending tofafcr Employments in the Company's Service. By this Difpofition of Things Hudfojis* Bay and the Country adjacent belong en- tirely to a fmall Body of Men, and what- ever trading Spirit there mi^ht be in the Nation, it could not as formerly excite any Attempts for Difcovery, which is the plain Rcafon that all Thoughts of a North Weft Paflage lay for fifty Years together buried and undifturbed, notwithftanding a Provifion was actually made, or at leaft intended to be made, for the conftant Profecution of it till it (hould be effeded. We have meuiion- ed Barlow and his unhappy Fate ; and the Perfon next employed was Capt. Screggs, of whom all that we know is what follows. Neither can we fay where that would have been m iii ■ \ m .H- .f Mmp^ 14: t2*.)/ M \m-'^ m MM ■"i ' (i r K §o 7he feveral Expeditions id been found, if it had not been publiflied by Mr. Dohbs 5 for though the old Expeditions were undertaken at the Expcnce of Com- panies, vet, except Sir Thomas Buttcri's^ the Journals ot them were generally fpeaking publidicd, that Poflcrity might know what liad been done, and how far the Di^overy was advanced. i3ut of late Years this Me- thod has been difcontinued j and as we before obferved, if Mr. Dohbs had not publiQied an Extrad of Scroggs\ Expedition in his own Defence, tlie World would have known very little of it, nay perhaps in fifty Years Time no Trace or MLniorial might have been left, that any fuch Voyage had been .made. His Account of it then is this. Mr. »S<:r(9c^\j failed from Churchill -River on the 22d oi Juiie^ 1722. In Latitude 62°. he traded with the Natives for Whale-Fin and Sea-Horfe Teeth. On the 9th of July he was drove in hazy thick Weather to Latitude 64°. 56'. where he anchored in twelve Fa- thoms. When it cleared up, he found him- felf within three Leagues of tlie North Shore. The Pleadland, vvliich bore Eafl North Eafl: from him, he called Jf'kalebo?2e' Point. He faw at the fame Tjme feveral I Hands bearinfr from South Weil: bv Weil to lliin I diJ}:over a North Weft P. /r, o to South Weft bv <; u ^Se- 8 1 vveit by South, which V, • • allo^ved was from South W^ft J I f ""^ South South Weft H. r r ^ ^°"''^ '» to the Weft .J; w, ^^"d South up Ti^e Southe;.oft^£;,^^^f;';;-^^^^^^ Jerton. Here he /iw „, tr^ ^'''"^ -^''^- -d ron,e white. ntrenTSp"' '^^^^'^''• Ijeyra^ man, ^:,f"^;f-°n Shore; H« faid it flowed there fiTe^Mr' ^^• Jj's Lead-Line • h. f, • ^-"''oms upoa «hom at Low Wat :f ^ ''"' '"^^^''^ F- ^"n who had Winter.7 ", '^'''■" ^^"^ '°'t^-ofaricrc:;t;j-/' ''^^^ Mine thereabout Tlf";.'''^^^ -- - f Country with CharL:,;tf:t'' °- I'archnienr, before ,\. i r '^ ^ ^kin of °^-^'-^«^iIrr; :r:?r-"•0- '"- he was with n r "' '^™' %- ^'^'J. t>ut he would K i ^■: Mir-^ 82 "The feveral Expeditions to not let him go. He faid he was up in the Cod of the Bay, and that there was a Bar there j but his Men laid he was ten Leagues from what he called a Bar. He failed out South Ea(l ; and on the 1 5th crofled the Welcome in Latitude 64**. 15'. In Latitude 64°. 8'. he faw again many Whales, but faw no Ice, when he was there. The Land from TVhalebone-Point fell off to the Southward of the Wert, and the Men who went a-(hore faid, they faw nothing to pre- vent their going farther. They had Sound- ings there from forty to feventy FathomS' Capt. Norton, late Governor of Churchill^ was with him, and confirmed this Account, and that the Tide rofe five Fathoms 5 and iiiid, that he was on Shore on the Top of a Mountain, and faw the Land fell away to the Southward of the Wed:, and nothing to prevent their going further. We are now come very near that Ex- pedition for the Difcovery of a North Weft Pufiage, which, though it failed of Succcfs, and proved only the Caufe of much Difpute, between the Gentleman by whofe Endea- vours it was fet on foot, and the Perfon who condudled it, yet was produdtive in its Con- fequcnccs of an Act of Parliament, which 3 will wi iini fha Pal Efq Bay cove than with exce| black highe ing f time had Middi of wh */ariet refped and r* Tides J Southe Albany tween N.ji , , the No ihat CO a^.^.^« North Weft Pa/Tage. §, will never M to keep alive the H t i5nding the North Weft pi "°P" °^ Aall be found. It aolL f^"' """' '' Pafl-ages in his Book^[u: J"'" '''^--t E% /irft applied htr ,f 0^17'^' covery;andtbefeitS^f"^"r'^^^^i^- 'hantheLatitudeof6^'r"r'"g''«^ without feeing any thiVii;;;'^"^-'^ M'ddleu„, who ; K?et. "'r ^''P'' of which are printed f r^T'' ^'''"'^' 'Variety of Farth,r""^'^™«'"h^ and North Weft w;;;y'r°^N°"h Jides higher than thTs ,;; -rl "" """? Southerly or WeftcrJv V^'l ''"' ^''"^ ^ %'^ ; that there i abfo M ^'"■•>'-'^'^''«'^-- "- North and N . b p^ ^"L^"^ '° ^^^' con.,.., ,.. -« - ^2^, .LMi^ ' 1 'W';. 1.1 Wi 4^ I Cl ft I 'H iiili' ' t , •h}> .[ ;iil ■>5 t ' *■ vLV Mil 1 ** \ !-A 1 » ' ' 'r ;i r,' , irf.'" * t .1 '( . ' I ^■I /111!". i, S'S 'n. 84 Tie feveral Expeditions to mentioned murt: come trom fhe Welcome % that for this ReaCon the Welcome cannot be far from the Ocean ; that what Mr "John Scroggs faw in tlie L.ititude of 64°. 50'* both with regard to Whales and in refpedl to the Tides confirmed this ; that the Indians v/ho w 'nt with Mr. Scroggs owned to him (Capt. Middkton) that when they were eight or ten Miles from Whalebone -Pointy which bore End North Eaft of them, they faw an open Sea, and the Land trenched to the Southw'fd of the Well:, which they affcrted to Scroggs^s Face, wlien on board Capt. Middlctons Sliip at Churchill, though while under 6Vr5'^''^5'sCommaiKl, they difTembled it, and faid what he pleafcd to have them. .Bclides this, Lovegrcve, who lived at the .Fa(i:l:ory at Churchill, and had been often at IPl'jale-Cove i\\ Latitude of 62°. 30'. affirm- ed all the Coafl there was broken Land and Ifiands ; and that going upon one of thefe lilands, he faw an opm Sea to the Weftward. One Wilfon fent by the Com- pany to trade ^xWhr.k-Cove with the Natives tor Fins, declared at Churchill, tliat having had the Cuiiofity to puis in through thofe Iflands near the Whale -Cove, he found the Opening enlaigc itkif South Weft ; and at laft Longiti Jiknd Ji in the I\ tude 6^' r tie ; t be ^ohn 50'- St to Hans him fight hich w an ) the fcrted Capt. 'om- latives Lving Ithofe the lid at laft di/cover a North Weft Paflagc. 85 lafl it became To wide, that he could not Tee Land on either Side. Thefe Facfts being well known, and all the Informationc Mr. Dobbs could obtain concurring with the Sen- timent this Gentleman was then in, that there was a great Probability of finding a PafTage in the Welco??te, he with infinite Diligence and Application procured Capt. Middleton an Opportunity of fearching for that Pafiage in the Furnace Bomb Ketch ; which Service he undertook for the Benefit of the Public, refifiing many Temptations that were thrown in his way to flight that Defign for the Sake of private Advantage. The beft iVccount we have of his Endea- vours is contained in the following Extract from feveral Letters, and from his Journal. He could not get out fooner th.m tlie ifl: of yafy from C/jurcbi II R'lvcv in Laii- tude 58^. 56'. to fearch for the Pafi!Iigc i on the 3d at five in the Morninri;, he favv three Iflands in Latitude 61°. 40'. on the 4th he faw Brook'Cobham in Latitude 63". Longitude 93^''. 40'. Weft from hondor,^ the Variation there was 21". 10'. This IQand had much Snow upon it ; on the 6th in the Mornine, he fiw alleadiind in Lati- tude 63"". 20'. Longitude 93". Weft ; Soand- G .> JUg^ ■» "i. '1'-% ( I :;v.i XH i I . i'kii ^■*'1ri 86 l%e feveral Expeditions to ings from thirty-five to fLVcnLy-twoFathoms j at five the Current ki North North Bad, two Knots, two Fathoms ; tht Tide flow- ed from North Eafl by North, Variation 30\ WLfl: ; all by Nurtii Moon made High- Water ', the 8th he was in Latitude 63°' 39'. faw no Whales or other Fifh yet, ex- cept one white Whale as big as a Grampus and fome Seals 3 much Ice North of them clofe in Shore for feveral Leagues ; Depth lixty to ninety Fathoms ; Land feven or eight Leagues North Weft ; loth in Lati- tude 64°. 51'. Longitude 88^ 34'. the ^^7- come here eleven or twelve Leagues wide ; the Eaft CoafI: a low flat Coaft 5 the whole Welcome full of Ice , they filled frefh Water oflF the Ice -, clofed in the Ice until the 12th j the 13th they got through the Ice to North- wards of Cape Dobbs^ a new difcovered Headland on the North Weft Side of the Welcome in Latitude 65°. 12', Longitude ^6^\ 6K Weft, faw a fair Opening North Weft of it ; failed into this Opening or River to fecure the Ships from the Ice, un- til it difperfed in the Welcome, The Entrance of this River {\x or eiglit Miles wide for four or five Miles. Four Leagues higher, it was four to five Leagues wide 3 difcQver a North Wcfl Paffage. 8 7 wide ; he anchored on the North Side above fome Iflands in thirty- four Fathoms j the Tide in the Narrow flowed five Miles an Hour not fo ftriA further up ; much Ice came down with the Ebb ; the Soundings as they went up were fourteen to forty-four Fathoms in the middle of the Channel j next Morning feveral of the Eskimaux Indians came on board, who bad nothing to exchange but their old Clothes and twenty Gallons of Train Oyl ; he gave them feveral Toys 5 he went higher about four Miles above fome Iflands, and anchored in a Sound betwixt them and the North Shore in an Eddy Tide to be out of the way of the driving Ice, which went in and out with the Tide, and anchored in fixteen Fathoms ; this he called Savage-Sound -, the River above and below full of Ice -, llie 15th he fent up the Lieuteiiant witli jiiiie Men well armed with Provifions for forty-eight Hours in the eight-oared Boat to tiy the River ; who returned on the 17th ; he had b:en up as far as the Ice would permit it, bcin^^; fall above, from Side to Side, he found the Depth above from feventy to eighty Fa- thoms. The 1 6th the Captain went a- fliore on fome Iiland<, and found them C A. bare. .fe 'l;( ': k '\ '^m .fciJ J'' « .' .'■!! ;•<" :''i 'T( Aki Si S8 The feveral Expeditions io bare, except fomc fliort Grafs and Mofs ir; the Valleys, and a little Sorrel and Scurvy- Grafs above Higli-Water Mark. They fct the filliing Nets, but got no Fifh ; many of his Men rclapfcd in the Scurvy, above half not ferviccable. The Tide at the Mouth of the River on change Days flows four Hours, and rifes from ten to fifteen Feet, Variation 35^ Weft ; where the Lieutenant was, it flowed from the South ward, and rofe thirteen Feet at Neap Tide. The Northern Indiafis he took from Churchill, knew nothing of the Country ; i8th got the Ships into a lafe Cove, and moored in nine Fathoms and a half : The Captain went up the River in the Morning with eight Men and the two Indians y and by eight at Night was got up fifteen Miles : He faw the Tide flowed twelve Feet ,and a Weft Moon made High- Water ; the Tide flowed from South South Eaft ; the Indians killed a Deer ; they heard an uncommon crying in the Night, general- ly made by Savages^ when they fee Strangers; 19th by two in the Morning went five Miles liit^her, and sot into a fmall River or Sound fix or kvcw Miles wide, but how far it went up, they knew not j the main River was there fix or (even Leagues wide, but fo full of r difcover a North Weft Paflagc. 89 of Ice they could not go much farther ; the Lands on both Sides very high ; he went upon one of the higheft Mountains twenty -four Miles above Savage-Cave where the Ships lay, from whence he could fee where the Ships lay, and above eight or tea Leagues higher up than the Place he was at ; he obferved the River run North by Wefl by the Compafs, which Variation allowed was to Weftward of North Weft, but it grew narrower in its Courfe upwards, and was full of Ice j the 20th at eight in the Evening he returned on board with fix Deer, which the Indians had fhot whilft he was on Shore : He called that Place Deer-Sound ; the Land is very mountai- nous and barren with Rocks of the marble kind 5 in the Vales are a great many Lakes, with fome Grafs, and Numbers of large Deer, as big as a fmall Horfe, twelve or thirteen Hands high 5 upon Iflands not half a Mile in Circuit, they generally faw a fmall Herd. The 21 ft he fell down the River, which was ftill full of Ice ; within fourMilesof the Entrance he got upon a high Hill, and faw the Welcome ftill full of Ice from Side to Side, 2 2d the Ice very thick in the River Z above .. t - ■- it '\m ; r'^lH ;. ..■*, wit pi;, I ■ ;lf- lil ; ' y' i ■ 'Si \\- ! «;,:.„' v^ !' i . » If ■l^r!;! •'Hn I,''*, i-il . go 77)e fcveral Expeditions to above and below, and more drives in every Tide if the Wind comes from the Welcome : He fent his Lieutenant with the fix-oared Boat up the River. 24th more Ice in the River than ever ; no fending a Boat down- wards. 25th Lieutenant returned, after having been forty-eight Hours founding among the Iflands near Deer-Soufid he found the River full of Ice -, he brought three Deer with him. 26th fent the Lieutenant and Mafter down to fee if the Ice was clearer below and in the Welcome -, Savage -Sound is in Longitude 89^. 28'. Weft, Variation 35**. Weft ; the Entrance o^ Wager Kwtv h in Latitude 65°. 23'. Deer-Soiwd 65". 50 . the Courfefrom Savage -Bay is North Weft by Compafs, which Variation allowed is Weft by North. 27th Lieutenant returned, having been carried out by the Ice and Tides ilx or feven Leagues, and found the River below quite choakeu up with Ice, but thin- ner when they got into the Welcome. 2^.th at one in the A fternoon, the Lieutenant and Mafter went up the River to try if they could find out any other Way into the Welcome befides tliat they came in at, on Account they had feen many black Whales and other Fifli the Time they were up laft, and none were m; i difcover a North Weft Paflage. gt were fcen where the Ships lay, nor any where below ; he was likcwife ordered to try Deer-Sound and every Opening to find whether the Tide came in any other Way than the Way they came in t ; this he had 7"imc to do, until the Ice cleared in the Mouth of the River and IVckome, 2^\\\ he fent the Boat with eight fick Men and feveral that were L^.mc with the Scurvy, to an Ifland ahout five Miles off, it having plenty of Sorrel and Scurvy- Grafs upon it, and left with them Tenting and other Ne- cefTarieS) the Tide flowed twelve Fathom fix Inches ; the Captain went up one of the higheft: Hills, and found the River full of Ice below, but fomctiiing thinner above. 30th he perceived the Ice was all fiCl: be- low them, and for eight or ten Miles above them without the Iflands ^ but pretty clear without the Cove. 31 ft abundance of Ice drove in from the // ekomc and almoft filled the Bav without them. The jft ot ylughll th^ Lieutenant and Mafler came on [)oard, having been four Days out, wlio faid, they bad been ten or twelve Leagues above Deer-Scund -^ they faw a great many black Whales of the Whalebone kind ^ they tried every Open- ing •«ii! 1ft!: 1 i • P , iJil . ■ ■ 'I 1'. 9 2 77je fever al Expeditions to jng they faw, and conflantly found t'icTidc of Flood came from the E;? ft ward, or in at the Mouth of the River IVagcr, 2d they un- moored and warped out into Savage-Sound^ and on the 4th by ten at Night got out of the River, the Ebb carrying them out at the rate of five Miles in an Hour, being clear of the Ice until they got out ; it be- ing almoft: calm put the Finance a-head, and towed and rowed with the Ship's Oars. They were then in 65°. 3S/. and Long. 87^ 7/. Weft:, Variation 38^ Here they en- tered a new Strait North Weft: of Wager River, thirteen Leagues wide \ the Entrance oi Wager River is in Latitude 65^.24' Long, 88^ 37'. the 5th they were in Latitude 66°, I4^ Long. 86^ 28/. Weft ; the Strait there was about eight or nine Leagu'.^s w.de, 17th failing among Ice, the South Eaft Coaft was low and ftiingly fevcn Leagues Jong ; at the North Eaft End of the Beach was a mountainous ragged Land like Part of Hudfon'S'S trait', good Sounding here frorn twenty-five tofony-four Fathoms, Vanation 40° Weft:, the Tide comes from Eaft hy North by the Compafs j the Tide runs very ilrong here with Eddies and Wl^.irlings.- 6th tried the Tide, and found it came from the k: gave ery clif cover a North Weft Paflage. 93 the Eail by South, the Point of the Breach at two was diftant four or five Miles ; at half an Hour pad: two, fcnt the Lieutenant alhorc with the fix-oarcd Boar to try the Tide, and found it had ebbed two Feet ; and the Flood came from the Eaftward at three, made a Signal for tlie Boat to come on board ; at four faw a fair Cape or Head- land on the Weft: or North Shore, bearing from him South Weft: half South fix or kvQi^ Leagues, the Land trenched away from Eaft by North to North by Weft-, making right Points of the Compafs ; this gave them Joy, believing it the NorthPoint of America^ and therefore he called it Cape Hope j they worked it through much ftraggling Ice all Night ; in the Morning when the Sun cleared away the Haze they faw Land all round quite from the low Beach to the Weftward of the North, meeting the Weft: Shore and made a deep Bay, but to make fure they kept their Courfe to the Cod of it until two 5 next Afternoon when every one faw plainly it was a Bay, and they could not go above fix or eight Miles farther, fo trying tlie Tide feveral Time*, and finding it always flack Water, they found they had ovcrfhort the Opening 1:^ It 1*1 1,.' ■ ■ '•st.fcH- 'j. \l 94 "The feveral Expeditions to Opening where the Tide came in at from the Eiftward, the Variation here was 50% This Bay at the bottom was fix or (&vtx\ Leagues from Side to Side ; very high Land from thence to the frozen Strait Eaftward of them ; Soundings from fifty to one hundred and live Fathoms ; they failed Eaftward out of the Bay ; much Ice to the Eailward. The 8th, at ten in the Morning, the Captain went on Shore with the Boat, taking the Gunner, Carpenter, and his Clerk with him, to try if he could find from whence the Flood came in to this Strait or Bay. At Noon Cape Hope bore North half Eaft five or fix Leagues, the Bay Weft South Weft four Leagues 5 the Entrance of the frosen Strait amongft the Iflands on the Eaft-fide bore Eaft two Leagues, at four the middle of the frozen Strait bore Eaft South Eaft three Leagues •, at half an Hour paft nine at Night he returned on board ; he had travelled about fifteen Miles to the higheft Mountain that overlooked the Strait and Eaft Bay on the other Side, and faw the Paffage the Flood came in at; the narroweft Part of this Strait is four or live Leagues, and five, fix, or ^Q,stx\ in the broadcft, al- Dioft full of large and fmall Iflands, and in length len Pla< V^ ;:n;VM h'lxi iiikjitiliiiyiii li..;'i Sf cover a North Weft Paffage. 95 length about fixteen or eighteen Leagues ; it ftretches South Eait round to the South, and to the Weflward it was full of Ice not broke up, all faft to both Shoals and Iflands therein j he favv very high Land about fifteen or twenty Leagues Southward of the Place he was at, which he took to run to- wards Cape Comfort and the Bay, betwixt that and Wilfon's- Portland, being Part of Hudfon's North Bay 5 the Ice being not yet broke up it was refolved in Council to try the other Side of the Welcome, from Cape. Dobbs to Brook'Cobham, to know if there was any Opening there, and then return to England. The 9th at two in the Morning they bore away ; at three founded thirty-five Fathom? within a Mile of the Beach, fix Leagues to Cape Hope, and three to the Beach Point ; they failed along the South Eafl: Shore at three Leagues diftance, there bciag much Ice tQ Weflward almofl: one third over ; at four in the Afrernoon Cape Dobbs bore North Weft, three fourths Well by Compifs, fix " Leagues, at ten lounded fifty Fatbonis ; at twelve, fixty to fixty-fivc. The loth at four in the Morning forty-three 10 twenty-five Fathoms five L<;agues from the Weft Land ; at 1^8 Pi,': I. if i w H''.' ' l>tt'lll ;4 m:\ I'm^ ; w, i .i.'. VhT, MP ■ II" rH ' ^ 9 6 7%e/everal Expedittojis to at eight fixty -fix to feventy Fathoms ; then in Latitude 64°. lo'. Longitude 88°. 66'. Weft 5 the Welcome here fixteen or eighteen Leagues wide ^ the extreme Part of the South Eaft Shore ftill in Sight bore from South to South Eaft by Eaft diftant fix or feven Leagues. The nth at four in the Morning forty-five to thirty-five Fathoms, the North Shore from North Eaft to North North Weft four or five Leagues diftant then about Latitude 64°. and Longitude 90°. 53'. near the Headland ; they kept as near as they could to the Shore to fee if there vv^as any Opening into the Land -, tv^enty-five to thirty-five Fathoms j continued failing irt Sight of the North Shore from Cape Hope ; at four in the Afternoon hauled off from the Shore to deepen the Water ; at fix thirty- four to twenty-eight Fathoms ; at eight thirty to forty, then lay by until Day-light 3 Soundings all Night from forty-four to fixty Fathoms. At four on the 12th made fail 3 at fix ftood in with the Head-land nine or ten Leagues to the Eaftward of BrookmCobham '> it bore then from them North Weft by North, five or fix Leagues ; founded fixty to forty- nine Fathoms ; at ten forty-nine to nine Fathoms ftanding into the Plead-land ; at twelve n\^ J/y?(?'z;^r^ North Weft Paffiige. TSg] twelve hauled off to deepen the Watcf-, they were then in Latitude 63''. 14'. and Lon^^itnde 02". 25 ^ Well He fays he found in couil- ing along the Shore of the Welcome from the frozen Strait to this Place, tliat it was a main Land, tho' there are feveral iinall Iflands and deep Bays ; this lieaulLind, and the other, in Latitude 64". makes a deep Bay; in their Paflage out, thty did not fee the Bottom of it, as they did upon their Return ; and by keeping clofe along Shore they faw many large black Whales, of the right Whalebone kind. Thev had from twenty to forty Fathoms off Brook'Cobhani^ which at four in the, Af- ternoon was Weft North Weft four Leagues diftant. The 13th he fent a-fliore to fee if he could water the Ships; the two Northern Indiana went a-fhore in the Boat ; the Ifland is three Leagues from the Main, fcven Leagues long and three broad, all of hard white Stone like Marble. The 14th the Lieutenant returned with the Boat, and brought a Deer the Indians had (hot, and a white Bear ; they faw feveral Swans and Ducks. The 15th fent the Boat for more Water, with the two Northern Indians^ who were defirous of being left [G] near n .im 11 P'|W K ,1 I'.'fi B'( V'i n JiiB « ■, ' n^s \. w ^■i^j'atl«, ^ u pr '1 t'^lHi:('£.| V<- •' ^'''- been anda hilf ano ''"'u^' ^'^ '^° ^^"'""es the moft L- ^""°" '^''^ P'"^^^"'=d amonsft tlel taTr"' ^'^P^™"-' ^-^ont -dthrb:u^::f;rj„^^3^-'^w..: upon Tradition.^ By Sden" ?""' ''^"'^ ronandE.perience/andTTrLS"n:r ^^ch an Opinion n^^JS^^^^^Z '^" was not founded in R.,,,;,:;^J^:: *^ J aa .fi^ t- ,i i'?{ I,- f ■;. ; '. *■ tf\ hmi ■I -lis' t I 1 ■' !'■ " .', .( t ' J II ■ 1 ijjl^ '.' \ H m ili k. „ 1 [ 9 2 1 7'/)e fever al Expectitiom to an old and n true Maxim, that ipLxious Opinions endure but a fliort Time, whereas Truth is everlaftin fuch as the Knowledge they may have of the Under- takers and Proprietors, or thofe employed by them, in the Conduct of this Expedition j but perhaps, the greater Part, from that natural and laudable Curiofity which engages every fenfible Man, to feck the bed Informa- tion he can, in Reference to thofe Things, of which he holds it necelTary, to enquire at all. To gratify their Expedlations, to do Juftice to all concerned, and, as flir as in my Power lies, to fct this Matter in it*s true Light, 1 have commenced Author ; with a finccrc Defign, to relate nothing but what I know, and, as far as I can, exadly as I know, with- out Favour or AfFedtion, Prejudice or Pre- pofTeflion, and without any other View, than that of contributing, by this Public Information, to the Public Good, But, previous to my Narration, it is ab- folutely necefFary, that I fhould give th« Reader fome Account of the Means, by which it became in my power, to explain l^he whole of this matter, in fo full and par- ticular a Manner, as I have promifed. At the ih Wi lai vj'i a(f^ Ac( Tm fettJ or I po/Ii couJcj this C for J iti fo the E ctors and jcd; / dear n Proceed \vhich^ it wiJi ^0 the I '10 wn in Th£ ■Arthur A the Dobbs W Califonn'a. go the Time the Expedition was undertaken I was in Italy, and upon inv Reti.m I I"' /W, had no I„fo„„',,,„ ,^i,:'^-°/'^; Within four Days of thn ^ f ' ^au.i..i,ed/j^.,:^:-4^^^^^% <-«tled. all the Officl '""^ ''^'"S ^as or no Rea ':: ^c:^ ^t^itl "'.^""^ f-fl5bleforn.e.tohavrat;, etrf'^ 'he moft agreeable to ^lylZZ,T could be Thr r„ . inclination that in . " , ^P°""""y of exerting mvfelf in lo glorious a Deliffn u • "v*'^" the Ears of fon„. ? ! ' """^ '■cached etors tl ev ,7 ."^^ P""^'>' P^OP"- i^^^.^roin.L:fi'^^JP°V'-Sub- ;^l-anddifti„aAccor,fttr'\T w'^ich.iti: ij;;;;;^ ■^ -ill afford n:any i / "^^ '^'^'^^ - nown in tl,„ /:,.,.,...• „ o '' «"at is fet 'Wwn in the followin.r p,..'! '' i./9i Md Captaui /]-//•i I" t 1 1 ■1 jr 'irmn I *li)". !■ li i^: Ml I; :.ll{:h:|,:j^-|;:; ICO Tie Lajf Expectation in in reference to the Voyage made for the Difcovery of a AT^r/^ /F^/ PafTage into the South Sea, at the Inftance of the former, and under the Direction of the latter, hav- ing brought the Matter to be very clofely and thoroughly examined -, the Confcquencx of this was, that the Arguments of Mr. Dobbsy in Support of fuch a Paflage, ap- peared of fuch Weight, that many generous and public fpirited Perfons were inclined to give their Afliftance, for the Profecution of this Defign ; and fo highly probable it was efleemed, that the Legijlature, after mature Deliberation, condefcended to en- courage the Undertakers, by offering a Re- ward of Twenty Thoufand Poufids, in cafe the Difcovery was made. Things being thus far advanced, and a great Spirit appearing amongft thofe who were the beft Judges of the Nature of the Undertaking, as well as the fitted to promote it, a i^ubfcription was opened for the raifing of Ten Thoufand Founds ', which Sum it was thought would a'ifwer the nece/Tary Expence of the inten- ded Expedition, and it was propofed to di- vide the whole into a Hundred Shares of One Hundred Pounds each. The Scheme thus reduced into Method, met with a rea- dy dy tee ecu Shi as r Tri; ce/s, h\Q^ exte /lrat( new . T were Burth the 01 whici: of the and /I as ^^Y on wh ceed. ofPro\ fuch C Inhabit difcover Quantit Kinds, Diligenc 1 (i^'.'i; the ) the mer, hav- lofely uencx F Mr. c, ap- ncrous icUncd ;cution lablc it after '> to en- or a Re- tt tie Dobbs ^W California. loi dy and chearful Acceptance, and a Commit- tee was named for carrying Things into Ex- ecution, by purchailng and equipping two Ships proper for fuch a Dcfign, and that with as much Difpatch as was pradlicable, that a Trial might be made ; and in cafe of Suc- cefs, the Britijh Nation put as foon as pofll- ble, into the PoiTeffion of that valuable and extenfive Commerce, which, it was demon- flrated, muft arife from the Difcovery of this new Paffage. The Ships bought by the Committee^ were one of One Hundred and Eighty Tons Burthen, called the Dobbs-Galley ; and the other of Ojie Hundred afid Forty Tons^ which was called, the California. Each of thefe VefTels was perfedly well repaired and flrengthened, and in all Refpedts fitted as well as could be de fired, for the Voyage on which it was intended they fliould pro- ceed. They had alfo a fufficient Quantity ofProvifions, military and naval Stores, with fuch Goods as were fit for Prefents to the Inhabitants of the Countries that might be difcovered, put on board them in fufficient Quantity, and as good in their refpedive Kinds, as it was poffible to procure. The Diligence ufed in equipping thefe Veffels v/as PI 3 fuch^ '■'r ■ j^-.|t:'! 'h .1 f 1.4 |.'i :, . *- .i r^ I ■ i I I0 2 Tf)e Lajl Expedition in fuch, that tlie Cai'c of the Committee out- Aript the coming in of the Subfcriptions ^ fo that they fell fomewhat fhort of the ne- celTary Supply ; which was fo far from either difcouraging or abating theirEndeavours,that, on the contrary, the Gentlemen compofing that Committee^ came to a full Refolution of not letting the Seafon pafs, and therefore made up out of their own Pockets the Deficiency of the Suhfcripilon^ towards defraying the Expence for the Outfet of this Voyage. When Things were in this Forwardnefs, it became abfolutely necefTary to think of fixing the Command ; and accordingly that of the Dobbs- Galley was given to Mr. William Moor ; and that of the California to Mr. Francis Smith. Apr/lication was like- wife made to the Lords of the Admiralty^ in Favour of the Officers and Seamen, which iliould engage in this Expedition ; and as that Board had always fhewn a particular Attcv (ion to, and given the utmod: Encou- ragement for, the Profecution of this De- fign, when formerly applied to ; fo upon this Occafion, their Lordfhips granted Pro- to all that fhould embark on board tedioH' thefc Ships for three Years. That no pofli- blc Encouragement might be wanting to keep man^ Natt vitab quicl^ ofai that Cafe of al. Capta each and ei might h duous a Begjnnii fed: Ord( and on t 3Ut- ne- ither that, Dfing 3n of made iency g the • dnefs, think dingly o Mr. ntaio like- iralty^ which nd as icular incou- is De- upon Pro^ board poffi- |ng to keep the Dobbs and California. 103 keep up the Spirits of the People, under the niany Difficulties to which, from the very Nature of the Undertaking, they muft ine- vitably be expofed, or Means left untried to quicken the Endeavours, for the Difcovery of a P^JJag^ 'y bcfides the extraordinary Wages that were given, Premiufns were fettled in Cafe of Succels, proportionable to the Rank of all the Perfons on board. Thus the Captain was to have Five Hundred Powids -, each of the Mates Tico Hundred Pounds ; and every other Officer and Seaman, a Re- ward fuitable to his Station. Over and above all this, in Cafe they were io fortunate as to take any Prizes, they were to be entirely their own ; (o that it is not eafy to conceive, how greater Encouragements could be given, or better Methods contrived than thefe, for fccuring the Profperity of the Voyage. It has been already obfervcd, that the Gentlemen of the North Wejl Committee took a very prudent as well as generous Method to avoid lo(ing the Seafon 5 and that this might have it's full EfFed, they were fo affi- duous iibout the Undertaking, that by the Beginning of Af<:/^, every thing was in per- fe(^ Older, and the Ships ready to depart ; and on the tenth of the {'xx)xt Month, they U 4 fell I. »^^ I 1- 11 i MR' . :'i \ r~ % 11' f ii:i.:,is»?; \ - ■ . i :.f 'V i- h A ,,^T|.: : i i ' 1 mn ; '('1 104 77)e Liofi Expedition in fell down the River to Grave/end^ where the Captains were to receive their Inftruc- tions, and where thefe VefTels were adlually lying when the firfl News of this Expedition, and the Preparations made for executing it, came to my Knowledge. It may be eafily conceived, that tho* I heard all this with the utmoft Satisfacflion in one Refpedl, yet it gave me the mod fenfible Regret in ano- ther 'y from which, howeve.% I was foon re- lieved, by an unexpedled Propofal, not only of going the Voyage, but of having a Com- mand. The former I willingly accepted ; for the Novelty, the Profit, and above all the Honour attending this Expedition, filled me with the moft eager Defire of having a Share in it y but the latter, tho* accuftomed to a Sea-faring Life, I abfolutely refufed ; as not having the Vanity to fuppofc myfelf, who, as yet, was without Experience of Northern Seas and Northern Climates , equal to fo great a Trufl, It was then agreed that I ftiould go the Voyage, in quality of jigent for the CommiU ieey without being obliged to any Duty, or fubjedl to any Command, but what was im- pofed upon me by their InfiruEliom ; the principal Articles of which were, that I fhould the Dobbs and California. 105 fliould make exad Draughts of all the new- difcovcrcd Countries, the Bearings and Di- ftances of Head-Lands j that I fliould mark the Soundings, Rocks, and Shoals upon the Coaftsj aflift in that material Bufinefs of determining the feveral Circumftances at- tending Tides, fuch as their Time, Height, Force, Direction, C^c, as alfo to examine the Saltnefs of the Water, to obferve the Varia- tion of the Compafs, to take Notice of the different Natures of the Soil, and to colled:, to the utmvofl of my Power, Metals, Mine- rals, and ail kinds of natural Curiofities. The Reader will from hence difcern how far it lies in my power to execute what I have undertaken, in publifhing this Account, as as well as how natural it was for me to un- dertake it i and he will judge of the Pain that our want of Succefs gave me, I will not call it Difappointment, becaufe my Hopes and Expedlations are ftill the fame they were : I fay, he will the better judge of my Chagrin from the following Circumftance in my Be- haviour ; ihat in eighteen Hours from the Time this Affair was mentioned, I was ac- tually on board the Ships at Grave/end, It is now Time that I fliould give you the Captains Inftrudtions, which, as I have told I you '\k\ ! ' ,1. \ ', ■-' '\ '1- tW U '. K: t -I IV .11 I •!■• r, 'i.* . r:-t m. i- H K ■ i i 1 06 The haft Expedition in you, they waited for, and received there, and which were conceived in the followins: Terms, viz. Instructions for Captai?i William Moor, of the Dobbs Galley, and Captain Francis Smith, of the Ca- lifornia, fitted out for the Difco- 'very of a Pajfage to the Weft em and Southern Ocean of America, * through Hudfon's Straits. * "VT^ O U are to fail in Company, with * X the greatefi: difpatch, from the Ri- "^ ver of 7hames to the Southward of Cape * Farewell m Grocfiland, keeping clear of * the Ice near that Cape, and then fteer your * Courfc to the Entrance of Hiidfon^s Strait ^ ' betwixt Rcfolution and Buttons IJles North- * ward by the Orkneys, * I N cafe of Separation, before you quit ' the Briti/h Coaft, your firft Place of Ren- * dezvous iliall be at Cairjlowfi in the Ork- * Tteys, or fuch other Place as the Coovoy ^ ihall appoint ; but that Stop not to be above "^ forty-eight Hours, in cafe Wind and Wea- < ther permit your proceeding upon your * Voyage, ' The ir the Dobbs and California. 107 ' The fecond Rendezvous to beEaflvvard 0^ Refoliition IJles^ in cafe the Ice be not fc- parated enough to enter with Safety into the Straits ; but if the Paflage be fafe, then not to wait above a Day or two, unlefs it fhould happen about the Height of the Spriiig Tides, when it is not fafe to enter, whilfl the Tides are fo rapid, but rather wait a few Days, until the Tides and Cur- rents are flower. In your Paflrao;e through the Straits, keep ncareil the North Shore, until you pafs the Savage IJlands^ keeping within a rcafonable Diftance of each other, within hearing of your Guns or Bells, if poflible, to affift each other, if any Acci- dent happen in the Ice. ' In cafe of any Separation in the Straits, let your next Rendezvous be at Diggs IJle^ or ^tCarf S'fwans-neji^ the firfl: only wait- ing for the other two Days ; and if yoa fhould not meet there, the firft to leave a Pole, or Heap of Stones, eredled near the moft remarkable Head-Land, with a Let- ter, letting the other know you had pafTed, and when you failed from thence towards your next R(*ndezvous, * Upon making GiryV-^wi'i-wf/?, if the Wind (hould be contrary^ anchor for a Tide < or i mm m t\ »-i , I iA , I w 'm ' ?rr,is mi , i •. !! • '( iio The Lajl Expedition in * Flood, after palling as far as bz^ North * Latitude beyond ^A'^^^/'-^/r/^/Vjthen you may * be fure you have palled the mofl Northerly * Cape of the l^orth Wejl Continent of Ajnc^ * rica^ and may bo' ly fail to any warm * Latitude Southwam of 50* to winter in, * making careful Obfervation of Rocks, * Shoals, ^c, in your Paffage, fixing the * Latitudes of all Head-Lands in your Charts* * and the computed Longitudes, according * to the Parallel you are in. * In cafe you (hould chufe to make Trial * firft at PiJiol'Bay^ or Rankin s-lnlet ^ near * Marhle-Ijland^ and (hould there find a Wejl * or North Weft Tide, and the Opening con- * tinue Wefterly, the fame Inflrudion here * given for your Obfervation m paffing Wa- * ger-Strait, will be equally good to follow * in that Opening, fincc both muft coincide * in 62". for wherever, upon trying the * Tide, you are convinced it flows from the * Wejlward^ and you find it earlier, you may * depend on having an open and large PalTage, * as the Ocean cannot be far diflant, to raile * fuch great Tides on the North IVeJi of the * Bay, * If, after paffing any of the Openings,you * find a clear Sea, and no Obfl:rud:ion, un- •til « til jf > i. «lf ! I ■( ;' IIS 77)6 haft 'Expedition in * don't refufe it, but rather cncreafc their good * Opinion of you, by giving them more for * their Furrs, Gfr. than is ufually given by * the Company, in fuch Goods as they chufc, * fo as to fix a Friendship with them for the * future J but make no longer Stay there * than is neceffary to afcertain the Tides. * If, upon pafling thofe broken Lands * on the North Weft of the Bay, you get * more Southerly than 60°, and find other * Nations of Savages more civilized than * the Esktmatdx, fuch as the Northern In^ * diam, endeavour to gain their Friendfhip * more efl?e(5tually with Prcfents, and refufe * not any cafual Trade, in cafe you are forced * into Harbour by bad Weather ; in fuch * cafe give them to know, that in your re- * turn next Spring, you fliould be glad to * meet and trade with them there, upon be- * neficial Terms to them, and enter into an * Alliance, or Treaty of FriendHiip with * them J but by no means flop to trade whilft * Wind and Weather permit you to proceed. * In all fuch Parts as you fhall flop at, if * uninhabited, take Pofleffion of the Lands ' in the Name of his Majefty of Greaf^Bri- ' tain, as firft PofTeflbr, ercdling a Monu- ! ment of Wood or Sjone, with an Infcrip- Jtion icir good fnorc for given by y chufc, » for the ly there ides. 1 Lands you get id other :d than icrn In- endfhip i refufc s forced in fuch ile Dobbs and California, x r j cffon upon it, giving a Name to eacl,H u B u T if you fliould meet v^hu ' c.vili«d f5xed Inhabitan a : ? ""' ""I'^fs, upon your Retu-n ,h f ?' • ¥ake 7 -""/"/'^ ' ^"'"- ^i^ tt:;- Take none of the Natives on bo, H K Force, to bring l,ome • hnt r.u ^^ ^^ ; offer themrelve! voir ;t;t'c?°"'' ' for any who mav be fent f^m h "^^ ' left in the Count'rv to h. '"'"''^'"^^ 'o be ' here-fr.r ,y' ^° '''come Interpreters nereuttcr, and to prelervc th^.t- p • ,1 •'-y-iurbllrf^S-lj Country. ' ingratiate them to the Nativ^ "1 ^^ 'Seeds or Roots of r T' '"'^ ^"^^^ • Parts , 11 f "°' '•'' "^^ ^''"nd in thofe arts, allowing them alfo Paper ?.,„?! . f ' tomakeObfervations on hecL" y'adc,C-.. of the Country. '''^'""^'^' ' South-wefterlv ;; 7 T"^ 'f^eirCourfe "lo^ltration of a navigable Paff,ge to ^ 'the 11^' 1^' I' mm 1 1 !'■-. '■ V. .",1 114 l%e Laji Expedition in ' the Wefteni Ocean, to which they are ' then direclin?. their Courfe. * I N cafe you proceed lliccef^f ally Soudi- * ward, from 60° towards 50"* and touch at * any Port or River, Vv^licre there are civi- ' hzed Inhabitants, who rclide in Towns * and Villages J and do not lead an erratic Lifej * you muft ?x6i with great Caution and Pru- * dence, giving no Cauie of Offence; and if * they appear friendly, and defire Friend - * fliip, cuhivate it by Prefents, without put- * ting yourfelves in their Power ; but if they * appear in an hollile Manner, don't attempt ' 10 land, but avoid the Coaft, yet without * fliewing any fign of Fear ; and in cafe they * fhould offer to attack you, endeavour firfl * to terrify them with your great Guns, be- * fore you attempt to kill any, which you * mufl only do in cafe you arc forced to it h * your own Defence, and then avoid the Coalv, * until you get farther to the Southward, a- ' mong more friendly Indians, * In cafe you fliould come to numerous ^ Nations, ufed to trade in Ships of BurthcHj * or Force, -dwd that they incline to be Ene- « mies, avoid the Ccail:, in cafe you have an * open Sec: ; but if you fhould be engaged * among lliands in whicli you might find Difii- ' culty *cafe yo * of j^njcf * 42** Noi ' tcr the E 'is fedfon L' )■!.;« n they urc y South- touch at are civi- I Towns atic Life> and Pru- :e ; and if Friend - lout put- lit if they t attempt : without cafe they vour firfl juns, be- hich vou sd to it in the Coafl-, ward, a- lumerous Burthen, 3 be Ene- u have an ; engaged [indDiffi. • culty ( ( ( i i I i'/je Dobbs a»ci California i x . ■■ cuJty to avoid them, or to proceed fn f perfed the Difcove y then if Ik "' '" iateintheSeafon.retun'SLh ^°''°'^ which wiil be fufficien T ''"''""'' traded in anotheVoclT.S ^'■"'^ ^'^^^^^^ ifr"'''' '•'•'«"•■'"- »°°'*: ^inds of Trees anr^ Pi . different here, or diCS'r;^! "'f°^" cafe you fl,o„I,^ . '^*-''"''^''- '« of ^i2rf /"■ °" "^^ Weft Coaft ■^"'^rtca, fhort of G;«f R/^,,^^ • r 42* North earlv.-ns T ^''""' 'nLat. tcrthePn:- ^ ^^""S> '^ March, af- e«onablc, proceed ,n the Difcovery. ^ ' ' until' ( ( ( c f c ■.I ' i 1 , l, '/■, i ■'•■Si' M!i •'1 w Hi|- : 1 1 6 Tie Laft Expedition in until you get to the Southward of 40", which will complcat if; and upon your Return to tlic North-Eaftward, as Summer advances, make eafy Sail, and obfervc the whole Coafl on the North Weft c^i Ameri- ca ; making careful Obfervations of all the Rivers, Bays, Head-Lands, ^c, making Charts, drawing the Bearings of the Lands, and Views from the Ships ; with the Tides, Soundings, and Variation of the Compafs .; making Alliances with the Natives, and fix- ing a Commerce with them upon profitable Terms to Britain^ and equitable to them, according to their Value and Eftecm for our Goods or Manufadures; this will fully employ the Months of Aprils May^ and Jwie, (o as to get to 62"* by the latter End o( Jufy, and thence repafs the Bay and Strait the Beginning of Augufl, In cafe the Ships (hould feparatc after your laft Rendezvous near Deer Sounds or Marble JJlnnd, after palling thro* the Openingi to Wcftward, let each, independently, endeavour to make out the Paftagc, with- out w.iiting for the other, and appoint their next Rendezvous at any Ifland or Harbour nearcft to 40*" on the Back of orma ; and in cafe cither (hould Win- •£cr 40% your Timer vcthc tmeri" all the vaking Lands, Tides, mpafs ;, ndfix- ofitable ) them, cm for 'ill fully \ay^ and tcr End lay and In cafe ►ur laft Marble Ipeningi dently, I, with- [appoint /and or lack of Win- ^ie Dobbs a^icJ California. 117 ^ ter (hort of that, and more Northerly than ' 54*, then endeavour to hire fome Jndiam ^ to crofs the Country to Churchill River, or « Tork Fort, or N-lfons River, with Letters * diredlcd to the Lords of the Admiralty» ' and to the Secretary of the North Wefl « Committee, giving an Abflrad: of yout < Difcoveries 'till that Time, with a Promife * of a fufficient Reward to any of the Sailors ' who will accompany them, and carry « them in the Company's Ship to Englajid^ « to prevent their being ilified at the Fadory, * in cafe any Micfortune {houlu iiuppcn to ' prevent the Ship's Return next Scaion. In ^ cafe, by any Accident, or unforefecn Diffi- ^ culty, the Ships fhould not be able to fail ^ beyond or Weflward oi Pijlol Bay, or Wa^ f ger Strait, fo as to get no firther South * than Lat. 58 or 60 North ; or, upon Trial, » find no Opening or PafTage thro' thofe * broken Lands or Illands, to Weft- * ward, or to South Weflward, and (hould ' not meet, after pafling thefe broken Lands, ' any Tide of Flood coming from the Wed- ' ward ; then, after Trial made, and full * Proof of it to the Satisfadion of the Coun- * cil, or the major Part of them, then you * arc forthwith to return to London, with- I 3 * PU^ 'it ' I : , '■ 1 1 8 7%e hajl 'Expedition in * out Wintering in any part of the Bay, in * order to prevent unncccflliry Expcnccs to * the Adventurers. If you meet any of tlie * Eskimaux^ or Northern LidiiinSy after pnf- * fing IVagcr-Strnit^ or Pi/hl-Bay, make * particular Enquiry, by Signs, if they know < whereabouts the Copper Mine is j and in < cafe you fhould perfecfl: the Difcovery of ' the Paflligc, and winter there, upon your * Return in y///y, when you arc near 6o*, * make a more llri6l Enquiry and Search ' and if you find it, bring home fomeof the * Ore, to be fmeltcd and afTayed here. ' The Council, in all Diflkultics where ' Doubts may arife upon the moft prudent * Method of proceeding to make out the Dif- * covery, is to confifl: of the Captains, Mr. * Henry Ellis, the Surgeons and Mates of * each in one Council, when they can meet j ' and if feparated, then the faid Otticcrs of « each Ship, in which the Majority, arc to de- * tcrminc it. And if any material Difference * fhould happen, relating to the Profecution * of the Difcovery^ the Minority may fign * the Reafons for their Difference of Oplni- ^ on, to juflify them in their Diffcnt. * You the Dobbs and California. 119 « You arc dcfircd to keep rcr^^ular Minutes * of all your Confuhaiions, which iliali be * fi'^ncd by three or more ol the Council * heForc tiicy break up : Anri that you keep < fair Copies of all your Proceedings, which, * at tlie Return of your Voyage (or Tooner, * if vou have an Opportunity by \\\(^lIudjonS' * Bay Ship') fliall be Icaled up S-y three of < the Council^ am! tranfrniittd by Pofl to < Mr. Scifiiurl Svntb, Secret. ;ry to tlic Coin- « n^Jttec, in Qitcaton-Strccf, upon your Ar- < rival in any Part of Great-Britain or Ir3» < land. < ..; -' I f;:-^ These Inflruelions T have given at large, that the Reader might have an Opportunity of feeing, not only liovv well they were calculated, to anl'wcr the Dellgn of regula- ting the CondutTt of thcfe Cominanderc, ia this particular Voyage ; but liow clearly alfo they ^x)int out the Nature of t];C Expedition, and the Means of accomplilliing it ; as wcJl as the fijiccrc Intentions, of thofe who con- trived them, to execute in the mod cfFec- tuai Manner, what had been fo well and t) wifely concerted, lor the Public Benefit. But it is now I'iiiie to refuine ti:e Tlireaii of our Narration, I J IIII: - \ wm \i I I V;f|:if' I 1 20 TIk Laf. Expeclitio?i in The Ships littcJ out for tins Exprdition, Icll ; ( ».- i mm ' ' « 1 i 8 715^ LaJ} Expedition in * and Augujl^ ratlicr cncrcaling than dimi- * nifhing in Bulk, being furrounded, except * in four or five Points of the Compafs, with * fmall Ic»for many Hundred Leagues, and * Land covered all the Year v^ith Snow, the * Weather being extream cold, for the mod * Part, in thofe Summer Months : the fmal- * ler Ice, that almoft fills the Straits and * Bays, and covers many Leagues out into * the Ocean along the Coafl, is from four to * ten Fathoms thick, and chills the Air to * that Degree, that there is a conftant In- * creafe to the large Ifles, by the Sea's wafli- * ing again ft them, and the perpetual wet ' Fogs, like fmall Rain, freezing as they * fettle upon the Ice, and their being fo deep- * ly immerfed under Water, and fuch a fmall * Part above, prevents the Winds having * much Power to move them ; for the' it * blows from the North- weft Quarter near * nine Months in twelve, and confcquently * thofe Ifles arc driven towards a warmer * Climate, yet the progreflive Motion is lb * flow, that it mufl take up many Years bs.^- * fore they can get ii.-^t or fix hundred Leagues * to the Southward. I am of Opinion, fonie * hundred Years are required ; for they can- * not, I think, diflolve before they come be- * twcca I. I the Dobbs and California. 129 « tween the 50th and 4cth LX ii t ofT. iti- ' tude, where the Heat of the Sun co .K.m- * ing the upper Parts, they hghten and vvmle < in Time.* On the other Hand, Mr. E;icde, whom I have mentioned before, very pOt'tively af- ferts, that the Ice, with which the Sea is al- niod clioaked, and which, as he affirms, railes Mountains of an aflonifliing Bi j-efs, Ivin'J as deep under as thcv rife • .icieht above the Water, are, neverth- Lis, Pieces of the Ice-Mountains on the Land, which (landing near the Sea, and burftlng, tumble down into it,ar i fo are carried oft. It is aroa- rent that he gives this not from Conjedure, or Hear-fay, but from his own Knowledge ; ond therefore I am inchned to beheve, that thebefl Solution of this Qjjeftion, How thefc Ice-Mountains are produced ? may be ob- tained by joining both the foregoing Ac- counts together. In (liort, I take their Ori- gin to be as Mr. Egede defcribes it ; but then I am perfuad?d, that the Accumulation of Matter, neceflary to fwe!i them to fo vaft a Bulk, happens as Captain Mlddlctofi defcribes 't: For I cannot but beUeve, that at their ::r{l falling into the Sea, they mud: be of a vcn' large Sizv?, perhaps, half the Bignefs K they J - — ^^ — • ■ -^ Ik '¥ 130 TAe TLafi Expedition in they arrive at afterwards; and I am for ad- mitting Mr. Egcde's Account of their burft- ing from the Land, becaufe of the prodi- gious Force that fuch a Deluge, or Land Flood, as is mentioned by Capt. Middleton muft have to drive thefe Mountains out to Sea. This Deluge, to fay the Truth, I take to be a Fad advanced without Proof, for the Thaws in thefe Parts are not fudden and violent, but, on the contrary, very gentle and gradual -, for when the Sun is in the Day- time at the higheft, the Ice and Snow melt ; but in the Night-time when the Sun is lowed, they freeze agiun ; fo that the DilTo- lution or Confumption of them ia but very flow. Agreeable to this way of reafoning, we find the Southern Fadories in Hudfon's Bay, are troubled with thefe Deluges or Land Floods, from which they are free in the North, for the Caufes that have been already afligned. I am the more confirmed in my Belief, that thus the thing really happens, by the Obfervations I have made of the Difference between the low Ice and the Ice-Mountains, the latter being lefs folid, and of a lighter Colour than the for- mer. But enough has been faid on this Head ; For ad- burft- prodi- Land idleton^ out to , I take for the ;n and itle and e Day- ' melt J Sun is I DilTo- )ut very ifoning, ludfon's ges or free in |e been firmed really made i 1 iW ins m Ice lefs for- this lead; ■.r? I 1i|i i:/Z<' UoiUA c^ctJt /y^oi/it of // I\Uf, i ^,at^-£^'^^p=I?9^S^ --r Jj e //"a/^u/iaA^zm //^W/^ tA:e w.je. .L. mi 'W'il >7"" "l (1 I it ' : •-; i >, s l'a,y, ijj ' yram t^e. JV. :e , J. ..'iyn t Head the V Ifland half a ncfs c them it clciii nued 1 bable broke ; we did Difficu tumbli] to have the he 2-hcac from t thence very li At us thrc full of was to brough in cxcl Hatch( the Dobbs and California. 131 Head J and therefore wc will now refume the Hiftory of the Voyage. Upon the 8th of July^ we made the Iflands oiRefolution^ at the Diftancc of about half a Mile. It was owing to the Foggi- nefs of the Weather, that wc did not fee them fooner, and it was happy for us that it cleared as it did -, for had thofc Fogs conti- nued but a little longer, it is highly pro- bable we had gone a-fliore, and our Veffels broke to pieces upon the Rocks. As it was we did not get clear but with very great Difficulty, for the Wind falling, and the Sea tumbling in on the Shore, we were forced to have recourfe to the Ship's Oars, and by the help of thefe, and the Boats towing a-hcad, we made fliift to deliver ourfelves from this Danger ; and in our Paflage from thence to the upper Savage Iflands, met with very little Ice to obftrudt us. At thefe Iflands, there came on board us three large and twenty-fix fmall Canoes, full of Eskimaux Indians, whofe Bufinefs was to trade. The Commodities they brought, were Whale-bone and Seal Skins, in exchange for which we r;ave them Hatches, Saws, Gimblets, ^c. Their Stock was not great, but we made a confiderable K 2, Profit \r i : 71; ; 1 i 1 t tir^ri: M If i'i J ' K ■ ,''i II 132 Ty^^? L^/// Expeditio?i i?i. Profit by oiir Dealings with them. On tlie other hand, th.cy tliouglit theiniclves fo well uled, tiuit they wcru dciirous of continuing their Traflick as lon^jj as pofTibie > ill order to which, when they Jiad dilpolcd of all their Goods, both iMen and Women were very eager in Gripping themfelves al- moll naked, that they might fell their Clothes, which they did for Knives, Pieces of Iron, and fuch like. We obferved an odd Cuftom they had, which was that of licking every thing they bought before they put it into their Canoes. A more particular Defcription of thefe People may poffibly prove entertaining to the Reader, and as it cannot come in any where with greater Propriety, I fhall give it here, as fuccindly and exadly as I can. Thefe People are of .t middle Size, robuft, and inclinable to be fat, their Heads are large, Faces round and flat, their Complexions fwarthy, Eyes black, fmall and fparkling, Nofes flat, Lips big, Hair black and lank, Shoulders broad. Limbs proportionable, but Feet extraordi- nary fmall. Their Behaviour is chearful and fprightly ; but they fecm to be very fiibtle, defigning, cunning and deceitful, great Fkttcrer?, much addicted to pilfer fron: Stranger^.' r^sr f 1 / c? ScaU -fuy/ , 13^ .ill,- /UAt//l{fua^ //KiAt^ne; \ /j^re ^ r //tttAtnt; \/i^rt* Sc ^fVriAl^iif ^tia.U f^. 2JZ ^ V«>>, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) 1.0 M ill 1.8 1.25 1.4 |i6 ■» 6" — ► V] /. '^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 tf lyj'Kf 134 7J^ Laji Expedition in bone, very flender, and covered with Scal- Skin-Parchment all over, a Hole in the middle excepted, which has a Rim of Whale» bone or Wood round about it to prevent the Water coming down off the Deck, and affords only room for one Man to fit in, his Feet ftretched forward, and fometimcs a Skin laced about his Waift from the Rim before-mentioned, which cfFedually fhuts out all Water. The Seams they rub with a kind of Pitch or Glue, which is faid to be made of Seals Bludder ; in thefe Boats they carry their little Conveniences and Inftru- ments for killing Whales, Sea-Horfes, Sea- Unicorns, Seals, &c. at all which they arc very expert ; they likewife carry Slings and Stones in their Canoes, which they ufe very dextroufly, and can do Execution at a great Diftance. Their Harpoons are headed and pointed with Sca-Horfe Teeth, the upper End ferves to fpear the Whale, or other large Animals, when they are iiruck, the more readily to difpatch them ; the lower End is made ufe of to ftrike the Fi(h, and introduce into his^ Body a Barb tipped with Iron, which remains there whilft the other part of the Harpoon difengages itfelf readily iind comes out. To this Barb is faAened •VcLJ^ i' 3 4 .■ i ^'i,. ' "««!.,. the Dobbs and California. 135 a Thong of Sea-Horfe-Hide, at the end of which is a Seal Skin blown up, vvliich ferves as a Buoy to (hew where the Whale is when he goes down, and prodigioufly fatigues him as he fwims. At laft having entirely exhauft- ed his Force, he grows faint, and with fome fmall ftiugglc he expires. They then with their Canoes tow him afhore, ftrip him of his Fat or Blubber, which ferves them for Food, and to burn in their Lamps in the Winter. Besides thefe fmall Canoes for the Men, which are (harp at each End, about twenty Feet long, and eighteen Inches or two Foot broad, paddled by one Paddle, broad at each End, which ferves both Sides without chang- ing it ; they have Boats much Lirger, that are open, and rowed by the Women i thefe are made of the fame Materials as the for- mer, and wi" '^arry above twenty Pcrfons. As to the Drefs of thefe People, there may much be faid, and that too not un- entertaining, however, I fhall be very concife. The Mens Clothes are of Seal Skins, Deer Skins, and fometimes alfo are made of the Skins of Land and Sea Fowl fewed together; each of their Coats has a Hood like that of a Capuchin, is clofefrom the Bieafl before like a Shirt, and reaches not lower than the middle of the Thigh j their Breed les are K 4 clofc « ,1;' ,•; '\. w % n ■•£»: LLilj K ■ t- fe'^: ^'iN"^/*^^ mi' 136 The Lajl Expedition in clofe before and behind, gathered like a Purfc witii li Strings and tied about their Waius 3 tli.y have feveral Pair of Boots ai id Socks, that they wear one over another to keep them warm , and which keep out the Wctcr Th?. Difference between the Drer of aie Men and the Women is, that the Women have a Train to their Jackets, that reaches down to their Heels. Their Hoods are alio larger and wider at the Shoul- ders, for the fake of carrying their Chil- dren in them more conveniently on their Bucks, ui-A rjfir Boots are a great deal wider, and aic commonly ftuck out with Slicks of Whalebone, becaafe when they va. V L'j !>y th^ir Child out of their Arms, t!Kv ^^ip it into one of their Boots, till they caij take it up again. Some few of them wear Shifts of S.als Bladders f:wed toge- ther in pretty near the fame Form with thofe in Europe, In general their Clothes are fewed very neat, which is performed with an Ivory Needle, and the Sinews of Deer fplit ^a\^j and (o ufed for Thread. There is likewife a good deal of Tafte and Judgment difcovered in the manner in which they adorn them with Stripes of different coloured Skins, fewed in the manner of Borders, i the Dobbs and California. 137 Borders, CufFs and Robings for their Clothes, which altogether look very tight^, neat, and even elegant, or at lead handlbme as well as convenient. I F their Clothes and other Ncceffaries arc vi^ell contrived, their Snow-Eyes, as they very properly call them, are no Icfs fo. Thcfc arc Bits of Wood or Ivory, neatly formed to cover the Organ* of Sight, and tied at the Back of the Head : In each Piece of Wood are two Slits, of the fame Length with the Eyes, but narrow ; thro* which they fee very diftindly, and without feeling any Inconvenience. This Invention prevents Snou -Blindnefs, a very grievous and painful Diftemper, occafioned by the Adion of the Light, ftrongly reflcdl- ed from the Snow upon the Eyes, more efpccially in the Spring, when the Sun is pretty high. The Ufe of thefe ftrengthens the Sight prodigioufly, and becomes fo ha- bitual, that when they would obfcrvc any Objedt at a great Diftance, they commonly look through them, as we do through Te- lefcopes. The fame Spirit of Invention fhews itfelf full as much, or rather more, in their Inftruments for Fiftiing and Fowling : Their M^ V ■ ; ■• "t '• ■ JT» i.!ir} U ^!;l i ij , ,■ 138 7>5^ JL^ Expedition in Their Darts and Harpoons are very well made, and anfwer their Intentions pcrfedlly well ; but their grcateft Ingenuity is rtiewn in the Strudlure of their Bov^s, made com- monly of three Pieces of Wood, each mak- ing a part of the lame Arch, very nicely and cxadly joined together. They are common- ly of Fir, or Larch, which the EngUJh there call Juniper ; and as this wants Strength 4nd Elafticity, they fupply both by bracing the Back of the Bow, with a kind of Thread or Line made of the Sinews of their Deer, and the Bow-String of the fame Material. To make them draw more ftifly, they dip them into Water, which caufcs both the Back of the Bow and the String to contradl,and con- fequently gives it the greater Force j and as they prad:ife from their Youth, they (hoot with very great Dexterity. Thus much I can report of thefe People from my own Knowledge j and I fhall next add a few Par- ticulars from the beft Information I could obtain. The very Orthography of the Word Ef- kimaux plainly proves it an Indian Appella- tive, with a French Termination 5 and we are told by a celebrated Writer of that Country, that it is derived from the Words Abe^ the Dobbs and California. 139 'Ahenaqtii Efquimantfic^ which is as much as to fay, An Eater of raw J*lejh -, and indeed this feems to be a very rational Etymology ; for fo far as it is hitherto known, the Eski^ maux arc the only Nation that cat Animal Food abfolutely raw. It is from hence, from the Whitenefs of their Skin, and from their having Beards, which no Indians have, that they are believed to be the fame People with the Groenlanders -, nor is this at all im- probable, when we confider the NaiTOwncft of Davis's Streights, and that Kind of va- gabond Life to which this whole Nation arc addidlcd. The Charadter generally given of them is none of the beft 5 for we find them reprefented by Travellers of all Na- tions, as cunning, thievi(h, treacherous, cruel, fawning, and fufpicious. But if they are really defcended from the Groenlanders^ we may poflibly, when we come to know them better, confider them in another Light. For the Danes^ fettled in that Coun- try, have obferved of its Inhabitants, that tho' they have a flrong Tindu»re of all thefe Vices, yet the bad Effedls of them arc felt only by Foreigners, and amongft them- felves they are flridlly honcft, chafte, tem- perate, and full of Compaffion -^ but believ- ing WK\i ^" mm ■y hh km i.: .; ■ 140 *The Lajl Expedition in ■ ing the reft of Mankind to be of another Race, and for that Rcafon naturally Ene- mies to them, they confine all their focial Virtues to their own Nation, and look upon the reft of tlie World not as Strangers only, but Enemies. It may be when we come to have a conflant Commerce with the Eiki- MauXy they may abate of their Barbarity, fmcc the Groenlanders arc now fo well reconciled to the Danes^ that are fettled in their Coun- try, as to leave off pilfering and ftcaling from them j and many other bad Cuftoms, for which, in former Times, they were infamous. Thefe Obfervations may fufficc with refpedl to the Eikimaux ; and there- fore we will now refume the Journal of our Voyage. The 13th of July wc fell in with Abun* dance of low Ice, from Hve to ten Fathoms thick, through which we failed with much Caution, and without much Danger or Difficulty, except where the Pieces were very thick and clofe. Whenever this happens to be the Cafe, it is very dangerous to drive againft a large Piece, efpecially with great Force ; for it is the fame as a Rock, if it is not broke by the Shock -, and this is the Reafon all the Ships frequenting icy Seas are made the Dobbs and California. 141 made very ftrong and thick in Timber, more efpcially about the Bows ; and all this is found Httle enough too, there being fre- quent Inftanccs on the Coafts of Groenland^ and in Davis's Straits of Ships being flovc by it. Mr. Cotes, who is a Commander in the Hudfon's Bay Company's Service, has loft two Ships, one by running againft a Piece of Ice in the Night, off Cape Farewell, by which Stroke the Ship foundered ; and an- other in Hudfon's Straits, where two large Pieces of Ice, by ftrong Tides fetting diffe- rent Ways, were driven together with great Force ; the Ship being between them, was fo fqueezed together, that (he funk as foon as the Ice feparated ; but very fortunately in both Accidents, the Men were favedby an- other of the HudJon*s Bay Ships, for they al- ways keep Company on the outward-bound Paffage. It is alfo related, on credible Evi- dence, that one of the Company's Sloops going between Tork Fort and Churchill was in like manner caught betwixt two Piec^ of Ice, and upon their meeting flie was raifed quite out of the Water, and left dry upon one of them ; but fhe receiving no Damage by that ftrange Accident^ when the Ice ,' "p ii •. ' I I ■ 142 Tie Lajl Expedition in Ice opened, the People launched her, and proceeded on their Voyage, It is very eafy to difcover our Approach towards fuch Ice, for the Air immediately changes its Temperature, from warm to cold J bcfidcs, thick Fogs generally accom- pany it J but thefc lie low upon the Surface, often not fo high as the Ship's Mafts Head j fo that it has fometimcs happened that the Eskimaux have walked from the Land to the Ships upon the Ice, before thofe aboard have difcovered it. It is common to fee the Ice thrown above the Hori:^Jon, at leafi: 6 ° J fo that you will dcfcry it at a much greater Diftancc than if the refradlive Pow- er of the Air was not fo great. The 17th the Ice being very thick about us, we made faft to a very large Piece of it, with feveral Ice Anchors and Ropes. It is requifite in fuch Cafes to make Choice of the largcft Piece that can be found for this Purpofe, becaufe having more hold of the Water, it is lefs affeded by Winds and Currents (which generally run on the Sur- face) fo that all the fmali Ice is drove from about us in Time, and we are left at liber- ty to proceed. Here we unhung our Rud* der, which traverfed very ftiffly, and made it go the Dobbs and California. 143 go caficr J and the Crew of the Calif ornia^2iS well as we in the Dobbs Galley, filled our empty Cafks with frcfli Water out of the Ponds that are commonly found upon thelccw The 1 8th we had a good deal of Lightning and Thunder, which, however does not frequently happen here ; and may not the Rcafon of this be, that the Aurora Boreas lis^ that is common both in Winter and Summer, kindles and dilperfcs thofe fulphu- rious Vapours that would other wife produce Lightning and Thunder? We now found me little Pools of Water on the Ice froze over almoft every Night, efpecially if the Wind was Northerly. The 19th the great Piece of Ice wc were faft to, feparated in fevcral Places, and difperfed j upon which we made faft to another J but the Ice quickly opening, wc got under an eafy Sail, and ftood through vaft Quantities of it till towards Evening, when we grappelled again, the Ifland of Cape Charles in View, diftant about feven Leagues to the Southward : In this Manner we con- tinued much incommoded with Ice, which would be tedious to recite in a particular Manner, now making faft, then cafting loofe, traverfing and failing through it un- til m V > 'A'.t;, lift- w i I ,( • 144 77)6 haft 'Expedition in till the 30th, when we got into clear Wa- ter, a-breail of the Illand of Salisbury^ al- moft at the Weft Ehtrance of Hudforii Straits, If I was to give any Directions for avoiding the thickeft of the Ice in thefe Straits, it would be to keep pretty near the North Shore, for we always obferved that Side much the clcareft, as not only the Winds blow moflly from thence, but Cur- rents too come out of mod of thofe large Openings which are on that Side. The 2d oiAiiguJl we doubled Cj/^D/^^j, and on the 4th pafTed the Ifland of Man^ feL Between this and Cape Soiithamptcn we found a dead Whale floating, in which was an Eskimaux Barb, with a Thong of Sea-Horfe Hide faft to it ; it had been kil- led fome time by thofe People, and was a good deal decayed, Part of the Bone was fallen off, but the Remainder we faved, as alfo twoCafks of Blubber, and then left it. The iith we m ie the Land on the Weft Side the Weko?ne, in Latitude 64.'' North; as it was then late in the Afternoon, and we at a confiderablc Diftance, the Cap- tain thought it not prudent to fend the Boat from the Ships to make any Trial there, but deferred it, in hopes of doing it next Day -, in vas a was 3, as >avi the Dobbs and California. 145 in the mean time it began to blow very hard Southerly, fo that it became neceflary to {land offshore, for feiir we (hould be em- bayed j the Gale continued the i2lh, but (hifted to the Northward, ib that wc could not get in with jat Part of the Coail wc left. Marble IJland was the next Place wc faw on the 19th : There the Long- Boats* of each Ship were fent, commanded by the chief Matts, with whom I went j our Bu- fincfs was to procure a Knowledge of the Time, Diredion, Velocity, and Height of the Tides, and to obfervc every other Cir- cumftancc, that might furnilh any Lights towards the Difcovery of a Paflage, which was executed, and a Report made to the Council, on our Return, upon the 16th, importing, that we faw feveral conliderable Openings to the Weflward of this Ifland 5 that the Flood Tide came from the North Eaft, the Courfe of the Coafl ; that it was High Water there, at Four o'Clock, full and Change of the Moon, and rofe about Ten Feet. Nothing farther was done this Seafon towards a Difcovery 5 but a Refolu- tion was agreed to, by the Majority of the Council, to bear away for a Place, proper ♦ L for II 'Ml' < I I ! ! 146 77)g Lajl Expedition in ' for ourWinter Quarters; the Purport of which Refolution, was to the following EfFedt, 'oiz, * That whereas the Seafon was far ad- * vanced, Winds contrary, and unfavourable * for a further Search of the broken Lands * to the Weflward of Marble IJland^ and * the Certainty of a PafTage being yet un- ' determined, it was thought proper to *■ Winter in fome Part of Hudf&Jis Bay, in * hopes of a more favourable Opportunity « the fucceeding Seafon to'profecute the Dif- * covery. Port Nelfon was fixed on for this * Purpofe, as being preferable to any other * Place, it being clear of Ice the fooneft, * abounding with Wood, Venifon, and other « Game, neceffary for the Prefervation of ' the People, (^c" which Adt of Council was figned, and the Ships bore away accord- ingly, upon the 17th, for their Winter Quarters. Before we abfolutely leave tbisllland, I iliall venture to give a fuccind Defcription of it, as it appeared to me. The Center of it lies in Latitude 62"* 55' North, Longi- tude 92® 00 Weft from London 5 its greatcil Length from Eaft to Weft fix Leagues, its Breadth two or three Miles. High at the Weft End, and low at the Eaft, the Land is one the Dobbs and California. 147 onecontinued Rock, ofan hard and white kind of Marble, tho' interfperfed in fome Places with Spots of different coloured Stone, as green, blue, and black. The Tops of the Hills are prodigiouily rent and fhattered. Numbers of huge Rocks arc confufedly huddled together, as if by an Irruption ; for under them are deep Caverns, where one may hear a great Noife, as of confidcrable Streams rolling over Rocks. By the Water that oozed out of the Clefts of the Rocks in many Places, I imagined there might be Cop- per, or other Mines ; for in one Place it was of a green Colour, tailing like Verdigreafe ; in another perfedlly red, and dying the Stones, over and through which it paifed, of the fame Hue. In the Vallies was a (hallow Soil of Turf, but very little Herbage, and fever«l Pools of frefh Water, in which were Swans, Ducks, ^c. and hard by fome Deer gracing, which come from the Main, lying about four Leagues to the Northward, eitlier upon the Ice in the Winter, or fwim over in the Summer. : This they can do very fwiftly, and can hold it to a great Diftance, We found many Trads of the Eskimaux^ as Stones fet, one upon another, either as Land- Marks, or in Confequence of fome fuperftitious Cuftom j L 2 beiides ^iymm. Kv ■»■' \yf ■■■■' Iw m m IJIlE'lPl '1 ;|i 1 iffi^SI' •'1 1 ,1 1 Hpni <' Ulttii J []||9ny 1 1 1 ( i i Im^hI 1 Hi ilili^^O 1 t 1 W lilMiMwi 1 • i ^^^^ 1 ' W mI^^X^i t • 1 iiiMMB * . 11 iiwMBWBMf 1 ' MBI i ! ' i m WBKi • 1 ] ; 1 ' y itl^H^vil i ■ 148 The Lajl Expedition in befides many Graves, or large Heaps of Stones, under which their Dead lie buried ; and the Foundation of fome of their Huts, which are built circular, and in the Form of a Bee-Hive, with Stone and Mofs. Be- tween this Jlland and the North Main, is tolerable good riding in eight, ten, or twelve Fathoms Water, clear and good holding Ground, but the only Harbour is at the South - Weft Par: of it. The En- trance is but narrow and flioal, having no more than thirteen Feet Water at the Height of common Tides, but within it is capacious enough to hold one Hundred Sail. It is very diflicult to dilcover the Mouth of it, being covered by a low rocky Ifle, upon which the Sea breaks pretty high, and this muft be kept on the Larboard hand going in. I thought it the more neceflary to mention this Harbour, as it had been reprefented to Mr. Dobbs as a very fine one 5 which indeed it would be, if its Entrance was deeper, but as it is, can only ferve for Veflels of fmall Burthen. So much ioi: Marble IJIarid -y now let us return to our Voyage. 1 N our Pafraq;e from this Place to Fort- Neljhn^ we had very bluftering Weather, amended vviui Snow> Sleety and thick Fogs. W the Dobbs and California. 149 We arrived in fight of the Shoals^ of that River on the 25tli o^ Augujl^ and anchored during the Ebb-Tidc, about two Leagues from them. Thcfc Shoals are very dange- rous, as they lie four or five Leagues off Shore, and flretch from North to South a- bout ten Miles; as they are dry at Half- Tide, the Sea breaks high upon them : Their Center lies in Latitude 57° 50' North. The beft w^ay to know when you approach them, is to obferve where the Water Hioals, and the Bottom grows hard, but the contrary as vou leave them. The 26th, the Weather being fine anii moderate, the Boats of each Ship were fent a-head to found, and to ered a Flag, as a Mark to fiil over the Flats at the Mouth of the Southern Branch, or Hayes's River : This was to be raifed at a good Anchoring- Place, called Five-Fathom-Hole^ within le- ven Miles of Tbrk-Forf^ and accordingly was done. The California got fcife to an An- chor there, but the Dobbs came a-gron nd on the Flats, and had it blown hard, in nil in- evitably have been loft. The Governor, fee- ing us in this deep Diflrefs, in order ti)CQm plete it, fent his Boat and Peo[^lc to cut down the Beacon, which was the only proper L 3 Mark i ■1 1*. X .' • m^:. :...*, m^:' f ; 'm^^ i I i I wm ii ii ^ 150 7^^ Laji Expedition in ' Mark we had to guide us into a Place oi' Safety, when we might get the Ship afloat. All that Mr. Holding, Captain Smith'^ Lieu- tenant, could fay to diHuade them from it* was ineffedual 5 they cut it down ; at the fame Time they acknowledged, that when they received thofe Orders, the Governor very well knew who we were. This Be- ginning gave us but too well to underftand what Treatment we were to expew, .fly \U 'es, ja- Iwl ia i!'V mw lj^.mA' 'A' [i»!!*i :*'^i ,':^k' t-^' •<'^ 3 I iy/ie fi^'mt^n tl, tie^n' o^ t^4{i?yitt faae iji ^/leffmlenna. CreeA iy?iy Ha^es River ^o -** fie^/z^ (rf ^4{em^t€taM ^^^itn/Je /hcnn^ ^i^dcsr^x Creek i \ HI 11! >■ I (if; if i 1' ■pf; di I ^•; the Dobbs ^;/^ California. 153 in tlKJr proper Scafon, as alio Fi(h in great Plenty, and in as great Variety. Thcfc Advantages were not fufficient to tempt the Captains to repafs the Shoals, or expofe the Ships to any D^ingcr, in going round hy Sea to enter it at it's proper Channel ; fo that tlicy were determined to lay the Ships in fome Part of Hayes's River, during the Winter. With this View we ran three Miles farther up it, the 3d of September^ and landed feveral of our Stores to lighten the Sliips, fent the Boats witii OiFicers to look out ior a fafc Creek to moor in, which was found live Miles above Tork-Fort^ on the South Side of the River. The Governor being now convinced of our Intentions to winter there, ufed his ut- mofl Endeavour?, that we might lay our Ships below the Fort,- in a Place open to the Sea, where they would have been in all Piohability beat to Pieces, either from the Waves of the Sea fetting in, or the breaking up of the Ice j hut as his Arguments wer'j of no Efficacy in perfuading us, and finding himfelf dilappoiiucd in this, as ih his former Schemes, being ftill refolved to dillrcfs us as much as poflible, he fent moil of the Indians^ whofe chief Employment is to kill Deer, \ ) I ! 1^' iU: tw ■Mi I 154 7l)e Lafi Expedition in Deer, Q^^i^^ 6V. into the Country, on purpofe, that we might not make ufe of them in that Way, or be in any wife bene- fited by their means. We fpent our TiiTiC to the nth, in lightening and preparing; the Ships for their Quarters : On the 12th, ran up a-breafl of the Fort, and anchored there, and landed the Remainder of our Provifions and Store.^ Here we dug a Hole twelve Feet dci ). to bury our ftrong and fmall Beer in, to prc- ferve it from the Froih It was the 26th, notwithilanding ail \^^y. Dih'gence we could ufe, before tlx Ships were fccured in the Creek : This being efFeded, we turned our Thoughts on the Methods necefTary for our own Preferva- tion ; being certain there was no Poflibility of living aboard the Ship for Cold, where- fore fome of the People were employed in cutting Fire- Wood, others in building Log- Tents. This is a Contrivance borrowed, as I fuppofe, from the Natives -, and ours were made of Trees hewn and cut, about fixteen Feet long, raifed clofe together, their Ends lying one againft another at the Top, but extending at the Bottom, in the Form of the Roof of a Country-Houfe. Between thefe Logs the Dobbs and California. 155 Logs the Vacancies were fluffed with Mofs, and that being plaiftered over with Clay, made a warm Hutt ; the Door was low and fmall, a Fire- Place in the middle, and a Hole over it, to let out the Smoke. B u T the grand Bufinefs, and what en- groffed moft of our Attention, was the building a Houfe for the Captain and Offi- cers to dwell in. The Situation we chofc for it, was equally pleaflint and convenient . it was on an Eminence furroundcd with Trees j the main River was half a Mile diftant to the North Weft ; the Creek where our Ship lay, near the fame Diftance ; on the South Weft we had a handfome Ba- fon of Water, called the Beaver Creek, about 150 Yards diftant in Front, which looked like a grand Canal, in Profped ; and thick and tall Woods prote6Ved us from the North and North-Eaft Winds. The Situation chofen, I drew a Plan of our in- tended Manfion, which the Captains ap- proved of. The Houfe, according tq this Plan, was to be twenty-eight Feet long, and eighteen Feet broad -, to have two Sto- ries, the lower one to be fix, and the upper feven Feet high -, the Captain and fome of the principal Officers were to lie above, and the '•►■ 156 The Laji Expedition in kemainder below, as alfo the Subalterns and Servants. The Door was to be in the middle of the Front, five Feet high, and three broad, with four Windows above Stairs, one in each Captain's Room, and one at each End, to enlighten the PafTage and the Officers Cabins. The Ridge of the Roof was to be but a Foot higher than the Side- Walls, in order to let the Wet drain off, and to keep the Houfe the war- mer by being clofe and low. The Stove was to be placed in the Center, that every Body might partake equally of it's Heat. T^H E s E Matters being thus adjufted, all Hands were fet to Work : Trees cut down and hewed, Planks fawed, the Walls begun, by placing one large Log upon another, with Mofs between, and nailing them down : In a Word the Houfe was raifed, covered and almoft finifhed by the ift oi November, In the mean Time, the Weather was become cxceflively cold, tho' the Seafon had been very open and favourable to what it ufually is. The Winter began in the latter End of September with Sleet, and large Flakes of Snow, and frofty Nights ; troublefome enough, but notfceming to merit the terrible Reports !: :i ■ft ? ^he Dobbs and Californ'^.. 157 Reports given of thefe Winters by fome Authors. On the 5 th of OBober^ we had much Ice in the Creek, and by the 8th it was fad froze. Until the 30th we had Snow, Frofts, and moderate Weather, alternately, and that Day being his prefent Majefty's Birth-Day, we hoifted our Colours, and fired twenty-one Guns. The 31ft, Hayes River was froze quite hard, fo that now we had fome Experience of what was to bt ex- peded from an Hiidfon\'Bay Winter. The 2d oi November ^ we could not keep the Ink from freezing at the Fire. On the 3d we difcovered all the bottled Beer froze folid, tho* packed up in Tow, and near a good Fire. The 6th the Cold became in- fupportable aboard, fo that the Sailors were diftributed among the feveral Tents, which were affigncd for their Conveniency and Prefcrvntion in the Woods, and the Captains, OfTicers, <^c, went to live in their new Hodf:, which by this Time was finifhed : It w 4S cbiiftened (in the Sea-way) Mont A- G^^s House, in Honour of that worthy N^b)ea-lan, and generous Patron of all ufe- fij^- Undertakings, his Grace the DUKE of MONTAGUE', who, from his con fide- ring !i;-- > mm] •iisj fa :;«#ij|n i -i m. ■ .« ■ I- ■ 'mn mm 'Hi I !^^ I : ^ f.i 158 7l}e Lajl Expedition in ring this Expedition in that Light, was one of our Subfcribers. W E likewife began about this Time to put on our Winter Drefs, which con* fifted of a Robe of Beaver Skin, with the Furr on, which reached to our Heels, and two Waiftcoats under it, a Cap and Mittens of the fame, lined with Flannel, a Pair of Indian Stockings, over our Yarn ones, made of Broad Cloth or Leather, which reached up to the mid Thigh, with Shoes of foft- taiined Moofe or Elk-Skin, under which we wore two or three Pair of Blanket, or thick Duffil Socks to prevent our Feet free* zing, which is a thing that neverthclcfs fre- quently happens ; a Pair of Snow- Shoes, about five Feet long, and eighteen Inches wide, to hinder us from finking in the Snow, com pleated the Drefs. This is, properly fpeaking, the Garb of the Indians of this Country, who have taught it the Englijh ; and than which nothing can be better con- trived, both for Convenience and Ufe. For when we were thus equipped, we were able to (land the keeneft Cold, (except only for a few Days) that happened during the Winter. As the Dobbs and California. 159 As in every Country, difFcrent Seafons produce, or rather diredt Men to different Employments j fo in this, our utmofl Skill was Ihewn, and Induftry exerted, in killing Rabbits and Partridges, which is the chief Game to be met with at this Seafon. The former we caught after the following Manner. We cut down feveral fmall bu(hy Trees, with thefc we made a Hedge two Feet high, and of what k n[^ch we pleafed, leaving at every twenty Y:irdsDiil:ance, fmall Holes for tne Rabbits to run through, for we obferved, that thty never attempted to jump over. In thefe were fct Snares of Wire, the Ends of which were made faft to the End of a Pole, that lay over a Crutch, in fuch a manner, that when the Rabbits entered, and began to ftruggle, the Pole kicked up, and hung them two or three Feet off the Ground. This Contrivance had a double Convsniency, as it fecured us the Game we wanted, and by their being thus fufpended, protedled them when taken from being devoured by other Animals. They ufe at the Factories no other Method of killing the Partridges than {hooting them, and in this they are very fuccefsful, for they are there in very great Plenty ; infomuch ! i J '•«i ■I ,h. ii t jit J :' il 1 60 7*/jc Laft Expedition in that fomc Men may be able to fhoot fixty or eighty \\i a Day's Time, which makes a good Article in the Magazine-Lift of Win- ter Provifion. All Animals of the Fai* kind, arc caught in Traps of different Sorts or Nets, and thus the Beaver is moft commonly taken. The Conftrudtion of thefe Creatures Dens, Bur- roughs, or, as they are commonly called, Houfes, are very curious and flrong, being built of Wood, Stone and Clay, vvithfeveral Apartments in them for different Ufes. The Situation of thele Beaver-Houfes is alv^ays by the Side of a Lake or Pool, for their greater Convenience, and more effedual Se- curity. It v^^ould be necJlefs for me to fay more on this Subjedl, as it has been fo well handled by eminent Writers, ?.nd what I havefaid, is intended only to confirm, or at leaft corroborate, what they deliver more at large. But as the Methods ufed by the Natives in taking them, may not be the lame in diffe- rent Countries, or fo generally known as other Circumftances relating to them, I Hull be more particular. The manner of the/i;/^y^«'i- Ba^ Indians taking them, is firft to drain as much n : fixty or makes a Df Win. e caught and thus n. The ns, Bur- y called, ig, being th leveral fes. The is always for their 'edual Se- e to fay n fo well what I I'm, or at more at 'ativesin in ditfe- as other fluU be \iudfon'S' drain as much the Dobbs ^;;.i 166 The Lnjl Expedition in of their being obliged to winter in tlicfc Parts, while employed upon this Difcovery. But in order to i\o this more cfredually, anJ that the Reader may form a better and clearer Notion both of wliat has been laid, and of what I fhall be obliged farther to fay upon this Subject ; it will be proper tliat I (hould infert here as diilin or any i" the Winter, "i '^indrink- "•= or Lips touch °"f of" a Glaft away the Skin is left It. in one's P"' ''"g them 't*"" of this Sort h "''"" "• ^^ '^^'^ Jn- ;-pie.whow!r:;;z?i,^,-°^ from the Houfe carrying a Bottl our c of a Cork to flop xh ::^^^:!^>nt, fo.,,,,. Spirits, - v,orK to i\op the Bottie . ^"'"S .'"^ Finger. ;,,-,,, t^ f ' '- -;de ufe of J which Accident hri:;?;,.?-:/^'^^ loft a Pa, » -'ais. iron. Jce, and f.ch Ik Degree of Cold fo „»„. .• ' *"' -'-'t the EfrraTe e/oZa r""^' ''="''' '"" '-for a good ^Me ;7 ''"'■- - f ^^e in from ,,;,,,„;; ^I'y- brought has bi en ^ of it to '^n fohd Bodks, acquire ey eat, and -^Pofed to the Frol : 7^T '' of it, w ^^d h^ld it ^^'itl^in half a Foot poured Water upon u ^^^^^tly formed into Cakes of r^ n^ainedforfomeTime ^1 ' "'^^ ^^ ^^- ■" Po/Tibiy may good Fire, th, '^^ch has been th mou ih^ A tainous temperate me. Th I/Ies of encreafe, while "^ A"- IS temperate ro>m T .'"'^'e. while the Ground LetoT^'n^'^- too if.whenthePitvvasdug Hole be that tobi ^ngTunk four Feet b , ' "'"^ 100 ^^P^h wc found '^yourBeerin;for N •low th e com- mon ^■V]< I ' 1 :l.. Ill "i--r n 1:.: r- (I: Jltr* ;;.h;: i ' ^ < ■ .'k i i! i, 1 80 Tlbe Laji Expedition in mon Depth of the Pit, which was twelve Feet, the Ground appeared there to be very hard froze. Before the Beer was flowed, a Bed of Willow and Grafs of a Foot thick, was put under and over it, as alfo twelve Feet deep of a foapy Earth -, yet fome of the Cafks of Small Beer, next the Sides, were froze, and the ftrong Iron-bound Cafk that enclofed it burfl. In the Heart of the Ice, the fpirituous Parts remained fluid, this Liquor was ftrong, but the Ice melted, taded quite vapid ; other Cafks were not burfl, or their Contents above half congealed; the watry Parts hav- ing Time to thaw and mix with the fpiri- tous, the whole when we came to drink it proved very good, nay, we fancied better than if it had never been froze. From this long Account of the Severity of their Win- ters, it is natural for my Readers to conclude this Country, the moft uncomfortable in the World, and it's Inhabitants the mofl: unhappy. But in fii5^ La^ Expedition in dudl ; but arc influenced in their Behaviour, by a natural Reditudc of Difpofition, that reftrains them from all Ads of Violence and Injufticc one to another, as effc;6lually as the moll rigid Laws could. The Chiefs in eve- ry Family or Tribe, who generally fpeaking are chofe from amongft the mofl: ancient of the People, but chiefly for their Skill in Hunting and Experience in Trade, Domef- tick Affairs, or Valour in War, which they often wage with i\\Q Ejkiinaux -, direct thofe who refide with them in their different Em- ployments of Hunting, Fov^'Iing, Fidiing, (^c, yet their Advice is followed rather through Deference than Obligation, for, in Point of Exemption from Power, they may be truly called a free People. They have no Dependance upon the Fruits of the Earth for their Subiiftance, liv- ing entirely on the Animals they take in Hunting or Trapping, at whic^; they are very dexterous. They make prodigious Slaughter every Scafon among the Deer, from an unaccountable Notion that the more they dcfc cy, the greater Plenty will fucceed ; therefore ibmctimes they leave three or four hundred dcid on the Plain, taking out of them only their Tongues, and leaving their C'arcalfcs cither to rot, or be devoured by the i • the Dobbs and California. 183 the wild Beafts. At other Times they at- tack them in the Water, and kill prodigious Numbers, which they bring down on Floats to the Factories. Thefc Creatures crofs a vaft Extent of Country, from South to North, in the Spring of the Year, in order to bring forth their Young in Places of Safety ; that is, in the more Northerly Parts, which arc either entirely uninhabited, or at leafl: but very thinly planted. I N their Route thither, they are ex- tremely tormented with large Gnats and Mufkettoes, with which this Country, du- ring the little Summer it enjoys, is greatly infefted. This caufes the Deer to take to the Rivers and Lakes for Shelter, and gives the Indiam a greater Opportunity of killing them. It would be very hard to account whence fuch infinite Numbers of thefelnfefe (hould come fo fuddenly as they do, or how they are propagaged, did not Experience fhew, that they furvive the Winter, or rather remain in a kind of Hfelefs State, from which the Return of the warm Seafon recovers them. I will mention a very plain Inftance, in order to fhew the Truth of this. A cer- tain Perfon in the Winter-Time, crofTing a fmall Creek, upon a Tree that lay over itj N 4 liap- ■"It #iii -'■'t ; ur '•!«; '.'; »i ^■:t 184 7^ L^ Expedition in happened to flip his Foot on one Side, by vrhich he broke from the Tree a black Lump, that on Examination he found to be nothing eife but a vaft Mafs of Muflcc- toes, froze together, this he brought to a Fire, which thawing the vital Juices in thcfc Iniedts, they prefently began to move. After that, carrying them out into the freezing Air, they as quickly refumed their former fenfeiefs State, and no Methods could afterwards reftore them to Life. Without: all doubt, many other Animals that difappear in the Winter arc reduced to the fame numbed and inadive Condition. I fhall ilrengthen this by juft mentioning a Fadt, that is very well known to the Englijh, who rcfide in the Northern Settlements of America^ which is, that by the Sides of Lakes, in Banks or Holes, at the Roots of Trees, are often found in the Winter, Frogs that are froze in fuch a manner, that their Fle(h has been as hard as common Ice, yet thefe Frogs being thawed by a gentle Heat, recover Life fo as to be able to crawl about, but fuddenly freezing them again, they be- (:ame irrecoverable, in the fame manner, as is before reported of the Muflcetocs. The the Dobbs and California. 185 The Indians live not only on the Flcfli of Animals they kill in hunting, but on that alfo of Birds of Paflagej fuch as Swans, Wild Gccfc, Ducks, Plover, and many other of that Kind that go to the North- ward in the Spring to breed, and return to the Southv^rard in Autumn, and others alfo, fuch as Eagles, Crows, Owls, Hawks and Gulls, likewife upon Partridges and Pheafants, which ftay in the Winter. Their Flefti in general they boil and eat by itfelf, and then drink the Water it was boiled in, which they efteem very wholefome. In like manner they drefs their Fifh, of which they have fome Variety, and very good ; up the Rivers and Lakes, they have large Sturgeon, Carp, Trout, Pike, and two very delicious Kinds of Fi(h ; the one called by the Frenchy White Fi(h, but by the Indians and Englijh, Titymagg ; the other refcm- bling an Eel, but fpotted with yellow and white, called by the Natives Muthoy. Thefe are reckoned fatted in the Winter- Time, when they are caught by making Holes in the Ice j where, on letting down a baited Hook, the Fiih greedily take it. At the Mouths of the Rivers, efpecially thofe more to the North, are Plenty of fine Salmon. ? ' , » ^.'ii- :1 "ty ■''■}iW^>.. [. ' l86 The Loft Expedition in Salmon, Trout, and another which is a tole- rable good Filli reftinbling a Carp, called a Sucker, and there alfo comes in with the Flood Tide, in great Numbers of white Whales, which might eafily be taken, and large Profits made of their Oil. Seals too fre- quent thefe Coafts, but in no great Numbers except as far North, as Lat. 60"*. Th e Clothing of the Men here in Summer, is a loofc Coat, made of Bliu.ket, which they buy either from the French or Englijh fettled in their Neighbourhood ; a pair of Leather Stockings, which come fo high, as to fcrvc for Breeches ; they make Shoes alfo of the fame Materials. The Womcns Clothes differ from the Mens only in this, they generally wear a Petticoat, that comes a lit- tle lower than their Knees, in the Winter. Their ordinary Apparel is of the Skin of the Deer, Otter or Beaver, with the Hair or Fur on ; the Sleeves of their upper Habit, are frequently feparate from the Body, and taken on and off at Pleafure, being only tied with Strings at the Shoulders ; fo that their Arm-pits, even in the depth of Winter, are expofed to the Cold, which they reckon contributes to their Health. It mufl be owned their Difeafes are but few, and thofe chiefly arifir^p. f; the Dobbs and California. 187 arifing from Colds, taken after drinking Spirituous Liquors, which they buy from the ^nglijhy contrary to the wifer Maxims of the French^ who fell them none. The French efteem the drinking thefe -Liquors, not only prejudicial to the Conftitutions of the Natives, but alfo to their Trade; for as that depends upon their Hardinefs, Dexterity and Succefs in Hunting, it muft necefTarily decline, as thefe Qualities arc impaired. This is obvious alfo, in Point of Fadt, a- mongft t^'^ofe Indians^ who have an Intcr- courfe with the EngliJJ). The inland In- iians will not drink Brandy, from an Opi- nion of it's bad EfFeds ; thefe are a healthy, tall, adlive and robuft People, who bring down as many Furs as the Conveniency of the Carriage will allow, and leave many more behind. Whereas thofe Indians, who are addidled to Drunkennefs, fuch as the Home Indians, or thofe who live in Places contiguous to the Hudfo?i^-Bay Company';; Settlements, are a meagre, fmall, and indo- lent Kind of People, hardly equal to the Hardfhips of the Country, and fubjedt to many Difordcrs. Befidcs, there is no Com- parifon in the Number of Furs that the one and the other bring into Trade ; fo that thefe latter .ill 'ml ■i; •: iv!l }< f-- '4^ Mil IT m 1 1 '•t- m 1 88 Tie Lajl Expedition in latterarc rendered much moreunprofitableand ufelefs, than they would have been, if they had never known the Ufe of this pernicious Liquor. Tm E y are pretty much fubjedl to fomc Diforders in the Breaft, but to no contagious Pifeafes : Whenever they find themfelves begin to be indifpofed, they drink an Infu- fion of the Herb called Wizxekapukka^ the Broth of Fifh, which they call Shaggamitie or elfefweat themfelves. Their manner of do- ing this, is as follows -, they get a large round Stone, on which they make a Fire, and keep it burning till the Stone becomes red-hot ; over this they make a fmall Tent covered clofe on all Sides, then go into it naked, with a Vcffel full of Water ; this they fprinkle on the Stone, which fills the little Tent with a copious Supply of moift warm Vapours, that very foon produce a flrong Perfpiration in the Patient. When the Stone grows cool, the Pores of the Skin be- ing flill open, they come out of the Tent, and inftantly plunge themfelves into the Water, or in Winter, when Water is not to be had, they roll themfelves in the Snow, and this they look upon as a Cure for moft of the Maladies common in that Country. A flrange r the Dobbs and California. 189 ftrangc and Angular Remedy they alfo have for the Cholick, and all Diforders of the Bowels, that is to fwallow a great Quantity of Tobacco Smoke, by which they pofitively affirm they obtain great and fpeedy Relief, if their Heads are at any Time fluffed or iiiComnioded, they force the fame Smoke out of their Noftrils. They frequently be- come Snow-blind, in the Spring of the Year, at which Time I have been informed, a Film grows over the Pupil of the Eye, which I was likewife told thefe People are fo ingenious as to cut away with the fharp Point of a Gun- Flint. Th E V very often in their drunken Fits commit exceflive Diforders,fuch as quarrelling, burning their Tents, abufing their Wives, and then perhaps go to Sleep by the Fire, where frequently they are terribly burnt, or if they are at any Diftance from it, as mifera- bly froze, if it be in Winter-Time. When they are fober, they are very courteous, and compaffionate, and that as well to thofe who are abfolute Strangers, as their own Family ; and their AfFedion for their Chil- dren is fingularly great. An extraordinary Inftance of this happened lately at Tork- Fort : Two fmall Canoes, pafling Hayeses River. I' i '111 ii.. r '•Hi' V M •0 ti ^ik I 'LI'".S J« fill ' I J fill h>: :i igo 7]&^ Z/^ Expedition in River, when they had got to the middle of it, one of them, which was made of the Bark of a Birch Tree, funk, in which waji an Indian^ his Wife and Child : The other Canoe being fmall, and incapable of recei- ving more than one of the Parents, and the Child, produced a very extraordinary Con- teft between the Man and his Wife, not but that both of them were willing to devote themfelves to fuve the other, but the Diffi- culty lay in determining which would be the greateft Lofs to the Child. The Man ufed many Arguments to prove it more rcafonable, that he fliould be drowned, than the Woman. But (he allcdg^d on the contrary, it was more for the Ad- vantage of the Child, that fhe (hould perifh, becaufe he, as a Man, was better able to hunt ; and, confcquently, to provide for it. The little Time there was (till remaining was fpent in mutual Expreflions of Tender- nefs, the Woman ftrongly recommending, as for the lad Time, to her Hufband, the Care of her Child. This being done, they took leave in the Water j the Woman quit- ting the Canoe was drowned, and the Man with the Child got fafe a- (bore, and is now taken much Notice of by the People there- abouts. the Dobbs and California. 191 about. Upon the whole it appears, that the finglcObjedl in View, was the Prefervationof their Child ; for tho* the Man offered to fa- crificc himfcif, it may be very well fup- pofcd it was more for the Sake of the Child than of the Woman ; becaufe on other Occa- lions they behave with no great Rcfpedl to the Sex. It is looked upon as a great Offence, for the Women to ftride over the Legs of the Men when they fit on the Ground, and they even think it beneath them to drink out of the fame VefTel with their Wives. One Cuftom they have, which is very ex- traordinary J that when their Parents grow fo old, as to be incapable to fupport them- fclves by their own Labour, they require their Children to flrangle them, and this is ef- tceftied an Adl of Obedience in their Children to perform. The Manner of difcharging thi«i laft Duty, is thus, the Grave of the old Pcrfon being dug, he goes into it, and after having converfed and fmoaked a Pipe, or perhaps drank a Dram or two with their Children, the old Perfon fignifies he is ready j upon which two of the Children put a Thong about his Neck, one flanding on one Side, and the other oppofite to him, pull violently fH i '!'■' u)i r^m !■! m \ 1/ M 1^1^' •Tfli^ ;^ii 192 The hajl Expedition in violently till he is ftrangled, then cover him with Earth, and over that they credt a kind of rough Monument of Stones* As for fuch old Pcrfons as have no Children, they re- queft this Office frc" their Friends, tho' in this laft Cafe, it is nol always complied with. An Indian in travelling conliders the Meeting a Grave as an Omen of fome ap- proaching Misfortune ; in order to avert which, he lays a Stone upon the Grave, and fo proceeds on his Journey. There are many amongfi them, efpecially thofe inhabiting upon the Banks of the great inland Lakes, who profefs Quacking, with Stuff they buy from the Englijh ; fuch as Sugar, Ginger, Barley, Allfpicc, Garden-Seeds, Spani(h-Liquori(h, SnufF, &c, all which are taken in fmall Quantities, either as Re- medies for Difeafes, or to make them excel in Hunting, Fowling, Fi(hing, Fighting, Gfr. which are Qualities afcribed to thefe Trifles by the EngUp^ in Hudfon^s- Bay^ and with fuch Commodities, one third of our Trade is carried on amongft thofe Quacks, who pradlife for Furs, which they receive from, or rather, out of which they deceive, the common People. This is a great, but very beneficial Impofi- tion, tho' certainly it would be much more for ^! i the Dobbs and California. 193 for the Advantage o^Great-Britainy to pro- mote the Sale of their Woollen and Iron Manufadlure, than to permit fuch a kind of Traffick, which befides being fcandalous in it's Nature, is equally prejudicial in its Con- fequences to us and to the Natives. It may be expedled that I fhould fay fomething of the religious Sentiments of thefe People 5 and to fatisfy this Expeda- tion, I (hall acquaint the Publick With, all I know, without adding any thing from Conjedures. It is very certain, that their Notions upon this Subjedt are very limited and iraperfed:. They acknowledge a Be- ing of infinite Goodnefs, whom they ftile Ukkewma, which in their Language figni- fies the great Chief; they look upon him as the Author of all the Benefits they enjoy, and fpeak of him with Reverence. They like- wife fing a kind of Hymns in his Praife, and this in a grave folemn Tone, not altogether difagreeable. Yet their Sentiments on this Head are very loofe and confufed, fo that it is not eafy to fay what they mean by this kind of pubUck Worfhip. They likewife acknowledge another Being, whom they call Wittikkuy whom they reprefent as the Inftrumeut of all kinds of Mifchief and Evil j O and ! V ^ •M- If? '("' If I III ijj 194 7%i^ La^ Expedit'.on in and of him they arc very much afraid ; but however we know of no Mctliods made ufe of by them to appeafe him. The Condition of thefe poor People is melancholy enough, tho' it does not make fuch an Imprcllion on thctn as one would expedl J far tho' the bed Part of their Life is fpent in procuring Necefliiries for the Sub- fiflance of thcmfelves and of their Families; yet they have no great Notion of Frugality, or providing againft thofe Diftreffes, to which they are fure to be expofed every Winter, are very free of their Provifions, when they have Plenty, and except drying a little Veni- fon and Fifh, take no Care for Supplies, in a time of Dearth. It has fometimcs hap- pened that the Indians^ who come in the Summer to trade at the Factories, mifTing of the Succours they expcded, have been ob- liged to finge off the Hair from thouflmds of Beaver Skins, in order to feed upon the Leather. Yet in fuch Cafes, tliey keep up their Spirits in a tolerable Degree, omit no- thing that is in their power to procure v/here- withal to fupport their Families, and when reduced to the greatcfi; Extremities, un- dergo them with a kind of habitual and ileady /^^ Dobbs W California. ,». fteady Patience, whichit i. „,,c!. .,,k, ' ••idmirc than iniit.itc. '" But the greateft of thefe n,,,,,i . '^'"'guw, to wJiich il„„ ' '■ well f.o.„ Hun.e a /o.;:'c 7T"' " '-'■- i" their J„,..:.;X^;''/-i;P- common with them to t ""S hundred JVItle, e en i! "' '^'" '" '''-<= 'xm-> even in the rlf^nfl. r\r/' "^y=>U 's their Cu/lom wh , V h"^ ^ preaches, to raiie a little kind on ^"''' Brufl,-Wood tother. ,.■'■'=■ ^"'^ Snow thev ll ^ ''""g •''^^y the :r V /- * iit .ina tiic tenet* P,,i. 5' ,^' '' Sometimes falls ont thcv , n be beniffhted .mn,, r ^ "P"-'" 'o no fuclf F nc^c n T' "'"' ^^^"■"' -^-- -dcr the Snow, which "trf' n'" fence fmm the Cold • and tr ' ^'- ^-.-i- .Ode™ ir;;,:::rv'^^ Ti'mg hkewiie pradhTcd in the -Cr of ^//^.»«^, where th. rv .'^--'■r^-"'>ties '^-^ te.„pe,ate "'"' " ""' ^^ "» O 2 r- tuREAT l^^^i'lj r { ■lit, i :|lflf! I'' S .•!■ ) 1 |Mini ■M lit' in mH ■'UP mm 196 7%e hajl 'Expedition in Great as thefe Hardfriips are, which relult from the Rigour of the Cold 3 yet it may be judly affirmed, that thty are much inferior to thofe, which they feel from the Scarcity of Provifions, and the Difficulty they are liiider in procuring them. A Story which is related at the Fadtories, and known to be true, will fufficicntly prove this, and give the compaflionate Reader a jufl Idea of the Aliferies, to which thefe unhappy Peo- ple are expofed. An Indian^ with his Fa- mily, coming down to Trade, from a Place at a very great Diftance, had the Misfor- tune to meet but with very Httle Game by the Way ^ fo that, in a fhort Time, him- felf, his Wife, and his Children, were re- duced to the laft Diftrefs. In thefe Circum- flances, they plucked the Fur from their Clothes, and preferved Life as long as they were able, by feeding on the Skins they wore J but even this wretched Refource foon failed them ; and then, what is terrible to conceive, and horrible to relate, thefe poor Creatures fuftained themfelves, by feeding on the Flefh of two of their Children. On their Arrival at the Factory, the diftraded IndiaUy whofe Heart overflowed with Grief, told this melancholy Afl'air to the Englip Gover- If' iff the Dobbs and California. 197 Governor, with all it's afFedling Circum- flances, which was received with a loud Laugh. The poor Savage, with a Look of Amazement, faid in his broken EngIiJI.\ This is no Laughing Talk ! and fo went his Way, highly edified, no Doubt, with thefe Chrijiian Morals. The Language which thefe People fpeak, is fomewhat guttural in the Pronun- ciation ; but for all that, neither very harfh, nor altogether unpleafant -, they have but few Words, but thofe are very fignlficant ; and the Method they have of exprefling new Ideas, by Words compofed, from com- pounding the Qualities cf thofe Things, to which they would give Names, is very eafy and intelligible ; fo that the EngliJJ;) find no Sort of Difficulty, either in learning or fpeaking it. There is no doubt, there- fore, that if they were fo inclined, they might eafily teach thefe poor People the Ufe of Letters, the Principles of Morality, and the Do(ftrines of Religion ; which would be equally charitable and generous j for if they were fo inftruded^ they might not only live much better themfelves, but their Trade alfo would turn to much ereater Account i and it would infallibly imprint O 3 on r> i. if ......I .r'i I., I I 198 T'he haft Expedition in on their Minds, a very high Reverence, and a very tender Aifedlion for the Britifi Nation. As I have fo fair an Occafion, I cannot avoid mentioning a very flrange Maxim of Policy, v^^hich prevails much nmongft them ; and which iSj that of fuffering, or rather obliging their Women to procure frequent Alxoi tion^-', by the Ufe of a certain H<:rb common in that Country, and not unknown here ; that they may in fome Meafure be eaftd of that heavy Burthen they f<:el, in provi Jing for a hclplefs Family. Somer's ine of tlus fort the Dutch inform us vv IS |j . "^ifed by the Natives of the Ifland o^ horfhujli, wbicn they were Mafle.s of it 5 nor is t.'iis at all more birbarous, than a CMn;)m flill uftd in China^ of fuffer"ng Children when boin, to die for Want of F^ oJ, from the lame Principle of brutal Occonomy. Tliey differ alfo from almoft all o:htr Nations in another Particular, which is their manner of making Urine ; for htre the Men Lilvvays fquat down, and the \Vomcn iLind upright. It is now high Time to rctm'n to our own Affairs, and to inform the Reader, how they were conduc- a Country as I have dcfcribed this tod, in fr.ch '!;-'-« iffl! the Dobbs and California. 199 this to be, and in wl^.ich, notwithilandingall all our Precautions, we felt many Inconve- niencies. Th e bringing two Cafks of Brandy from Tork-Fort^ for ChriJlmas~Chce}\ has been already mentioned -, as well as the Defign of it, which was to make merry with ; but the Confcquences were extremely fatal. The people had been healthy enough, before this Seafon of Mirth came ; but indulging them- felves too freely, they were foon invaded by the Scurvy, the conftant x^Uendant on the Ufe of Spirituous Liquors. It is a me- lancholy, but withal a necefTary Tafk, to defcribe the Pro ' ■ : ■■ V'- 20 8 The Lajl Expedition in 6th of May ; then the warm Weather re- turned again, and the Creek, where the Ships lay, was quite clear of Ice, tliat wore away imperceptibly, tho' the River continued to be flill hard froze, which drove the Fifli into the Creek, where wc caught Plenty of them with our Nets. The Resolution (for that was the Name we beflowed upon our Long-Boat, when lengthened) was now compleatly finifhed, fo that we launched her on the loth, to the great Joy of all who wifhed well to the Difcovery, and who formed to them- felves vaft Hopes of what, by the Help of this VefTel, might be performed. From the 8 th to the i6th, we had changeable Weather, attended with keen Froft, Snow, Sleet, Hail, and Rain, which froze as it fell, in fuch a manner, that all the Trees were covered with Ice. On the i6th, the Ice in the Channel of Hayeses River, gave Way, and floated down gently with the Stream. Our People were all this Time conftantly employed in making the Ships fit to go down the River ; and accordingly, on the 29th, by the Help of a very high Tide, occafioned by a North Weft Wind, we warped to the very Mouth of the Creek, where ^ ^r a the Dobbs and California. 2og where we grounded, and lay there until the 2d of y^wf, and it was with no fmall La- bour, joined to the extraordinary good For- tune of higher Tides than ufual, that wc got ofFfo foon. O N the 2d and 3d of that Month, wc had fome Snow, and the Weather was fharp and cold, which might be called the Winter taking it*s Leave ; for thence for* ward, the Weather continued pretty warm. On the 5th, nineteen Canoes of Indians^ laden with Furs, pafled by us, in their Way to York-Fort^ and the next Day fe- venty more, pafled us in the like manner; Thcfe People came from the Countries, within Land ; and were bound to our Facto- ries, in order to difpofe of their Staple Com- modities. On the 9th, our Ships got down the River, as far as the Fadory, where we took in our naval Stores, Provifions, (^c, in Order to put to Sea, and profecute the Difcovery, upon which we were fent. Before I enter upon what happened in this Expedition, I think it will be pro- per for me to give fome Account of this Settlement, of the adjacent Country, and of the Nature of that Commerce, for the promoting which it was eftablifhed : And P this I \\ 2 1 o 7%e Lajl Expedition in this I am the more willing to do, becaufe I prefume that what I have to offer, will be very acceptable to all Sorts of Readers, as carrying at once the Charms of Novelty, and the more folid Advantage of being capa- ble of the mod important Ufe ; that of contributing to the Export of our national Manufadures, in a Degree much fuperior to what has been hitherto done ; and this even previous to the Difcovery of a North Weft Paflage ; fo that it may be immediately turned to the Benefit of the Nation, and to the Support of the Poor, who are chiefly employed in flibricating the coarfefl Sorts of our Woollen Goods. YoRK-FoRT is feated onih^ Southern Branch of Port Nelfo?i River, which is called Hayeses River, v, ithin five Miles of it's Fall into the Sea, in the Latitude of 57''. 20' North, and in the Longitude of 93°. 5b'. Weft from the Meridian of Lon- don^ which I determined by an Eclipfe 0^ the Moon, very carefully obferved there, February J4, 1747. It is, to fpeak the Truth, nothing more than a fquare Houfe, fiankcd with four UwaW B.iftions, all of them covered and converted at prefent either into lodging.!; or Store Rooms. There are three th th \W n )ecaufe I 'er, will Readers, Novelty, ,ng capa- that of national Liperior to this even )rth Weft mediately n, and to ire chiefly ft Sorts of the Dobbs and California, 211 three fniall Pattcrerots placed on each of the Curtains, the whole is pallifadoed, a Battery of pretty large Guns commands the River, a fmall BreaftWork of Turf is thrown up by Way of Defence of that Battery, and in Time of War, the Number of People who refide there, amounts to thirty-three or thereabouts. It will be eafily conceived from this Defcription, that how formidable foever Tork-Fort may appear to Savages, it is utterly incapable of being defended ia cafe it fhould ever be attacked in a regular Way by an Eur Man Enemy. About feven Miles from this Fort, there is a large Ridge of Stones, and amongft them a vaft Quantity of Pyrites exadly round, and very near the Si^e of a Six Pound Shot, which the Englipy who refide here, are fo wife as to believe, the French adlu- ally caft into that Form, for their Cannon, when they attacked this Place. I mention this as a remarkable Piece of natural Hiftory, and as a plain Indication that this Country abounds with Metals, and thofe too of the moft valuable Kinds j for the Pyrites always contain feme fmall matter of Gold, are of- ten pretty rich in Silver, but are feldom known to hold eidier Lead or Tin, P 2 This '!'; ^ ; 1 i ♦ \v> •nj J 'I.-;!; > :M m IW 212 77je Laji Expedition in This is looked upon to be in all Refpedts the moft valuable of the Hudfojis^Bay Company's Settlements ^ becaufe the moft confidcrable Part of their Trade is carried on here, where it is computed they deal jTor between forty and fifty thoufand rich Furs annually -, and according to the Infor- mation I received from different Perfons, which from their Coniiflency with each other, appeared to me the more credible, this Commerce might be raifed with very little Induflry, to five Times it's prefent Va- lue. But by an unaccountable Policy, at leafl confidered in a national Light, the Company difcourage their Fadories from ex- tending the Trade, and give themfelves no Sort of Trouble to prevent the French^ who arc making daily Encroachments upon them, from fettling upon their Rivers, and inter- cepting the choice ft Kind of Furs, fuch as Otters, Martins, or Sables ; which they purchafe, becaufe they are lighteft, and, confequently, fitteft for Carriage, as the Places where they buy tbem are at a great Diftance from the French Settlements, fo that heavy and coarfe Goods would fcarce turn to any Account ; and they have the faircft Opportunity that can be of doing this, 1 becaufe 213 the Dobbs and California. bccaufe the Natives are always inclined t<^ deal with them preferable to the EngliJJ:. The Reafon of this Preference given to the Frenchy is a very plain one, viz, becaufc they give a much better Price for what they purchafe than is given by the EngliJJ.\ as will evidently appear by confidering that Standard, which the Company has efta- bliflied for the Regulation of their Trade. This Standard confiAs in reducing all Skins to Beaver ; as for Inftance : They reckon two Otters equal to a Beaver ; in like man- ner, three Martins, and fo of other Skins ; whereas in Fadl, each of thofe Skins is of greater Value than a Beaver ; and, confe- quently, the Natives buy our Goods at thrice the Price that they can purchafe them for from the Frencb, It is true, that the Indians have Beaver Skins enough to fupply their Wants, but as thefe are heavy and 'vnfit for Carriage ; they are conftrained to bring dov/n the lighted and moft falcable, which is a o^reat Hardfhip upon them, and if the French were as near the Norther?!, as they are to the Southern Settlements, there is no doubt, that the Company's Trade, would be far from being fo confiderable as it is ; for at Moofe-River and Albany they P X can '^K iJ- .ill ..M M 'I ij "/™^"'i»*i*-ii''i; 'ItflHlP'^J i-r ^ tm^ S'l' m^ illl^^ If^^B iW '.''^'vl^^n ■ f 'It .' ^'^:U 11 214 TX^ L^ Expedition in can hardly purchafe any thing, but 2 20 77je laoft Expedition in them carry it away, tho' they would very willingly have fold it, and no doubt would have offered us a good Bargain j for they intimated to us befides,, that they had con- fiderable Quantities, both of that and of Whalebone, upon the Iflands that lay in fight of us to the Weftward, and were very prefling to have us go thither 3 but. this, as our Bufinefs was not Trade, we thouj^ht fit to decline. Here we faw great Num- bers of Seals and wiiite Whales, and had feveral Iflands in View, fiich as Sir Biby's^ AlerrfSy y'ojies^s^ &c, all rocky and barren, quite dcftitute of Trees, and indeed of Her- bage, excepting Scurvy- Grafs, and a few other Plants which arc common in Groe?u land and Laplafid, Upon thefe, and in- deed upon all the Iflands on this Coafl there are Graves of the Eskimaux^ and Stones which they fet up for fome Rcafon no doubt j but what that Reafon is we are as yet igr norant, tho* the Thing has been taken no- tice of, ever fmcc thefe Coafts were viflted by the Englijh for Trade, or for Difcoveriec. I CANNOT help taking Notice in this Place, of an Accident which happened to us, and which as it was the Objedt of our Aftonifhmept then, has been alfo very often the li U ki\ the Dobbs and Californiu. 221 the Subjedof myferious Thoughts fince. In fhort, amongft thefe Iflands and in failing thro' the Ice, the Needles of our Compaf- fcs loft their Magnetical Qualities; one feeming to adt from this Direction, and another under that, and yet they were not for any confiderable fpace of Time conftant to any : We laboured to remedy this Evil by retouching them with an artificial Mag- nel;, but to very little purpofe 3 for if they recovered their Powers by this Means, they prefently loft them again ; fo that we were thoroughly convinced this was no radical Cure of their Diforder, which, as it was vi- fible to all 00 Board the Refolution^ fo it is not an Accident taken notice of only by me ; and therefore the Matter of Fadt may be confidered as a Thing inconteftable ; but the Bufinefs is how to account for it, by aflign- ing a rational and probable Caufe of an Ef- fcdt, in it's firft Appearance, fo very extra- ordinary. The DifculTing, and even the attempting to difcufs Queftions of this Na- ture, is highly ferviceable, as it tends to the Improvement of ufeful Knowledge, by ad- ding to that Stock, of which the Learned are at prefent in Pofleflion . H ■ The •\i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. t//X^^ 1.0 I.I ■^ 1^ 1112.2 [if ■;& 11 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 * 6" ► V] <^ /a 7 ^:^ ? fliotographic Sciences Corporation ^ L1>^ #> ^> ^ V ,V \\ ^9) V ''^ ^ ^^> . ^^^ <^ O^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 r : f ^ 22 2 The hajl Expedition in The Notions which the Antients had of the Power of the Magnet or Loadftonc, were very impcrfedl, and' therefore we need not wonder that there is fomewhat of Con- fufion, and much of Obfcurity in the Ac- counts they have laboured to give us, of the Caufes of thofe Powers. The Opinion that principally prevails among the Moderns, is that of Dei Cartes^ maintained by ^iale- branchcy Rohault^ and other Authors; and even admitted and confirmed by Mi. Boyle and later Philofophers. In this it is fuppofcd there is continually flowing, from the Poles of the World, a fubtile, impalpable, and invifible Matter, channelled, or ftriated: WhichMatter,circulating round the Earth,in the Plains of the Meridians, re-enters at the Pole, oppofite to that from which it iffued ; and pafTes again thro' the Poles parallel to it's Axis : Tnat the Magnet has two Poles anfwerable to thofe of the Earth, and that out of thefe there iflues a Matter like that juft mentioned : That this Matter, entering in at one of the Poles, gives the Impulfb whereby Iron tends to the Magnet, and produces what we call AttradHon, Now befides the magnetical Matter re-entering the Poles of the Magnet, there is always a certain thi Dobbs and California. 223 certain Quantify thereof circulating round the Magnet ; compofing a kind of Vortex about it. The Space wherein this Matter moves, is the Sphere of Adlivitv of the Magnet, within which it's attractive Fa- culty is confined. As to it's directive Faculty, or the Inclination of a Needle, touched with it, to the Poles of the World, and it's Dip to a Point beneath the Horizon, they follow from the fame Principle ; fince were the Magnet orNeedle to have any other Situ- ation, the magnetic Matter would ftrike on it's other Surface in vr'in ; and not bsing able to get admiffion, would, by Degrees change it's Situation, 'till it's Pores corref- ponded to the Courfe of the magnetical Matter ; which Situation having once ac- quired, it would ceafe to move ; the magne- tical Matter then ceafing to difturb it. The Form or Effence of a Magnet, therefore is fuppofed to conlift in it's being perforated by an infinite Number of parallel Pores ; fome whereof are difpofed to admit the flriated Matter from the North Pole of tife World, others that of the South ; hence the North and South Poles of the Magnet -y and hence the firfl Hint perhaps of making artificial Magnets. » - It { FTWWfll P^ 'v 1' ■ti I 1 f ji!'' ■ t Is i J'< m '.i'' m''M : F !•»!, 'i<.>i.. 1- ,» i w. 224 TX^ Z/^ Expedition in It may indeed be objeded, that all this is Suppofition, and that it is not poffible to fupport it by any dired: Proof; yet whoever confiders this attentively, will difcern, that where no fuch Proof can be had, probable Suppolitions ought to take Place, till future Difcoveries make it evident that they arc falfe J and alfo that where dircdt Proofs are not to be had, it is altogether improper to demand them. If we apply this Reafon- ing to the Matter in queftion, we are to enquire what Caufes may be affigned for this lingular Appearance % and then we are to conlider next, which of them is moft re- concileable to this Hypothelis ? As for in- ilance, it may in the firft Place be faid, that this fudden Alteration of the Needles, pro- ceeded from our near Approach to the North magnetic Pole, according to the ^^i- tern of Dr. Halley 5 and to this I (houki have been glad to have afcribed it, becaufe then we fhould have had fooie kind of Evi- dence, in favour of that Syftem, which in it's Contrivance, is certainly moft ingenious. There are however feveral Reafons ariling from the Circumftances before related, that will not allow us to admit of this Caufe ; and of thefe I (hall mention three, that appear the Dobbs and California. 225 to me the moft material. The firfl is, that in Fa(ft, we were not near that Pole j at lead as \)r. Halley firfl placed it, fince hefuppofed it 13°. 30'. (for as to the Poles, he afterwards fuppofed they were flill farther removed) from the Pole of the Earth ; whereas wc were almofl a 8°. from it, and he places it in the Longitude of 30°. Eafl from the Me- ridian of London, w^hereas we were above 90°. Weft from, the fame Meridian. Se- condl)\ If this had been the Caufe, it would have operated equally, and the Compafles would have had the fame Diredion, which they had not. Thirdlyt The very fame Accident has happened in other Parts of Uudfon's - Straits, and indeed in feveral other Parts of^ the World j and therefore the Nearnefs of the Magnetic Pole could not be the Caufe both here and there ; tho' there is nc ^ing abfurd in fuppofing it might njt be the Caufe any where. Another Method fuggefted for the Solution of this Dif^culty, was the Vicinity of fome large mineral Body, that might dif- turb and aivert the regular Diredion of the Needles. Now if we fhould allow this to be not only pofTible, bLt probable, which, perhaps, is more than can be faid for it, either from the Principles of the received Philofo- ■u Si'f's ,*'t t ' I !?r' ^:!i I , . im 226 7%^ L<^ Expedition in phy, or from the Evidence of Experiments . yet it could not be admitted as the Caufe in this Cafe, fince that too mufl have adled equally ; and tho' it had altered, the true would have given fome certain Direction to the Needles, which, as we obferved before, was not the Cafe ^ and befides, had it been fo, no Remedy whatever could have been found, except the plain and natural one of removing out of the Sphere of Adivity, which fuch a mineral Body muft be pre- fumed to have ; and yet, as we (hall fee hereafter, another Remedy was found, which could have no Relation whatever, either to this, or to the former Caufe. The lall Caufe, to which this Event has been afcribed, is Cold ; arifmg from the Nearnefs and Quantity of Ice ; which, as it has a known and fenfible Operation upon the Air, may be conceived to a6l alfo on the magnetic Particles, floating therein, or perhaps upon the Needle itfelf, by Con- llridion of it's Pores ; for which ever Way it is fuppofed to adt, the Confequence will be much the fame, and contribute equally to the Solution of the prefent Queflion. If notwithflanding what has been faid of the Rcainnabknefs of admitting, in fucn Cafes, probable the Dobbs and California. 227 probable Suppofitions, fcinc farther Proof fliould ftill be required ; I think, that may be likewife met with, in the fingle and Am- ple Remedy, by which we were delivered from this EmbarrafTment ; and this was no other than carrying the Compares into a warm Place ; when the Needles very fpee- dlly refumed their Adivity, and pointed as ufual, by their being again permeated by the fubtile magnetic Matter. It may be alledged, in Favour of this Caufe, that if we think proper to admit it, we (hall find, that it reaches all the Circumflances that fell under our Notice 3 for in the firfl Place we iv;e, that the fame Thing happen- ing in other Parts o^ tIudfon\ Straits, was fo far from being an Objedion, that it is re- ally a Confirmation of the Truth of this Suppofition J fince the fame Caufe might a(fl as powerfully there as here. Secondly, It ac- counts very well for that Uncertainty, Unflea- dinefs, and> if I may be allowed the Expref- fion, Diftradtion, the Needles fuffered ; be- caufe at the fame Time, that we afcribe this to Cold, we cannot but conceive that it muft a(fl varioully, in Proportion to the Force of the frigorific Power, the Configu- ration of the magnetic Particles, and the Q^ 2 Strudure ■'f\ 3a •I" '!■■ 1': ■1. ' 4'.\ W"^ »»1 '.,f ;i 1 s ! ■ I • ■, ^h 228 77je Lajl Expedition in Strudure of the Pores in the Needles j and, thirdly^ this accords perfectly with the Nee- dles recovering their Adtivity, in the warm Air, by that reciprocal Contrariety which appears in all the Operations of Heat and Cold. It may not be amifs however toobferve, that tho' this Caufe may be admitted upon tliis Occa- fion ; yet it does not preclude the Opera- tion of other Caufes in other Places -, for confidering the Subtilty of the magneto Effluvia, and the mmner in which we ap- prehend they adt, there is nothing abfurd in fuppofing, that their Operations may be diflurbcd by different Caufes 5 and the more of thefe we can find, fo many more Evidences we fliall from thence derive in Favour of that Hypothecs, in Relation to Magnetifm, which is received at prefent. But all I have delivered, whether rational or not, whether probable or otherwife, whether well or i!l conceived, clearly or obfcurely expreffed, or in fine, whatevcit be, is fubmitted to the Cenfure of the can- did and judicious Reader ; for if it leads him in any Degree to the Difcovery of the Truth, whether it be by admitting nr dif- approving my Notions, it will effedually anfwer the End aimed at by this Digreilion, for the Dobbs and California. 229 for which, prefuming this may pafs for a tolerable Excufe, I take up the Thread of my Story, where I let it fall. O N the 5th we weighed and flood over to the South Side of Sir Biby's Wland, in Hopes that we {liould have been able to enter the Opening, that we attempted be- fore ; but we had once more the fame Mis- fortune ; for the Ice driving out and in, in very large Pieces, we found ourfelves again obliged to defift. It was here that fix Ca- noes full of Efkitnaiix came on board with a large Parcel of Whalebone, which we pufchafed upon Terms as much to their Satisfa(5tion , as to our Profit ; but notwith- ftanding they were very defirous to have us iland in nearer the Land, and for that Pur- pofe, repeated all their former Signals ; yet as our Bufinefs was Difcovcry, and not Com- merce, we flighted thefc Sollicitations, and flood to the Northward as far as the Lati- tude of 62°. 12'. Then we fleered to the North Wed", and after pafling over feveral Shoals, and running between many low Iflands, we entered Nevill's Bav, being the fame w^e attempted at the South End of Sir Biby'^ Ifland, which in a manner covers it, lying at the Dill-ance of about five Q_3 Leagues '1 ijit'. i !i|'''||IHH j|iii.[ ' - ^^' il^nEI^HK ^ iwflit ' ^^^ffll ni'i ulifl^MWw mMbIj.'' ^mmI- Wmii sihi B|;' iffl^Bl III 330 The Lafl Expedition in , Leagacs to the South Eaft. When one is in it, this appears to be a very capacious Bay^ well flieltered from the Sea ; and in the h^.'om of it is a pretty large River run- ning Weftward. The main Land about it is of an eafy Afccnt, and confills chiefly of a fmooth Rock, covered with Mofs, with here and there a few fmall Plants. The eaficft Entrance into NeviWs Bay, is be- tween the South Weft End of Sir Biby\ Ifland, and the main Land. On the 8th, we failed with an Intention to coaft to the Northward, but in repaffing the Shoals, the Tide fwcpt us upon a Ridge of Stones, where our VcfTel was very near bein^: ftoveto Pieces. While we were in this hazardous Situation, there came off to us fix Canoes of £5.(7W/^a; with Whalebone, which we bought of them. They were very fenfible of the Diftrels we were in, but fo far from taking any Advantage of us, that they were not only extremely civil, but highly fervice- able ; for when the Tide of Flood floated us off, an old Man, who Teemed better ac- quainted with the Place than the reft, pad- dled before us, pointed out the Shoals, and kept in the deep Water -, fo that it was in femv". Meafure by his Affiftance, that the Refolution the Dobbs and California* 231 Refolution not only eicaped being loll, but efcaped alfo, without fufferinii; any Damage. Whatever therefore the Frctictj Writers, or even fome of our own may fiy, in Prtiu- dice to the Character of thefe poor People, it is but bare Juftice in us to own, tliat they treated us not only with Humanity, but with great Kindnefs and Friendfliip. I M u s T confefs, that I could not help admiring very much, not only tlie Induilry, but the Ingtrnuily oF thcfe People) who for Want of Iron are frequently obliged to make not only the Barbs of their Arrows, Darts and Harpoons, but alfo Hatchets and Knives, of Stones, Sea-Horfc Teeth, or Sea-Uni- corn Horns, which Creatures abound here ; and it is not eafy to fay how dextroufly they ule Materials, which to us feem fo very im- proper for Purpofes to which they employ them. Their Needles are alfo made of the fame Stuff, notwithstanding which their Cloaths are perfectly well fewed, and are not only ftrong and clofe, but very neatly made, in the fame manner as thole of the People we met with in Hudfoji's Straits^ which have been more particulaily defcri- bed; and therefore we will ipare the Rea- der the Trouble of any Repetitions here, Q4 It (^^! 1;' 11 * 1 i' t 1 ■ ,(' » Il ' I 232 The Lajl Expedition in It is from hence, as well as from the great Conformity between them in their L..n- guagL', Perfon?, and Curtoms, that we con- duflc them to have been originilly o.ie Peo- ple J but then it mud be acknowledged, that tliefc are a more affable, friendly and better difpoll-d Sort of Folks, as well as more accomplillied Artills in thofc feveral Branches of Mcchanicks, which they have been taught by one common Miftrefs, Necefiity, which is the fole Mother of In- vention amongft them. I T will in fome Meafure juflify this Obfervation to remark that the Borders of their Habits are commonly fringed with cut Leather, and are fometimes hung with Fawns Teeth ; and the Women do not flick out the Sides of their Boots wich Whalebone, -IS the other EJkimaiix do, whofe Cuftoms have been before dcfcribed. There is alio another Circumftance in which thefe People like wife difter frcn". thofe formerly men- tioned, and that is in wearing a Cap made of the Skill of a Buffalo's Tail ; which, tho' it has a horrid Appearance, yet it is very ufefiil in keeping off the Mufketoes, which in this Country are exceflively troublefome. It is true^ that the Hair hanging over their Faces li'' great L..n- e con- L- Pco- icndly S, Ub I thofc h they ^iftrefs, of In- ^t/' >u i Hi,! iiiiiiliil'v 4h &A^fn/lif^ an tAe J\rji /// cWuma^iiir JPa^e 232 Al?n/ti/^ an t/ie JV:^<-/^ ^ Hudson 5 IBajr /u (^/u'maiia: i:n /i^ Canoe ^^"^^^ mv t' ''I! J' I ) '11.1. mi the Dobbs and California. 233 Faces fomewhat obftrudls their Sight ; yet then it is eafily removed with their Hands j but if it was not for this Defence, thofe In- feds would be infnpportable here, as they are in fome Parts of Lapland^ according to the Account given us by Mr. Mauperiuh^ in his excellent Book of the Figure of the E^rth. For this Purpofe their Children wear them while they hang at their Mothers Bcicks, when it mufl be allowed, that they make a mod difmal Figure, and are apt ta raife a (hocking Idea of the Barbarity of thefe Sivages, tho' they are neverthclefs a very harmlefs and inofFenfive People. When they go to Sea, in order to catch Fifh, they commonly carry with them in their Boats, a Bladder full of Train Oil, as our People do a Dram Bottle, and feem to drink the Contents with the fame Relifli ; nay, we have fometimes feen them, when their Stock was out, draw the very Bladder through their Teeth with much feeming Sa- tisfadion. In all Probability they are con- vinced by Experience, of the falutary Ef- fedts even of this coarfe kind of Oil, in this rigorous Climate, which makes them fo fond of it ; and I am the rather induced to be of this Opinion, becaufe I have heard, that ^'iii I' ■ r I' I r !f 'frn-' 134 7%e Lafl Expedition in that the Inhabitants of St, Kilda^ a rocky Ifland on the Coaft of Scotland^ are no lefs pleafed with the Oil they make from the Fat of Soland Gq^q^ which muft be very near as rancid. They alfo make ufe of this Oil for their Laiiipc, Mch u.c i*iade of Stone, hollowed out with fome Difficulty, and as artificially as can be well expeded, confidering the Tools they work with ; and for the Wick, inftead ci Cotton, which we ufe, they have recourfe to dryed Goofe Dung, a very poor Shift indeed, but flill better than none. They have a very dextrous Method of kindling Fire ; in order to which, they pre- pare two fmall Pieces of dry Wood, which having made flat, they next make a fmall Hole in each, and having fitted into thefe Holes a little cylindrical Piece of Wood, to which a Thong is faftened, they whirl it about thereby with fuch a Vclociiy, that by rubbing the Pieces of Wood one againft the other, this Motion foon fets them on rre ; and then by applying the lighted Piece of Wood to dry Mofs, in the fame Manner tliat we ufe Tinder, they make as great a Fire as they pleafe. It will be proper to add, that what little Timber tliev have, is en- tirely [1 the \vre ; :e of tliat Fire add, en- tirely ibe Dobbs and California. 235 tirely Drift Wood ; and this fairing them in the Winter, they are obliged to make ufe of their Lamps before defcribed, for the Supply of their Family Occafions. A No- tion has pretty generally prevailed, as if thefe People lived under Ground in the Winter -, but that this is abfolutely a Mif- take will appear from hence, that the Coun- try in which they live, is for the moft Part one continued Rock ; and tho' poflibly there may be a confiderable Depth of Soil in fome of their Vallies ; yet this being froze almoft as hard as that Rock, fuch a Manner of living muft be to them imprac- ticable. After having mentioned fome In- ftances of their Ingenuity, it may perhaps amufe the Reader, if I give him one of their Simplicity. Thefe poor Creatures were fo far from being jealous of their Wives, that they would willingly have profLituted them tons, from a Notion, that o'jr ChiK-iren by them would iiavc been in every rcipedt as much fuperior to their Nation, as they took us to be ; for thev conceive that in the moft literal SldIc, every Man btgets his li^e; and that the Son of a Captain muft be a Cap- tain, and fo of the reft. We ,' 1 I it' m-- ■a' l: ■ l..i/, J? 3 6 ^he Laji Expedition in We failed from hence, directing our Courfe to the Eallward, and on tlie 91 ii ot July^ arrived and anchored af. Sea Ih^-jc Ifland, which is very properly nru'ned, ti.eiv; being a prodigious Refort of thole Crcatun.j thither ; and this being their Seaion of Pro- pagation, they were exceflivcly furiou.^, roar- ing in a terrible Manner ; many of rbcm flouncing about upon the Beach, and much greater Numbers in the Sea that walhcs .; s Coafts. I fhall not detain the Reader wiih an Account of a Creature fo often def- cribed, but refer him to the Cut, in whicli he will find it very truly reprefcnted. As this is the mod: Eaftward of all the Jllands before mentioned, it is the leaft vifited by the Savages of any, as lying moft out of their Way ; and as this is probably the Rea- fon, that the Sea Horfes refort thither in fuch Numbers to breed 3 fo it is alfo the Caufe of it*s being frequented by vaft Flocks of Sea Fowl, fuch as Pidgeons, Gulls, Mews, Loons, Brown Ducks, &c, and this is all that I can fay, of a Place were we did but jufl touch. On the loth we weighed, and flood along Shear among manyfmall Iflands, and Pieces of floating Ice, till we arrived at I I the Dobbs and California. 237 Whale-Cove^ in the Latitude of 62° 30' North. We difcovered to'the Weflward of this Place a Bay, in which there were many Iflands, from whence there came otf a few Savages to vifit us ; for it is to be obferved, that thoy always make it their Choice, to hx themfelves, in the Summer Seafon, upon the moft defolate Iflands, for the Conveni- ency of Fifliing. It was upon one of thefe Iflands the Captain thought proper to go a Shore in a little Boat, that we made ufe of upon fuch Occafions, in which I ac- companied him, together with two of the Men, We were no fooner on Shore, than we were met by about twenty Eskimaux^ but moft of them Women and Children, for the Men were gone a fifhing ; we quickly left them, in order to take a View of the Place ; and having for that Purpofe gained the higheft Part of the Ifland, we began to look out for fome confiderable Opening, but in vain : and for this Reafon therefore, as well as becaufe we obferved the Tide of Flood coming in from the Eaft ward, we re- turned on Board the Refolution^ without making any long Stay. We failed again on the nth, and arrived the fame Day at a Point, in the Latitude of 62°, ! 1,1 ■H I.''; J38 'The Laji Expedition in 62^. 47'. North, from whence we dif- covered a large Opcnljig, running 10 the Weft ward, to which I gave the Name of Cor he f s- Inlet » We did not enter this Open- ing for two Reafons; firft, becaufe the Tide of Flood came in from the Eaftward -, and ftcondly, becaufe Captain Moor thought he faw the End of it ; fo that after fome fhort Intercourfe with the Eskimaux^ who are pretty numerous in thefe Parts, and fupplying ourfelves with frefh Water, of which we found great Plenty in the Cavi- ties of the Rocks, occafioned by the melting of the Snows -, wc refolved to return again to the Ships, which we accordingly did on the 13th, and found them both lying at an- chor in a tolerable good P^oad, between Marble Ifland and the Main. The firft News we heard, was, that in our Abfence, the Dobbs Galley had been expofed to a good deal of Danger, from the Ice driving down upon her, out of Ran» h'us Inlet, which lies about four Leagues to the Weft ward » and where about that Time the Ice had broke up. Into this Place Capt. Smitb had lent his Chief and Second Mates to examine it, and, according to the Report of the former, after fiiiing about L ; r about from the 1 in a B fame \ Accon Place fore th befom uuced with barra/Tc he def] Ifland. got on Smithy Boat wi the Co: titude 6 in Latil rived wJ on boa I Flefli oi then dii ture one whichjb ing Roc m hng )Ut the Dobbs ^^a^ California. 239 about thirty Leagues upon different Courfcs, from Weft, round to the Eaft of the North, it was found to terminate in a Bay 5 the Land thereabouts much the fame with what has been before defcribed. According to the Accounts given of that Place by Mr. Wefioll^ the fecond jMate, be- fore this Seaich was made, there feemed to be fome probabihty of a Paffage, which in- duced Ca{.;. Smith to attempt entering it with his Ship 5 but being very foon em- barraffed by dangerous Rocks and Shoals, he defiftcd, and bore away back to Marble Ifland. The very fame Morning that we got on Board the Dohbs-Galley^ Captain Smithy of the California^ had fent his Long- Boat with the Second Mate, to fearch all the Coaft between Cape Jalaberty in La- titude 63°. 15'. North, to Cape Fullerton^ in Latitude 64°. 15'. North. There ar- rived while we remained here fix Eskimaux on board us, from whom we bought the Flefli of fnur Seals to make Train-Oil, and then difmiffed them, firing at their Depar- ture one of our Great Guns ; the Sound of which, being echoed from all the neighbour- ing Rocks, made fuch a terrible Noife, as frighted ' ' t m '1' ■ 'i u .'■ ''I ■ '.'Mi J i :i! Mr >n ' -til "I 240 735^ Lajf Expedition in frighted them extremely, To that they never afterwards came near us. We weighed on the 14th in Company witF he California, and fleered to the Norti. > ard, difpatching at the fame Time the Refoliiti$n, under the Command of our chief Mate, to make the fame Tour that had been propofed for the Calif or7iia\ Long- Boat, with Inllrudions to join us again about Cape Fulkrton, We failed all th« next Day through very thick Shoals of Ice, which at length grew impaflable ; fo that we and the California were both obliged to grapple to a very large Field^ as the Sea- men in this Part of the World term it, till by it's Separation we might obtain a fafe Paflage ; and while we lay thus we faw vaft numbers of Seals and Sea-Horfes lying bafking upon the Ice-Field, nor did we give them much Difturbance. On the 16th the Ice parting, we caft loofe and ftood in for the Shore, where we foon got pretty clear of it 5 but in efcaping one Difficulty, we found ourfelvcs involved in another i for this is a Shore, along which ihere is no failing, but with the utmofl Cau- tion, as there are many rocky Shoals that jun a Mile or two out, and are dry at half Tide. / Tide, and tc thcr, to cru we exj and un the ^\ qiieH; o fornia Northv^ a fliorc the Lat we gav of Ro^d Weft Cc feveral V upon tr^ from the about tcr Change ( Jihout tin of an Cuij ^ Diiianc of a re; 3nd abfc Vallics be h pret icvcr pany I the* rime f our thiit -ong- again il thtt f ke, ) that bliged tC Sea- it, till a fafe e faw lying Id we 'C caft Ire we :aping 'olved hich Cau- that half Tide. 'he Dobbs ajjcl Californi; .1. 24.1 Tide. Wc met with more Ice on the i8th, and to avoid it we plycd to and Uo, tlic ra- th; to rcau fc t! lis bLiW.l th( for the Boats, th( propei Stat ion cruize loft. But as they did not join us as Toon as we expected , we began to grow impatient and uneafv, ::nd at Icneith it was agreed that the Ships fhould icparate, in order to go in quefl of them ; and accordingly the Call" forma flood to the South, and wc to the Northward. In the mean Time I went a fliore with the Pinnace to a Head-Land, in the Latitude of 6 , "*. 32'. North, to which we gave the Name o{Cape Fry\ in Honour of Ro\vland Fry^ Lfq; one of the North Weft: Committee, In our Paftage wc faw feveral Whales fporting nigh tht ^horc, and upon trying the Tide, we found it came from the North, that it rofe upon tlie Shore about ten Feet, and tliat at the Full and Change of the Mgon, it was High \Vater about three o'Clock. The Coafi here was of an cjfy Afcent, but rofe pretty h.igh ; at a Diitance from i!e Shore, the Hills were of a red coloured Rock, verv fmooth, and ablolutely bare. The Soil in the Vaillcs bc*;'»vcen them was a kind of Turf, h pretty long Grafs, and here and there '»V ' t ■:ii I, F: fome ;."♦< l!:]^ m 242 T/jc Lajl Expedition in foine Plants bearing yellow Flowers ; as alio a kind o[ Vetch, then in Bloom, which bore blue and red Flowers. Of thcfe there were great Plenty near the Ponds, of which we found many. We like wife obfervcd fcveral Banks of white Sand, upon which grew an Herb like Chickweed, that tafted very well in Sallad, and great Quantities of Scurvy-Grafs, of which there is abundance in thcfc Northern Countries, and even fo near the Pole, as in Spitzbcrgcn ; but it is fomewliat different in it's Form, as well as much milder in it's Taftc than the Scurvy- Grafs that grows here. We faw feveral Herds of Deer browzing on the Sides of the Hills, but we had not Time fo much as to aim at chafing or killing them, becaufe it was requifite we fliould go aboard the Dobbs Gdl/iy, which waited for us in the Ofiin-j. We obferved in our PaiTaoie back, that trie Water was very thick, with what the Sailors call Whale tooJ, as well that of the Jelly kind as of a firialier Sort, about the Size of a h.rgc Fly, and of a bldck Colour. The Sea Weed grows here to an extraordi- nary Size, i'omc to the Length of thirty Feet, wJKch I mention, becaufe to me at lead it fccLr,s verv* LXtraordinitrv, in as much tk as ther^ Shore, It w fiiance ( 'n fearch nece/lary Dif cover •ur havii If, for Wi we fell and upon lent State ihat we fl and that lliould go and theZi H'e took prevent ar by tlie Be thus cmpic ioliow or tc that the Pi; per Oihccrs Pole with r tne Foot of taining Inflr who were in 'wiicre we w ^i Ub the Dobbs and California. 243 as there arc but very few Vegetables oa .Shore, from the Severity of the Climate. It was on the 2 ifl that we failed in Pur- ^ fiiance of the Refolution before mentioned, in fearch of our Boats, which was the more neccflary, bccaufc the propcrcfl Seafon for Difcovery was now ghding away, without our having it in our power to make ufe of it, for want of thofe Boats. The next Dav we fell in Company with the Callforma^ and upon mature Confideration of the pre- lent State of our Affairs, it was rcfolved, that we fliouldvvait no longer than the 28th ; and that in the mean Time, the Calif or 711 a Hiould go as far South as the Latitude of 64"*. and the Dobbs to the Latitude of 6f, N, We took alfo the necefiary Precautions to prevent any Accidents that might Iiapperi by the Boats pafling by, while we were thus employed, and not Icnowing where to follow or to join us. It was with this View that t]:ic Pinnaces of each Ship, with pro- per Oiiiccrs aboard them, were fent to crcd: a Pole with a Flag flying on Cape Fry j at the Foot of which a Letter was buried, con- taining In(bu(ri:ions for the Pc-ople to ad by, who were in the Boats, and an Information where v/e were ^one. \\''el!kewifc took care H. 2 for \^\ ih.,i I ' II %\ \m i' I Id fi''m, ifi 244 7Z^ LaJ? Expedition in for fear they (liould not obferve tbi-;, to moor a largeCufk. about a Mile and half from the Shore, where we judged it mofl: certain that the Boats muft pafs, and upon this alfo was fixed a fniall Flag, with an Intimation, tliat they fliould repair to Cape Fry for far- ther Intelligence. All Things thus fettled, we failed on the 23d to the Northward, as the CaliJor?iia did to the South. Wlicn we had reached the Latitude of 65". 5'. I went in the Pin- nance with the fecond Mate, and fix ILinds a-fhorc, on the Weft Coad: of the Welcome m order to try the Tide , and here we found the Flood ftill coming from the Northward, and the Time of High Water to be pretty near the fame as at Cape Fry -, but it rofe above three Feet higher upon a Pole^ which we fet up at Low Water Mark, in order to make the Expermient with greater Cer- tainty. Tlie Country differed little from that about Cape Fry, except that it appeared fomewhat higher j and here as well as there we fiiw great Kcrds of Deer feeding, Jn our Pafili;^e alfo we took r.otice of ftveral black Whales 3 and I cannot but obferve, that confidering the Numbers we faw upon this Coaft, it IS a Thing very probable, tl:.u a mof ried c would the N have 1 Whale ordinal Legifla cefijty both W It feem: of this I on the come is Water j ^l^ acqui ery. ver Points o Bufi tion as fcrvation turned a Day. We Fry, and with the two Boat Latitude inefs I ;^r t hi«; , to ilf from : certain this alio imation, for far- ailed on alijornia reached the Pin- X Hands Welcome cve found rthward, e pretty t it rofe e^ which order to ter Ger- tie from appeared as there ns;. In f f^veral obicrve, iw upon ;ble, th.it the Dobbs and California. 245 a mofi: advantagious Fifliery iPii^^ht be car- ried on here from the Fadlories ; which would be a Thing of great Confcquence to the Ndtion, as for many Years paft, we have made little or no Progrefs in the Whnle-Fifhery, nctwithilanding the extra- ordinary Encouragement afforded by the Legiflature, in order to remove that Ne- ceflity which wc are under of purchafing both Whalebone and Train Oil frum abroad. It feems alfo more r^afonable to make a Tryal of this here, tl.an either in Davis's Stn.it% or on the Coafts of ISpttzbergen^ as the Wel- come is lefs embarraffed with Ice, and the Water is flioaler, which thofe, who are at all acquainted with the Nature of that Fifh- ery, very well know, are both of them Points of Confequence. After finifhing our Bufinefs a-fliore, with as much Expedi- tion as poflible, and making as many Ob- fervations as wecould in ourPaffage, wc re-^ turned aboard the Dobbs-Galky the fame Day. W E failed back on the' 26th to Cape Fry, and had there the Pleafure of meeting with the California, in Company with the two Boats, which had joined her in the Latitude of 64''. 10'. North. The Oihcers R Q\\ m \ M
  • Mytul^/c- ^ll.i n-ii ? the Dobbs ^//ly California. 25^^ that the Ships may not be detained in this * Northern Latitude, longer than they may * with fafcty, by waiting for the Boats; it is * refolved, if they fliould not return by the * 25th of Auguji next cnfuing, tlien the * Commanding OHiccrs of both Ships, arc * to proceed with the Dobbs Galley and Ca- * UJornia for England^ ^^.' In Purfiiance of this Refolution, the Cap- tains of the Dobbs Galley and of the Cali- fornia ^ failed with proper Officers, and a fufficient Number nf Hands in tlie Boats, belonging to ihcir rcfpedlive Ships, upon the laft Day of this Month, with a fair and fine Gale, keeping a North Wed by Vv^efk Courfe, till the Strait dimiiiinied in Breadth, from ten Leagues to fcarce one. At this Time, which was pretty near the Approach of Night, we were alarmed with a very loud unaccountable Noife, refembling the Sound of a vaft Cataraifl, or prodigious Fall of Water, but could not difcovcr from wlience it came; it v/as therefore thought neceflary to come immediately to an Anchor, that fc n:c of us might go a-fliore, and fee what Dif- covcries might be that Way made. TJii^ was accordingly done ; but before wc CO bid >l '^t ii>. I ■ 1' ' 1 ■ ■ I » I i ■i : ,;■] tei d mmM tSxr.M M Ai l:i: m mm' frt ? 254 T'/je Laft Expedition in could gain the Top of the Eminence, for the Shore proved excefiively rocky and ileep, it was become fo darkj that we found all tiiC Pains we had taken entirely thrown away, and were obliged to return to our Boat very weary ; and yet no whit wifer than when we went. I cannot help, how- ever taking Notice, that in afcending thefe Mountains, vvc had at once as great, as gloomy, and as awful a Profpedt, as per- haps ever aftoniflied mortal Eyes. While we walked along the Beach, the ragged Rocks above fecmed pendant over our Pleads : In fome Places there were Falls of Water, dalhing from Cliff to Cliff; from others hung prodigious Ificles in Rows, one behind another, like the Pipes of a vafl Organ. But the moft tremendous Part of the Scene were the fliattercd Crags which Jay at our Feet, and appeared plainly to have buill from the Mountain Tops, o* the cxpanlive Povver o^ the rigo- t. lii «■> :(jus rioiis, and fo rolled with inex- prc:iible Faiy dovvu the Sides, 'till they reached thoie Place? Vv^l-ere their Ruins \-\^\v Ia\ : I call them Ruins : for fach thcv w •'J proDCuV 'vvere ; And if tjjere is fcniethino- \\v:X deeply affcd- u?, wliea we behold either J ' ■; the Dobbs and California. 255 either the Wafte of War, or the Devafla- tions of Time, it may be eafily conceived, that fomething much more terrible mufl be felt from the Sight of thefc amazing Rclicks of the Wreck of Nature. W E fpent the Night, as the Reader may believe, with no great Satisfadtion j and early in the Morning we went a-fhore ; nor was it long before we difcovered, that the mighty Noife we heard, was occafioned by the Tides being confined in a Pallage of about fixty Yards wide, but the Body of Water, and it's Rapidity, was ex- ceeding great : and notwithdanding we were now One Hundred and fifty Miles from the Entrance, it's Colour was pcrfedly bright, and it's Tafle very fait. The Tide rofe here commonly fourteen Feet and a Half, high Water at fix o'Clock at Full and Change. As v/e faw cleorly that the Strait opened beyond this Fail, to five or fix Miles wide, and ran fevcral Leagues to the Weflward, we were flill in Hopes ofaPaiTage. The great Difilculty now was how to pafs the Fall, wdfich, when at- tempted, proved not either fo liard, or fo hazaidous, as from the fir ft V:cv/ wc ap- prehended ; for I pafi'L'd it with a little Eoat, M 1'' ' f!' mil |!l:' m I. ( ■' ai'-la 256 i'^^ LaJ^ Expediuo7i in Boat, v/hen it was in it's full Fury. We foon after found, that it mi^ht be croflcd ivithout any Rlfque at all ; for at half Flood, the Water below the Fall, was upon a Level with that above ; and at half Ebb again, the Water above, was even v/ith that below ; and at thofe Times, it was quite fmooth and Hill, fo as to be pafTed without the leaf! Difficulty or Danger, While we lay here3 three Indians came aboard us in their Canoes, and appeared from their Manners, to be the fame kind of People we had met with in ether Parts of this Coafl, but much lower in Sta- ture 5 for it was very obfervable, that in failing North from Tork-Fort^ every thing dwindled and dirtiinin^.ed, fo that Trees flirunk into EruiliWood, in the Latitude of 61*^. and none of the human Species ap- peared beyond the Latitude of 67°. Thefc Indians fcerned a little timorous at firfl, as in all Probability we were the firil Eurc- feans they ever faw ; but upon our making Signuls of Friendlhip, they grew bolder, came up to, and converfed with us, and upon giving tliem to underftandj that we Wanted Tuktca^ which in their Language fignifics Vcniiun, they prefcntly went a- ihor« the Dobbs and California. 257 fliore, and brought us fome which had been cured after their manner, by drying i toge- ther with fomc Pieces of Buffaloes Fle(h, which appeared to have been lately killed j and having purchafed this fmall Cargo of theirs at an eal'y Rate, we fent them away very well fatisfied. On the 2d of Augtijt^ we pafled the Fall, above which the Tide rofe only four Feet, but the Shores were very fteep on both Sides, and no Ground was to be felt with a Line of One Hundred and Forty Fathom. There ftill appeared Seals and white Whales, but notwithftanding this, moft of our Com- pany were not a little difcouraged by their finding the Water almofl frcfti upon the Surface. But it being my Opinion, that this Frefhnefs was only on the Surface, I re- folved to make an Experiment whether the thing was fo or not i and for that Purpofe let down a Bottle ftrongly corked, to the Depth of thirty Fathoms, where the Cork was forced in, and the Bottle came up full of Water, of the fame Degree of Saltnefs with that in the Atlantkk Ocean ; which revived our Hopes, as fuddenly as they were funk before. But this Gleam of Suc- S cef$ I'l'. WW \\\ Ullfi 'llin I'i ttWft I ■'! ' ■ ' 1 i: ' \ % 11, • 1 \ ' 1 ' i 1 .1 ' '1 i j- i'l; A- li M mHumii :. : ■1 f 1 ^gBRflHR' II mIMM Jn,': H 4^ i 258 The Lajl Expedition in cefs proved however of very fliort Con- tinuance. On \.hQ y\ (^1 Augtijl^ towards the Fall ofNigiit, tlie Water lucanie iincxpe^edly flioal, upon which we anchored, 'till the ?.[orning (lioulJ dii'cfjver the Caufe. The I.Xiy no fooner broke, than we went a- ihorc, and from the Hills that were but a very fmall Dilhmcc from the Coafl:, we Iiad the Moitihcation to fee clearly, that our hithcrlu imagined Strait ended in two fmall unnavigable Rivers ^ one of which plainly fell from a large Lake, v/hich lay at fome Miles Dilhmce to the South Wefl:. Thus all cur Hopes vaniflied, and we had nothins to confole us for the Pains we had taken, the Time we had fpent, and the Dangers we had run, but the Satisfadlion of having done in this Refpedl, all that could be looked for from us, and havin2 thtrcby cleared this Point, and left no farther room to doubt about the IfTue of this Inlet, which might otherwife have produced as w^arm Contefls in fucceeding Times, as it bad already done in ours. Befides, as Capt. Fox long ago cbferved very judly upon this Head, every promifing Opening, fairly and fully fearched, and that Search clearly and w?i \m the Dobbs and Califoruia. 259 and canditily recorded, Icd'ens the Difficulty of tins Ervtcrprizc, and reduces the great Qacflion of a PaHIigc, or no Padige, fo much nearer to a Certainty. There came off to us during the fliort Stay v/c made lierc fix Canoes ; and the People in them brought us a fmall Quantity of Deer and Buffdoes Flefh, and fomejdried Salmon, vvliich \vc purchafed, and fignified to them our D-Tirc to have more, which they rcaciilv appiehc-ndcd, and as foon com- plied witli, returning to the Place from whence they cime, and bringing us very fpeedily a much larger Quantity of the fame kind of Provifion, which we not only purchafed, but alfo bought fome of their Clothes, their Bows, and whatever elfe they were inclined to part v/ith, out of mere Curiofity. Of thele People I endeavoured to learn all I could : firft v^ith RefDe(5t to the Copper Mine, and then with Regard to another Sea, which I endeavoured to fug- 2;e(l to them mio^ht lie to the Wedward ; to make them comprehend which, I chalked out a kind of a rude Draught of the Coaft, in Hopes they might have continued it, but this was all Labour in vain \ for they feemed not in the leaft to underftand me, S 2 as VW- ;lf!'^ f'. I'M''., i f 1:4 Hi . ■1' KB I 260 Tie Lajl Expedition hi mc, jlnd as the Reader will eaiily conceive was a very confideruble ' ddition to that cruel Difappointmcnt we had lately met with. Amongst thcfc Indians ^ there carre a Pcrfon, who thougli his Drcfs and Lan- guage was the fame with theirs, yet ap- peared manifcjftly from his Complexion, which was much Eiirer, and from his being utterly unacquainted with the management of a Canoe, to be of another Nation, and that he was only brought by them to fe« us. Our Captain imagined that he might pollibly be a Slave ; and obferving how ready thefe People were to part with any thing they had, entertained from thence a Notion, that it might not be impoflible to purchafe him : and to be furc, if this could have been done it would have been a right meafure, becaufe from him, very poflibly, we might have learned lomewhat. It was with this View, that Mr. Thompfon the Sur- geon was lent a-(liore with a Parcel of Goods to try what might be done, but the Indians not only rcjcdcd the Offer, but did it fuch a manner, as very plainly Hiewed their diilike to it. On c. I onceive at cruel ith. came a d Lan- yet ap- plcxion , lis being agement ion, and n to fe« ,c mig^U ing how with any thence a oflible to [lis could n a right Iibly, we It was the Sur- 'arcel of )ne, but le OfFer, plainly On I- I 1. the Dobbs and California. 261 On the 4th both Boats weighed, and we began to make tlie heft of our way back to the Ships, but the Wind being contrary, and at the fame time very high, we found ourfclves obliged to take Hicltcr in the Evening in a Cove under the South Shore, at about four Leagues diftancc. But the Wind cominir about in our ravt)ur to- wards Midnight, wc took Advantage of it and got under Sail, but had not procccdfd far before we were hailed by the People of the California's Boat to inform us, tlVat they had loft a Man, who had the Misfortune %o be knocked over-board by the Main- Sail's fuddenly (hifting from one fide to the other. The Boat making great way, and the Night being very dark, they heard no more of him. As we were now convinced that there was no other way back, but that by which we came in, we prepared to repafs the Fall, which we did accordingly upon the 6th, and grappled that Night under an Ifland eight or ten Leagues below it. Having a flrong Gale of Wind from thence with much Sleet and Snow, we very foon arrived at the Ships, without meeting with any thing farther in our Paflage that was worth 1 . r' iH ;i!.r ml S 3 obferv- H'il 4 Ik ' ' P? ,.*'!' I ii e:f-t ; m 262 7/5^ L^ Expedition in ' obferving ; except that every oody expref- fed a Senfe of the Difappointment we had met with more or lefs warmth in propor- tion to his Concern for the Succeis of the Voyage -, fo that though we were very wall pleafed to finVl oUrfelves fafely returned, yet our firfl Concern was to contrive Ibn^e Metb.od of ballancing this Difadcr by mak- ing another Trial, in hopes it might be at- tended with better Succcfs. Accordingly, in the very Council tliat was held for receiving our Report of the late Expedition, Mr. l^hornpfonih^ Suigeon intimated fome Doubts he had, that as the Weather was fir from being clear, the Sea running high, and our Boats being at a good Diflance from the North Shore in our re- turn, it was not at all impoffible that we might have pafTed fome Opening unobferv- ed on that Side, which he the rather in- clined to fear, becaufe he thought the Land looked, as well as he could difcern it, both high and double, with very large Breaks between the Mountains. I readily fcconded his Motion, though influenced thereto by other Motives, more efpecially from the ex- traordinary Tides that we had difcerned, for at Douglas Harbour it rofe fixteen Feet and I a hal Capt. ten r Leag tin.e the F than conci a Pad nothi of b, Obrer view this N too c: Succef is muci if not to Pod fided L cil afte fequen happen Refolu any IVJ the bei ;pref- ■ e had ■ opor- 1 :)f the 1 ' well 1 lined, ■ lotiie ■ mak- 1 be at- K 1 tluit 1 of the 1 u! geoii K as the ^: .he Sea j. a good 1 ur re- at we )bferv- er in- r : Land , both '' Breaks :onded ;to by he ex- d, for et and the Dobbs a^^d California. 263 a half perpendiculir, whereas according to Capt. MidJlctun'% Relation, it flowed hut ten Feet at Deer Fomui, though eight or ten Leagues nearer the Welcome j be fides, the tirv.e of High Wuter being rather earlier at tl.e Fall, through ninety iMihs farther Wefl, than at that Sound, I could not eafilv re- concile thcfe Circumflanccs to the want of a PcifTige, and therefore, tliough I could fay nothing as to the Particulars taken Notice of by Mr. 'Thompfon, I yet thouglit thcfe Obfervaiions might very well juflify that Re- view wImcIi he propofed ; for in Cafes of this Nature, it is impoflible for Men to be too careful or cxa6l, fince upon that, the Succefs of their Voyage depends j and,wli cli is much more, the P^eport of it is to become, if not a Law, at lead a Guide, and a Rule to Pofierity. Thcfe Argimcuts were in- fifted upon in their full Extent In the Coun- cil after the Report was made 3 and in Con- fequence of a Ion?; and warm Debate that happened upon this Occafion, the following Refolution was agreed X.o^ in order to redify any Miflake that might liave happened in the before-mentioned Trial. I ! S4 Ai I :'ir ;i':|' Mh ^u^^ r7 i 4\ in 1 Ik ■ !• ■■'.'•J Mn • ' jT' T ffi :^; 1 !■ I' flol ^^iii ■ ■ s IP' I ^'!^P »?>•''•'- \ mm ^5*^'"'' 1 ™%j K H ('(■5 264 7^^ L^ Expedition in At a Council held on Board th e Ca- lifornia in Douglas Harbour the yth ^Auguft 1747. PRESENT Captain WILLIAMMOORE, Capt^m FRANCIS SMITH,&c. WHereas on Friday the 7th, the Boats returned from examining the mofl: hkely opening for a Paflage, or Strait, and on the moft exadl Search none appeared where they had been, and Capt. William Moore and Capt. Francis Smithy being fully nitisfied that there is noProfpedt of any other Opening than from the Eaft- ward by wiiich the Ships came in, but being willing to fatisfy Mr. EdwardTbomp- fon the Surgeon, and Mr. Henry Ellis of^ the Dobbs Galley^ who think that the Boats on their return (it blowing hsrd) did not keep near enough to the North Shore, vvhicli to them appeared double Land, and Iiaving an Opinion that the Entrance of ti:i> River or Strait is not ' fuflkieiit the Dobbs and California. 265 fufficient to admit of the extraordinary Tides found here, but that there may be a Paflage for them through the North Shore, fevcn or eight Leagues from hence, which they, Mr. Thompfon and Mr. EUis^ conceive might efcape Obfervation ; it is therefore refolvcd, that the Dohbs's Schooner the Refolution (hall immediate- ly proceed, to acquire a Satisfadion as to thofe Parts." Signed by the Council. At this Council I took notice, that as there were a great variety of Circum (lances, many of them very flrong, and fuch as amounted almoft to a Demonflration, of there being ftill feme Paflage to another Ocean lying to the Northward, in that which Captain Mzddktor?ci\\zd Repulfe Bay ; fuch as that the Tides were rJways higher, and the time of High Water fooner, the farther we failed Northward ; as alfo the Saltnefs and Tranfparcncv ofthe Water in the Welcome y which was fuch, tl.at one might fee the Bottom at the Depth of twelve or fourteen Fathom ; joinci to the Numbers of Whales that were continually fecn upon the Hi \mw v\ ■W. .••.'l II ' ' I-; ^' ■fl 266 7Zt? La/l Expedition i?i the Coalis, and the repeated Inilances wc hud, tliat North Weft Winds, made abun- dantly the hiohefl Tides ^ luppoiUil by the Affurances, that Captain Wiiliam Moore hud frcm time to time oivcn me, that there was a Pafligc in Rcpulfc Uay j I therefore pro- poled that the DGhl^ Qalley fhould depart immediately in Icarcliofit, while the Call- fornid fininied the Examination of thiii, and whatever Piaees remained not thoroughly fearehed to the Southward. This was ilrc- nuoufly oppofcd by Ibme, wlio alledged, that we liad no Inllnnftions to go thitlicr, nor were warranted to iepar.ite our Ship?, that feveral of the People in the Calif ornia^ and fome of our own, were mueh indif- pofed, and 'in a Manner incapable of Haying longer in thcfe Seas 3 and lallly, that the Seafon was rather too far advanced to pro- ceed again to the Northward. To all thefe Objedlions I replied in tlie befl Manner I could, but with no Effed:, for upon the Queflions being put, the Propofition I had made was rejeded by a Majority, from whence I concluded, that there were fome who began to be tired of fo much Labour and Hardihip, and who were therefore in- clined to put an End to the Voyage as foon I as 21 i t the Dobbs and California. 267 as they could, or at Icaft, to prevent any more fuch toilfome Expeditions as our lalt ; the Dircovery we then made, ferving alfo to countenance this Dcfign, which tho' I could not approve, it was no way in my power to prevent. . It is certainly a Thing of the utmofl Con- fequence, in every Undertaking of this Na- ture, to intercft, as far as it is pofriblc, all who are any ways concerned in it's Succefs, and that too in Point of Profit, as well as of Charader 5 for olherwifc, a little Labour will tire, and the (irfi: appearance of Danger be apt to affright them. It is alfo very ex- pedient, that thofe v/ho have the Concerting and Direi' ion of fuch an Affair, lliould confer with every Officer before he goes out ; give him his Inftrudions by word of Mouth, as well as Writing, and affure him of their Fa- vour,Countenance, and Proted:ion, in cafe he performs his Duty upon his Return. This would render tl;c leffer Officers, not only vigilant and affiduous, but enterprizing and alert, when they knew for whom, and upon what Terms they expofed themfelves ; they would then not pundlually only, but cbear- fully alfo, obey tlieir Commander's Orders, in cafe he was adive for the Difcovery, and prove ,1 1 i|l;J;# i|!;,H J " I. 'Ni^'t., i1/i: ^■« m m^^ '^a iril: vS" it' w mi 1 ti 268 7Z^ Z/^ Expedition in prove a great Check upon him if he was not ; neither ought fomething of the fame Kind to be omitted, with Refped even to the private Men, who fhould be excited to thcif L'':iy, by Difcourfes fuited to their Capa- cities, and animated in the Performance of of it, by Encouragements proportioned to their Way of living. This was conftantly pradifed on board us, and I am induced to recommend fuch a Condud, from the good EfFedts which I faw it produce. For our Men went about what they were ordered with great i^lacrity and Chearfulnefs ; un- derwent Hardftiips and Fatigues patiently, and were not afraid of looking Danger in the Face. It was very pleafant to hear them, when they had any Lcifure, dif- courfing over all the Points that were of greateft Confequence to the Succefs of our Voyage ; fuch as the Nature of Tides, the Indications that might be drawn from them, and the Circumftanc^ i requifite to be ob- ferved about them ; the Figure of the Globe, the Di^pofltion of Land and Water, the Advantages that would arife to Great-Bri* taitj^ from a Difcovery of the North Weft PafTage, and fuch like. Nay, the very Orkney Men, who were far enough from being pi beij i' cou *■-' i ' ing 1' ■ cea' 1 grej Th Coi '■I ' ll l:L m vas not ; nc Kind to the I to thcif ir Capa- lance of oned to Miftantly luced to the good For our ordered ifsj un- atiently, nger in to hear re, dif- vere of of our Ics, the 1 them, be ob- Globe, , the 1 Weft e very h from :r ^eing thz Dobbs and California. 269 being either good Seamen or Statefmen, could not help forefeeing, that the difcover- ing fuch a Paflage would be highly fervi- ceable to their Iflands, by bringing thither great Refort of Shipping. But the ilrangeft Thing, that in this Refpedt fell within the Compafs of my Obfervation, was aboard our own Ship, where there was a very ho- neft Seaman, whofe fole Delight was a de- licious Dram, that one Day heated himfelf to fuch a Degree, in talking over the Buli- nefs of the Expedition, that in the warm Sincerity of his Heart, he could not help faying with a good round Oath, Now had I rather find the North West Passage than HALF an Anchor of Brandy. The Weather all this Time continued very indifferent, for we had feveral Squalls of Sleet and Snow, and a ftrong North North Weft Wind,which broke two of the Califor- nia's Anchors, and it was not without much Difficulty fhe cfcaped being forced a-ftiorc upon one of the Iflands : but at length with the Affiftance of the Crews of both Ships fhe was moored in fafety, to our very great Sa- tisfadion 5 as we were very fenfible, that if fhe had gone a-fhore upon any of the Iflands, (lie could not poffibly have been got off, without \r, Y 1: m Mi; ' I i i- ii! \\ ) i i, I'l !l il 1!|'^ If < p i ^ PI- . 11 ; mh^ IIP; £IIMH fcl. 270 Tf)e Lafi Expedition in without fuffcring corifiderable Damage. On the 13th the Weather becoming tine, Mr. Tkompfon, the Chief Mate, and myfelf went into the Boat, to put in Execution that Ad: of Council, whicli has been before given to tlie Reader, v/ith Refpedl to the Openincj, that it was fuppofed we mit^ht have paill'd on the North Shore, when we returned from our lad Expedition. In ojr PalTiige we fiw a great many black V/hales, arid a prodigious Number of Seals- but about Midnight, finding ourfelvcs en» Ci'ofed by the Coail: and the Tfiands that lay before itj we founded, and felt Ground at thirty Fatiiom, and the Depth continuing to diminifl^, it was judged expedient to come to an Anchor, which accordingly we did. In tliC Morning we landed, and from an Eminence plainly difcovered, that this Opening ran up feveral Leagues to the South Weflward, but that it was impoffiblc for us to proceed much farther, upon Account of feveral Ridges of Stones that ran quite acrofs it, and were very apparent at Low Water. We difcovered alfo to the North- ward of this another Opening, which ter- minated likewife about three Leagues from it's Entrance, pretty much in the fime Manner* Mail ingi| wert Ship] did uponi • the Dobbs and California, 271 Manner. All hopes of hnding .. Pailagc be- ing now lofl:, with Regard to the Place we were in, we ju(i'2;ed it bell to rvturn to the Ships as foon as it was poflible, which we did on the 14th, fo that we were abfent upon this Service only one Day. As foon as v/e came back, a General Council was calkd, in order to receive our Report, and confidcr of wh.ii: was to be un- dertaken next. In tills Council I laid hold of the Opportunicy of rcpcatlno; my former Proportion, and of adding fuch new Argu- ments,as by turning it often in my Thoughts, hadarifen in this lliort Space of Time; but it met, notwitliflanding, with the fame Fate as before, the Majority of the Council adhering as fleadiiy to their own Sentiments as I could do to mine. Yet as the Seafon was not entirely fpent, and as confequently fomething more might be undertaken, the following Refolution was formed, and una- nimoufly agreed to, which, as it contains the moft decifivc Evidence, with Regard to Fads which indicate a Pafllige, and which were warmly difputed between Mr. Dobbs and Mr. Middletoji, I cannot but believe the Perufal of it will be equally agreeable and U \\> ! i I:: fled in relpcdt to the latter by Lieutciiant Rafiki^^who hnd- \n^ a ftroni^ Stream runnint^ from the V/cil- ward nigh the South Side, wh.re he lay while the Water rofe upon the Shore, he concluded from thence, that the Flood came from the Weflward, whereas that Stream was only an Eddy, and the main Current in the Mid-Channel came from the Eaftward ; a thing no ways fingulur ; for many Inflnnces- irJ^ht be affigned of the like happ< 1 Ing in other ]-^laccs. Mr. Dobbs therefore rea- fbned right, but from wrong Principles. Mr. Middleton on the other hand affirm- ed, that the Water was there qui'ie frefhi, that it did not flow to any confi-^ci-ahle Height, that the Stream wns not very rnpid, and that South Eaft Winds made the hinhcfl Tide, all which Fads are clearly and diilindt- ly refuted from the Light of Experience,, afforded by repealed Trials, fet down in the Refolution of Council, whiuh I have tran- fcribed 5 befidcs, he afTerted, that the main Land was contiijued from the Latitude of 63". 2c'. io Ccipe Dobbs ^ whicii w^ib not ib, for fur tnd( fereil the . B was a Jan Briti inucj; wife peek"( Was I be all judicic the Dobbs aitd California. 275 K)r wc difcoved a large Openin^i; in die Lati- tude of 64". X. Some other le s aiate.ial Dif- ferences there were, which, to avoid futigiiing tiie Reader, I fhall not mention. But it ouglit to be obfervcd, that it was from his Zeal for the Piiblick, and a laudable Concern for the Glory of the Britijh Nation, that Mr. Dobbs took fo much Pains in this Affair. It mufl be like- wife confidered, that he could not be ex- pe(^l:ed to be farther in the right than he was properly informed, and that it nuifl be allowed, that he argued very juflly and judicioufly, tlicugh from Fads that were wrong dated ; fo that his Errors, if they may be properly called fo, were not only involuntary but inevitable ; fmce Reafoning as he did from what was laid dc;wn to hi.ii by others, he could be anfwerable only for the Recftitiide of his Conclufions, and not f:>r the Certair.ty of the Premifcs which lay entirely out of his reach to difcover: VVliere- as Mr. MiddUton was bound to greater S^ridnefs in his AfTeriions, as they were not eftabliihed on the Reports of others, but were cjounded chiefly upon his own Ex- p'jrience; yet it may be fairly iillcJ'^ed in his Excufc, tliat as he found his Character T 2 pub- ^m iiii m !!!■ UMIi r'lt: H 'f m m I 276 7y5^ L^ Expedition i?i publickly attacked, it was very natural for him to defend himfelf by any Arguments, and any Means that lay in his way. I do not take upon myfelf to decide in this Controverfy, I only deliver Things as they appear to me 5 and at the fame time that I give my Opinion, I give alfo the Evi- dence upon which it is founded, and leave the whole to the Determination of the Reader. Neither fliould I have meddkd with this Matter at all, but that it relates immediately to my Subjed, and is of great Importance, not only to the thorough un- derftanding the Defign and liTue of this Expedition, but all future Expeditions in view to this Difcovery. Since if all Errors, however they may arife, be not detedted and removed, fo that thofe who in fuc- ceeding Times (hall be employed in fuch Undertaking, may have the full Benefit of former Experience, this Difcovery of fo great Confequence to the Britip Nation, may be much longer delayed than otherwilc it need be, and therefore the Publick has a Rigiit to exped the greateft Accuracy and Piecilci.vfs in all Narrations of this Nature. On the 15th oiAuguji^ we weighed from Douvh^ Harbour in Company with Xi\z Cglifornia J. Call tend the . Tide thou! eight we ^ con til 17th derate that i of the try tl: tion Intent! Article men o\ fit to k Acc< our fee pofe, it was Water, inyofi in orde Certain 1 lay too half He al for icnts, y- I le in igs as e time e Evi- i leave dF the leddkd relates 3f great the Dobbs and California. 277 California^ with a ftrong but fair Wind, at- tended with fome Squalls. We were met in the Narrows entering the JVager by a Flool Tide, which detained us feveral Hours, though we went at the rate of more than eight Knots through the Water. When we were got into the Welcome^ the Wind continuing ftiil fre(h, we Iny too. On the 17th the Weather being very fair and mo- derate, and the Sky clear, it was proposed that as we lay within three or four Ler^ues of the Low Breach^ we (liould go thither to try the Tide, agreeable to the laft Refolu- tion of Council, to the general Scheme and Intention ofthe Voyage, and to the paniciilir Articles upon this Head, which the Gentle- men ofthe North Weft Committee thouv!;ht fit to infert in our Inftnidions. Accordingly in the Evening, I went witii our fecond Mate Mr. Metcalfe for that Pur- pofe, but before we could reach the Shore it was dark, and alio a little after High Water, fo that we were under the Necel- fity of ftaying till it was High Water again, in order io execute our Commiliion with Certainty. In the mean time, the Ship lay too in the Ofjing^ and ilred Guns every half Hour, but either t'ne Wind or the T X Ebb 3 1 •'. <- i 'I i.iil'i ,: m^ u ■ mi t' 278 77je Laft Expedition in Ebb TiJc driving her fcvcral Leagues to the Nortlivvard, Ihe was foon out of the reach of our hearing her Gun;:, and by that time it was ' Toniiiig flie was out of Sight. As ibon, Iiovvcvcr, as the D^y appeared, we hniflied tlicBuIln.fs for which we came, and found that the Tide fiOwed here from tlie Northward, and rofe to the Height of fifteen Feet. We hkewiie found that it was Hieh Water at Full and Chano;e of the Moon a httlc before tliree o'Clock, which was fomewhat earHer than the time of full Sea upon the oppofite Coafu Our BuGnefs being now over, the next thing to be confidered was, how wc (hould be able to get on Board, as to which, many and great Diiiicultics prefented themfclves to our View, clothed with fuch Circum- ftances of Terror, as could not but make the ll:rongcfl: ImprefTion on our Minds, and therefore the Reader will pardon me for entering]; into a narticnkr Account of them. ■ The Siiip, as I obferved before, was now out of Sight J it was not polTible for us to know with any degree of Certainty which way to follow her, the Wind grew very high, the Weather v-Ty thick, attended alfo with Snow, the Boat we had was fmall ^ an( Lies to of the by that " Sight, ptrared, : came, c from [ght of that it nge of 'Clock, in the s Coafi. le next ; fhould , many :mklvcs I^ircum- t make 1"^, and me for hem. ■as now )r us to which w very ded dib fmall and in ffje Dobbs ^W California. 279 and deep, mofl; of tiic Hunds in her were Landmen, and thofc too much indifpofcd j fo that all things confidcrcd, we might be truly faid to be in a mofl deplorable Situa- tion. I endeavoured to encourage the People in thiC bed manner I couLl, by repre- fenting, that let the Event be what it vvould> it was better for us to go to Sea and en- deavour to lind the Ship, than to remain and periih upon that inliofpitablc Coall, where there was not the leafl Track of Man or Beafl:, no Slielter to be had, or fo much as a Drop of frefli Water j and where, in the midd: of thcfe Inconveniences, it was impoflible to prolong our Lives for any time, as wc had hardly one Day's Provifion aboard. The People being prevailed upon by thefe Rcafons, agreed to put to Sea, which v/e accordingly did in Circum fiances difmal enou<2;h, and under ftill more dif- mal Apprchenfions. The Wind incrcafing and the Sea running very high, we took it in very plentifully, and a great part of cur Time and La'-cur wa^ employed in tlirowing out, io that it was impoflible we fliould have lield it lonz- Llowevcr, when we had got about twelve Leagues from Shore, we, to our great Satisfaction, decry- T 4 CLJ >i !'l ''• '*!•'!! h-.;J ■'I 280 T/je Lajl Expedition in ed the Ships, and this giving us frefli Spirits, we redoubled our Labour, and very foon got ffe aboard ; and very liappy it was for us that we did fo, t that Time, for otherwifewc fhould never i avc leen them more, the Wind rifing much hij^her, and, confe- quently the Sea 5 the Weather too became {o thick and dark, that it was impoflible to difcern either Ship or Shore ; but it plcafed God to deliver us before Things were come to thefe Extremities, from which nothing but a Miracle could have faved us. The Wind blowing from the South, we were detained in the Welcome till the J 9th, when it fhifted, and we took the Advantage of failing Southward ; but as it grew tempeftuous from the North Weft, and the Refoliition which we had towed ever fince we left the Wager ^ being both a Hindrance to the Ship, and hazardous to the People who were in her, it was judged more expedient to take all Things out of her, and turn her a-drift, than to remain in this Condition any longer, which was accordingly done. We had fine Weather on the 20th and 21ft, but as we were at fome Diilance from Cary-Swan' s-Neft ^ we made no Ufc c.f the Seafon, with Refped: to I the Dobbs and California. 281 to the Trial of the Tide there j tho' as the Reader mud remember, this was amongft the Number of the Things propofed as ne- ceflary to be done in the laft Refolution. As the Weather grew afterwards very in- different, a Council was called on board the Calijornia^ in which a definitive Refolution was taken to bear away, without farther Delay for England^ and was put in Execu- tion immediately. On the 27th we faw Cape Pembrokey on the Eaflern Coaft of HudJorH^ Bay. On the 28th, we pafTed the Ifland of Manfel^ and failed by Ibme Ice, of which we had many large Pieces in View, 'till we arrived over againft Cape Charles, We entered Hudfons Strait on the 29th, and had very plcafant and warm Wea- ther, which lafted 'till the 3d of September, and then it grew foul again, luving at the fame Time a ftrong Wind from the EalUvarc!. We fell in on the 5th with two of the Hudfon's Bay Company's Ships, with whom we refolved to keep Company, yet v/cre fepavated from them in the Ni!:!)t of the 6th, but were lucky enough to rejoin tijcm the next Day. The uncomfortable V/ea~ tlier we had, made fo cii.i^y hy the tliick and noif)me Fogs, proved the C.iufc, that rjany !iiV!:^:|: i mw:' 282 T'/je LaJI Rxpedition in. - many of our People began now to rclapie into their old Dilhmper the Scurvy, which was the more unfortunate at this Juncture as we were then in the mofl dangerous Na- vigation of all thole Seas, occafioned by the Narrownefs of the Strait?, the Want of Soundings, huge Mountains of Ice, which may be very well compared to floating Rocks, and the difmal dark Weather, which renders it fo very diflicult to avoid them. Yet frightful and (hocking as thefe Circum- flances are, it is not long before they become fo familiar as not to i}fFcd: us much, and the Danger is fo far leflened by keeping a conftant Watch, and proper Difcipline amcngO: the Seamen, that one feldom hears of any melancholy Accident. This is tlie more manifeft from a Fadt, the Truth of which is indifputable j and that is , the Hud- fons Bay Company's Ships, returning Year after Year without any Difaflerj from whence perhaps we may infer, that where conflant and continual Danger excites perpetual At- tention, it thereby alters it's Nature, and becomes, if I may be allowed the Expref- fion, the Caufe of Safety. A s we have been obliged to take No- tice of the prodigious Fogs that are aimoll: conflantly the Dobbs and California. 283 confbntlv to be met with here, as no iinall part of the Dansrers to v/hich VcfTels arc cxpofed arife from thefe thick FogSj and as many who have failed in thefe have thought it worth their Pains to endeavout to account for them, which has been the Aim likewife of the mod inteUigent Tra- vellers through thofe Nortl:iern Climates, that are in like manner afFcdled by them, it may perhaps afford fome Entertainment to the Reader, if we follow fuch Examples, and empl )y alfo a little Pains and Time to difcufs a Point, which tho' fo ofcen confi* dered, is ftill far enough from being clear; and the clearini^ of which however mud be attended with Conf^quences more than fufh- cient to compenfite the Trouble of the En- quiry. For tho' Hudfons Straits, the Coafls of Newfoundla?2d, and otlier Northern Re- gions, are mod funous for Mids and Fogs, yet many other Climates arc alfo fubjcd: to them more or lc(s, and therefore the Difco- very of their Caufes, with any tolerable Degree cf Certainty, v»^ill anfwer many ufe- ful Purpofcs, as well as add confiderably 10 that Stock cf real Knowledee, which the Indudry of the Learned, in all Ages hath furnifned to the World. it: h 'I I I It iil W' 3? 284 The Lqfi Expedition in I T is a Hint given by Mr. Maupertuis^ that perhaps the Sun's long Stay above the Horizon, in Northern Countries, may raifc more Vapours than the Night can condenfe. But Mr. Boyle acquaints us, that he had cer- tain Information of very thick and almoft conftant Fogs, at certain Seafons of the Year, obferved upon the Coafts of Corro^ mandely in the Eajl-Indies^ which cannot poffibly be afcribed to the Sun's remaining long above the Horizon, becaufe in that Cli- mate the Difference of Days throughout the Year is not very great. Befides, if this was the Caufe, it would follow, that in Spitzbergen they (hould be moft troubled with Fogs, when the Sun is higheft, and indeed through their whole Summer, when the Sun is there conftantly above the Hori- zon, but Experience proves juft the con- trary ', and that then thofe who are em- ployed in the Whale Fifhery upon thefe Coafts have bright and clear Weather, which, as Marten obferves in his Voyage, is the iit- tefl for the catching Whales. I T appears to me more probable, that the Coldnefs of the Air condenfes the moid Vapour, as it rifes and keeps it hovering on the Surface, which feems to be confirmed by th by our quent Fields, been WeftM them, wet F( the Ai ened, fuflain On th Point with tl a doul over a with t becauf( Air, f( out an; It Subjed cafion? by ref by th( Name diftin^ ons, ( and ) \h the Dobbs and California. 285 by our having the thickeft and moft fre- quent Fogs, when we are near the Ice Fields, where the Air is coldeft. It has been alfo obferved, that South and South Weft Winds bring much moift Vapour with them, which in the Northern Parts turn to wet Fogs, not only from the Coldnefs of the Air, but from it*s Spring being weak- ened, whereby it is rendered lefs capable of fuftaining and fupporting thofe Vapours. On the other Hand, ali Winds from any Point of the North, ai^ obferved to bring with them fair Weather, and this alfo from a double Caufe ; firft, becaufe they blow over a dry Tradl, and confequently bring with them few or no Vapours j and next, becaufe they add to the Elafticity of the Air, fo that the Vapours are kept up with- out any Falling or Fludluation. It is to be obferved, that in treating this Subjeft, the common Ufage of Speech oc- cafions a great Confufion in our Notions, by reprefenting feveral Things, foinetimes by the fame, and fometimes by different Names. As for inftance, we very feldom diftinguiO. between Vapours and Exhalati- ons, or between Exhalations and Steams; and yet by diftinguifliing bctv/een them, we iii'i ,ii Ii :|i, ,, I I ; ;i i ,'1 ■t, 286 77je Lajl Expedition in v/c fliould not only come to fpeak more Corredly, but to think alfo more judly^ that is in a Manner more correlpondcnt with the Operations of Nature. Steams I prefume are, properly fpeaking, fuch Collections of Effluvia as are thrown out of this Globe, by the internal Heat of the Earth itfclf. Ex- halations again are fmall Particles detached both from moid and dry Bodies by the Ac- tion of Heat, as for inftance the Sun-Beams. And hftly, both Steams and Exhalations become Vapours; when being rarified to a certain Degree, they afcend up into the Air, where as they rife higher they become Clouds : But if the Air is Co difpofed, as in- itead of fuffcring them to rife, they are pre- cipitated towards the Earth, they then be- come Mills and Fogs. We mav from this Account of th.e Mat- ter eafily conceive, that very thick Fogs may be produced, in different Climate?, by very different Caufes. For in warm Countries, where the Earth is in a manner uiwiys oo-n, the Steams that it throw^s out plentifully may at certain Scafons create great Fo^s ; whereas in cold Countries, where ii^e Earth is in it great Mearure bound up by rontuiual Frofls, this Caufe cannot take Pia'je, .it leall: leafi: Watel arife from cends Wint( North Steaml fideral ea(ion( fioatin Land, fipatin; thole fpoken HuJ/oi It -' that \\ ces, \^ Parafel Mock ing th notice, to afcri of a R2 the He di 111 pat tranlui l»A s les, uily rth Lial It the Dobbs <^W California. 287 leaft in any great Degree. Yet from the Water while it remains unfroze, Inch Steams arife very copioully, as is very apparent from what is called Froft Smoak, which af- cends very confpicLiouily even in the harded Winters, v/here the Ice is broke. But then in Northern Countries, the Exhalations and the Steams in the Summer Months are very con- iiderable, and rhe Coldnefs of the Air, oc- eafioncd chiefly by the vafl (Quantities of floating Ice, and the Ice Mountains on the Land, hinders tVcfe Exhalations from dif- fipating, and confequently is the Caufe of thofe Mifts and Fogs that are fo much fpoken of in all Accounts oi Hudfon^Bay^ Hudlon\ Straits^ Neiofoimdla72d^ &c. ' It 's alfo unto this Denfenefs in the Air, that we ought to attribute thofe Appearan- ces, which the Learned call Parhelia and ParafelcnjE j or, as our Sailors flile them, Mock Suns, and Mock Moons ; and hav- ing this Opportunity, I cannot but take notice, that to this Caufe alio we ought to afcribe certain bright Spots, like the Tail of a Rainbow, which are generally kzn near the Horizon, when Fogs are almofl: totally di'Jipated, and the Rays of the Sun are tranfmitted without interruption. Our Sai- lors I, •! . ■■ 'I rfl- ' i^--'. i t 't .'I 288 72^ Lafi Expedition in lors fancy, that thcfe drive away the Foo^s, and have therefore beftowed on them the Name of Fog Scoffers ; v^^hereas in reaUty they are the lafl: Remnants of the Fog, that by a Reverberation of the Sun Beams, pro- duce thefe Appearances. I fhall not pre- tend to fay any Thing of the Figure of the Air, or of the continual Circulation of that Fluid, which is very rationally main- tained by fome great Men, but content my- felf with thefe Obfervations, which are grounded chiefly on my own Experience, and makes therefore naturally a Part of this Relation, fmce they belong to a Subjedl, which has been more or lefs treated of by every Writer, that has pretended to give an Account of what appeared moft worthy of Notice, in viliting thefe Seas. What I have been faying in relation to Fogs puts me in mind of another Cir- cumftance relating to the Air of this Coun- try, or at lead of thofe Parts, which I vifited, that appears to me very fingular, which is, that Metals are lefs apt to ruft here, than in any otlier Climate, where I have been ; and this alfo, though to many it may appear trivial, is a Matter that deferves to be enquired into 3 for if there be a great Difference iatiori Cir- ^oun- Ich I ;ular, |here, have may les to great lenee i^^x th Dobbs a?id California. 289 Difference obferved in the rufling of Metals in feveral Ciiniates, it may ferve as an Indi- cation of the fimilar or diffimilar Q^ualities of the Air in thofe Places, which may be applied to feveral ufeful Purpofes. Mr. Richard Ligo?i, v^ho compiled an Account of BarbadoeSy about a hundred Years ago, for he began to colledl the Materials for his Hiftory in the Year 1648, tells us, that the Moifture of the Air, was at that Time fo great, as to caufe their Knives, Keys, Nee- dles, Swords, ^c. to rufl, and that in an Inftant 5 for, fays he, take your Knife to the Grindftone, and grind away all the kuft, which done, wipe it dry and put it up into your Sheath, and fo into your Poc- ket, and in a very little Time draw it out, you (hall find it beginning to ruft all over, which in more Time, will eat deep into the Steel, and fpoil the Blade. He adds that Locks too, that are not often made life of, will ruft in the Wards, and fo be- come ufelefs ; and Clocks and Watches will feldom or never go true 3 all which is occa- fioned by the Moiflnefs of the Air. He farther obferves, that before their Arrival at this Ifland, they took Notice of the like Effects at Sea, when they had for four or U five ■w \t ,1 w^ Mi' W ^go TAe hajl Expedition in five Days together, what the Seamen call haizy Weather, which he very particularly defcribcs, and urges it as a Proof that this rufling of Metals, was owing entirely to the Air's Moiflure. It mufl be acknowledged that Moifliire h'cwvy the Caufe of Rufl, may be ftiled not only a prevailing, but in fomc Mcafure, a general Opinion, and there is no doubt that this large, particular, and pofitive Relation of Mr. Z//;;(?;/s, has been tiiought a decifive ViOof of it. I remember that upon men- tioning my Obfervation, that Metals were Icfs apt to ruft: in the Countries about Hud- Jm'S'Bay, than clfc where, to one who is a very ingenious and very intelligent Perfon, he immediately mentioned his having made the fame Remark in Rujjla^ adding that he looked upon this to proceed from the Dry- nefs of the Air. I make no doubt that both thefe Gentleir.en n:iav be in the ridit, or in other Words, that Metals ruft in BarbadoeSy from the Moifture, and are free from Ruft in Rujjia^ from the Drynefs of the Air. But it is a great doubt with me, whether this general Notion of Humidity being the Caufe of Ruft, will account for what I obferved, or even fo much as agree with Ipf ivith theC moift of the to Hie Metah May ^ Moifti ^om 01 Wh find th; Parts o by fon: howeve will cau corrode Metal ; having Metals t a little to pafs, gieafy U we fhall cret3 for ferves M Contadt o as are the iiot cxtre «■■;■ arly this ) the (lure 1 not re, a t that lation icifive men- ; were Hud- who is ^erfon, made hat he Dry- that right, uft in re free efs of h me, midliy nt for agree with iie Dobbs a^d California. 291' U'lth it. It is very certain, that the Air, in the Countries about Hudfon's-Ba\\ is rather moifl than dry, and what I have before faid of tlie frequent Mifts and Fogs, is fuHicient to fliew that it mud bs fo : Neverthelefs Metals do not ri.fl: here as in other Places. May we not infer from hence, that mere Moifture is not the Caufc of Rufl:, tho' fel- <3om or never occafioned without Moifturc ? Whoever carefully examines Rufl:, will find that it is a Solution of the fupcrficial Parts of the Metal, from vf\ ,& it arifes, by fome fluid Menflruum, I*- docs not however follow from Iicnce, tliat all Fluids will caufe Rufl:, or Vv^hich is the fame thing corrode and diflblvc the fujjerficiul Parts of Metal ; for we know that Oil is fo far from having this Property, that it is applied to Metals to prevent Rufl:. If we purfuc tiiis a little farther, and enquire how it comes to pafs, that Oil, or indeed any kind of greafy Unguent, comes to have tliis 'EitcO:^ we {hall be let fome what more into the Se- cret 5 for it will then appear, that Oil pre- ferves Metals by defending them from tl^.c Contadl of fuch Particles in aqueous Fluids, as are the real Caufes of Rufl. Now is it not extremely probable from aii this, that U z thefe v 1 ■ , 1,, I' 1 1 ill if 1!' s m m , 292 Tloe Lajl Expedition in thefe Particles arc no other than acid Salts ? May we not be led to this Opinion, or at leart: confirmed in it, by confidering that the Solutions of all Metals are made by acid Menflruums, and more efpecially by refiedini^ on the known and common Me- thod of making white Lead, vvhich is no other than a Ruft or Solution of that Metal produced by Vinegar ? Do we not fee from hence, that Oil preferves Metals byit*s known Qi^ality of Ihcathing, blunting, and en- tangling acid Salts r Surely we may from hence very fafely coUcdt, that it is not barely Humidity, but a fluid Menflfuum of a cer- tain kind that caufes Rufl:. B u T to make this Subjedl flill clearer, or rather to give all the Light into it that can be derived from my Obfervation -, let us obfervc, that tho' Air is a Fluid, and that tho* it fometimes acfts upon Metals, in- deed it commonly acts upon them in fuch a manner, as to difTolve their fuperficial Particles, which is precifely the fame Thing that is meant, when we fay, that it makes them rufl ; yet it does not do this barely as a Fluid ; for then Air would every where have the fame Efi-ed, and Metals would rult as much in R:ijjhi, as in any of the Coun- tries ^? tries ofd( irra^ Part the upon aque char^ this : that] of th fince thty i they i not. Deptl ilts ? )r at that t by f by Me- is no Vietal from nown I en- from barely a cer- karer, t that let and Is, in- fuch irficiial iThing makes |cly as where lid ruft [Coun- tries In J the Dobbs ami California. 293 tries near the Line. Neitlier is Air capable of doing this, (iho* the contrary is commonly irr'agined) by it's being loaded with aqueous Particles ; for humid Air would then have the fame EffcvSt in Hudfon' S'Ba\\ as it has upon the Coails of Bnrbadoes. But if tliofe aqueous Particles that float in the Air, arc charged with acid Salts, then It v/ill produce this EfFetfl, otherwife not. Thus we fee that Metals may be made a Kind of Standard of the Quality of the Air, in this Refpcct ; fmce it has been plainly made appear, tiiUt they are very capable of Hiewing, whetlier they abound with a certain Kind of Salts or not. I would not willingly go out of my Depth in a Mutter of this Nature ; but I* hope I fhall not be thought too prefuming, if I put ilic Reader in Mind of a f:)rmer Remark, that Fogs may be cau fed in very hot Countries, in a great Meakire, by Steams from the Earth, and add to it upon this Occafion another Hint, that it is not in the lead improbable, that thefc Steams may load the Air with an extraordinary Quantity of thefe acid Salts, which on the contrary may not rife fo plentifully in thefc Northern Regions, where the Water often, and the Earth always, is locked up by Cold, U X and -1 iiniihl A"-- 294 77je "Lajl Expeditio?i in and where the Heat of the Sun may be pre- fumed to railc only the more aqueous Parts. This Method of Rcafoning feems to be fupported from an Experiment made by that diligent and accurate Enquirer after Truth, the l>carncd and Reverend Dr. Hales ^ who, in diililling Salt Water with a View to make it fredi, found that a moderate Heat anfwered much better than one more quick and vio- lenti the Water that came ovqr the Still with the former being perfedly fre(h, whereas the latter was brackifli. It is aUb very pof- fible, that the Heat of the Air may in fome nieafure operate upon Metals, more efpecially their Superficies, by opening the Pores, and fo difpofing them to receive a larger Quan- tity of that acid Spirit of Salt, raifed by the flrong A6ion of the Sun into the Atmof- phere, as hath been before mentioned. Having thus contributed my Mite to- wards the Improvement of the Hiftory of the Air, which is a thing of fuch high Con- Icquence in Natural Philofophy, I fhall re- turn to the Narration of the few Things worth Notice in the remaining Part of our Voyage, On the 9th of September^ about Break cf Day, v/e fell into a prodigious ftrong Kipling, i:i four the Dobbs and Culiforniiu 295 Ripling, and the Sc;i broke tcrrlhly nboanl of us on all Sides. This wac occafioncd l>y the Tides fctting llron^ly againfl a pretty biifk Wind, and the like Ripling is fre- quently met with from the very flmic Caufo in other Places ; as for in fiance, near Ilol)'- head in our own S.as j in the Gulph of Florida^ in North America ) and in many other Places, but in a lefs degree than wc experienced it. I mention this, becaufe it was from hence that we judged ourfelves to be near the Iflands of Rejbluiion^ and accordingly we took our Departure from hence, though we did not ac^tually fee the Land. At this time there were fcveral large Ice-Mountains floating in fight, but we very foon left them behind us, as we be- gan now to enter into a warmer Climate. 1 cannot call it a milder, becaufe we foon afterwards experienced as tempefluous Wea- ther as any we had met with in thofe Nor- thern Seas, of which fuch horrid Defcriptions have been given by fome Writers. On the loth we parted again from tlie Hudfo?2s-Bay Ships. On the nth one of our Men died, who had long lingered under all the affliding Pains of an U 4 invCf ii \ w\ in 1 ^'^ an M'-^v PI fL'' Iniilmffn %K 1KW9QI wi'i ■ Wmt H' m w m 1 296 Tie Lajl Expedition in inveterate Scurvy. In the Night of the 1 2th we had a moft terrible Storm, by which we fuffered confiderably in our Rig- ging, and by the effedls of which we were very near lofing all our Mafls, very few of the Hands on board the Dobbs Gallc being able to keep the Deck, which was the Rcafon that proper Mcafures could not be taken, as otherwife might have been, for preventing fo great a Misfortune. But for- tunately for us, the Mafls efcaped beyond our Expedation j and we fuffered nothing farther than what was the Refult of our own Apprehenfions, which were melan- choly cnongli for fome Hours. This Gloomi- iicfb was not a little heightened by our Se- p: rat ion from the Callfcrnia in the midfl of this Storm, and wc did not fee her again till we arrived in tlic Orkney Iflands. We were in feme mcafure coniblcd for thefe unlucky Accidents by the return of fair Weather, which laflcd for about ten Days, anc , as the Reader will eafily conceive, af- forded the highcfl Satisfaction to People aU mod worn out with continual Fatigues, and didreilcd befides by the Ravages made by the Scurvy, which it is well known weakens PeJ pel Hil as refd Tcopic the Dobbs and California. 297 people more than almoft any other Diftem- per, to which the human Body is liable. On the 2 1 ft we joined again the two Hudfon's'Bay Company's Ships, from which as I obferved, we parted on the nth, and refolvcd to keep Company with them dur- ing the Remainder of the Voyage, as in- deed we did. On the 26th we met with a fmail Fleet from the Orkneys bound to the Weft ward. On the 28 th we arrived and anchored at Carftown in the Illand of Pomona^ where, to our great Joy, the Ca- llfornir- alfo arrived the next Day, from whom we had been fcparated about a Fort- night. We continued in this Harbour about a Week, and on the 6th of 05lober^ failed from thence in Company with the Califor- nia and four Hudfons-Bay Ships, under the Convoy of his Majf^fty's Ship the Mercury of twenty Guns, and arrived fafely in Tanjiouth Roads oh the 14th of the fame Month, after an Abfence of one Year, four Monhts, and fevcnteen Days, having failed from thefe Roads on the 27th of M?y, 1746. Thus ended a Voyage of very great Ex- peculation, not only here, but throughout the greateft Part o^ Europe^ more efpccially the Maritime Countries, where the Dcliiin its 11 ■,'i '' \\ i 1 ;i •';:|'-... '29S 7^^ Lafi "Expedition In its Nature, Confequences, and their great Importance were beft underftood. Thus I fay, ended this Voyage without Succefs indeed, but not without EfFedl ; for though we did not difcover a North Wefl Paflage, yet were we fo far from difcovering the Impoffibility or even Improbabihty of it, that on the contrary, wc returned with clearer and fuller Proofs, founded on the only Evidence that ought to take Place in an Enquiry of this Nature, plain Facts, and accurate Experiments, that evidently ftiew fuch a PalTage there rnay be. What thcfe are, and after what manner they are to be applied, to the Purpofes before-men- tioned, iliall be the Bufincfsof the remaining Pages, which it is hoped will give full Satis- fadion to every candid Reader, THE It the Dobbs and California. 299 If-: % THE THIRD PART: COMPREHENDING ^^i Such Arguaiemts, drawn from Matters of FaEi^ as ferve tu P^ew the great Probability of a Pajfage by the North Weft i?7to the South Scasj riotwithjianding the fame was not aEiually dif- r.Gvered in the Laji Expedition. IIP, -^ /.. Ill the firfl: Part, the Motives A which originally excited the Hopes "%^ cf difcovering a North Weft PalTage, have been iutticiently explained, and infilled upon ; and as in the fecond Part a diflin^t Account has been given, how far the Expeditions cntertrjned of finding a Pallage i . k U: ';;;«' ;i ■:r /r; 300 7/5^ L<^ ExpedUion iii Paflage in certain Parts, have been ev-camined, and found to be vvitbcut Groniids ^ I con" next to infift particular!;' on' tlio^e Reafor.i that feem to perfwade ns ifciil.. that fuch a Faflage may yet he found r and that there is nothing abfurd, or even impro- biibh-% in fuppofing that, with no great Ex- pence, the finding it may be luccefsfully attcL.pted ; and that too withoat expofing fuch as are fent upon this Exper^'tion, to any extraordinary Dangers, or cxceffive Fa- tigues. Thefe Reafons lliall be chiefly drawn from Matters of Fad, which fell immedi- ately under my own Notice and Obfcrva- tioQ in the lafl Expedition ; and which, as I fhall fincerely relate, I flatter myfeif it will appear, that I am no Way milled by any fanguine Expedations of my own, as with the utmoft Truth I can affirns, that there is nothing farther from my Intentions, thun in any Degree to miflead others. It is a Fact fo well eitublilLed, as not to be drawn m Quefl:ion, that in Countries of narrow Extent, which are either Peninfulas or Iflands, there are no Trees, but only a kind of Buflies and Underwood j notwith- flanding that, on the Continent in the fame Latitude, there grows as fine limber as any an; thel in Str| thoj wit Si 1s 30I nined, con" "uch a that mpro- it Ex- fsfully pofing on, to /e Fa- draw 11 imedi- )fcrva- ch, as it will y any with ire is iun in lot to es of fulas nlv a vith- fame :r as any .-1 the Dobbs and California. any in the World. One might mentio;i the Oblervations of Sir Jobi Narborough^ in his accurate Account of his ^''oyaje to the Streiglits of Magellan^ and many otiier Au- thorities ; but fuch as are at all acquainted with the Shetland and Orkney Iflands, will think it prepofterous to multiply Proofs upon this Subject. It may from hence be laid down as 9 rational Argument, that where, upon full Examination, it appears, a Coun- try is deftitute of Wood, in a Climate in which Timber is known to flourifh, it has a Sea on both Sides. Now we have before informed the Reader, that from the Longi- tude of fixty-one Degrees North, all kind ci' vegetable Productions vifibly {hrunk and d windled,and that inftead of Trees and Wood, v/e metonly with Shrubs and Bufhcs,and thofe very fmall -, yet it is very well known, that in higher Latitudes, there are great Woods of large and excel-ent Timber, in Norii::;/, Sweden^ Lapland^ and all the Territories o'"* the RuJJian Empire, through that vaft Tvidi of Country that reaches to the S^^iOi yapan. If therefore there were no Sea on the other Side, but a very large Tracfl: of Land to the Weftward, ought there not to be the like Plenty of Timber within Land, in thtiQ Countries I1" 1!' 1 Vi I I ■! I t'! ^. ^ ^. m m 30 2 Tl}e hafi Expedition in Countries that border upon Hudjcns Bo;'^ H there be not, as mofl certainly there is not, can we aflign any better or more pro- bable Reafon for fo manifeil: a Diffcrcjice, between Countries under the fame Climate, than the Vicinity of a Weftern Ocean ? Neither will it ferve as an Anfwer to what I have advanced, to mention the great Cold of this Climait ; fince it clearly appears, from a Work lately publiflied at Petersburgl\ by a Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and under their Dircdlion ; that not only Vegetables, but Corn grov/s in fomc Part of Kamjcbatska^ tho' the Cold is greater there, than upon the Coafls of HudfojiS'Bay, To this, I crave leave to add another Re- mark, that while we lived in Mont ague ^Hoitfe^ it was conftantly obferved that North Weil Winds brought with them much of that dufly kind of Snow, into which by Experience we knew the Coldnefs of the Winter-Air converted the Froft-Smoke or Steams arifing from open Waters. May not this therefore pafs for another probable Reafon to conclude, that to the North Weft of this Country, there muft be a large Body of ft-:.- the Dobbs and California ;03 ny of that Re- lay lable |ody of open Water, or in other Wordr., a Weil: - em Ocean at no great Diflance ? Arc not thcfe Arguments very confident with each other, as well as with tlie ufual Operations of Nature in other Places, where the Caufcs that are here fupofed, are known to produce fuch Effeds as thefc ? Was it not natural for us, while in thefe Parts, and employed upon fuch an Expedition, to make every Remark, in our Power of this Nature, and can any Man be blamed for framing his Sen- timents as his Reafon direds him, after ex- amining, comparing and weighing Vvitli the utmoft Circumfpeclion fuch Remarks ? Is not this the moll natural and probable Me- thod of coming at Truth in fuch Cafes, and does not Experience flievv, that the greatcffc and moft valuable Difcovcries have been made by tliefc Pvicans ? Or if Fads of a contrary Nature liad occurred to our Obser- vation , Vw'ould they not have been urged by fuch as oppofed this Defign, to prove the Suppofition of a Wellern Ocean abfurd or improbable ? The next thing to be confidercd, is the Face and Appearance of the Country j fioni whence alfo fome probable Conjeclures may be made ; fincc we know from Experience, I tl:at \ "\ W^i 304 7^e hajl Expedition in that mofl Countries in the World, which lie between two Seas, have a Ridge of Hills, or high Mountains in the middle, and a Dcfcent on each Side towards the Coafts, and this fo far as we had any Opportunity of obferving it, is a(5lually the Cafe here ; and the plair.efl: View we ever had, which was in our Pafluge up Wager-Bay^ gave us the mofV convincing Proof in thisRefpedl; for at our firft: Entrance of the Bay, the Land was but low, yet fwelled by Degrees, one Moun- tain rifing behind arother : Wiien we ad- vanced confiderably up the Bay, wc could plainly difcern, that there was a re- gular Declenfion on the other Side, and the whole appeared to our View not unlike the Drafts of the IJlhmus of DarieUy which conneds North and South America, This alfo correfponds exadly with the Accounts that have been given at the Fac- tories, by the Southern Indians^ who con- ilantly affirm that a great Ocean lies but at a fmall Diflance from their Country, to- wards the Sun's fetting, in waiich they have feen Ships, and on board them Men having large Beards and wearing Caps. Nay fornc of thefe L;dia?2s^ vvbo never had feen an Englifi Ship ha R( lels he t.ie. V as a ns the Dobbs ajid California. 305 have drawn tlic Fi;!;nre of one vpon tiie Rocks at Chun Li II, which will appear leis wonderful to the int; Ui'^ent Reader, if he confiders, t'^'^t- *' -8 p^'.^uivi, vji n^pTfcnt- ing the I ''^^nel.-: oa O'uicCLb, Lh-it t'lrpriiiC tiiem, i: a Thing natural tt. mof! Natic-*, V. A have no<- u^.ined the bfc of l,t*tcr? ; as appes-s by vvhat the Spanij': Iliftorian U:\h US .A the Indians in Alexico, fending to thf.ir Emperor Montezuma tl:e Rcprefentation of Ferdinand Cortez^ his Sliips and Men, whea they firfl arrived upon their Coails. To this give me le..ve to add, what Sir ^ohit Narborough tells us of the Savages near the Streights of Magellan, who made the Fi- gure of his Ship, with Earth and Biidics, and fluck up Pieces of Sticks for Mafls, which he imagined they did, to p-eferve the Remembrance of their having iczn it ; for, fays he, very judicloufl , tl'ey cannot have any Records but by Imitation. If therefore thofe Savages did if, why might not thefe ? And if thefe Lidians could paint a Ship, they mud certainly have feeii it. Others again hi;ve brought down to the Fadlories white Srdt, which tl.ty afir- med was made by the Fkat oC the Sun on the Rocks, upon t!c Coafts of the other X Ocean. !■=■ .U»:.. 300 T'he Lajl Expeditio?t in Ocean. 1 have joined thefeTcflimonies to- gether, beciiufe they flrengthen and con- firm each other, and in a Cafe of this Na- ture, I cannot fee what better Evidence we can have, than the Face or Appearance of the Country, explained by the Voice of its Inhabitants. But after all that has been faid, it muft be allowed, that if our Conjcdlurjs were ever lo true, they would amount to no more than affording a probable Proof of this Country's having a Sea on both Sides, and make nothing for a Paflige, from one Sea the other, which is wliat we are princi- pally concerned about 3 for if there be no Palliigc, or if that PaiTage be a very long one, in a very high Northern Latitude, or very difficult, and encumbered, our Dif^ covery migiit be thought of very little Con- fequence ; and tho' perhaps it would not be difficult to fliew, that this Conclufion would be hafly and ill grounded, becaufe many Advantages might arife to the Trade of this Nation, from the finding a ffiort Pailige from one Sea to tl;e ether, over Land, yet not to infift upon this for tl^^e prefcnt, I iball proceed to offi^T, wliat to me appears to be the cl-Jiircll and moil cnn- viiiLii;'' Ml a J tha Til der did Pafl min tern mad fent new whei that Navi niucl: As depcn is abii to the be fail other\^ might felt by my Int Abiliut tion of feveral m iV\ % m 3<^7 2S tO- con- sNa- ce we ice of of its ; mud i were to no of this ss, and )ne Sea princi- be no :ry long ude, or r Di(^ Ik Con- not be clufion becaufe Trade a ftiort |:r, over I for t'.c ^Ivat to viUc.i;;^ l/jc Dobbs a;u^ CuHfornia. vincing Proofs, not only that there is fiich a Paflagc from one Sea to the other, but that it is fliort, open and commodious. This may appear fomethin^ (Grange, confi- dering that we confcfs that we have no diftindt Knowledge of tiie Place, where this Paflage lies ; but when the Reader has exa- mined what we have to offer, he will de- termine for himfelf iiow far this Promife is made good j and all I dcfire of him at pre- fent is, to confuier that the Difcovery of a new World, was much more improbable, when Colutnbus attempted and accomplidied that Difcoveiy, and that Cofmograpiiy and Navigation have fince that Tims been very much improved. A s the Proofs tliat we have promifed, depend entirely on the Dodrine of Tides, it is abfoluiely ntceffary ihat before we come to the Proofs themf-^lves, fomething {liould be faid upon tliis Subjcdl in general ; for otherwile, how certain foever thefe Piools mi^ht be, the Force of them would not be felt by the Reader. It is however far from my Intention, as indeed it is far beyond my Abiliiies, to enter into a general Explana- tion of the Caufes of Tid.s, and of tb.e feveral Variations to which thev are fub- X 2 jccl 5 M .1 i^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^ ;/4^ <#■:> K c^ 1.0 I.I 1^ 128 mil 2.5 ■^ !■■ Ill 2.2 !f 1^ |||||2^ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 „ (,'• ► V2 ^ /a / V y -^^*- Photographic Sdences Corporation ^ ¥' ,^ \ s i\ V \ % V 6^ .J n? 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 3 mi i'TI.' 08 Toe T.rj} E'cpedition in jed ; Y-.i-. what I prc^^oie is, ^^ t-^l^.e Notice olI) of a few Points, which arc gCiicrally known to, and ackr.owledged by Seamen, without the Knowledge of which, it woi:ki be impoflible for them to manage their Vcf- fels, and from their conftant Obfervation and Pradice of which, they have all the Cer- tainty about them, that is requifite to render them fit Topicks of reafoning, in a Cafe of this Nature. In the firft Place then, it is certain, that Tides are propagated from the great Ocean, or general CoUedtion of Waters, into particular Seas, in Proportion to the Ncarnefs and (3penncfs of thofe Seas to the Ocean, from whence the Tides come. It is for this Reaion, that fuch as are called In- land Seas, which have either no vifible Communication with the Ocean, or only a fingle and fmall PafTage into it, have fcarce any Tides ; or in other Words, the Tide in fuch Seas is hardly perceptible : As for In- flance, in the Mediterranean, which flews from Weft to Eaft ; and through the Straits 0^ Gibraltar, there is no fenfible Tide at all ^ it may, perhaps, increafe a little, but in the main it is not difcernable, except in the Gulph of Venice, where there is a fmall Agitation perceived, that may be afcribed J to OtlCC rally men, 70i:ld Vef- ,'ation ; Cer- •ender ;aie of , it is m the Waters, :o the to the le. It lied In- vifible only a ; fcarce ride in for In- flows Straits at all i in the in the fmall fcribed to the Dohbs ^W California. 309 to the Length and N.irrownefs of tlie Way, which in the broad'^.r Parts of the Mediter- ranean is no where perceptible ; and even that is i^ovcrncd by particular Winds. The Flux and Redux of the Sea was therefore unknown to tlie Grcciajis^ except the irregular Current at the Euripiis ; and for this Reafon the Army of Alexander tliC Great was fo much a (ioniflied at the Ebb- ing of the Sea, in the Mouth of tlic River IndiiSy that they took it for a Prodigv. Tke Ro^iians alfo were unacquainted witli Tidics in the Time o'i Sciplo Ajricanu^ \ but after the Wars with Carthczc^ their Knowledcre, xw more exten- ic; » 6 as well as their Conque five. I mention thcfc Inliances to fati^fy the Reader of the Truth of this particular Fact, that Tides are infcnfible in Inland Seas J for if they had not been io^ we may be very fure, that fo inquifitive and learned a Nation as the Greeks, and fo thinkir.g, and fo judicious a People as the Rorruvis^ could not have been ignorant of them, or of their Caufes j and that they were ignorant, Gippears from th'.ir Surprize, at their fh-fl Acquaintance with thenJ. The fame Thing tliat is faid of the Mediterranean^ may be ?Jfo faid of tlie Baltick, and for the fame X 3 Caufc ^ i ' iiif ' IP 1 1 i-i; ■i rtf ,• 310 The Lajl Expeditio7t in Canfc J and in fliort of every Inland Sea, with which we are at all acquainted. In the next Place, there is nothing better known, with Regard to Tides, than that this undeniable Maxim in Philofophy takes Place in them, that the nearer the Caufe, the Wronger the Eifc(!T: j that is to fay, the Tides are higher and eai licr in Places, at a fmall Didance from the Ocean, and lower and later in thofcat a greater Dillance, as is very evident from the regular Progrefs of the Tide along the Coafts of Great- Brit aiii : Thus at the Full and Change it is High Water at Tinmouth- Bar^ at Three in the Morning; from thence rolling Southward, it makes High Water at Spurn a little after Five ; but not till Six at 7:7/i7/, bccaufe of the Time required for its Puflage up tlie Ilumbcr. In Tarmoiith- Rctius, it is Hi^Ji Water a little after Ei2;ht ; at Harwich^ at half an Hour after Ten ; at the Nore^ at Twelve ; at Grave/end^ at half an Hour paft OiiC ; and at London^ at Three the fame Day. I;i like mr.nner, Tides rife higher or lov/er, at the fame Time, open d-'fllrent P^rts of tl-e Coail, in Proportion to their Dill nccs from the Ocean. It is alf) ol^fervu I, that ilrong Vvinds, blowing v^lth the TiJe, raife it liiiiliCf is ^ %\:* 311 IX at or its wutJo- at t half 7, at nner, fame il, ill the •on ty lie It ihcf il //5^ Dobbs and California. higher than, according to the ordinary Rules, it ought to rife j and high Winds, contrary to the Tide, retard or deprcfs it. Thefe plain and general Principles btinj^ laid down, we will now endeavour, by the Help of them, to dilcover what we ou;2;ht to think of Hudjhz's-Bay, from the Ohler- vations that have been made of the TiJcc upon the leverd Parts of its Coads. 1 N the fi'd Place, 1 mufl tai>:c leave to oblcive, that for any thing yet knuv/n, if W'c '. X lude a C )mmunicu;tion throui^^h a INi^rth Wed P^liage with the South Sco, Hudjon's Bay may be as judly Ailed -.m In- land Sea, as the Nhdittrraucan ; and \vith iTiOrt Propriety thai, the Baltick ; fince it has no other Comnuinicatioii with the Ocean, than by Hudjons-S traits. I know very well, that it is commonly fnppofed, that Hudjons-Bay cuinmunicatts with Baf- fin^-Bay and Davis' s-Straiti ; and I am very fenfible that in many if not in mod Maps, it is laid down fo ; but upon what Authority this is adlrted on one Side, or reprefented on the other, I mud iii'elycon- fefs my lejioiance ; tho' if it were io, my Arguments mud full have their Weifdit ; but 'till it is proved lb, I tbiiik there is no X 4 Reafoa 1 1 ill 1 i!l;:i ti! ' i^ , m' 312 77je hajl EDCpedition in Reafon to admit it, and therefore I repeat it, that if there be no North-Weft Paflage, Hudfon s-Bay is, and ought to be confidered as, an Inland Sea. Yet I muH; obfcrvc, that I do not pretend to lay, that becaufe it is as much an Inland Sea as the Mediterranean^ it ought to have no Tide ; becaufe as Hudfon* s-Str aits are wide, and as tliis Bay is extended from Eafl to Wef]-, it is very reafonable to fnppofe, that the Tides fliould be very perceptible 3 but then they ought to be fuch as may in other Rcfpeds conlifi with that Caufe, from which they are fuppofed to be derived ; or in other Words the Tide in Hudfon s-Bay mud be fuch a Tide as might be propagated from tlie Ocean, through Hudjon's-Straits • and if it be not fuch a Tide, the Reader will eafily fee, that there cannot be any thing more irrational or abfurd, than to infift upon this Caufe ; and that it is very little lefs ab- furd to have Recourfe to the Suppofltion of frozen Straits, and other occult Caufes, iu order to defeat or difcourage our Search after the true Caufe. This is all I defire to be granted me, and this, I think, no reafonable or ingenuous Enquirer after Truth will think £t to deny me. repeat iflage, idered retend Inland ) have its are n Eall re, that e ; but 1 other which or in IS- Bay )agated traits ; er will thing upon fs ab- :ion of Ifes, iu Ih after to be mablc will the Dol>!3S a?i'I California. 313 To come then to the Point, it was held requifite in the •. H: flxpedition, antl a Ke- folution to that Furpofe was infcrtcd in an Act of Council, to try the Tide at Cary- Sivan's-Neji^ which is near Hudfojis-Straits^ and where if the Tide came from the Ocean through them, it ought to be highefl ; but this was not done, and therefore we mud rely on the Account given us by Capt* FoXy who informs us, that upon Tryal, it was found to rife iix Feet, We will now compare this with the Obferva- tlons made in the laft Expedition. I tryed the Tide upon an Illand in the Lati- tude of 62^. 2'. North, and found it rife ten Feet, I likewife tryed it in the Lati- tude of 65'\ on the Weft Coaft of the /FJ- come^ where it rofe thirteen Feet, and to the Northward of this, it rofe feventeen Feet, which is a very clear Proof, that this Tide could not be caufed by that, which is propagated through Hudfojis-S traits out of the Ocean ; for if the Tides in thofc La- titudes had been from that Caufe, they muft have been proportionably lower than the Tide at Gary- Swans- Neji ; and as on the contrary, they are much higher all ^long the Welcome^ it is utterly irreconcile- able 11. 1 1 ' !! { ■ . 1 1 ..(■•) w^' 314. 77je hajl Expedition in able to Senfe and Experience, that a Tide flowing fo far, filling fo many Bays, and meeting with fo many Obflrudions, fliould rile higher and higher ^ but what carries t « to a Degree of Demonftration, is the Obfervations that have been made of the Height of the Tide in the Atlantic Occan^ before it enters Hudfon's-St raits ; for there i^ 'las been found to rife five Fathoms, whereas a little within the Bay, it hardly rifes two Fathoiijs, It would be ncedlefs to infifl farther upon this, fince nothing that can be faid would contribute to make it clearer, unlefs it be, that thofe who deny the Communication between Hudjons-Bay and the South Sea^ are forced to have Re- cou.fe to an undifcovered Strait, fuppofed to lead from Bajfji's-Bay into //. 'dJhis-Bav ; which is a plain Admiiiion, that the Tides in the JVeico7?:e^ are not to be accounted for, from the Communication witlj the yitiantic Ocean, throus^li the Straits of Hiidfon : In Anfvver to which, for the prefent, there is ins more, than th; fay any we are not bound to confider this Caufe, 'till that Strait Hiall be difcuvered, and when thdt will be nobody can tell ; but as I hinted be- fore, th:>' v^c are not bound to give any other Tide and lould arries s the f the kcan^ there loms, mrdly ;edlefs Dthing make ) deny 'S'Bay t Re- pofed -Bay ; Tidca d for, [antic 7 . In I ere is it we 'till n that he- any lothcr I 5? the Dobbs a?id California. 315 other Anfvver, yet hereafter a more fatisfac- tory Anfvver rtiall be c^iven. We will next confider the Time of High Water, and the Direflion of the Tides ; for having now fhewn that the Height of them alone, is a Proof fuftkient that they cannot be propagated through Hitdfofi'i^ Straits^ from the Atalantic Ocean, it bj- comes reafonable fo to order our E ^I'lirie^ as that we may know from whence they come, I muft therefore obfcivc, that upon trying the Tide, in the Latitude of 62^. 2'. the flmie Tryal was made, and the Flood found to come from t'le North w;.rd, making High Water at tivo of the Clock. AtC.pv.F>jy, 64.''. 30'. Nuitn,upon trying tlie Tide, I found it cane from the Nortliward, according to t t Diiedion of tlic Coafl-, and the Time of High Water, at Full and Change, was at three of ilie Clock. In the Latitude of 65". North, the fame Tryal was made, and the Tide was ftill found to come from> the Ps^orthward. If tlierefore anv \^Ajr mentcanbeformed, either from theDii 'lion. or fro! )m the i 1 «■>-; a l i I 1. z o f the Tide in t!;efc Parts of lliidihi s-Liv\ it is moH: evident. V that ii; coriKS ixowt tlie North r.nd North WeO, but c '\\ ncv T o I* r^t-y.^-yy fik t- onve rroi t ii<- y i 7/^,7-. f^. v^' <» ^ II t > ;or uicii hi aavdncuvx uuo ni;;hcr c> 1. i i Il:*.i 316 I'he Laji Expcditicii {^ Latitudes, High Water would be later .r^.d later, whereas the Reader will obfcrvc, that \vc found it to he juil the contrary. I T is very probable, that tl^.is Dirediori of the Tide might hrft occafion that Opi- nion, which has prevailed of Hud fen' S" BaVy communicating with a Northern Ocean, through Bajfins-Bay^ and Davis's- Straits \ which long ago, and before this Bay was fo well known, miglit be well enough cxcufcd; but at prefent, when thefe Things are fo much better underilood, to talk of thefe, is irrational ; and to infill either on frozen or unknown Straits, is not quite io pardonable; for if occult Qualities are juflly baniHicd out of Phiiofophy, all fuppo- fitious Caufes fl:iould be exploded, in Cafes of this Nature, where they can never ferve any other Purpofe, than hiding Ignorance, or obfcuring Truth. Now to avoid any Im* rutation of this Sort, and to fulfil the Promife formerly made the Reader, it fhall be clearly Hiewn, that the Tides cannot come from Bajjins-Bay^ or Da^i^is's-^Strait, We are af- furcd, that in the former, the Tide rofe hardly fix Feet ; and Ba§i?i himfelf, in his Lctter to Sir Jcbn IVolftonholmc^ fays exprelly, that ia Davis s-Str aits ^ tlic Tides keep a certain y , that Opi- dfcns" rtliern e this ; well 1 thefe od, to citlier quite es are ^uppo- Cufes : feive ranee, y Im* 'omilQ :!early from ire af- lardly Letter , that crtaiii curie. t/je Dcbbs anJ California. 317 Conrfe, yet rife but a fmill Ikight, as eight or niiie Feet, and t\vi FI )od comes from the Soutl^v/arti ; now as all Tides in goin[>; from tlie Ocean, w!iich is tlieir Source, graduidly dccrcafc, by filling Bays and Inlets in their PaHage ; it is very cleai* that if the Tide rofe to three Fathoms in Bafjins-Bay^ it could not, even fuppoAng a Communication, r;d(e the Water in the WelcCiiie one F.iti^om. Tliis therefore can- not be the Caufe, {'a\zq, the Effecll is not only greater than this Cuufe could produce, but even greater than the Caufe itfelf ; vvliich is a n^ianifcll Abfurdity. We may add to thds, that according to all the Ac- counts we have of the Tides in the Nor- thern Seas, as on the Coads o^ Nova Zcmbla^ Spitzbergen and Grocnland, they are lower than we adually found them in the //->/- come J fo that either we muft relinquidi all the Principles of Knowledge, that the Sagacity of the wifeft Men, joined to the conftant Experience of the ableft Seamen, have in a long Courfe of Time eftablidied, or we mufc reject this Notion of the Tides coming from Davis' s-Straits through Baf^ Ji?is-Bay, into Hudfons -Norib-Bay. It .'I, \\s ii 'HI 3 1 8 ^he La [I lixpcclitio7i i?t I T may be laid, that this is a negative Argument only, and that it docs not di- retlitlv prove any Communication with the South Sca^ as was promifcd. To anfwer this, wc need only define the Reader to call: Lis Eye upon the Chart, and fatibfy hin-jltlf, whether if this Tide comes not from the Atlantic or the Northern Ocean, it can come From any other Source than the Sotit/j Sea, or from thence by any other Means than through a North Well PalTage ; yet to fliew tliat this Truth wants not any kind of Proof, that can be alked for, wc will not reft this Part of our Caufe upon an Anfwer, which tho' conclufive in itfelf may not feem to be fuch a one, as might have been cxpedlcd ; but proceed farther, and produce inconteft- gble Evidence, in fupport of what we ailert. This is furnilhed by a Faffl certiiied under the Hands of all Wiho were Members of the Council, in the laft Expedition, which is, that North Weft Winds make the higheft Tides every where upon thefc Coaftp. Now thi?, which I venture to fiy, is a Fad: out of all doubt, renders it clear that ilicle high Tides cannot come from the Atlantic Ocean, through tl:.e Straits of Htidjon i for if they did, a South Eaft Wind would * ^19 ^ativc )t di- 1 the nfwer ler to fatibfy :s not an, it South s than rticw Proof, \ this which to be acd ; itefl- idert. under icrs of vhich the Dobbs and California. ^ would make them highefl: ; from the Prin- ciple before laid down, that a Wind, blow- ing with the fame Dircdion, as the Tide raifes it, and a North Weft Wind would be fo far from doing this, that it would actu- ally retard and deprefs it, as being oppofue to it's Diredtion ; and as we know by Ex- perience the contrary of this to be true, we ought to conclude, that the Tide comes from a Weflern Ocean, fince there is no other Way of accounting for this Wind's making the higheft Tides. Neithx::r ought it to be edeemed any Objedion to this, that the Weiiern Ocean, or South Sea, lies behind, or at the Back of thefe Countries, and that therefore it might be expedted a South Eafl Wind (hould make the highefl Tide, by driving the Waves upon the oppolite Shore. I fay neither ought this Opinion to have Weight, becaufe it is no more than a F.illacy eafily difcoverable by Reafon, and capable of be- in^ (liewn fuch from Experience. Firfl then as to Reafon j that Wind raifes the Tide highefl:, which blows with the fame Diredion as the Flood, and this in what- ever Diredion the Coart: may lie upon which the Tide rifes j becaufe fuch a Wind brings 9 320 The Laf^ Expedition in brings with it a great Q u ity of Water, which alone can n.iike the Fiov:^ higher. The fame Thing we learn from Exoeri- encc, upon the Ealt CoaH: of England^ tho* the Ga-man Sea Hes to the Faflward ; yet North Weft Winds make the higheft Tides, bccaufe the vafl Ocean from v hence they are propaoated, hes on that Side. Tiie Didicuity it.trcfurc tl rown in the way by this Objedlion, is fo plainly folved, that I may now fafely propofe it, as it has been explained by a matter of Fad:, with which every Seaman is acquainted, as a new Proof; for without doubt, if a candid and able Judge of thefe Matters was to have the Thing dated to him, from the Chart of Huilfons-Bay, with a North Weft Paftage open through it, ar^ci was to be afkcd wliat Wind muii: occai'ion tlie higheft Tide" ? he would certainly anfwer a North Weft j and therefore as the Fadl is, that a North Weft Wind raiies the higheft Tides, on both S'des the Bay, it is, as I have faiJ, an- other and indeed a moft convincing Argu- ment, that this Tide comes from the Weft- ern Ocean, whichisthat we con:inionly call the South Sea, Bur /atcr, igher. /tho' ; yet I ides, ) they Trie ay by that I ; been which Proof; ,d able .ve the lart of alTage d wl-at idv ^ ? Weft ; North es, on J, an- Argu- Weft- (ly call But f/je Dobbs and Califc '2 "^ 1 oe i^oDDs a^ia v^aiirornia. But there want not ether Anninients befides this j and becr-ufe the Apprehenfions of Men, are as difKr.nt as their Tdftes, it may not be amifs to meniion fomc of them ; notwithftanding what we have already faid, isabfblutely conclufivc ; yet, tor the Sikc of Brevity, I will take Notice only of three* Tiie firft is the Clearnefs and Saltnefb of the Water in the JFekomCy wldch when I trvi j the Tide at Cape Fry was fuch, tluii I could ainlv fee to the Bottom, at ti^,e D^Dth of P eleven Fathom, or Iixty fix Feet. Every Body knows, that Djepnefs, Tranrp.uency and Sahnefs, are inconfiftent with the No- tion of a Sea, filled with the Difchuige of Rivers, melted Siiov/, and R dn j and as flrongly argue a Communication witli the Ocean, as any thing can do. Tiu (ccond Pvca- fon arifes from the llronii Currtiiis thr.t let through it, and keep it clear from Ice, fo that it is a fettled and indifputcrl F.idl, that the Northern Part of the B.iy, is peifetSlly free and open, when the Southern is much embarrallld with Ice ; or, in otlxT Words, there is very little Ice to be met wiih in the Latitude of 64". or 65°. tho' irj the Lr.ti- HI de of an( 53 o the Sea i^ miicii incum- bered wich it. Now whence theic » I. 1 Cur- 32 7. The Laji Expedition in Currents (liould come, that let with fuch Rapidity through the Bay, unlefs from a Weflern Ocean, is infcrutable. The third Rfafon, and the lafl: that I fliall mention, is the Number of Whales, that are feen here more efpecially in the latter End of Sum- mer ; when it is very well known, that all that Kind of Fifli retire into warmer Cli- mates, and confequemly it may be fairly prefumcd, that thefe refort hither for that Purpofe ; and if fo, there muft be a PafTage, and that not into a Northern, but a Weftera Ocean j for Inflindt in thofe Animals, is an unerring Guide. We have now gone through the greateft Part of our Work, with as much Plainnefs and Perfpicuity, as the Subjedl would per- mit : We have (hewn, that there is the highefl probability, from the Climate, the Produce, and the Appearance of the Coun- try, on the Weft Side of Hudfons-Bay ; that, as it has Part of the Atalantic on one Side, it has alfo the South Sea on the other : We have fliewn from the Height of the Tides, that this is almoft certain ; and from the Time in which they happen, the Direc* tion of them, and the Influence of the Winds upon them, that it is abfolutely fo j and the Dobbs and California. 323 and that there is no accounting for thefe,^ but by allowing a Communication between the Waters in the Welcome^ and thofe in the South Seas, by a North Weft Paflage. It remains only to (hew where this PalTage may be reafonably expedted, and what Rea- fons can be affigned to incUne our Belief, that this Paffage, wherever it lies, is fhort, open, and commodious; but in explaining this, v/e muft begin with the latter Part, becaufe by that only, we can be dired:ed to the former. I N the firft Place then, it feems highly probable, that this Paflage is not very far to the Northward ; becaufe there is no mountainous Ice found in the Welcome^ or in Repulfc^Bay, as there is m White-Bear- Bay^ LumlefS' Inlet ^ Baffin's- Bay ^ or D^- vis's- Straits ; which therefore fcem to be- long to another Continent, that lies either under or near the Pole. Another Reafon that proves the fame Thing, is the Height of the Tides, v^rhich, as we before obferved, no Way refemble thofe in the Northern Seas, which at Nova Zembia rife only one Fathom, and not about half that Height at Spitzbergen ; that this Paffage, wherever it may lie, is fliort, may be proved by many Arguments ^ for firft, we find no large Ri* y 2 ver9 3^4- ^^^ ^^fi Expedition in vers on the Well; Coaft of Hudfon" s-Bay ; hut, on the contrary, very weak and fmall^ which is a diretft Proof that they do not run far, and confcquently that the Land is not of any great Extent, which feparates the two Seas. In the next Place, the Strength and Regularity of the Tides, is another very flrong Argument 5 for where we find Tides ebbing and flowing, nearly equal Time, fa- ving the DifFerencc occafioned by the Moon's coming later to the Meridian, every twenty- four Plours, it is efteemed a Mark of being near that Ocean, from whence fuch Tides fpring ; and indeed it is one of the fureft and mod certain Marks we have. There is a third Reafon, and I will mention no more j and that is, the Refort of the Whales hither ; for conlidering the Seafon in which they are found here in greateft Numbers, it is impoffible to conceive they (hould have Time to pafs into warmer Climates, if the PalTage, through which they pafs, be not very fliort. All thefe Arguments taken to- gether, fortify and fupport each other, and may be looked upon as fo many concurring Tcdimonies, in Favour of the fame Truth. If this Paflage be not far to the Northward, which the Dobbs and California. 325 which the Reafons already afllgned, feein clearly to prove that it is not ; and if for the Caufes before mentioned, we have good Reafon to conclude, that it is but (hort ; we may from thence prefume, that it is both open and commodious, which is far- ther manifefted by the ftrong Currents fet- ting through it, which is the Reafon that there can be no Ice in it. Laying therefore all thefe Circumftances together, I think it muft be allowed, that there is nothing wila or chimerical, in the endeavourins; to difcover it ', and that confidering the Pains taken in, and the Lights obtained from the laft Expedition, it cannot with any Shadow of Juftice be ftiled fruidefs, tho' as to the ultimate Intention of it without Succefs. We might add to this, that various other great Defigns have been fully carried into Execution, after repeated Difappointments, and contrary to the Sentiments of very know- ing and intelligent Perfons, whofe Opinioiis happened to be warped by the Share thty had in t' ofe Difappointments. I WILL give but one Infiance, and that only, becaufe it feems to be in a i^rtat Mea- fure parallel to this. Tiitre were Hrpcs lou^ entertained of findino- a I\fi ;.:;e into Mil- 326 ^The haft 'Expedition in the South Seas^ by advancing along the Coafts of Brazil^ and fo to the Countries beyond the River of Plate ; and various Trials wers made with this View, till at length jimericus Fefpucius^ (from whom the new World has received its Name) and who without doubt was both an able Sea- man, and an excellent Cofmographer, was fent into thefe Parts, and he advanced very far to the South, even to the Height, as fome fay of fifty two Degrees, but difco- vering no Paflage, he concluded there could be none ; which however was difproved by Ferdinand Magellan^ who difcovercd and pafTed thoie Straits, which very defervedly bear his Name, and will preferve his Me- mory as long as the World lafts. When thefe Straits were difcovered, it was taken for granted, th^t they were the only Paflage into the South Seas^ and therefore the King of Spain intended to have built a City, and a Fortrefs in them, to prevent other Nations from pafling by that new Courfe to the Eaft Indies, The Dutch however difco- vered the Vanity of tliis, by finding a Paf- fage round Cape Horn j which (hews, that after many fruitlefs Attempts, not one Paf- fage only, but many may be difcovered ^ which A- Le- the Dobbs ^W California. 327 which very poflibly may prove the Cafe in Hiidfon's-Ba)\ (ince fome very probable Con- jedtcres might be offered, that there may be feveral PafTages, communicating with each other. And Capt. Fox long ago fuggefled, that there might be even an open Sea, as at Cape Finmarke , nor hi.'^ this hitherto been difproved. After what has been faid, it cannot be expe<5led that I fhould enter, with any De- gree of Pofitivenefs, into afligning the Place where any Paflage is to be found j and I d.ire fay the Reader would not form a better Notion of my Judgment, from my infift* ing peremptorily upon fuch a Thing, bc- caufe in Matters oF this Nature, the wifeft and mod Knowing Men may be deceived, and fome very fenfible and fagacious Perfons have been fomewhat miftaken about it al- ready ; it may therefore be thought fuffi- cient for me to point out, from my own Experience, what induces me to believe, that fuch a Paflage there is 5 and to offer my Conjedlures, as to the Places where, with feme Probability, it may be fought, tho' very poffible another Voyage may dif- cover the Paffage elfewhere, or at lead Places not hitherto examined 5 which may V 4 afford '5ri 38 T'he Laji Expsditiojt in nfford us Ail. fairer, and more rational PJopes. Thefc Things I premife, that it may not be thought any EfFcd: of Pre- poilcirion, or of Confii!ence, that I prefume to take Notice of two Places, in each of .which, I think, a PafHige may be fought upon very rational Ground?, and with very good Effcds. I N the firfl Place, I muft obferve, that from the Report made of a confiderable In-. let in the Latitude of 64"". which I called Chtfter fie Id's Inlet, I have been induced to have very great Expedations. Thofc who fcarched it affirmed, that the Ebb run very flroDt! from the Weftvvard for ei<2;ht Ilours ; whereas it r';.n up but two; and with a Motion incomparably flower. They likewife affirmed, that at the Diflance of ninety ?4ilcs from the PZntrance, the Water, tho', freflicr than the Ocean, had yet a very (Irong Degree of SaItncf^ ; now if there was 1^0 palTape, and the Water ran down ei^ht IIour>, at the P^ate of fix Mile? an liour ; and ran up oi-Jy two Hour?, at the Rate of two Miles an Hour, the Water oucrht to have been pcrfedly fredi ; fiuce as no Salt Water went np ibr more than two Hours, none ought lo have coaie down after two . ' Hours very .our ; ite of U to Sak ours, twa lours the Dobbs a?id California. 329 Hours Ebb, even if the Ebb had been as flow as the Flood j but as it was much rjpre rapid, it ought to have been frelh fboner. It is certain, that if a Tide of "Fiood had been niet coming from the Wefl- ward, it would have afforded an incc^iteft- able Proof of a PafTage 5 yet the Tide from the Eaft ward, docs rot prove the contrary 5 flnce in the Magellan »Jrraits, as the accurate Sir John Narborough tell us, the Tide flows half way up from the Eaftward, and is there met by a Flood from the Weft or pacific Ocean. I might add many other Reafons, to (hew the Probability of a PafTage here ; but I wave them to avoid laying a Founda- tion for new Difputes, which, after all that can be faid about it, mud be left to the De- termination of another Tryal, under the Direclion of Men, fkilful in Navigation, careful in their Obicrvations, and attentive to the Lights, that may be derived to them from Remarks made upon the Spot, which muft enable them cither to find what they leek, or to accou n t for ihefe Appearances with- out a Prifilige i which in itfelf would be a very Angular Difcovery, and one from whence many Advantages might be derived by cor- roding thofe Notions that have been long, and ^^0 Tthe Laji Expedition ir^ and are ftill generally, entertained of thefir Matters. The other Place I would mention, is Repulfe-Bay ', and the Reafons that may ex- cite the Hopes r^ a Paflage here, are thofc that have been k "ten mentioned 5 that is, the Depth, Saltnefs and Tranfparency of the Water, together with the Height of the Tide, propagated from thence j all which are Circumftances that fcem flrongly to countenance fuch an Expedation. I WOULD not be underftood to mean an abfolutc Expectation of finding the FafTage here, but a very great Probability of ap- proaching flill clofer to the Difcovery 5 by tracing it as it were to its Source or Foan-^ tain Head. I am very fenfible, that this is an obfcure and, in fome Meafure, an im- proper Expreflion ; to obtain Pardon for which from the Reader, I will endeavour to fet this Thought in a clearer Light, We may confider Hudfon's-Bayy as a kind of Labyrinth, into which we enter on one Side through Hudforfs-StraitSy and what we aim at, is to get cut on the other Side. We might indeed hope to do this, by repeated Experiments) that is, by making Tryal after Tryal, till the Outlet is found j but this will I be ►f thefr tion» is nay ex- re thofc that is, ency of It of the which ngly to nean an PafTage of ap- ery 5 by >r Foan-* t this is an im- don for avour to t. We kind of one Side we aim e. We repeated yal after this will I be the Dobbs and California. 331 be both a painful, tedious and unfatisfa^flory Mctliod, in which Patience alone, without any Mixture of Parts, would fometime or other do the Bufinefs, but nobody could pretend to fay when. But then, let us con- fider how many Marks of a Paflagc have been already dcfcribed and explained, and let us farther remember, that the Tide is a Kind of Clue, which feems to lead us by the Hand through all the Windings and Turnings of this Labyrinth, and if Audi- cufly and fteadily followed mud certainly lead us out. Now the Tide rifing very high and coming from the Northward in Re^ pulfe-Bay^ as it is called, but without any Reafon, is a juft Motive for our making another Tryal there, which would undoubt- edly fhew us more, if it did not (hew us all. This I hope will make my meaning perfedly clear, and juftify all that I contend for; which is the Profecution of this Search, till a PafTage is found, or the Arguments in Favour of it anfwered, by fome other Difcovery. I MIGHT add fcveral other Arguments here, relative both to the Place, and to the Subjedl ; but I (hall forbear them, in order to jjtiake Room for an Argument, which I think of -^' / s 332 7^^ hajl Expedition in of all others the mod conclufivc. We liave now, in a long Couiic of Years, been flat- tered with the Hopes of finding a North Weft PafTage j which Men of ['/eat Abili- ties, and extenfivc Kno'vledj^e, with Re^^ard o > both to Speculation and Pradice, have ef- teemed probable, and produced many plaii- fible Arguments, at leaft, to make it appear fo. Many Expeditions have been made in Search of this fo much delircd PafHige ; and if on the one Hand they have mifcarried in the great Point of finding it, they have not on the other made any fuch Difcoveries, as with fenfible and unprejudiced People have overturned the Force of the Reafons urged to prove a PafTage ; but on the contrary ba^^e fortified and confirmed them, as ap* pears by the laft Refolution, produced in the fecond Part of this Work. By thefe repeated Trials, we have certainly advanced nearer and nearer to the main Point -, and another Expedition, properly condu(fted. can- not fail of producing an abfolute Certainty whether there is fuch a PafTage or not ; and fincc this is a Thing out of Difpute, it feems to be incompatible with our Reputation, as a, Maritime Power, as well as inconfilicnt v/ith our Interefls, as a trading Nation, to aban'ioii n Vq liave ;cn flat- North t Abili- Rcgard lave ef- y plaii- ; appear nadc in ;e ; and rried in lave not ;ries, as le have is urged ontrary as ap* ced in thefe vanced |t 5 and . can- rtainty 5 and feems |on,, as n, to lan'ioii the Dobbs ajid California. 333 abandon a Dcfign, that has been profecutcd fo far, and wants fo little, fo very little, of being complcated. I PEG leave to add to this, that we ought alfo toconfidcr, how injurious it might prove to the Trade, as well as to the Charadter of the BritiJJo Nation, if, after pudiinj^ this Point fo fiir, Foreigners (hould reap th« Profit of all our Pains and Labour; and by the Help of the Lights that we have affor- ded them, find out this new Way to the South ScaSy and to the EaJI-IndieSy which if it can be found, licb at prefent fo much in our Power, not to difcover only, but to be- come Mafters of it j and tho' cxclufivc Com- merce is often deftruiflive and dangerous, in the Hands of private Perfons ; yet an exclu- five Trade has been always, and very juftly efteemed of the highefl Advantage to a Nation, of which many Inftances might be given, if that which we enjoy to our own Plantations, did not fo clearly and incontef- tably efiablifli this, as to render all other Proofs altogether unnecelfary. But before we part with this Remark, it will not be amifs to add, that there feems to be the greater Foundation for thefe Apprelicnfions, from that vifible Spirit of extending Com- merce. •■ \ 334 ^^ Lajl Expsdition in mercc, and promoting Difcovcrics, which fllews itfclf at prefcnt in fo many different Parts of the World ; and in fome, where but a very few Years ago, nothing of this Sort was lb much us thought of. And while the Rujjiam are with fucli Vigour and In- duftry purfuing their Attempts to find a ^'\i' fage to Atnerica^ from their Dominions i it would furely be unpardonable in us to nc- gled any thing of the fame Nature, which is fo much more in our Power. W E owe to this Spirit in other Nations, fome very encouraging Hints, as to this De- fign ; of which, as I believe it has not hi- therto reached the publick Notice, I will mention one. A Gentleman of great good Senfe, and of undoubted Veracity, not ma- ny Months fince arrived from Portugal^ af- fcrtSjthat fome fhort Time before his Depar- ture, a Perfon arrived there, who in a Voyage from a certain Dutch Settlement in the Eaji^ Indiesy whether undertaker* ioi tlic fuke of DifcovfTV, or a clandciline Trade is not either certain or material, was fliipwrecked on the North Coaft of California^ which gave him an Opportunity of obferving, that it is both an Ifland and a Peninfula \ the narrov^ and fliort Jjlbmui that joins it to the I \ t , which different , where of this id while and In- id a Pafl lions i it ; to nc- , which N'ationS, this De- not hi- , I will •at good not ma- gai, af- Dcpar- Voyage e Eaji^ \t. r.;ke is not vrecked which g, that la; the ,s it to the the Dobbs and California. 335 the Continent, being overflowed by high Tides. He farther obferved, which is a Thing very material to ourPurpofe, that the Coafts of the Continent trended dircdly North Eaft, which is a Thing we never knew with Certainty before, and which to fuch as confider it attentively, will appear no flight Argument in Favour of a North Wefl: Pafllige -, for if the Contiiicnt oi Anie* rica, joined here to that of Afki, or to any other between them, the Shore would ra» ther have twined North Weft. We may add to this, that by the overflowing of th§ JJlhmus at High Water, it is evident, that a very high and fl:rong Tide runs here, which is '\\io very conformable to what might bQ expedted in cafe of a Pafl^age, But exclufive of all this, it is a Thing of fome Confe" quence, confidered barely as a Fact that regards the Geography of a Country, which has been fo often the Subjedl of Difpute, ar4 about which Mr. De Vlfle^ one of the mo ft able Men in France^ wrote a very curious as well as particular Differtation, without, however, pretending to clear up the Difli- culty J but, on the contrary, labouring to ihew, that, at that TimCg there was no Cer^ tainty r II 1 336 7%e Laji Expedition^ '^ tainty whether California was an Ifland oi* a Peninfula, Th us the Reader fees in the narrowert Com -► pafs into which 1 could poflibly bring them, what thofe Motives are which have induced me to fpeak with fo much Aflurance of the Probability and Poflibility of determining, by another Expedition, a Point, efteemed of fuch Confequence to the Nation, as to deferve the Notice and Encouragement of the Legifla- ture; and to his candid Cenfure I fabmit them, defiring to meet with no better Treatment from the World, than the Fide- lity of my Relation, the Sincerity of my Obfervations, and the Uprightnefs of my Intentions may deferve. 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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. by errata led to jnt me p^^lure, aqon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 pi ^- f .i ^ ■ E/p /^ont eAef/it/^ , 7. :Bar/i>/f Ji:ie^ ■ '- X on (f^wr/rc^rrt I ondojx XpMoc**wr^<^w Londox}. ,-r"*^!" fy,i>ito'"''*(»fc-*"---«-*M»i' »v»»ii'i,- .-*f-''- m ^ KPcifU, ss r^a/u RT en • ;; 4S VOYAGE T O H U D S O N's-B A Y, B Y T H E Dobbs Galley and California^ In the Years 1746 and I 747j For Difcovering a ' ' North West Passage; WITH Ah accurate Survey of the Coaft, and a (hort Natural Hiflory of the Country. \'- Together With A fair View of the Fads and Arguments from which the future finding; of fuch a PaflTage is rendered probable; By HE NET ELLIS, Gent. Agent for the Proprietors in the faid ExpeditioHi ■ ^.v ■'- To which is brefixet' ^ An Hiftorical Account of the Attempts hitherto made for tiie finding a PafTage that Way to the Eajl- Indies, .. With a new and ccrreft Chart of Hud/on' s-Bay, with the Cbuntrie* adjacent. D^U B L I N: i iPrinted ^r Ceo RGE and Alexander Ewing, ai^cJrjg^li Had mic itt D.ame-Jks€U M,DC;C>XL1X4 >-i-'^— ^ ' 1. ToHis ROYAL HIGHNESS FREDERICK, P R I N C E of /^^L £ -y, afc. May it pleafe your Royal Highness, H E following Sheets have fo many ^ different Claims to your Protedlion ; ■ that I have Reafon to flatter myfclK, H you will not look upon it as a Prefump- ^^^ tion, t! at, with the mod refpeflful Humility, I offer them to your Perufal ; happy if they fhould be found worthy of your Attention, and thereby recommend to your Notice, a Subject of fuch Importance, to the Commerce of thefe Nations, as that to which they relate. I HAVE faid, that they have feveral Claims to your Royal Highnefs's Protection *, and your Good- nefs will allow me to explain the Reafons, upon which I have ventured to fay this. In the firft Place, as they tdateto aDifcovery, which, when perfected, will not only redound to the Glory of the Britijh Nation ; but will alfo prove the Means of promoting Naviga- tion, extending Trade, and encreafing our Shipping; they cannot be more properly addreffed to any than to your Royal Highnefs ; who it is well known, hath all thefe in a particular manner at heart. In the next, permit me to put your Royal High- nefs in Mind, that they more efpecially belong to you, as this very Defign was formerly patronized by your illuftrious Predeceffor Prince HEN R Y ; A 2 whofe f iv D ED IC ATIO N. whofe Servant, Sir ^bomas Button^ made a famous Voyage for the Difcovcry of the North- West Paf- fagc; and was fully perfuaded, that he fhould have fucceeded in another Voyage -, from which he was di- verted, by the Lofs of his Royal Patron. Lastly, The high Honour your Royal Highnefs did me, in the gracious Audience you were pleafcd to allow me, foon afttr my Return from this Voyage •, the many judicious Quefti jns you were plcafed to afk, and the generous Cafe you exprefled, for the happy Progrefs of this Defign, encourage me to approach your Royal Highnefs upon this Occafion. If the Confideration of thf fe Motives, fhall acquit me of the Imputation of Prefumption, for infcribing your illuftrious Name, to an Attempt of this Kind ; it will afford the higheft Satisfadion, as well as con- fer the greateft Honour within the Reach of his Wifhes, on him, who is, with the mod dutiful Sub- mifTion and Refped, ' t :'\ Tour Royal Highnefs* s Moji devoted^ and moft Obedient Servant^ ! HENRY ELLIS. I- i ' a famous West Paf- hould have I lie was di- 1 Highnefs ere pleafcd s Voyage i ifed to afk, the happy approach hall acquit ' infcfibing this Kind ; ^ell as con- ich of his Jtiful Sub- .( V ) ■ tfjofi \ervantf i L L I S. PREFACE. THERE cannot be a ftronger Inftance of the Health and Vigour of the Body Politic, than a warm Appearance of that Spirit, which is allowed to have conduced moft in Times pa(l to its Proliic- rity, as "'eli as Prefervation. The Spirit here meant, is that of encouraging Induftry, promoting Trade, and extending Navigation. A Spirit, to the Influence of which we owe the glorious Title we have acquired of a maritime Power, and the Kefpeft that is paid to us in that Capacity, not by our neareft Neighbours only, but by Nations as far diftant from us, as the Limits of the World will allow. It is from the Effefts of this Spirit that we muft hope, not only the Continuance, but the Incrcafe of our good Fortune ; and therefore as it is per- fe6lly juft, fo it is highly reafonable to expert, that whatever tends to excite and keep this alive will be cheriftied, and meet not with a bare Acceptance, but with the moft favourable Re- ception likewife of the whole Nation ; and this more efpecial- !y at the prefent Juncture, when the fame Spirit vifibly pre- vails fo much in other Countries, and our common Miflrefs Trade is courted by fo many, and fome of them very potent Rivals, It is very clear, that tho' this may be done by many diffe- rent Methods ; and that tho' all thefe different Methods de- ferve Attention and Encouragement from the End at which they aim, yet there is hardly any which can claim fo high Re- gard as Discovery, becaufe this takes in the whole Com- pafs of what has been before laid down, and contributes equal- ly to every Part of that great Defign. The Hopes of Difco- very encourages Induflry beyond any thing; for as it charms thofe quick and lively Spirits that are not eafily fixed by other Views ; fo on the other Hand it animates by the Expeftations of extraordinary Profit Men of a Temper direftly oppofite, and who are induftrious only from a forefight of Reward, and confequently are more or lefs fo, as the Profpeft differs in that Reijped. It promotes Trade more than any thing, not only A3 left ^o dif- "ecutlng th^ Difcovery, and there- , what ra- tional PREFACE. vii tional Hopes there are, that the finding a North Weft Pafiage would be a moft valuable Difcovery to the Britijh Nation. The laft Words are added for the fetting this Matter in its true Light ; for if the finding this Paflage could tend only to the Emolument of fome partxular Body of Men, or was barely calculated to transfer the \ ilth that accrues at prefent to one Set of People unto another, however important it might be to fuch as were to be Gainers by it, it would not certainly be of fuch Confcquence to the Public as to intereft the Legiflaturc in its Favour. But if it can be ftiewn, that from this Difcovery, there is a moral Certainty, that the Exportation of our Com- modities and Manufactures may be vaftly increafed, that feve- ral Branches of foreign Trade may be highly improved there- by, that Navigation in general may from thence be gi-eatly extended, and our Shipping increafed ; then fiirely it deferves to be confidered as a thi-^g of high Confequencc to the Public, and an Objeft worthy of nHLional Attention, Protedtion, and Encouragement. This Paffage, whenever it Is found, muft necefTarily open a Trade to Countries on each Side of it ; and that this may and indeed rnuft prove very confiderabie, will fufficiently ap- pear, if wc confider the Situation and Extent of thefe Coun- tries. On the Larboard or South Weft Side of the Channel, and of the Sea into which it opens, lies a Tra«5^ of Country making Part of America from the Welcome ^ or A'^' Ultra to Cape Blanco in California y that is from the Latitude of 65^ to 43". North, taking in twenty-two Degrees of Latitude, and no lefs than thirty in Longitude, having an exte^it of Coaft upwards of fix hundred Leagues, befides the Inlets that there may be, that muft of Courfe be very advantageous. We can- not indeed pretend to any great Knowledge of this Country the Goafts of which wholly, and the interior Parts of it in a great meafure, remain unknown; but we are very fenfible, that Copper, Skins, and Furrs it muft abound with in the Parts neareft the PafTage ; and in the Countries under a better Cli» mate, better Things maybe expected. Atleaft, we are pret- ty fure, that it is well inhabited ; and If the Inhabitants of the Goafts of Hudfon^s-Bay that are fo thinly peopled, take off large Quantities of our Commodities, and would take off much greater, notwithftanding fome Dealings they 1 ave with the French, why fhould we notbcUeve, that Countries betterpeoplcd ihould take off more. We may add to this, that if any heed is to be given to the veiy beft Spanijh Writers of American Af- jatrs, to Baron Lahontanf who was a Frenchman, or to Dr. Cox ow own CoLuitryman, who had great Oppcrtuniries of A 4 being wouuaaaBa z^sm Vlll P R E F A C E. being well acquainted with the Subjeft on which he wrote ; w© may conclude, that there are leveral numerous, and in a great meafure civi)i/.ed Nations, that inhabit, \yithin this Traft, who would willingly deal with us, tho' they are averfe. to, as hav- ing raofl of them had continual Wars with, the Spatiiards. If our Expe (Stations were to be bounded only by thg Certainty of difcovering thefc Countries, about which there neither has, nor I think can be any Difpute ; it would be a thing of much importance, lince the Navigation once opened, and Trade fettled, we might armually vend vaft Quantities of woollen Manufactures and other Commodities, and bring over Things yery valuable, perhaps Gold or Silver alfo in return. TLjre is no need of expatiating upon this ; for the Matter is fo clear and plain, that the bare Account of it may well anfwer our purpofe, and very fully ihew, that the Commerce of the North Weft Side of America^ muft afford an ample Compenfation for all the Trouble, Pains and Expence, that this Difcovery might demand. , Ag Ai N, on the North Weft or Starboa'd Side of the Paf- fagc, and the Seas into which it opens, it is very highly proba- ble that there muft be many great Countries, in a Trad: of above thirteen hundred Leagues between Ne Ultra and Japariy which is in the Latitude of 38*. It is indeed very true, that thefe . Countries are abfolutely unknown, that we have not the leaft Jiint, whether there is any great Continent on this Side, or only I (lands ; but if there be any Truth in the Reports, that large Ships come from thefe Countries to the North Welt Side of Americay in order to trade with the Inhabitants ; we may reft fatisfied, that they are wf 11 peopled, and that thofe People ^re civilized, and that of confequence their Commerce muft he very profitable, tho' it is impoflible to fay ft'om what Com- modities the Profit will arifc. This however a few Voyages would difcoyer, and the very Spirit that thefe new found Goun-; tries would raife, muft be highly advantageous to our own. It would, without doubt, revive all that Ardour and Dilligence which was fo confpicuous in that Age, in which we fii ft open- ed a Paftage to the Eaft and Wejl-hidies ; when all Ranks were inclined to promote our Navigation, and when almoft every Port in England fitted out Veifels to ftiare in that Commerce, by which the Spaniards and Portuguefe had been fo fuddenly and fo furprifingly enriched. What appears to us now only from Conjecture, \vould then become a Certainty; and thofe who treat the North Welt PaifTage at prefent as a Chimera, as well as tliofe who give themfelves no Concern, whether it be PREFACE. i« fo or not, would entertain other Notions, and a^ upon other Principles. In a Word, they would be as forward to reap the Advantages of this Difcovcry as the firft Adventurers, and the Paffion for this new Trade would be as flrong as it is for every other new Thing. We {hould then hear of nothmg but build- ing Ships, and equipping Squadrons to fail to thefe Northern Indies, and the Hopes of having a Share in the Advantages of this Commerce would bring over numbers of Foreigners, as certainly as our former Difcoveries and Plantations did. That thefe would be real and great Advantages to us, as a Nation, nobody can deny, and that they might be reafonably hoped for, if this Paffage was once found, nobody that is a proper Judge of the Matter will difpute. But belides thefe capital Benefits, which, as it has been be- fore obferved, would be abfolute Acceflions from the finding of fuch a PafTage ; there are other mcidental Advantages, that are very confiderable as well as undeniable ; fuch as opening to ^s a new andeafy Paffage into the South Sea, free from the In- conveniences that attend that by Cape -Born, and in point of Length nothing in Comparifon of that from the EaJl-IndieSf the only two Paffages that are hitherto known. It would like- wife open to us the Means of fearohing that vaft Ocean that lies between America and ^Jia, in which we are very liire that there are many rich and valuable Iflands, with which no European Nation has as yet any Gorrefpondence. By this Rout likewife we fhould have a much fhorter, fafer and wholefomer Paffage to the rich Iflands that lie EoSioi Japan, to the Iflands of Ja- pan themfelves, to the Countries that lie beyond them, as well as to Corea and China. This is not a fanciful Defcripiion of imaginary Advantages, but a plain Recital of the Confequences that muft neceffarily attend fuch a Difcovery, and which even the Enemies as well as Friends to it mufl allow. As to the Dreams of the Former in the lafl Age, about the Danger and Difficulty of the Navigation through Hudfon^s -Straits and Bay, and of the infupportable Rigour of the Gold in thefe Northern Climates, they are now out of the Cafe ; we know that this Navigation is far from being fo perilous as it is reprefented ; and at the Clofe of the following Sheets, it will be (hewn that there are very good Grounds to expeft, that this Paffage is not either narrow or encumbered with Ice, but may be both pafTed and repaffed in the Gompafs of the fame Summer. After this fhort Difplay of the neceffary Confequences of a North Wefl Paffage being found, one may prefume to affirm, that they are fuch as well deferve to employ the Con- fideration X PREFACE. fidcration of thofe that wifli well to the Trade and Navigation, that is to the Safety, Honour, and Prolperity of Great Britain. They are fuch as fhould furely awaken us from that flothful and drowfy State into which, through Indolence and too great Fondnefs for Pleafure, we are vifibly fallen. They are fuch as might open the Means of extricating us from all Embarraff- ments, by making fuch an addition to our Trade, as may af- ford new Funds for difcharging old Debts, and thereby free the landed Intereft and our Manufafturers alfo from that load of Taxes, of which they have fo long complained ; and of which, unlcfs relieved by fome fuch Method, they may com - plain much longer. They are fuch, in fine, as feem to unite all Intereft in a happy Concurrence to promote the Endeavours of thofe who are defirous of employing their private Fortunes in rendering fo great a Service to the Public, as the perfecting tliis Difcovery would certainly be. Upon what Grounds the Defign was originally undertaken ; how from time to time it has been profecuted with fome Danger, much Labour, and no fmall Expence ; how after being quitted for many Years, it has been again revived ; again followed ; and again laid afide ; how it came to p^ive Birth to the Hudfon'S'Bay Company ; and how fince the Eltabli/hment of that Company, which has now fublifted above fourfcore Years, we have heard fo little of it, till of late, is difcufled in the firft Part of the Work, and that in a hiftorical Way, for the Information of the Reader, and with a View to enlighten, and pot miflead his Judgment, In the fecond Part, there is a clear and circumftantial Nar- rative, as well of the Grounds upon which the laft Expedition in the Do^/'/ and 6V///yor«/^ was relblved upon, as of the Expe- dition itfelf ; the manner in which the two Ships Companies wintered in Hudfon^s-Bay ; and the Difcoveries they afterwards made ; which, though they did not abfolutely fhqw where the PafTage lay, yet feem to have firmly eftabliflied the Certainty, that foch a PafFage there is. For as we plainly fee from the firft Part, that John Cabot, who was the original Author of this Defign, as much as Columbus was of that by which the We ft <■ Indies was found, fwppofed thjs PafTage not to lie very far iS^orth ; but as he laid it down in his Map, or his Son Se^ kuftian, from his Father's Inftruftions, between the Latitudes of 6i^. and 64". fo from thence alfo it appears, that all the future Attempts through D avisos -Straits and Lumley's- Inlet were of no other ufe than cleaily to difcover that Time and Labour and Navigation, f Great Britain, that flotliful and I and too great 'hey are fuch as all Embarra/F- de, as may af- id thereby free from that load lained; and of hey may com - 5 feem to unite he Endeavours rivate Fortunes the perfefting It Grounds the ime to time it bour, and no ' Years, it has 1 laid afide ; 3mpany ; and hich has now b little of it, )rk, and that Reader, and gment. Ibntial Nar- Expedition f the Expe- Companies ' afterwards where the ■ Certainty, 'e fjom the Author of which the to lie very lis Son Se, Latitudes hat all the ilefs-Met Time and Labour I PREFACE. xi Labour were thrown away in fuch Expeditions, and that it could be only profecuted with any Probability of Succefs within the Limits that he firftaffigned. To this Hudfon opened the Way by finding the Straits that bear his Name, and in tra- verfing that Bay in which he loft his Life. Sir Thomas Button, who followed him next, had a very right Notion of the Manner in which the Paflage was to be fought, though he has not fo clearly explained himfelf as he ought to have done on that Subject. Capt. Luke Fox has been pretty much cenfured ; but notwithftanding this, he was certainly a very good Seaman, though a very bad Writer ; and his Obferva- tions are much to the Point, and very clearly direft, and that loo upon the moft rational Grounds, to the only Part of the Coafts of Hudfon* s- Bay, where Time and Pains may be (pent to Puipofe. And as upon the Lights derived from the Comparifon of thefe Voyages, and thofe that were alfo let in by Capt. Middleton*s Informations before his Expe- dition, and the Fafts reported in his Account of his Ex- pedition, the laft Voyage was undertaken ; fo it has clearly verifiec; every Point upon which the Reality of the Paflage depended, and has thereby given Certainty to our Hopes though the ifTuc of it did not altogether correfpond with our Expeftations, All this it will be found is fully explained, and fairly proved in the third Part, in which the Arguments are briefly laid down, that tend to encourage another Undertaking for the Difcovery of that Pafl!age ; which there is fo much Reafon to fcek, and fo good Grounds to fuppofe, may, notwith- ftanding fo many Difappointments, not be long fought in vain • and as the Reader will find in the Perufal of this Work' that it has been juftly regretted we have no diftinft Account of thofe honourable and worthy Perfons, who purely from public Spirit, fo long and fo alllduoufly profecuted this De- lign in the laft Age, we have, to prevent any Imputation of the fame kind from Poftcrity, fubjoined a Lift of the Sub- fcribers to the laft Undertaking, and who are ftill follicitous for the Succefs of this glorious Work ; which, notwithftand- ing the kind Encouragement given by the Lejriflature, and any other Advantages that may arife therefrom, muft i^ Calc of Succefs, be infinitely more beneficial to the Pub- lick tlian to thcmfelves. With the fame View this Trea- tife has been written- It contains as concile and as com. pleat a Profpeft of this whole Matter from firft to laft in Point of Evidence, as well as Argument, as it was poflible Xit PREFACE. to colleft ; and as the coming at Truth, and fetting it when come at in the cleareft Li^t, was the great Point aimed at, fo if it has been accomplifhed in fuch a Degree is that it may turn to the Benefit of the Briti/h Nation, it is all that is wifhed or defired from it ; and with this Afliirince it is fubmitted to the Judgment, and recommended to the Protection of the candidf Reader, who cannot but have fomc Regard to the Pains that have been taken on his Bebaif. 1^ . u A L I S T I r I ,\ mi'if.-miiiaamm ( xiii ) ' I _ ». A LIST of the Subscribers to the Expedition for finding the North West Passege in the Dobbs and Calif ornia» - ^ ; ; . . . " , ' . • : HIS Grace the Duke of Montague The Right Hon. Earl of Chef- terfield The Right Hon. Earl of Gra- nard The Right Hon. Lord Con- way , * The Right Hon. ior^ South- well The Right Hon. Lord New- por- His Grace the Archhijhop of Tuam The Lord Bijhop of Cloyne The Right Hon. Edward South- ^ well, Efq; Charles Stanhope, Efq; Sir John Rawden, Bart. * Arthur Dobbs, Efq; • The Rev. Mr. Richard Dobbs 2 Shares Her. Langford Rowley, Efq; John Potter, Efq; Solomon DayroUe, Efq; James Belcher, Efq; John Macarell, Efq; Alexander Steward, Efq; Barnard Ward, Efq; William Lennox, Efq; Francis Clements, Efq; Edward Brice, Efq; Honourable Mrs. St. George Mrs. Ann Echlin * James Douglas, Efq* * Rowland Fry e, Efq; * John Thomlinfon, Efq; * Mr. Robert Macky * Mr. Henry Douglas * Mr. William Bowden * Mr. Samuel Smith 3 ShareJ Henry Hamilton, Efq; William Bafil, Efq; Ifaac Jalabert, Efq; 2 Share J Parnel Nevil, Efq; Thomas Salter, Efq; John Hanbury, Efq; Clement Tudway, Efqf Theod. Cock, Efq; Mr. John Dupre Mr. George Aufrere Mr. Richard Gildart, jun, Mr. Daniel MufTenden Mr. James Rofs Mr. Gerrard Trotter of Yar- mouth 3 Shares Jonathan Perrie, Efq; Thomas Truman, Efq; The Hon. Juflin M« Carty, George Spaight, Efq; The Rev. Mr. John Taylowf Mr. Jofeph Porter Mr. Nathaniel Bafnett ( xiv ) Mejp. Samuel and Thomas Mr. John Seeker Fludyer Mr. Henry Loubier Mr. Henry Ellis Mr. Thomas Weft Mr. Peter Webb Mr. Jonathan Popham Mr. George Campbell Mejf. John Kennion and Mef. Maltby andYAcX Charles Whytell Mr. Arlander Dobfon • Mr. Jofeph Curtis and Cq» Mr. Robert Jackfon f N. B. Thofe marked thus (*) vjere choftnfor the Committee. TABLE ^ cker .oubier Weft I Popham Kennion and ^hytell lurtis and Co. ' the Committee. TABLE f XV) TABLE of Contents. The firft Part, includes the Hiftory oi the former Attempts. JO HN CabotV ro> ig-(r /« 1497 Mi/lakes about it ce, ''fied -. . ^ . Some Account of SebafKan Cabot Sir Martin FrobifherV /r/? Voyage fecond Voyage l!}ird Voyage Remarks upon thofe Voyages Capt. Fenton'j- Inflru^iions as to a Nbrth Weft Paffage Capt. 'Da.yh'^s firft Voyage fecond Voyage third Voyage • « Capt. James Lancafter'j Account of the Paffage Capt. Weymouth'j- Voyage An Account of Capt. Hudfon and his Difcoveries Bis laft unfortunate Voyage Sir Thomas Button' j- Voyage and Difcovery ^ Remarkable Birds and Be aft s on the Coaft o/Hudfon's-Bay 16 21 Page 2 ibd. ibid. 6 V f 8 ibid. 9 10 II ibid. 12 »4 15 f _ Gibbon'j- and BylotV Voyages BafEne'j- Voyage ..'..'' *j Capt. Luke FoxV Expedition The Voyape of Capt. James of Briftol '' . Remarks upm his Account This DfcoTcry attemp ed from New England Rife of the Hudfon's-Bay Company Account of Barlow'j Voyage Capt. Scroggs'j Voyage for Difcovery t Capt. Midiileton'j- Reafns for a North Weft Paffage Voyage for Difcovery Conchfions drawn from this Part of the Work The fecond Part. s 25 28 3^ 34 36 37 38 44 Containing the Hiftory of the Expedition in the Ddhhs-Callej and California in I747« The Motives to this Eicpedition 48 Tie ' -'^ 4.t ( XVI ) The Captain's Inffru^iotts ki The Authitr^s Departure i^y Remarks upon the Drft-JVood in the Not'tlerH Seas r . * 59 onthefloi't'ing Ice _. . .^ ^ -Ol Aro««/ 'j/Mf ^Icimaux Indians 64 Refolut'ton take,. -winter . .. ,♦ • 69 Arrival at Von 'on • ' 71 Account uf our xvintcring there 73 Defcription of the Country ^ ..... - ,79 Account of the Inhabitants " ' ' ; . '84 Dreadful Efft^s of the Scurvy ■' 9a Account of Yotk-Fort - 97 Our putting to Sea again in Pfofecuttonof the Difcovery 100 iSome' Thoughts on Magnetifm 102 De/cription of the Northern E(k\ma\xx. .106 Obfervation of the Tides at Cape-Fry ' • • ^^^ /^«y/ccof/wM/Gheftcrfield's- Inlet 113 Wager- Strait examined ' , . . 114 Found to be a Day ' 119 Fadfs a/cert ained by a Refolution of Council ibid* Tide tried in the Welcome '120 Caufes of the Fogs in thefe Parts ' . . 1 29 The true Caufcs of Ruft ajfigned \*" I31 The Dobbs and California return for England i 34 ■ : • The third Part. Comprehending the Arguments in Favour of a Pafrag(it ■ • '^ The Nature of Tides exptatned " ■ ' *'■' '-'''■ 12^ ••^*is Reafons drawn from the IVindsy the Climate and Appearance of the Country ■• -,; ;^. ., 138 From the Tejlimony 0/ f/>e Indians 'v ' , ' \ ibid* The Nature of Tides farther explained ■■■■—■■:■■ j^q The Tide in Hudfon's-Bay inconjijient "with the general Rules Cbje^ions to its coming frofft the South-S^a. anjzuered . 145 Proofs of a Paffagcfrom the Whales fQund there 140 This Pajfage not far to the North ibid* Is large and open 1 4B Where it may be expe^edP . ibid* Conclujioft 151 THt: I i •'• in .A ■ x\r. THE FIRST PART: BEING AN I . Introductory Account of the fever al Expeditions^ that have been made for the Difiovcry of a North- WESt Passage j including the mofi remarkable Cir^ cumfiances that occur in all the Relations extant of thofe yoyages j and faewing more particularly how far thefe Attempts contributed to the eflablifhing ^Pro- bability of fuch a Pajfage, which was the Founda^ tion of the lafi Undertaking for the fame Purpofe. K t I I.'' THAT glorious Spirit of iDifcovery^ whicrii> by jsro- •moting Navigation, and extending Co nerce, has^ •Within thefe laft Two Hundred and Fifty Years j brought fuch immenfe Riches into Europe ^ raifed her naval Power elpecially to fo formidable a Height, and ntade her in- difputably the Miftrefs of the greater Part of the Globe, took Rife in the Kingdom of Portugal, about the Entrance of the i 5th Century j and as all Beginnings are weak > made its ear- lieft Effays in fhort Voyages, along the Goafts of the great Continent of Jfricai But growing bolder by Degrees, and gathering both Courage and Experience from Succefs, the Portugueze'va. 141 9 difcovered Madeira-, in 1448 the Iflands tailed Azores 'y in 1449 the Ct'pe de Verdt Iflands; and in 1 486 the Cape of Good Hope ; b called from the Expectation it raifed of finding a Pafl^age that Way to the Indies. It was the Fame of this Difcovery, which w-as made rathtr by In- duftry and Perfeveranccj than from any real Knowledge in Navigation^ that put Columbus^ who was a Man of great Learning as Well as true Genius^ upon thinking of a nobler and more intelligent Method > of purfuing the fame Defign, in which, after overcoiping many, and thofe- too great Diffi- culties 'p. -3 *l 2 The fever at Expeditions to cultics, he at length brought his Defign to bear, and on the Mth of O^ob ir, 1 402. entered upon that Expedition, which produced the Dllcovery of y^merica. It is a thing fufficicntly known to the World, that he pro- pofed this very Undertaking to our King fftnry VII. by his Brotlier Uarthokme'Wy which that wife Prince accepted ; tho' this was not known to OAumbusy till after he had made the Difcovery he propofed. But notwithftanding this Difappoint- ment, the Inclination that Monarch had flicwn for encouraging Things of this Nature, had fo good an Effeft, that John Cabot , a Native of Venice ^ a very able Seaman, and who had refided fome Years in England^ was encouraged thereby to offer his Services to that King, for difcovering a Paffage to the Indies , by the North Weft ; and obtained Letters Patents, dated in the nth Year of the Reign of King Henry VII. empowering him to difcover unknown Lands, and to conquer, and fettle th^m, with many other Privileges, on Condition only that he Ihould return with his Ships to the Port of Brifiol. I N the Spring of the Year following being 1 497, he failed from Brifiol y with one Ship fitted out at the King's Expence, and three or four fmaller Veffels freighted by the Merchants there, with coarfe Caps, Cloth, Laces, ^c. upon his Dif- covery ; in which upon the 24th of June, about five in the Morning, he faw Land, which for that Reafon he called Pri- ma Vifia, or firft feen, which was Part of Newfoundlandy and afterwards another fmaller Iflarui, which he called St. Johnh ; and he brought Home with him three Savages, and a Cargo that turned to good Account ; for which, befides receiving the Honour of Knighthood, he was amply rewarded. As in this Voyage he failed as far as Cape Florida, he is very juftly looked upon as the firft Difcoverer of North Jmerica; and from thence, as Sir JVilliam Monfon obferves, our Princes derive their Claim to the Sovereignty of that Country, which they have fiace profecuted with fo good Effert, both with Regard to their own Glory, and to the Benefit of their Subjects. Thus we fee, that the Origin of our Plantations, and confequently of our extenfive Commerce, and naval Power, was owing to this Scheme of difcovering a Paftage, by the North Weft, to the Indies. Whether this ought to recommend it in an extraordinary Degree to the Favour and Protection of the Pub- lic, muft be left to the Decifion of the Reader ; and whether the continuing our Search for this Palfage, may not hereafter be attended with very beneficial Gonfequences, exdufive of ifee great End fought, muft be left to Time to difcover j but at I i scar, and on the xpcditlon, which >rld, that he pro- nry VII. by his ;e accepted; tho' he had made the g this Dilappoint- n for encouraging % that John Cabot, d who had refided Teby to offer his age to the Indies , Patents, dated in ^11. empowering ^nquer, and fettle Jition only that he Brijiol. ^g M97> he failed c King's Expence, by the Merchants ^c. upon his Dif- , about five in the ifon he called Pri- Ne'vjfoundlandy and called St. John's ; ages, and a Cargo fides receiving the inled. As in this iveryjuftly looked lerica; and from Princes derive mtry, which they )oth with Regard Subjects. Thus and confequently Dwer, was owing /the North Weft, ommend it in an eftion of the Pub- der ; and whether may not hereafter ices, excluiive of '. to difcover; but at it ti n it Ht ti it iifiover a North Weft Paftagf. || at all Events, it muft be allowed, that this was no bad Be- ginning. The little Knowledge, that our Writer-; in thofe Days liad of thi'i Suhjrit, occalions our having very dark, inconl.f- tent, and conla/^'d Accounts of the Dclign of this ExpcJition, as well as of the Circumftiinces that attended it. Many of them afcribe it to Schajtiun Cabot, without mentioning his Fa- ther at all ; and Riimufh^ tho' he is otherwilb a very accurate Author, has made a great many Miftakes, in what he has de- livered upon thi.i Head, tho* he fays he took it from a Letter oi Sebafiian Caboth» " Our Countryman, yifi^J- /r, a Man ** of great Experience, and pertcd>ly (killed in the Art of Navigation, and the Science of Colmography, failed along, and beyond the Coalt of New Ftuncey in the Service of Henry VII. of England, and he informs me, that having failed a long 'fimc. Weft by North beyond thofe Iflands, ** into the Lat. of 67°. 30'. upon the 1 ith of 7««f, finding ** an open Sea, without any Impediment, he made no Doubt at all of paffmg this Way to Cataia, which is in the Eaft, and Would have done it, if he had not been prevented by a Mutiny amongft the Seamen, who forced him to return Home.^' In the firft Place, Sehafi'ian Cabot was net a Ve- rietian, but an Engl/Jhman, bom at liri/lol; and tho' it be true, that he went with his Father, yet he was then a Boy, and con- fequentiy could not have at that Tim6 any great Skill in Na- vigation, but attained it afterwards. There is an Error in thtf Latitude of lo**. but however it is plain from this Account, that the Voyage was made for the Difcovery of a North W^eft Paftage, whidi was the Reafon I produced it* But in a Letter written by Sebajfi an Cabot \'\\rc\k\?y to the !Pope's Legate in Spainy he gives ftill a clearer Account of this Matter ; for therein he fays, that it was from the Ccnfidera- tion of the Structure of the Globe, the Defign was formed of failing to the Indies y by a North Weft Courfe. He obfeiTes farther, that falling in with Land unexpectedly, (for lie thought to have met with none till he had reached the Coafts of Tcr. taty) he failed along the Coaft to the Height of fifty-lix De- grees, and finding the Land theie run Eaftward, he quitted tiie Attempt, and failed Southward. It is more than probable, that this Mifcarriage fo difcouragcd Sebaflian Cabot, who, as we obfefved, was with his Father in this Ekpedition, that he thence forward renounced all Hoises of fucceeding ih, aiid con- fequerttly all Thoughts of profecuting this Defigii. It is very likely, fiiat he had next fome Thoughts of a Paflagc? to the Mis by the South, for in the 8th of King Henry VIll. he ,„ ' l\ 4 The fever al Expeditions to made a Voyage to Brazil, and was foon after drawn oviBn- to the Spanijh Service. While he refided there, he was em- ployed by a Company of Merchants to conduft a Squadron through the new difcovered Straits of Magellan to the EaJ}-^ Indies ; but inftead of doing this, he entered the River of Plate y difcovered the Country on both^des, follicited a Settlement to be made there, or in Paragu^ and remained in thofe Parts about five Years. The ill Ufage he met with from the Spanijh Court, made him think of returning to England, which he ac- cordingly did, and was here the principal Promoter of feveral Expeditions for difcovering a North Eaft Paflage ; in which tho' he met with as little Succefs as his Father had done, la fearching the North Weft, yet to thefe Attempts we owe our Xuffia Trade, which has been of fuch high Confequence to the Nation, as alfo the Greenland Yifhery , which for many Years was carried on with very great Profit. It was neceffary to mention thefe Particulars, in Relation to the Life and Tranfaftions of Sebafitan Cabot, for two Rea- fons ; firft to fhsw that thefe Projects of difcovering North Eaft, and North Weft Paflages, tho' they have been attended with fome Expence, and have neither of them as yet pro- duced what was expected from them, yet have in their Conle- quences brought fo great Profits to the EngUJh Nation, that there is no Reafon we fhould be difcouraged from purfuing them, fo long as any Hopes of Succefs remain. Secondly, becaufe from this Account we fee plainly the true Reafon why all Thoughts of a North Weft PafTage were laid afide for near fourfcore Years. For the greateft: Part of this Time Sebajlian Cabot y Efq; in Quality of Governor of the Rufpa Company, was the great Direftcr, and almoft die iole Manager of all our Expeditions for Difcovery, as appears as well from the In- ftruftions drawn by him for the Direftion of thofe who were employed to look for a North Eaft PafTage, as from feveral Charters, Commiflions, and other public Inftruments, in which we find him mentioned with great Honour, and treated as the Father and Founder of the Englijh Navigation. It does not indeed appear, that he ever declared in exprefs Terms, a- gainft making any farther Searches to the North Weft ; but as it is evident from the Letter of his, before mentioned, that he abfolutely defpaired of finding fuch a Paflage, it may be fairly prefumed, that during his Life-time, and confidering the great Influence he had in Matters of this Nature, no Proj ^ft for fuch a Difcovery would have met with any Encouragement ; and therefore we need not Vv'onder, that even in that Age, when hardly a Year pafl^ed but k ne Defign or other, for pro- moting ii to after drawn ov^bi- there, he was «n- :ondu6t a Squadron Magellan to the Eajl-^ d the River of Plate ^ llicited a Settlement lained in thofe Parts i^ith from the Spanijh 'gland, which he ac- Promofcr of feveral PafTage ; in which Father had done, in ttempts we owe oUr igh Confequence to y, which for many t. ticulars, in Relation Cabot, for two Rea- • difcovering North / have been attended f them as yet pro- have in their Confe- ngli/h Nation, that aged from purfuing emain. Secondly, he true Reafon why e laid afide for near this Time Sebafiian Ruffia Company, Manager of all our well from the In- thofe who were as from feveral Inftruments, in Dnour, and treated avigation. It does xprefs Terms, a- Drth Weft; but as mentioned, that he it may be fairly nfidering the great , no Proj.'ft for Encouragement ; ;ven in that Age, brother, for pro- moting Df difcover a North Weft PaflTage. ^ motjag Commerce and Navigation, was fet on foot, this re- mained as filent andunthought of, as if it never had been pro- pofed ; or a fingle unfuccefsful Attempt upon a Coaft never be- fore vifited, had been fufficient to extinguifli all Hopes, and produce abfolute Delpair of doing any Good in a matter of fuch Importance, the ConlMuences of which were fo well known to the enterprizing Navigators of thofe Times. BvT after his Deceafe Capt. Martin Frobi/herf a very able Seaman, who for fifteen Years had meditated his Defign, pro- pofed a Voyage for the Difcovery of the North Weft ; ancl be- ing countenanced by Ambrofe, Earl of Warwick, a Nobleman of great Credit with Queen Elizabeth, he had fitted out two Barks, the Gabriel, and the Michael, each of twenty-five Tons Burthen, and a Pinnace of ten Tons. He failed from Blackwall, June 15, 1657, and when he had been about a Month at Sea, the Men in the Michael defertcd him, returned Home, and reported that he was loft. The Captain however profecuted his Voyage, pafled tlirough a Strait between two Iflands, to which he gave his own Name. He advanced in this Voyage, as high as the Latitude of 63*^. 8'. and having had the Misfortune to lofe five of his Men, whom he fet on Shore, he refolved to return to England, bringing with him a Savage whom he had taken Prifoner, He quitted the Ifland where this Accident happened, on the 26th of Augujl ; and on the I ft of O^ober he arrived fafely at Yarmauth. Amongft other Curiofities which he brought back, there happened to be a Piece of black Stone, which as a Thing of no Value, was given to one of his Owner's Wives, who threw it in tlie Fire, where becoming red-hot, it was afterwards quenched in Vinegar, and when cold, fome Sparks were obferved to glifter in it like Gold ; upon this, Tryals were made, and the Refiners aflerted, that it held Gold ; upon which Preparations were made for a fecond Voyage, of the 3uccefs of which there were very high Ex- pe (Nations, In this fecond Voyage, Capt. Frobijher had one of her Majefty's Ships, called the y^id of two Hundred Tons, and the two Barks Gabriel and Michael: He failed May 31 , 1577, and on the i6th of July, difcovcred that Poipt of Land, which lay at the Entrance of FrobiJI^er^s-Str^iits-, and ta which he gave the Name of Queen Elizabeths- Foreland. It does not appear that he profecuted much Dilcovery in this Voyage, but contented himfelf with taking on board about two Hundred Weight of the fuppofed Gold Oar, wb.ich prov- ed afterwards good for nothing, made what Enquiiy he Cv)uld 3 3 after If :! ■i.T' j 1 ( ' ' I 6 tbefeveral Expeditions to after his Men, but to no Purpofe, (rarried off two 3ava-. ges, a Man and a Woman, and on the 24th of Au^ufl fail- ed for Enghnd, arriving on the 1 7th of September following, at Padfiow in Cornwall, in the Queen's Ship. The Barks be- ing fcparatedin their Paflfage, the Gabriel came to Bri/iol, and the Michasl, after failing round Scot land , came fafely to Taf- mouth. Queen Elizabeth was fo well pleafed with the Ac- count fhe received of this Expedition, that fhe encouraged a third, and beftowed upon the Continent, now difcovered, the Name of Meta incognita. The Hopes that were entertained of thefe new Indies, al- ^l^eady difcoveied, as well as of a Paffage to the old, which was accounted almoft certain, hadfuch an EfFeft, that a Squa- dron of fifteen Sail was ordered out the next Year, a Colony of one Hundred and Twenty Perfons was to be left behind, and three Ships ftationed on the Coaft ; the Queen likewife to honour the Captain the more, made him a Prefent of a Gold Chain. He failed from Harivich, May 31, 1578, arriv- ^d on the Coaf^s of his new difcovered Country, ^yhere they rnct with a Storm, in which the Ship was funk, that hadj the Materials for their Houfe on board ; fo that they made no Settlement, nor were they able to find Frobi/her^s-Straits, or the Gold Mine ; but after much Toil to very little Purpofe, returned to England^ in the lattei: End of September. It is faid, that Capt. Frobifher perfifted ui his Opinion of a Paflage, for the Difcovery of which however he never made any other Voyage. He conimandcd the Triumph in the famous Sea Fight with the Spanijh Jrmada'm 1588, and behaved fo well, that he obtained the Honour of Knighthood ; and fix Years af- terwards, receiving a Wound, at the taking of Breji, died of it, through the Want of SkUl in his Surgeon, foon after his Return to Plymouth. It isveryjiiftlyobfervedbyCapt. Fojc, that fi-om the Accounts we have of thefe three Voyages, it looks a^ if they had a Mind to keep this Gold Country to themfclves ; for except the La- titude of the Entran(;e of Frobi/ljer's Straits, ttiey have fetdown none ; and as to Meta incognita, it is now very well known to be Groenland. Mr. Egede, who has given iis the beft Ac- count of that Country extant, fpeaks thus of theft: DHcove- ries. * In all Sea Charts, fays he, you will find laid down f Frobi/her's Strait and Bear-Sound, which they pretend form * two large Ulands, adjacent to the Main Land, which I * think are not to be found, at Icaft not upon the Coaft of * Groenland; for I could not meet with any thing like it, in < the Voyage I undertook in the Year 1723, Southward, going • *• upon. s to Tied off two 9ava-. 24th of Aii^ufl fail- September following, hip. The Barks be- l came to Bri^ol, and came fafely to Taf- )leafed with the Ac- hat fhe encouraged a now difcovered^ the thefe new Indies , ai- re to the old, which n EfFeft, that a Squa- next Year, a Colony vas to be left behind, he Queen iikewife to I a Prefent of a Gold 7 3^, ^57^, arriv- red Country, where ip was funk, that had fo that they made no r obi/her'' s -Straits y or ) very little Purpofe, of September. It is )pmi6n of a Paflage, lever made any other in the famous Sea and behaved fo wellj^ )d ; and fix Years af- ing of Brefly died of geon, foon after his at from the Accounts if they had a Mind for except the La- ,they have fetdown very well known to ^en us the beft Ac- re of thefe Difcove- wHi find laid down h they pretend form lin Land, which I upon the Coaft of ny thing like it, in Southward, going * upon. difcover a North Weft Paffige. 7 ' upon Difcoveries, tho' I went as far as to 60°. that Way. * But atprcfent, the newer Charts lay them down the Nor- * them Strait in 63**. and the Southern in 62°/ It feemsnot altogether improbable, that Frnbijher*s Strait and Ifland, which he called Queen ElizabetPs-Foreland (for an Ifland he afterwards found it to be) lay on the Eaft Side of Croenlandy and perhaps not in fo high a Latitude as is fet down in his Account j befides fome other Reafons for faying this, which would take up too much Time to report here, the following Paflage, from Mr. Egede's Book, may poflibly in- cline the Reader to the fame Opinion, * In my Expedition upon Difcoveries, I found on a little Ifland, where we touched, fome yellow Sand, mixed with fome Sinople Red, or Vermillion Strokes, of which I fent a Quantity over to the Direftorsof thcC^roew/^w^Company at Bergen, to make a Trial of it : Upon which they wrote me an Anfwer, that I fliould endeavour to get as much as I could of the fame Sand ; but to theirs as well as my own Difappointment, I never was able to find this ifland again, where I had got this Sand, as it was but a very fmall and infignificant one, fituated among a great many others ; and the Mark I had taken care to put up, was by the Wind blowa down. Neverthelefs, there has been enough of the fame Stuflf found up and down in the Country; which when it is burnt, changes it's former Colour for a reddKh Hue, which it Iikewife does if you keep it a while fliut up clofe. Whether or no this be of the fame Sort of Sand, as that of which Sir Martin Frobijher is faid to have brought fome Hundred Tuns to England, and was pretended to contain a great deal of Gold, and of which fome of the Danijh Groen- land Company's Ships returned freighted to Copenhagen, in the Year 1636, is a Queftion which I have no mind to decide. However, thus much I can fay, that by the finall Experience I have acquired in the Art of Chymiftry, I have tried both by Extraction and Precipitation, if it would yield any Thing, but always loft my Labour. After all, I de- clare I never could find any other Sort of Sand, that con- tained either Gold or Silver.' In another Part of his Book, he queftlonsthe Truth of Frobijher^ Account of the Country, and feems to flight the Gold Sand that he carried from thence ; notwithftanding which, he owns , that a certa'mDani//j Comman- der, in the Year 1636, brought home two Ship Loads of this Sand out of Davis^s -Straits, at the Charge of the High Chan- cellor of Denmark] which, upon tryal by the Goldfmiths at Ct- fenhagen, was pronounced to be mere Sand and of no Value, and B 4 as '71 ilMl \. li \ - n I- t The fever al Expeditions to as fuch thrown into the Sea ; the Shame of which broke the poor Captain's Heart. But after his Deceafe, a fmail Parcel, which the Chancellor had kept, fell into the Hands of an abler Workman, who extra6ted good Gold from it, and that too in a confiderable Quantity. Sir Martin Frobifherh fhining Sand had not this good Fortune, which was fome Prejudice to the Progrefs of |his Defign, of findirig a North "Weft Paf- fage.' ■ ' '■■■,:;;;,•■■' ^" '.:" I N Frobi/her's fecond Voyage, the Gabriel was commanded by one Mr. Edward Feniorty a Gentleman of a good Family, and a great Favourite of the Earl of Warwick^. In the third Expedition, Capt. Fenton commanded the Judith j and was Rear Admiral of the Fleet. He had fo good an Opinion of the En- terprize, that when he was fent on an Expedition to the Eaji- Indies y he procured an Article to be inferted in his Inftruftions, which' were dated Jpril 9, 1582, direftinghim to endeavour the P'hips proceeded and Ir. Fenton's Defign, ie Man, and an able ite for the Probabi- |y of Merchants of Afliftance of fome [the Difcovery, and Sun/hincj of Fifty y-five Tons. ' He id on the abth of ntrance of thofe [which he gave the fame Month, they 15'. and tiiere he , whom he found On the 6th of f 66*^/40'. in an noble Mountain, Gold, to which called the Road, ; and the South th of the fame Gad's Mercy, to the 3.^ difiover a North Weft Paffage. 9 ^e Southermoft Point of Land, and then entered a fair Strait, thro' which he failed fixty Leagues, N. N. W. with IfJands in the middle, but a fair Paflage on both Sides; he met with Signs of People ppon the Shore, and found the Tide flow fix or feveni Fathom, but could not find from whence it came. On the 2 1 ft, he failed for England, and on the 30th of Sep. iember he arrived at Yarmouth. He feeras to have been the firft that examined the Weft Side ofCroenland, on which he iailed to the Height of 64°. 15'. and on the ether Side, he difcovered from 3ie Height of 660. 40', and returned Home iafely. Th?s Expedition gained Gapt. Davis, fo much Credit, that he was fent out agam with four Ships, the Mermaid, of One Hundred Tons, the Sunjhine, the Moon/bine, and the Norths Star, of Ten Tons. He failed from Dartmouth, May 7, 1586, and on the 15th of June difcovered Land in the Lati- tude of 60®. North, and in the Longitude of 47**. Weft from London ; but being hindered from approaching it by Ice, he was conflrained to bear away to the Lat. of 57*^. ii^ order to double it, and recover an open Sea, which he did. Oh the 29th of the fame Month, he again difcovered Land in the Latitude of 64°. and in the Longitude of 58^. 30'. Weft from London, where he went on Shore, and traded with the Natives, of whom he gives a large Account, very little dif- ferent from what the Reader will meet with in fome of the pnfuing Pages. He found this to be broken Land with great Sounds and Inlets. About the middle of July he fent Home the Mermaid, and continued his Expedition in the Moon/hine. On the I ft of Augufi he difcovered Land in the Latitude of 66^. 33'. and in the Longitude of 70^'. Weft from London he faw many Inlets, but attempted none; and on the 19th of the fame Month, he began to return Home, and arrived fafely in England in the Beginning of October ; fo that in this iecond Voyage, he did not fo much as in the firft ; which, perhaps, might be owing to his having the Command of a Squadron. On his Return he wrote a Letter to Mr. Sander fon, who was Treafurer of the Company; in which he affirmed, that he had brought the Pafiage to a Certainty, and that it muftbe in one of four Places, that he had remarked, or not at all ; adding that farther Diicoverics might be made without ^more Expence, fuppofing that the Fi(hery would more than defray it. In Expeftation of this, he was fitted out a third Time, having with him the 6'//«/^/«f, die Elizabeth of Dart- mouth, and the Ellen of London, He failed from Dartmouth OA w ni i't; 1! 10 V'he feveral Expeditions t9 pn the 19th of May, on the 14th of June they difcovered Land, and on the 1 6th the]' anchored in a Harbour, where they traded witli the People. On the 30th of the fame Month he was m the Latitude of yi°. 1 2'. on the Weft Side ofGro- eniand; he called the moft Northern Point of the Land he faw Hope Sanderfott; he then rap Weftward 40 Leagues and better, without any ^ight of Land. On the 1 7th of July he hacl Sight of Mount Raleigh : On the 23d he anchored in the Bot- tom of the Gulph, and called the Iflands there Cwnberlanu' JJlands : On the 26th he met with a, great Storm, and on the 30th he difcovered that which he called Lumley's-Jnlet, be-» tween 62**. and 63*. He returned to Dartmouth the 15th of September; and in a Letter that he wrote to Mr. Sander/on, he maintains the Probability of a Paflage through the Strait that bears his Name; and in this Opinion he continued all his Life, as Sir William Monfon informs us, who tho' he had no Opinion of the Paflage himfelf, yet he allows that Capt. Da^ vis's Arguments in its Favour were very plaufible. After this third Voyage of Capt. Davis, Expeditions ibr the Difcovery of a North Weft Paflage were ror fome Years fufpended j but ftill the Opinion, that fuch a Pafl*age might, and fome Time or other would, be found, continued and kept up its Credit; and Sir Humphry Gilbert, a very gal- lant, and learned Gentleman, Half-Brother to the ever me-j morable Sir Walter Raleigh, wrote a very curious, and for thofe Times, a very judicious Difcourfe upon this Subjeft, and procured a Patent for fettling the Weft Part of America, with a View, in all Probability, to this Difcovery. Some other Papers of the like Purport were wrote about the fame Time ; and from the Authorities mentioned in them, it very clearly appears, that the Notion of a North Weft Paflage was at this Tipie general, among the ahleft Cofmographers, and moft intelligent Seampn in Spain, Portugal and Italy ; jaot to mention the pofitive Afliirances given by fome, that Ships had aftually returned from the Eafi-Indies through this Paflage. To give a diftinft and particular Account of thefe Meters would require a Volume ; and therefore it may be liifficient for our Purpofe, to give a fingle Inftance, as indeed it is a very fingular one, of the Credit of this Opinion, amongft Men ofthebeft Judgments, who were employed in the Eafi-Indies. Capt. James Lancafier, who was fent in the Spring of, die l^ear 1600, with four large Ships into thofe Parts, being the firft Fleet ever fent thither by an Englijh Eafi- India Com- pany ; jn his Return Home on board the DragQn, met with a StoriH ■, 1 td ne they dKcovcreJ a Harbour, where of the fame Month e Weft Side of C7ro. of the Land he faw Leagues and better, th of July he had ichored in the Bot- there Cumberlanu- Storm, and on the Lumley' s- Inlet y be-» •trnouth the 1 5th of to Mr. Sanderforif through the Strait lie contmued all his rho tho' he had no wsthat Capt. Da^ auTible. ')avis, Expeditions ige were for fome hat fuch a Paflage e found, continued Ulbert, a very gal- r to the ever me-t curious, and for upon this Subjeft, Part of /America, ifcovery. Some e about the fame in them, it very th Weft PaOage \ Gofmographers, Vfugal and Italy j [en by fome, that ^dies through this Account of thefe efore it may be iftance, as indeed f this Opinion, ere employed in in the Spring of, lofe Parts, being \aj} -India Gom- flf^««, met with a StorH^ iljtomtf a North Weft Paffage. 1 1 ptorm off the Cape of Co^d HopCy in which his Ship loft her Rudder, and was otherwife damaged, infomuch that he was perfuaded to go on board the Heiior^ another of the Gompa- ny's Ships, for his Security. But that brave and vigilant Officer, believing his Prefence might contribute more than any thing elfe to the Prefervation of the Ship he was in, refufcd to quit her, contenting himfelf with writing a ftiort Letter to the Company, wherein he told them, they might be fure he would do his utmoftto fave the Ship and Cargo, by his venturing his own Life, and the Lives of thofe who were with him ; ad- ding this remarkable Poftfcript, in the midft of his Confufion, The Pajfage to the Eaft-Indies lies in 62°. 30'. by the North Weft, on the American Side. One may from hence infer, that this Gentleman, who for his great Conduft, Courage and . Integrity, was afterwards knighted, looked upon this as a Thing of great Certainty, as well as great Confaquence ; otherwil^ he would not have given it Place in fuch a Letter, at fuch a Time, and under fuch Circumftances. It is not at all im- probable, that it might be in Purfuanqe of the Company's Inftru^tions; for whoever confiders it maturely, will be of Opinion, that fuch a Difcovery imported no Body of Men in this Nation more than the Eafi-India Company. The Confideration of all thefe Circumftances together, ve- ry poffibly with this PaflTage in Captain I.ancafier^s Letter, which made a great Noife at that. Time, induced the Ruffia and Turkey Companies, about fifteen Years after the Re- tom of Captain Davis from his laft Voyage, to refolve upon fending two Veflels in Search once more of the North Weft Paftage. Thefe were commanded by Capt. George Weymouth ^ a very able Officer and fkilful Seaman ; he failed on the 16. of Mayy 1602, in the Difcovery of feventy Tons, in Company with the Good/peed of fixty Tons, commanded by Mr. John Drew. On the 4th of June he had fight of the Orkneys; on the 28th he was in the Latitude of 62^. 30'. when he defcry- ed Warivickh Foreland, and ftanding along the Coaft, faw great Reafon to believe tliat it was an Ifland; and fuppofing it fo to be, he concluded, that Lumley's- Inlet, and the next Southern Inlet muft of Neceffity be one Sea ; and as there is a great Current there, fetting to the Weft, he tlience inferred there might be reafonable Hopes of a Paffage. He farther pbferved, that the Land of America was all broken. On the 19th of July his Men mutinied, and took a Refolution to re- turn to England, for Reafbns which they gave him, offering at the fame Time, if with the Benefit of a North Weft Wind, which they then had, he would endeavour a Difcovery in 60**. If tl la 8!i ^he feveral Expeditions to or 57**. they were willing to run rny Hazard with him i from whence Capt. Fox infers, that he had fome on board, who were wifer thanhimfelf; but being jn the Latitude of 68'. 53'. (as he fays) the Men abfolutely rcfufed to proceed, On the 26th, he reckoned himfelf in the Entrance of an Inlet at 6;9. 40'. into which Inlet he affirms, that he failed 100 Leagues, Weft by South, that it was forty Leagues broad, very little incommoded with Ice, and a Paflage with more Probability to be ejqiefted there than in Davis's-Straits ; but as the Year was far fpent, and many of his Men in both Ships lick, he thought fit to return to England, and arrived fafely at Dartmouth on the 5th o( /^ugufi. It is Capt. /ox's Opinion, that ffom the Lights afforded by Davis , and Weymouth , Hud- fqn wag principally guided in his Difcovery, f Wp come next to fpeak of this great but unfortunate Sea-^ man, who in Point of Skill was inferior to feWj in regard to Courage furpafled by none, and in Point of Induftry and La- bour hardly equalled by any. He was taken into the Service of a Qompany of very eminent Merchants, whp were bent ot^ making a Difcovery of a fhorter Paflage tp the Eafi-Indies, whether by the North, the North Eaft, or the North Weft ; and in their Service he fearched for every one of thefe ; nei- ther does it appear from any of the Accounts now extant, that ^ny Company were ever at fo great an Expence, perfifted fo Jong, qr did fcj much, towards clearing up th^s Point, as the Company by which Huc^on was employed ; and yet it does not appear, that they had any particular or private Views ; but took all this Pains for the Sake of thofe Advantages that muft havfi refulted to the Public, in Cafe tlieir Endeavours. had fucceeded. It is juftly to be regretted that the Names of thefe gei^erous Perfons, have not been preferved to Pofterity ; but that all we know of them is, that they were certain Wor- Jhipful Merchants of ho -HI) on; at that Time, no doubt, and long after, when Purchas made his Golle6lion, it was a Thing fo well known, that publifhing it Teemed to be unne- cefTary, from whence it unlukily happens, that what was o- verlooked then, muft remain in perpetual Oblivion to fucceed-. ing Times. The firft Voyage Capt. Hudfon made, in the Service of this Society, was to difcover a PafTage to the Eajl-Indies , by failing dire^lly North, in which he did not fpend quite five Montiis, departing from Gravefend, the ift of May, 1607, and returning thither again the 1 5th of September the fame Year. In this Voyage there are fcveral Things very rr-^^iika- ble: On the 1 3th of 7«« an open Sea^ and a great Quantity of Drift-Wood ; they obferved that an Azure or Blue Sea was generally incommoded with Ice ; but the green Sea o- pen : On the 1 4th of July, Gapt< Hudfon fent his Mate and his Boatfwain on (hore, in the Latitude of 80®* 23'. being then on the Coaft of Spitzbergen or Greenhnd ; they found the Track of Beafts, faw fome Water-Fowl, and met with a Stream or two of frefh Water, ofwhich they drank heartily^ the Weather bemg hot ; and obferving the Sun at Midnight> they found his Body 10®. 40'. above the Horizon. He continued to advance to near the Latitude of 82*'. and would have proceeded farther^ but was hindered by the Ice ; he after- wards made an Attempt to fail round Croenland by the North Weft } and fo to have returned home thro' Davis^s-Straits, but found that likewife impracticable^ Upon his Rrtum, he was Employed again to difcover a North Eaft Paflage; he CaWed JpHl 22, 1608, and returned again on the 26th of Augu/i the fame if ear ; he firft tried to pafs between Spitzitergen and Nova-Zemblay but was hindered by the Ice; he then coifted along the latter, and found the Country tolerably pleafant ; nor was he without fome Hopes of finding another Paflage, than by that called the Straits of Weygatz; but failing in this alfo, he bore away from thence to make Trial of the North Weft Paflage, by entering Lum- lefs -Inlet ; but finding it impoflible to arrive there in TimCy he laid afide that Defign, and made the beft of his Way home. In 1609, he went again in fearch of the North Eaft Pafl"age, and having examined the Coaft of Nuva-Zembla to no Pur- pofe, he bore away for Ne-wfoundland, where he traded fome time with the Savages, and from thence proceeded to Virginia. One may reafonably fuppofe, that he did this with Dedgn to leflen the Expences of the Voyage, that the Company might not be tired with bearing continual Lofles, without meeting any Succefs ; and upon his return from hence, it was, that he undertook his laft, and fatal Voyage, cxprefly for difco- vering a Paflage by the North Weft, He ;■! (FI ! ' i Si *«w-»i«^vt«»»rj .^^jfjjjt^ ill f I ! I ! i \'"J : ! i t4 Tbefeveral Expeditions to He failed from Blackwall, /Ipril 17, 1610, and plyirt^ down the River with the Lee he took an Opportunity there of ridding himfelf of one Mr. Colebuntef a ycry able and (kilful Seaman, whom his Owners had put on board him as his Af- fiftant, by fending him back to London in a Pink, with a Let- ter, in which no doubt, he gave the beft Colour he could to this ftrange Proceeding; which proved an unlucky Precedent, fof the fending him out of the Ship in a much worle Place . In the latter end of May^ he reached the Ifland oi Iceland, and put in- to a Harbour in the North Eaft Part of it, where he was kind • ly entertamed ; yet here fome Difputes arofeamongfthis Crew, which with fome Difficulty he pacified* On the firft of Juni he failed from Iceland ; on the 9th of the fame Month he took himfelf to be off Frobij^er^s Straits ; on the 15th he faw Land* which Capt. Davis called Defolation\ on the '24th he began to enter into thofe Straits which have fince bnrne his Name. On the 8th of July, being in the Height of 60®. he gave the Name of Dejire -Provoked, to the Land he faw on the South Side of the Strait ; on the nth he was amongft fome Iflands, to which he gave the Name of the I fid ofGoJ*s Mercy ; found the Tide flow higher than four Fathoms, the Flood coming from the North, High Water at Eight of the Clock on the Change of the Moon, in the Latitude of 62°. 9'. On the 3d oi Auguft, he pafled through the Straits, obferving that the Tide came from the North, flo^ving from the Shore five Fathoms; the Cape at the Paflage out on the Eaft Side, he called Cape Wit- Jienholme ; and that on the South Weft Shore, Cape Diggs ; he failed down to the Bottom of the Bay, and very carefully fearched the Weft Side, in which he fpent the Time, till to- wards the. Beginning of September, when he removed Robert ' fuett, his Mate, for his mutinous Behaviour : During the . whole Voyage, he ftill continued fearching the Bay, probably with an Intent to find out a fit Place to winter in; and the be- ginning of Nrjember, he found a Place in the South Weft Part, which he judged moft proper for his Purpofe ; and there , he canfed the Veflel to be hauled afhore» As he was vidhialled at hio coming from England, for fix Months only, and had been out now full that Time, it may be prefumed that they . underwent great Hardlhips, in which, however, it is fufficient ly evident that he fliared with them. In the Beginning of the cnfuing Spring, after making a ftiort Trip in a (hallop for nine Days, to try whether he could meet with any Savages, who would fumift^ him with Provifions, and being difappointed, he returned, and getting the Ship ready, prepared to fail for Snglandf diftributing the Bread a^ionglt thofe People that were on 1 i6io, and plyit^ Ipportunity th«rc of ery able and Ikilful )ard him as his Af- Pink, with a Let* [our he could to this icky Precedent, fof ode Place. In the /cc/ which affords us an Opportu- nity of faying fomewhat concerning the Birds of this Coun- try, that may prove both entertaining and mflruftive to the ' Reader. The brown afld fpotted Heathcock^ \vhich continued all • the Year in the CouaUrie* about Hudfon's-J^ay, is fomewhat / bigger fj to lut a Pinnace, wlricn ling then W^eftward^ Cary-S-wan^s-Neft ; he Wefti he fell in . to which he gave t thci-c with a great md conflraincd him light repair the Da- 15th or j4uguft he f'that Rivcfi which e of the Mailer of hero he refolvcd to s fmaller Ship fore- 5 both with a Barri- irr, and ftrengthen- tn from Snowj Ice^ Board his Ship^ m ere is no doubt that ?eople ; he notwith- himfrlf much indif- f the Winter, which ve no diftinft) iregu- 5} tho* Ic is certain^ oumalj anAbib-aft jy S*r Thomas RoCy ceding ftrong Hopes ep the Honour of the •y induftrious to con- idepublick. All we efted from diiFerent s, and it is from thefe le Rigour of the Sea- Februafy, which was fo that they had as others that Wire liftrcfTed for Provi- 3pace of the Win- hundred Y>oitvi of ds us an Oppottu- Birds of this Goun- id mftruftive to th6 ;hich continues all 'Payt is fomewhat bigger fi -f difcover a North Weft Paflagf. xy bigger than an Engl'ifh PartriJjTc, longer bodied, and has a lonij;or Tail in proportion. The Hill is black, covered vith brown FcatI ers; the Skin above the I'-yc red; the top «»f the Head, the upper Part of the Neck, and down the Back co- vered with Feathers of a dark brown, mixed with a dull orange, and alh Colour; the Tail is of a dark brown, il.c Throat under the Bill of a ycUowifh white, the Neck and Brcallof a dull orange, with Spots in the Form of Hulf- Moons of black ; the Brcall and under the Body of ti^c Bird to the Tail white clouded with cream Colour, fpotted with black Half- Moons; the Legs from tie Knee-joint down to the Feet covered with a kind of hairy Feathers of a br /wn Colour, intermixed with black ; the Feet of a rcddifh brown; and three Toes forward having Claws pretty long and black ; thefe Toes are jagged, but the hinder Toes arc Imooth on the fides. It is remarkable, that thefe Birds are Inhabitants of the low Country in thofc Parts, tho' the fame Sp( cie3 with us are only found in very high Lands, and on the Tops of Mountains. The white Partridge is of a middle Size, between ouf common Partridge and the Phcalant, fliaped very nAich like the former, except that its Tail is fomewhat longer* In the Summer Seafon thelc Birds arc mollly brown, but in thd Winter they become perfeftly white, except the outward Fea- thers of the Tail, which arc black Tipped with white. Irt thatfevere Seafon they repofe themfelves in the Snow all Night, aod in the Morning fly direftly up to ihakc off the Snow. In thtf middle of the Day they fun themfelves, and feed only in the Morning and Evenings. They breed and continue in thofc Parts all tlie Year, which is a great Relief to fuch as inhabit that Country. But after all, as the ingenious and accurate Mr. Edixjards obferves, this Bird is not properly a Partridge, but of that kind which we call the Heath Game, and is commort to Jmerica and Europe ^ being found in the Mountains of Italy, Switzerland, Spain, drc. but no where in fuch Plenty as in the Regions about Hudfcn^s-Bay. The Pelican is alfo common in this Country, which U fomewhat bigger than a large tame Goofe ; the upper IMan- dible of the Bill is narrower in the middle than at either End, and is received into the lower, except towards the Point, which widens and receives the lower into it; the Point is red, but the upper and under Part towards the Head, are of a yel- low Colour; the Pouch When dry, relemblcs an Ox's Blad* der blown, and is prodigioufly large while the Creature is living J the Head and Neck are covered with white Feathers^ G ' tb* t t ~«iriiii— r . i ) t • 1 1 1 1 i r 1. f. .18 The feveral Expeditions to the Body of a dirty a(h Colour, the Quills of the "Wings arfl black, aU the under Part is of a dark afli Colour, the Legs arc fhort, with four Toes, '.vebbed together, die middle Toe is longer than the Leg, and both the Legs and Feet are of a dirty yellow, mii^ed with green ; the Claws are dark. Thefe Birds •live chiefly upon Filh, and are thought to mhabit moft Parts of the Globe ; at leaft, it is certain that they are common here, and in the Northern parts of Rujfia; tiiey likewife a- bound in Egypt, and are fometimes found near the Cape of GjocI Hope, wher*'^ they are of a mucl\ larger Size; one that was publickly fhewn here, and brought from thence being twice as big as a large Swan, and the Pouch under the Bill fo large, that his Keeper with great eafe put his Head into it. There are like wife in this Country fome very curious Birds, with refpeft to their Size and Strength; fuch as White Tailed Eagles, about the Bignefs of a Turkey -Cock, flat crowned, fliort necked, full breafted, with brawny Thighs, • and having very long and broad Wings, in proportion to it's Body, but darker on the Back, and lighter on the Sides ; the Breaft fpotted with white, the Quills of the Wings black, the Tail when clofed white, both above and below, except the very Tip of the Feathers, which are black or brown, the Thighs covered with daik brown Feathers, thro' which, in fome Places, a white .Down appears, the Legs to the very Feet covered with foft leathers of a reddilh brown ; it has four Toes on each Foot, very thick and ftrong, (landing three forward and one backward, covered with yellow Scales, and armed with very ftrong Claws, of a ihining black, with very fharp Points; there are befides thefe, feveral kinds of Falcons or Ha-wks, and other Birds of prey. The great Horned Giul is alfo common in this Country, which is a very fmgular Bird, with a Head very little inferior in Size to that of a Cat, and what are called the Horns, compofed of Featliers, rifingjuil above the Bill, intermixed at the Bottom with white, becom- ing of a red brown by Degrees, and tipped with black. The great White Oivl, of a bright fhining Colour, fo as fcarce to be diftinguifhed from the Snow, is common here like wife, and continues the whole Year through in this Country, where it is frequently feen flying by Day, and preys upon the white Partridge. •T H E R E are alfo fome Beafts, that are Angular enough, and are generally efteemed peculiar to this Country, fuch as the White Bear, a Creature very different from the common Bear; hav- ing a long Head, and a Neck much thinner than other Crea- tures of that Kind: It is faidto make a Noife, not unlike the barking r to ills of the "Wings arfl Colour, the Legs arc r, tlie middle Toe is and Feet are of a dirty- re dark. Thefe Birds t to inhabit moft Parts that they are common iiffia ; ijfiey likewife a- ound near the Cape of larger Size; one that rht from thence being Pouch under the Bill eafe put his Head into ry fome very curious trength ; fuch as White a Turkey -Cock, flat with brawny Thighs, i, in proportion to it's fhter on the Sides ; the f the Wings black, the ind below, except the black or brown, the hers, thro' which, in the Legs to the very reddifh brown ; it has d ftrong, {landing three ith yellow Scales, and lining black, with very everal kinds of Falcons The great Horned Civl is a very fmgular Bird, to that of a Cat, and )f Feathers, rifingjuft m with white, becom- )ped with black. The Colour, fo as fcarce to )mmon here likewife, n this Country, where preys upon the white ingular enough, and are try, fuch as the White common Bear ; hav- nnei than other Crea- Noife, not uniike the barking difcover a North Weft Paflagtf. 19 barking of a Dog that is hoarfe; There are different Sizes, great and fmall ; their Hair is long and foft as Wool ; and dieir Nofes and Mouths are black, and fo are their Claws j they fwim from one Field of Ice to another, and dive under Water for a long Time. Near the Sea Coaft, they feed chiefly upon dead Whales; but on fhore, on any thing they can get. The Porcupine of Hudfon's'Day refcmbles in Shape and Size a Beaver ; the Head is not unlike that of a Rabbit ; it has a flat Nofe, entuely covered with ihort Hair ; the Teeth before, two above, and two below, are of a yellow Colour, and remarkably ftrong ; it has very fmall fliojt iars, which hardly appear without the Furr ; the Legs too are very fliort, bi-iC the Claws, of which it has four on it's fore Feet, and five oa the hind, are long, hollow within, like Scoops, and very fliarp pointed. It is covered all over the Body with a pretty foft Furr, abour. four Inches long ; beneath the Hair, on the upper Part of the Head, Body and Tail, it is very thick, fe£ with ftiarp fliifF Qiiills, which are white, with black Points, bearded, and not eafily drawn out, when they have entered the Skin. The Porcupine ufually makes his Neft under the Roots of great Trees, and fleeps much; he feeds chiefly upon the Bark of Trees, eats Snow in the Winter, and drinks Water in the Summer, but carefully avoids going into it. The Savages eat them, and efteem their flefli both a whol- fome and a pleafant Food. The Quick' Hatch or Wolverene is another very extraor- dinary Beafl: of the fize of a large Wolf; the Snout of the upper and under Jaw, as far as the Eyes, is black, the upper Part of the Head whitilh, the Eyes dark ; the Throat, and under Part of the Neck, white fpotted with black ; the Ears fmall and round ; the whole Body of a reddifti brown, darker at the Shoulders and Rump, and lighter upon the Back and Sides. The Furr of the whole Body is pretty long, but not very clofe, the Feet as f r ".a the firft: Joint, are covered with fliort black Hair, but the Legs are brown and the Claws of a light Colour, the Tail is mofl: of it brown, but towards the Tip bufhy and black. This Creature in going carries his Head very low, fo that his Back rifes arch wife ; when attacked, he defends himfeif with great Force and Obfl:inacy, and it is laid, will tear Traps, Ginns, and other fuch Inventions to pieces, in a very furprizing Manner. But to return to Capr* Button. He carried with him in this Expedition, feveral Perfona of great Skill and Capacity, fuch as the Mafler of the Refolw Q 2 tiofi^ > ■ '- 20 The fever al Expeditions to tiortj Mr. Nelpmj who was a very experienced Seaman, and fuggefted to him mod of the Precautions, taken for the Frefervation of his People in the Winter. Capt. Ingram^ who commanded the Difcoveryj was alfo a Man of great Abilities ; andfo was Captain C/7'^wj, of whom Button mh\i Journal fays, that he never carried abetter Seaman with him in his Life. He had alfo one Capt. Hawkridge with him, who made fome Notes upon the Voyage, and who having tried the Tide dXSavage-Jjles, found it came from the South Eaft, and rofe three Fathoms. From him we learn, that he had an Encounter with the Savages at Cape IVoljlenholme , who came to attack him in two Canoes, in which there were about fourfcore Perfons, and who furpriling his Men a-fhore, when they were filliig Water, killed five of them, in Re- venge for his taking four of their large Canoes, of which he returned but two. He had alfo one Jo/ias Huharty who was his Pilot, and we fhall hereafter take Notice of a fmgular In- ftancehe gave of his Capacity, and of the juft Notions he had of the true Way of feeking the Paflkge ; and not to detain the Reader longer upon this Head, we fhall mention but one Man more, which was Ahbacuc Prickett, who was with Capt. Hudfon, in the laft unfortunate Voyage, when he was bafely facrificcd by his mutinous Crew. While they were lying ftill in the Winter, Captain 5«/- /o« veryjudicioufly devifed a Method of employing the Time of the principal Perfons on board him, to the Service of the Expedition, and his own Satisfaction; which at the fame Time cut off all Occafions for Murmuring or Difcontent, by taking up that Space, which had it remained unemployed, their Heads might have run upon Things of a lefs ufcful Na- ture, and which might have created Differences and Difputcs. Some he kept bufy in fettling the Courfe and Diftance from Place to Place; to others he propofed, as it fecms, the fol- lowing Queftions, viz, what it was poflible for them to do where they were, when the Weather became open ? and how the Difcovery they were fent to make, might be beft profe- cuted, when they fliouldbe abl; to go to Sea? To which Quef- tions, Mr. Hubart before mentioned wrote the following Anfwer. * My Anfwer to the firft Demand, is under your Favour, ' I think it not amifs to fearch this River, if God give Strength ' to our Men, before our Departure from it, to have the * Knowledge how far it doth extend, and that we may meet * with fome Inhabitants, which may further our Expedlations , * but I cannot think of any Profit to be made by it. t < t < t t t < < Mr i hm to experienced Seaman, lutions, taken for the Iter. Capt. Ingram, alfo a Man of great )f whom Button in his tter Seaman with him {a-wkridge with him, afre, and who having came from the South tiim we learn, that he It Cape JVoljienholme f 5, in which there were iling his Men a-fhore, five of them, in Re- Canoes, of which he 'ias Huhart, who was otice of a lingular In- the juft Notions he had ge ; and not to detain fhall mention but one ', who was with Capt. , when he was bafely Winter, Captain But- employing the Time to the Service of the which at the fame ing or Difcontent, by mained unemployed, ^s of a lefs ufcful Na- ierences and Difputcs. fe and Diltance from as it fecms, the fol- iflible for them to do ame open ? and how might be beft profe- ea ? To which Quef- wrote the following under your Favour, if God give Strength from it, to have the id that we may meet [er our Expedlations , Imade by it. ' Mr difcover a North Weft Paflage. 21 ' My Anfwcr to the fecond Demand is, to fcarch to the ' Northward about this Wefteni Land, until, if it be poffible, * that wc may find the Flood coming from the Wcftward, and ' to bend our Courfcs againfl that Flood, following the Ebb, ' fearching that Way for the Paffage. For this Flood, which * we have had from the Eaftward, I cannot be pcifuaded, but * that they are the Veins of fome Headland to the North - ' wards of the Cheeks, and by the Inlets of Rivers, which * let the Flood-Tides into them; which Headlands being ' found, I do afTure myfelf, that the Tide will be found to ' come from the Weftward. * Herein I have fhewed my Opinion, fo far as my Judg- ' ment will afford, until further Reafons induce me to the * contrary.' Jo fas Hub art. Whoever is a proper Judge of thefe Matters, muft allow, that this Man was perfectly right, and laid down the only, true and fenfible Method for difcovering a Paflage. The Ri- ver began to clear about the 2ifl: o( Jpril, but it is certain, that he did not get out to Sea, till more than two Months after, and then the Extract we have of his Journal, fhews that he examined the Weft Side of the Bay, and gave Names to feveral of the Places remarkable therein, which they ftill bear : His own Name he left to the Bay, where he wintered, ; and the adjacent Country he called New-Wales. In the Lati- tude of 60*^. finding a ftrong Race of Tide, running fome- times Eaftward, and fometimes Weftward, Mr. Hubart in his Chart fet it down, by the Name of Hubart^s Hope ; the higheft he failed to the North, feems to be 65*^. and from the Obfer- vations he made there, more elpecially of the Tides, he came Home perfedlly fatisfied, that a North Weft Paflage might be found ; and he told Mr. Briggs, the famous Mathematician, that he convinced King y^w^f J- of the Truth of this Opinion. But it would have been more advantageous to tl:iis Nation, if he had fuflered his Journal to be publiftied, or at leaft had given the World the Grounds upon which his Sentiment was built, as he lived many Years after this, became a rich Man, and a great Patron to thofe who fet on foot the Trade to Gui- nea. It is for Want of his Journal, that we have no Ac- .count when he returned : All we know of it, is from the Re- ^port of Pricket, who faid they met with no Ice, till they were in Hudfon's Straits', and that they came Home in iixteen 'Days. j We are told, the Reafon Capt. Button did not make ano- :ther Voyage for Difcovery, was the Death of Prince Henry C3 hi* 4 'n I M H *'■] U ■ . 2 2 7!^(? feveral Expsdiiions to his Mafter, \vhich happened in his Abfcnce ; but it may be prefumed, that he imparted his Inftruftions freely to his Kinf- man and great Favourite Gapt. Gibbons y who was fcnt in the fame Ship called the Difcoveryy upon the fame Defign in 1614; but he was very unfortunate, for miffing the Entrance of Hudfon*s-StraitSy he was driven by the Ice into a Bay in the Latitude of 57**. upon the North Eaft Main, which wa$ called Gibbon' s - Hole , where he lay twenty Weeks in very great Danger, and his Ship received fo much Damage, that for this Reafon, and becaufe the Seafon was loft, he thought proper to ^return. The fame Company of Merchants, or at leaft fome of them, not at all difcouraged by thefe repeated Difappoint- ijients, fitted out the very next Year, which was 161 5, the Difcoveryy a VefTel of fifty-five Tons, and gave the Com- mand of it to Capt. Robert Bylot, a very experienced Mariner, Vho had been in all the three Expeditions of Hudfon, Button and Gibbons y who had with him for his Pilot the famous William Baffiney a very able Mariner, and one well acquainted with the Northern Navigation, and the Greenland Fifhery ; fo that without doubt, very high Expeftations were entertained of the Succefs of this Voyage. Capt. Bylot failed on the 1 8th of Jpril ; on the 6th of May he had fight %i Greenland , on the Eaft Side of Cape Fareivel. He made the Refolution on the 27th of the fame Month ; and on the North Side he found a good Harbour, where an Eaft South Eaft Moon made High Water, and the Tide flowed four Fathom. At Savage-IJlands he met with a great many of the Natives, and traded with them ; he lays this down to be in 62*^. 30'. and affirms, the Tide role there as high as at Refolution', he proceeded thence to Mill-Jflandy which he fo named from the Grinding of the Ice ; it lies in the I,.atitude of 64°. and there the Tide came from the South Ealt. On the loth of July he faw Land lying Weft from him, and his Men being fcnt to try the Tide, affirmed it came from the North , which gave him fome Hopes of a Paflage ; he therefore called this Cape Comfort, in the Latitude of ^5*^. and in the Longitude of 86'*. 10'. We/i from Lond'.n. But having doubled the Cape, and proceeded twelve • thirteen Leagues, he faw the Land tend North EafI by Eaft, whidi put an End to his Hopes ; and therefore he returned Jiome, and anchored in Plymouth -Sound on the 9th of September, without lofmg a Man, It feems from this Voyage, that he was difcouraged from looking farther in Jfudfon's-Bay, tho' he had been in the moft improper Parr, ind therefore propofcd to the worthy Perfons, by whom h« ■Wits. ions td fence; but it may be ons freely to his Kinf- , who was fcnt in the 1 the fame Defign in Dr miffing the Entrance r the Ice into a Bay in Eaft Main, which was ty Weeks in very great I Damage, that for this [I, he thought proper to Its, or at leaft fome of b repeated Difappoint- which was 1615, the 5, and gave the Gom- y experienced Mariner, tions of Hudforif Button his Pilot the famous and one well acquainted le Greenland Fiftiery ; fo tations were entertained I Bylot failed on the 1 8th fight €f Greenland f on made the Refolution on he North Side he found Eaft Moon made High |)m. At Savage -Iflands atives, and traded with 30'. and affirms, the he proceeded thence 3m the Grinding of the id there the Tide came of July he faw I-,and ng fcnt to try the Tide, 1 gave him fome Hopes Cape Comfort, in the ide of 86**. 10'. We/1 le Cape, and proceeded Land tend North Eafl opes ; and therefore he louth- Sound on the 9th It feems from this cm looking farther in 5 moft improper Part, Perfons, by whom he was n difcover a North Weft Paffag?. 23 ■was employed, that they /hould undertake another Expedition thro' Duvis's-Straits. Capt. Robert Bylot, or as Purchas calls him, Bylcth failed in the Dlfcovery, the fame Veflel that had been now employed in five Voyages, having with him William Baffine as his Pilot, from Grave/end, March 26 ; and on the 1 4th of . y fol- lowing, he entered in Davis's-Straits, and being in the La- titude of 70°. 20'. faw a great Number of the Natives who avoided him, and even here he began to doubt of a Pafiage ; and the Reaibns in his own Words were thefe, becaui'e the Tides were fo fmall, notrifing above eight or nine Feet, and kept no certain Courfe ; but the nearcft Time of High Water, on tlie Change Day, was at a Quarter after Nine, and the Flood came in from the South. On the 30th of the fame Month he came to Hope-Sanderfon, in the i^atitude of 72°. 10'. which was the fartheft North that Davis had failed; and Mr. Baffine acknowledges, that from it's Appearance, his Predecefibr might well be excufed for entertaining great Hopes ; the Sea being op^ n, and the Paflage wide, only the Tide held a certam Courll, and rofe but eight or nine Feet, which difcouraged them very much. He continued his Courfe however, and on the firft oi June came to a little Ifland, where he found Capoes and Tents and two or three Women ; this was in the Latitude of 72°. 45'. and he called it JVomens Ifland. As the Ice was very troublefome, he thought fit to put into a Harbour till it fhould be in fome Meafure diffipated ; and this accordingly he did on the 1 2th of June, in the Lati- tude of 73°. 45'. and trading there with the Inhabitants, who reforted to him in confiderable Numbers, for Sea Skins and Unicorns Horns, called this Place Horn-Sound. After flaying there a few Days he put to Sea again, but was very much troubled with the Ice ; he had fight in his Paflage of many Sea Unicorns. On the ift oi July he found himfelf in an open Sea, in the Latitude of 75*** 40^ which again raifed his Hopes. On the 3d doubled a fair Cape, in the Latitude of 76^ 35 . which he called Cape Diggs, after Sir Dudley Diggs, and paffing by a fine Sound, at about twelve Leagues diflance, he called this JVolJlenholme-Sound ; on the 5th he was in another fine Sound, in the Latitude of 77'', 30;. which from the great Number of Whales he faw there, he called IVhale-Sound; from thence he proceeded to Sir Thomas Smith's-Sound, which extends beyond 78*^ and is at the very End of what is called Bajjin's-Bay, which 1 fuppofe begins at Hope-Sanderfon, and extends hither ; All the Places yet named aie on the Eaft Side, or on that Con- G 4 tinent *- i: :■ 5,1 ;4l fir \U' k I i ;i M m\^ 24 The fever al Expeditions to tinent which Frobijher, or rather Queen Elizaheth his Miftrcft, named IMcta hicogn'tta, and which is ir -ality, no other than the Eail Coalt of Croenland. In biurn^s-Sottnd there was great abundance ot Whales, and which is very remarkable, they were the largcft Whales he had feen ; befides which, there was another Circumlhncc with regard to this Bay, wor- thy of Notice, and that was the Variation of the Compafs to 56°. or more than five Points to the Weftward, which Daf- fne affirms to be the greatelt Variation that had been ever ob- ferved. Standing over to the Weft Side, he faw fome Iflands, to which he gave the Name of Gary's -JJJands. The firft fair Sound he met with on that Side, he called Jlderman Joneses- Sound', and continuing his Courfe, he came on the 12th to another great Sound, in the Latitude of 74**. which he called §ir James Lane afier^s -Sound ; and fo keeping along the Weft Side oi Davis's -Straits, till on the 27th of 7«{v he was near Cumberland- IJlands ; here defpairing of any farther Difcovery, and Mr. Hubar', another of his Company, being very fick, he bore away for the Croenland Goaft, and putting into Cockin- Soun:.', in the Latitude of 65^. 45'. his fick People recovered in a Week's Time, by giving them Scurvy-Grafs boiled in their Beer ; there he traded with the Natives, and obferved that they had a wonderful fine Salmon Water here at Seven o'clock at the the Water rofe above eighteen Feet ; on the 30th of Augujl he arrived in Dover Road. On his return from this Voyage, he wrote a long, and a very fenfible Letter to Sir John JVoljlenholnie ; in which nc gives him a plain and fliir Relation of his Voyage, and of the clear Difcove; y he had made ; that nothing was to be ex- pedted, witli regard to a Faflage in Davis's -Straits \ but for Salmon, Morle and W^hale-Fifliing, there could not be a more commodious Place found, which Experience has jufti- iied ; for the Dutch have eftablhhed an annual Whale-Fifliery here, of a very great Value. But it feems the Hearts of thefc Gentlemen were fet upon a Paflage, and if that was not found they minded nothing elfe ; fo that after thefe five Voyages, in all of which Byht was, they gave over their Defign, which lay dormant for about twenty Years after. William Baffine was flill pcrfiiaded that a Paflage there muft be, tho' fully con*, inced that in Davis's -Straits it could not be ; and of this Sentiment he declared himfelf a little before his Death, which happened in the Eaft- Indies, by a Wound he received at the taking of Ormus ; and very defirous he was of making a Tryal to find this PafTage, from that Part of the World, in which mon Fiftighr ; the^igb. Full and Change ; and L^lhi^t ons to ' , lizaheih his Miflrefs, jality, no other than fj^s-Sotmd there was is very remarkable, ben ; befides which, ird to this Bay, wor- n of the Compafs to eftward, which Baf- at had been ever ob- he faw fome Iflands, mds. The firft fair :d Alderman Jones^s- :ame on the 1 2th to '4**. which he called ;ping along the Weft )f July he was near [ly farther Difcovery, ', being very fick, he putting into Cocking ick People recovered jrvy- Grafs boiled in fatives, and obferved I Fiflii|r; the^igh and Change X and ►e 30th of Augujl \ic rote a long, and a olnie ; in which nc Voyage, and of the ing was to be ex^ 's-Straits; but for could not be a xperience hasjufti- lual Whale-Fiftiery the Hearts of thefc that was not found e five Voyages, in leir Defign, which JViUiam Baffine nuft be, tho' fully lot be ; and of this his Death, which he received at the was of making a of the World, in which re dtfcover a North Weft Paflage. \ k, which he hoped to have fucceeded better. It was chiefly from this great Seaman, that Mr. Briggs the Mathematician derived his beft Lights, with refpeft to a North Weft Paflage ; for which he was a great Advocate. It is true he confulted Sir Thomas Button ; but as he tells us himfelf, abating fti'ong Alfurances, fair Words, and fine Promifes, he received little or no Information from him, except with regard to the Tides, and from them alone he concluded the Certainty of a PafTage ; and that the moft probable Means of finding it, was clofely to examine the Coafts about Hudfon's-Bay ; and upon this Subjeft he penned a pretty large Difcourfe ; the Heads of which, and thole very imperfeftly taken, are to be met with in Purchas and in Fox ; but the whole of his Work with his Chart, was never publifhed ; which may be juftly cfteemed a Lofs, and a very great one, both to that Age and to this. We come now to Capt. Luke Fox^ a Man bred from his Youth to the Sea, and who for Twenty-five Years, before he undeitook this Voyage, had meditated fomething of the kind, having then had an Inclination to have gone Mate with Mr. John Knlghty who was famous for his Skill in the Navigation of the North Seas ; but notwithftanding he was then difap- pointed, he remained a careful and diligent Enquirer into things of thi^l^Jature, converfed with Baffine^ Pricket, and others who had been employed on the Difcovery, and collected with great [nduftry all the Journals and Hiftories of fuch Voyages as he could meet with. His Love to this kind of Knowledge, brought him to an Acquaintance with Mr. Henry Briggs beforementioned, who offered him his AlTiftance for procuring one of the King's Ships, in order to make a Voyage in fearch of the North Weft PafTage. Accordingly in 1629 or 1630, with the Advice and AfTiflance of Svc John Brooke , a Petition was prefented to King Charles!, for that Purpofc, which was gracioufly accepted and granted ; but the Seafon of the Year being elapfed, before the Defign could be brought to bear, they were obliged to put it off to the next Year, and in the mean time Mr. Briggs ^\tdi. ••«..,.. ^. \^t,^ In this Space, the Merchants of Brijlol, at the Requeft of Capt James, formed a Scheme of the like Nature, and were defirous to come to an Agreement with the Merchants of Lon- don, who were to be at the Expence of Capt. Foxh Expediti- on, that they fhould have an equal fhare in Honour and Pro- fit, which every Ship proved fo fortunate as to find the PafTIige, and this was readily yielded to by the London Traders. Sir Thomas Roe, a very worthy as well as a very wife Man, and a Perfon of great Publick Spirit, returning at this Time fiom -^3!^^!Sfi£I] ;; ! til )-i'i: f;!! !!• ft 6 ^he feveral Expeditions to from his Embafly in Swederiy Capt. Fox was introduced to him, and honoured with his Proteftlon, as well as that of Sir John Wol/ienholme the elder, who had been for fo many Years a conftant Friend to, and Encouragerof this Difcovery ; and his Son Mr. John tTolJlenholme, afterwards Sir John IVol/lenholme, was appointed Treafurer ; and Capt. Fox having been intro- duced to the King, and having received a Chart, in which all the former Difcoveries were marked, his Majefty's lnftru6ti- ons, and a Letter to the Emperor of Japan, prepared for his Voyage at the Beginning of Alay, 1 63 1 . The Veflel he failed in was a Pinnace of the King's called the Charles, of the Burthen of twenty Tons, with twenty Men and two Boys, vidtualled for eighteen Months, and com- pleatly equipped ' in every Relpeft. On the 8th of May, he failed from Yarmouth-Road ; and on the 1 3th of June, was in Latitude 58**. 30'. On the 2 2d of the fame Month, he entered Hud/on*s-Straits, and after paffingby Cary -Swanks - Neji, the iirft Land he faw was in the Latitude of 64*. i'. the fame that Sir Thomas Button , called Ne Ultra, but to which he gave the Name of Sir Thomas Roe^s -Welcome, which, I think, it has ever fince retained; he fays, it was an Ifland with high broken Land, He had fine clear Weather, an open Sea, free from Ice, no Snow on the Land, but a bold lagged Goaft, like Headlands upon the Ocean, with Tangle and Rock-Weed, and great Plenty of Fifh. The Tide rofe here four Fathom, whereas his Men who tried the Tide at Cary-Siuan^s-Ne/} , found it to rife only fix Feet. Sailing from thence South Weft in the Latitude of 63*. 37'. he faw another Headland to the Southward of him, with fmall Iflands and broken Land upon the Main ; and here alfo he faw many Filh and Seals and one Black Whale ; failing ftill Southward, he came to an Ifland in 63°. to which he gave the Name of Brook-Cobham, in Ho- nour of his Patron Sir John Brooke; and on the 30th of July, he faw another litde Ifland about twelve Leagues from Brook- Cobham, to which he gave the Name of Dun- Fox^s- Ifland ; And here, he fays, the Tide came from the North Eaft, and flowed about twelve Feet Water. In the Latitude of 62*. 5'. he fell in with fome fmall Iflands, to which be gave the Name of Briggs^s Mathematicks: And here obferved, that a North Wind kept up the Tide. He fets it down in his Journal on the 3d of Auguji, that the further he went from Sir Thomas Roe^s-JVelcome, it flowed lefs Water, and the Tide was lefs perceptible, and the fame Obfervation he re- peats more than once. He tried the Tide at Port-Nelfon, and found it flow nine Feet, On the 29th of y^uguj}, he met with Capt. James, went on board hrni, and was well entcr- tained^ •1 i : ■i difcover a North Weft Paffage. ^y tained, but left him on the lafr of that Month; the Refult of his whole Difcovery was, that from the flowing of the Tide and the whales, it was moft likely the PafTage fliould be in Sir Thomas Roe^s-JVelcome or the Ne Ulira, as Sir Thomas Button named it. In the Beginning of O^ober he repafled Hudfon^s -Straits', and on the laft of that Month arrived fafely in the Downs. He publifhed his Voyage on his Return, which he dedicated to the King, and both in the Dedication, and at the Conclu- fion, he lays it down as a thing certain, that the High Tides he met with in the JVelcome, could not pofTibly come through Hudfon^s-Straits, but mull be propagated from a Weftem Ocean, or that which is commonly called the South Sea, and he very clearly and very judicioufly traces thefe two Tides. He (hews, that the Tide coming through Hudfon^s -Straits, flows at the Entrance of them, that is, at Refolution, five Fa- ^oms right up and down • He obferves, that Mr. Hudfon had found the Tides at the Ifle of God's -Mercy to flow fomewhat above four Fathoms, that at Mill- I/land it flows fomewhat lefs than four Fathoms. Again, from Sea-Horfs Point to Ca- ry-Sivan's-Neft it flows but fix Feet. But in the Latitude of 64". 10'. he found the Tide fetting from the North and flow- ing above twenty Feet in the dead Neap ; and coafting along this Wefli-fide, he found it flowing lefs and lefs, till at Port- Nelfon it came to nine Feet j he therefore obferves, that con- fidering the diftance, which is upwards of two hundred and fifty Leagues, and the Tide meeting fo many Rubs and Checks, by the way, amongft Iflands and Shoals, it is inconceivable how fuch a vafl: Quantity of Water fliould be recalled and re- paired every twelve Hours, if it were not fed and (upplied from fome great and vaft Ocean. It might be both inftru61:ive and entertaining, if we fliould infift farther upon this Gentleman's Remarks, deduced not only from his Knowledge, as a Sea- man, but from his own Experience in this Voyage; and com- paring his Obfervations with thofe that had been made by his Predeceflbrs ; but as all this Matter will be more properly con- fidered in the Gonclufion, where we fliall have alfo later Fafts to build upon, it is better to refer it thither and to avoid fatigu- ing the Reader with needlefs Repetitions. Only this it may be proper to remark, that Capt. Fox, not only continued firm in his Opinion, that there was a Paflage, but was very clear glfo, as to the Place in which it was to be looked for, and very pofitive, that it would be found large and open, and in a temperate Climate, which he grounded upon his own Experi- f ncc, that the farther he failed Northward in Hudjhn's-Bay, the m M iU I ' ?8 Itbe feveral Expe(^rtiomto • *■ ihc varmer he found the Weather, and the more free from Ice. Wc have already mentioned Capt. James of BriJIol, who failed in ti.>e fame Month, as well as the fame Year with Capt. Luke Fox, j'nd on the fame Dcdgn. He was certainly a Man of Abilities, and very expert in Calculations, but he does not fcem to have been fo well acquainted with the Voyages that had been made to the North, as he ought to have been, to en- title hun to a Command of this Nature ; for if he had, he would not have advanced many Things that we find in his Account; and more efpecially, in the Clofe of it. He enter- ed Hudfon's-Straits about the middle of June, and found him- felf exceflively embairafled with Ice ; of which he gives very long and difmal Accounts ; that in all Probability are ftriftly true; but this was owing to his fpendingfo much Time in the Bottom of the Bay, where, notwithftanding his Conference with Capt. FoXf he refolved to winter It feems he was very fenfible, that much was expelled from him at his Return; and it is vifible enough, that there was a great Emulation between him and Fox, which might very probably induce him to ftay, in order to pufh his Difcoveries, as far as it was poiTible, in the Spring. . • . However that might be, thu«; much is certain, that the Place he made choice of for that Purpofe was Chariton- IJland, in the Latitude of 52®. and here he was obliged to take Shelter in the Beginning of the 'M.on^oi Odiober, about which Time it began to fiiow and freeze exceflively, yet the Sea was not frozen clofe to the Ifland, until the Middle of December* The Cold was very intenfe, until tne Middle of y^prll, unto thofe who had no Place to refide in, but a Tent covered with the Sails, and fuch Branches of fmall Spruce as that Ifland afforded; and confequently, in fuch a Situation, they endured great Hardi^ips in fo long a Winter, furrounded by a Sea all covered with Ice, for a long time after it was diflblved upon the Lanis a^oining to the Bay. The 29th of Jpril it rained all Day. The 3d oi May, the Snow was melted in many Places of the Ifland. The 13th, the Weather was very warm in the Day-time, but there was fl:ill Froft in the Night. The 24th, the Ice was confumed along the Shore, and crack- ed all over the Bay, and began to float by the Ship. The 30th, the Water was clear of Ice, betwixt the Shore and the Ship, and fome Vetches appeared. The 15th of June, the Sea was ftill frozen over, and the Bay full of Ice. The i6th was very hot witli Thunder. The 1 9th they faw fome open Sea ; and by the 20th all the Ice was di-ove to the Nortliward. This ( I more free from ofBri/fol, who : Year with Gapt. 1 certainly a Man , but he does not he Voyages that have been, to cn- )r if he had, he at wc find in his of it. He enter - , and found him- lich he gives very ability are ftriftly luch Time in the y his Conference ;ems he was very It his Return ; and mulation between duce him to ftay, t was pofTible, in certain, that the J Chariton- IJlandf ed to take Shelter )out which Time the Sea was not of December, of Jpril, unto ent covered with as that Ifland , they endured led by a Sea all s difTolved upon )f Jpril it rained melted in many ather was very ort in the Night. hore, and crack - he Ship. The le Shore and the th of June, the ce. The i6th faw fome open the Nortliward. This le :e )n difcover a North Weft PalTage. 29 This Ifland was a dry Land covered with a white Mofs, and (mall Shrubs and Bufhes, no Trees but Spruce and Juniper, thelongcfta Foot and a half over. The Sea to the North- ward was fullof floating Ice, until the ^^^i of "July. In the long Account which Capt. James has given us of his Winter- ing, there is fuch a Detail of Miferies and Hardfhips, as might have been fufficient to have deterred any from venturing again into this Bay ; and no doubt, it was a princi^-al Rcafon, that all Thoughts of profecuting a Defign of this Nature, were, after the publifliing his Voyage, laid afide for upwards of thir- ty Years. After he left Charlton-IJland, he failed North Wefl:, and examined that Side of the Coaft, as high as Marble •I/land, and then ftood over to the oppofite Main, and failed as high as Nottingham- Ifland-, but the Month of Auguji being now pretty far fpent, and hiinfelf fully perfuaded that no PaflTage was to be found, but to the Northward of 66®. he confented, on the unanimous Defire of his Ship's Company, to bear up the Helm, and to retum home . He had a tolerable Paflage through Hudfon^s- Straits, notwithflanding which it was the 22d of 0£}ober before he reached the Port of Brijiol. He pub- liflied a large Account of his Voyage , in which there are a- bundance of curious Things, that recommended it highly to that great Philofophcr Mr. Boyle ; as on the other Hand, the Ufc that he has made of it, and the Gharafter that he has gi- ven it, has reflefted no fmall Credit on the Work. It may however be doubted, whether the Difficulties Capt. James met with, or the Dangers he run through, did not warp his Judgment, fince from being a warm Advocate for a North Weft Paflage, he came to write as pofitively againft it, and to aflert in plain Terms, that either there was no Pafl!age, or if there was, it muft be fo fituated, as not to be worth finding* The Arguments he offers in Sw pport of his Sentiment, as to there being no Paffage, are three, or as he ftates them four J but the laft feems to be a Dedudion from the reft, ra- ther than any new Reafon ; we will give a fhort Account of them all, becaufe, when confidr^red and compared with what has been difcovered fince, they are perhaps as ftrong Argu- ments for a Paffage, as any that can be offered. Firft, then, he fays, there is a conJiantTide Flood and Ebb fetting into Hud- fon's- Straits, the Flood ftill coming from the Eajiivard, which, as it proceeds correfpondent ,0 the diflance, it alters the Time of full Sea. This alfo entering into Bays and broken Ground, iecitmes d/flurbed. and overfeis with half Tides. The Fafts here m *f '1i \\i li; it^ 30 The feveral Expeditions to here laid down are allowed to be very true, and the inference he draws from them is very juft, but it happens to make no- thing at all for his Purpofe notwithftanding. He never exa- mined the Tide at Sir Thomas Roe* s- Welcome y for if he had, he muft have been convinced, for the very Reafons here laid down, that it did not come from the /Atlantic Ocean, and confequcntly that there muft be a Paflage. Fox, who vifited this Bay the very fame Year, who tried the Tides where Capt. James did, but tried alfo the Tide in the Welcome , con- cluded very juftly, that the latter could not fpring from the fame Ocean with the former, and thus we fee clearly and plainly why thcfe two able Seamen were of directly oppofite Opinions, and yet both of them in the right, fo far as their Experience went ; for it is very certain, that Capt. James (av/ nothing in this refpe£t that could induce him to conclude there was a Paflage; and it is no lefs certain, that Capt. Fox, from the Lights he had, might very fairly infer, there muft be a Pafl^age. The only thing in which Capt. James was blamea- ble was, his aflerting, that no Paflage could be found to the South of 66". notwithftanding that there was a great Part of the Coaft of Hud/on' s- Bay within that Latitude, which he ne- ver examined. But let us now come to his fecond Reafon. Here are, fays he, m fmall F'tjh, fuch as Cod, &c. and very few great ones, nuhich are very rarely fe en ; nor are there any Bones of Whales, Sea-Horfes or other great F'r/f) to be found on the Shore, nor any Drift-Wood. To this the fame Anfwer may be given as to the former ; the Fafts are very true ; and the Conclufionis veryjuft; but then, it is only with regard to that Part of the Bay which he examined ; and if the Conclufi- on be juft, it is a certain Proof, that if he had met with the contrary of all thefe, he would undoubtedly have made a con- trary Conclufion. Capt. Fox, in the Neighbourhood of Sir Thomas Roe* s -Welcome y met both with fmall Fifti and large, of which he gives us a particular Account, and efpecially with regard to Whales; for it feems at Brook-Cobham his Men faw no lefs than forty at one Time. It might indeed have been matter of Difpute in thofe Days when thefe two Journals were publiftied, and very probably it was ; which was moft to be depended upon, in regard to veracity; but there can be none in ours, when from repeated Voyages thefe Parts are well known ; and in confequence thereof, it is a thing out of Queftion, that all Sorts of Fifti, but more efpecially the larger Sorts, fuch as Sea-Unicorns and Whales, are found in great Numbers in thefe Northern Parts; confequcntly Capt. James*?, Reafon, not only ceafes with refpedt to thofe Parts of the Bay where \ .1 difcover a North Weft Paffagc. S« , and the inference ipens to make no- ;. He never exa- im^ , for if he iiad, Reafons here laid lantic Ocean, and FoXy who vifited the Tides where [ tht Welcome f con- )t fpring from the ve fee clearly and f dircdtly oppodte bt, fo far as their atCapt. James (av/ ^ to conclude there itCapt. Fox, from *, there mufl: be a James was blamea- ild be found to the was a great Part of :ude, which he ne- 5 fecond Rcafon . 7 as Codf Sec. and ^een ; nor are there eat F'rJJ) to be found s the lame Anfwer are very true ; and )nly with regard to md if the Conclufi- had met with the have made a con- jhbourhood of Sir all Fifli and large, and efpecially with bham his Men faw indeed have been two Journals werff ch was moft to be there can be none fe Parts are well is a thing out of fpecially the larger are found in great ntlyCapt. James''% Parts of the Bay where where a PafTagc has been lately foudi^ hut the very contrary Rcafon takes place; lincc, if a Paflage was defpaired of from the want of thcfe Signs, it ought furely to be hoped for^ wherever thofc Signs appear. His third Reafon is this. We find the Ice, fays he, tnthe Latitude 65°. 30'. to be lying all over the Sea in Rands ^ and I am moji certain, that the Shoals andjhoal Bays are the Mo- ther of it. Had there been any Ocean beyond, it "would have been broke all to Pieces, for we found it coming through the Straits into the Sea to the Eajhvard. To which he adds, and calls it a fourth Reafon, That the Ice feeks its -way to the Eaft' luard, and fo drives out at Hudfon's- Straits. It is very evi- dent from thence, that in his Judgment, the more Northern Parts of the Bay muft be entirely choaked ahd filled up with Ice ; whereas, it very clearly appears from what Fox fays, that thei c was lefs Ice to the North ; and in the following Sheets it will be flicwn, that there is very little Ice; but on the contrary, the Ice in the Southern Parts of the Bay is broken to Pieces, and driven out by that great body of Water that comes from the North ; and therefore upon his own Princi- ple, this is a dircft and convincing Proof, that there muft be a Communication with another Ocean. As to his additional Argument, which h< particularly men*ions, as depending j« upon his own Obfcrvation, we may adid to it, that a great deal of Ice is carried into Hudfon^s-Bay through the Straits by the Flood, and very naturally comes out again with the Ebb, as well as the reft of the Ice that is bred in the Bay, from the Caufes that himfelf has affigned. On the whole, therefore. Whatever weight Capt. James's Autho- rity might have in former Times, when there might be a Doubt, whether he or Fox fpoke truth, it can have no man- ner of Weight now, when the Fafts, upon which his Rea- fonings are grounded, have been, with refpeft to the Northern Bay totally overthrown by inconteftable Experience. It has been already oberved, that after Fox and James all Thoughts of a North Weft Paftage were laid afide here ; but as at this Time, or foon after, the principal Perfons in our Colony of Neiu England began to undertake Expeditions, for Difcovery and Improvement of their Filhery and Com- merce ; it is not to be wondered, if they in their Turns, con- fidering the great Advantages that might refult from finding a North Weft Paflage, and their own favourable Situation, fliould make an Attempt of that kind. In this one may fafely fay, there is nothing abfurd or unreafonable; and therefore in the Abftra6t we have of AdmiraJ De Fonte's Voyage, what is. 1 »■ i: '■<: ' ■I 5« The feveral Expeditions to is faid of Capt. Shapley*s being taken m a Ship from Bo/iorif carries in it nothing very incredible. Mr. Dobh, in his Re- marks upon that Account, takes notice of the Probability that this Dofton Ship might have paffed through fomc of tl^e Open- ings near Whale-Covey an Inlet va. Hudfoti's-Bay ; and perhaps that ingenious Gentleman would have thought it a kind of Confirmation o( the Guefs he has made, if he had recollected that this Inlet is ntuated precifely in that Latitude, which Capt. Lancafier fet down for the Entrance of the North Weft Paf- fage, as has been before related in Page 1 1, and to the Know- ledge* of which he came in the Eafl- Indies. Bar tho' th'' Angular Concurrence of thefe two Circum- ftances, may very well juftify this Ihort Digreflion, in reference to the Attempts from Ne'u) Englandy which may poifibly procure us fome other Lights upon that Head; yet there is fome- thing iclating to this Subjeft, which may poffibly appear ftill more extraordinary ; in as much as it will fhcw that it is not ac all impoflible, that either to this, or fome othg- Expedi- tion, undertaken from BoPon, the prefent Hudfon's-Bay Com- pany owe that Difcovery which produced their Charter, and put them into PofFeflion of tliofe Places in that Bay, in which they have Settlements at prefent. Mr. Jeremky who was Governor at Port-Nelforty while it was in the Hands of the French f and who, without doubt, had better Opportunities of knowing tlie Matters of which he writes, than moft other People, gives us this Account of the Matter. He fays, that one Mr. de Groifeleiz an Inhabitant of Canada^ a bold and enterprizing Man, snd one who had travelled much in thofe Parts, pufhed his Difcoveries at length fo far, that he reached the Goafts of Hudfon's-Bay from the French Settlements by Land. Upon his Return, he prevailed upon fome of his Countrymen at Quebeck, to fit out a Jark for perfeding this Difcovery by Sea ; which being done, and he landing upon the Coaft, where he apprehended no European had been before, was amazed in tho very Depth of Winter, to hear that fome of his Company had diicovcred an Englijh Settlement as they vere pleafed to call it, near Port N elf on. He went thither wi h a Defign to attack it ; but at his arrival found it a poor miferable Cottage covered with Turf, in which were half a Dozen half ftarved Wretches, without Arms, and without Strength to ufe them if they had had any. Thefe People told him, that they were Part of a Ship's Crew from Bo/ton^ that they were fet on Ihore to look for a Place, where the Ship to which they belonged might Winter; and that the next IMorning the \cc drove the Ship out of the Port, which they never law more. As >hip from Bofton, ^obbs, in his Re- le Probability that mc of the Open- ^ay ; and perhaps ight it a kind of he had recoUefted ude, which Capt. North Weft Paf- and to the Know- lefe two Circum- ^flion, in reference ay poffibly procure •et there is fome- (offibly appear ftill fhcw that it is not me othg: Expedi- 'udfon's-Bay Com- their Charter, and ;hatBay, in which Jeretnk, who was the Hands of the r Opportunities of than moft other atter. Ke fays, of Canada^ a bold elled much in thofe ir, that he reached rench Settlements upon fome of his for perfecting this i he landing upon m had been before, to hear that fome Settlement as they e went thither wi h it a poor miferable half a Dozen half .ithout Strength to Iple told him, that ■oriy that they were hip to which they Morning the Ice never law more. A8 difcover a North Weft Paflag^. ^3 As we have no Date to this Relation, it is impofTibleto fay, whether it was that fhip from Boftotty mentioned in de Fonte^s Account or not ; but if it was, and the Grew perifhed, as very probably they might in this inhofpitable Country; it af- fords a clear and ealy Solution of that, otherwife unan-i fwerable difficulty, as to Capt. Shapleyh making fuch a Voy- age, and fo coniiderable a Difcovery, without its coming to be known, either in Nnu England, or in Old. But if we fhould be wrong in this Conjedture, it would ftill remain an inconteftable Proof, that fome Attempts were made from Bof- ton, when they were laid allde and forgot at London and Brijiol. This Digrcflion has not led us far out of our Way, as will prefently appear. When Mfi de Groifeleli. had fufficiently examined the Country, he left his Nephew Chouatt with five Men at Port- Nelfon River, and with his Brother-in-law Mr. Rattlffon^ and eight more returned to Queheck, where he had fome Diffe- rence with thofe who employed him ; which at length rofe fo high, that thinking himfelf extremely injured, he fent over Mr. Rattjjpm to France, in order to give the Court ah Account of the Services he had done, and the ill Ufage he had met with. But it feems the Complaints he made were as ill heard in France as in Canada ; and the Advantages which he infifted upon might be deduced from this Difcovery, were, from want of being underftood, treated as vifionary and chimerical* Mr. de Groifelelz, not at all difcouraged by the Accounts he received from his Brother-in*law, and at the fame Time de- lirous of making his Fortune, by what he was very fenflblfi dcferved one, embarked himlelf for France, and laid before the Minifters, in the cleareft Manner poflibie, the Confequcn-^ ces of his Difcovery ; and what they were, will be hereaftef feen ; but dio* he was a very capable Man, and no doubt told his Tale well, it however gained no more Credit than Rattiffhn^s Applications had done. It happened that Mr» Montague, afterwards Duke of Montague, and Father of the noble Peril n who bears that Title at prefenr, was then ouf Minifter in France, and hearing fome dark Account of Groife* leizh Propofals, he fent for him to explain them, which he did in fuch a Manner, as entirely fatisfied that judicious and inquifitive Perfon, who immediately fent him and his Brother over to England, with a Recommendation to Prince Ruport, then the great Patron of all Eriterprizes of this Sort, and who was an excellent Judge both of Men and Things « Ok the Arrival of Mr. de Groifelelz in England, and his laying before his Highnefs what he thought it was in his power to do, he D received % fel! <■ H w ill I*' Mr i tv m m 34 ^^^ fever al Expeditions to received all the Encouragement that he could reafonably expeft j and a Refolution was immediately taken, to fit up one of the King's Ships, to carry him to Hudfori's-Bay^ and to make Trial there of his Power, to fulfil the great Things he pro- mifed. It falls out very luckily, that we have an authentick Memorial, written at the very Time, of what was expected from it ; which is contained in a Letter from Mr^ Oldenburghy the firft Secretary to the Royal Society, to the celebrated Mr. Boyky which the Reader will be pleafed to fee in his own \Vords. * Surely I need not tell you from hence what is * laid here with great Joy, of the Difcovery of a North * Weft Paffage, made by two Englijh and one Frenchman * lately reprefented by them to his Majefly at Oxford, and an- < fwered by a Royal Grant of a VefTel to fail into Hudfon\^- ' Bay, and thence into the South-Sea ; thefe Men affirming, * as I heard, that with a Boat they went out of a Lake in * Canada into a River, which difcharged itfeif North Weft * into the South -Sea, into which they went and returned Noith * Eaft into Hudfon^s-Bay.* Upon thefe Hopes Capt. Za- charluh Giilam in the Nonfuch Ketch with the Frenchmen on board were fent upon this Difcovery ; he is faid to have failed to the Height of 7^°. in Baffines-Bay, and to have returned from hence into Hudfon^s-Bay, where he wintered in 1668, getting into Rupert's -River the 29th of September, where he came to an Anchor in two Fathoms and a half Water, the Ri- ver being a Mile bro' .1. The 9th of December they were frozen up in the River, and went upon the Ice to a fmall Ifland full of Poplars ; all the other Trees were Spruce. In April 1 669, the Cold was almoft over, and the Indians came down to them. Tney faw no Grain there but many Goofebenics, Strawberries, and Dewotter Berries. The Indians about that River aie fimpler than thofe of Canada. The Nodways or EJkimaux Indians near Hudfon's -Straits are wild and barba- rous. Here, and at this, Time, the firft Englifh Settlement was made by building a little Stone Fortrefs, to which Capt. Cillam gave the Title of Fort-Charles. Upon this the Under- takers were erected into a Company by a Charter, dated May 2, 1669. 1 N the Preamble of this Charter is recited, that whereas our * dear and intirely beloved Coulin Prince Rupert, 6'c. have at * their own great Goft and Charges undertaken an Expedition * for Hudfon^s-Bay in the North Weft Parts of America for * the Difcovery of a new Paflage into the South-Sea, and * for the finding of fome Trade for Furs, Minerals, and * other conliderabk Commodities j and by fuch their Under- • . ' Wx * taking ^^5 ■ (iifcover a North Weft PafTage.^ ^ ' taking have already made fuch difcovcrles, as do encourage ' them to proceed farther in purfuanee of their faid Delign, ' by means whereof there may probably arife great Advantage ' to us and our Kingdoms/ At the Requeft therefore of thefe Undertakers, and for the better promoting their Endea- vours for the public Good of his People, the King granted them the Trade and Territories in Hudfon'*s-Day, and all o- ther Trade which they fhould acquire exclufively ; and thus, and to thefc Ends, was* the Hudfon's-Bay Company eredt- ed. One would have imagined, that after this confiderable Set- tlement fuitable to the Defign of the Charter fhould have been made, and7i!«/»f r/'s Land, for \^o his Majefty direfts the new Plan* tation to be called, fhould by tliis Time have become none of the leaft confiderable Colonies in America ; at all Events, one would have imagined, that the great and capital Point of difcovering a North Weft PafTage would have been always kept in View, for the Scope of the Charter is plainly to veft this exclufive Trade, and the new difcovered Countries in them, for the public Benefit of the People of thefc King- doms ; but it fo happens, that we have very few Accounts of any Attempts made for Difcovery, either by Land or Sea. There was indeed about 1 7 1 9, that is near thirty Years ago, one Gapt, Barlow fent to look for a PafTage, but what be- came* him, is very uncertain, fince neither he nor any cf hiss People have been heard of flnce, only a Report prevails a- mong the Englijh fettled in the Company's Faftories, that this Ship was loll, and himfe/f and his Crew deflroyed by the Inhabitants of the Country in the Latitude of 63**. and to confirm this, it is alfo faid, that fome Pieces of the Wreck have been fince found in thofe Parts. This may be true, and very probably, the unhappy Fate of this Gentleman, and thole who failed under his Command, may have been urged to difcourage fuch enterprizing Spirits, as were inclinable to undertake thefc hazardous Expeditions, inftead of attending to fafer Employments in the Company's Service. By this Difpofition of Things Hudfon''s-Bay and the Coun- try adjacent belong entirely to a finall Body of Men, and whatever trading Spirit there might be in the Nation, it could not as formerly excite any Attempts for Difcovery, which is the plain Reafon that all Thoughts of a North Weft PafTage lay for fifty Years together buried and undifhubed, notwith- ftanding a Provifion was aftually made, or at leaft mtended to be made, for the conftant Profecution of it, till it fhculd be effefted. We have mentioned Barlow and his unhappy Fate ; D 2 md '^i n'p i^l 36 The fever al Expeditions to and the Perfon next employed was Capt. Scroggs, of whom all that we know is what follows. Neither can we fay where that would have been found, if it had not been publiftied by Mr. Dobbs ; for though the old Expeditions were undertaken at the Expence of Companies, yet, except Sir Thomas But- ton's the Journals of them were generally fpeaking publifh- ed, that Pofterity might know what had been done, and how far the Difcovery was advanced. But of late Years this Me- thod has been difcontinued; and as we before obferved, if Mr. Dobbs had not publiflied an Extract of Scrogg's Expe- dition in his own Defence, the World would have known very little of it, nay perhaps in fifty Years Time no Trace or Me- morial might have been left, diat a ; 7 fuch Voyage had been made. His Account of it then ist. i.. Mr. Scroggs failed from Churchill-River on the 2ld of June 1722. In Latitude 62°. he traded with the Natives for Whale. Fin and Sea-Horfe Teeth. On the 9th of July he was drove in hazy thick Weather to Latitude 64^^. 56'. where he anchored in twelve Fathoms. When it cleared up, he found himfelf within three Leagues of the North Shore. The Headland, which bore Eaft North Eaft from him, he called Whalebone-Point. He faw at the fame Time feveral Iflands bear- ing from South Weftby Weft to South Weft by Soudi, which Variation allowed was from South Weft by South to South South Weft. He faw Land South up to the Weft; the IVel- eome was very high Land, as high as any m Hud/on* s -Straits. The Southermoft Ifland he called Cape Fullerton. Here he faw many black Whales, and fome white. He ient his Boat on Shore; they (aw many Deer, Geefe, Ducks, 6c. He faid it flowed there five Fathoms upon his Lead- Line j he having but feven Fathom at Low- Water, and twelve at High-Water. He had two Northern Indians with him who had wintered at Churchill, and told him of a rich Copper-Mine, fome where in that Country, upon the Shore near the Surface of the Earth ; and they could direft the Sloop fo near it, as to lay her Side to it, and fo be foon loaden with it : They had brought fome Pieces of Copper from it to Churchill, that made it evident there was a Mine thereabouts. They had fketched out the Country •with Charcoal upon a Skin of Parchment, before they left Chur- chill; and fo far as they went, it agreed very well. One of the Indians defired him to leave him, faying, he was within three or four Days Journey of his own Country, but he would not let him go. He faid he was up in the Cod of the Bay, and that there was a Bar there ; but his Men faid he was ten Leagues from what he called a Bar. He failed out South i 1: to croggsy of whom can we fay where been publifhed by \ were undertaken [ Sir Thomas But- fpeaking publifh- 2n done, and how ite \ears this Me- lefore obferved, if af Scrogg's Expe- d have known very e no Trace or Me- i Voyage had been ler on the iiA of nth the Natives for the 9th of July he .atitude 64^. 56'. Vhen it cleared up, ' the North Shore, from him, he called feveral Iflandsbear- ft by South, which by South to South he Weft; the WeU in Hudfon^s -Straits, rton. Here he faw e fent his Boat on icks, 6c. He faid id- Line; he having Ive at High-Water, irho had wintered at line, fome where in face of the Earth ; as to lay her Side ^ had brought fome lade it evident there led out the Country fore they left Chur- ry well. One of ing, he was within Country, but he in the Cod of the ut his Men faid he lar. He failed out South difcover a North Weft PafTige, 37 \ I South Eaft ; and on the 1 5th crofTed the Welcome in Latitude I 64**. 15'. In Latitude 64^. 8'. he faw again many Whales, ! ] but faw no Ice, when he was there. The Land from Whale- bone-Puhtt fell off to the Southward of the Weft, and the Men who went a-fhore faid, they faw nothing to prevent their going farther. They had Soundings there from forty to fe- venty Fathoms. Capt. Norton, late Governor of Churchill, was with him, and confirmed this Account, and that the Tide rofe five Fathoms ; and faid, that he was on Shore on the Top of a Mount; in, and faw the Land fell away to the Southward of the Weft, and nothing to prevent their going further. We are now come very near that Expedition for the Dif- covery of a North Weft PafTage, which, though it failed of Succefs, and proved only the Caufe of much Difjsute, be- tween the Gentlemen by whofe Endeavours it was fet on foot, and the Perfon who tundufted it, yet was produftive in its Confequenccb of ai Aft of Parliament, which will never fail to keep alrv :he Hopes of finding the North Weft PafTage, until it fhall be found. It appears from different PafTages in his Book, that /Arthur Dohbs, Efq ; fiiil applied himfelf to the Hudfon^s-Bay Company ; and upon his Requeft it feems, two VefTels were fent upon the Difcovery ; and thefe it feems, went no higher than the Latitude of 62**. 15', and returned without feeing any thing worthy of notice, except a great many Iflands, abundance of black Whales, but no very great Tides, the higheft about two Fathoms, the flood coming from the Northward. This was fome time in the Year 1 737, when Mr, Dobbs had a clofe Correfpondence with Capt. Mid- dleton, who in feveral Letters, Extracts of which are printed, furnifhed him with a Variety of Fafts, that feem conclufive, with refpeft to a PafTage, fuch as, that of a North and North Weft Wmd made the Neap Tides higher than the Spring Tides, with a Southerly or Wefterly Wind at Churchill or Albany; that there is little or no Tide between Mansfield- IJland and Cary-Siuan's-NeJ} ; that there is abfolutely no Tide to the North and North Eaft of lyiill-IJles ; that confequcntly the high Tide before-mentioned, muft come from the Welcome ; that for this Reafon the Welcome cannot be far from the Ocean ; that what Mr. John Scroggs faw in the Latitude of 64*^. 30'. both with regard to Whales and in refpeft to the Tides con- firmed this; that the Indians who went with Mr. Scroggs owned to him (Capt. MiddletonJ that when they were eight or ten Miles from Whalebone-Point, which bore Eaft North Eaft of them; they faw an open Sea, and the Land trenched 1 \a ! I: D 3 to ■ \ \ m t 1 w 1 i- ■ 4' -1 ill iii^i.i ^m u ^he feveral Expeditions to •i ! ii (■;! to the Southward of the Weft, which they afTerted to Scroggs^s Face, when on board Capt. Middleton'i Ship at Churchill, though while under Scroggs's Command, they difTembled it, and laid what he pleafed to have them. Befides this, Love- grwc, who lived at the Fadtory at Churchill, and had been often at Whale-Crwe in Latitude of 62^. 30^ affirmed all the Coafl: there was broken Land and Illands ; and that going upon one of thcfe Iflands, he faw an open Sea to the Weft- ward. One JVilfon fent by the Company to trade at IVhak- Cove with the Natives for Fins, declared at Churchill, that having had the Curioflty to pafs in through tliofe Iflands near the Whale-Covey he found the Opening enlarge itfelf South Weft ; and at laft it became fo wide, that he could not fee Land on either Side. Thefe Fafts being well known, and all the Informations Mr. Dobbs could obtain concurring with the Sentiment this Gentleman was then in, that there was a great Probability of finding a Paflage in the fVelconie, he with infi- nite Diligence and Application procured Capt. Middleton an Oportunity of fearching for that Paflage in the Furnace Bomb- Ketch; which Service he undertook for the Benefit of the Pub- lic, refifting many Tenptations that were thrown in his way to flight that Defign fo:- the Sake of private Advantage. The beft Account we have of his Endeavours is contained in the following Extraft from feveral Letters, and from his Journal. He could not get out fooner than the i ft of JW/j/ from Churchill River in Latitude 58". 56'. to fearch for the Pafl!age ; on the 3d at five in the Morning, he faw three Iflands in La- titude 61'^. 40'. on the 4th he faw Brook-Cobhajn in Latitude 63*^. Longitude 93^. 40'. Weft from London, the Variation (herewas2i°. 10'. This Ifland had much Snow upon it ; on the 6th in the Morning, he faw a Headland in Latitude 63*. 20'. Longitude 93°. Weft; Soundings from thirty-five to feventy-two Fathoms ; at five the Current fet North North Eaft, two Knots, two Fathoms ; the Tide flowed from North Eaft by North, Variation 30**. Weft; all by North Moon made High- Water; the 8th he was in Latitude 639. 39'. faw no Whales or other Fifl? yet, except one white Whale as big as a Grampus, and fome Seals ; much Ice North of them (clofe in Shore for feveral Leagues 5 Depth fixty to ninety Fa- thoms ; Land feven or eight Leagues North Weft ; i oth in Latitude 64°. 51'. Longitude 88®. 34'. the IVelcome here jsleven or twelve Leagues wide ; the Eaft Coaft a low flat Coaft ; the whole IVelcome full of Ice ; they filled freih Water off the Ice ; dofed in the Ice until the 1 2th j the 1 3th l^^y S9t through the Ice 10 Northwards of Caj)e Dobbs, a to erted to Scroggs^s ►hip at Churchill, :hcy difTembled it, ^fides tliis, Love- 'II, and had been /. affirmed all the i ; and that going Sea to the Weft- :o trade at IVhale- at Churchill, that I tliofe Iflands near nlargc itfelf South [ he could not fee /ell known, and all :oncurring with the it there was a great ome, he with infi- Hapt. Middleton an the Furnace Bomb- Benefit of the Pub- thrown in his way Advantage. The is contained in the d from his Journal. I ft of July from. ch for the Paflage ; iree Iflands in La- Cobhmn in Latitude don, the Variation jch Snow upon it ; adland in Latitude gs from thirty-five nt fet North North lowed from North 1 by North Moon tude 63^. 39'. faw white Whale as big ce North of them fixty to ninety Fa- th Weft; loth in the IVelcome here Goaft a low flat they filled frefli le 1 2th ; the 1 3 th of Cape Dobhs, a 10 ■ difcover a North Weft Paflage. ^. new difcovered Headland on the North Weft Side of the I'/el- cojne in Latitude 65'', 12, Longitude H6». 6'. Weft, law a fair Opening North Weft of it ; failed into this Opening or River to fecure the Ships from the Ice, until itdifpcrfcJ in the IVelcome. The Entrance of this River fix or eight Miles wide for four or five Miles. Four Leagues higher, it was four to five Leagues wide ; he anchored on the North Side above fome Iflands in ihirty-four Fathoms ; the Tide in the Narrow flowed five Miles an Hour, not fo ftri^t further up ; much Ice came down with the Ebb ; the Soundings as they went up were four- teen to forty-four Fathoms in the middle of the Channel ; next Morning feveral of the E/kiynaux Indians came on board, who had nothing to exchange but their old Clothes and twenty Gallons of Train Oyl ; he gave them feveral Toys j he went higher about four Miles above fome Iflands, and anchored in a Sound betwixt them and the North Shore in an Eddy Tide to be out of the way of the driving Ice, which went in and out with the Tide, and anchored in fixteen Fathoms ; this he called Sav age 'Sound ; the River above and below full of Ice; the 15th he lent up the Lieutenant with nine Men well armed with Provifions for forty-eight Hours in the eight-oared Boat to try the River ; who returned on the 1 7th ; he had been up as far as the Ice would permit it, being faft above, from Side to Side, he found the Depth above from feventy to eighty Fathoms. The 1 6th the Captain went afliore on fome Iflands, and found them bare, except fome fliort Grafs and Mofs in the Valleys, and a little Sorrel and Scurvy-Grafs above High - Water Mark. They fet the fifliing Nets, but got no Fifli ; many of his Men relapfed in the Scurvy, above half not fer- viceable. The Tide at the Mouth of the River on change Days flows four Hours, and rifes from ten to fifteen Feet, Variation 35^- Weft; where the Lieutenant was, it flowed from the Southward, and rofe thirteen Feet at Neap I'idc. The Northern Indians he took from Churchill, knew nothing of the Country; 18th got the Ships into a fafe Cove, and moored in nine Fathom.s and a half: The Captain went up the River in the Morning with eight Men and the two Indians, and by eight at Night was got up fifteen Miles : He i'aw the Tide flowed tw Ive Feet, and a Weft Moon made High- Water ; the Tide flowed from South South Eaft ; the Indians killed a Deer ; they heard an uncommon crying in the Night, generally made by Savages, when they fee Strangers j 19th by two in the Morning went five Miles higher, and got into 'a fmall River or Sound fix or fevcn Miles wide, but how far D 4 it; ■ ■ ■}^4 ■■' ■?■■■' 1 :H7 '^ ifii 1 ■i"^, iir 40 The fever al Expeditions to it went up, they knew not ; the main River was there fix or fevcn Leagues wide, but fo full of Ice they could not go much farther ; the Lands on both Sides very high ; he went upon one of the highelt Mountains twenty-four Miles above Savage-, Cave where the Ships lay, from whence he could fee where; the Ships lay, and above eight or ten I^eagues higher up than the Place he was at ; he obiervcd the River run North by Weft by the Gompafs, which Variation allowed was to Weftward of North Weft, but it grew narrower in its Courle upwards, and was full of Ice ; the 2pth at eight in the Evening he rci turned on boavd with fix Deer, which the Indians had ftiot whiUl he was on Shore : He called that Place Deer-Sound j the Land is very mountainous and barren, with Rocks of the marble kind ; in the Vales are a great many Lakes, with fome Grafs, and Numbers of large Deer, as big as a Cnall Horfe, twelve or thirteen Hands high ; upon Iflands not half a Mile in Circuit, they generally faw a fmall Herd, The 2ift he fell down the River, which was ftiU full of Ice ; within four Miles of the Entrance he got upon 9 high Hill, and faw the Welcome ftill full of Ice from Side to Side, ■2 2d the Ice very thick Li the River above and below, and more drives in every Tide if the Wind comes from the Wel- (Tome: He fent his Lieutenant with the fix-oared Boat up the River. 24th more Ice in the River than ever ; no fending a Boat downwards. 25th Lieutenant returned, after having ^een forty-eight Hours founding among the Iflands near Deer-, Sound he found the River full of Ice ; he brought three Deer with him. 26th fent the Lieutenant and Mafter down to fee if the Ice was clearer below and in the IVelco?ne ; Savage-Sound is in Longitude 39*. 28'. Weft:, Variation 35^. Weft; the Entrance of Wager River is in Latitude 6^°. 23'. Deer-Sound 65*^. 50'. the Courfe from Savage-Bay is North Weft by Compafs, which Variation allowed is Weft by North. 27th Lieutenant returned, having been carried out by the Ice and Tides fix or feven Leagues, and found the River below quite choaked up with Ice, but thinner when they got into the Wel- come. 28th at one in the Afternoon, the Lieutenant and Mafter went up the River to tiy if they could find out any other Way into the Welcome befides that they came in at, on Ac- count they had feen many black Whales and other Fifti the Time they were up laft, and none were feen where the Ships xay nor any where below; he was likewifc ordered to try Deer-Sound and evei-y Opening to find whether the Tide came in any other Way than the Way they came in at ; this he had Time to do, until the ice cleared in the Mouth of the River and i m ' /as there fix or Lild not go much he went upon s above Savage -i ould fee where s higher up than I North by Weft as to Weftward luurle upwards. Evening he re-» Indians had (hot ice Deer -Sound \ :h Rocks of the takes, with fome a fiiiall Horfe, not half a Mile was ftill full of got upon a high nn Side to Side, and below, and s from the Wei- ired Boat up the r ; no fending a i, after having ands near Deer-^ ight three Deer er down to fee if ; Savage-Sound }5<'. Weft; the ^3'. Deef- Sound ^orth Weft by I North. 27th by the Ice and k^er below quite 3t into the Wel- Lieutenant and id out any other in at, on Ac- other Fifh the vhere the Ships ordered to try • the Tide came It ; this he had h of the River and % i I I I difcover a North Weft Paflage. 4 1 and JVelcome. 29th he fent the Boat with eight fick Men and feveral that were lame with the Scurvy, to an Illand about five Miles off, it having plenty of Sorrel and Scurvy-Grafs upon it, and left with them I'enting and other Neceflaries ; the I'ide flowed twelve Fathom lix Inches , the Captain went up one of the higheft Hills, and found the River full of Ice below, but fomething thinner above. 30th he perceived the Ice was all faft below them, and for eight or ten Miles above them without the Iflands ; but pr'^tty clear without the Cove, 31ft abundance of Ice drove in from the Welcome and almoft filled the Bay without them. The ift of Auguji the Lieutenant and Mafter came on board, havmg been four Days out, who faid, they had been ten or twelve Leagues above Deer-Sound ; they faw a great many black Whales of the Whalebone kind ; they tried every Opening they faw, and conftantly found the Tide of Flood came from the Eaftward, or in at the Mouth of the River Wa^ ger. 2d they unmoored and warped out into Savage-Sound, and on the 4th by ten at Night got out of the River, the Ebb carrying them out at the rate of five Miles in an Hour, being clear of the Ice until they got out ; it being almoft calm put the Pinnace a-head, and towed and rowed with the Ship's Oars. They were then in 6^^. 38'. and Long. 87°. 7'. Weft, Va- riation 38'. Here they entered a new Strait North Weft of Wager River, thirteen Leagues wide ; the Entrance of Wager River is in Latitude 65*'. 24'. Long. 88*. 37'. the 5th diey were in Latitude 66*». 14', Long. 86°. 28'. Weft ; the Strait there was about eight or nine Leagues wide. 17th failing pmong Ice, the South Eaft Coaft was low and ftiingly feven Leagues long; at the North Eaft End of the Beach was a mountainous ragged Land like Part of Hudfon*s-Sirait ; good Sounding here from twenty-five to forty-four Fathoms, Va- riation 40^. Weft, the Tide comes from Eaft by North by the Gompafs ; the Tide runs very ftrong here with Eddies &nd Whirlings, 6th tried the Tide, and found it came from the Eaft by South, the Point of the Beach at two was diftant four or five Miles ; at half an Hour paft two, fent the Lieu- tenant aftiore with the fix- oared Boat to try the Tide, and found it had ebbed two Feet ; and the Flood came from the Eaftward at three, made a Signal for the Boat to come on board ; at four faw a fair Cape or Headland on the Weft or North Shore, bearing from him South Weft half South fix or feven Leagues, the Land trenched away from Eaft by North to North by Weft, making right Points of the Compafs ; fhis gave them Joy, believing it the North Point of America, and 1.; ?v, m ! m If t^ », 42 • ^he feveral Expeditions to and therefore he called it Cape Hope; they worked it through much draggling Ice all Night; in the Morning when the Sun cleared away the Haze they faw Land all round quite from the low Beach to the Wef^v .A of the North, meeting the Weft Shore and made a deep i. , but to make fure they kept their Gourfe to the Cod of « until two j next Afternoon when every one faw plainly it was a Bay, and they could not go above fix or eight Miles farther, fo trying the Tide feveral Times, and finding it always flack Water, they found they had overfliot the Opening where the Tide came in at from the Eaftward, the Variation here was 50°. This Bay at the bottom was lix or feven Leagues from Side to Side ; very high Land from thence to the frozen Strait Eaftward of them; Soundings from fifty to one hundred and five Fathoms ; they failed Edward out of the Bay ; much Ice to the Eaftward. The 8th, at ten in the Mornmg, the Captain went on Shore with the Boat, taking the Gunner, Carpenter, and his Clerk with him, to try if he could find from whence the Flood came in to this Strait or Bay. At Noon Cape Hope bore North half Eaft five or fix Leagues, the Bay Weft South Weft four Leagues ; the Entrance of the frozen Strait amongft the Iflands on the Eaft-fide bore Eaft two Leagues, at four the middle of the frozen Strait bore Eaft South Eaft three Leagues j at half an Hour paft nine at Night he returned on board ; he had travelled about fifteen Miles to the higheft Mountain that overlooked the Strait and Eaft Bay on the other Side, and faw the PaflTage the Flood came in at ; the narroweft Part of this Strait is four or five Leagues, and five, fix, or feven in the broadeft, almoft full of large and fmall Iflands, and in length about fixtcen or eighteen Leagues ; it ftretches South Eaft round to the South, and to the Weft ward it was full of Ice not broke up, all faft to both Shoals and Iflands therein; he faw very high Land about fifteen or twenty Leagues Southward of the Place he was at, which he took to run towards Cape Comfort and the Bay, betwixt that and IVilf forCs- Portland y being Part of Hudfonh North Bay ; the Ice being not yet broke up it was refolved in Council to try the other Side of the Welcome y from Cape Dobbs to Drook-Cobham, tolaiow if there was any Opening there, and then return to England. The 9th at two in the Morning they bore away ; at three founded thirty-five Fathoms within a Mile of the Beach, fix Leagues to Cape Hope, and three to the Beach Point ; they failed along the South Eaft Shore at three Leagues diftance, there being much Ice to Weft w^rd almoft one thii'd over 5 at , fow I kcd it through when the Sun nd quite from , meeting the lure they kept :xt Afternoon they could not e Tide fcveral ey found they le in at from lis Bay at the to Side; very ward of them; fathoms ; they the Eaftward. ptain went on (enter, and his [n whence the )on Cape Hope iay Weft South 1 Strait amongft sagues, at four puth Eaft three lie returned on to the higheft ly on the other the narroweft five, fix, or fmall Iflands, it ftretchcs cftward it was als and Iflands en or twenty lich he took to that and IViU Bay ; the Ice cil to try the Broak-Cobhanij len return to way ; at three le Beach, fix Point; they gues diltance, hii'd over; ^t zs h difcover a North Weft Paffage. 4^ four in the Afternoon Cape Dohbs bore North Weft, three fourths Weft by Compafs, fix Leagues, at ten founded fifty Fathoms; at twelve, fixty to fixty-five. The loth at four in the Morning forty-three to twenty-five Fathoms five Leagues from the Weft Land ; at eight fixty-fix to fevcnty Fathoms; then in Latitude 64*. 10'. Longitude SS^'. 56'. Weft ; the JVelcome here fixteen or eighteen Leagues wide ; the extreme Part of the South Eaft Shore ftill in Sight bore from South to South Eaft by Eaft diftant fix or feven Leagues. The nth at four in the Morning forty-five to thirty-five Fathoms, the North Shore from North Eaft to North North Weft four or five Leagues diftant, then about Latitude 64°. and Longitude 90*^. 53'. neai- the Headland ; they kept as near as they could to the Shore to fee if there was any Open- ing into the Land; twenty-five to thirty- five Fathoms ; conti- nued foiling in Sight of the North Shore from Cupe Hope ; at four in the Afternoon hauled off from the Shore to deepen the Water; at fix thirty-four to twenty-eight Fathoms; at eight thirty to forty, then lay by until Day-light ; Soundings all Night from forty -four to fixty Fathoms. At four on the 1 2th made fail ; at fix ftood in with the Head-land nine or ten Leagues to the Eaftward of Brook- Cobham ; it bore then from them North Weft by North, five or fix Leagues ; founded fixty to forty-nine Fathoms ; at ten forty- nine to nine Fathoms ftanding into the Head-land ; at twelve hauled off to deepen the Water, they were then in Latitude 63'^. 14'. and Longi- tude 92®. 25'. Weft. He fays he found in coafting along the Shore of the Welcome from the frozen Strait to this Place, that it was a main Land, tho' there are feveral fmall Iflands and deep Bays; this Headland, and the other, in Latitude 64° . make a deep Bay ; in their Pafl^age out, they did not fee the Bottom of it, as they did upon their Reiurn ; and by keeping clofe along Shore they faw many large black Whales, of die right Whalebone kind. They had from twenty to forty Fathoms off Brook-Cobhatn, which at four in the Afternoon was Weft North Weft four Leagues diftant. The 13th he fent a-ftiore to fee if he could water the Ships ; the two Northern Indiam went a-ftiore in the Boat ; the Ifland is three Leagues from the Main, (cmcyi Leagues long and three broad, all of hard white Stone like Marble. The i4tli the Lieutenant returned with the Boat, and brought a Deer the Indians had ftiot, and a white Bear ; they faw feveral Swans and Ducks. The 15th fent the Boat for more Water, with the two Northern Indians ^ who were dc- firous of being left near their own Country; he gave them a finall ■■'^a 44 ^^f fsveral Expeditions to fmall Boat, of which he taught them the XJk, and loaded it with Powder, Shot, Provilions, Hatchets, Tobacco, and Toys o( every khid he had on board In the Afternoon the Boat returned on board, and brought an Account, that by Marks left on the fhore, the Tide flows fometimes there twenty-two Feet; they left the two Indians afhore, who de- figned to go to the main Land the firit Opportunity ; the o- ther Indian being delirous of feeing England^ he brought along with him, and the fume Day bore away for England. As the difpute which this Expedition occafioned, is menti- oned more than once in the following Pages, and fome of the principal Points therein ftated and difcuffed, it is not all ne- cefTary, that we fhould trouble the Reader with them here. It may be fufficientto obferve, that this Voyage did not an- fwer its Intentions, as it left the Controverfy juft where it was ; for as on the one hand no Paffage was difcovcred, fo the high Tide in the JVelcome was on the other no way ac- counted for, fince unknown Paflliges and frozen Straits were Things not to be admitted ; or if they were, would remove the Difficulty but for a Moment ; fince we mud next enquire whence the Tide came that rolled through thefe Paflages ; and as this Enquiiy would bring us to a Caufe demonftiabiy inca- pable of producing fuch an Effeft, it is only carrying us into a new Walk in the fame Labyrinth, inflead of leading us out. In order to this, another Expedition was neceflliry ; and ano- ther Expedition was undertaken ; of this we (hall prefently give an Account. In the mean time, it may not be amifs to conclude this Part with a few Oblervations upon what has been delivered in it. It is very evident from the Face of this Hiftory, that for upwards of two Centuries and a half, an Opinion has prevail- ed amongft the mofl: knowing and experienced Perfons, that there is a PafTage to the North Weft ; and this built partly upon Science, partly upon Tradition. By Science, I mean Reafon and Experience ; and by Tradition, fuch Accounts of this Paflage as have been received upon uncertain Grounds ; for if they had been certain, it would have been Hiftory. Now it is very hard to conceive how fuch an Opinion Ihould maintain its Credit if it was not founded in Reality ; for it is an old and a true Maxim, that fpecious Opinions endure but a ihort Time, whereas Truth is everlafting. In the next Place, it is evident, that Frobijhery Davis, Hudfony Button, and Baffine remained fully perfuaded, notwithftanding their Dif- appointments, that fuch a Paflage there was ; and we cannot without majnifeft Injury to theit Memories difpute that they were 'i difiover a North Weft Paffage. 45 •were as competent Judges as any. It muft however be allow- ed, that there have btcn fome very wile Men that have dlifcr- ed from them in Opinion; lUch for Kxample, as Sir lyilliam Monfon^ Capt. Jumts and Capt. AUddltton ; but as they have all given the World their Reafons for this, fo it is a thing in- dilputable, that their Reafons have not proved fatisfaikory to Men of equal Judgments; and the plain Caufe of this is, that moftofthc Fa6ts from which tliey rcafoned have been found upon Enquiry to be cither uncertain or falfe ; fo that how juft- ly foever they might argue from them, their Arguments can- not be allowed to be of much Weight. Laftly, we fee from this hiftorical Account, that no Paflage is to be hoped for in Davis^s-Straits ; and the Reafons that fhew this, fliew at the fame Time that a Palfage may be hoped for on the Weft Side of Hudfon's Bay ; and therefore there, and there only, it is to be (ought, and that too within a Space fo confined, that perllfling for a very few Years to examine the feveral In- lets within that Space, the Secret muft be difclofed. It may very pofTibly be objefted, that fome of thefe Inlets which wer€ moft promiilng have been accordingly examined, and have proved either Rivers or Bays , and if thole that in the Judgment of the Friends to this undertaking promifed beft, have upon Search failed their Expedition, why ftiould they perfift in their Notions and obftinatcly demand fuch an Exa- mination of the reft? It is faid, this Obje6Hon may be made ; it might have been faid, it has been made, and infifted upon as a thing decifive, which ought to fatisfy difinterefted and candid Judges. But in anfwer to this, there are three Things to be confi- dered ; firftj that the Friends to this Undertaking are in that refpeft fu to the Nation. What they demand is for the Be- nefit of the Public, which it has been before moft clearly fliewn will be a much greater Gainer by the Difcovery than they can hope to be from any Encouragements given, or Re- wards which they may juftlyexpeft. In this light tlierefore, it is not their Caufe, but that of the Nation ; and whoever doubted that public Utility ftiould take place of private In- tereft ? SECO ND L r, if there is any Body of People that diflike thefe Searches, it muft be for one of thefe two Reafons; ei- ther that they arc convinced there is no fuch PafTage, and therefore judge it unrcafonablc, becaufe to no Purpofe; or they know there is fuch a Paflage, and are determined to hide it. The latter without doubt is no Reafon at all ; and the for- mer is no better a Reafon, unlefs we are inclined to take their Word for it, which is what they have no Caufe to expeft ; I and )'' I » 1 liJ i ill' )'' m 'il fry \6 The fever al Expeditions, ^cl and the lefs, becaufe it is in their own Power to put this Mat-' ter abfolutely out of Difpute in one Summer by making Dif- coveries over Land • and if they will not do this to ferve the Publick, why fhould they think it reafonable to reftrain thofe that have at leaft a good Will to ferve it another Way? Be- fides, their oppofing ihis is actually an Injury to themfelves; for while thefe Inlets are unfearched, the Pretence of a Difco- very will for ever hang over their Heads ; whereas, if once fearched, and no Paflage found, the Gontroverfy will be at an Enil, not for the prefent only, but for ever, at leaft with re- fycOi to this Point. For whether a Trade granted, and Coun- tries beftowed upori an incorporated Body in truft for the find- ing a North Weft Paflage for the common Benefit of the Sub- jedls of this Nation, ought in Juftice to remain to that Body, after it ftiould appear that no fuch Paflage could be found, is another Point? which, how much foever it may concern them, relates not to our prefent Subjeft ; and therefore, here we fliall leave it with this fingle Remark, that whoever con- fiders what has been faid attentively, will be able to refolve himfelfa Queftion, which has not been anfwered yet; and that is, how it can be the Intereft of any Set of Men, that this Point ftiould remain for ever in fufpence, and the World hindered from clearing up the Doubt, whether there is, or is not a North Weft Paflage ? L AST LTy though thefe Inlets have been fearched with- out finding a Paflage, yet this increafes the Probability that there is a PaflTage, becaufe it plainly heightens the Impoflibili- ty of finding a. Body of Water capable ofraifing the Tide fo high in thefe Rivers and Bays without fuppofing a Communi- cation with another Ocean, and therefore thefe Difappoint- ments ought to be fo far from difluading from all future At- tempts, that they ought to encourage us not to defift from thJis Defign, till, in Confequence of fucceflive and well conducted Enquiries this North Weft PaflTage is found. THE ! ;,." r (47 ) W' THE SECOND PART CONTAINING, « A deaf and circumjlantial Account of the Laft Expe- dition, by the Dobbs-Gallev, and the C a- LiFORNiA, in 1746, and 1747. TH E great Expeftation ra'ifed in the World, by the laft Expedition, for the Difcovery oi a. Northwest Palfage ; the Confequence of the Thing in itfelf, ta the Welfare and Glory of this N-.ion ; and the Zeal exprefled, for the Profecution of the fame Scheme, notwithftanding this Expedition failed of Succefs ; afford Reafons fuificicnt to ex- peft, that many will be defirous of feeing a fair and full Rela- tion of all that therein happened. Some perhaps may be moved by their Attention to the Publick Service, and the Gon- fideration of thofe Advantages, that are veiy rationally ex- pefted from this Difcoveiy ; others from Reafons of a more private Nature ; fuch as the Knowledge they may have of the Undertakers and Proprietors, or thofe employed by them, in the Conduft of this Expedition ; but perhaps, the greater Part, from that natural and laudable Curiofity which engages every fenfible Man, to feek the beft Information he can, in Reference to thofe Things, of which he holds it neccffary, to enquire at all. To gratify their Expe£htions, to do Juftice to all concerned, and, as far as in my Power lies, to fet this Mat- ter in it's true Light, I have commenced Juthor; with a fincere Defign, to relate nothing but what I know, and, as far as I can, exa£Uy as I know, without Favour or AfFcflion, Prejudice or Prepofleffion, and without any other View, than th t of contributing, by this Public Inforynation, to the Public But ■iif^ fl .^w*,wi«rt Paffage, The Ships bought by the Committee ^ were ohe oiCtizHun- dt-ed and Eighty T(ms Burthen, called the Do b b s -G a l l e y ; and the other oiOne Hundred and Forty Tons, which was called^ the California. Each of thefe Veflels was perfectly well repaired and ftrengthened, and in all Refpefts fitted as well as could be defired> for the Voyage on which it was intended they fhould proceed* They had alfo afufficient Quantity of Pro- vifions> military and naval Stores > with fuch Goods as were fit for Prefents, to the Inhabitants of the Couniries that might be difcovered, put on board them in fuffiripn*: Quantity) and as good in their relpedive Kinds, as i«: was poflible to procuie* The Diligence ufed in equipping thefe Veflels was fuch, that the Care of the Committee outfbipt the coming in of the Siib- fcriptionSf fb that they fell fomewhat fhort of the necefTary Supply ; which was fo far from either difcouraguig or abating their Endeavours> that, on the contrary, the Gentlemen com- pofing that Committee, came to a full Refolution of not letting the Seafon pafs, and therefore made up out of their own Pock-* ets the Deficiency of the Subfcription, towards defraying tho Expence for the Outfet of this Voyage. When Things were in this Forwardnefs, it became ab* folutely necefTary to think of fixing the Command; and ac-' cordingly that of the Dobbs -Galley was giveh to Mr. William Moor; and that of the California to Mr. Francis Smith. Ap- plication Was likewife made to the Lords of the Admiralty, irt Favour of the Officers and Seamen, which fhould engage in this Expedition ; and as that Board had always fhewn a parti-^ cular Attention to, and given the utmofl Encouragement for the Profecution of this Defign> when formerly applied to ; fb upon this Occafion^ their Lordfhips granted Protedions to all that fhould embark on board thefe Ships for three Years. That no poffible Encouragement might be wanting to keep up the Spirits of the People, under the many Difficulties to which, from the very Nature of the Undertaking) they inuft irtevita' bly be expofcd, or Means left untried to quicken the Endea* vours, for the Difcovery of a PaJJage; belidcs the extraordi- nary Wages that were given, Premiums were fettled In Caf** of Succefs, . proportionable to the Rank of all the Perfons on board. Thus Uie Captain was to have Five Hundred Pounds \ !|l! 50 The Laft Expedition in each of the Mates Two Hundred Pounds ; and every other Offi- cer and Seaman, a Reward fuitable to his Station. Over and above all this, in Cafe they were fo fortunate as to talie any Prizes y they were to be entirely their own ; fo that it is not cafy to conceive, how greater Encouragements could be giv- en, or better Methods contrived than thefe, for fecuring the Profperity of the Voyage. It has been already obferved, that the Gentlemen of the North JVeJl Committee took a very prudent as well as generous Method to avoid lofing the Seafon ; and that this might have it's full EfFeft, they were fo afliduous about the Undertaking, that by the Beginning of May, every thing \yas in perfeft Or- der, and the Ships ready to depart; and on the tenth of the fame Month, they fell down the River to Grave/end, where the Captains were to receive their Inftruftions, and where thefe Veffels were aftually lying when the firft News of this -Expe- dition, and the Preparations made for executing it, came to my Knowledge. It may be eafily conceived, that tho' I heard all this with tne utmoft Satisfaftion in one Refpeft, yet it gave me the moft fenfible Regret in another ; from which, howe- ver, I was foon relieved, by an unexpefted Propofal, not on- ly of going the Voyage, but of havin^g a Commaad. The former I willingly accepted ; for the Novelty, the Profit, and above all the Honour attending this Expedition, filled me with the moft eager Defire of having a Share in it ; but the latter, tho' accuftomed to a Sea-faring Life, I abfolutelyrcfufed ; as not having the Vanity to fuppofe myfelf, who, as yet, was without Experience of Northern Seas and Northern Climates, equal to fo great a Truft. Ii was then agreed that I Ihould go the Voyage, in quality of j4gent for the Committee , without being obliged to any Du- ty, or fubje6\; to any Command, but what was impofed upon me by their Inj}ru6iions ; the principal Articles of which were, that I ihould make exaft Draughts of all the new-difcovered Countries, the Bearings and Diitances of Head- Lands ; that I fhould mark the Soundings, Rocks, and ShoaU upon the Coafts ; aiEft in that material Bufinefs of determining the fe- veral Circumftances attending Tides, fuch as their Time, Height, Force, Direction, ha' "'ed, take Poflefl'on of the Lands in the Name of h; Vlajel 7 of Great -Britain, as firft Pofleflbr, crcfting a Monumeni * f Wood or Stone, with an Infcription upon it, giving a Name to each Harbour, R^ver, Head-land, or Ifland, you come to. ' But if you flmuld meet with any civilized fixed Inha- bitants, avoid giving them Umbrage by taking Pofle/fion, unlefs, upon your Return, they fhould give you a PofFcflion of Lancfs by Confent, to induce you to fix a future Trade there, lake none of the Natives on board by Force, to bring home ; but if they (hould offer themfelves voluntarily, in Exchange for any who may be fent from hence to be left in the Country, to become Interpreters hereafter, and to preferve their Friendfhip, don't refufe to hrbg them to En- gland> In cafe of your leaving any in the Country, they muft be allowed fuch Trifles as may ingratiate them to the Natives ; and fuch Seeds or Roots of Grain, Pulfe, Gar- den-ftuff, or Trees, as are not to be found in thofe Parts 5 allowing them alfo Paper, Pens, and Ink, to make Obfer-. vatioiison the Climate, Trade, 6c. of the Country* * After pafling thro' the broken Lands, if black Whales are ftill feen, and in Augujl, or September y are dire^ing their Courfe South -weftcrly, that would be a farther De- monltration of a navigable Paffage to the Weftem Ocean, < to which they are then dire6lmg their Courfe. * In cafe you proceed fuccefsfully Southward, from 60**. towards 50* and touch at any Port or River, where there are civilized Inhabitants, who refide in Towns and Villages, and do not lead an erratic Life, you muft aft with great Caution and Prudence, giving no Caufe of Offence ; and if they ap- pear friendly, and defire Friendihip, cultivate it by Pre- * fents. the Dobbs and California. 55 n is neccflkry )0 North Weft •, and find the EJkimaux, \ their Friend- c not any ca- rbour by bad lat in your re- and trade with ■n, and enter ith them; but /^eather permit lall ftop at, if the Name of or, ercfting a fcription upon Head -land, or :d fixed Inha- ing Pofleflion, ou a Pofreflion 1 future Trade by Force, to ^es voluntarily, ence to be left eafter, and to ig them to iTw- Gountry, they e them to the 1, Pulfe, Gar- 11 thofe Parts J ) make Obfer-. ountry* black Whales are direfting a farther De- eftem Ocean, rd, from 6o**. v'herc there are Villages, and great Caution nd if they ap- tc it by Pre- * fentS;i fents, without putting yourfelves in their Power; but if they appear in an hoftile Manner, don't attempt to land, but avoid the Coaft, yet without (hewing any iign of Fear; and in cale they fhould ofter to attack you, endeavour firft to terrify them with your great Guns, before you attempt to kill any, which you muft only do in cafe you arc forced to it in your own Defence, and then avoid the Coaft, until you get farther to the South wnd, among more friendly Indians, * In cafe you fhould come to numerous Nations, ufcd to trade in Ships of Burthen, or Force, and that they in- cline to be Enemies, avoid the Coaft, in cafe you have an open Sea ; but if you fhould be engaged among Iflands in which you might find Difficulty to avoid them, or to pro- ceed fo far as to perfefl: the Difcovcry, then, if it be not too late in the Seafon, return with fuch account, which will be fufficient to prove that you traded in anothc»- Ocean different from ours ; left by wintering among them, .ny Oc- cident fhould happen to prevent your Return. * But in cafe you fhould have proceeded SouLwatd Co far as to Winter in a warm Country, then find out fome Ifland, not frequented by the Natives of the Cc tinent, to winter in, andfecure your Ships; which if if be a woody fertile Ifland in Spring, by way of keeping the len in Ex- ercife, clean a Piece of Ground for a Garden, and fow fuch Seeds of Grain, Pulfe, or Trees, as you may carry from hence, for the Ufe of the Natives, if any be there, or fuch who hereafter may go there from England; leaving tame Fowl, Pigs, 6c. if any be on board ; and carefully obferve fuch different kinds of Trees and Plants, as are un- known here, or different from ours in Europe. In cafe you fhould winter on the Wefl Coaft of /America, fhort of Cape Blanco, in Lat. 42*'. North, early in Spring, in March, after the Equinox, when Wind and Weather is feafonable, proceed in the Difcovery, until you get to the Southward of 40°, which will compleat it ; and upon your Return to the North-Eaflward, as Summer advances, make eafy Sail, and obferve the whole Coafl on the North Weft of Ameri- ca ; making careful Obfervations of all the Rivers, Bays, Head-Lands, 'tc making Charts, drawing the Bearings of the Lands, and Views from the Ships; with the Tides, Soundings, and Variation of the Compafs ; making Al- liances with the Natives, and fixing a Commerce with them upon profitable Terms to Britain, and equitable to therrj^ accordbg to their Value and Efteem for our Goods or Ma- . E 4 nufailurcs; M] kj-wi. . 12 -.1. 56 The Laft Expedition in * nufa^hires ; this will fully employ the Months of Aprit^ * Ahiy, and June^ fo as to get to 62*^ by the latter End of Ju- * /y, and thence rcpafs the Bay and Strait the Beginning of * Auguft. In cale the Ships ftiould fcparate after your laft * Rendezvous near Deer Sound, or Marbie IJland, after paff- * ing thro' the Openings to Weftward, let each, indcpen- * dcntly, endeavour to make out tlie Paffage, without wait- * ing for the other, and appoint their next Rendezvous at any * I Hand or Harbour neareft to 40 ** on the Back of Calif- rnia ; ' and in cafe either fhould Winter fhort of that, and more * Northerly than 54^, then endeavour to hire fome Indians to * crofs the Gountiy to Churchill River, or York Fort, or NeU * fWs River, with Letters directed to the Lords of.the Ad- * miralty, and to the Secretary of the North Weft Com- * mittee, giving an Abftraft of your Difcoveries *till that ' Time, with a Promife of a fufficient Reward to any of the * Suiiors who will accompany them, and carry them in the * Company's Ship to England y to prevent their being ftifled at * the Faftory, in cafe any Misfortune fhould happen to prevent * the Ship's Return next Seafon. In cafe, by any Accident, ' or unforefeen Difficulty, the Ships fhould not be able to fail * beyond or Weftward of Pi/lol-Bayy or JVager -Strait, fo ' as to get no farther South than Lat. 58° or 60° North ; or, < upon Trial, find no opening or Paflage thro' thofe broken * Lands or Iflands, to Weftward, or to South Weftward, * and fhould not meet, after paffing thefe broken Lands, any Tide of Flood coming from the Weftward; then, after Trial made, and full Proof of it to the Satisfaction of the Council, or the major Part of them, then you are forthwith to return to London, without Wintering in any part of the * Bay, in order to prevent unnecefTary Expences to the Ad-. ' venturers. If you meet any of the EJkimaux, or Nor- * them Indians, after paffing Wager -Straits, or Pijiol-Bay, * make particular Enquiry, by Signs, if they know where- ^ abouts the Copper Mine is ; and in cafe you fhould perfefl; < the Difcovery of the Paffage, and winter there, upon your *■ Return in July, when you are near 60^, make a more fh*iil * Enquiry and Search, and if you find it, bring home fome ' of the Ore, to be melted and afTayed here. * The Council, in all Difficulties where Doubts may arife < upon the moft prudent method of proceeding to make out * the Difcovery, is to confift of the Captains, Mr. Henry < Ellis, the Surgeons and Ma^es of each in one Council, < when they can meet ; and if feparated, then the faid Offi- < cers of each Ship, in which the Majority, are to determine Mt, ».„ the Dobbs and California. 57 hs of Aprtt^ r End of Ju- Beginning of fter your laft (iy after paff- ich, indcpen- without wait- ezvous at any Df Calif- rnia ; at, and more )ine Indians to Fort, or Nel- ds of, the Ad- 1 Weft Corn- cries Hill that I to any of the ry them in the being ftifled at ppen to prevent any Accident, >tbe able to fail ager-Strait, fo 0° North ; or, * thofe broken nth Weftward, en Lands, any d; then, after isfa^tton of the )u are forthwith any part of the ces to the Ad-. taux, or Nor- or Pjflol-Bay, y know where - fhould perfeft ere, upon your ce a more ftriil mg home fomc oubts may arife g to make out Mr. Henry one Council, the faid Offi- re to determine IS ' it. And if any material Difference (hould happen, relating * to the Profecution of the Difcovcry, the Minority may * fign the Reafons for their Difference of Opinion, to juftify * them in their I. jfTent. ' Yd u are delired to keep regular Minutes of all your Con- * fultations, which (hall be figned by three or more of the Coun- * cil before they break up : And that you keep fair Copies ' of all your Proceedings, which, at the return of your ' Voyage (or fooner, if you have an Opportunity by the * Hudfon^S'Day Ships) fhall be fealed up by three of the * Council, and tranfmitted by Port to Mr. Samuel Smith, Se- ' cretary to the Committee, in Cateaton-Street , upon your * Anivalin anyPartof Creat'Britain or Ireland. These Inftruftions I have given at large, that the Reader might have an Opportunity of feeing, not only how well they were calculated, to anfwer the Dedgn of regulating the Con- duft of thefe Commanders, in this panicular Voyage ; but how clear alfo they point out the Nature of the Expedi- tion, and the Means of accomplifhing it; as well as the fincere Intentions, of thofe who contrived then', to exe- cute in the moft cffcftual Manner, what had been fo well and fo wifely concerted, for the Public Benefit. But it is now Time to refume the Thread of our Nar- ration, The Ships fitted out for this Expedition, fell down from Crave/end to the HopCf on the 2oth of May^ 1 746 ; and lay there till the 24th of the fame Month, but in the mean Time the VefTels in the Service of the Hudfon^s-Bay Company, and his Majefty*s Ship the Loo of forty Guns, intended for our Convoy, were failed from the Nore ; upon Advice of which, the Ships bound f.r the Difcovery followed them, with all poffible Diligence, in Hopes of joining them at Tar* mouth \ and accordingly came up with them m Houfeley-Bay, where we received our Infbruftions from the Convoy. Up- on the 27th we anchored in Tarmouth Road, the California having received fome little j?amage m her PafFajre, ftaid to reht till the 3ifti when the Commodore made a fignal to weigh, which was done accordingly, in Company with the four Ships for Hudfon^s-.Bayy and fome others bound for the Norhward and Weftward. The I ft of June we pafled by Scarborough, and the 2d an- chored a-brcaft of Ttnmouth Caftle ; here our chief Mate left ws, or rather we left him, for he went afhore, and in the mcaa 7 ' 'flH • }•■! 58 Ibi iafl Expedition in mean Time the Convoy weighed, we made Signnls, and Hred Guns, for his coming off, but to no Purpole, lb we failed without him. The 5th we fell in with two Dutch Men of War, which faluted the Loo and flic as ufual returned the Com- pliment. It being very tempeduous, and having contrary Winds, on the 6th, the Man of War and Fleet bore away for Ham-S'iundy in the Iflcs of Orhiey^ and anchored in Kjrhvall-Bav that Evening, and the next Morning at Carfion in the Iflana of Pomona t where wc found the Sburk Sloop, Captain MiMeton, and the California at Anchor ; from the latter of which we had feparatcd the Night before wc entered Ham- Sound. Here we recruited ourfelves with Water, frefh Pro- viiions, and what other Neceffarics we had Occafion for. The 1 2th, Captain Middle ton (now appointed our Convoy, by Commodore Smith, upon his Arrival at Carflon) made a Sig- nal to weigh. All things being prepared, and the Wind fair, the Fleet got under Sail, and were clear of the Ifle that Evening. The 15th we pafled the Iflcs to the Weft ward of Hoyhead, called Roan and Burra, from whence we took our Depar- ture. The 17th, being about 60 Leagues to the Weftward of thofe Iflcs, the Convoy after receiving and anfwering the Salutes of the Hudfon^^-Buy Ships, and ours, left us toprofecute our Voyage, and returned to the Orkneys. On the 1 8th, we loft Company with the Hudfon's-Bay Ships, which were the laft we faw for that Year. The California and we being now left by ourfelves, Signals were compofed and a- greedon, for the better keeping Company; and proved, in the Courfe of the Voyage, very ufci'ul in that Refpeft. There was no- thing occurred but the common Circumftances of the Winds and Weather, till the 21ft at Night, when a terrible Fire broke out in the great Cabin of the Dobbs, and quickly made it's Progrefs to the Powder-Room, which was dire flly underneath it, ami where there were no lefs than thirty or forty Barrels of Powder, befides Candles, Spirits, Matches, and all manner of Combuftibles.' It is impoflible to exprefs the Confuflon and Confternation this Accident occafloned: The dangerous Place the Fire was in, gave every one on Board the greateft Reafon to expeft, that Moment, or the next at moft, was their laft. You might hear on this Occafion, all the Varieties of Sear Eloquence; Cries, Prayers, Curfes, and fcolding, mingled together; yet this did not prevent proper Meafures being taken to favc the Ship, and our Lives. Water in great Abundance was paflTed along, and properly applied, and all other Methods uled by thofe, who in fpite of thefe Diftur- bances , ftill preferved their Reafon, But as for the Crew in general. the Dobb«» and California. 59 lis, and tired lb wc failed \tch Men of edthe Gom- ng contrary t bore away anchored in ng at Carflon ^hark Sloop, om the latter niered Ham- , frelh Pro- ion for. our Convoy, / made a Sig- e Wind fair, hat Evening, of Hoyhead, our Depar- le Weftward nfwering the > toprofecute s-Day Ships, alifornia and pofed and a- oved, in the here was no- |e Winds and Fire broke |ly made it's underneath y Barrels of all manner e Confiifion dangerous the greateft moft, was he Varieties id fcolding, r Meafures ater in great lied, and all lefe Diftur- le Crew in general, ?eneral, their Apprehenfions fuggcftcd to them a Variety of Expedients, which without weighing or coniidcring, tliey one Moment endeavoured to execute, and the next abandoned through Diftraftion or Dcfpair. Some v\ ere for hoilHng out the Boats ; accordingly the Lalhings were cut f(»r that Purpofe, but none had Patience fufficient to join and hoift them out ; others were for fetting more Sail , to come up with the California , at this Time, at a great Diflance a-head, that if any (hould be alive after the Ship's being blown up, they might have a Chance of faving themfelves aboard of her. Though this was very chimerical, confidering our Condition, the Reefs were turned out of the Topfails, which with great Difficulty were properly fet. In the midft of all this Hurry, the Man at the Helm, reflefting on his Situation, and thinking it more dreadful than any other Perfons, having the Fire and Powder immediately under him, was quite diftrafted and thoughtlefs of his Charge: fo that Imagination cannot paint a wilder Scene, than was now exhibited aboard of us. The Ship was now Head to Wind, and the Sails (baking and making a Nolfe like Thunder; then running right before it, and rolling, every Body upon Deck waiting, and that too with a kind of Impatience, for the Blaft, that mull have put an End to our Fears and Uncertainties. At length the Fire was happily extinguifhed, and with it our Perplexities. There is certainly no one Thing a -board a Ship that requires fo much Attention, as the Care required to prevent Fire, as we had like fatally to have experienced, and as many feel daily. This Accident happened through the Negligence of the Cabin- Boy, who was left to take Care of the Candle ; the Captain and Offi- cers being on Deck, he forgot it, andthe Confequence was what I have related. Hence, till the 27th, nothing happened re- markable. We then fell in with great Quantities of low Ice, in Lat. 58° 30'. to the Eaftward of Cape Farewell m Croen- landf wbere having alfo very foggy Weather, wc had like to have loft Company with the Califorma ; but we luckily rejoined her, when the Weather grew fair, and both Ships ftanding to the Southward, foon got clear of the Ice. W^E failed for fometime after this, thro' Abundance of Drift-Wo d, that is, Pieces of pretty large Timber floating pt Sea ; a Thing which, as we cannot avoid obferving, fo with areafonable Proportion of Serioufnefs in a Mj.n's Tem- per, it is impoffible to obferve, without falling into a long Train of Refleftion ; becaufe no fatisfadory Account has been hitherto given, from whence this Drift- Wood ftiould come. All the Accounts we have of Croenland, of the Coafts of Davis's » , V' 11 1 w ' -"R V f I \i !■'■ 6, 5 •fe \ K ; •J il ■ 1 % /' ";: u j! i'li ■ i ■ -m't " . t -v li (Ml m .'i.--»i*Ka»M<«i«*»««ta«iSi*i)B,, 60 The lali Expedition in Dovish f and of Hudfon's Straits, however they differ in other Things, agree in this ; that no Timber grows to the Size of this Drift- Wood, in any of thole Parts, and therefore it has been judged, that wherever it came from, it could not be from any of them. Some have perfuaded themfelves, that it muft be driven hither from Norway ; and others from the Eaft Coaft of Terra de Labrador y m North America ; but I muft own neither of thefe Accounts appears probable to me ; for as the North Wefterly Winds prevail much in thefe Parts, they would prevent its coming from Norway ; as on the other Hand, the ftrong Currents fetting out of Davis and HudfurCs Straits, Southward, muft hinder it's Paflage from the Coaft of America into thefe Seas. The Relation of the Reverend Mr. Egede, who refided feveral Years at the Danijh Colony, on the Weft Side of Croenlandj feems to afford us an Account, of all others, the kaft liable to Exception ; which is this : He fays, that on the Eaft Coaft of that Country, he has feen Birch, Elm, and other Kinds of Trees, eighteen Feet high, and as thick as his Leg, in the Latitude of 61°, from whence I infer it muft come from thence. He farther obferves, that in Norway, as well as Croenlandf the Eaft Coaft, is warmer than the Weft, and, confequently. Things grow there in a more kindly manner, and to a larger Size ; fo that 'till fomething more probable is offered upon this Subjeft, we muft be content to allow, this Drift-Wood comes from Croenland, O N the 5th of July we began to fall in with thofe Moun- tains of Ice which are always met with near Hudfon^s Straits. This mountainous Ice is of a prodigious Size ; and if I ftiould fay, that we fometimes find it five or fix Hundred Yards thick, 1 am thoroughly fatisfied that I /hould not exceed the Truth. But tho' tlie Faft might be eafily put out of C^eftion, by citing a Multitude of Authorities, yet this will not in the leaft contribute to folve the Difficulty of conceiving how thefe ftupendous Mountains are generated, but rather the con- trary. Various Attempts, however, have been made to get over this Queftion, and amongft the reft, Captain Middkton has endeavoured to explain the Thing thus. 'All along the Coaft (fays he) oiBaffin^s-Bay, Hudfon^s- ' Straits, eck:, and affords only room for one Man to fit in, his Feet ftrctched forward, and fome- times a Skin laced about his Waift from the Rim before-men- tioned, v/hich effedlualiy ftiuts out all Water. The Seams they rub with a kind of Pitch or Glue, which is faid to be made of Seals Blubber ; in thefe Boats tliey carry theii- little Conveniences and Inftrurnents for killing Whales, Sea- Morfes, Sea- Unicorns, Seals,, 6c, at all which they are very €3ipert J they likev/iie carry Sliiiga an4 StQnes ui their Canoes, which ■"t, 64 The Laft Expedition in 1 ':\ which they ufe very dextrouily, and can do Fxecution al i great Diftance. Their Harpoons are heaoicu . 'a! . o;ntci' with Sea-Horfe Teeth, the upper End ferves to Ipcir ih", \/hale, or other large Animals, when they are ilruck, lit Wioa rea>» dily to dilpatch them ; the lower End is made uic of to ftrike the Fifh, and introduce into his Body a Barb tipped with Iron> which remains there whilfl the other part of the Harpoon dif- cngages itfelf readily and comes out. To this Barb is faftened a Thong of Sea-Horfe-Hlde, at the end of which is ? Seal Skin blown up, which ferves as a Buoy to fhew where the Whale is when he goes down, and prodi^oufly fati^ its him as he fwims. At laft having entirely exhaufted his Force, he grows faint, and with fome fmall ftruggle he expires. They 3ien with their Canoes tow him afhore, ftrip him of his Fat or Blubber, which ferves them for Food, and to bum in their Lamps in die Winter. Bt ^iDEs thefe finall Canoes for tlie Men, which are iharp at each End, about twenty Feet long, and eighteen Inches or two Foot broad, paddled by one Paddle, broad at each End, which ferves both Sides without changing it j tljey have Boats much larger, that are open, and rowed by the Women ; thcfe are made of the fame Materials as the former, and will carry above twenty Perfons. As to the Drefs of thefe People, there may much be faid, and that too not unentertaining, however, 1 fhall be very concife. The Mens Clothes are of Seal Skins, Deer Skins^ and fometimes alfo are made of the Skins of Land and Sea Fowl fewed together ; each of their Goats hi9 a Hood like that of a Capuchin, is clofe from the Breal> before like a Shirt, and reaches not lower than the middle of the Thigh j their Bi "eches are rl. ,1 Sefore afid behind, gathered like a Purfe with a String, u* * led about their Waifts ; they have feveral Pair of Boots and Socks, that they wear one over another to keep them warm, and which keep out the Water* The Difference between the Drefs of the Men and the Women is, that the Women have a Train to their Jackets, that reaches down to their Heels. Their Hoods are alfo larger and wider at the Shoulders, for the fake of carrying their Children irt them more conveniently on their Backs, and their Boots are a great deal wider, and are commonly ftuck out with Sticks of Whalebone, becaufe when they want to lay their Child out of their Arms, they flip it into one of their Boots, till they can take it up again. Some few of them wear Shifts of Seals Bladders fewed together in pretty near the fame Form with thofc ih Europe, In general their Clothes are fewed very neat, which ^.^v* ih t>o'jbs [arpoon dif- -b is faftened h is ? Seal T where the 'atip, '.I.S him is Force, he ires. They 1 of his Fat bum in their ich are Iharp :en Inches or at each End, y have Boats 'oraen ; thcfe ad will carry luch be faid, lall be very Deer Skins^ .and and Sea a Hood like before like a the Thigh j Ithered like a they hav6 ar one over the Water* the Women , that reaches er and wider Children irt Ir Boots are with Sticks loir Child out jots, till they ifts of Seals le Form with ed very neat, which .» '-> '^ pcrforr 1 with an Ivory Needle, and the Sinews of iveer fplit fine, and fo ufed for Thread. T^»e;<- is ItkcwiQs a good deal of Tafte id Jiidgment diicovered in th? man n6r in which th^^y adorn thcni with Stripes of different co- loured Skins, fewed in the manner of Borders, Cuffs and Rob- ings for their Clothes, which altogether look very tight, neat, and even elegant, or at leaft handfome as well as convenient* If theur Clothes and other NecefTaries are well contrived, their Snow- Eyes, as tliey very properly call them, are no lefs fo> Thefe are Bits of Wood or Ivory, neatly formed to cover the Organs of Sight, and tied at the Back of the Head: In each Piece of Wood i^re two Slits, of the fame Length with the Eyes, but narrow; thro' which they fee very aif" tinttly, and without feeling any Inconvenience. This Inven- tion prevents Snow-Blindnels> a very grievous and painful Diftemper, occafioned by the A6Hon of th6 Light, ftrongly reflefted from the Snow upon the Eyes, more efpecially in the Spring, when the Sun is pretty high* The Vic of thefe ftrengthens the Sight prodigioufly, and becomes fo habitual, that when they would obferve any Objc6l at a great Diflance, they commonly look tlirough them, as we do through Te* lefcopes* The fame Spirit of Invention (hews itfelf full as much, or rather more, in their Infh'uments for Fifhing and Fowling: Their Darts and Harpoons are very well made, and anfwer their Intentions perfectly well ; but their greateft Ingenuity is (hewn in the Stru£hire of their Bows, made commonly of three Pieces of Wood, each making a Part of the fame Arch, very nicely and exa£Hy joined together. They are common- ly of Fir, or Larch, which tlic Engli/h there call Juniper; and as this wants Strength and Elaflicity, they fupply both by bracing the Back of tifie Bow, with a kind of Thread or Line made of the Sinews of their Deer, and the Bow- String of the fame Materid. To make ^hem draw more flifly, they dip them into Water, which caufes both the Back of the Bow and the String to contraft, and confequently gives it ihc greater Force; and as the" prai:Fife from their Youth, they (hoot with very great Dex . Thus much I can report of thefe People from my owi uiowledge; and I Ihall next add a few Particulars from the bcft Information I could obtain . The very Orthography of the Word EJkimaux plainly proves it an Indian Appellative, with a French Termination; and we are told by a celebrated \Vriter of that Country,, that it i« derived from the Words Abenaqui Efquimanjk, which is as much as to fay, An eater of ra'-jj Flejh-^ and indeed thii leems to F be ,■ \. > I ■M h AiW ^ 66 7'he Laft Expedition in be a very rat'nnal Etymology; for fo far as it is hitherto known, the EJkimaux are the only Nation that cat Animal Food abfolutely raw. It is from hence, from the Whitencfs of their Skin, and from their having Beards, which no Indians have, that they are believed to be the fame People with the Croenlandcrs ; nor is this at all improbable, when we condder the NaiTownefs of Davis*s Streights, and that kind of va- gabond Life to which this whole Nation are addi^ced. The Character generally given of them is none of the beft ; for wc find them reprelented by Travellers of all Nations, as cun- ning, ihievifti, treacherous, gruel, fawning, and fufpicious. But if they really defcended from the Groenlanders , we may polfibly, when we come to know them better, confider them in another Light. For the Danes, fettled in that Country, have obferved of its Inhabitants, that tho* they have a ftrong Tinfture of all thefc Vices, yet the bad Effefts of them are felt only by Foreigners, and amongfl themfelves they are ftriftly honeft, chafte, temperate, and full of Gompaffion; but believing the reft of Mankind to be of another Race, and for that Reafon naturally Enemies to them, they confine all tlieir focial Virtues to their own Nation, and look upon the reft of the World not as Strangers only, but Enemies. It may be when wc come to have a conftant Commerce with the EJkhnauXf they may abate of their Barbarity, fince the Groen- landers are now fo well reconciled to the Danes , that are fet- tled in their Country; as to leave off pilfering and ftealing from them ; and many other bad Cuftoms, for which, in former Times, they were infamous. Thefe Obfervations may lUifice with relpeft to the Efkimaux ; and therefore we will now refume the Journal of our Voyage. TuE 13th of July we fell in with Abundance of low Ice, from five to ten Fathoms thick, tlirough which we failed with much Caution, and without much Danger or Difficulty, ex- cept where the Pieces were veiy thick and clofe. Whenever this happens to be the Cafe, it is very dangerous to drive a- gainft a large Piece, efpecially with great Force ; for it is the iame as a Rock, if it is not broke by the Shock; and this is the Reafon all the Ships frequenting icy Seas are made very ib'ong and thick in Timber, more elpecially about the Bows; aud all this is found little enough too, there being frequent liiiUnces on the Goad of Croenlandf and in Davis's Straits ot Ships being ftove by it. ' Mi. Cotes f who was a Commander in the Hudfonh-Bay Company's Service, has loft two Ships, one byrunniiig againfl: a Piecf of Ice in the Night, off Cape Fare-well, by which Stroke the t)obb3 and CaliromJA. 67 is hitherto cat Animal be Whitencfs ich no Indians pie with the n we confider t kind of va- dicfced. The thebeft; for itions, ascun- ,nd fufpicious. \ders, we may confider them that Country, y have a ftrong ts of them are felves they are f Compaffion; ther Race, and ley confine all I look upon the It Enemies. It amerce with the fince the Crotf«- that are fet- 'S, ig and ftealing for which, in fe Obfervations nd therefore we ICC of low Ice, .we failed with Difficulty, ex- ^fe. Whenever ous to drive a- e ; for it is the •ck; and this is are made very lOUt the Bows ; being frequent Davis's Straits |e Hudfonh-Bay runnuig againft Vwdl, by which Stroke Stroke the Ship foundered ; and another in Hudfon's -Straits ^ where two large Pieces of Ice, by ftrong Tides fetting diffe- rent Ways, were driven together with great Force ; the Ship being between themj was fo fqueezcd together, that flic funk as foon as the Ice fcpaPatcd; but very fortunately in both Accidents, the Men were favcd by another of the Hndfrn's- Bay Ships, Tor they always keep Company on the oui^jard- bound Pafl!age. It is alfo related, on credible Evidence, that one of the Gompany^s Sloops going between York-Rrt and Chwchilif was in like manner caught betwixt two Pieces of Ice, and upon their meeting flie was raifed quite out of the Water, and left dry upon one of them ; but flie receiving no Damage by that ftrange Accident, when the Ice opened, the People launched her, and proceeded on their Voyage* It is very eafy to difcover our Approach towards fuch Ice, for the Air immediately changes its Temperature, from warm to cold ; beiides thick Fogs generally accompany it ; but thefe lie low upon the Surface, often not fo high as the Ship's Malts Head ; fo that it has fometimes happened that the Efkimaux have walked from the Land to the Ships upon the IcCj, before thofe aboard ha : difcovered it. It is common to iee the. Ice thrown above the Horizon, at leaft 6° ; fo that you will defcry it at a much greater Diftance than if the re-* frad^ve Power of the Air was not fo great* The 17th the Ice being very thick about Us, ^ve made faft to a very large Piece of it, with feveral Ice Anchors and Ropes. It is requifite in fuch Cafes to make Choice of thet iargeft Piece that can be found for this Purpofe, becaufc hav- ing more hold of the Water, it is lefs affefted by Winds and Currents (which generally run on the Surface) fo that all th^ final! Ice is drove from about us in Time, and we are left at liberty to proceed. Here we unhung our Rudder, which traverfed very ftiffly> and made it go eafierj and the Crew of the California^ as well as we in the Dohbs GaUey, filled our empty Caiks 'with frefli Water out of the Ponds that are Commonly found upon the Ice. The 1 8th we had a good deal of Lightning and Thunder, which, however does not fi-equently happen here; and may riot the Reafon of thi. be> that the Aurora Borealis, that is comnion both in Winter and Summer, kindles and difperfes thole fulphurous Vapours that \vould oriierwife produce Lightning and Thunder ? We now found the little Pools of Water on the Ice froze over almoft every Nightj efpecially if the Wind was Northerly* ThK tpdi the great Piece of Ice^we were faft to> fepa- tiUd m feveral Places, and difperfed ; ^on whicb we.nad« F a f*it ,^uit; i ; , km 1 ti'U 68 The Loft Expedition in . M' I ir'*.^^^ faft to another ; but the Ice quickly opening, we got under an cafy Sail, and flood through vaft Quantities of it tiU towards Evening, when we grappelled again, the Ifland of Cape Charles in View, diftant about fevcn Leagues to the South- ward : In this Manner we continued much incommoded with Ice, which would be tedious to recite in a particular Manner, now making fail, then calling loofe, traverflng and iaiiing tlirough it until the 30th, when we got into clear Water, a- brcail of the Ifland of Salijbury, almoftat the Wefl: Entrance of Hudfon's'Straiis. If I was to give any Direftions for avoid- ing the thickeft of the Ice in thefe Straits, it would be to keep pretty iiear the North Shore, for we always obferved that Side much the cleared, as not only the Winds blow moftly from thence, but Currents too come out of moft of thole large Openings which are on that Side. Th« 2d of WuguP -we doubled Cape Diggs, and on the 4th priTcd the Ifland of Man/el. Between this and Cape South- ampton we found a dead Whale floating, in which was an EJkimaux Barb, with a Thong of Sea-Horfc Hide faft to it; it had been kiUed fome Time by thofe People, and was a good deal decayed, Part of the Bone was fallen off, but the Remainder we faved, as alio two Gaflcs of Blubber^ and then left it. The I ith we made the Land on the Weft Side the WeU eome, in Latitude 64° North ; as it was then late in the After- noon, and we at a confiderable Diftance, the Captain thought it not prudent to fend the Boat from the Ships to make axij Trial there, but deferred it in hopes of doing it next Day; in the mean Time it began to blow very hard Southerly, fo that it became neceflary to ftand off Shore, for Fear we fhould be embayed; the Gale continued the 12th, but fliifted to the Northward, fo that we could not get in with that Part of the Coaft we left. Marble IJlatid was the next Place we faw on the 19th: There the Long- Boats of each Ship were fent commanded by the chief Mates, with whom I went; ocr Bufinefs was to procure a Knowledge of the Time, Direftr- on. Velocity, and Height of the Tides, and to obferve every other Circumftance that might furnifli any I-ights towards the Difcovery of a PalFage, which was executed, and a Re- port made to the Council, on our Return, upon the i6th, importing, that we faw fevcral confiderable Openings to the Weftward of this Ifland ; that the Flood Tide came from the North Eaft, the Gourfe of the Cor^ ; that it was High Wa- ter there at Four o'clock, full and Change of the Moon, and rofe about ten Feet. Nothing farther was done this Sca- fon fon tc the JV per fc lution ' trar ' Lan ' of 2 ' toM ' favo ' the I ' as b( ' the 1 ' Gam which way a( ters. Bef give a f Center 00 We] fix Lea| End, ai of an I: fome Pi blue, ai rent anc huddled deep Cj fiderable oozed 01 gined th Place it another which it low Soil frefli Wi by fome about foi the Win very fwif many Tr ther, eitl perftitiou Stones, we got under it tifl towards land of Cape to the South- mmoded with icular Manner, ng and failing ear "Water, a- Weft Entrance tions for avoid - t would be to Iways obferved ids blow moftly moft of thole gSf and on the and Cape South- I which was an Hidefafttoit; pie, and was a lUen off, but the lubber, and then ft Side the Wei- ate in the After- Captain thought )s to make any ing it next Day; rd Southerly, fo r Fear we fhould >ut (hifted to the that Part of the Place we faw on Ship were fent >m I went; oCr Time, Direfti- to obferve every Lights towards cuted, and a Re- upon the i6th, Openings to the de came from the t was High Wa- e of the Moon, ^as done this Sea- fon the Dobbs and California. Co fon towards a Difcovery ; but a Refolution was agreed to, by the Majority of the Council, to bear away for a Place, pro- per for our Winter Quarters ; the Purport of which Refo- lution, was to the following Effeft, viz. * That whereas the Seafon was far advanced. Winds con- * trary, and unfavourable for a further Search of the broken * Lands to the Weft ward of Marble J/land, and the Certainty ' of a Paftage being yet undetermined, it was thought proper ' to Winter in fome ?art of Hud/on' s-Bay, in hopes of a more ' favourable Opportunity the fucceeding Seafon to profecutc * the Difcovery. Port Nelfott was fixed on for this Purpofe, ' as being preferable to any other Place, it being clear of Ice ' the fooneft, abounding with Wood, Venifon, and other ' Game, neceflfary for the Prefervation of the People, 6c.* which Aft of Council was figned, and the Ships bore a- way accordingly, upon the 17th, for their Winter Qiiar- ters. Before we abfolutely leave this Ifland, I fliall venture to give a liiccinft Defcription of it, as it appeared tome. The Center of it lies in Latitude 62* 55' North, Longitude 92* 00 Weft from London; its greateft Length from Ealt to Weft fix Leagues, its Breath two or three Miles. High at the Weft End, and low at the Eaft, the Land is one continued Rock, of an hard and white kind of Marble, tho' interfperfed ia fome Places with Spots of different coloured Stone, as green, blue, and black. The Tops of the Hills are prodigioufly rent and Ihattered, Numbers of huge Rocks are confufedly huddled together, as if by an L-ruption : for under them arc deep Caverns, where one may hear a great Noife, as of con- fiderable Streams rolling over Rocks. By the Water that oozed out of tlie Clefts of the Rr-ks in many Places, 1 ima- gined there might be Copper, or other Mines; for in one Place it was of a green Colour, tafting like Verdigreafe ; in another perfeftly red, and dying the Stones, over and through which it paffed, of the fame Hue. In the Vallies was a (hal- low Soil of Turf, but very little Herbage, and feveral Pools of frefli Water, in which were Swans, Ducks, 6c. and hard by fome Deer grazing^ which come from the Main^ lying about four Leagues to the Northward, either upon the Ice in the Winter, or fwim over m the Summer : thi« they can do very fwiftly, and can hold it to a great Diftance. We found many Tradts of the EJkimaux, as Stones fet, one upon ano- ther, either as Land-Marks, or in Confequence of fome fu- perftitious Cuftom ; bcfides many Graves, or large Heaps of Stones, under which their Dead lie buried ; and the Founda- ^n ■I I" ) n n: ,it^(JC F3 tjon I .'1 .! 70 T'he Lafl Expedition in tion of fome of their Huts, which arc built circular, and in the Form of a Bee-Hive, with Stone and Mofs, Between this Ifland and tlic North Main, is tolerable good riding in eight, ten, or twelve Fathoms Water, clear and good hold- ing Ground, but the only Harbour is at the South -Weft Part of it. The Entrance is but narrow and (hoalj, having no more than thirteen Feet Water at the Height of common Tides, but within it is capacious enough to hold one Hundred Sail. It is very difficult to difcover the Mouth of it, being coi vered by alow rocky Iflc, upon which the Sea break;, pretty high, and this muft be kept on the Larboard hdnd going in. I thought it the more necefTary to mention this Harbour, as it had been rcprefentdd to Mr, Dobbs as a very fine one ; which indeed it would be, if its Entrance was deeper, but as it is, can only fcrve for VefTels of fmall Burthen. So tnuch for Marble IJlartd; now let us return to our Voyage. In our Paflage from this Place to Port Nel/on, we had ve-. ry bluftcring Weather, attended with Snow, Sleet, and thick Fogs. We arrived in fight of the Shoals of that River on the ^5th of Atgufiy and anchored during the Ebb- Tide, about two Leagues from them, Thefe Shoals are very dangerous, as they lie four or five Leagues off Shore, and ftretch from !North to South about ten Miles ; as they are dry at Half- Tide, the Sea breaks high upon them : Their Center lies in Latitude ^y° 50' North, The beft way to know when you approach them, is to obferve where the Water ftioals, and the Pottom grows hard, but the contrary as you leave them. The 26th, the Weather being fine and moderate, the Boats of each Ship were fent a-head to found, and to ereft a iFlag, as a Mark to fail over the Flats at the Mouth of the Southern Branch, or Hayes\ River : This was to be raifed at a good Anchoring- Place, called Five -Fathom- Hole , within fcven Miles of Tork-Fort, and accordingly was done. The California got fafe to an Anchor there, but the Dobbs came a- ground on the Flats, and had it blown hard, muft inevitably have been loft. The Governor, feeing us in this deep Diftrefs, in order to complete it, fent his Boat and People to cut down the Beacon, which was the only proper Maik we had to guide us into a Place of Safety, when we might get the Ship afloat^ AH that Mr. Holdings Captain Smith's Lieutenant, could fay to diffuade them from it, was ineffedhial ; they cut it down ; at the fame Time they acknowledged, that when they rec6i,v-. ed thofe Orders, the Governor very well knew who we vi^ere. This Beginning gave us but too well to underftapid \vhat T^^at-. :pici^t w? were to expeft there. ^ . * , \r\i ' ■ " ' "'"* "•"' In (5 the Dobbs and California. 71 cular, and in fs, Between ood riding in id good hold - ith-Weft Part )aij, having no It of common 1 one Hundred )f it, being coi \ break, pretty d going in. I Harbour, as it le one ; which r, but ask is, So much fur igc. m, we had vc- Sleet, and thick at River on the t)b-Tidc, about wry dangerous, nd ftretchfrom y at Half- Tide, lies in Latitude n you approach and thp ^Qttom 1. moderate, the and to ereft a Mouth of the as to be raifed m-Hole, within IS done. The Dobbs came a- muft inevitably is deep Diftrefs, le to cut down e had to guide the Ship afloat, inant, could fay ly cut it down ; en they receiv-. who we v^cre. id what Treat-. .v-* In In the mean Time, the DrMs floated, and the 27th got to an Anchor near the Califtrnia. There we received a Let- ter from the Governor, defiring us not to come any nearer the Faftory, without fending a proper Authority from the Govern- ment, or HudfoyCs-Bay Company, for fo doing, or he would ufe his utmoft Strength and Endeavour to prevent us. The Anfwcr given by us to this extraordinary Mefl!aee, was to the following Efledt : That we found ourfelves under a Ncceflity of Wintering in fome Part of the Bay; fgr which Pui-pole we chofe this as the moft convenient ; and that we expected Shelter and Afliftance, as Subjects of Great -Britain ^ and People who had no Intentions to molefl the HudforCs-Bay Company's Trade, or who were dircdled by any Alotive in coming thither other than the Security of the Ships, and the Prcfcrvation of the People ; and in /hort, that we were rcfolv- t^ to winter thereabouts. Mr. Holding and I went with this Anfwer, and were received by the Governor in a very haughty and difrefpedtful manner ; after which fcvcral Letters palled between the Governor and us, endeavouring to diifuadc us from having any Thoughts of wintering near him ; but as they lerved for no other Purpofe, tlian to amufe and perplex us, the Correfpendence was loon over, and is indeed hardly worth a Relation. As it had been our Intentions, and the Refolution of Coun- cil, to winter at Port Nelfunj and not at this Place, it occa- fioned both Captains, and feveral of the Officers, with the Boats of each Ship, to make a ftiort Trip, in order to examine that River, We fct out the 30th Inftant, for this Purpofe, and arrived there the fame Day. We found it anfwer in every Refpcdt our Expeftations ; inafmuch as this is the fineft River in Hudfm^s-Bayy navigable for many Leagues, having a Communication with the great Lakes behind Canada^ and upon which, of all others, the mofl; advantageous Trade might be carried on, provided Settlements were made about thirty Leagues up. There the Climate is, what mayjufUy be ftiled temperate ; the Diftance from the Indians lefs, as well as the Danger and Difficulty of tranfporting their Goods, in fmall Canoes ; and whe cas now- they come but once a Year to the Faftories, they might, if the Settlements were higher up, come twice or three Times, and in much greater Numbers, The Inconvenience and Difficulty they find to fupport themfelvcs, on fuch long Journeys, the Cold they feel on approaching the Shores of tihat icy Bay, the La- bour of fo long, fo precarious, and fo dangerous a Carriage, 1 r-s, F 4 whicU V] ing efltded, we turned our Thoughts on the Methods necef- fary for oui- own Prefervation ; being certain there was no Pof- fibiliry of living aboard the Ship for Cold, wherefore fome of the People were employed in cutting Fire-Wood: others in building Log- Tents This is a Contrivance borrowed, as I fuppoff, the Dobbs and California. ff fuppofe, from the Natives ; and ours were made of Trees hewn and cut, about fixteen Feet long, raifed dofe together, their Ends lying one againft another at the Top, but extending at the Bottom, in the Form of the Roof of a Country- Houfe. Between ti.efe Logs the Vacancies were fhiffed with Mofs, and that being plaiftered over with Clay, made a warm Hutt ; the Door was low and fmall, a Fire-Place in the middle, and a Hole over it, to let out the Smoke. But the grand Bufinefs, and what engroffed mod of our Attention, was the building a Houfe for the Captain and Offi- cers to dwell in. The Situation we chofe for it, was equally pleafant and convenient ; it was on an Eminence furrounded with Trees ; the main River was half a Mile diftant, to the North Weft j the Creek where our Ship lay, near the fame Diftance ; on the South Weft we had a handfome Bafon of Water, called the Beaver Creek, about 150 Yards diftantin Front, which looked like a grand Canal, in Profpeft ; and thick and tall Woods protefted us from the North and North- Eaft Winds. The Situation chofen, I drew a Plan of our intended Manfion, which the Captains approved of. The Houfe, according to this Plan, was to be twenty-eight Feet long, and eighteen Feet broad ; to have two Stories, the low- er one to be fix, and the upper feven Feet high ; the Captain andfome of the principal Officers were to lie iJbove, and the Remainder below, as alfothe Subalterns and Servants. The Door was to be in the middle of the Front, five Feet high, and three broad, with four Wmdows above Stairs, one in each Captain's Room, and one at each End, to enlighten the Paflage and the Officers Cabins. The Ridge of the Roof was to be but a Foot higher than the Side -Walls, in order to let the Wet drain off, and to keep the Houfe the warmer by being clofe and low. The Stove was to be placed in the Center, that every Body might partake equally of it's Heat. ? These Matters being thus adjufted, all Hands were fet to Work : Trees cut down and hewed. Planks fawed, the Walls begun, by placing one large Log upon another, with Mofs between, and nailing them down : In a Word the Houfe was raifed, covered and almoft finiftied by the id of November, In the mean Time, the Weather was become exceffively cold, tho' the Seafon had been very open and favourable to what it ufually is. The Winter began in the latter End of Septem- her with Sleet, and large Flakes of Snow, and frofty Nights j troublefome enough, but not feeming to merit the terrible Reports given of thefe Winters, by fome Authors. On the 5th of O^ober, we had much Ice in the Creek, and 11 f^ The loft Expedition in \' by the 8th it was fail froze. Until the 30th we had Snaw, Frofts, and moderate Weather, alternately, and that Day be- ing his prefent Majefty's Birth- Day, we hoifted our Colours, and fired twenty-one Guns. The 31 ft, Hayes'^ River was froze quite hard, fo that now we had fome Experience of what was to be expe<5ted from an Hudfon\'Bay Winter. T H E 2d oi November y we could not keep the Ink from freezing at the Fire, On the 3d we difcovcred all the bottled Beer froze folid, tho\ packed up in Tow, and near a good rire. The 6th the Cold became infupportable aboard, fo that the Sailors were . diftributed among the fevei'al Tents, which vere aifigned for their Conveniency and Prefervation in the Woods, and the Captains, Officers, 6c. went to live in their new Houfe, which by this Time was finiftied : It was chri- ftened (in the Sea-way) Montague-House, in Honour of that worthy Nobleman, and generous Patron of all ufeful Un- dertakings, his Grace the DVKE of MONT JGUE ; who, from his confldering this Expedition in that Light, was one of our. Subfcribers. Wf. likewife began about this Time to, put on our Winter Drefs, which conlifted of a Robe of Beaver SkUi, with the Furr on, which reached to our Heels, and two Waiftcoats under it, a Cap and Mittens of the fame, liiied with Flannel, ;i Pair of Indian Stockings, over our Yarn ones, made of Broad Cloth or Leather, which reached up to the mid Thigh, with Shoes of foft-tanned Moofe or Elk- Skin, under which we wore two or three Pair of Blanket, or thick Dgffil Socks to prevent our Feet freezing, which is a thing that neverthelels frequently happens; a Pair of Snow- Shoes, about five Feet long, and eighteen Inches wide, to hind«r us from finkmg in the Snow, eompleated the Drefs. This is, properly fpeaking, the Garb of the Indians of this Country, who have taught it the Einglijh \ and than which nothing can \>& better contrived, both for Convenience and Ufe, For when we were thus equipped, we were able to ftand the keeneft Cold, (except on- ly for a few Days) that happened during the Winter. As in every Country, different SeafoiiS produce, or rather direft Men to different Employments,- fo in this, our utmoft Skill was (hewn, and Induftry exerted, in kiUbg Rabbits and Partridges, which is the chief Game to be met with at this Seafon. The former wc caught after the following Man- ner. We cut down feveral finall Bufhy T-ees, with thefewemade a Hedge two Feet high, and of what length we pleafed, leaving at every twenty Yards Diftance, fmall Holes for the Rabbits to run through, for we obfervcd, that fhey never attempted to jump over* In thefc were fct Snares if thi Dobbs and California. 75 had Snaw, at Day be- r Colours, River was >erience of nter. Ink from the bottled ear a good ard, fo that nts, which Ltion in the ive in their waschri- Honour of ufeful Un- JE ; who, :, was one Dur Winter , with the Waiftcoats th Flannel, ie of Broad high, with which we 1 Socks to everthelefe it live Feet 1 finking Ui J fpeaking, e taught it contrived, were thus except on- r. y or rather our utmoft ,abbits and th at this 'ing Man- ees, with lat length nee, fmall rved, that fet Snares of of Wire, the Ends of which were made faft to the End of a Pole, that lay over a Crutch, in fuch a manner, that when the Rabbits entered, and began to ftruggle, the Pole kicked up, and hung them two or three Feet off the Ground. This Contrivance had a double Conveniency, as it fecured us the Game we wanted, and by their being thiis fufpended, protefted them when taken from being devoured by other Anunals, They ufe at the Faftories no other Me- thod of killing the Partridges than fhooting them, and in this they are very fuccefsful, for they are there in very great Plcn* ty ; infomuch that fome Men may be able to {hoot fixty or eighty in a Day'c Time, which makes a good Article in the Magazine - Lift of Winter Provifion , r All Animals of the Fur kind, are caught in Traps of dif- ferent Sorts or Nets, and thus the Beaver is moft commonly taken. The Conftruftion of thefe Creatures Dens, Bur- roughs, or, as, they are commonly called,, Houfes, are very curious and ftrong, bemg built of Wood, Stone and Clay, with feveral Apartments in them for different Ufes, The Si- fuation of thefe Beaver-Houfes is always by the Side of a Lake pr Pool, for their greater Convenience, and more effe,£hiaj Security. It wouldbe needlefs for me to fay more on this Subjeft, as it has been fo well handled by eminent Writers, and what I have faid, is intended only to confirm ^ or at leaft corroborate, what they deliver more at large, But as die Methods ufed by the Natives in taking diem, may not be the fame in different Countries, or fo generally known as other Circumftanccs relating to them, I fhall be more particular, The m-'ner of the Hud/on^ s-Bay Indians' taking them, is firft to drain as much of the Water from about their Houfes as poffible / this done, and their Door covered with a ftrong Net, they break in at the Top of the Hovife, which as foon as the Seavers diicover, they run to the Door to make their Efcape, and are there entangled in the Nets, feiz-r ed by the Indians y and immediately fkinned. Thefe Skins they fpread to dry in the Sun, and cat the Flefh^ which is ve-^ ry fat and delicious. A s November fet in with keen Frofts, fo they continued through the whole of that Month, without any other Altera^ tion than freezing with more or lefs Severity, as the Winds changed, When the Wind was Wefterly or Southerly, the Gold was very fupportable ; but as it changed to the North Weft, or North, it became immediately exceflively keen, and often attended with a Sort of Snow, no Jarger than fo many Grrains of Sand, which drifted with the Wind in Clouds, from every Plain, or flat Place, that lay expofed to it. This made it IH m I 76 7he Lafi Expedition in it very dangerous to be out in any fuch Plains, or upon the River, at thofe Times, as this drift Snow is commonly fo thick, that one can fcarcely fee twenty Yards ; nor is there any Tracks or Paths left to direct one ; all being very fpee- dily levelled by the Snow. Sometimes when they have been thus caught, People have wandered in the utmo^ Danger of being froze to Death, for many Hours, upon the Ice of the River, not half a Mile from the Faftory, and yet, from the Caufes beforementioned, could not find their v/ay thither. But thefe fevere Colds are not felt above four or five Days in a Month, and generally about die Full and Change of the Moon, which is obferved to have a mighty Influence on the "Weather in thefe Parts. Then it is very tempeftuous; the Wind at North Weft, one may fay conftantly in the Winter ; and generally at thofe Periods in the Summer. But at other Tunes, tho' there is a continued hard Froft, yet it is pleafant enough ; the Winds are variable and moderate ; and ont can very well go abroad either /hooting or trapping. The People now began to come from their Tents, weekly, for their Provifions out of the Ship, of which they ufed but little, in the Beginning of the Seafon, while the Rabbits were Plenty, nay, they in a good Meafure iupplyed us at Montague Houfe with them. What Things they had to carry backward or forward, they drew after them upon fmall Sledges, made of about a dozen thin Staves joined together, four in Breadth, and turned up at one End, that they might the better and more eafily Aide over the Snow. One Man may conveniently draw on fuch a Sledge, above a Hundred Weight, fifteen or fixteen Miles in a Winter's Day. The Dogs in this Country are of the Size of common MaftifFs, and by Na- ture never bark, but growl when they are provoked; and thefe Dogs being the only Beafts of Burthen, ufed there by Englijh or Indians, will draw much more, and that to a greater Diftance, if neceflary. In long Journies, through deep Snows, the Men generally go before them to beat a Path with their Snow Shoes ; the Dogs foon grow accuftomed to whatever they are taught, and being docil and tradable are very ufefd. They are regularly fed by the Englijh upon the fame Allowance as the Men ; but the Natives are quite remifs in this Refpe^t, fo that theirs live chiefly on what they can get. Besides thefe fmall Sledges, we had others more large and ftrong, for carrying grea* Weights ; thefe were of the fame Form as thofe before defcribed, but ten or twelve Feet long, and three wide, they require twenty or thuty Men yoked •It. ■ . the Dobbs and California. 77 upon the imonly fo ' is there ^ery fpee- have been )anger of ce of the , from the lither. five Days ige of the ce on the uous; the : Winter ; t at other is pleafant 1 ont can s, weekly, y ufed but e Rabbits yed us at id to carry bon fmall together, ley might Man may i Weight, ■ Dogs in id by Na- )ked; and there by that to a , through :at a Path Homed to f table are ' upon the lite remifs y can get. lore large re of the elve Feet len yoked to draw them. The firft Time of their going to the Faftory, was the Sthi of December j from whence they brought two Cafks of Brandy for Chriftmas Cheer, which Seafon is ge- nerally celebrated in this Country by the Engltjh (fo ealily are the beft Inftitutions corrupted) by immoderate Drinking, and all the Fully and Madnefs that attend it. At this Time a general Council was held at Montague Houfe, where Captain Moor propofed to lengthen, raife, and d€ck our Long- Boat, for the Ule of the Difcovery j which, after fome Deliberation, was refolved upon by a Majority. It is very certain that no Meafure could be more fuitable to our Bufinefs than this ; for it would have been very danger- ous to make fo clofe a Search with the Ship, as was neceflhry, upon an unknown Coaft, with variable Weather, frequent thick Fogs, and ice in Bays, and Inlets amongft broken. Lands and Iflands, Rocks and Shoals, without any Knowledge of Harbours, Tides, Cunents, or the Direction of the Coaft ; whereas the Danger with a fmall Veflel is nothing in Com- parifon. For it is certain that with fuch, one may keep within a Mile of the Shore, go amongft Rocks, and pafs over Shoals where a VefTel of any Draught would ftrike. Befides, if fhe came a-ground, we could .et her off; or if flie was loft, the Ship was a fafe Retreat ; a Chance of faving one^s felf, in cafe of iuch Accidents, fupplied us with more Courage and Boldnefs than perhaps, other wife, we fhould have had. This material Affair being agreed on, the Boat was drawn to a fit Place, by the Side of the Creek, on a high Bank ftiel- tered by Trees ; there a Log- Tent was built over her, co- vered with Sails, with a Fire-place in the fniddle. This wa» judged requifite to be done, that the Carpenters might be able to work on her during the Winter, and lb have her compleat, and in a Condition fit for Service, when we fliould come to want her in the Spring. The Reader will perceive, that by thefe Difpofitions every Method was taken that Reafon could fuggeft, for making the Winter tolerable ; and I ftiall hereafter Ihew, that our Precautions were attended with as good Ef- fefts, as we could expeft from them; fo that there need not for the future be any Iuch dreadful Apprehenfions of expofing People to infupportable Hard/hips, in cafe of their being obliged to winter m thefe Parts, while employed upon this Difcovery. But in order to do this more effeftually, and that the Reader may form a better and clearer Notion both of what has beenfaid, and of what I ftiall be obliged farther to fay upon this Subjeft j it wiU be proper that I ftiould infert here i?fi r ■ ':i:jm t:i-upi« il' f$ .The Laft ExpediHoH m ' ' here as diftin6t an Account, as it is in my power to glvc> Cr this Country, and every Thing relating to it, which I ftiall do with: the utmoft Plainnefs, and the ftriibft Regaid to Fadts pojGiible. . It is true, that in order to give fuch a full and particular Defcription, I flxail be obliged to repeat many Things that have been aJready faid by others ; but this, I hope, will be thought no inexcufable Fault in me, becaufe il is abfolutely ne-» ceflTary to my Defign j and becaufe I do not repeat them ei* ther in the Words of thole Authors, or upon their Authority, but from my own ICnowledge. It will be alfo requifite for me to fay fomcwhat of the Conduft and Behaviour of our Countrj'men that refidc in thofe Parts ; and if in doing this, I fhould give any Offence, it may be depended upon that it does not proceed from any kind ot Prejudice, or perfonal Re- fentmentj but from that Regard to Truth, which it becomes a Man to have, who writes from no other Motive than the Information of the Publick. I muft farther beg leave to add> that as I am not inftigated by any kind of Rancour, fo I am as far from writing under the Du-efl:ion of any Sort of Influ- ence ; there being no kind of Intention in me to recommend rayfelf by what I deliver in this Narration to any Set of Men whatever, farther than may arife from the Sincerity of my Relation, and my fetting down freely and fairly thofe Ob» fervations that I had an Opportunity of making, by the Shart I had, and my Station, in this laft Expedition* To thefe the^ Publick feem to have a Right, as well from the inaportant Confequences with which the North Weft Palfage, whenever it is difcovered, ■s^ill be attended to the Nation in general 5 -as to thofe who are immediately concerned in making that JDifcovery, as from the great Attention that has been fhewn to this Undertaking, and the confiderable Reward thai the Legiflature has been plcafcd to offer to encourage it. When fuch Steps as thefe are taken by the great Council of the Na# tion, and when> out of Refpcd> to their Proceedings, all the publick Boards in this, Kingdom have given, whenever applied to; whatever Afliftance., Proteftion, or Indulgencies could be reafonably expeftedor defji-ed from them, it certainly lays every private Man under the fbongeft Obligation, where, by good Fortune, it lies any way in his Power, to contribute all he can to tlie facilitating fo great a Defign ; ard the Honour he has in promoting it> ought certainly to overballance any Concern or Apprehenfions he may be under, of difobliging fuch, as may poflibly have an Intereft in prevcntmg the Dif- covery the Dobbs and California. 7f give> ci* :h I fhall d to Fafts particulai' hings that ;, will be )lutely ne* t them ei* Authority, quifite for )ur of our doing this, )oii that it rfonal Re* it becomes e than the ive to add> fo I am as . of Influ- ecommelid my Set of incerity of ^ thofe Ob* the Shar? o thefe the^ iniportant whenever general; laking that sen fhewn that the When )f the Na* gs, all the ver applied :s could be ainly lays where, by itribute all le Honour llance any difobliging gthe Dif- covery covery of a North Weft Paflage, and who have nothmg but their private Intereft in that Reipe^, to plead in Excufe of the Methods taken to difcourage it. The Goafts of this Country, which arc now tolerably well known, extend from the Latitude of about 51® to 680 North, having Hudfori's-IJay to the Eafif Canada to the South ; but as for it's Boundaries to the IVe^ and North, they are as yet undifcovered. In die Southern Parts, and where we win- tered, the Soil is very fertile ; the Surface being a loofe dark Mould, under which are Layers of different coloured Clays, pale, yellow, 6^c. Nigh the Shores the Land is low and marfhy, covered with Trees of various Sorts, as Spruce, Larch, Poplar, Birch, Alder and Willow ; within Land there are large Plains, with little Herbage on them except Mofs, and interfperfcd with Tufts of Trees and fome Lakes, as alio fomc Hills or Iflands, as they are called, covered with Ihrubby Trees, and deep Mofs, the Soil of a turfy Nature. Theru are great variety of Shrubs and Plants, many of thofe that are known in Europe ; as the Goofebcrry, Currant, Graneberry, Shrubs bearing red and black Berries, which the Partridges feed Oii, therefore called Partridge Berries. The Plant, by the Indians called Wizzekapukka, ufed by them, and the Engli/h as a Medicine, in nervous and fcorbutick Dif- orders ; it's moft apparent and immediate Eifeft, is promoting Digeftion, and caufing a keen Appetite. To this Plant, the Surgeons refiding at theFaftories^ afcribe all the Qualities of Rhubarb; it is aftrong Aromatick, andtaftes pleafantly enough when drank as a Tea, which is the common Way of ufing it. Here alfo are to be met witli Strawberries, Angelica, Chick- week, Nettles, Buttcrflowers, wilti Auriculas, Savine, many of the Lapland Plants, and others that are unknown to us. By the Sides of L; kes and Rivers there is abundance of wild Rice, which, if cultivated, would make good Food. Long Grafs and good Meadow- Ground ; and at the Factories, are tolerable Gardens, efpecially at York- Forty Jlltanyy and Moofe. River, where moft kinds of Englijh Garden Stuff ^^row very well, fuch as Peafe, ileans, Cabbage, Turnips, \ many kinds of Sallads; but then the Country is much more fruitful farther within Land, than at thofe Places ; for there it is much "warmer in Summer, and the Frofts are far lefs ievere, as well as the W inter ftiorter ; fo that the Ground neither freezes fo deep, nor remains To long unihawed. u. : As to Minerals, there are unqueftionably abundance of dif- ferent Sorts here ; I have met with -Iron Ore mylelf, and have bcon credibly informed, that Lead Ore is to be found on n to Th Lad Expedition in on the Surface of the Earth in Plenty at Churchill \ not to mention a very rich Copper-Mine, from whence the Northern Indians frequently bring Pieces to Churchill, of which I have one by me ; there are likewife great variety of Talks, Spars, and Rock Ghryftals of different Colours, as red and white ; the former refembling Rubies, the latter of a larger Size, and very tranfparent, /hooting out in pentangula'.- Prifms. A Sub- ftance refembling Coal is alfo found in the Northern Parts, ^vhich bums ; the Asbeftus likewife or Stone Flax is common here ; and a Stone of a black fmooth and fhining Surface, that feparates eafily in thin tranfparent Leaves, refembling the MufcovyTsXky which the Natives ufe, as Looking-Glafles. It alfo abounds with diverfe Sorts of Marble, fome perfe6>ly white, and fome varioufly (peckled with red, green and blue Spots. Shells are feldom met with ; the only ones I faw were Limpids, Mufcles, and Periwincles ; tho* there are feveral others, but rarely to be feen ; for all kind of Shell -Fifh here chufe deep "Water, otherwife they would be froze in the Winter. The Air of this Country is never, oratleaft, h very fel- dom clear ; in the Spring and Fall of the Year there are heavy wet Fogs ; and in the Winter, the Air is full of an infinite Number of icy Spicula, that are vifible to the naked Eye, cfpecially if the Wind be Northerly or Eafterly, and the Froft fevere j the Reafon ofjt is this, wherever the Water is clear of Ice, ill the Winter, there arifes a very thick Vapour, com- monly called Froft Smoak ; this Vapour Freezing is driven by the Wind in the Form we fee it. All the Beginning of the Winter, Port Nel/on River was unfroze in the Stream ; this lying to the Northward of us, the Wind blowing from that Point, conftantly brought with it Showers of thefe icy Parti- cles, which difappeared when it was froze. Hence alfo frequent Mock Suns and Halos about the Moou and Sun, very luminous and beautifully tinged, with all the various Colours of the Rambow, are very common. Six of thefe Parhelia or Mock Suns, I have feen at one Time, which to us was very furprizing. The true Sun alfo rifes and fets there, with a large Cone of yellow Light, perpendicu- lar to it ; and no fooner does it difappear, than the Aurora Borealis fpreads a thoufand diiFereiit Lights and Colours over , the whole Concave of the Sky, with fo relpiciideot a Beauty, that even the Full-Moon does not efface their Lullre. But if the Moon does not fhine, thefe Lights are much more appa- rent ; for one may then read diftinftly by them, and the Sha- dows of Objects are feen upon the Snow, tending to the South hill; not to le Northtrn hich I have ilkS) Spars, and white ; :r Size, and s. A Sub- :hem Parts, is common lurface, that ambling the ing-Glafles. ne perfe6>ly :en and blue s I faw were are feveral ell-Fiih here iroze in the ii very fel- :re are heavy F an infinite naked Eye, ind the Froft 'ater is clear ipour, com- is driven by ining of the Jtream ; this from that e icy Paiti- about the tinged, with y common, t one Time, dfo rifes and perpendicu- the Aurora Colours over Qt a Beauty, ftre. But if more appa- md the Sha- ding to the South the Dobbs and California. Si S')uth Eaji ; as the Light /hines brighteft in the oppofite Quar- ter, where it rifes, and whence the Rays thereof arc propa- gated over the whole Face of tiie Sky, with a waving kind of Alotion. The Stars fecm in this Country to burn with a fiery Rcdnefs, efpecially thofe near the Horizon, which ftrongly refemble a Fire, or a Ship's Light at a Diftance. Thunder and Lightning, as has been obferved, are not very common in Snmmer, tho' that Seafon for about fix Weeks or two Months is very warm, but when it does hap- pen it is terrible enough ; I have feen for a good Space toge- ther, the Branches and Bark burnt off the Trees, and was mformed it was by Lightning. The Trees in this Country are very eafily fet on fire, therefore I was the more ready to believe it; the under Side of the Branches of the Spruce and Larch are covered with a black and white hairy Mofs, which kindles like dry Flax, nmning from Tree to Tree, with in- finite Celerity, according to the Direction of the Wind, till all the Wood that lies round is in a Blaze ; this dries the Tim- ber, fo that it makes excellent Fire-wood, and indeed much Occafion there is for it, for the Winters are cold enough, to require all that can be had. We ufed to put a Horfe Load of Wood, at leaft, at a Time into our Stove, which was built of Brick, fix Feet long, two wide, and three high ; when the Wood was near burnt, the Embers were beat off, the Brands thrown out, and the Top of the Chimney flopped, which occafioned a fulphurous, fuf- focating Smell, and fo great a Heat, that notwithftanding the Rigour of the Climate, we frequently fweat. The Diiference is fo extreme between the Heat within and Cold without, that People who have been expofed to the Severity of the Seafon without Doors, very often faint on entering the Houfe, and remain for fome Time in a kind of lifelefs Condition. If a Door or Window was but opened, the cold Air mftied in with great Fury, and turned the inclofed Vapours into fmall Snow ; tior was all the Heat we could raife fufficient to keep our Win- dows, the Cieling, or Sides of the Houfe clear from Snow and Ice ; thofe, whofe Bedcloaths touched the Walls, were generally froze faft to them by Morning, and our Breaths fet- tled in a white hoar Froft upon the Blankets. All thefe Accidents followed foon after the Fire went out, as the Houfe tooled, then the Sap that was thawed in the Timber with the Heat, froze, fplitting it with Cracks, little Inferior in Noife to the Report of a Mufquet. No Liquid can withilandthe Coldif expofed to it, flrong Brine, Brandy, and even Spirits of Wine freeze ; but the latter not into a folid - ,. G Mafs, t'!i M %■ II 82 the Lajl Expedition in' Mafs, but to the Confiftencc of Oil ; when the Weather h between temperate and freezing. All the Liquors under the Proof of common Spirits, freeze to a State pcrfedlly folid, and burft the VcfTels that contain them, whether of Wood, Tin, or even Copper. The Ice in the Rivers about us, was above eight Feet thick, and the Snow three deep, but where it drifted much more. Whatever frefti Provifions we could procure, as Deers-Flefti, Rabbits, Partridges, Pheafants, Fifli, circ. we kept fwect as long as we pleaied, without deriving any AfTirtance from Salt, for they arc inftantly froze as they are killed, and remain fo from O^ober till yV/tr/V, when they begin to thaw, and confequently grow moid and fpoil. The Rabbits, Hares and Partridges change their Colour from the common Brown and Grey, in Summer, to White, in Winter ; fome arc of Opinion they lofe their Feathers and Hairs with the Colour, but the contrary is evident to all, who have taken any Pains to fatisfy themfelves in this Refpcil, at lead I can fay fo much for myfelf ; for in the Beginning of Winter, I have obferved the Tops only of the Hair of the Rabbits to be white, while the Roots that were lefs expofed to the Cold, have been grey; whereas if they had changed their Hair, the very revcrfe would have appeared at that Seafon . Being now entered on this Subjeft, of the ftrange EfFefts of Cold, let us fpeak of it in regard to Human Bodies. Se- veral of our People had their Faces, Ears, and Toes froze, but not dangeroufly. Whilfl: the Flelh is in that State, it is white and hard like Ice, but by rubbing with a warm Hand, or fooner with a Beaver Mitten, it is thawed, and this Acci- dent is attended with no worfe Confequence than leaving a Blifter behind ; but if the Part is froze deep, and continues fo long, it mortifies. We find extreme Cold has the fame Ef- fect in this Cafe, as extreme Heat ; and the fame Applications cure a Part froze, that would do fo had it bepn burnt. It is very troublefome, when a Perfon happens to have any Part of his Body froze in the Beginning of the Winter, for the Place grows very tender thereupon, and is much more apt to be froze again, than any other Part. I N our outward bound Paflage, a Thermometer we carried with us from England, was broke, which proved a great Lofs, as a Series of Obfcrvations, made by the Help of that Inftru- ment, would have afcertained the Degrees of Cold, and have been much more fatisfaftory, than any Relation of it's EfFefts poffibly can be. But where this Certainty is wanting, any Approaches to it are to be confidered as the moft requifite Sup- plements ; and will be great Helps to the Enquiries and Con- jeihircs the Dobbs and California. Weather h rs under the rfeaiy folid, r of Wood, bout us, 'was p, but where ons we could eafants, Fifli, hout deriving froze as they /, when they (poll. their Colour :r, to White, • Feathers and nt to all, who is Refpc^l, at Beginning of e Hair of the :fs expofed to changed their hat Seafon. hrange Effefts Bodies. Se- d Toes froze, at State, it is , warm Hand, and this Acci- lan leaving a id continues fo i the fame Ef- ,e Applications n burnt. It is ve any Part of for the Place lore apt to be iter we carried da great Lofs, of that Inftru- lold, and have iofit'sEffe6h wanting, any : requifite Sup- liries and Con- jedbires 8« jtftiires of the Ingenious. It is not at all to be wondered, that Captain Midaletmh Men (iirtcrcd very great Extremities and Inconvcnicncies from the Cold, when he wintered at Churchill, in the Year 1741, confidcring his Situation, which Was upon a fmall bleak Ifthmus, furrounded with a vaft Ex- lent of ice ; bcfides his People wore no other Clothes than what they commonly wore in other Voyages ; whereas had they been furnilhed with large Beaver Coats, and had built Lodges in the Woods, they would have fuffered very little in Comparifon to what they did -. Since, as to any Diftrefles our People underwent, they were occafioned for Want of proper Food, and an inexcufable Indilcretion in the Ufe of fpirituous Liquors, rather than from the Intcnfc lefs of the Cold ; and yet, as has been (hewn, we were far encugh from being exempted from the ufual Severities of the Hudfon*s-Day Climate. Nature furniihes every Animal here with extraordinary Furs to refill the \uold, that gradually fall off' as the warm Weather returns ; and which is fomewhat extraordinary ; fo it happens with Dogs and Cats brought thither from Europe. As in all the Parts of the Bodies of Animals, which are fur- iheft from the Heart, fuch as Feet, Claws, and Tails, the Blood is colder, and Circulation flower, it happens from thence, that thofe Extremities are very apt to freeze. But it is very well worthy Notice, that few of the Animals of this Country have long Tails or Legs ; for Inftance, the Bears, Rabbits, Hares, American Cats, Porcupines, 6c. have all ftiort ones ; and thofe that have long Tails, as the Fox, r my Readers >r table in the . But in faft eather is cold the them, and bme Meafurc, milder Clime, more exti'aor- who have lived ces, and when 3, they grow Climate, and that may give .egions. The opper Colour, le Colour, but a chearful Dif- lonefl: in their Moofe, and pent chiefly in cir Habitations, :ce. gcther, for the :ult to provide, they have no are influenced )irpofition, that Injultice one to the Dobbs fl»^California. 85 to another, as efFefhially as the moft rigid Laws could. The Chiefs in every Family or Tribe, who generally fpeaking are chofen from amongft the moft antient of the People, but chiefly for their Skill in Hunting and Experience in Trade, Domeftick Affairs, or Valour in War, which they often wage with the Eskimaux; direft thofe who rr^ lewith them In their different Employments of Hunting, 1 -wling, Fifhing, 6c, yet their Advice is followed rather through Deference than Obligation, for in Point of Exemption from Power, they may be truly called a free People. They have no Dependance upon the Fruits of the Earth for their Subfiftance, living entirely on the Animals they take in Hunting or Trapping, at which they are very dextrous. They make prodigious Slaughter every Seafon among the Deer from an unaccountable Notion that the more they de- ftroy, the greater Plenty will fucceed; therefore fometipies they leave three or four hundred dead on the Plain, taking out of them only their Tongues, and leaving their Carcafl^es either to rot, or be devoured by the wild Beafts. At other Times they attack them in the Water, and kill prodigious Numbers, which they bring down on Floats to the Faftorie? , Thefe Creatures crofs a vaft Extent of Country, from South to North, in die Spring of the Year, in order to bring forth their Young in Places of Safety; that is, in the more Nor- therly Parts, which are either entirely uninhabited, or at leaft but very thinly planted. I N their route thither, they are extremely tormented with large Gnats and Muflcettoes, with which ' this Country, du- ring the little Summer it enjoys, is greatly infefted. This caufes the Deer to take to the Rivers and Lakes for Shelter, and gives the Indians a greater Opportunity of killing them. It would be very hard to account whence fuch infinite Numbers of thefe Infe(Sts fhould come fo fuddenly as they do, or how they are propagated, did not Experience flicw, that they frr- vive the Winter, or ratlier remain in a kind of lifelefs State, from which the return of the warm Seafon recovers them. I will mention a very plain Inflancc, in order to fhewthe Truth of this. A certain Perfon in the Winter-Time, crofTmg a fmall Creek, upon a Tree that lay over it, happened to flip his Foot on one Side, by which he broke from the Tree a black Lump, that on Examination he found to be nothing elle but a vaft Mafsof Muflcettoes, froze together, this he brought to a Fire, which thawing the vital Juices in thefe Infers, they prefently began to move. After that, carrying them out into the freez- ing Air, they as quickly rcfumed their former fenfclefs State, G 3 and ■ ''»!' IN J ' %mk Ill 86, The Laft Expedition in ■ and no Methods could afterwards reftore them to Life. Without all doubt many other Animals that difappear in the Winter are reduced to the fame numbed and inaftive Condition. I fhall llrengthen this by juft mentioning a Faft, that is very well known to the Engpjh, who refide in the Northern Settlements of America^ which is, that by the Sides of Lakes, in Banks or Holes, at the Roots of Trees, are often found in the Win- ter, Frogs that are froze in fuch a Manner, that their Flelh has been as hard as common Ice, yet thcfe Frogs being thawed by a gentle Heat, recover Life fo as to be able to crawl about, but fuddenly freezing them again, they became irrecoverable, in the fame manner, as is before reported of the Muikettoes. The Indians live not only on the Flefh of Animals they kill jn hunting, but on that alfo of Birds of Paflage ; fuch as Swans, Wild Geefe, Ducks, Plover, and many other of that Kind that go to the Northward in the Spring to breed, and return to the Southward in Autumn, and others alfo, fuch as Eagles, Crows, Owls, HawHs and Gulls, likewife upon Partridges and Pheafants, which flay in the Winter. Their Flefh in general they boil and eat by itfelf, and then urink the Water it yas bailed in, which they efteem very wholfome. In like manner th?y drefs their Fifh, of which they have fome Va- riety, and very good; up tlie Rivers and Lakes, they have Jarge Sturgeon, Carp, Trout, Pike, and two very delicious Kinds of Fifh ; the one called by the French y White Fifti, but by the Indians and Engli/h, Titymagg ; the other refem- bling an Eel, but fpo^ted with yellow and white, called by the Natives Muthoy. Thefe are reckoned fatteft in the Win- ter-Time, when they are caught by making Holes in the Ice ; where, on letting down a baited Hook, the Fifli greedi- ly take it, At the Mouths of the Rivers, efpecially thofe more to the North, are Plenty of fine Salmon , Trout, and another which is a tolerable good Fifh refembling a Carp, called a Sucker, and there alfo comes in with the Flood Tide, great Num- bers of white Whales, which might eafily be taken, and large Profits made of their Oil. Seals too frequent thefe Coafls, but in no great Numbers, except as far North, as Lat, 66°. The Clothing of the Mcii here in Summer, is a loofe Coat, made of Blanket, which they buy either from the French or Engl';Jh fettled in their Neighbourhood; a pair of Leather Stockings, which come fo high, as to ferve for Bree- ches; they make Shoes alfo of the fame Materials, The . Womens Clothes differ from the Mens only in this, they gCr neraily w?ar a P^ttjcoat^ th^t conies a little lower than their ICneeS;, pits, the Dobbs and California. 87 fe. Without e Winter are ion. I fhall is very well I Settlements es, in Banks i in the Win- at their Flefti being thawed crawl about, r recoverable, ; Muflcettoes. imals they kill ich as Swans, of that Kind 1, and return ich as Eagles, on Partridges heir Flefti in nk the Water )me, In like avc fome Va- cs, they have very delicious White Fifti, I other refem- lite, called by ft in the Win- Holes in the le Fifli greedi- "e more to the lother which is led a Sucker, great Num- ten, and large : thefe Coafts, as Lat, 66''. :r, is a loofe her from the od ; a pair of brve for Bree- terials. The this, theyge-r wer than their lOices, Knees, in the Winter. Their ordinary Apparel is of the Skin of the Deer, Otter or Beaver, with the Hau* or Fur on; the Sleeves of their upper Habit, are frequently fepa- rate from the Body, and taken on and off at Pleafure, be- ing only tied with Strings at the Shoulders ; fo that their Arm- pits, even in the depth of Winter, are expofed to the Cold, which they reckon contributes to their Health. It muft be owned their difeafes are but fev/, and thofe chiefly arifing from Golds, taken after drinking Spirituous Liquors, which they buy from the Englijhy contrary to the wifer Maxims of the French, who fell them none. The French efteem the drinking thefe Liquors, not only prejudicial to the Confti-. tutions of the Natives, but alfo to their Trade : for as that depends upon the Hardinefs, Dexterity and Succefs in Hunt- ing, it muft neccITarily decline, as thefe Qualities are impair- ed. This is obvious alfo, in Point of Faft, amongft thofe Indians f who have any Intercourfe with the Englijh. The in- land Indians will not drink Brandy, from an Opinion of it^s bad EfFedts; thefe are a healthy, tall, aftive and robuft People, who bring down as many Furs as the Conveniency of the Carriage will allow, and leave many more behind. Whereas thofe /«- diansy who are addicted to Drunkennefs, fuch as the Home Indians, or thofe who live in Places contiguous to the HudJon*s- Bay Company's Settlements, are a meagre, fmall, and indolent Kind of People, hardly equal to the Hardftiips of the Coun- try, and fubjedl to many Diforders. Befides, there is no Comparifon in the Number of Furs that the one and the other bring into Trade; fo that thefe latter are rendered much more unprofitable and ufelefs, than they would have been, if they had never known the Ufe of this pernicious Liquor. They are pretty much fubjeft to fome Diforders in the Breaft, but to no contagious Difeafes : Whenever they find themfelves begin to be indifpofed, they drink an Infufi- on of the Herb called JVizzekapukka, the Broth of Fifti, which they call Shaggamitie, or elfe fweat themfelves. Their Manner of doing this, is as follows; they get a large round Stone, on which they make a Fire, and keep it burning till the Stone becomes red-hot; over this they make a fmall Tent covered clofe on all Sides, then go into it naked, with a Vef- fel full of Water; this they fprinkle on the Stone, which fills the little Tent with a copious Supply of moift warm Va» pours, that very foon produce a ftrong Pcrfpiration in the Pa* tient. WUen the Stone grows cool, the Pores of the Skia G 4 being i^ m I. r;.i\: 88 The Laft Expedition in being ftill open, they come out of the Tent, and inftantly plunge themfelves into the Water, or in Winter, M'hen Wa- ter is not to be had, they roll themfelves in the Snow, and this they look upon as a Cure for mod of the Maladies com- mon in that Country. A ftrange and fingular Remedy they alfo have for the Gholick, and all Diforders of the Bowels, that is to fwallow a great Quantity of Tobacco Smoke, by •which they pofitively affirm they obtain great and fpeedy Re- lief. If their Heads are at any Time ftuiFed or incommoded, they force the fame Smoke out of their Noftrils. They fre- quently become Snow-blind, in the Spring of the Year, at which Time I have been informed, a Film grows over the Pupil of the Eye, which I was likcwife told ihefe People are fo ingenious as to cut away with the fharp Point of a Gun- ^i;nt. They very often in their drunken Fits commit exceflive Diforders, fuch as quarrelling, burning their Tents and abufing their Wives, and then perhaps go to Sleep by the Fire, ■where frequently thej' are terribly burnt, or if they are at any ^iftance from it, asmiferably froze, if it be in Winter- Time. When they are fober they are very courteous, and compafTi- onate, and that as well to tWbfe who are abfolute Stran- gers, as their own Family ; and their Affection for their Chil- dren is Angularly great. An extraordinary Inftance of this happened lately at York- Fort : Two fmall Canoes, paffing Hayeses River, when they had got to the middle of it, one of them, which was made of the Bark of a Birch Tree, funk, in which was an Indian y his Wife and Child : The other Canoe being fmall, and incapable of receiving more than one of the Parents, and the Child, produced a very ex- traordina.y Conteft between the Man and his Wife, not but that both of them were willing to devote themfelves to fave the other, but the Difficulty lay in determining which would be the greateft Lofs to the Child. The Man ufed many Arguments to prove it more reafonable, that he fhould be drowned than the Woman. But fhe alledged on the contrary, it was more for the x4.dvantage of the Child, that fhe fhould perifh, be- caufe he, as a Man, was better able to hunt ; and, confe- quently, to provide for it. The little Time there was flili remaining, was fpent in mutual Expreffions of Tendernefs, the Woman flrongly recommending, as for the lafl Time, to her Hufband, the Care of her Child. This being done, they took leave in the W ater ; the Women quitting the Canoe was drowned, and the Man with the Child got fafe a-fliore, aiid is now takc^i much Notice of by the People tliereabouts. * ■ Unon the Dobbs and California. 89 d inftantly when Wa- inow, and adies com- medy they le Bowels, Imoke, by fpeedy Re- ;ommoded. They fre- he Year, at ^s over the People are : of a Gun- lit excellivc and abufing J the Fire, y are at any inter- Time, d compalTi- )lute Stran- r their Chil- nce of this DCS, palTing of it, one 3irch Tree, :hild: The iving more a very ex- ife, not but s to fave the ivould be the Arguments owned than t -was more perifh, be- and, conie- ere was ft ill Tendcrncfs , ilTime, to j done, they the Canoe afe a-fliorc>, thereabouts. Unon Upon the -whole it appears, that the fingle Obje(?^ in View, ■was the Prefervation of their Child ; for tho' the Man offered to facrifice himfelf, it may be very well fuppofed it was more for the Sake of the Child than of the Woman ; becaufe on other Occafions they behave with no great Rcfpcft to the Sex. It is looked upon as a great Offence, for the Women to ftride over the Legs of the Men when they fit on the Ground, and they even think it beneath them to drink out of the fame Veflel with their Wives. One Cuftom they have, which is very extraordinary; that \yhen their Parents grow fo old, as to be incapable to fupport themfclves by their own Labour, they require their Children to ftrangle them, and this is cf- fteemed an A61 of Obedience in their Children to perform. The Manner of difcharging this laft Duty, is thus, the Grave of the old Perfon being dug, he goes into it, and after having converfed and fmoaked a Pipe, or perhaps drank a Dram or two with his Children, the, old Perfon fignifies he is ready ; upon which two of the Children put a Thong about his Neck, one ftanding on one Side, and the other oppofite to him, pull violently till he is Wangled, then coscr him with Earth, and over that they eredl a kind of rough Monument of Stones. As for fuch old Perfons as have no Children, they requeft this Office from their Friends, tho' in this laftCafe, it is not always complied with. An Indian in travelling confiders the Meeting aGr^ve as an Omen of fome approaching Misfortune ; in order to avert which, he lays a Stone upon the Grave and fo proceeds on his Journey. There are many amongft them, elpecially thofe inhabiting upon the Banks of the great inland Lakes, who profefs Quacking, with Stuff* they buy from the Englijh ; fuch as Sugar, Ginger, Barley, AUfpice, Garden- Seeds, Spanifh- Liquorifti; Snuff*, c^c. all which are taken in fmall Qiiahtities, either as Remedies for Difeafes, or to make them excel in Hunting, Fowling, Fiftiing, Fighting, cic. which are Qi^a- lities afcribed to thefe Trifles by the EngUJh in Hvdptn^s-Bayy and with fuch Commodities, one third of our Trade is carried on amongft thofe Quacks, who pradi^fe for Funs, which they receive from, or rather out of which they deceive, tho common People. This is a great, but very beneficia] Impolirivin, tho' cer- tainly it would bemuchmore forthc Advantaf^c oi Great -Britain, to promote the Sale of their Woollen and iron ^lanurac^ure, than to permit fuch a kind of Traffick, which bcfldc; bring fcandalous in it's Nature, is equally prejudicial in its Gonfc- quences to us and to the Natives. If % go The Lafl Expedition in > It may be cxpefted that I ftiould fay fomething of the re- ligious Sentiments of thefe People; and to fatisfy this Ex- peftation, I (hall acquaint the Publick with all I know, with- out adding any Thing from Conjcftures. It is very certain, that their Notions upon this Subjeft are very limited and im- perfeft. They acknowledge a Being of infinite Goodnefs, ■whom they ftile Ukkeiumaf which in their Language fignifies the great Chief; they look upon him as the Author of all the Benefits they enjoy, and fpeak of him with Reverence. They likewife fing a kind of Hymns in his Praife, and this in a grave folenm Tone, not altogether difagreeable. Yet their Sentiments on this Head are very loofe and confufcd, fo that 5t is noi eafy to fay what they mean by this kind of publick Worfliip. They likewife r^cknowlcdge another Being, vhom they call IVittikkUf whom they reprefcnt as the Inftrument of all kinds of Mifchief and Evil ; and of him they are very much afraid ; but however we know of no Methods made ufe of by them to appeafe him. The Condition of thefe poor People is melancholy enough, tho' it does not make fuch an Impreffion on them as one would cxpeft; foi tho* the beft Part of their Life is fpent in procur- ing Neceffities for the Subfiftance of themfelves and of their Families; yet they have no great Notion of Frugality, or pro - vidmg againft thofe Diftreifes, to whicii they are fure to be cxpofed every Winter, are free of their Provifions, when they have Plenty, and except drying a little Venifon and Firii, take no Care for Supplies, in a Time of Dearth. It has ibmetimes happened that the Indians y who come in the Summer to trade at the Faftories, miffing of the Succours they expected, have been obliged to finge off the Hair from thoufands of Beaver Skins, in order to feed upon the Lea- ther, Yet in fuch Cafes, they keep up their Spirits in a to- lerable Degree, omit nothing that is in their power to pro- cure wherewithal to fupport their Families, and when re- duced to the greateft Extremities, undergo them with a kind of habitual and fteady Patience, which it is much eafier to ad- mire than imitate. But the greateft of thefe Hardships and Fatigues, to which they are expofed, as well from Hunger as from Cold, hap- pens to them in their Journeys, for it is^a Thing common with them, to travel two or three hundred Miles, even in the depth of Winter, thro' a wide open Country, without meet- ing with any Houfe to receive, or carrying any Tent to pro- teft them. In fuch Journeys, it is their Cuftom, when Night approaches, to raife a little kind of Fenc^ with Brufti- ^ Wood, Wood, t( clearing a^ and fleep times fall Plain, wh they are tl proves fo Writings praftifed not at all Grka' gour of much infe Provifions A Story true, will Reader a. People ai down to the Misfo fo that, ir dren, wei ces, they Life as lo wore; bu then, wl thefe poo] Flelh of t^ ry, the d told this n alFefting Laugh. In his bro his Way 3 rals. The : tural in tl jior alto; thofe ar of expre compour they woi the Engl (peaking fo incline the Dobbs and California. 91 Wood, to the Leeward of which they make a Fire, and after clearing avay the Snow, they lie down upon the Ground, and fleep b: tween the Fire and the Fence. But if, as it fome- times falls out, they happen to be benighted tpon fome wild Plain, where no fuch Fence can be made for want of Wood, they are then forced to lie down under the Snow, which proves fopie Defence from the Cold ; and this, as from the Writings of modem Authors appears, is a Thing like wife praftifed in the Extremities o( Siberia, where the Climate is not at all more temperate. Grkat as thefe Hardfhips are, which refult frohr* the Ri- gour of the Gold 5 yet it may be juftly affirmed, that they are much inferior to thofe, which they feel from the Scarcity of Provifions, and the Difficulty they are under in procuring them. A Story which is related at the Factories, and known to be true, will fufficiently prove this, and give the compaffionate Reader a juft Ide.: of the Mjferies, to which thefe unhappy People are expofed. An Indian^ with his Family, coming down to Trade, from a Place at a very great Diftance, had the Misfortune to meet but with very little Game by the Way ; fo that, m a fliort Time, himfelf, his Wife, and his Child- dren, were reduced to the laft Diftrefs, In thefe Circumftan- ces, they plucked the Fur from their Clothes, and preferved Life as long as they were able, by feeding on the Skins they wore ; but even this wretched Refource foon failed them ; and then, what is terrible to conceive, and horrible to relate, thefe poor Creatures fuftained themfdvcs, by feeding on the Flefti of two of their Children, On their Arrival at the Fafto^ ry, the di{h'a(n:ed Indian , whofe Heart overflowed with Grief, told this melancholy Affair to theEngli/h Governor, with all it's gffefting Gircumftances, which was received with a loud Laugh. The poor Savage, with a Look of Amazement, faid in his broken Englijhy This is no Laughing Talk f and fo \vent his Way, highly edified, no Doubt^ with thefe Chrijiian Mo- rals. The Language which thefe People fpeak is fomewhat gutf tural in the Pronunciation ; but for all that, neither very harfh, jior altogether unpleafant; they have but few Words, but thofe are very lignificant; and the Method they have of exprefling nqw Ideas, by Words compofed, from compounding the Qualities of thofe Things, to which they would give Names, is very eafy and intelligible ; fo that the Englijfh find no Sort of Difficulty, either in learning or foeaking it. There is no doubt, therefore, that if they were- fo inclined^ they might eafily teach thefe poor People the Ufe of fl lie I •1 f i ,!■ i. . IP W ' ^1 Tbg Ldii Expedition in of Letters, the Principles of Morality, and the Do^rines of Religion ; which would be equally charitable and generous j for if they were To inftiufted, they might not only live much better thcmfclves, but their Trade alfo would turn to much greater Account; and it would infallibly imprint on their Minds, a very high Reverence, and a very tender Affection for the Britifh Nation. As I have fo fair an Occafion, I cannot avoid mentioning a veryftrangc Maxim of Policy, which prevails much amonglt them; ancj which is, tlmt of fuffcring, or rather obliging their Women to procure frec|uent Abortions, by the Ufe of a cer- tain Herb common in that Country, and not unknown here j that they may in fome Meafiire be eafed of that heavy Burthen they feel, in providing for a helplefs Family. Something of this fort the Dutch inform us wus praftifed by the Natives of the Ifland of Formnfa, when they were Mailers of it ; nor is this at all more barbarous, than a Cuftom (lill ufed in China j offufFering Children when born, to die for Want of Food, from the famq Principle of brutal Oeconomy. They differ alfo from aljnoft all other Nations in another Particular, which is their manner of making Urine ; for here the Men always fquat down, and the Women ftand upright. It is now high Time to return to our own Affairs, and to inform the Rea- der, how they were conduced, in fuch a Country as I have del'cribed this to be, and in which, notwjtj ftanding all our Pre-. cautions we felt many Inconveniencles. The bringing two Gafks of Brandy from York- Fort, for Chn/^mas -Cheer, has been already mentioned; as well as the Delign of it, which was to make merry with ; but the Con- fequences were extremely fatal. The People had been henl- thy enough, before this Seafon of Mirth came ; but indulg- ing themfclvcs too freely, they were foon invaded by the fcur- vy, the confVant Attendant on the Ufe of Spiiltuous Liquors. . It is a melancholy, but withal a necefTary Talk, to defcribe the Progrefs of this foul and fatal Diflemper. Our Men when firft feized with it, began to droop, to grow heavy, liftlcfs, and at length indolent to the laft Degree : A Tight- ncfs in the Chert, Pains in the Breaft, and a great Diffirv.Ity in breathing, followed ; then enfued livid Spots upoi: the Thighs, fwellcd Legs, Contraction of the Limbs, putri<4 Gums, Teeth loofc, a Coagulation of the Blood upon and near the Back Bone, with Countenances bloated and fallow. Thefe Symptoms continually increafing, 'till at length. Death carried them off, either by a Flux or a Dropfy. Thofe Me- dicines, which m other Countries are generall" ufed with prood •Effeas, Effcfts, p Foment'.ti no Relief did fomev cine, was u:any, ev before obi were tried this faluta Taosi all, expol the confta fame, or plentiful d of Church, good a St dred, fevc fo much as able, that ^ne, for .r« When Condition Tork-Fort hoped, th as they di the Indian for they v Interpofiti nuation, t vented tha certainly i charged n and this c contagiou itfelftotl equally E by thefe Dwelling lefs, in C is not eai Want; f both coul judice to terelted 1 trading bi :fcribe the Dobbs and California. 93 Effcfts, proved entirely ineffeftual her-.^ ; for Unftions and Foment r.tions, when applied to contrad^ed Limbs, alibrded no Relief; frefh Provifions indeed, when we could get them, did fomewhat ; but the only powerful and prevailing Medi- cine, was Tar-Water ; and the ftcady Ufe of this, faveJ i.:any, even after JiJ Difeafe was fir advanced : when, as I before obferved, all other Medicines loft their Efficacy, and were tried to no Puipofc ; and yet, as far as we could obferve, this falutary Drink operated no other Way than by Urine. Those £w^/(/Z> that refide here :onftantly, are little, if at all, expofed to this cruel Diftemp^ ; which they attribute to the conftant Ufe of Spruce Beer ; a Liquor that has thtt fame, or perhaps, higher Qi4alities, than Tar-U^ater; and by plentiful drinking of which, the People at the four Factories ot Churchill, York- Fort, Jlbany, m^ Morje- River, enjoy fo good a State of Health ; that tho' in Number about an Hun- dred, feven Years have fometimes paft without their burying fomuch as a Man; which is a Circumftance, fo very remark- able, that I perfuade myfelf, none of my Readers will blame me, for recording it. When the Crews of both VefTels were in this deplorable Condition, no SoUicitations were fpared to the Governor of Tork-Fort for Relief ; and there was the more Reafon to ha\'e hoped, thefe Applications would not have proved fo fruitlefs as they did ; confidcring that all we afked, was only to allow the Indiansy to fupply us with frefli Provifions. I lay allow ; for they would willingly have done it, had there not been an Interpofition of ill Offices to pre\ ent it. It is a ftrange Infi- nuation, that Cruelty of Chriltians toward Chriftians, pre- vented that Relief which Indian Humanity would otherwife have certainly afforded. But what fhall I fay? The Indians -weiQ charged not to come near us, or to fumifti us with any thing/ and this out of a tender Regard for them ; becaufe, we had a contagious Diftemper amongft us, which might communicate itfelf to them, and to their Families; and befidcs, we were equally Enemies to them, an ' to the Englijh. Intimidated • by thefe Infinuations, the Indians would not approach cur Dwellings; but why fuch Infinuations were thrown cut, un- lefs, in Obedience to Orders the Governor durft not difobey, is not eafy to difcover. It could not be from any Fear of Want J for with Venifon, Partridge, Fifh, 6c. the Indians both could and would have fupplied us in Plenty, without Pre- judice to the Faftories. Neither could it be from any felf-in- terelted Motives, with Regard to Trade ; for thefe were not trading but hom$/«e ; but when the (:;)rpres were once fairly laid in it, they remain- ed liife and uncorrupi; and are fo like to remain, unlcfs fome great Alteration happens in that Climate, to the World's- End, 5 • On the l^th, the Weather began to mend, and the Wind coming about to the South, we had a fine gentle Shower of Rain, a Thing we had not feen for fix Months paft, and there- fore the more welcome^ The Fowls too, after an Abfence of feven Months, began to vilit us : I mean fuch as are pro- per to this Country ; and with them came Abundance of Wild- Fowl, of allthofe Sorts that arc common in any of the Nor- thern Parts of Europe ; fuch as Geefe, Ducks, •6c. We had likcwife a great Flight of fmall Birds, moflly of a dark un- pleallng Colour ; but the Sweetnefs of their Notes fufficiently compenfued whatever was amifs in their Plumage, and made their Company equally harmonious and agreeable. We had after this a fhort Return of Winter j attended by bleak Winds, hard Frofts, much Snow, with very llormy and tempcftous Weather, which lafted to about the 6th of May ; tlicn the warm Weather returned again, and the Creek, where the Ships lay, was quite clear of Ice, that wore away imper- ceptibly > tho' the River continued to be ftill hard froze, which drove the Fiih into the Creek, where we caught Plenty of them with our Nets. The Resolution (for that was the Name we bcrtowed upon our Long-Boat, when lengthened) was now compleatly finiflied, fo that we launched her on the loth to the great Joy of all who wiflied well to the Difcovery, and who formed to thcmfelves vaft Hopes of what, by the Help of this VelTel, might be performed. From the 8th to the 1 6th, we had changeable Weather, attended with keen Froft Snow, Sleet, Hail, and Rain, which froze as it fell, in luch a manner, that all the Trees weie covered with Ice. On the 1 6th, the Ice in the Channel oi Hayesh River, gave Way, and floated down gently with the Stream. Our People were all this Time conftantly employed in making the Ships fit to go down the River; and accordingly, on the 29th, by the Help of a very high Tide, occafioned by a North Weft Wind, we warped to the very Mouth of the Creek, where we otround- ed, and lay there until the 2d of June^ and it was with no fmall Labour, joined to the extraordinary good Fortune of higher Tides than ufual, that we got ofFfo foon* On the 2d and 3d of that Month, we had fome Snow, and the the Weath( Winter taki continued p diansy lader Fortf and t manner : T! and were b< Staple Cone River, as fi Stores, Pn cute the Dii Before think it will tlement, ol Commerce) this I am tl I have to ol as carrying lid Advanta that of con tures, in a done; andi Paflage ; fc of the Nati( employed i Goods. YORK-F fan River, it's Fall int< in the Lonj London^ wl carefully ot the Truth, four fmall I fent either fmall Patte is pallifado* River, a fn Defence o] of People V abouts. Ii that how fc it is utterly be attacked About the Dobbs and California.' 97 the Weather was (harp and cold, which might be called the . Winter taking it's Leave; for thence forward, the Weather continued pretty warm. On the 5th, nineteen Canoes of In- diansy laden with Furs, paded by us, in their Way to Tork-, Forty and the next Day fevcnty more, palfed us in the like manner : Thefe People came from the Countries, within Land; and were bound to our Factories, in order to difpofe of their Staple Commodities. On the 9th, our Ships got down the River, as far as the Factory, where we took m our navai Stores, Provilions, ^^c, in Order to put to Sea, and profc-. cute the Difcovery, upon which we were fent. Be Fo R B I enter upon what happened in this Expedition, I think it will be proper for me to give fome Account of this Set- tlement, of the adjacent Country, and of the Nature of that Commerce, for the promoting which it was eHabli/hed : And this I am the more willing to do, becaufe I prefume that what I have to offer, will be very acceptable to all Sorts of Readers, as carrying at once the Charms of Novelty, and the more fo- lld Advantage of being capable of ihe mod important XJk ; that of contributing to the Export of our national Manufac- tures, in a Degree much fuperior to what has been hitherto done ; and this even previous to the Difcovery of a North Weft FafTage ; fo that it may be immediately turned to the Benefit of the Nation, and to the Support of the Poor, who are chiefly employed in fabricating the coarfeft Sorts of our Woollen Goods. York -Fo r t is feated on the Southern Branch of Port Net- fan River, which is called Hayes\ River within five Miles of it's Fall into the Sea, in the Latitude of 57 «*. 20' North, and in the Longitude of 93**. 58 ^ Weft from the Meridian of London, which I determined by an Eclipfe of the Moon, very carefully obferved there, February 14, 1747. It is, tofpcak the Truth, nothing more than a fquare Houfe, flanked with four fmall Baftions, all of them covered and converted at pre- fent either into lodging or Store Rooms. There are three fmall Pattereroes placed on each of the Curtains, the whole is pallifadoed, a Battery of pretty large Guns commands the River, a fmall Breaft Work of Turf is thrown up by Way of Defence of that Battery, and in Time of War, the Number of People who refide there, amounts to thirty-three or there- abouts. It will be eafily conceived from this Defcription, that how formidable foever York-Fort may appear to Savages, it is utterly incapable of being defended in cafe it fliould ever be attacked in a regular Way by an European Enemy. About feven Miles from this Fort, there ^ a large Ridge H of » '^ II (•"! I tl i r'i.''t!l i!iJ ^8 ^he LaJI Expedition in i ' \ of Stones, and amongft them a vaft Quantity of Pjrrltes exaft- ly round, and very near the Size of a Six Pound Shot, which the Etiglijhf who refide here, arc fo wife as to believe, the French aftually caft into that Form, for their Cannon, when they attacl(ed this Place. I mention this as a remarkable Piece of natural Hiftory, and as a plain Indication that this Country abounds with Metals, and thofe too of the moft va« luable Kinds; for the Pyrites always contain fbme fmall mat- ter of Gold, are often pretty rich in Silver, but are feldom knowa to hold either Lead or Tin. This is looked upon to be in all Refpe^ the mofl valua- ble of the Hudfon'S'bay Company's Settiements ; becaufe the moft confiderable Part of their Trade is carried on here, where it is computed they deal for between forty and fifty thou- fand rich Furs annually ; and according to the Information I received froni different Perfons, which from their Confiftency with each other, appeared to me the more credible, this Com- merce might be raifed with very little Induftry, to five Times it's prefent Value* But by an unaccountable Policy, at leaft coniidered in a national Light, the Company difcourage their Factories from extending the Trade, and give themfelves no Sort of Trouble, to prevent the French, who are naking daily Encroachments upon them, from fettling upon their Ri- vers, and intercepting the choiceft Kind of Furs, fuch as Ot- ters, Martins, or Sables j which they purchafe, becaufe they are lighted, and, confcquently, fitteft for Carriage, as the Places where they buy them are at a great Diftance from the French Settlements, fo that heavy arid coarfe Goods would fcarce turn to any Account ; and they have the faireft Oppor- tunity that can be of doing this, becaufe the Natives are al- ways inclined to deal with them preferable to the Englljh. The Reafon of this Preference given to the French, is a ve- ry plain one, viz. becaufe they give a much better Price for what they purchafe than is given by the Englijh, as will evi- dently appear by confidering that Standard, which the Company has eftablifhcd for the Regulation of their Trade. This Standard confifts in reducing all Skins to Beaver; as for Inftance ; They reckon two Otters equal to a Bearer; in like manner, three Martins, and fo of other Skins ; whereas in Fa 11 'M 100 ^e Lafi Expedition in ^ That this )s really troe^ intheprefent Ca(e, will appear plainly to any impartial Judge, who will be pleafed to advert to the convenient Situation of their Settlements, the numerous Na- tions in their Neighbourhood, the vaft Quantities of Furs in their Pofleilion, and their Willingnefs to part with them for our Commodities ; and who at the fame Time like wife, will re- fledl on the vaft Trade^ which the French carry on with thofe very Nations, without having any fuch commodious Settle* ments, and notwtthflanding their being expofed to many other Inconveniencies. To fuch a Perfon alfo it will readily occur, that if Settlements were made farther up the Rivers, proper Encouragements given to the Natives, and the Trade fixed upon a fair and equitable Foot, which even then would be highly beneficial to the Ertgli/h^ all thefe Mifchiefs would be fpeedily redrefled ; ten Times the Quantity of our Manufac- tures would be confumed; the Trade would be recovered from the French, who have no Right to it; and by employ- mg Artificers at fiome, Seamen abroad, and a confiderable Number of Ships, would transfer to the Public that Wealth, which this Traffick is certainly capable of producing ; and of which only a very fmall Part comes at prefent into the Poc kets of a Handful of Men ; who, provided they enjoy all they fufFer it to produce, are content it fhall produce but little. Such might be, and yet fuch is the Commerce of the EngliJI) in Hudfon^s-Bay. As I have now performed my Promife, in fome Meafure, I hope to the Reader's Satisfaftion ; we will return again to the Expedition. On the 2 2d oiJunCy we fell about three Miles below the Fac^lory, where we came to an Anchor, and took in the Remainder of our Stores, and here the California buried another of her Men, who had been in a declining Way ever fince we failed from England. On the 23d, we fell down lower t ) a Place called Five Fathom Hole, where we anchored for that Night. On the 24th, having a fair Wind, we u eighed Anchor, and paffing the Shoals flood to the North- ward on the Difcovery. On the 23th, we failed through much broken Ice j but by flanding in clofe to the Shore, we avoided the thickell Part of it, tho' a great deal continued in Sight, 'till we got to the Northward of Cape Churchill, where we had a clear Sea, and proceeded without Difficulty, ViU the laft: of this Mon-h, when we made Centry Ifland, in the Latitude of 61®. 40'. North. On the ilioi'July, \\\t Refolution came along Side of the Dobbs, and took in Provifion and Sea- Stores, fuificient for the Ufe of ten Men, for two Mouths. This being done, Cap- tain s the Dobbs and California. lOt tain M)orff with eight Hands and niyfelf, went on board, in order to examine the Coails. Before we quitted the Ship, the Captain gave his Orders to the Chief Mate, which were to proceed to Marble Ifland, and wail there 'till we joined them. The Ships thereupon failed to the Northward, and we flood in for the Shore, where we grappled for that Night. On the 2d of July, we continued to fail along Shore to the Northward, through a great deal of broken Ice j which, v. ith the rocky Shoals, that run two or three Miles into the Sea, made it '^ery dangerous. The EJkimaux who inhabit the Sea Coajfts to tiie Northward of the Company's Settlements, ap- peared from Time to Time in fmall Bodies of forty or fifty together, upon the Eminencies of the Iflands on t^at Shore, fhouting, and making Signals for us to approach, but we pro- ceeded on our Gourfe without minding them, until we ani ed at Knight's Ifland in the Latitude of 62*. 2'. North, where we anchored that Night. Here we tried the Tide, and found it rife ten Feet at High Water, which at full and change of the Moon, was at half an Hour paft Four. We weighed from thence and endeavoured to ftand in with the Weft Shore, where a large Opening a^Tpeared, but we were prevented by the Ice from approaching it. But the Weather growing tempeftuous, and the Ice driving about in large Pieces, we found it neceflary to bear away again for Knighfs Ifland, where wc took flicker till the 5th, when the Sea was much clearer. In the mean Time, two Canoes full of EJkimaux came off to us from the Weft Coaft, and upon our lignifying that we wanted Whalebone, they immediately left us, but quickly returned with a confiderable Quantity of that, and a large Parcel of Bladders filled with Train Oil. We purchaf- ed the former with fmall Hatchets, Knives, Bits of Iron Hoops, and other Things; but as for the Oil, as we did not care to encumber ourfelves with it, we let ti:em carry it away, tho' they would very willingly have fold it, and no doubt would have offered us a good Bargain; for they intimated to ns befides, that they had confiderable Quantities, both of that and of Whalebone, upon the Iflands that lay in fight of us to the Weftward, and were very prefTing to have us go thither ; but this, as our Bufinefs was not Trade, we thought fit to de- cline. Here we faw great Numbers of Seals and white Whales, and had feveral Iflands in View, fuch as Si B:hy^%f Alerry's, Jones's, 6c. all rocky and barren, quite deditutc of Trees, and indeed of Herbage, excepting Scurvy -Grnt,, and a few other Plants which are common in Croenland and I ap- ian J. Upon tbcfc, and indeed upon all the Iflands on this H 3 Coaft .1 . 102 Itbe Lafi Expedition in Coafl: there are Graves of the EJkimauxy ard Stones which jthey fet up for fome Reafon no doubt ; but what that Reafoq |S we are as yet ignorant, tho* the Thing has been taken qo- ice of, ever fince thefe Goafts were vifited by the EngUjh for Trade, or for Difcoveries, I CANNOT help taking Notice in this Place, of an Acci- dent which happened to us, and which as it was the Objeft of our Aftonifhment then, ha? been alfo very often the Sub- jeft of niy ferious Thoughts fincc, In fhort, amongft thefe Iflands and in f^ijmg thro' the Ice, the Needles of our Com-r pafles loft their Magnetical Qiialitie's; one feeming to aft fron: this Direction, and another under that, and yet they were not for any confiderable (pace of Time conftant to any ; "We laboured to remedy this Evil by retouching them with an artificial Magnet, but to very little puipofe ; for if they re- covered their Powers by this Means, they piefentjy lo(l them again j fo that we were thoroughly convinced this was no ra-t dical Cure of their Djforder, whicn, as it was vifiblp to all on Board the Refolution, fo it is not an Accident taken notice of only by me ; and therefore the Matter of Faft may be con- fidered 31s a Thing inconteftable ; but the Bufinefs is how to account for it, by alljgning a rational and probable Gaufe of an EfFedt", in it's firft Appearance, fo very extraordinary, The Difcuffing, and even the attempting to difcufs Queftions of this Nature, is higlily ferviceable, as it tends to the Improvement of ufeful Knowledge, by adding to that Stock, of which th? Learned are at prefent in Pofleffion, 1 Thp Notions which the Antientshad of the Power of the Magnet or Loadftone^ were very imperfeft, £pid therefore we need not wonder that there is foraewhat of Gonfufion, and much of Ob(f urity in the Accounts they have laboured to give ps, of the Gaufes of thofe Powers. The Opinion that prin- cipally prevails among the Moderns, is that of Des Cartes, maintained by Malebranche, Rohault, and other Authors ; and even admitted and confirmed by Mr. Boyle and later Philofo- phers, In this it is fuppofed there is continually flrwingj, from the Poles of the World, a fubtile, impalpable, and in- vifible Miitter, channelled, or ftriated: Which Matter, cir- culating round the Earth, in the Plains of the Meridians, re-: enters at the Pole, oppofite to that from which it ifliied ; and paffcs again thro' the Poles parallel to it's Axis : That the Magqet has two Poles anfwerable to thofe of the Earth, and that out of thefe there iffues a Matter like that juft mentioned : Thai this Matter, entering in at one of the Poles, gives the , . Impulfc the "Dohhsand California. 103 Irapulfe whereby Iron tends to the Magnet, and produces what we call j4t:i^a£llon. Now befides the magnetical Matter re- entering the Poles of the Magnet, there is always a certain Quantity thereof circulating round the Magnet j compofing a kind of Vortex about it. The Space wherein this Matter moves, is the Sphere of Aftivity of the Magnet, within which it's attraftive Faculty is confined. As to it's directive Faculty, or the Inclination of a Needle, touched with it, to the Poles of the World, and it's Dip to a Point beneath the Horizon, they follow from the fame Principle ; finje were the Magnet or Needle to have any other Situation, the magnetic Matter would flrike on it's other Surface in vain ; and not being able to get admiflion, would, by Degrees change it's Situation, 'till it's Pores corre(ponded to the Courfe of the magnetical Mat- ter ; which Situation having once acquired, it would ceafe to move ; the magnetical Matter then ccafing to difturb it. Thd Form or Eflence of a Magnet, therefore is fuppofed to con- fift in it's being perforated by an infinite Number of parallel Pores ; fome whereof are dilpofed to admit the firiated Mat- ter from the North Pole of the World, others that of the South; hence the North and South Poles of the Magnet ; and hence the firli: Hint perhaps of making artificial Magnets. It may indeed be obje^ed, that all this is Suppofition, and tliat it is not polfible to fupport itby any direft Proof ; yet whoever confiders this attentively, will difcern, that where no fuch Proof can be had, probable Suppofitions ought to take Place, till future Difcoveries make it evident that tbey are falfe ; and alfo that where direft Proofs are not to be had, it ?3 altogether improper to demand them. If we app'y thii Reafoning to the Matter In queftion, we are to enquire what Caufes may be afiigned for this fmgular Appearance ; and then we are to confider next, which of them is moft reconcileable to this Hypothefis ? As for mftance, it may in the fiift Place befaid, that tliis fudden Alteration of the Needles, proceeded from our near Approach to the North magnetic Pole, accord- ing to the Syftem of Dr. Halley ; and to this I ftiould have been glad to have afcribed it, becaufe then we fhould have had fome kind of Evidence, in favour of that Syftem, which in it's Contrivance, is certainly moft ingenious. There are how- ever feveral Reafons arifing from the Giicumftanccs before re- lated, that will not allow us to admit of this Caufe ; and^of thefe I fhall mention three, that appear to me the moft ma- terial. The firft is, that in Faft, we were not near that Pole ; atleaft as Dr. Halley firft placed it, fince he fuppofed it 13**. H 4 30'- n ¥ m ill i' i04 The Lafl Expedition in 30'. (for as to the Poles, he afterwards fuppofed they were ftjll farther removed) from the Pole of the Earth ; whereas we were almoft 28®. from it, and he places it in the Longi- tude o? 30". Eaft from the Meridian of London^ whereas we were above 90*^. Weft from the fame Meridian, Secondly ^ If this had been the Caufe, it would have operated equally, and the Compafles would have had the fame Direflion, which they had not. Thirdly, The very fame Accident has happened in other Parts of Hudfon^s-Stratts, and indeed in fcveral other Parts of the World ; and therefore the Nearnefs of the Mag- netic Pole could not be the Caufe both here and there ; tho* there is nothing abfurd in fuppofing it might not be the Caufe any where. Another Method fuggefted for the Solution of this Dif- ficulty, was the Vicinity of fome large mineral Body, that might dlfturb and divert the regular Direftion of the Needles. Now if we fhould allow tliis to be not only poflible, but pro- bable, which, perhaps, is more than can be faid for 1% either from the Principles of the received Philofophy, or from the Evidence of Experiments ; yet it could not be admitted as the Caufe in this Cafe, fince that too, muft have afted equally ; and tho* it had altered, the true would have given fome certain Dire£Uon to the Needles, which, as we obferved before, was not the Cafe ; and befides, had it been fo, no Remedy what- ever could have been found, except the plain and natural one of removing out of the Sphere of Aftivity, which fuch a mi- neral Body muft be prefumed to have ; and yet, as we fliall fee hereafter, another Remedy was found, which could have no Relation whatever, either to this, or to the former Caufe. The laft Caufe, to which this Event has been afcribed, is Cold ; arifing from the Nearnefs and Quantity of Ice; which, as it has a known and fenfible Operation upon the Air, may be conceived to aft alfo on the magnetic Particles, floating therein, or perhaps upon the Needle itfelf, by Conftridion ot k's Pores ; for which ever Way it is fuppofed to a6t, the Con-^ feqaence will be much the fame, and contribute equally to the Solution of the prefent Queftion. If notwithftanding what has been faid of the Reafonablenefs of admitting, in fucli Cafes, probable Suppofitions, fome farther Proof fhould ftill be required ; I think, that may be likewife met with, m the fingle and fimple Remedy, by which we were delivered from this EmbarrafTment ; and this was no other than carrying the Compafles into a warm Place ; when the Needles very (peedily refumed their Aftivity, and pointed as ufual, by their being figain permeated by the fubtUe magnetic Matter. It may be aUedged, i ailedgcd, 11 admit it, ^ that fell un the fame T was fo far mation of t might aft very well f( allowed th caufe at th< not but cor the Force magnetic I Needles ; recovering Contrarietj Cold. It this Caufe not precluc conildering ner in whi in fuppofin ferent Cai more Evic that Hj^ol at prelent, ■whether pi clearly or ( fubmitted for if it Truth, w tions, it \ greflion, Excufe, ] On th( of Sir Di to enter 1 once mor in, in ver defift. I board wii upon Tei but notwi in nearer former i the Dobbs and California. »05 alledged, In Favour of this Caufc, that if we think proper to admit it, we fhall find, that it reaches all ihc Circumftances that fell under our Notice ; for in the firft FLiCe we fee, that the fame Thing happening in other Tartb of Hudfori's Straits, was fo far from being an Objeftion, that it is really a Confir- mation of the Truth pf this Suppofition ; llnce the fame Caufe might aft as powerfully there as here. Secondly, It accounts very well for that Uncertainty, Unfteadinefs, and, if I may be allowed the Expreflion, Diftratlion, the Needles fuifered ; bc- caufe at the fame Time, that we afcribe this to Cold, we can- not but conceive that it mvW aft varioufly, in Proportion to the Force of the frigorific Power, the Configuration of the magnetic Particles, and the Strufture of the Pores in the Needles ; and, thirdly, this accords perfeftly with the Needles recovering their Aftivity, in the warm Air, by that reciprocal Contrariety which appeals in all the Operations of Heat and Cold. It may not be amifs however to obferve, that tho* this Caufe may be admitted upon this Occafion ; yet it does not preclude the Operation of other Caufes in other Places ; for confidering the Subtilty of the magnetic Effluvia, and the man- ner in which wc apprehend they aft, there is nothing abfurd in fuppofing, that their Operations may be diflurbed by dif- ferent Caufes ; and the more of thefe we can find, fo many more Evidences we ftiall from thence derive in Favour of that Hj^otheiis, in Relation to Magnetifm, which is received at prefent. But all I have delivered, whether rational or not, whether probable orotherwife, whether well or ill conceived, clearly or obfcurely expiefled, or in fin?, whatever it be, is fubmitted to the Cenfure of the candid and judicious Reader ; for if it leads him in any Degree to the Dlfcovery of the Truth, whether it be by admitting or difapproving my No- tions, it will efFeftually anfwer the End aimed at by this Di- greflion, for which, prefuming this may pafs for a tolerable Excufe, I take up the Thread of my Story, where I let it fall. On the 5th we weighed and ftcod over to the South Side of Sir Bibfs Ifland, in Hopes that we iTiould have been able to enter the Opening, that we attempted before ; but we had once more the fame Misfortune ; for the Ice driving out and in, in very large Pieces, we found ourfelves again obliged to" defift. It was here that fix Canoes full of EJhmaux came on board with a large Parcel of Whalebone, whic'i we purchafed upon Terms as much to their Satisfaftion, as to our Pr.-fi: ; but notwithftanding they were very defucus; to iiave us (land in nearer the Land, and for that Pnrpoi>, repeated all their former Signals j yet as our Bufinefs was Difcovny, and njt Coinriii'ue. ii: io6 77fc Laft Expedition in Commerce, we flighted thefe SoUicitations, and flood to the Northward as far as the Latitude of 62^. 12'. Then we (leered to the North Weft, and after paffing over feveral Shoals, and running between many low Iflands, we entered Nevill's Bay being the fame we attempted at the South End of Sir Bifys Ifland, which in a manrtcr covers it, lying at the Dif- tance of about five Leagues to the South Eaft. When one is In it, this appears to be a very capacious Bay, well (heltered from the Sea; and in the Bottom of it is a pretty large River running Weftward. The main Land about it is of an cafy Afcent, and confifts chiefly of a fmooth Rock, covered with Mofs, with here and there a few fmall Plants. The eafieft Entrance into NeviWs Bay, is between the South Weft End of Sir Bibys Ifland, and the main Land. On the gth, we failed with an Intention to coaft to the Northward, but in repalfing the Shoals, the Tide fwept us upon a Ridge of Stones, where our Veflfel was very near being (love to Pieces, While we were in this hazardous Situation, there came off to us fix Canoes of EJhimaux with Whale ^ bone, which we bought of them. They were very fenfiblc of the Diftrefs we were in, but fo far from talcing any Ad- vantage of us, that they were not only extremely civil, but highly ferviceable ; for when the Tide of Flood floated us off]^ an old Man, who feemed better acquainted with the Place than the reft, paddled before us, pointed out the Shoals, and kept in the deep Water ; fo that it was in fome Meafure by Jus Afliftance, that the Refolution not only efcapcd being loft, but efcaped alfo, without fufFering any Damage. Whatever therefore the French Writers, or even fome of our own may fay, in Prejudice to the Gharafter of tliefe poor People, it is but bare Juftice in us to own, that they treated us not only with llumanity, but with great Kindnefs and Friendfh^. I M u ST confefs, that I could not help admiring very much, pot only the Induftry, but the Ingenuity of thefe People ; who for Want of Iron ai*e frequently obliged to make not only the jparbs of their Arrows, Darts and Harpoons, but alfo Hat- chets and Knives, of Stones, Sea-Horfe Teeth, or Sea^Uni- corn Horns, which Creatures abound here ; and it is not ealy to fay how dextroufly they ufe Materials, which to us feem io very improper for Purpofes to which they employ them. Their Needles are alf j made of the fame Stuff, notwithftanding which their Gloaths are perfcOly well fewed, ^nd are not only flrong and clofe, but very neatly made, in the fame manner as thefe of the People we met with in Hudfon*s -Sir aits y which b^ve been more particularly defcribed j and therefore we will fpare ' > I 1 I 1^ the Dobbs and California. 107 foafe the Reader the Trouble of any Repetitions here. It is from hence, as well as from the great Conformity between them in their L,.anguagc, Perfons, and Guftoms, that we con-^ elude them to have been originally one People ; but then it muft be acknowledged, that thefe are a more affable, friendly and better difpofed Sort of Folks, as well as more accom* plifhed Artifts in thofe fevcral Branches of Mechanicks, which they have been taught by one common Miftrefs, Neceflity, which is the fole Mother of Invention amongft them. It will in fome Meafure, juftify this Obfcrvation to remark, that the Borders of their Habits are commonly fringed with cut Leather, and are fmetimes hpng with Fawns Teeth; iand the Women do not ftick out the Sides of their Boots with Whalebone, as the other EJhimaux do, whofe Cuftoms have been before defcribcd, There is alfo another Circumftancc }n which thefe People llkewife differ from thofe formerly men* tioned, and th4t is in wearing a Gap made of the Skin of a Buffalo's Tail ; which, tho' it has a horrid Appearance, yet it is very ufeful in keeping off the Muiketoes, which in t'-*''; Country are exceffively troublefome. It is true, that the Hair hanging over their Faces fomewhat obftrudts their Sight ; yet then it is eafily rom:.ved with their Hands ; but if it was not for this Defence, thofe Infects would be infupporjtable here, gs they are in fome Parts of Lapland^ according to the Ac-» count given us by Mr. MaupertuiSy in his excellent Book of the Figure of the Earth. For this Purpofe their Children wear them while they hang at their Mothers Backs, when it muil |)e allowed, that they make a moft difmal Figure, and are apt to raife ^ fhocking Idea of the Barbarity of thefe Savages, tho' they are neverthelefs a very harmlefs and inoffenfiv^ People. When they go to Sea, in order to catch Fifli, they coni- fxionly carry with them ui their Boats, a Bladder full of Train Oil, as oui: People do a Dram Bottle, and feem to drink the Contents with the fame Relifh ; nay, we have fometimes feen them, when thejr Stock was out, draw the very Bladder through their Teeth with much feeming Satisfaftion. In all Probability they arc convinced by Experience, of the falutary EfFefts even of this coarfe Kind of Oil, in this rigorous Cli- mate, which makes them fo fond of it; and I am the rather induced to be of this Opinion, becaufe J have heard, that the Inhabitants of St, Kilda, a rocky Ifland on the Goaft of Scotland, are no lefs pleafed with the Oil they make from the Fat of Soland Gcefc, which muft be very near as rancid, They alfo make ufc of this Oil for their Lamps, which are .V • made I i lOfJ fhg Lali Expedition in made of Stone, hollowed out with fome Difficulty, and as artificially as can be well expcfted, conlidcring the Tools they work with; and for the Wiclc, inflcad of Cotton, which wc ufe, they have recourfe to di-yed Goofe Dung, a very poor Shift indeed, but Aill better than none. They have a very dextrous Method of kindling Fire ; in order to which, they prepare two fmall Pieces of dry Wood, which having made Hat, they next make a fmall Hole in each, and having fitted Into thefe Holes a little cylindrical Piece of Wood, to which a Thong is fadened, they whirl it about theieby with fuch a Velocity, that by- rubbing the Pieces of Woocl one againft the other, this Motion foon fets them on fire ; ard then by applying the lighted Piece of Wood to dry Mofs, In the fame Manner that we ufe Tinder, they make as great a Fire as they pleafe. It will be proper to add, that what little Timber they have, is entirely Drift Wood ; and this failing them in the Winter, they are obliged to make ufe of their Lamps before dcfcribed, for the Supply of their Family Occaiions. A Notion has pretty generally prevailed, as if thefe People lived under Ground in the Winter ; but that this is abfolutely a Miflake will appear from hence, that the Country in which they live, is for the mod Part one con- tinued Rock ; and tho* poflibly there may be a confidcrable Depth of Soil in fome of their Vallies ; yet this being froze almoft as hard as that Rock, fuch a Manner of living muft be to them impradticable. After having mentioned (bme In- ftances of their Ingenuity, it may perhaps amufe the Reader, if I give him one of their Simplicity. Thefe poor Creatures were fo far from being jealous of their Wives, that they would willingly have proftituted them to us, from a Notion, that our Children by them would have been in every refpecH: as much fuperior to their Nation, as they took us to be ; for they conceive that in t\\r, '-aoft literal Scnfe, every Man begets his like; and that the ^ovi of a Captain muft be a Captain, and fo of the rel*^. We failed from hence, direftlng our Gourfe to the Eaft- ward, and on th ; pth of Julyj arrived and anchored at Sea Horfe liland, which is very properly named, there being a prodi- gious Refort of thofe Creatures thither; and this being theu* Seafon of Propagation, they were excefTively furious, roar- ing in a temblc Manner ; many of them flouncing about upon the Beach, and mych greater Numbers in the Sea that waflies it's Coafts. As this is the moft Eaftward of all the lidands before mentioned, it is the leaft vifited by the Savages of any, as lying moft out of their Way; and as this is probably the Reafon, 15' Reafon, that to breed; fo i vaft Flocks of Loons, Brow a Place where On the lo many fmall I rived at Whale difcovered to there were ms Savages to vil make it their upon the mofl It was upon o go a Shore in cafions, in w the Men. V\ by about twe Children, for them, in ord that Purpofe to look out f< for this Reafo Tide of Floe Board the ReJ We failed Point, in the difcovered a which I gave this Opening came in from thought he fa courfe with I Parts, ari f we found gr fioned by tl again to the and found th between Ma THEfirft Dobbs Galle from the Ic •which lies i about that 1 Smith had I' 1 the Dobbs and California. 109 Reafofi) that the Sea Horfes refort thither in iuch Numbers to breed; fo it is alfo the Caufe cf its being frequented by vafl Flocks of Sea Fowl> fuch as Pidgcons, Gulls, Mews^ Loons, Brown Ducks, (6rc. and this is all that I can hy, of a Place where we did but jud touch. On the loth we weighed, and Aood along Shoni imong many fmall Iflands, and Pieces of floating Ice, till we ar- rived at Whale-Cove f in the Latitude of 62* 30' North. "U^e difcovered to the Weftward of this Place a Bay, in which there were many Iflands, from whence there came off a few Savages to vifit us ; for it is to be obferved, that they always make it their choice, to fix themfelves, in the Summer Seafon, upon the moftdcfolate Iflands, for the Conveniency of Fifliing. It was upon one of thefe Iflands the Captain thought proper to go a Shore in a little Boat, that we made ufe of upon fuch Oc- cafions, in which I accompanied him, together with two of the Men. We were no fooner on Shore, than we were met by about twenty E/klmaux, but moft of them Women and Children, for the Men were gone a fifliing; we quickly left them, in order to take a View of the Place ; and Laving for that Purpofe gained the higheft Part of the Ifland, we began to look out for fome confiderable Opening, but in vain : and for this Reafon therefore, as well as becaufe wc obferved the Tide of Flood coming in from,the Eaftward, we returned on Board the Refolution, without making any long Stay. We failed again on the nth, and arrived the fame Day at a Point, in the Latitude of 62°. 47' North, from whence we difcovered a large Opening, running to the Weftward, to which I gave the Name of Corhet^s Inlet. We did not enter this Opening for two Reafons , firft, becaufe the Tide of Flood came in from the Eaftward ; and fecondly, becaufe Captain Mocr thought he faw the End of it ; fo that after fome Ihort Intcr- courfe with the EJkimauXy who are pretty numerous in thefe Parts, arj fupplying ourfelves with frefti Water, of which we found great Plenty in the Cavities of the Rocks, occa-. fioned by the melting of the Snows ; we refolved to return again to the Ships, which we accordingly did on the 1 3th, and found them both lying at anchor in a tolerable good Road, between Marble JJlam, and the Main. The firft News we heard, was, that in our Abfence, the Dobbs Galley had been expofed to a good deal of Danger, from the Ice driving down upon her, out of Rankin's IiUet, which lies about four Leagues to the Weftward, and where about that Time the Ice had broke up. Into this Place Capt. Smith had fent his Chief and Second Mates to examine it, and, no ^helaft Expedition in and, according to the Report of the former, after failing about thirty Leaoucs upon diifcreii; Gourfes, from Weft, round to the Ead of the North, it was found to terminate in a Bayj the Land thereabouts much the fame with what has been be- fore defcribed* According to the Accounts given of that Place by Mr. tVefiol, the fecond Mate, before this Search ivas made, there ieemed to be (omt Probability of a Pafllige, Which induced Capt< Smith to attcnnpt entering it with his Ship ; but being very foon embarraled by dangerous Rocks and Shoals, he delifted, and bore away back to Marble- JJland. The very fame Morning that we got on Board the Dobbs-Calley, Captain Smith of the California^ had fcnt his JLong-Boat with the Second Mate, to fearch all the Goad be- tween Gape Jaiabert, in I but at length having pafTed Savage-Sound, where the Tide is lefs rapid, as the Channel becomes broader, we found ourfelves more at our Safe, and in greater Safety* This Sound is formed by a Chain of fmall Iflands, that ftretch along at fomi piflance from the North Shore, behind which Captain Mid^ dleton lay, when formerly in this Place. On the 30th, we found ourfelves off Dcet-Sound, which is an indifferent good Road, about eight or ten Leagues higlier up on the fame Sidd of the Strait. We difcovcred foon after, a very good Placd for fecuring the Ships, furrounded ih a manner with high rocky Iflands, which flicker it almofl: from every Wind } to this we gave the Name of Douglai - Harbour ^ in Honour of JameS and Htnry Douglas, Efqrs; Members of the North Weft Committee* After mooring our Ships in between twelve and eighteen Fathom Water, we deliberated again upon the proper Method to be purfued, in order to determine clearly whether the Wagef was a River, a Strait, or a Bay, and this produced the following Refolution> which was the Grounds of our fub* fequeilt Proceedings. . At a Council held on iBoard the iDobbs Galley, in Doiiglafs Har* b9ur, Wager Straits, July the ^oth, 1747. PRESENT, Captain JVILLUM MOORty Captain FRANCIS SMITH, 6r. •^ I *3^Ht ,.# * IplEiNG now at Anchor in a fafe Harbour, about thirty * J3 Leagues up the faid Strait, and finding good Encouraged * ment to go farther, we have met to debate on the moft etfec- * tual and expeditious Method to be purfued therein * arid after ' mature Confideration, we have unanimoufly agreed ^ that * the Ships fliall remain where they now lie, and that the * Boats of each Ship fliall depart at the firfl: of the Flood to- * morrow Morning, up the faid Strait, as far, if poffiblc, ad * to determine whether it is a Pafl^age to the Weftcrn Oceart * of America^ or not, which is to be done with all tlie Ex- I A . lifdition ii6 The Lafl Expedition in * pedition and Accuracy the Nature of the Buimefs will per- * mit ; bat in order that that the Ships may not be detained in * this Northern Latitude, longer than they may with fafety, * by waiting for the Boats : it is refolved, if they Ihould not ' return by the 25th of Jugu/i next enfuing, then the Com- ' manding Officers of both Ships, are to proceed with the * Dobh Galley and California for England, oc. In Purfuance of thisRefolution, the Captains of the Dobbf Galley and of the California y failed with proper Officers, and a fulficient Number of Hands in the Boats, belonging to their refpe (Stive Ships, upon t\\6 lall Day of this Month, with a fair and fine Gale, keeping a North "Weft by Weft Courfe, ti 1 the Strait diminifhed in Breadth, from ten Leagues to fcarce one. At this time, which was pretty near the Approach of Night, we were alarmed with a very loud unaccountable Noife, refembling the Sound of a vaft Gataraft, or prodigious Fall of Watei , but could not difcover from whence it came ,• it was therefore thought necefTary to come immediately to an Anchor, that fome of us might go a-fhore, and fee what Dif- coveries might be that Way made. This was accordingly done ; but before we could gain the Top of the Eminence, for the Shore proved exceffively rocky and fteep, it was be- come (<) dark, that we found all the Pains we had taken en- tirely thrown away, and were obliged to return to our Boat very weary ; and yet no whit wifer than when we went. I cannot help, however taking Notice that in afcending thefe Mountains, we had at once as great, as gloomy and as awful a Profpert, as perhaps ever aftonifhed mortal Eyes. While we walkeJ along the Beach, the ragged Rocks above feemed pen- dent over our Heads : In fome Places there were falls of Wa- ter, dafhing from Cliff to Cliff; from others hung prodi- gious Ificles in Rows; one behind another, like the Pipes of a vaft Organ. But the moft tremendous Part of the Scene were the ffiattered Crags that lay at our Feet, and appear- ed plainly to have burft from the Mountain Tops, thro* the expanflve Power of the rigorous Frofts, and fo rolled with inexpreffible Fury down the Sides, 'till they reached thofc Places where the Ruins now lay: I call them Ruins ,: for fuch they properly were: And if there is fomething that deeply afFo6ts us, when we behold either the Wafte of War, or the Devaftations of Time, it may be eafy con- ceived, that fomething much more terrible muft be felt from Uic Sight of tliefe amazbg Relicks of tlic Wreck of Nature^ Wfc- m if the Dobbs and California. 117 "We Ipent the Night, as the Reader may believe, with no great Satisfaftion ; and early in the Morning we went a-fhore ; nor was it long before we difcovered, that the mighty Noife we heard, was occafioned by the Tides being confined in a Paflage of about fixty Yards wide, but the Body of Water, and it's Rapidity, was exceeding great: And nolwithftand- ing we were now One Hundred and fifty Miles from the En- trance, it's Colour was perfeftly bright, and it's Tafte very fait. The Tide rofe here commonly fourteen Feet and a Half, high "Water at fix o'clock at Full and Change. As we faw clearly that the Strait opened beyond this Fail, to five or fix Miles wide, and ran (everal Leagues to the Welhvard, we were ftill in Hopes of a Pa/Tage. The great Difficulty now was how to pals the Fall, which, when attempted; prcved not either fo hard^ or fo hazardous, as from the fiift\iewwe apprehended; for 1 paflfed it with a little Boar, when it Mas in it's full Fury. We foon after found, that it might be crofled without any Rifque at all ; for at half Flood, the Water be- low the Fall, was upon a Level with *hat above; and at half Ebb agdin, the Water above, was f ven with that below ; and At thoie Times, it was quite fmooth and ftill, fo as to be pafied without the leaft Difficulty or Danger. While we lay here, three Indians came aboard us in their Canoes, and ap- peared from their Manners, to be the fame kind of People we had m£t with in other Parts of this Coaft, but much lower in Stature ; for it was very obfervable, that in fiiilins: North from Tork-Fort, every thing dwindled and diminifiicd, ih that Trees fhrunk into Brufiiwood, in the Latitude of 610. and none of the human Species appeared beyond the Latitude of 6y^. Thefe Indians feemed a little timorous at firft, as in all Probability we were the firft Europeans they ever faw ; but upon our making Signals of Friendfliip, they grew bolder, came up to and converfed with us, and upon giving them to underftand, that we wanted Tucktoaj which in their Lan- guage fignifies Venifon, they prefently went a-(horc and brought us fome which had been cured after their manner, by drying; together with fome Pieces of Buffaloes Ilcffi, which appear- ed to have been lately killed ; and having p rchaled this fmali Cargo of theii's at an eafy Rate, \Ve lent them away very well fatisfied. On the 2d of Augvj}, \vc pafied the Fall, above which the Tide rofe only four Feet, but the Shores were very ftccp on both Sides, and no Ground was to be felt with a Line of One Hundred and Forty Fathom. There ftiji applied yeals and white Whales, but not witliftanding this, moft of >■■ -r- .1 ^ ' our 1 1 8 The Laji Expedition in our Company were not a Uitle difcouraged by thetr finding the Water almoll: frelh upon the Surface. But it bei- my Opi, nion, that this Frelhnefs was only on the Surfac^, i refolved to make an Experiment whether the thing was fo or not ; and for that Purpofe let down a Bottle ftrongly corked, to the Depth of that where conftant and continual Danger excites perpetual At- tention) it thereby alters it's Nature, and becomes, if I may be allowed the Expreflion, the Caufe of Safety* As we have been obliged to take Notice of the prodigious Fogs that are almoft conftantly to be met with here, as no finall Part of the Dangers to which VefTels are expofed arife from thefe thick Fogs, and as many who have failed in thefd have thought it worth their Pains to endeavour to account for them^ which has been the Aim likewife of the moft intelli- gent Travellers through thofe Northern Climates, that are in like manner afFefted by them, it may perhaps afford fome En- tel'tainment to the Reader, if we follow fuch Examples, and fciiiploy alfo a little Pains and Time to difcufs a Point, which tho' fo often confidered, is IHll far enough from being clear \ and the clearing of which however muft be attended with Goh- fequences more than fufficient to compenfate the Trouble of the Enquiryi For tho' Hudfon^s Straits > the Coafts of Nev)» fouridland^ and other Northern Regions > aie moft famous for Mifts and FogSj yet many other Climates are alfo fubje<5l td them more or lefs, and therefore the Difeovery of their Gaufes^ ivith any tolerable Degree of Certainty > will anfwer many iife- ful Purpoles^ as well a§ add confiderably to that Stock of real Kilowledge> which the Induftry of the Learned m all Ages hath fumifhed to the World* It is a Hint given by Mr. Maupei^tuisy that perhaps thd ^un's long Stay above the Horizon, in Northern Countries ^ ihay ralfe more Vapours than the Night can condenfe. But Mr< Da^le acquaints tis^ that he had certain Information of vety thick and almoft conftant Fogs, at certain Seafons of the Year> obferved upon the Coafts of Corroniandei^ in the Ea/?' Indies j which fc&nnot poffibly be afcribed to the Sun's remain* itig long above the Horizon> becaufe in that Climate the Dif- ference of Days throughout the Year is not very greatj 6e-» fidesi if this was the Caufe, it would follow, that in Spitz^ hetgeri they ftiouldbe moft troubled with Fogs, when the Sun is higheft^ ^d inddtd through their whole Suitimer, when the Sun is there conftantly above the Horizon > but Ex(>erience pfcrves juft the contrary ; and that then thofe who are employed in the Whale Fifhery uf)on thefe Coafts have bright and clcaf Weathefj ^hichj as MaHen obfervcs in his Voyage, Is the Ikteft for the hatching Whales. . . ^.u ..*.«- . . TL it it'l ,t»tmMli^kimlitijSimmm*tf'»it 1^0 ^e Lafl Expedition in It appears to me more probable, that the Coldnefs of thtf Air conaenfes the moift Vapour, as it rifes and keeps it ho- vering on the Surface, Avhich feems to be confirmed by our having the thickeft and moft frequent Fogs, when we are near the Ice Fields, where the Air is coldeft. It has been alfo ob- ferved, that South and South Weft Winds bring much moift Vapour with them, which in the Northern Parts turns to wet Fogs, not only firom the Coldnefs of the Air, but from it's Spring being weakened, whereby it is rendered lefs capable of fuftaining and fupporting thofe Vapours. On the other Hand, all Winds from any Point of the North, are obferved to brmg vdth them fair Weather, and this alfo from a double Caufe ; firft, becaufe they blow over a dry TraiJl and confequently bring with them few or no Vapours ; and ri:?xt, becairfe they add to the Elafticity of the Au-, fo that the Vapours are kept up without any Fallmg or Fluctuation. It is to be obferved, that in treating this SubjeO;, the com-^ mon Ufage of Speech occallons a great Gonfufion in our No- tionSj by reprefenting feveral Things, fometimes by the fame, and fometimes by different Names. As for inftance, we very ieldom diftinguifh between Vapours and Exhalations, or be- tween Exhalations and Steams ; and yet by diftinguilhing be- tween them, we ftiould not only come to fpeak more cor- rectly, but to think alfo more juftly, that is in a Manner more correfpondent with the Operations of Nature. Steams I pre- fume are, properly fpeaking, fuch Collections of EfHuAnIa as are thrown out of this Globe, by the internal Heat of the Earth itfdf. Exhalations again are finall Particles detached both from moift and dry Bodies by the ACtion of Heat, as for inftance the Sun- Beams. And laftly, both Steams and Exhalations become Vapours ; when being rariiied to a certain Degree, they afcend up into the Air, where as they rife higher they become Clouds : But if the Air is fo difpofed, as inftead of fuffering them to rife, they are precipitated towards the Earth, they then became Mifts and Fogs. We may from this Account of the Matter eafily conceive, that very thick Fogs may be produced, in difTerent Climates, by very different Caufes. For in warm Countries, where the Earth is in a manner always open, the Steams that it throws out plentifrilly may at certain Seafons create great Fogs ; "wrhereas in cold Countries, where the Earth is in a great Mea- fure bound up by continual Frofts, this Caufe cannot take Place, at leaft in any great Degree. Yet from the Water while it remains unfroze, fuch Steams arife very copioufly, as is ft very a cends vcr the Ice is halations i iiderable, the vaft on the L confequen much fpo Straits, It is aJl attribute and Parafc and Mock take notici bright Spc i-ally feen lipated, ai terruption. Fogs, and Fog Sceffet the Fog, 1 thefe App< the Figure Fluid, whi but conteni chiefly on a Part oft has been n tended to i Notice, ii What mind of ar try, or at me very fii than in an though to fcrves to 1 obferved 1 ferve as ar the Air in Purpofes. Barbadoes the Mater thv Dobbs and Califorrtla. fs of thtf ps it hO' i by our are near alfo ob- ch moid IS to wet from it's apable of cr Handy to bring e Caufe j fcquently aufe they } ve kept the com^ our No- the fame, we very 5, or be- iihing be- lore cor- ner more ms I pre- fHuvia as at of the detached Heat, as ams and a certain tfe higher as inftead vards the conceive. Climates, where the it throws It Fogs ; reat Mea- mot take ic Water ioufly, 9& b '¥■ 131 •;; h very apparent from what is called Froft Sinoak, tvhich af* cends very confpicuoufly even in the hardeft Winters, where Ihe Ice is broke. But then in Northern Countries, the Ex* halations and the Steams in the Summer Months are very con- Uderable, and the Coldnefs of the Air, occafioned chiefly by the vaft Quantities, of floating Ice, and the Ice Mountains on the Land, hinders thefc Exhalations from dilTipating, and confequently is the Caufe of thofe Mifls and Fogs that are lb much fpoken of in all Accounts of Hudfon*s Day^ HudforHs Straits, Neufoundiand, ebc. It is alfo unto this Denfenefs in the Air, that we ought to attribute thofe Appearances, which the Learned call Parhelia and Parafelenae ; or, as our Sailors flile them, Mock Suns, and Mock Moons ; and having this Opportunity, I cannot but take notice, that to this Cpufe alfo we ought to afcribe certaiii bright Spots, like tliC Tail of a Rainbow, which artf gene-* i*ally feen near the Hcriz^n, when Fogs are almoft totally dif- llpated, and thr ^ays of ihn Sun are tranfmitted without in- terruption. Ou» Sailors fancy, that thefe drive away the Fogs, and have therefore beftowed on them the Name of Fog Scoffers ; whereas in reality they are the laft Remnants of the Fog, that by a Reverberation of the Sun Beams, produce thefe Appearances. I fliall not pretend to fay any Thing of the Figure of the Air, or of the continual Circulation of that Fluid, which is very rationally maintained by fome great Men, but content myfelf with thefe Obfervations, which arc grounded chiefly on my own Experience, and make therefore naturally a Part of this Relation, fince they belong to a Subjeft, which has been more or lefs treated of by every Writer, that has pre- tended to give an Account of what appeared moft worthy of Notice, in viflting thefe Seas. What I have been faying in relation to Fogs puts me hi mind of another Circumfhince relating to the Air of this Coun- try, or at leaft of thofe Parts, which I vidted, that appears to me very fingular, which is, that Metals are lefs ^t to ruft here, than in any other Climate, where I have been ; and this alfo, though to many it may appear trivial, is a Matter that de- . lerves to be enquired into ; for if there be a great Diiference obferved In the ruling of Metals in feveral Climates, it may ferve as an Indication of the fimilar or diflimilar (polities of the Air in thofe Places, which may be applied to feveral uleftil Purpofes. Mr. Richard Ligon, who compiled an Account of BairbadoeSf about a hundred Years ago, for he began to collet th€ Materials for his Hidory in the Year 1648, telU us, that K a tb< :il!l m 132 ^he Lafl Expedition in the Moifture of the Air, was at that Time fo great, as to caufe their Knives, Keys, Needles, Swords, 6c. toruft, and that in an Inftant ; for, fays he, take your Knife to the Grind- ftone, and grmd away all the Ruft, which done, wipe it dry and put it vip into your Sheath, and fo into your Pocket, and in a very little Time draw it out, you fhall find it beginning to ruft all over, which in more Time, will eat deep into the Steel, and fpoil the Blade. He adds that Locks too, that are not often made Ufe of, will ruft in the Wards, and fo become u»elefs ; and Clock? and Watches will feldom or never go true ; all which is occafioned by the Moiftnefs of the Air. He far- ther obferves, that before their Arrival at this Ifland, they took Notice of the like EfFecls at Sea, when they had for four or fivi Days together, what the Seamen call hazy Weather, which he very particularly defcribes, and urges it as a Proof that this ruftirg of Metals, v. as owing entirely to the Air's Moifture. It muft be acknowledged that Moifture being the Caufe of Ruft, may be ftiled not only a prevailing, but in fome Meafure, a general Opinion, and there is no doubt that this large, par- ticular, andpofitive Relation of Mr. Ligon's, has been thought a decifive Proof of it. I remember that upon mentioning my Obfervation, that Metals were lefs apt to nift in the Coun- tries about Hudfonh-Bayj than elfewhere, to one who is a very ingenious and very intelligent Perfon, he immediately mentioned his having made the fame Remark in Ruffiaf adding that he looked upon this to proceed from the Drynefs of the Air. I make no doubt that both thefe Gentlemen may be in the right, or in other Words, that Metals ruft in BarbadoeSy from the Moifture, and are free from Ruft in Rujjia, from the Drynefs of the Air. But It is a great doubt with m6, whether this general Notion of Humidity being the Caufe of Ruft, will account for what I obferved, or even fo much as agree with it. It is very certain, that the Air, in the Coun- tries about Hudfon'S'Bay, is rather moift than dry, and what I have before faid of the frequent Mifts and Fogs, is lufficient to ftiew that it muft be fo : Neverthelefs Metals do not i-uft here as in othet Places. May we not infer from hence, that mere Moifture is not the Caufe of Ruft, . tho' feldom or never occafioned without Moifture ? Whoever carefully examines Ruft, will find that it is a Solution of the fupeificial Parts of the Metal, fiom which it Arifes, by fome fluid Menftruum. It does not however fol- low from hence, that all Fluids will caufe Ruft, or which is itie fame thing corrode and difTolve the fupeificial Parts of Metal ; &■ Metal; So pcrty, tha purfue this that Oil, this Effca for it will them from as are the bable from Salts? Ma firmed in are made fleeting 01 JL.ead^ wh produced I preferves I and entan fafely colic ftruum of But to all the Lig let us obfei times afts in luch a which is I that it ma Fluid; for and Metal Countries this, (tho' loaded wi have the fa of Barbae Air, arec feft, othe a Kind of fince it ha pable of! of Salts in a Matt too prefui mark, th great Me this Oc<; liable, th the Dobbs and California. I3J Metal ; for we know that Oil is fo far from having this Pro- perty, that it is applied to Metals to prevent Ruft. If we purfue this a little farther, and enquire how it comes to pafs, that Oil, or indeed any kind of grcafy Unguent, comes to have this Effect, we fliall be let ibmewhat more into the Secret ; for it will dien appear, that Oil prcfervcs Metals by defending them from the Contaft of fuch Par Jcles in aqueous Fluids, as are the real Caufes of Ruft. Now is it not extremely pro- bable from all this, that thefe Particles are no other than acid Salts? May we not be led to this Opini n, or at leaft con- firmed in it, by confidering, that the Solutions of all Metals are made by acid Menftruums, and more efpecially by re- flecting on the known and common Method of making wh^te JL.ead^ which i^ no other than a Ruft or Solution of that Metal produced by Vinegar ? Do we not fee from hence, that Oil prefcrves Metals by it's known Quaiky of Iheathing, blunting, and entangling acid Salts ? Surely we may from hence very fafely coUeft, that it is not barely Humidity, but a fluid Men- ftruum of a certain kind that caufes Ruft. '~ - But to make this Sub;e6l ftiil clearer, or rather to give all the Light into it that can be derived from my Obfervation ; let us obferve, that tho' Air is a Fluid, and that tho* it fome- times afts upon Metals, indeed it commonly afts upon then^ in Ivich a manner, as to diflblve their fuperficial Particles, which is precifely the fame Thing that is meant, when we fay, that it makes them ruft ; yet it does not do this barely as a Fluid } for then Air would every where have the fame Effeft, and Metals would ruft as much in RuJJ7a, as in any of the Countries near the Line. Neither is Air capable of doing this, (tho' the contrary Is commonly imagined) by it's being loaded with aqueous Particles ; for humid Air would then have the fame EiFeft in Hudfort^s-Bay, as it has upon the Coafts of Barbadoes, But if thofe aqueous Particles that float in the Air, are charged with acid Salts, then it will produce this Ef- fect, otherwile not. Thus we fee that Metals may be made alCind of Standard of the Quality of the Air, m this Refpeft; fince it has been plainly made appear, that they are very ca- pable of fliewing, whether they abound with a certain Kind of Salts or not. I would not willingly go out of my Depth in a Matter of this Nature ; but I hope I ftiatfnot be thought too prefuming, if I put the Reader in Mind of a former Re- mark, that Fogs may be caufed in very hot Countries, in a great Meafure, by Steams from the Earth, and add to it upon " 3iis Oc^afion another Hbt, that it is not in the leaft impro- liable, that thefe Steams may load the Aii with an extraor- I \\ 'f, ■ .1. ■■■^ -'^iN^i .i>'' 134 the Lafl Expedition in dioary Quantity of thefe acid Salts, which on the contrary may not rife fo plentifully in thefe Northern Regions, where the Water often, and the Earth always, is locked up by Cold, and where the Heat of the Sun may be prefumed to raife only the more aqueous Parts, This Method of Reafoning feems to be fupported from an Experiment made by that diligent and accurate Enquirer af- ter Truth, the Learned and Reverend Dr. Hales, who, in diftilling Salt Water with a View to make it frefh, found that g moderate Heat anfwered much better than one more quick and violent ; the Water that came over the Still with the for- mer being perfeftly frefh, whereas the latter was brackifh, Jt*is alfo very polTible, that the Heat of the Air may in fome ineafure operate upon Metals, more efpecially their Superfi- cies, by opening the Pores, and fo dilpofing them to receive .» larger Quantity of that acid Spirit of S^t, raifed by the ftrong Aftion of the Sun into the Atpiofpherc, a$ hath beeri before mentioned. Having thus contributed my Mite towards the Improve- ment of the Hiftory of the Air, which is a thing ofllich high Gonfequence in Natural philofophy, I (hall remm to the Nar- ration of the few Things worth Notice in the remaining Part of •qur Voyage, On dhe 9th of September, about Break of Day, we fell in- to a prodigious flrong Ripling, and the Sea broke terribly a- board of us on all Sides, This was occafioned by the Tides fetting (brongly againft.a pretty briflc Wind, and the like Ri- pling is frequently met with from the very fame Gaufe in o- ther Places } as for inflance, near Hofy-head'm our own Seas ; in the Gulph of Fhrida, in North America; and in many o- ther Places, but in a lefs degree than we experienced it. I mention this, becaufe it was f *om hence that we judged our- felves to be near the Iflands of Refolution, and accordingly we took our Departure from hence, though we did not aftually fee the Land. At this time there were feveral large Ice-Moun- tabs floating in fight, but we very foon left them behind us,^ a3 we began now to enter into a warmer Glimate. I cannot call it a milder, becaufe we foon afterwards experienced as tempeftuous A^ather as any we had met with in thofe Nor- thern Seas, of which fuch horrid Defcriptions have been given by fome W^riters. On the iQth we parted again from the Hu^onH-Bay Ships. On the 1 1 th one of our Men died, who had long lingered under all the affliy Cold, aife only from an juirer af- who, in )und that 3re quick I the for- brackifti, in (bme Superfi- o receive by the lath been [mprove- fuch high the Nar- g Part of ire fell in- jrribly a- he Tides like Ri. lufe in O" vn Seas ; many o-. cd it. I Iged our- iTngly we t adhially e-Moun- ehind uSj^ I cannot lenced as jfe Nor- ;en given y Ships, lingered In the ;hich we ffcftsof which ir. which we were very near lofing all our Mafts, very few of the Hands on board the Dobbs Galley being able to keep the Deck, T^ich w^a the Reafon that proper Meafures could not be tak- en, as otherwife might have been, for preventing fo great a Misfortune. But fortunately for us, the Malls efcaped beyond our £xpe^ation ; and we fuffered nothing farther than what was tht Refult of our own Apprehenfions, which were melan- choly enough for fome Hours. This Gloominefs was not a little heightened by our Separation from the California in the midft of this Storm, and 'we did not fee her again till we arriv- ed in the Orkney Iflands. We were in fome meafure confol- cd for thefe unlucky Accidents by the return of fair Weather, which laflcd for about ten Days, and, as the Reader will eafi- ly conceive, afforded the highefl Satisfaction to People almoft worn out with continual Fatigues, and diftreffed befides by the Ravages made by the Scurvy, which it is well known weakens People more than almoft any other Diftemper, to which the human Body is liable. On the lift we joined again the two Hudfon^s-Bay Com- pany's Ships, from which as I obferved, we parted on the i ith, and refolved to keep Company with them durmg the Remain- der of the Voyage, as indeed we did. On the 26th we met with a fmall Fleet from ^c Orkneys bound to the Weftward. On the 28th we arrived and anchored at Car^own in the Ifland of Pomona, where, to our great Joy, the California al(b arriv- ed the next Day, from whom we had been feparated about a Fortnight. We continued in thi« Harbour about a Week, and on the 6th of O^ober, failed from thence in Company with the California and four Hudfon*s-Bay Ships, under the Convoy of his Majefty's Ships the Afercwry or twenty Guns, and arrived fafely in Tarmouth Road on the 14th of the fame Month, after an Abfence of one Year, four Months, and feventeen Days, having failed from thefe Roads on the 17^ of May, 1746. Thus ended a Voyage of very great ExpedVation, not only here, but throughout the greateft Part oi Europe, more eipe- cially the Maritime Countries, where the Defign, its Nature, Confequences, and their great Importance were beft under- ftood. Thus, I fay, ended this Voyage without Succefs in* deed, but not without EfFe6t ; for though we did not difcover a North Weft PafTage, yet were we fo far from difcovering the ImpofTibility or even Improbability of it, that on the con- trary, we returned with clearer and fuller Proofs, founded on the only Evidence that ought to take Place in an Enquiry of this Na^re, plain Fa£b, and accurate Experiments, that evidently fhew fuch a Faifage there may be. What thefe are, K 4 and "•In I : i hi 13^ ^he Laf Expedition in an4 after what mannc* they are to be applied to the Purpofcs J>efore-mentioned, (hall be the Bufinefs of the remaining Pa- ges, which it is hoped will give full Satisfaft'^on to every ^o^- nentin did Reader. I' ,iH» i' r^i ^. >K'/''iJ|l' THE '•ri %i:; THIRD PART; COMPIIEHENDING, Sftcb Arguments, drawn from Matters of Fa5f^ as ferve to Jhew the great Probability of a Pajfage by " the North Weft into the South Seas, notwithftand- ing the fame was not a^nally difcovered in the Lafi Expedition, AS in the firft Part, the Motives which originalty ex*. cited the Hopes of difcovering a North Weft Paf- fage, have been fufficiently explained, and inliiled upon ; and in the fecond Part a diftin6t Account has been given, how far the Expeftations entertauied of find- ing a PaHage in certain Parts, have been exam vied, and found to be without Grounds ; I come next to infift particularly on thofe Reafons that feem to perfwade us ftill, that fuch a Paf- fage may yet be found ; and that there is nothing abfurd, or even improb^bje, in fuppofing that, with no great Expence, ^e finding it may be fuccefsfully attempted ; and that too without expofing fuch as are fent upon this Expedition, to any extraordinary Dangers, or exceffive Fatigues. Thefe i^ea- fons ftiall be (diiefly drawn from Matters of Faft, which fell immediately under my own Notice and Obfervation in the la(| Expedition ; and which, as I fhall fincerely relate, I flatter myielf it will appear, that I am no Way mifled by any fan- guine Expeftations of my own, as with the utmoft Truth I can affirm, that there is nothing farther fron^ my Intentions^, ^an in any Degree to miflead others. It is a Fa£t lb well eftablifbed, as not to be drawn in Queftir on, that in Countries of narrow Extent, which are either Pe- pinfulas or Iflands, there are no Trees, but only a kind of Bu/hes and Underwood ; notwithftanding that," on the Conti- neat in tne JohnN t the Str fe fuch a W Iflands; K Subjea B gumeift K Gountr K is kno\ B have be H fixty-oi H vifibly i ■ Wood, IP ry fmal 1 ^here a fe Nor^vay i Ruflan 1 reaches 1 on the ( 1 ought tl 1 |n thefe not, as |i more pi 1 Countri 1 Wefterr I have, {; , fince it terpurg \ €nces^ 1 but Cor 1 is great* ' Tot we live( North kind of nefs of arifmg anothei of this or in o Are no j|,, -well as K -where ■ fuch £ ibe Dobbs and California. '37 Purpofes ling Pa- ery coq- 19 ifH ^a^y as ijfage by ihjiand" lally exi; ^f/ Paf- d infiiled Account of find- nd found ilarly on haPaf- furd, or ixpence, lat too to any I^ea- lich fell the laft I flatter iny fan-: ruth I ijtionS;^ Quefti- ler Pe- dnd of Conti- nent nentinthe fame Latitude, there grows as fine Timber as any in the World. One might mention the Obfervatiops of Sjp John Narborough, in his accurate Account of his Voyage to the Streights of Magelloftf and many other Authorities ; but fuch as are at all acquainted with the Shetland and Orkney Iflands, will think it prcpofteroua to multiply Proofs upon this Subject. It may from hence be laid down as a rational Ar- gumetft, that where, upon full Examination, it appears, a Country is deftitute of Wood, in a Climate in which Timber is known to flourifh, it has a Sea on both Sides. Now we have before informed the Reader, that from, the Longitude of fixty-one Degrees North, all kind of vegetable Produftions vifibly (hrunk and dwindled, and that initead of Trees and Wood, we met only with Shrubs and Byfties, and thofe ve. ry fmall; yet it is very well known, that in higher Latitudes, there are great Woods of large and excellent Timber^ in Nonvay, Swedettf Lapland, and all the Territories of the Ruffian, Empire, through that vaft Traft of Country that reaches to the Sea oi Japan, If therefore there were no Sea on the other Side, but a very Traft of Land to the Wcftwgrd, ought there not to be the like Plenty of Timber within Land, ^n thefe Countries that border upon Hudfonh-E>ay ? If there be jiot, as moft certainly there is not, can we affign any better or more probable Reafon for fo manifeft a Difference, between Countries under the fame Climate, than the Vicinity of a Weftem Ocean ? Neither will it ferve as an Anfwer to what I have advanced, to mention the great Cold of this Climate ; fince it clearly appears, from a Work lately publiflied at Pe- terjhurghf by a Member of the Imperial Academy of Sci^ €nces, and under their Dire£tion ; that not only Vegetablesjj but Com grows in fome Part of Kantfchatjka, tho* £e Cold is greater there, than upon the Coafts of Hudfon^s^Bay, To this, I crave leave to add another Remark, that while we lived in Montague -Houfsy it was conftantly obferved diat North Weft Winds brought with them much of that dufty kind of Snow, into which by Experience we knew the Goldi- nefsof the Winter- Air converted the Froft- Smoke or Steams arifing from open Waters. May not this therefore pafs for another probable Reafon to conclude, that to the North Wefl of this Country, there muft be a large Body of open Water, or in other Words, a Weftem Ocean at no great Diftance ? Are not thefe Arguments very confiftent with each other, as; well as with the ufual Operations of Nature in other Places, where the Caufes that are here fuppofed, are known to produce fuch Effe^s as th^fe ? W^ it not natural fox us^ while in ^ ;• '^ thefe 1 38 The Lafl Expedition in thefe Parts, and employed upon fuch an Expedition, to make . every Remark in our Power of this Nature, and cui any Man be blamed for framing his Sentiments as his Reafon directs bim, after examining, comparing and weighing with the ut- moft Circumfeeftion, fuch Remarks I Is not this the mo(l na- lural and probable Method of coming at Trutli in fuch Cafes, and does not Experience (hew, that the greated and moft va- luable Difcoveries have been made by thefe Means ? ♦Or if Fafts of a contrary Nature had occurred to our Obfervation, vrould they not have been urged by dich as oppofed this De- lign, to prove the Suppofitign of a WcAern Ocean abfurd or improbable ? Thb next thing to be confidered, is the Face and Appear- ance of tl>e Country ; from whence alfo fome probable Con- je£hires may be made ; fuice we know from Experience, that moil Countries in the World, which lie between two Seas, have a Ridge of Hills, or high Mountains in the middle, and a Defcent on each Side towards the Coafls, and this fo far as we had any Opportunity of obferving it, is adhially the Cafe here ; and the plained View we ever had, which was in our Faflage u^lVager-Bi^, gave us the moft convincmg Proof in this Refpeft ; for at our firft Entrance of the Bay, the Land was but low, yet fwelled by Degrees, one Mountain rifing behind another ; When we advanced confiderably up the Bay, we could plainly difcem, that there was a regular Declcnfion on the other Side, and the whole appeared to our View not unlike the Drafts of the JJihmus of Darien, which connefts North and South America. This alfo corrcfponds exaAly with the Accounts that have been given at the Factories, by the Southern Indians, who con- ftantly affirm that a great Ocean lies but at a fmall Diflance from their Country, towards the Sun's fetting, in which they have feen Ships, and on board them Men having large Beards and wearing Caps . Nay, fome of thefe Indians, who never had icen an Engli^ Ship have drawn the Figure of one upon the Rocks at Churchill, which will appear le(s wonderful to the intelligent Reader, if he confidcrs, that this painting or repre- fenting the Likenefs of Objefts, that furprlze them, is a Thing natural to moft Nations, which have not attained the Ufe of Letters ; as appears by what the Spanifh Hiftorian tells us of the Indians in Mexico, fending to their Emperor Montezuma the Reprefentation of Ferdinand Cortez his Ships and Men, when they firft arrived upon their Coafts. To this give me leave to add, what Sir 7^"** Narborough tells us of the Savages near the Streighis oi Magellan, who made the Figure of his Ship, /i&^ Dobbs W California. 13^* 8hip, Vith Earth and Bushes, andAuck up Pieces of Sdcks for Marts, which he imagined they did, to prefervc the Re- membriincc of their having leen it ; for, fays he very judici- ou/ly, they cannot have any Records but by Imitation. If therefore thofe Savages did it, why might not thefe ? And if thefe Indiam could paint a Ship, they muft certainly have feen It. Others again have brought down to the Foftories white Salt, which they affirmed was made by the Heat of the Sun on the Rocks, upon the Coalts of the other Ocean. I have joined thefe Teftimoiiies together, becaufe they ftrengthen and confirm each other, and in a Cafe of this Nature, I cannot fee what better Evidence we can have, than the Face or Ap- pearance of the Country, explained by the Voice of its Inha- bitants. But after all that has been faid, it muft be allowed, that if our Conjeftures were ever fo true, they would amount to no more than affording a probable Proof of this Country's having a Sea on both Sides, and make nothing for a Paffage, from one Sea to tht other, which is what we are principally concern- ed about ; for if there be no Paflage, or if that Paflage be a very long one, in a very high Northern Latitude, or very dif» ficult, and encumbered, our Difcovery might be thought of very little Confequence j and tho* perhaps it would not be difficult to fhew, that this Conclufion would be hafty and ill gounded, becaufe many Advantages might arife to the Trade of this Nation, from the finding a fhort Paffage from one Sea to the other, over Land, yet not to infift upon this for the p.efent, I fliall proceed to offer, what to me appears to be t'le cleareft and moft convincing Proofs, not only that there Is fuch a Pafjfagc from one Sea to the other, but that it is fliort, open and commodious. This may appear fomethingftranse, confidering that we confefs that we have no diftin^ Knowledge of the Place, where this Paffage lies ; but when the Reaoer has examined what wp have to offer, he will determine for himfelf how far this Promife is made good ; and all I deflre of him atprefent is, to confider that the Difcovery of a new World, was much more improbable, when Columhus attempt* ed and accomplifhed that Difcovery, and that Cofinography and Navigation have fince that Time been very much im- proved. As the Proofs that we have promifed, depend entirely on the Doctrine of Tides, it is abfolutely neceflary that before *wft come to the Proofs themlelves, fomething fhould be faid up* on this Subjeft in general; for otherwife, how certain foever theic Proofs mi§ht be, the Force of them would not be felt I 111 140 ^e Laft Expedition in by the Reader, U js however far from my Intention, »| |n4eed it is far beyond my Abilities, to enter mto a general Explanation of the Caufes of Tides, and of the fe- veral Variations to which they are fubjeft; but what I pro^ pofe is, to take Notice only of a few Points, which are ge- ijerally known to, and acknowledged by Seamen, without the Knowledge of which, it would be impoffible for the? i to manage their VeflTels, and from their conflant Obfervation and Praftice of which, they have all the Certainty about |h^m* tb?* is requifite to render them fit Topicks of reafon- ing, ia a Cafe of this Nature. In the firft Place then, it is certain, that Tides are propag?.ted from the great Ocean, or feneral Gojleftion of Waters, into particular Seas, in 'roportion to the Ncamefs and Opennefs of thofe Seas to the Ocean, from whence the Tides come. It is for this ^eafpo, that fuch as are called Inland Seas, which have ei- iher no vjfible Communication with the Ocean, or only a fingle and fmall Paflage into it, have fcarce any Tides j or IP. other Words, the Tide in fuch Seas is hardly perceptible : As for Inftance, in the Mediterranean, which flows from Weft to liaft; and through the Straits of Gibraltar ^ there is no fen- Cble Tide at all; it may, perhaps, increafc a little, but in the main it is not difcernible, except in the Gulph of Venice , where th?re is a finall Agitation perceived, that may be af^ Cribed to the Length and Narrownefs of the Way, which in the broader Parts of the Mediterranean is no where percep- tible J and even that is governed by particular Winds, The Flux and Reflux of the Sea was therefore unknown to the Grecians f except the irregular Current at the Euripui • and for this R^afon the Army of Alexander the Great was lb much aftoniihed at the Ebbing of the Sea, in the Mouth of the Rivcf Indus, that they took it for a Prodigy. The Ro- mans alfo w?'e unacquainted with Tides in the Time o(Scipio jtfricanus ; but after the Wars with Carthage, their Know- ledge, as wpU as their Conquefts grew more extenfive, I mention thefe Inftances to fatisfy the Reader of the Truth of this particular Faft, that Tides are infenfible in Inland Seas; fdr if they had not been fo, we may be very fure,thatfo inqui- litive and leai-ned a Nation as the Greeks, and fo thinking, and fo judicious a People as the Romans, could not have been ignorant of them, or of their Caufes; and that they were ig» tiorant, appears from their Surprize, at their firft Acquaintance with them. The fame Thing that is faid of the Mediier^ rmean, may be alfo faid of the Dallick, and for the feme Caufcj It 1» the'Dohh^ and California. Hi Caufe>* and in ftiort of every Inland Sea, with which we afe at all acquainted. IK the next Place, there is nothing better known, Ivikit Regard to Tides, than that this undeniable Maxim in Philofophy takes Place in them, that the nearer the Caufe, the ftrongec the EfFeft; that is io fay, the Tides are higher and earlier in Places, at a finall Diftance from the Ocean, and lower and later in thofe at a greater Diftance, as is very evident from the regular Progrefs of the Tides along the Goafh of Great* Britain : Thus at the Full and Change it is High Water at Tin* mouth-Barf at Three in the Morning; from thence rolling Southvardy it makes High Water at Spurn a little after Five % but not till Six at Hully becaufe of the Time required for its Paflage up the Number. In Yarmouth-Road, it is High Wa- ter a little after Eight j at Harwich, at half an Hour after Ten ; at the Nore, at Twelve ; at Crave/end, at half an Hour paft One ; and at London at Three the fame Day. In like man- ner, Tides rife higher or lower, at the fame Time, upon dif*» ferent Parts of the Coaft, in Proportion to their Diftances from the Ocean. It is alfo obferved, that ftrong Winds, blowing with the Tide, raife it higher than, according to the ordinary. Rules it ought to rife ; and high Winds contrary to the Tide, retard or deprefs it. x hefe plain and general Principles being laid down, we will now endeavour, by the Help of them, to difcover what we ought to thmk of Ifud- fon^s-Bay, from the Obfervations that have been made of the Tides upon tlie fcveral Parts of its Goads. In the firft Place, I muft take leave to obferve, that for any^thing yet known, if we exclude a Communication through a North Weft Paflage with the South Sea, Hudfon*s-Bay may be as juftly ftiled an Inland Sea, as the Mediterranean ; and ^vith more Propriety than the Baltick; fince it has no othec Communication with the Ocean, than by Hudfon*s- Straits, I know very well, that it is commonly fuppofed, that Hudr fof^s-Bay communicates with Bafinh-Bay and D avisos-Straits ; and I am very fenfible that in many if not in moft Maps, it is laid down fo j but upon what Authority this is aflerted on one Side, or reprefented on the other, I muft freely confefs my Ignorance; tho' if It were fo, my Arguments muft ftill have their Weight ; but 'till it is proved fo, I think there is no Reafon to admit it, and therefore I repeat it, that if tliere be ao North -Weft Paflage, Hudfov^s-Bay is, and ought to be conftde.sd as an Inland Sea. , Yet I muft obferve, that I do not pretend to fay, that be- f aufe it is as much an Inland Sea as the Mediterranean, it ought I ] li 1 ' ii^ I4» The tali Eitpeditidn in ought to have no Tide ; bccaufe as Hudfon^s-Straiti are w'ldtf^ and as this Bay is extended from Eaft to Weft, it is very rea- fonable to fuppofe that the Tides fhould be very perceptible } but then they ought to be fuch as may in other Refpedls confift with that GauTe, from which they are fuppofed to be derived ; or in other Words the Tide in Hudfon's-Bay muft be fuch a Tide as might be propagated from the Ocean, through Hu^w's-Straits j and if it be not fuch a Tide, the Reader will ealily fee, that there cannot be any thing more irrational or abfurd, than to Infift upon this Gaufe ; and that it is very little lefs ablurd to hava Recourfe to the Suppofition of frozen Straits, and other oc- cult Caufes, in order to defeat or difcourage our Search after die true Caufe. This is all I defire to be granted me^ and this^ I think, no reafonable or ingenuous Enquirer after Truth will think fit to deny me. To come then to the Point, it was held requifite in the lad Expedition, and a Refolution to that Purpofe was inferted in an A6t of Council, to try the Tide at Gary -Swanks -NeJ}, which is near Hu^on^s-Straits, where if the Tide came from the Ocean through them, it ought to be highefl; but this Was not done, and therefore we muft rely on the Account gi' ven us by Capt. FaXy who informs us, that upon Tryal, it was found to rife fix Feet. We will now compare this with the Obfervations made in the laft Expedition. I tryed the Tide upon an Ifland in the Latitude of 62°. 2', North, and found it rife ten Feet. I likewife tryed it in the Latitude of 6^^. on the Weft Coaft of the Welcome ^ where it rofe thir- teen Feet, and to the Northward of this, it rofe feventeen Feet, which is a very clear Proof, that this 1 ide could not be caufed by that, which is propagated through /T/^^^n's -iS/r<7/Vj- cut of the Ocean ; for if the Tides in thofe Latitudes had been from that Caufe, they muft have been proportionably» lower than the Tide at Cary-Siuan^s-NeJ} ; and as on the con- trary, diey are much higher all along the Welcome^ it is utterly irreconcileable to Senfe and Experience, that a Tide flowing fo far, filling fo many Bays, and meeting with fo many Ob- firuftions, mould rife higher and higher ; but what carries this to a Degree of Demonftration, is the Obfervations that have been made of the Height of the Tide in the /Atlantic Ocean, before it enters Hudfon^-Strttits^ for there it has been found to rife five Fathoms, whereas a liitle within the Bay, it hardly rifes two Fathoms. It would be needlefs to infift farther upon this, fince nothing that can be faid would contribute to make It dearer, udiefs it be, that thofe who deny the Communi- cation between Hudfon*S'Bay and the South-Sea, are forced to have Recourfe to an unducovered Straity fuppofed to lead from the Dobbs and California. Hi from Baffnh'Bay into Hudfon*s-Bay; which is a plain Ad- tniflion, that the Tides in the fVeicome, are not to be ac- counted for, from the Communication with die Atlantic Oce- an, through the Straits of Hud/on.' In Anfwer to which, for the prefent, there is no need to fay any thing more, than that we are not bound to confider this Caufe, 'till that Strait (hall be difcovered, and when that be will nobody can tell; but as I hinted before, tho* we are not bound to ^ve any other An- fwer, yet hereafter a more fatisfaftory Anfwer ihall be gi- ven. "We will next confider the Time of High Water, and the Direction of the Tides; for having now fhewn that the Height of them alone, is a Proof fufficlent that they cannot be propagated through Hud/on^s-Straitf, from the jtalantic Ocean, it becomes reafonabie fo to order our Enquiries, as that we may know from whence they Come< i muft there- fore obferve, that upon trying the Tide, in thr Latitude of 62**. 2'. the fame Tryal was made, anH ihe Flood found to come from the Northward, making High Water at five of the Clock. At Cape Fry, 64". 30'. North upon trying the Tide, I found it came from the Northward » according to the Direftion of the Coaft, and the Time of High Water, at Full and Change, was at three of the Clock. In the La- titude of 63». North, the fame Tryal was made, and the Tide was ftill round to Come from the Northward* If there- fore any Judgment can be formed, either from the Direfti- on, or from the Time of the Tide in thefe Parts of Hudfori^s- Bay, it is moft evident, that it comes from the Noith and North Weft, but can never come from the j^tlantlc Ocean ; for then In advancing into higher Latimdes, High Water would be later and later, whereas the Reader will obferve, that we found it to be juft the contrary. It is very probable, that this Direftion of the Tide might firft occafion that Opinion, which has prevailed of Hudforf%- Bay, communicating with a Northern Ocean, through Baffin's' Bay, and Davh^s-Straits ; which long age, and before this Bay was fo well knbwn, might be well enough excufed ; but at prefent, when thefe Things are fo much better underftood, to talk of thefe, !s irrational ; and to infift either on frozen or unknown Straits, is not quite fo pardonable ; for if occult Qualities are juftly banifhed out of Philofophy, all fuppofi- tlous Caufes fhould be exploded, in Cafes of this Nature, where they can never ferve any other Purpofe, than hiding Ig- norance, or obfcuring Truth. Now to avoid any Imputation of this Sort, and to fulfil the Promife formerly made the Reader, i 144 ^^^ ^^fi Expedition in' \ AciMcIef, it fliali be clearly (hewii, that the Tides cannot cdmfi from Baffin^^'Day, or Davif's-Strait, We are aflured, thai in the former, the Tide rofe hardly fix Feet; and Baffin him- fejf, in his Letter to Sir John Wolftonhohne ^ iaj s exprelly^ that isi DiA)is^s*Siraits, the Tides keep a certain Gourfe, yet rife bMt a fmall Height^ as eight or nine Feet, and the Flood comes from the Southward; now as all Tides in going from the Oceani which is their Source, gradually decreafe^ by filling Bays and Inlets in their Paflage ; it is very clear that if the Tide rofe to three Fathoms in Baffin^s-Bay, it could not, even fup- pofiilg a Communication, raife the Water in the Welcome one JFathom* This therefore cannot be the Gaufe ^ fince the Ef^ feft is not only, greater than this Gaufe could produce, but even greater than the Gaufe itfelf; which is a manifcft Ab- furdity. We may add to this, that according to all the Ac- counts Wd have of the Tides in the Northern Seas, as on the Coafts of Nova Zenilfla, Spitzbergen and Ctoenland, they are lower than We aftuaily found them in the JVelcotne • fo that either we muft relinquiih all the Principles of lOiowledgCj that the Sagacity of the wifeft Men, joined to the conft^it Experience of the ableft Seamen, have in a long Gourfe of Time eftabliftied, or we muft rejeft this Notion of the Tides coming from Davis^s-'Stfaits, through Baffin^s-Bay, into Hud- fon'S'Nmh-Ba^j. ^ It may be mid, that this is a negative Ai'gumeht only, and that it does not direftly prove any Gommunication with the South^Sea, as was promifed. To anfwer this j we need onhr defire the Reader to caft his Eye upon the Ghart> and fatisfy himfelf whether if this Tide comes not from the Atlantic or the Northern Ocean, it can come from any other Sojrcfi than the ^outh-'Sea, or from thence by any other Means than through a North Weft Pafllagej yet to fliew that this Truth wants not any kind of Prpof^ that can be aflced for, we will not reft this Part of our Cauie upon an Anfwer, which rho' conclufive la itfelf may not feem to be fuch a one, as might have been e3q)efted ; but proceed farther, and produce incon- tcftable Evidence, in fupport of what«we alFeit. This is fvumilhed by a Fa£t certified under the Hands of all who iff^tfi Members of the Council, in the laft Expedition, which is, that North WeftWinds make the higheft Tides every where upon thefe GQafts. Now this, which I venture to fay^ is a Fa6t out of all doubt, renders it clear that thefe high Tides cannot come frora the Alantic Ocean, through thtf Straits of Hudfon; for if they did, a South Eaft Wind would make them higheft } from the Principle before Uid. down, that that a Wiady. blowing with the fame Dire^Dn> as the Tide Kaifes it, and a North, Weft Wind would be fo far from doing this, that it would actually retard and de{>refe it, as being op. pofite to it's- Oiredlion ; and. as, we know by Experience the contrary of this to be tru3, we oug^t to conclude, that tJie Tide comes from a Weftern Ocean, fince there is no other Way of accounting for this Wind's making the higheft Tides. Neither ought it to be efteemed any Obje£Hon to this, that the Weftem Ocean, or Smtk-^Of lies behind, or at the Back of thde Countries, and that therefore it might be expected a South Eaft Wind fhould make the higheft I'lde, by driving the Waves upon the opnofite Shors, I fay, neither ought this Opinion to have Weight, becaufe it is no more than, a Fallacy eafily difcover^lfc by Reafon, and capable of being fht wn fiich firom; Experience. Firft then as to Reafon ; that wind raifes the Tide higheft, which blows with the fame Pireftion as the Flood, and, this in wha: ver Direftion the Coaft may lie upon which the Tide rifes;. becaufe fuch a Wind brings with, it a great Quantity of Water, which alone can make the Jlood higher. The fame Thing we learn from Experi- OToe,. upon the Eaft Coaft of England, tho' the German Sea lies to the Eaftward ; yet North Weft Winds make the higheft Tides, becaufe the vaft Ocean from whence they are propa- gated', lies : on that Side. The Difficulty therefore thrown in the Way by this Otye "^ion, is fo plainly folved, that I may now fafely propofe it, as it has been explained by a matter of Faft, with which every Seaman is acquainted, as a new Proof; for without doubt, if a candid and able Judge of thefe Mat- ters was. to have the Thing ftated to him, from the Chart of Hudfon*s-Dayi with a North Weft PafFagc open through it, awd was to be afked what Wind muft occalion the highell Tides? he wouldi certainly anfwer a North Weft; and there- fore as the Faftis, that a North Weft Wind railes the high- eft Tides, on both Sides the Bay, it is, as I have faid, an- other, and indeed a moft convincing Argument, that this Tide comes from the Weftern Ocean, which is that we con)monly call the South-Sea. B.UT there want not other Arguments befides this; and be- caufe the Apprehenfions of Men, are as. different as their Taftes, it may not be amifs to mention forae of them ; not- withftanding what we have already faid, is abfolutely con- clufive ; ypt, for the Sake of Brevity, I will take Notice Qnly of three. Thc^rft is the Glearnefs and Saltnefs of the Water in xhG Welcome j which, when I trycd the Tide atCapei L Fry i 1^6 The Laft Expedition in Fry was fuch, that I could plainly fee to the Bottom, at the? Depth of eleven Fathon*, or fixty fix Feet. Every Body knows, that Deepnefs, Tranfparency and Saltnefs, are in- confiftent with the Notion of a Sea, filled with the Dif- charge of Rivers, melted Snow, and Rain ; and as ftrongly argue a Communication with the Ocean, as any Thing can do. The fecond Reafon arife from the ftrong Currents that fet through it, and keep it clear from Ice, fo that it is a fet- tled and indifputed Faft, that the Northern Part of the Bay, is perfeftly free and open, when the Southern is much em- barrafled with Ice ; or, in other Words, there is very little Ice to be met with in the Latitude of 64**. or 65®. tho* in the Latitude of ^2°. and 53*'. the Sea is much incumbered with it. Now whence thefe ftrong Currents ftiould come, that fet with fuch Rapidity through the Bay, unlefs from a Weftern Ocean, is inlcrutable. The third Reafon, and the laft that I fhall mention, is the Number of Whales, that are feen here more efpecially in the latter End of Summer ; when it is very well known, that all that Kind of Fifti retire into warmer Climates, and confequently it may be fairly pre- fumed, that thefe refort hither for that Purpofe ; and if fo, there muft a Pa/Iage, and that not into a Northern, but a Weftem Ocean; for Inftinit in thofe Animals, is anunerrbg ' Guide. We have now gone through the greateft Part of our Work, with as much Plainnefs and Perfpicuity, as the Subjeft would permit : We have (hewn, that there is the higheft Probability, from the Climate, the Produce, and the AppearanDe of tiie Country, on the Weft Side of Hudfori's-Bay ; that, as it has Part of the /Atlantic on one Side, it has alfo the South-Se3. on the other: We have ftiewn from the Height of the Tides, that this is almoft certain ; and from the Time in which they happen, the Direction of them, and the Influence of the Winds upon them, that it is abfolutely fo, and that there is no accounting for thefe, but by allowing a Communication between the Waters in the fVelcome, and thofe in the South- Seas, by a North Weft Paflagc. It remains only to fliew where this PafTage may be reafonably expefted, and what Rea- fons can be afligned to incline our Belief, that this Paflage, wherever it lies, is ftiort, open, and commodious; but in explaining this, we muft begin with the latter Part, becaufc by that only, we can be direded to the former. In the firll Place then, it feems highly probable, that this PafT.ige is not very far to the Northward ; becaufe there is no mountainous Ice found in the ff'elcome, or in Repulfe-B/iy, as the Dobbs and California. H7 lat this is no ^s there IS in ff^hite-Bear-B(iy, Lumlet's- Inlet, Baffirt^s-ffay, or Davis's-Straits; which therefore fecm to beU^ng lo another Continent, that lies under or near the Pole. Another Rea- fon that proves the fame Thing, is the Height of the Tides, which as we before obferved, no Way referable thofe in the Northern Seas, which at Nova Zembla rife only one Fathom, and not above half that Height at Sp'itzbergen ; that this Pal- fege, wherever it may lie, is ftiort, may be proved by many Arguments ; for fiift, we find no large Rivers on the Weft Coaftof Hudfonh-Bay'y but, on the contrary, very weak and fmall, which is a direft Proof that they do not run far, and eonfequently that the Land is not of any great Extent, which feparates the two Seas. In the next Place, the Strength and Regularity of the Tides, is another very ftrong Argument; for where we find Tides ebbing and flowing, nearly equal Time, laving the Difference ccafioned by the Mooii's com- ing later to the Meridian, evcrj' twenty- four Hou s, it is ef- teemed a Mark of being near that Ocean, from whence fuch Tides fpring ; and indeed it is one of the fureft and mofl cer- tain Marks we have. There is a third Reafon, and I will mention no more ; and that is, the Refort of the Whales hither ; for confidering the Seafon in which they are found here in greateft Number , it is impolfible to conceive they fhould have Time to pafs into warmer Climates, if the Paflage, through which they pafs, be not very fhort. All thefe Ar- guments taken together, fortify and fupport each other, and may be looked upon as fo many concurring Teftimonies, in Favour of the fame Truth. If this PafTage be not far to the Northward, which the Reafons already affigned, feem clearly to prove that it is not; and if for the Caufes before mention- ed, we have good Reafon to conclude, that it is but fhort ; we may from thence prefume, that it is both open and com- modious, which is farther manifefled by the ftrong ("urrents fetting through it, which is the Reafon that there can be no Ice in it. Laying therefore all thefe Circumflances together, I think it muft be allowed, that there is nothing wild or chi- merical, in the endeavouring to difcover it ; and that conlidcr- ing the Pains taken in, and the Lights obtained n-om the l.fl Expedition, it cannot with any Shadow of Jullicc be filled fruitlefs, tho' as to the ultimate Intention of it without Suc- cefs. We might add to this, that various other great De- iigns have been fully carried into Execution, after repc; ted Difappointments, and contrary to the Senthiicnts ot \cry knowing and intelligent Perfons, whofe Opinions happcn- ) .. L 3 cd f# II 4S ^he Lafi Expedition in ei to be warped by the Share ihey had in thof; 'Difappointo mcnts. J WILL g're but one Inftance, and that only, becaufc it feenis to be in a great Mcaliirc parallel to this. There •were Hopes long entortaincd of iinJing a PaflTage into the South- Seas, by advanoipg along the C^oafts of BraziL, and fo to the Countries beyond the River of Plate; and va- rious Trials were made with this View, *till at length yi^ merlcus Vefpucius, (from whom the new Worid has receiv- ed its Name} and who without doubt was both an able Sea- man, and an excellent Cofmographcr, was feflt into thefe Parts, and he advanced very far to the South, even to the Height, as fome lay of fifty two Degrees, but difco- vering no PalFi. e„ he concluded there oould be none ; which however ^^ difproved by Ftrdhand MageHariy who dif- covered 'u.. ■. oai ■, i thofe Straits \hich veiy defervedly bear his Name, j'ld u*^' prcferve his Memory as long as the World lafts. Wheu inefe Straits were dil'cove»-ed, it was taken for granted, that they were the only Paflage into the South-Seas J and therefore the King of Spain intended to liave built a City, and a Fortrefs in them., to prevent other Nations from pafling by that new Courfe to the Eaji-Jn- dies. The Dutch however difcovered the Vanity of this, by finding a Paflage round Cape Horn\ which ftiews, that after many fruitlefs Attempts, not one Paflage only, but many may be difcovered, which very polfibly may prove the Cafe in Hudjmh-Day, fmce fome very piobable Con- jeftures might be offered, that there may be feveral Paf- fages, communicating witJi each other. And Gapt, Fox long ago fuggefted, that there might be even an open Sea as at Cape Finmarke ; nor has this hit{-iCito been difproved. After what has been faid, it cannot be expected that I fliould enter, with any Degree of Pofitivenefs, into af- jfigning the Place where any PafTage is to be found) and I dare fay the Reader would not form a better Notion of my Judgment, from my infifling peremptorily upon fuch a Thing, becaufe in Matters of this Nature, the wifcft and moft knowing Men may be deceived, and fome very fenfiWe and fa- gacious Perfons have beenfomewhat miflaken about it already ; it may therefore be thought flifficient for me to point out, from my own Experience, M'hat induces me to believe, that fuch a PafTage there is • and to offer my GonjeAures, as to tlie Places where, with fome Probability, it may be fought, tho' very poffible another Voyage may difcovcr the Paflage clfewhere, or at leaft Places not hitherto exammed ; which may afford the "Dcbhsand California. 149 as to ought, aflage :h may afford afford as ftifi fairer, and more ratiofial Hopes. Thcfe Things I prcmife, that it may not be thought any EfFeft of Prepof- feffion, or of Gorifidence, that I prefume to take Notice of two Places, in each of which, I thmk,a Paflage may be fought upon very rational Grounds, and with very good Effects. In the firft Place, I muft obferve, that froni the Report made of a confiderable Inlet in the Latitude of 64**. whidh X called Chefterfieldh Inlet, I have ben induced to have vcrj^ great Expqftations. Thofe who fearched it affirmed, that the Ebb run very ftrong from the Weftward for eight Hours ; whereas i; ran up but two ; and with a Motion incomparafafty flower. They like wife affirmed, that at the Diftance of nine- ty Miles from the Entrance, the Water, tho' Itefher than ttie Ocean, had yet a very flrong Degree of Saltnefs ; now if there was no PafTage, and the Water ran down eight Hours, at the Rate of fix Miles an Hour ; and ran up only two Hours, at the Rate of two Miles an Hour, the Water ought t'^ have been perfeftly fre/h ; fince as no Salt Water v^nt i ,j f r more than two Hours, none ought to have come dovirn af *■ two Hours Ebb, even if the Ebb had been as flow as the .lood ; but as it was much more rapid, it ought to have been frefh fooner. It is certain, that if a Tide of Flood had bee . met coming from the Wefhvard, it would have afforded an incon- teftable Proof of a Paffage ; yet the Tide from the afVward, does not prove the contrary ; flnce in the Magellan Straits, as the accurate Sir John Narborough tell us, the Tide flows half way up from the Eaftward, and is there met by a Flood from the Wefl or pacific Ocean. I might add many other Rea- fons , to fhew the Probability of a Paffage here ; but I wave them to avoid laying a Foundation for new Difputtes> •which, af er all that can be faid about it, mufl be left to the Determination of another Tryal, under the Directi- on of Men, fkilful in Navigation, careful in their Obfervati- ons, and attentive to the Lights, that may be derived to them from Remarks made upon the Spot, which mufl enable them cither to find what they feek, or to account for thefe Appear^ ances without a Paffage ; which in itfelf would be a very Angu- lar Difcovery, and one from whence many Advantages might be derived by correfting thofe Notions that have been long, and are flill generally, entertained of thefe Matters. The other Place I would mention, is Repit/je-Bay; and the Reafons that may excite the Hopes of a Paffage here, are thofe that have been fo often mentioned; that is, the Depth, Saltnefs and Tranlparency of the Water, together with the Height of the Tide, propagated from thence ; all which arc • . -- Circumflanccs » 50 The laft Expedition in Circumftances that leein ftrongly to couQtei)ance fuch an Ex» pedtatioti. I w o u L D not be underftood to mean an abfolute Expedla- tion of finding the Paflage here, but ^ very great Probability of approaching ftili clofer to the Difcovery ; by tracing it as it wpre to its Source or Fountain Head. I am very ibnfiblc ^at this is an obfcure and, in fome Meafure, an improper Exprellion j to obtain Pardon for which from the Reader, I will endeavour to fet this Thought in a clearer Light. We may conllder Hudfon's-^Bayy as a .;ind of llabyrinth, into which we enter on one Side through Hudfon's-Straiis^ and what we aim at, is to get out on the other Side. M^e might indeed hope to do this, by repeated Experiments; that is, by making Tryal after Tryal, till the Outlet is found; but this will be both a painful, tedious, and unfatisfaftory Method, in which Patience alone, without any Mixture of Parts, would fometimc or ciher do the Bufinefs, but nobody could pretend to fay when. But then, let us conlidcr how many Maiks of a Pailage have been already defcribcd artd explained, and let us farther remember, that the Tide is a Kind of Clue, which icems to lead us by the Hand through all the Windings and Turnings of this Labyrinth, and if ftudioufly and fteadily fol- lowed mufl: certainly lead us out, Now the Tide rifing very high and coming from the Northward in /?^/»«^-i?rt^, as it is called, but without any Reafon, Js a juft Motive for our making another Tiyal there, which would undoubtedly fhew us more, if it did not (hew us all, This I hope will make my meaning perfe^Uy clear, and juftify all that 1 contend for ; which is the Profecution of this Search, till a Paflage is found, or the Arguments in favour of it anfwercd, by fome other Diicovery. I MIGHT add feveral other Argiur.cnts here, relative both to the Place, and to the Subjcedition, prgperly Cv ndufted, cannot fail of producing an ab- blute Certainty whether there is fuch a Pa/Iage or not ; and fince this is a Thing out of Difpute, it feems to be incompa- tible with our Reputation, as a Maritime Power, as well as inconfiftent with our Interefts, as a trading Nation, to aban- don a Delign, that has been profecuted fo far, and wants fo Httle, fo very little, of being complcated. I BEG leave to add to this, that we ought alfo to confider, how injurious it might prove to the Trade, as well as to the Character of the Briti/h Nation, if, after puftiing this Point fo far, Foreigners fhould reap the Profit of all our Pains and Labour; and by the Help of the Lights that we have afforded theni, find out this new Way t-) the South Seas, and to the Eajl-Indies ; which if it can be found, lies at prefent fo much in our Power, not to difcovcr only, but to become Mailers of it ; and tho' cxclufive Commerce is often deftruftive and dangerous, in the Hands of private Perfons ; yet an exclufive Trade has been always, and veryjuftly cfteemed of the higheft Advantage to a Nation, of which many Inllances might be ffiven, if that which we enjoy to our own Plantations, did not K) clearly and inconteftably eftablifli this, as to render all other Proofs altogether unnecefTary. But before we part with this Remark, it will not be amifs to add, that there feems to be the greater Foundation for thefe Apprehenfions, from that vifible Spirit of extending Commerce, and promoting Difco* veries, which ihews itfelf at prefent in fo many different Parts of the World ; and in fome, where but a very few Years ago, ildthing of this Sort was fo much as thought of. And while the Rujpans are with fuch Vigour and Induftry purfuing their Attempts to find a Paffage to America, from their Domi- nions ; it would furely be unpardonable in us to negleft any thing of the lame Nature, which is fo much more in our Power. We owe to this Spirit in other Nations, fome very en- couraging Hints, as to this Defign ; of which, as I believe it has not hitherto reached the public Notice, I will mention one. A Gentleman of great good Senle, and of undoubted Veracity, not many Months fince arrived from Portugal, af- fcirs, that lome (hort '^nnc before bis Departure, a Pcrlon arrived there, who in a Voyage from a certain Dutch Settle- iv.ent in the EaJl-hul'iS, v.hethcr undertaken for the fake of Dilcovery, or a clandeftiue Trade is not either certain or ma- terial, 1(51 fhe tafi B9tp$difm im leriidt va^ (hipwrccked on the North Coaft of Cal'^omia^ v^hich gave him an Opportunity of obfecvios, that it is both an Ifland and a Peninfum $ the na^Ow and mort Ifiimus that joins it to the Continent, being overilowed by high Tides. He farther obfervcd^ >vhich is a Thing very materiiyi to our Purpofc, that the Coafh pf the Continent tended dire£U.y| Nordi Eaft, uthich is a. Thing we never knew, wJth Ceitamty before, and which to fuch as confidcr it attentively, will ap*. Dear no (light Argument, m Favour of a North Weft PaHage ; for if the Continent of Anerica, joine^ here to that of y^^a^ or to any other between them, the SM|rc would rather have twined North Wed. We may add to this, that by the over* flowing of the Ifthmus at High Water, it is evident, that a very high and ftrone Tide runs here, which is alfo very con. formable to what might be expe^^ed in cafe of a PaHagie. But exduiive of all this, it is.a Thing of fome Confequence, con* (idered barely as a Fa^l that regards the Geography, of a Coun- try, which has been fo often the SubjeQ; of Dilpute, and about which Mr. De V^JlCf one of the moft able Men in France, wrote a very curious as well as particular DilFertation, with* out, however, pretending to clear up the Difficulty ; but, on the contrary^ labouring to (hew, that, at that Time, there was no Certainty wheidier Calif ornla was an Ifland or a Prninfula. Th us the Reader fees in the narrowaft Compafs into which I could poffibly brin^ them, what thofe Motives are whith have induced me to f^ak with fo much Affurance of the Pro* bability and PofTibility of determining, by another Expedition, a Point, elleemed oif fuch Confequence to the Nation, as to defcrve die Notice and Encouragement of the LegUlature; and to his candid' Cenfure I fubmlt them, deTiring to meet with no better TreafPent from the World, than the Fidelity of my, Relation, the Sincerity, of my Qbfervajtipns, and the Up- i-ightnefs,Qfi my Intcfittoikirmay d^iMve. F 1 N I S. !Wmr^ m Qv(c^o. V^Act.^-^-W