The lands of silence : $b A history of Arctic and Antarctic explorationMarkham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
History
The lands of silence : $b A history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration
Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
Polar regions -- Discovery and exploration
In the middle of July Foxe tried to sail between Nottingham and
Salisbury Islands, but he was stopped by the ice in his attempt to
go to the north-west, as others had been before him. He therefore
turned to the south and made his way along the south coast of
Southampton Island, sighting Mansel Island and Cary’s Swan’s Nest,
named by Button. Foxe then discovered the wide opening between the
west side of Southampton Island and the main land, without finding the
narrow strait at the northern end. Supposing it to be a deep bay,
he named it after his patron, “Sir Thomas Roe’s Welcome.” An island
was named “Briggs his Mathematics” on the 31st July, after the great
mathematician to whom we owe the use of logarithms, who had died a few
months before Foxe sailed on his voyage of discovery. Our explorer then
visited the winter quarters of Button and Munk, finding the remains of
their ships, but, convinced that there was no passage on the west side
of Hudson’s Bay, he resolved to return to the east side of Southampton
Island and make another attempt by the north-west.
In crossing Hudson’s Bay the _Charles_ came in sight of another
vessel, which proved to be the _Henrietta Maria_, commanded by Captain
James. The two exploring ships stopped to communicate and Captain
James entertained Captain Foxe at dinner, the ships then proceeding
on their respective ways on the 1st September. Captain James wintered
at Charlton Island in the extreme south-east angle of Hudson’s Bay.
The party underwent the most terrible suffering, but the ship arrived
safely in England in the autumn of 1632[94].
On the 7th September the _Charles_ was off the south point of
Southampton Island. Much hampered by ice Foxe reached Mill Island
of Baffin, and then stood over to the north main land at a point he
called King’s Cape. He was now in the locality where Baffin turned
back, judging from the indications that there was only a large bay
ahead. All beyond would, therefore, be new discovery. He had reached
what we now know as Fox Channel. Sailing onwards, he passed two
promontories, 20 leagues apart, which he named Lord Weston’s Portland
and Cape Dorchester; then, on the 22nd, in 66° 47′ N., he reached his
furthest point, which he rather pompously called “_North-West Foxe his
furthest_.” He was on his way to a north-west passage or rather to one
lane by which the two oceans unite, for it could never be a passage.
The discovery was completed in after years by Parry, Ross, Rae, and
M’Clintock.
[Illustration: Part of Foxe’s Map, 1635.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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