The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part IHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
[Sidenote: Probabilities for the passage.] Our Captaine and Master searched
for probabilities of the passage, and first found, that this place was all
Islands, with great sounds passing betweene them.
[Sidenote: Wee neuer came into any bay before or after, but the waters
colour was altered very blackish.] Secondly the water remained of one
colour with the maine ocean without altering.
Thirdly we saw to the West of those Isles three or foure whales in a skull,
which they iudged to come from a Westerly sea, because to the Eastward we
saw not any whale.
Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying Southwest, from whence
these whales came, vpon the sudden there came a violent counter-checke of a
tide from the Southwest against the flood which we came with, not knowing
from whence it was mainteined.
Fiftly, in sailing twenty leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had
sounding in 90 fadoms, faire grey osie sand, and the further we ran into
the Westwards the deeper was the water; so that hard aboord the shoare
among these Isles we could not haue ground in 330 fadoms.
Lastly, it did ebbe and flow sixe or seuen fadome vp and downe, the flood
comming from diuers parts, so as we could not perceiue the chiefe
maintenance thereof.
The 18 and 19 our Captaine and Master determined what was best to doe, both
for the safegard of their credits, and satisfying of the aduenturers, and
resolued, if the weather brake vp, to make further search.
The 20 the winde came directly against vs: so they altered their purpose,
and reasoned both for proceeding and returning.
The 21 the winde being Northwest, we departed from these Islands; and as we
coasted the South shoare we saw many faire sounds, whereby we were
perswaded that it was no firme land but Islands.
The 23 of this moneth the wind came Southeast, with very stormy and foule
weather: so we were constrained to seeke harborow vpon the South coast of
this entrance, where we fell into a very faire sound, and ankered in 25
fadoms greene osie sand. [Sidenote: Faulcons.] Here we went on shore, where
we had manifest signes of people where they had made their fire, and layed
stone like a wall. In this place we saw foure very faire faulcons; and M.
Bruton tooke from one of them his prey, which we iudged by the wings and
legs to be a snite, for the head was eaten off.
The 24 in the afternoone, the winde comming somewhat faire, we departed
from this road, purposing by Gods grace to returne for England.
[Sidenote: Their returne.] The 26 we departed from sight of the North land
of this entrance, directing our course homewards vntill the tenth of the
next moneth.
[Sidenote: September.] The 10. of September wee fell with The land of
desolation, thinking to goe on shoare, but we could get neuer a good
harborough. That night wee put to sea againe, thinking to search it the
next day: but this night arose a very great storme, and separated our
ships, so that we lost the sight of the Mooneshine.
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