Voyages in Search of the North-West PassageHakluyt, Richard
History
Voyages in Search of the North-West Passage
Hakluyt, Richard
Arctic regions -- Discovery and exploration; Northwest Passage; Voyages and travels
The next morning our general, perceiving certain of them in boat upon the
sea, gave chase to them in a pinnace under sail, with a fresh gale of
wind, but could by no means come near unto them, for the longer he sailed
the farther off he was from them, which well showed their cunning and
activity. Thus time wearing away, and the day of our departure
approaching, our general commanded to lade with all expedition, that we
might be again on sea board with our ship; for whilst we were in the
country we were in continual danger of freezing in, for often snow and
hail, often the water was so much frozen and congealed in the night, that
in the morning we could scarce row our boats or pinnaces, especially in
Dier's Sound, which is a calm and still water, which caused our general
to make the more haste, so that by the 30th day of August we were all
laden, and made all things ready to depart. But before I proceed any
further herein, to show what fortune befell at our departure, I will turn
my pen a little to Master Captain Fenton, and those gentlemen which
should have inhabited all the year in those countries, whose valiant
minds were much to be commended, that neither fear of force, nor the
cruel nipping storms of the raging winter, neither the intemperature of
so unhealthful a country, neither the savageness of the people, neither
the sight and show of such and so many strange meteors, neither the
desire to return to their native soil, neither regard of friends, neither
care of possessions and inheritances, finally, not the love of life (a
thing of all other most sweet), neither the terror of dreadful death
itself, might seem to be of sufficient force to withdraw their prowess,
or to restrain from that purpose, thereby to have profited their country;
but that with most willing hearts, venturous minds, stout stomachs, and
singular manhood, they were content there to have tarried for the time,
among a barbarous and uncivilised people, infidels and miscreants, to
have made their dwelling, not terrified with the manifold and imminent
dangers which they were like to run into; and seeing before their eyes so
many casualties, whereto their life was subject, the least whereof would
have made a milksop Thersites astonished and utterly discomfited; being,
I say, thus minded and purposed, they deserved special commendation, for,
doubtless, they had done as they intended, if luck had not withstood
their willingness, and if that fortune had not so frowned upon their
intents.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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