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
They also found ten miles within the snowy mountains a plain champion
country, with earth and grass, such as our moory and waste grounds of
England are. They went up into a river (which in the narrowest place is
two leagues broad) about ten leagues, finding it still to continue they
knew not how far; but I with my company took another river, which
although at the first it offered a large inlet, yet it proved but a deep
bay, the end whereof in four hours I attained, and there leaving the boat
well manned, went with the rest of my company three or four miles into
the country, but found nothing, nor saw anything, save only gripes,
ravens, and small birds, as lark and linnet.
The 3rd of July I manned my boat, and went with fifty canoes attending
upon me up into another sound, where the people by signs willed me to go,
hoping to find their habitation; at length they made signs that I should
go into a warm place to sleep, at which place I went on shore, and
ascended the top of high hill to see into the country, but perceiving my
labour vain, I returned again to my boat, the people still following me
and my company very diligent to attend us, and to help us up the rocks,
and likewise down; at length I was desirous to have our men leap with
them, which was done, but our men did overleap them; from leaping they
went to wrestling; we found them strong and nimble, and to have skill in
wrestling, for they cast some of our men that were good wrestlers. The
4th of July we launched our pinnace, and had forty of the people to help
us, which they did very willingly. At this time our men again wrestled
with them, and found them as before, strong and skilful. This 4th of
July, the master of the _Mermaid_ went to certain islands to store
himself with wood, where he found a grave with divers buried in it, only
covered with seal skins, having a cross laid over them. The people are
of good stature, well in body proportioned, with small, slender hands and
feet, with broad visages, and small eyes, wide mouths, the most part
unbearded, great lips, and close toothed. Their custom is, as often as
they go from us, still at their return, to make a new truce, in this
sort: holding his hand up to the sun, with a loud voice crieth
"Ylyaoute," and striketh his breast, with like signs being promised
safety, he giveth credit. These people are much given to bleed, and
therefore stop their noses with deer hair or the hair of an elan. They
are idolaters, and have images great store, which they wear about them,
and in their boats, which we suppose they worship. They are witches, and
have many kinds of enchantments, which they often used, but to small
purpose, thanks be to God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account