1585. JOHN DAVIS. 107 



to the southward. In standing along the coast he 

 observed drift-wood floating about daily, and the 

 Moonshine picked up a tree " sixty feet long and 

 fourteene handsfuls about, having the roote upon 

 it." The air was moderate, like April weather in 

 England, and it was cold only when the wind blew 

 from the land or ice, but when it came over the 

 open sea " it was very bote." 



From this coast they stood off again to the 

 north-westward for four days, w^ien they saw land 

 in latitude 64"* 15', the weatber still being temperate 

 and the sea free from ice. It was an archipelago 

 of islands, " among which were many faire sounds 

 and good roads for shipping ;" to that in which they 

 anchored Davis gave the name of Gilberts sound, 

 A multitude of natives approached in their canoes, 

 on which the musicians began to play and the 

 sailors to dance and make tokens of friendship. 

 The simple and harmless natives soon understood 

 their meaning, and were so delighted with their 

 treatment and the music that they flocked round 

 them in vast numbers, not less than thirty-seven of 

 their boats being at one time along side their small 

 barks. The sailors shook hands with them and 

 won so far on their good will that they obtained 

 from the " salvages" whatever they wished — canoes, 

 clothing, bows, spears, and in short whatever they 

 asked for. " They are very tractable people," says 

 the narrator, " void of craft or double dealing, and 

 easie to be brought to any civilitie or good order ; 



