JOHN DAVIS a.d. 



1585. 

 of the clocke in the morning in Gods name we set saile, 

 and were all that day becalmed upon the coast. 



The first of August we had a faire winde, and so pro- August. 

 ceeded towards the Northwest for our discovery. 



The sixt of August we discovered land in 66 degrees Land in 66 

 40 minuts of latitude, altogether void from the pester of * e & rees 4° 

 ice : we ankered in a very faire rode under a brave 

 mount, the cliffes whereof were as orient as golde. This 

 mount was named Mount Raleigh. The rode where our 

 ships lay at anker was called Totnes rode. The sound 

 which did compasse the mount was named Exeter sound. 

 The foreland towards the North was called Diers cape. 

 The foreland towards the South was named Cape Wal- 

 singham. So soone as we were come to an anker in 

 Totnes rode under Mount Raleigh, we espied foure white Foure white 

 beares at the foot of the mount : we supposing them to beares - 

 be goats or wolves, manned our boats and went towards 

 them : but when we came neere the shore, we found them 

 to be white beares of a monstrous bignesse : we being 

 desirous of fresh victuall and the sport, began to assault 

 them, and I being on land, one of them came downe the 

 hill right against me : my piece was charged with hailshot 

 & a bullet : I discharged my piece and shot him in the 

 necke; he roared a litle, and tooke the water straight, 

 making small account of his hurt. Then we followed 

 him with our boat, and killed him with boare-speares, 

 & two more that night. We found nothing in their 

 mawes ; but we judged by their dung that they fed upon 

 grasse, because it appeared in all respects like the dung of 

 an horse, wherein we might very plainly see the very 

 strawes. 



The 7 we went on shore to another beare which lay all 

 night upon the top of an Island under Mount Raleigh, 

 and when we came up to him he lay fast asleep. I 

 levelled at his head, and the stone of my piece gave no 

 fire : with that he looked up, and layed downe his head A huge white 

 againe : then I shot being charged with two bullets, and beare - 

 strooke him in the head: he being but amazed fell 



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