222 ATTEMPTS MADE TO DISCOVER 



own - name. Here also he lost five of his men whom he 

 set on shore ; and by a very unwise and unfair retaliation 

 he seized upon one of the natives, and carried him away 

 to England. That such proceeding was unjustifiable is 

 evident from his being at the time in a state of uncertainty 

 about the fate of his own men, whose lives, if spared by 

 the natives up to the time in which the Uskee-me was 

 seized, might probably have been preserved, but such a 

 proceeding could only produce the worst consequences. 



Captain Frobisher brought home in this voyage a piece 

 of stone of a black colour, which some chemists of that 

 day pronounced to contain gold ; and this event tended to 

 recommend another expedition to the same place in quest 

 of that precious ore. High expectations were entertained 

 that a most valuable discovery had been made on that 

 occasion. 



Accordingly, by the exertions of his patron, the Earl of 

 Warwick, he was dispatched in 1577 in quest of the 

 land of gold ; and the better to secure success, he was pro- 

 vided with one of her Majesty's ships, attended by the two 

 barks. He again saw the land lying at the entrance of 

 the strait, and called it Queen Elizabeth's Foreland. 

 Having sent ashore to make strict search after his men, 

 which proved he was doubtful of their fate, all inquiry was 

 ineffectual, and he hesitated not to carry oft' two men and 

 one woman prisoners. Here he took on board a quantity 



