HISTORICAL, SUMMARY 77 



voyage. This is memorable as the first instance of a crew win- 

 tering in the north and being sufficiently healthy to remain the 

 following summer. This year's voyage ended in latitude 65, 

 near Whale point in Roes Welcome. On the homeward voyage 

 Button passed close to a large island south of Southampton, 

 which he called Mans p ll, and not Mansfield, as it is now 

 written. 



The following extract from Prince Henry's instructions for 

 Button, dated 5th of April, 1612, shows the accurate knowledge 

 of Hudson strait possessed at that early date : 8. ' Being in ; 

 we holde it best for you to keep the northern side, as most free 

 from the pester of ice, at least till you be past Cape Henry ; 

 from thence follow the leading ice, between King James and 

 Queen Anne's Foreland, the distance of which two capes observe 

 if you can, and what harbour or rode is near them, but yet make 

 all the haste you maie to Salisbury island, between which and 

 the northerne continent you are like to meet a great hollowe 

 billowe from an opening and flowing sea from thence.' . 



In the same year, James Hall and William Baffin went to the 

 west coast of Greenland in search of a gold mine, at Cunning- 

 ham fiord near the Arctic circle, which was reported to have 

 been worked by the Danes. ~No ore was found, but traces of old 

 workings were discovered. 



Baifin, accompanied by Bylot, sailed through Hudson strait 

 in 1615. He then passed north by Mill island and traced the 

 northeast shore of Southampton island, from Sea-horse point to 

 Cape Comfort, the last being according to his observations in 

 latitude 65 K, longitude 85 22' W. Doubling this cape, the 

 tide was found to set differently from what had been expected, 

 and gave no hope of a passage in that direction, so he turned 

 back. The following extract from Baffin's journal gives his 

 opinion as to the possibility of a passage westward being found 

 leading from any of the channels entering Hudson bay : 'And 

 now it may be that some expect that I should give my opinion 



