xl Prelimmary Chapter. 



could not; it tbeii extend iiiji' to tlie Eastward. On her return to the Southward, 

 she met with two Danish Ships bound to ]>all Kiver and Disco, up Davis' Straits, 

 who had been in the Ice fourteen Days off Farewell, and had then stood to West- 

 ward, and assured the Commander that the Ice was fast to the Shore, all above 

 Hudson's Straits to the distance of forty Degrees out; and that there had not been 

 such a severe Winter as the last these 24 Years that they had used that Trade ; 

 they had been nine Weeks from Copenhagen. The Argo, finding she could not 

 get round the Ice, i)ressed through it and got into the Strait's Mouth the 26th of 

 June, and made the Island Eesolution, "but was forced out by vast quantities of 

 driving Ice, and got into a clear Sea the 1st of July. On the 14th, cruising the 

 Ice for an opening to get in again, she met 4 Sail of Hudson's Bay Ships, endeav- 

 oring to get in, and continued with them till the 19th, when they parted in thick 

 Weather, in Lat. 62 and a half, which thick Weather continued to the 7th of August. 

 The Hudson's Bay Men supi)osed themselves 40 Leagues from the Western Land. 

 The Argo ran down the Ice from 63° to 57° 30', and, after repeated attempts to 

 enter the Straits in vain, as the Season for discovery on the Western Side of the 

 Bay was over, she went on the Labrador Coast, and discovered it perfectly from 

 b&^ to 55°, finding no less than six Inlets, to the Heads of all of which they went, 

 and of which we hear they have made a very good Chart, and have a better 

 Account of the Country, its Soil, Produce, &c., than has hitherto been published. 

 The Captain says 'tis much like Xorway, and that there is no communication 

 with Hudson's Bay through Labrador where one has been heretofore imagined, a 

 higli Kidge of Mountains running Xorth and South about 50 Leagues within the 

 Coast. In one of the Harbors they found a deserted wooden House with a brick 

 Chimney which had been built by some English, as appeared by Sundry Things 

 they left behind : and afterwards in another Harbor they met with Captain Goff 

 in a Snow* from London, who informed them that the same Snow had been there 

 last Year, and landed some of the Moravian Brethren who had built that House ; 

 but the Natives having decoyed the then Captain of the Snow, and five or six of 

 his Hands, in their Boat round a Point of Land at a Distance from the Snow, 

 under im-tence of Trade, and carried them all off (they having gone imprudently 

 witlioMt Anns), tlu; Snow after waiting sixteen Days, without hearing of them, 

 went Home and was obliged to take away the Moravians to help to work the 

 Vessel. Part of the Business this Year was to Enquire after those Men. Cap- 

 tain Swaine discovered a tine fishing Bank, which lies but six Leagues off the 



•A Ihrcc-masted vcBsel, the third mast, abaft the mainmast, carrying a trysail. 



