i899-'oo 'Transactions 39 



coast for several days, leaving on the 24tli August, and reaching 

 England on the 30th, September. By an admirable course of 

 reasoning he gave his conclusion that ' ' Davis Strait does lead to 

 the Pacific." 



Encouraged by his report, the promoters sent him out again, 

 this time with four vessels — the "Sunshine," and the "Moon- 

 shine" (as before,) the " Mermaid" (100) tons and the " North 

 Star," a pinnace of 10 tons. They arrived in Gilbert Sound at 

 the end of June and began searching for other openings besides 

 those found in the previous expedition. Soon they, encountered 

 huge packs of ice. The crew of the new ship the " Mermaid " 

 had not seen the Arctic regions before. They quailed in front of 

 the huge icebergs and at length mutinied. The}- were partially 

 subdued by his imposing presence and entreated him ' ' not 

 through over-boldness to leave their widows and little children to 

 give him bitter curses." He sent the "Mermaid" home. He 

 himself continued his exploration and found two more openings, 

 Davis Inlet and Sound and Souctoke Inlet. On the 21st August, 

 they were in Gilbert Sound where, according to the narrative, 

 the natives whose confidence he sought to win through the sweet 

 medium of music ' ' did on divers times woo us on shore to play 

 with them at the football and some of our company v/ent on shore 

 to plaj^ with them and our men cast them down as soon as they 

 did come to strike the ball." Thus earlj- was football introduc- 

 ed in the h^^perborean regions and bod3--checking indulged in. 

 Davis soon after that set sail for England, as he passed naming 

 Cape Farewell on the extreme southern point of Greenland and 

 arrived home in the beginning of October. 



On the 19th May, 1587 Davis left England on his third vo}^age 

 having with him his favourite vessel the ' ' Sunshine ' ' and the 

 " Elizabeth," and a clinche named the " Ellen of Eondon " and 

 on the 30th June, had reached latitude 72"^ 12, nearl}^ four degrees 

 further north than any one had been before in that sea. He saw 

 before to him to the north " no ice, but a great sea, free, large, 

 very salt and ver)^ blue ' ' and ' ' it seemed most manifest that the 

 passage was free without impediment towards the north." 

 Northern gales and the wish to proceed towards the west prevent- 

 ed him sailing further in this northern direction. He tried to 

 sail westward and succeeded in going 44 miles deflecting but 



