FROBISHER. 476 



*scaped so many dangers in the Arctic Ocean, was doomed to 

 un untimely end within sight of his native shores. 



Twenty years afterwards, Martin Frobisher set sail with three 

 -small vessels of thirty-five, thirty, and ten tons, on no less an 

 errand than the discovery of a north-west passage to Asia. 

 With these wretched nutshells he reached the coasts of Green- 

 land and Labrador, but was prevented by the ice from effecting 

 ■a landing. 



This first voyage was little remarkable in itself, but its acci- 

 dental results tended much to the advancement of northern 

 research, for Frobisher brought home some glittering stones, 

 the lustre of which was erroneously attributed to gold ; a cir- 

 cumstance which, as may well be imagined, greatly contributed 

 to pave the way for a second expedition to " Meta Incognita." 

 This time Frobisher sailed with three ships, of a much larger 

 •size, that they might be able to hold more of the anticipated 

 treasure ; and, besides securing 200 tons of the imaginary gold, 

 •discovered the entrance of the strait which bears his name. 



His geographical knowledge may be inferred from the fact 

 that he firmly believed the land on one side of this channel to 

 be Asia, and on the other America; and, though we may be 

 tempted to smile at his ignorance, yet the lion-hearted seaman 

 is not the less to be admired, who with such inadequate means 

 ventured to brave the unknown terrors of the Frozen Ocean. 



The gales and floating ice which greeted Frobisher as he 

 ■endeavoured to force a passage through the strait put a stop to 

 ftll farther progress to India; but, as the gold delusion still 

 continued, the expedition was considered eminently successful. 

 A lar<*e squadron of fifteen vessels was consequently fitted out 

 for the summer of 1578, and commissioned not only to bring 

 back an untold amount of treasure, but also to take out materials 

 and men to establish a colony on those desolate shores. 



But this grand expedition, which sailed forth with such 

 extravagant hopes, was doomed to end in disappointment. One 

 of the largest vessels was crushed by an iceberg at the entrance 

 of the strait, and the others were so beaten about by storms 

 and obstructed by fogs, that the whole summer elapsed, and 

 they were fain to return to England without having done any- 

 thing for the advancement of geographical knowledge. 



The utter worthlessness of the glittering stones having meaD- 



