ARCTIC VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY. 



337 



again revived, and Martin Frobisher, vi'^ho had solicited merchants and nobles 

 during fifteen years for means to undertake " the only great thing left undone in 

 the world^^ sailed in the year ISVe with three small vessels of 35, 30, and 10 tons, 

 on no less an errand than the circumnavigation of IN'orthern America. The 

 reader may smile at the ignorance which encouraged such efforts, but he can 

 not fail to admire the iron-hearted man who ventured in such wretched nutshells 

 to face the Arctic seas. The expedition safely reached the coasts of Greenland 

 and Labrador, and brought home some glittering stones, the lustre of which 

 was erroneously attributed to gold. This belief so inflamed the zeal for new 

 expeditions to " Meta Incognita," as Frobisher had named the coasts he had 

 discovered, that he found no difficulty in equipping three ships of a much larger 

 size, that they might be able to hold more of the anticipated treasure. At the 

 entrance of the straits which still bear his name, he was prevented by the gales 

 and drift-ice from forcing a passage to the sea beyond, but having secured about 

 200 tons of the supposed golden ore, the expedition was considered eminently 

 successful. A large squadron of fifteen vessels was consequently fitted out in 

 1578 for a third voyage, 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 with such 

 extravagant hopes, was 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 they were at length glad 

 to return to England without having done any thing for the advancement of 

 geographical knowledge. The utter worthlessness of the glittering stones 

 having meanwhile been discovered, Frobisher relinquished all further attempts 

 to push his fortunes in the northern regions, and sought new laurels in a sunnier 

 clime. He accompanied Drake to the West Indies, commanded subsequently 

 one of the largest vessels opposed to the Spanish Armada, and ended his heroic 

 life while attacking a small French fort in behalf of Henry lY. during the war 

 with the League. 



The discovery of the North-western Passage was, however, still the great 

 enterprise of the day, and thus sundry London merchants again " cast in their 

 adventure," and sent out John Davis, in 1585, with his two ships, " Sunshine"" 

 and " Moonshine," carrying, besides their more necessary equipments, a band 

 of music " to cheer and recreate the spirits of the natives." Davis arrived in 

 sight of the south-western coast of Greenland, where he saw a high mountain 

 (Sukkertoppen) towering like a cone of silver over the fog which veiled the 

 dismal shore. The voyagers were glad to turn from the gloomy scene, and to 

 steer through the open water to the north-west, where, on August 6, they dis- 

 covered land in latitude 66° 40' altogether free from " the pesters of ice, and 

 ankered in a very fair rode." A friendly understanding was established with 

 the Esquimaux, and a lively traffic opened, the natives eagerly giving their 

 skins and furs for beads and knives, until a brisk wind separated the strange 

 visitants from their simple-minded friends. The remainder of the season was 

 spent in exploring Cumberland Sound and the entrance to Frobisher's and 

 Hudson's Straits. 



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