96 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
which were killed, the seals, and the numerous birds, 
and he described Ranunculus glacialis and Papaver 
alpinum. The men had complained of the insufficiency 
of the food in such a climate, and a new dietary was 
framed. Every mess of five men was to receive 4 lb. of 
biscuit daily, 12 quarts of beer, 6 stock-fish, and an extra 
gill of peas on salt meat days. 
From various indications, Davis was inclined to be- 
lieve that Cumberland Gulf was a strait, but a north- 
westerly gale had driven the ships from the land, and 
on August 26th he determined to begin the homeward 
voyage. He considered that his discoveries had ma- 
terially increased the amount of knowledge which must 
be collected before the passage was likely to be found. 
Davis was warmly welcomed by his steadfast friend 
Adrian Gilbert, and he addressed a hopeful letter to 
Sir Francis Walsingham. He then went up to London, 
and gave a personal account to the Secretary of State 
and to Master Sanderson. 
For the second expedition, which was immediately 
decided upon, the merchants of Devonshire subscribed 
liberally. The little fleet was composed of four ships, 
the Mermaid of 120 tons, the Sunshine, the Moonshine, and 
the North Star, a pinnace of 10 tons. Davis himself was 
in the Mermaid with his friend Janes, and Henry Morgan, 
a servant of Master Sanderson, joined the expedition 
as purser. Davis had resolved to divide his fleet. The 
Sunshine under Captain Pope, with the pinnace, was 
to seek for a passage on the east side of Greenland as 
far as 8o° N., and they parted company on the 7th of 
June. The Mermaid and Moonshine sighted the southern 
extremity of Greenland on the 15th, but Davis was 
unable to land owing to the pack-ice extending for several 
leagues off the shore. He therefore gave it the name 
of Cape Farewell, and once more entered the strait which 
will bear his name for all time. Encountering very 
severe weather it was not until the 29th that anchorage 
was found near Gilbert Sound, where the Eskimos re- 
ceived their old friends with joyous welcome. Davis put 
together a small pinnace which had been brought out 
in pieces, and explored some of the fjords and inlets, also 
making long excursions inland to observe the character 
