142 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
Nothing remarkable took place during the voyage 
home, and the Discovery arrived safely at Plymouth all 
well, and without the loss of man or boy. It "was a well- 
conducted expedition, made memorable by Baffin's scien- 
tific observations. We have the tabulated log kept by 
Baffin during the voyage, his report and journal, and the 
manuscript chart drawn by himself. Besides numerous 
observations for latitude and 27 for variation of the 
compass, he took the first lunar ever observed at sea. 
Baffin's report to the Merchant Adventurers was that 
he considered a passage by way of Hudson Strait to be 
doubtful, but he was of opinion that there was a passage 
and that it must be by Davis Strait. Accepting the 
opinion of so high an authority, the five leading adven- 
turers, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Dudley Digges, Sir Francis 
Jones, Sir John Wolstenholme, and Sir James Lancaster 
patriotically resolved to send an expedition by way of 
Davis Strait. The Discovery was once more got ready, 
with Mr Allwyn Cary, who had fitted her out for her 
former voyage, as ship's husband. Old Bylot was again 
Master and this time Baffin's rating was that of pilot. 
Seventeen men formed the crew. 
On the 26th March, 1616, the little Discovery left 
Gravesend on her fifth polar voyage. She encountered 
strong westerly gales and sought shelter in Dartmouth 
for 11 days, and for a day in Plymouth, but at last she 
got fairly on her voyage. The first land that was sighted 
was the coast of Greenland at Cockayne Sound, but 
Baffin did not stop, pressing onwards until he reached 
Hare Island to the north of Disco in 70 0 26' N. On 
the last day of April, Hope Sanderson, the furthest 
point of Davis, was reached, and next day the progress 
of the Discovery was checked by heavy floes. Anchorage 
was found near some islands whence the native men 
fled, but some girls were left behind and received help 
from the explorers, so Baffin gave the name of "Women 
Islands " to the group. One of the islands is now the 
Danish station of Upernavik in 72 0 48' N. Kingitok, the 
most northern station, is in 72 0 55' N. 
Baffin, knowing nothing of the ice movements, 
attempted to force his way through the middle pack, 
a very risky and perilous course to take. As the ship 
