s of the Strait there are islands, among which the sea hath
his indraught into the Straits, even as it hath in the main entrance of
the frete. This Strait is extreme cold, with frost and snow continually;
the trees seem to stoop with the burden of the weather, and yet are
green continually, and many good and sweet herbs do very plentifully
grow and increase under them. The breadth of the Strait is in some
places a league, in some other places two leagues and three leagues, and
in some other four leagues; but the narrowest place hath a league over.

The 24th of August we arrived at an island in the Straits, where we
found great store of fowl which could not fly, of the bigness of geese;
whereof we killed in less than one day 3,000, and victualled ourselves
thoroughly therewith. The 6th day of September we entered the South Sea
at the cape or head shore. The 7th day we were driven by a great storm
from the entering into the South Sea, 200 leagues and odd in longitude,
and one degree to the southward of the Strait; in which height, and so
many leagues to the westward, the 15th day of September, fell out
the eclipse of the moon at the hour of six of the clock at night. But
neither did the ecliptical conflict of the moon impair our state, nor
her clearing again amend us a whit; but the accustomed eclipse of
the sea continued in his force, we being darkened more than the moon
sevenfold.[*]

[*] In this storm the Marigold went down with all hands.

From the bay which we called the Bay of Severing of Friends, we were
driven back to the southward of the Straits in 57 degrees and a tierce;
in which height we came to an anchor among the islands, having there
fresh and very good water, with herbs of singular virtue. Not far from
hence we entered another bay, where we found people, both men and women,
in their canoes naked, and ranging from one island to another to seek
their meat; who entered traffic with us for such things as they had.
We returning hence northward again, found the third of October three
islands, in one of which was such plenty of birds as is scant
credible to report. The 8th day of October we lost sight of one of our
consorts,[*] wherein Master Winter was; who, as then we supposed, was
put by a storm into the Straits again. Which at our return home we found
to be true, and he not perished, as some of our company feared. Thus
being come into the height of the Straits again, we ran, supposing the
coast of Chi