John Davis: Master Navigator

First Voyage
June 7, 1585 - September 30, 1585

On Davis's first voyage, he sailed 290 kilometers into Cumberland Sound before turning back to England, certain that he had found a route to Asia Copyright/Source

Davis sailed with two ships, Mooneshine and Sunneshine. He then sailed to the southern tip of Greenland, which he called Cape Farewell. He sailed across what is now called Davis Strait until he reached Baffin Island. Heading southward, he explored the coast until he found Cumberland Sound. After sailing 180 miles into the sound, he believed it to be the route to Asia. He hurried back to England.

Drawings of Inuit Copyright/Source

An Outdoor Concert
When Davis first met the Inuit in 1585, he called for the ship's four-piece orchestra to come off the ship and play. The crew began to dance. Soon, 10 kayaks paddled up, Inuit climbed out and greeted the Englishmen.

The next day, the Inuit woke the sleeping crew with a rousing drum dance.

Struzik, Ed. Northwest Passage: The Quest for an Arctic Route to the East. Toronto: Key Porter Books, ©1991, p. 39.