On the second of June, 1608, the Phœnix left Jamestown for England, taking with her John Smith and a party of fourteen men (among them Ralph Morton), who went to explore the Chesapeake by order of the Company, who hoped to find a passage to the South Sea.
At the capes of the Chesapeake Captain Smith's party left the Phœnix and set out on their voyage in an open barge of three tons, rigged with a mast and sail. They sailed up the eastern side of the bay, first visiting the Indian village of Accomac, where they were very kindly treated. While exploring some little islands in the bay they were caught in a violent storm of thunder and lightning, with such gusts of wind that they were well-nigh shipwrecked.
Returning to the eastern shore of the bay, they put into a little river called Wighcocomoco to obtain fresh water. As they came near the
