October 26, 1612 [at Savage Harbour/South Dildo and Dildo Pond]

The 26 day being about to departe hence, & under saile, contrarie windes put us in again, & then I sent some to follow the said way to see how farre yt went, & whether they could see any savages. [They] who [went] within one houre returning, declared that they saw a great freshe water lake, whether the said way did lead them, & two fires, one upon ane Island in the said lake & an other upon the said lake.

Whereupon Iohn Guy, with fourteene more went to the said lake, where they had sight of the said fires, & a canoa with two rowing in her in the said lake and so going through the woods with what silence was possible, alongst the lake side at twilighte, they came within halfe a mile of the place of one of the said fires, where, remaining two hours within nighte, [there]after they proceeded, & came to the said place, where they founded no savages, but three of their housen [i.e. houses], whereof two had bin latelie used, in one of the which the hearth was hot. The savages were gone to the said Island, whither we could not goe for want of a boate.

We found there a cooper kettle kepte very brighte, a furre gown, some seale skinnes, ane old sail, & a fishing reele. Order was taken that nothing should be diminished, &, because the savages should know that some had bin there, every thing was removed out of his place, & brought into one of the cabins, and laid orderly one upon the other, & the kettle hanged over them, wherein there was put some biscuit, & three or four amber beades. This was done to beginne to winne them by faire means.

This time of the yeare they live by hunting, for we found twelve stag’s hoofs that were latelie killed. A little piece of fleshe was brought away, which was founde to be a beaver cod, which is forthcoming to be seen.

Their housen [houses] there were nothing but poles set in a rounde forme, meeting all together alofte, which they cover with deere skinnes. They are about tenne foote broade, and in the middle they make their fire. One of them was covered with a saile, which they had gotten from some Christian.

So, all things in this manner lefte, everyone returned by the moonlight, going by the banke of the lake unto the entrance of the made way, & a little before they came thither, they passed by a new savage house almoste finished, which was made in a square forme with a small roofe & soe [we] came to the barke [Indeavour].

Crout's entry for this date.

The Beothuk camp visited by Guy and Crout on October 26, 1612 was located at Russell's Point in the community of Blaketown. You can learn about the history and archaeology of Russell's Point by clicking Here.