Almost from the beginning, the convoy was beset by mishaps. Off the coast of Africa, the fleet was scattered by a great storm and Grenville had no choice but to continue on to Puerto Rico, in Spanish Territory, and await his other ships. Since none of the other vessels had arrived before him, Grenville took the opportunity to construct a fort and build another small ship to use on the voyage. Within two weeks, all but one of his seven ships had joined him so the voyage to the colony recommenced. On reaching the shore of Wococon Inlet, the lead ship Tiger was promptly grounded and most of the cargo was destroyed.
Grenville spent several weeks exploring the island, but was not able to decide on a place for a permanent settlement. Using the Indian Manteo (one of two Indians who had returned to England with the first explorers), Grenville surveyed the surrounding area and proved the English dominance to some of the local Indian tribes (burning one village over a supposedly stolen silver cup.) During this exploration, drawings of the local Indian villages were captured by John White, the resident artist (who would play a key role in the first settlement of women and children on the island.) The party soon sailed north to Roanoke Island and resumed contact with the Indians there, with which relations had been established on the first voyage.
By August 1585, a fort had been built and Grenville was preparing to return to England to report on his findings to Sir Walter Raleigh. Captain Ralph Lane was left in charge of the 107 men on Roanoke. Lane and his men became quite familiar with the Native Americans and their way of life and took great advantage of their hospitality, particularly since they had no food of their own planted nor any other sustenance on which to live. During that winter, Lane searched for precious metals and pearls rumored to be near their settlement. Both the rumors of pearls to the north and gold in the western mountains proved fruitless, only leading to Lane take Menatonon, Indian king of the Chawanoac, hostage in an attempt to learn secrets from the Indians to lead him to the gold. The English colonists adopted a practice of retribution and revenge against any village that did not receive them properly, not to mention spreading smallpox and other "English" diseases among the native population.
