Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/128

78 within three miles of the land, whitish, showing a distinct division, doubtless snow-water and mud.

We continued to be teazedteased [sic] with light variable airs and strong currents, and on Monday, the 4th September, finding the wind failing, I determined on keeping in small water, so as to be able to anchor. Mount St. Elias being then within fair distance. About eight we anchored in fifty fathoms, mud; the day beautifully fine, horizon well defined, and our position as perfect as could be wished for our observations, all of which were obtained, and satisfactory.

The current was found to set one mile and a half per hour west, varying but slightly in force, and not at all in direction. At this position, not a single drift tree was noticed. We were within the white water about two miles, which I am now satisfied flows from the ice. But why it preserves its uniformity of strength and direction, is yet a problem to be solved.

On the morning following it was cloudy, with rain, and the breeze springing up compelled us to trip. Towards the evening it cleared up, and we were treated with a most splendid picture of St. Elias and all the neighbouring peaks, in full beauty, not a vapour near them. Each range is in itself an object worthy of the pencil, but with the stupendous, proud St. Elias towering above all, they dwindled into mere hillocks, or into a most splendid base on which to place his saintship.

Although Vancouver describes St. Elias as "in