Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/248

228 During the night we aw everal fires of the natives to S.E.

24th. On the following morning we weighed anchor, and plied to windward at the ditance of about 500 toies from the land. We found every where a depth of water of at leat 6½ fathoms, over a very good bottom.

Though the thermometer had never indicated more than 7° above the point of congelation, even in the coldet mornings, the nows had greatly increaed upon the high mountains een W.N.W.

Whilt the currents continued favourable we gained ground at every tack; but about ix o'clock in the evening they became contrary; and we cat anchor in a bottom of grey and at the depth of eight fathoms, very near to the coat, and to the northward of the tation from whence we had ailed in the morning.

The natives kindled more than twenty fires upon the coat towards the outh. Many families of them had probably come down to the coat upon hearing the news of our being in the bay.

25th. About even in the morning the current was favourable, and we made everal tacks in order to enter a narrower part of the channel, where we ranged very near to the wet coat, teering N.E.N. Having