Page:Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World in the Years 1791–95, volume 1.djvu/395

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to the latitude of 5o''52', longitude 235" 19', where, in the ufua! manner, it terminated by a fmall tva6l of low land, from whence a fhallo a- bank flretched into the arm, which foon increafcd, from 2 to 50, 70, and 100 fathoms in depth, and then became unfatiiomable. Behind this low fmall fpoi of land, the mountains rofc very abruptly, divided by two deep vallies, whence iffued ftreams of frefh water, though not fufficiently capacious to admit the boats. In thefc vallies, and on the low plains, pine-trees grew to a tolerable fize ; the few feen on the mountains, were of very dinted growth. High fleep barren rocks, capped with fnow, formed the fides of this canal, the water of which at its head was near- ly frefh, and of a pale colour, as was that in the arm where Mr. Puget met Sen' Valdes. It was noon on the 30th before we reached that part of the weflern fhore, which had appeared broken, and on which the fires of the natives had been obferved on entering this canal ; which I diftinguifhed by the name of Bute's Canal. Here was found an In- dian village, fituated on the face of a fteep rock, containing about one hundred and fifty of the natives, fome few of whom had vilited our par- ty in their way up the canal, and now many came off in the moft civil and friendly manner, with a plentiful fupply of frefli herrings and other fidi, which they bartered in a fair and honefl way for nails. Thefe were of greater value amongft them, than any other articles our people had to offer. From the point on which this village is erefted, in latitude 50° 24', longitude 235° 8', a very narrow opening was feen ftretching to the wellward, and through it flowed fo ftrong a current, that the boats imable to row againft it, were hauled by a rope along the rocky fhorcs forming the paffage. In this fatiguing fervice the Indians voluntarily lent their aid to the utmoft of their power, and were rewarded for their cordial difinterefted affiftancc, much to their fatisfaftion. Having pafTed their narrows, the channel widened, and the rapidity of the tide de- creafed. Mr. Johnfl:one, in the cutter, had alone been able to pais ; to whom it was evident that this narrow paffage had communication with Ihme very extenfive inlet of the lea; but, as the weather was now very boifterous, with heavy rain, and a thick haze, and as the launch had not yet made her appearance, he returned in fearch of her, and found the