Page:Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World in the Years 1791–95, volume 1.djvu/443

368 1702.

dcptli f)f" 28 fathoms, rocky botioni; hut iiumediatoly aricrwards gained no ground with Go and 70 liuhoins of line. As it was my ininiiion to feek a chamicl bctwivn hc two ifkuids, the Chatham's (ignal was made to leafl. 'i"he wind being hght we advanced flowly, pading fome very dangerous rocks, whole lituution was only to be known by the breakers upon them at low tide, lying about 2 miles to the s.i. of the north-eallern- mofl illand.

Though clear iminedintelv overhead, the horizon was enctnnbcrcd with partial fogs in every direftion. This rendered the view of surrounding ol))e6ls not lefs limited than undelined, and prevented fueh obfervations being made, as were necellary for afecrtnining our pofitive fituation. About noon we were becalmed between thefe illands, whole fhorcs are about two miles and a half afunder ; foundings were obtained at the depth of 70 fathoms, rocky bottom. They lie from each other about north and fouth ; the fouthernmofl; is about a league in circuit, with a fmall ifland lying off its eallern extremity. The northernmoff,, inftcad of being one ifland, as bad been fuppoli^d, was now found to comprehend eight or nine finall idets, lying in a direction about n. 50 w. and occupying in that line an extent of four miles ; their breadth about half, or pcrluips three quarters of a mile. With the aHidancc of the boats a-hcad, we palTcd through tliis channel about one o'clock. At this time a light breeze fpringing up from the north -weft ward, we flood towards the fouthern fhore ; it was not, however, as was ufual with the north-welf erly winds, attended with clear and pleafant weather, but with a remarkably thick fog ; and having no foundings we were obliged to ply to windward under an cafy fail until about fie o'clock, wlicn we gained bottom, at.i' anchored in 55 fathoms water. The fog foon after cleared awav, and difcovcred our fituation to be near the fouthern fliore, before a fmall opening at the diftance of about a mile. 7'his by eompafs bore s. 7 vv. ; a channel that appeared to ftrctch to the s.k. through the range of iflands to the fouthward of that wc had navigated, bore s. 80 f.. and fecmed tolerably clear of thofe dangers and impediments with which wc had lately contended. The fouthernmofl of the iflands we had palFcd at noon bore by eompafs n. 7 e. at the diflance of about a league ; and tlic north*