Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 2.djvu/358

33- July. In North of the ifland the breadth of the inlet increafed again to about 2 or 3 miles, trending n. 39 e. In purfuing this line about 4 miles, we pafled the fouth point of an opening on the eaflern fhore two miles wide, appearing to divide itfelf into feveral arms ; but the wcftern fliore feemed to be compaft, from the opening oppofitc the anchorage, until we arrived a-breafl of an opening, about 2 miles wide at its entrance, on the weftern fhore, feemingly divided into two or three branches, taking a dire6lion about N. 18 w. The obferved latitude at this time was 54" 58', longitude 230° 3'. The branch of the inlet we were now navigating was not of greater width, not did it appear likely to become more extenfive, than that to the weftward of us jufl difcovered. This made it uncertain which to confider as the main branch. Four other openings had been pafled on the eaflern fhore, whofe extent had not yet been afcertained ; and al- though I was much inclined to follow the north-weflerly branch, yet I was apprehenfive, that by fo doing we might be led too far from the continent, and by that means caufe additional labour and lofs of time Our route was, for this reafon, continued to the n.k.e., and another divifion of the inlet flretching to the eallward was foon difcovered. In the event of a convenient fituation being found in this branch, I intended to flop the vefTels there, and made the Chatham's fignal, who had preceded us during the forenoon, to Peer for the eaflern opening, and fhortcned fail for the purpofe of fending a boat before us to found. Whilfl we lay to wait the boat's return, a few of the natives vifited the fhip in five or fix canoes; they brought little to difpofe of, yet appeared to be anxious that we fhould remain in their neighbourhood. Se-eral inquiries were made for Ezuen Nafs, but thefe people feemed to be to- tally ignorant of the phrafe, until it had been repeated feveral times, and we had pointed in various directions ; upon which, feme of them repeated the words, and imitated our motions, giving fome amongfl us reafon to imagine, that they meant, that Ewen Nafs was up this identical branch of the inlet ; though in all other refpe6ls we remained totally ignorant of their language. The appearance and direftion of this opening, however, by no means favored the opinion, that it was an extenfive channel communi- cating m
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