Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/273

246 1794. July.

VERDEN, where the obferved latitude was 58° 12', longitude 225** 7'. At the diftance of 2 miles to the north-weft of this point, the party pafled a fmall cove with an ifland lying before it, and half a league fouth of the point, a high barren rocky iflet.

The branch that had been thus navigated, was here about five or fix miles wide, and at this ftation was united with a very extenfive arm, taking a s.s.e. and n.n.w. direftion. The latter becoming the firftob- jeft of attention, the boats proceeded to the northward, along the wef- tern or continental (bore, which in this neighbourhood conftituted a narrow border of low land, well wooded with ftately trees, moftly of the pine tribe, behind which ftill extended a continuation of the lofty fnowy mountains. About two miles to the north of point Couverden were pafled one fmall ifland and three rocky iflets ; one of which lies nearly in mid-channel, and having advanced about 4 or 5 leagues up this arm, the oppofite ftiore that had appeared to be compaft now feemed to be broken. The progrefs of the party in this purfuit was greatly re- tarded by a frefli northerly wind, and a conftant ftream fetting againft them, fo that it was noon on the 1 4th before they reached a point lying N. 10 M^. from point Couverden; where Mr. Whidbey obferved the lati- tude to be 58" 35'. From this point the eaftern fliore of the arm ftill prefented the fame broken appearance, but that along which they had pafled was firm and compaft, indented with a few coves, and fome iflets and rocks lying near it. Both fides of this arm were bounded by lofty ftupendous mountains, covered with perpetual ice and fnow, whilft the ftiores in this neighbourhood appeared to be compofed of cliffs of very fine flate, interfperfed with beaches of excellent paving ftone. This point forms a proje6ling promontory, about a league long, in a norther- ly direftion, from which the continental fliore ftill continued in the above line about nine miles, where, near a fmall brook, the party refted for the night. Moft of the preceding day had been foggy and rainy, the latter increafed greatly during the night, and detained them until nine in the forenoon of the 1 5th ; when, having a gentle breeze in their favor, they proceeded along a ftraight and compaft fliore, and by noon reach- ed a fmall iflet, where the obferved latitude was 58°54', longitude 224" 47'-