distinctly separate from each other; and, in the ſpaces remained the blackfimith's coal, without any appearance of their having undergone the action of fire.
Whilft we remained inactive the fore part of the morning, our time was not unprofitably employed, in receiving the welcome vifits of fome hofpitable friends from the fhore; who brought us fuch an abundant fupply of fresh falmon, that we purchaſed a fufficient number to ferve the crew fo long as they would keep good; which was a great relief from our falted provifions, being a luxury we had not lately experienced. gen.
We had not long been under fail, when the officers, who had been dispatched in the boats on the 17th, arrived on board. From thefe tlemen I became acquainted, that they had examined the inlet to which they had been directed. Off its weft point lies a ſmall iſland; its entrance is about half a mile wide, but with no more than 4 fathoms water in mid- channel; from whence it extends about 8 miles, in a direction N. 75 E.; this depth however increaſed as they advanced, to 5, 6, and 7 fathoms, af- fording good anchorage about two thirds of the way up: beyond which limits, like all the canals of this kind that we had explored, it termi- nated in fhallow water. The country bore a more pleaſing aſpect than that feen from Johnſtone's ſtraits; and the foil, where they landed, at the upper part, was compoſed of black mould and fand, producing pine- trees of large dimenfions. They faw one run of water at the head; but the fhoal ftretching from thence, prevented their afcertaining its quali ties ; yet as a deferted village was obſerved half way up on the northern ſhore, in all probability this place is not deftitute of wholeſome water, the only undifcovered requifite to conflitute it a very fnug and commo- dious port; to which I gave the name of PORT NEVILLE.
The weather was ferene and pleaſant, but the wind fo light and va riable, that, although we were not more than 4 leagues from the vil lage where we expected to meet Maquinna; it was not until paft ten at night that we reached that flation, when we anchored juft without the fandy ifland, in 7 fathoms water.
Friday 20,
The next morning shewed the village in our neighbourhood to be large; and, from the number of our visitors, it appeared to be very populous. These brought us the skins of the sea-otter, of an excellent quality
