Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 3.djvu/294

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264
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY


>7ni. lulv. Tucltl.ty 2C),

CHAPTER X.

Proceed to Ihcfouthxoard along the exterior coajl of King George the Third's archipelago — Arrixc in port Conclujion — Tranfaclions there — Tioo boat excurfiom — Complete the far vcy vf the continental Jhorcs of North-We/t America — AJlronomical and nautical obfervations.


J U R attention being now tlircciccl to the furvey of the exterior coall oi George the Third's archipelago, at the dawn of day. on the 2gth, with a fre[h wcllerJy bree/e, we made I'ail along the ihore, to the fouthward ; cape Crofs bearing by compafs n'. 68 1.., didant four or five miles. From this cape the coall takes a direftion s. 31 1:., abont 7 leagues to another promontory, that obtained the name of Capk Edward ; off which lies a duller of fmall iflets and rocks. The coafl between thcfe capes is much broken, and has feveral openings in it that appear- ed likely to ailbrd fheltcr ; but the vail number of rocks and fmall idets, Ibme producing trees, and others intirely barren, that extend to the dillance of three or four miles from the fliore, will render the entering of fuch harbours unpleafant and dangerous, until a more competent know- ledge of their feveral fituations may hereafter be acquired : that which appeared to be the eafiell of accefs, lies about two leagues to the north- ward of cape Edward, and as it is in latitude 57° 44', I was led to con- fuler this opening as Portlock's harbour. We did not reach cape Ed- ward until the afternoon, as the weflerly breeze was foon fucceeded by faint variable airs, that blew direftly towards the fliorc, which was vi- fible only at intervals, owing to the thick foggy and rainy weather, and which rendered the view wc had obtained of this part of the coait, by JIO