1??\S. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 361 



was onlv a branch of it, and the main channel con- 

 tinued its northern direction through the low land 

 now in sight. The continuation and direction of 

 the chain of mountains on each side of it strongly 

 indicated the probability of the latter supposition. 



To determine this point, and to examine the shoals, 

 I dispatched two boats, under the command of the 

 master ; and, as soon as the flood-tide made, followed 

 with the ships ; but, as it was a dead calm, and the 

 tide strong, I anchored, after driving about ten miles 

 in an east direction. At the lowest of the preceding 

 ebb, the water at the surface, and for near a foot 

 below it, was found to be perfectly fresh ; retaining, 

 however, a considerable degree of saltness at a greater 

 depth. Besides this, we had now many other and 

 but too evident proofs of being in a great river ; such 

 as low shores, very thick and muddy water, large 

 trees, and all manner of dirt and rubbish, floating 

 up and down with the tide. In the afternoon the 

 natives, in several canoes, paid us another visit ; and 

 trafficked with our people for some time, without 

 ever giving us reason to accuse them of any act of 

 dishonesty. 



At two o'clock next morning, being the 1st of 

 June, the master returned, and reported that he 

 found the inlet, or rather river, contracted to the 

 breadth of one league, by low land on each side, 

 through which it took a northerly direction. He 

 proceeded three leagues through this narrow part, 

 which he found navigable for the largest ships, being 

 from twenty to seventeen fathoms deep. The least 

 water, at a proper distance from the shore and shoals, 

 was ten fathoms ; and this was before he entered the 

 narrow part. While the ebb or stream ran down, the 

 water was perfectly fresh ; but after the flood made, 

 it became brackish ; and, toward high water, very 

 much so, even as high up as he went. He landed 

 upon an island, which lies between this branch and 

 the eastern one; and upon it saw some currant bushes 3 



