1778. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 871 



At eight in the evening, the island of St. Hermo- 

 genes extended from south half east to south south- 

 east, a quarter east ; and the rocks that lie on the 

 north side of it bore south-east, three miles distant. 

 In this situation, we had forty fathoms water over a 

 bottom of sand and shells. Soon after, on putting 

 over hooks and lines, we caught several halibut. 



At midnight, being past the rocks, we bore up 

 to the southward ; and, at noon, St. Hermogenes 

 bore north, four leagues distant. At this time, the 

 southernmost point of the main land, within or to the 

 westward of St. Hermogenes, lay north half west, 

 distant five leagues. This promontory, which is situ- 

 ated in the latitude of 58 15', and in the longitude 

 of 207 24/ was named, after the day, Cape Whitsun- 

 day. A large bay, which lies to the west of it, ob- 

 tained the name of Whitsuntide Bay. The land on the 

 east side of this bay, of which Cape Whitsunday is the 

 southern point, and Point Banks the northern one, 

 is in all respects like the island of St. Hermogenes ; 

 seemingly destitute of wood, and partly free from 

 snow. It was supposed to be covered with a mossy 

 substance, that gave it a brownish cast. There were 

 some reasons to think it was an island. If this be so, 

 the last mentioned bay is only the straight or passage 

 that separates it from the main land. 



Between one and two in the afternoon, the wind, 

 which had been at north-east, shifted at once to the 

 southward. It was unsettled till six, when it fixed 

 at south, which was the very direction of our course ; 

 so that we were obliged to ply up the coast. The 

 weather was gloomy, and the air dry, but cold. We 

 stood to the eastward till midnight ; then tacked, and 

 stood in for the land ; and, between seven and eight 

 in the morning of the 8th, we were within four miles 

 of it, and not more than half a league from some 

 sunken rocks, which bore west south-west. In this 

 situation, we tacked in thirty-five fathoms water, 



BB "2 



