1778- THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 399 



A number of lunar observations made by Mr. 

 King and myself, on this and the four preceding days, 

 and all reduced to the ship's present station, gave 

 the longitude - - - .197 45' 48" 



By the time-keeper it was 197 26 48 



Our latitude was - 59 37 30 



Variation by the 1 AM ^ 3[/ 3, (mean 

 mean of three ^ p M ^ 56 51 



compasses, ) ) east. 



The northernmost part of the coast that we could 

 see from this station I judged to lie in the latitude 

 of 60. It seemed to form a low point, which ob- 

 tained the name of Shoal Ness. 



The tide of flood sets to the north, and the ebb to 

 the south. It rises and falls, upon a perpendicular, 

 five or six feet ; and I reckon it to be high water, on 

 the full and change days, at eight o'clock. 



Having weighed at three in the morning on the 

 21st, with a light breeze at N.N. W., we seered 

 back to the southward, having three boats ahead to 

 direct us. But, notwithstanding this precaution, we 

 found more difficulty in returning than we had in ad- 

 vancing ; and at last were obliged to anchor, to avoid 

 running upon a shoal, which had only a depth of five 

 feet. While we lay here, twenty-seven men of the 

 country, each in a canoe, came off to the ships, 

 which they approached with great caution ; hollowing 

 and opening their arms as they advanced. This we 

 understood was to express their pacific intentions. 

 At length some approached near enough to receive a 

 few trifles that were thrown to them : this encouraged 

 the rest to venture along-side ; and a traffic pre- 

 sently commenced between them and our people, 

 who got dresses of skins, bows, arrows, darts, wooden 

 vessels, &c. ; our visitors taking in exchange for these 

 whatever was offered them. They seemed to be the 

 same sort of people that we had of late met with all 

 along this coast ; wore the same kind of ornaments 

 in their lips and noses ; but were far more dirty, and 

 not so well clothed. They appeared to be wholly un- 



