1 77 THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 405 



way from the shore where we landed, a sledge, which 

 occasioned this name being given to the island. It 

 seemed to be such a one as the Russians in Kamt- 

 schatka make use of to convey goods from place to 

 place, over the ice or snow. It was ten feet long, 

 twenty inches broad ; and had a kind of rail-work on 

 each side, and was shod with bone. The construc- 

 tion of it was admirable, and all the parts neatly put 

 together ; some with wooden-pins, but mostly with 

 thongs or lashings of whale-bone, which made me 

 think it was entirely the workmanship of the na- 

 tives. 



At three o'clock the next morning, we weighed, 

 and proceeded to the north-westward, with a light 

 southerly breeze. We had an opportunity to observe 

 the sun's meridian altitude for the latitude ; and to 

 get altitude, both in the forenoon and afternoon, to 

 obtain the longitude by the time-keeper. As we had 

 but little wind, and variable withal, we advanced but 

 slowly ; and, at eight in the evening, finding the 

 ships settle fast toward the land into shoal water, I 

 anchored in seven fathoms, about two leagues from 

 the coast. Sledge Island bore south, 51 east, ten 

 leagues distant ; and was seen over the south point of 

 the main land. 



Soon after we had anchored, the weather, which had 

 been misty, clearing up, we saw high land extending 

 from north, 40 east, to north, 30 west, apparently 

 disjoined from the coast, under which we were at 

 anchor, and seemed to trend away north-east. At 

 the same time, an island was seen bearing north 81 

 west, eight or nine leagues distant. It appeared to 

 have no great extent, and was named King's Island, 

 We rode here till eight o'clock next morning, when 

 we weighed, and stood to the north-west. The wea- 

 ther clearing up toward the evening, we got sight of 

 the north-west land, extending from north by west, 

 to north-west by north, distant about three leagues. 



DD 3 



