432 cook's voyage to sept. 



must be the Tschutski ; a nation that, at the time 

 Mr. Muller wrote, the Russians had not been able to 

 conquer. And, from the whole of their conduct 

 with us, it appears that they have not, as yet, brought 

 them under subjection ; though it is obvious that 

 they must have a trade with the Russians, either di- 

 rectly, or by means of some neighbouring nation ; as 

 we cannot otherwise account for their being in pos- 

 session of the spontoons, in particular, of which we 

 took notice. 



This Bay of St Laurence * is, at least, five leagues 

 broad at the entrance, and four leagues deep, narrow- 

 ing toward the bottom, where it appeared to be toler- 

 ably well sheltered from the sea-winds, provided there 

 be sufficient depth of water for ships. I did not wait 

 to examine it, although I was very desirous of 

 finding an harbour in those parts, to which I might 

 resort next spring. But I wanted one where wood 

 might be got, and I knew that none was to be 

 found here. From the south point of this bay, which 

 lies in the latitude of 65 30\ the coast trends west 

 by south, for about nine leagues, and there forms a 

 deep bay, or river ; or else the land there is so low 

 that we could not see it. 



At one in the afternoon, in the direction of our 

 course, we saw what was first taken for a rock ; but 

 it proved to be a dead whale, which some natives of 

 the Asiatic coast had killed, and were towing ashore. 

 They seemed to conceal themselves behind the fish, 

 to avoid being seen by us. This was unnecessary ; 

 for we pursued our course without taking any notice 

 of them. 



At day-break on the 4th, I hauled to the north- 

 west, in order to get a nearer view of the inlet seen 

 the preceding day ; but the wind soon after veering 

 to that direction, I gave up the design ; and, steering 



* Captain Cook gives it this name, having anchored in it on St. 

 Laurence's day, August 10. It is remarkable, that Beering sailed 

 past this very place on the 10th of August, 1728 ; on which account, 

 the neighbouring island was named by him after the same Saint. 



