444 cook's voyage to sept. 



encroaching upon the sea, and it was easy to trace 

 its gradual formation. 



About seven in the evening, Mr. King returned 

 from his expedition, and reported that he proceeded 

 with the boats about three or four leagues farther 

 than the ships had been able to go ; that he then 

 landed on the west side ; that, from the heights, he 

 could see the two coasts join, and the inlet to termi- 

 nate in a small river or creek, before which were 

 banks of sand or mud, and every where shoal water. 

 The land too was low and swampy for some distance 

 to the northward ; then it swelled into hills, and the 

 complete junction of those on each side of the in- 

 let was easily traced. 



From the elevated spot on which Mr. King sur- 

 veyed the sound, he could distinguish many extensive 

 valleys, with rivers running through them, well 

 wooded, and bounded by hills of a gentle ascent and 

 moderate height. One of these rivers to the north- 

 west appeared to be considerable ; and, from its di- 

 rection, he was inclined to think that it emptied it- 

 self into the sea at the head of the bay. Some of 

 his people, who penetrated beyond this into the 

 country, found the trees larger, the farther they ad- 

 vanced. 



In honour of Sir Fletcher Norton *, Speaker of 

 the House of Commons, and Mr. King's near rela- 

 tion, I named this inlet Norto?i's Sound. It extends 

 to the northward as far as latitude of (34 55'. The 

 bay, in which we were now at anchor, lies on the 

 south-east side of it, and is called by the natives 

 Chacktoole. It is but an indifferent station, being 

 exposed to the south and south-west winds. Nor is 

 there a harbour in all this sound. But we were so 

 fortunate as to have the wind from the north and 

 north-east all the time, with remarkable fine weather. 



* Afterwards Lord Grantley. 



