1827. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 265 



The following morning, Sept, 1st, we stood toward chap. 

 an opening at the north-east angle of the harbour ; but ^^' 

 finding the water get gradually shallow, came again sept. 

 to anchor. On examination with the boats, we found, 

 as we expected, an inner harbour, ten miles in length 

 by two and a quarter in width, with almost an uniform 

 depth of two and a half and three fathoms water. The 

 channel into it from the outer harbour is extremely 

 narrow, the entrance being contracted by two sandy 

 spits ; but the water is deep, and in one part there is 

 not less than twelve fathoms. At the upper end of the 

 harbour a second strait, about three hundred yards in 

 width, was formed between steep cliffs ; but this chan- 

 nel was also contracted by sandy points. The current 

 ran strong through the channel, and brought down a 

 great body of water, nearly fresh (1.0096 sp. gr.). The 

 boats had not time to pursue this strait ; but in all 

 probability it communicates w^ith a large inland lake, 

 as described by the natives in Kotzebue Sound. At 

 the entrance of the strait, called Tokshook by the na- 

 tives, there is an Esquimaux village, and upon the 

 northern and eastern shores of the harbour there are 

 two others : the population of the whole amounted to 

 abour four hundred persons. They closely resembled 

 the natives we had seen before, except that they were 

 better provided with clothing, and their implements 

 were neater and more ingeniously made. Among their 

 peltry we noticed several gray fox and land-otter skins, 

 but they would not part with them for less than a 

 hatchet apiece. In addition to the usual weapons of 

 bows and arrows, these people had short iron spears 

 neatly inlaid with brass, upon all which implements 

 they set great value, and kept them wrapped in skins. 

 Among the inhabitants of the village on the northern 



