1779' COOK AND CLERKE. 313 



America, with which all Europe is well acquainted, 

 tlie two ships entered Behring's Strait on 9th 

 August, 1779, and anchored near a point of land 

 to which Captain Cook gave the name of Cape 

 Prince of JVales, which he afterwards ascertained 

 to be the western extremity of the whole con- 

 tinent of America. It is situated in latitude 65° 

 46' N. and longitude 191° 45' E. Some elevations 

 like stages, and others like huts, were seen on this 

 part of the coast, and they thought also that some 

 people were visible. From hence they stood over 

 to the w^estward and entered a bay on the east 

 coast of Asia, at the head of w^hich was a village 

 and some people. On landing they were found to 

 consist of about thirty or forty men, each armed 

 with a spontoon, a bow and arrows, drawn up on 

 a rising ground. As the people of the ships drew 

 near, three of the natives came down to the shore, 

 took oif their caps and made low bows. An ex- 

 change of presents took place ; those received by 

 Captain Cook were two fox-skins and a couple of 

 seahorse-teeth ; they appeared, however, to be 

 fearful and cautious, and preserved the attitude of 

 being ready to make use of their spears. They 

 parted with their arrows in exchange for trifling- 

 articles, but nothing could induce them to part 

 with a spear or a bow. All their weapons were 

 made w^ith great ingenuity, and their quivers in 

 particular are represented as extremely beautiful, 

 being made of red leather covered with neat em- 



