APPENDIX, NO. II. 37 



experience ; I found, however, that he was ignorant of the 

 landmarks of these mountains, (which I copied for another 

 voyage, if I should undertake it, which I think of doing) ; for 

 although we knew the strait was to be found in 60° of latitude 

 in the extensive coast running east and west, it occasioned 

 us great doubt, as it appeared to the pilot that w^e had not 

 arrived near the strait within one hundred leagues according 

 to his reckoning of the ship's course, and to me it seemed 

 that we were already near it, as it fell out ; for, going in a 

 boat to coast along the shores of the sea, the same current 

 carried me through the strait, so that it was discovered. 

 The reason of my conjecturing that we had arrived at the 

 strait, and were close upon it, was occasioned by the strong 

 currents we found there, running from the land and returning 

 to it ; they were so strong that at times, when in the open 

 sea and at some distance from the coast, we found ourselves 

 close upon it, and at other times, being near the land, we 

 found ourselves in the open sea. 



On the land close to the strait is a very high peak of a 

 lofty mountain on the coast of Asia of a white colour ; this 

 peak is rugged and apparently inaccessible ; on its highest 

 point are three large trees which, when viewed from the 

 north, are seen very distinctly one from another, and on 

 each side of this high peak the mountains present the ap- 

 pearance of two ravines, easily perceived. One league from 

 the mouth of the strait on the west side there is a i.igh 

 and steep rock, which is surrounded by the sea, and when 

 the tide is low I think it may be distant from the coast four 

 picas. At the eastern side of the entrance to the strait 

 there is a large and beautiful river ^of fiesh water and many 

 trees on its banks, from which we watered our ship. Here 

 is also a good sheltering place formed by two great rocks, 

 which we found in this place. The mountains visible on 

 the coast of Asia from the north side are very high indeed, 

 being perceptible from the North Sea, having some very 

 high trees growing on them, which seem to be mostly 



c v> 



