PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 369 



CHAP 



which we found turned to the eastward, nearly at a xi. 

 right angle, and then to the north-eastward, as far "7^^*^ 



& o ' August, 



as the eye could trace. Our height was 850 feet 1B26. 

 above the sea, and at so short a distance from it on 

 one side, that it was fearful to look down upon 

 the beach below. We ascended by a valley which 

 collected the tributary streams of the mountain, 

 and poured them in a cascade upon the beach. The 

 basis of the mountain was flint of the purest kind, 

 and limestone, abounding in fossil shells, enchinites, 

 and marine animals. 



There was very little soil in the valley ; the stones 

 were covered with a thick swampy moss, which we 

 traversed with great difficulty, and were soon wet 

 through by it. Vegetation was, however, as luxu- 

 riant as in Kotzebue Sound, more than a hundred 

 miles to the southward, or, what is of more conse- 

 quence, more than that distance farther from the 

 great barrier of ice. Several reindeer were feeding 

 on this luxuriant pasture ; the cliffs were covered 

 with birds ; and the swamps generated myriads of 

 moskitos, which were more persevering, if possible, 

 than those at Chamisso Island. 



After depositing a bottle at this place, and leaving 

 proper directions upon the cliff for finding it, we 

 pursued our course to the eastward, accompanied by 

 the barge. The wind was light, and we made so 

 little progress that on the 9th Cape JLisburn was 

 still in sight. Before it was entirely lost I land- 

 ed at a small cape, which I named Cape Beaufort, 

 in compliment to Captain Beaufort, the present hy- 

 drographer to the Admiralty. The land northward 

 was low and swampy, covered with moss and long 

 grass, which produced all the plants we had met 



vol. i. 2 b 



