PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 347 



We formed a favourable opinion of our visiters ch^p. 

 from the strict integrity which they evinced in all v --y-^ 

 their dealings, even when opportunities offered of i^'. 

 evading detection, which I notice the more readily, 

 as we afterwards experienced very different behaviour 

 from the same tribe. 



Light winds kept us at anchor for twenty-four 

 hours, during which time the current ran almost 

 constantly to the south-westward, at the rate of 

 from two fathoms to two miles per hour ; and the 

 water was nearly fresh (1.0089 to 1.0096 sp. gr.) : 

 this stratum, however, was confined to a short dis- 

 tance from the surface, as a patent log, which was 

 sunk for three hours at the depth of three fathoms, 

 showed only a fifth of a mile in that time. These 

 facts left no doubt of our being near the estuary of a 

 considerable river, flowing, in all probability, through 

 the large opening abreast of us, which the boat had 

 been sent to explore. 



We weighed in the afternoon of the 23d, but in 

 consequence of light winds and counter currents 

 made very little progress ; indeed, a great part of 

 the time the ship would not steer, even with a 

 moderate breeze and two boats a-head, and it was 

 necessary to keep carrying out the kedge anchors 

 on the bow to maintain the ship's head in the right 

 direction. This was occasioned by some large rivers 

 emptying themselves into the sound, the fresh water 

 of which remained at the surface, and flowed in a 

 contrary direction to the tide of the ocean. Had 

 this occurred in an intricate channel it might have 

 been dangerous ; but in Kotzebue Sound the bottom 

 is quite even, and there is plenty of room to drift 

 about. 



