342 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, at Chamisso Island was already past * While be- 

 <-^ v -^ calmed off it, we were carried slowly to the north- 

 Si eastward by a current which had been running in 

 that direction from the time of our quitting St. Law- 

 rence Island. With a fair wind we sailed along the 

 coast to the northward, which was low and swampy, 

 with small lakes inland. The ridge of sand con- 

 tinued along the coast to Cape Espenburgh, and 

 there terminated. 



We entered Kotzebue Sound early in the morning 

 of the 22d of July, and plied against a contrary 

 wind, guided by the soundings ; the appearance of 

 the land was so distorted by mirage, and in parts so 

 obscured by low fog, that it was impossible to dis- 

 tinguish where we were. The naturalist who ac- 

 companied Kotzebue in his voyage particularly re- 

 marks this state of the atmosphere in the vicinity of 

 the sound, and suggests that it may be occasioned by 

 the swampy nature of the country ; in which opi- 

 nion I fully concur. When it cleared off we were 

 much surprised to find ourselves opposite a deep in- 

 let in the northern shore, which had escaped the ob- 

 servation of Captain Kotzebue. I named it Hotham 

 Inlet, in compliment to the Hon. Sir Henry Ho- 

 tham, K.C.B., one of the lords of the Admiralty. 

 We stood in to explore it, but found the water too 

 shallow, and were obliged to anchor in four fathoms 

 to prevent being carried away by a strong tide which 

 was setting out of the sound, the wind being light 

 and contrary. 



As it would be necessary to remain three or four 

 days at Chamisso Island to increase our stock of 

 water, previous to proceeding to the northward, the 

 * It has since been surveyed by the Russians. 



