374 cook's first voyage jan. 



CHAP. VI. 



TRANSACTIONS IN OUEEN CHARLOTTE's SOUND : PASSAGE 

 THROUGH THE STRAIGHT WHICH DIVIDES THE TWO IS- 

 LANDS, AND BACK TO CAPE TURNAGAIN : HORRID CUSTOM 

 OF THE INHABITANTS : REMARKABLE MELODY OF BIRDS I 

 A VISIT TO A HEPPAH, AND MANY OTHER PARTICULARS. 



1 HE shore at this place seemed to form several bays, 

 into one of which 1 proposed to carry the ship, which 

 was become very foul, in order to careen her, and at 

 the same time repair some defects, and recruit our 

 wood and water. 



With this view, I kept plying on and off all night, 

 having from eighty to sixty-three fathom. At day- 

 break the next morning, I stood for an inlet which runs 

 in S. W. ; and at eight I got within the entrance which 

 may be known by a reef of rocks, stretching from 

 the north-west point, and some rocky islands which 

 lie off the south-east point. At nine o'clock, there 

 being little wind, and what there was being variable, 

 we were carried by the tide or current within two 

 cables' length of the north-west shore, where we had 

 fifty -four fathom water, but by the help of our boats 

 we got clear. Just at this time we saw a sea-lion rise 

 twice near the shore, the head of which exactly re- 

 sembled that of the male which has been described in 

 the Account of Lord Anson's Voyage. We also saw 

 some of the natives in a canoe cross the bay, and a 

 village situated upon the point of an island which 

 lies seven or eight miles within the entrance. At 

 noon, we were the length of this island, but there 

 being little wind, the boats were ordered a-head to 

 tow. About one o'clock, we hauled close round 

 the south-west end of the island ; and the inhabit- 

 ants of the village which was built upon it, were 

 immediately up in arms. About two, we anchored 



