THEPACIFIC OCEAN. 289 



ward, four leagues at leaft, exclufive of the feveral branches '778. 



toward its bottom, the termination of which we had not an v ><~.^ 



opportunity to afcertain. But, from the circumflance of 

 finding that the water frcfliened where our boats crofled 

 their entrance, it is probable that they had ah-nofl reached 

 its utmoft limits. And this probability is increafed by the 

 bills that bounded it toward the land, being covered with 

 thick fnow, when thofe toward the fea, or where we lay, had 

 not a fpeck remaining on them ; though, in general, they 

 were inuch higher. In the middle of the Sound are a num- 

 ber of iflands of various fizcs. But the chart or fketch of 

 the Sound, here annexed, though it has no pretenfions to 

 accuracy, will, with all its impcrfciftions, convey a better 

 idea of thefe iflands, and of the figure, and the extent of 

 the Sound, than any written defcription. The depth of 

 water in the middle of the Sound, and even clofe home to 

 fome parts of its fliore, is from forty- feven to ninety fa- 

 thoms, and perhaps more. The harbours, and anchoring- 

 places within its circuit, are numerous ; but we had no 

 time to furvey them. The cove in which our fliips lay is on 

 the Eaft fide of the Sound, and on the Eaft fide of the largefl 

 of the iflands. It is covered from the fea, but has little elfe 

 to recommend it, being cxpofed to the South Eaft winds, 

 which we found to blow with great violence ; and the de- 

 vaftation they make fometimes, was apparent in many 

 places. 



The land bordering upon the fea-coaft is of a middling 

 height and level; but wiihin the Sound, it rifes almofl: every 

 where into fteep hills, which agree in their general form- 

 ation, ending in round or blunted tops, with fome fliarp, 

 though not very prominent, ridges on their fides. Some of 

 thefe hills may be reckoned high, while others of them 



Vol. II. P p are 



