THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Sgr 



this channel ran a prodigious tide. It looked frightful to '778. 

 us, who could not tell whether the agitation of the water v—^,— «j 

 was occafioned by the ftream or by the breaking of the 

 waves againrt rocks or Icinds. As we met with no fhoal, it 

 was concluded to be the former; but, in the end, we found 

 ourielves miftaken. I now kept the Weiiern fliore aboard, 

 it appearing to be the fafeft. Near the fliore we had a depth 

 of thirteen fathoms ; and two or three miles olF, forty and 

 upward. Ac eight in the evening, we anchored under a point 

 of land which bore North Eaft, three leagues diftant, in fif- 

 teen fathoms water. liere we lay during the ebb, which 

 run near five knotsin the hour. 



Until we got thus far, the water had retained the fame 

 degree of faltnefs at low, as at high-water; and, at both pe- 

 riods, was as fall as that in the ocean. But now the marks 

 of a river difplayed thcmfclves. The water taken up this 

 ebb, when at the loweft, was found to be very confiderably 

 frelher, than any we had hitherto tafted ; infomuch that I 

 was convinced that we were in a large river, and not in a 

 ftrait, communicating with the Northern Teas. But as we 

 had proceeded thus far, I was defirous of having llronger 

 proofs ; and, therefore, weighed with the next flood in the 

 morning of the 31(1, and plied higher up, or rather drove Sunday 3K 

 up with the tide ; for we had but little wind. 



About eight o'clock, we were vifited by feveral of the na- 

 tives, in one large, and feveral fmall canoes. The latter 

 carried only one perfon each ; and (ome had a paddle with a 

 blade at each end, after the manner of the Efquimaux. In- 

 the large canoes were men, women, and children. Before 

 they reached the Ihip, they difplayed a leathern frock upon 

 a long pole, as a fign, as\ve underflood it, of their peaceable 



intentions^. 



