T H E P A C f F I C O C E A N. 393 



with low land, which we fuppofed to be iflands lying be- '778. 

 tween us and the main land. Low land was allb feen to the 

 Northward, that feemed to extend from the foot of the 

 mountains on the one fide, to thofe on the other ; and, at 

 low water, we perceived large flioals ftretching out from 

 this low land ; fome of which were at no great diftance 

 from us. From thefe appearances, we were in fome doubt 

 whether the inlet did not take an Eafterly diredlion, through 

 the above opening ; or whether that opening was only a 

 branch of it, and the main channel continued its Northern 

 dire<5lion through the low land now in fight. The continu- 

 ation and direction of the chain of mountains on each fide 

 of it, llrongly indicated the probability of the latter fup- 

 pofition. 



To determine this point, and to examine the fhoals, I dif- 



patched two boats, under the command of the mafter ; and, 



as foon as the flood-tide made, followed with the fliips: but, 



as it was a dead calm, and the tide ftrong, I anchored, after 



driving about ten miles in an Eaft diredlion. At the lowefl 



of the preceding ebb, the water at the furface, and for near 



a foot below it, was found to be perfedlly frefh ; retaining, 



however, a confiderable degree of faltnefs at a greater 



depth. Befides this, we had now many other, and but too 



evident, proofs of being in a great river. Such as low 



fliores ; very thick and muddy water; large trees, and all 



manner of dirt and rubbifli, floating up and down with the 



tide. In the afternoon, the natives, in feveral canoes, paid 



us another vifit j and trafficked with our people for fome 



time without ever giving us reafon to accufe them of any 



a«5lof dithonetty. 



Vol. II. 3 E At 



