THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



413 



faw iflands as far to the Southward as an illand could be '778. 

 feen. They commence in the longitude of 200° 15' Eaft, and v— d. 

 extend a degree and a half, or two degrees, to theWeftward. 

 I cannot be particular ; as we could not diftinguifli all the 

 iflands from the coaftof the continent. Moft of thefe iflands 

 are of a good height, very barren and rugged ; abounding 

 with rocks and ftcep cliffs, and exhibiting other romantic 

 appearances. There are feveral fnug bays and coves about 

 them ; ftreams of frefli water run from their elevated parts ; 

 fome drift wood was floating around ; but not a tree or huilx 

 was to be feen growing on the land. A good deal of fnow ilill 

 lay on many of them; and the parts of the continent, which 

 lliewed themfelves between the innermoft iflands, were quite 

 covered with it. 



At four in the afternoon, we had pafTed all the iflands that 

 lay to the Southward of us ; the Southcrnmoft, at this time, 

 bearing South 3° Eaft, and the Weflernmofl point of land 

 now in fight, South 82' Wefl. For this point we fleered, and 

 paffed between it and two or three elevated rocks that lie 

 about a league to the Ealf of it. 



Some time after we had got through this channel, in 

 which we found forty fathoms water, the Difcovery, now 

 two miles aftern, fired three guns, and brought to, and 

 made the fignal to fpeak with us. This alarmed me not a 

 little ; and as no apparent danger had been remarked in the 

 pafTage through the channel, it was apprehended that fome 

 accident, fuch as fpringing a leak, muft have happened. A 

 boat was immediately fent to her-, and in a fhort time re- 

 turned with Captain Clerke. I now learned from him, that 

 fome natives, in three or four canoes, who had been fol- 

 lowing the fhip for fome time, at length got under his flern. 



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