THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



429 



On the morning of the 9th, with a breeze at North Weft, '778. 



we fleered Eaft by North, to get nearer the coaft. At noon, we ' — i 



were in the latitude of 57° 49', and in the longitude of 201° ^' ^^^' 

 33', and about two leagues from the land, which extended 

 from South by Eaft to Eaft North Eaft ; being all a low coaft, 

 with points fliooting out in fome places, which, from the 

 deck, appeared like illands; but, from the maft-head, low 

 land was feen to conne6t them. In this fituation, the 

 depth of water was fifteen fathoms, the bottom a fine 

 black fand. 



As we had advanced to the North Eaft, we had found the 

 depth of water gradually decreafing, and the coaft trending 

 more and more Northerly. But the ridge of mountains be- 

 hind it, continued to lie in the fame dire<5lion as thofe more 

 Wefterly ; fo that the extent of the low land, between the 

 foot of the mountains and the fea coaft, infcnfibly increafed. 

 Both high and low grounds were perfc(5tly deftitute of 

 wood; but feemed to be covered with a green turf, except 

 the mountains, which were covered with fnow. Continuing 

 to fteer along the coaft, with a gentle breeze Wefterly, the 

 water gradually flioaled from fifteen to ten fathoms, though 

 we were at the diftance of eight or ten miles from the 

 iliore. At eight in the evening, an elevated mountain, 

 which had been in fight for fome time, bore South Eaft by 

 Eaft, twenty-one leagues diftant. Some other mountains, 

 belonging to the fame chain, and much farther diftant, 

 bore Eaft 3° North. The coaft extended as far as North 

 Eaft half North, where it feemed to terminate in a point, 

 beyond which we hoped and expecTted, that it would take a 

 more Eafterly direcftion. But foon after, we discovered low 

 land, extending from behind this point, as far as North 



Weft 



