T H E P A C I F I C O C E A M. 433 



hardlyvifible from the maft head. There is alfo a bay on 1778- 

 the North Weft fide of this lafl point, between it and an ele- 

 vated promontory, which, at this time, bore North, 36° Weft, 

 fixteen miles diftant. At nine, I fent Lieutenant Williamfon 

 to this promontory, with orders to land, and fee what di- 

 retSlion the coaft took beyond it, and what the country pro- 

 duced ; for, from the fliips, it had but a barren appear- 

 ance. We found here the flood-tide fctting ftrongly to the 

 North Weft along the coaft. At noon it was high- water, 

 and we anchored in twenty-four fathoms, four leagues 

 diftant from the fliore. At five in the afternoon, the tide 

 making in our favour, we weighed, and drove with it ; for 

 there was no wind. 



Soon after Mr. Williamfon returned, and reported, that he 

 had landed on the point, and, having climbed the higheft 

 hill, found, that the fartheft part of the coaft in fight bore 

 nearly North. He took pofTeffion of the country in his 

 Majefty's name, and left on the hill a bottle, in which was 

 infcribed, on a piece of paper, the names of the fliips, and 

 the date of the difcovery. The promontory, to which he 

 gave the name of Cape Ncivenham, is a rocky point, of tole-^ 

 rable height, fituated in the latitude of 58" 42', and in the 

 longitude of 197° 36'. Over, or within it, are two elevated 

 hills, rifmg one behind the other. The innermoft, or Eaft- 

 ernmoft, is the higheft. The country, as far as Mr. Wil- 

 liamlon could fee, produces neither tree nor flirub. The 

 hills are naked ; but on the lower grounds grew grafs, and 

 other plants, very few of which were in flower. He faw no 

 other animal but a doe and her fawn ; and a dead fea-horfe, 

 or cow, upon the beach. Of thefe animals we had lately 

 feen a great many. 



Vol. II. 3 K As 



