4 



66 AVOYAGETO 



'77S. fee. As we flood off, the Wefternmofl of the two hills be- 

 fore mentioned came open off the bluff point, in the di- 

 rei5iion of North Weft. It had the appearance of being an 

 ifland ; but it might be joined to tlie other by low land, 

 though we did not fee it. And if fo, there is a two-fold 

 point, with a bay between them. This point, which is 

 deep and rocky, was named Cape North. Its fituation is 

 nearly in the latitude of 68° 56', and in the longitude of 

 180° 51'. The coafl beyond it muft take a very Weflerly di- 

 reftion ; for we could fee no land to the Northward of if, 

 though the horizon was there pretty clear. Being defu'ous 

 of feeing more of the coafl to the Weflward, we tacked 

 airain, at two o'clock in the afternoon, thinking we could 

 weather Cape North. But finding we could not, the wind 

 frefliening, a thick fog coming on, with much fnow, and 

 being fearful of the ice coming down upon us, I gave up 

 the defign I had formed of plying to the Weflward, and 

 flood off riiore again. 



The feafon was now fo far advanced, and the time when 

 the frofl is expected to fet in fo near at hand, that I did not 

 think it confiRent with prudence, to make any farther at- 

 tempts to find a paifage into the Atlantic this year, in any 

 direcTiion ; fo little was the profped; of fucceeding. My at- 

 tention was now diredted toward finding out fome place 

 where we might fupply ourfelves with wood and water ; 

 and the objcd uppermofl in my thoughts was, how I fiiould 

 fpend the winter, fo as to make fome improvements in geo- 

 graphy and navigation, and, at the fame time, be in a con- 

 dition to'return to the North, in farther fearch of a pafl^age, 

 the enfuing fummer. 



CHAP. 



