THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



473 



This Bay of St. Laurence * is, at leaft, five leagues broad '778. 

 at the entrance, and four leagues deep, narrowing toward ■■ , y -.'< 

 the bottom, where it appeared to be tolerably well flickered 

 from the fea-winds, provided there be fufficient depth of 

 water for fliips. I did not wait to examine it, although I 

 was very defirous of finding an harbour in thofe parts, to 

 which I might refort next fpring. But I wanted one where 

 wood might be got, and I knew that none was to be found 

 here. From the South point of this bay^ which lies in the 

 latitude of 6^" 30', the coaft trepds Weft by South, for about 

 nine leagues, and there forms a deep bay, or river j or elfe 

 the land there is fo low that we could not fee it. 



At one in the afternoon, in the direftion of our courfe, 

 we faw what was firft taken for a rock ; but it proved to be 

 a dead whale, which fome natives of the Afiatic coaft had 

 killed, and were towing afliore. They feemed to conceal 

 themfelves behind the fifli to avoid being feen by us. This 

 was unnecefTary ; for we purfued our courfe, without taking 

 any notice of them. 



At day -break on the 4th, I hauled to the North Weft, in Friday 4. 

 order to get a nearer view of the inlet feen the preceding 

 day ; but the wind, foon after, veering to that direcflion, I 

 gave up the defign ; and, fteering to the Southward along 

 the coaft, paft two bays, each about two leagues deep. The 

 Northernmoft lies before a hill, which is remarkable by be- 

 ing rounder than any other upon the coaft. And there is 

 an ifland lying before the other. It may be doubted, whe- 

 ther there be a fuflicient depth for fliips in either of thefe 

 bays, as we always met with flioal water, when we edged 



* Captain Cook gives it this name, having anchorea in it on St. Laurence's day, 

 Auguft 10. It is- remarkable, that BeerJng failed pail this very place on the lOth of 

 Auguft 1728 ; on which account, the neighbouring ifland was named by him after the 

 fame Saint. 



Vol. II. . ^ P in 



