177&- THE PACIFIC 0CEAN. iQj 



soundings of sixty fathoms, when about three leagues 

 from the land ; but none at twice that distance. On 

 the 25th, we had a transient view of the entrance of 

 Awatska Bay; but, in the present state of the 

 weather, we were afraid of venturing into it. Upon 

 onr standing off again, we lost sight of the Discovery ; 

 but, as we were now so near the place of rendezvous, 

 this gave us no great uneasiness. 



On the 28th, in the morning, the weather at last 

 cleared, and the wind fell to a light breeze from the 

 same quarter as before. We had a fine warm day, 

 and as we now began to expect a thaw, the men 

 were employed in breaking the ice from off the rig- 

 ging, masts, and sails, in order to prevent its falling 

 on our heads. At noon, being in the latitude of 5°Z° 

 44', and the longitude of 159°, the entrance of 

 Awatska Bay bore north-west, distant three or four 

 leagues ; and about three in the afternoon a fair wind 

 sprung up from tiie southward, with which we stood 

 in, having regular soundings from twenty-two to 

 seven fathoms. 



The mouth of the bay opens in a north-north- 

 west direction. The land on the south side is of a 

 moderate height ; to the northward it rises into a 

 bluff head, which is the highest part of the coast. 

 In the channel between them, near the north-east 

 side, lie three remarkable rocks ; and farther in, 

 near the opposite coast, a single detached rock of a 

 considerable size. On the north head there is a 

 look-out house, which, when the Russians expect any 

 of their ships upon the coast, is used as a light-house. 

 There was a flag-staff on it, but we saw no sign of 

 any person being there. 



Having passed the mouth of the bay, which is 

 about four miles long, we opened a large circular 

 bason of twenty-five miles in circumference, and at 

 half past four came to an anchor in six fathoms' wa- 

 ter, being afraid of running foul on a shoal, or some 



M 4f 



