1779* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 21 (J 



miles from the shore, the southern extremity bearing 

 W. by S., six leagues distant, beyond which the coast 

 appeared to trend to the westward. This point being 

 in latitude 61° 48', longitude 174° 48', lies, according 

 to the Russian charts, near the mouth of the river 

 Opuka. At the same time, the northern extreme 

 bore N. by W. ; between which and a hill bearing 

 N. W. by W. a quarter W., and at this distance ap- 

 pearing to us like an island, the coast seemed to bend 

 to the westward, and form a deep bay. 



About eight miles from land, we perceived our- 

 selves in a strong rippling ; and being apprehensive 

 of foul ground, we bore away to the N. E., along the 

 shore; notwithstanding, on heaving the lead, we found 

 regular soundings of twenty-four fathoms, over a 

 gravelly bottom ; from whence we concluded, that 

 this appearance was occasioned by a tide, at that time 

 running to the southward. At noon, the extremes 

 of the land bearing W. S. W. three quarters W., and 

 N. N. E. three quarters E., distant from the nearest 

 shore four leagues, we were abreast of the low land, 

 which we now perceived to join the two points, where 

 we had before expected to find a deep bay. The 

 coast bends a little to the westward, and has a small 

 inlet, which may probably be the mouth of some 

 trifling stream. Our latitude, by observation, was 

 61° 5&, and longitude 175° 43', and the variation of 

 the compass 17° SC E. 



We continued during the afternoon to run along 

 the shore, at the distance of four or five leagues, 

 with a moderate westerly breeze, carrying regular 

 soundings from twenty-eight to thirty-six fathoms. 

 The coast presented the same barren aspect as to the 

 southward, the hills rising considerably inland, but to 

 what height the clouds on their tops put it out of our 

 power to determine. At eight in the evening, land 

 was thought to have been seen to the east by north, 

 on which we steered to the southward of east, but it 

 turned out to be only a fog-bank. At midnight, the 



