k 2B4f COOK S VOYAGE TO OCT. 



coast adjoining ; not only because (its three inlets 

 included) it constitutes perhaps the most extensive 

 and safest harbour that has yet been discovered, but 

 because it is the only port in this part of the world, 

 capable of admitting ships of any considerable burthen. 

 The term bay, indeed, is perhaps not applicable, 

 properly speaking, to a place so well sheltered as 

 Awatska ; but then it must be observed, that from 

 the loose, undistinguishing manner, in which navi- 

 gators have denominated certain situations of sea and 

 land, with respect to each other, bays, roads, sounds, 

 harbours, &c. we have no defined and determinate 

 ideas affixed to these words, sufficient to warrant 

 us in changing a popular name, for one that may 

 appear more proper. 



The entrance into this bay, is in 52 n 5Y N. latitude, 

 and 158° 48' E. longitude, and lies in the bight of 

 another exterior bay, formed by Cheepoonskoi Noss, 

 to the north, and Cape Gavareea to the south. The 

 former of these head-lands bears from the latter 

 north-east by north, three quarters east, and is distant 

 thirty-two leagues. The coast, from Cape Gavareea 

 to the entrance of Awatska Bay, takes a direction 

 nearly north, and is eleven leagues in extent. It 

 consists of a chain of high, ragged cliffs, with de- 

 tached rocks frequently lying off them. This coast, 

 at a distance, presents in many parts, an appearance 

 of bays or inlets, but on a nearer approach, the 

 head-lands were found connected by low ground. 



Cheepoonskoi Noss bears from the entrance of the 

 bay, east north-east a quarter east, and is seventeen 

 leagues distant. On this side, the shore is low and 

 flat, with hills rising behind, to a considerable height. 

 In the latitude of Cape Gavareea, there is an error 

 of twenty-one miles in the Russian charts ; its true 

 latitude being 52° 2l\ 



This striking difference of the land on each side 

 Awatska Bay, with their different bearings, are the 

 best guides to steer for it, in coming from the south- 



