1779- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. £35 



ward : and, in approaching it from the northward, 

 Cheepoonskoi Noss will make itself very conspicuous; 

 for it is a high projecting head-land, with a consider- 

 able extent of level ground, lower than the Noss, 

 uniting it to the continent. It presents the same 

 appearance, whether viewed from the north or south, 

 and will warn the mariner not to be deceived, in 

 imagining Awatska Bay to lie in the bight, which 

 the coast forms to the northward of this Noss, and 

 which might be the case, from the striking resem- 

 blance there is between a conical hill within this 

 bight or bay, and one to the south of Awatska Bay. 



I have been thus particular, in giving a minute 

 description of this coast, from our own experience of 

 the want of it. For had we been furnished with a 

 tolerable account of the form of the coast, on each 

 side of Awatska Bay, we should on our first arrival 

 upon it, have got safely within the bay two days 

 before we did, and thereby have avoided part of the 

 stormy weather, which came on when we were plyino- 

 off the mouth of the harbour. Besides, from the 

 prevalence of fogs in these seas, it must frequently 

 happen, that an observation for ascertaining the 

 latitude cannot be got ; to which we may add, that 

 the deceptive appearances land makes, when covered 

 with snow, and when viewed through an hazy atmos- 

 phere, both which circumstances prevail here, during 

 the greatest part of the year, render the knowledge 

 of a variety of discriminating objects the more 

 necesary. 



Should, however, the weather be clear enough to 

 admit a view of the mountains on the coast in its 

 neighbourhood, these will serve to point out the 

 situation of Awatska Bay, with a great deal of preci- 

 sion. For to the south of it are two high mountains; 

 that which is nearest the bay, is shaped like a sugar- 

 loaf; the other, which is farther inland, does not 

 appear so high, and is flat at the top. To the north 

 of the bay, are three very conspicuous mountains ; 



