1?79. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 3i<9 



that island, and in our way thither to run along the 

 Kuriles, and examine more particularly the islands 

 that lie nearest the northern coast of Japan, which 

 are represented as of a considerable size, and in- 

 dependent of the Russian and Japanese govern- 

 ments. Should we be so fortunate as to find in 

 these any safe and commodious harbours, we con- 

 ceived they might be of importance, either as places 

 of shelter for any future navigators, who may be 

 employed in exploring the seas, or as the means of 

 opening a commercial intercourse among the neigh- 

 bouring dominions of the two empires. Our next 

 object was to survey the coast of the Japanese 

 Islands, and afterward to make the coast of China, 

 as far to the northward as we were able, and run 

 along it to Macao. 



This plan being adopted, I received orders from 

 Captain Gore, in case of separation, to proceed 

 immediately to Macao ; and at six o'clock in the 

 evening of the 9th of October, having cleared the 

 entrance of Awatska Bay, we steered to the south- 

 east, with the wind north-west and by west. At 

 midnight, we had a dead calm, which continued 

 till noon of the 10th ; the light-house, at this time, 

 bearing north half west, distant five leagues, and 

 Cape Gavareea south by west half west. Being 

 luckily in soundings of sixty and seventy fathoms* 

 water, we employed our time very profitably in 

 catching cod, which were exceedingly fine and 

 plentiful ; and at three in the afternoon a breeze 

 sprung up from the west, with which we stood 

 along the coast to the southward. A head-land 

 bearing south by west, now opened, with Cape 

 Gavareea, lying about seven leagues beyond it. 

 Between them are two narrow but deep inlets, which 

 may probably unite behind what appears to be an 

 high island. The coast of these inlets is steep and 

 cliffy. The hills break abruptly, and form chasms 

 and deep valleys, which are well wooded. Between 



