1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 351 



quarter east, and the southernmost land in sight 

 west three quarters north, distant six leagues. At 

 this time we could just perceive low land stretching 

 from the southern extreme ; but the wind veering 

 round to the north-west, we could not get a nearer 

 view of it. At six in the afternoon, we saw from 

 the mast-head, Cape Lopatka, the southernmost 

 extremity of Kamtschatka. It is a very low flat 

 cape, sloping gradually from the high level land 

 that we saw at noon, and bore west half north, 

 about five leagues distant ; and the high land north- 

 west by west half west. As this point of land 

 forms so marked an object in the geography of 

 the eastern coast of Asia, we were glad to be able, 

 by an accurate observation, and several good angles, 

 to determine its precise situation, which is in lati- 

 tude 51° 0', longitude 156° 45'. To the north-west 

 of it we saw a remarkable high mountain, the top 

 of which loses itself in the clouds ; and, at the same 

 time, the first of the Kurile Islands, called Shoom- 

 ska, appeared in sight, bearing west half south. 

 The passage between this island and Cape Lopatka, 

 the Russians describe as being three miles broad, 

 and very dangerous, on account of the rapidity of 

 the tides, and the sunk rocks that are off the Cape. 

 From Cape Gavareea to Lopatka, the coast trends 

 south-east, south of Achachinskoi, the land is not 

 so high and broken as between that bay and the 

 mouth of Awatska, being only of a moderate elev- 

 ation toward the sea, with hills gradually rising 

 farther back in the country. The coast is steep 

 and bold, and full of white chalky patches. 



At noon, the weather falling again to a calm, 

 afforded us an opportunity of catching some fine 

 cod. We were at this time, in forty fathoms' water, 

 and about five or six leagues from Cape Lopatka. 

 Both in the fore and afternoon, we had observations, 

 with different compasses, for the variation, and 

 found it to be 5° 20' E. 



