THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 

 plete mafs of ice; the fhrowds were fo incruflcd with it, as ]&?• 



r April. 



to meafure in circumference more than double their ufual < .— — » 



fize ; and, in fhort, the experience of the oldeft feaman 

 among us, had never met with any thing like the conti- 

 nued mowers of fleet, and the extreme cold, which we now 

 encountered. Indeed the feverity of the weather, added to 

 the great difficulty of working the mips, and the labour of 

 keeping the pumps conftantly going, rendered the fervice 

 too hard for many of the crew, fome of whom were froft- 

 biiten, and others laid up with bad colds. We continued 

 all this time ftanding four hours on each tack, having ge- 

 nerally foundings of fixty fathoms, when about three leagues 

 from the land ; but none at twice that diflance. On the 

 25th, we had a tranfient view of the entrance of Awatfka Sunday z^-.. 

 Bay ; but, in the prefent ftate of the weather, we were 

 afraid of venturing into it. Upon our ftanding off again, 

 we loft fight of the Difcovery ; but, as we were now fo 

 near the place of rendezvous, this gave us no great un- 

 cafinefs. 



On the 28th, in the morning, the weather at laft cleared, Wednef. i%, 

 and the wind fell to a light breeze from the fame quarter as 

 before. We had a fine warm day ; and, as we now began 

 to expect a thaw, the men were employed in breaking 

 the ice from off the rigging, mafts, and fails, in order 

 to prevent its falling on our heads. At noon, being in the 

 latitude of 52 44', and the longitude of 159', the en- 

 trance of Awatfka Bay bore North Weft, diftant three or 

 four leagues ; and, about three in the afternoon, a fair 

 wind fprung up from the Southward, with which we flood 

 in, having regular foundings, from twenty-two to {even 

 fathoms. 



The 



