T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 3* 



o l s 



make itfelf very confpicuous ; for it is a high projecting qUI'^ 



head-land, with a confiderable extent of level ground, lower ' * 



than the Nofs, uniting it to the continent. It prefents the 

 fame appearance, whether viewed from the North or South, 

 and will warn the mariner not to be deceived, in imagin- 

 ing Awatfka Bay to lie in the bight, which the coaft forms 

 to the Northward of this Nofs; and which might be the 

 cafe, from the ftriking refemblance there is between a 

 conical hill within this bight or bay, and one to the South of 

 Awatfka Bay. 



I have been thus particular, in giving a minute defcrip- 

 tion of this coaft, from our own experience of the want of 

 it. For had we been furniflied with a tolerable account of 

 the form of the coaft, on each fide of Awatfka Bay, we 

 mould, on our firft arrival upon it, have got fafely within 

 the bay two days before we did, and thereby have avoided 

 part of the ftormy weather, which came on when we were 

 plying off the mouth of the harbour. Befides, from the 

 prevalence of fogs, in thefe feas, it muft frequently happen, 

 that an obfervation for afcertaining the latitude cannot 

 be got ; to which we may add, that the deceptive appear- 

 ances land makes, when covered with fnow, and when 

 viewed through an hazy atmofphere, both which circum- 

 ftances prevail here, during the greateft part of the year, 

 render the knowledge of a variety of difcriminating objects 

 the more neceflary. 



Should, however, the weather be clear enough to admit 

 a view of the mountains on the coaft in its neighbourhood, 

 thefe will ferve to point out the fituation of Awatfka Bay, 

 with a great deal of precifion. For to the South of it are 

 two high mountains j that which is ncareft the bay, is 



Vol. III. S f fhaped 



