THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 385 



raoft effectually be obeyed. The refuk of our opinions, '779- 

 which he had the fatisfaction to find unanimous, and in- ■ — -> — -» 

 tirely coinciding with his own, that the condition of the 

 fhips, of the fails and cordage, made it unfafe to attempt, 

 at fo advanced a feafon of the year, to navigate the fea be- 

 tween Japan and Afia ; which would otherwife have afford- 

 ed the largeft field for difcovery ; that it was therefore ad- 

 vifeable to keep to the Eaftward of that ifland, and in our 

 way thither to run along the Kuriles, and examine more 

 particularly the iflands that lie nearefl the Northern coaft of 

 Japan, which are reprefentcd as of a confiderable fize, and 

 independent of the Ruflian and Japanefe governments. 

 Should we be fo fortunate as to find in thefc any fafe and 

 commodious harbours, we conceived they might be of im- 

 portance, either as places of fhelter for any future navi- 

 gators, who may be employed in exploring the feas, or as 

 the means of opening a commercial intercourfe among the 

 neighbouring dominions of the two empires. Our next ob- 

 ject was to furvey the coaft of the Japanefe Iflands, and after- 

 ward to make the coafl 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 cafe of feparation, to proceed immediately to 

 Macao ; and at fix o'clock in the evening of the 9th of Octo- Saturday 9. 

 ber, having cleared the entrance of Awatfka Bay, we fleered 

 to the South Eaft, with the wind North Weft and by Weft. 

 At midnight we had a dead caim, which continued till 

 noon of the 10th; the light-houfe, at this time, bearing Sunday IO> 

 North half Weft, diftant five leagues, and Cape Gavareea 

 South by Weft half Weft. Being luckily in foundings of 

 fixty and feventy fathoms water, we employed our time 

 very profitably in catching cod, which were exceedingly 



Vol. III. 3 D fine 



