Mensies' Journal. 



Loughborough Inlet. 



ing & thought themselves secure from any disturbance by 

 pitching upon a small Island for their place of rest, but in 

 the middle of the night they were hastily roused from their 

 repose by the flowing of the Tide, which had risen so much 

 higher than they expected & rushd upon them so suddenly, 

 that every person got completely drenchd before they could 

 remove to the higher ground. This little disaster renderd 

 them so uncomfortable for the remainder of the night that 

 they could not enjoy their slumber but anxiously looked 

 forward for day break to depart. In these Arms they only 

 saw two Canoes with two or three Natives in each who on 

 observing the Boats paddled hastily to the shore & fled to 

 the Woods with the utmost precipitation. In passing one of 

 these Canoes Mr. Johnstone rowed round near enough to 

 throw some small Trinkets into it, to convince its owners 

 on their return that they had no cause to be alarm'd. 



They again got into the main Channel on the 3*^ day & 

 pursued it in a westerly direction, but did not proceed far 

 when they had evident indications of the flood tide coming 

 from the Westward which was a pretty certain sign of a 

 communication with the Ocean to the Northward of Nootka, 

 but to ascertain whether it was Navigable for the Vessels / 

 stimulated them to push forward with greater eagerness 

 without putting off any more time in examining the collateral 

 branches that went off to the Northward, indeed these soon 

 became so frequent that they appeard to be the intersections 

 of a numerous group of Islands which as they approachd 

 the Ocean occupied a considerable space on the North Side 

 of their tract, & the Weather was frequently thick & 

 unfavorable with heavy rain & a strong breeze of wind often 

 against them yet they anxiously persevered in their pursuit 

 with toilsome labour & gaind sight of the Sea on the loth 

 of July seven days after their departure : but the preceeding 

 day being thick & foggy with constant rain they were 

 extremely apprehensive least after exploring so far they 

 should not be able to obtain a satisfactory view of their 

 situation, to ascertain their object with greater precision, & 

 in this state of despair they passed the night uncomfortably 

 in a small Island indifferently shelterd. till a change of wind 

 at day break dispers'd the Fog & fortunately brought clear 

 & fair weather, when they rowed to a small Island a little 

 farther to the Westward where they had the pleasing pros- 



17!l2. 

 July 12th. 



Back Into 



Cardero 



Channel. 



