I02 



Menzics' Journal. 



Burke Channel. 



1792. 

 Aug. 16th. 



Aug. 17th. 



Return by 

 Burke Channel. 



Aug. 18th. 



signs of its ending, for it was not in the least contracted in 

 its weadth which was here rather better than a mile. over. 



On the 17th our provision being very nearly expended 

 it was not thought prudent with the bad weather we had to 

 run on any further as it was not now likely we should be able 

 to / finish all our branches, We therefore at day break set 

 out on our return to the Vessels, leaving the heads of these 

 different Arms undetermined. By nine we reachd the place 

 where we had yesterday seen the Smoke — here we landed 

 to breakfast & found the fire still burning at the root of an 

 old tree & everything else in the same situation. — After 

 leaving pieces of Copper Nails Beads & other Trinkets in the 

 large Canoe we pursued our way back the Arm with the 

 most unfavorable Weather till the evening when we stopped 

 on a fine pebbly Beach within a league of where Cap* 

 Vancouver parted with us, & for the first night since we left 

 the Vessel had fair pleasant Weather but very cold. 



Next morning we were again in motion at day break, 

 as we had the comfort of fair Weather, but we did not long 

 enjoy it when it came on to rain again very hard with fluc- 

 tuating gusts of wind that greatly retarded our progress. — 

 As we had this day but a single scanty meal, every exertion 

 was used to reach the Vessels both by rowing & sailing, & 

 after persisting in our endeavours with fatiguing toil till 

 ten at night we were obligd to stop about five leagues from 

 them & spend the night in the Boats very uncomfortably, as 

 it raind incessantly & all the Shelter we could make from 

 the Boats Sails &c. was very inadequate to defend us from 

 its inclemency. In this situation we anxiously lookd for- 

 ward for day-light, when we again set out, cold, stiff, wet & 

 hungry, & were greatly impeded in our progress by the wind 

 & heavy swell being against us, up Fitzhugh's Sound. — About 

 ten in the forenoon we saw the Vessels under way off the 

 entrance / of Safety Cove & as they advancd up the Sound 

 to meet us we got on board the Discovery about noon. When 

 we were informd that two days before they were visited in 

 the Cove by the Venus Brig from Bengal Commanded by Mr. 

 Shepherd on a Commercial Voyage trading for Furs along 

 the Coast. Mr. Shepherd brought a letter to Cap* Vancouver 

 from the Master of the Doedalus Store Ship who had been 

 laying at Nootka Sound for some time waiting our arrival. — 

 This letter containd a short account of the melancholy fate 



