A I 
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NORTHERN OCEAN. 
22t 
ject of my journey, I found they were delighted 3771. 
with the hopes of having an European fettlement 
in their neighbourhood, and feemed to have no 
idea that any impediment could prevent fuch a 
f{cheme from being carried into execution. Cli- 
mates and feafons had no weight withthem; nor 
couid they fee where the difliculty lay in getting 
to them; for though they acknowledged that 
they had never feen the fea at the mouth of the 
Copper River clear of ice, yet they could fee 
nothing that fhould hinder a fhip from approach- 
ing it; and they innocently enough obferved, 
that the water was always fo {mooth between 
the ice and fhore that even {mall boats might 
get there with great eafe and fafety. Howa thip 
was to get between the ice and the fhore, never 
once occurred to them. 
Whether it was from real motives of hofpitali- 
ty, or from the great advantages which they ex- 
pected to reap by my difcoveries, I know not; 
but I muft confefs that their civility far exceeded 
what I could expect from fo uncivilized a tribe, 
and I was exceedingly forry that [had nothing of 
value to offer them. However, fuch articles as I 
had, 1 diftributed among them, and they were 
thankfully received by them. Though they have 
fome European commodities among them, which 
they purchafe from the Northern Indians, the 
fame articles from the hands of an Englifhman 
were more prized. As I was the firft whom they 
had ever feen, and in all probability might be the 
laft, 
June, 
