TO kotzebue's sound. 233 



hope to make a very remarkable discovery here. 

 The coasts on the nortliern part of the arm rise 

 to a considerable height, but gradually become 

 lower the farther one penetrates to the N., where 

 there are many small lakes and rivers. The southern 

 coast of the arm is low, and continues so as far as 

 the 6ye can reach. It is only in the vicinity of 

 the DeviFs mountain, which is fifteen miles from 

 here, that it becomes mountainous. The land is 

 every where green, but has not a single bush on it. 

 We set out on our voyage at one o'clock in the 

 morning ; the fire of the savages was burning ; we 

 still heard their songs, accompanied by the hollow 

 drum ; and this, united with the darkness of the 

 night, concealed our departure from them. After 

 we had worked ourselves out of the channel, we 

 took our way to the ship, and as we could see 

 nothing, were obliged to direct our course by the 

 situation of the land. We had scarcely rowed half 

 an hour, when we struck upon a shoal ; it was the 

 time of ebb, and all the places which we had pre- 

 viously navigated with ease, were now changed into 

 sand banks, and we heard the breakers roaring round 

 us. We therefore rowed in another direction ; but 

 it was not long before we were again on a shoal, 

 where the breakers threatened to swallow us up. 

 A violent wind rendered our situation still more 

 dangerous, our boat drew much water, we were all 

 exhausted by labour, and I saw no means of escap- 

 ing death, as we iiad every moment to expect that 



