kamtschatka. 273 



We are therefore of opinion that the two conti- 

 nents are Separated, and consider the north-east cape, 

 or Schelatzkoy-noss, not to be an isthmus which 

 unites both quarters of the globe, but merely a 

 promontory of Asia, (like Cape Taimura between 

 the Jenisei and the Lena, which was gone round 

 and recognized only by Chariton Laptiew, in 1738, 

 and that only by land.) The doubling of this 

 promontory by sea has been prevented by the ice, 

 and the examination of it by land, by the warlike 

 independent people of the Tschukutskoi, since the 

 time of Deschnew. Billing, whose instructions 

 ordered him to solve this problem, by sea or by 

 land, and who found all circumstances favourable, 

 inexcusably neglected it. 



We now turn to the north coast of America. 



The North Cape of Cook, Mackenzie's River, the 

 Copper-mine Riverof Hearne, are points thatgiveus 

 the principal direction, which runs nearly under the 

 seventieth degree of north latitude. The accounts 

 and charts of the Indians of Hudson's Bay, which 

 all agree in continuing the coast of Copper-mine 

 River northwards to Repulse Bay ; the north-west 

 current, and the same direction of the swell in 

 Baffin's Bay, according to older authorities j the 

 currenjts and tides in Roes Welcome ; all circum- 

 stances concur to make us infer the connection of 

 the sea and the separation of the land, and we 

 seek the channel northwards of Repulse Bay, as 



VOL. III. T 



