220 



A VOYAGE TO THE 



ThAirfday lo. 



^^■^^ ^- Otter, commanded by a Mr. Tipping, who, as well ^ 



— ' himfelf, was a lieutenailt in the Englifh navy. Both thefe 



MaJ.' fhips had traded with unwrought iron and fmall tranf- 

 parent beads, the fame kind as thofe we faw amongft the 

 natives in Cook's Bay, who no doubt had got them from 

 captain Tipping ; as he was in the Sound at the very time 

 we were in Cook's River. Captain Meares alfo informed 

 me, that feveral other fhips have at different times been 

 trading on the coaft from India and China, a circumftance 

 that we had no idea ol: at the time we left England, and 

 in all probability will hurt our traffic fo much, that in- 

 {lead of four thoufand fea-otter fkins, which I at one 

 time expected to procure, I fhall be very happy if in the 

 courfe of the feafon we can purchafe a thoufand between 

 both fhips. I underftand that he expeded a fhip to arrive 

 at King George's Sound early in June next; it therefore be- 

 came neceffary that the King George and Queen Charlotte 

 fliould feparate ; and Captain Dixon and myfelf agreed 

 for the Queen Charlotte to pufh on diredly for King 

 George's Sound, in order to get the ftart of that veifel, if 

 poffible ; and the King George to remain in and about 

 Prince William's Sound. I alfo refolved to difpatch my 

 long-boat on a trading expedition to Cook's River, under 

 the diredion of Mr. Hayward, my third mate, and Mr. 

 Hill, with fix good and trufty men, in whom I could 

 place entire confidence. I appointed Hinchinbrooke 

 Cove as a place of rendezvous for the long-boat, and for 

 her to be with me by the 20th of June ; if fhe did not 

 join me by that time, I was to wait for her till the 2,0th 

 of July, but no longer. Afterwards I directed Mr. Hay- 

 ward to procure a paffage for himfelf and the people to 



China 



