274 A VOYAGE TO THE 



c HA p. ig^gye wide at the entrance, and running in about Eaft, 



u- — — ' or Eail South Eafb, with bold fhores and good anchorage. 



AugJft. Soon after getting in (the Southern and Eaftern point of 



Wednef. 15. ^|^^ ^j.^-. -^^ 57° 3 o' ktitudc, and the Northern and Weftern 



point in 57° 36'' latitude), they ftood up between South and 

 South by Eaft, near four leagues, the ftrait for that dif- 

 tance appearing near three leagues acrofs, with feveral 

 fmall illands fcattered about it. From the Southern point 

 there were feveral appearances of fine openings branching 

 out in various diredions ; however, they did not examine 

 any of them, but kept along under the Southern fhore, as 

 the moft likely place for leading out near Cape Edge- 

 combe. After getting up this paffage about four leagues, 

 they found it not more than half a league acrofs, with 

 good anchorage all the way up ; and after carrying that 

 width two leagues higher, it became very narrow and 

 fhoa), one part in particular fo fhoal, that it became dry 

 at low- water for near two miles. In this narrow part they 

 flruck a rock, which fhivered one of the planks in the 

 loof of the bow, and caufed the boat to make a good deal 

 of water. This accident might have been attended with ■ 

 ferious confequences ; however, they hauled the boat on 

 fhore, and nailed a piece of fheet-lead over the damaged 

 part, which eft'edlually flopped the leak. After pafling 

 the narrow part, which they did by taking a proper time 

 of tide, they found the paffage to grow wider (ftill trend- 

 ing away to the North Eaft) ; the depth of water increafed 

 gradually, and nearly as fait as fea-water. This circum- 

 (lance gave them great hopes that the paffage they were in 

 had a communication with the fea to the South Eaft, and 

 confequently that they fhould get to the South Eaftward of 

 the Cape, by a very fafe and eafy navigation. In this 

 8 opinion 



