of the Strait, 



25 



forming a peninsula resen^bling that of Gibraltar ; at the foot of 

 it are to be seen a number of large fragments of rock, composed 

 of petrified shells, which have fallen doAvn a great while ago. 

 The trees which have sprung up on the upper part of many 

 of these fragments, may be considered as a most unequivocal 

 proof of their antiquity, in a country where vegetation must 

 make but very slow progress. 



On the morning of the 29th, notwithstanding that the wind 

 was at WNW we sailed from Port Solano, in search of abet- 

 ter situation, and made every exertion to arrive at the Bay of 

 CapeGalan. The cloudy weather, showers of rain and snow, 

 Avhich had continued to succeed each other, at length disap- 

 peared ; and we took advantage of the wind that prevailed, of 

 moderate strength, to make several runs, by which means, at 

 night, w^e had reached within two short leagues of the desired 

 place of anchorage. Our intention now was to continue under 

 sail all night, notwithstanding the dangerous navigation amongst 

 the shoals of that part of the strait : however, having done so 

 for a short time, at 9i p.m. we suddenly fell into nine fathoms 

 sandy bottom, although we were still above a mile from the 

 shore, we therefore came to anchor, and sent out the boat, to 

 sound, and procure other information. The night, luckily, was 

 very quiet ; and, in the morning, we discovered that we had come 

 to, on a bank that runs out from the Bay of Gaston, but which 

 is not noticed in any former account of the strait. It may serve 

 for anchorage, either in calm weather, or to avoid being under 

 3ail in the night time. 



Early in the morning of the 30th, we observed coming out 

 of the Bay of Gaston (called also by the Dutch, De Corde's 

 Bay) seveii canoes, containing, we reckoned, about 73 natives, 

 men, women, and children. They approached us with loud 

 cries and shouts, one of the canoes, advancing before the others, 

 came Avithin musket-shot, when the crew redoubled their noise, 

 repeating frequently the word pec/ieri, holding up their arms, 

 "svith feathers in their hands. We returned the most friendly 

 answer we could, showing them some pieces of cloth, on w^hich 

 that canoe came alongside, and four of the stoutest of the crew 

 immediately mounted the deck without the least fear. One of 

 them, taking on himself the office of master of the ceremonies, 

 introduced the other three, and addressed himself to one of our 

 officers, making him understand that he wished to see our com- 

 mander ; and, being directed to him, again began his horrid vo-- 

 ciferation, intimating, as we supposed, that he requested per- 

 mission for the other canoes also to approach. In reply, we 

 gave him some trifling present, on which he immediately made 

 Voyages and Travels, No, 5, Vol. Ih e 



