260 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAPTER XL 
Quit Kotzebue Sound, and proceed to survey the Coast to the Northward— Interviews with 
the Natives — Cape Thomson — Point Hope — Current — Capes Sabine and Beaufort — 
Barrier of Ice — Icy Cape — Advanced Position of the Sliip — Discover Cape Franklin, 
\Vainwright Inlet, Shoals off Icy Cape, &c. — Boat sent on an Expedition along the 
Coast — Return of the Ship to Kotzebue Sound — Interviews with the Esquimaux — Boat 
rejoins the Ship — Important Results of her Expedition. 
On the 30 th of July we weighed from Chamisso Island attended by 
the barge, and steered out of the sound. The day was very fine ; and, 
1820’. sailed along the northern shore, the sun was reflected from several 
parts of the clifl*, which our telescopes discovered to be cased with a 
frozen surface similar to that just described in Escholtz Bay. We kept 
at six or seven miles distance from the land, and had a very even bot- 
tom, until near Hotham Inlet, when the soundings quickly decreased, 
and the ship struck upon a shoal before any alteration of the helm had 
materially changed her position. The water v/as fortunately quite 
smooth, and she grounded so easily that, but for the lead-lines, we should 
not have known any thing had occurred. We found upon sounding, 
that the ship had entered a bight in the shoal, and that there was a 
small bank between her and the deep water, so that it became neces- 
sary to carry out the stream anchor in the direction of her wake, by 
means of which, and a little rise of the tide, she was soon got off. 
This shoal, which extends eight miles off the land, is very danger- 
ous, as the soundings give very short warning of its proximity, and there 
are no good landmarks for avoiding it. The distance from the shore, 
could it be judged of under ordinary circumstances, would on some 
occasions be a most treacherous guide, as the mirage in fine weather 
