PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
269 
she had been visited daily by the natives, who were very friendly. CHAP. 
The current in shore was more rapid than in the offing, and the water 
more fresh. After replenishing her provisions, we steered to the north- August, 
ward, and endeavoured to get in with the land on the northern side 
of Point Hope ; but the wind was so light that we could not hold our 
ground against the current, and were drifted away slowly to the 
northward. In the morning, the wind being still unfavourable for this 
purpose, we steered for the farthest land in sight to the northward, 
which answered to Cape Lisburn of Captain Cook. As we approached 
it, the current slackened, and the depth and specific gravity of the sea 
both increased. We landed here, and ascended the mountain to ob- 
tain a fair view of the coast, which we found turned to the eastward, 
nearly at a right angle, and then to the north-eastward, as far as the 
eye could trace. Our height was 850 feet above the sea, and at so short 
a distance from it on one side, that it was fearful to look down upon 
the beach below. We ascended by a valley which collected the tri- 
butary streams of the mountain, and poured them in a cascade upon the 
beach. The basis of the mountain was flint of the purest kind, and 
limestone, abounding in fossil shells, enchinites, and marine animals. 
There was very little soil in the valley; the stones were covered 
with a thick swampy moss, which we traversed with great difficulty, and 
were soon wet through by it. Vegetation was, however, as luxuriant 
as in Kotzebue Sound, more than a hundred miles to the southward, 
or, what is of more consequence, more than that distance farther from 
the great barrier of ice. Several rein-deer were feeding on this luxu- 
riant pasture ; the cliffs were covered with birds ; and the swamps gene- 
rated myriads of moskitos, which were more persevering, if possible, 
than those at Chamisso Island. 
After depositing a bottle at this place, and leaving proper direc- 
tions upon the cliff for finding it, we pursued our course to the east- 
ward, accompanied by the barge. The wind was light, and we made 
so little progress that on the 9th Cape Lisburn was seen just dipping. 
Before it was entirely lost I landed at a small cape, which I named 
Cape Beaufort, in compliment to Captain Beaufort, the present hydro- 
grapher to the Admiralty. The land northward was low and swampy, 
