PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
331 
fine fresh salmon and trout. The coxswain of this boat wore unusually CHAP, 
large labrets, consisting of blue glass beads fixed upon circular pieces 
of ivory, a full inch in diameter. He drew us a chart of Hothara Inlet, Sept. 
which resembled one that had been traced upon the beach by some 
natives the day before ; both of which represented it as an arm of the sea 
in the form of an hour-glass, which was not far from the truth. The Es- 
quimaux seem to have a natural talent for such delineations ; and though 
their outlines may serve no essential purpose of navigation, they are still 
useful in pointing out the nature of a place that has not been visited ; 
an information which may sometimes save a useless journey. It is, 
however, to be observed, that not unfrequently they appear to trace the 
route which a boat can pursue, rather than the indentations of the 
coast, by which rivers and bays not frequented would be overlooked. 
Such charts are further useful in marking the dwellings and fishing 
stations of the natives. 
From hence we bore away to examine Hotham Inlet, and found it 
so encumbered with shoals that it was necessary to run seven miles off 
the land to avoid striking upon them ; it had but one small entrance, 
so very narrow and intricate, that the boats grounded repeatedly in 
pursuing it. lu the middle of the channel there were only five feet 
water at half-flood ; and the tide ebbed so strong through it, that the 
boat could not stem it ; and as there was but a small part of the coast of 
this inlet that we had not seen, and finding the examination of it would 
be attended with difficulty, and would occupy a long time, the boats did 
not ascend it. The shoal which is off the entrance has no good land- 
marks for it ; the bearings from its extremity in two fathoms and a half 
of water are Cape Blossom, S. 66°40'E. (true); Western High Mount, 
17° .50' W. (true); and the west extreme, a bluff cape, near Cape 
Krusenstern, N. 37° 0' W. (true). But the best way to avoid it is to 
go about directly the soundings decrease to six fathoms : as after that 
depth they shoal so rapidly to two fathoms and a quarter that there is 
scarcely room to put the ship round. 
On the 1st of October we landed upon a sandy point at the western Oct. 
limit of the inlet, and were joined by a few Esquimaux who had their 
tents not far off to the westward : they had communicated with the boat 
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