182 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779. the ropes were fo frozen, that it was with difficulty we 
could force them through the blocks. At noon, the lati¬ 
tude, by account, was 51 0 38', longitude 160° 7' ; and on 
comparing our prefent poiition with that given to the 
Southern parts of Kamtfchatka, in the Ruffian charts, Cap¬ 
tain Clerke did not think it prudent to run on toward the 
land all night. We therefore tacked at ten; and, having 
founded, had ground agreeably to our conjectures, with Se¬ 
venty fathoms of line. 
Friday 23. On the 23d, at fix in the morning, being in latitude 
52 0 OQ)\ and longitude i6o° 07on the fog clearing away, 
the land appeared in mountains covered with fnow; and 
extending from North three quarters Eaft, to South Weft, 
a high conical rock, bearing South Weft, three quarters 
Weft, at three or four leagues diftance. We had no Sooner 
taken this imperfect view, than we were again covered with 
a thick fog. Being now, according to our maps, only eight 
leagues from the entrance of Awatfka Bay, as Soon as the 
weather cleared up, we ftood in to take a nearer view of 
the land; and a more difmal and dreary profpeCt I never 
beheld. The coaft appears ftraight and uniform, having- 
no inlets or bays ; the ground, from the fhore, rifes in hills 
of a moderate elevation, behind which are ranges of moun¬ 
tains, whofe Summits were loft in the clouds. The whole 
Scene was entirely covered with fnow, except the lides of 
Some of the cliffs, which rofe too abruptly from the Sea for 
the fnow to lie upon them. 
The wind continued blowing very ftrong from the North 
Saturday 24. Eaft, with thick hazy weather and fleet, from the 24th till 
the 28th. During the whole time, the thermometer was 
never higher than 30 f °. The ftiip appeared to be a com¬ 
plete mafs of ice ; the fhrowds were fo incrufted with it, as 
to 
