THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
183 
to meafure in circumference more than double their ufual 
fize; and, in fhort, the experience of the oldeft feaman 
among us, had never met with any thing like the conti¬ 
nued fhowers of beet, and the extreme cold, which we now 
encountered. Indeed the feverity of the weather, added to 
the great difficulty of working the fhips, and the labour of 
keeping the pumps conftantly going, rendered the fervice 
too hard for many of the crew, fome of whom were froft- 
bitten, and others laid up with bad colds. We continued 
all this time ftanding four hours on each tack, having gene¬ 
rally foundings of fixty fathoms, when about three leagues 
from the land; but none at twice that diftance. On the 
25th, we had a tranfient view of the entrance of Awatfka 
Bay; but, in the prefent ftate of the weather, we were 
afraid of venturing into it. Upon our ftanding off again, 
we loft fight of the Difcovery; but, as we were now fo 
near the place of rendezvous, this gave us no great un- 
eafinefs. 
On the 28th, in the morning, the weather at laft cleared, 
and the wind fell to a light breeze from the fame quarter as 
before. We had a fine warm day; and, as we now began 
to expecft a thaw, the men were employed in breaking 
the ice from off the rigging, mails, and fails, in order to 
prevent its falling on our heads. At noon, being in the 
latitude of 52 0 44', and the longitude of 159 0 , the en¬ 
trance of Awatfka Bay bore North Weft, diftant three or 
four leagues; and, about three in the afternoon, a fair 
wind fprung up from the Southward, with which we flood 
in, having regular foundings, from twenty-two to feven 
fathoms. 
The mouth of the bay opens in a North North Weft 
diiedlion. The land, on the South, fide, is of a moderate 
1 height; 
1779• 
April. 
<—-v —-J 
Sunday 25, 
Wednef. 28. 
