BARENTSES VOYAGE. 
271 
the Continent. It was low, and much driftwood 
lay on the shores. They sailed hack Northward to the 
Strait, and, the wind continuing Easterly, kept work¬ 
ing to windward all the 24tli. In the morning of the 
25th, they sailed between two points of land moder¬ 
ately elevated, and covered with verdure, but without 
trees. The Southern or continental coast was sandy, 
and the sea near it rocky. The Northern land (Wai- 
gatz Island) was rather higher than the Southern, and 
level at the top. Crosses were seen in many places, 
but no appearance of habitations. These coasts were 
full of sinuosities forming small bays, especially the 
Northern coast, nearest to which the ships kept. 
The wind being contrary, they anchored several 
times in the Strait. At one time they rode out a 
gale of wind in the middle of the Strait, a rapid 
current at the same time running through the Strait 
from the East, which brought with it large clumps 
of ice, and kept them in much alarm. This current 
was affected by the tides ; or more properly was partly 
tide, for it is afterwards remarked, that with the rising 
tide the current came from the East, and that the 
ebbing of the tide was scarcely perceptible. The 
direction of the Strait was here North-eastward. 
In passing through the Strait, the depth under 
them was at one time not more than four fathoms, but 
they were then within a stone s cast of the shore. The 
