A VOYAGE TO 
chor; and where we had from twelve to five fathoms, from 
half-flood to high-water. 
After we had entered the bay, the flood fet flrong into 
the river Turnagain; and ebb came out with flill greater 
force; the water falling, while we lay at anchor, twenty 
feet upon a perpendicular. Thefe circumflances convinced 
me, that no paffage was to be expedled by this fide river, 
any more than by the main branch. However, as the wa¬ 
ter during the ebb, though very confiderably frefher, had 
flill a flrong degree of faltnefs, it is but reafonable to fup- 
pofe, that both thefe branches are navigable by fhips, much 
farther than we examined them ; and that by means of this 
river, and its feveral branches, a very extenfive inland com¬ 
munication lies open. We had traced it as high as the la¬ 
titude of 6i° 30', and the longitude of 210 0 ; which is feventy 
leagues, or more, from its entrance, without feeing the leaft 
appearance of its fource. 
If the difcovery of this great river *, which promifes to 
vie with the mofl confiderable ones already known to be 
capable of extenfive inland navigation, fhould prove of ufe 
either to the prefent, or to any future age, the time we fpent 
in it ought to be the lefs regretted. But to us, who had a 
much greater objedl in view, the delay-thus occafioned was 
an effential lofs. The feafon was advancing apace. We 
knew not how far we might have to proceed to the South; 
and we were now convinced, that the continent of North 
America extended farther to the Weft, than, from the mo¬ 
dern mofl reputable charts, we had reafon to expedt. This 
made the exiflence of a paffage into Baffin’s or Hudfon’s 
* Captain Cook having here left a blank which he had not filled up with any particu¬ 
lar name, Lord Sandwich directed, with the greateft propriety, that it fhould be called 
Cook's River. 
/ 
Bays 
