A VOYAGE TO 
404 
1-78. At this time we faw feveral columns of fmoke on the 
^ une * coaft of the continent, to the Northward of the paffage; 
and, moft probably, they were meant as fignals to attract 
us thither. Here the land forms a bay, or perhaps a har¬ 
bour ; off the North Weft point of which lies a low, rocky 
illand. There are alfo fome other illands of the fame ap¬ 
pearance, fcattered along the coaft, between this place and 
Point Banks. 
At eight in the evening, the ill and of St. Hermogenes ex¬ 
tended from South half Eaft, to South South Eaft, a quarter 
Eaft; and the rocks that lie on the North ftde of it bore 
South Eaft, three miles diftant. In this fttuation, we had 
forty fathoms water over a bottom of fand and flrells. Soon 
after, on putting over hooks and lines, we caught feveral 
halibut. 
At midnight; being paft the rocks, we bore up to the 
Sunday 7. Southward; and, at noon, St. Hermogenes bore North, four 
leagues diftant. At this time, the Southernmoft point of the 
main land, within or to the Weftward of St. Hermogenes, 
lay North half Weft, diftant five leagues. This promontory, 
which is fituated in the latitude of 58° 15^ and in the longi¬ 
tude of 207° 24', was named, after the day, Cape Whitfunday . 
A large bay, which lies to the Weft of it, obtained the name 
of Whitfuntide Bay. The land on the Eaft fide of this bay, 
of which Cape Whitfunday is the Southern point, and 
Point Banks the Northern one, is, in all refpe&s, like the 
illand of St. Hermogenes; feemingly deftitute of wood, and 
partly free from fnow. It was fuppofed to be covered with 
a moffy fubftance, that gave it a brownilh call. There 
were fome reafons to think it was an illand. If this be fo, 
the laft-mentioned bay is only the ftrait or paffage that fe- 
parates it from the main land. 
Between 
