THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
415 
be delivered to the next of their countrymen who fhould 1778. 
arrive ; and that the natives, feeing our fhips pafs, and fup- , J nne, '_, 
poling us to be Ruffians, had refolved to bring off the note, 
thinking it might induce us to flop. Fully convinced of 
this, I did not ftay to inquire any farther into the matter; 
but made fail, and Rood away to the Weft ward, along the 
coaft : perhaps I fhould fay along the illands; for we could 
not pronounce, with certainty, whether the neareft land, 
within us, was continent or illands. If not the latter, the 
coaft here forms fome tolerably large and deep bays. 
We continued to run all night with a gentle breeze 
at North Eaft; and, at two o’clock next morning, fome Saturday 20. 
breakers were feen within us, at the diftance of two miles. 
Two hours after, others were feen ahead; and, on our lar¬ 
board bow, and between us and the land, they were innu¬ 
merable. We did but juft clear them, by holding a South 
courfe. Thefe breakers were occalioned by rocks; fome of 
which were above water. They extend feven leagues from 
the land ; and are very dangerous, elpecially in thick wea¬ 
ther, to which this coaft feems much fubjeff. At noon, we 
had juft got on their outlide; and, by obfervation, we 
were in the latitude of 54 0 44/, and in the longitude of 198°, 
The neareft land, being an elevated bluff point, which 
was called Rock Point , bore North, feven or eight leagues 
diftant; the Wefternmoft part of the main, or what was 
fuppofed to be the main, bore North 8o° Weft ; and a round 
hill, without, which was found to be an illand, and was 
called Halibut-head , bore South 65° Weft, thirteen leagues 
diftant. 
On the 21ft at noon, having made hut little progrefs, on Sunday 21, 
account of faint winds and calms, Halibut-head, which lies 
in the latitude of 54 0 2f, and in the longitude of 197 0 , bore 
North 
