THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 
455 
rugged; and, here and there, we faw upon it pools of 
water. 
We now hood to the Southward; and, after running 
fix leagues, fhoaled the water to feven fathoms; but it 
foon deepened to nine fathoms. At this time, the weather, 
which had been hazy, clearing up a little, we faw land 
extending from South to South Eaft by Eaft, about three 
or four miles diftant. The Eaftern extreme forms a point, 
which was much encumbered with ice; for which rea- 
fon it obtained the name of Icy Cape. Its latitude is 70° 29', 
and its longitude 198° 20'. The other extreme of the land 
w as loft in the horizon; fo that there can be no doubt of 
its being a continuation of the American continent. The 
Difcovery being about a mile aftern, and to leeward, found 
lefs water than we did ; and tacking on that account, I was 
obliged to tack alfo, to prevent reparation. 
Our fituation was now more and more critical. We were 
in fhoal water, upon a lee fhore ; and the main body of the 
ice to windward, driving down upon us. It w r as evident, 
that if we remained much longer between it and the land, 
It would force us ailiore; unlefs it fhould happen to take 
the ground before us. It feemed nearly to join the land 
to leeward; and the only direction that was open, was to 
the South Weft. After making a fhort board to the 
Northward, I made the ftgnal for the Difcovery to tack, 
and tacked myfelf at the fame time. The wind proved 
rather favourable; fo that we lay up South Weft, and 
South Weft by Weft. 
At eight in the morning of the 19th, the wind veer¬ 
ing back to Weft, I tacked to the Northward; and, at 
noon, the latitude was 70° 6', and the longitude 196° 42'. 
In this fituation, we had a good deal of drift-ice about 
us; 
1778. 
AuguiL 
Wednef. 19. 
