THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
459 
It is worth obferving, that for fome days before this date, 
we had frequently feen flocks of ducks flying to the South¬ 
ward. They were of two forts, the one much larger than 
the other. The largeft were of a brown colour; and, of the 
fmall fort, either the duck or drake was black and white, 
and the other brown. Some faid they faw geefe alfo. Does 
not this indicate that there muft be land to the North; 
where thefe birds find fhelter, in the proper feafon, to breed, 
and from whence they were now returning to a warmer 
climate ? 
By the time that we had got our fea-horfes on board, we 
were, in a manner, furrounded with the ice; and had no 
way left to clear it, but by Handing to the Southward; 
which was done till three o’clock next morning, with a 
gentle breeze Wefterly; and, for the moft part, thick, foggy 
weather. The foundings were from twelve to fifteen fa¬ 
thoms. We then tacked, and flood to the North till ten 
o’clock; when the wind veering to the Northward, we di¬ 
rected our courfe to the Weft South Weft and Weft. At two 
in the afternoon, we fell in with the main ice; along the 
edge of which we kept; being partly directed by the roaring 
of the fea-horfes; for we had a very thick fog. Thus we 
continued failing till near midnight, when we got in amongft 
the loofe ice, and heard the furge of the fea upon the main 
ice. 
The fog being very thick, and the wind Eafterly, I now 
hauled to the Southward; and, at ten o’clock the next morn¬ 
ing, the fog clearing away, we faw the continent of Ameri¬ 
ca, extending from South by Eaft, to Eaft by South; and at 
noon, from South Weft half South, to Eaft; the neareft part 
five leagues diftant. At this time we were in the latitude 
of 69° 32'* and in the longitude of 195 0 48"; and as the main 
3 N 2 ice 
1778. 
Auguft. 
“"v—' 
Thurfday 20. 
Friday 21. 
