of • X*6a o-de s1
C HA P . VI.
PranfaSlions in ^ueen Charlotte s Sound; Paffage through
the Streight which divides the two IJlands, and back to
Cape Purnagain : H o rrid Cujlom o f the Inhabitants :
Remarkable Melody o f B irds : A V ifit to a Heppah, and
many other Pa rticula rs.
T H E fhore at this place feemed to form feveral bays, into 17705
one of which I propofed to carry the fhip, which was , Japaary--f
become very foul, in order to careen her, and at the fame Sunda)' *+•
time repair fome defedts, and recruit our wood and water.
With this view,- I kept plying on and off all night, having,
from eighty to fixty-three fathom. At day-break the next Monday 1.5-
morning* I flood for an inlet which runs in S. W .; and at
eight I got within the-entrance, which may be known by a
reef .of rocks, firetching from the north weft point, and fome
rocky iflands which lie off the fouth eaft point. At nine
o’clock, there being little wind,, and what there was being
variable, we were carried by the tide or current within two-
cables’ length of the north wefl fhore, where we had fifty-four
fathom water, but by the help of our boats we got clear..
Juft at this time we-faw a. fea-lion rife twice near the fhore,.
the head of which exactly refembled that of the male which*
has been deferibed in the Account of Lord Anfon’s Voyage.
We a l f o faw fame o f the natives in a canoe crofs the bay, arid
a village fituated upon the point of an ifland which lies feveiv
or eight miles within the entrance. At noon, we were the
length of this ifland, hut there being little wind, the boats-
5 were