280
3792. examination of Mr. Broughton; the entrance of which lies from Rcilo-
• ay' . ration point, N. 20 e ., 5 leagues diftant. The breeze, as was ufual, dying
away, we advanced very {lowly ; towards noon, it was fucceeded by
a n .w . wind, accompanied with the flood-tide, fo that, by the time
we had worked up the opening, the ebb tide was returning not only
with great ftrength, but attended by a fort of counter tide, or under
tow, that fo affe&ed the {hip, as to render her almoft unmanageable,
notwithftariding we had a freth breeze, and were affifted in working in
by our boats. Having advanced about 3 miles within the entrance,
which we found about half a league acrofs, and, in the evening, feeing
no appearance of the Chatham, a gun was fired, which was immediately
anfwered from behind a point of land, on the {larboard, or- eaftern
fhore, where, foon afterwards, we faw the Chatham bearing a light at
her maft-head for our guidance; and, though within the diftance of 2
miles, it was near midnight before we anchored in 32 fathoms water,
about a cable’s length from her ; not having been able to gain foundings
with 110 fathoms of line, until we reached this ftation.
ThurlHaygi, The next morning, we found- ourfelves about a cable’s length from
the fhore, in-a capacious found ; whofe entrance bore by compafs from
s. 2 w. to S .3 0W ., about 6 miles from us, from whence it-extended in
a true n .n .e . direftion. T o the north was a. high round ifland, bearing
from N. 18 w . to N. 33 w . ; on each fide of which an opening was feen
ftretching to the northward. Thefe openings were feparated by a high
narrow flip o f land, which alfo appeared to be infulated. The1“ eaftern
fide o f the found formed a deep bay, apparently bounded by folid com-
paft land of a moderate height.
Mr. Broughton informed me, he'had navigated the eaft fide o f the
round ifland in the brig, and had examined the eaftern fhore of the
found, which was, as it appeared to be, a compaft fhore. Mr. Whid-
bey, in-our launch, accompanied by Lieutenant Hanfon in the Chatham’s,
had, on the 29th, been difpatched to the two openings to the northward,
with direHions to examine the right-hand,- or eafternmoft, firft ; and, on
finding its termination, to return with fuch information to the Chatham,
before they proceeded to vifit the other: that, in the event of the Difcovery’s
covery’s arrival previous to their return, the veffels might follow them ‘^9*-
in fuch purfuit, obferving to keep on the eaftern fhore until they fhould >— — .
find it divided into two branches. This being the third day of their ab-
fence, it was concluded they had found the eafternmoft opening to be of
confiderable extent; in confequence of which I determined to follow
them, but the weather being calm and gloomy, with fome rain, we were
prevented moving. On alow point of land near the fhip, I obferved the
latitude to be 47° 57'i, longitude 2370 58'. A light favorable breeze
fprang up fhortly after noon; but before the anchor was at the 'fhip’s
bows it again fell calm, with much rain, which obliged us to remain
quiet. The Chatham however weighed, and being foon off the bank,
which does not reach a quarter o f a mile from the fhore, was inftantly
out of foundings, and was driven by the ebb-tide until nine in the evening
to the entrance o f the found. At this time a frefh foutherly breeze
fpringing up we weighed, and direfted our courfe northward, to pats
on the weftern fide of the round ifland.
We had now been ftationary upwards of twenty hours, and during
that time the tide or current had conftantly fat out; the like was obferved
by Mr. Broughton during his continuance in the fame place. The foutherly
wind, attended by a heavy fall of rain, foon became fo faint, that
by eleven at night we had proceeded only; 5 miles. Here we were
obliged to anchor in 20 fathoms water, hard fandy bottom, near half
way between the ifland and the point that divides the two openings,
which are about a league afunder. ' June.
About fix in the morning of june the 1 ft, affifted by the flood tide, and Friday 1.
a light fouth-eafterly wind, we proceeded up the eaftern arm; the entrance
of which is about a mile wide, with foundings from 75 to 80
fathoms, dark fandy bottom. The weather being rainy, calm, or attended
with light variable winds, moll of the forenoon we made little
progrefs. During this interval the Chatham .gained fome advantage of
us, and about noon proceeded with a favorable breeze from the fouth-
ward up the opening. The haze which had obfcured the land all the
fore part of the day, gave the inlet an extenfiVe appearance, without
any vifible termination; but on the fog’s difperfing, it feemed to be
Y ol. I, D o clofed