June" IeaSues diftant; a low fandy illand, forming at its weft end a low cliff,
—----- ' above which fome dwarf trees are produced from n. 26 w . to N. 40 w . ;
and the propofed ftation for the veffels during the examination of the
continental Ihore by the boats, which, from Mr Broughton who had
viftted it,-obtained the name of S t r a w b e r r y B a y , n . 1 1 -w . at the
diftance of about 6 leagues, fituated in a region apparently much broken
and divided by water. Here we remained until feven in the evening;
we then weighed, but with fo little wind, that after having drifted to the
fouthward of our former ftation, we were obliged again to anchor until
Thurfday 7. £x tjje next morning, when we made an attempt to proceed,; but were
foon again compelled to become ftationary near our laft fituation.
On refleding that the fummer was now fall advancing, and that the
progrefs of the veffels occafioned too much delay, I determined, rather
than lofe the advantages which the prevailing favorable weather now-
afforded for boat expeditions, to difpatch Mr. Puget in the launch,
and Mr. Whidbey in the cutter, with a week’s provilions, in order
that the fhores Ihould be immediately explored to the next intended ftation
of the veffels, whither they would proceed as foon as circum-
ftances would allow. In this arrangement I was well aware, it could
not be confidered judicious to part with our launch, whilft the fhip remained
in a: tranfitory unfixed ftate in this unknown and dangerous-
navigation; yet Ihe was fo effentially neceffary to the proteftion of our
detached parties, that I refolved to encounter fome few difficulties on
board, rather than fuffer the delay, or lofe fo valuable an opportunity
for the profecution o f the furvey. In direfling this, orders were given
not to examine any openings to the north-weftward, beyond Strawberry
bay, but to determine the boundaries of thé continental Ihore
leading to the north and eaftward, as far as might be practicable to its
parallel, whither they were to refórt after performing the talk affigned.
On this fervice they departed, and direded their courfe for the firft
opening on the eaftern Ihore about 3 or 4 leagues diftant, bearing by
compafs from the fhip n. by e.
Having repaired to the low fandy illand already noticed, for the
purpofe of taking fome angles, I found fome rocks lying on its weftern
tern fide nearly three quarters of a mile from its fhores ; and that the
eaftern part of it was formed by a very narrow low fpit of land, over ,---- >
which the tide nearly flowed. Its fituation is in latitude 48° 24', longitude.
237“ 2Ö'|-. Amongft the various bearings that here it became neceffary
to take, were thofe of the two remarkably high fnowy mountains
fo frequently mentioned. Mount Baker bore N;. 63 e . ; mount
Rainier s. 27 E.; and from a variety of obfervations purpofely -made for
fixing their refpedive flotations, it appeared that mount Baker was in
latitude 48° 39', longitude 238° 20', and mount Rainier in latitude
470 3', longitude 238“ 21'. T o the fouthward of thefé were now feen
two other very lofty, round, fnowy mountains, lying apparently in the
fame north and fouth diredion, or nearly fo ; but we were unable to
afcertain their pofitive fituation, The fummits of thefe were vifible j if 1 tfflfl
only at two or three ftations in the fouthern parts of Admiralty inlet;
they appeared to be covered with perpetual fnow as low down as we
were, enabled to fee, and feemed as if they rofe from an extenfiye plain
of low country.
When due attention is paid to the range of fnowy mountains that
ftretch to the fouthward from the bafe of mount Rainier, a probability
arifes of the fame chain being continued, fo as to conned the-whole in
one barrier along the coaft, at uncertain diftances from its fhores; although
intervals may exift in the ridge where the mountains may not
be fufficiently elevated to have been difcernible from our feveral ftations.
The like effed is produced. by the two- former mountains, whofe irn-
menfe height permitted their appearing very confpicuoufly,. long before
we approached fufficiently near to diftinguifh the intermediate range of
rugged mountains that conned them, and from whofe fummits their
bafes originate.
About fix in the evening, with a light breeze from the s.w. we
weighed and flood to the northward; but after having advanced about
11 miles, the wind became light and obliged us to anchor about nine
that evening, in 37 fathoms water, hard bottom, in fome places ro ck y ;
in this fituation we were detained by calms until the afternoon of the
following day. Our obferved latitude, here, was 48° 29', longitude- Friday 8.
237“