R O U N D T H E W O R L D . 327
the party ufing their utmoft endeavours to get through the narrows by jts*-
the fame friendly affiftance of the natives he had before experienced; L- — >
which being now no longer required, thefe good people returned to their
habitations, apparently well fatisfied with the kind offices they had rendered,
and the acknowledgments they had received. -The boats now
fought ffielter from the inclemency of the weather in a fmall cove on
the fouth fide of the arm they had quitted, where the fame caufe operated
to detain them until the morning of the 2d o f july, when the
time for which they were fupplied with provifions being nearly expired,
it was deemed moll; expedient to return to the Ihips.
By thefe two expeditions the boundary of the continental fhore was
completely afcertained to the above narrow palfage; and the ftrongeft
prefumption induced that the whole o f the coaft on our weftern fide,
fouthward o f that palfage was compofed o f innumerable iflands.
The weather being tolerably fair, Mr. Johnftone and Mr. Swaine were Wednef. 3.
the next day again difpatched with a week’s provifions, to examine
the continental fhore through the narrow palfage from whence they had
returned; by the means of which, and the furvey then prolecuting under
Lieutenant Puget and Mr. Whidbey, who were to commence their
inquiries in an oppofite point, the whole extent of the gulph would
be finally determined; or, in the event of the Indian’s information be-’
ing correft, its further navigable communication to the northward would
be difcovered.
By what I had feen of the gulph on the evening we entered this
found, though its weftern extremity was certainly bounded, yet the appearance
of the land in that dire&ion favored the opinion of its being
compofed of iflands, though the whole might be united by low land
not perceptible at fo great a diftance.
On friday afternoon, the officers in the launch and cutter returned, Friday 5.
from whom I underftood, that they had found the weftern fide of the
gulph of Georgia, from that part oppofite. to,, point Marlhall, to be
compaft, riling in a gentle afcent from the fea ffiore to the inland mountains,
(fome of which were covered with fnow) wearing a pleafant and
fertile appearance ; along this fhore they continued their route and entered