dezvous for the launch and cutter, which were to continue the examination
of the' continental boundary, whilft we returned to conduft the
veffels to the appointed ftation.
From Deep Sea bluff, the fhore of the main, acrofs this fmall opening,'
took a direftion N. 50 w., for about four miles ; then extended n.n.e.,
about a league to a point, where the arm took a more eafterly courfe,
palling an ifland, and feveral rocky iflets, forming paffages for boats on ly ;
whilft, to the weftward of the ifland, the main channel was a mile in
width, and no doubt was entertained of our there finding a greater depth
o f water than we required for the veffels. We were however obliged to
quit the direftion of that which appeared, and afterwards proved to be
the main channel, to purfue the continental line along this, ‘which apT
parently led to the n.e. and eaftward. In this route, a poor unfortunate
deer, that feemed to have eluded the purfuers, had found an afylum
in a fmall recefs on the rocky precipice forming the fhore, about twenty
yards in a direftion almoft perpendicular to the water, from whence he
could only efcape by the way he had come. In this very expofed fitu-
ation, the two headmoft boats paffed him unnoticed; but, on the third
making the difcovery, a platoon of mufkets was difcharged at the de-
fencelefs animal by the whole party without effeft. On this a feaman
landed, Slid, with a boat-hook, dragged him from the rocks by the neck,
and fecured to us this valuable acquifition. Upwards of twenty mufkets
on this occafion were fired, feven of which hit him, but no one mortally j
or wounded him in fuch a manner as to have prevented his efcaping,
had not the over-hanging precipices o f the rocks rendered it impoffible:
Venifon had long with us been a fcarce commodity ; our buck proved
excellent, and afforded us all one or two excellent frefh meals.
We purfued the examination of this-arm to its head in latitude gi°;
longitude 233° 46'; where it terminated in a fimilar way to the many
before defcribed. Its fhores, about a mile apart, were compofed of high
fteep craggy mountains, whofe fummits were capped with fnow; the
lower cliffs though apparently deftitute of foil, produced many pine
trees, that feemed to draw all their nourifhment out of the folid rock.
The water, near 4 leagues from its upper end, was of a very light
chalky colour, and nearly frefh. From its fhores 1 two fmall branches ,*79z; 1 . . . . Augufi:.'.
extended, one winding about four miles to the s.e. and s.w., the other 1. —,— t
about a league to the n. n.w . The examination o f this canal employed
us until noon the next day, when we purfued that which appeared w « w . j.
to be the main channel leading to the weftward, having feveral rocky
iflets and rocks off its north point of entrance. This I called Poin t
P h il ip , lying n. 56 w . from Deep Sea bluff, at the diftance of not
more than eight miles. So tardy was our progrefs in fixing the boundary
of this broken continental fhore, which we traced from point
Philip, about 2 leagues in the direftion of n. 78 w ., when it again became
divided into various channels. The moft fpacious one, leading
to the fouth-weftward, prefented an appearance of communicating with
the fea. The fhores, on all fides, were high, fteep and rocky-; though
they feemed tolerably well clothed with pines of different forts.
We kept the continental fhore on board through a very intricate
narrow branch that took a direftion e . by N. for near 2 leagues, and
then terminated as ufual, at the bafe of a remarkable mountain, con-
fpicuous for its irregular form, and its elevation above the reft of the
hills in its neighbourhood. This I have diftinguifhed in my chart by
the name of Mount S tephen s, in honor of Sir Philip Stephens of
the Admiralty. It is fituated in latitude 510 1', longitude 233" 20', and
may ferve as an excellent guide to the entrance of the various channels
with which this country abounds.
As we profecuted our refearches, we vifited a final! Indian village
fituated on a rocky iflet. The whole of it was nearly occupied, well
conftrufted for its proteftion, and rendered almoft inacceffible by platforms,
fimilar to that before defcribed, though not fo ftrong, nor fo
ingenioufly defigned. The inhabitants did not exceed thirty or forty
perfons, who exaftly correfponded with thofe feen to the fouthward
of Deep Sea bluff, and from whom we met with, as ufual, a very cordial
reception. A few indifferent fea-otter fkitis, for which they demanded
•more iron than we were inclined to give, comprehended all their flock
in trade; they had a diftant knowledge of a few words o f the Nootka
language; but did not always feem properly to apply them. The narrow