1792;
Augult.
V- —
Saturday 18.
ly combines difaftrous circumftances with grateful intelligence, Mr. Shepherd
had brought with him a letter from Mr. Thomas New, mailer of
the Daedalus, informing me of a moll diftreffing and melancholy event.
Lieutenant Hergeft the commander, Mr. William Gooch the aftrono-
mer, with one of the feamen belonging to the Daedalus, had been murdered
by the inhabitants o f Woahoo, whilll on fhore procuring water
at that ifland. A circumftance fo much to be deplored, and fo little to
be expected, was fincerely lamented by us all, and feverely felt by my-
felf, as Mr. Hergeft had, for many years, been my molt intimate friend;
he was a moft valuable charafter; and I had ever efteemed him as a man
not lefs deferving my refpect than intitled to my regard. The lofs of Mr.
Gooch, though I had not the pleafure of his acquaintance, would, unavoidably,
be materially felt in the fervice we had to execute during
the enfuing part of our voyage. For although Mr. Whidbey, with
the afliftance o f fome o f our young gentlemen, relieved me of confi-
derable labour, by attending to nautical aftronomy; yet, for the purpofe
o f expediting this arduous fervice on which we were employed, the
abfence both of Mr. Whidbey and myfelf frequently became neeelfary,
whilft the (hips remained ftationary for fome days, in lituations where
many opportunities might occur of making various aftronomical ob-
fervations on fhore. Although we were compelled to appropriate fuch
time to thofe purfuits as were indifpenfably requilite to determine the
polition o f different points, promontories and ftations, yet we had little
leifure for making fuch mifcellaneous obfervations as would be very acceptable
to the curious, or tend to the improvement o f aftronomy.
The weather was left difagreeable and boifterous the next morning,
when, to our great fatisfaftion, the launch and cutter returned, without
having met with any accident, although infinitely fatigued by the feverity
o f the weather, with which they had fo long contended.
The entrance into Smith’s inlet, was nearly clofed by rocky iflets,
fome producing fhrubs and fmall trees, others none ; with innumerable
rpcks, as well beneath as above the furface of the fea, rendering it a
very intricate and dangerous navigation for {hipping. Within the iflets
and rocks, the northern {hore appeared the cleared:; but the oppofite
fide
fide could not be approached without fome difficulty, not only from JMfe
the numerous rocks, but from a great oceanic fwell occafioned by 1---- -— .
the prevailing tempeftuous weather. From the entrance: into the inlet,
whofe north point lies from its fouth point- N. 20 e ., -about a league
diftant, they found it extend, nearly in an eaft dire&ion, about 6
leagues; here it took a turn to the north-eaftward, and terminated in
latitude 51° 24', longitude 232° 47'-Jr.: About g leagues within the entrance,
the rocks and iflets ceafed to exift, and the inlet contrafted to a
general width of about half a mile; though, in particular places, it was
near twice that diftance from fhore to {hore; both of which were formed
by high rocky precipices covered with wood.
About half way up the canal a village of the natives was difcovered,
which our gendemen fuppofed might contain two hundred or two, hundred
and fifty perfons. It was built upon a detached rock, connected
to the main by a platform, and, like thofe before mentioned, conftruH-
ed for defence. A great number of/its inhabitants, in about thirty canoes,
vifited our party, and ufed every endeavour,- they thought likely,
to prevail on them to vifit their habitations. They offered the {kins of
the fea-otter and other animals to barter; and befide promifes of re-
freffiment, made figns too unequivocal to be mifunderftood, that the female
part of their fociety would be very happy in.the pleafure of their
company. Having no Iejfure to comply with thefe repeated felicitations,
the civil offers o f the»Indians were declined; and the party continued
their route back, keepihg the northern or continental fhore on
board.. On the 16th they entered another opening, about a league to
the north of the north point of Smith’s inlet. The entrance into this,
feemed lefs dangerous than the former; it had, however, on its fouth-
ern fide, many rocky iflets and rocks; but they difcovered no one below
the furface of the water, nor any danger that could not eafily be
avoided; and, by keeping on the north fide of the entrance which is
about half a league acrofs, a fair navigable paffage was found about half
a mile wide, between the north {hore and the rocky iflets that lie off its
fouthern fide. Along this the continent was traced about a league,
in an eaft direHion, where the opening took its courfe N. 15 E., about
Vox.. I. 3 C 16 miles,