1791'. latitude at this juncture was 35.°. 25', It was now proved, that the
September- feen the preceding night, formed the fouthernmoft point
of this part of the coaft, which I diftinguifhed by the name of C a p e
H o w e , in honor of that noble earl. It is lituated in latitude 35 ' 7 > ionr
gitude 1170 52'. The fmall detached illet lies from cape Howe s. 68 E.
diftant 3 leagues. The land confidered on tuefday night as the eaftern-
moft part of the main now appeared to be an ifland, beyond which were
feen a high rocky bluff point, and a high mountain forming the eaftern-
moft land in fight. A light breeze from the- NeN.w. permitted us to
draw in with the coaft ; which at noon bore by compafs from N. 56 w .
to N. -37 E. the high mountain N. 35 £. to the eaftward of which, a round
hummock, feemingly detached N. 52 e . th e : land- appearing Tike an
ifland, N. 16 w . to N. 24 w . was now feen to comprehend a duller of
barren rocky ifles, which being the neareft land was about 10 miles
diftant; and the high rocky bluff point n . 8 e . In this fituation, the ob-
ferved latitude was 35° 22’, longitude 118° *16 ; which was 8 miles further
fouth, and 11 miles further eaft than the log {hewed. Many whales
were playing about the fhip during the morning. The high mountain
confpicuoufly remarkable for its fuperior elevation above the neigh-
bouring hills, I diftinguilhed, after my highly efteemed friend Sir Alan
Gardner, by the name o f M ount G ardner ; and the barren rocky
duller of ifles, by the name of E c l i p s e I s l a n d s . The weather was
pleafant; and aided by a gentle breeze, a port, round, the high rocky
bluff point, foon prefented itfelf, into which the Chatham was direfted
to lead, and, by four, Was fufficiently advanced to determine on its eligibility.
The weather by this time had become thick and rainy, with
much thunder and lightning; but as the foundings continued regular,
we Hood into the port, and paffed the high rocky bluff point m 30
fathoms water; direfting our courfe clofe along its fhore, which is a
high and nearly perpendicular cliff; the founding fuddenly fhoaled to
12 fathoms, and gradually decreafed afterwards, until abreaft of the
fecond white fandy beach; where we anchored in 6 fathoms water,
having a clear bottom of fine white fand.
A continuation
A continuation o f the thick weather prevented our feeing about us un- '791
. til the morning of the 29th; which being delightfully ferene and pleafant, ^eptemb‘.r~
difcovered our fituation to be very fnug and fecure in a fpacious found, ' <:l‘
open 130 of the compafs only to the fea. The high rocky bluff poi ntform-
ing the s.w. extremity of the found, which, from its fmooth appearance,
and-being deftitute o f verdure, obtained the name B a l d -H e a d , bore by
compafs s. 8g e . ; a high rocky ifland in the entrance, which, from its
beaten appearance by its oppolition to the fea, and s.w. wind, obtained
the name of B r e a k -Se a I s l a n d , n. 82 e . to n. 69 e. ; Mount
Gardner n. 70 £.; another high ifland named M ic h a e lm a s I s l an d
n. 62 e. ; a fmall high ifland called S e a l I s l a n d , being a great refort
o f thofe animals, north ; a low flat rock s. 75 w . and to the n.w .
was an extenfive white fandy beach; which promifing fuccefs to the
feine, a boat was difpatched with Lieutenant Puget on a filhing party.
After breakfaft, accompanied by Mr. Broughton in the Chatham’s
cutter, Mr. Menzies, Mr. Whidbey, and myfelf, proceeded in the yawl,
firft to attend the fuccefs of the filhermen, and then to examine if the
found would afford a more eligible fituation than that which we now occupied.
The feine was hauled on the third fandy beach from Bald-Head
with little fuccefs. A ftream of frefh water drained there through the
beach, which,'although nearly o f the colour of brandy, was exceedingly
well tailed ; by this ftream was a clump of trees, fuflicient to anfwer our
prefent want of fuel. At the. borders of this clump was found the moll
miferable human habitation my eyes ever beheld, which had not long
been deferted by its proprietor, as on its top was lying a frefii Ikin o f a
fifli, commonly called leather jacket, and by its fide, was the excrement
of fome carnivorous animal, apparently a dog. The fhape o f the dwelling
was diat of half a beehive, or a hive vertically divided into two
equal parts, One o f which formed the hut, in height about three feet, and
in diameter about four feet and an half; it was however conftrufled with
fome degree o f uniformity, with flight twigs, of no greater fubftance
than thofe ufed for large baker’s ballets: the horizontal and vertical twigs
formed intervals from four to fix inches fquare, and the latter flicking a
few inches into the earth, were its fecurity and fixed it to the ground.
V ol. I. F This