He reported, that it extended n. 28 w . for 5 miles, and that it there'terminated.
He had alfo traced the continental Ihore into the branch of
the inlet, under the examination of Mr. Johnftone; but as the tenor of
Mr. Johnftone’s orders might induce him tó pafs fome openings on the
ftarboard Ihore, the provifions of Mr. Whidbey’s party were recruited
to a fupply for a week, and he was again difpatched to continue his re-
fearches along the continental Ihore;. on which occafion Mr. Menzies in
purfuit of botanical information accompanied Mr. Whidbey.
This forenoon fome additional obfervations were obtained for the longitude
; in the evening; the fky was again overcaft, and the wind that
had blown frelh from the s. E. during the day, now increafed to a ftrong
gale, attended with fmall rain.
The wind abated the next morning, but the rain that had. been very
heavy during the night, ftill continued. The wind from thé s. E, again
frefliened in the evening, and blew hard in fqualls, with torrents of
rain. During the night, the tide rofe three feet perpendicularly higher
than it had been obferved ufually to flow, and floated away fome of our
water cafks, that had been left to all appearance in perfeft fecurity.
Our feine hooks and lines having been repeatedly tried without fuccefs,
rendered our fituation here very unprofitable, neither the fea nor the
fhores afforded us the fmalleft refrefhment, nor the leafl relaxation; and
the weather being extremely unpleafant, without any profpeft o f a
change, neceffarily increafed the labour, and retarded the progrefs of
our boats in the examination of this inhofpitable region; whofe folitary
and defolate appearance, though daily more familiarized to our view,
did not become lefs irkfome to our feelings.
The weather continued to be variable and unfettled until the morning
Thurfdiyaj. of the 27th, when, it becoming fair and pleafant, fome obfervations were
procured for afcertaining the latitude, longitude, and variation.
About noon on the following day Mr. Johnftone returned, and communicated
the following particulars o f his excurfion.
The weftern branch he found to extend N. 55 w , about 12 miles,
where.it united with two extenfive arms, one leading nearly north, the
other about weft. The weftern one continued near 2 leagues, where it
united
Monday 24.
united with two other branches more, extenfive than the former; one 1
taking a foutherly, the other a north-wefterly direHion. The firft of ■ J‘
thefe was purfued, and having .by noon of the 23d advanced about 2
leagues, the latitude was obferved onr^fhe larboard fide to be 530 i f ,
longitude 231° 3'; the variation o f the compafs 21“ 40', eaft; and high
water 20' after the moon pafled the meridian. From hence in a fouth
dire&ion, this fouthern branch reached about 2 leagues further, where it
took a fharp turn to the w .s .w . about 4 miles;, and there communicated
with a ftill more extenfive opening, ftretching to the s.w. and
N, w._ The land on the weftern fide appeared to form a large ifland, on
which rofe a confpicuous ridge o f mountains, with a remarkable peak
nearly in their center, confiderably above the reft; their fummits were
naked rocks, without the leaft appearance of verdure; the land to the
fouthward was much lower; feemed greatly broken, and probably afforded
feveral palfages to lea. The wind blew ftrong from the fouth-eaft,
attended with much rain. In the morning o f the- 24th the wind abated,
but the rain continued. The opening leading to the weftward was
purfued, .until the party was overtaken by a ftrong gale from the s. p y
attended with very heavy rain and thick mifty weather. This obliged
them to feek fhelter round a low point of land on the weftern Ihore,
forming the north point of the apparent large ifland, in a fmall cove;
which, though fcreening them from the violence of the wind and fea,.
admitted^of very indifferent communication with the Ihore, being chiefly
compofed of fteep rocky precipices. The wet and comfortlefs fituation
of the party, however, made it indifpenfably neceffary that fome place'
fhould be fought where the advantage of a fire might be had ; and having
afcended the top of a bare rock, fome diftance1 above high water
mark, it was fixed upon for their night’s abode, where they remained in:
the moft uncomfortable manner, until by the unufual flow of the tide,
produced, by the increafed violence of the ftorm, they were diflodged
from this refting place, and obliged to retire to fuch fhelter as the lefs inhofpitable
woods afforded. Here their hours, pafled with the moft anxious,
concern till the return o f day, left their boats, fhould have been driven
out of the cove; happily this did not prove to. be the cafe; but a con-.
tihuat-iori,