»793-
July.
ran ftrongly up, and the ebb returned with fuch impetuofity, that the
boats could not make the leaft way againft the current.
As many funken rocks were lying acrofs its entrance, Mr. Whidbey
did not think it an objeCl worth hazarding any further examination;
and for that reafon he proceeded immediately up the arm, taking an irregular
direftion, firft about N.goE., for 8 miles, and then about s. 55 E.,
22 miles ; where, as ufual, it terminated in fhoal water, before a border
of low land, through which flowed feveral fmall ftreams or rivulets of
frelh water. The latitude appeared to be 530 20', longitude 232017';
it was high water by the fhore 36' after the moon pafled the meridian,
and the rife and fall o f the tide was about fourteen feet.
On the morning of the 27th they returned down this arm, which,
after Sir Alan Gardner, I called G a r d n e r ’s C a n a l . On this occa-
fion Mr. Whidbey obferved, that the face o f the country through
which they had pafled from the little rapid rivulet, was almoft an intire-
ly barren wafte, nearly deftitute o f wood and verdure, and prefenting to
the eye one rude mafs of almoft naked rocks, rifing into rugged mountains,
more lofty than any he had before feen, whofe towering fummits
feeming to overhang their bafes, gave them a tremendous appearance.
The whole was covered with perpetual ice and fnow, that reached, in the
gullies formed between the mountains, clofe down to the high-water
mark ; and many water-falls of various dimenfions were feen to defeend
in every direction.
By the morning of the 28th, they had reached the fmall arm on the
fouthern fhore, that had been pafled unexamined on the afternoon of
the 25th. This they now found extending s . 35 e . nine miles from
point Staniforth, where it terminated as ufual. From thence the party
proceeded about feven miles up what appeared to be the main branch
of the inlet, where they refled for the night, on the eaftern fhore, op-
pofite to an ifland lying nearly in mid-channel. This flatiop lies from
point Staniforth n. 10 w. eight miles. The fhores of the continent,
from the fouth-eaftern arm, were nearly flraight and compaCl. Here they
were vifited by eight Indians in two canoes, the firft that they had feen
during this expedition. The natives behaved in a very civil and friendly
manner, and prefented the party with two fine falmon, each weighing
about
about feventy pounds; thefe were the fineft and largeft that had been
feen during our voyage, and the Indians, after being recompenfed with
a fmall piece of iron, departed very well pleafed with the exchange. .
The weather was calm, with heavy rain in the morning o f the 29th,
and fo it continued all the day ; notwithftanding this Mr. Whidbey refumed
his examination in the afternoon, along the eaftern or continental
fhore. From their place of reft it took a north direftion for nine miles,
to a projecting point that obtained the name of Po in t H o pk in s ,
forming, within thofe limits, a deep- bend; in which were many fandy
bays. The fhores here were moderately elevated, and well covered with
wood. Two Openings to the fouth o f this- point were pafled:on the
oppofite fhore. - From hence the main inlet appeared to divide into
two branches, one taking a- north-eafterly, the other a north-wefterly
direction. The former,- as being a continuation of the continent,, was
firft attended tp, and was found to extend n: 37 E. feven miles to
the fouth point of a fmall- branch about half a mile wide. The
eaftern fhore here formed a large fandy bay, and to the weftward fome
rocky iflets, and an ifland about four miles long, were pafled. Here they
were met by the fame Indians who had furnifhed them with the- two
falmon, and who attended the party up the above-mentioned fmall
branch. This, from its fouth point,of entrance, took a direction s. 78 E-.
7 miles, where'it terminated as ufual by fhoal water in latitude 53° 54-L',
longitude 231“ 30'. They flopped here to dine, and were vifited by ten
canoes, containing about fixty Indians; the largeft of thefe, in which
was the chief and his family, had its head and ftern curioufly decorated
with carved work, and rude' and uncouth figures in painting, refembling
thofe with which they adorn their houfes. The fkins of the fea otter.and
fome land animals they- readily difpofed of, for copper, blue cloth, and
blankets, but the former fe'emed higheft in their estimation. They all
behaved very civilly and. honeftly, and were very compliant in doing
whatever they were defired'...' Mr. Whidbey, permitted the chief to fit
with him at dinner; which heconfidered as a great indulgence, and conducted
himfelf-very well. He drank fome grog, and appeared to be very
fond.of bread and fugar ; he preferred the latter, and feemed greatly aftonifhed;