*793- the ifle de Gil, I faw a fituation that promifed to anfwer our prefent
i— v — i purpofe, having now to break out the main hold for another anchor.
I fent a boat to found it, and on receiving a favorable report, about
three o’clock we anchored in 40 fathoms; ftones, Ihells, and fandy bottom
; mooring with a hawfer to the fhore. The bay is fituated on the
north-eaft part of the ifland, about 2 miles from its northern extremity.
Its outer points bearing by compafs n .w . to s. e. by e . , our diltance
about a cable’s length from the Ihore.
My intentions now were, that the Chatham fhould proceed to, and remain
at, the rendezvous, for the information of the boats ; and that the
Difcovery Ihould continue at this more eligible ftation for the fervice we
had to perform. But on obferving the Chatham haul her wind, inftead
of anchoring at the place appointed, I concluded the anchorage was not
found very defirable; the lignal was therefore made for them to join us,
which was accordingly done about five in the evening. We immediately
fat about replacing the anchors; this was accomplifhed, and the hold
Saturday 6. re-ftowed by noon the next day.
The Chatham’s launch requiring fome repairs, detained Mr. Johnftone
and his party until four o’clock on funday morning, when, with fupplies
for a week, he departed, in order to refume his examination o f the coaft
towards the ocean; with directions to call at the place appointed for
Mr. Whidbey’s rendezvous, bearing by compafs n . 27 w . diftant 3
miles, and there to leave information of his departure, and o f the ftation
the veffels had taken. About nine Mr. Johnftone returned, having
found a note from Mr. Whidbey, which ftated, that the openings he had
purfued to the northward in the inland navigation, had been all found
to terminate in the ufual way; that he had quitted the rendezvous the
preceding day at noon, whither he had then traced the continental
Ihore, and had departed with the view of continuing its further examination
up an arm leading to the north-weft. Mr. Johnftone left the
dire&ions according to his orders, and returned on board, as this intelligence
of Mr. Whidbey’s proceedings had rendered his expedition un-
neceflary. On his arrival he pointed out a fituation round the north
point o f this ifland, which appeared to him more eligible for waiting the
return
return of the boats than the ftation we had taken; but as this afforded an
abundance of berries and of the labradore tea, I was induced to remain
here another day, that our people might have the advantage o f a ramble
into the woods, and o f partaking o f thofe excellent refrelhments.
As the wind blew from the northward direftly into the bay, attended
with thick mifty weather, we remained quiet until tuefday, when we
proceeded to the ftation pointed out by Mr. Johnftone. On anchoring,
the beft bower was in 33, the fmall bower in 43 fathoms, about a quarter
o f a mile from the fhore;. the bottom dark fand and mud. Our fituation
was direCtly to the fouth-weftward of the north point of the ifle de Gil,
whofe fhores bore by compafs s. by e. to n. e . by e. ; the neareft oppofite
Ihore weft, about half a league diftant; the arm under Mr. Whidbey's
examination north-weft, diftant 2 miles; and the appointed rendezvous
diftant about a league.
The next morning the feme was hauled, and a good meal o f fifh procured
for all hands $ an abundance of berries were produced on the adjacent
lhores, and a fufficient quantity of fifh caught to fupply our wants
during our ftay, which continued without any particular occurrence
until the following funday. About feven in the morning the boats returned,
after having purfued the examination o f the continental Ihore,
through an arm whofe entrance, 2 miles from this ftation, was in a direction
N. 30 w . ; in which its boundaries were traced to the latitude of
54° 24', longitude 229° 42', and confidered to be there the eaftern part of
Chatham’s found, fo named by fome former vifitors. From thence the
continental Ihore, which took a northerly direction, appeared to be compact,
and formed the eaftern fide of a very fpacious and extenfive opening,
lying in the fame direction with the continent from 2 to 3 leagues in
width, and nearly unlimited in its northern direction. The continental
fhore was compofed o f a range o f lofty mountains covered with fnow ;
but the weftern fide o f the found was divided into large and fmall iflands,
through which Mr. Whidbey faw two channels communicating with the
ocean. By one o f thefe he intended to have returned, but the ftrono-
foutherly winds that prevailed induced him to return by the inland navigation.
The following is an account of this excurfion.
2 By
Tuefday 9.
Wednef. to.
Sunday 14.