»79^ fpit of land, projecting northerly into the ocean, and lies from cape
■i v ■ Difappointment, s»-44 fr about four miles diftant. From this, point the
coaft takes a hidden turn to the fouth, and the Ihores within the inlet
take a dire&ion s, 74 e. four miles to another point, which obtained the
nameof Point G eorg e . From point Adams the breakers ftretched
into the ocean, firft n.68 w . about a league, then s. 83 w. about 4
miles, from whence they took a rounding courfe to the fouthward, extending
along the coaft at the diftance of 2 leagues, and upwards.
Thefe form the fouth fide of the channel leading into this inlet, which is
about half a league wide. The northern fide is alfo formed by the breakers
extending 2% miles from cape Difappointment. In this point of view,
the breakers were fo ffiut in with each other, as to prefent one intire line
o f heavy broken water, from fide to fide acrofs the channel.
A t this place was found the remains o f a deferted Indian village, and
near it three large canoes fupported from the ground, each containing
dead human bodies, Thefe canoe coffins were decorated at the head and
ftern with rude carved work, and from their decayed ftate feemed to have
been thus appropriated for a great length o f time. Another fepulchre was
difeovered, bearing fome affinity to our mode o f burial. The body was
rolled up in deer fkins, after thefe with mats, and then laid at full length;
in a wooden box, which exactly fitted it. The fleffi of the body was pre-
ferved quite firm. After the party had fatisfied their curiofity, every
thing that had been difplaced by their examination was reftored to its.
original fituation.
The ffioal on which the Chatham had grounded, was found to extend
within half a mile of the eaftem fide of point Adams. The fpace between
the ffioal and the land formed a fhallow channel over a kind o f bar,
on which was found little more than 3 fathoms water, into a Bay that lies
between point Adams and point George ; whither Mr. Broughton di-
refted his courfe, and found on each fide o f the bar, the foundings regular
from 3 to 7 fathoms. The ffiores of this Bay were low land, and
the water again fhoaled as he advanced to 3 and 2~ fathoms. Near the
ffiores on either fide the lea broke very high, and on the water were feen
many pelicans.; As the party approached the center, or rather the s. e.
corner
corner o f the Ba y,; they difeovered a fmall river, whole entrance was H9?-
about two cables length in .width, and the depth- o f water 5 fathoms, gra- ,Pecembl:r-
dually diminifhing to. 2 fathoms. B y the ffiores it appeared to be high
water, yet tile dream attended them up the.river, .which now took a fouth
eaflerly direQion, in a winding, form, and branched off into feveral
creeks. After advancing about 7 miles the width decreafed to 19 fathoms,
and it being then high water; any further examination lira's deemed un-ne-
ceffary. The evening at this time having nearly clofed in, the party returned
about a mile,: and took up their refidence for the night on the
bank o f the riven which, after Sir George Young o f the royal navy,
Mr.-Broughton diftinguifhed by the name o f Y o u n g ’s R i v e r .; whofe
termination was fuppofed to have been feen by fome of the party, but
Mr. Broughton was of opinion, from the ftrength o f the tide, that its
fource was at fome diftance. The night was windy, and it rained without
ceafing until day-light, the next morning, which was very pleafant,
and greatly inriched the profpeft of the'beautiful, fufrounding country,
from the banks of the river a low meadow, mterlperfed with fcattered
trees and ffirubs, extended to the more elevated land. This was ofeafy
afeent, and was agreeably variegated with clumps and copies of nine,
maple, alder, birch, poplar, and’ feVcral other trees, befides a confide-
rable number of ffirubs,'greatly diversifying- the landfcape by the feveral
tints of their autumnal foliage. The marffiy edges of the river
afforded fhelter to wild geefe, which flew about in'very large flocks;
ducks were in abundance, as were the large brown cranes before noticed
in the more northern parts of New Georgia.
On leaving the river,' as they proceeded to point George, they found
the greateft depth o f water at about two thirds flood neap tides, was 2-f-
fathoms; this, continuing intirely acrofs the entrance'of Young’s r iv e n
renders it navigable for fmall veffels only. From hence th e launch was
fent on board, with orders to found in a direft "line to the Chatham, then
aumchor off.the deferted village; The continuation of the ffioal in this
paffage, was found to be a great obllacle to the navigation' o f the inlet, *
Mr. Broughton proceeded in the cutter at a moderate diftance' froni
the fhorei-with foundings o f 3, 4, .5, 6, and 7. fathoms toTongud point;
n the eaftem fide of this point the ffiores firft fall to the fouthward, and
i. then