>792- terminates at Willow point, from whence the foundings decreafed from 9
^ ° to 6 fathoms. About three miles from this point, on the oppofite or eaftem
fide of the river, an opening or arm was palled, leading to the n . e. This
was named by Mr. Broughton, after the mailer of the Difcovery, W hid -
b e y ’s R i v e r . The wellern point was flat, and produced fome grals
and willow trees. The oppofite Ihore Hill continued more elevated, and
from Whidbey’s river was covered with pine trees. A t the entrance into
this river the depth of water was 6 or 7 fathoms; but on approaching
point Warrior for about two miles, it decreafed to 3 and 4 fathoms,
and again increafed to 10 and 12 fathoms off that point; from
thence to Oak point the depth was from 10 to 5 fathoms, here the party
relied for the night, and perceived it to be low water at half pall three,
and high water at five in the morning of the i l l of november. In this
fituation they had before feen many of the natives, but the night moll probably
now prevented their appearance. The weather had the preceding
day been gloomy, attended with fog and rain; this morning it was fair
and pleafant, with a favorable eallwardly breeze. In pafling from Urry’s
iflands, the foundings were firll from 7 to g, then from 4 to 9 fathoms ;
the depth again decreafed as the low fandy illand was approached, to 6,
3, and 4 fathoms; this latter depth continued between the illand and the
northern Ihore, which is the bell channel, pafling clofe to the main land.
From this illand where the water all round it is Ihoal, a fpit extends fome
diftance to the wellward, on which there was no more than 3 fathoms:
but from thence to the rocky iflet where the canoes with the dead bodies
were depofited, it increafes to 7 and 12 fathoms; about a mile above this
rock, a bank extends to the eaftem Ihore nearly into mid-channel, where
the depth of water did not exceed 2% fathoms, all the way to Knight’s
river. The Ihores on this fide are low, flat, and fandy; on the weftern
fide high, and woody, and affording a clear, though narrow channel;
with foundings from 5 to 8 fathoms.
Knight’s river is about the eighth of a mile in width; and from its
entrance, where its depth is 4 fathoms, it takes a dire&ion s. 51 e . Leaving
Knight’s river, the foundings increafed from 7 to 12 fathoms, until
mount Coffin was reached, where the depth o f water was only 6 fathoms ;
and
and pafling between the northern Ihore, and the dry fand bank, from 3 >79Jto
5 fathoms only were found; but the foundings increafed from 6 to to ■ c_.—
fathoms as the party advanced towards Walker’s illand. On the weftern
point o f this illand they made a late dinner, and had an opportunity of
obferving, that during the riling o f the water the ftre&m did not run up,
the furface of the water being Hill and ftationary; it was high water at
five in the afternoon. From this point the depth continued from 5 to 7
fathoms, until Baker’s iflands were approached. A Ihoal fpit extends
from the longeft and largeft of thefe iflands, or that which was fo confi-
dered, to the eallward; on this was found only 2~ or 3 fathoms water.
To the north of this apparently large illand are three fmaller ones, which
admit a clear though narrow paffage between them and the northern
Ihore. On one of thefe, under the lhelter o f a grove of fine poplars, Mr.
Broughton relied for the night. At day-light the next morning their
journey was refumed, and in pafling Swaine’s river,4 which takes a fouth-
wellerly direftion, no bottom could be found with 15 fathoms o f line;
but towards its weftern point foundings were had of 3 and 4 fathoms.
About a league to the wellward of this is Manby’s river, taking a courfe
s. s. w . ; from hence the depth of water was from 7 to 9 fathoms, until they
approached near the eaft point o f Puget’s illand ; from whence a Ihoal
extends about a mile nearly into mid-channel; on this there were only
2 fathoms, but on crofling over to the fouthern Ihore, it deepened to 7
fathoms. Mount St. Helen’s was here very diflinflly feen lying s. 81 E.
Puget’s illand was paffed on the fouth, and obferved to produce on that
fide only a few pine trees o f inferior fize ; but it afforded a good channel
of 7, 10, and 13 fathoms o f water; the latter depth was off its weftern
extremity, which is a low marlhy point covered with reeds. Soon after
pafling this point, another branch o f the river was opened, which appeared,
by the high land on the fouthern fide, to lead into the found in a direction
n. 56 w. But as in its entrance the depth of water was only 2% fathoms,
Mr. Broughton was induced to give up his intention o f examining it, and
purfued his former courfe, keeping near the fouthern Ihore, confining apparently
of a duller of marlhy iflands. The north-wefternmoft of thefe
forms the fouth point of the - entrance into the river; and on the well, or
found