>794- Aftér dinner, I went on Ihore accompanied by fome of the officers, and
was received by Mr.'Colomenee and Mr. Ballufian, with all the friendlinefs
and hofpitality which the poverty of their fituation permitted them to ex,
hibit." Here we were introduced to another gentleman named Smyloff,
who prefided over the maritime part of this mercantile company, and who
had under his directions, thegaliot mentioned by Mr. Johnftone as forming
the fide of the inclofure, in which their habitations are built clofe to the
landing place at the Ruffian faftory; with two others of fimilar burthen.
This gentleman having heard of our arrival in Cook’s inlet, he had gone
thither for the purpofe o f paying us a vifit, but had been difappointed of
his object by our departure from thence, and he had been returned only
a few days. His-route had been over the ifthmus, and he defcribed Paflage
canal to be the very place we had fuppofed it to be. He ftated, that the
Chatham had-failed out of the found on the 12th of the month with a
favorable breeze, and that fince her departure a brig had palfed up the
found fleering towards Snug-corner cove. We fpent a (hort time in viewing
thefe-premifes, which afforded little worthy of attention befides what
has already been defcribed. On our return, we were accompanied on
board by Mr. Ballufian and Mr. Smyloff; the former after fupper returned
to the fliore, but. Mr. Smyloff remained with us until we were
clear of the port; which from light and variable winds we did not effeft
Friday 20. until near noon, on the 20th; when an excellent ohfervation was procured,
which thewed the latitude by three obfer vers to be 60° 18-J'. Cape
Kinchinbrook at this time, bore by cotnpafs s. 36 E., dillant 2 miles.
This promontory, according to the refult of our calculations, is fituated
in latitude 60° 16§', longitude 213° 56'.
Mr. Puget having received inftru&ions to examine the coaft minutely
from hence to port Mulgrave, my attention was only direfted to fixing the
line of the intermediate external headlands, until any navigable branches
of the fea {hould be found between thofe limits. For this purpofe we
embraced the advantage of the favorable weftern breeze then prevailing,
and fleered towards the fouth point of Kaye’s ifland. Our time being thus
unintereftingly employed, I fhall fill the vacant page by making a few
. . - - ■ remarks
remarks on fuch circumftances as had recently occurred, but had not
found a place in the narrative of our tranfaftions.
I cannot avoid making fome obfervations on the difference in the delineation
of prince William’s found, as reprefented in Captain Cook’s laft
voyage, and the refult of our late examination, particularly with refpeft
to Montagu ifland, which is therein defcribed to be feven miles longer,
and to be placed ten miles more to the fouthward, than we found to be its
fituation and extent.
The weft point of Snug-corner cove is alfo placed five miles to the fouth
of the obfervations of Mr. Whidbey and Mr. Johnftone, which agreed
very accurately together. In a direction s. 50 w „ dillant 7 milps from
cape Hinchinbrook, and nearly at the fame diftance from the fhores of
Montagu ifland, is a barren, flat, rocky illet, with feveral rocks lying at
a fmall diftance from it. O f this iflet 'no notice is taken either in the
chart or hillory of that voyage, notwithftanding it was then feen, and its
fituation afcertained to be nearly as we now found it, by thofe who were
at that time on board the Difcovery. The obfervations alfo that were
made by them for afcertaining the latitude of the weft point of Snug-
corner cove and Montagu ifland, -correfponded very nearly with our pre-
fent calculations. Befides thefe, I have in other inftances detefled fome
errors which are evidently of the prefs; but it is a circumftance not eafily
tp be reconciled with fuch high geographical authority, that the above-
mentioned errors Ihould have taken place in the conftru&ion .of the
chart; and notwithftanding that I entertain the higheft rcfpeft and veneration
for the Right Reverend and learned editor of thofe volumes, yet I
am of opinion, that had Captain Cook furvivedto have fuperintended the
publication o f his own labours, thefe errors would have been rectified -
and I am led to believe, that they mull have arifen from fome writing, or
authentic document, relative to this particular part of his refearches, having
been loft or miflaid. This opinion is founded on the great deficiency
of nautical information in the hiftory of that voyage, refpefting the fpace
between the fouth point of Kaye’s ifland and cape Elizabeth; which, by
pafling through prince William’s found, may be faid to comprehend a
line of fea coaft upwards of go leagues in extent, and which employed
You, III. C c Captain