however mean toaflert, that thefe inclined planes o f ice n f i have been
formed by the palling of inland waters thus into the ooean, as -the -elevation
o f them, which mull be many hundred yards above the level of
the fea, and their having been doomed for ages to perpetual froft, operate
much againll this r-eafoning; but one is naturally led, on contemplating
any phamotnenon out of-the ordinary courfe of nature, to form fome-conjecture,
and to hazard fome opinion as to its -origin, which On the p-refent
pccafion is rather offered for the purpofe o f defcribi-ng its appearances
than accounting for the ca-ufe of-its exiftence. Abo-ut fix in the evening,
we palled within about half aleague of cape Fair weather, lituated according
to our obfervations .in latitude 58° goj-, longitude 222° 20'. This cape
cannot he confidered as a very confpicuous promontory; it is mo ft dif-
tinguilhable when feen from the fouthward, as -the land to the welt o f it
retires a few miles bade to the north, and there forms a bend in the cQaft,
which is -the molt confpicuous point we noticed, eaftward -from cape
Phipps- It ,is .terminated b-y a lqjv bluff cliff, on a Tandy beach : near
which are a few detached rocks. At eight in the evening mount St,
Elias bore by compafs N. 73^ w., and mount Fair-weather, n . 10 E.; the
Jeng.th of time we had been in fight of thefe very remarkable lofty-mountains,
afforded us many obfer-vations forafeertaining their fituation; whence
the former appeared to be in latitude 6p° 22^', longitude 219" 21', and
25 miles from the near-eft fea fhore, which is that of Icy bay; the latter
in latitude 58° 57', longitude 2,22° 47', and g miles from the fea Ihore.
The favorable breeze continuing witb delightfully -pleafant weather, and
having the advantage of -day-light, nearly the whole of the twenty-four
hours, we were enabled -to keep within 5 miles of the coaft, which was now
again well wooded, and from cape Fairweather took a dire&ion s. 43 e . ;
-it is fteep and intjre, with the exception of one fmall opening, that
had the appearance of being likely to afford fhelter for fhipping; -but it
is completely bounded at a little diftance by lleep cornpaft mountains,
which are a continuation of the fame undivided range ftretching to the
eaftward. Until pall eleven at night mount St. Elias was yet within our
yifible horizon, appearing like a lofty mountain; .although at this time, it
was at the diftance o f one hundred and fifty geographical miles; it was
2 however
however foon obfeured by a thick haze gathering on the coaft, which by
four o’clock on monday morning became a low thick fog; above which, ^—>—
the fummits o f the nearer mountains were not only vifible but perfectly y 7
clear, whilft the Ihores were intirely hidden from our fight. This cir-
cumftance ohliged us to haul our wind, and to wait for a more favorable
opportunity to proceed in our examination; this by feven o’clock was
again refumed, direftmg our courfe for a very confpicuous high bluff
promontory, which, as we fuppofed, proved to be the weft point of entrance
into Crofs found; named by me in honor of Lord Spencer, C ape
S p e n c e r . I The wind being faint, our progrefs was flow along the
coaft, compofed- of a fteep woody Ihore, much indented with coves or
bays, of a hilly and uneven furface, with fojne rocks and rocky filets,
fcattered about it at the diftance of about a mile. The obferved latitude
at noon way: 58° 14',. longitude 223“ 21'; the wefternmoft part of the
coaft then bearing by compafs. N. 47 w. | -the outermoft of the above
rockyillets- n.. 6 e . diftant 2 miles; cape Spencer N..-59 e ., off which lie
fome rocks that extend about half a league; and the eafternmoft part of
the coaft in fight, s. 85 E.
Shortly after noon, we -were vifited by a few of the inhabitants in a canoe,.
who without much hefitation came alongfide, but none o f them
would venture on board, without a hoftage being fent into their canoe
as a fecurity for their fafe return. As thefe people were likely to become
our frequent vifitors, during the time we might find oceafion to
remain in this neighbourhood, their requeft was complied with; and on
one of our feamen going into their canoe an Indian came on board; to
whom I gave fitch things as were likely to be acceptable, and to encourage
them in friendly offices. This treatment feemed to operate agreeably
to my willies, for the Indian remained on board fome time to all
appearance perfe&ly eafy and reconciled; until a. breeze from the s. w.
fprang up, and being favorable to our proceeding into Crofs found, I
defiredour man to come on board, and' made figns- to the Indian that he
fhould return into his- canoe; but his countrymen feemed to be very de-
ftrous of detaining their-new companion, making figns that they wilhed
to take him on- Ihore; and it was not until fome threatening figns were
E e 2 made