794- the north-weft of it, extended a continuation of the fame lofty frozen
July. . 1 1 1 1 . • .
mountains that had bounded the northern branches of Prince William’s
found, and what had been noticed as appearing like two fniall openings,
were, from the hills of Wingham-ifland, feen to be iiitirely clofed. Whilft
the Chatham was at anchor off it, the variation was obferved to be 27°,
the latitude of its north point 6o° 5V, its longitude 215° 46'..
This is the fubftance of the information derived by the examination
of that part o f the coaft comprehended between cape Hinchinbrook and
cape Suckling; and as the furvey of the continental Ihore ea'ftward to
Beering’s bay, was carried on by the Chatham, at a much greater diftance
from the land, than had been the cafe in the Difcovery, and from which
nothing illuftrative of our refearches could be obtained, I fhall pafs on to
the tranfaffions of the brig after her arrival in Beering’s bay.
On the evening of the 26th of june,. the Chatham arrived off point
Manby; the water was found to be much difcoloured at the diftance of
4 miles from the Ihore, where bottom could not be gained with the hand
line, nor were any riplings, or other indications of ffiallow water, or hidden
dangers noticed. The fame appearances had been obferved by us
on board the Difcovery in feveral inftances, to the eaftward of cape Suckling,
which I concluded were occafioned by the vaft quantity of frefh
water produced by the diffolving ice and fnow on the fides of the mountains
at this feafon of the year ; this draining through the low border of
land becomes impregnated with the foil, and being fpecifically lighter
than the fea water on which it floats, produces the effeH noticed by Mr.
Puget. At this time a favorable wefterly breeze and fair weather prevailed,
with which, as theveflel was pafling along the north-weft (hores of
Beering’s bay about eight in the evening, the report of a gun was heard
from the land; this was foon accounted for by the appearance of five
Kodiak Indians in two Ikin canoes, who repaired on board the Chatham,
and acquainted Mr. Puget that there was a party of nine Ruffians on
Ihore, from whom they brought a letter addrefled in Engliffi to the
commander of either the Difcovery or Chatham. This letter dated the
13 th of june, was from Mr. Shields the Engliffi ffiip-builder before mentioned,
in the fervice of the Ruffians at Blying found.
Mr. Shields had been informed, that our veflels had met with feveral ‘ 794-
accidents, and that I much wiffied to find a convenient fituation for lay- 1— —’
ing the Difcovery on Ihore; this fervice he Hated could no where be
better performed than in Blying found, and offered in the frankeft and
handfomeft manner, to afford us every affiftance in the power of himfelf
or his people, that the ftores of the company could furniffi. Mr. Shields
regretted very much that he had not known the Difcovery was in his ■
neighbourhood until after our departure.1 He remarks in his letter that
he had not written four Engliffi words;in the courfe of the preceding
four years, yet his letter did great credit not only to his abilities and un-
derftanding, but to the goodnefs o f his heart; which manifefted in the
higheft degree, thofe ever living inherent principles of attachment to
their native country, government, and Jaws, which the generality of
mankind, however far removed, are found to poflefs. Whether fuch generous
notions are more to be afcribed to the Britiffi, than to any other
nation, I will not pretend to determine; but that they exifted in their ful-
left extent not only in the mind of Mr. Shields-, ’ but in the minds of four
other Engliffimen who were with him, was unquestionably evident, as
theft alfo by the fame conveyance fent-notes, requefting in the moft ear- -
neft and ferious manner to be informed as to the health and welfare of
His Majefty, and the profperity of old England, from -whence they had
all been abfent fome years at nearly the remoteft habitable extent of the
globe, cut off from all conneftion with theif.country, families, and friends.
On my perufing this letter, -I concurred with Mr. Puget in lamenting
our not having been fo fortunate as to meet Mr. Shields, as his letter indicated
him. to be an intelligent perfon, from whom in all probability
fome valuable information might have been procured.
Mr. Puget fent an invitation to the Ruffians by the Indians, and pur-
fued his courfe along the Ihore, which from point Manby took a direction.
firft n, 85 e., 2 leagues, and then N.-6g e ., 8 miles further; here
the land falling back formed a fmall bay, ;with a low ifland about two
miles long ,to the n. n. e . of it, from whence, the -coaft extended more
eafterly towards an opening formed by two. bluff points, lying nearly eaft
and weft of each other half a league afunder ; the eafternmoft of thefe •