paffing to the weftward of the molfouthern of thefe flioals, a good channel
was found, through which the yelfel paffed, and about noon anchored
in port Mulgrave in 1 2 fathoms water, tough clayey bottom;
point Turner bearing by compafs .s.g2E.; the above feoals, $. 65 to
'•s'. 80 e] 5 mount St. Elias, ; the neareft fhore foath, three cables
length; and the (hoals about the fame diftance.
Thus, by perfevering, Mr. Puget made his way-through a channel
-which, though he found practicable, he does not recommend to be followed;
efpecially as the communication between port Mulgrave and the
ocean is eafy and commodious, by the paffage to the fouth and weftward
o f point Turner.
The continental Ihorefrom thefe narrows having been partly examined
by the boat, fhe was again fent to finifh the furvey of it to cape Phipps,
the eaftern point of Beering’s bay. In the evening fhe returned, having
accomplifhed this fervice; by which it appeared, that from the narrows
the continental fhorë takes a courfe s. 28 w. for about a league, and is
indented with fmall bays or coves, and that there are many ifiets lying
near the land. At a little diftance from a point, lying .from point Turner
N. 86 e ., about a league diftant, the main land takes firft a foutherly,
then a wefterly and north-weft direction ; forming a rounding bay about
4 miles acrofs to cape Phipps; which, according to our obfervations is
(ituated in latitude 59* 33', longitude- 220° 29'; point Turner lying from
it S. 77E., diftant two miles. About the fame diftance within cape
Phipps is a fmall Opening in the low land aceeffible only for boats, near
which was found an Indian village, that had the appearance of having
been very recently deferted; not one o f its former inhabitants was to be
feen, excepting about fifty dogs that were making a moft dreadful howling.
This circumflance gave rife to an opinion, that the arrival of
Portoff’s party in this neighbourhood had induced the native Indians to
quit their habitations, and retire to the- Woods, or further along the coaft
to the eaftward; and Mr. Puget thinks that this idea was fupported by the
defcription that Portoff firft gave of thefe people, as being a treacherous,
cruel tribe, by whom his numerous party were kept in a ftate of con-
ftant anxiety for their general fafety. It alfo led to a fuppofition, that
at
at feme'earlier period' the Ruffians had- madeufe of harlh and coercive
meafureS to bring' the inhabitants of this bay to a friendly intercourfe ;
this however, had been pofitively denied by Portoff, who afferted, that no
fkirmilh whatever had hitherto taken place between thefe people and
their modern Ruffian vifitors;. though according to his ownftatement, he
had at that time met with only thirty of the natives, notwithftanding that
M-r. Dix-ori in the year 1787,' computes their number to beTeventy ; and
Mr. Johnftone, who vifited this-bay- in the year following, is of opinion,
that they amounted at that time to one hundred and fifty of bothfexes,
and all ages. This apparent- difference may- however be owing to the
wandering life which the'North Weft Americans are found-to-lead, particularly
in the fummer'feafon, for the' purpofe of procuring a fupply of
fifh!, and other articles of food, for their maintenance during the winter;
and as it-was afterwards proved; that théfe Ihores were not fo thinly in-
habited-as: had been imagined, the ftatement made by Portoff is likely to
be correfd.
Portoff was not at this time ori board the Chatham, and-Mr. Puget was
a little furprized at receiving a meffagfe from him by one of the Ruffians,
inquiring if-a-gold watch-chain,- and feals, were miffing from the veffel,
as the captive Indian chief who had been permitted té deep'in the cabin
the night Portoff remained on board, had produced thefe valuables; and:
had-alleged that he had received them-aS a prefen-t from Mr. Puget, who
until that inftant, was-unconfcibus of his lofs. On the. meffenger being
made acquainted with the theft, he replied that Portoff would deliver
them up the next morning, which on the 30th he accordingly performed;
On this- occafion Portoff expreffed -great- indignation at the robbery, and
confidered himfelf as-being very fortunate that he had been able to obtain
the chain and feals-uninjured,' and to have an opportunity of refto-
ring them; whilft he had the power o f fo doing. Portoff embraced this
occafion to inform Mr. Puget, thUt on the evening of the 28th, whilft he
and'his-whole party were on one of the fmall iflands in port Mulgrave,-
they were furprized by a vifit of about fifty o f the natives '; and notwithftanding
the fuperior-numbers of -his party; he-had fo little confidence in
the courage of the Kodiak and Cook’s inlet Indians, that he was ex-
2 . tremely