„ ' 794- fituated on the weftern fide of the found, between four and five miles to
Vw. the northward of Friendly cove, over which it pofleffes- (though further
from the fea) feveral advantages in point of fecurity and accommodation.
The land in its neighbourhood continues to be low to a greater diftance
than about Friendly cove, and feems to be compofed of lefs rocky materials.
The extent of this harbour is but fmall, but being well protefted
againft all winds, and its diftance from the ocean preventing its being
much affefted by the fwelJ, feveral velfels might ride here in perfect
fafety; and as it has a fair navigable channel out of it in a foutherly di-
reflion, velfels can fail out of this harbour whenever the land wind
prevaits to pulh them clear of the found, with infinitely more eafe than
from Friendly cove ; out of which, they are firft obliged to warp a con-
fiderable diftance, and to anchor hot only in an inconvenient- depth of
water, but on an uneven rocky bottom; in addition to which in the event
of the wind fuddenly fetting in ftrong from the fea, their fituatiori becomes
by no means plealant. The departure from Friendly cove, although not
difficult in the fummer feafon, yet (as I have been given to underftand) is
fubjefl in the winter to great, and indeed dangerous, inconvenience, from
the heavy fea which rolls in ftormy. weather into the found; efpecially
during the s. E. gales, againft which, from its vicinity to the ocean, it is
not fufficiently proteQed. As a military eftablifemerit however, it is
greatly to be preferred to Mowenna, as nothing can pafs or repafs into
the found unobftrved at Friendly cove.
About noon we arrived on board. Nothing o f any moment had occurred
during our abfence; the weather, which had been favorable to our
excurfion, had been fo likewife to the feveral employments of re-equipment,
though we had yet much remaining to perform.
Monday 29. On mond'ay afternoon arrived a very fmall feip called the Jenny,
belonging to Briftol; the fame veffel that had vifited Nootka in oftober,
1792, then rigged as a three-mafted fchooner, and commanded by Mr.
Baker, who had proceeded in her to England, with the cargo of furs he
had then collefted. She was now commanded by a Mr. John Adamfon,
who had returned with her from England, and had in the courfe of the preceding
fummer in the neighbourhood of Queen Charlotte’s iflands, colleóled
defied upwards of two thoufand fea otter fkins, with which he was bound
■ to the Chinefe market, and from Canton was to be employed as packet
in the fervice of the Eaft India Company. He brought us the agreeable
intelligence of having met Mr. Brown in the Jackal on the coaft, in the
latitude of 54°, for whofe fafety we had entertainedfome apprehenfiori;
for when we left Mr. Brown in port Althorp, it was his intention to proceed
to the Youth ward through the inland navigation, and as the inhabitants
of thofe fhores had afted a very fufpicious part towards Mr.
Whidbey, we were fearful left Mr. Brown’s fmall force might not have
been equal to his proteflion.
The ferenity of the weather continued to favor our operations with
little interruption. The wind blew for a few hours on tuefday afternoon
from the s . e\ attended with rain; but the N .w , wind again prevailed,
: and the weather became fair and pleafant the next morning.
On the day following I was honored with the company of the Governor,
Sen”- Fidalgo, Saavadra, and moll of the Spanifh officers to dine on
board the Difcovery. The very exhaufted Hate of my ftores, and ftock
of articles necelfary on fuch occafions, had precluded my receiving this
pleafure fo frequently as I could have wilhed.
I was-very agreeably furprized by receiving a meffage from the governor
on faturday afternoon, purporting that the' expefled Spanifh packet
from St. Bias was in the offing; thefe however were but fhort lived hopes,
for we no fooner had recourfe to our. glaffes, than we became of opinion
that the veffel in queftion was the Jackal. But as the wind at this time
blew ftrong from the s. e . attended with dark, rainy, hazy weather, and
as. the could not reach the-port before dark, fee flood to fea .again; during
the night the s . e . gale increafed with inceffant rain, and a very
■ heavy fwell rolled into the found; the next day the weather was more
moderate, and in the evening the Jackal arrived. It was now that I received
Tuefday 30.
October.
the information of Mr. Brown’s having paffed through the feallow
paffage mentioned in Mr. Whidbey’s laft furvey in the boats, which appertaining,
immediately to the region then under confideration, I thought
it mod properly introduced in the narrativeof that expedition. Since our
feparation with the Jackal, Mr. Brown had colfeaed upwards of a thou-
* S s 2 fand
Thurfday 2.
Saturday 4,
Sunday 5.