ApSrii. t0 * at which js laid down in Captain Cook’s chart to die fonth-wefl of.
i---- 1— > Trinity ifland. This land, although not noticed in Captain Cook’s journal,
was feen and palled on its fouthern fide by the Difcovery in that
voyage, which proves that the Refolution and Difcovery could not have
gone far to the north of Tfcherikow’s ifland, which was obfcured at that-
time by thick foggy weather.
After fun-fet, the wind veered more to the well ward, and enabled us
to Hand nearly for Trinity ifland, under our double-reefed toplails;,, and
at midnight, having foundings at the depth of go .fathoms,1 foft fandy,
bottom, we plied until day-light under an eafy fail, wit-h foundings from
Saturday 5. 70 to 82 fathoms, fine fandy bottom. At day,-fight we rngde all fail,
fteering towards Trinity ifland, which bore by compafs from n, 6 w. to
n.w ., the. main land beyond it ft-retchhig to the n. n. e.
' With a moderate breeze, between n.w . and w: s.w., we drew in with-,
the land, and the weather being clear permitted us to notice three or-
four mountains of confiderable height, on the main land, behind thole,
that bounded the fea-coaft ; all of which at firft appeared to be covered
with Grows- but as we approached the fliores, the lower parts of the cpall
were found in general to be free from fnow, and confiderahl-y. more fo.
than Tfcherikow ifland.. Thefroft which, fmee the g ift of march, had
been very fevere, now gave way, and the thermometer, rofe to, gg. At
noon the eaftern extreme of Trinity ifland bore by-com pals s.g6 .w .,
diftant ig miles ; its north-weft point a. 42 w> ; cape Trinity s- 77 w. :
the land of Two-headed point from n, 39 to,», 24 w, ■ and the northernmoft
land in fight n, ig ?, The ebferved latitude- 56° 40', longitude
-°7 ° 7 i'- hr the courfe of the morning, the variation, by the furveying
compafs, was found to be 23' go' eaftwardly.
As we palfed Trinity ifland, it appeared to be divided into two
iflands, with feveral others of inferior fize lying to the north, between
them and the land about cape Trinity. The eaft point of the paftern-
moft is, according to our obfervations, fituated in latitude 56° gg-§/, longitude
206s 47'; and Two-headed point, eompofing a final! ifland that
terminates to the north-eaft by a low flat rocky point, in latitude 5b0
54f', longitude 207° 5'. Captain Cook, in affigning the longitude to
Trinity
Trinity ifles, which occupy art extent of about fix leagues in an eaft and
weft direffion, does, not defignate any particular part, but fays they lie
in latitude 56° gfiV longitude 2 35V The longitude of the eaft point of
Trinity ifland, agreeably to the obfervations made that voyage on board
the Difcovery, was- 205° -53'; neither of which will be found to agree
with the longitude.on- this occafiori, which was deduced from exceedingly
good obfervations, both before and after noon, and correfted by fub,
feqnerit obfervations.
Southweftward from Two-headed ifland the coaft is low, and, appears
to be compaft; . but immediately to the northward of it the fhores de-
feend abruptly into the lea, appear , to, be- much broken, and form an
extenfive found, of which the- flat rocky point may be confidered as
its fouth-weft point-ofi entrance; from this its north-eaft point, being
low projecting land, lies >v. 58 at .the diftance of ■ 3.leagues. The fe,
.veral branches that appeared to-flow into the found, feemed to wind toward
the bafe. .of a connected- range: o f high firowy mountains; ;which
no doubt -gave boundaries to their- extent.-
As we proceeded; gently acrofs the entrance of this found with; a light
foutherly breeze, we were yifited in the .afternoon by two of its inhabitants,
a young man and a girl, in a finall Ikin can'oe,. who Ihewed that they
had been acquainted with fome European nation, by their having adopted
our mode of falutation in bowing as they approached the Ihip, and by
their" coming on board without the leaft hefttation. We entertained no
doubt of their having beenfo inftruCted by the Ruffians.; and, if we
nndei-ftood them rightly, there were fix perfons of that nation then re-
fiding on (hore. in the found. The man .took his dinner without the
leaft ceremony, drank, brandy, and accepted fueh prefents as were made
him, but feemed to prefer fmjff and filk handkerchiefs to every thing
elfe. WhHft he remained on board,. which; was, about an, hour, I endeavoured
to learn from him the same).which the natives give to-this part
of the coaft, but could not gain any fatisfa&ory information. He, cleanly
and diftjnCHy counted- the numerals in the languages- of Qbnalalhka
and. Prince William-sfound, though thefe, do not bear the, leaft affinity to
each other. From his general appearance, I was more inclined to believe