1$ : water- After pa (ling to the north o f the high cliffy point to which at
■<- i low tide the fhoal had appeared to bè united, we had for the fpace of a
quarter óf a mile g and 10 fathoms water, but oh fleering' over towards
the oppofite Or north-weft fhore the depth inflantly decreafed to 4 and
3 fathoms, and by keeping as nearly as we could judge on the fhoal ridge
feen from the (hip, the depth was found to be from 20 to 14 feet water,
until within a little diftance of the north-weft fide, when we had a few
calls o f y i fathoms. At this time it was the'top of high water neap
tides. j r
Being-unprovided for a m ore comprehenfi ve furvey, we left for fu tu re-
examination the width of thefe fmall fpaces of deepwater; as likewife
the afcertaining whether this fhoal conftituted only a bar, and whether
the extenfive fheet of water to the e . n . e . became again navigable fob
fhipping, and ftretehed to any remote diftance in that dire&ion. The
general appearance of the country indicated the contrary, as the fhores,-
in evéry direftion in which we had fèèn them, had uniformly appeared to
defcend gradually, from the mountains to their termination at the water
fide, in low flat land, apparently firm and com pact; fhould thefe Waters
therefore penetrate beyond the limits of our view, their courfè muft have
been between interlocking points at no great diftance from each other.
Our curioftty fo far fatisfied we returned to the fhip, not Verv well
able to reconcile with each Other the feveral circumftanïés that had
thus fallen under.our obfervation; namely, thé rapidity and regularity
of the tide forming equal intervals of flood and ebb, both of equal
ftrength, and fetting at the rate of 3 miles an hour; with the Water,
even at dead low tide, little, if at all, frefhcr than that of the ocean, although
at the diftance of near 70 leagues from the fea. Theft feVeral cir-
cumflances could not be confidered, notwithftanding the appearance of
the fhores, as indications of an early termination of this extenfive Opening
on the coaft.
The watering place to which I intended to refort lying to the fouth of
- our anchorage, we weighed with the latter part of the ebb, in order to
place the fhip as conveniently to it as the fhores would admit; but in
attempting this, the fhip ran a-ground on a fhoal that had efcaped our
3 obfervation,
obfervation, lying between our laft anchorage and the fhore. An anchor
was immediately carried out, and on the return of the flood the
veflel was hove off, without having received any apparent injury.
The next morning Mr. Swaine was font with a party to clear away
the ice before the run of water, and prepare a convenient fpot for the
reception Of the calks; whilft another boat was employed in fearch of
the mofl convenient anchorage for the fhip. This being found about a
mile to the fouthward of the run o f water, we proceeded in the evening,
took our flation there, and moored with a cable each way in 5 fathoms
depth at low water, foft bottom, compofed of fmall loofe (tones, and
fine black fand.
Friday 25,
CHAPTER