>M4- now occupied by numberlels banks of fand one behind the other, with
'— ,— ' fmail pools of water between them, Notwithftanding thefe indications
that any further examination, was unneceffary, I refolved to continue
our refearcbes as far as it might be found navigable for the boats; and:
for that purpofe we kept on the weftern fhore, although we could not
approach very near it, on account of the Ihoals that extended from it,
on which were lodged, a very large quantity of ice. The- depth of water
was generally 1, 2, and 3 fathoms,, very irregular, and- now and then 4
fathoms at about half flood.
As we advanced to the north-eafl, the weftern (hore gradually inclined
towards the eaftern {hore, until they, were not more than half a mile
afunder, forming ftill a fmail continuation of the branch, in which we
found from 8 to 12 feet water, nearly at high tide; this we followed,
about 2 miles, when our curiofity became fatisfied by feeing its eaftern
banks unite with thofe on the weftern fide, and terminate in a circular
form, the moft diftant part being about half a league from us, in which
fpace was fome banks o f dry fand.
The (bores we had pafled were compafl; two or three fmail ftreams-of
frefh water flowed into the branch between low fteep banks; above thefe
the furface was nearly flat, and formed a, fort of plain, on which there
was no fnow, and but very few trees. This plain ftretehed to the foot
of a, connected body of mountains, which, excepting between the weft
and north-weft, were not very remote; and even- in that- quarter the
country, might be confidered as moderately elevated, bounded by diftant
ftupendous mountains covered with fnow, and apparently detached
from each other; though poffibly they might be connefted by
land of infuficient height to intercept our horizon. This we had found
to be the cafe with, the connefted ridges, on the coaft of North Weft
America, whofe lofty fummits formed in many inftances the bafes only
qf the ftill more ftupendous detached mountains. To the northward
round by the eaft, and towards the fcuth-eaft, the nearer mountains,
though of a height inferior to thofe in the oppofite region, were capped
with fnow, and appeared to form an uninterrupted barrier; the dpfcend-
ing plains from which feemed, by their apparent uniformity, to indicate
cate no probability of their being any where interfered by water. That W91-
which flowed between the banks of the river ftill retained a very confi- u._v_
derable degree o f fal-tnefc, apd clearly proved, that neither by falls, flats,
marlhes, or fens, any- large body of fre£h water found its way to the
ocean by this communication, and that conlequently, according to the
general acceptation of geographical terms-, this can be no longer confidered
as a river; I fhafl therefore diftinguifh it henceforth as an inlet.
Thus terminated this very extenfiv,® opening on the coaft of North
Weft America, to which, had the great and firft difcoverer of it, whofe
name it bears, dedicated one day more to its further examination, he
would have fpared the theoretical navigators, who have followed him in
their clofets, the talk of iagemoufly aferibing to this arm of the ocean a
channel, through which a north-weft palfage exifting according to their
doftrines-, might ultimately be d!(covered,
Whilft we- were engaged in making: the necefla-r-y obfervations for af-
certaining the final termination of C o o k ’s i n l e t , the northern extent
of which was found' to be in latitude 61- 29!, longitude 2110 17', we
were attended by a party of the natives, who- conducted- themfelves in
the fame orderly manner as thofe we had' before feen; they invited us.
with- great earneftnefs to their habitation, which was found on the plain
about a mile from the water fidesi it eonfifted of a houfe fimilar to thofe
.we hack feen on the 24th of april, and, like them, appeared to have been
conftrucled by the Ruffians; but as it was greatly out of repair, we
fuppofed itw.as now only appropriated as a temporary refting place for
travellers. Our vifit, I believe, was very acceptable, if a judgment might
be formed by.-our reception and the cheerful andaffable behaviour of the
whole party, who, on finding, that our intentions were to depart, folicited
us to prolong our ftay ; and, as an inducement for doing fo, gave us to
underftand, that our friendly young chief Chatid'ooltz was at no great
diftance, and would foon arrive at their dwelling. But our curiofity- being
fatisfied, and having no bufinefs to detain us longer, we took our leave,
and direfted our way back to the {hip with the firft of the ebb tide ; and
found but juft fufficient depth of water for the boats over the {hallow flat
we had to pafs, extending about 5 leagues. About four; o’clock- in the
afternoon