former vifit to this' country. The clothing of thefe Americans now
chiefly confifted of garments made from the {kins of birds or quadrupeds,
of not the leaft value. This humble fafhion had moll likely been introduced
by their Ruffian friends, for the fake of increafing the number of
th& {kins of the fea otter, foxes, martin, ermine, and of fuch other animals
as come under the denomination of furs, which they find to be
worth the trouble of exporting. >
’ Thefe good people, like all the others we had lately feen, conduced
themfelves with great propriety; and as the wind was very light, they
continued with us until near noon; when they all retired to a bay or
harbour we were then abreaft of. Our progrefs from Cook's inlet had
been fo flow that the Barren ifles were yet in fight, bearing by compafs
s. 34 w. to s. 48 w . ; and the eafternmoft of the iflands near cape Elizabeth,
from s. 46 w. to s; 55 w., diftant about g leagues. On the infide
of this ifland a low flat point proje&ed towards the main land, ahd gave
us reafon to doubt, whether between thofe iflands and the main land a
fafe navigable channel would be found; this however could be of little
importance, as port Chatham is very acceflible by paffing round cape
Elizabeth, which at this time was hidden from our fight. The weft point
of the above bay or harbour bore by compafs s. *72 w., 5 miles diftant; ■
the land forming its - eaftern point, which is a projefiing promontory,
appearing at a diftance like an-ifland, n. 42 W. to n. 2 e., about half a
league from us. Towards the fea it terminates in an abrupt cliff moderately
elevated, and is conneaed to the main land by a low peninfula
covered with trees. Its north-weft fide prefented every appearance of
affording fheltered anchorage, and to that part of the bay moft of the
canoes repaired. We now fleered towards the northernmoft part of the
coaft m fight,- bearing by compafs N. 29 e.; the obferved latitude in this
fituation was 59° g£', longitude 209» 48', placing the fouthernmoft part
of the above promontory, which we fuppofed to be the fame that Mr.
Portlock calls point Gore, in latitude 59“ 11', longitude 209° 49'; the
bay or harbour on its weft fide we fuppofed to be port Dick. At firft
however this fuppofition admitted of doubt, for inftead of point Gore
lying
’ 794'
May.