N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T O F AM E R I C A .
through to the B a y o f IJlands, which, thou mayeft remember, we looked
for in vain to the Weftward of Cape Edgecombe, when on the
coaft laft year. Had the wind permitted us, to have looked round
the South Eaft point of the cape, agreeable to our intention in the
morning of the 15 th of September laft, we without doubt fhould
have found our prefent harbour. During the greateft part of the
time we lay here, the weather was pretty moderate, the mean of the
thermometer 48 deg- the wind generally light, and varying frorm
South Eaft to South Weft.
The Ihore here, in common with the reft of the coaft, abounds
with pines -, there is alfo greater quantities of the witch hazle here,
than we had hitherto met with. We found various kinds of flowering
trees and fhrubs, amongft which were wild goofeberries, currants,
and raiberries ; wildparfley is found here in great plenty
we picked great quantities of it, and it eats.excellently, either as a.
fallad, or boiled .amongft: foup. The faranne, or wild lilly-root,
grows here in great plenty.and .perfedtion.
There are very few wild geefe or ducks feen here, and thofe fhy
and difficult of approach. Captain Dixon, as I before obferved,
wàs frequently on Ihore with his fowling-piece ; but he fhot any
thing that camé in his way indifcriminately, his chief motive being
rathèr to Ihew the Indians the effedts of fire-arms, than to purfue
game ; and the event fhewed that his intention was compleatly an-
fwered.
The inhabitants frequently caught halibut, and we few large
quantities of felmon frequently hung up on Ihore to dry, but they
were not very willing to fell it, which fhews, that fifli is a principal
and favourite article of food here : we indeed purchafed a few
A a felmon,