• 1 7 8 7 . to the Northward and Eaftward, about four leagues diftant; our
meridian altitude gave 55 deg. 13 min. North latitude. We faw
the appearance of an inlet, bearing North 58 deg. Eaftj but light
variable winds prevented us from making ang^great progrefs towards
it 3 however, a frefli Wefterly breeze fpringing up at five'
o’clock, we were enabled to Hand right in for the paffage ; but this
was of fhort continuance, the breeze foon dying away, and was
fucceeded with light winds, in almoft every direction.
At eight o’clock we faw an ifland to the Northward, which bore
firopi North Eaft by Eaft, to 11ali by North, about four leagues'
diftant j the weather duritig the night was moderate and hazy.
At feven o’clock in the morning of the ill; o f July, having a frefli
Wefterly breeze, we ftretched to the South Eaft, thé land-in fight
bearing from North 22 deg. Weft, to South Eaft half Eaft, and
the body of an ifland feen the preceding evening, North 30 deg.
I Eaft, fix miles diftant. At noon, we faw a deep bay, which bore
North Eaft by Eaft; the extreme point to the Northward North,
Eaft by North ; and the Eaftermoft land South Eaft, about feven
leagues diftant. Our. latitude was 54 deg. 22 min. North; and
the longitude 133 deg. 50 min. Weft.
During the afternoon, we had light variable winds, on which
we ftood to the Northward, for fear we fhould get to leeward of
the bay in fight, and we were determined to make it if poffible, as
there was every probability of meeting with inhabitants.
During the night we had light variable airs in every dirediion,
together with a heavy fwell from the South Weft} fo that in the
morning of the 2d, we found our every effort to reach the bay ineffectual
j
effectual; however, a moderate breeze fpringing up at North Eaft,
we ftood in for the land clofe by the wind with our ftarboard tacks
on board. At feven o’clock, to our very great joy, we faw feveral
canoes full of Indians, who appeared to have been out at fea,
making towards us. On their coming up with the veffel, we
found them to be a fifliifig party 3 but feme of them wore excellent
beaver cloaks, the fight of which— -but at prefent I muft lay
down my pen-, with a promife to refume it foon. Thine affuredly
O f f Queen Charlotte’s Islands,
J u l y 4 th .
W . B.
L E T T E R XXXVT
D O U B T not but thou haft cenfured me in “ good, fet, holi- X day terms,” for the abrupt cbnclufion of my laft, at a time
when we were becoming the favourites of fortune ; but I hope now
to make thee ample amends for this hiatus, by an account of the
fuccefs we have met with, and which equals our moft fapgume
expectations.
The Indians we fell in with in the morning of the 2d of July,
did not feem inclined to difpofe of their cloaks, though we endeavoured
to tempt them by exhibiting various articles of trade, Inch
as toes, hatchets, adzes, howels, tin kettles, pans, &c. their attention
feemed entirely taken up with viewing the veffel, which they
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