1787. inform them that nothing could be expefted from that quarter, but
Augi*!!. at the fame time point out the likelieft fituations where fprs might
be procured; and Captain Dixon urged them by all means to
make the N. E. fide of Queen Charlotte’s Iflands, and the oppofite
land, which we judged to be the main.
In the evening of the 8th, Mr. Etches and both the Captains
came on board us, and {laid all night; in order to lofe no time
in procuring a chart o f the coaft, and in procuring every information
in our power. During the afternoon and night we lay to,
and at times made occafional boards, as fuited our conveniency for
keeping company, and to be at a proper diftance from the land.
At nine o’clock in the morning of the 9th, we parted company
with our new brothers in trade, faluting them with three hearty
cheers, and wilhing them fuccefs at leaft equal to our own. My
next fhall be a few general remarks concerning the coaft. Adieu-
Thine,
W.B.- Off King George’s Sound, 7
Auguft 9th. 5
L E T T E R XXXVIII.
A S we are now taking our final leave of the American coaft,,
a few remarks concerning it, in addition to what I have
«ccalionally faid, will, perhaps,, not be unacceptable to thee.
Before
Before Captain Cook’s laft voyage to the Pacific Ocean, this
part of the coaft was little known. The celebrated Ruffian navigator,
Beering, in the year 1741, fell in with the land in the
latitude 58 deg. 28 min. North, and anchored in 59 deg. 18 min.
But the-account which is publilhed of his voyage is very imper-
feft and inaccurate.
The Spaniards too, are probably well acquainted with the coaft
a little to the Southward of King George’s Sound, and about Cape
Edgcombe, at both which places they anchored in 1775; and I
have reafon to think that their knowledge of this part of the continent
is confined to thofe particular fituations.
What has been already faid will fhew that the principal places
afcertained with accuracy by Captain Cook, were King George s
and Prince William’s Sounds, and the river named after him; and
no doubt it was from the plenty of furs he found in thofe harbours
that this trade was firft fet on foot. Our rivals from the
Indies certainly drew their inforrriafion from the fame fource ; and
this, in fome refpe&s, has not been unlucky on our fide ; for they,
not expecting to meet with furs in any other places than thofe
mentioned by Cook, quietly fat down with what they could get
in thofe harbours, and confequently we had to feek for other re-
fources, or return home empty handed. By this means we fell in
with Queen Charlotte’s Elands, which (as I have already Ihewn)
furpafled our moft fanguine expeftations, and afforded a greater
quantity of furs than, perhaps, any place hitherto known,
That we have made confiderable additions to the geography
of this coaft, cannot be denied, yet much remains to be done; indeed,,
Jo imperfe&ly do we ftill know it, that it is in fome meafure
G g 2 to