-On the 4th of Auguft, we had a ftrong breeze from the SouthSouth
Eaft, which prevented any canoes coming near us ; but the weather,
on the 5th, being pretty moderate, feveral canoes came along-fide, but
the people had very few Ikins, and they gave us to underftand, that-
the country was pretty well drained. We were moored with both
bowers, but this morning we took up the beft, in order to be ready
for fea, when Captain Portlock fliould make the fignaL
In the morning of the 6th, we had ftrong breezes from the South
South Weft, with rain, which continued till noon on the yth, when
the weather turned moderate. In the afternoon, Captain Portlock
came on board us, and propofed weighing anchor at four o’clock
the next morning. Accordingly, we weighed, and were making
fail, when Captain Portlock fent his Third Mate on board us, with
a meffage, intimating, that as the weather promifed very unfavourably,
we had much better ftay where we lay, than run the
rifque of getting a bad fituation in a gale of wind; accordingly, we
again let go our anchor, and foon found his fuggeftion a good one,
for in the evening there came on a very heavy gale of wind, which
continued the greateft part of the night. We again'moored Ihip,
with the beft bower; but in the morning of the 9th, the weather
growing moderate, we hove it up again, in order to be ready for
failing with the firft fair wind. For feveral days paft, but few
canoes had been near us, and thefe brought us nothing but old tattered
pieces, the remnants of dirty Ikins which they had wore to
defend themfelves from the inclemency of the weather: indeed for
fome time paft, what good Ikins they brought were cut into ftrips,
probably with a view to obtain better prices; but this practice '
■ sve dilcountenanced as much as poflible.
Before
Before I proceed farther, let me endeavour to give thee lome
idea of the country near the place we now lay; and furely a pro-
fpedt more dreary and uncomfortable can fcarcely be conceived,
than that which prefented itfelf to our view to the North Weft.
The land, indeed, clofe by the fea-lide, is tolerably level, affords
a few pines, which, together with fhrubs and underwoods, intermixed
with long grafs, make the landfcape not altogether difagree-
able; but the adjacent mountains, whofe rugged tops far outreach
the clouds, abfolutely beggar all defeription : covered with eternal
fnow, except where the fierce North wind blows it from their craggy
fummits, they entirely chill the blood.of the beholder, and their
prodigious extent and ftupendous precipices, render them equally
inacceflible to man or beaft. I had forgot, that in my laft I promifed
to attempt no more deferiptions of the country at prefent,
but the profpecl juft mentioned had fomething in it fo awfully
dreadful, that I could not avoid faying a few words refpefling it,
and I know thou wilt readily forgive any little inadvertencies of
this fort, as my only wifh is, to amufe and entertain-—I wilh I
could add, and inftruft thee.. Thou may eft expeft a continuation
very foon. Adieu. Thine, &c,
W , B,
Qook’s R iver, ?
joth Auguft:.' ■ I
1 L E T T E R