vary between these two, apparently more according to the fancy of the compiler, than on any grounds of more accurate information.  The only point in which there is a general coincidence, without any considerable variation, is in the position of the east cape in latitude 66 deg..  The form of the coast, both to the S. and N. of this cape, in the map of the academy, is exceedingly erroneous, and may be totally disregarded.  In that of Mr Muller, the coast to the northward bears a considerable resemblance to our survey, as far as the latter extends, except that it does not trend sufficiently to the westward, receding only about 5 deg. of longitude, between the latitude of 66 deg. and 69 deg.; whereas in reality it recedes near ten.  Between the latitude of 69 deg. and 74 deg., he makes the coast bend round to the N. and N.E., and to form a considerable promontory.  On what authority now remains to be examined.

Mr Coxe, whose accurate researches into this subject give his opinion great weight, is persuaded that the extremity of the Noss in question was never passed but by Deshneff and his party, who sailed from the river Kovyma in the year 1648, and are supposed to have got round it into the Anadir.  As the account of this expedition, the substance of which the reader will find in Mr Coxe’s Account of Russian Discoveries, contains no geographical delineation of the coast along which they sailed, its position must be conjectured from incidental circumstances; and from these it appears very manifest, that the Tschukotskoi Noss of Deshneff is no other than the promontory called by Captain Cook the East Cape.  Speaking of the Noss, he says, “One might sail from the isthmus to the river Anadir, with a fair wind, in three days and three nights.”  This exactly coincides with the situation of the East Cape, which is about one hundred and twenty leagues from the mouth of the Anadir; and as there is no other isthmus to the northward between that and the latitude of 69 deg., it is obvious that, by this description, he must intend either the cape in question, or some other to the southward of it.  In another place he says, “Over against the isthmus there are two islands in the sea, upon which were seen people of the Tschutski nation, through whose lips were run pieces of the teeth of the sea-horse.”  This again perfectly agrees with the two islands situated to the S.E. of the East Cape.  We saw indeed no inhabitants on them, but it is not at all improbable that a party of the Americans from the opposite continent, whom this description accurately suits, might, at that time, have been accidentally there; and whom it was natural enough for him to mistake for a tribe of the Tschutski.[25]