[Footnote 1:  As in the remaining part of this chapter, the latitude and longitude are very frequently set down, the former being invariably North, and the latter East, the constant repetition of the two words, North and East, has been omitted, to avoid unnecessary precision.]

[Footnote 2:  See de Lisle’s Generale des Decouvertes de l’Amiral de Fonte, &c.  Paris, 1752; and many other maps.]

The next morning, being the 1st of May, seeing nothing of the land, I steered north-easterly, with a fresh breeze at S.S.E. and S., with squalls, and showers of rain and hail.  Our latitude at noon 54 deg. 43’, and our longitude 224 deg. 44’.  At seven in the evening, being in the latitude of 55 deg. 20’, we got sight of the land, extending from N.N.E. to E., or E. by S. about twelve or fourteen leagues distant.  An hour after, I steered N. by W.; and at four the next morning, the coast was seen from N. by W. to S.E. the nearest part about six leagues distant.[3]

[Footnote 3:  This must be very near that part of the American coast where Tscherikow anchored in 1741, for Muller places its latitude in 56 deg..  Had this Russian navigator been so fortunate as to proceed a little farther northward along the coast, he would have found, as we now learn from Captain Cook, bays, and harbours, and islands, where his ship might have been sheltered, and his people protected in landing.  For the particulars of the misfortunes he met with here, two boats’ crews, which he sent ashore, having never returned, probably cut off by the natives, see Muller’s Decouvertes de Russes, p. 248, 254.  The Spaniards, in 1775, found two good harbours on this part of the coast; that called Guadalupe, in latitude 57 deg. 11’, and the other, De los Remedios, in latitude 57 deg. 18’.—­D.]

At this time the northern point of an inlet, or what appeared to be one, bore E. by S. It lies in the latitude of 56 deg.; and from it to the northward, the coast seemed to be much broken, forming bays or harbours every two or three leagues, or else appearances much deceived us.  At six o’clock, drawing nearer the land, I steered N.W. by N., this being the direction of the coast; having a fresh gale at S.E. with some showers of hail, snow, and sleet.  Between eleven and twelve o’clock, we passed a group of small islands, lying under the main land, in the latitude of 56 deg. 48’; and off, or rather to the northward of the south point of a large bay.  An arm of this bay, in the northern part of it, seemed to extend in toward the north, behind a round elevated mountain that lies between it and the sea.  This mountain I called Mount Edgcumbe; and the point of land that shoots out from it Cape Edgcumbe.  The latter lies in the latitude of 57 deg. 3’, and in the longitude of 224 deg. 7’; and at noon it bore north 20 deg.  W. six leagues distant.

The land, except in some places close to the sea, is all of a considerable height, and hilly; but Mount Edgcumbe far out-tops all the other hills.  It was wholly covered with snow; as were also all the other elevated hills; but the lower ones, and the flatter spots, bordering upon the sea, were free from it, and covered with wood.