I therefore kept along the southernmost chain of islands, and at noon we were in the latitude of 55 deg. 18’, and in the narrowest part of the channel, formed by them and those which lie along the continent, where it is about a league and a half, or two leagues over.  The largest island in this group was now on our left, and is distinguished by the name of Kodiak,[4] according to the information we afterwards received.  I left the rest of them without names.  I believe them to be the same that Beering calls Schumagin’s Islands,[5] or those which he called by that name, to be a part of them, for this group is pretty extensive.  We saw islands as far to the southward as an island could be seen.  They commence in the longitude of 200 deg. 15’ E., and extend a degree and a half, or two degrees, to the westward.  I cannot be particular, as we could not distinguish all the islands from the coast of the continent.  Most of these islands are of a good height, very barren and rugged, abounding with rocks and steep cliffs, and exhibiting other romantic appearances.  There are several snug bays and coves about them, streams of fresh water run from their elevated parts, some drift-wood was floating around, but not a tree or bush was to be seen growing on the land.  A good deal of snow still lay on many of them, and the parts of the continent, which shewed themselves between the innermost islands, were quite covered with it.[6]

[Footnote 4:  See an account of Kodiac, in Staehlin’s New Northern Archipelago, p. 30-39.]

[Footnote 5:  See Muller’s Decouvertes des Russes, p. 262-277.]

[Footnote 6:  Coxe’s work maybe advantageously consulted for information respecting the islands now mentioned.  But few persons, it is presumed, feel so interested about them, as to desire any addition to the text.  Besides, though a connected account of this archipelago might be either amusing or necessary, it is obvious that detached notices would have little value to commend them to attention.—­E.]

At four in the afternoon, we had passed all the islands that lay to the southward of us; the southernmost, at this time, bearing S. 5 deg.  E., and the westernmost point of land now in sight, S. 82 deg.  W. For this point we steered, and passed between it and two or three elevated rocks that lie about a league to the east of it.

Some time after we had got through this channel, in which we found forty fathoms water, the Discovery, now about two miles astern, fired three guns, and brought-to, and made a signal to speak with us.  This alarmed me not a little; and, as no apparent danger had been remarked in the passage through the channel, it was apprehended that some accident, such as springing a leak, must have happened.  A boat was immediately sent to her, and in a short time returned with Captain Clerke.  I now learned from him, that some natives, in three or four canoes, who had been following the ship for some time, at length got