former vlfit to this country. The clothing of thefe Americans now
chiefly confifled of garments made from the Ikins of birds or quadrupeds,
of not tlie lead vahic. This humble fafliion had mofl: likely been intro-
duced by their Ruffian friends, for the fake of increafing the number of
the fkins of the A Jtter, foxes, martin, ermine, and of fuch other ani-
mals as come under the denomination of furs, which they find to be
worth the trouble of exporting.
Thefe good people, like all the others we had lately feen, conduced themfelves with great propriety; and as the wind was very light, they continued with us until near noon, when they all retired to a bay or liarbour we were then abreafl of. Our progrefs from Cook's inlet had been fo flow that the Barren ifles were yet in fight, bearing by compafs s. 34 w. to s. 48 w. ; and the eaflernmofl; of the iflands near cape Eliza- beth, from s. 46 w. to s. 55 w., diftant about 5 leagues. On the infide of this ifland a low flat point projefted towards the main land, and gave us reafon to doubt, whether between thofe iflands and the main land a fafe navigable channel would be found; this however could be of little importance, as port Chatham is very acceflible by pafling round cape P^lizabeth, which at this time was hidden from our fight. The wefl point of the above bay or harbour bore by compafs s. 72 w., 5 miles diflant; the land forming its eaftern point, which is a projedting promontory, appearing at a diflance like an ifland, N. 42 vv. to N. 2 e., about half a league from us. Towards the fea it terminates in an abrupt cliff mo- derately elevated, and is connefted to the main land by a low peninfula covered with trees. Its north-weft fide prefented every appearance of affording fheltered anchorage, and to that part of the bay moft of the canoes repaired. We now fteered towards the northernmoft part of the coaft in fight, bearing by compafs n. 29 e.; the obferved latitude in this fituation was 59" 9-j', longitude 209° 48', placing the fouthernmoft part of the above promontory, which we fuppofed to be the fame that Mr. Portlock calls point Gore, in lathudc 59° 1 1', longitude 209" 49' ; the bay or harbour on its weft fide we fuppofed to be po-t Dick. At firft however this fuppofition admitted of doubt, for inflead of point Gore lying
1794. May.
