The fishes which are common to other northern feas, are found here; fuch as whales, grampuiles, porpoifes, fword fish, halibut, cod, falmon, trout, foals, flat-fish; feveral other forts of small fifh; and there may be many more that we had no opportunity of feeing. Sea-horfes are, indeed, in prodigious numbers about the ice; and the feaotter is, I believe, no where found but in this fea. We fometimes faw an animal, with a head like a feal's, that blew after the manner of whales. It was larger than a feal, and its colour was white, with fome dark spots. Probably this was the feacow, or manati.

I think I may venture to affert, that fea and water fowls are neither in fuch numbers, nor in fuch variety, as with us in the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.

The few land birds that we met with are the fame with thofe in Europe; but there may be many others which we had no opportunity of knowing. A very beautiful bird was fhot in the woods at Norton Sound; which, I am told, is fometimes found in England, and known by the name of chatterer.

As our excurfions and obfervations were confined wholly to the fea-coaft, it is not to be expected that we could know much of the animals or vegetables of the country. There are no deer upon Oonalafhka, or upon any other of the islands. Nor have they any domeftic animals; not even dogs. Foxes and weafels were the only quadrupeds we faw.

There is a great variety of plants at Oonalathka; and most of them were in flower the latter end of June. The principal one is the faranne, or lily root, which is about the fize of

root of

garlick;

garlick; the tafte is not difagreeable, and we found means to make fome good dishes with it.

We must reckon, amongst the food of the natives, fome other wild roots; the stalk of a plant refembling angelica; and berries of feveral different forts; fuch as bramble-berries; cran-berries; hurtle-berries; heath-berries; a fmall red berry, which, in Newfoundland, is called partridge-berry; and another brown berry unknown to us. This has fomewhat of the taste of a floe, but is unlike it in every other refpe&t. aftringent, if eaten in any quantity. might be diftilled from it.

It is very

Brandy

On the low ground, and in the valleys, is plenty of grafs, which grows very thick, and to a great length. I am of opinion that cattle might fubfift at Oonalafhka all the year round, without being houfed.

What their notions are of the Deity, and of a future ftate, I know not. I am equally unac quainted with their diverfions; nothing having been feen that could give us an infight into either.

They are remarkably cheerful and friendly. They do not feem to be long-lived. I no where aw a perfón, man or woman, whom I could fupofe to be fixty years of age; and but very few who appeared to be above fifty.

I have frequently remarked how nearly the natives, on this north-weft fide of America, refemble the Greenlanders and Efquimaux, in various particulars of perfon, drefs, weapons, canoes, and the like. However, I was much less ftruck with than with the affinity which we found subsistween the dialects of the Greenlanders and

and thofe of Norton's Sound and OoFrom which there is great reafon to

believe

believe that all thefe nations are of the fame extraction; and if fo, there can be little doubt of there being a northern communication of fome fort, by fea, between this weft fide of America and the eaft fide, through Baffin's Bay; which communication, however, may be effectually shut up against fhips, by ice, and other impediments. Such at leaft was my opinion at this time.

In the morning of Monday, the 26th of October, we put to fea from Samganoodha Harbour. My intention was now to proceed to the Sandwich Islands, there to spend a few of the winter months, in cafe we fhould meet with the neceffa ry refreshments, and then to direct our course to Kamtfchatka, fo as to endeavour to be there by the middle of May the enfuing fummer. In con fequence of this refolution, I gave Captain Clerke orders how to proceed, in cafe of feparation; appointing the Sandwich Islands for the firft place of rendezvous, and the harbour of Petropaulowfka, in Kamtschatka, for the second.

Nothing remarkable happened during tourfe. At day-break, on the 26th of Nove land was feen extending from fouth fouthweft. We were now fatisfied that the gro the Sandwich Islands had been only imper difcovered; as those which we had vifited i progrefs northward, all lie to the leeward of prefent ftation.

I bore up, and ranged along the coast to weftward. It was not long before we faw pe ple on feveral parts of the fhore, and fon houfes and plantations. The country seemed t be both well wooded and watered.

At noon, feeing fome cances coming off to us, I brought to. We got from our visiters a quan

tity of cuttle-fish, for nails and pieces of iron. They brought very little fruit and roots; but told us that they had plenty of them on their ifland, as alfo hogs and fowls. Having no doubt that the people would return to the ships next day, with the produce of their country, I kept plying off all night, and in the morning food clofe in fhore. At first, only a few of the natives vifited us; but toward noon we had the company of a good many, who brought with them bread-fruit, potatoes, taro, or eddy roots, a few plantains, and fmall pigs; all of which they exchanged for nails and iron tools.

In the afternoon of the 30th, being off the north-east end of the ifland, feveral canoes came off to the fhips. Most of these belonged to a chief, named Terreeoboo, who came in one of them. He made me a prefent of two or three fmall pigs; and we got by barter, from the other people, a little fruit. After a stay of about two hours, they all left us, except fix or eight of their company, who chose to remain on board. A double failing canoe came foon after to attend upon them; which we towed aftern all night. In the evening, we difcovered another ifland to windward, which the natives call Owhyhee.

On the 1st of December, at eight in the morn ing, finding that we could fetch Ŏwhyhee, I ftood

and our vifiters from another ifland, callee, not chufing to accompany us, embarkir canoe, and went afhore.

morning we were furprised to see the ts of the mountains on Owhyhee covered fnow. As we drew near the fhore, fome of natives came off to us. They were a little hy at firft; but we foon enticed fome of thei

on

on board; and at last prevailed upon them to return to the island, aud bring off what we wanted. Having procured a quantity of fugar cane, and finding a ftrong decoction of it produced a very palatable beer, I ordered fome more to be brewed for our general use. But when the cafk was now broached, not one of my crew would even fo much as tafte it. I myself and the officers continued to make use of it, whenever we could get materials for brewing it. A few hops, of which we had fome on board, improved it much. It has the tafte of new malt beer; and I believe no one will doubt of its being very wholefonie. Yet my inconfiderate crew alleged that it was injurious to their health.

Every innovation whatever on board a fhip, though ever fo much to the advantage of feamen, is fure to meet with their highest disapprobation. Both portable foup and four krout were at firft condemned as ftuff unfit for human beings. Few commanders have introduced into their fhips more novelties, as ufeful varieties of food and drink, than I have done. It has, however, ' in a great meafure, owing to various little tions from eftablifhed practice, that I ha able to preferve my people, generally spe from that dreadful diftemper, the fcurvy, has perhaps deftroyed more of our failors in peaceful voyages, than have fallen by the c in military expeditions.

I kept at fome distance from the coaft till 13th, when I ftood in again; and, after havi had fome trade with the natives, who visited returned to fea.

At day-break, a dreadful furf breaking upo the fhore, which was not more than half a leagu

diftant