Caamaño, de Flon, Seno de Gaston, Canal de Floridablanca, Bocas del Carmelo y de Mazarredo. Por las noticias que habian adquirido de los Indios, la de Caamaño internaba mucho, pero su fondo no permitia paso sino á las canoas; la de Flon era de muy poca conseqüencia. Juzgaban, con alguna duda, cerrado el Seno de Gaston, y proponian como el reconocimiento mas interesante el de la Boca de Floridablanca, que segun se presentaba en la carta que habian trazado de estos canales, ofrecia dos entradas formadas por una isla colocada en su mediania, que despues de nuestro exámen se halló ser la Península de Cepeda y Lángara. El canal, segun habian comprehendido á los Indios, internaba mucho.

Con tales noticias tratamos de internarnos para acabar de exâminar el Seno de Gaston, y proceder al reconocimiento del Canal de Floridablanca, dexando los de Caamaño y Flon como de menos entidad, y mas propios para ser reconocidos en el caso, que creiamos probable, de haber de retroceder. La direccion del Canal de Caamaño hacia el Sur, y la probabilidad de que fuese á salir á la boca de Ezeta próxima á los 46° 14′ de latitud, fue otra de las consideraciones que tuvimos presentes al adoptar este plan.

A las doce entró el viento floxo por el S. E.; el tiempo claro nos indicaba que en el canal reynaria el O. A las doce y media dimos la vela, y dirigimos á pasar por el pequeño canal que hay al E. de la isleta de la boca; lo que conseguimos con felicidad. Este canal es muy estrecho por las restingas que salen de las puntas que lo forman, y así solo debe seguirse quando lo exîja la necesidad, ó se vea en ello una ventaja decidida. A nosotros nos pareció que adelantábamos la navegacion, pues pensábamos seguir la costa sur del Estrecho, por estar llena de excelentes fondeaderos.

Luego que salimos al viento fuimos dirigiéndonos á la costa del N., navegando al N.N.E. y arribando para el E. al paso que nos íbamos acercando á ella: á las once de la noche nos pusimos á costearla á distancia de una legua escasa, y seguimos con el viento al O.N.O., fresco con un tiempo claro y hermoso.

Amanecimos cerca de la Punta de Moreno de la Vega, y orzamos á pasar por entre ella y los islotes que tiene en su cercanía: derrota que indicaba Tetacus, y que recomendaban mucho los que habian navegado en este Estrecho. Verificado este paso abonanzó el viento, y seguimos con ventolinas del O. al S. toda la mañana.

Nos dirigimos al puerto de Córdoba, donde Tetacus indicaba debia quedarse, y á que daba el nombre Chachimutupusas. Tetacus habia dormido con sosiego toda la noche, no desmintiendo jamas su franquesa y confianza; daba su trato continuas pruebas de su fácil comprehension; conocia en la carta la configuracion del estrecho é islas descubiertas, y nos dixo los nombres que él les daba. Doblada la Punta de Moreno de la Vega nos advirtió hiciésemos allí agua que era rica y abundante, porque pasado aquel sitio los manantiales

of Flon, Bay of Gaston, Channel of Floridablanca, mouths of Carmelo and of Mazarredo. From the information which they had obtained from the Indians, that of Caamaño went far inland, but its depth did not allow a passage except to canoes. That of Flon was of very little importance. They thought, though with some doubt, that the Bay of Gaston was closed; and they proposed as the survey of most interest that of the mouth of Floridablanca, which, as shown on the chart which they had drawn of those channels, presented two inlets formed by an island situated in its centre, which, after our examination, was found to be the peninsula of Cepeda and Lángara. The channel, as they had understood from the Indians, penetrated far.

With such information, we thought of penetrating inwards to finish the examination of the Bay of Gaston, and to proceed to the survey of the Channel of Floridablanca, leaving those of Caamaño and Flon as of less importance, and more fitting to be surveyed in case of our having to fall back, which we thought probable. The direction of the Channel of Caamaño towards the south, and the probability of its issuing at the mouth of Ezeta, near 46° 14′ latitude, was another of the considerations which we had in mind when adopting this plan.

At 12 o'clock began a slack wind from S.E. The clear weather indicated that the W. would prevail in the channel. At half-past 12 we made sail, and shaped our course to pass by the little channel which there is to the E. of the islet in the mouth. This channel is very narrow on account of the reefs which issue from the points which form it, and, therefore, it ought only to be followed in a case of necessity, or if it appears decidedly advantageous. To us it appeared that we were advancing the navigation, for we thought of following the south coast of the Strait, because it had plenty of excellent anchorages.

As soon as we got out of the channel we found that the course to be taken to get inwards was to approach the N. coast, because on that which we were trying to follow a perfect calm prevailed. When we saw the waves which were moved by the wind it was necessary to launch the boat and ship the oars to go to meet them.

As soon as we got out into the wind we shaped our course to the N. coast, navigating to N.N.E. and bearing for E. as we were getting near to it. At 11 at night we began to coast along it at the distance of a short league, and we went on with the wind fresh from W.N.W., the weather calm and fine.

Day broke upon us near the Point of Moreno de la Vega, and we luffed to pass between it and the islands in its vicinity-a route pointed out by Tetacus, and much recommended by those who had navigated in this Strait. This passage having been made, the wind went down and we proceeded with light breezes from W. to S. all the morning.

We steered for the port of Cordova, where Tetacus said he was to stay, and to which he gave the name of Chachimutupusas. Tetacus had slept quietly all night, never belying his frankness and confidence; his behaviour gave continual proofs of his easy comprehension; he understood on the chart the configuration of the strait and the islands discovered, and he told us the names which he gave them. When the Point of Moreno de la Vega was doubled he advised us to take water there, as it was excellent and abundant, but after

eran escasos y el agua de mal sabor. Comia con aseo de quanto le daban, imitando en todo nuestras acciones, que observaba siempre cuidadosamente. Se acordaba de los nombres de todos los capitanes Ingleses y Españoles que han visitado la costa de tierra-firme y archipiélagos de Claucuad y Nutka, y aun nos dió noticia de que habia dos embarcaciones grandes dentro del Estrecho.

Quando nos hallábamos cerca de la rada de Eliza se acercáron á bordo de la "Mexicana" tres canoas con quatro ó cinco Indios cada una, pero sin querer atracar al costado.

A las once de la mañana conseguimos tomar el puerto de Córdoba, y anclamos en seis brazas de agua, suelo arena en la parte del S. del fondeadero Se despidió Tetacus de nosotros con la mayor cordialidad, y se fue á tierra.

Por la tarde estuvimos en tierra visitando las rancherias de Tetacus, donde habia como cincuenta Indios Tetacus mostraba la mayor amistad á sus huespedes y nos retiramos á bordo muy satisfechos. Por la noche hubo suma quietud en el puerto, y nosostros tuvimos la vigilancia que pedia el evitar una ocasion de desgracia.

El puerto de Córdoba es hermoso.

En este puerto fue donde la goleta" Saturnina" tuvo que cañonear las canoas de los habitantes para defender la lancha del paquebot San Carlos, que venia en su conserva, y de la que obstinadamente querian apoderarse.

Como el tiempo nos habia favorecido para que determinasemos en el dia la latitud y longitud del puerto, nos levamos á las tres de la madrugada con la marea saliente. Desde las ocho de la mañana empezamos á gozar de la virazon, que entró bonancible por el S.S.O. Nos dirigimos á la mediania del canal para tener el viento en toda su fuerza y buscar las Islas de Bonilla, que son una buena marca para la derrota. Pasamos algunos escarceos muy fuertes de las corrientes, y avistadas las islas nos dirigimos á ellas, dexándolas por estribor. A las cinco de la tarde, que empezó á quedarse el viento, atracamos la punta S.E. de la Isla de San Juan para dar fondo á la parte E. de ella, lo que conseguimos á las nueve de la noche.

El objeto principal de tomar este ancladero era para observer en él una emersion del primer satelite de Jupiter.

Al fondear estaba la marea parada; se exâminó su fuerza, y nunca pasó de una milla y media por hora en direccion al S.S.E. hasta las tres y media, y á esta hora cambió para adentro. Subió el agua de ocho á nueve pies.

A las siete de la mañana se dexó sentir una ventolina por el S.S.E.; con ella dimos la vela para aprovechar lo restante de la marea favorable; el cielo estaba nublado, y el horizonte apenas era de una milla. Ceñimos el viento para atravesar á la costa del E., no solo para seguirla y no perder la boca del Canal de Güemes, que va por entre la isla de este nombre y la costa, sino tambien para montar los islotes que hay á la mediania del canal en que estábamos, y sobre los que nos respaldaba la corriente con rapidez. A proporcion A proporcion que fuimos saliendo á la mediania fue tesando y alargándose la ventolina: arribamos al paso que nos acercábamos á la costa del E., y costeamos las dos Islas Morros con el auxílio de la virazon que apuntó por el S. desde las ocho de la mañana despejando el cielo. Llegamos á la punta S.O. del Canal de Güemes, y entramos en él navegando al principio á medio

passing that place the springs were scanty and the water of bad taste. He ate what was given to him with decency, imitating our actions, which he always carefully observed, in all things. He remembered the names of all the English and Spanish captains who had visited the coast of the mainland and the archipelagos of Claucuad and Nootka, and he also informed us that there were two large vessels within the Strait.

When we were near the roadstead of Eliza three canoes approached the "Mexicana," with four or five Indians in each, but without wanting to come alongside.

At 11 in the morning we succeeded in making the port of Cordova, and we anchored in six fathoms of water, sandy bottom, in the southern part of the anchorage. Tetacus took

leave of us with the greatest cordiality, and went

ashore.

In the afternoon we landed and visited the huts of Tetacus, where there were about fifty Indians. Tetacus was exceedingly friendly to his guests and we returned on board very well satisfied. At night it was perfectly quiet in the port, and we exercised such vigilance as was necessary to prevent any chance of misadventure

The port of Cordova is beautiful. It was in this port that the schooner "Saturnina" had to fire upon the canoes of the inhabitants to defend the launch of the packet-boat "San Carlos," which came in her company, and of which they obstinately endeavoured to get possession.

As the weather had been so favourable as to enable us to determine the latitude and longitude of the port in the day time, we weighed at 3 in the morning with the tide going out. From 8 in the morning we began to enjoy the breeze which sprung up lightly from S.S.W. We steered for the middle of the channel to have the wind in all its force, and to seek the Islands of Bonilla, which are a good mark for the course. We passed some very strong races, and, having sighted the islands, we made for them and left them on the starboard hand. At 5 in the afternoon, when the wind began to fail, we neared the S.E. point of the Island of San Juan, in order to cast anchor at its eastern part, which we effected at 9 at night.

The principal object of taking this anchorage was to observe there an emersion of the chief satellite of Jupiter.

On anchoring, the tide was at the slack; its force was examined, and it never exceeded a mile and a-half an hour in the direction of S.S.E., until half-past 3, when it changed for the direction inwards. The water rose from 8 to 9 feet.

At 7 in the morning a breeze was felt from S.S.E.; with it we set sail to avail ourselves of the remainder of the favourable tide; the sky was cloudy, and the horizon scarcely a mile. We hugged the wind to cross to the east coast, not only in order to follow it and not to lose the mouth of the channel of Güemes, which runs between the island of that name and the coast, but also to double the islets which are in the middle of the channel in which we were, and upon which the current was driving us with rapidity. In proportion as we were getting into mid-channel the breeze freshened and veered aft; we bore away whilst we neared the eastern coast, and we coasted along the two Morros Islands with the aid of the breeze, which was direct S. from 8 in the morning and cleared the sky. We reached the S.W. point of the channel of Güemes, and we entered it, navi

freu para libertarnos de la calma de la costa; pero ya dentro tomó el viento su direccion, y nos acercamos á la del Sur para libertarnos de la fuerza de la corriente contraria, que sempre contrarestamos con mucha ventaja, pues aunque el viento estaba floxo andábamos tres millas y media por hora. La navegacion era muy agradable por lo frondoso de la costas. En la del N., que á la entrada es de playa, vimos una rancheria próxima á la punta N.O., que examinada con el anteojo se halló consistir en dos casas grandes; varios Indios corriéron á la playa, se embarcaron en una canoa, y se dirigiéron á las goletas, dándoles caza con tanto acierto como pudiera hacerlo el mas experto marino Entre tanto seguimos la costa del Sur del canal por cinco brazas de agua fondo arena hasta la punta S.E., y desde esta lo atravesamos dirigiéndonos á la punto tajada del N.E., de la que pasamos á muy corta distancia para seguir la costa de la Isla de Güemes, y por ella y las "Tres Hermanas" dirigirnos al Seno de Gaston.

Luego que doblamos la punta N.E. quedamos en calma, y fue necesario acudir á los remos para verificar el paso, contrarestando algunas ventolinas escasas del O.S.O. que se oponian; pero luego que pasamos las islas, llamó el viento al O. y ceñimos abiertos por babor para montar la Punta de Solano. El calor incomodaba mucho, pues aunque el termómetro á la sombra estaba en la graduacion templada, expuesto al sol subia hasta viente y nueve grados y medio, y aun hubiera subido mas si no hubiéramos salida á encontrar la corriente del viento.

A las cinco entabló este por el S.; hicimos rumbo, y nos internamos en el Seno de Gaston, que aunque no estaba del todo reconocido costeamos su parte E, para dirigirnos á su fondo, y ver si tenia en él algun canal. El viento fue refrescando, y favorecidos de él estábamos al anochecer satisfechos de que quando mas habria un rio pequeño en su parte interior. La costa que lo formaba era de tierra baxa y anegadiza que corria por entre dos lomas, y á alguna distancia aparentaban canal; el fondo era de seis á siete brazas piedra, y pensábamos bordear para echarnos fuera quando caimos en cinco greda dura, por lo que se prefirió fondear contando como hasta entonces habiamos visto que el viento se quedaria en la noche. La situacion era buena para dexar caer el ancla, y poder reconocer mas prolixamente la parte interior de la ensenada en la mañana siguiente. Aferramos todo aparejo, avisó el timonel de la "Sutil" de quatro brazas de fondo, y se dexó caer el ancla; pero despues de arriar treinta brazas de cable, se halló la goleta en dos y media de agua,

Inmediatamente mandó el Comandante sondar por la popa y las aletas; á dos cables de distancia si halláron dos brazas, y se conoció que el ancla habia caido én tres. Esta equivocacion del timonel nos puso en muy mala situacion. Se pasó la noche con cuidado, y durante toda ella vació el agua, de suerte que al amanecer estábamos en una braza y media. Habiamos visto claridades al S.E. de la montaña del Carmelo, y aun á veces algunas llamaradas, señales que no dexáron duda que hay volcanos con fuertes erupciones en aquellas cercanias. La Mexicana habia fondeado como dos cables mas al O., y en media braza menos de agua; el viento, que habia soplado en la noche bastante fresco por el S.S.E., había levantado algun marejada, con lo que empezó á tocar de popa. Dió una espia inmediatemante con su lancha, y sobre ella trató de dar la vela sin largar el cabo hasta estar en viento.

gating at first in mid-channel to avoid the calm of the coast; but when within, the wind took its direction, and we neared that of the S. to avoid the force of the contrary current, which we always resisted with great advantage, for although the wind was slack we went three miles and a-half an hour. The navigation was very pleasant from the woodiness of the coasts. On that of the N., which at the entrance is a beach, we saw a station near the N.W. point, which on being examined with a telescope was seen to consist of two large houses; several Indians ran to the beach, embarked in a canoe and made for the schooners, giving them chase with as much skill as the most expert seaman. Meanwhile we followed the south coast of the channel in five fathoms of water, sandy bottom, to the S.E. point, and from that we crossed it towards the N.E. point, from which we passed at a very short distance to follow the coast of the Island of Güemes, and by that and the "Three Sisters" to make for the Bay of Gaston.

As soon as we doubled the N.E. point we were becalmed, and it was necessary to resort to the oars to make the passage, resisting some scanty breezes from W.S.W. which opposed us; but as soon as we passed the islands, the wind veered to the W. and we hauled free to port to double the Point of Solano. The heat was very distressing, for, although the thermometer in the shade was at the temperate degree, when exposed to the sun it rose to 291 degrees, and would even have risen higher if we had not gone out to meet the current of the wind.

At 5 o'clock the wind settled from the S.; we made our course, and we went into the Bay of Gaston. Although it was not at all surveyed we coasted along its eastern part, in order to make for its extremity, and to see if there was any channel in it. The wind still freshened, and favoured thereby, we were by night-fall satisfied that it could have at most but a small river in its inner part. The coast which formed it was of low inundated land, which ran between two hillocks, and at some distance they appeared to be a channel. The depth was from 6 to 7 fathoms, stony, and we were about to tack to get out when we fell into 5 fathoms hard chalk, wherefore it was thought best to anchor, reckoning, as we had found until then, that the wind would continue in the night. The situation was favourable for casting anchor, and for examining more carefully the inner part of the inlet on the following morning. We made all fast, the steersman of the "Sutil" notified 4 fathoms depth, and the anchor was dropped, but after paying out 30 fathoms of cable, the schooner was found to be in 2 and a-half fathoms of water.

The Commander immediately ordered soundings at the stern and the quarters; at two cables distance two fathoms were found, and it was ascertained that the anchor had fallen in three. This mistake of the steersman placed us in a very awkward situation. The night was passed with anxiety, and during the whole of it the water decreased, so that at daybreak we were in a fathom and-a-half. We had seen illuminations to the S.E. of the mountain of Carmelo, and even some flashes at times, indications which left no doubt that there are volcanoes with strong eruptions in those parts. The Mexicana " had anchored about two cables more to the W., and in half a fathom less water; the wind which had blown pretty freshly in the night from S.S.E., had raised a swell, with which it began to touch at the She immediately gave out a warp with her

stern.

Entre tanto la " Sutil " se llamó á pique del ancla, y se halló en dos brazas de agua; se estaba metiendo el bote para dar la vela quando avertimos que la "Mexicana" habia varado, por lo que se volvió á échar fuera, y se le envió para auxiliarla. Habia tenedo aquella goleta la desgracia de venirsele el anclote, que habia dado con la espia, y se hallaba muy expuesta á dar un bandazo, siendo preciso á la gente hacer palanca con los remos para evitar este desastre. A la "Sutil" tambien se le vino el ancla en el instante de dar la vela, y por pronto que se acudió con el aparejo, varó en seis pies escasos de agua; pero tomadas las debidas providencias, al cabo de una hora saliéron las dos á flote.

Inmediatamente se procedió á disponer los buques para dar la vela y continuar la navegacion, y á las ocho y media de la mañana ya estaban bordeando con el viento fresco del S. S. E. para echarse fuera del Seno de Gaston, sin experimentar que hiciesen agua alguna, aunque habian dado muchos golpes en el fondo.

Despues de varios bordos montáron las puntas S. y O. del Seno de Gaston á las quatro de la tarde, y entráron por el Canal de Pacheco; siguiéron por medio freu, cediendo algo el viento, y tomando la direccion del mismo canal, luego que entráron en él. Despues de salir del canal, en la Ensenada de Lara, vimos dos embarcaciones menores, la una con aparejo de mistico, y la otra con vela redonda, que seguian la costa hacia el N. No dudamos que pertenecerian á los dos buques Ingleses que estaban en el Estrecho, segun las noticias de nuestro amigo Tetacus. Seguimos sin variar de rumbo, pensando navegar toda la noche con poca vela, y amanecer sobre la Punta de San Rafael para estar al principio del dia en la boca de Floridablanca, é internarnos en ella á verificar desde luego su reconocimiento que, como se ha dicho, teniamos motivo para creer fuese muy interesante. Atravesamos de diez á doce de la noche la Ensenada del Garzon, viendo luces dentro de ella, que nos indicáron que los buques á que pertenecian las embarcaciones menores estaban en aquel fondeadero.

El viento, que veló fresco toda la noche, hizo cumplieramos la distancia hasta cerca de la Punta de San Rafael á la una de ella. Ceñimos con las gavias arriadas de la vuelta de fuera, y á las dos de la mañana viramos de la de dentro, sondando á poco tiempo en siete brazas de fondo; volvimos á tomar la vuelta de fuera, y continuó disminuyendo el fondo hasta cinco brazas arena. En esta situacion pareció oportuno dexar caer el ancla por no empeñarse de noche en buscar la salida, ni ser prudente el continuar hácia la boca sin tener de ella mas seguro conocimiento.

Fondeamos, y con las primeras luces del dia vimos que estábamos á medio canal, en la enfilacion de Punta de San Rafael con la punta E. de la Península de Cepeda.

launch, and upon that set about hoisting sail without loosing the rope until meeting the wind. Meanwhile the "Sutil" was shortening in her cable, and was found to be in two fathoms water; we were hoisting in the boat in order to set sail, when we noticed that the "Mexicana" had grounded; it was therefore got out again and sent to her assistance. That schooner had had the misfortune to drag home the stream anchor, which she had cast with the warp, and was in great danger of going over, so that it was necessary for the men to prop her with the oars to prevent such a disaster. The "Sutil" also dragged home her anchor at the moment of setting sail, and quickly as the tackle was resorted to she grounded in a scanty six feet of water; but all due means having been applied, at the end of an hour both vessels were afloat.

Preparations were immediately made for the vessels to set sail and continue the navigation, and at half-past 8 in the morning they were tacking with a fresh S.S.E. wind to get out of the Bay of Gaston, and it was not found that they made any water, although they had frequently struck the bottom.

After various tacks they doubled the S. and W. points of the Bay of Gaston at 4 in the afternoon, and made for the Channel of Pacheco; they proceeded by mid-channel, the wind somewhat abating, and taking the direction of the channel itself as soon as they entered it. After leaving the channel, in the Creek of Lara, we saw two smaller boats, one with sliding sail rigging, the other with square sail, which were following the coast towards the N. We had no doubt that they belonged to the two English vessels which were in the Strait, according io the information of our friend Tetacus. We went on without changing course, thinking to navigate all night with little sail, and to be off the Point of San Rafael at daybreak, so as to get to the mouth of Floridablanca early in the morning, to go within and to make the survey at once, which, as has been said, we had reason to believe would be very interesting. From 10 to 12 at night we crossed the Creek del Garzon, and saw lights within it which indicated that the vessels to which the smaller boats belonged were in that anchorage.

The wind, which kept fresh all night, enabled us to make the distance to near the Point of San Rafael by 1 o'clock. We stood outward with reefed topsails; and at 2 in the morning we veered inward, sounding soon in seven fathoms deep; we again stood outward, and the depth continued decreasing to five fathoms sand. In this situation it appeared fitting to cast anchor, so as not to run any risk in seeking the outlet at night; and as it was not prudent to continue near the mouth without having more certain knowledge of it.

We anchored, and with the first light of day we saw that we were in mid-channel, in a line with the Point of San Rafael, and the East point of the Peninsula of Cepeda.

LA noticia confusa del reconocimiento hecho en 1592 por el piloto Griego Juan de Fuca del Canal de su nombre, era la única que teniamos hasta el año de 1789. Hallándose en Nutka el Alférez de Navío Don Estéban Martinez, despues de haber tomado posesion de este puerto en nombre de Su Magestad, recordó que en 1774, de vuelta de su expedicion al Norte, le habia parecido ver una entrada muy ancha por los 48° 20′ de latitud. Creyendo que pudiese ser la de Fuca, comisionó un segundo piloto mandando la goleta “Gertrudis” para que se cerciorase de si exîstia ó no dicha entrada; en efecto el piloto volvió, diciendo la habia hallado de veinte y una millas de ancho, y cuya mediania estaba en 48° 30′ de latitud, y 19° 28′ al O. de San Blas.

Pasadas estas noticias á la superioridad, tuvo órden el Teniente de Navio Don Francisco Eliza en el año de 1790 para hacer practicar un reconocimiento prolixo de esta entrada. Destinó á esta fin al Alférez de la misma clase Don Manuel Quimper, mandando la balandra la "Princesa Real." Este oficial se hizo á la vela del Puerto de Nutka el 31 de Mayo, reconoció el Puerto de Claucaud, se internó despues en el Canal de Fuca, visitó algunos puertos y parte de la costa, levantó sus planos, y se retiró el 1 de Agosto, no habiéndole permitido los tiempos el continuar los trabajos.

66

Al año siguiente recibió Eliza órdenes del Virey de Nueva España para llevar á su fin el reconocimiento ya empezado, y que causaba la curiosidad de los geógrafos. Dicho oficial salió de Nutka mandando el paquebot "San Carlos" y goleta Horcasitas," con la intencion de elevarse á los 60° de latitud, y descender exâminando la costa hasta el Canal de Fuca, é interiorizarse en él para reconocerlo completamente; pero no permitiéndole los vientos en muchos dias el ganar al N., resolvió empezar los reconocimientos por los 48°, y envocó el canal el dia 27 de Mayo. Permaneció en él hasta el 7 de Agosto, en que se vió precisado á retirarse por tener ya escorbútica parte de su tripulacion, y carecer de dietas para suministrarle. En este tiempo hiza levantar planos de algunos puertos, y exâminar un trozo de la costa al piloto Don Joseph Narvaez, no pudiendo verificarlo por sí á causa de haber caido enfermo.

De vuelta á Nutka escribió al Virey de Nueva España las resultas de su viage, y despues de otras reflexiones dice:-" Asegurando á V. E. que el paso al Océano que con tanto anhelo buscan sobre esta costa las naciones extrangeras, si es que lo hay, me parece no hallarse por otra parte que por este gran canal."

A Reference to the Voyage of Sub-Lieutenant Don Manuel Quimper, in 1790, to the Strait of Fuca, extracted from Chapter I of the Narrative of the Voyage of the " Sutil" and " Mexicana," in 1792.

THE confused account of the examination made in 1592 by the Greek Pilot John de Fuca of the channel which bears his name was the only one we had up to the year 1789. Sub-Lieutenant (Alférez de Navío) Don Esteban Martinez, being at Nootka, after having taken possession of that port in the name of Her Majesty, stated that, in 1774, in returning from his expedition to the North, he thought he saw a very wide entrance at 48° 20′ latitude. Believing that it might be that of Fuco, he directed a second mate (piloto) in command of the schooner "Gertrudis to ascertain whether that entrance existed or not. The mate returned, saying that he had found it to be twenty-one miles wide, and its centre in 48° 30′ latitude, 19° 28' west of San Blas.

These accounts having been sent on to the authorities, Lieutenant Lieutenant Don Francisco Eliza received orders in the year 1790 to have a minute survey made of that entrance. He appointed Sub-Lieutenant Don Manuel Quimper, who commanded the sloop "Princesa Real," for that purpose. The said officer sailed from the Port of Nootka on the 31st of May, examined the Port of Claucaud, afterwards penetrated the Channel of Fuca, surveyed some ports and part of the coast, drew plans of them, and retired on the 1st of August, the weather not having allowed him to continue his labours.

In the following year Eliza received orders from the Viceroy of New Spain to complete the examination already begun, and which excited the curiosity of geographers. That officer left Nootka in command of the packet "San Carlos" and the schooner "Horcasitas," intending to go up to 60° latitude, and to come down and examine the coast to the Channel of Fuca, then to enter therein to examine it completely; but the wind not allowing him for many days to get to the north, he determined to begin his examinations at 48°, and entered the channel on the 27th of May. He remained in it till the 7th of August, when he found himself obliged to retire because part of his crew had the scurvy, and he had not the necessary diet for them. During this time he caused plans to be made of some of the ports, and had part of the coast examined by the mate Don Joseph Narvaez, being unable to do it himself because he had fallen sick.

On his return to Nootka he wrote the results of his voyage to the Viceroy of New Spain, and, after other remarks, he said:" Assuring your Excellency that the passage to the Ocean which foreign nations seek for so eagerly on this coast, if there be one, will not be found, as it appears to me, elsewhere than by this great channel.”