soft tone. When the voyagers moved to a safer
anchorage, a large number of inhabitants made their appearance. They
willingly supplied the ships with such provisions as they possessed, but
would receive nothing but brass in return, and all brass articles to be
found on board were bartered away. Nearly a month was passed in
uninterrupted friendship among these savages. The inlet was called
"Nootka Sound," from the native name.

Again putting to sea on the 4th of May, Mount Saint Elias was seen.
Nine days afterwards the ships came to an anchor in a bay, on which was
bestowed the name of "Prince William's Sound." The most remarkable
feature of some of the inhabitants on its shores was a slit through the
lower lip, parallel with the mouth, through which were worn pieces of
carved bone. Sometimes the natives would remove this bone, and thrust
out their tongues from the opening, which had a most hideous effect.

After examining an inlet, which it was hoped would lead round the north
coast of America, the vessels sailed south-west round the promontory of
Alaska. At length the discoverers reached the entrance to Behring's
Straits, although not aware at the time of the fact. About the 9th, the
most westerly point of America was reached, to which the name of Cape
Prince of Wales was given. On the same evening the coast of Asia came
in view, and on the following morning the ships anchored in a harbour of
the Tschutski territories. Here the natives, though alarmed, made their
visitors profound bows. A few days after this the ships encountered a
dense field of ice, extending across their course as far as the eye
could reach. To proceed farther was impossible, and the ships' heads
were therefore turned to the southward. Coasting the shores of Asia,
Cook anchored off Oonalaska. Here the natives were most inoffensive.
Their stature was low, their necks short, their faces swarthy and
chubby; whilst they had black eyes and small beards. Their houses were
large oblong pits, covered with a roof thatched with grass and earth.

A few days after the arrival of the ships, the Captains were surprised
by a present of a salmon pie, baked in flour, and a note in Russian,
which was delivered to them by two natives. John Ledyard, a corporal of
marines, afterwards known as a traveller, volunteered to proceed with
the messengers and discover who had sent the gift. In two days he
returned with three Russian traders, and shortly afterw