, 1860-02-17

ever, asit may, was thoroughly convinced,
as were also most persons of observation on
board, that we could not possibly have
passed any safe, navlgable opening, harbor,
or place Of security for shipping on this
coast, from Cape Mendocino to the prom
ontory Of Classet, (Cape Flattery) nor had
we any reasons to alter our opinions, not
withstanding that theoretical geograPhers
have thought proper to assert in that space
the existence OF arms Of the ocean, commu-
nicating With mediterranean sea and ex-
tensive rivers, with safe aud convenient
ports" .- .....-, 1. ..r .-.
Whatever may have been the motives
which prevented Vancouver from placing
any reliance On the accounts Of Captain
Gruy, it is evident at least from this ex-
tract, that no discoveries Of the kind had
been made upon this coast by the English
navigators at this date. Capt Gray, how
ever, was not contented to leave the mat
ter thus undecided. After parting with
Vancouver, he proceeded southwark along
the coast until the 7th May, when the fol
lowing record appears in his lOg-book:
"a. M-Being within six miles of the
land saw an entrance in the same, which
had a very good appearance of harbor;
lowered away the jolly-boat and went in
search of an anchoring place, the ship stand
ing to and fro, with very strong weather
current. At P. M. the boat returned,
having found no place where the ship could
anchor with safety-made sail on the ship
stood in for the shore. We soon saw,
from our mast head, passage in between
the >sand-bars. At halfpast three bore
away and run in northeast by east, having
from four TO eight fathoms, sandy bottom ;
and as we drew in nearer between the bars
had from ten 10 thirteen fathoms, having a
very strong tide Of ebb to stem; many ca
noes alongside At p. NJ, came to in 5
fathoms water, sandy bottom, in a safe har-
Dor, sheltered from the sea by long sand
bars and spits; our latitude observed this
day was 460 So north This bay, called
by Capt Gray "Bullinch's Harbor, is the
Gray's Harbor Of the present day, into
which the Chehalis river empties
"May 10th, fresh breeze and pleasant
weather, many natives alongside; at noon
all the canoes left Us. At p. NJ, began
to unmoor, took up the best bower anchor,
aud hove short on the small bower anchor.
At halfpast four, bling high water, hove
up tho anchor, aud came TO sail, and a
beating down the harbor % li5lr aal
MAY llth-At half past seven we were
out clear Of the bars, and directed our course
to the southwark along shore; at P. NJ,
the entrance of Bullinch's Harbor bore
north, distance four miles; the southern ex-
tremity of the land bore sonth-son,hcast
half-east; and the northern, north-north-
west; sent up the main top-gallant yard
and set all sail; at P. NJ. saw the entrance
of our desired port, bearing east southeast,
distance six leagues; in steering sails, and
hauled our wind in shore. At 8 P. NJ,
being little to windward Of the entrance
of the harbor, bore away and run in east
northeast between the breakers, having
from Eve to seven fathoms of water; when
we were over the bar we found this to be a
large river of fresh water, up which we
steered; many canoes came alongside. At
l p. M. came to with the small bower 10
ten fathoms, black and white sand; the en-
trance between the bars bore west south.
west ten miles; the north side of the river
half a mile distant; village on the north
side Of the river (Chi-nouk) west by north,
distant three-quaEters of mile; vast mum
bers Of natives alongside; people employed
in pumping the salt water out of our water
casks, in order to Gil with fresh, while the
ship hoated in. So ends"
Capt. Gray remained in the river until
the goth May, when his log-book shows the
following record: .o
"May 20th-Gentle breezes and pleasant
weather; at p. NJ. (being full sea- took
up the anchor aud made sail, standing down
the river; at 2 the wind left us, we being
on the bar, with very strong tide, which
set on the breakers. 1t was now not pos
siLle to get out without q breeze to shoot
her across the tide, SO we were obliged to
bring up in three and half fathoms, the
tide running FIVE knots; ut three-quarters
past two fresh wind came in from sea-
ward; we immediately came TO sail, and
beat over the bar, having from Eve to seven
fathoms water in the channel. At6R1N.
we were out clear of all the bars, and In
twenty fathoms water; q breeze came from
the southwark; we bore away TO the north
ward; set all sail to the best advantage; at
eight Cape Hancock bore southeast, dis
tant three leagues; the northern extremity
Of the land in sight; bore north by west.
AT nine, in steering und top gallant sails;
midnight, light airs"
Before leaving this river, Captain Gray
gave it the name of his ship, the Columbia
The southern side Of its entrance he named
Cape Adams, and the north side Cape Han
cock. This point had been previously
named Cape Disappointment, by Captain
Meares, in 1888, as indicative of the point
where his own researches terminated with
out any successful result .H
To this expedition of Capt. Gray We must
refer the first discovery of this great river,
and the first accurate aud satisfactory &C.
count which we have Of this part of the
coast of tue North Pacific. .-
(ro BE CONTINUED