league in breadth, though more than 70 leagues from its entrance. Its course was nearly from north to south; the tides in it were strong, and rose above 20 feet. On the west side was seen a lofty mountain, in which was a volcano. The natives who lived on the banks of the river, were of the same race as those of Prince William's Sound. Many of them visited the ships in canoes, and sold furs, salmon, and halibut, for beads, old clothes, and pieces of iron. Their habitations were not visited, but Lieut. King landed on the east bank, to take formal possession of the river and country; displaying the British flag, and burying a bottle containing an inscription and some English coins. Mr. Law, who was of the party, bought a dog from the natives whom they met on shore, and shot it dead in their sight; which struck them with surprise and terror.
On saturday, June 6th, the vessels sailed from Cook's Inlet, and proceeded towards the southwest, in the direction of the coast; which was skirted with islands and rocks, with little interruption, as far as to Oonalashka, where they anchored, on the 28th, in Samganoodha harbour, in lat. 53° 55', long. 193° 30.' In their progress thither, our navigators saw on the continent, a conical hill, with a volcano in its summit. The inhabitants of some of the islands which they passed, were found to be no strangers to Europeans. At Schumagin's Islands, which were passed on the 19th, some natives, in canoes, came under the Discovery's stern, and one of them, taking off his cap, and bowing politely, delivered to Capt. Clerke a thin wooden case, which contained a Russian letter, or memorial, with the date 1778, and a reference to
