This was called Cape Douglas. Between
these two capes was a tidal flood of perhaps sixty miles' breadth.
Where did it come from? Up went hopes again for the Northeast Passage,
and the twenty thousand pounds! Spite of driftwood, and roily waters,
and a flood that ran ten miles an hour, and a tidal bore that rose
twenty feet, up the passage they tacked, east to west, west to east,
plying up half the month of June in rain and sleet, with the heavy pall
of black smoke {192} rolling from the volcano left far on the offing!
At last the opening was seen to turn abruptly straight east. Out
rattled the small boats. Up the muddy waters they ran for nine miles
till salt water became fresh water, and the explorers found themselves
on a river. In irony, this point was called Turn-Again. The whole bay
is now known as Cook's Inlet. Mr. King was sent ashore on the south
side of Turn-Again to take possession. Twenty natives in sea-otter
skins stood by watching the ceremony of flag unfurled and the land of
their fathers being declared the possession of England. These natives
were plainly acquainted with the use of iron; but "I will be bold to
say," relates Cook, "they do not know the Russians, or they would not
be wearing these valuable sea-otter skins.
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