As we continued beating to windward, in various soundings, all the forenoon, I shall not mark them down, but proceed to 1 P.M. when Cape Tottenham bore S. by E. five leagues distant.
Table of Soundings ascertained on the 30th of August, while standing in for the Land to the Southward of York Factory;—continued from the preceding page.
| Hours. | Ship’s Course, by Compass. | Distance run since last Soundings. | Depth of Water. | Bottom. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 P.M. | We had | —— | 13 Fathoms | Rocky and gravelly, which denotes the Cape bearing S. by E. |
| 2h. 0m. | W. N. W. | 4½ Miles | 14 Ditto | Rocky. |
| 3.— | Ditto | 6 Ditto | 23 Ditto | Ditto |
| 5.— | S. S. E. | 5 Ditto | 26 Ditto | Brown sand. |
| 6.— | Ditto | 5 Ditto | 17 Ditto | Mud, shells, and stones. |
| 7.30 | Southward & Westward | 7½ Ditto | 8 Ditto | Mud. |
| 9.— | Ditto | 7 Ditto | 11 Ditto | Ditto |
| 9.30 | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 11 Ditto | Sand. |
| 10.— | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 11½ Ditto | Ditto |
| 10.30 | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 12 Ditto | Fine sand. |
| 11.— | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 12 Ditto | Very fine sand. |
| 11.30 | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 14 Ditto | Gravelly sand, and black specks. |
| 12.— | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 14½ Ditto | Very fine sand. |
Table of Soundings ascertained on the 31st of August, while standing in for the Land to the Southward of York Factory.
| Hours. | Ship’s Course, by Compass. | Distance run since last Soundings. | Depth of Water. | Bottom. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12h. 30m. A.M. | Southward & Westward | 2 Miles | 14 Fathoms | Grey sand with black specks. | |
| 1.— | Ditto | 3 Ditto | 15 Ditto | Ditto | |
| 1.30 | S. W. ½ W. | 3 Ditto | 15½ Ditto | Oozy | |
| 2.— | S. W. | 3 Ditto | 15½ Ditto | Mud | |
| 2.30 | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 16½ Ditto | Ditto | |
| 3.— | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 14½ Ditto | Oozy | |
| 3.30 | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 12 Ditto | Brown sand, black specks, & broken shells. | |
| 4.— | Ditto | 2 Ditto | 7½ Ditto | Sand | |
| 4.30 | Standing in for York Flats | 7½ Ditto | Ditto | ||
| 5.— | Ditto | 3 Ditto | 7¾ Ditto | Hard ground. | |
| 6.— | Ditto | 6 Ditto | 7 Ditto | Ditto | |
| 7.— | Ditto | 6 Ditto | 8½ Ditto | Ditto | |
| 8.— | Ditto | 7 Ditto | 8½ Ditto | Soft ground. | |
At eight in the morning, it will be observed, we were in 8½ fathoms water, on York Flats; and we therefore came to an anchor, with the beacon, at the mouth of York River, bearing S. W. by compass; the land being distant about ten miles, although it could barely be discerned in a blue line above the horizon. Thus, it may be observed, we had been sixty-three days on our voyage; and that it may be compared with other voyages to Hudson’s Bay, I have annexed to this Journal a Schedule[29] of those performed by the Company’s ships since the year 1788; although I have not been able to obtain the dates of their departures from the Orkneys.
By the Sounding Table which I have inserted, it is evident that the depth of water abreast of York River, and off Cape Tottenham, to the southward, is uncommonly regular; and it may therefore be fairly concluded, that, although the western coast of the Bay be very low land, yet there is no great danger in making it.
It is not expected that ships during their return to Europe will ever meet with loose ice[30]: therefore, as soon as our ship anchored on York Flats, we undid all the preparations which had been made for manœuvring whilst amongst the ice; such as, re-stowing our anchors, and putting below ice-ropes, ice-anchors, ice-axes, &c.; and we rejoiced in being rid of them.
The factory was about twenty miles distant from the anchorage of the ship, but not visible. At 10 A.M. I went, therefore, from the ship, to report our arrival to the Governor. We were met at some distance from the ship by a large boat from the factory. It appeared that they had noticed the arrival of the ship; and mistaking her for the Prince of Wales, the boat was immediately despatched for letters, parcels, news, &c. &c. Finding their mistake[31], the boat returned with us to the factory, which we reached about nine at night. On landing, we were hailed by a sentinel; and a guard of honour was drawn out to receive us, with a pair of Highland bagpipes in front. The guard was composed of the traders, boatmen, and others, belonging to the factory: and through the gloom of the night I discerned the Governor and his officers, standing in a group to receive us. After the necessary business of introduction was over, we walked up to a large wooden building, surrounded by a double row of wooden palisades; and here we were regaled with venison steaks and buffalo tongue.
Sept. 1st.—At 2 A.M. the tide answering for our return, we quitted the factory, and reached the vessel again about 8 A.M.