DISCOVERY off Cape Mudge.
July 13, 1792

Watercolor 14" x 21"


After meeting off Point Grey on June 24th the Spanish and English ships sailed northwest together to Desolation Sound and anchored on the 26th in Teakerne Arm. For two and a half weeks the ships boats were dispatched to survey the surrounding channels. One of the parties under Johnstone went far enough north to see Queen Charlotte Strait and thus established that Vancouver Island was indeed not part of the mainland. At the same time Lieutenant Puget in another boat entered the southern end of Discovery Passage and noted a strong current from the north, indicating its connection to the open sea. When it was time to leave, the Spanish elected to continue along the mainland channels, while Vancouver chose the more open and direct route up Johnstone Strait.

“With a light breeze from the northward, in the morning of Friday the 13th, we weighed and left our Spanish friends at anchor......The wind continued light from the northern quarter, and the weather being serene and pleasant, made a most agreeable change......Soon after mid-day we anchored about half a mile to the northward of point Mudge, in 37 fathoms water, on a bottom of black sand and mud.......From the village situated on point Mudge, we were visited by several of the natives, who brought fish and the wild fruits of their country, which they exchanged for our European articles, in a very fair and honest manner.

Captain George Vancouver: A Voyage of Discovery

CHATHAM had fouled her anchor while trying to leave Teakerne Arm and didn’t catch up to DISCOVERY until later the same day. At three the next morning, at high water, they weighed and began the passage through Discovery Passage.