probable position. The Bella Bellas? may possibly have
some traditions on the subject, but as there have evidently
been other painted rocks in the vicinity it might be risky
to take local information too seriously. The most satis-
factory way of locating this historic point is apparently
by a careful analysis of Mackenzie’s journal, coupled with
an examination on the ground. An opportunity to make
this investigation occurred recently and the following
evidence, which the writer believes to be conclusive, is
submitted for consideration.

In considering the evidence offered by the journal we
have, first of all, to decide on the reliability of Mackenzie’s
astronomical observations for latitude and longitude, and
the degree of precision which may be expected of them.
His equipment for this purpose appears to have included a
telescope, a timepiece, an artificial horizon and some
kind of instrument for measuring angles, probably a
sextant or quadrant. As he never came in sight of the
open ocean his object at the end of his trip was to find a
“proper place for taking an observation,’ a “proper
place” presumably being one where he could check the
behaviour of his artificial horizon. To do this properly he
required an uninterrupted view over open water for some
miles, especially to the south, a fact worth bearing in
mind in weighing the final evidence of the position of the
observation point.

In considering the results of the observations it is
better to deal first of all with the longitude, in the result of
which there is a discrepancy of about 42 minutes of arc’
amounting, in this part of the world, to nearly 30 miles.
At first sight it might appear that Mackenzie’s observa-
tions would not afford evidence of much value in determin-
ing the position of the observation point. As an analysis
of the question of longitude is necessarily a somewhat
lengthy affair, I will deal with the matter separately.
To summarize the subject it may be stated that in view

5 A Kwakiutl tribe living on Milbank Sound, but who had a village at the head of
Eleho Harbour. Mackenzie's Rock fies a short distance east of the entrance to Elcho
Harbour.

5““As I could not ascertain the distance from the open sea and being uncertain
whether we were in a bay or among inlets and channels of islands, I confined my
search to a proper place for taking an observation.”’ This was on 2|st July 1793. See
Mackenzie’s Voyages, ante, p. 343.

i Mackenzie gives the longitude of the rock as 128° 2’ west. See Voyages, p. 351.

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