a strait on the north-west coast of America, was surveyed by Captain Vancouver, and the entrance of which he places in N. Lat. 48. 20. and W. Long. 124. The object of this survey was to discover a communication between the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans; but none of the inlets or channels in this broken coast was found to extend more than 100 miles to the eastward of the entrance into the strait.

Thus it appeared, that the land forming the north side of that strait is part of an island, or of an archipelago, extending nearly 100 leagues in length from south-east to north-west; and on the side of this land, most distant from the continent, is situated Nootka sound. The most peculiar circumstance of this navigation is the extreme depth of water, when contrasted with the narrowness of the channels.

The people of Juan de Fuca are said to be well versed in the principles of trade, which they carry on in a very fair and honourable manner. The commodities most prized by them are copper, fire-arms, and great-coats. Their dress, besides skins, are a kind of woollen garments. According to Vancouver, the dogs belonging to this tribe of Indians are numerous, resembling those of Pomerania, though larger in general. The population even in the greatest towns or villages does not exceed 600, and the smallpox is reckoned to be a disease very fatal among them. Their method of disposing of their dead is singular. "Baskets (says Vancouver) were found suspended on high trees, each containing the skeleton of a young child, some of which were also small square boxes filled with a kind of white paste, resembling such as I had seen the natives eat, supposed to be made of the same root: some of these boxes were quite full; others were nearly empty, eaten probably by the mice, squirrels, or birds."

Juan, St. de la Frontera, a town of South America, in Chili, in the province of Chiquito, near the lake Guancho. The territory of this town is inhabited by 20,000 native Americans, who are tributary to Spain. It contains mines of gold, and produces a kind of almonds that are very delicate. It is seated at the foot of the Andes, in W. Long. 66. 35. S. Lat. 23. 25.

Juan de Porto Rico, an island of America, and one of the Caribbees, being 100 miles in length and 50 in breadth. It belongs to the Spaniards; and is full of very high mountains, and extremely fertile valleys, interspersed with woods, and well watered with springs and rivulets. It produces sugar, rum, ginger, corn, and fruits; partly proper to the climate, and partly introduced from Spain. Besides, there are so many cattle, that they often kill them for the sake of the skins alone. Here are a great number of uncommon trees, and there is a little gold in the north part of the island. It is commonly said that the air is healthy; and yet the earl of Cumberland, when he had taken this island, lost most of his men by sickness; and for that reason was forced to abandon it. This happened in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is subject to storms and hurricanes, like the rest of these islands. It lies to the east of Hispaniola, at the distance of 30 miles.

Juan de Porto Rico, the capital town of the island of Porto Rico, with a good harbour defended by several forts, and a bishop's see. It is seated on the north coast of the island, in W. Long. 65. 35. N. Lat. 18. 30.