404 APPENDIX. 



latitude 16o 18' N. and longitude 136o W., we had a very 

 strong trade at N. E., with squally weather, and a long cross 

 sea from the westward, which was afterwards found to be the 

 effect of a gale of wind in the parallel of 21o N. ; but which 

 did not reach us. 



There was very little current in this passage; this little 

 generally ran to the southward and westward, and ave- 

 raged 3.6 miles a day. The barometer, though so far entered 

 in the tropical latitudes, was perceptibly affected by the 

 changes of weather, but maintained its horary oscillations. 



On my arrival I found that from the 15th to the 21st there 

 had been very strong gales from the westward at Woahoo, 

 and from the S. W. at Owyhee. This was, no doubt, the 

 cause of the high cross sea we experiencd from the 18th to 

 the 23d. I found also that the harbinger, an American brig 

 which quitted Monterey nine days after the Blossom, was 

 obliged to lie to for three days, from the 20th to 23d January, 

 in a strong gale from the S. W. She had steered a direct 

 course for the Sandwich Islands, in which she experienced 

 very variable winds, and, on the whole, had bad weather, and 

 was only one day less performing the passage than ourselves : 

 whence I think it fair to conclude that nothing is lost by run- 

 ning well into the trade. During the winter season, I should 

 recommend ships gaining the 17th parallel before they shaped 

 a direct course for the islands. This seems to me to be the 

 best mode to ensure a good passage and fine weather. 



REMARKS ON THE PASSAGE FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



TO MACAO (china). 



March \st to April 10th. 



This passage was made at a late period of the season ; the 

 north-east monsoon had become very faint, and about the 

 Bashee Islands appeared altogether to have finished. 



From Woahoo to the Ladrones the passage occupied 

 twenty-six days ; thence to the Bashee Islands twelve days; 

 and from the Bashee to Macao three days ; in all forty-one 

 days. 



