THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



On losing sight of the Californian coast, we 

 steered southwards, to take advantage as soon 

 as possible of the trade-wind, proposing by its 

 means to sail direct for the Sandwich Islands. 

 A strong and lasting north-wester favoured our 

 intention, and on the 3rd of December we 

 crossed the tropic of Cancer in the latitude 

 133° 58^, gained the trade-wind, and began our 

 run westward, supposing ourselves secure from 

 storms in this tropical region ; we were, how- 

 ever, mistaken : already on the 5th a high 

 wind from the south-east compelled us to take 

 in all sail ; on the 6th it shifted to the west, 

 and on the 7th to the north. We experienced 

 from this quarter some violent gusts, after 

 h5 



