248 SAIL FOR NEW ARCHANGEL. 



speedy return. On a signal from him, the 

 fortress fired five guns, which salute we imme- 

 diately returned. Karemaku waved his hat 

 from his boat, and continuing his " Arohas" so 

 long as we were within hearing, was rowed back 

 to the harbour. A fresh wind at this moment 

 springing up, we lost sight of the beautiful is- 

 land where we had passed our time so agreeably, 

 and prepared, with far less prospect of satisfac- 

 tion, to encounter the wintry storms of the North. 

 I chose the channel between the islands of Wahu 

 and O Tuai, as the most convenient outlet into 

 the open ocean, for ships going northward from 

 Hanaruro. We passed through it on the follow- 

 ing day, and sailed direct for New Archangel. 



The reader will willingly spare me any par- 

 ticular description of this troublesome voyage : 

 I must only mention that, on the 14th of Fe- 

 bruary, in latitude 35^ and 155" longitude, we 

 sailed over a point where, according to the 

 assertion of some whale-fishers in Wahu, an 

 island lies; but though the horizon was per- 

 fectly clear, we could discover no sign of land. 

 Our voyage proved safer and more expeditious 

 than is usual at this season. 



