278 A PHENOMENON. 



very near the breakers, the direction of the cur- 

 rent varied, running southward parallel with the 

 coast. By this means we were enabled to dou- 

 ble the southern extremity of the group, and a 

 gentle breeze soon after springing up, conveyed 

 us to a safe distance from the land. According 

 to our observation, this southern extremity lies 

 in latitude IV 20' 50', and longitude 19^ 28' 

 30". It was my intention to have noted the 

 position of the whole group, for which pur- 

 pose I endeavoured during the night to keep 

 the ship in its vicinity; but at daybreak the 

 current had carried us so far to leeward, that 

 land could scarcely be perceived from the mast- 

 head. As it was utterly impossible to make 

 any way against the united force of the current 

 and trade- wind, I was obliged to abandon my 

 design, upon which we steered for the Ladrones, 

 or Mariana Isles, where I intended to take in 

 fresh provisions. 



It is a striking phenomenon, and one not 

 easily accounted for, that in 1 1" north latitude, 

 from the Radak chain to the Bronus Isles, there 

 should be a current of a mile and a half per hour. 



