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 11 20 50 , and longitude 197 28 

 30&quot;. 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 11 north latitude, 

 from the Radak chain to the Bronus Isles, there 

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



