SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC. 179 



The other route, and the one generally 

 adopted, is to stand to the southward after 

 leaving the Bay of Panama, until the south-east 

 trade is met with, even though you may have 

 to cross the equator to do it : having picked up 

 the south-east trade, run along parallel to the 

 line until sufficient westing is made, when haul 

 up to the northward for the northern trade. 

 The " Reindeer" being a smart ship under 

 canvas, with but little capacity for carrying 

 coal, we preferred the latter route. The great 

 object in either case is to make westing, and an 

 intermediate course between the two routes 

 would entail a tedious passage, owing to the 

 vexatious calms and contrary currents which 

 prevail in and about the latitude of Panama. 

 A strong current sets out of the Gulf of 

 Panama on its western shore, and a corre- 

 sponding one sets in on the eastern, so that 

 either of them can be made use of, according as 

 one is bound in or out of the gulf. Ten days 

 after leaving Panama we found ourselves be- 

 calmed one lovely morning in sight of our old 



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