216 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



years, says that he never knew of a longer detention than nine 

 days to any ships in that time, and of but one gale, which 

 came from the eastward, and unroofed a wing of his kitchen. 

 The trade-winds are frequently liable to haul from east-south- 

 east to east-north-east, giving a ship a chance to get out with a 

 leading wind. At the different quarters of the moon the tide 

 rises 4| feet. The temperatiire was 82, and the water 78 

 during our stay. The passing showers of rain keep the ground 

 moist and the air fairly cool. 



Pango-Pango harhour is distant from the following places as 

 under : 



MILES. MILKS. 



Auckland, N.Z. . . 1577 Xevv Caledonia . . 1445 



Vavau, Friendly Islands . 380 Sydney . . . 2410 



Levuka, Fiji . . 630 Melbourne . . 2864 



Tongatabu . . 475 Honolulu . . . 2283 

 Tahiti . . .1250 



The climate of the Samoan Group is mild and agreeable, 

 though in the wet season it rains there a great deal more than 

 in Fiji, and perhaps more than in any other part of the Pacific, 

 especially in Pango-Pango and Apia. The temperature gene- 

 rally ranges from 70 to 80, but, as in Fiji, there is a constant 

 sea-breeze. The average for two years only has been found to 

 be 80. The south-east trades blow steadily from April to 

 October, being strongest in June and July. From November 

 to March westerly winds frequently blow, but not for any 

 length of time. 



A ' blow ' may be looked for in January, but it often happens 

 that a year passes without a gale of any severity. February 

 is as a rule fine, but a very severe ' blow ' occurred in the 

 February of 1865, when a barque was wrecked in the harbour 

 of Apia, and the island of Manono laid almost bare as the effect 

 of the hurricane. March is considered the most boisterous 



