1843.] CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 13 



My reason for keeping thus far to the eastward was to 

 take advantage of the N.W. current, which usually pre- 

 vails during this season ; unless the wind be well free, 

 the lee set considerably diminishes the rate of sailing, 

 and if it haul, as it does occasionally, more easterly, time 

 as well as velocity would be sacrificed. Soon afterwards 

 we experienced a westerly current, and on the 30th, in 

 lat. 24 41' S., and long. 99 15' E., the breeze suddenly 

 chopped round to E.N.E., eventually to N.E , and notwith- 

 standing the scud, or light clouds aloft, still, preserved a 

 a rapid motion to the eastward, fully proving that we 

 were not far beyond the influence of a westerly wind. 

 As the breeze did not admit of our lying better than 

 N.W. by N., we tacked to the eastward, being at that 

 moment in lat. 21 15' S., long. 98 15' E. It is important 

 to notice these points, because I am satisfied the 30th 

 parallel of latitude should not be crossed until reaching 

 the 105th degree of longitude, in order to secure a com- 

 fortable passage, or to relieve the mind from the idea of 

 being " backstrapped " *. 



Every effort was made to preserve our easting, in 

 order to sight Christmas Island, and we so far succeeded 

 as to pass within ten miles to the westward of it. The 

 result of our observations, on a running survey, give it 

 an altitude of 1,1 15 feet. We passed the western extreme 

 of the island on the 7th, at noon, and, calculating on our 

 previous westerly current, steered a course to cut Klapp's 

 Island ; the following day, however, we found ourselves 

 about thirty miles to the eastward of it, and about the 



* Driven to leeward of a port and compelled to beat up. 



