ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 189 



tinctly, the head laud of three of the Sandwich group, Hawaii, 

 Maui, and Morokai, being within about eighteen miles of the 

 nearest. We have now light trade winds which bear us at the 

 rate of five knots, and an unusually smooth and placid sea. This, 

 combined with the free, unwavering breeze, is considered by our 

 mariners as a fortunate circumstance for us, particularly, as we 

 shall approach, and perhaps pass the dangerous rocky coast of 

 Maui in the night. It is much more common for vessels to feel 

 the land breeze, as they near it, setting them off shore, while the 

 trades, operating in a contrary direction, they become unmanage- 

 able, and not unfrequently founder upon the rocks. This has 

 been the fate of a number of vessels approaching as we are at 

 present, and our skilful and careful captain, always on the alert 

 and anxious in situations of apprehended danger, is at this moment 

 pacing the quarter-deck, giving directions regarding the manage- 

 ment of the vessel, in tones as firm, and with a decision as 

 prompt as ever; but through it all, he cannot conceal the anxiety 

 under which he is evidently laboring. We passengers consider 

 ourselves perfectly safe under such good guardianship, but can- 

 not help feeling for the captain, who to insure our safety is losing 

 the repose which he absolutely requires. 



On the afternoon of the 4th, we ran by several islands, and all 

 within five miles. We could distinctly see the lofty and precipi- 

 tous rocks of the coast, the deep ravines between them, and, by 

 the assistance of our glasses, the green and rich looking vege- 

 tation of the interrupted plains. 



At noon next day, we made the island of Oahu, our destination, 

 distant about forty miles. In the evening we were enabled to 

 run, the moon shining brightly, and the atmosphere being unu- 

 sually free from haze. At 10 o'clock we were within a few 

 miles of the island, so that we could distinctly see a number of 

 lights from the huts on the beach ; we let go our anchor off a 



