284 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



me. To J. C. Jones, Esq., — the American consul, — my acknow- 

 ledgements are particularly due. I shall always remember, with 

 gratitude, the many favors he has conferred upon me. 



18th. — We cleared Oahu yesterday, and this evening, are 

 sailing along delightfully before an eight knot breeze. I think 

 that of all enjoyments I have ever experienced since I became a 

 dweller in distant lands, there is none that has ever excited in me 

 such a thrill of delight and pleasure, as an evening sail upon a 

 moon-lit sea. I can hang for hours over the gunwale, as the 

 ship ploughs the deep blue waters ; I gaze upon the lovely moon, 

 and turn my face towards my father-land, and then, oh then, do 

 I fancy I can see my quiet, peaceful home, and commune with 

 the loved objects there ! All, all rise before me with a distinctness 

 at times almost startling. I see my excellent and affectionate 

 father, my beloved and tender mother, my dear sisters, brothers, 

 all whom I love, and I think I can see them beckoning to the 

 wanderer, and entreating him to turn his footsteps homeward. 

 These images have risen before me, this evening, with uncom- 

 mon vividness. It is now eight bells in the middle watch ; the 

 officer is pacing the quarter deck, muffled in his large pea 

 jacket, the helmsman stands by the wheel, the drowsy v/atch 

 are lolling on the forecastle, and all else are asleep. But I can- 

 not sleep, nor would I if I could, on such a glorious night as 

 this. 



April 1st. — Nothing important has occurred to vary the mo- 

 notony of a sea voyage. We have generally been favored wth 

 good breezes, though the sea has been mostly rough. On 

 Thursday last, we crossed the line, and our latitude is now 3° 52' 

 south. 



8th. — Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, " land, ho/" was sung 

 out by a man at the mast head, and we ascertained it to be 

 Dean's island, distant about fifteen miles. We had a fine seven 

 knot breeze, and we rapidly approached, and soon passed it 



