124 SAMOAN GROUP. 



Isles, is not difficult ; and as the soundings extend in some places for 

 a distance beyond the reefs, vessels may drop an anchor in case of 

 necessity. 



The flood tide among these islands sets to the westward ; beyond 

 its influence, on the southern side of the islands, a current generally 

 prevails to the eastward, while it runs westward on their northern 

 side. Vessels, therefore, when beating to windward, would find it to 

 their advantage to keep on the southern side of the group, where 

 there is not only a favourable current, but where the winds would be 

 found more regular, and calms less frequent. 



Tidal observations were made cotemporaneously at Tutuila, Upolu, 

 and Savaii ; these show a regular difference of one hour in the tidal 

 wave between Tutuila, and Upolu ; the tide at Savaii appears from 

 the record to have been more irregular than at the other islands, 

 which may in part be attributed to the extent of the reef, but I 

 also fear that there may have been a want of due attention to the 

 observations. 



The climate of these islands may be termed variable, and there is 

 much bad weather, particularly during the winter months, when 

 long and heavy rains, attended at times with high winds and 

 northerly gales, are frequent. Destructive hurricanes also occur, 

 and of these one is still recollected which blew down the bread-fruit 

 trees, and destroyed many of the houses. 



The air is more moist than that of the Society Islands, and the 

 vegetation in consequence more luxuriant. Thunder and lightning 

 are often experienced, but during the slimmer months light winds 

 and calms are the prevailing characters of the climate. 



Some of our gentlemen made the remark, that, to judge from the 

 time at which the bread-fruit was gathered, there must be a great 

 difference between the seasons of this island and Tahiti ; for when we 

 arrived at Tutuila, that product was ripe and in abundance, although 

 when we left Tahiti, only a few days before, it was unripe and not 

 to be had. The same remark was made in relation to the vi-apple 

 (Spondias dulcis). But, by comparing the voyages of Cook and Wallis, 

 it would appear that the time of the year at which the bread-fruit is in 

 season at Tahiti is not constant, for both these navigators found it in 

 perfection, although they visited that island in different months. If 

 there be a difference between the time of the ripening of the bread- 

 fruit in the Society Islands and this group, the greater moisture and 

 higher mean temperature of the Samoan climate will account for it. 



