CHAPTER VIII. 



CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 

 1840 — 1 841. 



The disposition that was intended to be made of the Porpoise 

 during the winter months, has been mentioned in a preceding chapter ; 

 an account of her proceedings in the prosecution of the duties assigned 

 to her, will now be given. 



On the 15th of November, as has been before stated, she left Oahu. 

 In addition to her crew, a number of Kanakas were shipped for the 

 purpose of being employed, under the direction of an officer, on one 

 of the coral islands, to bore through the coral rock. 



The first shoal searched for was that of Manuel Rodriguez : its 

 supposed locality, in longitude 153° 54' W., and latitude 10° 58' N., 

 was passed over, and no indications whatever of it were seen. 



All the Kanakas became wofuUy sea-sick, and were lying about 

 the deck for several days, heedless of every thing ; after being out 

 several days, and the sea becoming smooth, they recruited. 



On the 22d they had reached latitude 9° 13' N., when they 

 experienced heavy rains, with frequent and vivid lightning, and 

 constant gusts of wind. The next and following days they saw 

 many birds, indicating a near approach to land. The easterly cur- 

 rent was experienced between the latitude of 5° and 8° N., inclining 

 more to the northward of east than farther west. On the 1st of 

 December they passed to the eastward of Walker's Island. On 

 the 3d, they crossed the line, in longitude 149° 36' W. ; and on 

 the 4th, the Magnetic Equator, in latitude 2° S., and longitude 

 149° 10' W. They now had the wind from the east, which was light, 

 with calms. 



VOL. IV. 71 



