SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 273 



into which I sent the Porpoise with despatches for the United States, 

 ordering her to land them, and then make the best of her way to the 

 Sandwich Islands, in case she did not meet the Vincennes. 



The next day being foggy, I bore away in company with the 

 Oregon. 



On the 5th, the weather continuing thick and foggy, with strong 

 breezes from the northward and westward, I made all sail and parted 

 company. 



On the 6th, the full allowance of bread was again served to the 

 crew. 



The wind, on the 7th, when we had reached the latitude of 27° N., 

 began to incline to the northeast, and the temperature became mild. 



In the latitude of 26° N., we entered the trades, being then in the 

 longitude of 134° W. The weather peculiar to the region of the 

 trades was now experienced, with light squalls of rain and a heavy 

 sea following us, which caused the ship to be very uneasy. 



On the nights of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, the usual look-outs 

 for the periodic showers of meteors were stationed ; but the weather 

 was not favourable, and the number counted was not above that 

 usually seen on fine nights. On the latter day, I shaped our course 

 to run over one of the positions of Copper's Island, supposed to exist 

 in longitude 151° 36' W., and latitude 25° 48' N. On the afternoon 

 of the 14th, we were within five miles of its assigned place, and the 

 weather was perfectly fine, with a clear horizon, but there was no 

 appearance of land. 



On the morning of the 16th, we made the island of Maui, and at 

 noon we were off its western end. I then determined to run through 

 the Pailolo Channel, between Maui and Molokai. On approaching 

 the island of Maui on its north side, there is some liability to mistake 

 the isthmus for the opening of the channel, as that part of the island 

 called West Maui is frequently enveloped in clouds. 



The trade-wind, as we passed through, blew very strong. The 

 scenery is very bold, the two islands of Maui and Lanai lying on 

 the left, with that of Molokai on the right : they are all high and 

 volcanic, and during a strong trade-wind are capped with clouds 

 and constantly undergoing changes from the shadows thrown upon 

 them ; these, with the town and shipping lying off Lahaina, form a 

 pleasing picture. The day being far spent, I hove the ship to for the 

 night under the west end of Molokai. The current experienced 



vol. v. 69 



