372 HONOLULU. 
On the 31st of August, we found a current setting thirty-three miles 
S. 63° W. 
On the 1st of September, the current was found to have set us to 
the south-by-west twenty-two miles; and until the 4th, we had strong 
breezes from east-by-north and east-northeast. On the 4th, we crossed 
the line, in longitude 167° 45’ 30” W., with delightful weather, but 
met no westerly winds. [For two or three days we had seen several] 
kinds of birds: tern, plover, boobies, and tropic-birds, indicating that 
land was not far distant. 
On the 6th and 7th, we had changeable weather, short calms, 
squalls, and fresh breezes, both fair and foul. The wind was gene- 
rally from southeast to east-northeast. On the latter day, we expe- 
rienced a current setting to the northeast. The winds appeared to be 
affected by the time of the day, and were found to be regular in their 
veering from one side to the other. The breeze is usually lost after a 
shower of rain. We had now reached the latitude of 7° 10’ N., 
longitude 162° 25' W., and had passed the magnetic equator in latitude 
3° 8. 
On the 10th of September, the northeast trades were met with, in 
latitude 8° N., and longitude 161° 10’ W. 
On the 12th, the wind hauled to the northeast, when I tacked to the 
southward and eastward; but after a few hours I again put the ship’s 
head to the northward, deeming it advisable to run at once through 
the trades. | 
Until the 17th, we had light breezes, with occasional squalls, the 
current setting to the westward. Our observations placed us in 
latitude 21° 33’ N., longitude 161° 37' W., which being about two 
hundred miles to the westward of Oahu, I determined to beat up for 
it, instead of standing to the northward of the islands. ‘The wind 
occasionally veered four or five points, which was favourable to this 
design. 
On the 20th, we made the island of Kauai, which is mountainous: it 
bore north-northwest and east-northeast. The lightness of the ship, 
with the sea and slight current setting to leeward, combined to impede 
our progress, and I found, although we had a good breeze, we were 
beating without making much headway. I therefore, although reluc- 
tantly, determined on filling up our tanks with salt water, to enable the 
ship to hold a good wind and make progress. 
On the 23d of September we made the island of Oahu, and stood in 
for what those who had been there before, and professed to have a 
knowledge of the land, said was the situation of Honolulu. They all 
knew its locality to be under our lee, and I ordered the course 
