118 AMOAN 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 pre- 

 vails 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 contemporaneously 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, and the difficulties 

 that were encountered from the want of aid in making 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 vege- 

 tation in consequence more luxuriant. Thunder and lightning are often 

 experienced, but during the summer 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 w 7 hich 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. 



The temperature of the air at Apia varied from 77*7° to 80-2° ; that 

 of the water from 81-25° to 83-75°. 



The mean height of the barometer in the group was 30-128 in. 



