SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 
267 
locality of the island. We passed about five miles to the westward of 
its place, but no sign of land was seen. This was the first day since 
leaving Oahu, that we were able to write with any degree of comfort* 
the sea having become perfectly smooth. 
I was at first disposed to doubt the accuracy of the observations for 
latitude, but the next day (5th December) proved them to be correct, 
nearly the same difference having occurred. 
On the 6th, we reached the position of Gaspar Island, in latitude 
15° N., and as the different localities assigned it varied considerably in 
longitude, I determined to run on its parallel until I had passed them all 
On the 7th, we dropped a day, passing into east longitude. Our 
winds had become light, varying from the east to the southwest 
quarters, and it was generally calm throughout the night, so that we 
made little progress. 
On the 10th, the current was found setting west-southwest three 
quarters of a mile, both by the difference of the observations, and the 
current-log. The pot, at this time, was seen at thirty-two fathoms 
depth, several fathoms lower than at any previous observation. The 
temperature of the water was 81°, the day fine, and beautifully clear. 
We continued on the parallel of latitude 15° N. until the 14th, when 
we found ourselves in the longitude of 174° 50' E., having passed over 
all the localities assigned the island, between longitude 175° W. and 
174° 20' E. I am fully satisfied that it does not exist within those 
meridians. 
Having been thus retarded, the fear I entertained of meeting* with 
light, and in all probability, westerly winds, determined me to forego 
my visit to Strong’s and Ascension Islands, and haul to the northward, 
to look for some of the many shoals laid down on the track usually 
pursued by ships bound to the China Seas. 
After this determination was made, I hauled up for an island said to 
exist in longitude 171° 42' E., and latitude 16° N. On the night of the 
15th we hove-to in order to run over the locality by daylight. This 
position was passed over, and forty miles to the westward of it explored, 
but nothing indicating a proximity to land was seen. The supposed 
site of Cornwallis Island, in longitude 169° 33' E., and latitude 16^ 5T 
N., was in like manner passed over. 
Wake’s Island next claimed my attention. On the 19th we reached 
its parallel, and hove-to till daylight of the 20th, when we discovered 
it, bearing west-by-north, about nine miles distant. The wind was 
light from the north-northeast. After breakfast, several boats were 
sent to survey the island. Wake’s Island is a low coral one, of trian¬ 
gular form, and eight feet above the surface. It has a large lagoon 
