APPENDIX. 
529 
The course pointed out is intended to lead you, by the time you 
reach the coast of Japan, near the South Island. 
You will pay particular attention to trying the current daily, if 
possible; and when running at night, in order to avoid passing over 
banks, &c., you will get a cast of the patent lead every hour, about 
forty fathoms up and down. This may be easily done, sailing at the 
rate of seven knots. 
Your dip and intensity apparatus will be used at every island you 
can find at one hundred and fifty miles apart. I wish a series to be 
carried across this ocean. 
You will pay particular attention to your sailing and keeping toge¬ 
ther ; and when the weather proves fine, spread so as to cover as much 
space as possible, keeping two good men on the look-out. 
There are several reefs lying off Gardner’s Island, on its north as 
well as its south side. 
In the vicinity of shoals, or where they are supposed to exist, you 
will not run at night, taking care not to fall to leeward of their locality. 
Any islands or reefs fallen in with must be carefully surveyed to 
ascertain the extent of their dangers, and you will ascertain also if they 
afford any supplies of wood and water, whereat a vessel might recruit. 
Every three days you will get a comparison with the Oregon’s 
chronometers; and your positions, together with courses, must be repre¬ 
sented on your charts. 
After you have reached the locality of the islands of Todos los 
Santos and that called South Island on the chart of Arrowsmith, you 
will pass directly into the China seas by Formosa Passage, making the 
north Bashee, and then proceed direct to Singapore, where you will 
arrive without fail in the first week of February, and there await me 
or orders. 
There are many shoals and reefs which it is impossible for me to 
draw your attention to particularly; but I desire that you will let no 
opportunity pass of gaining information relative to every thing that 
may lay in your route towards the coast of Japan, and that may be 
useful to our whaling interests. 
Wishing you a pleasant cruise, I am, &c., 
Charles Wilkes, 
Commanding Exploring Expedition 
Lieut. Com. C. Ringgold, 
U. S. Brig Porpoise. 
VOL. V. 
2 U 
67 
