CHAPTER VIII. 



PAUMOTU GROUP AND PENRHYN ISLAND. 

 1840—1841. 



The disposition that was intended to be made of the Porpoise during 

 the winter months, has been mentioned in a preceding chapter; an 

 account of her proceedings in the prosecution of the duties assigned to 

 her, will now be given. 



On the 15th of November, as has been before stated, she left Oahu. 

 In addition to her crew, a number of Kanakas were shipped for the 

 purpose of being employed, under the direction of an officer, on one 

 of the coral islands, to bore through the coral rock. 



The first shoal searched for was that of Manuel Rodriguez : its sup- 

 posed locality, in longitude 153° 54' W., and latitude 10° 58' N., was 

 passed over, and no indications whatever of it were seen. 



All the Kanakas became wofully sea-sick, and were lying about the 

 deck for several days, heedless of every thing ; after being out several 

 days, and the sea becoming smooth, they recruited. 



On the 22d they had reached latitude 9° 13' N., when they expe- 

 rienced heavy rains, with frequent and vivid lightning, and constant 

 gusts of wind. The next and following days they saw many birds, 

 indicating a near approach to land. The easterly current was expe- 

 rienced between the latitude of 5° and 8° N., inclining more to the 

 northward of east than farther west. On the 1st of December they 

 passed to the eastward of Walker's Island. On the 3d, they crossed 

 the line, in longitude 149° 36' W. ; and on the 4th, the Magnetic 

 Equator, in latitude 2° S., and longitude 149° 10' W. They now had 

 the wind from the east, which was light, with calms. 



On the 11th, they made the island of Manhii, of the Paumotu 

 Group, and shortly after, that of Ahii, or Peacock Island : the same 



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