292 NISQUALLY AND COLUMBIA RIVER. 



On the 9th, at the request of Dr. Holmes, Dr. Fox was sent on 

 board the Porpoise to hold a consultation. 



In all these cases there was much fever, attended with constipation 

 and a tendency to inflammation of the bowels. Until the 15th the 

 state of the sick continued critical, but, through the perseverance, 

 attention, and skill of Dr. Holmes, the disease was finally conquered. 

 As the sick became convalescent, I was desirous of having them re- 

 moved to the Vincennes, but the medical gentlemen were of opinion 

 that it was not expedient to transfer them to that vessel, lest the dis 

 ease might be of an infectious character. 



During all this time the crew of the Vincennes enjoyed remarkably 

 good health. 



On the 12th, in latitude 25° N., longitude 160° W., we found the 

 current setting north-northeast. By the 16th, the temperature fell to 

 64°, which we felt as exceedingly cold. 



In proceeding to the north, I was desirous to pass over a portion of 

 the sea that had not been examined by preceding navigators, particu- 

 larly as it is confidently believed by many persons in the Hawaiian 

 Islands, that land existed in the neighbourhood where we now were. 

 I was, therefore, anxious to make search for it in such places as had 

 not been explored by others, and I had procured a chart, showing the 

 tracks of Portlock and others. This search was made as closely as 

 time and opportunity permitted, but ineffectually. I am, however, far 

 from satisfied that land may not exist in this quarter, for we in fact did 

 little in the way of exploration, in consequence of the foggy and hazy 

 weather which limited our view. 



The part of the Northern Pacific which lies between the latitudes 

 of 33° and 43° N., and longitudes of 140° and 150° W., is particularly 

 subject to fogs and thick weather, and there are few places where 

 indications of land are stronger : thus, numerous birds were seen, of 

 species found only in the vicinity of land. I therefore feel satisfied 

 that although we failed from want of sufficient time for a thorough 

 search, land will be found at some future day within the space just 

 defined. 



On the 19th of April we had a sudden change of the wind from the 

 southward to the northwest, accompanied with a heavy head sea. 

 The temperature fell ten degrees within half an hour : the barometer 

 stood at 30-20 in. On the 20th, a hawk was taken, while regaling 

 himself upon a small land-bird. Many flocks of small birds were 

 seen, as well as frigate-birds and quantities of villula, which gave 

 the ocean the appearance of being covered with cinders. They were 



