SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 257 



The wind on the 7th, when we had reached the latitude of 27° N., 

 began to incline to the northeast, and the temperature became mild. 



In the latitude of 26° N., we entered the trades, being then in the 

 longitude of 134° W. The weather peculiar to the region of the 

 trades was now experienced, with light squalls of rain and a heavy sea 

 following us, which caused the ship to be very uneasy. 



On the nights of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, the usual look-outs 

 for the periodic showers of meteors were stationed ; but the weather 

 was not favourable, and the number counted was not above that 

 usually seen on fine nights. On the latter day, I shaped our course 

 to run over one of the positions of Copper's Island, supposed to exist 

 in longitude 151° 36' W., and latitude 25° 48' N. On the afternoon 

 of the 14th, we were within five miles of its assigned place, and the 

 weather was perfectly fine, with a clear horizon, but there was no 

 appearance of land. 



On the morning of the 16th, we made the island of Maui, and at 

 noon we were off its western end. I then determined to run through 

 the Pailolo Channel, between Maui and Molokai. On approaching 

 the island of Maui on its north side, there is some liability to mistake 

 the isthmus for the opening of the channel, as that part of the island 

 called West Maui is frequently enveloped in clouds. 



The trade-wind, as we passed through, blew very strong. The 

 scenery is very bold, the two islands of Maui and Lanai lying on the 

 left, with that of Molokai on the right : they are all high and volcanic, 

 and during a strong trade-wind are capped with clouds and constantly 

 undergoing changes from the shadows thrown upon them ; these, with 

 the town and shipping lying off Lahaina, form a pleasing picture. The 

 day being far spent, I hove the ship to for the night under the west 

 end of Molokai. The current experienced during our passage was 

 found to prevail to the southward, until we reached the trades, when it 

 inclined somewhat to the southward and westward. 



The 17th, at daylight, we made the island of Oahu, and at 10 a. m. 

 anchored off the town of Honolulu. The Porpoise came in at 2 p. m., 

 and the Flying-Fish at five o'clock of the same day. The following 

 day the trade-wind was too strong to admit of the Vincennes entering 

 the inner harbour; but the Porpoise and tender were enabled to do so. 

 The Oregon joined us in the afternoon, and on the next day at an 

 early hour the squadron was again moored in the harbour of Honolulu. 



Our reception was even kinder than before; and every facility that 

 we could desire was offered for advancing our duties and procuring 

 the necessary stores and clothing that our shipwrecked officers and 

 men required. 



vol. v. W 2 33 



