SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 2G7 



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° 51' 

 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 



