HA WAIIAN GUIDE BOOK. 



5 



many miles to the westward, is exceedingly picturesque, 

 and will never be forgotten by a stranger. Tbe sudden 

 change of the ocean color is a peculiar feature in this 

 beautiful scene, the land rising so abruptly that the 

 ocean retains its dark blue tint within a mile or less 

 of the shore, and passes most rapidly through all shades 

 of the marine spectrum. Nowhere around the group 

 is a vessel approaching the land in the daytime in any 

 danger until the breakers are plainly visible, when it is 

 time to call a pilot or heave the lead. The depth of wa- 

 ter in the channels between the islands is two miles. 



The Honolulu roadstead, accessible at all times, and 

 safe during most of the year, has good anchorage in 

 from 13 to 18 fathoms. It is always safe except ur a 

 JTona or South Storm, which rarely occurs except dur- 

 ing the winter months, from December to March. The 

 anchorage is designated by a buoy, about half a mile to 

 windward, or south-east, of the entrance to the harbor* 

 This buoy is in latitude 21° 16' 56" , longitude 157° 48' 

 51" , and lies in 13 J fathoms of water. 



The channel, which ought never to be taken, even by 

 a war vessel, without a pilot, is a narrow passage through 

 the coral reef, averaging 550 feet in width, by three- 

 quarters of a mile in length, from the spar-buoy to the 

 light-house. This light may be seen from a steamer's 

 deck eight miles off. There are 22 feet of water on the 

 bar at mid tide, the rise and fall being about thirty 

 inches, twice each day. Sailing vessels are gener- 

 ally towed into the harbor by a government steam-tug, 

 whose charges vary from thirty to seventy-five dollars, 

 according to the tonnage of the vessel. On leaving port, 

 vessels seldom have to wait for a wind, as the trades 

 blow fresh and fair nine months of the year. 



