66 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



the wharf in longitude 77° 16' 45" west, and latitude 12° 4' 46" 

 south. 



Callao Bay is at all times smooth. The sea-breeze sets in usually 

 about noon and continues until towards sunset. The nights are for the 

 most part calm and pleasant, although frequently the almozo or dew is 

 heavy. With the exception of not being able to land the stores of a 

 vessel conveniently, it is one of the best ports of the Pacific to effect 

 repairs in. Water is here obtained from pipes at the mole with ease, 

 and is good ; wood is scarce, and consequently dear. The markets 

 are well supplied with provisions, and tropical fruits are abundant, 

 when there are no intestine wars to disturb the country. 



FROM CALLAO TO TAHITI, THROUGH THE PAUMOTU GROUP. 



Between the 19th of July and the 10th of September, 1839. 



The time employed in making this passage was 53 days — this in- 

 cludes that spent among the islands of the Paumotu or Dangerous 

 Archipelago, amounting to some 25 days. Our route lay between the 

 parallels of 12° and 18° 30' south latitude. Within these parallels I 

 hoped to have been favored with a strong trade wind ; but the winds 

 at this season of the year (July), on the parallel of 18°, cannot well 

 be so termed, although generally prevailing from the eastward. The 

 effect of the southwest monsoon is evident from the interruptions, and 

 by the long swell from that quarter. The sky was unattended with 

 the usual light clouds that are met with in the trade winds : instead 

 of this, we had the scud flying at times rapidly from the southwest. 

 I would therefore advise that vessels, when bound for the Society 

 Islands from the coast of South America, should keep to the north- 

 ward of latitude 15° south, or even as far as 12° south, in order to 

 insure good weather and steady breezes ; and when approaching the 

 longitude of the Paumotu Group, to steer for the Disappointment Is- 

 lands, and after sighting them, thence on a southwest-by-west course 

 for Raraka, passing between it and Katin or Saken Island, and after- 

 wards between Fakarawa and Faaite to Tahiti. This route is the 

 most practicable as well as the least dangerous, and will materially 

 shorten the passage by preserving a favorable wind through the 

 whole distance, and can be navigated during the night as well as the 

 day. 



