80 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



of Honolulu, Oahu : making the passage in 41 days, including the 

 ten days detention in the explorations of the Phoenix Group. 



The Peacock's course was different. Captain Hudson determined to 

 keep at once to the northward, and crossed the equator in longitude 

 174° 30' west, about 350 miles to the west of where it was cut by the 

 Vincennes. The Peacock passed over the locality of the shoals re- 

 ported by Captain Swain, of Nantucket, as lying near Solitary Isle, 

 of Arrowsmith's charts, but saw nothing of them. She experienced 

 the same kind of baffling and light winds as described by the Vin- 

 cennes, but they were somewhat more to the northward and eastward. 

 The weather was fine, but warm. In latitude 2° south, the Peacock 

 experienced the same heavy swell from the eastward as the Vin- 

 cennes, which occasioned the ship to roll excessively, — -the surface of 

 the ocean being as smooth as a mirror. It was followed by the wind 

 from the west and southwest, and after rain again returned to the 

 eastern quarter, inclining to southeast, though baffling and squally, 

 which continued until they had reached the latitude of 5° north ; the 

 atmosphere being hazy and the weather sultry. Here they encoun- 

 tered the northeast trades, but exceedingly variable in direction, 

 changing from northeast to east, with frequent squalls and rain. Be- 

 tween the latitudes of 6° and 7° north, they made a tack for several 

 days to the southward and eastward, and were favored by the 

 easterly current. The winds were found too baffling and uncertain 

 to make much progress in beating to windward ; besides, the ship was 

 light, and not in a condition to hold a wind ; notwithstanding, it is 

 evident that she made much progress to the east, which could not 

 have been done if a strong easterly current had not prevailed. 



On the parallel of 10° north they had fairly entered the northeast 

 trades, and made the best of their way to the northward, arriving at 

 Oahu on the 1st of October, making the passage in 50 days. Captain 

 Hudson found the northeast trades very strong and squally, much 

 more so than we experienced them. The lightness of his vessel may 

 account for the difference in the passages, but I am almost inclined to 

 believe that there is something in crossing the equator in a more 

 easterly longitude, thereby preserving the southeasterly winds longer, 

 and being less subject to calms. The southeast wind, during the Por- 

 poise's passage from the Samoan Group, while it lasted, enabled her to 

 make considerably more easting, crossing the equator in 165° 30' 

 west ; she also kept a fresh southeast wind to latitude 5° north, 



