82 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



countered, they are induced to believe that it will prove constant, 

 when nine times in ten they will be deceived. 



FROM THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND STRAITS OF FUCA, 

 OREGON. 



Between the 6th of April and the 1st of May, 1841. 



The remarks which follow are applicable to any part of the North- 

 west Coast, so far as general directions for sailing towards that coast 

 are concerned. The passages made by the Vincennes and Peacock, 

 the one in April, the other in July, show the winds during those 

 seasons on the above route, and the time when it is most favorable 

 to visit that coast. That different winds as well as currents are met 

 with, is clearly shown by the tracks of the two ships on the General 

 Chart of the Pacific. 



The Vincennes left Oahu on the 6th of April, and passed between 

 Oahu and Kauai. For the first 8 days the wind was from north- 

 by-east, the weather being disagreeable and cloudy. On the 14th, 

 we had reached the latitude of 26° 30' north, longitude 160° west, 

 and had passed through the zone of calms (then about 300 miles from 

 our port of departure), when the wind hauled to the southeast; with 

 but a few hours' exception, the Vincennes carried the southeast 

 wind to the coast : it was quite strong, attended with much haze and 

 fog. In latitude 28° 30' north, we had the report of land ; but it 

 proved a false alarm. Many navigators have looked for land in the 

 space comprised within the latitudes of 33° and 43° north, and longi- 

 tudes 140° and 150° west, as yet unsuccessfully : all have been satis- 

 fied that the appearances of land are frequent and not to be mistaken, 

 landbirds in particular being numerous. This part of the ocean, from 

 the low temperature of the water and the warm air blowing over it, 

 is nearly always enveloped in fog and haze, rendering its examina- 

 tion exceedingly difficult; consequently rocks or even small islands 

 may exist which have not yet been discovered. 



In passing over this space, I endeavored to take such a course 

 as would lead clear of the tracks of navigators who had preceded 

 us. This part of the North Pacific should be examined in the winter 

 season, when it is probable these fogs do not exist to the extent they 

 are found the rest of the year. 



