PASSAGES. 



87 



FROM THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS TO MANILLA AND SINGAPORE. 



Between the 1st of December, 1841, and the 14th of January, 1842. 



This route is much frequented in all seasons. In the months of 

 December and January, the passage from the Hawaiian Islands to the 

 entrance of the China Sea took us 41 days. As part of this time, 

 however, was occupied in searching for islands and reefs, and as we 

 were obliged to deviate from the direct course for that purpose, it is 

 not a good criterion of the usual time, for I was not intent upon 

 merely making a quick passage ; many delays occurring from the 

 necessity of shortening sail and lying to during the nights, in order to 

 avoid passing over parts of the ocean without examination ; we also 

 approached several degrees nearer the equator in our course, where 

 the winds were neither so steady nor so fresh. 



I would recommend vessels bound to the west to keep on the 

 parallel of about 18° north latitude, where the trades will be found 

 stronger and more constant. This was satisfactorily proved when 

 we hauled up to regain a higher latitude, in our search for Wake's 

 Island ; which we found in latitude 19° 15' north, and longitude 

 166° 30' east. Another reason that may be assigned for keeping on 

 this parallel is, the influence of the westerly current, which is about 

 half a mile per hour. I would not advise making Wake's Island on this 

 passage : it is low and at night dangerous. Its latitude being now 

 well established, there is no difficulty in passing it safely. Wake's 

 Reef, also, is in this range ; its position is said to be in longitude 173° 

 45' east, and in latitude 17° 54' north. I am very much inclined to 

 the belief that they are one and the same, as it is probable, from the 

 exploration we gave the island, that it is at times submerged, having 

 then the appearance of a reef rather than that of an island. 



After the extensive searches we made on this route towards the 

 Marianne Islands, I feel confident there are no dangers which lie in 

 the track of vessels. The positions assigned several islands we found 

 to be erroneous, and passed directly over the place occupied on the 

 charts by Halcyon and Folger's Islands, and saw nothing whatever of 

 them. 



From the Hawaiian Islands to the Mariannes we experienced a 

 current setting north 68° west, 300 miles, which gives an average for 



