Aug.] CLIPPERTON'S ROCK 219 



were found here in great abundance, and two hawk's-bill turtles were 

 seen. This island presents all the usual indications of volcanic origin. 



On the west side of this island there is a reef which runs off about 

 fifteen miles, while that on the south-east side extends about thirty 

 miles, in the direction of south-south-east. These reefs are formed of 

 coral, and afford good anchorage on the south-west side ; but on the 

 east side the water is bold close to the reef. The island is low, being 

 nearly level with the surface of the sea, and about four miles in circum- 

 ference. Its centre is in lat. 29° 57' north, long. 174° 31' east. 



Convinced by a careful examination that this island afforded neither 

 furs nor other valuable articles, we left it to its solitude, and steered to 

 the north on a wind, intending to get into the westerly variables, and 

 run down to the western coast of America. This was Thursday, the 

 14th of July ; and on the Sunday following, being in lat. 34° 11' north, 

 long. 172° 14' east, we took the wind from north-north-west in a squall, 

 and immediately tacked ship, and stood to the north-east. On Mon- 

 day, the 18th, being in lat. 35° 2' north, long. 174° 22' east, we took 

 a fine breeze from north-west, with fair weather. The winds con- 

 tinued from west to north-north- west until we were in lat. 32° 15' 

 north, long. 129° 30' west. 



From the 19th of July we continued making an east course ; and on 

 Saturday, the 23d, being in lat. 34° 17' north, long. 170° 42' west, we 

 saw about two thousand sperm whale lying feeding : we likewise saw 

 sperm whale on the two following days, in shoals of from fifty to a 

 hundred. On the 27th, being in lat. 34° 11' north, long. 156° 47'* 

 west, we again saw sperm whale, after which we saw nothing worth 

 mentioning until Thursday, the 4th of August, when we once more fell 

 in with a large school of sperm whale in lat. 32° 15' north, long. 129° 

 30' west. We now took the wind from the north, with fair weather, 

 and steered to the south-east for Clipperton's Rock. In lat. 27° 0' 

 north, we took the wind from north-east, which continued until the 17th 

 of August. 



Aug. llth. — We arrived at Clipperton's Rock, and at 4, P. M., came 

 to anchor on the south-south-west side of the island, in eight fathoms 

 of water, sandy bottom, about one-fourth of a mile off-shore. 



This island is situated in lat. 10° 15' north, long. 109° 28' west, and 

 exhibits unequivocal proofs of volcanic origin. It is low all around 

 near the water, but a high rock rises in the centre, which may be seen 

 at the distance of six leagues. It produces a little shrubbery and some 

 coarse grass, among which I think fresh water might be found by dig- 

 ging. The whole island is literally covered with sea-birds, such as 

 gulls, whale-birds, gannets, and the booby. There are also a few small 

 land-birds, which were probably blown from the American coast during 

 the hurricane months. Fur-seal and sea-elephant resort here in 

 small numbers in the proper seasons, and green turtle come hither to 

 deposite their eggs. Among the few vegetable productions of this 

 island we found a plant resembling sarsaparilla, which badly poisoned 

 several of the crew who handled it. 



After taking what few fur-seal could be found about the island, we 



* In this position the inhabitants of Cape-town, on the southern extremity of Africa, were our 

 antipodes, the full diameter of the earth being between us. 



