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CURRENTS. 



except the currents, which generally set to the 

 northward, and increase in strength near the 

 islands. On getting amongst them the greatest 

 care is necessary, to avoid being carried to leeward 

 of the anchorage where it is proposed to stop. In 

 the Conway we were drifted to leeward of James's 

 Island, and could never afterwards regain it. We 

 lay upwards of a week at Abingdon Island, the 

 most northern of the large ones, in a bay at the 

 south end, where we were disagreeably exposed to 

 the S. S. E. winds. 



It appeared as if the bad season was about to set 

 in, for several nights we had rain and squalls. 



It is to be regretted, that the true geographical 

 position of these islands is still uncertain, and the 

 hydrographical knowledge respecting them so ex- 

 ceedingly scanty. Several of the islands have, it is 

 said, some safe ports, but these are little known, 

 and their resources still less so. We know that an 

 ample supply of terrapins, or land tortoises, may 

 be procured at some of the islands, and water is 

 probably to be found at most of them, if diligent 

 search were made. They offer at all seasons a most 

 valuable asylum to the South Sea Whalers. 



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