PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
195 
position to the trade wind the currents were very variable, sometimes CHAP, 
setting to the eastward, and at others in the opposite direction ; and 
on the whole, the body of water at that period is not drifted to the 
westv^ard with the same rapidity that it is in other parts of the ocean 
within the influence of the tropical winds. The mean temperature 
for the above-mentioned period, the weight and humidity of the atmo- 
sphere, with other meteorological observations, are given in the Appen- 
dix under their respective heads. 
For the information of persons who may traverse this archipelago, 
it is evident from the account of T uwarri, that there is a small island 
situated about half way between Byam Martin and Barrow Islands, 
which was not seen by us ; and hence it is possible that there are other 
low islands lying between the tracks of the Blossom which were not seen; 
and ships ought in consequence to keep a vigilant look-out during the 
night, or adopt the precaution of lying to when the w'eather is dark or 
thick. The lead is no guide w hatever in these seas, and the islands are so 
low that in the night the white line of the surf or the roar of the breakers 
Would give the first w^arning. F allacious as the appearance of birds is 
generally considered, and in some parts of the globe justly so, in this 
archipelago, when seen in flocks, it is an almost certain indication of 
land. They range about forty miles from the islands, and consist prin- 
cipally of black and white tern. This, how^ever, applies particularly to 
Uninhabited islands ; for when they become peopled, the birds generally 
quit them, and resort to those w^here they are less molested. 
At day- light on the 15th the island of Maitea was seen in the 
Uorth west, and soon afterwards the mountains of Otaheite appeared 
five minutes above the horizon at the distance of ninety miles, from 
which its height may be roughly estimated at 7000 feet. As we passed 
Maitea we had an opportunity of verifying its position and ascertaining 
its height to be 1432 feet. Baffling winds prevented us from reaching 
our port until the evening of the 1 8th, when, at the suggestion of Cap- 
tain Charlton, his majesty’s consul for the Society and Sandwich Islands, 
from whom we had the pleasure of receiving a visit, we anchored in the 
outer harbour of Toanoa, about four miles to the westward of Matavai 
Bay. 
c c 2 
