2S0 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, water at him, but the activity of the Tii evaded the blow, and the spear 
passed through the mountain, and left the hole which we saw. The 
i 82 g’ peak is 4,041 feet. 
On the 27th, we were within six miles of the situation in which 
Arrowsmith has placed Eoggewein’s high Island of Eecreation ; but 
nothing was in sight from the mast-head. In all probability this island, 
which answers so well in its description, excepting as to its size, is the 
Maitea of Mr. Turnbull, situated nearly in the same latitude. 
From this time we endeavoured to get to the eastward, and to cross 
the equator in about 150° W. longitude, so that when we met the N. E. 
trade-wind, we might be well to windward. There is, otherwise, some 
difficulty in rounding Owyhee, which should be done about forty miles 
to the eastward to ensure the breeze. The passage between the Society 
and Sandwich groupes differs from a navigation between the same 
parallels in the Atlantic, in the former being exempt from long calms 
which sometimes prevail about the equator, and in the S. E. trade being 
more easterly. The westerly current is much the same in both ; and 
if not attended to in the Pacific, will carry a ship so far to leeward, 
that by the time she reaches the parallel of the Sandwich Islands, she 
will be a long way to the westward, and have much difficulty in beating 
up to them. 
Soon after leaving Otaheite, the officers and ship’s company generally 
were afflicted with dysentery, which, at one time, assumed an alarming 
May. appearance. On the 3d of May, we had the misfortune to lose Mr- 
Crawley, one of the midshipmen, a young gentleman of very good 
abilities, and much regretted by all who knew him ; and on the 6th, 
William Must, my steward, sunk under the same complaint : on the 
7th, great apprehensions were entertained for Mr. Lay, the naturalist ; 
but fortunately his complaint took a favourable turn, and he ultimately 
recovered. The disease, however, continued among us some time, 
threatening occasionally different portions of the ship’s company. 
As we approached the Sandwich Islands, our view was anxiously 
directed to the quarter in which Owyhee^ was situated, in the hope of 
* More recently written Hawaii. 
