THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
169 
On the 2d of March at noon, being in the latitude of i 777 . 
42 0 35' 30", longitude 180 0 8 7 Eaft, the wind Ihifted to North , M ^ ch \ 
Weft; afterward to South Weft; and between this point Sunday2. 
and North it continued to blow, fometimes a ftrong gale 
with hard fqualls, and at other times very moderate. With 
this wind we fteered North Eaft by Eaft and Eaft, under 
all the fail we could carry, till the nth at noon, at which Tuefday n. 
time we were in the latitude of 39 0 29', longitude 196° 4/ 
Eaft. 
The wind now veered to North Eaft and South Eaft, and 
I ftood to the North, and to the North Eaft, as the wind 
would admit, till one o’clock in the morning on the 16th, Sunday 16. 
when having a more favourable gale from the North, I 
tacked and ftood to the Eaft; the latitude being 33 0 40', and 
the longitude 198° 50' Eaft. We had light airs and calms 
by turns, till noon the next day, when the wind began to Monday 17. 
frefhen at Eaft South Eaft, and I again ftood to the North 
Eaft. But as the wind often veered to Eaft and Eaft North 
Eaft, we frequently made no better than a northerly courfe; 
nay fometimes to the Weftward of North. But the hopes 
of the wind coming more Southerly, or of meeting with it 
from the Weftward, a little without the Tropic, as I had 
experienced in my former vifits to this ocean, encouraged 
me to continue this courfe. Indeed it was neceftary that I 
fliould run all rifks, as my proceeding to the North this 
year, in profecution of the principal obje6t of the voyage, 
depended entirely on my making a quick paflage to Ota- 
heite, or the Society Illands. 
The wind continued invariably fixed at Eaft South Eaft, 
or feldom fhifting above two points on either fide. It alfo 
blew very faint, fo that it was the 27th before we crofted Thmfday 27, 
the Tropic, and then we were only In the longitude of 
VOL. I. Z 201° 
