1786. fame authority which we had already found to be erroneous,
November. refpeQ-Jng l os ]V[aj 0S) and Roco Partida.
On the 5th of November, at noon, we were in 24'deg. 32 min.
North latitude ; and the wind blowing from the Eaftward for fome
days paft, gave us fome hopes of a Ready trade ; but in this we
were difappointed, for in the afternoon the wind hauled to the
Southward, and we had a very material alteration in the weather,
which was continually fqually, with rain. This time of the year
feems to be the ftormy feafon near the Sandwich Iflands; for
though we had often ftrong gales of wind, yet they were never
Ready or laRing, but came on us fuddenly, attended v/ith impetuous
torrents of rain.
The weather on the 8th and 9th, was extremely fultry, with
lightning almofl in every dire&ion, particularly in the evening of
the 9th. About four o’clock in the morning of the 10th, we had
a violent guR of wind, which laRed about half an hour, attended
with exceeding heavy rain, which greatly contributed to render the
atmofphere cool and pleafant.
The fearcity of birds for many days paR, was rather remarkable;
and more particlarly fo, as the Tropic birds are peculiar to the
latitude we were in : indeed on the 9th, we faw one folitary man of
war bird, and the fame day caught two dolphins, with hook and
line, which were the only fifli we had been able to lay hold of fince
our leaving the Continent. Our latitude at noon was 22 deg. 54
min. North; and the longitude 154 deg. 14 min WeR.
In the forenoon o f the n th , the wind veered to the Northward,
and the weather grew moderate and fine.
On
*7
On the 12th, we caught a fliark, with a fowl, and part of a turtle 1786.
in his belly: this plainly indicated that we were not far from ^°' ‘-mbei;
land; arid indeed we knew that the Ifland of Atoui was under our
lee, our obfervation at noon giving 21 deg. 30 min. North latitude;
and the mean of feveral fets of lunar obfervations, 152 deg.
4 min. WeR longitude. We had a fine North Eaflerly breeze, with
clear weather.
Towards the evening, feveral flocks of fand-pipers were flying
about the fliip. For fome time pafl we had fleered well to the
Southward, having been greatly retarded by Southerly winds ; but
this evening Captain Portlock fpoke us, and directed us to fleer
South South WeR, as it appeared by our obfervations, that we
were well to windward of all the iflands.
On the 13th, at noon, our latitude was 20 deg. 36 min. North ;
and finding ourfelves well to windward of Owhyhee, the ifland we
fir A intended to touch at, we fleered more to the WeRward, with
a moderate Eaflerly breeze, and fine weather.
On the 14th, at noon,-we were in zo deg. 6 min. North latitude;
and the mean of feveral lunar obfervations giving 152 deg. 39
min. WeR longitude: we fleered Weft by South. We had various
fpecies of birds flying about us, as fand-larks, man of war birds,
&c. The dolphin were pretty numerous, and we caught feveral
fharks, one of which had a large turtle entire in his belly. Our
latitude on the 15th was' 20 deg. 7 min. North. For fome days
paft we had fufpefted a ftrong current to fet to the Northward,
between Owhyhee and Mowee; and this circumftanee put the
matter beyond a doubt, as our courfe from the 14th, at noon, to
the 15th, gave a number of miles to the Southward. About five
an the afternoon, we faw high land above the clouds, bearing South
2 South