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Transcription
March 1854
Western Pacific Ocean
13th N. Lat 20° 13' E. Lon. 121° 52' Wind S. No 6tn
Weather fine. Temperature about 83° F.
Today we ran through the Baskoe Passage
into the Chinese Sea. The Islands on
both sides were seen. A few small alba-
tines (Diomedea fuliginosa) flying astern.
14th N. Lat 21° 43' E. Lon. 119° 42' Wind NE No 6.
Cloudy, Temp. 77° F. Early in the Mor-
nings Formosa was seen to the N? We
are getting into the cold damp atmo-
spheres which herald our approach to
the shores of the great continent of
Asia.
15th N. Lat 21° 40' E. Lon. 116° 20' Wind N.E. No 8 km
Cold, misty and hurred. Temp. 75° F. For
the first time we caught sight of a
few "Chinese junks",—at a distance four-
eve. A pretty yellow land-bird (Sparrow?)
lit on board but was not taken. At
night being not far from the Chinese
Coast we have to.
16th N. Lat 21° 45' E. Lon. 114° 05' Wind N.E. No 8km
Cloudy, Temp. 60° F. We passed a
large number of Fishing junks, in pairs
dragging immense trawls which can only
be done with a strong breeze. The first
March 1854
Western Pacific Ocean
sight of a specimen of the clumsy marine ar-
chitecture which prevails in the East was ex-
citing indeed. The Coast of China soon
came in sight. It looked highly elevated,
dark and forbidding, and mostly barren. The
water became of a yellow color from its
proximity to the mouth of the River of Canton.
We passed to the Southward of all the islands,
took a pilot and commenced beating up the
bay to Macao against a strong wind. At
Midnight, finding we could not make head-
way against the tide, the ship was
brought to anchor. On this occasion, the
Commodore himself took the trumpet.
17th Weather pleasant. Temp. 58° F.
We got underweigh at 8 o'clock. It took
us the whole day and half the succeeding
night to beat up to Macao Roads, where
we anchored at midnight.
18th At Macao. Weather sultry Temp. 63°
We were three miles from the city and
communications with the shore was had in
"Fast boats" Our Comrade "Fat Jack"
supplied us with fresh provisions, in
which we luxuriated after so long
living on monotonous or indifferent food