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92
February 1854
Pacific Ocean
We passed a log, floating on the water
which at a distance appeared to have short
truncated limbs projecting upwards along its
sides like the teeth of a comb. The ship
was kept off for it and when close along
side the projections were seen to be
a number of boobies (Pelicanus Sula)
which sat and looked at us without
disturbance at all, by our proximity.
It. In the afternoon it fell calm,
and soundings for temperatures were too
low with the following results.
Temperature of the air . . . . . . . . . 86° F
" " " water at surface .. 86 "
" " " " " " 100fms..78"
" " " " " " 500 " 48"
15th S. Lat. 2° 17' E. Lon. 165° 39'
In the afternoon we got the first feeble
Zephyr of the N.E. Trades, which helped
us on to the N'd and W'd at the rate
of two or three knots.
16th S. Lat. 2° 30' E. Lon. 165° 04' The
wind North East: Ship going 5 Knots.
17th S. Lat 0° 55' E. Lon 163° 35' Wind N.E. Av. 2kn.
18th N. Lat 0° 23' E. Lon 162° 41' Wind N.E. Av. 4km.
At 5 o'clock in the morning we crossed
93
February 1854
Pacific Ocean
the line in lon. 163° E.
19th Sunday N. Lat 2° 05' E. Lon 161° 38'
Wind S.E. Averaging 3 knots. In the even-
ing a slight interruption of the Trades, calms
and a few westerly puffs.
20th N. Lat 2° 35' E.Lon. 161°30' The wind turns
round by N to N.E. again. Log averaging 4 kn.
21st N. Lat. 3° 34' E. Lon 160° 09' Wind N.E. Av. 2kn.
22nd N. Lat. 5° 10' E. Lon 159° 55' Wind NE. Av. 5kn.
23rd N. Lat. 6° 18' E. Lon. 159° 07' Wind NE. Av.4kn.
We passed today over the position of Mus-
graves Is. and at 3 o'clock P.M. descried in
the distance to the Northward the Island
of Bornabi or Ascension. At night
we lay to.
24th N. Lat 6° 41' E. Lon 158° 30' Wind N.E. Av.7kn.
In the morning we found ourselves close
off the South Side of the verdant island
of Bornabi, which appears covered with
vegetation in all the luxuriance of
the tropics. Its aspect is tempting in-
deed, and as we sailed along the
coral reefs, we members of the Sci-
entific Corps, viewing it from the tops
did most heartily lament our hard fate
in not being allowed to land for the