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Transcription
February 1854
Pacific Ocean
27th.
N. Lat. 7°41' E. Lon 155°13'
The wind Northeast, ship going seven knots.
In the morning we rounded the South-
en extremity of the reef, and coasted
along its western side for nine twenty
miles. At its northern extremity a
small low island, perhaps one-fourth
of a mile in diameter and twenty
feet high, is situated, the reef exten-
ding off broadly all around it. This
is Bordelaise, which has been placed
somew on the chart and is now for
the first time properly surveyed. As
the day wore on heavy rain clouds
came up to windward and we kept
off to our course. At night we
hove to as usual.
28th.
N. Lat 9°18' E. Lon 153°15'
The wind Northeast, ship going eight knots.
Today we passed over the reputed po-
sitions of Dunkin's Reef. At night hove
to.
The charts of these seas are
so very imperfect that it is impossible
to run at night with any safety. The
most accurate account of the po-
sitions of the different Islands and
March 1854
Pacific Ocean
97
reefs in the Caroline Archipelago is given
in a small work by Mr Cheyne.
March 1st N. Lat 11°8' E. Lon 149°52' Wind N.E. No. 9m.
Passed Today a school of porpoises.
2nd.
N. Lat 12°32' E. Lon 146°39' Wind NE. As 7 kn.
At night hove to
3rd.
N. Lat 13°26' (at noon) At sunrise the
island "Guam" (one of the Ladrones, was seen
to the westward, extending to a considerable
lengths from North to South. It was covered with
steep but not very mountainous, gently terminating
in sharp apices. We passed to the southward
of it, among some low coral islands with
lagoons, and then beat up along its western
shore, the wind being ahead. A native of the
island came off to us, offering to pilot us
up to D'Après Harbor, but his services were
refused. At times we were near enough to
give the land a pretty close examination.
The hills had mostly a barren appear-
ance, being of a reddish color; but the
vegetation among the rocks along the sea-
shore was luxuriant and looked beautifully.
Our anticipations were highly excited, but
were again doomed to disappointment. We
arrived off the Harbor just at Sundown