The tides at the Sandwich Islands are so inconsiderable, that, with the great surf which broke against the shore, it was hardly possible to tell, at any time, whether we had high or low water, or whether it ebbed or flowed.  On the south side of Atooi, we generally found a current setting to the westward, or north-westward.  But when we were at anchor off Oneeheow, the current set nearly north-west and south-east, six hours one way and six the other, and so strong as to make the ships tend, though the wind blew fresh.  This was certainly a regular tide; and, as far as I could judge, the flood came from the north-west.

I now return to the progress of our voyage.  On the 7th, being in the latitude of 29 deg.  N. and in the longitude of 200 deg.  E. the wind veered to S.E.  This enabled us to steer N.E. and E.; which course we continued, till the 12th, when the wind had veered round by the S. and W. to N.E. and E.N.E.  I then tacked and stood to the northward, our latitude being 30 deg.  N. and our longitude 206 deg. 15’ E. Notwithstanding our advanced latitude, and its being the winter season, we had only begun, for a few days past, to feel a sensation of cold in the mornings and evenings.  This is a sign of the equal and lasting influence of the sun’s heat, at all seasons, to 30 deg. on each side the line.  The disproportion is known to become very great after that.  This must be attributed almost entirely to the direction of the rays of the sun, independent of the bare distance, which is by no means equal to the effect.

On the 19th, being now in the latitude of 37 deg.  N. and in the longitude of 206 deg.  E. the wind veered to S.E.; and I was enabled again to steer to the E. inclining to the N. We had, on the 25th, reached the latitude of 42 deg. 30’, and the longitude of 219 deg.; and then we began to meet with the rock-weed, mentioned by the writer of Lord Anson’s voyage, under the name of sea-leek, which the Manilla ships generally fall in with.  Now and then a piece of wood also appeared.  But if we had not known that the continent of North America was not far distant, we might, from the few signs of the vicinity of land hitherto met with, have concluded, that there was none within some thousand leagues of us.  We had hardly seen a bird, or any other oceanic animal, since we left Sandwich Islands.

On the 1st of March, our latitude being now 44 deg. 49’ N., and our longitude 228 deg.  E. we had one calm day.  This was succeeded by a wind from the N. with which I stood to the E. close hauled, in order to make the land.  According to the charts, it ought not to have been far from us.  It was remarkable, that we should still carry with us such moderate and mild weather so far to the northward, and so near the coast of an extensive continent, at this time of the year.  The present season either must be uncommon for its mildness, or we can assign no reason why Sir Francis Drake should have met with such severe cold, about this latitude, in the month