CHAPTER III.
Our course was now directed for the Sandwich Islands, where we were almost certain of completing our supplies. Baffling winds, with a heavy S.W. swell, prevented our clearing Cape San Lucas until the 14th, when we began to make pretty fair runs.
Sunday, June 19th, having reached the range of Socorro and Clarion Groups, several of which are doubtful, I despatched the Starling to seek for Fresh water and Clouds Islands, and rejoin us off Clarion.
My attention was directed to Clarion, Nublada, and Best Islands. The weather unfortunately was very unpropitious, preventing our obtaining astronomical observations.
Birds, principally gannet, together with broad patches of weed at times, plentiful.
On the 20th we found we had been drifted much to the southward of our reckoning; hauled up for Best's Island, and passed over its assumed position, at which time we could easily have discovered a breaker five, and land ten miles off. About six we made the east end of Clarion Island, distant about fifteen miles;
