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252 setting us strongly to the southward, we were compelled to stand over to the eastern shore, and work up between the Yslas del Rey, or Pearl Islands; and it was not until the 14th, about midnight, that we anchored at Taboga. On the following day we received our despatches from our consul at Panama, and in the evening ran to Panama.

Nothing interfering with my stated intentions, of an earlier period, being contained in these despatches, I found that we must give up all idea of returning to England, and with an increase of energy make up our minds for another examination of the N. W. coast of America and the Californias.

I immediately resolved on proceeding direct to the Sandwich Islands, refitting, and moving north, to save all the available season. As another mail was daily expected, I determined on waiting for any particular instructions, and employing the interval in completing the work of this bay.

On the 26th the mail arrived, but as there were no letters for the Sulphur, we took leave of our Panama friends for the last time, and that night quitted for at least ten more months of suspense — at all events, that period must intervene before we could reach our despatches at San Blas.

The period of the rainy season was now approaching, and many unpleasant colds, and a species of influenza, attacked the greater number of us; added to which a very peculiar and distressing kind of prickly heat was prevalent.