Page:Voyages in the Northern Pacific - 1896.djvu/59

Rh Karakakooa (Kealakekua) bay for the coast of California, leaving Captain Jennings and five of the crew on shore. Some time after his majesty's ship Cherub, Captain Tucker, touched at Owhyee (Hawaii), under American colours, and the Forester's people, having ventured on board, were detained, while their late captain kept out of the way. The Isaac Todd arrived shortly after, and his voyage to Canton in her led to the arrangement I have just mentioned. I sailed upwards of three years with him on board the Columbia, and found him to be every way a proper person to command a ship in those seas.

Previous to sailing from Wampoa on the 28th of April, we took all the Sandwich Islanders on board; several of whom died shortly after. On the 2nd of May, we weighed from Macao Roads, and made sail for the Columbia River. On the 11th of May, we made the South Bashees; in the afternoon, ran between Grafton and Monmouth Islands: and on the 15th, passed the island of Majecosima, and several smaller islands. At this time, Joseph Ashton, one of the seamen, showed symptoms of insanity, and on the 17th, though he then appeared quite sensible and worked at the sails, he suddenly gave three Indian yells, and leaped from the lee-bow into the sea, where he was drowned. On the 26th, at midnight, we saw Moor's Island; bearing N. by W. 5 miles, latitude 30° 39′ north, longitude 213° 30′ west, on our passage from Canton hither we had the winds variable and much bad weather; passed drift-wood and sea-weed daily: as we approached the N. W.