southeast monsoons prevail at the different seasons. The southeast monsoon commences in the month of April, and continues till November, when it changes to the northwest. But between the monsoons, the winds and currents are light and variable.

Throughout the whole extent of the Eastern Isles, as far as Timor and Solor, the northwest monsoon brings foul weather, accompanied with violent wind and rain. The stormy weather continues all January, and until the middle of February; but entirely ceases about the end of March. In April, the variable winds render the weather mild. In May, the southeast wind becomes settled, and blows steadily during the months of June and July; and the weather continues fine until the end of September. In the month of October, the southeast monsoon dies away, and the wind again becomes variable until the northwest again sets in. Now, if we refer to the map, we shall find New-Holland, an immense tract of land to the southeast of the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas, situated partly within and partly without the tropics. When, therefore, the sun is nearest his highest declination north, which of course is the winter of the southern hemisphere, and rarefies the air over the continent of Asia, the current of air in the southern hemisphere, independently of the tradewind, will move from the southeast, to restore the equilibrium to the northwest. On the contrary, in the months of November, December, and January, while the sun is nearly vertical over a part of New-Holland, the current of air through the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas will come from the northwest, to fill up the vacuum made by the rarefaction, and thus cause an alternate monsoon of southeast and northwest.*

It should be borne in mind by navigators in the eastern seas, that in the Gulf of Siam, on the coast of Cambodia, of Cochin China, and in the Gulf of Tonquin and China, the southwest monsoon commences on the coast in the month of April; but out at sea in those parts, it does not change until a month later. It is for this reason, that on the north part of Borneo to the Islands of Paragoa and Luconia, it is seldom known to blow constantly before from the fifteenth to the twentieth of May. As the southwest monsoon continues only about six months, and commences

Clapper on the Monsoons.

near the coast, it there ceases first in like manner, and is succeeded by the northeast.

Thus, it is evident, that the northeast and southwest monsoons reign constantly to the north of the line, to the eastward as well as in the Gulf of Bengal and Sinde; while the northwest and southeast monsoons to the east are confined to the south of the line, within the reach of the influence of New-Holland.

In the present improved state of navigation, when not only the mariners are more skilful, but vessels better constructed and found than formerly; furnished with chronometers, and other well-constructed instruments, the merchant may undertake his voyage to India at almost any season of the year. But if he consider the expense incurred by delay, and the wear and tear of his ship, and wishes to avoid all the difficulties, inconveniences, and dangers of contrary winds, let him keep in mind, that by sailing from the United States in the spring, and with good management, a voyage may be made in twelve weeks; and that by embarking either much later or earlier, he may not arrive in less than four or five months!

By skilful navigators, a return voyage from India, in well-found ships, may be undertaken, in like manner, at nearly any season of the year; but the most favourable time is from the beginning of October to the first of March.

At the commencement of the northeast monsoon, favoured by both winds and currents, vessels will soon get clear of the Gulf of Sinde or the Gulf of Bengal, very probably cross the line with a fresh breeze, and not be detained by calms, between the monsoons and the southeast trade. December will be a good month to double the Cape of Good Hope; and prevailing winds will be from the southeast, the fairest that can blow. To the west of the Cape, the wind will generally be light, but fair; and in a few days, a vessel may gain the regular trade; and crossing the equator in the latter part of January, the sun still far to the southward, the vessel is not likely to be detained by calms, provided she keeps about eighteen or twenty degrees west longitude from Greenwich.

Such are the remarkable effects of some of those aerial currents which distinguish the different hemispheres of our globe. Who can contemplate the subject without giving utterance to

sentiments of wonder and veneration? What mighty agencies are the winds-"the many-voiced and viewless winds!" What powerful and universal agents they are on the surface of this revolving sphere! How they roam in the woods, compelling the giants of the forest to tremble with fear, and humbly bow to their influence! How mightily they rush down the hill-sides, and sweep over the plains, singing their wild and solemn notes of triumph as they pass! How they career over the wide waters, exciting them to tumult, and driving on the waves till they fall thundering, but exhausted, on the shore!

"Nothing," says a modern writer, "can illustrate so livingly our idea of a spirit, as a mighty wind, present in its amazing power and sublimity, yet seen only in its effects." It may be added, that the illustration holds good in case of a gentle as well as a mighty wind. What is more like the ministry of a gracious and soothing spirit, than the soft breathings of a gentle wind, bringing coolness to the fevered brow, and peace to the panting heart! May it not be said that the winds, in their dif ferent manifestations, suggest no faint or unworthy idea of the majesty and the mercy of the one Supreme Spirit?

How indispensable to the salubrity of our earthly dwellingplace, are the ever-moving and changing winds. They may be called the exercise of our atmosphere, by which it preserves its healthful principles, and shakes off the terrible evils of stagnation. The heat and cold of the several zones of the earth are efficiently tempered by means of the winds, which convey grateful coolness to heated climes, and no less grateful warmth to frozen ones. And how could those floating cisterns, the clouds, be borne from land to land, to replenish the fountains, and refresh and fertilize the grounds, were they not propelled and guided by the winds? "He maketh the winds his messengers."

Where would be the commerce between distant countries, without the winds? Inconstant as they are said to be, yet how much of the business of the world depends upon their constancy! What is the mariner without the winds? And his goodly ship, what is it? It seems, indeed, to be "a thing of life," as it dashes aside the foam, and rides over the billows. But a calm soon convinces us that it is not; and as it rolls heavily and uneasily on the waters, we cannot but feel how helpless and useless

a machine it is, without the winds. And the same power which propels the noble frigate, or with equal ease a nation's fleet, disdains not to waft the fisherman's boat to the scene of his patient toil, and back to his humble dwelling; and refuses not its aid to the savage, as he plies his light canoe among the ever-green islands of the tropic seas!

Thus widely connected with human business and interests, how deeply are the winds united with human affections and sympathies! How sinks the heart of maid or wife as the wind sets. in, which is to bear brother, lover, or husband, farther, and still farther from her presence; and how beats the same true heart while the wind is blowing which is bearing brother, lover, or husband, nearer, and still nearer, to the fond hearts that sigh for his return! The tender, affectionate, and anxious wife, whose husband is tossed on the far-distant billow, how swells and throbs her fond and gentle heart, when the hoarse singing of the midnight blast salutes her ear! Oh, bless and protect him, gracious Heaven, and in thine own good time restore him! The virtuous affection which glows in her bosom, is but an emanation from Thee, the fountain of light and love.

Every breeze that passes over the land is commissioned with a thousand kind and tender wishes to the sea; and every loud blast is burdened with anxious fears and earnest prayers. The storm that rises at night awakes many a parent to think, till the day dawns, of the son who is perhaps exposed to its fury, and to commend his keeping to One "whom the winds and seas obey." Are there not friends, in our own loved homes, thus thinking of us? Blessings on their heads! And may every zephyr that breathes, and every wind that blows, bear to them only health, good tidings, and peace!

Winged onward by the same great moving agent of which we have been speaking, the Potomac, after having passed through the Bashee Straits and gained the northeast trade, as before mentioned, shaped her course across the vast Pacific. Nothing of interest or importance occurred during a rather unpleasant passage of fifty days, when she approached the Sandwich Islands, on the evening of the twenty-third July. "Land on the weather-bow," shouted a hoarse voice from the mast-head. It was the Island of Oahu.

CHAPTER XXII.

The Sandwich Islands, their number and location-The Island of Oahu-Indolence of the natives-Presentment at Court-Town of Honoruru, markets, houses, furniture, food, &c. of the natives-Hospitable reception and entertainment-A Luau, or barbecue-Arrival of the young king-Dinner on board the frigateHonours paid him-His attention to the Americans-Indian war-dance-A royal banquet-Battle-ground of Tamehameha-A supper at the palace-Dramatic performances-The commodore's official interview with the king-Taking leaveSailing of the frigate-Reflections on her visit-Missionaries and foreign residents.

THAT celebrated group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, which Cooke named in honour of his patron, the Earl of Sandwich, comprises ten in number, which are situated just south of the tropic of Cancer, in longitude from 154° 50' to 160° 24' east. These islands are about five thousand miles east of Canton, in China; and about two thousand eight hundred miles west of the American coast.

The four principal islands of the group are called Hawaii, Mowee, Oahu, and Tauai; which were once governed by separate and independent kings; but the whole are now under one monarch, a young prince called Kauikeaouli, who is grandson of the celebrated Tamehameha, whose wisdom and prowess first subdued and united them under one government. The young king is not yet of age; but acts under the advice and direction of his aunt, the queen regent, daughter of the great conqueror just mentioned. An amicable visit to this court (which is located at the Island of Oahu) for the purpose of improving our commercial relations, was comprised in the instructions of our government to Commodore Downes, when he sailed in the frigate Potomac, on her present voyage around the world.

The first sight of the Island of Oahu, which she made on the morning of the twenty-third of July, was far from interesting. In the evening previous, Diamond Hill was seen at the northeastern extremity of the roads, in which it was intended to anchor. At sundown, the wind hauled, and compelled the frigate to stand