mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-004

- 54 -

The South Pacific

The monotony of sailing in the immeasurable expanses of
water of these seas is seldom interrupted by an encounter
with a navigator, so we were especially surprised to see on
the horizon at dawn of the 25th, a three-masted vessel,
which, upon approaching, we recognized as an American whaler.
Not entering with it in close communication, we continued our
course, and approached Norfolk Island the next day. Having
checked the movement of the chronometers with the longitude
of this island, we proceeded farther, having neither the need
nor the time to go ashore on this unpopulated land, grown over
with a thick forest of oak, for which they often come here from
Port Jackson. From here, we had rather favorable winds, and
on March 30, at longitude 173° 57', entered the tropics. But
here the wind left us, and we were forced to struggle with
lack of wind from the east, complete calm, and excessive heat,
which exhausted the whole crew. The thermometer, even at
night, did not go below 27° [Réaumur, almost 93° Fahrenheit].
With the greatest impatience, we awaited the southeast trade
winds, which, assisting in the sailing, cools the air, and
reduces the sufferings of the mariner. But our hopes and
desires did not materialize; the lack of wind and calms continued,
interrupted by squalls from time to time, and accompanied by
severe thunderstorms and pouring rain. No mater how danger-
ous thunderstorms and sudden squalls are at sea, we always