_Thursday, January 18th_.--Between breakfast and lunch we sailed over
the spot where Tarquin Island is marked on the chart, and, between
lunch and dinner, over a nameless reef, also marked on the chart. A
good look-out had been kept at the masthead and in the bows, but not a
trace could be seen of either of these objects in any direction. The
weather kept clear and bright, and the sea was much calmer.
During the last five days we have covered 1,221 sea miles.
_Monday, January 22nd_.--At daylight Asuncion Island was still
visible. It is of volcanic origin, and is in the form of a perfect
sugar-loaf, 2,600 feet high, rising out of the sea, exactly as I had
expected the Peak of Teneriffe to appear. I should like to have landed
on the islands Agrigan or Tinian, so as to see the interesting remains
left by the ancient inhabitants. Some people say that they resemble
Aztec remains; others, that they are like those of the more modern
Peruvians. All authorities, however, seem to agree that they are like
those on Easter Island, the south-east extremity of Polynesia, this
being the north-west.
[Illustration: Amateur Navigation]
We were close-hauled all day; the wind was strong, and the sea rough
and disagreeable.
_Tuesday, January 23rd_.--Still close-hauled, and still a heavy swell.
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