The average at this season is twenty-one days, consequently this passage is very good. At this season of the year the north-east monsoon has entirely ceased in the centre of the Bay of Bengal; so that a ship which steers well out between the Nicobars and Andamans need not apprehend northerly winds; whereas in the north-eastern parts of the bay, the monsoon still blows faintly, with long intervals of calm. A merchant brig, reputed a good sailer, left Prince of Wales's Island 6 days before us, and followed the inner route, while we went outside, and arrived 10 days before her at Calcutta. * * * * * 12. [Sidenote: Calcutta to Madras, 300 leagues.] Sand Heads off Calcutta to Madras, against the south-west monsoon. From 19th April to the 7th May, 1817 18-1/2 days. Three weeks is said to be a good passage. We beat down as far as the latitude 11º north, and longitude 87º east, before we hauled across. We had fine weather all the way. * * * * * 13. [Sidenote: Madras to Mauritius, 1140 leagues.] From Madras to the Mauritius. 1st June to the 1st July, 1817 30 days. We were driven by the south-west monsoon as far as longitude 92º east, before crossing the equator; here we had a constant high swell. We were much baffled, and did not get the steady south-east trade till in 7º south, and longitude 88º east. The average passage is between five and six weeks at this season of the year. * * * * * 14. [Sidenote: Mauritius to rounding the Cape, 800 leagues.] From Mauritius to making the land of Africa, about Algoa Bay. 8th July to the 22d July, 1817 14 days. Thence to rounding the Cape on the 30th July 8 --- Mauritius till round the Cape, 3 weeks 1 day, or 22 days. The average from the Mauritius to rounding the Cape, is twenty-eight days; on this occasion we kept close in-shore: we had no current, and though in the depth of winter, the weather was invariably fine, and the water smooth. At night a breeze generally blew off shore. There was a heavy dew every night. * * * * * 15. [Sidenote: Cape to St. Helena, 570 leagues.] From off the Cape to St. Helena on the 11th August 12 days. Mauritius to the Cape (see above) 22 days. --- From Mauritius to St. Helena in 4 weeks 6 days, or 34 days. [Sidenote: Mauritius to St. Helena, 1370 leagues.]