Column 1:  Date 1847. 
Column 2:  Number of observations. 
Column 3:  Force of wind number. 
Column 4:  Speed of ship in knots. 
Column 5:  Height of wave in feet. 
Column 6:  Length of wave in fathoms.
Column 7:  Speed of wave in miles. 
Column 8:  Remarks.

April 21 :  — :  5 :  7.2 :  22 :  55 :  27.0 :  Ship before the wind with a heavy following sea.

April 23 :  8 :  5 :  6 :  20 :  43 :  24.5 :  Ship before the wind with a heavy following sea.

April 24 :  6 :  4 :  6 :  20 :  50 :  24 :  Ship before the wind with a heavy following sea.

April 25 :  9 :  4 :  5 :  — :  37 :  22.1 :  Ship before the wind with a heavy following sea.

April 26 :  — :  4 :  6 :  — :  33 :  22.1 :  Ship before the wind with a heavy following sea.

May 2 :  6 :  4 and 5 :  7 :  22 :  57 :  26.2 :  Sea irregular, observations not very good.

May 3 :  7 :  5 :  7 and 8 :  17 :  35 :  22.0 :  Wind and sea on port quarter.

(Footnote.  The height was determined by watching when the crest of the wave was on a level with the observer’s eye (the height above the trough of the sea being known) either while standing on the poop or in the mizzen rigging; this must be reduced to one half to obtain the absolute height of the wave above the mean level of the sea.  The length and velocity were found by noting the time taken by the wave to traverse the measured distance (100 yards) between the ship and the spar towing astern.  In column 3, the number 4 denotes a moderate breeze, and 5 a fresh breeze.)

Oceanic birds were plentiful in our wake, and gradually dropped off as we approached the tropic.  On May 2 the vicinity of land was denoted by the appearance of four tropic birds (Phaeton aethereus) and a tern; and next evening, shortly before sunset, we sighted the Island of Mauritius, the Bamboo Mountain at Grand Port being the first part seen.  We rapidly closed in with the land, and during the night were near enough to see the surf on the coral reefs fringing the shore, it assuming the appearance, in the bright moonshine, of a sandy beach of glittering whiteness.

Captain Stanley remarks, that “The reef on the east side of the island projects further than is laid down on the Admiralty chart, and as from the prevalence of the south-east trade a current is constantly setting to the westward, vessels approaching this part of the island should be very cautious, even with a leading wind, not to get too close in with the land until the passage between Gunner’s and Round Island is well under the lee.  At night, also, the distance from the land, when off the north-east end of the island, is very deceiving, as the plains of Pamplemousses are very low.  The Rattlesnake, in passing at night between the Gunner’s Quoin and Flat Island, experienced a strong set of nearly three miles an hour to the westward, which at times is said to be much stronger, and partakes in some measure of the nature of the tide.”