29th. Light N.N. W. winds and clear weather, rapid tide-rips, a great deal of drift logs, and a floating isle alongside; Tyfore isle just in sight from aloft, bearing N.b. W. W., thirty-four miles; thirty-two miles off it appears quite small, and like low land, the trees heaving up from the horizon; it is highest in the centre, and the hill will be seen from the deck only, while the whole island will be seen from the top-sail yard. Tyfore island bearing N.N.W., twentyfour miles; Meyon island will be just seen half way up the mizen rigging thirty-eight miles off, appearing like low land: lat. noon, 0° 41′ north, long. 126° 15' east.

31st. Passed from the Molucca Passage into Sooloo Sea; passed between the islands of Bejarem and Banca; the channel is ten or twelve miles wide, and clear of danger; had a strong rush of current, setting west, through the islands.

April 2nd. Baffling winds from north to south-west, and squally; noon. island of Siao bore E.b.N. N., forty-eight miles, and Roan E. S., forty-six miles; both islands are high, and can be seen in clear weather twenty or twentythree leagues; we are fifty miles off and can see them, with a cloudy horizon: lat. 2° 29′ north, long. 124° 45' east.

3rd. Noon, Siao Peak in sight, bearing E. S., fifty six miles: lat. 2° 59′ north, long. 124° 35' east; current north-east, thirty-four miles.

5th. Calm, and very warm all day; noon, thermometer 10° 8'; current W.S. W., forty-seven miles; lost fifty miles ground to-day: lat. 49 north, long. 122°

47' east.

6th. Calm part of the day, and light airs from south to west; noon thermometer 1080, intensely hot; current W. S., fifty-five miles: lat. 4° 9′ north, long. 122° 33′ east.

7th. Do.; current W.b.S., fifty-six miles; we have been set in by the current four days W.b.S., 177 miles to leeward; the currents are very strong to W.S.W., between 3° and 4° north: lat. 4° 31′ nörth, long. 122° 31′ east.

13th. Light westerly airs and calms; we have been eight days getting sixty miles ahead; calms and rapid currents against us; noon, the two Peaks of Basilan bore N.W., and N.W.b.W., forty-five miles distant: lat. 6° 11′ north, long. 123° 45' east.

15th. Beating into Basilan Straits; wind S.S.W. to S.W.; 5 P.M. nearly calm; came to with the stream in thirty-six fathoms gravel and shells; veered out ninety fathoms cable; the west end of western Sibago S.b.E; eastern Sibago shut in with low lands of western one, S.S.E. E.; Basilan Peak S.b. W., two miles off shore. Both Sibagos have low land projecting from their hills. Off Manalipa, and also off the Cocos islands are two small round islets, not noticed in the charts; while at anchor tide ran E.N.E., two hours, three knots, then E.S.E. the same rate; 5 A.M. wayed with the tide to W.N.W., and at noon came to anchor at Samboangan, in 17 fathoms, Mud Fort bearing north. This is a good place for ships bound up the Eastern Passage to recruit, good water. Wood, poultry, fruit, yams, potatoes, bullocks, &c., are to be procured here, and at a fair rate; this place is protected by a fort, regularly built, and well mounted with ordnance; there are also seven gun-boats stationed here, to prevent the depredations of the Moors, and to assist vessels in distress, bound through the straits, particularly if they get on shore. There is a Governor and Commandant, and a very few Europeans here.

16th. Having got a supply of water, got underway, and worked to the westward with the tide; noon, Sangboys S.W. S.: lat. 7° 8' north, long. 121° 50' east.

22nd. Off the island of Panay, progressing slowly; winds from north and north-east, and by keeping the land well on board, I got a light breeze off the land at night. Noon, Point bore north: lat. 9° 52' north, long. 122° 4' east.

See p. 219, of our April number for further information on this place; also vol. for 1842.-ED.

25th. Passing the islands of Ambolon and Ylinn, half to one mile off, saw three rocks about as large as a pinnace, close in to the west end of Yliun the shore was bold with sandy beaches in some places; saw a large village on the north end of Ylinn. Horsburgh says these islands should not be approached under fifteen miles, until their bodies bear E.S.E. E., on account of a reef said to extend from them to the westward; but I took the precaution to sound all along, and kept a good look out, but got no ground at forty fathoms, neither was any danger visible; but I think there may be coral patches farther west, detached from the islands, as Captain Wells, of ship Saracen, who arrived at Manila day before me, passed over a coral shoal, and plainly saw the rocks under the ship's quarter, both sides. The Captain stated that he did not sound, as the ship was going quick through the water, and soon passed over it; it was of small extent, and when on it island of Ylinn bore E.b.S., and the Peak of Busvagon W.b.S., and Apo shoal N. E.: lat. 12° 16′ N., long. 120° 39′ E.

27th, Off the island Amul; 8 A.M, felt a violent shock of an earthquake, lasted about two minutes; much thunder, and lightning, and rain, after it: noon, Goat Island E. S., ten miles: lat. 13° 51' north, long. 119° 56' east.

28th. Passed Corregidor, working up Manila Bay during the night, and at noon anchored in the roads, (162 days passage,) in seven fathoms mud, Mole Head bearing north-east, two miles. The Spanish government has placed a coppered floating buoy on the St. Nicholas shoal, in Manila Bay, having a white flag on it, with the number of feet of water on the shoal, in the centre of the flag, in black figures 63 feet.*

On the 18th June, 1842, we sailed from Manila, with a light land breeze from east; sunrise passed the Corregidor, nearly calm and a strong tide running out of the bay to the westward; noon baffling airs all round the compass, with a long swell from W.S.W.: lat. 14° 17' N., long. 120° 33' east.

19th. Squally rainy weather, calm at intervals, a large swell from south-west, wind baffling from south to west; noon Goat island in sight bearing S.S.W.¿W., a long reef off the north end of this island breaking heavily: lat. 14° 4' N., long. 120° 09' E.

20th. Still squally and rainy, variable airs from S.S.E. to W.5.W., at times raining torrents; noon Mount Calavite on Mindoro, bore S.E. E., very high land of a round form: lat. 14° 5' N., long. 119° 40′ E.

21st to 24th. Dark gloomy rainy weather, wind light and baffling from S. W. to W.b.S., hard squalls; noon Mount Calavite bore E.b.S.: lat. 13° 25′ N., long. 119° 43'. Similar weather, rain in torrents part of the time deal of thunder and lightning; noon Mount Calavite still in sight bearing N. Į W., a long swell from south-west: lat. 12° 59' N., long. 120° 27' E.

25th. Pleasant breezes from N.E., and increasing, weather clearing up. 6 P.M. quite clear, a smooth sea. 9 A.M., saw the Panacatan reef on which the English ships Frances Charlotte and Marquis of Camden were wrecked in 1840, and until then considered as an unknown danger; but in reading over Horsburgh's directions, I find he speaks of the Semerara islands having a long sand projecting a great way out from them, with two islets on its centre covered with trees, and when passing this sand at three miles distance it bore from E.S.E. to N.N. W., and the eastern of the Buffalos E.b.S.—I think this must be the same reef he alludes to. I found the reef was seven miles in extent east and west, and four or five miles north and south, it has two small low isles on it partly covered with trees, and parts appear to be white sand. The westernmost island is the largest and highest, both of which are surrounded to a great distance with a

As this does not yet appear in any chart, we shall be thankful to any of our readers who will send us marks for its position. In the meantime this notice will be useful to seamen.-ED.

reef, projecting one mile and half north-west of the western island, having many black rocks above water. The water was of a light green on the reef. Saw five boats at anchor on the reef, one of which made sail and stood for the island of Panay. I think the island of Semerara is laid down too far east by thirteen miles. I make its long. by two good chronometers 121° 22′ E.; this reef is much in the way of ships going up and down the Philippines, and it is necessary to keep nearer Quiniluban, and not to borrow on the eastern side of the passage; noon centre of the reef bore cast: lat. by mer. alt. of the sun was 11° 52′ N., long. from 121° 17′ to 121 24′ E., when the centre of the shoal bore north, island of Semerara bore N.b.E. E., island of Ylinn of the south-west end of Mindoro bore N.N.W. W.

26th. Light airs from south-east to north-west, and fine weather first part; latter part heavy clouds in south-west; noon point Potol the north end of Panay bore E.N.E., saw a long low isle highest at its east, and not laid down in Horsburgh's latest charts, but is laid down in Norie's chart and also the Spanish surveys. It bears from point Potol south-east, fourteen miles distant, is in lat. 11° 35' 30" N., long. 121° 40′ 30′′ east of Greenwich; noon 12° 16' N., long. 120° 51' E.

27th. Light southerly airs and rainy; noon calm: lat. 11° 28' N., long.

121° 29′ E.

28th. Calm and sultry first part; a drift island in sight; five P.M.; point Potol bore N.E. N., one of the Cuyo islands S. W. S.; 5h. 30m. saw the dry sand-bank 7 miles distant, formed of white sand, having only one cluster of trees on its north end; noon rainy, sun obscure.

29th and 30th. Squally rainy weather; noon 30th, point Nasog bore E.N.E. ; Negres island just in sight from the deck bearing E.S.E. : lat. 10° 20′ N., long. 121° 54' E., we have experienced no current as yet..

1st to 5th July. Squally and rainy, wind from south to west, blowing hard in squalls, at intervals calm, a short head sea.

5th to 8th. Similar weather, winds veering from S.S.E. to S.S.W., working to the southward along the west coast of Mindanao.

9th. Light E.S.E. winds and clear weather, entering Basilan straits, with a rapid tide to the eastward; 1 P.M. exchanged signals with the Spanish fort at Caldera. 1h. 15m. struck on a coral shoal not noticed in the charts, the north end of the westernmost Santa Cruz isles bearing E.b.S. S. seven miles distance fort of Caldera N. E.; fort at Samboangan N.E.b.E. E.; grounded forward in 2 fathoms; ship being afloat aft got out the boats, sounded round and found a ship's length off the bow to the west 3 fathoms, deepening to 6 fathoms; a cable's length off amidships had 4 fathoms ; under the stern, 51 fathoins; a ship's length from the stern to south-west, 7 fathoms; and a cable's length in that direction, 10 fathoms: carried out stream anchor and cable, and hove a heavy strain, continued heaving during the night, and at 3 A.M. she floated, made sail, and soon after it fell calm, and we drifted out of the straits to the west again. While on the reef the tide ran E.S.E. and W.N.W. six hours each way four knots: the reef extends to the west of these islands seven miles, and it was on the outer end of this reef on which we grounded. We received no injury whatever, and escaped with the loss of our stream anchor and cable.

It is a singular fact, that within ten days four ships should have struck at or about the same place; eight days before me two English vessels from Canton for London, one received no injury, the other struck with a S.W. wind and a considerable sea on, and got off very leaky, and was obliged to proceed to Sourabaya for repairs; the other was the whaling barque Marquis of Allsborough, of London, nine months out, no oil, she received no injury. It is necessary to approach these islands, particularly in the night with great caution, for the tides are very rapid, and in light winds and calms are liable to carry a ship on to the reef projecting far to the west of these isles, and as yet but little known. Horsburgh in his directions states, that to the west of these islands the strait is clear from side to side, but a reef projects to the south-westward of these isles.

10th and 11th. At anchor off Samboangan Fort N.b.E. half mile, ten fathoms sand, tide four knots E.S. E. and W.N.W., six hours each way.

12th. Wayed with a light W.S.W. wind and a tide to east, six P.M. clear of the sand in the Soolo or Celebes sea; noon east end Basilan south-west: lat. 6° 38' N., long. 122° 38′ E.

13th to 15th. Heavy squalls, hard rain and calms, winds west to south.

16th. Similar weather, winds S.S. W. and south-west, a confused sea, current east 60'.

17th. Squally from S.S.W and south-west, two P.M. a violent squall, lasted on, hour, in all sail but foresail; noon calm, current west sixteen miles: lat. 3° 43' north, long. 122° 32′ east.

19th. Southerly winds and rainy: lat. 3° 21' north, long. 120° 52′ east, current sixteen miles west.

20th. Squally wild looking weather: lat. 3° 11' north, long. 119° 50' east, current south-east 23'.

21st. Strong S.S. W. winds and clear: noon 2° 58' north, long. 119° 43' east, current north 67° east, twenty-eight miles.

2 16

120 10

22nd, do. noon 2° 41' N., long. 119° 43' E., cur. N. 56°, E. 19 miles. 23rd. do. 22 26 do. 24th. do. gale, saw Cape Donda on Celebes, prodigous high land bearing from south to south-east, and tacked westward a heavy head sea; noon lat. 2° 2′ north, long. 120° 00′ east, current north-east, twenty-two miles.

26th. do. gales and a head sea: lat. 2° 5' north, long. 120° 10′ east, current north 17° east, thirty-four miles.

27th. do. gales under double reefs 2° 9' north; long. 119° 41' east, current north 22° west, thirty-one miles.

28th. do. gales, Cape Donda in sight bearing S.b.E. 58 miles distant. 29th. Strong south-west winds and clear; noon saw the Harings islands bearing W. N., twenty miles distance, they are two small isles, I make them in lat. 1°44' north, long, 118° 58' east, they are placed on the charts thirteen miles too far south. Horsburgh say the Harings islands are but little known, said to lie north, a little easterly from point Kannecoongan, they bear from that point N.b.W. W., these islands are seldom seen by ships.

30th. Fresh S.S.W. winds, a vast quantity of drift wood; noon Cape Donda bearing S.S.E.E.; point Kannecoongan S.W.b.S.: lat. 1° 23' north, long. 119° 41' east, current north seventeen miles.

31st. Light S.S.W. airs and clear; noon Cape Donda S.E.E; point Kannecoongan W. S., both very high land: lat. 1° 31' north, long. 119° 39' east, current north eighteen miles.

August 1st. Light southerly airs and calms, very sultry; noon Cape Donda E.S.E. forty-two miles; lat. 1° 7′ north, long. 119° 39′ east, current north 15° east, eighteen miles.

2nd to 6th. Hot and sultry, light airs from south and south-west; current fifteen to twenty miles daily to the north, Celebes in sight; noon 6th, lat 0° 16′ south, long. 118° 55′ east, find the current changed to south since crossing the equator.

7th, 8th, and 9th, Light airs from south to south-west and squally, Celebes in sight thirty miles distant.

10th. Calms, light south-west airs and sultry, Celebes in sight thirty miles; noon, lat. 2° 14' south, long. 118° 35' east, current eighteen miles south 45° east.

11th. Light winds from south-east to south-west, strong tide, ripples resembling breakers; noon Cape William bearing east: lat. by mer. alt. is 2° 48' south, long. 118° 34' east, Cape twenty-four miles distant, current south eighteen miles. Cape William is laid down in Horsburgh's charts in 2° 34′ south, and Norie places it further north, it is 14 miles further south or 2° 48′.

12th. Calm all day, Celebes in sight: lat. 3° 8' south, long. 118° 34', current 20 miles south.

13th. Took the trades strong from east, 11 A.M. sounded in thirty-five fathoms water, green mud; noon Laurels shoal bears south sixteen miles: lat. 4° 16' south, long 117° 15' east, just entered on the edge of soundings in the Java sea, fifty-seven days out, and have beat every mile of the way.

14th. Fine S.S. E. trades, all studding-sails set; 4 A.M. lay by for daylight, dawn saw little Pulo Leat isles, bearing W. S. to north-west seventeen miles; noon 5° 15' south, long. 116° 2′ east, current sixteen miles west.

15th. Fine trades; noon Salombo in sight, bearing N. E. twenty-three miles distant, making in Square Hill and high: lat 5° 59' south, long. 114° 24′ east, current west eleven miles.

16th and 17th. Strong trades drawing from south off the Java shore at night, and veering to E.N.E. at mid-day, twenty-six fishing boats in sight, saw Lassem Hill on Java bearing S. E. twenty-six miles.

18th. Saw Carimon Java Peak, bearing north nineteen miles, very high. 19th. Passed Sedary shoal two miles off, soundings eight, ten, and fifteen fathoms.

20th. At six P.M., sea breeze failing, hauled in shore and anchored with Carawang point, south-west six miles distant in seventeen fathoms; at four A.M., wayed and stood to the westward; noon calm and tide setting us to the eastward, let go anchor in ten fathoms mud, Edam island bearing W.b.N. one mile.

21st. A strong breeze from N.N.W., passed between Edam and Alhaman; 1h. 30m. P.M. saw the shipping in Batavia roads, port Appty full of them; 2h. P.M. passed between Ontong Java reef, and the island of Middleburgh and Amsterdam; 4h. passed Maneaters isle and the Great Cambuys; 7h. P.M. came to an anchor off St. Nicholas point in twenty fathoms, the point bearing W.b.S. six miles, in company with six Dutch ships; 4h. A.M. wayed and stood down straits, passed the Button quarter mile off; 10h. tide running strong to north-east and calm, and finding we were drifting on to the Cape let go anchor in eighteen fathoms water Rocky Bottom Cape bearing N.N.E., one mile and half distant. 22nd. Eight A.M., wayed anchor with a light land breeze and a W.S.W. tide, and stood towards Anjer, nine, anchored with the flag-staff S.b.E. half mile off shore in ten fathoms sand.

24th. Wayed anchor and made sail from Anjer roads and beat down the straits of Sunda, wind strong from south-west off Crockatoa, took the trades strong from south and stood to the south-west.

25th. Clear of the land, after threading our way for sixty-nine days among islands, reefs, &c., with rainy squally weather, adverse winds most of the time, and very strong currents against us, to get into the Indian ocean.

25th to 28th. Strong trades from S.S.E.; three P.M., a sudden shift of wind to north, blowing furiously; noon 28th, a gale from north under close reefs : lat. 10° 5' south, long. 96° 48′ east, barometor 29.75, air 75°.

29th to Sep. 9th. It has been blowing a gale from S.S. E. and S.E., all the time wild rainy thick squally weather; squalls very violent; wind twice has veered round the compass, shifted suddenly in a hard squall to N.N.E., and then veered round gradually until it came to S.E. There has been a heavy swell from S. and S.S. W., with a large tumbling sea from S, E.; ship rolling heavily, and shipping much water; ship under double reef and close reefs; the barometer has been up to 29.90 and 30-20 and yet there has been no change in the weather; noon, 9th, Roderigue bears west 450 miles: lat. 19° 34′ S. long. 71° 25′ E.; barometer 30'20, thermometer 72°.

10th. Strong S.E. gales, violent squalls; the sharp squalls appear to raise the sea; noon, under double reefs; a wild squally and windy look: lat. 20° 23′ S., long. 68° 23′ E.; barometer 30-20, thermometer 72°, current N. 67° W., 16 miles.

11th. Strong gales 1 P.M.; gale increasing, with violent squalls, and a furious sea breaking over the ship; took in close reefs and reefed the foresail; 6 P.M. more moderate; let out close reefs, set whole courses; noon, strong gales, sharp