to their base. Pulo Pisang appears steep close to, but the others have sandy beaches round them; passed Pulo Kekik about two miles distant, but could observe no signs of its being inhabited. These islands form the southern end of the Gillolo Passage which from adverse winds we have beat the ship through. 12th. The island of Bouro in sight, very high land, mountains appearing above the clouds. Latitude 2° 30′ S., longitude 116° 50' E, Current from eastward one knot an hour. 13th. The Yullu Islands in sight to the northward; these islands are very high and bold of approach there being no sounding till close to the shore. The height of Tomahoe mountain or Bouro Dome by my calculation is 10, 307 feet, it is seen sometimes in clear weather 90 or 100 miles off. The wind hanging so much to the S.S. E. and S.E., I determined, as I found I could scarcely weather St. Matthews and Velthoons Islands, to proceed through the straits of Bouton to the Celebean Sea. 15th, 6h, 50m. A.M. Wangi-Wangi, the northern island of the Toucambasso group, hore S. W.; bore away for the Strait, saw Pulo Comtado, a long island full of hummocks to the southward, and Cadoopy on opening the west end of Wangi. Passed the latter about 4 miles from the north point the current this day from N.E. 25 miles: at 1 P.M. saw the shoal to the southward of Cadoopy looking very discoloured and extensive, its extremes S.E.bE. to E. S., same time the east point of Bouton bore N.N.W. and the north end of Wangi-Wangi N.E.E. I imagine this shoal and the island of Cadoopy are placed in the charts too much to the eastward, by about 5 miles, but these islands and shoals are marked as "little kuown" and certainly require a good look out when near, or approaching them. 17th, 4 A.M. bore up and made sail, at noon in the straits of Salaya, ran through between south and middle islands, passage about 3 miles wide, experienced an extraordinary rush of tide or current in the strait, and to the westward of it for a few miles. During the night steered courses to run between the Brill shoal and the Postillion isles. 18th. Water discoloured, no soundings at 40 fathoms. Latitude observed 6° 7′ S., longitude 118° 12′ E. 19th. Latitude 5° 40′ S. longitude 116° 14' E.; at noon fresh monsoon and fine weather. 20th. saw the Solombo islands, bearing west, hauled up S.W. and passed the south side of the Great Solombo about 6 miles distant. Passed to the northward of Pulo Babean or Lubeck. much frequented by European ships. These islands are not Carimon Java Group. 107° 39′ E., ran along 22nd. Saw Watchman Island, one of the 23rd. Latitude observed 5° 42' S., longitude the outside of Sedary Bank, in seven to ten fathoms: at 6 P.M. wind failing stood in shore, and anchored in eight and a half fathoms off the village of Pakkis; Sedary Bank bearing S.E. 24th. Weighed, crossed the Bay of Batavia, the port apparently full of shipping. Steered for Amsterdam island and passed between it, Middlebury Island, and Outong Java reef. And from thence between the great Cambuys and Maneaters island and reef. 25th. Saw the land, tacked ship, wind variable, taking every advantage of wind to work off the Zutphen islands, got regular soundings 31, 37, 42, and 45 fathoms at 6b. made the last tack towards the Java shore. Passed the Button at half a : mile distant stood down the straits of Sunda borrowing towards the Java shore off Anjer was boarded by the Resident's report-boat; most ships touch here on leaving Batavia and China to water, &c. At 7h. Squalls from south, torrents of rain, vivid lightning and thunder. 26th. Clear of the land. I have never but once had a fine night in the Straits of Sunda. From the 4th to this day 26th, have scarcely been out of sight of land, threading our way between different islands, through the Passages and Straits, to get into the Indian Ocean. The distance we have to run to the Cape is about 5,000 miles and to Roderignes Island 2,500. 30th. The Cocos or Keelings islands bearing E.b.S. about 50 miles, Horsburgh says,*"The value of these islands to navigators, remained unknown until Captain J. C. Ross visited the southern group and found a good harbour where he lay some days putting his ship the " Borneo" in proper order. These isles are now inhabited by Captain Ross, who first discovered the harbour, to which he has given the name of Port Albion, and also the name of New Selma to the village which he has formed at his residence, on the south-eastern island; he has ascertained more correctly that the group extends from 12° 3' to 12° 14' S. Their longitude is about 67° 5' E. The harbour is formed by a circle of islands (coral) and appears to be based upon the walls of the crater of a submarine volcano. An earthquake of considerable strength and duration was experienced on the 25th May, 1829. The harbour has only one entrance for ships, at its northern extremity. Ships drawing more than eighteen feet are recommended not to sail over the bar, but to warp in and then anchor at discretion. These islands produce Cocoa Trees and are only from three to ten feet elevated above the sea.' Wind veered to north-east and north north-east, heavy rain, and dark gloomy appearance. 31st. Similar weather, rain in torrents. Sept. the 1st and 2nd no change or any appearance of better weather, every thing and every body completely soaked, and many of the people without a dry change of clothes; made them wear warm and cloth clothing, and gave them an extra glass of grog, several complaining of illness, but only one laid up. I cannot account for the extraordinary winds and weather we have experienced between latitude 7° and 16° S. and longitude 104° and 60° E. a distance of about 1,000 nautical miles. The winds have scarcely for an hour been to the south of east, but more generally north-east and sometimes even north with a long southerly swell, a very irregular sea, and torrents of rain. I have read all the remarks of Horsburgh attentively, as well as those of other navigators, I cannot meet one similar instance. Horsburgh remarks, " that in the Indian Sea at this season the winds are mostly south-east, and that they sometimes veer to E.S.E. and east in the easterly monsoon which continues six months, and does not cease till November; that the easterly monsoon is a continuation of the south-east trade wind, while the sun continues in the Northern Hemisphere, and that it extends to the equator, the western monsoon not extending to the southward of 10° or 12° south latitude.” It is remarkable that this weather came in with the new moon the See an interesting account of these islands in our volume for 1833, p. 578. 26th of August, and ceased with the first quarter the 3rd of September. 8th. Remarkable open, clear, fine weather: at noon, latitude 18° 30′ S., longitude 78° 50′ E., saw the first Pintado, or Cape Pigeon, (Procellaria Capensis,) this is very far to the northward of their usual limits. 9th. Very strong trade, and increasing, confused, heavy swell from east and south caused the ship to roll very much, and ship water over both gunwales. 12th. Moderate; noon latitude 20° 34′ S., longitude 70° 30' E. 1h. A.M. Squally with showers, wind increased to a gale; took in all steering sails, top-gallant sail, mainsail, jib and mizen, and double-reefed the topsails; set fore-topmast-staysail, and storm trisail. Towards evening the sea got up very rapidly, running very quick and hollow; shipped the deadlights and secured hatches: rolling very much and shipping water; sent royal yards down. 13th. Gale increasing, and a tremendous sea, shipping water over both gunwales. The sharp squalls apparently raise the sea. At 10h. A.M. a sea struck and washed inboard, the larboard waist netting boards, and the lower steering-sail-boom alongside, breaking out the iron goose neck; ship lurching and rolling heavily at times. The barometer has been high from the commencement of the gale, and is now at noon 30.42, thermometer 70°, wind S.S.E., latitude observed 20° 45′ S., longitude 67° 33' E., Roderigues 247 miles, N. 75° W. P.M. Squalls violent, but not long, sea subsiding. The mercury is so high (higher than since I left Manila,) I cannot imagine the gale will last, but a few hours; sun set moderating, but much sea on.-Mem. Distance ran this last week is 987 miles. 18th. The finest day we have had since we left the Straits of Sunda. At noon, Isle Bourbon distant 173 miles N. 7° E. 4th October. At noon, latitude 82° 33' S., longitude 31° 10′ E., Cape Natal N. 5° W., distant 161 miles, (Cape of Good Hope 670 miles.)-This week we have ran 640 miles only. 9th. Tremendous gale north-west, ship hove to. 10th. Moderate: at night commenced a gale from north-west, again hove to. 11th. Tremendous gale and sea, latitude south 35° 58', longitude east 21° 45'. Cape of Good Hope 190 miles, N. 60° W., Cape Agulhas 114 miles, N. 54° W.; thermometer 64°, barometer, at midnight, 29-79, at noon 29.97. Still hove to under close-reefed main-topsail.-This last week we have ran 528 miles only. 12th. Gale continues, with a furious sea breaking over every part of the ship. I have seldom witnessed it more fierce, short, and violent; towards night it moderated. 13th. Light breezes; noon, latitude 37° 13' S., longitude 20° 28' E., a very strong current yesterday and to-day, set 102 miles nearly west. 14th. We have been ten days from Cape Recif to the Cape of Good Hope, but have had only two heavy gales from north-west and west. |