[110] Neptune Oriental.

[111] Vid.  Dampier, vol. i. p. 392.

[112] Dampier, vol. i. p. 90.

SECTION XI.

Departure from Pulo Condore.—­Passs the Straits of Banca.—­View of the Island of Sumatra.—­Straits of Sunda.—­Occurrences there.—­Description of the Island of Cracatoa.—­Prince’s Island.—­Effects of the Climate of Java.—­Run to the Cape of Good Hope,—­Transactions there.—­Description of False Bay.—­Passage to the Orkneys.—­General Reflections.

On the 28th day of January, 1780, we unmoored; and, as soon as we were clear of the harbour, steered S.S.W. for Pulo Timoan.  On the 30th, at noon, the latitude by observation, being 5 deg. 0’ N., and longitude 104 deg. 45’ E., we altered our course to S. 3/4 W., having a moderate breeze from the N.E., accompanied by fair weather.  At two in the morning of the 31st, we had soundings of forty-five fathoms, over a bottom of fine white sand; at which time our latitude was 4 deg. 4’ N., longitude 104 deg. 29’ E., and the variation of the compass 0 deg. 31’ E.

At one in the afternoon, we saw Pulo Timoan; and, at three, it bore S.S.W. 3/4 W., distant ten miles.  This island is high and woody, and has several small ones lying off to the westward.  At five, Pulo Puissang was seen bearing S. by E. 3/4 E.; and, at nine, the weather being thick and hazy, and having out-run our reckoning from the effect of some current, we were close upon Pulo Aor, in latitude 2 deg. 46’ N., longitude 104 deg. 37’ E., before we were well aware of it, which obliged us to haul the wind to the E.S.E.  We kept this course till midnight, and then bore away S.S.E. for the Strait of Banca.

On the 1st of February, at noon, our latitude by observation was 1 deg. 20’ N., and the longitude, deduced from a great number of lunar observations taken in the course of the preceding twelve hours, 105 deg.  E. At the same time, the longitude, by Mr Bayley’s time-keeper corrected, was 105 deg. 15’ E. We now steered S. by E.; and, at sun-set, having fine clear weather, saw Pulo Panjung; the body of the island bearing W.N.W., and the small islands, lying on the S.E. of it, W. 1/2 S., seven leagues distant.  Our latitude, at this time, was 0 deg. 53’ N.

On the 2d, at eight in the morning, we tried for soundings, continuing to do the same every hour, till we passed the Strait of Sunda, and found the bottom with twenty-three fathoms of line.  At noon, being in latitude, by observation, 0 deg. 22’ S., longitude 105 deg. 14’ E., and our soundings twenty fathoms, we came in sight of the little islands called Dominis, which lie off the eastern part of Lingen; and which bore from N. 62 deg.  W. to N. 80 deg.  W., five leagues distant.  At this time we passed a great deal of wood drifting on the sea; and, at one o’clock, we saw Pulo Taya, bearing S.W. by W., distant seven leagues.  It is a small high island, with two round peaks, and two detached rocks lying off to the northward.  When abreast of this island, we had soundings of fifteen fathoms.  During this and the preceding day, we saw great quantities of a reddish-coloured scum or spawn, floating on the water, in a southerly direction.