1788. Coot’s River and King George’s Sound; and we are well affined,
February, tjje £urs to the Southward are of a very inferior quality. Two
fmall veflels would not only collect all the Ikins in what harbours
are hitherto known, but likewife explore fuch parts of the eoaft as
are yet undifcovered; befides, there are other valuable articles to
be procured here, fuch as ginfeng, copper, oil, fpars, &c. and vaft
quantities of falmon might be cured, which could not fail being a.
valuable commodity. Thele, however, are fuggeftions which I
fubmit to thy fuperior judgment, though I am perfectly convinced
that a trade might be eftablifhed on this coaft, that would equal!
the molt fanguine expectations of thofe who undertook it.
Adieu. Thine, &c.
W. B.
O ff M acao, ?
Feb. I cth. 5
L E T T E R XL VII.
A T one o’clock on the 9th of February, we weighed, and
Rood down Macao Roads to the Southward, with light
baffling winds. At five o’clock we difcharged our pilot. At fun-
fet the Typa bore North 65 deg. Weft, about three leagues distant;
the Grand Ladrone South 35 deg. Eaft; the Peak of Lintin
North 55 deg. Eaft. At half paft feven, the tide being done, we
2 came
came to with the fmall bower, in fix fathom water, over a muddy Fe’b7r^
bottom. w 1-,—-»
I {hall juft obferve, that Macao is fubjecl to the Portuguefe, but
being fupplied with all the neeeflaries of life by the Chinefe, they
dare do nothing in oppofition to the Viceroy of Canton ; fo that
though they are not immediately under the Chinefe Government,
yet they are obliged to connive at, and fubmit to all their impofi-
tions, however arbitrary they may be.
At four o’clock in the morning of the 10th, we weighed and
made fail, with a moderate North Wefterly breeze, and clear weather,
fleering South a little Eafterly. At ten o’clock, the Peak of
the Grand Ladrone bore North 40 deg. Eaft, feven leagues diftant ;
our latitude at noon was 21 deg. 35 min. North; and the longitude
246 deg. 4 min. Weft.
From the toth to the 13th, we had generally a moderate Eafterly
breeze, and fine weather. In the morning of the 13th we faw a
ftrange fail to the North Weft. Our latitude at noon was 18 deg.
i min. North. In the afternoon, the fail feen by us in the morning
paffed clofe by the King George, and we learnt from Captain
Portlock that it was the Imperial Eagle, Captain Berkley, and
and that he was bound to the Mauritius.
From the 17th to the 20th, we had a fteady trade breeze, with
fine clear weather. At eleven in the morning o f the 20th, we faW
the Ifland Pulo Sapata bearing South Weft, about four leagues
diftant. This Ifland, at a diftance, has very much the refetn-
fclance of a Chinefe fhoe.
S a z At