1 7 8 8 .
March.
During the whole of the 23d we had foutherly winds, which
prevented our weighing anchor. We were favoured with Captain
Portlock’s company on board during the greateft part of the day.
At four o’clock in the morning of the 24th we anfwered the
King George’s fignal for weighing anchor, and by five we weighed
and made fail, Handing to the Southward, with a frefh breeze at
South Weft. Hitherto we had attempted to get clear of the Straights,
by the paflage between Prince’s Ifland and Cracatoa; but this was
now given up, and it was determined to try for the paflage between
Prince’s Ifland and Java Head,
At noon the Peak of Cracatoa bore North 18 deg. Weft, the
extremes of Prince’s Ifland from South 50 deg. Weft to Weft
South Weft; a high point on the Java fhore bearing South, distance
from the neareft land about five leagues: the latitude was
6 deg. 21 min. South. During the afternoon we made occafional
boards, between Prince’s Ifland and Java, a heavy fwell fetting in
from the Weftward: we had foundings, from forty-three to thirty-
fix fathom, over a muddy bottom. At nine in the evening we let
go an anchor in forty-two fathom water, the high land on Prince’s
Ifland bearing South 76 deg. Weft.
At four o’clock in the morning of the 25th we weighed -and
made fail, with a frefli Wefterly breeze and cloudy weather. At
noon, the extremes of Prince’s Ifland bore from Weft North Weft
to South 65 deg. Weft; a bluff point on Java bearing South Weft
by South, about four leagues diftant,; the latitude 6 deg. 33 min.
In the afternoon the wind hauled to the Southward, fo that (finding
we loft ground) at fix o’clock we let go an anchor in forty
fathom water, over a muddy bottom.
a At
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T OP AME R I C A .
At nine in the morning of the 26th we weighed, being favoured i788-
with a ftrong Wefterly breeze, which gave us great hopes of clear- . i
ing the land.
During the forenoon we were employed in working through the
paflage between Prince’s Ifland and Java Head. At noon, the extremes
of Prince’s Ifland bore from South 65 deg. Weft to North;
Java Head South Weft by South, diftance off four miles. Our
latitude was 6 deg.- 36 min. South.
About two o’clock, being right in the paflage between Java Head -
and the Coblers, (a parcel of rocks off Prince’s Ifland) the breeze
failed us, and the current fet us right upon the Java fhore. Our
fituation for fome time was very dangerous, as it was impoflible •
for us to wear; and what Was ftilL Worfe, there is no ground in
lefs- than fifty fathom water elofe in fhore, and that is fharp rocks,
fo that little fervice could be expected from our anchor: however,
in lefs than' half an hour, to our great joy, the breeze frefhened,
and by four in the afternoon we. were entirely out of danger, the
rocks off Java Head bearing North 85 deg. Eaft, and the peak of-
Prince’s Ifland North 5 deg. Eaft, five miles diftant from the Java
fhore. At fix o’clock, JavaHead bore North Eaft by North, d i s tant
fix leagues.
Being now clear of the land, our anchors were got on the gunwales,
and fecured.
During the night we had fqually weather, with rain, and in
the morning of the 27th, a frefh North Wefterly breeze and
cloudy weather: our latitude at noon was 7 deg. 49 min. South.
All