our noon observation gave 20 deg. 15' latitude, and 236 deg. 42'
longitude, so that we were already in the neighbourhood of the Bashi and
Babuyan Islands. We continued to sail so briskly till sunset, that we
could not be then far from land; but black clouds had gathered over it,
concealing it from our view, and presaging stormy weather; we did not
venture therefore to advance during the night, but tacked with sails
reefed, waiting the break of day. At midnight we had some violent squalls
from the north with a ruffled sea, but not amounting to a storm. The
rising sun discovered to us the three high Richmond rocks, rising in the
middle of the strait, between the Bashi and Babuyan Islands. Soon after
the island of Bantan appeared, with heavy clouds still lingering behind
its cliffs. The weather was, however, at present fine, the wind blowing
strongly from the north; we therefore set as much sail as the gale would
permit us to carry, and pursued our course through the strait formed by
the Richmond rocks, and the southern Bashi Islands. In clearing these
straits, we had reason to apprehend serious damage to our rigging, or
even the loss of a mast. A heavy squall from the north-east put the sea
in great commotion. The billows chafed and roared as they broke over
each other, and were met in the narrow channel by a current, driving
from the Chinese Sea into the ocean. This furious encounter of the
contending waves produced the appearance of breakers, through which we
were compelled to work our dangerous way; the ship, sometimes tossed to
their utmost summit, then, without the power of resistance, suddenly
precipitated into the yawning gulf between them, wore, however, through
all her trials, and gave me cause for exultation in the strength of her
masts, and the goodness of her tackling. We passed two hours in this
anxious and critical condition, but at length emerged into the Chinese
Sea; where the comparative peacefulness of the waves allowed us to
repose after our fatigues, and even afforded us an opportunity of
ascertaining our longitudes.

We found the longitude of the most
easterly of the Richmond rocks 237 deg. 50' 2"
most westerly 237 deg. 52' 0"
the eastern point
of the Island of Bantan 237 deg. 55' 32"
the western point
of Babuyan 238 deg. 0' 56"
the