y was perfectly
clear. It took us some hours to slip through it. We drew up some in
buckets, and found it to contain a small, scarcely perceptible, portion
of a fine filamentous substance, quite transparent, such as I have
occasionally seen where seaweed is abundant. Whether this was the cause
of the milky appearance of the sea or not we could not determine. We
were now sailing almost due north, for the Straits of Bally, as the
passage is called between that small island and the east end of the
magnificent island of Java. About the middle of August, early in the
morning, again land was seen from the mast-head, and in a few hours we
entered the Straits I have just mentioned. We could see the shores on
both sides, that of Bally somewhat abrupt, while the Java shore,
agreeably diversified by clumps of cocoa-nut trees and hills clothed
with verdure, looked green and smiling, contrasting agreeably with that
of New Holland, which we had so lately left. A large number of small
boats or canoes were moving about in all directions, those under sail
going at great speed. They were painted white, had one sail, and were
fitted with outriggers. We had to keep a bright look-out lest we should
run suddenly into the jaws of any French or Dutch man-of-war, which,
escaping from our cruisers, might be pleased to snap up a richly-laden
merchantman like the _Barbara_. We could not tell at the time whether
the proposed expedition had arrived, or, if it had, whether it had been
successful.

As we were coasting along, a hill appeared in sight, early in the
morning, the summit thickly surrounded by clouds. As this nightcap of
vapours cleared away, a remarkable cone was exposed to view, the base
covered with the richest vegetation. Soon after this we got so
entangled among clusters of rocky islands and coral reefs that we were
very much afraid we should be unable to extricate ourselves, and that
our ship would get on shore. Though there was not much risk of our
losing our lives, the dread of having our ship and cargo destroyed was
enough to make us anxious. Fortunately the wind fell, and by keeping
look-outs at each fore-yard-arm and at the mast-head, we were able to
perceive the dangers with which we were surrounded before we ran on any
of them. At length we got into seemingly more clear water, but there
being still several reefs and islands outside of us, Captain Hassall
thought it prudent to anchor for the night. The shore off