got close to the
Flores shore: our course through was north half east. We tried for
soundings but could not anywhere find bottom at 25 and 30 fathoms depth.
On the Flores side there are many good harbours and bays where vessels
may anchor; but the country hereabouts appears burnt up and desolate.

I had no azimuth-compass and consequently could not observe very
accurately the variation; but I believe there is so little in Mangaryn
Straits that no great error will be occasioned by considering the true
and magnetic bearings to be the same.

When we had passed the straits we kept to the westward, running along the
north side of the island Sumbawa, where there is a very high mountain
near the coast, at the foot of which I am informed, are many runs of good
water, conveniently situated for ships to supply themselves. The latitude
of the north part of Sumbawa I make by my observations and bearings to be
8 degrees 6 minutes south, which differs very little from the Dutch
charts.

Monday 31.

In the night of the 31st several prows were rowing about us, on which
account we kept all night under arms.

September. Thursday 3.

This and the two following days we were sailing along the north side of
the island Lombok, on which is a high mountain. Most of the islands in
this route are distinguished by high mountains. Lombok appears to be well
clothed with wood. In the nights we saw fires upon the high lands at a
distance from the coast.

Sunday 6.

In the afternoon we saw the high land of Cape Sandana, which is the
north-east part of Java.

Monday 7.

The next day we were off cape Sandana which is a low cape projecting from
the high land already mentioned. This cape is placed by the Dutch maps in
7 degrees 52 minutes south. But according to my observation and our
estimated distance from the land I make it in 7 degrees 46 minutes south
latitude. The longitude by my dead reckoning from Coupang to Cape Sandana
was 11 degrees 33 minutes west.

Thursday 10.

We steered to the westward along the coast of Java and on the 10th at
noon we anchored off Passourwang, a Dutch settlement on the coast of
Java, in two fathoms, distant from the shore half a league, the entrance
of the river bearing south-west. The coast hereabouts so is shoal that
large ships are obliged to anchor three or four miles from the land. As
soon as we were at anchor I got in my boat and went on shore. The banks
of the river near the entrance were mud, on w