NAUTICAL REMARKS. 405 



The first part of the run was within the limit of the trade- 

 wind ; it hung generally in the eastern quarter, and with the 

 exception of a few days' rain, squalls, and very vivid light- 

 ning, in latitude 19o N., and longitude ITQo W., the weather 

 was very fine. 



Off the Lad rones we had a short calm ; then a breeze at 

 north ; and made the passage to the Bashees with light and 

 variable winds, first from the northward, and latterly from the 

 S. and S. W. The weather during this period was remark- 

 ably fine. Off Formosa we took a strong northerly wind, 

 which carried us to Macao. 



The currents from Woahoo to the Ladrones ran generally 

 to the eastward, and averaged 6.9 miles per day. 



I should recommend to ships making this passage to run 

 down the parallel of 18o 30' N. or 19o N., taking care of 

 Wake's Island, which is said to lie in latitude 19° 18' N. 

 They should make the Island of Assumption, in latitude 

 190 42' N., and longitude 214o 34' W., and pass to the soudi- 

 ward of it. 



Twelve miles to the southward of Assumption, Captain 

 Freycinet has discovered a reef of rocks, which may be 

 avoided by keeping close to the above-mentioned island. As- 

 sumption is a small conical island, 2096 feet high, and appa- 

 rently without any danger. Perouse anchored in thirty 

 fathoms, within three quarters of a mile of its western shore. 

 The Mangs bear from its eastern point N. 27o 07' W. (true). 

 In the N.E. monsoon I would steer from here for the North 

 Bashee Island, and thence pass northward of the Pi'ata 

 Shoal ; but with the S.W. monsoon a different route is neces- 

 sary, for which see Captain Ilorsburgh's India Directory. 

 The Bashees, Vele Rete, and Botel Tobago Xiraa, are all 

 very well laid down in Horsbui-gh's chart; but the Cumbrian 

 Shoal has since been found to lie in the situation first 

 assigned it, fifteen miles due S. of Little Tobago Xima, and 

 in latitude 21^ 42' 15" N. In its vicinity we found very 

 strong ripplings, which, when the winds were light, sounded 

 like breakers ; but they did not affect our reckoning much, 

 for on the 10th of April, in the forenoon, we made Pedro 



