424 cook's voyage to feb. 



of longitude between the island Lusepara, which lies 

 in the south entrance of the Straits of Banca, and 

 Monopin Hill, which forms one side of the entrance 

 from the north, we found to be 55', which is only 

 two miles less than what is given in D'Apres' 

 chart. 



In passing these Straits, the coast of Sumatra may 

 be approached somewhat closer than that of Banca. 

 At the distance of two or three miles from the 

 shore, there are ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen 

 fathoms, free from rocks or shoals ; however, the 

 lead is the surest guide. The country is covered 

 with wood down to the water's edge, and the shores 

 are so low, that the sea overflows the land, and 

 washes the trunks of the trees. To this flat and 

 marshy situation of the shore, we may attribute those 

 thick fogs and vapours, which we perceived every 

 morning, not without dread and horror, hanging over 

 the island, till they were dispersed by the rays of the 

 sun. The shores of Banca are much bolder, and the 

 country inland rises to a moderate height, and ap- 

 pears to be well wooded throughout. We often saw 

 fires on this island during the night time ; but none 

 on the opposite shore. The tide runs through the 

 Straits at the rate of between two and three knots 

 an hour. 



In the morning of the 6th, we passed to the 

 westward of Lusepara, at the distance of four or 

 five miles ; generally carrying soundings of five and 

 six fathoms' water, and never less than four. We 

 afterward steered south by east ; and having brought 

 Lusepara to bear due north, and deepened our water 

 to seven fathoms, we altered our course to south by 

 west, keeping the lead going, and hauling out a little, 

 whenever we shoaled our water. The soundings on 

 the Sumatra side we still found to be regular, and 

 gradually shoaling, as we approached the shore. At 

 five in the afternoon we saw the Three Sisters, bear- 

 ing south by west half west; and, at seven, we came 



18 



