1780. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 429 



off the south end of this island, we sent a boat 

 with the Master on shore, to look for water; but 

 after having landed with some difficulty, he re- 

 turned unsuccessful. 



Cracatoa is esteemed very healthy, in comparison 

 of the neighbouring countries. It consists of high 

 land, rising gradually on all sides from the sea; and 

 the whole is covered with trees, except a few spots 

 which the natives have cleared for rice fields. The 

 number of people on the island is very inconsider- 

 able. Their chief, as are those of all the other 

 islands in the Straits, is subject to the king of 

 Bantam. The coral reefs afford plenty of small 

 turtles ; but other refreshments are very scarce, and 

 sold at an enormous price. 



Latitude of the road where the) ^ ^ , 



Resolution anchored, - J 



Longitude, by Mr. Bayly's time- 5 1Q4 4g eagt 



keeper, j 



Ditto, by observation - - 1$> 36 east. 

 Dip of the south end of the ) ~~ ^ 



magnetic needle - - - ) 

 Variation of the compass, - 10 west. 



On the full and change days, it is high-water at 

 7 h in the morning. The water rises three feet two 

 inches perpendicular. 



At eight o'clock in the evening, it began to blow 

 fresh from the westward, with violent thunder, 

 lightning, and rain; and at three the next morning, 

 we weighed and stood over for Prince's Island, but 

 the westerly wind dying away, was succeeded by a 

 breeze from the south-east, and, at the same time, a 

 strong tide setting to the south-west prevented our 

 fetching the island, and obliged us, at two in the 

 afternoon, to drop anchor in sixty-five fathoms, 

 over a muddy bottom, at three leagues distance from 



