PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MALACCA. 



123 



latter is made more secure by the high hind of Cape Formosa, the bearings of and distance from 

 which will, in clear weather, indicate the mid-channel. 



Pilots may be procured for vessels, when bound toward the China seas, at Penang, and at 

 Singapore when their course is in an opposite direction. The Mississippi took no pilot, as time 

 could not be spared for communicating with Penang; and, in fact, with good charts and a 

 careful look out, together with pioper precautions in anchoring when necessary, a pilot is of 

 little further service than to identify the names of headlands and islands, and to explain the 

 tides and currents. Indeed, by trusting too much to the pilots, who are mostly irresponsible 

 natives, ships may fall into dangers which the experience and prudence of their captains, if left 

 to their own judgments, would avdid. In passing through the straits, the Mississippi met 

 H. B. M. ship Cleopatra, towed by a small war steamer, bound in an opposite direction. The 

 senior English ship, on coming near, honored the broad pendant of the Commodore with a 

 salute ; which compliment was promptly rcsj^onded to by an equal number of gims. 



Mississippi saluted by an English Frigate in the Straits of Malacca. 



It is a fact worthy of remark, that the usual vertical rise and fall of the tides in the Straits of 

 Malacca is from twelve to fourteen feet, while in other parts of the world, in the same latitude, 

 there is scarcely any variation. The tides at Singapore correspond, in this respect, witli those 

 in the Straits. 



On entering from the Straits of Malacca into what is called the Straits of Singapore, the 

 islands became numerous and the passages oonsequently various and intricate ; but tlie directions 



