346 



Departure from Singapore. 

 Straits of Rhio. 



CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



Straits of Banca. 



On my arrival at Singapore, various reports 

 were made to me of defects existing in the tender 

 Flying-Fish. It was to be expected, after the 

 arduous service she had performed; yet, having 

 brought her safely thus far, I felt a natural desire 

 to carry her home with us; and in this all the 

 officers seemed to partake. But the idea of risking 

 the lives of her officers and crew, after the disaster 

 that had already befallen her sister craft, was not 

 to be endured; and I saw that it was necessary to 

 have a thorough examination of her before I ven- 

 tured her in the homeward voyage. I therefore 

 ordered a survey by the most experienced persons 

 in the squadron, who, although they could not 

 point out any conspicuous defects, were satisfied 

 that from long and hard service she had become 

 weakened in her frame, and that she would not 

 only need much time, but a large expense, to place 

 her in a fit condition to make the voyage home. I 

 must say that even after I had received the report 

 I still felt a strong inclination to persist in bring- 

 ing her back to the United States; but my final 

 decision was against it. The consul was therefore 

 desired to advertise her for sale, and in the mean 

 time all her stores and armament were removed. 



She was, agreeably to the notice, sold at public 

 sale for three thousand seven hundred dollars. To 

 part with this vessel was unpleasant on many ac- 

 counts; for she had been daily, for nearly four 

 years, my first and last thought. The attachment 

 I had felt for her was great; the efficient aid she 

 had occasionally afforded in the performance of 

 my duties, caused me to value her highly; and as 

 a vessel of her class, she was almost faultless. 



By the 25th of February, we had completed fill- 

 ing our water, which is here conveniently supplied 

 by tank-boats; and having obtained for the passage 

 home all the stores we needed, except bread, we 

 made every preparation for sailing. 



In consequence of the short supply of the latter 

 article, I determined to touch with the Vincennes 

 at the Cape of Good Hope; while the two brigs 

 were ordered to stop at Rio Janeiro, for the same 

 purpose, as well as to obtain some further obser- 

 vations, and additional specimens of natural his- 

 tory. 



At five o'clock on the morning of the 26th, I 

 took advantage of the land-breeze, and made signal 

 to the Porpoise and Oregon to get under way. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



DEPARTURE FROM SINGAPORE STRAITS OF RHIO STRAITS OF BANCA STRAITS OF SUNDA INDIAN OCEAN DEATH 

 OF MR. VANDERFORD VENDOVl's GRIEF ARRIVAL ' IN TABLE BAY CAPE TOWN GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY 

 TAXES BANKING WINE TRADE CATTLE IMPORT TRADE HOTTENTOTS CAFFRE TRIBES VISIT TO CON- 

 STANTIA ASTRONOMY AND MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS ASCENT OF TABLE MOUNTAIN GREEN POINT LIGHT- 

 HOUSE EXCHANGE GARDEN OF THE BARON VON LUDW1G CLIMATE OF THE CAPE PHENOMENA OF REFRAC- 

 TION TENURES OF LAND DEPARTURE FROM TABLE BAY VOYAGE TO ST. HELENA JAMESTOWN VISIT TO THE 

 TOMB OF NAPOLEON AND LONGWOOD MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY PLANTATION-HOUSE DEPARTURE FROM ST. 

 HELENA PASSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK CONCLUSION. 



AFTER leaving Singapore, I determined to pass 

 through the Straits of Rhio, a route which I deemed 

 the shortest and best for vessels bound through 

 the Straits of Sunda. We had light winds and 

 rain-squalls at the entrance of the strait; but to- 

 wards the afternoon we were favoured with the 

 north-east breeze, which carried us rapidly on- 

 ward. At night I anchored, wishing to examine 

 more particularly the charts extant, and to make 

 what corrections I might deem necessary. 



The next morning at daylight we again resumed 

 our route, but in consequence of fog were obliged 

 to anchor off the Dutch factory at Rhio, where a 

 fort is established. This was first occupied in 

 1824, after the cession of Malacca. 



The island contains but few inhabitants, and 

 those few are not inclined to come under the Dutch 

 authority. F rom all I could learn, there is very 

 little inducement for a vessel to resort here for 

 trade. The island is considered extremely un- 

 healthy for foreigners during several months of the 

 year. 



When the weather cleared off, we again passed 

 down the strait, and on our arrival off the southern 

 point of the islands, we steered for the east point 

 of Lintin, which island we passed on the 28th, on 

 our way to the Straits of Banca. 



On the morning of the 1st of March, we ap- 

 proached the northern entrance of the Straits of 

 Banca, and got a view of these low and uninterest- 

 ing coasts. 



The same afternoon, we fell in with a barque, 

 under Dutch colours, which refused to answer our 

 hail as we passed; we immediately wore ship, and 

 fired a shot; upon which they let fly all their hal- 

 yards and sheets. A boat was sent on board with 

 an officer, who discovered that she was manned by 

 Malays, and that no one on board could speak 

 English; however, he managed to understand that 

 they were from Palambam, Sumatra, and bound to 

 Singapore. Soon afterwards, we saw the Dutch 

 establishment of Mintow; it is situated on a knoll, 

 at the northern end of Banca, and had the Dutch 

 flag flying over it. The greater part of Banca is 

 low land; the northern end particularly so. There 

 are, however, a few detached hills, of considerable 

 altitude, which serve as sailing-marks during the 

 passage through the straits. The southern end of 

 the island rises, and appears to be of a different 

 formation from the other parts, as its soil is thickly 

 wooded. In the forest were seen numerous clear- 

 ings, where people had been and were then burn- 

 ing charcoal, to obtain fuel for smelting the tin 

 ores. The principal mining district lies towards 



