372 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



The latitude of the place where the obfervatorjr 

 was erected, near the wefTern extremity of the 

 town, was found to be 3 41' 40" fouth, and its 

 longitude 1 26 9' eaft. 



The variation of the compafs was i 13' 20" 

 weft. 



A flat needle gave 3 for the dip. 



Although the heat was oppreflive, the ther- 

 mometer daily varied pretty regularly only from 

 22 to 25. 



The barometer ftood almoft conftantly at 2$ 

 inches 2 lines, its variation not being above one 

 line. 



The time of high water at our anchorage, at 

 the full and change days, was half pad twelve 

 o'clock, and the fea then rofe upwards of twen- 

 ty-five decimeters. The tides flow and ebb twice 

 a day. 



The Toad of Amboyna forms a channel about 

 two myriameters long, and its mean breadth is 

 two thirds of a myriamcter. Its fhores, in many 

 places, afford good anchorage; in fomc, how- 

 ever, there is a bottom of coral. Towards the 

 middle the depth of water is too great for an- 

 choring. 



The fort called Fort Victory is built of 

 bricks ; here the governor and fome of the mem- 

 bers of the council have taKcn up their rcfidence. 

 It was then falling to ruins, and whenever the 

 4 guns 



