68 SAIL FOR THE BASHEE GROUP. [1843 



ornamental gardens that surround his tomb, tends mate- 

 rially to increase the soothing influence of the feelings 

 that arise when visions of the past, and the dreamy 

 fancies of a poet's life, crowd around. A good effect is 

 wrought upon the man who breathes a genuine sigh in 

 memory of the great, whether the object of his regret 

 has poured forth the melody of his nature in streams of 

 living verse, or has given to his country laws, or liberty, 

 art or science." 



Our observations at Macao being complete, and having 

 finally taken leave of our Commander-in-Chief, Sir W. 

 Parker, now about to quit this station, we took our de- 

 parture on the 2nd of November, with the intention of 

 making the shortest passage to the Meia-co-shimah group 

 of the charts, against the S.W. monsoon ; fully aware 

 that this would prove a most unpleasant service, and that 

 great caution would be necessary in carrying canvas, in 

 order to preserve the efficiency of our Chronometers, so 

 that the operations depending upon them should not be 

 entirely frustrated. 



After a tedious beat along the coast of China, in order 

 to clear the Lema islands, we stretched off easterly, and 

 on the llth of November sighted Sabtan, one of the 

 Bashee or Batanes group ; all these islands are termed 

 'Bashees' on the existing charts. On the morning follow- 

 ing, we beat up between Ibugos and Sabtan, and an- 

 chored in fifteen fathoms. During the time employed in 

 beating up, several canoes came towards us, and often 

 sufficiently near to communicate, but as often a sudden 

 panic seemed to inspire them, and they betook themselves 

 to the island of Sabtan. On anchoring I landed imme- 



