1844.] LUBAN. 108 



may there be seen crouching gracefully, as ' with nectar 

 pure her oozy locks she laves'. It is very singular, how- 

 ever, to perceive, now qnd then, black, warty snakes 

 make their appearance among the bathers, who neither 

 exhibit alarm, nor appear to evince the slightest notice of 

 their presence. These reptiles (Chersydrw granulatw}, 

 which swarm in the river, although not very attractive in 

 their aspect, are perfectly harmless." 



On the evening of the 1st of April we quitted the 

 Bay of Manila and shortly before noon on the follow- 

 ing day, neared the island of Cabras, situated off the 

 western end of Luban. As much unnecessary precaution 

 about approaching this island, is inserted in the sailing 

 directions, and I knew from my own experience, by 

 grazing it very closely in 1840, that no extensive reef lies 

 off its western end, I determined on ascertaining the 

 correctness of my friend the Captain of the Port's infor- 

 mation as to the passage between it and Luban. The 

 day was beautifully clear, we could see some distance 

 from our mast-heads, and we steered a course for mid- 

 channel, passing through without obtaining bottom with 

 150 fathoms. The deepest water is on the Cabras side, 

 and its shores may be grazed at the reef-line in twenty 

 fathoms ; a ledge extends from Luban, but the reef-line 

 is well defined. The position of Cabras I found to be 

 more easterly than placed on the charts : but of this 

 hereafter. Passing Cabras, we found ourselves suddenly 

 becalmed under the lee of Luban ; I would therefore 

 advise persons selecting this channel, to preserve a course 

 westerly of south, until well to the southward, by which 

 means the breeze will be retained. We now proceeded 



