122 " FAIRY ISLANDS." [1844. 



along the coast to the southward. The position of Slime 

 Island was found to be 1 20' 24" N., and 120 41' 36" E., 

 rise of tide nine feet. Notwithstanding all our efforts 

 to reach Cape Donda, for several days we gained nothing ; 

 twice we made attempts to approximate an island on 

 which I wished to obtain further observations, with our 

 two fastest pulling boats, but as our men became fagged, 

 and it was impossible to reach in time to save the latitude, 

 it was each time relinquished, the sailors asserting that 

 they were " Fairy Islands, and glided away faster than we 

 pulled." As our water began to run short, and I saw little 

 prospect, with the prevailing light winds, of overcoming 

 the strong northerly currents, being on the fifth day to 

 leeward of our previous ground, I bore up and ran 

 along the northern shore of Celebes in search of 

 Manado. 



In the present advanced state of Hydrographic 

 knowledge, we are not prepared to understand how 

 Manado, a Dutch position, established for many years, 

 required searching after \ to us, indeed, it would prove a 

 discovery, for we had neither Latitude, Longitude, nor 

 any Remarks calculated to afford the slightest information 

 of its position or peculiarities ; under these circumstances 

 it could not be approached by night, and short as this 

 run to leeward was, it occupied nine days. The richness 

 of the mountainous regions of Celebes afford numerous 

 interesting views ; here the hand of cultivation has 

 cleared away many spots both on hill and dale, which, 

 with their bright grassy tints and contrasts of colour, 

 exhibit an effect scarcely less interesting than that of 

 more civilized regions. 



