1845.] ISLAND OF SAMASANA. 311 



down to the southward of Botel Tobago, but although 

 our reckoning placed us near enough to observe any 

 breaker, the placidity of the sea rendered this impossible 

 as twelve feet water on it is assigned by Capt. Ross, the 

 latest authority. Passing to the eastward of Botel 

 Tobago, we found ourselves on the morning of the 3rd 

 of June near the Island of Samasana. This being a 

 doubtful position, a landing was effected, and a cursory 

 survey of its southern features completed. We found 

 a very snug little village concealed within the bamboo 

 hedge skirting the sea, and a population probably 

 amounting (after the Chinese habit of reckoning, ten 

 souls to one house) to 150. Two small junks were on 

 the beach, which they informed us belonged, as well as 

 themselves, to Tai-wan, the general term for Formosa in 

 these regions. The island appeared to be under cultiva- 

 tion, chiefly Rice, and the village valley laid out in gar- 

 dens, producing Maize, Cucumbers, Cabbage, and custo- 

 mary Chinese produce. As the sun at this season was 

 rather beyond the limits of observation by sextant, we 

 were reduced to remain on shore to obtain the Latitude 

 by the stars. About six, P.M., just as we were all com- 

 fortably seated upon the apex of a small hillock, discus- 

 sing the dinner sent on shore to us, our nerves were 

 somewhat disturbed by the sudden shock of an earth- 

 quake ; the sensation to myself, seated upon a keg, was 

 as if the hillock was about to burst at its apex, and disperse 

 our comestibles in radii from the centre. The state of our 

 appetites, after fasting since 8 o'clock, A.M., soon, however, 

 enabled us to resume operations, the shock having failed 

 either to disarrange our table, or disturb the crust of the 

 wine. At the same instant the ' Samarang ' having got 



