114 CHASE AFTER PIRATES. [1846. 



westward, fully armed, (for measuring base by sound) and 

 in a condition to prevent their escape. The ' Samarang ', 

 by signal, was under weigh, and all on board eager for 

 the fray before 1 reached her ; and a very animated chase 

 occupied us until near sunset, when the ship, having 

 brought two prahus under her guns, and between her 

 and the southern island, a shot beyond them intimated 

 the futility of any further attempt at escape, as well as 

 the propriety of awaiting search, which the two cutters, 

 rounding the western side of the island nearly at the 

 same moment, carried into effect. They contained a 

 Malay Chief, and a larger supply of arms, people, &c., 

 than any peaceable persons could be supposed to require ; 

 as to the fact of their following piratical courses I had 

 not the remotest doubt, but as they did not contain cap- 

 tured Christians, nor could any piratical fact be alleged 

 against them, they were suffered to pursue their course, 

 which appeared to lead them to the main island of Ca- 

 gayan Sooloo ; the ' Samarang ' continuing hers towards 

 Banguey. The Islands of Cagayan, as far as noticed 

 by us, comprise one large, very high, well-clothed with 

 trees, and apparently of volcanic origin, with two smaller 

 islands, situated about five miles, nearly south of the 

 centre of the main one. Reefs appear to extend some 

 distance, belting the greater island, but the smaller appear 

 to be " steep to ", and are moderately elevated hillocks 

 well clothed with timber. 



The position of our Observing islet, nearly upon the 

 meridian of the centre of the great island, was determined 

 to be inLat. 6 58' 5" N. Long. 118 24' 11" E. 

 Var. 12' 29" E. Dip. 55' 50" Anchorage 



