1846.] LEAVE SINGAPORE. 187 



The mails could be landed at " the Malay village ", and 

 would reach the post-office in less time than a gig from 

 the sea anchorage. The distance, by the channel now in 

 use would be twenty miles ! and without guide of any 

 description. 



Coming from the eastward, the proposed light would 

 lead a vessel, under very mediocre pilotage, into New 

 Harbour, a torch at the buoy (by previous signal from 

 the steamer) leading her to moorings. This same light, 

 screened by Tanjong Batu, would, independent of that 

 suggested on Romania Island, lead vessels moving east- 

 terly, or westerly, clear of the Johore bank, and ensure 

 their reaching the roads safely at night, instead of an- 

 choring, and losing breeze until daylight. 



On the 14th the ' Agincourt ', with the Admiral, an- 

 chored, and on the 18th, the affairs of Borneo not 

 requiring our detention, we took leave of Singapore, 

 Lieut. Ogle, of the ' Royalist ' joining the ' Samarang ', 

 and that vessel being returned for the service of the 

 station. Our course down the China Sea was free from 

 any remarkable incident, until the 27th, when being 

 much baffled by variable winds and currents we stood 

 over under the Island of Billiton, in the hope of avoiding 

 some portion of the current. On the morning of the 

 28th, being close under Billiton, we found the current 

 still driving us fast to leeward, and having passed close to 

 an island not placed in the charts, anchored near it to 

 avoid change of tide, and obtain Observations for seeming 

 its position. These were completed before the evening, 

 and on embarking, as I still found the current strong, 

 orders were given to weigh about midnight, our greatest 



