OCT. 1770 STRAITS OF SUNDA 363 



morning proved to be Java Head and Prince's Island. At 

 night we had passed Cracatoa. 



2nd. We espied two large ships lying at anchor behind 

 Anger Point ; we came to an anchor, and sent a boat on 

 board the ships for news. They were Dutch East India- 

 men ; one bound for Cochin and the coast of Coromandel ; 

 the other for Ceylon. Their captains received our officer 

 very politely, and told him some European news ; as, 

 that the government in England were in the utmost dis- 

 order, the people crying up and down the streets " Down 

 with King George, King Wilkes for ever," that the Americans 

 had refused to pay taxes of any kind, the consequence of 

 which being that a large force had been sent there, both of 

 sea and land forces ; that the party of Polanders, who had 

 been forced into the late election by the Eussians inter- 

 fering, had asked assistance of the Grand Signior, who had 

 granted it, in consequence of which the Eussians had sent 

 twenty sail of the line, and a large army by land to besiege 

 Constantinople, etc. etc. etc. With regard to our present 

 circumstances, they told us that our passage to Batavia 

 was likely to be very tedious, as we should have a strong 

 current constantly against us, and at this time of the year 

 calms and light breezes were the only weather we had to 

 expect. They said also that near where they lay was a 

 Dutch packet boat, whose business it was to go on board all 

 ships coming through the straits to inquire of them their 

 news, and carry or send their letters to Batavia with the 

 utmost despatch, which business they said her skipper was 

 obliged to do even for foreigners, if they desired it. This 

 skipper, if we wanted refreshments, would furnish us with 

 fowls, turtle, etc., at a very cheap rate. 



3rd. The Dutch packet of which we had been told yester- 

 day, and which proved to be a sloop of no inconsiderable size, 

 had been standing after us all the morning, and still continued 

 to do so, gaining however but little, till a foul wind sprang 

 up, on which she bore away. At night an Indian proa 

 came on board, bringing the master of the sloop. He 

 brought with him two books, in one of which he desired 



