SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 289 



the next day : it is one and three quarters of a mile long, north and 

 south, and two-thirds of a mile east and west; it is elevated in the 

 centre, and has no lagoon ; its position was ascertained to be in longi- 

 tude 169° 05' 46" E., and latitude 5° 42' 00" N. 



Baring's Island was next passed, in 168° 26' 24" E., latitude 5° 34' 

 42" N. The current experienced off these islands was from fifteen 

 to twenty-five miles easterly. 



It having been strongly enjoined upon Mr. Knox not to be behind 

 the time designated for his arrival at Manilla, he found, on his reach- 

 ing the equator, that but twenty-two days of his time remained : 

 having already experienced light winds and calms, he saw that it 

 would be impossible to range through the Caroline Group and visit 

 Ascension and Strong's Islands ; he therefore determined to haul 

 again to the northward, and passed several of the groups in a higher 

 latitude. 



On the 26th, he passed over the situation ascribed to Faroilip 

 Island, in latitude 10° 45' N., longitude 146° 27' E., without any 

 indications of land. He then sought Feis Island, whose position was 

 crossed on the 27th, but saw no land. 



The eastern extremity of M'Kenzie's Group was made on the 29th, 

 in latitude 10° 07' 53" N., longitude 139° 54' 58" E. To the north- 

 ward and westward of it, a supposed shoal was passed over, but none 

 was found. 



M'Kenzie's Group is of greater extent than is represented on the 

 maps. It is composed of a great many islets, with passages between 

 them, some of them into the lagoon, through one of which the 

 schooner entered, with not less than seven fathoms water on the bar. 

 This group is thickly inhabited, and some of the natives boarded the 

 schooner. They resembled the Caroline Islanders, but had their 

 teeth much discoloured, apparently from the use of the betel-nut. 

 From them some fish and cocoa-nuts were procured. They were 

 seen to be in possession of iron utensils, and appeared to have before 

 had communication with vessels. 



Mr. Knox now steered for the Straits of Bernadino, and made 

 Cape Espiritu Santo on the night of the 4th of January. Owing 

 to the want of observations for two days before, he was near being 

 shipwrecked. On the 11th, he had passed through the straits, and 

 anchored under Cape St. Jago, whence he got under way, and reached 

 Manilla, as before stated. 



vol. v. 73 



