S O O L O O. 345 



the next day that we succeeded in reaching Panay. I determined 

 to pass the night off" Point Potol, the north end of Panay, as I believed 

 the sea in its neighbourhood to be free of shoals, and wished to resume 

 our running survey early in the morning. 



At daylight on the 27th we continued the survey down the coast of 

 Panay, and succeeded in correcting many errors in the existing charts 

 (both English and Spanish). The channel along this side is from 

 twelve to twenty miles wide, and suitable for beating in ; little cur- 

 rent is believed to exist ; and the tides, as far as our observations 

 went, seem to be regular and of little strength. 



The island of Panay is high and broken, particularly on the south 

 end ; its shores are thickly settled and well cultivated. Indigo and 

 sugar-cane claim much of the attention of the inhabitants. The 

 Indians are the principal cultivators. They pay to government a 

 capitation tax of seven rials. Its population is estimated at three 

 hundred thousand, which I think is rather short of the actual 

 number. 



On all the hills there are telegraphs of rude construction, to give 

 information of the approach of piratical prahus from Sooloo, which 

 formerly were in the habit of making attacks upon the defenceless 

 inhabitants and carrying them off into slavery. Of late years they 

 have ceased these depredations, for the Spaniards have resorted to a 

 new mode of warfare. Instead of pursuing and punishing the 

 offenders, they now intercept all their supplies, both of necessaries 

 and luxuries ; and the fear of this has had the effect to deter the 

 pirates from their usual attacks. 



We remained off San Pedro for the night, in hopes of falling in 

 with the Flying-Fish in the morning. 



On the morning of the 28th, the Flying-Fish was discovered 

 plainly in sight. I immediately stood for her, fired a gun and made 

 signal. At seven o'clock another gun was fired, but the vessel still 

 stood off, and was seen to make sail to the westward without paying 

 any regard whatever to either, and being favoured by a breeze while 

 the Vincennes was becalmed, she stole off and was soon out of sight.* 



After breakfast we opened the bay of Antique, on which is situated 

 the town of San Jose. As this bay apparently offered anchorage for 



* On my arrival at Singapore, this circumstance was investigated by a court of 

 inquiry. The result showed that Mr. Knox had no knowledge of the Vincennes having 

 been seen ; for the officer of the watch had not reported to him the fact. 



vol. v. 87 



