352 S O O L O O. 



In the afternoon, a light hreeze came from the southwest, and 

 before sunset I found that we were again on soundings. As soon 

 as we had a cast of twenty fathoms, I anchored for the night, judging 

 it much better than to be drifting about without any knowledge of 

 the locality and currents to which we were subjected. 



On the morning of the 2d, we got under way to proceed to the 

 westward. As the bottom was unequal, I determined to pass through 

 the broadest channel, although it had the appearance of being the 

 shoalest, and sent two boats ahead to sound. In this way we passed 

 through, continuing our surveying operations, and at the same time 

 made an attempt to dredge ; but the ground was too uneven for the 

 latter purpose, and little of value was obtained. 



Shortly after passing the Sangboys, we had the island of Sooloo 

 in sight, for which I now steered direct. At sunset we found our- 

 selves within five or six miles of Soung Harbour; but there was not 

 sufficient light to risk the dangers that might be in our course, nor 

 wind enough to command the ship ; and having no bottom where we 

 were, I determined again to run out to sea, and anchor on the first 

 bank I should meet. At half-past eight o'clock, we struck sounding 

 in twenty-six fathoms, and anchored. 



At daylight we determined our position by angles, and found it 

 to correspond with part of the route we had passed over the day 

 before, and that we were about fifteen miles from the large island of 

 Sooloo. Weighing anchor, we were shortly wafted by the westerly 

 tide and a light air towards that beautiful island, which lay in the 

 midst of its little archipelago ; and as we were brought nearer and 

 nearer, we came to the conclusion that in our many wanderings we 

 had seen nothing to be compared to this enchanting spot. It ap- 

 peared to be well cultivated, with gentle slopes rising here and 

 there into eminences from one to two thousand feet high. One or 

 two of these might be dignified with the name of mountains, and 

 were sufficiently high to arrest the passing clouds, on the afternoon 

 of our arrival we had a singular example in the dissipation of a thun- 

 der-storm. 



Although much of the island was under cultivation, yet it had all 

 the freshness of a forest region. The many smokes on the hills, build- 

 ings of large size, cottages, and cultivated spots, together with the 

 moving crowds on the land, the prahus, canoes, and fishing-boats on 

 the water, gave the whole a civilized appearance. Our own vessel 

 lay, almost without a ripple at her side, on the glassy surface of the 



