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S O O L O O. 
for vessels, and unless the shore is closely approached, the water is 
almost too deep for the purpose. 
At San Jose a Spanish governor resides, who presides over the two 
pueblos of San Pedro and San Josd, and does the duty also of alcalde. 
Lieutenant Budd did not see him, as he was absent, but his lady did 
the honours. Lieutenant Budd represented the pueblo as cleanly 
and orderly. About fifteen soldiers were seen, who compose the 
governor’s guard, and more were said to be stationed at San Pedro. 
A small fort of eight guns commands the roadstead. The beach was 
found to be of fine volcanic sand, composed chiefly of oxide of iron, 
and comminuted shells; there is here also a narrow shore reef of 
coral. The plain bordering the sea is covered with a dense growth 
of cocoa-nut trees. In the fine season the bay is secure, but we were 
informed that in westerly and southwesterly gales heavy seas set in, 
and vessels are not able to lie at anchor. Several small vessels were 
lying in a small river about one and a half miles to the southward of 
the point on which the fort is situated. The entrance to this river is 
very narrow and tortuous. 
Panay is one of the largest islands of the group. We had an 
opportunity of measuring the height of some of its western peaks or 
highlands, none of which exceed three thousand feet. The interior 
and eastern side have many lofty summits, which are said to reach an 
altitude of seven thousand five hundred feet; but these, as we passed, 
were enveloped in clouds, or shut out from view by the nearer high¬ 
lands. The general features of the island are like those of Luzon and 
Mindoro. The few specimens we obtained of its rocks consisted of 
the different varieties of talcose formation, with quartz and jasper. 
The specimens were of no great value, as they were much worn by 
lying on the beach. 
The higher land was bare of trees, and had it not been for the 
numerous fertile valleys lying between the sharp and rugged spurs, 
it would have had a sterile appearance. 
The bay of Antique is in latitude 10° 40' N., longitude 121° 59' 
30" E. 
It was my intention to remain for two or three days at a convenient 
anchorage to enable us to make short excursions into the interior; but 
the vexatious mismanagement of the tender now made it incumbent 
that I should make every possible use of the time to complete the 
operations connected with the hydrography of this sea; for I perceived 
that the duties which I intended should be performed by her, would 
now devolve upon the boats, and necessarily expose both officers and 
men to the hazard of contracting disease. I regretted giving up this 
