358 
S O O L O O. 
soundings of seventy-five fathoms. Cagayan Sooloo has a pleasant 
appearance from the sea, and may be termed a high island. It is 
less covered with undergrowth and mangrove-bushes than the neigh¬ 
bouring islands, and the reefs are comparatively small. It has fallen 
oft' in importance; and by comparing former accounts with those I 
received, and from its present aspect, it would seem that it has 
decreased both in population and products. Its caves formerly sup¬ 
plied a large quantity of edible birds’-nests; large numbers of cattle 
were to be found upon it; and its cultivation was carried on to some 
extent. These articles of commerce are not so much attended to at 
the present time, and the biche de mar and tortoise-shell, formerly 
brought hither, are now carried to other places. There is a small 
anchorage on the west side, but we did not visit it. There are no 
dangers near these small islands that may not be guarded against. 
Our survey extended only to their size and situation, as I deemed it 
my duty to devote all the remainder of the time I had to spare to the 
Straits of Balabac. 
After the night set in, w r e continued sounding every ten minutes, 
and occasionally got bottom in from thirty to seventy fathoms. At 
midnight, the water shoaled to twenty fathoms, when I dropped the 
anchor until daylight. We shortly afterwards had a change of wind, 
and a heavy squall passed over us. 
In the morning we had no shoal ground near us, and the bank on 
which we had anchored was found to be of small size; it is probable 
that we had dropped the anchor on the shoalest place. Vessels have 
nothing to fear in this respect. 
At 9 a . m. of the 8th, we made the Mangsee Islands ahead of us, 
and likewise Balabac to the north, and Balambangan to the south. 
Several sand-banks and extensive reefs were also seen between them. 
On seeing the ground on which we had to operate, of which the 
published charts give no idea whatever, I determined to proceed, and 
take a central position with the ship under the Mangsee Islands; but 
in order not to lose time, I hoisted out and dropped two boats, under 
Lieutenant Perry, to survey the first sand-bank we came to, which 
lies a few miles to the eastward of these islands, with orders to effect 
this duty and join me at the anchorage, or find a shelter under the lee 
of the islands. 
At half-past 2 p. m. we anchored near the reef, in thirty-six fathoms 
water. I thought myself fortunate in getting bottom, as the reefs on 
closing with them seemed to indicate but little appearance of it. 
The rest of the day was spent in preparing the boats for our opera¬ 
tions. I now felt the want of the tender. Although in the absence 
