108 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



In the afternoon we passed quite close by two small islands, 

 which the English call the Rabbets and Cunni (Coney),* on account 

 of the similarity of their shape. They looked like an oblong- 

 vault and one of them had on one extremity two trees ending- in 

 a point, which represent the ears. These trees seemed to me a 

 kind of cedar. I could study the strata of these islands more closely. 

 They seemed to consist of a fine sort of stone with a white wea- 

 ther-beaten surface. My captain told me he had often seen this 

 kind of stone in these parts, and that it varies in colour from red 

 to yellow, sometimes even to black. He said they were friable 

 and smooth and could be cut. I could not decide whether this 

 was the Chinese soap-stone or not. 



To my great astonishment I saw very few birds in these 

 parts; only now and then the kind of swallow I mentioned before 

 and only one Malabar bird near the Eabbets islands. Throug-h 

 my small telescope I saw a kind of palm unknown to me on the 

 Barn island. This island is very rocky and only separated from 

 the Rabbets by a narrow passage. 



We wished to reach the island of St. John to-day but the 

 strong" current and weak wind forced us to cast anchor. We saw 

 three Malay rowing- boats lying- near one of the islands. Towards 

 evening we met a ship returning from Rio to Bengal, which was 

 commanded by a captain Brown. 



G. — Towards midnig-ht the anchor was hoisted again. The 

 very strong- current took us happily past the islands and in the 

 afternoon towards three o'clock we left the Strait. We had pass- 

 ed the cape Romania, and left the three small islands lying before 

 it on our left. Shortly after we passed Petro Blanco, which is a 

 low rock ; it is covered with the dung- of birds. I saw often a 

 great quantity of birds flying past, they resembled our ducks 

 both in size and in manner of flight; I never saw this kind before. 

 On the high cliffs of Romania, which are overgrown with trees, I 

 saw a beautiful red blossom on several trees. Though I could 

 distinguish them size I could not distinguish their shape. The 

 shore was also formed of red sand. We passed a ship that 

 carried the Danish flag. 



7. — We lay at anchor during the night on account of the calm 

 and the contrary current, but at day-break the anchor was hoist- 

 ed with favourable wind. At eight o'clock we saw P-allu Tingi and 

 * Now IhiSes b'slitliouse. 



