270 SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 



Sabtang and Batan are of broken surface, shooting up into many 

 remarkable peaks, to the elevation of a thousand feet. These are 

 both inhabited, and afford one or two anchorages. 



In the route from Oahu, we had experienced a set to the westward 

 of four hundred miles by current; the greater part of this was felt 

 before reaching the meridian of the Ladrone Islands. 



I now stood to the southward along the island of Luzon, to pass 

 just clear of Cape Bolinao. On the 9th, we continued to have very 

 strong winds. A very heavy sea arose, without apparent cause; the 

 progressing motion of the waves in passing the ship was twenty-two 

 miles per hour ; their width, as near as it could be ascertained, was 

 one hundred and forty yards. 



At sunset of the 10th, we were off Cape Capones, and numerous 

 lights were seen on shore. The breeze failed us after midnight, and 

 in the morning we found that we had drifted some thirty miles to 

 the leeward of Cape Miravales, having Cape Capones due north, the 

 current having set to the southward. As the breeze was adverse to 

 our entrance into the bay, we continued beating until the afternoon, 

 when the sea-breeze gave us the hope of reaching the anchorage; but 

 it was so feeble that we made no way, and the night was again passed 

 under sail. 



The next day, the 12th, was also passed in working up for the city 

 of Manilla. For this delay I had something to console me in the 

 arrival of the Flying-Fish, which vessel was discovered at 3 h 30 m p. m. 

 beating in. Signal was made for her to join company. 



On arriving at the island of Corregidor, we were boarded by a go- 

 vernment galley, pulling sixteen oars, and having a large brass twelve- 

 pound piece mounted on the bow. These vessels, I understood, are 

 intended principally to pursue the pirates of Sooloo, who not unfre- 

 quently make excursions among the islands, attacking the villages, 

 and carrying off the inhabitants as slaves. They are manned by the 

 natives of this island, who arc represented as active and expert sailors, 

 although they are, generally, of small size. 



After dark, we anchored about eight miles from the city, in the 

 middle of the broad and beautiful expanse of its bay, which is nearly 

 circular, with an almost uniform depth of water. I learned, whilst at 

 Manilla, that since the settlement of Europeans, the bay has filled up 

 in places very considerably, from the wash of the hills. The lands in 

 the vicinity are high and mountainous, and are clothed with the vege- 

 tation of the tropics. After dark, the many lights that were seen in 

 the direction of the city gave the bay an animated appearance, and 

 bespoke our being near a large and active population. 



Mr. Knox reported to me that after his separation, on the 30th of 



