SAN FRANCISCO TO MANILLA. 271 



November, he stood for the position of Cornwallis Island, as laid 

 down by Arrowsmith in longitude 169° 31' W., latitude 16° 50' N., 

 without seeing any indication of land. Twenty-two miles to the 

 south-by-east of this position, he discovered a reef, which surrounded 

 an extensive lagoon, extending northeast and southwest ten miles, and 

 in the opposite direction five miles. On the northwest side of this 

 reef there are two low islets : the one to the westward was covered 

 with bushes, but no trees ; the other was no more than a sand-bank. 

 This reef lies deep. The longitude of the westernmost islet was 

 found to be 169° 45' 36" W., and latitude 16° 48' N. He then bore 

 away for San Pedro of Arrowsmith, in longitude 179° 00' W., and 

 latitude 11° 17' N, and on the 7th of December sailed over it and on 

 its parallel forty miles both east and west, but saw no indications of 

 land whatever. 



The Mulgrave Islands were steered for, and two small islands made 

 on the 16th, in the position of longitude 172° 02' 33" E., and latitude 

 5° 59' 15" N, which corresponds with the chart of Arrowsmith. 

 They are low islets, extending two miles from north to south, and one 

 and a half from east to west. They are connected by a reef, which 

 surrounds a lagoon. Natives were seen upon them, but no communi- 

 cation was had with them. 



Bapham's, a lagoon island, was made on the 17th: it was found to 

 be correctly located ; it is also inhabited. 



Hunter's Island was made the same evening, and was examined the 

 next day : it is one and three quarters of a mile long, north and south, 

 and two-thirds of a mile east and west ; it is elevated in the centre, 

 and has no lagoon ; its position was ascertained to be in longitude 

 169° 05' 46" E., and latitude 5° 42' N. 



Baring's Island was next passed in 168° 26' 24" E., latitude 5° 34' 

 42" N. The current experienced off these islands was from fifteen to 

 twenty-five miles easterly. 



It having been strongly enjoined upon Mr. Knox not to be behind 

 the time designated for his arrival at Manilla, he found, on his reach- 

 ing the equator, that but twenty-two days of his time remained : 

 having already experienced light winds and calms, he saw that it 

 would be impossible to range through the Caroline Group and visit 

 Ascension and Strong's Islands ; he therefore determined to haul again 

 to the northward, and passed several of the groups in a higher latitude, 



On the 26th, he passed over the situation ascribed to Faroilip 

 Island, in latitude 10° 45' N., longitude 146° 27' E., without any 

 indications of land. He then sought Feis Island, whose position was 

 crossed on the 27th, but saw no land. 



