S O O L O O. 325 



(both English and Spanish). The channel along this side is from 

 twelve to twenty miles wide, and suitable for beating in; little current 

 is believed to exist ; and the tides, as far as our observations went, 

 seem to be regular and of little strength. 



The island of Panay is high and broken, particularly on the 

 south end ; its shores are thickly settled and well cultivated. Indigo 

 and sugar-cane claim much of the attention of the inhabitants. 

 The Indians are the principal cultivators. They pay to govern- 

 ment a capitation tax of seven rials. Its population is estimated 

 at three hundred thousand, which I think is rather short of the actual 

 number. 



On all the hills there are telegraphs of rude construction, to give 

 information of the approach of piratical prahus from Sooloo, which 

 formerly were in the habit of making attacks upon the defenceless 

 inhabitants and carrying them off into slavery. Of late years they 

 have ceased these depredations, for the Spaniards have resorted to a 

 new mode of warfare. Instead of pursuing and punishing the offen- 

 ders, they now intercept all their supplies, both of necessaries and 

 luxuries ; and the fear of this has had the effect to deter pirates from 

 their usual attacks. 



We remained off San Pedro for the night, in hopes of falling in with 

 the Flying-Fish in the morning. 



On the morning of the 28th, the Flying-Fish was discovered plainly 

 in sight. I immediately stood for her, fired a gun and made signal. 

 At seven o'clock, another gun was fired, but the vessel still stood off, 

 and was seen to make sail to the westward without paying any regard 

 whatever to either, and being favoured by a breeze while the Vin- 

 cennes was becalmed, she stole off and was soon out of sight.* 



After breakfast we opened the bay of Antique, on which is situated 

 the town of San Jose. As this bay apparently offered anchorage for 

 vessels bound up this coast, I determined to survey it ; and for this 

 purpose the boats were hoisted out and prepared for surveying. Lieu- 

 tenant Budd was despatched to visit the pueblo called San Jose. 



On reaching the bay, the boats were sent to different points of it, 

 and when they were in station, the ship fired guns to furnish bases 

 by the sound, and angles were simultaneously measured. The boats 

 made soundings on their return to the ship, and thus completed this 

 duty, so that in an hour or two afterwards the bay was correctly 

 represented on paper. It offers no more than a temporary anchorage 



* On my arrival at Singapore, this circumstance was investigated by a court of inquiry. 

 The result showed that Mr. Knox had no knowledge of the Vincennes having been seen ; 

 *br the officer of the watch had not reported to him the fact. 

 2C 



