CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 455 



strong continuous blast; others are nothing more than a bamboo tube, 

 through which the breath is forced upon the flame. The process for 

 working the mines and extracting the metal from the ore, are si nilar 

 in all the mining districts, and differ but little from those employed 

 when the mines were first opened. 



The Sumatra shore of the Straits of Banca is low, and appears to 

 be covered with a dense forest. During the night we were visited by 

 a heavy storm of thunder and lightning, with much rain. The next 

 morning being pleasant, we got under way again, and passed rapidly 

 through the straits ; the southern outlet, however, called the Luce- 

 para Passage, was not attained until nearly dark, and before reaching 

 it we crossed many shoals, so near the surface as to leave but little 

 water under our keels. An English vessel in advance of us hoisted a 

 light after dark, and by taking it for our guide, we succeeded in pass- 

 ing through safely. This vessel was soon overtaken by us, and proved 

 to be the barque Java, Lewis master, thirty-eight days from Batavia, 

 and bound to Singapore. Having lost twelve of her crew by dysen- 

 tery and but few of the survivors being able to perform their duty in 

 consequence, she was returning to Batavia. The surgeon was sent on 

 board, and the necessary medicines, &c, of which they were in great 

 want, were supplied. 



During the 2d and 3d of March, we had cloudy weather, with some 

 rain, and at nightfall on the latter day, anchored near the Two Bro- 

 thers. During the night, George Porter died. He was buried next 

 day with the usual ceremonies. We got under way again at an early 

 hour in the morning, and at evening found ourselves off North Island, 

 near which we anchored. During the night we had lightning, thunder, 

 and rain. 



The next day we arrived off Hout's Island, at the entrance of the 

 Straits of Sunda, when, the wind dying away, we were left at the 

 mercy of a strong current setting in towards the island. To avoid 

 danger we anchored, and lay until the turn of the tide ; we afterwards 

 passed round Zutphen's Island and Hog Point, anchoring for the night 

 off Rajah Bassa. 



As far as my experience goes, I can testify that Horsburgh's direc- 

 tions for the Straits of Sunda are safe and good, although perhaps not 

 the most suitable for our navigators, for he makes the safety of the 

 ship his principal aim, and gives directions so to navigate a large class 

 vessel as to insure it; whilst my countrymen, although they always 

 read him, are not disposed to pursue his directions exactly, believing 

 that in following his advice more time is lost than a regard to sufficient 



