518 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



unticip.ated ; but may probably increase in advancing inland, higher 

 up the mountains. 



On the 1st of February, the Vincennes sailed; and after gaining an 

 offing, we looked back upon the mountainous Interior of Mindanao. 

 The land-surface, not very much broken, everywhere rose rather 

 evenly; and the extreme elevation, judging by the height of a ship 

 sailing in the distance near the shore, did not seem less than three 

 thousand feet. 



The wind was light, and with a current bearing us Northward, we 

 passed Basilan; an island of some importance, in plain sight from 

 Caldera. At sunset, the Vincennes anchored near an islet, having 

 reached the outskirts of the Suluan archipelago of islets. 



On the 2d, tlie wind was light but favorable, being from the South- 

 ward and Eastward. We continued sailing among scattered islets; 

 some of them high ; others inconsiderable, mere rocks ; others again, 

 low and evidently of coral, presenting a conspicuous white beach, and 

 except in being smaller and devoid of an Interior lagoon, resembling 

 the coral-islands of the Pacific. 



Towards sunset, we were within three or four miles of the island of 

 SuLU or Jolo ; much resembling some of the mountainous islands in 

 the Feejeean Group, yet agreeing in general character with the portion 

 of the East Indies thus f^ir visited. Of several eminences, the highest 

 seemed as much as two thousand feet in elevation; and proved lofty 

 enough to intercept a thunder-shower, witnessed three days later. On 

 the nearest portion of the island, scattered trees were distinguished; 

 some on the crest of the ridges resembling tall palms, but with tiie glass, 

 the terminal crown was observed to be divided. — On the 3d, the wea- 

 ther was nearly calm ; and in the afternoon, the Vincennes anchored 

 outside of the harbor, which leads to Soung, the principal town. — On 

 the 4th, the calm continuing, the Vincennes was towed by boats into 

 the harbor. The island, one of the most pleasant-looking visited during 

 our voyage, presented everywhere the luxuriant freshness of a forest- 

 region ; and an unusually large proportion of the surface had been 

 cleared for cultivation. We were not destined to become acquainted 

 with the Interior; but Mr. Brackenridge and myself succeeded once 

 in getting beyond the limits of the town, to the distance of a fourth 

 of a mile along the beach. 



On the 5th, a party, all well armed, proceeded in two boats to Ma- 

 rongas islet, outside of the harbor. At some distance from the shore. 



