June.] 



ARRIVE AT MANILLA.' 



415 



June 2d. — On Saturday, the 29t.h, at 3, P. M., (nautical time,) we 

 took our departure from the Massacre Islands, bearing south-by- 

 west, distant three leagues, and steered to the north and west, with 

 moderate breezes from south-east to east, and fair weather. On 

 Wednesday, the 2d day of June, at 7, P. M., we crossed the equator, 

 in the long, of 152° 27" east. From that time, we had light variable 

 winds, attended with heavy falls of rain, until Tuesday, the 8th, when 

 we took the north-east trade-winds, in lat. 6° 15' north, long. 150° 

 10' east. 



We continued steering to the north and west, with moderate north- 

 east trades and fine weather, until 2, A. M., on Monday, the 21st, 

 when we saw the island of St. Barnardino, lying at the eastern en- 

 trance of the strait of the same name, bearing west-by-south, distant 

 one league. This was the first and only land we had seen since leaving 

 the Massacre Islands ; constantly keeping two men at the mast-head, 

 day and night, one on the end of the bowsprit, and one on the jib-boom. 

 At 3, A. M., we were within the strait of St. Barnardino, or the strait 

 of Manilla. 



June 26th. — We continued on our passage, through this strait, with 

 light variable winds, and calms, attended with rain-squalls, until 

 Saturday morning, the 26th of June ; when we arrived at Manilla, and 

 anchored, at 7, A. M., one mile off-shore, in four fathoms of water, 

 muddy bottom, with the flag-staff on the citadel bearing east-by-north. 

 At 8, A. M., we received the health-officer's usual visit, and at the 

 same time my wife came on board, in the boat of the captain of the 

 port, attended by our worthy friend Mr. Cannell. My feelings on this 

 occasion can be better conceived than described. Independent of my 

 recent misfortunes, other circumstances, with which it is inexpedient 

 and unnecessary to acquaint the reader, rendered this meeting ex- 

 tremely affecting. 



We now embarked for the shore with cheerful and exhilarated spirits ; 

 but what was my surprise, on landing at the custom-wharf, to find 

 the collector's carriage waiting to convey us to our residence. This 

 worthy man, together with our mutual friend the captain of the port, 

 after expressing the greatest sympathy for our afflictions, handed my 

 wife into the carriage, where we all took our seats, and in a few mo- 

 ments were safely set down at the residence of my excellent friend 

 Cannell. After remaining about half an hour with us, the collector 

 and captain rose to take their leave, first giving me and my wife a very 

 polite and pressing invitation to call and spend a few days with them. 

 Their parting salutation was a warm pressure of the hand, with the 

 words — " God bless you both." 



I now made known my deplorable situation and circumstances to 

 Mr. Cannell, and wished him to advance me sufficient funds to pur- 

 chase provisions for a crew of ninety men, for ten or twelve months. 

 This noble-hearted gentleman, ever ready to assist his fellow-creatures 

 in distress, instantly agreed to let me have what money he had, which 

 he feared would not be sufficient for my purpose, as he had just pur- 

 chased and paid for a large cargo of pearl-shell and a quantity of tor- 

 toise-shell. But all he had was at my service, for which he would only 



