SOUTHERN AFRICA. 265 
But these circumstances take a very different turn on the 
liomeward-bound voyage. The danger is then increased in a 
much greater proportion than the vahie of the ships is aug- 
mented, if, indeed, we are wilHng to allow the enemy to 
employ the same means that we should ourselves do, in a like 
situation, the capture of many of our sli^ips may be considered 
as inevitable. Since this was written the observation has been 
but too fully justified. 
In the first place, the danger of the straits of Sunda pre- 
sents itself to our homeward-bound China ships. A small 
squadron from Batavia, stationed at Nicholas Point on the 
north of Java, where there is good anchorage, or at Anjerie 
Point in the middle of the Strait, at both of which places it 
may receive a constant supply of refreshments, would be able 
to intercept every ship that attempted to pass the Strait. To 
avoid these the Strait of Malacca has been chosen, but in 
either case the ships from China pass a fixed point. When 
Linois waited the approach of the Canton fleet near Pulo 
Aura, he knew to a certaint}^ that he could not miss them ; 
and had he possessed the courage and the skill of a British 
officer, the greater part, if not the whole, of this valuable 
fleet must have fallen into his hands or have been de- 
stroyed. 
Both these straits, it is true, may be avoided by taking 
the eastern passage ; but here a new and no less danger 
presents itself from the port of Manilla. As all ships, mak- 
ing this passage, must go within sight of Luconia, it would 
VOL. II. M M 
