1832.] 
rSLAND OF SUMATRA. 
203 
gerated by the English, but more particularly by the Dutch, in 
order to deter the new adventurers. These vessels, therefore, 
failing to procure the requisite information, and being unable to 
get on the track of their more successful pioneer, proceeded on, 
and made up their voyages in some of the other ports of India. 
We have been greatly interested in looking over the record of 
our mercantile enterprise to the east, about this period, as pre- 
served in the port-folios of the Salem East India Marine Society. 
The time may come when these documents will be referred to, 
and written up, as interesting items belonging to the history of 
our country. In turning over the pages of this record we have 
made a few hasty abstracts, which may properly be introduced in 
this place, for the purpose of showing how rapidly our trade had 
extended at the period of which we are speaking. 
The secret vqyages to Sumatra did not continue long. By the 
first of the present century the mystery was penetrated, and the 
whole ground occupied by enlightened competition. 
The ship Friendship, J. Williams master, sailed from Salem 
for Batavia, August first, seventeen hundred and ninety-seven ; 
made St. Paul's Island, and reached the coast of Sumatra, passing 
near Egano Island. When in latitude 5° 25' south, Little Fortune 
Island bore southeast, and Mount Pangong, on the Sumatra 
shore, northeast, distant eight leagues. Left Batavia for the 
United States, March fourth, seventeen hundred and ninety-eight. 
This was among the first American vessels at Batavia. While 
passing through the straits, made observations to ascertain the 
variation of the needle ; found considerable difference between 
the morning and evening observations ; discrepances which have 
been noticed by many navigators, particularly, if we remember 
light, by Captain Cook, in one of his voyages. While in the Strait 
of Sunda, Little Cambuys bearing northwest-by-west, the leads- 
man in the chain, and heaving the line ; he had just cried nine 
fathoms ; but while drawing in the line the ship struck, and re- 
mained for a minute on a coral patch of only two fathoms water. 
These dangers are now noted on the charts, but they go to show 
the dangerous navigation in coral seas. 
On the fourteenth of January, eighteen hundred and two, the 
ship Faimy, E. Smith master, sailed from Boston for New-Hol- 
land, Batavia^ Tranguebar, Hind.ostan ; passed through Brass's 
