1832.] 
STRAIT OP SUNDA. 
237 
curling the water under her bows, in the fine style of ten knots 
an hour. In the evening, land was again announced from aloft, 
which proved to be the Island of Engano, the most southerly of 
the large islands on the west side of Sumatra. We lay to 
during the night with the maintopsail to the mast. On the follow- 
ing morning we again made sail, and stood for the Strait of Sunda, 
which, has two channels leading into it from the northward : — ■ 
viz., the small channel between the west end of Java and Prince's 
Island, and the great channel to the north of this island, between 
it and the south coast of Sumatra. 
The channel between Prince's Island and Java Head is about 
four miles wide. This island, which is called by the natives 
Pulo Poutaugh, is the largest of any at the mouth of the strait, 
and yet not more than five leagues in extent, lying in latitude 6" 
30' south, and longitude 105° 10' east. Near its centre are some 
hills of moderate elevation, but near the shores the land is low, 
particularly on the west side, fronting the open sea. The Dutch 
were formerly in the habit of traversing this narrow channel, con- 
sidering it the safer passage of the two. Many ships continue to 
do the same, although the other and wider channel between Prince's 
Island and Crockatoa is most generally frequented. 
At eight o'clock on the morning of Friday, the second of 
March, Java Head was in sight ; but did not present, as was ex- 
pected, the appearance of a high bluff or promontory, although 
elevated land was seen over it, which may have been often taken for 
Java Head itself. A little to the eastward of it the land is also 
high, with steep cliffs facing the sea. 
Java Head lies in latitude 6° 48' south, and longitude 105° 11' east, 
: and 1° 41' west from the city of Batavia. The coast of Sumatra, 
in a soft blue mist, was visible on the west, and the strait was ex- 
panding directly ahead, to the northeast. At this moment a wreck 
was reported, which brought all hands on deck. The unfortunate 
stranger could be distinctly seen lying on her beam ends, with 
stump-topmasts extending out horizontally. Even the suffering 
survivers could be distinctly discerned clinging to the helmless 
hull, and the sympathies of all were quite awakened, as the Poto- 
mac's course was altered to bear down upon it. This amiable 
excitement, however, was but of short dm-ation ; as, on nearing 
the object of solicitude, it proved to be the trunk of a large pal- 
