248 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[March;^ 
Nicholas's Point, in latitude 5° 52' south, longitude 106° 2' east, or 
fifty miles west from Batavia by chronometer. It is a high, bold 
headland, and on each side of it, close to the shore, are some 
small islands. The soundings of this part of the coast are gen- 
erally regular, and ships may anchor in some places in twenty 
fathoms, clay or sand, about two or three miles from the point. 
The coast is high between St. Nicholas or Bantam Point, with 
indifferent anchorage in the channel, until the latter is approached. 
This point is the northern boundary of the Strait of Sunda. 
On Saturday, the third of March, as before mentioned, the 
Potomac was beating up the strait, against a head wind and op- 
posing current. She passed Crockatoa Island on its eastern side, 
enjoying a beautiful prospect of the Java shore. This island, 
which is about six or seven miles in length, and four or five in 
breadth, 'extending nearly northwest and southeast, is elevated 
and imposing in its appearance, steep on the south side, but 
sloping gradually to the water's edge on the north and western 
sides. Although every one had been enraptured with the scenery 
on the preceding day, all were still more delighted with the pros- 
pect which presented itself on Saturday evening, about sunset, 
which was far more soft, rich, and lovely, than any which had yet 
been seen in these waters. The atmosphere was now clear and 
transparent, while numerous high, various, and fancifully-shaped 
peaks, tinged by the setting sun, whose parting beams were fading 
away on the richest vegetation, displayed a landscape not to be 
equalled by the pencil of art. 
A new-invented apparatus was this day completed and put in 
successful operation, for pumping the foul air from the hold of 
the ship. It is a very ingenious contrivance of Lieutenant B. 
Wilson, and perfectly answers the purpose for which it was in^ 
tended. But little headway was made by the Potomac this day, 
owing to the lightness of the wind, and an opposing current, which 
set about west by south, at the rate of two miles an hour ; and 
the frigate was again compelled to come to anchor. The tides 
in this strait seemed to be so much influenced by the wind as to 
resemble currents. 
The whole of the following day, which was Sunday, the fourth, 
was exhausted in a vain attempt to beat up to the frigate's an- 
chorage in Lampoon Bay. Not being able, however, to stem the 
