1832.]: 
APPROACH BATAVIA. 
259 
on the northern coast of Java, when calm and unruffled, resem- 
bles a sheet of silver on which have been promiscuously scattered 
emeralds of different sizes, every one of these numerous islets 
being completely clothed with an ever-varying teint of the livehest 
verdure. They are all based on a calcareous foundation,- and owe 
their origin to the zoophites of Linnseus. The weather was 
pleasant, and moderate breezes from the north and west wafted 
the frigate gently along her sinuous com-se among the Thousand 
Islands ; around which were dangerous shoals, which rendered it 
necessary to keep a boat out ahead, feeling the way for the frigate. 
The lead was kept going in from fifteen to twenty-two fathoms. 
At three P.M., took in the royals and hauled up the foresail. 
The coast of Java, from Bantam Mountain to Batavia, is flat and 
low ; and though ever changing, ever new, and ever beautiful, ex- 
hibits few of those remarkable outlines which form points of re- 
membrance, until the frigate approached Lampoon Island ; a small 
and solitary spot, but beautiful in its solitude,: near which she 
anchored about sunset, in fifteen fathoms, and veered out forty- 
five fathoms of chain cable. Several villages were now seen 
lining the shore^ and paddee fields extending as far as the eye 
could reach, all gilded by the oblique rays of the setting sun. 
The passage selected by the commodore in approaching the 
anchorage was not the one generally adopted. When Maneater 
Island bore southeast-by-east, instead of pursuing the track north, 
between the Great Cambuys and Angenilla, he bore off more to 
the south, and ran between the former and Maneater Island, pas- 
sing within half a mile of Litde Cambuys, and discovering a 
shoal southeast of it, not laid down or noted in any of the most 
recent charts. Soundings vary in the passage from a quarter less 
nine to eleven fathoms. He then ran for the Island Dapour, 
soundings thirteen fathoms^ At seven P, M., shortened sail and 
came to anchor as before stated, with Dapour Island bearing north- 
west-half-north ; Amsterdam Island, southwest-by-west, and Edam 
Island, east-by-south-quarter-south. 
The weather continued pleasant throughout the night, with gentle 
breezes from the north and west. On Tuesday morning, the 
twentieth, at five A. M., just as the call of " All hands, up an- 
chor !" reaounded through the ship, a report was made that one of 
the seamen had just departed this life, so that the order to' get 
R 2 
