252 
A VOYAGE TO 
[ North Coast. 
March. ^ m >dnight, and then had soundings in 1 20 fathoms, muddy ground; 
Wednes. so. an hour and a half afterwards the land was close, and the depth no 
more than 10 fathoms, upon which we hauled off till morning. 
Thurs. 31. At daylight, the north-east point of Rottee was distant two miles, 
and we steered along the shore, looking for boats and people to 
obtain intelligence, and if possible some refreshments; but none 
were seen, although we passed close to a deep and well-sheltered 
cove. At ten o’clock, when the sandy north point of Rottee was 
distant one mile and a half, we hauled up north-eastward, across the 
passage of about six miles wide, between it and the northern lands ; for 
the purpose of entering Samow Strait, which was then open, and of 
<P1. XVIII. which Mr. Westall took the view given in the Atlas. The south- 
Iast Vlcw ' ) west point of Timor is surrounded by a reef, which extends from 
half a mile to a mile off, and runs some distance up the strait; both 
sides of the entrance are low land, yet at eleven o’clock we had no 
ground between them with 75 fathoms. The width of the entrance 
is three miles and a half, and continues nearly the same upwards, 
with a depth of 36 or more fathoms, and no dangers in it, other than 
the reef before mentioned. From the observations at noon, the ex- 
treme south-west point of Timor lies in io° 22' south, and longitude 
by survey back from Coepang, 123 0 2 g 1 east ; captain Cook places it in 
io° 23' and 123 0 5,5', and calls it the south point, but there is a slop- 
ing projection, three leagues to the eastward, which I set in a line 
with it at E. 2* S. 
Two vessels were lying under the north-east end of Samow ; 
and on our ensign and pendant being hoisted, the one showed 
American, and the other Dutch colours. An officer was sent to them 
for information, as well of the propriety of going into Coepang Bay 
at this season, as of the political state of Europe ; for although the in- 
telligence of peace had arrived before we left Port Jackson, it seemed 
to be doubtful how long it might last. On his return with favour- 
able intelligence, I steered through the northern outlet of the strait, 
which is not more than a mile and a half wide, but so deep that 65 
