NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
667 
Islands a nearly straight course was made for the south part of Nipon Island. Had the 
winds been favourable, the Expedition would have proceeded east as far as Greenwich 
Island, and from thence sailed to Hogolu in the Caroline group, thence to Guam in the 
Ladrones, and afterwards to Yokohama, but the investigation of those interesting places 
had to be abandoned. 
On the 6th February, at daylight, inlat. 6° 38' N., long. 122° 38' E., the ship was again 
swung for the errors of the compass. This additional swinging was rendered necessary 
in consequence of the pinnace’s boiler having been shifted from the quarter deck to the 
forecastle. At 8 a.m. this operation was completed and sail was made to the eastward, 
the wind being, light and variable. 
On the 8th February the ship sounded and trawled in 2050 fathoms in the Celebes 
Sea in lat. 5° 47' N., and long. 124° 1' E. (see Sheet 31), and at 7 p.m. proceeded under 
easy steam towards the Sarangani Islands. 
On the 9th February, at 5 a.m., the Sarangani Islands were sighted, and the ship was 
steered to pass between them and the island of Mindanao, and as it soon became evident 
that the chart of this neighbourhood was incorrect, a running survey of the islands and 
channel was made. 
Balat Island has a rouuded top 2350 feet high in lat. 5° 28' N., long. 125° 23J' E. In shape it is 
an irregular quadrangle 5f miles in length E.N.E. and W.S.W., and about 3 miles in breadth ; off its 
southwest end is a rock about 40 feet high. 
Sarangani Island lies in a north and south direction to the eastward of Balat Island, leaving a 
channel 1-| miles in width between the two islands which appears to be navigable, as Captain 
Waterman of the “ Volunteer ” passed through it and reported a shoal running out from one of its 
sides. 1 Sarangani is 5f miles in length and 2 in breadth. Its top, which is comparatively level, is 
about 500 feet above the level of the sea. Its coast line appeared irregular on the western side, so 
much so as to cause it to be believed that small bays or coves might there exist in which anchorage 
could be found. The north part of Sarangani is in lat. 5° 33' N., long. 125° 29' E. 
Lanibal Island is a small flat cay with trees on it, 60 feet in height, 1 mile N.E. by N. from the 
north point of Sarangani Island ; it is surrounded by a coral reef, between which and that fringing 
the north point of Sarangani is a narrow channel which appeared navigable. 
The southern peninsula of Mindanao is high and has several remarkable peaks on it. The 
southern hill, 1670 feet high, which is really round-topped, looks somewhat like a pyramid on an 
E.S.E. or W.N.W. bearing ; its summit is in lat. 5° 39' N., long. 125° 21' E. Seven miles N.N.E. of 
this round-topped hill is a saddle peak 3600 feet above the level of the sea, the summit of which is in 
lat. 5° 46' N., long. 125° 24' E., and 8 miles northeast from this saddle mountain there is a high range, 
the highest peak of which, 4530 feet, has a conical top when viewed from the southward, and is in 
lat. 5° 51i' N., long. 125° 30' E. 
Cape Sarangani is a bluff point in lat. 5° 34' N., long. 125° 21' E. From it the coast 
on the west side trends N.W. by W. 3 miles, and on the other side east for 2 miles, after 
which it turns to E.N.E., and afterwards to N.E. by N., the coast becoming low. A coral reef fringes 
the shore. 
1 Horsburgh’s Directory, 8th ed., vol. ii. p. 563, footnote. 
