[* See _supra_ A.]
On the 5th of May we got into Latitude 28 deg. 26' South, when we saw numbers
of birds many of which seemed to be land-birds, such as a white
tropic-bird and a few scissor-tailed ducks, so that I surmised that we
were near land. Two or three days afterwards we saw sea-weed floating in
large quantities and long strips. On the 10th do. we passed the tropic in
fine weather. On the 11th do. we saw land in 21 deg. 20' S. Lat.: it was a
level, low-lying coast extending to a great length, and bearing mainly
south and north, falling off on both sides with high mountains; we could
not get near it. Whether it was a mainland coast or islands only, is
known to God alone, but from the signs seen at various times I suspect it
to be a mainland. The compass has one point north-westerly variation
here; we saw a good deal of sea-weed floating about, and observed
land-birds up to the 16th degree, both of these being signs of the
proximity of the mainland. This land is a fit point to be made by ships
coming here with the eastern monsoon, in order to get a fixed course for
Java or Sunda Strait; for if you see this land in 21, 22 or 23 degrees,
and shape your course north-north-west and north-by-west you will make
the western extremity of Jaeva. I write this as a matter of certainty,
seeing that we have made the same on a fixed course, and ships following
this course are sure to find it true. On the 21st do. we saw land, to wit,
Kleyn Jaevae; we kept off and on during the night, and at daybreak made
for the land, passing through the strait between Kleyn Jaeva and Baely...
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