The needle continued to point due north till the 22d, when, at six o’clock in the morning, Grafton’s Island, the northermost of the Bashé Islands bore south, distant six leagues. As I had designed to touch at these islands, I stood for that in sight; but as the navigation from hence to the Streight of Banca is very dangerous, and we had now both a fine morning and a fine gale, I thought it best to proceed on our way, and therefore steered westward again. The principal of these islands are five in number, and by a good observation Grafton’s Island lies in latitude 21° 8’N., longitude 118° 14’E. The variation of the compass was now 1° 20’W.

On the 24th, being in latitude 16° 59’N., longitude 113° 1’E. we kept a good look-out for the Triangles, which lie without the north end of the Prasil, and form a most dangerous shoal. On the 30th, we saw several trees and large bamboos floating about the ship, and upon sounding had three and twenty fathom, with dark brown sand, and small pieces of shells. Our latitude was now 7° 17’N., longitude I04° 21’E.; the variation was 30’W. The next day we found the ship thirteen miles to the northward of her account, which we judged to be the effect of a current; and on the 2d of November, we found her thirty-eight miles to the southward of her account. Our latitude by observation was 3° 54’N., longitude 103° 20’E. We had here soundings at forty-two and forty-three fathom, with soft mud.

At seven o’clock the next morning, we saw the island of Timoan, bearing S.W. by W. distant about twelve leagues. As Dampier has mentioned Pulo Timoan as a place where

Voyaging Accounts