robably were lighted for a signal. Besides the island of Makian,
which is not more than two miles in circumference, there are a
number of other small islots, which form a considerable group,
and they were all cultivated. A number of boats were passing from
one islot to another, with some Europeans in them. The weather
was excessive hot and sultry; the thermometer, when in the open
air and shade, being 91 deg..

On the 19th, we perceived a great ripling on the water, which
appeared to be a strong current, and we afterwards found it had
set the vessel considerably to the westward. At noon, the
north-west point of _Manere_ or _Batachina_ bore
east-north-east nine leagues distant; its latitude is 0 deg. 16'
south, and the longitude 126 deg. 41' east. At noon on the 20th,
an island a head, which we took to be _Pulo Oubi_, bore east
half south about twelve leagues distant, and _Stemo Sulla_,
south-south-west thirteen leagues: the latitude was 1 deg. 17'
south, and the longitude 126 deg. 22' east. Hitherto, we had
found the currents set us to the westward; but in the morning of
the 21st, a strong ripling of a current set the vessel
considerably to the east-south-east, which may easily be
accounted for: the passage between New Guinea and Aigeu was quite
open, and bore from us south-east, and I think that the current
we now felt is an out-set; and as we had experienced a southerly
current ever since we made the island of Morotia, it may be
presumed that there is an indraught between the Celebes and
Gilolo; and an out-set between Gilolo, New Guinea, and Aigeu,
which is called "-Pitt's Passage_."

In the afternoon, the boat was hoisted out in order to try the
current, when it was found to set east by south, at the rate of a
mile and an half an hour; however, the current among these
islands is by no means certain, as we found, on the 22d, a strong
current or tide setting to the north-west. A great number of very
large whales were seen, which moved exceeding slow, and came very
near the vessel. At noon, the center of _Burro_ bore south,
and the south point of _Sulla Bessi_, north 76 deg. west.
Burro is a very high island, and may be seen at the distance of
twenty leagues with great ease.

As the following latitudes and longitudes were taken with
great exactness, they perhaps may not be unacceptable.

South latitude. East longitude.
deg. ' deg.