On the 6th, at day-light, we altered our course to the S.S.W.; but, at eight in the evening, we were taken back, and obliged to steer to the S.E.  On the 7th, at noon, we saw a small land-bird, our latitude, by observation, at this time, being 33 deg. 52’, and longitude 148 deg. 42’.  On the 9th, we were in latitude 31 deg. 46’, longitude 146 deg. 20’, when we again saw a small land-bird, a tropic bird, porpoises, flying fishes, and had a great swell from the E.S.E.  We continued our course to the S.W., having the winds from the northward, without any remarkable occurrence, till the 12th, when we had a most violent gale of wind from the same quarter, which reduced us to the fore-sail and mizen stay-sail; and, as the weather was so hazy, that we were not able to see a cable’s length before us, and many shoals and small islands are laid down in our charts, in this part of the ocean, we brought-to, with our heads to the S.W.  At noon, the latitude by account was 27 deg. 36’, longitude 144 deg. 25’.  In the morning of the 13th, the wind shifting round to the N.W., brought with it fair weather; but though we were, at this time nearly in the situation given to the island of St Juan, we saw no appearance of land.  We now bore away to the S.W., and set the top-sails, the gale still continuing with great violence.  At noon, the latitude, by observation, was 26 deg. 0’, longitude 143 deg. 40’, and variation 3 deg. 50’ E. In the afternoon, we saw flying fish and dolphins, also tropic birds and albatrosses.  We still continued to pass much pumice-stone; indeed, the prodigious quantities of this substance which float in the sea, between Japan and the Bashee islands, seem to indicate, that some great volcanic convulsion must have happened in this part of the Pacific Ocean; and consequently give some degree of probability to the opinion of Mr Muller, which I have already had occasion to mention, respecting the separation of the continent of Jeso, and the disappearance of Company’s Land and Staten Island.

At six in the afternoon, we altered our coarse to the W.S.W., Captain Gore judging it useless to steer any longer to the S.S.W., as we were near the meridian of the Ladrones, or Marianne Islands, and at no great distance from the track of the Manilla ships.  In the morning of the 14th, the weather became fine, and the wind, which was moderate, gradually shifted to the N.E., and proved to be the trade-wind.  At ten, Mr Trevenen, one of the young gentlemen who came along with me into the Discovery, saw land appearing like a peaked mountain, and bearing S.W.  At noon, the latitude, by observation, was 24 deg. 37’, longitude 142 deg. 2’.  The land, which we now discovered to be an island, bore S.W. 1/2 W., distant eight or ten leagues; and at two in the afternoon, we saw another to the W.N.W.  This second island, when seen at a distance, has the appearance of two; the south point consisting of a high conical hill, joined by a narrow neck to the northern land, which is of a moderate height.  As this was evidently of greater extent than the island to the south, we altered our course toward it.  At four, it bore N.W. by W.; but, not having day-light sufficient to examine the coast, we stood upon our tacks during the night.