In the forenoon of the 29th, we passed several Chinese fishing-boats, who eyed us with great indifference; They fish with a large dredge-net, shaped like a hollow cone, having a flat iron rim fixed to the lower part of its mouth.  The net is made fast with cords to the head and stern of the boat, which being left to drive with the wind, draws the net after it with the iron part dragging along the bottom.  We were sorry to find the sea covered with the wrecks of boats that had been lost, as we conjectured, in the late boisterous weather.  At-noon, we were in latitude, by observation, 22 deg. 1’, having run one hundred and ten miles upon a north-west course since the preceding noon.  Being now nearly in the latitude of the Lema Islands, we bore away W. by N., and after running twenty-two miles, saw one of them nine or ten leagues to the westward.  At six, the extremes of the islands in sight bore N.N.W. 1/2 W., and W.N.W. 1/2 W.; distant from the nearest four or five leagues; the depth of water twenty-two fathoms, over a soft muddy bottom.  We now shortened sail, and kept upon our tacks for the night.  By Mr Bayly’s time-keeper, the Grand Lema bore from the Prata Island, N. 60 deg.  W., one hundred and fifty-three miles; and by our run, N. 57 deg.  W., one hundred and forty-six miles.

In the morning of the 30th, we ran along the Lema Isles, which, like all the other islands on this coast, are without wood, and, as far as we could observe, without cultivation.  At seven o’clock, we had precisely the same view of these islands, as is represented in a plate of Lord Anson’s voyage.  At nine o’clock, a Chinese boat, which had been before with the Resolution, came alongside, and wanted to put on board us a pilot, which, however, we declined, as it was our business to follow our consort.  We soon after passed the rock marked R in Lord Anson’s plate; but, instead of hauling up to the northward of the Grand Ladrone Island, as was done in the Centurion, we proceeded to leeward.

It is hardly necessary to caution the mariner not to take this course, as the danger is sufficiently obvious; for should the wind blow strong, and the current set with it, it will be extremely difficult to fetch Macao.  Indeed, we might, with great safety, by the direction of Mr Dalrymple’s map, have gone either entirely to the north of the Lema Isles, or between them, and made the wind fair for Macao.  Our fears of missing this port, and being forced to Batavia, added to the strong and eager desires of hearing news from Europe, made us rejoice to see the Resolution soon after fire a gun, and hoist her colours as a signal for a pilot.  On repeating the signal, we saw an excellent race between four Chinese boats; and Captain Gore, having engaged with the man who arrived first, to carry the ship to the Typa, for thirty dollars, sent me word, that, as we could easily follow, that expence might be saved to us.  Soon after, a second pilot getting on board the Resolution, insisted on conducting the ship, and,