At day-light, on the 3d, we came in sight of the Three Islands; and, soon after, of Monopin Hill, on the island of Banca.  At noon, this hill, which forms the N.E. point of the entrance of the Straits, bore S.E. 1/2 S. distant six leagues; our latitude, by observation, being 1 deg. 48’ S., and longitude 105 deg. 3’ E., the soundings seventeen fathoms, and no perceivable variation in the compass.

Having got to the westward of the shoal, called Frederick Endric, at half-past two we entered the Straits, and bore away to the southward; and, in the afternoon, Monopin Hill bearing due E., we determined its latitude to be 2 deg. 3’ S., the same as in Mons. D’Apres’ map, and its longitude 105 deg. 18’ E. At nine, a boat came off from the Banca shore, and having rowed round the ships, went away again.  We hailed her in the Malaye tongue to come on board, but received no answer.  At midnight, finding a strong tide against us, we anchored in twelve fathoms, Monopin Hill bearing N. 29 deg.  W.

On the 4th, in the morning, after experiencing some difficulty in weighing our anchors, owing to the stiff tenacious quality of the ground, we proceeded with the tide down the Straits; the little wind we had from the northward dying away as the day advanced.  At noon, there being a perfect calm, and the tide making against us, we dropt our anchor in thirteen fathoms water, about three miles from what is called the Third Point, on the Sumatra shore, Monopin Hill bearing N. 54 deg.  W. The latitude, by observation, was 2 deg. 22’ S., longitude 105 deg. 38’ E. At three in the afternoon we weighed, and stood on through the Straits with a light breeze; and at eight, were abreast of the Second Point, and passed it within two miles, in seventeen fathoms water; a sufficient proof that this Point may be bordered upon with safety.  At midnight, we again came to anchor, on account of the tide, in thirteen fathoms, Mount Permissang, on the island of Banca, bearing N. 7 deg.  E, and the First Point S. 54 deg.  E., distant about three leagues.

In the morning of the 5th, we weighed, and kept on to the S E; and at ten, passed a small shoal, lying in a line with Lusepara and the First Point, at the distance of five miles from the latter.  At noon, the island of Lusepara bearing S., 57 deg. 1/2 E., four miles distant, we determined its latitude to be 3 deg. 10’ 1/2 S., and its longitude 106” 15’ E. The difference of longitude between the island Lusepara, which lies in the S. entrance of the Strait of Banca and Monopin Hill, which forms one side of the entrance from the N., we found to be 55’, which is only two miles less than what is given in D’Apres’ chart.