The next morning, the island of Ternate bore south-south-east, and a little to the northward of it there appears to be a large and safe harbour, on the island of Gilolo, which now bore east by south five or six leagues distant.  Ternate rises in a high conical mount; its latitude is 00 deg. 50’ north, and the longitude 127 deg. 4’ east.  A very pleasant little island lies about two miles to the north-north west of Ternate, which, in the charts, is called Heri; it is pretty high, and not more than two miles in circumference.  The cultivated spots on this island, contrasted with the brown shade of the trees, and the interspersed situation of the houses, give this little spot a most picturesque appearance:  it appeared, as well as Ternate, to be in a perfect state of cultivation; and from the number of houses we saw, they must both be well inhabited.  The latitude, at noon, was 1 deg. 2’ north, and the longitude 126 deg. 49’ west:  Heri then bore south-east by east; the peak of Ternate, south-east half south; the south point of Tidere, south by east, and Makian, south-south-east.

All these islands are very high; they rise in peaks, and are well cultivated.  We saw a vast number of fires on Ternate, which probably 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_.”