ABSTRACT
The almost imperceptible light airs from NE and north which prevailed when the corvettes left the Zamboanga anchorage were followed at first light, contrary to our expectations, by somewhat more settled breezes from NNE and north, which soon hid the presidio from our sight and also made towing no longer necessary. Finally, at nine in the morning, we made our departure between Coco Island 1 and the northernmost of the Sibago Islands. 2 We could not have hoped for finer weather, the entire coast of Basilan to the south and the coast of Mindanao to the north was spread out in the most pleasing of scenes before our eyes. As the many islets lying between them revealed no dangers in the channels, they multiplied the number of agreeable objects for the navigator s attention. Our bearings taken to the many well-determined points, in such advantageous conditions, allowed us to hope for corresponding accuracy in our charting of this coast.
