ABSTRACT
The nearer we came to the Philippines, weighing the great importance to our nation of its exact hydrographic description against the short time allowed for this kind of work by the favourable North-east Monsoon, 1 the greater was my preoccupation regarding good planning to ensure that the expedition produced the best results without risking failure by being excessively adventurous in an effort to avoid accusations of negligence. For a good number of reasons the period ahead had to include a voyage to Canton. 2 The survey of the opposite [i.e. eastern] coast of Luzon seemed extremely important and so was the passage round Cape Espíritu Santo 3 and through San Bernardino Strait, with the many ports it encompasses to east and west on the Camarines coast at the southern end of the island of Luzon. Finally the excursions of the three naturalists through the whole island would assume great significance, if they landed at the same time, one at the northern extremity at Apary, 4 in Cayagan Province, another at the southern extremity in Sorsogon, 5 and the third at Lampon, 6 not far to the east of Laguna de Bay 7 and the vicinity of Manila, their three routes then converging on this capital, while during the rainy season 8 both corvettes would be making their way towards Cavite. 9
