New-York tribune., 1841-09-14
From the Southern Literary Mess,nl
SCENES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.

SCENlsc ~ i NE lNOl.A.N JULIAN.
EXTRACTS froat TIE JOURNAL o. AN AMERICAN OFFICER.
OY the sixty-iour;h day from Rio Janero we
made Java Head, Il bold promontory, the Western
extremity of the Island OF Java, aud deneting the
enhance Of the straits Of Sunda.
Passing up the straits, we anchored in ANGER
Bay, short distance from Bu,avia. The land, but
little cultivated, is fertile in the extreme, and i,
covered by ,oiiy and outrageous trees. The tan
sled and ;.urirnt Undcrg rowth is intcIluccd,
oven at high almost to preclude the Light
Ike " honey-suckles ripcned by the Sun, and then
DENY him entrance The mountains in the dis
lance urc covered to their SUBMITS with ycrdure,
not the ,uwny ycrdure Of northern cline, but the
brilliant green Of the tropics
Tac natives, as well as the Malays, who resort
here IN great numbers, coppcr-coorcd of mo-
derato stature, and light and agile frames. Then
hair aud eyes, like those ot the sypsies, whom il
many respects they resemble, are coal-1lack-ihc
former long, coarse, glossy and luxurant-the lat
ter, sparking. restless, and sinister in expression
They are grave and sedate in manner; are ioud OF
excitement, and delight in gambling. SO deeply
du they become interested in their games OF chance,
that they are often nsensble to every thing el.e
around them: and Will stake, not only what little
properly they possess, but their wives their child
rem, and their very liberty.
Every community has its peculiar code Of honor;
ard although Malay will rob, and steal, aud muir
der he serves with lnvioate fidelity the master
awarded by the hazard Of the die.
The fruit is here mos, various and abundant.
Cocoa-nuts, pinc-apples, custard-applcs, mangoes,
oranges. guavas, &c; and thirsty crcw-thirsly
from exclusive sailed food, and from long i'll
haling II salt almost here-reveed in enioyments,
until Sickness the inevitable consequence of excess,
:
ships belonging TO the English East India Company,
each nearly a. large as our rigate, and Two Ameri-
can ships, all 1land for Canton, arrived and were
received under our convoy.
Our water replcnished and with recruited crew,
we sailed slowly through the straits with our con-
vrv in COMPANY. 1t late in the season, and the
light and battling winds harassed and alarmed Us ;
Tor they presaged the change of the monsoon, so
dreaded by nuyigators OF the China Sea, winch is
comparatively unknown, and abo2nds with shoals
and sunkcn rocks.
Both of the English ships and one of our own
were duh salcrs; and although the indications OF
The weather became daily more and more unfayor-
able We were compelled proceed under short
and easy SAL, rather than desert them
On the ninth oav the weather was peyplcxug
the wind a. ono time bellyins the lower sails
at auothcr, scarce distending the loftiGs Shortly
yane would ily upwards from opposing currents OF
air. The clouds were not gathered usual into
solid masses ana did not float in one harmonious
direction, bur IN detached fragments, ct various
elevations. they swept or ghGcd on, hitler and
tdther with every variety Of Spced-semc slow
and solemn IN their movenents-and Others dash
ms tuuouSly along. The sea-bjrds screamed dis
cordaat.y; the air seemed to thicken with the zp-
proscA o. daiNneSs, and the night found US with
ai sail t0rlcd aad the sea foan,iug and bubbling
around, waiting for tie coming storm.
oae black cloud, like brooding demon. rose
above the horizon, and beucatk it the tretins ocean
reflected sicly slnre OF light. The iur:d lsht
Increased; the spectral cloud seemed to launch Il
sell on the wafer; and then, ike the be>onl OF
wrath and with the speed Of the lightning. it bore
down upon Us. Like gossamcr, tae gallant shin
was whirlrd b, the terrific blast. Ga, on we drove
spa. after spar cracking and crashing IN It's fall
Appalled, and terrified. each one breathles>ly clune
TO the ncurest oAieot-tor the spirt OF the ster.r
WAS a5ysad, and OniniPo;cncc seemed 10 rlde on
he wings q ;Ae inishty wind
The hurricane ceased almost suddenly rs It
had commenced. The sea, Ike n painting s;ecd al
covered win foam. rose the fierce wind. when
had sweep; il Smooth subsidol. For houss we pic2-
ed about on fast increasing swell without breath
q ar to steady AID relieve Is.
Aooa: swo. N me morning the wind again spru;g
~, and ~ sunrise. ourselves and scattered convoy
were lying to N tremendous yale. VARYING IL
direction, but ungniIsated It's violence, the gale
continued; and tie morning OF the fourth day,
found tossing conlusediy upon ,eaapestous SEA;
our mass strained, oug rigging strctched th- tla-
mer,s OF oar last sIorm-ssls Aut,cring from the
bolt ropes; and The wales opening with cyery
roll, through which the water rushed with alarming
gapidity. In the morning. the Island OF Lucenia
The principal of the Philippines, was made upon.
the lee-beam and the crass ef its iroa-boand coas,
cut sharp asanst the rising sun AT the same time
the MaIerEeld shoals, the most TO oe dreaded in
this perilous sea. WERE By caculatioa distant bai
sixteen niles, and, for aught we knew, nigh; DO
within as many iurlongs.