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The winds being light & ahead we had to bat out which took us all day. The next day we discovered a small isle 2 pts on the lee bow, ran down for it anchored near it and sent a boat ashore. this is Lathams isle it is a barren isle and is surrounded with dangerous coral shoals. We found it literaly [sic] covered with sea or aquatic fowls so numerous that we had to be careful to push them away. They were so tame that they disputed the ground with us and pinched our legs as we passed. We sent out boats to sound and about 12 M got underway. for 8 or 10 days we had light airs gradually hauling from the N' & E' to the N' & W' During the night watches we kept a bright look out and for a look out to be caught asleep here abouts was certain punishment. The cause of this was that we were cruising in that part of the sea which abounds in coral reefs where many ships had been lost and where new shoals are discovered almost every day. We passed in sight of Aldabra isle. passed the Seychelle isles. The Seychelle isles are small group of isles lying to the N' of Madagascar. They are inhabited by Malagash and french men. Tis on this isle that a singular tree grows which has never been found in any other part of the world. The nuts are called Coco De Mer. and at one time were thought to have grown in the sea. Some of them were picked up on the coast of Hindustan and they brought [?] their weight in gold. On the 10th Decr found ourselves in the little Monsoon. This is a west wind which blows along the line fair and fresh for vessels bound east. It rained all the time sometimes in squalls sometimes in a steady pour. it would have been but little trouble to have filled the ship up but it was neglected. This weather was quite refreshing to us for the Channel wheather [sic] had universally been hot sultry and melting weather. Now we found it quite pleasant for the rains cooled the atmosphere. Decr 20th an old fore-mast man died suddenly. he had only been sick 2 days. This cast a general gloom over the ship for this was the 1st death. the sick list had been increasing gradually since leaving Zanzibar and there was now 50 on the list: This old fellow died without any one near him and was found next morning standing up against the bulk-head dead. We buried him our 1st lieut lead prayers and the blue indian Ocean is his grave. On the 23rd on [sic] the bandsmen died. he had been sick a long time his son was near him all the time of his sickness. we buried him as we had done the other with the usual ceremonies of half masting the flag and reading prayers. Decr. 25th: today is Christmas. to day we crossed the line and to day we crossed the 180th Meridian of my Home. and to day appeared the comet and to day was a beautiful sunset. how many things seem to happen this day. I am sure it must be a good sign. The Sultan had given us a goat which we had been saving all along for a Christmas dinner. I had also bought a large lot of chickens in Zanzibar and intended to save them for Christmas but hard usage was too hard for them and we had to kill them to save their lives. Decr 31st an old forecastle man died we buried him at sea. New years day. Made the high land of Sumatra. Winds being light we anchored about 18 miles from the land. The land of Sumatra is very high. there is one active volcano on the isle whose sumit [sic] is 3000 feet higher than the peak of Teneriffe. The Next day standing up along the land. Jany 3 anchored off Qualla Battoo or Soo-soo. Whilst in the offing we saw a small [?prou?] standing along the land. we gave chase. and soon brought her to with a round shot across her bows. she was a well built boat her capt was very much frightened We found an American vessel laying here loading with pepper. She reported to us that two pirates had been seen in the offing but seeing us had made sail for other parts. Quallah Battoo was taken and burned some yars ago by the American Frigate Columbia for having taken an American Ship and Murdered the crew. She at the same time burned Muckie. Since then they have respected American ships. There was an old ugly devil on board yesterday who entertained the Mids with an Account of the Murder of the Crew of a French Man & some of the Mids were very anxious to knock the old devil on the head for his crimes. but it was not our business or policy. so we had to let the old devil alone and laugh at our selves for our anger. There is or usually a heavy surf on at this place so that is difficult to land but we found the sea quite smooth and had but little trouble