The Kentucke Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, Sept 24.

CAPTAIN Thomas Read, in the ship Alliance, bound to China, sailed from Philadelphia, in the month of June 1787, and at Canton the 22 of December in the same year, having navigated on a route as yet unpracticed by any other ship. Taking soundings off the Cape of Good Hope, he steered to the South Eastward, encircling all the Eastern and Southern islands of the Indian ocean, passing the South Cape of New Holland: And on their passage to the northward again towards Canton between the latitudes of 7 and 4 degrees south, and between the longitudes of 156 and 162 degrees east, they discovered a number of islands, the inhabitants of which were black, with curly or wooly hair: among these islands they had no soundings. And about the latitude of 8 degrees north, and in the longitude of 160 degrees east, they discovered two other islands, inhabited by brown people, with straight black hair. These islands appeared to be very fertile, and much cultivated; and by the behaviour of the inhabitants the ship's company were induced to believe they were the first discoverers. One of them was named Morris Island, the other Alliance Island. They did not land on any of the islands. These discoveries were made in the month of November.

The officers of the European Ships in China were astonished to find a vessel arriving at that season of the year, and with eagerness and pleasure examined the track of their voyage. winds generally from S. W. and blowing strong,

In coasting near New Holland, they had it with a great deal of rain

They finished their voyage by arriving again at Philadelphia on the 17th of September, 1788, having returned by the usual route of the European ships, until they were in the Atlantic Ocean