BOTOL or BOTTEL, TOBAGOXIMA or TOBAGO SIMA, a small island in the Chinese Sea, about four leagues in circumference. It lies on the same paral lel with the south point of Formosa, and is situated between it and the Bashee Islands. It may be seen at the distance of fifteen leagues, but is often obscu red by fogs. Its south east point is placed by Pe rouse in N. lat. 21° 57', and in E. long. 119° 32' ; by Marchand in N. lat. 22° 3', and in E. long. 121° Perouse supposes it to be inhabited by a people similar to those of the Bashee Islands. He was desi rous of landing, which no navigator had done before him, but was prevented, by a dread of the south west winds, from approaching the " only bay that seemed to promise an anchorage." Ile came within half a league of the island without being able to find a bottom, and concluded that the anchorage, if any, must be very near the coast. Ile " counted three large villages within the space of a league," and thus describes the appearance of the island : " It is very woody from the third part of height, taken from the sea shore to the summit, which seemed to be capped with trees of the largest size. The space of land,
comprised between the forests and the sandy shore, retains a very steep declivity : it was cultivated in many places, and displayed the most beautiful green, though furrowed with ravines, formed by the torrents which descend from the mountains." About half a league from Botol, there is a large rock or islet, with a few shrubs, and a small degree of verdure, but which, according to Perouse, "is neither inhabited nor habitable." It is probable, that admiral Anson had at first made only this islet ; the other, as we have mentioned, being frequently covered with fogs. It lies to the south by cast of Botol, and is in N. lat. 21° 57', E. long. 121° 56'. Sec La Perouse's Voy ages. (v)