INTRODUCTION.
such assistance as may be required, either by Captain Parry or Captain
Franklin, should one or both of those officers make their appearance in
that neighbourhood. You are hereby required and directed to put to
sea m the said sloop, so soon as in every respect ready, and observe
the following instructions for your guidance
“ You are to proceed with all convenient expedition to Rio Janeiro,
where you are to complete your provisions and water; after
which you are to make the best of your way round Cape Horn, and
endeavour to make Easter Island; from whence you are to take your
departure, steering for the Society Islands, and passing near the spot
where Gomez Island appears in the charts, in order to ascertain whether
such island has any existence; and, in like manner, whether Ducie’s
and Elizabeth Islands be not one and the same. You will then proceed
to Pitcairn’s Island at the south-eastern extremity of the group of the
Society Islands, or, as they are sometimes called, the Georgian Islands,
where you will commence a survey of this group, proceeding northwesterly
to Otaheite. In the execution of this survey it may be found
most advisable to anchor, if practicable, every evening, under one of the
islands, in order that the situation of the ship may, by these means,
be more secure, and that you may be certain that none of them are
passed by you unobserved. If, however, you should experience any
difficulty in pursuing the route herein pointed out, from the prevailing
winds, you will make the best of your w-ay to Otaheite, and proceed
from thence in your survey to Pitcairn’s Island.
“ During your stay among these or any other of the islands of the
Pacific which you may visit, you are to use every possible endeavour to
preserve an amicable intercourse with the natives, and to caution your
officers and ship s company to avoid giving offence or engaging in disputes
with them; and you are to show them on ail occasions every act
of kindness that may be in your power, taking care that when any
purchases, by barter or otherwise, are made, an officer of the ship may
always be present to prevent disputes: and you are particularly to
impress on the minds of your officers and men the necessity of being
extremely guarded in their intercourse with the females of those places,
so as to avoid exciting the jealousy of the men.
“ Having completed the survey of this group of islands, if you find
that your time will admit of it, you are to direct your course to the
Navigator’s Islands, settling in your way thither the true position of
Suwarrow’s Islands ; from whence, in your progress to the northward,
you will touch at Owhyhee, to deliver the despatches and packages
addressed by the Foreign Office for his majesty’s consul at that island,
and to procure refreshments and water.
“ You are, however, to be particularly careful not to prolong
your stay at any of those islands, so as to retard your arrival at the
appointed rendezvous in Beering’s Strait later than the 10th July, 1826 ;
which period, together with the rendezvous, has been fixed by Captain
Franklin and yourself, by a memorandum, a copy of which is annexed,
and we desire and direct you to pay particular attention to the various
matters contained therein.
“ You are to remain at the said appointed rendezvous until the
end of October, or to as late a period as the season will admit, without
incurring the risk of being obliged to winter there, provided you shall
hear nothing of Captain F ranklin or his party ; but in the event of
his joining, you are to receive him and his party on board, and convey
him either to Kamtschatka, the Sandwich Islands, Panama, or to
China, as he may determine, in order to procure a further conveyance
to England. If, however, you should receive certain intelligence of
Captain Parry having passed through Reering’s Strait into the Pacific,
you are in that case to proceed ivith the Blossom round Cape Horn,
and bring Captain Franklin and his party to England; touching at
Callao, and such other ports on the western coast of South America
as you may deem proper for refreshments, intelligence, &c.
“ In the former event, namely, of your leaving Beering’s Strait
with Captain FrankUn, but without having obtained any intelligence
of Captain Parry, you are to complete your water and provisions at the
place to w'hich you convey Captain Franklin ; or in the event of your
hearing nothing either of Captains Franklin or Parry, previous to the
season obliging you to leave Beering’s Strait in 1826, you are to proceed
to such place as you may deem most eligible and convenient for
completing your provisions and water ; taking care in either of the lastb
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