After a stay of four days at the Bonin Islands, the Susquehanna
weighed anchor, and taking the Saratoga in tow sailed on the morning of
Saturday the 18th of June, on the return voyage to Lew Chew. After
clearing the harbor of Port Lloyd, the course was steered toward Disappointment
Island. On the passage from Lew Chew to the Bonin Islands
the Commodore had desired to sight and determine the position of this
island, but although it had been made by the Susquehanna, which stood
directly for it on the day previous to her arrival at Port Lloyd, there was
no opportunity, in consequence of the approaching darkness, to make any
observation but an approximation by means of computation. The Commodore,
therefore, on his return voyage, was particularly desirous of seeing the
island of Disappointment and determining with precision its position, about
which so much has -been said and written. Accordingly, as the island was
made directly ahead a short period after noon, and passed at a distance of
only three or four miles, its exact position was accurately determined by
data derived from the noon-day observation.
As, therefore, the obstacles to a free navigation of the Japan seas no longer present
themselves, onr whaling ships may cruise in safety and without interruption as near to the
shores as may be convenient, or in the seas lying more to the eastward. But to render
this part of the ocean in all respects convenient to our whaling ships, something more is
wanted, and that is a port of resort, which shall be in all respects free for them to enter and
depart, without the restraints of exclusive laws and national prejudices; for though, as before
remarked, the ports of Hakodadi and Simoda, in Japan, to which we may add Napha,
in great Lew Chew, are by treaty open to American vessels, a long time may elapse before
the people of those ports will probably divest themselves of the jealousies which, they have
hitherto entertained against strangers; and it is well known that the crews of whaling vessels
visiting the ports of the Pacific, are not remarkable for their orderly behavior or concil-
atory deportment, hence my argument in favor of an establishment at the Bonin Islands is
strengthened. My plan is to establish a colony at Port Lloyd, Peel Island, the principal of
the Bonin group, leaving the question of sovereignty to be discussed hereafter. I have
already in the narrative described" those islands, and shall now proceed to set forth my plan
for building up a thrifty settlement which shall extend over the entire group of islands.
First, then, a company of merchants, in connexion with a few artisans, should form a
joint stock company for the purpose of establishing a colony on Peel Island. . The experiment
need not involve any veiy great outlay. Two vessels, each of three or four hundred
tons, suitably equipped for whaling, should be employed first in transporting to the island
materials for the construction of a storehouse and a few small dwellings, and the necessary
supplies for furnishing a store with chandlery, naval stores, groceries, and all such articles
as are usually needed by whaling and other ships. After landing the passengers and cargo,
these vessels might proceed to cruise in the neighborhood and in the Japan seas in pursuit
of whales—returning occasionally to the settlement for refreshment, &c.; when these two
vessels shall have jointly secured enough of oil to load one of them, that one should be sent
home to be again refitted, and freighted with additional colonists and fresh supplies for the
storehouse and for the settlers; and so the two vessels might alternate in their voyages to the
United States. Thus in a short time a colony would be built up, and the result prove profitable
to all parties concerned. Whaling vessels, American, English, and French, would
resort in greater numbers to the port for refreshment and supplies, becoming customers in
I t is a low island, with two detached rooks extending a cable or two in
length from its extreme point, and lies in latitude 27° 15' north, and in
longitude 140° 567 SO" east from Greenwich.
I t is presumed that Disappointment and Rosario are one and the same
island.
Prom Disappointment Island the course of the ship was steered directly
for the Borodinos as laid down in the ordinary charts. They were made on
the 22d of June directly ahead, and were found to he two in number,
situated five miles apart, and lying in a N.N.E. and S.S.W. direction.
They appeared to he of coral formation hut of great antiquity, as trees of
considerable size crowned the uplands, the most elevated part of which may
have been forty feet above the level of the sea. The navigation in the
immediate neighborhood seemed free of danger, but no indentations were
seen in the surrounding shore which might afford' safe anchoring places.
No signs of people were discovered, and it is presumed that the islands áre
uninhabited. The position of the extremity at the south of the southern
island was estimated to be in latitude 25° 477, and in longitude 131° 19'
east.
As during the return voyage moderate breezes from S.S.W. to S.W.
prevailed with warm weather, and as, in fact, the wind ever since the first
departure from Napha had continued from the southward and westward, it
may be inferred that the southwest monsoon extends as far north as the
parallels of latitude in which the course of the ships laid. The Susquehanna
and Saratoga reached, in the evening of June 23d, their anchorage
in the bay of Napha, where they found the Mississippi, the Plymouth, and
the Supply.
the purchase of needful articles for their vessels, and giving employment to the artisans and
farmers of the colony. If money should be wanted by the whalemen visiting the port, to
make payment for labor or supplies, oil at just prices would be taken in lieu thereof. There
should be sent out by the company none hut young married people, quarters for whom could
be obtained in the houses of the present settlers till dwellings could he erected for their exclusive
occupation. Thus the settlement would, in all probability, form the nucleus of a_re-
ligious and happy community; and here a missionary station might be formed without
obstacle, from whence missionaries a t a proper season might be sent to Japan, Formosa, and
other benighted countries in that quarter of the globe. At the present time whaling vessels
cruising in the seas lying between the Sandwich Islands and Japan, are frequently
obliged to resort either to those islands or to Hong Kong for refitment and supplies, a distance
from some of their whaling grounds of several thousands of miles; in such a voyage,
and in the unavoidable delay in port, much time is occupied; and apart from the
enormous charges made at those ports, which make it necessary to draw heavily upon the
owners at home, the crews become sickly and demoralized by their indulgence in dissipation.
Now, a depot established at Peel Island would be central, and would probably be wanting,
for a length of years, at least, in the means for improper indulgence, for which the
ports before mentioned are notorious. The right of sovereigny undoubtedly belongs to
Japan, as the earliest known occupant of the islands; beyond this claim the present settlers
have unquestionably priority of right of jurisdiction.