dred dollars. As the demand increased it was found, in accordance with the
usual law of trade, that the supply augmented, and the Lew Chew merchants
were not backward in illustrating this prhciple of political economy. The
prices were not very heavy at first, hut the natives, in the course of the business,
began to improve in this particular, and it was found that some from
the ships had paid at least double the sum paid by others for a similar article.
The objects obtained were of not much importance, but the chief interest of
the occasion arose from the fact that this dealing with foreigners was the first
authorized, and was in direct opposition to a fundamental law of the island,
the abrogation of which cannot but result in the greatest advantage to the
people of Lew Chew. The signal of departure being hoisted, the party of
purchasers returned to their respective ships, and at 8 o’clock in the morning,
(August 1,) the Commodore started for Hong Kong.
So prompt had been the effect of the Commodore’s resolute demands upon
the authorities of Lew Chew, that on the day of sailing, the building for the
storage of coal, commenced only two days previous, had been framed and
reared, and it was learned afterward that it was entirely finished in two days
more. The building is 50 by 60 feet in dimensions,. with a water-tight
thatched roof, with the eaves projecting beyond the sides, which are boarded
up more than half the distance from the ground to the roof, leaving an open
space sufficient for purposes of ventilation. I t was originally of sufficient
capacity to hold 500 tons of coal, and the first cargo placed in it was that of
the Caprice, which arrived soon after the departure of the Commodore.
Subsequently, the Southampton landed her cargo, shipped at Macao, when it
was thought advisable to enlarge the depot, and accordingly the authorities
added a wing to each side.
The Commodore, conceiving it to be of the highest importance that a
ship of the squadron should be stationed almost constantly at Lew Chew, to
keep alive the friendly interest and good feeling then subsisting between the
Americans and the islanders, who were becoming daily more cordial, he determined
to leave the Plymouth, Commander Kelly, there. He, however
instructed this officer to run over to the Bonin islands, after the termination
of the hurricane season, for the purpose both of visiting the settlement at
Port Lloyd and of surveying the southern cluster of the Bonins, originally
called the Coffin islands, after the first American discoverer in 1823, though,
as we have stated before, subsequently appropriated and named by the English
Captain Beechy, the Baily group.
The instructions of the Commodore to Commander Kelly referred generally
to the conciliatory but firm attitude he desired should be sustained
in all the relations of the Americans with the Lew Chewans. It was strictly
enjoined upon Captain Kelly that he should receive nothing from the islanders
without returning a fair compensation, and always bear himself towards
them in such manner as to prove that it was the desire of the United States
to cultivate their friendship and secure their confidence. The Commodore,
in addition to some detailed instructions in regard to the construct
coal depot and landing the cargoes from the e x p e c t e d stor sh.ps ffi c.ed
that, in his absence, the survey of Melville harbor and the coast of | g island
should be made, the investigations already commenced in thewaersof Nap
be continued, and a boat and officer kept in readmess to pdot m any of the
American squadron that might arrive. . . . . j
In regard to Captain Kelly’s visit to the Bonin Islands, ^ j a s nstructed
to proceed with the Plymouth, after the hurricane season, ^
October, provided nothing occurred to detain him at Lew Chew, to Po
Lloyd where he was to inquire into the condition of the settlers, especially
with respect to Nathaniel Savory and John Smith, two persons who had been
enrolled on the books of the steamer Susquehanna. He was also directed, a
obtaining the services of some of the settlers at Port Lloyd as guides or pilot.,
to visit the group of islands lying south of Peel Island, and named on Beechy s
chart Bailv’s group. Captain Kelly was then to lay out a chart giving the
result of his survey, and to be careful to give the name of Coffin, the ongma
discoverer, to the group of islands alluded to. The largest single island, or
the one containing the best harbor, was to be called Hillsborough and i s
port to be termed Newport. To these directions were added general instructions
to examine and survey the harbor and coasts, and
geological formation and the nature and condition of the soil of the Co
^ ^ a n t ic ip a tio n of the regular courBe of the narrative, it may be well to
give here the result of Captain Kelly’s observations and proceedings at the
Lew Chew and Bonin Islands, in accordance with the Commodore s ms
tions The officer appointed by the commander of the Plymouth for the survey
of the middle group of the Lew Chew Islands and the - # b ° rm g
waters, reports that on September 15,1853, he and his party encamped on the
island of Kindaka, the southeastern one of the chain extending; a ong
coast of Great Lew Chew. Here a bay was discovered, but it
be of no practical utility, being filled with coral reefs, which extend m fact,
in an unbroken chain outside of all the islands as far as the northeast pornt
of Ichey, with the exception of a narrow ship channel between the islet off
leads to a bay with numerous reefs, it is not safe to enter . g _
Barrow’s Bay, the survey proved it to be useless for all purposes of navigation,
from its exposure to easterly winds and the swell from the ocean. I
A port of refuge, however, was discovered on the west side of the island
of I c Z j, which forms the southern point of Barrow’s Bay, f t y j f r j g g ?
Hanadi, toward both of which a secure anchorage may be found. T h i ,
fact, the only harbor of refuge on the eastern coast
The position of Sidmouth Islands was found to be in latitude