200 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



of California, it occurred to me that I had in my note book, information un- 

 published on the same subject. As it lies within the field occupied by your 

 Academy, I furnish it herewith for publication. My information was gathered 

 from a Journal kept by Lieut. Griswold,* (a young gentleman of scientific taste- 

 and a close and accurate observer,) during a cruise off the west coast of Mexico, 

 in search of guano. Among the islands visited, was " Clipperton Rock,'" which 

 is the locality I refer to. 



Before giving any extract, I will state what was known of the island. 



It is situated in Lat. 10° 17' N., Long. 109° 19' W., and was discovered by 

 Capt. Clipperton, in 1705, He appears to have sighted only the tall volcanic 

 rock, which stands near the south end of the island, and passed on without learn- 

 ing of the existence of the island. It appears not to have been noticed again for 

 more than a century, so that its position, and even its existence was doubted. 



The only published account of its having been visited since, are those by Capt. 

 Benj. Morrellt and Sir Edward Belcher.* The former called there during a 

 sealing voyage, in 1825, and gives a meagre account of it in a few lines, remark- 

 ing, that " it produces a little shrubbery and some coarse grass, among which, I 

 think, fresh water might be found by digging. Among the few vegetable produc- 

 tions of this island, we found a plant resembling sarsaparilla, which badly poisoned 

 several of the crew who handled it." 



Sir Edward Belcher, during his surveying expedition, wishing to verify the 

 existence and position of the island, searched and found it. He did not land, but 

 gives the result of his examination from the mast-head. With other remarks, he 

 states that " it is a coral lagoon island, three miles long N. and S., and the same 

 E. and W. There are two entrances, both on the weather side, which at high- 

 water may be safe, but at the moment we passed, the surf was too heavy and 

 the reflux showed the rocks bare. On the beach several large trees were ob- 

 served, but no living trees were seen." (May 8, 18.39.) 



Lieutenant Griswold notes in his journal, as follows: " On the 6th of August, 

 1861, we lay on our oars, just outside the breakers on the N.E. side. At half 

 past six we were ashore, shooting in on a high roller, which left us high and dry 

 upon the beach, with a hole stove in our bow. The beach was covered with 

 drift wood, and while the crew were collecting it, I started to examine the island. 



Upon every side it is girdled by a broad barrier of coral, about fifteen feet 

 above the level of the ocean. There is no entrance to the lagoon, neither does it 

 communicate with the ocean by subterranean passages, as the water inside is 

 fresh and potable. It is slightly braekish, but will appease thirst. The 'Rock' is 

 a ragged pile of volcanic formation, on the south end of the island, gray and 

 splashed over with the deposit of the birds. It is cracked and split in every 

 possible direction, here and there shooting into tottering pinnacles. As you 

 wander through the caverns and clefts, with which it is perforated, there is an 

 incessant splashing and dropping of water. On the very topmost pinnacle, which 



* Lieut. Griswold was killed at the head of his regiment, gallantly leading them into action, 

 at the battle of Antietam. 



t A narrative of four voyages to the South Seas, &c, by Capt. Benj. Morrell. N. Y., 1832, 

 page 219. 



X Narrative of a vo3-age round the world in H. M. S. Sulphur, by Capt. Sir Edward Belcher. 

 London, 1843. Vol. II, page 219. 



