210 VOYAGE TO THE 



necessity for entering the harbour in that direction, the 

 passage ought to be avoided. The western entrance 

 is divided into two channels by a coral bank, with 

 only seven feet water upon it, which, as it was disco- 

 vered by the Blossom, I named after that ship. The 

 passage on either side this rock may be made use of 

 as convenient ; but that to the southward is preferable 

 with southerly winds and flood tides, and the other 

 with the reverse. A small hillock to the left of a 

 cluster of trees on the distant land, in the direction of 

 Mount Onnodake, open about 4° to the eastward of a 

 remarkable headland to the northward of Potsoong, 

 will lead through the south channel ; and the Capstan 

 Rock, with the highest part of the hill over Napa- 

 kiang, which has the appearance of a small cluster of 

 trees, will lead close over the north end of Blossom 

 Rock. This notice of the dangers of entering the har- 

 bour will be sufficient in this place, and if vessels are 

 not provided with a chart, or require further direc- 

 tions, it will be prudent to anchor a boat upon the 

 rock. 



Though the inhabitants of Loo Choo show so much 

 anxiety for charts, they do not appear to have pro- 

 fited much by those which have been given to them, 

 nor by those published in China and Japan. Their 

 knowledge of geography is indeed extremely limited, 

 and, with the exception of the islands and places with 

 which they trade, they may be said to be almost igno- 

 rant of the geography of every other part of the globe. 

 I did not omit to inquire about Ginsima, Kinsima, 

 and Boninsima, islands which were supposed to exist 

 at no great distance to the eastward of Loo Choo. The 

 two first have never been seen since their discovery, 

 but the other group has long been known to Japan ; 



