ADVANTAGES OP PORT LLOYD, 213 



After a stay of four days at the Bonln Islands, the Susquehanna weighed anchor, and talcing 

 the Saratoga in tow sailed on the morning of Saturday the ISth of June, on the return, 

 voyage to Lew Chew. After clearing the luirhor of Port Lloyd, the course was steered toward 

 Disaj)pointment Island. On tlie passage from Levv' Chew to the Bonin Islands the Commodore 

 had desired to sight and determine the position of this island, hut, although it had been made 

 hy 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 apjiroaching darkness, to make any observation 

 but an ajiproximation by means of computation. The Commodore, therefore, on his return 

 voyage, was particularly desirous of seeing the island of DisapiDointment 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. 



It is a low island, with two detached rocks extending a cable or two in length from its extreme 



point, and lies in latitude 27° 15' north, and in longitude 140° 56' 30" east from Greenwich. 



*It is jjresumed that Disappointment and Kosario are one and the same i.sland. In addition 



to the nautical observation of the officers of the ship, the artist made a drawing of the 



appearance of the island, which will be found in the Appendix. 



As, therefore, tlie obstacle-^ to a free navigation of the Japan seas no longer present themselves, our 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 sonietiiing more is wanted, and that is a port 

 of resort, which shall be in all respects free for tiiem to enter and depart without the restraints of exclusive laws and national 

 prejudices; for though, as before remarked, tlie 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 lime may elapse before the people of those ports will probably 

 divest themselves of the jealousies ivhich tiiey have hitherto entertained against strangers, and it is ivell known that the crews 

 of whaling vessels visiting the ports of the Pacific are not remarkable for their orderly behavior or conciliatory deportment, 

 hence my argument in favor of an establishment at the Bonin Islands is strengthened. My plan is to establisii a colony at Port 

 l^loyd, Peei Island, the principal of the Bonin group, leaving the question of sovereignty to be discussed hereafter. I have 

 already in tlie narrative described these islands, and shall now proceed to set forth my plan for building up a thrifty settlement 

 whicli 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 

 cstablislung a colony on Peel Island. The experiment need not involve any very great outlay. Two vessels, each of three or 

 four hundred tons, suitably equipped for whaling, should be em'ployed 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 tlie passengers and 

 cargo, these vessels might proceed to cruise in the neighborliood and in the Japan seas in pursuit of wliales — returning occa- 

 sionally 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 store- 

 house 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 could be built up, and the results prove profitable to all parties concerned. Whaling vessels, .\merican, English, 

 and French, would resort in greater numbers to the port for refreshment and supplies, becoming customers in the purchase of 

 needful articles for their vessfls, and giving employment to the artisans and farmers of the colony. If mjnev should be wanted 

 by the whalemen visiting the port, to make payment for laborer supplies, oil at just prices would betaken in lieu thereof. There 

 should be sent out by the company none but young married people, quarters for whom cjuld be obtained in the houses of the 

 present settlers till dwellings could be erected for their exclusive occupation. Thus the settlement would, in all probability, form 

 the nucleus of a religious and happy community, and here a missionary station might be formed without obstacle, from whence 

 missionaries at 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 Sandivich Islands and Japan are frequently oblio-ed 

 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 meansfor improper indulgence, for which the ports before mentioned 

 are notorious. The right of sovereignty undoubtedly belongs to Japan, as the earliest known occupant of the islands; beyond 

 this claim the present settlers have unqtiestionably priority of right of jurisdiction. 



