SURVEYS OP CAPTAIN KELLY IN THE PLYMOUTH. 283 



Coffin, the original 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 its port to be termed 

 Newport. To these directions were added general instructions to examine and survey the harbor 

 and coasts, and to investigate the geological formation and tlie nature and condition of the soil 

 of the Coffin Islands. 



In anticipation of the regular course 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 instructions. The officer appointed by the commander of tlie Plymouth 

 for the survey of the middle group of the Lew Chew Islands and the neighboring waters, reports 

 that on September 15, 1853, he and his party encamped on the island of Kindaica, the south- 

 eastern one of the chain extending along the east coast of Great Lew Chew. Here a bay was 

 discovered, but it was found to be of no practical utility, being filled with coral reefs, which 

 extend, in fact, in an unbroken chain outside of all the islands as far as the northeast point of 

 Ichey, with the exception of a narrow ship channel between the islet off the northeast end of 

 Kindaica and the island of Ta-Unrj. But as this channel leads to a bay with numerous reefs, it is 

 not safe to enter it. In regard to 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. 



A port of refuge, however, was discovered on the west side of the island of Ichey, which forms 

 the southern point of Barrow's Bay, as well as under Hanadi, toward both of which a secure 

 anchorage may be found. This is, in fact, the only harbor of refuge on the eastern coast of the 

 Lew Chew group. 



The position of Sidmouth Islands was found to be in latitude 26° 43' 30" north, differing 3' 

 30" from that assigned to it by Captain Basil Hall in his sketch of the Lew Chew group. 



And the outline of the coast was observed also to run in a direction varying somewhat from 

 that laid down by that navigator. The whole of the island of G-reat Lew Chew was circumnavi- 

 gated in the course of this survey, under the directions of Commander Kelly. 



On the arrival of the Plymoiith at the Bonins, it was found that the settlers on Peel Island, 

 the jDrincipal one of the group, had of their own accord organized a municipal government, 

 under the title of "the Colony of Peel Island." Commander Kelly also, in accordance with the 

 instructions of Commodore Perry, visited the islands hitherto termed "Baily's," took formal 

 possession of them in the name of the United States, and gave them their proper name of Coffin, 

 a due record of which was made upon the chart, and upon the spot, by affixing a plate, inscribed 

 with the fact, to a large sycamore tree growing about twenty feet from the beach, near the north- 

 west point of the cove, and burying one also, with some documents placed in a bottle, giving a 

 true history of the discovery of the islands, and assigning the credit to the genuine discoverer, 

 the American whaling captain. Coffin.* 



* As an interesting specimen of this original effort at constitution-making by wanderers from many lands, civilized and savage, 

 we subjoin a copy of the 



"ORGANIZATION OF THE SETTLERS OF PEEL ISLAND." 



"We, the undersigned, residents and settlers on Peel Island, in convention assembled, wishing to promote each other's 

 mutual welfare, by forming a government, have ordained and established the following articles, which we solemnly bind our- 

 selves to support for the period of two years." 



