AVES ISLAND. 67^ 



Extract of letter of instructions to Captain Nathan P. Gibhs, dated June 



21, 1854. 



''You have an armament sufficient to protect you against all intruders 

 who come for the purpose of taking guano, and we wish you to use it 

 without hesitation against all individuals that may come to molest you; 

 but we don't wish you to resist the armed force of any government ^ 

 although we feel confident the island does not belong to any nation ; yet 

 there may be claims of this kind we do not know of, and we do not wish 

 you to place yourself by any chance in a false position by resisting any 

 government force that may he sent there." 



Boston, June 22, 1854, 

 Dear Sir : As you are about to proceed to Islas Aves or Bird Island 

 with a gang of men to gather guano, our instructions are that you take 

 X)OSsession of said island and hold it against all claimants ; to better 

 secure your rights of possession that you put a fence all around it, 

 leaving open your landing only. 



Should i^arties come there to take guano you will order them off and 

 prevent their taking it, hy force, if necessary, for which you have an 

 armament, and you must use it, if threats don't answer. We mean 

 you to keep possession of the island till it is exhausted ; and if you 

 want more men write home and we will send them out to you ; and if 

 the person now sent out as your assistant is not all you want, write 

 and your wishes shall be gratified in this respect. We don't wish to 

 drive hard until the rainy season gets over, in order to have dry guano ; 

 but you can, while loading the first two or three vessels, judge how 

 rapidly you can ship it in dry weather. We shall send you as much 

 tonnage as you think you can load, if it is 3,000 or 4,000 tons ^qv 

 month, as we must clear the island this year. The first two or three 

 cargoes you better avoid the top sandy looking guano, and take that 

 which is darker underneath and the crusfc, which I Avant you to pound 

 up on a plank platform, so as to have it fine mixed in with the guano.. 

 The first cargo or two however you need not be so particular. Write 

 home if you want more horses, boats, or scows ; all you ask for will 

 be sent you. Write a few lines by every vessel, and let us know if you. 

 have any trouble. [If any body claims the island in the name of a 

 government, you must insist that no government can claim it unless it 

 be Spain, who discovered it; no one but yourself has acquired posses- 

 sion, and that you shall hold it till you can hear from your government 

 on the subject. No government have any better claim than we have, 

 and this you can insist upon. Don't mind any threats, because there 

 is nothing they can or dare do to injure you. The probability is, if 

 anybody comes under English, French, Dutch or Danish flags, they 

 will say they are by orders of government ; but resist all attention to 

 their orders, and insist they must take you all as prisoners and make 

 prizes of your vessels before you will go, and leave it for your govern- 

 ment to settle the matter with theirs. I am sure they will not move 

 you, but will frighten you if they can. Against other comers you 

 must take your chance and drive them off.] 



Captain N. P. Gibes. 



