214 PACIFIC AND 



island. About four miles eastnortheast of South island, lie two 

 round high islands, to which he gave no names. Fisher's island 

 lies from southsoutheast to northnorthwest, and Kidd island, the 

 most western of the group, lies southeast from the northwest part 

 of Fisher's island. Between the two last-mentioned islands there 

 is a beautiful clear bay, two miles wide, and five miles up to the 

 head. Captain Coffin sailed up this bay about four miles, where 

 he found a fine small bay, where he anchored his ship ; and, as 

 he remarks, there is some justice due one's self, called it Coffin's 

 harbour. This harbour is sheltered from all winds, except from 

 westsouthwest, and a vessel will ride with as much safety as in 

 Hampton roads, with no current or swell. Captain Coffin took 

 fifty tons of water on board, of the purest kind, with a supply of 

 wood, both of these essentials being in any abundance, and more 

 easily procured than at any other place he was at. Turtle and 

 pigeons were so plenty, that any number could be obtained. The 

 water in the bay was stored with a variety of fish, and with plenty 

 of choice lobsters, and the cabbage-tree was among the productions 

 of the island, so that any desirable quantity might be easily pro- 

 cured. Captain Coffin did not discover any quadruped, reptile, 

 or insect, not even an ant. The islands are covered with large 

 and beautiful forest-trees, but not a single mark, even of a knife, 

 could be traced upon one of them ; nor did it appear that the foot- 

 steps of man had ever been imprinted on any of these islands. 

 For whale-ships, or those bound from Canton to Port Jackson, or 

 the northwest coast of America, they will furnish a valuable place 

 of refreshment. They are about south of Sandown point, on the 

 coast of Japan, and the distance may be sailed in four days. 

 The bay where Captain Coffin anchored is in latitude 26 3(X 

 north, longitude 141 east. 



In the year 1825, the same captain, and while on the same 

 cruise, discovered, in latitude 27 north, longitude 141 1CK east, 

 a high island, well wooded, from the west side of which he pro- 



