1845.] PINE FIRS. 315 



previous to 1839, requiring the destruction of this tree. 

 It must have increased prodigiously between 1825 and 

 1839, as I recollect but one tree at the former date 

 bearing fruit, not exceeding a billiard ball. In 1840 

 they exceeded the size of a cricket ball, and were in 

 great profusion, the entire underwood of Point Venus 

 being composed of this tree. 



The composition of Y-nah-koo differs from its nearest 

 neighbours, Koo-kien-san and Pa- tchung-san, being chiefly 

 of coralline limestone, its highest peak attaining the 

 elevation of 770 feet. All the ranges are capped with 

 trees and brush-wood, but excepting the Pine Fir, which 

 contains a great portion of resin, rendering it specifically 

 heavier than water, none attain any size. The position 

 of the northern beach to the west of the town of Pseu- 

 bang-yah, is in Lat. 24 25' 58" N. Long. 122 55' 

 53" E. 



During the interval employed in the examination of 

 the island the ship discovered a bank of soundings to the 

 north-eastward of the town ; it is apparently a coral 

 ledge, but affords tolerable anchorage in fine weather. 



Quitting Y-nah-koo, which is conspicuous from the sea 

 by the peculiar sharpness of its single peak, we returned 

 to Port Haddington, to rate, and sailing the same 

 evening, shaped our course in search of the group Hoa- 

 pin-san of the charts ; although not known by this name 

 by our Pa-tchung-san pilots. Indeed, we found that the 

 names assigned in this region have been too hastily 

 admitted, as may be remarked in Meia-co-shimah and 

 Y-nah-koo, for Madjicosima and Kumi. 



On the morning following we were sufficiently near to 



