78 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



several times seen ten and twelve feet high. Lichens, mosses (musci), and other cryptogamous 

 plants were found in abundance. There are very few kinds of grasses, and most of these are 

 unfit for pasturage. The jungle-weed in uncultivated tracts grows so dense that it excludes 

 everything else. The sedge-weed (cyperacece) also grows very luxuriantly ; mercury (acalypha), 



sorrel [oxalis stricta), convolvulus, ? (a native term), and a few others, are the 



most important. The vegetables grown are sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, yams, taro, radishes, 

 onions, turnips, beans, peas, pumpkins, melons, &c. The sweet potato yields very abundantly, 

 and grows to an enormous size. The Irish potato has been planted but a short time, and little 

 is known respecting it. Indian corn is cultivated with much success. Nothing, however > 

 appears to thrive bettor than the sugar-cane ; it grows to a very large size, and requires scarcely 

 any labor. There is no doubt that large portions of the island might be planted with it to great 

 advantage. 



Very few species of animals are found here, or on any other island of the Bonin group, and 

 most of these have been imported since they have been inhabited by foreigners. The first hogs 

 were put on Peel Island in the year 1827, from a whaler that was anchored near the entrance of 

 Port Loyd. Many of them have since run wild, and are hunted like other wild animals on the 

 mountains. The goat, originally brought here tame, has also gone wild. On Stapleton Island, 

 it is reported, there are six or seven thousand at present. The settlers have plenty of chickens, 

 ducks, geese, and turkeys, but there is a great propensity in them all to free themselves from 

 the restraints of domestic life, and to return to their original state. The only other birds in a 

 state of nature are a few kinds of finches, crows, hawks (milvus), the terragra, sandpipers, and 

 pigeons. There are no reptiles of any kind, except a small lizard ilacertd), tortoises (chilonice), 

 and the iguana. The tortoise is of very large size, and is found in the greatest abundance. 



The fisheries are excellent along the coasts of all the Bonin Islands, and the fish, perhaps., 

 as good as can be found anywhere in the East. It is unnecessary to enter into the species that 

 are found here, as they are too numerous, and it would, moreover, require considerable time 

 to ascertain what they are. 



Accompanying this report are several drawings* of trees, plants, flowers, and landscapes, 

 made by Mr. May and Mr. Portman, to whom, and also to Mr. Hibbert, I am indebted for 

 much aid during my laborious travel in exploring the island. In concluding these remarks, I 

 have only to observe, that they are not intended to convey more than a general idea of the sub- 

 jects investigated ; and, if I have succeeded in this, I shall consider myself amply rewarded. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



CHAELES F. FAHS. 

 Commodore M. C. Perky, 



Commanding U. S. naval forces, East India, China, and Japan Seas. 



* Not published. 



