REPORT 



EXAMINATION OF THE COASTS OF THE ISLANDS OE JAPAN. 



BY CAPTAIN JOEL ABBOT, U. S. N. 



Instructions of Commodore Perry to Captai Anbbot. 



U. S. Flag-ship Powhatan, 



Hakodadi, May 31, 1854. 

 Sir : Wind and weather permitting, you will proceed with the U. S. ship Macedonian, under 

 your command, to the port of Simoda, Japan. 



On your passage you will keep as near the land as prudence and safety -will allow, in view o 

 tracing the outline of the coast, and determining the positions of the prominent headlands, and 

 otherwise improving the very imperfect charts of this part of the world. 



It is important that the islands lying south of Cape King, including Fatsisio, should be 

 sighted, and their positions marked by accurate observations. 



Respectfully, your obedient servant, 



M. 0. PERRY, 

 Commander-in-chief U. 8. naval forces, East India, China, and Japan seas. 

 Captain Joel Abbot, 



Commanding U. S. ship Macedonian. 



Report of Captain Abbot to Commodore Perry. 



U. S. Ship Macedonian, 

 Simoda, Japan, June 11, 1854. 



Sir : Agreeably to your orders of the 31st ultimo, I left Hakodadi, island of Yesso, Japan, 

 on that date, in the U. S. ship Macedonian, under my command, for this place, by way of the 

 island of Fatsisio, and I have the honor to report my safe arrival here this evening. 



I regret to have to state that the very unfavorable winds and weather have not afforded a good 

 opportunity for a close continuous view of the coast of Niphon, nor to determine the exact 

 position of its headlands or the numerous islands south of Cape King, having had but a very 

 few reliable nautical observations. The first three days were attended with a dense, damp fog, 

 during which but few glimpses of the land were had, and the whole passage has been attended 



