NARRATIVE 



THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER I. 



BOW DITCH ISLAND. 

 184 0. 



As has before been stated, the Peacock and Flying-Fish left Oahu 

 on the 2d December, 1840, under instructions which will be found in 

 Appendix VIII. , Vol. IV. They steered off to the southward nntil 

 they reached the latitude of 5° N., and longitude 160° W., a position 

 in which it was thought that an island existed. This position was 

 carefully examined, until they were satisfied that there was no land 

 at or near the locality. They then steered for Washington Island, 

 known on the chart of Arrowsmith as New York Island, which was 

 found and surveyed. Its position is in latitude 4° 41' 35" N., and 

 longitude 160° 15' 37" W. It is three and a quarter miles long by 

 one and a fourth wide, and is entirely covered with cocoa-nut and 

 other trees, exhibiting a most luxuriant growth. There is a reef off 

 its eastern point, which extends for half a mile. At the western end, 

 a coral ledge extends two miles in a northwest-by-west direction, on 

 which the water appears much discoloured, but the sea was not seen 

 to break upon it, except close to the point of the island. The island is 

 elevated about ten feet above the sea. The surf proved too heavy to 

 allow of their landing, and the island affords no anchorage. While 



