NARRATIVE 
OF 
THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 
CHAPTEB I. 
BOWDITCH ISLAND. 
1840 . 
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 until 
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 
(3) 
