NARRATIVE 



OF 



THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



CHAPTER 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 



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