MAGNIFICENT HARBOURS. 
195 
kept up the flagging spirits of the men hy reminding 
them of the extra compensation which we had been 
assured Congress would grant us, and again put to sea. 
We were now hound for Ha-ko-da-di, Japanese island 
of Jesso, and the Cooper was to survey the west coast of 
the great island of I^ipon, while the Vincennes and Han- 
cock, pursuing difierent routes in order to cover as much 
space as possible, were to attend to every thing to the 
eastward. The two latter vessels were also to touch at 
Si-mo-da, east coast of Hipon ; and, before reaching that 
half-sheltered port, Ave smweyed a number of islands 
hitherto unexplored, and lying in the path from California 
to China. As we Avorked our AAmy sloAAdy through those 
unknoAvn lands to the nortliAAmrd, Ave passed one active 
and several extinct volcanoes, and finally arrived at 
Ousima or Preble’s Island. The Vincennes had examined 
the east coast of this island during her cruise of the pre- 
vious year, and found it, like that of Formosa, totally 
Avanting in harbours of any kind. It was noAv reserved 
for the two ships in company to encounter a succession 
of the most magnificent ports of shelter as they surveyed 
along its Avest coast. 
One of these, situated upon the northwest extreme of 
the island, is well worthy of a passing notice. In the 
first place, it is undoubtedly the most sheltered anchorage 
in the world; secondly, it is the most convenient locality 
for a coal-dep6t, should steamers ever run from California 
to China; and, thirdly, it is the dividing-line betAveen 
the Loo-choo and Japanese islands. There we found 
both of these people, the former on the southern shore of 
the double harbour, and the latter on its northern, — the 
