PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
501 
rocks in the channel, which, as they are not in general visible, are very 
likely to prove injurious to vessels; and as it can seldom happen that 
there is a necessity for entering the harbour in that direction, the 
passage ought to be avoided. The western entrance is divided into 
two channels by a coral bank, with only seven feet water upon it, which, 
as it was discovered by the Blossom, I named after the ship. The 
passage on either side this rock may be made use of as convenient ; 
but that to the southward is preferable with southerly winds and flood 
tides, and the other with the reverse. A small hillock to the left of a 
cluster of trees on the distant land in the direction of Mount Onno- 
dake, open about 4“ to the eastward of a remarkable headland to the 
northward of Fotsoong, will lead thi’ough the south channel ; and the 
Capstan Bock, with the highest part of the hill over Napa-kiang, which 
has the appearance of a small cluster of trees, will lead close over the 
north end of Blossom Bock. This notice of the dangers of entering the 
harbour will be suflicient in this place, and if vessels are not provided 
with a chart, or require further directions, it will be prudent to anchor 
a boat upon the rock. 
Though the inhabitants of Loo Choo show so much anxiety for 
charts, they do not appear to have profited much by those which have 
been given to them, nor by those published in China and Japan. Their 
knowledge of geography is indeed extremely limited, and, with the 
exception of the islands and places with which they trade, they may be 
said to be almost ignorant of the geography of every other part of the 
globe. I did not omit to inquire about Ginsima, Kinsima, and Bonin- 
sima, islands which were supposed to exist at no great distance to the 
eastward of Loo Choo. The two first have never been since their dis- 
covery, but the other group has long been known to Japan ; and if we 
can credit the charts of the .Japanese, it has been inhabited some time, 
as several villages and temples are marked therein. The Loo Chooans, 
however, could give me no information of it or of any other islands lying 
to the eastward of their own, and were quite surprised at hearing a 
Japanese vessel* had been cast away upon an island in that direction. 
The groups of islands seen in the distance to the westward of Loo 
CHAP. 
XVII. 
May, 
1827. 
* See Kajmpfer’s History of Japan. 
