Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

GUANO.- KOORIA MOORIA ISLANDS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN TIMES.
SIR,— a fter an absence of some years, I have just
returned from Australia, and fled that the subject of the
deposits on the above Islands have become a matter of
public interest. As regards one of the Islands, (Jiblea,)
I can speak from perhaps greater experience than any one
that has yet visited that place, and therefore hasten to
give all the information I possess, so as to get the affair
in its true light.
In the year 185:2, I accompanied Capt. Ord, on a
voyage to the East Indies, as a chief officer of the
Margaret; in November that year we made Kooria
Mooria Bay, and Capt. 0:d, after landing, having dis-
covered there were deposits of Guano, suggested that I
should remain on the Island of Jiblea to explutie it, and he
would call for me on his return. I consented to do so,
taking two ship's apprentices for company, also being
well-armed and provisioned. I don't remember the exact
dates, but in the month of November I landed, and re-
mained there, occasionally anxious about my return,
until the latter end of February following, when I took
my departure in a Budgero, despatched by Capt. Ord from
Bombay. I remained at Bombay some two months,
whilst Capt. Ord was endeavouring to organise an expe-
dition for the purpose of shipping the Guano ; but finding
he was not likely to succeed, I returned to England in the
Araminta, and after staying at home three months,
made a voyage in the ship Persia to Melbourne, where
I remained until my return home in the Donald
M'Kay, about fire weeks ago.
Accidentally, I saw a paragraph in the Times, of
the 2nd inst., respecting these Islands, and it then struck
me the information I possessed might be of some value.
The weather during the three months and three days I
remained there, was exceedingly warm, and one or two
showers of rain occurrred, but of so slight a nature that
there was no appearance of wet a few seconds after they
had fallen. The wind varied from north to east north-east,
generally very light, and in no case exe,eding a breeze in
which a vessel could not ride with all security at an
anchor.

From half-a-mile to a mile, the anchorage is exceedingly
safe, the bottom being composed of gravel with latee
stones. Close in, it would not he advisable for vessels
to lie, but in all cases stages for loading can be readily
erected, and need not exceed at the most fifty feet; in
many instances only ten feet would be required. At some
places the Guano can lie shot from the rocks direct into
the boats. The whole of my time wes occupied in ex-
ploring the Island, and from the result of a minute exa-
mination I am satisfied the quantity of Guano there will
prove very large. A casual observer would pass unnoticed
many spots which sound quite hollow, when the de-
posits are to a considerable extent covered by a crust
(which I am told is composed of phosphate of lime)
of the depth of four to eight inches, which in my
opinion is sufficient to protect the Guano below from
any rain that falls there. On turning this crust over,
I found a deposit of dark brown Guano, varying from
three to six feet, all full of amonia. under which there
appeared a white deposit, the nature of which I do
not know. Three places, one about 500 yards long by
200 or 300 yards wide, another 200 or 300 yards long, and
the same in breadth ; the third, near the beach, about
400 yards long by 50 broad,. were all covered with
Guano which appeared to me of good quality.
I also noticed that from seine cause, the reason of which
I cannot explain, (whether from the heat of the sun or not I
d ue't know,) but frequently about noon, the stones, many
four to five tons weight, and pieces of rock on the hills were
split and scattered to the extent of some fifty yards by
smart explosions, and the smell pieces so di,3p”rsed fell
upon the plains of guano, which were covered by them
so as to resemble a Macadamized road, but do not extend
materially beyond the surface.
The hills, also, as well as the plains, are covered with
deposits to a greater or less extent; but, as I had only my
cutlass tosound with, ! could not estimate the depth at more
than about four feet, but I have every reason to believe it
is considerably deeper ; in fact, it would not surprise me if
the greater portion of these hills are solid masses of guano :
but I attach greater importance, as regards quality, at least
to the deposits in the cares. These are very choice, being
well protected from all weather ; but here, again, unless
examined minutely, these eaves would be passed unnoticed ;
I only discovered them by watching the birds, and it ma 3
be well to name that these birds resort in innumerable
quantities, beingattracted by the abundance of fish round
the island, remaining there undisturbed. I explored at least
forty of these caves. I think the number exceeded this ;
but I wish to be within the fact. Many of them open out
from one to the other, and each will contain large quanti-
ties, being so full that I was compelled to creep in on hands
and knees. I have no doubt there will be many more ; hot,
without assistance, I could not explore further. The
amonia is very strong, and there are no stones mixed with
this.

In concluaion, I have no doubt the other two islands
have corresponding quantities, as there were many birds
there; but this is only surmise. I with to speak only of
what I saw, and I am sure the result will hear out the
report I have here given. P. A. STANBURY.
Liverpool, July 8, 1857.