Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-28
NEW DISCOVERY.

in the Pacific. By Captain Eeg, OF the Pol
lux sloop of war, IN the service OF MS MA
ies,v the King of the Netherlands. In let
Ter to DR.. Brewster from G. Moll, Professor
Of Natural Philosophy in the University OF
Utrecht =
NV dear Sir-Two vessels in the service OF
his Majesty. the King Of the Netherlands, have
! lately crossed the Pacific. After leaving Wash
| ;poton's Islands, it was deemed expedien 10
Keen in the seventh parallel Of south latitude,
sailing to the westward, being the track in
which Capt. Eeg, commanding the Pollux sloop
Of war, thought some islands might probably he
discovered The coral Islands in those seas
being generally small and low, II was reckoned
| prudent to proceed at night under easy sail,
and thus to leave De Peyster's and Sherson's
Islands one degree to the n. and 5. On the
l4th Of July, 1925, al S a. M. after very ha-
Nv and rainy night, il was presumed that land
was to be seen ahead, but very indistinctly; but
shortly after, the breakers were distinctly heard
The vessel was brought too, and the signal
made for the Maria Reygersberch ilgate TO DO
the same After sunrise, they discovered We
nv low island bearing w. by 5. two miles dis
tan, (mies Of 90 TO degree). The land APP
reared well stocked with cocoa and other trees.
About noon, they had the north point OF the ISL
and, s. 90 deg E. The longitude OF this ISL
and and the latitude being ascertalned, with as
much accuracy as circumstances would allow,
and no other island being found in the same Po-
stion in any Of the charts on board, this was
deemed a new discovery The nearest land was
De Peyster's group, but 1t was so MN dliier-
ent in latitude. Though the sky was very clear
no other islands were seen at the same time
The name of Nedcrlandicl, Island was given 10
this new land Its north point is in lat. deg
10 min. S. and the centre Of 1t in long. III deg.
IS min 10 sec +. from Greenwich; the varia-
ton of the magnetic needle being deg. 10 the
east. The longitude was determined by three
chronomete:s. One Of these, made by homp'
son, was reckoned the most accurate; It's rate
had been ascer,ained seventeen days before al
Nukahiwa, and its differences from the other
two were very regular A few days before COM
ing in sight with the island, the longitude was
ascertained By lunar observations, agreeing re-
markably well with the chronometerS ms
island has form resembling horse shoe; It's
extent is about 8 miles. In the west IS all IN
dentation, closed by low reefs, and terminating
in langoon. The natives, some OF whom were
armed with long sticks, were very numerous,
sitting or running along the shore, as the YES
sci sailed along. An armed boat was dispatch
ed towards the shore. The island appeared
iron bound; for al boats length from the
shore, the depth was six fdthoms, and rough
coral ground A ships length from the shore
there was fifteen fathoms depth. AT the \. w.
poirt they found coral reef, projecting FAR in
the sea, and on which there was heavy surf.
1t was supposed that these were the breakers
heard previous 10 the discovery OF the leland
The land had pleasing aspect and appeared
fertile The number Of natives assembled on
shore was estimated at about three hundred
They were of dark copper hue, tan and well
made. Few were less than sly feet Rh!nland
measure The women were also very Stout
Some of the people were tatooed, but not so
much as that of Nukahiwa. They were naked,
except some covering made OF leaves. a lew
Others had some cloth of cocoa bark wrapped
round their waist The heads OF some were a.
dorned with feathers. Their conduct appear
ed very fierce and wild, ard they eontrived to
steal whatever they thought within their reach.
The boat-hooks soon disappeared, and they G.
ven attempted 10 take the oars from the bands
of the boats crew. An old man, with a white
beard, and Of respectable appearance, carrying
a green bough in his hand, was at their head
He continually kept singing some mono.on-
Gus song in 4 melancholy tune. They barter
ed some cocoa nuts, and some of their tools, "a
gainst some old handkerchief5 and empty bot
ties; and it appeared that their language had
some resemblance to that spoken at Nukahiwa.
When the boat again put to sea, they tried the
effect of firing few musket shots in the air but
the natives did not show SYMPTOMS OF fear, and
thus appeared unconscious of the effects OF Eu-
ropean arms. No canoes were seen IN the pos
session of these people, nordid they attempt to
approach the ships, although the weather was
excellent and the sea very calm. The COM
manders ofthe two vessels regretted very much
that their large complement, and the small
quantity Of water, Obliged them TO make every
possible despatch. They accordingly pursued
their Journey to Sourabaya, in Java, where they
found other work at hand than the discovery OF
new countries.
am, dear sir, with very great esteem, your
humble servant, u. MOLL.
UTRECHT, 9th February, 1926.
We learn from Captain Griffing of the ship
Union ofthis port
That on the 18th Of July, the Ship Emeline
of Nantz, anchored in Christmas Harbor in the
Island of Desolation, and in about SIX hours
was boarded by boat with six men from
Cloudy Islands, eighteen miles distant, who
were left there by an English skinner formerly
the Saucy Jack privateer of Charleslon) ten
months before with But two DAVIS provision.