Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-06-23
F,on, he N. - York American.
THE SOUTH SEA SURVEYING AND Ex
Flooring EXPEDITION.

during which time, we learn that the DIFF
ferent vessels have sailed about four hun
ored thousand miles. The expedition has
thoroughly executed every part Of the du-
ties conGded TO il by the government.
The ports, harbors, islands, reefs and
shoals named 10 the list annexed, have
been visited and examined or surveyed.
The positions assigned on the charts to
several roefs, shoals and Islands, have
been carefully looked for, run over, and
found 70 have no existence in or near the
places assigned them.
Several Of the principal groups ana IS
lands in the Pacific Ocean have been VS.
tied, examined and surveyed; ifIenoly
intercourse and protective commercia,
regulations established with the chiefs ana
natives; aggressions on our citizehs ana
commerce redressed, and justly mcrIted
punishment melted out in some fragrant
cases Of unproyoked and cold blooded
murder.
The discoveries in the Antarctic Ocean
(Antarctic t-obseryatlons tor
fixing the Southern magnetic pole, &c.
preceded those of the French and English
expeditions.
The report which Inns been in circula-
ton, Of Capt. Ross having run over some
portion Of the land discovered by this ex-
petition, is unfounded. No land to the
Edstward Of 100 degrees Of E. longitude,
was discovered, seen or claimed, by the
American expedition, as appears by Capt.
Wilkes report to the Navy Department,
published in 1910, after the return OF the
squadron to New Zealand.
If this statement originated with Capt.
Ross, based upon the particular chart oil
the Antarctic ice, and discoveries OF land,
with the full explanatory letter which was
furnished him by Capt. " likes, previous
10 Cant. RS antarctic cruise, he Capt.
K. must have taken that portion of land
reported to have been seen by Bethany, IN
1889, which was represented on it, as be-
ing 10 1872 degrees to l55 degrees East
longitude or thereabout, which the Amer
lean expedition had never seen or heard
of. until its return to Sidney, NSW. after
their discoveries in the Antarctic Ocean.
Capt. Ross, according to his report, has
never passed over or gone so far West
AS 100 degrees East in latitude CT de-
grees South consequently he could not
have seen the land discovered and claim
ed by the American expedition, but seems
to have run over the position where land
IS reported to have been seen by his coun-
,ryman Bellamy.
The expedition, during its absence, has
ais, examined and surveyed large por-
ton of the Oregon territory, part OF Up
per California, including the Columbia
and Sacramento rivers, with their various
tributaries. Several exploring parties
from the squadron, have explored, ex.
amined, and fixed those portions OF the
Oregon territory least known. A map OF
the territory, embracing its rivers, sounds,
harbors, coasts, forts, &c., has been pre-
pared, which will furnish the government
with mass of valuable Information re-
ative TO our possessions on the North
west coast, and the whole of Oregon.
Experiments were made with the PEN
duIltm on Mount Loa," on the island
of Hawaii, ono of the Sandwich Islands,
at a heigh. Of H., 900 feet above the level
of the sea. Typographical surveys and
views were made of some Of its active and
most extensive craters.
Experiments have been made with the
pendulum, magnetic apparatus, and varl'
Gus other Instruments, on all OCCASIONS
the temperature of tho ocean at various
depths ascertaIned in the different seas
travctsed, aud full meteorological and other
observations kept up during the cruise.
Charts of all the surveys have been
made, with views and sketches of head.
lands, towns or villages, &C., with de-
scriplion of all that appertalns to the To-
caitics, productions, languages, customs
and manners.
At some Of the islands this duty has
been attended with much labor, exposure,
and risk of lfe, tho treacherous charac-
ter of the natives rendering it absolutely
necessary that the officers and men should
be armed, while on duty, and at all times
prepared against their murderous attacks.
On several occasions, beats have been alb
sent from the different vessels OF the
squadron on surveying duty, (the greater
norton of which has been performed IN
boats,) among islands, reefs, &c., 10.
period of ten, twenty, and thirty days at
one time; on one of these occasions, two
of the officers were killed at the FIJI group,
while defending their boats crew from an
attack by the natives.
The scientific gentlemen have been &C
lively engaged in their various depart
ments, and subject TO oil the exposures
incident to researches among dangerous
and hostile savages. Mr.. Hale, the phi.
loloeist of the expedition, was left at the
Columbia river, for the purpose of prose-
cutting his labors among the different tribes
of the Oregon territory, and may be ex-
pccted home over land, early in August.
Several islands not laid down IN the
charts have been discovered, on one OF
which the natives offered worship, evident.
ly believing that their yisiters had come
from the sun.
The Sooloo sea has also been examIn'
ed, several islands found to have been er-
rmeously laid down upon the charts, ana
others not laid down at all. Protective
commercial regulations established with
the Sultan of Sooloo, and correct chart
made Of a feasible and short route for pass
ing through these seas toward China "a
gamst the n. Il. monsoon.