The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-11

Newly DISCOVERED IsLANDs-The follow ing par
ticars of some newly discovered Islands in the Pa
cfc, are from the Sydney New South Wales) Spec
tator of Oct 9th, communicated by Captain Courte
nay, of the English whale-ship Seringapatam:
April 18th, l64l, saw a landbank s. w. by W.
by compass; at first took it to be of the Loyalty
Islands p. m. saw another large island ahead, no
account of its position in the chart being SO miles
the S. E. Of the Loyalty Islands not being able to
weather. worked to windward during the night; but,
the wind battling in the morning, bore up In run
ming along to leeward another island much smaller
and six more rose in succession, running between
west and west north west and west south west with
the exception of the one first seen which bears west
by south twenty miles from the southwest point of
the south island; hove close round to s. w. point,
and passed between the large island and the smaller
one west miles The soulhernmost island (the one
run along) was about E by N. and w by S. "a to 80
miles, and uniformly level and covered with low brush
wood, with here and there single and in places
cump of trees which at first took to be similar to
the Norfolk pine, but view found they
were not they appeared to be 80 or 60 feet high grow
ing mostly the edge Of precipces, dark green
lor with short stumpy branches and turf the top
of the branches short that, unless favored with
near view of them, they might readily be mistaken
for dead trees surrounded by creepers. This island
the Others appeared steep arising from the waters
edge with perpendicular cliffs of from 200 to 300 feet
high, here and there small lodges half mile per-
haps in length and projecting about 100 feet from the
cliff; these mostly covered with nut trees
saw several natives the rocks, and some canoes
passing from one island to another; they were of
different rig from any have in the Pacific,
carrying two large spirit sails they quite black,
and all appeared to have their hair chinamed similar
to the New Ireland natives. The centre of the large
island is situate in lat dogs 35m S., long 168 dogs
16m. E. or 100 miles w. Of the island Of Erronan !;
the south end is about lat 81 degs 40m lat of 10y
atty Islands 20 dogs. 55m long. l67 degs 40m. sun
set S. E. end of Caledonia bore w. S. w. 40 miles
Isle of Pines south IS miles, heading between S. E.
and S. by E. Description of another island disco
vered August 29th, l84l. Fine weather with mode
rate bieezes standing tie south At half past nine
went aloft and saw very dangerous reef bearing
from S. s. E. to S. E. by E., on which the S. E. was
breaking very heavy At first took it to be SCOTS
reef but at IL o'clock M, saw SCOTS reef from
the mast head bearing S. S. w. the south end of the
other reef bearing E. by ~ by compass distant about
A miles. At noon the lat 13 degs 46m. S., long.
chron. 12l degs. Sam E., north end of SCOTS reef
s. S. E., distant seven miles, the south end of the
other reef leagues N. E. This reef runs, to the
best Of my judgment, from the view l had of it,
about N. by E. and S. by w. and is about miles in
length, the sea being continued heavy break, and
bearing from the north point of SCOTS reef N E. by
N six leagues lat. at noon Is dogs. 46m, long l2l
dogs. SAM