Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-02-12

..s. uted voyage during the last eunmer tc
yra Hnia and Oregon, has written several let.
'i for the Christian Ad vpcste, conssining mat.
of interest. Can't g., on nj. pas.;ee cu:
zen in sooih lat. 81 80. long. West 70 IS
rites thus: rsiar ,aet.t .fy 80 astec
We are now in the South Pacific Ocesn. and
as the sun wss setting in - clear sky as he
ever LEFT IN the Western horizon, . little 10 the
left OF where he was retiring to his ocean bed
might be seen. in the far distant Southwestern
view. a pyramid Of rocks. then distant from us
seventy good sea miles. .ssi,,. l.,.e.-.,,.
This wa. the last gaze we were taking Of the
island or Juan Fernsndez, the residence OF tbat
monarch Described by Cowrer, who ruled over
all he surveyed - mean the great Alexander
SeIkirk. placed by Defoe ia the person Of Ro-
binson Crusoe. with his man Fridsy, or another
island in the South Atlantic. csiled Fesdnsud
dc Noronbo We are now rapidly leaving this
place of story and Of song, and purpose giving
you a briet sketch Of visit made BY our mis-
siooaries to that place 30 famed in history. -
About daylight Of that day we first discovered
the land. then about forty miles distant. The
weather was pleasant and fine, and the wind
was qui'e light, 20 that at IL o'clock judged
the land about 25 miles Of. However, having
new boat, the passengers beset me to allow
them an opportunity OF setting foot upon the
island. The boat was soon got over the side,
and five Of our male passengers. with the mate
snd twn men, sprang into her, no doubt suppo.
sing that in q couple Of hours they would stand
upon land again. having been then 50 days on
cupboard But lsndsmen make poor calculstors
at sea. as the sequel will show.
So anxious were they to reach St. Juan that
provisions were not thought Of, although had
taken the precauton TO fil bucket with We.
ter, and huve il placed in the boat. Of they
started at half past IL o'clock in the morning,
without dining. and they rowed hard to get to
land. Soon after the boat showed of we took .
light breeze, and at sunset the good barqne
Wilton was off Cumberland Hsrbor. Al this
time might be seen, close under the land. and
not vet into the barbor. our ships boat, 'tciing
hard to get to land;' although the wind wac not
contrary they had not reached the haven they
sought. s'--t3~' v'~'n'-
And to wind up our story. Providence hsvng
favored us with breeze, after they Tad made a
short visit on shore they reached the vessel in
safety about nine o'clock at night. as we were
then close in with the land. and they had not a
long distance to pull to reach us. Poor fellows.
they were almost exhausted, not having yet
eaten anything, and the palms OF their haeds
were ia one blister, (for every man had to
work so tha, up 10 this time I hardly think
they could write a legib|e account of their voy.
age Ithnk they have learned. however, that
pyramiis Of two thousand eet high sometimes
appear nearer at Sea than they really are; and
have no hope Of giving yoa smother accoun,
of their excursion in boat.
Upon the island they found thirteen souls in
all. in state Of deplorable poverty. wi,hou,
particle of household furniture Of any descrip.
tion. not even chair, table or bed. Two OF
these wrctched creatures were females. Thcee
miserable Spaniards. made so by their own i'm.
providence. were TINS living upon on island
that would reward LABOR as bountiiuIly ss any
part Of the world, and through their own slo,h-
funess. Suffering in the midst of the means OF
plenty. il only proper effort was put forth to
obtain the necessaries and comforts of life.
The land is very rich, and yields plentfully,
20 that more than two hundred bushels OF pota.
toes can be gathered from q single acre, and
other things in proportion; vet these people
had only patch fifteen feet square.
Peaches arc in plentiful abundance all over
the island, and strawberries also in their season.
Ounces also grow in large quantities. These
luxuries were introduced by LORD Anson, and
now abound there very plentifully. The Wild
goats, in countless droves, roam over the noun.
tans, and are easily taken. Here also ere TO
BE- found mules and horses in large numbers
The missionaries saw al these playing among
The hills. and some of them in use BY the Span,
'ards. But the thirteen are not oil Spanisrds.
Three OF them are Americans who had run a.
way from whale ships; and these three perfor.
med ai the work, while the lazy Spaniards rea.
ped the benefit. Ha"j ~f.l tIt-
Fish may be procured in large quantities
~lttSa hule trouble. One boat obtained, in .
short space Of time. enough to last our large IA.
m''y ss many days AZ they would keep. They
are excellent and Of varions kinds. similsr to