The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-17
JAPANESE KURILE IsLis5S.


nsrssrn Dependencies o. sns JAPANESE nra.
rnPARKp UspER DIRECTION or The sEcHErAnY OF
sug NAVY, m 1852 FOR THE UsB or ceAaoDoRs
sssseoLD's EXPLORING ExPspirioS, ny AAsoS
MAlGHT ALhkh
TIE Archi pelago Of the Kuriles CONSISTS of about
Awen ak islands, including Yeso. and Ia about 600
miles in extent, connecting the peninsula of KANT
sshatka with the island Of Niphon pae northern
haads were irst discovered and occupied by the as-
6ans IN has. They derive their name from the Rus
san word KurI, ITO smoke, from the smoking vol
eAasss on some Of the islands- They are naturally
dtyided into two chans, lying south OF Boussole
mnit, IN 46 deg. 80 min. north latitude, the other
- ne north Il H. The southern chain u called the
Greater Kuriss, and more properly belongs to ia
IN, snt several Of the islands have been succes
dsly occapied BY The Rossians, for trading with
- natives and they even claim, Ia common with
- japanese, Cunaahr, Urup and lturup. The
DsTtsern chain, called the Little Kadtes, are de-
pandessiss Of Kamtschslka, and are somprehended
u Me Russian governments Of eastern Siberia. Most
- The natives Of This chain hive been baptized and
- occasionally visited by Russian missionaries Of
- 0resk church. ihe population Ia ABBOTT ], 400.
Tho Kuriies are called BY the japanese
u.kSans, or Thousand Islands," and also
keasOsmitsi, signifying road OF sea veeds,"
hDn the great abundance Of roDbie, the focus
.sssAarbnus, or se&cabDagc, with winch the ada
Snhssss apolpd-- article ri food IN general use
sRng AL ciasfes In the empire Of japan. They are
tkaly inhanlted by tribes Of Aimee. are mostly ua-
cultivated and abound In valuable fur auinAis The
sskisss .subeist by hunting, fishing, and catching
sAalsa
TaHiRPO.OI, and the two other adjacent small
Islands, are estimated IN length and breadth about
tsa MiIes volcanic eruption, at some remote pc
xoa, has these slanss with stones, SO that
tnsy are PERFECTLY useless.
CauP, Or OuKur. latitude AZ degrees 80 minutes
Aath, and longitude lao degrees 90 minutes east
b ahat 81 miles in length, and Il In breadth. Tvs
physical aspect ~ isfsy mountains and deep glens,
slssAsA with long, rank grass, and large iimoer
Asss. On the northern side lie four small isles,
vaish produce abundance Of vegetables for ship
ping. Streams from the snountains traverse the
AaAsd and fall into the sea- This islaud is ,onsi
1xsA TO be rch In minerals, including copper, sui
yEw and quartz, but is only visited for tae red
ed white foxes, which are very numerous.
ErURuY, Er0oRP0O, or BTATkN-LASD, cAlk by the
Japanese Hourouss, lies 20 miles distant from Urup,
Aam which it ia separated north by Ures strait, and
- The soaih by St. Anthony's Strait from the IL.
lad Of Kunssyr, and Is about IA0 miles in length,
With an average breasth Of 20. Several lofty
Trims adorn ths island, and it is covered with forests
Il noble timber consisting flarch, pine, oak, birch,
cypress, &c. The otaer productions are black bears,
sAss, foxes, fab atters, salnoo, sturgeon, Sc. In
sascmy weather VIII Ales aud dolphins are throwo OH
- shore. The inhabitants are the genuine abo-
Siyines, or hairy Kuries known to the Japanese by
TIE varsOus names Of Yeso, Anus, Astonwi Ysbis,
. Eastern bsrbarians," Aovin, and Mowin, hairy
a hall r.. yn
= them in history VAS under the Japanese name Of
Mswin, in Chinese work called Chan- nal king,
writer. during tue dynasty Of Han, b. .. $50.
MAR esuptry ID described al situated beyond the
eastern Sea- and the boties OF it, Inhabitants
- with hair. They congresate in villages, aud
psy nominal tribute TO Russia. Ga this island il
- town Of Ourbitcb, with Japanese fort and
pows, not far from u volcano OF the same name. 1t
sa.ains severai good anchcrAgcs AID rivers into
whish ships may safely enter. Inc Russian com-
nanAant Of the Kurile district resides on this
inAnnd.
KuNAssfR Is situated about thirty miles distant
non huup. Its estimated len 9Th Is about seventy.
IRE n,es BY twenty-five miles in breadth, aud -
0airely surrounded by mountains and lofty sum
nis In the centre Of the island large tracks Of
1sw hnd covered with good lumber. Toe produo-
vegetables and fish. A pearibeariag muscle as
hsgs ~ desert plate, h found here, and the ia
hAhisOnts sell large quantities to the Japanese
traders Yassak, or tribute, IA also paid 70 Russia
= Min article.
10 vas ON this island that Capt. Galiowipn q tse
Rnssisn navy, whiie engaged ia exploring the
southern Kurilts In 1911, seized and imprisoned
hY the JapsAese authorities, ana detained in ca,-
Ngky ~ Maternal until 1873, in retaliation OF hos
t3e attack iDade Ia 1907 by AL armea party OF Ras-
sans, ui.der Lieutenant Unwostst, upon the Jspa
nese settlements ia the bay OF Auya, Island of
fArskay.
Ionl.orA Island Ia about forty-seven mikes
distAII from the latter leland its length Is
aSsGt eighty miies, aud breadth twenty eight miles
The eayu. lofty mountains, ieruie plains and
several lskes, which ,eem with exeeiis.t asa. At
ne southern extremity are two small isless, which
sxe covered with gooa timber.
1kso, jEseO, On MA4raAf--This island the
ssuiherLn~t OF the chain, lies in ~ deg, AZ min.
~ sac. north latitude, aud lao dog, l47 min. cast
hagituoe. IL 10 s1out three hundred miles IL ex.
IRENE length, and about the same breadth. Bound
Cd the west by the Cult OF rariarJ, on the east
~ tie ISLANDS u kubac,ir, iturup, and IenikotA,
ard northern Paeino ocean; on tie suuth by tie
tssld Vi NIPPON, from wlich 1t Is sepsia'ed 10y the
Saatoi saugar, or fsager, eightcen miles vide,
asd on the Dsrth by Tue js~snd vi m,sakay, Or
sAghsIiao, trom when IL is separated oy LA eey
rsu,e channel. Tie strait OF Ne-o, tsclyU nues
Acy,ss, DIVIDES this island from hurasssn.
kensaieo Sebdai, enc d the most eojneut Japanese
yeos,spters gives hrief descr tion Of sue ls, lad
~ bis "osEkekt,soa.isa-to-aets, or General Uat-
fnes Of Three Kingdoms Published 81 fedo, IN
fae6, WITH an iatrvo ucton written oy Ratzc Oaon,
s&AIt ply sicisn, oona,endlnp tns work W the IA
versbte notice OF Siosrca. The author states ia hls
preface, that he resided several years on The island
of lsso, where he drew map of that aud the sd
)ace-t hlALos aud countries, 1bich agrees Ia tne
Eist esscLal partcuisrs With taoso ths 81 al been
Paesi,,siy tG0i.soed 10y ms c1uutIy men, taAsiki
ga kauefuri. Besides the above, ,Eere are two
ether japauese works On this island, ene called
zero hi, OF DeS TipIon OF Yepo,' by Aral-s,-
kcgo mo kari, instructor OF Liogoso, isoena ios.
written Ia l720. The other h called - Yesc-ki,
With THO History n the Rebellion OF Sammyla,n b.
hssshen, Japanese interpreter, -ritteD ~ l753
In Balbis ABR &c de Gcogra phie - edition o.