Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-11-03
From the Sdn Francisco Herald.
Cruise Of the Steamer John Hancock.

Interesting Details ef the SSrrey-T2e Iahab-
itanfs of Jesse, or Japanese SiarG-Mine
Of bitHminoHs Coal on the Coast of Kampt-
seAatka-THe Newly discorcrcd Passage
frofa the Guif Of S0ghaiien 10 The Gulf Of
Tartqry, DC.
The L s. steamer John Hancock, Lieu
tenant commanding Henry X. Stevens, sailed
from Hakodadi on the 29th June, and COM
pleted the survey Of the Straits Of Sangar,
which she had commenced some time previous
These Straits, which separate the japanese
Islands of Jesse and Niphon, required care
ful survey no chart existing worthy Of the
name, and the work was important. as the
Straits will be the thoroughfare for Shanghe
line Of steamers the great circle to this port
passing through them. The survey was care
| fully and accurately made, and together sith
| the reconnoisances Of the eastern coast of
! Niphcn by the Vincennes launch, and Of the
western coast by the schooner Fennimore
/ Cooper, leave hardly anything TO be desired
by the navigator From the Straits the Han
cock proceeded along the western coast Of
Jesso, making q careful survey and leaving
no portion undone. The work ended at the
4 Straits of Ia Perouse, and a reconnaissance Of
this passage would have been made, had not
dense fogs prevented it, great evil almost
constantly prevailing during the summer
months. The whale ship Franklin, Of New
Bedford, was here spoken. Tho Island of
Jesse. or Matanai, is under Japanese domin-
ion, the aborigines being Kuriles, who are
really though not nominally in state Of
slavery, being made to work for their mas
tiers for bare subsistence The whole popu-
] L tel l., -. q
article Of food The japanese have small
settlements along the coast, from where inn
mense quantities of salmon and other fish
are sent to the cities Of Niphon Wood and
water was procured in abundance at several
places but the japanese officers almost in
every case positively refused to receive pay
ment; to a merchant ship they would proba-
bly, endeayor to refuse supplies, or at any
rate pretend that they could not be got I'M
less decision was shown aud a display of force
Such is the policy Of these singular people,
Notwithstanding the treaty.
From the Straits OF La Perouse, the Han
cock crossed the Sea Of 0chotsk to the wes-
tern coast of Kamtschatka, sighting it in
about the latitude of Bolcherctsk, and coast
ing along on to the Gulf Of Penjirisk, nearly
as far as 500 north In this Gulf on the
the eastern shore, in about COZ IS north,
and longitude l6lo Al east, the Hancock
procured about forty-iive tons Of coal from
some veins, the existanee Of which had been
reported by the American whaler Splendid
The veins were from two TO three feet thick
and came down TO the water edge, and could
be easily worked.
There is q small native village near by, but
I. 4 -. H.
poor. The tide rises and falls about thirty
six feet, rendering the approach in boats to
the coast difficult at low water. The coal
is bitumnous and not well adapted to the
4 Hancock's boilers (which are tubular, but is
capital of its Kind, and would be excellent in
any other case The Hancock next crossed
over to the northern shores OF the sea Of
Ochotsk, and spent some days in the survey
of the Gulf Of Taonisk, a great resort for
whalers. Two or three small settlements lie
ON its northern shore, where bullocks can be
obtained as well as turnips, milk, berries, but
ter and salmon, in the greatest profusion--
The steamer then sailed south sighting
Jonas Island, and from thence to Ayan. The
latter place. small Russian Fur Company's
settlement. was deserted on account Of the
visit Of the Allies The people, however,
expected TO return for the winter. From
thence the Hancock passed ON to the Shan
tar Islands, great whaling ground. 1t was
intended to survey this locality completely,
bat the season was fast drawing to a close,
and capital Russian chart lately made was
obtained at Ayan, and therefore the Com
mander deemed it sufficient to test the work
and fix the ATTITUDES and longitudes. The
steamer then entered the Gulf of Saghalen,
anehoring at the mouth of the passage be-
tween the Island Of Saghalien and the main.
Here reliable information, from Russian Off
GERS, was obtained as to the geography Of the
neighborhood, and all doubts settled as to the
existance of passage into the Gulf Of Tar
tary. The river Amoor, the great artery Of
/ Northern Asia, empdeS into spacious gulf
formed by the Island of Saghalien and the
maine. The shores contract at the northern
and southern parts, forming passages about
fifteen miles wide, through which the waters
escape by the north into the Sea Of Ochotsk,
and by the south into the Gulf Of Tartary.
Both passages are intricate, and in some
places only two fathoms at low water. The
rise and fall is about six feet Nearly the
whole of the gulf between is filed up with
banks, through which tortuons channels run
from the outlets to the mouth Of the river,
and one connecting them in the eastern part
aud running not far from the Island Of sag
halen. The Russians have collected at a
settlement some sixty miles up the river, and
are said to have several thousand troops
there. Here they have succeeded in getting
their small squadron, in which are two large