The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-03-26
Christmas Island.
policy.

Christmas Island.
The interest which has been excited in the above
island by the loss of the bark J. C. Fremont, induces
us to publish the following account of it written by
Capt. Geo. Benson, who was wrecked there in the
English whale ship Briton in 1886, and who re-
NAMED on the island with his crew seven months be-
fore finding an opportunity to leave it. The account
will be found in full in the Hawaiian Spectator for
April 1888. Capt. johnson of the bark J. c.. Ere
mont thinks that the island is larger than any pub
lished account makes it. Capt. Benson's account
would make it about thirty miles long. Capt. John
son says that the southern passage into the lagoon,
though he did not sound it, is deep enough for a large
ship to enter and anchor inside. Instead of 2000
cocoanat trees, there are now not more than 200 scat
tered over different parts of the island. The J. c..
Fremont was wrecked in the north part of the bay on
the easterly side of the island, where the Briton and
a number of other vessels have been lost in the last
few years.
&c Christmas Island was discovered by the celebrated
circumnavigator Capt. Cook, 25th Dec, 1777, but he
gives no account of having explored it: and merely
states the supposltion that 1T might be go miles in
circumference. [ have no reason to doubt that the
island has much increased in size since, it's discovery
being of corallne formation; which may account
for my finding it more than 30 miles round. In the
published account of Capt. G. we have the latitude
and longitude of Sandy Island, the spot where he
anchored, which is on the west side; he made this
island to lie in 10 So N. lat. and 1879 49, w. long.
My observations are the result of $50 different sights,
and by means of a chronometer that I have every
reason to believe a good one, by which I made the
east point of Christmas Island to lie in lat. 10 46/ n.
and long. 1879 10y w. Sandy Island I found to be
in lat. 10 81 N. and long. 1870 Al W., which agrees
within three miles of Capt. Cooks observations.
with respect to the island itself,-it is little else
than q sand bank, bounded. by q coral reef, which
makes off about half a cables length from the shore,
| ord crrro,1n6C fho ic1op6 NTH tho ovoop&,on ~ 4lo
S. w. point; where the surf makes to the Beach.
There is very safe anchorage for ships on the west
side; there Capt. Cook anchored. The soundings
are from 10 to 80 fathoms; but I should consider 20
fathoms to be the best position. This would be oppo-
site the northern entrance of the lagoon, into which
there are two passages, having Sandy Island in the
center. The southern passage however is considera-
bly, the largest, aud the water is much deeper than
by the northern entrance.
"The lagoon is filled with numerous shoals or shall
low patches, and finally terminates in small lakes
surrounded with sand. Some of these have become
nearly dry, and left quantities of salt in them. 1
found others, where the water was much salter than
any sea water. In some, the water rises and falls
with the tide outside; from which it is manifest it
must ooze in and out frem under the land. In others,
we found quantities of fish resembling the herring,
but somewhat larger.
"There are many sea-birds >of different kinds in
habiting the island. Their eggs afforded me many a
delicious repasts and are so very plentiful, that I
have seen 1000 laying on the ground within the
space of one square acre.
The land is extremely low, and composed entirely
of sand with only a few bushes and small trees. In
my opinion, it could not be seen from a ship more
than Is miles. The N. E. side of the island forms a
very deep bay; and~it is quite necessary that all
masters of vessels who intend to touch there should
be aware that such q bay exists. It was owing in q
great measure to the want of this information, that I
was so unfortunate as to be wrecked on it's coast in
Oct. 1886. B~ynomeans is it advisable to get embayed
at this place, as there is generally O. current setting
straight into the bay; which, although not strong, is
sufficient to drive any vessel on shore. 1t is subject
also to almost constant heavy surfs, being completely
exposed to the swell from the n. E.. trade winds.
During my residence, I have been for six weekswait-
ing to go out in my boat; and even when [ did VEN
ture, it was at a great risk, as2 seldom passed through
the surf without being turned over. The winds COM
monty blow from E.. N. E. to E.. S.. E.. but during the
rainy season, we frequently had squalls from N. and
n. N. w. I observed the wet weather to commence
about the middle of February and it continued nearly
without intermission to the time we finally left the
island on the 23d May last.
With respect to currents. I will only remark,
that close to the shore they vary; for on the south
side of the island, [ have sometimes known it to set
strong to the eastward. Approach within one mile.
and there is usually / think little or none either way.
There is always however more Or less to the westward
at 4 or 5 miles distance from shore; and also a strong
easterly current setting down upon the east point of
the land.
groups of cocoanut trees; the whole number of trees
may be about 1000. On the west point, or rather on
the point which forms the southern entrance to the
lagoon, there is q grove of these trees having the
names of several whale ships carved upon them.
These ships must from time to time have sent their
boats on shore to procure cocoanuts.
"I could not find any fresh water, though we dug
in several places, and in one instance to the depth OF
8 feet; but invariably came to salt water. Had we
not succeeded in saving a quantity from the wreck.
we must all have persisted. For the first four months
of our residence we had only two small showers;
after that the rain fell in great abundance"