The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-10-27
Sailing Directions for NaPhn. Island Of
Great Loo Ch0O.

M The following sailing diections, furnished to as by Capt.
Edwards Of the Hibernia ID, win prove Of service to whale-ship
masters and others:
This Is the principal seaport of the island, and perhaps the
only one possessing the privileges of a poIt Of entry. Its inner
or !. junk harbor,'' has a depth Of water of from two to three
fathoms, and though small. is sufficiently large to accommodate
with cas- the fifteen or twenty moderate sized junks which are
: usually found moored in it. These are mostly japanese, With a
few Chinese and some small coasting craft, which seem to carry
on a sluggish trade with the neighboring islands
The outer harbor is protected to the eastward and southland
by the mainland, which, in other directions, is surrounded by
merely a chain of coral reefs. which answer As a tolerable break
water against a swell from the northward or westward, but at
fords, Of course, no shelter from the wind. The holding ground
is so good, however, that a wel-tound ship could ride out here
almost any gale in safety.
The cIearest approach to Napha from the westward Is by
passing to the nOrthward Of the Amakarima Islands, and sight
ing Agentic Island. from whence steer a southeast course -
however not to approach them too near on the western ana
said to be more extensive than is shown by the charts. After
clearing Reef Island, bring Wood Hill to bear 5. 5; f., when
stand down for il, until getting upon the line OF bearing Tor
south Channel. This viii carry you well clear of Blossom Reef,
y 6 2 =, 30 m, 1s s ~ - nj Of III Tumaie Head can be easily distin-
guished. An E. n. E t S. or T. N. L. course will now take
near the seven fathoms bank, about one-haIf mile to the north
ward and westward of False Capstan Head. This channel
ing the harbor than Oar Channel, which, though wider, has the
eoarse so%e four "a o. or f FIVE points Just when she is in the middle Of
the reefs, which are nearly all below the surface OF the water.
To enter by Oar Channel, bring the center Of the Island In
Junk Harbor Oknown by the deep verlure of its yegetaiionl to
fl the gap between the torts a the entrance OF 1unk s naD =
when haul up to L. N E. and anchor as before directed.
The North Channel is very much contracted by a range OF de-
tached rocks making out from the reef on the west side, and
should not. under ordinary circumstances, be attempted by a
stranger, as at high water the reefs ae almost entirely covered,
and it is difficult to judge of your position unless familiar VIII
the various localities and landmarks. To enter by this (north)
channel, bring a remarkable notch in the southern range OF hiils
in line with a small hillock just to the eastward OF False Capssan
Head, and stand in on the range until Tumai Head bears T. 4
N, when open n little to the southwark so as To give the reel TO
the eastward a berth, and select your anchorage There Is a
black spar buoy anchored on Blossom Reef, half way between
its eastern and western extrenities-a red spar buoy on the
point of reef to the west, north-westward of Abbey Point, and
white spar buoy on the southeast extremity OF Oar Reef.
Flags of corresponding colors ae attached to all these buoys,
and they afford good guides for the South and Oar Channels.
There are two large stakes on the reefs to the eastward IN
westward Of North Channel, planted their by the natives, this
being the channel mostly used by junks trading to The north
ward. An abundance of water can always be obtained at
Fountain in Junk River, where there is excellent landing for
boats There is a good spring near the Tomee in Iumai blum,
but unless the water is perfectly smooth, the landing is M
practicable, and under any circumstances IT Is announcement
frem the want of sufficient depth, except at high tide. 1t is d.
rected by the commander-in-cLief that the vessels Of the squad
ron under his command shall heave to on approaching Napha,
and make signTl for a pilot, when an officer familiar with the
localities and landmarks will be sent of from the vessel in port
to pilot her in, or point out to her commander the position OF
the dangers to be avoided. Should there however be no vessel
In port, then boats are to be sent ahead, and anchored upon the
extrenities of the reefs between which the vessel intends to
pass.-Copied from the surrey taken by Commodore Ferry
Of the Japan Expedition