The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-04-11
FanuIng,, I.Innd.-Au Incident.

-. q THaAal'a- .at| lAt t-a|hA- N.. AAAa4lN .-
ligh,cuI li--le ISIS lhat stud this ocean. beautiful
NOT only IN il. capacity to t-as, ,ha eve u all
who are interested in. and admirers Of. the pic
t~ure-4ue. hur also in the nature of it, soil, which
50 literally gives birth u and uauri>lss the tall
c'c,l-uur auE other trees nearly a. useful and
worthy oC admiration. Almost alone In lis s1li-
t4ry beauty-in i,>el; "a field of private enter
prise-it enjoys an uninterrupted state of tran
gull repYse. broken only by occasional visits Of
wtalers. clipper ships and other vessels bound
southwark. which after = day OF twg'- lay, pro-
coed on their route well pleased and agreeab'v
surprised with = novelty which ha>seIdom offered
such az welcome recess from rhe -uaaotyuy Of III
ocean vOyagr.
Fanning's Island. The one alluded o., i in
shape uJ.ong. extending in So >.W. and NJ.
direction its extreme length about ten miles.
am It's extreme breadth about six miles. Il Is
skirt-d. like most other Islands o: the Pacific, bv
a small reef extending all round the Island, but
only about half a cables length from the beach,
against which the ocean swell breaks, but seldom
with very great violence. Outside OF this reef
there IS no danger Of any kind. The belt of
land which forms the island is about 4 mile
average width, and dcnsely covered with cocoa
nut trees. which produce fruit Of the very finest
description. The regularity Of this palmetto Tor
est is occasionally broken 10y conspicuous gaps,
leaving thick clusters of trees standing apart
with u low eoral-space between.
One OF the principal features, which gives
value 10 the island, is the possession OF a spacious
iqgOon, the entrance TO which is on the south
west side. The width of the channel available
for vessels IS about 100 tathoms. The bottom Of
the channel u also that of the lagoon is OF coral,
variegated in color and quality. There Is excel
lent anchorage for ships. both ut the entrance
and on the west side Of the island, IT u place
termed WLalemen's Bay. At the latter place,
the depti, OF water ranges from eight flthoms 10
about fifteen, half a mile from the beach and up
wards. Here ships Of the largest class have at
times anchored TO procure 4 supply of fresh Wa
ter, which is abundant adjacent to the anchor
age. In the harbor, Within the lagoon. the
holding ground Tor ships at anchor is good. and
there is sufficient room for several vessels when
properly moored, to lie in perfect safety, for any
length of time.
Through the kindness Of the proprietors, every
facility is offered for procuring fre-wood and
water Of fair quality. The lagoon ahounds with
fish of the very best description, and there has
never ye5 been an instance OF poisoning from eat
ing them. The entrance varies in depth from
four 70 six taJhyms; inside the lagoon the range
is from four to nine and upwards. The trade
winds blow steadily from the eastward, almost
all the year round. and the island is seldom or
never the scene OF any very boisterous weather.
The months Of March and April are generally
the worst throughout the year. With regard to
its soil, it Is in some places sandy, in others it is
Of dark earthly mould intermiNed with great
patches Of phosphate guuno of Il fine quality.
1t produces bananas, pumpkins, radishes, taro,
cabbage, tomatoes, melons, and numerous
other garden vegetables, but lately introduced,
ana now for the first time s~prjnging up. From
the numerous cocoa-nut trees, there is 4 large
quantity OF cocoa-nut oil annually manufactured,
commands q ready market in any part of
the world, its purity rendering it inferior to
none for burning or in the manufacture Of toilet
articles, for which it Is extensively used in Europe
and America.
Having thus far, by way Of introduction. given
! brief sketch of the island, we VIII now describe
IN incident which recently occurred on it, and
will form an era in It's history. On Mon
lay the 18th of February, the natives and foreign
employees OF the island were startled from their
work by the loud report OF a gun, and on look
NJ in the direction of the sound. saw Her Brit
lnnic Mljesty's steam-sloop 4icrt, (Which had
or some time been expecced.) Captain English,
me Of the proprietors Of the island, Immediately
vent off to her accompanied by q pilot, and
.fter the entrance had been sounded and declared
.,fc by her officers, the beautiful ship steamed
lfely and majestically into the lagoon against a
trong ebb-tide. and came to anchor in about six
athoms Of water. The trade wind blew very
trong from the eastward for two days. with fire.
.ueut squalls, but every thing having been made
mug, no accident occurred. Subsequently, the
gcither became very fine, and her commander
md officers took every advantage OF it in making
close inspection Of the island, collecting vari-
us Genealogical specimens. They were highly
ratified ~ the entertainment shown 20 them.
ma with the various amusements offered for
acceptance. Riding, shooting. Smelling,
shinc. s%tufing birds, &c, &c, were the order of
he day. into ali which, on account of the novel
V, the officers entered with great zest and pleas
re. But for the following Friday was reserved
he performance Of the special duty. which was
he object Of the visit of the ship 10 Fanning's
grand finale to the programme Of
us;le and excitement attending the visit.
On that day. about one o'clock, p. NJ, the
ntire ships company, consisting OF the commau-
.r. officers, and crew, landed from the steamer,
he crew and marines fully armed and accom-
by "a twelye-round field howitz-r. They
drawn up in line. the marines and battery
eng on the extreme right. The commander
zen declared to the proprie5ors Of the island, !
mt he was about to perform the object OF his ,
take formal possession OF the island in
be- nam" OF Q1ean Victoria, and TO extend to IL
ie benefits Of British protection. \ salute in
of Her Majesty was first fired from the
,wiJzer ami small arms, when Captain Prars- }
dressed the head OF tine firm - ;ollows - =
Captain English and all present. take notice,