The New York herald., 1872-12-11
SURVEYS IN THE PACIFIC.
TOpOgra Research and InsuIar
Definition by United states Officers or
the Narrag Informa-
tiOn for NavigatOrs, Traders and his.
sfOna arles.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. II, 1872.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. II, 1872.
am indebted to the courtesy OF Navigating
Lieutenant Tanner, OF the United states steamship
Narragansett ior an abstract Of the surveys and
discoveries made by that vessel during her cruise
In the Pacific.
great variety OF opinions existing as TO the true
longitude OF Honolulu necesstated that officer to
ascertain its actual position as the basis OF his cal
culations for other places, and, alter inves gaton,
he fixed upon 157 as As w. as its real meridian.
With this as his starting point, and chrOnometers
which proved on arrival here TO have been
rect he has sent to the Naval Department at WASH.
ington a variety Of information respecting the
islands Of the Pacific.
THE SURVEY CRUISE.
The Narragansctt lett Honolulu July 8, reached
Christmas Island on the 20h and found the best
anchorage between Cooks and Christmas Island.
The latter Is semcircular in shape, the eXtremtes
bearing northeast and southwest, distant between
twelve and fifteen miles. Cooks Island bearing
position longitude l57 27 10 W., latitude 55.
July 26.-Passed over the position assigned 10
saw no indications OF land or shoal water, and on
the 2Sth made Baker Island, passed directly over
the photographic chart in longitude III IS W,
latitude II n, ne snip being BY good observation
indications OF shOa or island.
July 3l.-Passed over the position assigned to
Byron Island, both IN the English and American
charts. Three hours later saw Byron to the west
ward; found 1t to be about eight miles long, lying
northnOrthwest and sOuthsOutheast ttrue), the
northwest point being in longitude l7e % SO E.,
latitude / 10 80 3. counted fourteen villages along
the coast, but no anchorage.
August 1.-visited Peru Island, distant seventeen
miles west by south; found 10 to be eleven miles
long, lrOm half to one and half miles wide aud
only from six to eight ieet above the ocean Its
longitude l75 5S 27 f.
August s-Arrlved at Drnmmond's Island;
anchored of Uteroa in latitude Is y, longitude
174 45 AZ Il. by observation, instead OF latitude
Is IS s., longitude ia 81 so IT, by chart. Halls
island was next en- route and after ascertaining by
tude As 04 N. longitude l75 "a r., and on August
entered the lagoon OF Apalang.
Here found that the mission station was In lati-
tude 1 81 SO N, longitude 173 0 IS. visit was
then paid to Tarawa TO enforce an agreement made
with the United states steamer jamestown for IN
siand was 'S populatsd by party Of reees VINO de-
fed the authority OF their King or cheL This the
natives were not prepared TO pay and the place
was handed over to the possession OF the King or
Apaang. The northwest point OF the island lies IN
latitude l 3S 80 N, longitude 173 0s +. On the
18th left for Marshalrs group, passing southwest
point oil Pitts Island, latitude 90 NJ, longitude
The Gilbert group was found to be chiefly as
long strips OF land broken into small iseis by the
action Of the sea- ana although the most barren OF
the Pacific group, is also the most densely popu-
lated. Products cocoanuts taro and pandanas.
August l7.--Made northeast point ofArhno Atoli--
the Daniels or Pedder Island OF hydrographers-a
coral formation about seventyhve miles In circum-
terence. vegetation luxuriant, owing to copious
rains. Observation-Disclosures point latitude Is II
N. longitude Ill SO 80 E.: northwest, latitude
is Al n, longitude III IS 3s H.. southeast point.
latitude 542 N, longitude III "A 10 E.. southwest
point, latitude 9 50 81 N, longitude III 81 15 r.
August lS-Arrived at Pont du Rhin, Mqlgraye
group. Found 1t correctly laid down in French
charts, No. l14o. Eight days after examined
Eileen Atoll, OF which very complete map
was made. Eileen Island Is about six miles
long by nearly half mile at Its widest part.
The southwest end Of Eileen Island is IN latitude @
35 rs g., longitude 16S AZ 10 h.; northeast END,
latitude 4 80 80 NJ longitude les 45 80 =; greatest
altitude eight feet: centre OF the atol, latitude
81 as N, longitude 16s 43 ~ II. Proceeding on
voyage to Australia, passed the assigned position
OF Fljrh Island, latitude 4S 81 Longitude l70 ~
Il, nut failed to discover any land IN the vicinity.
Passed disappointment Island september O.
From thence to vanikOrO or La PcrOuse Island,
which was found 10 be In latitude IL 20 Is s., longl
tude 1ee "A rs Il. This agrees pretty closely with
\ the French charts.
| The only other island that engaged attention
! was TapOna, the peak near the centre OF which
| was nxed as In latitude III Id 10 g., Longitude
/ I66 80 u.
TO the public generally these observations con
stitute the more important duties performed by
| The Narraganeett duyiDg The past three months