The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-07-29

LAYsAN IsLAND-W. by N. \ n.
from Honolulu sos miles. This is a
low sand island, 25 to 30 feet high
miles long and II broad. The
surface is covered with beach grass
half-a-dozen small palm-trees were
seen. 1t has lagoon in the centre,
mile long and ] mile wide, of
salt water, and not hundred yards
from the salt abundance of tolerably
good fresh water can be had by dig
ging two feet, and near the lagoon
was found deposit Of guano. The
island is literally" covered with
birds; there is, at a low estimate,
100000. Seal, turtle and birds
we're numerous on the beach, and
might be easily taken. These ami
mails were evidently unaccustomed
to the sight of man, as the seal and
turtle would scarcely move at our
approach, and the birds were so
tame and plentiful that it was diff
cult to travel without stepping upon
them. The gulls lay enormous large
eggs, of which l have specimen.
A bank of rocks and sand extends
off to the south and west 6 or 8
miles or more. Good anchorage can
be found on the western side of the
island from 4 to 20 fathoms. by
selecting a sandy spot to anchor up
on, from to 2 miles from the
beach. The best landing is about
one-third of the distance from the
northern to the southern point of
the island, where there is very
smooth sand beach.
LIscANsKEY's IsLAND-W. by N. ?
N. from Honolulu, 922 miles. This
is a low sand island, elevated from
20 to 40 feet above the sea; it is of
a triangular form, II miles long,
and the northern part one mile wide.
The surface is covered almost"
with green grass. There is what
has been lagoon near the southern
part of the island, in the centre of
which fresh water was found by dig
ging five feet. Birds, fish, seal and
turtle abound here, but not so plen-
tifully as at Laysan Island. The
island is surrounded with detached
rocks; and from the E. S. E. to S.
w. make off as far as the eye can
reach. Good anchorage will be
found by getting the south point of
the island bearing E. J S., and steer
ing or working for it; in doing this
you will pass between two large
breakers, bearing north and south
of each other, about Z of a mile
apart and two miles from the land;
after getting inside of the breakers,
you can anchor in from four to eight
fathoms, on sandy spots, J to u
miles from the be oh. Your an
chors should be furnished with good
buoy ropes; and, if necessary, you
can anchor outside of the reef.
On the island found the remains
of three casks, spar, which had
been used as lookout staff, a few
pieces of timber, and part of an old
cook-house or galley, on which was
carved Holder Borden and several
other names.
By a statement in the Friend of
November, 1874, 1 supposed the
Holder Borden was wrecked on an
island about one degree west of this,
and putting confidence in Capt.
Pelrs correctness, as to locality, l
lost three days of time in looking
after it. l can safely say that Pell's
Island does not exist in this ocean.
The forty domesticated ducks Capt.
Pell speaks Of must have reassumed
their rowing propensities, as did
not see the sign of one on the isl.
and. l have UNDERSTOOD that Capt
Pell plented some cocoanuts on the
island in 1915; not any sign OF
them exists now in 1857, or any
vegetation, except coarse grass anG
n small running vine. 1 planted {
handful of white beans, and half-a.
dozen Irish and sweet potatoes.
made the latitude of the island 26 :
80" NJ, and longitude by chrome
meter 173 . 81" w.
We sailed nearly around Pear
and Kerm's Reef, and saw six small
islets which appeared to be LOCATED
some distance inside of ne reef, il
what seemed to be large lagoon
and seemed to abound with birds
seal and turtle. No safe anchorag
outside of the reef. Centre of tn
l reef is in lat. ~ > 43' NJ, and long
, 175 . 49, w.
A considerable portion of the tim
f absent has besn consumed in look
ing after islands and banks whic
G do not exist, or are enormously mark
$ ed on Blunt's charts.
e would tender my thanks to MI
S Rowell of Waimea, Mr.. Wunder
s berg and Mr.. Kellet of Hanalei fc
supplies received from them.
I. JOHN Patty.
1 THE EXpI oRING EXpEDITION-