The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-22
AMONU HE ISLES.
Interesting Report From
a Trader.
ABOUT ISOLATED PLACES.
In the Archipelago of the South
ern Seas.
SINKING OF FALCON ISLAND.
Only Low Strip of Land Is Left
TO Mark Its Out
lines.
SINKING OF FALCON ISLAND

The United States photographic Office
has received information from various
sources that is of especial interest to YES
sells that propose to trade in the South
Seas. Not only is the news of value to
traders, but it is of a character that cannot
help but be of public interest, as it gives a
good idea of the inhabitants, climatic con-
ditiOns and currents that twist about
islands, of which little Is generally known.
Commencing with the Tonga or Friendly
Islands reference is made to the island of
Falcon, of which much was published in
1892, a strange sinking of its formation
having attracted mariners who passed that
way. The island was originally an ex-
tensive coral reef divided into several
sections by small round islands that were
joined together by narrow strips or shoals.
About 10 natives lived thereon. Sud
denly the place commenced to sink INTO
the ocean; It's inhabitants fled away from
it 10 canoes, leaving merely handful of
natives, who refused to desert their old
homes.
Gradually Falcon disappeared. and it
was rumOred not long ago that it had
passed out of existence altogether. Not
so. however, for the master of the British
schooner Isabel reports that be passed the
place on April 49, 1894, and that the real is
still there; but mat lt Is washed away to
such an extent that at a distance of two
miles ii has the appearance of low streak
OF black rock, which cannot be seen at
night, and consequently Constitutes dan
ger to navigation.
Information derived from the report II
the master of the schooner TaTaMa, made
from observatiOIs during a two years
Caroline groups, is given in fuil. Tine YES
sci left san Francisco in 1892 and visited
all of the places herein mentioned.
The report says of the currents of the
GiibertS that they are very unreliable.
Between the months of July and March
they are strongly set TO the west, as much as
ninety miles in twenty-f0ur hours. In De-
cember and January the winds blow Occa-
sionally from the westward with severe
squalls During the prevalence Of the
winds the currents have been known to run
eastward fifty to one hundred miles In
twenty-fOur hours. The current between
Apaiang and Tarawa Islands frequently
run from five to six knots an hour.
Nanontl Island is described as a series
Of reefs surrounding lagoon. This lagoon
is approachable for d vessel by passage
or channel, with four fathOms of water
over 1t. A long reef extends out on the
west side and at the south end of the
island is the anchorage. just beyond this
anchorage Is deep water. Very few ma
tives live on the island.
At Apamama there are no supplies and
no traders. The King, naughty but
friendly sovereign, lives in a conspicuous
house which ia the first dwelling Of any
prominence noticeable from the sea. The
entering of a vessel into the lagoon cannot
b. made with cut the aid of a native pilot
for the tide rushes through the entrance
like mad No vessel can work against it
lAla l. H.
thoroughly.
Malaua Island is dangerous to approach,
and there are no supplies IO be found
there. Tarawa is a little more in viting, as
is ApaiaDg. On the later live four or five
traders, who exc out very precarious eX-
istence, but seem happy for all that. No
water or surII5s, except copra and lew
chickens, can lie obtained from them. The
Tarawa sailed over the supposed position
of Nautilus Shoal, but could not locate 1t,
nor could the position of the rumOred rock
between Nanouti and Taputeuea be deter
mined.
Nagatik consists of nine small islands
connected by an oval-shaped reef. A
small passage leads into the lagoon close
10 the west side of the southernmost end
of the group. On the western island
seventy or more natives live and do bust
ness with their neighbors. They are
peaceable and easy to traffic with and sell
dom visited by white men. The strangest
thing IN cOnnec ion with this island, or
group of islands. is that sailing vessel
entering he lagoon cannot get out unless
the wind shifts to the westward, which is
seldom. 1t is best to heaye-lo off the west
end of the island.
Nuknor is marked for life" by the
wreck of schooner that lies on the east
side of the passage into the lagoon. The
island produces about seventy tons of
cOpra year aud fair lot Of pearl shells.
The Inhabitants have The distinction of
being the only English-speaking COM
munlty In the small groups of the South
Seas. Hardly one of them lives that can
not converse with an American or Eng
lishman. There are $50 people on the
main island.
Here limited supply of bread, fruit,
taro, vans. bananas and q few fowl and |
pigs can be obtained.