Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-08

a storm.
Political conditions and crudeaess
of transportation facilities, not lack Of
value, long doomed the Ogasawaras &c
remain without inhabitants Like most
lands of volcanic, origins they have an
exceedingly fertile soil Because Of
warm currents their climate is IN ef-
feet tropical although they are Just
north Of the Tropic of Cancer. Mar
could have existed on them without
raising his hand in work. Wild beaus
and profusion Of edible mushroom
grew in the valleys and wild pineap.
| pies and other fruits on the hilisides
Palms and tree-ferns furnished shade
| and greenery. And in other ways the
Islands were like a Garden OF Eder
when they were explored by the crew
Of an American whaler in 1923. Aherf
were no quardupeds and only a few
/ harmless reptiles. ana the birds. un-
molested by any living thing. were
entirely without fear of man and could
be caughe by hand
AT the present time the islands pro-
duce all the japanese cereals and mani
vegetables and fruits. and are stoke
/ with tn common domestic animals
There also are wild goats. sheep. pig
and even dogs and cats. descendant
OF animals left by the first settlers o.
course the production from the island
amounts TO little for those large
enough for development have an aggrs-
gate area of only about 30 square
miles.
Although they are closer to Japa-
than to any other nation. the OEssa
| waras came near not being a Japan
csc territory. There is nothing tc
show that the japanese knew Of then
existence before Prince Sadayari Oga
sawara was driven to their shorei
about the end of the sixteenth cen
ftury, whereas the Spanish explore
Villalobos first sighted them in 1913
The Ogasawara family made the is-
lands theoretically a part OF their feu-
dal land holdings. but they did no.
settle them, and when Japan drew
more securely into its shell in 1885 by
forbidding its subjects to construc-
sea- going vessels. all touch with the
islands way lost for nearly a hundred
years. and again from 172s TO 1851
Abel Tasman. Dutch explorer. survey
ed some of the islands early in the
seventeenth century and America
whalers explored them in 1923 and 1924
In 1897 a British Admiral claimed In,
islands for his country.
The Ogasawaras received thei,
first settlers in 1889. They consisted
of a few British subjects from Ha.
wall who seem 10 have led the expe-
dition, a few Americans and Portu
guese and a handful of Polynesious
They considered themselves a Brit
ish colony. AS late as 1875 these set.
tiers and a few others who had beer
r added lived on the islands withou
any government or organization an'
: without educational facilities of am
/ kind, trading with the whalers WIFI
by that time frequented the waters
; In 1851 Great Britain renowned al
( claims to the islands IN favor of ia
pan, and that year an unsuccessful
effort was made to plant a Japanes
colony. Later efforts were successfu
r and the population now is almost en-
tirely japanese.
"The only good harbor in the Oga
! sawaras is the Port Lloyd of the whal
e ers, the Ohio Minato of the japanese
+ Commodore Perry kho visited the Olga
$ sawaras on his memorable trip TO ia
4 pan in 1853. first called attention 70 III
fact that this port is in former vol
2 canic crater He recommended that IN
1 United States establish a coahng sta
: ton there. Most maps Label the islam
}, on which Ohio AIinato is situateC
( Peel. but its japanese name IS Chi
y chi lima"