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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH NOVEMBER, 1881.
1015
Water, supplied by the frequent rains, is collected and stored in poorly constructed cisterns or wells, but is unfit to drink; parties landing should carry a supply of water with them.
Barter. In case Aoga-sima should be visited and the services of the natives required, the best article to give them in remuneration is food. Clothing material, good fishing-tackle, small cordage, and cutlery are also articles which would prove very acceptable to them.
BAYONNAISE ROCKS take an elliptical shape, the greatest diameter being about 400 yards in a north and south direction, and consist of a number of sharp pointed rocks, the highest being about 30 feet above the surface of the sea. Soundings were obtained by the Alert within a quarter of a mile of the Bayonnaise rocks, and Commander Hunt- ington considered them by far the most dangerous of the rocks and islands visited by him to the south of Yedo gulf, and mentioned in this notice.
Geographical position.-By sea observations the position of the Bayonnaise rocks was determined to be, lat. 31° 55′ 15′′ N.; long. 139° 54′ 18′′ E.
PONAFIDIN ISLAND, 1,176 feet above the sea, is of volcanic formation, with numerous seams, fissures, and caverns. The island is about the size of Aoga-sima, and the lauding is much more practicable. It mainly consists of lava in solid masses, scoriæ, inter-stratified layers of dark and red sand, and some vertical streaks of limestone.
The vegetation is luxuriant, and in parts extremely dense, but there is not a great variety; it mainly consists of bam- boo grass rising to the height of eight feet. There appeared to be no timber, water, or animal life on the northern part of the island. The south-west side was not explored, but from the ship's deck it appeared more rugged and inaccessible than the north-east. A thorough exploration would be a work of great difficulty, as paths would have to be cut through the bamboo grass and the way very carefully felt, to avoid precipices.
If water could be found, the island would be habitable, and the soil, which is a vegetable mould, would prove pro- ductive. The air was full of insect life, and some of the ravines and fissures were filled with a beautiful creeping vine.
The ascent on the north-east side was not easily made on account of the steepness and the density of the undergrowth and bamboo grass; the top or most elevated land was not attained. A loose soil formed in places, so spongy as to let the foot sink in deeply at every step, rendering it necessary to use great caution in exploring, as precipices are come upon in this way barely hidden by the dense vegetation.
No reptiles were found, and the birds consisted of a variety of large dark gull which were very numerous, occupying every part of the island explored, shore and upland, and a small musical yellow bush bird.
Junk cove.A party from the Alert landed in Junk cove on the north-east side of Ponafidin island. The landing was effected through the surf without much difficulty, and a survey of the cove made. The bottom is rocky and would give but precarious anchorage, and the area in which a vessel might anchor is very limited. It is protected from all winds except those from north to east. Soundings show 10 fathoms at the entrance, gradually decreasing to 3 fathoms within 50 feet of the shore. Just outside the entrance 20 fathoms was obtained. Junks might find it safe to anchor in this cove, but a ship of any size would hardly have room to swing, even if moored.
Soundings. There are no soundings in 200 fathoms, anywhere beyond a mile from the island, and bottom at that depth was not obtained at a distance of less than half a mile.
Violent Storms are probably common, judging from the depth and eroded appearance of the ravines and valleys running from the elevated land seaward, and from patches of the level surface here and there denuded of vegetation, plants being torn up by the roots.
Shelter. A steam vessel caught in a gale in the vicinity of either Aoga-sima or Ponafidin island, could make good weather, and obtain shelter by keeping clase under their lee.
Geographical position, the centre of Ponafidin island was determined to be latitude 30° 28′ 26′′ N., longitude 140° 14′ 12′′ E.
SMITH'S ISLAND 2 was ascertained to be 421 feet above the sea. Soundings tried for on all sides of Smith's island failed to find bottom.
2
Geographical position. By sea observation for latitude, and observations on shore with the artificial horizon for longitude (three chironometers,) the centre of Smith island was found to be in latitude 31° 27′ 8′′ N., longitude 140° 9′ E. LOT'S WIFE or RICA DE ORO.-This rock, 466 feet high, was sighted from the Alert at a distance of more than 18 miles, and in clear weather it can probably be seen 30 miles. There is a rock off the northern edge of the western extremity.
Soundings. No bottom in 20 fathoms could be found at the distance of 30 feet from Lot's Wife. The nature of the bottom found at the deeper soundings obtained was lava-crust, shells, sponge, and marine plants.
Current.-A boat sent to examine what appeared to be a ledge of rocks stretching to the south-eastward, found it to be only a wake or tide rip caused by the south-east current.
Geographical position, Lot's Wife was determined to be in latitude 29° 46′ 28′′ N., longitude 140° 19′ 50′′ E.
BONIN ISLANDS."
PEEL ISLAND. PORT LLOYD. Supplies.-Nearly all tropical fruits can be obtained at the Bonin islands. Productions.-Attention is being paid to the cultivation of coffee, principally on Stapleton island, on which there are said to be 70,000 trees growing. Cotton of fine quality is produced, but not very successfully, as it is injured by the severe autumnal storms. Rice and barley have been planted by the Japanese, and produce good crops. The soil in the valley is very good, but on the mountain sides it is not deep, and is liable to be washed away by the heavy rains.
There are five kinds of valuable hard woods, viz., mulberry, treemana, ironwood, and two others, called by the natives rosewood and yellow wood.
Winds. From the information obtained, the worst winds are to be expected in October, but typhoons are rarely experienced, the last occurring in October 1876. During July good weather is expected, and in August rain, but no heavy storms.. In the summer land and sea breezes prevail. The weather is generally calm at this season of the year, and when there is a breeze it is most frequently from the south-west.
In Junk cove, the remains of a wrecked Japanese junk were found, and on a slope near by, a white staff had been erected. The ground was carefully examined, but no human bones found; it is probable that any people who may have been wrecked succeeded in getting away from the island.
2 No search was made by the U.S.S. Alert for Volcano island, but the track of that vessel (reported by Admiral Coote, the Commander in Chief in China,) was such that the island would probably have been seen had it existed.
3 See Admiralty chart, No. 1,100 of Port Lloyd; also, Arzobispo or Bonin islands,