^Me/wiU'^d'yOy^y^^ '7mn^^ndJf'mm'/i).J^mni^ VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEAS, INDIAN AND PACIFIC OCEANS, CHIN.V SEA, NORTH-WEST COAST, FEEJEE ISLANDS, SOUTH SHETLANDS, &c. &c, ITITH AN ACCOUNT OF TIIE NEW DISCOVERIES MADE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, Between tho Years 1S30— 1837. ALSO, THE ORIGIN, AUTHORIZATION, AND PROGRESS OF THE FIRST AMERICAN NATIONAL SOUTH SEA EXPLORING EXPEDITION Wilh Explanatory J^otes relative to the Enterprise. By EDMUND FANNING, AUTHOR 07 " tanning's VOYAGES." PfEW-YORK: 'WILLIAM H. VERMILYE. 183 8. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1838, BY EDMUND FANNING, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New Tork, U. LUDWfO, FRtNTEA, 72, Vesey-street. T O THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN TESTIMONY OF HIS HIGH ADMIRATION OF THEIR CHARACTER, AS AN ENLIGHTENED NATIOX, THIS VOLaME IS MOST EESFECTFULLY DEDICATED, THE AUTHOR, PREFACE. It is with great diffidence that the author presents the following work to an enlightened public ; still he is en couraged by the fact, that a previous volume on voyages, has met with indulgence and favour at their hands. He therefore deems it but justice to a generous public to state, that he has had tho experience, both in the command and directive agency of upwards of seventy voyages, to those portions of our globe which are treated of in the course of this work. He would also state, that these voyages have not only been the means of bringing large amounts of wealth into our country and her national treasury, but have also opened and paved the way to many enterprising citi zens to engaoe and succeed in the same lucrative trade. The author has, to the best ofhis judgment, made selec- tion.s of the most interesting and improving narratives of the voyages in which he has been concerned ; and he flat ters himself that the matter in these pages will not only be found entertaining, but that much information may be ga thered relative to commercial trade, tho whale and seal fish ery, navigation, &c., and also the different seas, climates, habits and custoras of the natives, lands and isles of the ocean. VI PREFACE. The author having no pretensions to a literary education, and having enjoyed only the benefit of a village school, cannot but entertain the hope that the liberal and enlight ened critic will suffer him and his work to pass unscathed, and that an indulgent public will make due allowance for inaccuracies of expression, while they can rely with the utmost confidence on the correctness of the facts stated. CONTENTS. PART I. Narrativk of the voyage of tlie Ship Hope, from New- York to the Feejee Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean, and to China, under the comraand of Captam Reuben Brumley, with the directive agency of the author, in the years 1806-1808 13 Chapter 1.— Leave New-York— Departure from Sandy flook— A Gale— Tre mendous foaming sea — A mountainous sea breaks on board ship — Loss of stem boat— Cape De Verde Islands— Gcfvcrnor's conduct— Depart from St. Jago 13 Chapter 2.— Violent squalls— A water spout— Its terrific threatenings and passing roar— Shoals of whales— Cross tlie equinoctial line— Cape Aguillas' Bank— Gannets and other birds— A white squall— Many whales seen -¦ 17 Chapter 3.— Islands of Amsterdam and St Paul's— Whales and seals- Sea scurvy— New Holland— White beach— Columns of smoke— Reraarkable rock — Cape Chatham 20 Chapter 4. — Cape Howe— King George in. Sound — Bald Head — Newly in vented still for obtaining fresh water from that of the ocean— Van Diemen's Land— The Mew Stone— The Feathered Tribe— Amphibious Bird— Anchor at Botany Bay — Sydney Cove — Governor's humane and honouialjle con duct — Contrast between his and that of St. Jago's — Doctor O'Conner — His humane feelings and kind attention to the sick — Landing the sick — Sea scurvy — Its singularity 23 Chapter 5.— Departure from Sydney— A strange ship — Macauley's and Curtis' Islands— Sunday Island- Numerousbirds and fishes — Island of Tongataboo — Van Diemen's Road — Bad anchorage— Directions in sailing araong the islands— Coral reefs — A strange ship appears— Strict inquiry of the natives for white persons among them 31 Chapter 6. — Departure from Tonga for the Feejees— Fatoa (or Turtle) Island — ^Dangersof the ship among the Feejee Archipelago — Most dangerous navi gation—Caution of the natives— Numerous groups of islands— A chief cornea on board— Double canoes— King Tynahoa— Dignity of His Majesty— De scription of his person — Lofty peaked mountain— Gorroo Chief— Boat ex cursion ¦ 3G VJll CONTENTS. Chapter 7.— King again visits the ship— Freedom of His Majesty— -"V Roj-al presen t--B risk trade— Ship surrounded by war canoes, with armed warriors — Expected battle— Cannibal war yeils— The leader chief— Signal of retreat— Warriors depart— Direction Island— Dangerous situation of the ship— Three mountains—The Sea Wall reef— Narrow passage— Rapid curient— Coial reefs— Handsome young chief— Intricate navigation, danger of— Boaiding- iietting— Sandal wood cargo— Treaty with the King— His Majosiy's trea sury cliuBt— 'Grand council— Good f^ith of the King— Articles of trade 43 Chapter 8— Author's rule of trade in llie prohibition of fire-arms— Natives of the Feejee Islands— Their cannibalism— Manner of obtaining sandal wood — Mufic to the natives in the woo d-s aw— Great number of the natives as the ship departs— Affection and attachment of the King to the first ofiicer, Mr. Brown— His Majesty's parting with him— Union Massacre passage — Alarm by the sudden discovery ofthe ship in shoal water— Departure from Feejees, and voyage to China— Crossing Equator twice — l-'^quatorial currents — Discovery -^ of Hope Island— Phillipine Islands— Their beautiful green appearance- Arrival at Canloo— Sail for sweet homp— Arrival at New-York 59 Chapter 9- A list of the native names of sixty-four of the principal islands of the Archipelago ofthe Feejee group, with remaiks 69 PART II. Sketch descriptive of the whale chase, showing the danger and daring bravery of the officers and seamen in attacking and conquering these monsters of the deep, together with the process of cutting in, h.z. &c 71 Chapter 1 — Whale chase — Danger in fastening to — Condition of the whale — Whaler's prcforence to fuil grown — Tlicse most troublesome—Sounding of the whale — The signal — Break-water roar ofthe monster — ^Terrific scene — Snowy foam of the sea — Fatal stroke^Sea of blood — His dying flurry — Lift extinct — Huge inanimate mass on the surface of the sea— Lamentable end of poor Bob— His character... 71 Chapter 2— Cuttmgin the whale— Cutting gear— Manner of cutting in— Blub ber blankets — Mincing blubber — Trying out oil — Whalebone — Average quan tity to a fish 74 Chapter 3. — Rook of the Falklands— Its sagacious, saucy cunning — lis size and colour— Its strength and gripe of claws— Ils shrewdness in watching— Its seemingly intelligent language — Miscliievous thievery — A gluve chas^ and failure- Superior knowledgeof the bird 78 CONTENT! PART III. Narrative sketch of a voyage of tlie ship Tonq-uln, under the command of the author, to the China sea, in tlie years 1807— 1808 84 Chai'tkr 1— Building ofthe ship— Great despatch in performance— Occurrence oa the wild ooast of Java— A terrific savage— A white boy to roast— Fright of buy Bill— Secret retreat in a bread cask— Investigation of a singular aflair , Qi CiiAPTBR 2^Ship arri\es at Macoa— A speck of war — A typhoon- British squadron — Pooto Sapata and Baltimore Company ship — Raging sea — Singular effect ol— Cliange of the monsoon— Passage up the Tygris — Commodore PcImv— His declaration — State of war— President and U. S. Consul— Un pleasant state of aff'airs- Autlior's determination to put to sea — Chiueye pilot and boat — ^The agreement 92 Chapter 3 — Tonquin sails from Whan>poa— British fleet — Ship taken by supe rior force — Despatch the pilot boat — Council signal displayed from the flag ship—Release of the Tonquin— Handsome and courteous conduct of the British iieufeenant — Honourable and generous proceedings of Commodore r«Jew, a son worthy of his noble sire. Lord Exmouth— War state ended in peace — Ship departs from Grand Ladrone — Her arrival safi^ at New- Verk 105 PART I r. Narrative sketch of the voyage of ship Tonquin to the South Pacific Ocean, Feejee Islands, and on a new route to China, whereby imponant discoveries were made under the' command of that able voyager. Captain R. Brumley, and the directive agency of the author, m the years 1808—1809 Hi Chavter 1, — The cause and object of the voyiige — Embargo in llie United States — President Madison — Permission to sail .on .and perforin the voyage— Hunourable Albert Gallatin- Tonquin sails from New-York— Cough's Island Coast of New Holland— Mount Gardner— Ship anchurs in King George IIX- gound— The sick with sea-scurvy landed— Natives of this part of New Holland- Departure from Kin^ George IH. Sound— Remarks relative to the Sound, and anchorage — Arrival at Tongataboo— Van Diemen's Road— Barter-trade with the natives— Dangerous navigation of the Feejee Arclii' pelago— Arrival at the Feejees— Ship visited by two young Princes^FIeet of Avar-canoes-Ship receives a welcome visit from King Tynahoa— The King's ^ifectionate meeting with Mr. Brown- Ship arriyes in Sgndal Wood Road^ A CONTENTS. Chiefs bring the cargo to the ship — Other vessels arrive, waiting removal of Taboo to trade — ^Tonquin has her cargo on board- Taboo raised — A truly affectionate parting with the King and young Princes ^^^ Chapter 2.— Ship departs from the Feejees— Remarks on the passage to sea — Ship takes a new route for China — Meets with much drift-wood, &c. — Dis cover the Tonquin Islands — Pass Dough's Group — Volcano Island— Its columns of smoke — Discover the Group of Equator Isles — Signs of Inhabitants — Discover an extensive and important Group of Islands, to which they give the name of American Group — Dangerous situation of the ship— Arrival at Canton— Sail for New- York— Arrival 126 Chapter 3. — Narrative of the massacre ofthe crew ofthe American ship Tonquin, under the command of Lieutenant J. Thom, United States Navy, by the savages of the north-west coast of America, and the destruction of the ship 137 Section l.^Tonquin anchors in Neweatee harbour— Visited by the natives — Brisk fur trade — Affrontof an aged chief— Savage threat of revenge — ^Trade interrupted— Natives quit the ship— Natives revisit the ship in unusual numbers — Interpreter discovers the natives on deck to be secretly armed — ^Their horrid war-yell — The attack and massacre— Captain Thorn, the clerk, and four sea men regain the ship's deck— Savages driven from the ship — Slaughter of tlie savages, and destruction of their canoes by the ship's fire — Four seamen quit the ship — Natives are induced lo again visit the ship — Ship's decks crowded with numerous savages — Ship blown up by Captain Thom— Terribls scene of destruction — The four seamen taken by the savages and cruelly put to death 137 Section 2.^A List of newly-discovered Lands in the South Seas and Pacific, with their situations , 150 PART V. Extracts from the Memorials to Congress, praying that a National Discovery and Exploring expedition be authorized, and sent out to the South Seas, Pacific Ocean, tc. with a statement of the probable National benefits in view, &-C , &c., that may be obtained, by performing such an expedition, with notes explanatory of the subject 152 Notes explanatory of tlie subject of the National Exploring Expedition, or, A plain tale of facts, &;c 167 A List of the vessels, officers, and scientific corps, which compose the Ameri can National South Sea Exploring Expedition. The followmg being a cor rect list, as reported, at this date, ofthe United States' South Sea Exploring Expedition, November 20, 1837 190 contents. PART VI. A Description of the New South Shetland Isles, by James Eights, Esq., M.D. Naturalist in the scientific corps in the American Exploring Expedhlon, of Brigs Seraph and A nnawan, under the command of Captain B. Pendleton, and N. B. Palmer, sent out to the South Seas, under the directive agency of the author of tliis work, and the patronage of Government, iu the years 1829 and 1830. I95 Location ofthe Islands— Snowy elevation— Stxaits and bays— Beautiful clear ness of the atmosphere — Icebergs — Penguin assemblages— Antarctic sky — Brilliant hue and reflect ions-. Whale skeletons— Geological features— Craggy eminences— Singular ebb and flow of the tide. ..Current along the coast— The strata and minerals— Volcanoes— Anim als—M erm aid— Sea skunks — Birds— King Penguin and its eggs— Rookery Penguins— Existence ofa south ern continent — Palmer's Land 195 PART VII. An account of the noted and bloody Naval Battle fought on the 22d of Sep tember, 1779, between the Gtood Man Richard, under the command of John Paul Jones, and the Serapis, commanded by Captain Parson, by an officer in the United States' Navy, to whom chance gave a station in the battle that conspicuously tended to the victory. With the gallant Captain Parson's honourable and liberal remarks to Captain Jones on the result 217 The ships appear in eight of each other—PreparationB for battle— The Serapis hails — Laconic answer of Jones — Battle commences — Lower deck guns burst— Serapis rakes the G. M. Richard — Dreadful and sweeping slaughter of G. M. Richard'a marines-^-Ships mn foul of each other— Serapis drops her anchor— G. M. Richard's Staff and Ensign knocked into the sea — Both ships attempt to board, in tum are driven back — Both ships on fire — Daring bravery of officer and men of main-top — Slaughtering effect of a hand grenade - Surrender of the Serapis — Humane, honourable, and liberal remarks of Cap tain Parson — Dead bodies of the slain- Bloody carnage on the decks — The G. M. Richard abandoned— She sinks head downwards— Whirlpool and nar row escape of boat— Arrival in the Texel— The sequel 217 CONTENTS. PART VIII- NarAative Sketch of an occurrence the most baibarous, fi:om the voyage of the American brigantine Hersilia, of Stonington, Captain James P. Sheffield, to the South Seas, under tlie directive agency of the author, in the year 1821-. 253 Chapter 1. — Hersilia sails from New South Shetlands— Anchors at fsle St. Mary's— .Her capture— Barbarian chief Beneviades— His cruel treatment of crew while prisoners— ^Town and River Arauco on the coast of Chili — Prison ers' sufferings and hard fare in rations— Military duty—The tyrant chief and American sentry— Parade of the royal army — General Beneviades' eulogy on Ihd Americans, and reprimand to his officers — Paper money — Death to retuse Jts tender— Disgusting and barbarous punishment of lemales — Inhuman execu tion of a Padre 233 Chapter 3.- -HersiMa fitted out a cruiser— Her return from cruise off Chiloe Island— Violent storm — Hersilia wrecked in storm- Her captain and crew employed to launch her afloat again — Whale boats — Daring and desperate enterprise of captain Sheffield and crew— Plan of escape — Brave acts of Kel logg and Hoxie— The prisoners escape — Land on Island St. Mary's — Forced to subsist on raw seals' flesh 242 Chapter 3.-- Boats put out to sea — Their suffering in tbem during their voyage- Effect a landing at Moula on the coast of Chih — Kind treatment and recep tion from the inhabitants— Travel to Valparaiso— United States' consul — United States' frigate Constellation— Kindness of her gallant commander and officers— British flag ship 74, and sloop of war — Generous and noble proceed ings of the Britishadrairal, Sir T.M.Hardy, 249 Chapter 4.— Captain Sheffield sails for Arauco in the British sloop of war Con way — Anchor at Arauco — Town and store buildings in flames — A bloody battle- Patriot and royal armies— The defeated armies — Courteous and kind conduct of the comraander of His B. M. sloop of war Conway — Captain Shef field and men return in the Conway to Valparaiso- Close of the narrative... . 254 APPENDIX. American National South Sea Exploring Expedition, Letters, &c 259 Piesident's Message to House of Representatives. 276 Extract from Mr Crary's Remarks iu House of Representatives 307 PART I. narrative of the voyage op the ship hope, FROM new- YORK, TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS, IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN, AND TO CHINA, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN REUBEN BRUMLEY, WITH THE DIRECTIVE AGENCY* OF THE AUTHOR, IN THE YEARS 1806—1803. CHAPTER I. Leave New- York — Departure from San^y Hoolc — A gale — Tremendous foaming sea — A mountainous sea breaks on board ship — Loss of stern boat — Cape de Verde Islands — (governor's conduct — Depart from St. Jago. Aicg. 3lst, 1800. — ^Having received the pilot on board, and hoisted our anchor, and being all in high spirits, our trig little ship stood dovni the bay. We passed the Narrows, gain ed an offing without Sandy Hook, and dis charged the Pilot. At the same time, our good friends, with their warmly-expressed wishes for an agreeable and fortunate voyage, took their leave. Our little bark filled away under a cloud of canvass, and we took our departure from Sandy Hook Light. * See Fanning's Voyages, p. 328 2 14 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE Sept. 2d. — In latitude 40° 18' N. we were met by a heavy gale from the eastern board, which obliged me for safety to cause the ship to be hove-to under hef storm sails. The gale was accorapanied with a mountainous sea, breaking and showing its dashing, white-crown ed foam. At 8, A. M , one of those turbulent neighbours, of a mountain size, dashed its white- capped, foam on board, and gave our good ship a complete drenching and a giant thump, tak ing away with it our stern boat from its davids, much to our regret. We received no other damage of consequence. At 10, A. M., the violence of the gale abated, and it gra,dually moderated by 2, P. M., to only a strong breeze, veering round to the S.S.W. We now met with the usual weather, at the intervals of pass ing time — clear and cloudy, rain and sunshine, fresh gales and calms, which accompanied us until the 14th of October, when, at 11, A. M., we had sight of the Isle Sal, one of the Cape de Verdes, bearing W.S.W., distant 13 leagues. Our variation at this time, was .5° west. At meridian, the Isle Sal bore from us, W. by N., distant 11 leagues ; our latitude, by sun's altitude, at same time, was 16° 48' north. Soon after we had sight of Bonavista Island ; and, on continuing our course to the southward, the Isle of Mayo soon appeared in view. At TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 15 sun rising, on Thursday, 16th, we had a view of the Island of St. Jago, the largest of this group, bearing N.W. by W., 4 leagues distant. At half-past 7, A. M., the ship being then near and abreast the mouth of Port Praya harbour, I despatched Messrs. Brown and S. Coles, in a whale-boat, to procure, on shore, some small stock, with refreshments of vegetables and fruit. On our ofiicers landing, agreeably to their instructions, they immediately waited on His Excellency the Governor, to obtain permis sion to accomplish their errand. His Excel lency, on first words, demanded five Spanish dollars, as his landing fee, for tbe officers step- ing on shore on his island. This demand be ing satisfied, the Governor then said, he could not grant any permission to procure supplies, until he had perused and inspected the ship's sea letter ; which obliged Mr. Brown, maugre all his solicitations and persuasive arguments, to despatch his brother officer, Mr. S. Coles, to the ship for said letter. Captain Brumley, not expecting his boat so soon to return, was now making a lengthy board off with his ship, to enable her, during his boat's absence, to hold her ground to windward, against the strong lee current, while he gave his officers time to com plete their purchases, &c., on shore. This gave Mr. Coles a long pull before the ship discover ed his signal. On coming alongside the ship. 16 VOYAGE or THE HOPE Capta^ B. being informed of the demand of His Excellency, instantly gave orders to tack ship in shore. When again near and abreast of the harbour's mouth, he despatched the boat, with Messrs. Napier and Coles, with the ship's sea letter, to Mr. Brown. At meridian^ the Fort at the harbour of Part Praya, bore N. N.W,, distant 3 leagues, when our latitude was, by good altitudes, 14° 54' N. At 2, p. M., the ship being close in abreast the mouth of the Wj, a signal was hove out for the boat to return on board. At 5, P. M., she came along side, and, as soon as she was hoisted in, all sail was made, with a fine, brisk trade-breeze, causing our good little ship to divide the sur face of Neptune's element, in her quick rate of departure, from this unfeeling and disobliging Governor, as well as to fast widen the distance between her and the shore of his island. Mr. Brown now reported to me that this humane and friendly magistrate to suffering sea men in serious want, would not permit him to purchase any small stock of pigs, fowls, &c., but only the very limited number of cocoa-nuts and oranges which the boat brought oft" Even these were by much solicitation and persuasion permitted to be purchased, at a high rate, of particular persons pointed out to make the sale by his Excellency. At the same time, the market was well stocked, and persons from the TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 17 country were humbly begging to be permitted to sell their articles, at a much lower rate. At 6, P. M., Port Praya bore N.N.E., dis-^ tant 5 leagues, when we took our departure, steering to the southeastward, to cross the equa tor for the Indian ocean. c H A P T E R II. Violent squalls — A water-spout — Its terrific threatenings and passing roar — Shoals of whales — Cross the equinoc tial line — Cape Aguillas' Bank — Gannets, and other birds — A while squall — Many whales seen. As we progressed south, we experienced much unpleasant weather, accompanied with heat, thunder and lightning, and heavy squalls of wind and rain, near to, and north of the Equinoctial Line. In about the latitude of 6" north, during a violent squall of wind and heavy rain, we were oblige^d, for safety, to clew down the top-sails^ and put the ship before the wind. In the midst of our anxiety for the safety of our masts, to our sudden surprise, a terriffic, sea-? serpent-like-shaped water-spout appeared in view, coming at a rapid rate, as if direct in chase of us. Our ship was yawed broq,dly off, to endeavour to get oyt of its way, and of its 2* 18 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE threatened destruction ; and, although she was now going through the water at a very swift rate, still, in its passing, rushing roar, it seemed, to OTlr dread, to be only about a cable's length clea,r of our ship, giving us only a soaking drench as it passed on. , Surely these mighty, whirl-wind water-pyramids, connecting, in one giant link, as it were, the h«avens with the sea, must be an awful evidence to man of the won derful power of that almighty and good Being, who made, directs, and governs all. In about the latitude of 5° north, we saw numbers of shoals of whales, gambolling and thrashing about in their element, most probably after the small fry. At this situation, we had 11° ¦We^t variation, which decreased as we advanc ed and crossed the line, in longitude 20° 32' 15" west, into south latitude. In latitude S° 18' south, we had 10° west variation. On Monday, 24th December, being in latitude 36° S7' south, the sea-M'ater became coloured, ¦when we judged ourselves on the edge of the batik off Cape Aguillas. We saw seals play ing around in the water, and many oceanic birds cutting the air on their wing, in all directions — Such as gannets, albatrosses, cape pigeons, and ttiother carys. Our variation at this time was, pet ampHtude, Q6° 10' west. On the 27th, at 1, A. M., during a pleasant breeze and TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 19 weather, our ship was suddenly struck by a white squall, which blew with great violence ; and it was with much difficulty, so sudden was its approach, that we saved our sails. This severe squall was the more remarkable, as the moon was then shining, being near her full. The heavens were thinly overcast, with small white clouds, forming, what is called by seamen, a mackerel sky. There was, in fact, at the time, more the appearance of a calm, than of squallsJ It, however, blew violently for about two hours, when it suddenly shifted from W. N. W. to the S. W., and moderated to only a fresh breeze. Monday, January 5th, 1807. — Our latitude was 36° 24' south ; longitude, by lunar ob servation, 52° 16' 30" east. Hereabouts we saw many whales playing around in their element, to all appearance much delighted ; these monsters of the deep having been our neighbours so frequently of late, I should think it good whaling-ground here. The oceanic birds, of various kinds, continued daily to ac company us ; and, for four or five days past, our ship has been making only moderate way. Our variation now was, 24" lO' west. Since our arriving to above the latitude of 30° south, ¦we had variable winds from all points of the compass, and, as the sailors remark, all sorts of weather. 20 VOYAGE OP THE HOPE C H A P T E R III. Islands of Amsterdam, and St. Paul's — Whales and seals — Sea scurvy — New Holland — White beach — Columns of smoke — Remarkable rock — Cape Chatham. Thursday, January 'HQth, 1807. — We had sight of Amsterdam Island. At meridian it bore E. by N., distant 14 leagues. Previous to our departure, I made the centre of Amster- dam to be, by good meridian altitudes and lunar sights, in latitude 38° 37' south ; longitude, 77° 17' east, from London. As we passed these two Islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul's, many whales and seals were seen, as also nu merous birds of various kinds. February ith. — At noon, our latitude was 37° 44' south ; longitude, 90° 53' 20" east, and the variation 13° 30' west. We had now the third man on the sick list, with the sea scurvy ; and although I restricted them to a diet of only raw potatoes and onions, in vin egar, with boiled rice and molasses, yet, if there was any change, the patients rather grew daily worse. Monday, the 16th. — At noon, our observa tions placed the ship in latitude 33° 44' south ; longitude, 114° 01' 20'' east ; variation, at TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 21 same time, was 7° 45' westerly. We had now a brisk breeze from S. by E., with hazy weather. At 6, P. M., that welcome sound to the way-worn mariner, after a long passage, of " Land, ho ! " by the look-out aloft, was heard. It proved to be the coast of New-Holland, bear ing, by compass, E. by S. about 5 leagues dis tant, and had the appearance of islands, which were soon perceivable from the deck. We now steered along its coast ; and, at 11, A. M., we were abreast of a very remarkable white, sandy beach, which bore E.S.E., distant 6 leagues ; at which time the southernmost land in sight, bore S.E. i E., distant 8 leagues. Large columns of smoke were now seen from several parts of the land, which was of a moderate elevation, and apparently well wooded ; the ascending smokes we supposed were made by the natives, on the appearance of our ship, and gave an evidence that this part of New Hol land was thickly inhabited. With a favourable breeze, we continued sailing to the eastward, along the coast, and, at daylight, on the 17th, we had again a sight of the land — a point bear ing N.E. i E., distant 9 leagues. Scon after, the look-out, at the mast head, sung out, " Sail, ho ! " Not thinking to meet here with any thing lilte a ship, we were much surprised. As we advanced, however, and the sun got up, it 22 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE proved to be a rock. The weather, when it was first seen, was very hazy ; but it now lighted up, and gave a better and more exten sive view. At 6, A. M., Cape Chatham (so named by Vancouver) was seen, bearing E. i N., distant 7 leagues. Our ship was now at no great distance from what was first, by the look out, taken for a sail, but which now showed itself plainly to be a large rock, about a mile in circumference. Its E.N.E. side is nearly perpendicular ; its W.N.W. side sloping down to the water. In the direction of E. by N. from it, lies a small rock, over which the sea breaks continually. Its distance from the large rock, or islet, is about half a mile. This rock bears from Cape Chatham, N. 79° W., distant thirteen or fourteen miles. This remarkable islet, not being mentioned in Vancouver, or Tumbull's Voyages, or on any chart in my possession, I concluded it to be a new discovery, and called it after our first sight and surprise on its ap pearance. Sail Rock, and placed it in latitude 34° 59' south, and longitude, 116° 20' east, and about nine miles off shore from tho nearest land ofthe coast. At 8, A. M., Cape Chatham bore east, 4 leagues distant, and appeared plainly to be detached from the main land by means of a passage, apparently navigable for vessels of a considerable burthen. This, TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 23 it seems. Captain Vancouver did not ascertain, although his opinion was, as we have found it, and as I have here noted ; and we therefore called it, Hope Passage. Large fires continued to be made on shore upon the upland, as we advanced along the coast, as also for several miles far in the interior ; the blaze and smoke of these fires ascended very high. At meridian. Cape Chatham bore N.W. by W. I W., distant 5 leagues, when the ship's latitude was 35° 08' south. CHAPTER IV- Cape Howe — King George III. Sound — Bald Head — New ly invented still for obtaining fresh water from that of the ocean — Van Diemen's Land — The Mew Stone — The Feathered Tribe — Amphibious Bird — Anchor at Botany Bay — Sydney Cove — Governor's humane and honourable conduci^Contrast between his and that of St. Jago's^ — Doctor O'Conner — His humane feelings and kind atten tion to the sick — Landing the sick — Sea scurvy — Its sin gularity. Wednesday, February ISth. — At daylight. Cape Howe was seen bearing N.N.E. | E. distant 8 leagues, with the detached Island off the Cape, which bore E. by N. 4 N. distant 5 leagues. The weather now soon became dark and thick, attended with a heavy gale of wind 24 VOFAGE OF THE HOPE from the. S.W, blowing in tremendous hard squalls, which made our horizontal view soon very limited, and caused us to take in and furl the topsails. It also shortly became prudent to haul off to the southward, and to reduce the canvass on the ship to her fore course, and storm staysails only ; since, by the increasing violence of th« gale, even with these limited sails, there was a heavy pressure which caused her by the .sea rolling on to labour hard as she plunged through it. I, however, thought it necessary to carry this press on her to keep her from driving to the leeward of our intended port. King George the III. Sound, thinking we yet might have a chance to bring our ship at anchor in this port, if we could, during the gale, enable her to hold her ground, and it should soon moderate. At 8, A. M., we had sight of Bald Head, one of the chops of the above Sound, which was at this time the east ernmost land in sight, bearing N by E. The distance, owing to the state of the weather, uncertain. At 9, A. M , the gale still increasing, I judged it best, our stock of water being now reduced to but five casks, to bear up and put the ship before the gale, preferring to endea vour to reach with all despatch, and to touch in at Port Jackson for the relief of our sick, and the necessary supplies of refreshments. TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 25 We therefore put the ship before the gale, and on squaring away, directed our course for Van Diemen's Land, and m thus deciding, prudence requiring it, each man, officers and all on board, were put on an allowance of two quarts of water each, per diem. Wed7iesday, 25t?i. — The carpenter, an ingeni ous mechanic, with the aid of a musket barrel, on trial, succeeded in an invention, and rigged up a still at the galley, or cooking coppers, which produced to us, from the sea water, fif teen gallons of fresh water per 24 hours. It would have been a great and very thank ful relief to my mind, had we have been per^ mitted to have come at anchor with our ship in the Sound, as I was especially anxious for the relief of our scorbutic patients. Our head cook was this day taken, or reported on the list, with this discouraging and spirit-killing dis' ease, which not only added another to our in valid list, taken off duty, but one with whom it was very inconvenient to dispense. However, our good little ship was now ploughing her way over the surface of Neptune's element, and rapidly advancing on her course before the strong and fair gale. Thursday, the 5th of March. — At 6, A. M., we were cheered by the look-out aloft with that ever-welcome sound of " Land, ho !" and very 3 26 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE soon thereafter we had sight, from the deck, of the S.W. Cape of Van Diemen's Land, bear ing per compass N.E., distant 11 leagues. At 11, A. M.,we had sight of the Islet, Mew Stone, bearing north, distant 5 leagues. At 5, P M., Swilley Island was also in sight, bearing N. E., and at the same time the Eddy Stone had come within our view, bearing N.E. by E., about 5 leagues distant. We were now accompanied by great numbers of the feathered tribe, of va rious kinds, flapping their pinions and sailing on the spread wing in every direction. That amphibious bird, the penguin, was also diving around us in Neptune's waving field of water, in shoals, or companies of hundreds. As our ship drew in nearer to terra -firma, we were also visited by land birds of various kinds, one of which resembled the pigeon hawk, and was of a dark brown colour. At 6, A. M., Tasman's Head, the southern most extremity of Wm. Pitt's Island, bore W. N.W., distant 8 leagues, when the northern most land in sight bore N.N.W., 12 leagues distant. We now had clear, pleasant weather, with a moderate breeze from the south. March Sih. — I was extremely anxious to get the ship into port, as our sick list with the scurvy had now increased to nine, who were unable to keep the deck, and the number was TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 27 almost daily increasing. The refreshing fra grance from the land, as it came off to the ship with the flaws, had evidently an effect on even the worst of them. I therefore in person kept a sharp attend ance on the working and sailing the ship along the coast ; and after passing many capes, head lands and islands, on the 16th of March we were gratified with the sight of Point Solander, bearing N.W., distant 10 miles, and likewise that of Cape Banks, bearing N.W. i N., dis tant 4 leagues. On reaching abreast of the harbour of Botany Bay, we gave the signal for a pilot, by the discharge of a gun. At this time also sounded, and had bottom or ground at 63 fathoms, muddy with black sand, and specks. On the 17th, at 1, P. M., a small sail boat hove in sight, standing out from Botany Bay, and steering for the Hope, which soon came alongside, and accommodated us with a pilot, who, on coming on deck, requested that his boat should be hoisted in, which request was com plied with. The weather began now to put forth a very threatening appearance, the wind- increasing to a strong gale, with a heavy sea. The pilot directed the ship to be tacked and to stand off shore, which was promptly done ; and I must admit that his judgment proved correct ; 28 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE for our ship was soon forced to come under close reefed topsails. At 2, A. M., wore ship, and stood in again for the land. At 5, A. M., it having moderated, made all sail, steering in for the Bay ; and at 8, A. M., we most gladly came to anchor in Syd ney Cove, Port Jackson, in 7 fathoms water. In a short time thereafter, two officers came on board as a guard, and were soon followed by Dr. Harris, the Naval Ofiicer of that port, who delivered to me the established port regula tions, orders, &c , for our guide during our stay here. In the time we spent in working our ship from the southernmost cape or land down along the coast to this port, we experienced much heavy thunder and sharp, vivid lightning, with occasional heavy showers of rain, attended Avith gusts, or short gales. Much the same weather continued while we remained here in port, ex cepting now and then some short spells of clear weather, during which we had delightful plea sant days. March ISth. — I had the honour of paying a visit and presenting my respects to His Excel lency the Governor, whom I found to be truly a gentleman of honourable and humane feel ings, and corroborating them by ready and no ble acts, speaking volumes in meritorious credit TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 29 to His Britannic Majesty, and to the character of that liberal nation under whom he holds his official station. He was entirely the opposite to the Governor of St. Jago, (Cape de Verdes,) for on my solicitation, he granted, with the most prompt readiness, liberty to land our sick on Garden Island, which was situated about a mile distant from our ship. He also gave per mission to obtain every aid for their comfort, and enabled me immediately to engage Doctor O'Conner, a physician of first note and talent in his profession, to attend them while on the Island. This disorder, the sea scurvy, is a very strange disease, as very soon after the patient is taken with it, he loses all spirits, and every disposition to action. Even any inclination to move at all has entirely vanished ; and when the limbs become much, or rather, as in some instances, enormously swelled, on pressing your thumb on the fleshy part, it will cause a deep indentation, as if done on a mass of putty, — which indentation will remain the same for hours, while the act causes no pain to the pa tient. It is singular how soon the earth, on placing the patient upon it, with a diet of fruit, vegetables, salads, &c., for his constant food, with tlie lightest and not luscious fresh meat soups, revives him, and fast recruits again his 3* 30 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE health. When advanced in the disease and weak from it, the very smell or scent of the land, or disembarking from the ship, very much affects them, even to frequent faintings. Our sick, on landing, were, much to my con solation, now placed on a lovely green and comfortable situation, with the promise of their Speedy recovery ; were all daily attended and supplied with a full allowance of fresh meat soups, fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, &c., and daily visited, with the most solicitous and humane feelings, by Dr. O'Conner, myself always ac companying him, to be certain that every arti cle was furnished to secure their comfort and prompt recovery. While here, we were very kindly and cour teously treated by His Excellency the Gov ernor, and His Majesty's officers ; and by their ready and obliging aid we completed our sup plies of refreshments, wood and water. Our invalids having recovered, most of them to their duty, and all pronounced by the Doctor out of danger, they returned on board, free from any fear of their complaint returning soon again in going to sea. Our ship was therefore of course now prepared and got ready for sailing. TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 31 CHAPTER V. Departure from Sydney — A strange ship — Macauley's and Curti<' Islands — Sunday Island — Numerous Birds and Fishes — Island of Tongataboo — Van Diemen's Road — Bad Anchorage — Directions in sailing among the Islands — Coral reefs — A strange ship appears — Strict inquiry of the natives for white persons among them. Friday, April 2d, 1807. — Having paid my parting respects to His Excellency, with thanks for his kindness, and taken an adieu of His Majesty's officers and the gentlemen merchants, with whom an acquaintance had been made while here, we received our pilot on board, and orders were issued to weigh anchor, and pro ceed to sea. As soon as we had gained with out the South Head, a strange ship was descried in the offing, and the pilot soon after took his leave of us, and proceeded to board the stranger, which was steering in for the port. At meridian, the South Head of Port Jackson bore W. by N., distant 9 leagues, from which we took our departure from the conti nent of New Holland, to proceed on our pas sage for Tongataboo, one of the Friendly Isl ands. After a passage of ordinary winds and wea ther, without any remarkable incident occur- 32 VOYAGE OF THF HOPE ring, on Sunday, the 19th, we had sight of Macauley's and Curtis' Islands. At noon, Macauley's Island bore N.E. | E., distant 4 leagues ; and our latitude at this time, by a good observation, was 30° 24' S. ; variation, 13" 5' E. On the 20th, we had sight of Sunday Island. At meridian, its northernmost end bore N. by E. i E , distant 5 leagues, our latitude then being 29° 24' S. Our ship was now surrounded by vast numbers of the feathered tribe ; and, at the same time, were gambolling in their element around us numer ous fishes of various sorts. We were not so fortunate, however, as to induce any one of them to take the bait on the hook. The largest, or giant kind, (whales,) we declined offering the baited hook to, believing it perfectly use less, and being somewhat acquainted with their mighty strength and quick motion ; for should we offer and they incline to take the hook, we should, to a certainty, only have the " success of loss," (as Paddy would say,) to lose our hook, if not our line with it. Several rocks were now within our view, extending off from the south end of Sunday Island, and detached from it. On the 26th, a very clear day, we had sight of Pylstart's Island, bearing W., distant 14 leagues ; and on Monday, the 27th, at 6 P. M., TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 33 we got sight of Eooa, or Middleburgh Isl and, bearing per compass N. by E. i E., dis tant 10 leagues. At 10, A. M., the long-wished- for Island of Tongataboo, or New Amsterdam, was in sight, bearing N.N.W., distant 8 leagues. It is very low land, and has, on first view, in clear weather, somewhat the appearance of a reef of rocks of a moderate height. We now bore away for this Island, and prepared all in order for the best defence by loading our car riage guns, &c. &c. As we sailed along its coast to the westward, when arrived opposite the Bay, and while working the ship into Van Diemen's Road, several canoes, containing numbers of the natives with the products of their Island for a barter trade, came off around our ship. Their variety for trade consisted of cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, plantains, &c., for which we traded and bartered our riches, (so considered by them,) viz. pieces of old iron hoop, knives, needles, small looking glasses, beads, buttons, nails, &c. Having worked in on the bank near to the shore, we now, as ex pected, brought our slap at anchor, by letting drop the best bower anchor in 30 fathoms over a bed of coral and sand, very close in shore. Although we quickly and briskly paid out 90 fathoms of cable, the bank was so very steep, that she did not bring up, but soon dragged off 34 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE of it, and shortly clear out, off soundings* when we in dull cheer hove up our anchor to its place on the bow again, and made sail under sad disappointment to regain the anchorage. However, on regaining our former position on the bank in the bay, I thought it best to keep the ship under way, on short tacks, as we were now surrounded by an additional number of canoes of all sizes, containing large swarms of natives, and carrying on a brisk trade for re freshments in hogs, vegetables, fruits, &c., which the Island seemed very bountifully to produce. Directions. — After obtaining sight of Eooa, run down on the south side, when you will soon come in sight of Cattaw Island, and then Tongataboo ; keeping as you advance all on the starboard hand, you may double round these islands, I believe close to the shore, as we saw no danger. I recommend, however, and it is highly important, that a trusty officer, while navigating here, be continually at the mast-head, on a good look-out for those coral reefs, (which seem, as it were, in these seas, to grow up in a night,) and rocks, but which with this caution can be seen at a reasonable distance and avoided, even if under the surface of the water, and no break over them. Van Diemen's Road is on the northwest part of TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 35 Tongataboo, and forms a small bay, or bend in the coast. On entering this road, I found a strong current setting on the west point or chop, which point is composed of a white sand, and extends off about two cables' length into the sea, very shoal. Be careful of borrowing too near in shore when in the road, as there will be found a swell or under tow continually heaving in shore. We obtained here at Tonga, in barter with the natives, good rope and cinnet, made from the fibres of the cocoa-nut. Thursday, the 2Qth. — At 8, A. M., a ship was descried in the eastern board, standing to the N.W., but shortly after she bore up for us, and proved to be the King George, of and from Port Jackson, bound also to the Feegees, James Akins, Commander, who very courte ously offered to keep us company, and to work iuto the Road with us, with the like view to procure for his ship such provisions and re freshments as the Island afforded. This day, with earnest zeal and attention, I improved in the endeavour to obtain all and every information relative to the melancholy fate of Captain Isaac Pendleton and his boat's crew, of the Union,* and with the view of re- * See Fanning's Voyages, page 323. 36 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE lief, should there be any civilized person de tained by the chiefs on Tongataboo, I made every inquiry also for any white persons, to as certain if there was even a single one now re maining on the Island, but could not learn from the chiefs or natives that there was even one left. A vast number of the natives in crowds kept parading on the beach at every time whOe and when the ship was in the Road trading with those in the canoes. While here we experienced occasionally squalls of thunder and lightning, accompanied with exceeding thick and dark weather, with however some fair and pleasant intervals. CHAPTER VI. Departure from Tonga for the Feejees — Fatoa (or Turtle) Island — Dangers of the ship among the Feejee Archi pelago — Most dangerous navigation — Caution of the Na tives — Numerous groups of Islands — A Chief comes on board — Double canoes — King Tynahoa — Dignity of Hia Majesty — Description of his person — Lofty peaked moun- tain — Gorroo Chief — Boat excursion. Simday, May 2d, 1807. — Having engaged as pilots and interpreters a Tonga and a Fee jee man, and having them now on board, we bore away ; but the heart of the Tonga man TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 37 failing him, he became unwilling to proceed. I therefore directed him to embark in a canoe that was near by, and return — which he glad ly, to appearance, complied with. We now, in company with the King George, took a final departure from Van Diemen's Road, which I place in latitude 21° 04' south, and longitude 175° 18' west. It being dark and squally through the night, we thereby parted company with the King George, and saw her not afterwards during our pas sage. May Ath. — At 1, P. M., the appearance of the weather was very unpropitious, in the opinion of our Feejee pilot, to run for our small mark, (Turtle Island,) called by the na tives Fatoa. We therefore close-reefed the topsails, and hauled the ship upon a wind, with her head to the southward. It now blow ing a gale, with a tremendous sea running-, our good ship laboured hard. May 1th. — At 3, P. M., we got sight from aloft of Fatoa Island, bearing W. by S., distant 6 leagues. It yet blowing a gale from the northeastward, and being cloudy weather, at tended with heavy squalls of wind and rain, accompanied with sharp lightning and thunder, and with a large irregular sea, the ship was still under close-reefed topsails and fore course. 4 38 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE Her latitude at this time was 19° 33' south, and the variation 12° 20' east. May 15. — We now were blessed with settled pleasant weather, and also with a moderate trade wind from the E.N.E. At 2, P. M., we had sight of two islands ; the largest was called by the Feejee Chief, our pilot, Honghare Le- vo, and bore (all our bearings are taken by compass) N. by W., distant 8 leagues. The smaU one was called by same authority Hong hare Livi, and bore from us N.N.W., distant 7 leagues. At the same time. Turtle Island bore S.S.E. i E., distant 8 leagues. At 3, P. M. Falongaa Island was in sight, looking at this distance like two islands, bearing N.W. by W. i W., distant 5 leagues. I now hauled the ship up to weather Falongaa, and at half-past 5 P. M. saw to appearance through between Falongaa and Honghare Islands a passage. In that direction, also, four other islands came within our view : I now tacked ship to the eastward, to spend the night under short sail and tacks, keeping our ship as near as possible over the same ground or place during the night. In and during the evening, saw lights on shore at Falongaa. At 6, A. M., Honghare bore N.N.W. i W. when our ship was at this time 6 leasfues distant from its N.W. end. At noon its S.W. point bore N.W., distant 2 leagues : TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 39 at the same time, the west point of Folongaa bore N.W., distant 5 leagues. A reef extends off from the N.E. point of Honghare. Our latitude now by observation was 19° 21' south. May \6th. — Descried a canoe, under sail, coming out from Honghare, and steering for us. When she had arrived near by, I directed the ship to be hove-to ; but no signs or per suasions, by myself or our pilot chief, could induce the natives in her to come on board. At 3, P. M., we had sight of Annamoohoa Island, bearing N.W., distant 6 leagues ; at same time, the north point of Honghare bore E. by S., distant 4 leagues. A current sets through the passage between Annamoohoa and its opposite island. At 6, P. M., tacked ship to eastward, to spend the night, keeping the ship as near the spot of her present situation as possible ; and a very disagreeable and most anxious night it was, to my mind. The wea ther being thick, and having very limited sea- room in which to manoeuvre the ship, over a bottomless sea, between the islands, as may be judged, when morning came, and gave day light to our aid, it made us sensible of our dan gerous situation during the night just past, At 8, A. M., of this numerous group, eighteen islands were in sight. At this time, the N.E. end of Annamoohoa bore N.W. by N., dis tant 7 leagues. At 9, A. M., it falUng calm, a 40 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE masted canoe came alongside with a chief, ac companied by nine natives. The chief very willingly supplied us with all the yams, &c., brought off in his canoe, in barter for beads and buttons. Soon after he had taken his leave of us, a number of canoes came off from the islands to pay us a visit, and dispose of their vegeta bles and fruits. At noon, the centre of Hen- gasaw Livo bore N.E., distant 4 leagues. Thus, in the sailors' phrase, ends this 24 hours, calm as a clock. Our latitude now, at noon, was, by observation, 19° south, and the variation was, 10" 30' east. May \Sth. — This day we were visited by several large double war-canoes, as well as others of different make and form, containing numerous jabbering natives, who viewed the ship with wonder and surprise, and seem ingly utter astonishment, not having seen here such a floating island (as they called her) be fore, and bringing with them a good supply for barter with us, of excellent yams, &c. A bar ter trade was now very briskly carried on, for the shining riches (in their estimation) on board our ship. Among the natives, Labooulyi, the Feejee chief and pilot, that came with us from Tongataboo, met with his relatives, and took his leave of us, in one of the double canoes. At 10, A. M., Tynahoa, the Grand Chief and TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 41 King of all these islands, in a very large, gaily decked double canoe, and truly brilliantly adorned after their manner, and show of state, with carved work, &c. &c., attended, in addi tion, by his nobles in royal state and movement, came alongside the ship. From the gangway I invited his royal person on board ; which in vitation. His Majesty, after causing to be pass ed on board his welcoming presents to me, consisting of a fat shote, yams, cocoa-nuts, &c., readily complied with ; and came promptly on the ship's deck, to all appearance in full con fidence, without the least show of fear or hesi tation. He then moved about with his two attendant chiefs from this to that object with all the readiness his inquiries would admit ; viewed, and closely inspected every article, fixture, &c., and inquired the use or purpose of the form and construction of the ship, with her equipments for war, accommodations, &c. &Lc. He scrutinized with minuteness, and with much ease and dignity in his movements. At the same time, he was earnest in his inquiries con cerning the use of this and that thing or arti cle. His Majesty's personal appearance waa truly noble. He was six feet three inches in height, and well proportioned every way ; had a pleasant, but commanding countenance, and was about forty years of age. After being sa- 4* 42 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE tisfied with viewing the ship, &c., and receiv ing from me some small shining trinkets as my return present, but, to him, sufficiently and sa tisfactorily valuable as a present to royalty, he took his leave, inviting me to pay hi.m a visit at his royal residence on the island. He em barked, seating his royal person under the ca nopy on the platform or deck of his magnifi cent double war-canoe. The accompanying fleet moved from us in great state for the shore, and landed at Nahow, one of his principal re sidences. His Majesty, however, before part ing, gave to me a promise to return on board again in the morning, and accompany us in the ship down to Gorroo Island. May 2lst — At 8, A. M., we bad sight of a very lofty, spiral, or peaked mountain, on the main island, Toconroba, which bore N. by W. i W , distant 7 leagues. At 10, A. M., a large canoe came off from Gorroo, with a chief, who, afler tendering and receiving presents, at his own desire, remained on board. I now despatched Mr. Brown, the first officer, in a whale-boat, well armed, and manned by six good men, with provisions for two days, to ex plore the seaboard and outer bounding coral reef for the passage for our ship to our intended port, at the King's main island of Toconroba, (subsequently named Sandal Wood Bay.) Our TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 43 latitude, at situation of ship at this time, was 17° 27' south. CHAPTER VII. King again visits the ship — Freedom of His Majesty — A Royal Present — Brisk Trade — Ship surrounded by War- Canoes, with Armed Warriors — Expected Battle — Can- nibal war-yells — The Leader Chief — Signal of Retreat — Warriors depart — Direction Island — Dangerous situation of the Ship — Three Mountains— The Sea Wall Reef- Narrow Passage — Rapid Current — Coral Reefs — Hand some Young Chief — Intricate Navigation, danger of — Boarding- Netting — Sandal Wood Cargo — Treaty with the King — His Majesty's Treasury Chest — Grand Council- Good Faith ofthe King — Articles of Trade. May 22d, — The King, agreeably to his pro mise yesterday, now came on board, and, to show his confidence in us, his royal person was attended by only one chief and six native canoe men. As a first-rate royal present. His Ma jesty now presented me with a very large, fat boar hog, for which I made him a satisfactory return. After granting permission to his na tive subjects to enter on a free and brisk trade with us, for refreshments, in hogs, yams, &c., in barter for our valuable riches of shining metal buttons, small looking-glasses, glass beads, &c.. His Majesty took his leave, and returned on shore. 44 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE May 24th,— Ai 11, A. M., a fleet of large, double war-canoes came off to the ship, from Nyri Island. This island was now in revolt, and at war with King Tynahoa, as His Majesty had previously informed me. One of these canoes led the van, and appeared to have the commanding chief on board, surrounded by other chiefs on her platform-deck. By their manoeuvres, as they surrounded the ship, we judged that they had, something important im mediately in view, of a war-like cast. As their conduct was by no means altogether pleasing, or even friendly, and, as there appeared in this one canoe upwards of a hundred warriors, and in all the others a like number, in propor- tionto their size, it was plainly to be seen that they were well armed, after their manner, with spears, war-clubs, battle-axes, bows and ar rows. Their canoes were all under sail, as well as paddles ; and, after sailing and paddling round and round the ship, with, at same time, continued shouts, war-whoops, aiid cannibal yells— -with grimaces and movements of body and limbs, showing, in their way, unfriendly actions and intentions, they now and then pointed to the ship's carriage-guns, and imitated with their voice, their explosion. The ship's battery was all this time kept ready and clear for action, each gun being loaded with a round TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 45 shot and langrage, with matches burning, and every man wide awake at his station. After some time spent thus, in sailing around the ship, the commanding chief placed his war-canoe a few yards directly ahead, and in the way of our ship, and hauled down his sail. His men lay on their paddles, thinking, as it ap peared, by thus doing, to drop his canoe along side, and board us ; but as the ship was under some way, and observing his intentions, I in stantly directed her to be given a broad yaw off. This immediately brought our guns and broadside to bear fairly on them and, in this way, we passed them, without any discharge, as we were acting only on the defensive. As the success of our voyage, and the safety of our absent boat, was constantly on my mind, as well as a deep reluctance to destroy life, I was determined not to commence the battle, but to act wholly on the defensive. They then used their paddles after us, keeping close under our stem, and insisting on making fast their rope to the ship. This we decidedly for bade and opposed, and effectually prevented without a fight. In the mean while, the rest of these large war-craft, with their crowd of arm ed warriors, breaking the air with their horrid war-yells, kept sailing and paddling around the ship, within pistol-shot distance, keeping 46 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE up constantly their terrific war-whoops. They appeared to watch sharply all our motions, and those of their leader, at our stern. In this most trying and anxious situation, we were kept for the space of two hours ; when, on a signal from their chief, their hideous war-yells ceased, and the whole fleet made sail at once, steering back from whence they came, to the Island of Nyri. Their departure gave to me, and I think to all on board, a feeling of relief. We were glad to be rid and clear of such a horrid, cannibal set of threatening visitors, with out being forced into slaughtering measures in self-defence, which, as already observed, I was extremely anxious, in our situation, to avoid, as our worthy first officer, and six excellent seamen, absent in our boat, might, in such event, have been cut off and massacred. Any warlike measure, or act, would also very Ukely operate much against us, in relation to our errand, as we were now in the neighbourhood of our destination, where we expected to pro cure, in barter, our cargo of sandal wood, &c. May 25th. — At 10, A. M., to our joy and re lief, Mr. Brown, the first officer, returned on board from his exploring cruise, having been absent from the ship four days. During this time, we constantly kept the light signals out throughout the nights for him ; and it may TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 47 truly be presumed no small weight of anxiety existed on my mind during his absence. On the 26th, at 8, A. M., saw a small island, which I called, and very appropriately. Direc tion Island, (not having learned the native name of it,) as it was situated directly in the range of the ship's passage through the outer main reef, and bore N.W. i N., distant two leagues. May 2Sth. — Experienced a heavy gale and squally weather through the night ; but it mo derated to a light breeze at near daylight. As the morning light broke and lit up, it discover ed to us the very dangerous situation of the ship, caused by the currents, as well as the gale, so near the shore, that we had hardly room to bring the ship about, and keep clear of being wrecked. Ho'wever, on promptly well- manning our sweeps in her aid, we succeeded in bringing her in stays and about, with her head off from this dreaded, rocky shore, and, to appearance, at one time, of certain shipwTeck on it. We were much aided and assisted in effecting our escape, by the alert working of our fast sailing little ship. The great relief our escape gave to me from shipwreck, on this wild, rocky, savage coast, can be judged, I think, ouly by a commander with the like charge, who has escaped from a like situa- 48 VOYAGE OF TH:E HOPE tion, and from the dangrer of being wrecked on a cannibal shore. The weather clearing up soon after, gave us a sight of Direction. Island, when we wore ship and stood in towards it, for the passage. This island is a good mark to the mariners for the channel through the sea wall reef. Three very remarkable mountains were now within our view, over another island, bear ing N.N.W., and the remarkable sharp, spi ral mountain, on Toconroba, bore N. by W. At 11, A. M., I despatched Mr. Brown in a boat, who, in his exploring cruise, had disco vered and sounded it out, to lay as a buoy mark in the passage through the outer main reef. At this time. Direction Island bore E. by N. I N., distant 5 leagues. Mr. Brown having soon made the signal of his boat's situa tion in the channel, we bore the ship away un der her fore-course and three topsails, with a brisk trade breeze, and every officer and man at his station. In about an hour, our good ship had passed safely through the reef, by the chan nel, where the boat lay, and which I judged to be only about fifteen yards wide, from side td side, or from rocks to rocks, of this sea-bound reef. The breadth here of this coral reef, I judged to be about two cables' length ; we found. the tide or current running very rapidly through the pass. After our ship was through, we hauled TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 49 her up N. byE.; but our course soon became va^ riable, on account of the many patches of shoal coral reefs, and rocks just under the surface of the sea-water ; these could be timely and plainly seen by the officer on the look-out aloft, and cunning our direction in the course for the ship. Our course mainly, from the narrow pass through the sea wall reef to Booje, our first anchorage, was about N. by E., and the distance about 7 leagues. We brought the ship at an anchor, with the small bower, at Booje, in 13 fathoms water, over a bottom of fine black sand : a low, sandy beach, with a grove of cocoa-nut-trees, and a native village, bearing E.N.E., distant half a mile. This anchorage I subsequently named Sandal Wood Bay and Road. With all precaution, we now bent the sheet-cable, and shackled the chain- cables to their anchors on the bows, as beinsr in readiness and prepared for the worst event, and moored our ship with the stream anchor. Our latitude, at this anchorage, was 1 6° 58' south. Soon after bringing our ship here at anchor, a trig built and very handsome young chief carae alongside, in an uncommonly neat ly built Tongataboo double canoe. He came without hesitation on board, and promptly pre sented rae with several hundred fine cocoa-nuts as a welcome present ; in retum for which, and 5 60 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE his free sociabihty, I made him a present of a proper return. He had been some time from Tonga; and his bold, but very neatly and highly-ornamented and carved-work craft, showed, incontestably, that they make their sea-voyages, at least thus far, in these double canoes. I cannot here sufficiently express my thankfulness to the Great Preserver of all, for his protection of those " who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters," and especiaUy since, notwithstanding our way has been very full of innumerable dangers, for having safely arrived here. The relief given to my mind and feelings, by our arrival at anchor, after so many, and so tedious, laborious, and very anxious scenes passed during those several days and nights among those islands, working our ship along in the most dangerous and intricate navigation, between these islands, that can be conceived. In these passages, there are innumerable scattering coral reefs : and, in fact, it w ill likewise generally be found the case, that without the outer verge of the wall sea bound reefs, no bottom, by soundings, is to be had or found with the lead, even at the distance of only two or three cables' length from its verge ; therefore no anchorage is to be had or expected, as none is to be found In addition, the sea, with its mountain billows, is TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 51 usually breaking in massy foam and giant force ; and the currents are irregular, and fre quently of great force ; the wdnd, at intervals, blows strong gales, dark and squally ; still there are spells of clear, pleasant weather, but they happen mostly in the day time. The winds, during a great part of the time, were, when regular, of the trades, blowing from the eastem board, but at times variable, and, in hard squalls, generally followed by a calm. To make the task more severe, and the burthen heavier to a commander, we were, much of the time, and during the day in particular, surround ed by numerous canoes, with swarms of na tives, keeping up the constant evidence before. our eyes, that if we should be wrecked, imme diate massacre was the destiny of all on board. After having safely performed this dangerous navigation, through this Archipelago, during the term of such a number of days, being our own pilots, and without charts, I think all must admit, that we would be likely to feel thank fully fortunate in bringing our ship thus safely into port, at anchor, and that all on board would be relieved. We leave it to the magnanimity of the general reader to give to us the credit we merit in its performance. Some of the islands of this group are of mo derate elevation; but others are very moun- 52 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE tainous ; several vvith lofty, spiral, or sugar- loaf peaks ; others with round summits, and thickly wooded tops. The author would ask the liberty here to remark, that he has ever made it a permanent rule, not only to caution captains never to suffer over two or three prin cipal chiefs, and their few attendant natives, (as those chiefs will always bring their attendants) tocome on deck, at one and the same time ; but also to have all the vessels ever sent out under their directive agency, and bound to those seas, on these voyages of barter-trade, among these children of nature, to be well fitted and armed, with the precaution of a boarding-netting made of rattling-stuff, and small iron chains, that a passage for a person might not be easily cut through its meshes. This should be attached to the ship's failing of cover at their quarters, and go entirely around the ship, arid out on the sides of her bowsprit, to the fore-stay ; and be so deep, as to admit tricing up, when among the savages, to twelve or fifteen feet above the rail. It being thus fitted, when the boarding-net is triced up, the ship's quarters and decks are enoircled, if it may be so termed, similar to a highly fenced yard, so that not any person can enter or come on board the ship's deck, except at the pass, by the armed sentry at the gangway, and TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 53 by the immediate permission of the officer in charge of this station. Sentries on guard are, or should be, at such times, always set on the tafferel, and on the heel of the bowsprit, to watch and observe all that is passing among the natives around the ship. With all these precautions, there is little danger ; as when they are thus constantly prepared, and can all be put in requisition in a moment's warning, there is then little to fear while among those savages. The author has, thus prepared, at such time, had his ship surrounded by thousands of the natives, even in clusters, as it were, like a flock of birds on a tree, hanging on aroundy and on the sides of his ship, without the board ing-netting, and chattering their lingo, and ob serving all the movements of those on the ship's decks ; still no unpleasant occurrence has ever caused the shedding of blood by the ves sels under his charge. The Hope being now in Sandal Wood Road, thus moored and prepared, and under hervery judicious and vigilant commander, with our usual good discipline, we procured, at and off from Toconroba Island, her cargo ; being the first, by Americans, of sandal wood, &c., froni this group, without any unpleasant occurrence, or the least difficulty with the chiefs or inhabi tants. Atthe same time, loaded an English 5* 54 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE vessel, on freight for Canton. In addition, en gaged, in a treaty with the King, a cargo of wood, to be prepared and piled up on the small island near our present anchorage. This cargo was to be ready in eighteen moons (months) for any other ship belonging to the same owners ;* and by this treaty the King likewise engaged to cause the sandal wood trade to be tabooed (prohibited) from all other vessels procuring it, or taking any of it away from the islands. This unusual success by 'treaty, was mainly effected thus, as related to the author : — ^Their first officer, Mr. Brown, had become a great favourite, and the adopted son of the King, and, by living the greatest part of his time at His Majesty's residence, had learned to speak the Feejee language, so as to hold a conversation, with the chiefs and natives, without an inter preter, or with Uttle difficulty, which greatly pleased them all, and zealously attached His Royal Majesty to hira. Captain Brumley, through this influerice, was able to effect this treaty.. Its conditions vi'ere as- follows: — The Captain was to cause to be made by hit^ car penters, for the King, a large chest for his trea sury, fourteen feet in length, with several apart ments, and a separate lid to each apartment, • Was subsequently taken to China hy ship Tonquin. TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 55 with a padlock* to each apartment lid. This treasury chest, or reservoir, was engaged by the captain to be filled with an assortment of our articles of trade, to be selected by the King and his attendant chiefs, after the chest should be finished, and painted in a variety of high and gaudy colours ; when thus finished, this grand treasury chest was placed in the palace, in a room designated and prepared for it, when each division was filled with suitable articles, of an assortment selected by His Majesty, &c., chiefs' wives and family ; and then, when so filled, a new padlock was placed on each lid ;. the keys, tied in a bunch by a high-coloured silk ribbon, adorned with various coloured beads attached to it, and handed to His Majesty. The treaty was then considered as ready for ra tification : and the reader may be assured, by what is represented, that, in the opinion of the author, the great Napoleon never felt better, in greater, dignity, or in more importance, imme diately after one of his greatest victories, than * Mr. Brown had learned His Majesty the art of locking and unlocking a padlock, which much delighted his royal person, indeed almost to ecstasy ; and he, in his exultation, now affirmed, that not any chief could inspect, or look at his great treasure, without his knowledge and permission. In fact, not one of them possessed ingenuity enough to unlock itj even should the key be put into their hand. 56 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE did His Royal Majesty Tynahoa, on receivings this bunch of keys. All the chiefs shouted by royal signal, and declared him to be now the greatest and richest monarch in their world, and were followed by a shout of thousands of the natives, that seemed to shake their island. A grand council of chiefs was now called, and ordered to assemble forthwith. They promptly assembled in the area, on the green lawn, in the cool shade, and under their valuable bread fruit trees, in front of the King's palace ; being thus met in council. His Majesty in the centre, on ari elevated seat, after a few rapid speeches delivered by several of the chiefs in rotation, in their true native and uncivilized manner and actions, all tending to the blazing forth the great power and riches of their monarch, and how soon he would now conquer all the islands in their world ; on a green branch being handed by the King, in person, to the captain, and Cap-" tain B. receiving it, the treaty was then con sidered ratified, and to be kept sacred by both parties. The council being dismissed by His Majesty, broke up, every one going his own way home, after repairing, in apparently per fect happiness, to the feast prepared by order pf the King — consisting of roasted hogs, yams, bread-fruit, &c., and satisfying their wild and voracious appetites. Hereafter it will be seen, TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 57 in the Tonquin's voyage, with what good faith this royal monarch, over an uncivilized mass of beings, and his chiefs and nobles in council, kept this treaty, and finally fulfilled it, as the result will prove, in such good faith as would be very commendable in any civiUzed monarch. The chiefs evidently, on departing, moved off in new and additional pride of carriage, and they certainly now considered their King by far the most powerful and wealthy monarch in all the Pacific ocean. Our articles of trade here were, first, sperm- whales' teeth, of all sizes ; but the larger, the more valuable in their estimation, as they were considered the highest emblem or mark of royal honour and favour. After the tooth was highly polished, a small hole was drilled through the larger end to hang it on the breast, by a ribbon or chord passed round the neck. The next article most valued by them were tokas, made by the armourer, at his forge ; they being, in shape or form, merely the blades of adzes and hatchets, without an eye for the helve formed to them. In the room of the eye part, it was made to suit their notion, so as to be lashed to the helve or handle with a strong line, made from the fibres of the palm-tree. Glass bottles, either wine, porter, or square, were next in repute ; high coloured calicoes ; 58 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE looking-glasses of all shapes, and small sizes ; bright metal buttons; needles of different sizes ; iron spikes and nails ; pieces of old iron-hoop, cut to the length of four to five inches ; with a general assortment of ironmongery, principally cutlery, with iron tinned spoons. These com posed the assortment of our articles of trade at the Feejees, at this time. The invoice of articles of trade put on board the Hope, when she sailed on this voyage from New- York, by which the above purchases and bargains were made and completed, did not amount to but little more than nine hundred dollars. This sandal wood (being one of the articles procured in this trade, as to profit of a fair rate to judge by) brought, at that time; in the Canton market, about thirty cents the pound. Out of this, about one-third of the: amount of the proceeds of a cargo was paid into the United States' treasury, on duties on the China goods, obtained in exchange for itin Canton. Thus vast amounts have, by vessels under the command and directive agency of the author, been, by the Pacific and China trade, brought into the American national treasury. TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 59 CHAPTER VIII. Author's rule of trade in tho prohibition of fire-arms — Na tives of the Feejee Islands — Their cannibalism — Manner of obtaining sandal wood — Music to the natives in the wood-saw — Great number of the natives as the ship de parts — Affection and attachment of the King to the first officer, IVIr. Brown — His Majesty's parting with him — Union Massacre Passage — Alarm by the sudden discovery of the ship in shoal water — Departure from Feejees, and voyage to China — Crossing Equator twice — Equatorial currents — Discovery of Hope Island — Phillipine Islands — Their beautiful green appearance — Arrival at Canton — Sail for sweet home — Arrival at New- York. The author would here beg leave to remark that, during his command and directive agency, in all the voyages of traffic with these children of nature, he has ever insisted that, when fire arms, powder and ball, with other of the civil ized destructive instruments of war, were de manded and peremptorily insisted on by the chiefs, in barter, to quit their trade sooner than to comply ; as there is not a doubt but that these, to them new and destructive instruments, after they and their neighbours have come in possession of some of them, have been the cause of much'bloodshed and massacre. 60 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE The natives ofthe Feejee Islands are, beyond question, cannibals, and even consider their roasted enemies as among their choicest feasts. Mr. Brown, being so much with the King, on one occasion, when an expedition of vvarriors had just returned from battle and victory, at Nyri, obtained over the Nyri Island natives, and were come with their victorious fleet of war-canoes, at the landing on the ba,nk of the river, discovered among them a large double canoe having, on her deck platform, the bodies of some twenty or more slain enemies. After the King had selected two of the best fed and plumpest, of about twenty years of age, he di rected them to be taken away to his residence, by his attendants, to be dressed and roa.sted for his conquering feast. His Majesty then divided, by lot, the remaining number among his prin cipal chiefs ; which were, in turn, by their at tendants, taken away with the like directions. We reraained here in Sandal Wood Bay, at Toconroba Island, with our ship, trading for and procuring sandal wood, &c., until we not only loaded our own ship, the Hope, but also an English vessel we raet here, that touched for refreshments, with a cargo on freight for Canton. We also paid, as per treaty, for a second cargo, for which a ship was to be sent ; and made every necessary arrangement with TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 61 the king for placing this second cargo of wood in the treaty as follows, viz : It was to be cut down, and then brought from the mountains during our eighteen moons' absence, and to be cut at right lengths as per sample, deposited with His Majesty, shaved and piled on the small island near the harbour, or road, where our ship was now moored at anchor. Our manner while here of obtaining the san dal wood, was thus : — On concluding a bargain with the king (the whole of this article being royal property) for a certain quantity, to be de hvered by a stipulated day, at the landing place, on the bank ofthe river, he would direct a chief to take his men, fifty, more or less in a gang, as the case required, proceed up the mountain, cut down such trees as should be selected by our men from the ship, and bring them trunk and Umbs to the landinnr. The chief dared not for his life but be punctual in performing and accomplishing his task by the time agreed on. With this gang is sent one of the ship's crew, to select the large and sound trees, and, in charge of the saws, axes, and grind-stone, and to direct the sawing down the trees as close to the ground as possible. This sawing off the body with the cross-cut saw, bringing the tree down from the stump, was a highly favourite part of the work, and was fre 6 62 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE quently severely disputed for between the nar tives, owing to the exquisite and delightful mu sic to them, in the ringing of the saw. In fact, at times, they would dispute so earnestly abou whose turn it was, as to come to a raging grap ple with each other. It frequently required the authority and interference of their chief to quiet them, and restore harmony. The tree being thus sawed down, it was then trimmed of all its limbs, and the top cut off where, after all the bark and sap should be shaved off, it would leave the heart part of the diameter of about one and a quarter inches. All the limbs were trimmed out in this raanner, and the gang con tinued working on the mountain, sawing down, and trimming out until a suflScient load for the whole gang to carry down to the landing was obtained. Several days were spent at work in the mountain woods at each excursion, before a full load of body and limbs for all the gang, was prepared ; they then collected it all at one spot, the chief set off the load for each one, or for three, or five, or more as required ; they then shouldered it, and all in Indian file pro ceeded down the mountain with their burdens to the landing place. The ship's men under the directions of the carpenter, and his mates, with some natives to assist, saw and cut the body and Umbs to proper lengths of between TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 63 four and five feet, and then shave off, with the drawing knife, all the bark and sap. It is then in merchantable order for shipping on board, and the king is paid for the lot, as has been previously agreed. He then sends it off along side the ship, and immediately divides the pur chased articles with the chief, who has with his gang performed the task with his men in pro curing the wood. September 6iA.— Having completed our busi ness here, and the Hope having now a full cargo on board, we unmoored ship, took up our anchors, bore away, and steered for a leeward passage through the outer sea wall reef We were surrounded by masses of natives of both sexes making the air ring with their friendly parting shouts ; but above all, was the parting between His Majesty and Mr. Brown. The king had become so affectionately attached to him as his adopted son, that he took him again, and again in his arms, and by his parental hugs of embrace raised him from the deck, as if a child. When in his canoe retuming for the shore, he kept up the parting signals until beyond sight from the deck ; but even then he could be observed from aloft. We were now under all sail, with a fine trade breeze from E.S.E. and pleasant weather, steering across the bay, and out through the passage in the main reef by what I thought 64 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE properly named Union Passage, because on one of its reefy points the ship Union was so unfor tunately wrecked, and all on board of her, but the Tonga pilot perished, or were massacred by these cannibals as soon as they obtained a footing on any dry part of the outer wall reef. Precisely at noon we passed safely through Union Passage, when Sandal Wood Road bore E.N.E. distant 3 leagues, and at same time the east chop of Sandalwood Bay, which I named Sandy Hook Point (which it so much resem bles) bore east, distant four miles. We were now engaged in clearing up the decks, lashing water casks, &c., in sea preparation. September Ith. — At 3, P. M., Levo Callow Island was in sight bearing W.N.W. distant 7 leagues, and now a fresh trade wind and a heavy rolling sea accorapanied us. This made it necessary to reduce the ship's canvass to her double-reefed topsaUs. At 8, P. M., I thought it prudent to bring the ship to the wind, and to spend the night on short tacks, keeping her throughout the night as near the spot we now were as possible. At 6, A. M., bore away and made sail, when immediately after, the officer on the look out station aloft, gave the alarm call, that our ship was over discoloured water, and on casting ray eye over the rail I could plainly see the bottom composed of coral rocks, TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 65 to appearance about four fathoms of water : I instantly ordered the ship to be brought to the wind to make a board off to a clear sea again, when in a few minutes, in short, before the ship's sails were fairly trimmed to the wind, we were out of danger or had lost sight of the bot tom, and to appearance, were again off sound ings. When the ship was on the shoal Levo Callow bore W.N.W. distant 6 leagues, and the centre of Antua Island, E.^N. distant 8 leagues. At noon Levo Callow bore E. by S.i S. distant 3 leagues, at which time the ship's latitude was 16°41'S. September Sth. — At 2, P. M., Levo Callow bore S.E. by E. distant 7 leagues. At sun set-' ting, strong gale, with cloudy thick weather. I thought it again prudent to haul the ship on the wind, and to spend the night under close^ reefed topsails, with the endeavour during it, ta keep her as near her present station as possi ble. At 6, A. M., bore away and made all sail on our course for Canton in China. Variation at this time 12° 9' east. September llth. — ^^At 4, P. M., the look-out aloft gave out the sound of " Land, ho ! " which proved to be two high islands lying east and west of each other. One bore N. by E. and the other N. by E.4E. distant 7 leagues. Our latitude at this time was 12° 25' south, and at 6* 66 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE the north-westward ofthe westernmost of those two islands, we observed a sraall island or islet, in its appearance very much like the Eddy Stone off Van Diemen's Land. These being wide to the windward of our course, and night closing in upon us, we have nothing farther to remark relative to them ; and as it is somewhat doubtful, as to their being a new discovery I did not give them a narae. September 26th. — Our situation this day brings us near to the brink of crossing the equator the second tirae, out of the four cross ings we shall have to raake during our voyage. The weather ever since our departure from the Feejee Archipelago has been so cloudy and thick as to prevent our lunar sights until this day, when by two sets of very good observa tions, the mean of them gave the ship's longi tude to be 163° 42' 20" east, and her latitude 1° 33' south, and variation 10° east, our longitude by celestial observations differing about four degrees from our longitude by account in this short run from the Feejees. This shows that we must, and very recently, I judge, have had an unaccountably strong current* to have set • Subsequently in the ship Cadmus, bound for Calcutta, on crossing the equator in about the eighty -eighth degree of east longitude, in the Indian Ocean, I met with, and experienced the like currents. R, B. TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 67 our ship so wide from my intended route, which was to have kept in the track of the Walpool, Captain Butler. He appeared by his account to have made a very clear passage, but by the effect of the current, we now found our ship on an entirely new route. Here the author would respectfully ask : what is the cause of those never-ceasing, or frequent, rapid, unaccountable, and variable currents, in all parts, or places near the equa tor on our globe, as they appear to be the same in the Pacific, in the Indian Ocean, and in the South Atlantic, between the continents of Ame rica and Africa ? Are they caused by the force of the heavy gales in the variable latitudes on the surface of Neptune's element ? or by the daily rotation of our globe, as some will have it, and the trade winds ? It cannot, I think, be the last ; for if so, they would be regular, and always setting the same way, and not suddenly variable. It seeras, therefore, all we can say relative to the explanation of the fact, is, that it is one of those mysteries known only to that Almighty Being, who created our globe, and placed it in its orbit. October 2d, 1807. — At 6, A. M., the look-out at masthead, surprised us by " Land, ho ! " bearing N.W. by W. to W. by N. which at first had the appearance of two islands ; but on 68 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE nearing it, we plainly discovered the two ele vations to be joined by low land. At noon the centre of the land bore west i N. distant 5 leagues, and I place it in latitude 5° 15' north, and longitude 165° 17' east of London. It not appearing onany chart, or in any book in my possession I consider it a new discovery, and have named it, Hope's Island. Sunday, October 25th. — We were in sight of the Phillipine Islands, Say-pan, Tinian and Agrigan ; but after so long an absence from our much-beloved country, and being very anx ious to meet with our friends whom we expect ed to find in Canton, we did not stop to obtain and partake of the many excellent articles said to be procured at those beautifully green look ing islands. Having a fresh and fair trade wind we passed them, with mouths watering, and proceeded on, with all despatch. — I place An son's Road in Tinian, in latitude 15° 01' north, longitude 145° 47' east. November 9th, 1807.— We had sight of To- bago-Sima, and soon after, the high-peaked mountain on Formosa. In a short time we passed the Vela Retta rocks, south of them at three miles distance. At 6, P. M., the south end of Formosa bore N.N.E., distant 9 leagues. November 12th. — On this day we obtained sight of the land, and islands off the coast of TO THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 69 China, passed several fleet of fishing craft, and on arriving among the islands we obtained a pilot for Macoa. After touching there, we proceeded up the river to ^Miampoa, where we had the gratification of meeting our friends, and receiving our letters, and news from home. -After exchanging our cargo we received on board a cargo of teas and other China goods. December 21th. — We sailed from Whampoa for home, "sweet home." — Notiiing unusual occurred during our passage, and we arrived safe at New- York on the 3d of May, 1S03, with, it is believed, a perfectly satisfactory voyage to all concemed. — We now leamed that a stem, and rigid embargo was in force through out the United States. CHAPTER VIII, A list ofthe native names of sixty-four of the principal islands ofthe Archipelago ofthe Feejee group, with remarks. Fatoa, (Turtle) AUaliippa, Honghare LUi, laa. Honghare Levo, laa Livi, Folongaa, Uhtda, Henghare, Body, Annamooka, Nahow, Henghasaw Levo, Gorroo, Mertta, Waanewmeattte, 70 VOYAGE OF THE HOPE, etC. Marraboo, Cahharria, Voangdbha, Ollarwa, {saddle) Como, Cannaetah, TVattaharre-nahow, Kyerratta, Gerroa, Freenoo, Dudua, Foona, Toconroba, 'Vakkia, Gorra, Niroa, Bahiky, 'Woohiah, Nyengany, 'Vohia, Ohohia, Lili, Mahhini,Ohokia, Bollowhu, Mackini, Onratta, Chucheeah, Dahuctah, TVattaharra, Dedea, Omango, Nyri, 'Volkkia, Ohohia Lavo, Onhow, Battika, Gorrohou, Batallie, Volahue, Booyee, Levo- Callow, Antua, Assavo,Ambow,Hongasato, Direction-Island, (by us so named) Honghary, Furia, (This is a very high, mountainous island, and I pre sume has been a volcano,) Remarks. — There is also in this group a number of small islands, and islets, the native names of which were not ob tained, and of course are not noticed in this list. PART II. SKETCH DESCRIPTIVE OF THE WHALE CHASE, SHOW ING THE DANGER, AND DARING BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND SEAMEN IN ATTACKING AND CON- aUERING THESE MONSTERS OF THE DEEP, TOGE THER WITH THE PROCESS OP CUTTING IN, &c., &c. CHAPTER I. Whale chase — Danger in fastening to — Condition of the whale — Whalers' preference to full grown — These most troublesome — Sounding ofthe whale — The signal — Break water roar of the monster — Terrific scene — Snowy foam of the sea — Fatal stroke— Sea of blood — His dying flurry — Life extinct — Huge inanimate mass on the surface of the sea — Lamentable end of poor Bob — Hia„character. The ship being on the whaling ground in the right season, and when on the earnest hunting chase in those beautiful alert craft, the whale boats, the danger in fastening, and killing a whale is by no means at all times equal. On some occasions they are killed without hardly an effort, or struggle, at others two or three hours elapse before this can be effected, owing mostly to the nature of the whale's condition, whether plump and thriving, or lank and lean, and also partly to the chance of fastening. — 72 WHALE CHA;sE Whalers most generally prefer fastening to a full grown, or old whale, if a well fed one, as he is less inclined to give battle than a younger one. A right, or black whale, that will yield about forty barrels of oil is in general the most troublesome. When fastened to by the thrust of the iron (harpoon) to which the Une is fast, he, (if in deep water) immediately saunds, tak ing out of the boat from sixty to eighty fathoms, or raore of line. At these depths he remains until want of air forces him to the surface again, which usually will be about thirty mi nutes. Care must be now taken to prevent him from coming up under and staving the boat. The line as he rises is hauled in, and carefully coiled in the stern sheets of the boat, the men (in vulgar phrase) being wide awake, ready at their oars for the least signal. When the rush ing sound of the water, accompanied by the roar of the monster announce his arrival to the surface, the word is given by the officer to haul on. The bow-man now prepares his lance, the boat is hauled by the warp as close as pos sible to the whale, and the lance vigorously plied in thrusts, by darts. The whale unable as yet to sound, becomes infuriated by the re peated thrusts of the lance, and a scene com mences, of which only those who have wit nessed it, can have any idea. The huge mon- .VND VOYAGES. 73 Ster of the deep galled and rendered mad w ith pain, cuts through the water with amazing ve locity, now this wav. now that, requiring aU the skill of the officers, and exertions of the men to manage the boat so as to avoid him, and his enor mous flukes (finned tail) lash the water into a snowy foam. Soon afterthe blood spouting from his lanced wounds, stains with blood the sea around bim ; and now and then a thundering roar is heard as the lance of his tormenters ag gravates his pain. At last the fatal stroke and wound is given, when his life's blood is spout ed on high Seeing this, the boats are laid off from him, so as to be out of his way, when he goes into his flurry, or dviog agonies. This soon comes on ; his huge body is agitated ; he lashes the surface of the sea, incessantly, and is surrounded with a thick, bloodv foam. His efforts become graduaUv weaker ; when, on a sudden, they cease, and the late hving body hes a huge inanimate mass on the surface of the ocean. On one of those chases, and anx ious slaughtering attacks, we had before our eyes, the following melancholy and painful oc currence. This was the lamentable misfor tune to lose one of our crew, a harpooner, by a whale. Poor Bob! he was a first-rate, and uncommonly expert whaler; nevertheless, fate, it seems, had decreed, that his time had come 74 A WHALE CHASE He was truly an excellent man, at all times wil hng, and pleasant; beloved by all on board, and out of all the crew no one could have been taken whose loss would have been more felt. He was a first-rate seaman, as well as a courageous whaler ; in short, such a valuable man as is always much wanted, and seldom found aboard ship. As such his loss was severely felt. — He was suddenly taken from out the boat over board by the warp attached to the preventer, the harpoon fouling some part of his body, or limbs (his arm, it was supposed) while performing his duty as harpooner. In the act of darting the preventer iron, he was seen to go over board, when the line was immediately cut, in the hope of picking him up ; but in vain, we never saw him more. Poor Bob! his death must have been speedy, as the whale was then sounding at a fast rate. CHAPTER II. Cutting in the whale — Cutting gear — Manner of cutting in- Blubber blankets — Mincing blubber — Trying out oil — Whale bone — Average quantity to a fish. When a whale is about to be cut in (or in other words,) stripped of his fat, or blubber, he is taken alongside the vessel with his head AND VOYAGES. 75 towards her stern, and the cutting gear is then prepared. This gear consists of two wind- tackle falls, the straps of the blocks being tog gled through their bights to pendants from the mainmast-head. These pendants are then guyed forward so as to bring the falls directly over the main, or blubber hatch. The ends of the falls are then brought to the windlass, and three or four turns taken round it with each end, a stopper being in readiness to clap on ei ther faU. A man now jumps upon the whale, places a strap on his fin, and the fall is attach ed to it. The whale is then hove by it side up, and the fall stoppered; sraall stages are placed outside the gunnel on which stand the officers about to cut the blubber, provided with sharp spades fastened on the shaft, eight or ten feet long. The head with the bone attached to it is now cut off and hove in, with the other fall, and placed aft on the deck. The fall is then overhauled down again, and the throat, hps, and tongue are next hove in, and lowered down the hatch between decks. The other fall is then attached to the end piece hove on, and a strip of fat wdth the skin, or blubber (as it is termed) from four to five feet wide is hoisted up, the oflBicers on the stages constantly cutting with their spades on each side of the piece, or strip until the fall is hove block, and block. The 76 A WHALE CHASE stopper is now passed, the other fall overhaul ed down, and a sUt, or hole cut in the blubber piece for a new end (or as it is called in the blanket piece) with a boarding knife. The bight of the block strap is passed through, and a toggle through it, and the fall is hove on as soon as it takes the strain. The blubber of the blanket piece of the first tackle is cut through, and off above the toggle slit, with the same large knife. The blubber piece, or blan ket thus cut off is lowered down the hatch into the blubber room ; and so on, one fall relieving the other, rolling the fish over and hoisting in the blubber, until all is stripped off. The blub ber blankets are then cut up into small pieces, taken to the large table, and the lean attached to the fat flinched off. They are then minced, and thus made ready for the try pots. The try pots are started in the trying by pouring about a barrel of oil, into each pot, or kettle, and then kindling a fire in the furnace beneath. When this oil is sufficiently heated, the minced blubber is thrown in, and in about the space of half an hour it will be sufficiently boiled. It is then baled off with the ladle, leaving 40 to 50 gallons in each pot, (these pots hold from 150 to 180 gallons.) The scraps are taken out with a skimmer into a scrap tub, and the kettles are then ready for a fresh supply, which is im- AND VOYAGES. 77 mediately thrown in. After the kettles are heated by the first turn, the oil boils out much quicker. If good blubber and well tried the scraps will be chip dry, and the scraps con stantly supply the work with ample fuel. With such sized kettles well attended, about fifteen barrels of oil can be boiled out of a fair lot of blubber, in a six hours' watch, making an aver age of say 50 barrels in 24 hours. The oil is baled from the pots into a copper cooler fitted with a strainer, from which it passes into the deck pot, and is baled from thence into the casks. The casks should be well shrunk, twice or more filled for this purpose with hot oil, un til they have stopped shrinking. Wlien well coopered, after being finally and thoroughly thus shrunk, with hot oil, they will retain the- oil safe home without loss by leakage. The whale bone generally averages 800 pounds to a hundred barrels of oil, some whales over a thousand weight, others again only four or five hundred, the bone is cut out at its upper end, from the lower part of the head, eight or ten slabs at a time. Each slab, is then cut sepa-. rately apart, and scraped, the gum extracted;, and then stowed away below. Particular care should be taken to have the slabs dry when stowed, as otherwise they would be very likely to damage, and perhaps if stowed away not dry 7^ 78 ROOK OF THE be entirely spoiled, or at least much damaged, during the long passage horae. The whale is an affectionate creature to its kind. It nurses its young like the cow, — and while in tender infancy, basking with its mo ther at the surface of their element, if an alarm affrights her, she immediately takes her young under her fin, and instantly dives to a prudent depth. When going through the water, partly on her side with her glistening round eye she looks up to the surface, as she swims along, as it appears, with the endeavour to discover the cause of the danger. If the alarra has been given by a boat, and the boat is within view, over her, she keeps her eye, as it were rivetted on it, as long as it remains within her sight. J. E. B. CHAPTER III. Rook of the Falklands — Its sagacious, saucy cunning — Its size and colour — Its strength and gripe of claws — Its shrewdness in watching — Its seemingly intelligent lan guage — Mischievous thievery — A glove chase and fail ure — Superior knowledge of the bird. Among the great variety of the feathered race at the Falkland Islands, the rook is the FALKLANDS. 79 most sagacious and cunning. Its wise and fox-like actions are astonishing, and, without personal observation, almost beyond belief:^ The rook is about the size of the grouse, of a black or dark-brown colour ; its beak and legs ofa light yeUow; its beak is of iron strength for a nip, and the gripe of its talons are truly death-like. In all parts of those Islands, those who land from their boat, will surely, the mo ment that they step foot on shore, be sur rounded and accompanied by a look-out flock, as sentries, canting their head one way and the other, with their scrutinizing eye, as if to pierce your very thoughts and intentions. They are, apparently, very earnest and mis chievous, watching your every motion, and as you advance forward they will accompany you, hopping and flying from prominences of rock, or bog, watching your actions with an eye of piercing attention, and a sage look. They will examine, after you, e'very minute article or thing you raay stop to observe or inspect. If you disturb a turf by turning, or perforate the surface, or make an excavation in the soil or earth, as soon as you have left it, the rook will immediately examine the spot, with eye, beak, and talons, in the most minute manner, making at same time, in' their squalling language to each other, a cackling, screaming noise, with 80 ROOK OF THE head and neck stretched up, which they appear perfectly to understand. If you happen to lay down and leave your knife, or other article, by the spot, they will promptly seize and make sure possession of it and carry it off; and ex cept you give chase as they retreat and thereby obtain now and then a sight of it in their claws or beak, (which they will readily exhibit from time to time in the chase, and seem to delight in it, as they constantly retreat and tantalize you, keeping at a proper distance,) you may be sure this is all and the last you will ever see ofit : — there is no remedy, unless you hap pen to have with you your gun charged to shoot the vexatious and impertinent thief in stantly. One of our sportsmen had shot a nuraber of geese on landing, and left them in the bows ofthe boat during our perambulation ; when, on our retum, to our utter astonishment, our boat was surrounded by a large corapany of those depredators, mostly keeping in pairs, each by his mate, eternally crying ka — ka — ka ! — as if ridiculing our credulity. Nothing was left but the feathers and bones of the geese, which were strewed about in every direction. They are not only flesh-eaters, but are the greatest gormandizers and gluttons imagina ble. Here I will mention one evidence among hundreds of the like, of the rook's superior sa- FALKLANDS. 81 gacity: — On a fine, calm, pleasant morning, the author landed from his ship in the jolly- boat, accompanied only by the steward and apprentice-boy. On walking directly up the green bank, attended, of course, by the usual company of rooks on guard, I fell in with a patch of wild potatoes, growing spontaneously among the green grass, the tops of their vines being a few inches above it. I laid ray woollen glove on the rock, taking up a bit of a stick to dig and examine the size of their roots. Al though engaged not two yards frora my glove, before I was aware, and as quick as thought, up ran Mr. Rook, snatched up the glove, flew a few rods wdth it, — then lit on a bog, laid the glove down by him, and looked back at me with an arch-like, mischievous eye ; — as if in tending to say, " I have out-generalled you this time ; and now, get your glove again if you can ! " In his exultation, he was joined by his raate, and they coraraenced conversa tion in their screams of ka, — ka, — ka! Being much vexed, with my two aids, we started on an attack, with stones, not having with me my fowling-piece. On getting within two or three rods of him, he would pick up the glove and hop, run, or fly, some five or eight rods, then rest on bog, or rock, and lay down, by his side, the glove again, and then wait, in screams of 82 ROOK OF THE exultation, our fire of stones, hove by myself, steward, and boy. Thus fleeting on for up wards of a mile, this cunning bird fooled us, certainly in the distance, more than fifty times, until he completely tired out our force, and obliged us to give up the chase, and to leave him and his companion in possesion of their stol en prize. We had no remedy, but were forced to put up with their taunts and sarcastic eye- ings towards us, seemingly much to their high gratification. Thus dishonoured by the loss of the glove and victory, we returned to our boat, and on board ship, well tired out by the unsuccessful chase. In fact, the Falkland Rook is, unquestiona bly, the mosf knowing, mischievous, and saucy bird among the feathered race ; — and gives to the way-worn sailors much vexatious trouble, during their ^hunting and seaUng excursions. If a knife and steel, a powder-horn, round about jacket, or other article, which they are able to take away in their claws, or beak, be laid down by their side,] unattended but for a minute, as they are ever on the watch, it will be seized by the rook and carried off. Without the charged gun in hand, it will be very diflficult ever to obtain the article again. On committing the theft they will call each other and gather around it on rock, or bog, FALKLANDS. 83 scrutinizing it, with sageness on their visage, and their sharp, bright, piercing eye, with a sarcastic look, first at you, then on the article they have stolen, and so on as long as you are near by, wishfuUy desirous to re-possess your property, and, ever and anon at such times, are accompanied with their croaking screams, directed to each other : — It is truly the sapient fox, among the winged race. PART III NARRATIVE SKETCH OF A VOYAGE OF THE SHIP TONaUIN, UNDER THE COMMAND OP THE AUTHOR, TO THE CHINA SEA, IN THE YEARS 1807—1808. CJEIAPTER I. Building of the ship — Great despatch in performance — Oc currence on the wild coast of Java — A terrific savage— A white boy to roast — Fright of boy Bill — Secret retreat in a bread cask — Investigation of a singular affair. The Tonquin, this beautifully modelled and first-rate ship, was built by those well-known ship-wrights, Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown, at their ship-yard, in New- York city, for the China trade, under the superintendence and inspection of the author. She was double- flush decked, and pierced for 22 guns, and proved a fast saiUng vessel, of speed, perhaps, equal to any sloop of war of the navy. Her burthen was rather under 300 tons, and her keel was laid on the blocks on the first day of March, 1807. She was launched, and sailed from the port of New-York for China, on the 26th day of May, 1807, under the command VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN. 85 and direction of the author, and arrived back at the same port frorn her,voyage to Canton, with a full cargo of China goods, March 6th, 1808. Thus she was buUt, coppered, rigged, launc'ied» and performed her voyage to China and back, in the short space of 12 months and 6 days from the day her keel was laid on the blocks. — Impressed with this, I believe that it is doubtful, if there be an instance on record of such singularly unexampled skill and despatch of performance in the ship-wright business, and nautical management, of or from any country or nation existing, as in the case of this ship, on this, her construction and voyage. What transpired and occurred, other than what would be expected on a similar ordinary'voy- age to Canton and back, during this voyage in the Tonquin, is hereby related in the following, viz: — A singular affair when off the wild coast of Java, — and also the transactions mentioned and raet with on the passage up the China sea, and while at Canton. On our passage out, after entering the Strait of Sunda, our ship had arrived abreast of a bay, on the Java shore, a short distance east ward of Mew Island. During the night in a calm, she was set by the current in shore, into such shoal water, that it became prudent to 8 86 Voyage of the tonquin bring her to an anchor at a short distance, somewhat less than a mile, from the shore of this wild native coast. When morning came we found our ship situated thus, near the shore. As soon as broad day-light came, the natives, observing the ship so near, riding at anchor, an opportunity so inviting to them, came off in their canoes ; but all, save one, keeping just without hailing distance. That one contained only a single native, whom we presumed to be a chief, as he was gaudily dressed, and accoutred with a feather cap, mounted on his cranium, with waving plumes stuck in or attached to it, made of the feathers plucked from that courageous monarch of the barn-yard, the male domestic fowl. His face was painted in streaks, or characters, with colours of red and white. Thus beautified, his jet-black teeth, contrasted with his blood-red lips ; — ^he was truly savage ! In fact, his whole appearance was wild and fantastic in deed ; and while, according to their custom and habit of sitting with much native pride, thus accoutred in his canoe, which had a line fast to the ship's quarter, he was thus situated when the author came on deck. On emerging from the companion gang way, I observed the first officer, Mr. Mackay, a very worthy nautical citizen, as well as of a TO THE CHINA SEA. 87 very pleasant disposition, leaning over the quarter-railing, and endeavouring, by signs, &c., to barter with this singularly adorned native in the canoe, for the fowls, fruit, &c., he had brought off. Close by the officer's side, on tiptoes, to enable him to see over the rail, peep ing over it, with his eyes rivetted on the savage in the canoe, was my apprentice-boy Bill, an active, quick, observing child, now only in his eighth year. On my observing to Mr. Mackay, " What have we here, and what does this bar barian want'?" he answered, "a native, sir, from this wild coast ; and it seems he has come off frora the shore to trade — I am trying to barter with him for the refreshments he has brought off;" then dryly adding, "he appears disposed not to be willing to receive any thing for them which we can conveniently spare, but wants and insists upon a white boy to roast !"— Bill, on hearing these words, looked up at the first officer, much affrighted, and then at me, with a most pitiful countenance :— observing the boy in such affright, and to put him at his ease again, I said kindly to him, " Never you mind. Bill, what this savage-look ing fellow wants ; if you continue to be, as heretofore, a smart and good-behaved boy, neither he nor any other man-eating savage shall have you to roast, not if he would give 88 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN us our ship full of gold, — nor for all the fowls and fruit the whole race of them on shore can produce ; therefore keep your mind easy, and go to your duty with the steward." . Bill made his bow, with thanks, and marched off to the steward's room. At that time, nothing more was thought or said on the subject. The bar ter being soon finally accomplished with the native, he paid, and the fowls, fruit, &c., re ceived on board, a breeze springing up from off tbe land, the ship was immediately got un der way, and the natives all left us for the shore, our ship steering out of the bay. At eight bells, the steward carae to set the break fast table, (a part of the boy Bill's duty being to keep the knives and forks scoured bright,) and now wanting the knives and forks, no Bill was to be found ! On the alarm being given that he was missing, the ship was thoroughly searched fore and aft, below and aloft, but no boy Bill could be found, or any answer obtain ed, to the loud calls on his name. In this dilemma, painful as it was to my own feelings, and to those of the officers, particularly of Mr. Mackay, I presume there was not one on board, but.now felt for the loss of poor boy Bill. Being thus painfully disappointed, after our thorough search throughout every part of the ship, we were forced to come to the conclu- TO THE CHINA SEA. 89 sion, that the boy, in or during the usual bustle of weighing anchor, had, unobserved, got knocked, or fallen overboard, and was drowned. This sad conclusion of ours was then fully beUeved by us all ; and it was heart rending to myself and officers, thus to lose our sprightly boy. In this belief we remained until the after noon of the third day, when, to our very agreeable surprise, the enigma was explained, by the boy Bill appearing in full life before our view ! and all were relieved from distressful feelings, because Bill was alive and among us again. On investigating this very remarkable and singular affair, it appeared, that, after making the land, (Java Head,) on the day previous to anchoring, in the evening after passing the Head, and entering the strait, the seamen in their circle on the forecastle, had been relating their tough-yams, relative to the kind of peo ple which inhabited this land, to which the ship was now so near. Such an extensive country of mountains and valleys, covered by a wilder ness of forest trees, in such green, and luxuri ous appearance must have numerous inhabi tants of some kind of people ; and some two or three of their number that had passed along here before, declared that they were savages of 8* 90 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN the worst kind, and known to be man-eaters. Nothing could please them so well, as they had been informed, as to have a fat, well-fed white person, to roast, or bake in the ground, after their manner of cooking, to make a good meal, in their gormandizing cannibal feasts. To this tough-yarn, the boy Bill (unknown to the au thor until subsequently after the embezzlement of himself) had been an attentive listener. And when he placed himselfin the morning by the side of the first officer, to have a view of the savage in his canoe, he had asked what that ugly looking fellow wanted. Mr. Mackay jo cosely answered him, " the fellow. Bill, is en deavouring to make me understand, that he wants a white boy to roast." Just at this mo ment the author stepped up to join thera from the cabin gang-way, as before related, and ad dressed to Mr. M. his inquiry : Bill was then sent away to the steward's room. Knowing that the steward some few days previous, in replenishing his bread room, had taken a moiety of the bread out of a large bread cask, and headed up the cask again, a side piece of the heading which had got broken, having been flung aside, and not put again in its place, in the headiog of it up. Bill remembered, that in this condition the cask had been stowed back in its berth again among its fellows, in the TO THE CHINA SEA. 91 ship's waist below deck, and had left a break age of a few inches between its deficient brok en head, and the next cask, in the longer, or tier forward of it, just sufficient for him to squeeze his body through, and into the nuUedge bread cask. On the steward's leaving him in his room, the morning he was missing, to go on deck at the time the ship was getting under way, BQl as he subsequently confessed, did not feel perfectly safe, or surely certain (his own words) but that the ugly looking savage, might yet persuade us to deliver him up or succeed in getting him to roast. It made him, he said, feel dreadfully horrible, (still all his own words) notwithstanding what the author had said to encourage, to cheer up, and also assur ed him he had nothing to fear, had not the in tended effect, as the trouble on his mind. All this induced him, nevertheless, on thinking of the bread cask to promptly repair to it, and stow himself in, while the steward was on deck. He went therefore and crept into the nuUedge cask, and did not answer when called to, as he feared the ugly savage would not be gone. Here secreted he had subsisted on the bread, cautiously coming out in the dead, or still tirae of the night to the steward's pitcher for a drink of water, and quickly back again to his hiding place. Thus sly, he had remained undiscover- '92 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN ed until this afternoon, being the third day of his being missing ; when the steward on pro ceeding with the cooper and his gang, to re cruit again his store of bread in the bread room, on parbuckling out, and unheading this nul- ledge cask, behold, there was discovered, sit ting with his chin on his knees, raonkey like, our lost, supposed drowned, and missing boy Bill, who pertly looked up as if nothing unu sual had occurred, as if nothing had taken place out of the ordinary and daily course of affairs. He quickly asked the steward, before moving to get out, if that ugly Indian was gone. CHAPTER II. Ship arrives at Macoa — A sppck of war — A typhoon — Bri tish squadron — PooIj Sapata and Baltimore Company ship — Raging sea — Singular effect of — Change of the mon soon — Passage up the Tygris— Commodore Pelew — His declaration — State of war — President and U. S. consul — Unpleasant state of affairs — .\uthor's determination to put to sea — Chinese pilot, and boat — The agreement. On our ship's arrival at Macoa, we found the state of affairs rather war-like, between our countrymen, the Americans, and English • which, it was said, had been caused by an at tempt, by the order of the commander of a TO THE CHINA SEA. 93 British brig of war, to press the men out of an armed American Baltimore schooner. This brought on a battle between them, in which the captain of the schooner was reported to have been slain, as also a lieutenant of the brig, with some few raen on both sides. The schooner was carried, and taken by boarding, and sent to Calcutta. This the author found to be the situation of affairs on anchoring in the road at Macoa. On referring back I would here remark, that on our passage across and up the China sea, we experienced one of those violent Typhoons, to which this sea is subject, in which at some degrees to the north-east of our situation at the time of its greatest violence, and nearer to the China coast than our ship then was, were a British squadron consisting of two frigates, and a sloop of war ; also, in their corapany were two East India ships, with an American ship belonging to Boston, which were, by the infor mation we subsequently received, all dismast ed in this Typhoon. The smaller 36 gun fri gate, it was said, worked rauch in her frame, by the effect of the storm and sea, and the weight of her metal, she having at one time, as report stated, ten feet water in her hold, and was forced to throw overboard, as a sacrifice to Neptune, monarch of the ocean, for their 94 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN safety, and as a contribution to His Majesty's element, the greatest part of her guns, to enable them to free her, prevent her from foundering, and survive the Typhoon; with regard to ourselves on passing the Island of Poloo Sa pata, and entering the China sea, we had then the commenceraent of this gale and violent storm from the west-south-west, at which tirae, while our ship was scudding on her course un der a reefed foresail, we passed under the stern of the Baltimore China Company's ship, which was at the time lying to under her storm sails, and which did not, by such plan of procedure or judgment, arrive in Canton until forty-three days after our ship. This gale having increas ed into the Typhoon, and thereby changed the monsoon in the China sea, and settled it, in the opposite one, blew from the north-east quarter of the compass, in a steady wind, of course, in seaman's phrase, dead-a-head, or, after the gale and Typhoon were over, directly against the Baltimore ship's course which was to pass up across the China sea. On the contrary, by our improving it, and scudding before this fair gale, we run our ship across the Mackles- field Bank, and thus secured our passage. During the heaviest part of the Typhoon, we were crossing over the northern part of the Macklesfield Bank, and at this time our good TO THE CHINA SEA. 95 little ship was ploughing the surface of the foaming and raging sea, as buoyantly and as lively as a duck. The Typhoon was now- blowing from the point of compass S.S.W. and drivinof us along at the rate of ten or eleven miles per hour. Our top-gallant-yards were on deck, the masts housed, all steering- sail booms down on deck from off the yards, and every sail was furled, and double stopped, or bound to the yards with double gasketing, and additional lines. Every thing was as snug as our skill and rope lashings could make them, and not a yard or stitch of canvass was set. Thus snug, and thus swiftly were we gliding along over the foaming surface, and as it were flying before the raging elements ; yet we nevertheless experienced while going at this rate during the space of about fourteen hours, the following extraordinary fact, which I had never before observed. This was the uncom mon force and singular effect of the motion of the raging seas, which would break against our alert ship's stem in such a manner, with such violent rage, and with such giant-like force, as to sweep over her tafferel and roll forward on the deck over and over, as on a beach. Generally each foaming sea broke at the au thor's station by the wheels-man. Secured by rope to assist the cun, two resolute, cool, and 96 VOYAGE OP THE TONQUIN thorough bred tars, were at the wheel. Here it was about middle-waist deep, as it broke over the tafferel and rolled forward. These strokes of white wave force were so great, and of such weight when they broke against the ship's stern, that they dashed the yawl boat, in her tackles against the stern, so as to bring the boat's gunwales so near together, as to be but half their correct distance apart, driving the ends of her thawts, or plank seats through her sides. When our ship thus received these strokes of the sea or wave, she would tremble, in common saying, like an aspen leaf, in the wind, but still like a good race horse of ster ling bottom would keep alert on her legs ; as a sportsraan would say. TJie Cun. — To the helmsman, — Steady, — steady, sir, — port, — port, sir, — steady, — steady, sir, — starboard — starboard, sir, — port steady, — steady, sir, — that's well-done, my good fel lows, — and keep a sharp eye at the swing of her bows, — ay-ay, sir, starboard hard a-star board, — hard a-starboard, sir, — port steady, — steady, sir, — that's handsome, my lads, cheerly, cheerly, our good bark glides over the moun tain wave like a duck, be careful to keep your quids,* my brave fellows, like true tars, on the • Jack Tar's mouthful of negro head tobacco, not over the size of a hen's egg. TO THE CHINA SEA. 97 right side, and she will carry us safe, rely on it. When the Typhoon ceased, the wind during it, having gradually veered around to the south- south-east, and to east, it fell calm, for a few hours, leaving with us an ugly cross sea, in which our ship was now corapelled to labour, and making it very uncorafortable for us on board, she wallowing, rolling, and jerking, as if to strain every bolt, and yarn out of its place. However, we had now the satisfaction to com fort us, that during the violent Typhoon, we had escaped from all damage of note, saved our masts and spars, and had the good fortune to run our ship up the China sea, to a station in the north-east part of it. This secured our prompt passage to Canton, against the north east monsoon, when it should set in ; which it soon did, as we had conjectured. It set in with a regular monsoon breeze springing up from the north-east, when we made sail and steered in for the China coast ; as our ship passed along, we had a view of the Island of Pedro Banca. After passing it, and on arriving near the Lema Islands, we obtained a pilot for Ma coa, who brought the ship at anchor in the road abreast of that city. Early the next morning, the author, by the aid of his boat, paid a visit to that city for the purpose of procuring (ac cording to the China custom) a river pilot for 9 98 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN the ship to Whampoa, and a Mandarin pass for Canton, which for every ship or vessel bound up the river must be here first procured. As soon as these were accomplished, the author returned on board, and the Chinese pilot shortly after came off on board, when our ship was immediately got under way, moving on her passage up the river Tygris. On passing the British squadron consisting at this time of two frigates, a sloop, and brig of war at anchor at Lin-ting, a boat with a lieutenant, and a petty officer came alongside our ship and the officers stepped promptly on board. In the instant after the shake of the hand, the lieutenant, cast an eye aloft, then fore and aft, and turning to the author with a look of rauch surprise in his countenance, said : " Had you not the Typhoon ? " " Yes, sir, in its highest rage, I believe." " How the d — 1 then did you contrive to save your raasts, — our ships were all disraasted, and we had our hands fully employed to keep them above wa ter, — there is also a countryman of yours here, a Bostonian, that was dismasted in it, who is now at anchor at an island below ; but, by the lion, I cannot see about your ship a yam stranded, or spar injured. Why, my good sir, your ship appears as if just out of your home port." We had in the short space of good wea- TO THE CHINA SEA. 99 ther since the Typhoon, painted and slicked up our ship to enter port to the credit of America, and now she was all-a-taunto, with sky-sail yards aloft. " Thank you, sir, for your com pUment; we scud our ship throughout the Typhoon, she behaved like a good boat, and did our duty in the best manner, to prevent her being wounded." " Well, sir, you will not be offended ; but I must remark, Yankees, as you are, your ship gives us a rare evidence of Ame rican seamanship." After attending to the examination of our men, and finding them all Americans, they very politely wished us a safe passage up the river, and took their depart ture. Our ship now proceeded up through the Bocca, and passed the forts, at this place located at the chops, and on an island at the river's mouth. We kept on, steering up the river to the anchorage at Whampoa Island, which is about ten miles from the city of Canton. Not long after our arrival here, an occur rence took place, which produced much un pleasant and acrimonious feeling between th© English and Americans. It was reported ta have arisen on account of some observations relating to the capture of the Baltimore schoon er heretofore mentioned, which Commodore Pelew had heard of; and which, as it was told ]00 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN hiin, and as it was asserted by the Americans, supported by their consul at Canton, was muoh against British honour. Commodore Pelew, the eldest son of Admiral Lord Exmouth, the senior officer in comraand of the British fleet of men of war on this station, induced by this, in tended, as was said, to make war on the Ame ricans. In corroboration, he sent word up to Canton, that he would soon come up to Wham poa, with the boats of his fleet, and capture every American vessel there. On learning this the Araericans at that anchorage, being eleven sail, raustered their forces, supercargoes, captains, officers, and men of their fleet, at a collected meeting, to decide what was best to be done. Not feeling inclined by any threat to tamely submit, it was resolved, and agreed to by all to stand by, support and defend each other to the last, and to use every honourable endeavour and means, to protect their persons and property, come what might of the threat (if true) sent up by the comraodore. They de termined to defend their ships with the stern est courage, and with true Yankee spirit to the last. On this resolve every thing was promptly and properly organized. A first and second commodore to the American fleet, were named and authorized by vote, with all other necessary TO THE CHINA SE.A. 101 oflScers, and instantly commenced training and disciplining the whole force of the American ships' crews. Two of the ships were selected and agreed upon as first and second commodore to the fleet, which two were dropped down, and moored in channel-way, half-a-mile below the others. A full complement of men, with addi tional battery train ; ample ammunition, small arms, &c., were taken from the other ships, and put on board of those of the commodores. Likewise the officers and crews of all the ships were organized into divisions, and regular day and night sentries set, and relieved. Armed boats rowed guard around and through the fleet, following each other in the lapse of short spaces of time, during the night. In fact, every means were put in requisition to give the foe a warm and American reception, should he come up and attack them, and to thus defend and retain possession of our ships and property, as well as our persons, at every risk. Thus it was a coraplete state of war. In this condition were affairs situated, when the author's ship, the Tonquin, had received all her cargo oa board, and was ready for sea. Two other American ships had also been ready for sea for some days previous, but their captains and supercargoes did not think it proper to risk 9* 102 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN sailing, under the belief that they would sure ly be captured by commodore Pelew's squadron, and sent to Calcutta, agreeably to his reported threat ; they therefore reraained still at Wham poa, in indecision. As soon as it was promulgated that the Ton quin would immediately sail, and run the risk, all eyes, as it were, were directed to this ship. However, the author, while in the state of war, as related, had seen commodore Pelew, up at Canton, who was then informed by the presi dent of the British East India Company's Council, that the author was the same person to whom the commodore's father, Lord Ex mouth, had showed such friendly favour, some years previous at Falmouth, in England, when the now commodore was a middy on board his father's frigate. By this occurrence, he now recognised tbe author, and it brought fresh to his recollection his father's friendly notice, at that previous time, to him. The author was now advised of this, through his friend the president, who, with the most honourable feel ings, was very anxious to have all these un pleasant difficulties removed and settled and harmony restored. The author was also most earnestly desirous to effect the same, and thereby to proceed on his passage for New- York. The United States' consul and the TO THE CHINA SEA. 103 president, had already tried every expedient to obtain an amicable settlement of those war like and disagreeable proceedings now on the carpet ; but they had given up all present hopes of soon settling these most unpleasant difficul ties. In this discouraging and hopeless situa tion, — and thus perplexed and unpleasantly situated, the author at once determined to lay open his raind to the president, advise with him, and then depart with his ship down the river, and make the trial to put to sea for New- York. Accordingly, he waited on Mr. Roberts, the president, when an understanding and arrange ment was concluded upon, which was : — That the author should sail with his ship down the river for sea, and should she be stopped and detained, by the men-of-war, at Ling-ting, (commodore Pelew being now at Canton city,) the author should then despatch a line to the president, stating the fact, when he would im mediately, on receipt of it, wait on commodore Pelew, and try what could be done, as possibly it might open a friendly door to the amicable settlement of all difficulties, and re-establish peace and harmony. Matters being thus arranged, the author promptly repaired on board of his ship, where he made a confidential agreement with the 104 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN. Chinese pilot, to the following effect — ^the con ditions of which were ; — that if the Tonquin should be stopped and detained, by the British squadron, at anchor below the Bocca, (mouth of the river,) at Lin-ting, he, the pilot, should then send his partner, or go himself, very chop-chop, (with great despatch,) in his pilot- boat back, up the river to Canton, with the author's chop, (letter,) to any gentleman, and which should be delivered as directed, truly, very chop-chop. For this and the boat's ser vice, and prompt delivery of the chop, the gentleman who would receive it, or the author, would pay him well, as agreed ; — And if the chop did not cause his ship to be released, then the pilot should be immediately, on the return of his boat from the city to the ship, paid and dismissed. To these conditions the pilot readily as sented, and agreed also to keep his boat, with his partner in her, constantly within con venient signal distance of the Tonquin, during her passage down the river, until she should be past the British squadron, or taken and de tained by them. Thus, every thing being set tled and arranged, our ship was prepared and put in readiness for sea. TO THE CHINA SEA. 105 CHAPTER III. Tonquin sails from Whampoa — British fleet — Ship taken by superior force — Despatch the pilot boat — Council signal displayed from the flag ship — Release of the Tonquin — Handsome and courteous conduct of the British lieute nant — Honourable and generous proceedings of Commo dore Pelew, a son worthy of his noble sire. Lord Ex mouth — War state ended in peace — ship departs from Grand Ladrone — Her arrival safe at New- York. November ISth, 1807. — All being now on board and ready, the Tonquin was forthwith unmoored and got under way, and proceeded down the river. When near the second bar we met and boarded the Ship Hope, Captain Reuben Brumley, belonging to the same own ers, Messrs. E & H. Fanning, and W. Coles, merchants in the city of New-York. The Hope was from the Feejee Islands,* in the South Pacific, with a cargo of sandal wood, &c. The author paid a visit on board of her and after exchanging the news, friendly salutations, &c., with Captain B., bid them a good-bye, re turning on board the Tonquin. At sun-setting, when within a mile of the Bocca, and fairly in • See Voyage ofthe Ship Hope. 106 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN sight of the British men of war, the tide then coming in a-head, and it falling calm, the pilot anchored the ship, to wait for the morning fair tide again. At dawn of day, the tide being now again in our favour, with also a moderate, fair breeze, which had sprung up from the northward, we weighed anchor, and passing the Bocca, steered directly for the British squadron, under only our gib and staysails, be ing, during the time, employed in catting, and stowing our anchor, clearing up the decks in readiness for raaking sail, should we be per mitted to pass. When within half a mile of the flag ship, a gun was fired from her, and their colours hoisted, when we displayed the American stripes and stars, at our raizen peak. On this two launches and five barges full of armed men put off frora the vessels of the fleet, taking a position directly across the path of our ship's course, and as she came up with them the launches pulled a little farther off, to board us on the outer or starboard side of our ship. The barges on the inner or larboard side, pull ed promptly without haiUng alongside, in stantly boarded, and at once filled our little ship's decks with raarines and seamen led by their officers, armed and equipped ready for battle. The comraanding lieutenant was re ceived at the gangway by our first officer, Mr. TO THE CHINA SEA. l07 Mackay and attended aft to the quarter deck, where the author was standing by the helras- man at the wheel. Mr. Mackay observed to him, " the Captain, sir." The lieutenant then addressed the author in a commanding tone, " Sir, you will direct your helmsman to star board his helm, luff your ship around too and brinar her at anchor under our coirimodore's stera." " Sir, I must decline your request, as I cannot consent to give any such order, as my ship is bound direct for New- York." — " Then, sir, I shall take the liberty to do it for you," and calling to one of his seamen, " Bob, here, take the wheel." I then observed, " If you, sir, think proper so to do, it is at your peril, as I must then surrender the ship at your risk, from this time henceforth. As it would be perfect madness, and absurdity, for me now to make resistance, even in, and by the snap of a pistol, as you have to appearance landed upwards of two hundred armed men on my decks, — a little ship with twenty-four men in all, and only eight small carriage guns, it would be the height of folly to resist, — particularly when in addition the whole weight of metal of your squadron is now levelled against us. (At this tirae we were passing the flag ship within pis tol shot distance, and all the vessels of the fleet, with their tompions out kept slewing their 108 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN pieces, as we passed, and their battery pointed at us.) It certainly, therefore, would be mad^ ness in me, sir, to make the least resistance, even to the flash of a pistol." He took the irony of my remarks, and coloured, evidently much mortified at them. Altering his tone, he said, " Sir, I am sensible it is an unpleasant errand ; but, I must do my duty." He then or dered my man to leave the wheel, and directed his Bob to take it, and- luff the ship around un der the stern of their commodore, where they brought her to an anchor, and furled her sails. The officers and men (except two officers and ten men, seamen and marines, as a possession guard,) were then ordered to repair to their boats, taking away likewise all our men with their luggage, and clothing, except myself, the first officer, steward, and an apprentice boy. The lieutenant's being the last boat, after giving the officer, that was left in charge, his orders, he stepped into it, having in her with him our second officer, and carpenter. I observed to him, that the Tonquin was now surrendered, and at his risk, taken by HisBrittanic Majesty's force under, I presumed, his immediate com mand, and now thereby lay at his risk. To this he only bowed assent ; I had previously directed Mr. Mackay, that if the British squadron should take our ship, and any of our men out of her TO THE CHINA SEA. 109 immediately to haul down our American en sign. This he effected as the commanding heutenant stepped into his boat, whereupon he promptly inquired of our second officer, " What are your colours now hauled down for?" "I presume that the captain has directed it, as an evidence of the surrender of our ship to you, sir." "I believe," replied the lieutenant, "your commander is a shrewd Yankee." " He is a good father to us," remarked our carpenter, " and we think we have sufficient evidence, and feel confident that he understands his duty." "He is a very singular, fatherly captain, indeed, to be sure," observed the lieutenant. The author now caused the signal to be made for the pilot's boat, to come along.side, and gave to him my letter, or chop as he would call it, to the president. At 8, A. M., he left the ship, saying by sunset he would deUver it as directed, — and truly the sequel will prove that he did, — for at 11, A. M., on the next day Comraodore Pelew's barge hove in sight, with her colours flying, coming at a rapid rate, un der canvass and oars, from the city. Imme diately after she got alongside the flag-ship, a signal was displayed from her main-raast, which the officer in charge of our ship, said was to call all the captains, or senior officers of the squadron to a council. This subse- 10 110 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN quently proved to be the fact. A boat was soon seen to put off from each ship and proceed alongside the commodore. In about thirty mi nutes thereafter our crew were seen tossing their duds and luggage into the launch, and embarking in her, when she put off, steering for the Tonquin, accompanied in advance by the barge. In this, as she came alongside of us, appeared the lieutenant, who had com manded the force which boarded and took pos session of our ship, with two other ofl&cers. On their landing on our deck, he came prorapt ly aft, and in a pleasant and poUte manner bade the author a good morning. As soon as he had received the return salutation, he very courteously and mildly observed, " I have or ders, sir, from Commodore Pelew, to retum every individual of your crew on board of your ship again, and to take out our officers and men ; and immediately to get your ship under way, and see her placed safe in the channel, to your mind, as was her position, when we boarded her. I have also farther commands from Commodore Pelew, to tender his apology for your detention, and his good wishes, that you may have a pleasant and safe passage. In addition, to ask if there is any thing that can by him be effected, for your aid, within the corapass of his duty, or desire, and consistent TO THE CHINA SEA. Ill ¦with His Majesty's service." All this was de livered in the most pleasant, courteous, gentle manly, and officer-like manner. In answer, the author remarked, that although he considered the act of detention of the Tonquin wrong, and injurious, he nevertheless was very thankful to Commodore Pelew, for his frank and prompt correction of the act, as well as for his kind assistance in the offer of replacing his ship in the channel again, and farther for his very friendly expressions. Being so poUtely and with so much friendly feeling requested, I added : " You will, my dear sir, much obUge me in communicating to Commodore Pelew, that he would place me ever under the greatest obligations, by causing peace and harmony to be again restored and estabUshed between his and my countrymen. If he wdl please to have this effected, — and let all the American ships pass unmolested out of the river on their pass age home, it would confer on me a favour, that would be ever thankfully appreciated, grate fully remembered and acknowledged." " I certainly will deliver to the commodore your request and desire, sir ; and for myself I am free to remaric that I sincerely hope our un pleasant affair, in the detention of your ship, may eventually be the means of opening the door to the re-estabUshment of peace, and har- 112 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN mony; the best of good, national feelings ought everto exist, and be cherished by us." The Ton quin's anchor was now promptly weighed, the ship bore off into the channel, and all sail was set to a light, but fair breeze. She was then luffed to, and the heutenant with his two bro ther ofiicers, after a parting glass, to our re spective countries, took their leave expressing the kindest friendly wishes, for our safe arrival to our country and friends. It was subse quently ascertained that the author's wish and hope for peace tumed out in the affimaative, and proved true as was desired. A friendly understanding was very soon thereafter brought about; peace and harmony were re-established; and every American ship was perraitted there after to pass unmolested the squadron of men of war, when going in, or bound out on their passage home. Thus ended this war-like affair, by the concluding, generous and meritorious conduct of Commodore Pelew, a son every way worthy of perpetuating the honourable and creditable acts of his noble father. Lord Exmouth. We now proceeded down the bay, passed in sight of the city of Macoa, at which time when abreast of it, we discharged our Chinese pilot, paid, and well satisfied, who very much chin- chinned us on his departure. TO THE CHINA SEA. 113 At 6, P. M., we took our departure from the Grand Ladrone, and without any thing occur ring during our passage, more than ordinary on similar passages, we arrived safely at New - York. 10* PART IV NARRATIVE SKETCH OF THE VOYAGE OF SHIP TONaUlN TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN, FEE- JEE ISLANDS, AND ON A NEW ROUTE TO CHINA, WHEREBY IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES WERE MADE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF THAT ABLE VOYAGER, CAPTAIN R. BRUMLEY, AND THE DlRLCl IVE AGEN CY OF THE AUTHOR, IN THE YEARS, 1808—1809. CHAPTER I. The cause and object of the voyage — Embargo in the United States — President Madison — Permission to sail on, and perform the voyage — Honourable Albert Gallatin — Tonquin sails from New-York — Gough's Island — Coast of New Holland — Mount Gardner — Ship anchors in King George III. Sound — The sick with sea-scurvy landed — Natives of this part of New Holland — Departure from King George III. Sound — Remarks relative, to the Sound, and anchorage — Arrival at Tongataboo — Van Diemen's Road — Barter-trade with the natives — Dangerous navi gation of the Feejee Archipelago — Arrival at the Fee jees — Ship visited by two young Princes — Fleet of war- canoes — Ship receives a welcome visit from King Tyna hoa — The King's affectionate meeting with Mr. Brown — Ship arrives in Sandal Wood Road — Chiefs bring the cargo to the ship — Other vessels arrive, waiting removal of Taboo to trade — Tonquin has her cargo on board — Taboo raised — A truly affectionate parting with the King and young Princes. VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN. 115 Captain Brumley had, in his former voy age,* contracted with the King of the Fee jee Islands, for a cargo of sandal wood, to be brought from the mountains, cut into its pro per length, the sap shaved off and piled on the small island at the harbour of Sandal Wood Bay, ready for a ship which would be sent out after it, within the course of eighteen moons, (months,) but the now prevailing erabargo in the United States prevented any ship sailing for it, unless special permission, as was pro vided for in the embargo law by Congress, relative to certain cases, was granted by the President of the United States. Fearing that the wood, which is highly impregnated with essential oil, would lose all its virtue and value, by evaporation, and also that the tirae in the contract with the King would pass, and thereby release him from the contract, to our loss of the cargo, it was concludea to apply to President Madison, state our case plainly, and lay our contract, and our novel situation be fore him. The case had this bearing, hke wise, that if a ship was not permitted to be sent out for the cargo of sandal wood, govern ment would lose, as well as the citizens inte rested, the amount of duties which would • See Voyage ofthe Hope. 116 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN arise on the exchanged retum-cargo of China goods. Accordingly the owners, Messrs. E. and H- Fanning and W. Coles, merchants in the city of New- York, applied to President Madison, for permission to send out a ship Messrs. W. Coles and E. Fanning repaired to Washington city, laid the case before the Hon. Albert Gallatin, secre tary of the treasury, who, after attentively hear ing their explanations of its merits, &-c:, and their views ofthe proposed voyage, for which permission was requested, then gave his own views, and laid the sarae, with the appUcation, before the President. His Excellency, after due consideration, granted permission for a ship to proceed to the Feejee Islands, take the cargo of wood to Canton, and then, after exchanging it there for Chjna goods, to return with the same direct to New-York. Permission from govemment being now obtained, the superior. New- York built ship Tonquin, was taken up, well arraed and amply fitted, in every respect, for the voyage, She was placed under the coraraand of the well-informed and talented Captain Reuben Brumley. Wednesday, 1 5th of June, 1808. — The Ton quin sailed from New- York, and at 3, P. M. off Sandy Hook, Captain B., with all good feelings, parted with his friends, who had accompanied TO THE PACrPlC OCEAN. 117 him thus far to wish him a happy and pleasant vovage. At this time, also, he discharged the pilot The gallant ship now fiUed away, under a cloud of canvass, with a fine breeze from the S. by W. At 4, P. M., they took theh depart ure from Sandy Hook Ught, it then bearing W. I S.. 3 leagues distant. And, says the jour- naUst, except the surface of the ocean being deserted of its usual specks of white canvass, not any thing of note, (the passage being so similar to that ofthe Hope and others,) occur red until Monday, August 1st , when we fell in with the Brazil coast, in latitude 7° 39' south, and at our distance of six leagues from the land, the sea-water was much coloured. Great quantities of rock- weed was floating on its sur face, cmd, at the same time, large shoals of whales were playing around us. August 25th. — We had si^ht of Goughs Is land, bearing S. by E.. distant 10 leagues. This island may be seen in clear weather. I presume at least, at -20 leagues distance. At noon, it bore S S.W., distant Io leagues, and I make its latitude to be 40' -24 south, longi tude, 10° 46' west, variation 16" 20' west. Friday, 1th of October, ISOS. — The coast of New HoUand was in sight, bearing X E. distant 8 leagues ; at noon Cape Chdtham bore N .E ^ E. 118 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN distant 7 miles, and whales innuraerable were playing around us in every direction. October Sth- — At 8, A. M., Mount Gardner bore N.E. i E. distant 5 leagues. Cape Bald Head, N.E. distant 2 leagues, and Eclipse Is lands, W.N.W., one mile. At 10, A. M., we were in the entrance of King George III. Sound, when the easternmost land in sight bore E. by N. distant 9 leagues, and Mount Gardner now bore N.E. by E. i E. distant 3i leagues, and Bald Head W. by S. one mile. Seal Island, up the bay, soon came within our view, which is situated up towards and near to the head of the Sound. We now worked the ship up the Sound,with a moderate breeze ahead, and came to at anchor in eleven fathoms water, sandy bottom, abreast of the watering-place, which is at a fine sandy beach, extending al most continuou.sly from the chop of Bald Head up to the head of the Sound or Bay. After furling the sails and clearing up decks, we hoisted out our boats, and Messrs. Stanton Brown, the supercargo, and S. Coles, with myself, made use of one of them and landed on this beautiful beach, near to the rivulet of excellent fresh water. Here we selected a spot over a green lawn, for the erection of our tent for the accommodation of those sick with the scurvy, and then sent Mr. Brown, the first TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 119 officer, with the carpenter, his mates, and a gang, to erect the tent. As soon as this was effected we landed and placed our sick com fortably in it, to feast on the scurvy-grass, &c. "They even, directly after the first day passed, showed convalescent syraptoras. For a wild country, this is an excellent place for refreshments, and the natives appear very simple and harraless. It is convenient to good wood and watering, with an abundance of wild game, and a variety of excellent shell and scale fish. The various kinds are equal to any country : some of the rock-fish taken by us would weigh between twenty-five and thirty pounds ; and those of the shell-fish, the qy sters, particularly, v/ere of the most inviting quality. While here we had variable winds and weather, with showers of rain, at intervals, and also occasional calms. The natives visited us at the tent, on shore, in small parties, only from three to six at a time, freely bartering their uncouth stone hatchets and implements, &c., all except their arms, for knives, and trinkets, such as beads, bright metal buttons &c. On their visiting our officers and people at the tent, when they arrived within a few rods of the tent, they would stop and shout aloud, and as soon as 120 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN answered by our people, would then lay aside their arras, consisting of spears and war-clubs, and raake signs for ours to put aside their arms, muskets, &c. ; — this being done, they would freely come up and join our men, and promptly proceed without fear or hesitation, to trading. Having completed our wood and water, and our sick on shore having recovered to a state of fair health again, v/e then, agreeably to instructions, buried a bottle, at a designated spot on Seal Island, and prepared our ship for sea. Friday, 21st of October, 1808. — We weighed our anchor and worked the ship out of the Sound, on our departure. At 4, P. M., Mount Gardner bore N.W. by W. and Bald Head Chop, or Cape, (all per compass,) W.N.W. distant 8 leagues, from which we took our de parture. King George III. Sound is free and clear of danger, in ingress or egress, and Bald Head Cape is such a remarkable head-land that it cannot be mistaken by the mariner, aided by the mark of Mount Gardner. Wednesday, December 1th, 1808. — We came in sight of Eaoa, or Middleburgh Island, the cen tre of which I place in latitude 21° 23' S. and longitude 175" 27' W. of London. On the next TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 121 day, we entered Van Diemen's Road, with the view of obtaining refreshments, when our ship was soon surrounded by a great number of ca noes, with numerous natives in them, as also on the beach. A brisk trade of barter now commenced, continuing until sun-down, for hogs, bread-fruit, yams, &c, &c., at which time we bore away and made sail for the Fee jees. On the 10th of same month, the Island of Fatoa, or Turtle Island, was within our view, and our ship soon entered on this most intricate and most dangerous navigation ever undertaken by man, viz :— the Archipelago of the Feejees. Sunday the llth — 'We arrived off abreast the main outer wall reef, in sight of Tocon roba, the King's, or the Capital Island ^of the group. Late in the afternoon, -vye were visit ed by two young Princes, bringing some small presents of fruits, and to ascertain what sliip it was, who was her comraander, &c., &c. to re port to the King. They were overjoyed when they learned whose ship it was, and that Mr. Brown, their adopted brother, was on board. His Majesty, they said, was well, and would be gratified beyond measure to see them, and had got our treaty cargo of sandal wood cut, shaved, and piled up on the small Island, al ready in waiting for us. Thus, in great haste, 11 122 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN after completing their errand, and receiving from me a suitable return present, they left us almost in ecstasy, to carry the good news, with all despatch, to His Majesty, saying, that the King would visit our ship in the morning. This assurance was confirmed by an earnest re mark at the raoraent they departed in their large and highly ornamented canoe, for the shore. -¦ During the night a number of fires or lights were seen by us, from on board the ship, in different parts on the land, which we concluded were to give light to the natives in their work of gathering fruits, yams, &c., for a barter trade with us. This subsequently proved to be the fact, as very early in the morning the ship was surrounded by numerous canoes, large and small, which brought off to us an abundance of hogs, bread-fruit, yams, cocoa nuts, &c. The yams had the dirt fresh upon them, and corroborated the assertion of the na tives, affording conclusive evidence, that they had been pulled during the night by the lights, as we had conjectured. When mormng came, at 8, A. M, a fleet of war canoes in great state appeared in sight, steering for the ship. On inquiring of the natives, now trading with us, they informed us, that the fleet was coming with their King, TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 123 Tynahoa, to pay a visit to the captain of our ship. His Majesty was soon wathin our view, seated on the platform or deck of the double, large, war canoe, under an awning, in great state, accompanied by the two young Princes, who had paid their respects to us last even ing ; and also surrounded by a few of his prin cipal chiefs. On their coming alongside the ship, a scene was presented before our eyes, which, I believe, raoved the feelings of every individual on board of her, as weU as the chiefs in attendance on His Majesty. I met and re ceived His Majesty with congratulations, on the forepart of my quarter deck, and, after the ne cessary friendly salutations, I stepped aside, introducing his former adopted son, Mr. Brown. The King instantly encircled him in his arms, as if a child, when one minute passed, and another, and yet another — His Majesty seemingly too much absorbed by his feelings to be wiUing to slack up his embrace — with the continued ex pressions, " My son ! my son ! " The large, pearly drops rolled down his cheeks, and he was, to all appearance, quite overjoyed, and af fectionately unmanned in again meeting with his adopted son ! This scene seeraed, appa rently, not only to petrify our officers and men, as they gazed on it, but also the natives, fixing them, like statues, on the deck. 124 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN The King spent an hour on board in making inquiries, &c., and inforraing me that he had kept and fulfilled our treaty faithfully thus far, and that the like full faith, on his part, should be continued to the end. This proved to be correct, as the sequel will show. Several English vessels, it seems, from Poi-t Jackson, had been there after sandal wood, &c., and for trade durmg my absence, two of which were now lying at anchor in the har bour, waiting for the Taboo (prohibition) to be raised; but not a tree had been disposed of ; and farther, agreeably to the faith of said treaty, a full ship's cargo was now prepared and piled on the island, ready for me. This, the King said, should be brought by his chiefs alongside, and delivered, on board of my ship, as soon as I should desire, after our ship should be anchored in Sandal Wood Harbour, or Road. Then, after welcoming us over and over, and presenting me with a very large, fat hog, yams, cocoa-nuts, and bread-fruits, and receiving, in retum, a suitable (so here consid ered,) royal present from me, with that also brought for him by his adopted son, and ob taining positive assurance from rae, that his son, Mr. Brown, should be at liberty to repair on shore, at His Majesty's residence, immedi ately after the ship was brought at anchor in TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 125 the harbour. His Majesty and court attendants departed for the shore. After sailing through the narrow passage of the main reef and bringing our ship to anchor in the harbour of Sandal Wood Bay, Mr. Brown promptly, and agreeably to our under standing, went on shore, to the King's resi dence, and remained there the most of the time during our stay. As soon as His Majesty was informed that our ship was ready, his chiefs commenced bringing the wood from the island alongside ; but nevertheless, as they would, in spite of all our coaxing and persuasion, take it leisurely, in their own way and time, and as they had their wars and feasts to attend to, we were delayed until fhe raonth of March, before the cargo could be all shipped and on board. However, as sorae consolation for this delay, the King had complied bountifully, for we had to stow our launch in her chocks full, and also to take a quantity on deck, to receive all on board which he had provided. This being now accomplished, the Royal pro-r hibition, or Taboo, by His Majesty's proclama tion, through his chiefs, was raised, or taken off, to the great rehef and gladness of those waiting inthe othervessels, which hadbeen so long here in tried patience, waiting to purchase. Trade 11* 126 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUI«N with all comers was now again freely per mitted. Full supplies of fuel, water, with a plentiful sea stock of hogs, fowls, yams, bread-fruits, &c., being received on board, and after, as I believe, a truly friendly and affectionate part ing with the King and his sons, the young Princes, who had got strongly attached to us, and a promise, (which no presents, or argu mentative sayings, could put aside,) to retum again in eighteen moons, if our owners should so decide and direct : — being now ready, we cleared up ship to sail and proceed to sea. Chapter ii. Ship departs from the Feejees — Remarks on the passage to sea — Sliip takes a new route for China — Meets with much driftwood, &c. — Discover the Tonquin Islands — Pass Dough's Group — ^Volcano Island — Its columns of smoke — Discover the Group of Equator Isles — Signs of Inhabitants- — Discover an extensive and important Group of Islands, to which they give the name of American Group — Dangerous situation ofthe sjiip — Arrival at Can ton — Sail for New- York — Arrival. Thursday, 21st qf March, 1809. — We pro ceeded with the ship through the pass in the TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 127 main wall reef, and took our departure from the Feejees. Remarks. — On the passage to sea, from the anchorage at Sandal Wood Road, by the way or pass, by Union Point, — (note, that aU bear ings and courses are taken by compass,) — havinsr Union Point bearing E. about one mile distant, (which is a sraall point south of Core- bata, distant from it three miles,) then direct your course W.S.W. for nine or ten miles, which will bring the body of the Islands of Antua, (which are situated very close together,) to bear north, distant between two and three miles from your ship ; then steer west, and if it be now clear weather, you will soon see the Island of Levo Callow, bearing W.N.W. This. island cannot be mistaken for any other island, as there is no other on the starboard hand, after leaving Antua. Levo Callow may be seen ten leagues off, appears round and even on the top, and is about a mile in circuraference. When Levo Callow bears N.W., you will see Bligh's Island, (called by the natives, Assava,) ahead on your larboard bow. Bligh's Island is long and low, excepting one high peak about its middle, the east end extending out to within about eight railes of Levo Callow. One mile N.E. from this end or point, lie two small islands, surrounded with reefs ; your officer on 128 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN the look-out at the mast head, will plainly see them, when running down from Antua. There is also, as will be seen, an extensive range of reefs, which put out from that island, quite down to Levo Callow. Be careful to give this reef, or range, a good berth, as there are strag gling rocks, or small patches of reef out at some considerable distance from its main range. The Ship Hope ran over one of these patches, but, by good fortune, did not touch. In the Tonquin, by our sharp look-out, and close at tention, we did but just escape running our ship on one of them. Continue your course west until Levo Cal low bears north, which carries you clear of all the reefs and dangers ; then steer north by west, or N. by W i W., keeping Levo Cal low on your starboard hand. You may pass within a mile of it, in a fine clear channel of five or six miles broad, leading to sea. After passing with the Tonquin through this chan nel, at 6, P. M. we took our depature frora Levo Callow, it bearing: S.E. by E. distant three mUes, and being situated in latitude 15" 47' south, longitude, 175° 41' east of London We now took and steered un a new and un- traversed route for China. Saturday, April 1st, 1809. — We passed a considerable quantity of drift-wood and Man- TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 129 grove nuts, our latitude being, at the time, 14° 15' south. Wednesday, 5th of April, 1809. — At 6, A. M. that ever-pleasing sound to the mariner and others, on long passages, and more especially to us, now far frora home, was heard from the look-out aloft, of" Land, ho 1 " which proved to be an extensive island, or islands, and I re gretted rauch that ray instructions and tirae did not allow rae to raake an examination. Being a new discovery, I gave the narae Tonquin Islands to the land, which, at noon, bore N.E. by E., distant 6 leagues. The centre of this Island or Islands, (as there is an opening which, at our distance, had the appearance of a ship water passage between the Islands, or lands, and a small spiral rocky Islet lay at a short distance to the northward of the north ernmost land,) we place in latitude 11" 52' south, and longitude 169° 44' east of London ; varia tion 11° 20' east. Thursday, 6th of April. — At °, A. M., we had sight of another small Island, in latitude 11° 24' S., longitude 167° 06' l.'i" E. to which we gave the narae of Palm Tree Island. Saturday, the Sth. — We had a distant view of Dough's Group, or Swallow Islands, and passed them at the distance of 6 or 7 leagues- At meridian, saw Volcano Island, which I 130 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN place in latitude 10° 12' south, longitude 164° 60' east, variation 9° 50' east, we observed columns of smoke continually issuing from its summit and ascending to a great elevation, by which and its height, this Island, or its situa tion, by its volcanic smoke, can be seen in clear weather, at least sixty miles, by a man at the mast head of an ordinary sized merchant ship. April 1 2th. — In latitude 7° 23' south, passed much drift wood. Mangrove nuts, &c., with patches of rock weed, as the ship sailed along on her course steering to the north-westward. April 25th. — Just at the morning's broad day -light, we were treated again with the wel come sound of "Land, ho!" from the mast head, bearing N.jE., distant 5 railes, which proved to be a nuraber of sraall low islands, to appearance only eight or ten feet above the surface of the sea, but covered with tall cocoa- nut trees. They can be seen therefore in clear weather only, about as far as a grove of cocoa- nut trees could be seen on the surface of Nep tune's element. Still, as we passed them, it was evident, that they were inhabited, as many smokes were made which ascended aloft, and continued rising as we passed the whole length, or range of the cluster. It was only about the extent of three miles, tending east and west. TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 131 Considering them to be a new discovery, we named them Equator Isles; they are situated, in latitude 00° 57' north, longitude 155o 19' east. Sunday, 20th April, 1809. — Not dreaming'of being near to any coast, our surprise was very great, when the loud voice at the look-out at the top-raast head, at half-past 4, P. M., shout ed, " Land, ho ! " bearing right-a-head direct in our course, and off each bow. When the next half hour thereafter had passed, it was extensively seen bearing and extending from N.E. around by the north, and westward to the W.S.W. I now iraraediately caused the ship to be brought to the wind, with her head to the southward, which owing to a strong gale now blowing frora the south-eastward and nearly direct on the land, with hard squaUs, brought her instantly under close-reefed top sails. The land now appeared to consist of a nuraber, or chain of islands, and the southern most seen by us in the evening at dusk, was but a very short distance from the ship. After the night had closed upon us, raaking our view around very limited indeed, we could, notwith standing, distinctly see the land between the heavy squalls, which with the tremendous sea rolling on, caused our very excellent ship, a truly fhst-rate seaboat, under her heavy press 132 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN of canvass, to labour hard, as she stmggled with it, to keep off this strange shore ; we were forced to keep on her this absolutely necessa ry press of canvass to enable her to keep clear of this strange land, whose coast was now, so close a neighbour to us. In our dangerous >i- tuation it could not possibly be dispensed with; to add to our very trying situation, and to save the masts from being tom from their steps overboard, we were obUged by 9, P. M., by the increased gale, and added violence of the squalls, in order to save our masts and spars, notwithstanding our increased danger, and the constant weight of the most painful anxiety on the mind, to furl our topsails, and to bring our well-behaved ship under her reefed courses, with the storm-staysails. At about 10, P. M., just as we had began to think ourselves clear of danger from the coast, and its shore, — on a sudden, between the squalls, the land appeared again bearing about west from us. Though at great risk of losing our raasts and canvass I was brought under the severe trial, and abso lute necessity of ordering the close-reefed top sails to be set again upon our now over-press ed, and most superior behaved boat. As she plunged, and ploughed through the ragingf and foaraing eleraent, she trembled with her load of pressure like an aspen-leaf in the breeze ; TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 133 but our really dangerous situation, the giant sea, the weather, and the violent gale were such, that there was no alternative, — it was life or death. It pleased, however, the Al mighty, and blessed Saviour of raan, to permit our ship to clear this newly-discovered proraon tory and coast, on which hung our destiny. As soon as this was effected, we relieved our well-behaved boat, by again furling the fore and mizen topsails, — and were employed ma noeuvring our ship to traverse over as small a space of ground during the remainder of the n%hl as possible. At half past 5, A. M., the land was agrain seen close under our lee ; we immediately set again the close-reefed fore and mizen-topsails to endeavour to clear it, and as the day lighted up, more and extensive land came within our view, in its present appear ance like a thick cluster of islands, tending about E. by N., and W. by S. After the sun was risen, upwards of twenty islands were counted within the range of our view from the mast-head, at the same tirae breakers were also seen between all the nearest ones, which were now distant about three miles from the ship. These are a dangerous and extensive group of low islands, chained in appearance together by coral reefs, and rocks above water. Their ex tent from east to west (as far as carae within 12 134 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN our view) is about fifteen leagues. The south- side of the range, on which our ship was, in form appeared somewhat like a crescent. Thus having passed through one of the most trying and anxious nights that can happen to a commander, or to man , we now bore up to the westward, and proceeded along and around the west-end of the westernmost island, as we judged it to be, for as we passed it there was no land to be seen in the western board from aloft. Concluding them a new discovery, we called them the American Group. Their cen tre I judge to be, and place in latitude of 5° 3' north, longitude 152° 25' east ofLondon. The very unpleasant weather and want of time, did not give us an opportunity, to exa mine the islands of the Araerican Group by a landing, which I rauch regretted, as I was very desirous of obtaining more particulars ; but I did not feel that the loss of tirae to obtain them, by effecting a landing, would justify it with my duty. We saw no signs of these islands being inhabited. After this discovery nothing unusual occur red to us during the remainder of this voy age ; and the author thinking that the daily sea account of remarks, would not be suffi ciently amusing and entertaining to the reader, for insertion, omits it, and respectfully closes TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 135 die narrative, by merely stating, that after ar riving at Canton, and exchanging their cargo for China goods, the Tonquin proceeded aad arrived safe, ah well, at the port of New- York, with her fall cargo of teas, and other China goods. From this car^o. an amount of some thousands of dollars for duties was paid into the national treasury. It is thus, by the constant, repeated, sinular, and many voyages under the command, or di rective agency of the author, diat he has been the means: by those articles of trade so highly prized by the Ctunese. and procured at lands, &.C., in the South Sea.s. and Pacific oceans; of bringing large amounts into the national trea sury, amounting in the aggregate to miUions of doUars, as well as enriching his feUow-citi- zens. and adding much wealth to his country, since the year 1792. The date of his early move, was the &rst to discover and open the way to this valuable commercial b^de to his enterprising countrymen- His voluntary, per severing exertions, to obtain the authorization by congress of the preseiLt National American South Sea Exploring Expedition to endeavour to revive and advance this nearly obsolete, but valuable trade, &c., has been to him a sacrifice of above three thousand dollars, exclusive of time, in travel, and in personal attendance on 136 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN the several sessions of congress, — and as he has never yet received a dollar from govem ment for services, or otherwise ; he therefore hopes, when the author is no longer among the li\'ing, that agenerous public wiU thereafter award to him, and his relatives, the credit of a worthy citizen, and real friend to mankind, his country's commerce, navigation, &c. If this laudable National South-Sea Exploring Expedition, now authorized, and fitting out, which the author has so arduously toiled for to be sent out by govemment, be not ably and successfuUy conducted, and carried through to a favourable, beneficial, and briUant result, it wdl be no fault of his. Time alone can de cide, while we hope for the best. TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 137 CHAPTER III. Narrative of the Massacre of the crerv of the American ship Tonquin, under the command of Lieutenant J. Thorn, U S. Navy, by the sav ages ofthe north-west coast of America, and the destruction of the ship. SECTION I. Tonquin anchors in Neweatee harbour — Visited by the na tives — Brisk fur trade — Affront of an aged chief— Sav age threat of revenge — Trade interrupted — Natives quit the ship — Natives revisit the ship, in unusual numbers — In terpreter discovers the natives on deck to be secretly arm ed — Their horrid war-yeli — The attack and massacre — Captain Thorn, the clerk, and four seamen regain the ship's deck — Savages driven from the ship — Slaughter of the savages, and destruction of their canoes by the ship's fire- Four seamen quil the ship — Natives are induced to again visit the ship — Ship's decks crowded with numerous sav ages — Ship blown up by Captain Thorn — Terrible scene of destruction — The four seamen taken by the savages and cruelly put to death. Other versions* ofthe very laraentable death of the gallant and brave Thorn, having appear ed, the author of these voyages deems it but justice due to the honour and credit of the gal lant officers of our navy, that they, as well as the relatives and friends of the brave Thom, * See Irving's Astoria, vol. I. page 110. 12* 138 VOYAGE OP THE TONQUIN should have every report how, and in what manner, this determined and noble spirited offi cer of the United States navy perished, with the mysterious destruction of his ship. As an introduction, the author would, with all respect, remark, That after the retum of the Tonquin from her late voyage to the Feejees, and Can ton, (see the preceding pages) she was sold to John Jacob Astor, Esq., a highly respected and wealthy merchant of the city of New- York, for an enterprising voyage to the north-west coast of America. The following narrative will show the fatal end of this beautiful and very valua ble ship. Captain James P. Sheffieloy in the Brig Her silia, of Stonington,* being on abrading voyage and cruise in 1823 and 24, on the coa.st of Ca lifornia, informed the author, that he employed on board his vessel an Indian fellow, by the nameof Lamayzie, who told Captain Sheffield, that he w^as interpreter and pilot of the Ship Tonquin, Captain J. Thom, when the horrid massacre of her crew took place, and the ship was blown up. • This, the second Hersilia belonging to the South-Sea Company, was built by the order of their agent, the author, to replace the one that was captured by Beneviades, and wrecked at Arauco, on coast of Chili. — See page — of this volume. TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 139 He then gave to Captain Sheffield the fol lowing narrative of this melancholy and bloody occurrence. The following are the particulars as received by the author from Captain Shef field. HI ; TOItlCAL NARRATIVE. The Tonquin, ou her trading voyage along the north-west coast, had anchored in Newea tee harbour, at English, or Vancouver Island. Soon after anchoring the ship, Mr. Mackay, the supercargo, went on shore, to the principal chiefs village, to p:iy a visit to the head chief Wycananish, a half dozen petty chiefs remain ing on board nf the Tonquin as hostages for his safe return. The supercargo was very kindly received by this chief and the natives, well treated, ami remained at the village all night, not returning on board until the early part ^f the next day. In the meantime, and very early in the morning, the natives came off to the ship in numbers in their canoes, headed by two sons of the principal chief, with an aged chief in company, bringing a large quantity of sea-otter skins and other furs, affording the prospect of a good and profitable trade, and seemingly with every friendly disposition. Captain Thorn permitted them to come freely on deck in any numbers, and spread his arti- 140 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN cles of trade profusely out before thera. Cap tain Thorn thinking, by the abundance of rich furs now brought so proraptly off by the na tives, to buy cheap, with this view set off a sraaller proportion of articles to each otter skin, &.C., than was usually given by the Ame rican traders in this barter ; which being ob served by the old chief, who had some expe rience in this barter trade, with the previous American vessels, he in a rapid vocabulary of words, interfered and stopped the natives from frading. This much exasperated the captain, and induced him to treat the old chief very roughly, forcing him out of the ship down the gangway into his canoe. The old savage was rendered by this act wildly mad, and left the ship with terrible threats ; the two young chiefs also, and all the natives (except the hostages) proraptly quitted the ship, with their furs for the shore. Thereupon the interpreter took the liberty to observe to the captain, that he would advise him to endeavour to pacify the old chief, and to take some raeasure to bring him on friendly terms again, as it was a pity to lose the prospect of such a good trade ; but the captain treated the suggestion with contempt, as he briskly walked the deck, appearing to be in rather a violent passion. When Mr. Mac kay, the supercargo, returned on board, the pi- TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 141 lot related to him what had occurred, and in what fury the old chief had left the ship, desir^ ing him to use his endeavour to persuade the captain to get the ship immediately under way, and leave the harbour, as he was sure, know ing the Indian disposition and feelings, that this aged chief would not peaceably put up with such an affront. The supercargo on learning this, went im mediately to the captain, who was yet quickly pacing the deck back and forth, and used his best endeavours, by earnest entreaty and ad vice, to persuade him to leave this anchorage, but all in vain, the captain ridiculed his advice, and said, he would pacify the savage, and his tribe with the battery on his deck. The re mainder of the day passed away without any movement on the part of the natives, and at the usual hour in the evening, the captain and su percargo retired to their berths, leaving the mates to attend to and regulate the watch for the night, as had been previously and usually arranged. At the dawn of day on the next morning, a sraall canoe with two natives and a squaw came cautiously alongside the ship. Being friendly received by the oflBcer of the deck- watch, in the command of the deck, they again soon returned to the shore, when a large canoe^ 142 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN with a young chief, a son of their head-chief, with about twenty natives, bringing with them a good lot of sea-otter skins, came alongside, to trade, all, to outward appearance, unarraed, and with raany friendly signs, indicative of a desire for a brisk trade. Other canoes soon followed off to the ship, and as uo orders to the contrary had been before given out, the officer in the command of the deck permitted the sav ages to come freely on board, until such an increased number had got on the decks, and around the ship, that he became alarmed, and directed the captain and supercargo to be call ed up. When they came on deck, the captain declined to order the ship's decks to be cleared of the natives, but directed the brisk, and as he'no doubt thought innocent and advantage ous trade to be continued, when, in a short time, he hiraself becarae uneasy by the nurae rous additional canoes and natives continually coraing off from the shore to the ship At this time, the interpreter, having discovered that the savages carae on board armed, with their short war-clubs, and Indian daggers, secreted under their mantles, or short skin cloaks, he imme diately but cautiously informed the captain of it ; who, without first clearing the ship's decks of the natives, gave orders to get the ship un der way, sending some seamen to the windlass TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 143 to heave up the anchor, and some aloft to loose the sails. The seamen had but just got at work at their stations (the trade at the same time going on in hurry and bustle) when the savages gave the war-whoop, flourished their war-clubs and daggers, and the murderous at tack then commenced. The first victim, the Indian said he saw struck, was the clerk, a young man, by name Lewis, with a stroke by a dagger, in the back part of the neck, when he fell against the side of the companion-way, down on the gangway steps. On soon coming to himself, he closed and bolted the corapanion way doors, and retreated to the cabin. The skylight of the quarter-deck had been previous ly taken off and reraoved to pass up goods and articles for trade. At this raoment the captain, badly daggered and mortaUy wounded, fell down through it into the cabin. The captain, who was a brave and determined man, of su perior strength, at the time of the first war- whoop, was standing on the quarter-deck, just forward of the raizen-raast. Observing a pow erful chief coming upon him, with drawn dag ger, he drew his large dirk that he had of late kept constantly at his waist, and with one plunge thrust it into the breast of the savage, and laid him dead at his feet ; but being now set upon by numbers, he received several 144 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN wounds frora their daggers, and was forced back against the steering wheel-frame, when a savage behind him gave him a blow on the back of the head and neck, with a war-club, which knocked him over, and, as before men tioned, down through the skylight opening into the cabin for dead, as then supposed, aside of Mr. Lewis. At the. time of the first savage- yell, Mr. Mackay, the supercargo, was on the ship's tafferel, and immediately sprung forward to assist the captain, when he was knocked down by a blow of the war-club given by an herculean savage, and immediately pierced with many daggers, and thrown overboard, where the remnant of his life was soon de stroyed by the squaws in their canoes. The pUot, at this time, moved himself out over the tafferel on one of the boat's stern-davids, where he remained until he saw, as he then thought, all the officers, and men massacred, except those aloft, and the savages in complete pos session of the decks, when he lowered hinaself down^by the boat's tackle into a canoe, where he soon heard the report of pistols, which, he subsequently learned, were fired by the clerk from out of the cabin skylight, under the coun sel ofthe captain, at those savages on the quar ter-deck. This soon cleared this deck of them, when the clerk called to the seamen aloft; TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 145 (the main-hatches as well as cover to the sky light, having been previou.sly taken off, to pass up goods for trade,) to lower themselves down by a rope, from the main-stay into the hatch way, and then come aft to the cabin, on which they took the studding-sail halyards from the maintop and making the bight fast to the main stay, dropped the two ends into the raain hatch way, when they slid one at a time down by the end-parts into the hatch-way, and between decks, and aft into the cabin. The first three, to the surprise of the natives on the main-deck, got safely dowTi and into the cabin ; but the savages having now awaked from their amaze ment, attacked and massacred the last three, when they descended. The one in the mizen- top having made fast a line to the gaft over the skylight, and the savages having been already driven from the quarter-deck by the fire of Mr. Lewis, the clerk, under direction of the captain, who was yet unable to stand on his feet, the searaan then slid down by his line into the ca bin, without danger or hurt ; and he, being the first one aloft which thus acted, gave encou rageraent to his shipmates in the main and foretops to promptly follow his example, and proceed as related. There being now four seamen unhurt in the cabin with the mortally wounded captain and 13 146 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN clerk to direct and assist them, and plenty of loaded muskets and pistols at hand, they mount ed on the table, under the skylight which brought tbeir heads and shoulders, just above the deck, and commenced a brisk fire of mus ketry at the savages on the maindeck. This soon cleared it of those bloody murderers, when Mr. Lewis and the four seamen repaired to their battery, and let off the loaded cannon upon them and their canoes, which caused ter rible slaughter, destroying many of their canoes and thus affording to those remaining alive on board, peaceable possession of their ship again. In the genei-al battle the officers and men had fought with a determined courage, but were overpowered by crowded nurabers. Laraayzie, the pilot, on withdrawing by sliding down the tackle in his retreat into their canoe, and hav ing given no assistance in the fight, was consi dered by the natives as a neutral, and by them treated as such. After all that remained alive of these wild murderers, had got again on shore, out of reach and fear of the deck-guns, not an individual of them left it again during the reraainder of the day, and the night passed in peace. When raorning came, the ship was seen still at anchor with her sails loose, when the interpreter was desired to go off to her with some natives in a large canoe, to TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 147 which, suiting his mind, he readily consented. They paddled off cautiously around the ship, when Mr. Lewis appearing on deck, called to them to corae on board, making at the sarae tirae friendly signs, that they had nothing to fear, and on proceeding alongside and meeting with no opposition, they very readily sprang on deck, which was yet covered with heaps of goods, articles of trade exposed the previous day. Mr. Lewis directed the interpreter to say to the natives, that they might take and divide all the goods on deck among themselves, only now be at peace and friendly. This being made known, numbers of canoes came off, bringing the natives and squaws, in unusual numbers, and thus crowding the ship's decks, and also hanging on her sides around her. The clerk now invited the interpreter into the cabin, where he saw Captain Thom sitting on the after locker, with a lighted match in his hand. He looked very pale, and was near the magazine scuttle, by which on the cabin deck, was a large heap of gun-powder, and two oak um ropes covered with the same, leading from the heap into the magazine. Mr. Lewis gave an explanation relative to what had passed on the day before and during the night, and then said to him, " You see the captain can't live long, and is going to blow up the ship with aU 148 VOYAGE OF THE TONQUIN these barbarian murderers about her, and as I myself cannot long survive, I ara going with him." He then told him if he wished to live, not to speak a single word, but to take a roll of cloth, and bunch of beads, and immediately to lower hiraself out at the cabin window, and repair to sorae canoe and promptly move off, and not to speak until he was in it, for if he did, that instant he spoke, the ship would be blown up. He acted accordingly, and swam to a canoe having in it two squaws. Showing them the beads, they very readily received hira into their canoe, quickly paddling her safe out frora araong the fleet, to keep the prize, which he had brought. On looking back to the ship, he saw Mr. Lewis looking out of the cabm window after hira ; and, on his drawing him self in and disappearing, iraraediately the ship blew up with a terrible explosion, destroying a great nuraber of savages and herself disap pearing. He saw nothing raore after this of Captain Thom, nor Mr. Lewis, but thought it best and most judicious to keep to himself the secret given to him while in the cabin. The squaws in the canoe which had received him, proved to be the wives of a chief of some in fluence, who had had the good fortune to have corae out of this bloody slaughtering affair un scathed, and with whom the beads and roil of TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 149 blue cloth paved the way, and obtained a ptiaceable home for him at their residence in the village. The bay now showed on its sur face a horrid sight, strewed over with yelling, wounded savages, floating parts of the blown up ship, with shattered portions of wrecked ca noes. To these were added the mourning, sav age, wailing howls of the escaped natives and woraen of the village. The four unhurt searaen had embarked in the ship's small boat, in the night, with the hope of getting back in her to the settleraent the ship had previously made at the mouth of Columbia River, but were forced on shore by the strong wind and current, and the next day were discovered and taken prisoners by the na tives, and immediately brought to the village, where the interpreter spoke with them, and learned their views and intentions, on quitting the ship. To this step they «aid, they were mainly induced by the fear and expectation, that they in the ship would be attacked during the night, and overpowered by hosts of the sa vages, and also massacred; but, alasf poor fellows, they were now in a much worse and more dreadful situation. They were all put to death by cruel, lingering torture, in the usual horrid manner of savages. Thus, it seems,' by placing too much oonfi- 13* 150 NEW DISCOVERIES. dence in these wild savages, awfully perished the brave and daring Thorn, and the whole of the twenty-two persons under his charge. Thus also ended the career of this fine ship, the Ton quin, and with her all the promising prospects of the voyage were destroyed,- — deplorably showing of how little real service is ability and talent, even of no ordinary kind, unless combined with that wisdom which dwells with prudence. SECTION II. A TAst of newly discovered Lands in the South Seas and Pacific, with their situations. Farnham's Island, discovered by Bolivar, Liberator, in 1833. Latitude 14° 4fi' north, longitude 169° IK east. Six miles long, tending W.N.W". and E.S.E. Ladd's Island, discovered by Missionary Packet, in 1H34. Latitude 17° 26' north, longitude 133° 15' west. Michell Island, discovered bythe Mary Michell, in 1834. Latitude 11° 30' south, longitude 165° 35' west. Alow island, about two miles long, and full of wood. Barstow Island, discovered by the Gideon Barstow, in 1834. Latitude •-23-' |-^' south, longitude 137° 24' west. Leavitt's Island, discovered by the Peruvian, April 13th, 18:i5 Latitude 10° 4' south, longitude 152° 25' west. This Island has a white sandy beach, and is covered with trees. New-Port Island, discovered by ship Audley Clark, Captain PaddocK, on December 28th, 1836.* Thickly wooded, but NEW DISCOVERIES. 151 no appearance of its being inhabited. Latitude 11° 37' south, longitude 162° 25' west Acteon's Islands, discovered C Lat. 21° 29' S. lon. 136° 27' W. January, 1831. Three Is-? " 21°23'S. " 136°32'W. lands compose the group. ( " 21° 19'S. " 136° 38' W. Raraka Island, 1} leagues in extent. Latitude 15° 52' south, longitude 144° 47' west. Single Island, very low above the surface ofthe sea. Lati tude 16° 5' south, longitude 130° 41' west Michell's Group, their presumed centre, in latitude 31° 27' S. Supposed longitude of their eastern extreme, 130° 41' W. PARTV. EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORIALS TO CONGRESS, PRAYING THAT A NATIONAL DISCOVERY AND EXPLORING EXPEDITION BE AUTHORIZED, AND SENT our TO THE SOUTH SEAS, PACIFIC OCEAN, &C., WITH A STATEME.\T OF THE PROBABLE NA TIONAL BENEFITS IN VIEW, &c, &c, THAT MAY BE OBTAINED, BY PERFORMING SUCH AN EXPE- DITION, WITH NOTES, EXPLANATORY OF THE SUBJECT. The following extracts are from memorials by the author, which were presented atthe Session of Congress, in Ih3l, and also at subsequent dates, and were continued with urgent zeal, and supported by memorials from numerous highly respectable citizens of New. York, Philadelphia, &c., &c , up to the time said National Exploring Expe dition was by Congress authorized: — EXTRACT FROM THE MEMORIAL OF EDMUND FANNING, Presented to Congress, praying that a National Discovery and Exploring Expedition be sent out to the South Seas, 6f-c., December, 1831. Referred *.o the Committee oa Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed. EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 153 To the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives ofthe United States, in Con gress assembled : — Your petitioner, Edmund Fanning, hav ing obtained satisfactory evidence, by the trial and result, that any private exploring expedi tion cannot ever produce, or obtain, the de sired and wished-for national benefit to navi gation, commercial trade, the whale and seal fishery, science, &c. ; therefore, under a full acquired belief of its national importance, im pressed as your memorialist is, by personal experience, in the necessity of a governmental exploring expedition to those parts of our globe, doth, in his national feeling and zeal, and in all humble deference, most respectfully recommend and pray, that Congress, in its wisdom, will be pleased to grant an appropria tion, with power for a competent National Ex ploring and Discovery Expedition to the South Seas, Pacific, &c. In aid and support of which recoraraendation, your memorialist has here tofore raade sundry discoveries in those seas, and had long and rauch experience relating to the subject. And your memorialist, as in duty bound, will ever pray. EDMUND FANNING. New-York.Nov.lth, 1831. 154 THE AMERICAN 23d Congress.) (1st Session. MEMORIAL OF EDMUND FANNING, To illustrate the viervs in a petition presented to Congress, praying that a National Discovery and Exploring Expedition be sent out to the South Seas, <^c. December ISth, 1833. Referred to the committee on naval afiairs, and ordered to be printed. To the Honourable the Senate and House qf Representatives of the United States, in Con gress assembled : — EXTRACTS FROM THIS CONTINUED MEMORIAL, &C. Your petitioner, Edmund Fanning, respect fully asketh leave to submit tho following ex planations, reasons, &c., to illustrate his views of the national advantages and benefits prayed for, in his petition before Congress, and on file with your honourable committee, that a nation- EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 155 al discovery and exploring expedition be sent out to the South Seas, &c., &c. ; and does also farther respectfully request, that the said ex planations, remarks, &c., with his forraer peti tion, and papers attached thereto, on file with your honourable naval committee, may be again printed. Your petitioner, in all deference, re quests leave to observe, that, at the early date of 1792, he entered and engaged on those South Sea voyages, with a view to obtain information on the seal fishery, comraercial trade, pecuniary profit, &c., ihat which at this tirae was thought might be obtained from those fonign ports and unexf Ijred regions. In 1797, your meraoriaUst sailed on his voy age, inthe capacity of coramander, supercargo, and director, to prosecute this commercial trade and seal fishery, to the South Seas, Pacific Ocean, China, and around the world. This new and enterprising voyage opened the gate to his tellow-citizens to this South Pa cific and China commercial trade ; by which, and thereafter, under his command or agency, were taken from these regions to China, on American account, the first cargoes of sandal wood, seals, fur, beach-la-mer, bird's nest, mother of pearl, pearls, sharks' fins, turtle shell, &c., being the productions of the lands, seas, in those South Sea and Pacific regions ; which. 156 THE AMERICAN on being exchanged in Canton, for 'China goods, and those brought home into our ports of the United States, . not only enriched his brother citizens, the adventurers, but poured streams, by duties on the same, of hundreds of thousands, ay, millions of dollars, into the public treasury, thus enriching our country in the aggregate ; and which, in the course of sorae few years, therefore, caused this com mercial traffic and fishery to increase to up wards of twenty sail per annura, out of the ports of the United States, and which hjas now got dwindled down to a very limited number : In your petitioner's next voyage to the South Seas, the Pacific, China, and around the world, he was honoured in the coraraand of a superb new corvette ship, of 22 guns, coraraissioned by the President of the United States, with a corapleraent of five lieutenants, a master, a surgeon, eight midshipmen, with a corapetent nuraber of petty officers and raen, which voy^ age was also safely performed around the world, without any unpleasant occurrence or difficulty, but in good discipline, harmony, &o. And having, during his voyages in jthe com mand and directing agency, had the fortune to discover the group of Fanning's Islands, Pal- myrie Island, Washington Island, (so named on its discovery by the subscriber, a beautiful EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 157 green island that stands recorded on the charts in use, by this name of the father of our coun try) Border's Island, as also, the continent of Palmer's Land, and rediscovered the group of Crozett's Islands, the South-Antipode's Island, were the first Araericans at tbe Feejee Islands, and to the new South-Shetland Islands : — from all of which there has been produced much wealth to our beloved country, as well as to its national treasury ; — were the first from araong our enterprising fellow-citizens, that took from those regions and seas, on Ame rican account to China, those products of san dal wood, &c., &c., which then, as before- mentioned, being exchanged in Canton for silks, nankins, teas, &c., &c., (China goods,) not only produced large profits to the adven turers, but also enriched the national treasury. And in the utmost respect the subscriber here^- unto would reraark : — Do not these discov eries and their effects, with the raillions of wealth which this trade and fishery have here tofore brought into our country, by its en terprizing citizens, and also to its national treasury, have a parental claim on government for a competent exploring and discovery expe dition, to endeavour now to revive it again ? And to revive this commercial trade, fishery, &c., as well as to obtain other important national 14 158 THE AMERICAN benefits, I do now most respectfully and earnest ly petition and pray Congress, for this discovery and exploring expedition to be sent out, to ex plore and search out new resources, or places, to obtain those products, articles, &g., which places, it is confidently conceived and believed, are yet numerous to be found, and thereby the said products will be again obtained in plenty, when those contemplated new places of resort, &c., are discovered and marked down on the chart, by this exploring, with proper vessels, on such national service. Presuming your petitioner's information, by such lengthy experience, to be equal to that of any other, and that your petitioner has had the fortune to do as rauch, if not more, than any other citizen, in searching out and bringing for ward those national advantages and benefits touchingr on the before-mentioned business of comraercial trade, &c., to the South Seas, Pacific, and China, as well as by first opening the gate-way to the prosecuting this valuable fishery and coraraercial trade, which has so enriched the national treasury, and brought such wealth to his fellow-citizens, which your petitioner conceives, in all due deference, en* titles him to, and gives to hira the firra ground of confidence, and of claim to respectfully ask, by his said petition, of our nation's Congress, EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 159 the granting it, by the authorizing the prose cu tion of this national project. But laying aside, for a moment, this Pacific and China coraraercial trade, your meraoriaUst would observe, adverting to the subject, that the whale and seal fishery to the South Seas, of late years, has increased in the number of vessels beyond that of any former time, from out of the ports ofthe United States, and are still on the increjise : — therefore the more urgency there is now of this national explora tion, in the immediate need to its support : — Also in further illustration, as touching on the seal and whale fisheries, history gives to us the fact, that the British Greenland Whale and Seal Fishery at their old fishing grounds, had got reduced in their fleet engaged in this business, by the scarcity of the whales and seals, from upwards of eighty saU, down to a very limited number ; — when the exploring and discovery voyages sent^ut by their govemment, under captains Ross and Parry, having discovered new fishing grounds, never before having been disturbed, up Davis' Straits, Baffin's Bay, &c., where the whales and seals were plenty, or numerous, revived again this fishery to such a degree, that they now have, annually, a fleet of between ninety and a hundred sail employed again in it, (which revival woidd undoubtedly 160 THE AMERICAN have been lost to that nation, had not those exploring and discovery voyages been per formed,) with renewed advantages, hot only in bringing wealth to the nation, but in also estab lishing an additional nursery for seamen, which, it is well known, is the main spring of a navy. And your memorialist is now in possession of the fact, that losing voyages by our Ameri can vessels have already, and lately, been made, owing to the scarcity of fishes and ani mals at their old grounds, or places of resort, for their requisite, natural, and annual wants of feed, propagation, &c. ; particularly the lat ter, the seals ; which ill success and hard for tune will stUl prevail, and in an increased measure, if not to a total abandonraent in a few years, if this national exploring and re search are not soon entered upon and effected, by discovering, marking down, and promul gating new resorts, grounds, and places, where those amphibious animals and fishes are to be again found in plenty, as they are still met with, numerous, on their travels, in those seas. The vessels now eraployed in this whaling and sealing business to the South Seas, Pa cific Ocean, &c., on taking their departure from our ports, proceed direct for the old grounds and places of resort of those fishes and EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 161 animals where they are now found and met with, so scattering and wild as to protract their vovages. often to such a length as to frequent ly exhaust their provisions, which were laid in for the voyage ; and, of course, oblige them to recruit in a foreign port, or force them to re turn horae with a losing voyage, and which, it is confidently beUeved, such an exploration would prevent, and cause a more sure, prompt, and successful vovage and retum, by its dis covery and marking down of new grounds ani places of their resorts : — which expedition would also Tuaike raore sure and safe the life of the mariner, bv placing in their true situa tions the many dangers, &:c.. and thereby aiding and benefiting navigation as weU as science, &c. Further, your petitioner and his associates, in their arduous enterprises and persevering endeavours for many years past, to the general national good, and to promote this fishery, and commercial trade, and in discoveries, have had the fortune to discover a new continent, or ex tensive lands, in the southem hemisphere : — which, by the generous act. as due to American enterprise, of a talented circumnavigator,* be longing to a powerful and magnanimous * The commaadsr ofthe Rusian Ifeeovery Ships. 14* 162 THE AMERICAN nation, has received the name of Palmer's Land, and which, it is earnestly desired, may be explored and surveyed by this prayed-for national expedition, for the general public good of our nation ; as it is yet uncertain what valu able sources of rich furs, oils, &c., it raay con tain and supply to our hardy, adventurous, South Sea mariners. Now, therefore, your petitioner doth humbly pray, that this rauch required government ex pedition be sent out to endeavour to obtain those national benefits herein set forth, and which cannot, as in evidence by trial, be done or pei|bi$ned by any private means. As your meraoriaUst is of opinion such a national discovery and exploring expedition would, in a very weighty degree, accomplish those before-mentioned benefits to navigation, coraraerce, the fisheries, science, &c., your pe titioner-is likewise strongly in the belief, that said expedition, in traversing those unfrequent ed seas, would make new discoveries of lands and islands, which would liltely tend to advance our coraraercial trade, &c. Also, further, that they would search out, discover, and raark down at inhabited as well as at uninhabited lands and islands, as also at the sea-banks and coral reefs, new depots, sources, 6fc., where those products could be EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 163 again procured in abundance, viz. of sandal wood, bird's nest, beach-la-mer, pearls, turtle shell, &-C., which would much revive again this commercial trade to China, &c. Furthermore, your petitioner feels confident that this expedition would discover, and do an act of great huraanity in their routes, by falling in with and returning again to their horaes, sorae of those now raissing ships' crews of Ameri can citizens thus long absent from their coun try, famiUes, friends, and civil society, and which, perhaps, are now dragging out a lone some and suffering Ufe, after being cast away upon sorae uninhabited island, or in slavery to some cannibal chief on an inhabited one; which pains the heart in deep distress of feeling in the suffering thought of those most unfortunate missing fellow-citizens and voyagers : — And, to reUeve even a single ship's crew of them by such an expedition, what a parental act of government this ! And yet further, your peti tioner feels sure that they would greatly benefit and improve navigation by exploration and survey, and in correcting the situations, and placing them true on the charts, to be in use, of many islands and dangers, and thereby make the now dangerous hazard much less to the mariner, in our whale, seal, and trading ships 164 THE AMERICAN and vessels, when traversing those oceans and seas. Finally, all will admit that such an expedi tion would add much to history, science, &c., and your raeraorialist is sincere in the belief, that, if land is not discovered in the way, they may reach a very high south latitude, if not in the vicinity of the south pole. The noted voy ager. Captain Weddell, who obtained to the S. latitude of 74° 15' states, in this latitude the sea was then free of ice, and that he had fine mild weather. And should the Araerican ex pedition discover land in their way on proceed ing south on its exaraination, who knows but whatitraay afford or produceinvaluable and rich furs, oils, &c., in addition to a new discovery? And your petitioner would here respectfully reraark, with a view to show the weight and length of tirae his raind has been engaged in tent on this exploring subject, and requests, in all deference, perraission to state in illustration, that, while engaged in the command and agen cy in prosecuting those South Sea,' Pacific, and China voyages, he has for upwards of thirty years past, had before his mind's eye the evi dences of the advantages and benefits of such an exploring expedition to his nation, with the constant increasing surmises and evidences coraing up before him in observation, touching EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 165 and relating to the most proper Und of vessels, with their fitments, &c., to enable and give the most sanguine promise to such an expedition, to obtain the greatest favourable and brilliant result ; which, if this petition be granted, he is freely willing to communicate for the national benefit. Also, personal experience has taught the subscriber that situations will occur on such voyages of exploration, both in high and low latitudes, which would be fatal to the large and heavy ship, when the small and lighter vessel would escape. The writer of this has wintered in his ship in a high latitude, in the icy region towards the south pole, and personally observed the forraa tion, and raake, and raovements of the ice islands, bergs, &c., on the break up of the winter, and of its frozen massy barriers, caus ing a terrific, thundering roar, like that of ten thousand cannon, seeraingly raaking terra-firraa tremble to its foundations ; and been with his ship in very trying and painful situations, in the mountainous swell of rolling billows or tur gid seas, in calms and currents, in the equato rial latitudes among the coral reefs, when at the sarae time beset and surrounded bythe sav ages, which would have been fatal, beyond the possibility of human means, to extricate 166 THE AMERICAN her, if a heavy ship, but having a lighter ves sel, he escaped frora this awaiting dreadful fate ; but which happened to be the lot of our first ship, and all on board of her which was sent to the Feejee Islands after sandal wood, &c. : — she being a full buUt, heavy vessel, was wrecked by drifting, and being hove by the billowed sea, in a calm and current on the coral reef, and every soul on board of her, save the Tonga native pilot, perished, or were mas sacred by the savages, as each individual ob tained, through the breakers and surf, a foot" hold on the rocks A similar situation and case was no doubt the fate and destruction of the rauch-laraented and unfortunate La Perouse, his frigates and their crews, which, with more proper and light er vessels, would perhaps have been avoided. Also, as an additional evidence of weight ^of advantage such an exploring has been to his mind, he would respectfully raention a fact, viz. : That an expedition of two ships was pre pared, and nearly ready for sea in their depar ture on this service, in the spring of 1812, un der his coraraand, and a commission was grant ed by the President of the United States, to your petitioner, in the command of the same, when the sudden declaration of war by Con- EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 167 gress put a stop to its sailing, and finally caus ed it to be abandoned. Your petitioner also respectfully begs, it will be here noted, that since that date the addi tional weighty call, or necessity, that such a national expedition should be sent out, is, that the important discovery of the continent of Palmer's Land has been made by Americans; which will also show in evidence, that in our South Sea mariners' and voyagers' rainds, at least, this exploring project petitioned for is not a visionary idea, but for real and important na tional benefits that are much needed. All wluch is most respectfully submitted. Edmund Fanning. December 7th, 1833. Notes explanatory of the subject qf the Na tional Exploring Expedition, or,— A plain tale of facts, 4-c. Thus is recorded the official memorial of evidence of the acts, and doings of a citizen, whom the Alnaighty, in his goodness, has been pleased to bless with a long life of three score and ten ; nearly fifty years of which hav ing been spent in the enterprise of voyaging in 168 THE AMERICAN research and discovery tending greatly to the benefit of his country and its citizens, as well as the pecuniary benefits, he trusts, that a just and liberal public will not suffer now to be taken from him in the hoar age of life, the small award due to any merit he may be de serving of, — while he, in the best of feeUngs, does not wish and is not desirous of taking from any fellow-being the least feather's weight of the credit due to them, in recording those historical facts which he conceives in justice belong to himself and those of name dear to him. Sundry prints have, with raany flattering puffs, given the whole credit and raerit as pro jector and procurer of the authorization by Congress of the Araerican South Sea Explor ing Expedition, to another citizen, who truly and richly is entitled and deserving of a large share of merit in this national measure. But the author of this work would respectfully ask to here note the following explanations corro borated by facts, vouchers, &c., in addition to a reference to those extracts of raeraorials, in vindication of just credit to his doings, and acts relative to, or touching on the raeasure of send ing out this laudable national enterprise, viz. This citizen, to whom those prints give all credit, sailed in 1829, from the United States; as one of the scientific cor])s in the American Exploring Brigs, Seraph and Annawan, sent EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 169 out under the directive agency of the author of this volume ; and he did not retum to the United States until the Frigate Potomac, Com modore Downes, in May, 1S34. This being the fact, and referring to the foregoing extracts of memorials, how can his fiiends, those edi tors, claim for him the merit of being the first projector of this expedition, and moreover of procuring its authorization by Congress, when the mejisur© had, at his retum, been thus al ready urged by the author of this work with unwearied zeal, before that honourable body for tiiree sessions, and the honourable sena tors, and members, it is presumed, had now becorae farailiar with the project, as also to have an earnest patriotic interest in the fair promise of the honour and benefit such an enterprise would be to the nation. The ex tracts of the memorials and proceedings can be corroborated by a reference to the records of Congress, as also by hundreds of most respectable citizens (solicited by him) who sup ported the author's petition to Congress by their memorials. Farther, as the earUest in bringing this ex ploring subject before govemment, see Fan ning's Voyages, page 492, where it wiU appear in evidence, that the author had the honour to bring this subject before govem- 15 170 THE AMERICAN ment, in 1810 and 12^ during Mr. Madison's presidency. The author, therefore, freely leaves it with his fellow-citizens, and the re spective readers, to decide to whom belongs the merit of projector, &c., if there be any beyond that to which every patriotic citizen may be entitled. He will only in all due deference add, that at the time of the arrival of the Potomac, it was well known that the project was advanc ing in Congress, in a sure prospect of its au thorization ; and any citizen being single, with out a family to support, could as well board him self in Washington City, as at any other place, during the sessions,^and could put in a petition to Congress, for any project he pleased, even if the same had already been petitioned for ; and at same time, by thus forming a nuraerous ac quaintance, and raore especially when possess ing shining eleraental advantages of education, embellished by address, he could, by the aid of high hterary acquire raeuts, orations, &c., cause an irapression on the public raind and press to go forth, that he was the sole projec tor, &c., of such a raeasure. To correct which in this case, the author conceived it due in jus tice, disclaiming all intentional censure or disre spect, to here respectfully note these explana tions, &c., without the most remote desire, or EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 171 intention to hurt the feelings, or to take from any active, and patriotic citizen, one iota of his claim of merit. But only to explain and lay the case fairly and plainly before the public, that the real Simon Pure raay have his just proportion of the award, if there be any other than ordinary. At the time of the authoriza tion of this expedition by Congress, its fair bUl was before the House of Representatives, and when, in its turn, it should have been taken up, would undoubtedly then have passed, and it is beUeved by a greater majority, and in a better conciliating satisfaction, than on the course it went through, in the general appro priation bUl. However, the honourable Sena"* tor, S. L. Southard, thought proper, with what view he best knows, to move in the honourable United States' Senate, the authorization for this measure of a sloop of war, etc., in the general naval appropriation bill — whereupon it passed. Now, if the honourable senator made this move with the view to secure the president's sanction, it was perfectly needless — as might have been known by one word with the vene rable president on the subject ; as the author was present at Washington, at the time urging forward the project, and from his oral comrau nication with the Executive, to his certain knowledge, he is decidedly in the belief, that 172 THE AMERICAN our venerable, patriotic president, would as wilhngly and cheerfully, and that in earnest zealous support, have then signed the fair bUl on its passage, as that of any other bill what ever, that was .signed by hira during his presi dency ; and what relatively foUows hereafter in this volume, wdl, it is presumed, show to the satisfactory corroboration of this fact. The Peacock attempt. — The pubhc, it is pre sumed, are weU informed of the attempt, by the re-budding and preparation of the sloop of war, Peacock, to fit out an exploring expedition to the South Seas, during the years 1827-8, under the presidency of the Hon. J. Q. Adams, by the au thority of a resolution of the honourable House of Representatives of the United States only ; and its failure and abandonment, on the change ofthe next presidency and administration under General Andrew Jackson — ^leaving an unfa- veurable impression on the minds of President Jackson and his executive counseUors, towards such a project — owing, no doubt, to the ab sence of correct information, by or from expe rienced explanations on the subject, relative to its needy importance to the nation, as also to the national benefits it would be to commerce, the whale and seal fisheries, navigation, sci ence, &c., &c.', as weU as to the honour of the nation and its gaUant navy. This unfa- EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 173 vourable impression absolutely required to be removed, and a contra-favourable impression made and established, before any hope could be had of a bill being passed by Congress and ratified by the President, authorizing such a South Sea discovery and exploring expedition. This the author zealously undertook, and the foUowinof vouchers and evidences will, with the sequel, show how well and happily he suc ceeded. On repairing to Washington, at the com mencement of the session of Congress, in 1831, with the petition to present to Congress for such a national measure, he was accorapa nied by two able and well-inforraed citizens, to aid in his explanations and to reraove the diffi culty, and bring about, if possible, a favourable opinion and result, as well as to raise up a deterraination in the governraent to carry the enterprise into effect. The following proceedings took place, as related in the letter of the author, (herewith,) to President Van Buren. From the files of a mass of voluminous cor respondence by the author, had during his persevering, industrious aid, to effect this South Sea exploring expedition, the foUowing letters, extracts, &g., are hereby submitted, as evi- 15* 174 THE AMERICAN dence of his acts and doings in favour and support of this laudable national project. On the close of General Jackson's presi dency, and soon after President Van Buren's administration had commenced, doubts were mentioned as to this expedition ever being sent out. Therefore, to aid in its sure sailing, the author addressed a letter of explanation, &c., to the Executive on the subject, of which the foUowing is an extract. New-York, June llJth, 1837. To His Excellency Martin Van Buren, Presi dent ofthe United States, Washington City. I respectfully request to place before the President, the following further information, &c., viz : — Before presenting the petition to Congress on this subject of a National South Sea Ex ploring expedition, early in December, 1831,1, with an experienced comraander in explora tions in the southem heraisphere,* and also a * Captain Benjamin Pendleton, senior in the command, and John Frampton Watson, Esq., M.D , Professor, and of the scientific corps of the American Exploring Expedition EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 175 scientific citizen of first qualification, who had also voyaged to that part of our globe, waited on President Jackson, explained our views of its raerits, and the honour, benefits, &c., which would likely result to the nation by a govem ment discovery and exploring expedition to the South Seas, &c., — The President hstened at tentively, in much interest ; — and in conclusion observed, he saw its merits, and the benefits that might be obtained to our comraerce, the fisheries, navigation, &c., &c., — said we could present the petition, and if Congress would au thorize the project, it should now have his ready and earnest support, desiring me, on taking leave, to give my views, &c., on the sub ject to the secretary of the navy. Accordingly we the next morning waited on, at his depart ment, the Honourable Secretary Woodbury, submitted to him our views, &c., (that able and highly worthy officer, Comraodore Rogers, being present,) when Mr. Woodbury requested, firstly, — the perusal of our petition to Con gress, then, in his usual patriotism, observed, like the President, if Congress should au thorize the measure, it should receive his ready support. of brigs Seraph and Annawan, which had been sent out to those seas, patronized by the executive government of the UnitedStates. 176 THE AMERICAN This gave encouragement to present the pe tition, as also my attendance, session after session, zealously urging forward the project, up to its authorization. Having the honor to be With high regard. The President's obdt. servt. EDMUND FANNING. Copy of a letter from the Honourable Secre tary of the navy, to the author. Navy Department, December 7, 1832. Sir, — ^Your letter of the 5th instant (on the exploring expedition) has been received. I will be very happy to carry into execution any directions Congress may be pleased to give, on the interesting subject of your letter. I am respectfully, sir, your ob'd't servant, LEVI WOODBURY. Captain Edmund Fanning, New- York. Extracts from the letters to the author from the honourable G. C. Verplanck, ofthe House of Representatives ; and the honourable Senator Robbins, of the United States' Senate ; and from the honourable secretary of the navy, of EXPLOKCfG KXPBDITION. 177 date. Navy Department, 15th Jane 1S36, ntS shtm in ecidenct, the opimon ofthe govemment relative to the part, and interest in aid the autiior had taken and perfoimed to the aatho- lization, &c., of Uus National South Sea Dis covery and ExplorijDg Expedition prqect, with likewise diat of his abihty relative to die im portant c go and bring them, and make no tarry. These orders I went to carry into effect if possible ; the Good Man Richard was then lying head to the wind with her topsails aback. I shot up with my boat under her stem, and was just a-going to lay her alongside, when I perceived the water run in and out of her lower ports. This somewhat staggered and brought me to a stand, but very soon, finding our situation dan gerous, I ordered the men to use their oars in backing off from her. We thu s had got, I judged, about three rods from her, when she fetched a heavy pitch and disappeared instantaneously ; but although we were now under brisk stern- way, gaining fast some farther rods from her, yet the agitation of the sea and its waves, with the whirlpool, was such that we came near sharing the same fate, and going down with her. Thus, sinking head downwards, went to the bottom the Good Man Richard, about four hours after her crew had taken possession of her prize ; and it was a thankful relief to us, to safely step on the Serapis' deck on our re turn to her. Naval battle* 2^1 We now went to work, and in a very short time we had got jury raasts erected, and sail enough spread to shape our course for the Texel, in Holland, the wind being contrary to steer for France. On the 3d of October we arrived with our little squadron, and prizes, at the Texel. Just as we carae to anchor, we discovered in the offing an English sixty-fou* gun ship and three frigates ; these had, as we subsequently leamed, been despatched in pur^ suit of us, as soon as the English had got in^ telligence of our squadron being upon theif coast. In a proper time after the action, Commodore Jones, in presence of his officers, mentioned, as highly praise-worthy, those daring and brave acts of the comraand of the Good Man Rich" ard's main top; and subsequently handed to this brave officer the following certificate to the American Congress : — CERTIFICATE TO CONGRESS.* I do hereby certify, that Nathaniel Fanning, of Stoning^ ton, State of Connecticut, has sailed with me in the station of midshipman eighteen months, while I commanded the Good Man Richard, until she was lost in the action with the Sera pis, and in the Alliance, and Ariel frigates. His bravery on * This evidence of American bravery was forwarded by the author to His Excellency President Van Buren, and no doubt will rest on the files in the Department at Washington. 232 PAUL JONES' NAVAL BATTLE.' board the first-mentioned ship, in the action with the Serapis, a King's ship of fifty guns, off Flamborough Head, while he had command of the main top, will, I hope, recommend him to the notice of Congress in the line of promotion, with his other merits. JOHN PAUL JONES. L'Orient, (in France,) December llth, 1780. Note. — This brave and gallant officer, Lieutenant Na thaniel Fanning, of the United States' Navy, (a brother ofthe author of Fanning's Voyages,) mentioned in this certificate, and bloody battle of unusual carnage, like the ever-to-be-la mented and notedly-brave Commodore O. H. Perry, of U. S. Navy, was brought to the grave by an attack of the yellow- fever, while on active duty in command at the United States' naval station at Charleston, S. C, on the 30th day of Sep tember 1805. PART VIII. KARfeATIVE SKETCH OP AN OCCURRENCE THE: MOSt BARBAROUS, FROM THE VOYAGE OF THE AMERICAN BRIGANTINE HERSILIA OF STONINGTON, CAPTAIN JAMES P. SHEFFIELD, TO THE SOUTH SEAS, UNDER THE DIRECTIVE AGENCY OF THE AUTHOR, IN THB YEAR 1821. CHAPTER I< Hersilia sails from New South Shetlands — Anchors at IslB St. Mary's — 'Her capture — Barbarian chief Beneviades .'^His Cruel treatment of crew while prisoners — Town and river Arauco on coast of Chili — Prisoners' sufferings and hard fare in rations — Military duty — The tyrant chief and American sentry — Parade of the royal army — General Beneviades' eulogy on the Americans, and reprimand to his officers — Paper money — Death to refuse its tender — Disgusting and barbarous punishment of females*— Inhu man execution of a Padre. The following narration is, as given the author, by Captain Sheffield, and corroborated in the main by that very worthy mariner. Cap tain David Kellogg, junior, who also refers (to his colleague in their sufferings) to that able and gentlemanly commander, Captain W. E. Hoxie, now in the command of the line packet ship, the North America :¦«- 234 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA The Hersilia having obtained a cargo of fur seal skins at the South Shetland Isles, and having a favourable opportunity, shipped them home ; and then, agreeably to the instructions given by the agent to her commander, she saUed on the 24th of February, 1821, from these Islands for the Pacific, with the view and intention of procuring another cargo, and thereby making a double voyage during the same trip. Further, by their successful seal hunting they obtained and corapleted their second cargo of 15,000 seal skins, and were then in May, 1821, at anchor in the Hersilia, in the North Bay at the Island of St. Mary's, situ ated on the coast of Chili. Having now finish ed their hunting excursions, and the taking of seals, they were preparing for sea, to depart on their passage home ; when, nearly ready, on the point of weighing anchor, and expecting certainly in a few hours to sail on their passage to double Cape Horn, on their retum with their second valuable cargo, they were suddenly surprised, and their vessel, their heretofore so fortunate and charming little Hersilia taken, and themselves made prisoners, by a gang of ruffians calling themselves soldiers, belonging to the army, and under the orders of that bar barian chief. General Beneviades, who was at this time in command of the royal Spanish TO THE SOUTII SEAS. 235 army, then encamped opposite to St. Mary's Isle, on the main land of Chili. His head quarters were at Arauco, a walled town, sitija ted a short distance up in the country from the mouth of the river of the same name. The mouth of this river having at it a sand bar, af forded no harbour for vessels of burden, as only their pereaugos could pass over, and into the river, owing to the shallow water on the bar; vessels of burthen having business with the town, or up the river, were obliged to an chor in the road off, and without the bar. The Hersilia's two boats were on shore at Isle St. Mary's when captured with her officers, and all her crew, (excepting five that remained with the captain on board,) where they had had on shore a washing day in the preparation of their duds, for a sea passage home, when, as they were on the point of embarking themselves and effects in their boats, to repair on board of their brig, they were on a sudden surprised by this gang from their ambush, of thirty-six pirate soldiers, a detachment from the Grand Royal Army, under the command of the before men tioned chief Beneviades, in charge, and con ducted by a stony-hearted, inhuman officer, by name Crayro. They had come over from the Main, and landed on another part of the island, and thus, at 8 p. m. on the 14th of May, 1821, 236 Voyage op the hersilia in" the dusk of the evening, they surprised the Hersilia's men with a charge upon them by loaded musquets, and at the point of the bay onet forced them up on the beach from their boats, where they were very roughly treated; and after being thus made prisoners, and all bound hand and foot, they were threatened by the guard set over them with instant death if they raade any noisejest it should alarra Captain Sheffield and those on board the brig. Matters on shore being thus accomplished and arranged by these freebooters, their pirate leader, Crayro, erabarking twelve of his men in each of our boats, proceeded off to capture and get posses sion of the Hersilia. The boats, one on each side of her, boarded her at one and the same time. Thus, iu tum, was the unsuspecting captain and those on board with him, surprised by the unwelcome "Halloo !" in ruffian tones, " you are our prisoners !" They ordered Cap tain Sheffield to be silent, and with the charged musquet at his breast, and suspended sword over his head, to repair instantly as a prisonei* to his state-room, where a sentry was set over him, and at the same time the raen were driven at the point of the bayonet down into the fore castle. What a change of feelings these inno cent American mariners must now have felt, from those of an hour previous ! Having com- TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 237 pleted their valuable cargo, and just onthe point of saUing for home, to thus meet with such a severe rebuff! What a weight of the most agonizing feeling raust at the tirae have preyed on the mind of their worthy coramander, while reflecting, a prisoner in his state-room ! The reader can well judge, as all, all their flattering and pleasing hopes were thus blasted, and so suddenly changed into the severe and heart- aching contrary. These barbarians having thus made the capture of the vessel, and all on board, or be longing to her, proceeded with the boats to bring the bound prisoners off from the shore on board, when they tumbled them in such a rough, unfeeling raanner down below deck, as if they were sacks of carpenters' chips. They then got the brig under way and steer ed her over across the bay for the mouth of the river Arauco, where they anchored her m the road, just without the bar, making across the mouth of the river, when they very proraptly took Captain Sheffield, with all the officers and crew, (except Mr. Daniel W. Clark, our first officer, whora they retained on board to navi gate her for them in such employment as their tyrant general should thereafter please direct,) forthwith on shore. Having now unbound them, they marched them directly off as prisoners 238 voyage oe The heRsilia Under a strong guard of a fresh detachment for their head quarters, at the town of Arauco. On their arrival at that station, they were very quickly paraded into the presence of their ge^ neral, Beneviades ; also being present their second in command, by name Picco, a more hard-hearted, brutal, unfeeling savage, if pos sible, than his senior, Beneviades, and several other officers of this royal array, so by them called. Beneviades, now setting Captain Sheffield and a young seaman, Rogers by name, apart from the others to wait on his dictatorial per son, he then caused all the others to be distri buted one to each .officer, to wait on, and serve them at their quarters, or in their famUies, as a menial slave ; charging them at the time to remain content, on their peril, and likewise on such allowance of rations as this stone-hearted, humane general should thereafter please to di rect. This subsequently proved, in not aver aging daily, during the whole time they re mained in this servile imprisonment, over half a pound of meat to each person, and that beef, as they called it, but it mostly carae frora the carcase of the jack, or mule, with a despicable, mean, limited proportion of vegetables ; these they were, it is true, by unfeeling tyrants, per mitted to cook, as they could, or eat them raw, TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 339 if they could not in their confined Umits pro cure their own fuel ; an article was also given in small black rolls of the coarsest kind, sup posed to be made from a mixture of barley and beans, said by thera to be bread ; they, how ever, obtained some of this only once or twice a week. This, those truly suffering Ameri cans assert, was their regular fare in provisions for their subsistence, but a full allowance of fresh water was granted to them, on their going to the spring for it. To add to this hard fare, the worst of usage and daily curses were heaped on them. In sustaining life, by such scanty and miserable daily rations, they not only had to labour hard during the day, like menial servants for their masters, but were also forced to do military duty, in their turns, on sentry through the night. The author here takes pride in mentioning an evidence showing how well and patriotically those suffering citi zens from Stonington supported the American national character during their unjust and se vere imprisonment. Kellogg and his shipmate, by name Stanton, being in middle time of night, on sentry, at each of their different posts, when Beneviades, in disguise, as was his frequent practice of go ing the rounds at different times during the night, to satisfy his mind as to the watchful 240 VOYAGE OF THE HERSlLIA alertness of the sentries, came up within a rod's distance of Kellogg, requesting of him in a farailiar manner to be permitted to pass, Kel logg, in answer, told hira to advance and give the counter-sign, Beneviades hesitated, then said, he was their general, Kellogg promptly and sternly answered, " I am aware of my duty, I know you not now as such," at the same time charging with the point of his lance within a foot of Beneviades' breast, he more firraly said, " give me the counter-sign before you stir a step, or you are a dead man," Bene viades instantly gave him the counter-sign, threw off his disguise so far as to make him self truly known to Kellogg, observing to him, that he was a true and good soldier, and then passed on. On his coming to the place where Stanton was posted, he met with the like re ception ; but, on the contrary with his own sol diers, mostly all let him pass without giving the counter-sign, on his observing to them, as he had to Kellogg, that he was their general, two excepted, whom he found asleep. On the next day, when his army was on parade, he ordered his officers, and Captain Sheffield and his crew to the centre, informed them of his tour on the rounds in the night, told of his reception by the different sentries, spoke in the highest praise of his confidence TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 241 and the dependence he could place in Captain Sheffield and his Americans ; then severely re primanded his officers for their neglect of dis ciphne, and charge to their veteran soldiers, as he called thera ; as for instance, a serious fault had been coraraitted during the past night, which he had just mentioned, when they were set on sentry. Then ordering the two unfor tunates he found asleep on their posts, to be punished according to their offence, he dismis sed the parade. About this time Beneviades observing Cap tain Sheffield to be an expert and smooth pen man, set him and Captain Morrison, of a Bos ton brig, which had been captured at Isle St. Mary's, in much the same manner as the Her silia, but, subsequently, in July, about two months after the capture of the Hersilia, to making for hira paper money, treasury bills, as this noted general and dictator called thera. The bills were made frora the sheet of white Spanish paper, which was cut into strips of about the size of ordinary bank bills, and then by Captain Sheffield, encircled by flourishes with the pen. Within these flourishes were written the araount, and date, and the bills were made payable to the bearer, at his trea sury, when in funds, to be paid out ofthe mili tary chest of the army. Thus prepared, they 21 242 VOYAGE OF TPIE HERSILIA were signed by Beneviades, as commander-in- chief for DeV Rey, (the king,) and countersign ed by Captain Sheffield, as financial secretary- A proclamation was then issued by Beneviades frora head-quarters, raaking this paper of trea sury bills a lawful tender, and the punishment of a refusal of it, corporeal or death, as this barbarian tyrant chief should be pleased to sentence, whenever reported by any complaint to hira. Our narrators saw two decent and worthy married women, in a state of nudity, publicly whipped through the streets, and also a priest as publicly shot, by the decree, sentence, and order of this bloody, unfeeling monster, for re fusing this paper money. CHAPTER II. Hersilia fitted out a cruiser — Her return from cruise off Chiloe Island — Violent storm — Hersilia wrecked in storm — Her captain and crew employed to launch her afloat again — Whale boats— Daring and desperate enterprise of Captain Sheffield and crew — Plan of escape — Brave acts of Kellogg and Hoxie — The prisoners escape — Land on Island St. Mary's — Forced to subsist on raw seals' flesh. On Captain Sheffield and crew being re moved from their vessel, she was immediately TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 243 discharged, and her cargo put into sorae store huts on the ridge of the beach near to the chops of the raouth of the river, some heavy cannon were mounted on her deck, and she was fitted out as a royal cruiser of war, manned with about one hundred officers and raen, mostly taken from their army ranks, all under the coramand of a colonel. Mr. Clark was forced to navigate her wherever this colonel and com manding officer should direct, under penalty of death if he hesitated or refused. She sailed to cruise off and along the coast, and to put into St. Carlos, in the Island of Chiloe, for provisions and specie, to be received from the governor of that colony for the army of Beneviades. She was several weeks en gaged on this cruise and service, and then re turned to Arauco with her cargo of specie, &c. However, in a few days after again anchoring in Arauco Road, there began to blow a norther, which soon increased to a heavy gale, and drove our beautiful, captured Hersilia, from her an chors and on shore, where she remained at low water, high and dry, on the beach. After this gale had subsided, and we had again fair weather, Beneviades consulted with Captain Sheffield on the prospect of getting the brig off the beach again ; and on proceeding to a survey of her situation with this famous general, Captain 244 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA Sheffield observed eight whale boats, on the river's banks near its mouth, and not far from the place where the brig lay. Messrs. Fuller and Hora, with three searaen, had, while they were set at work, at a previous tirae, by the river's mouth, escaped in such a craft, and got clear of their slavery ; although at the time, this occurrence made our tyrant general raving mad, threatening to immediately execute the captain and all his reraaining crew- then with his army, should he discover thereafter, that they had any knowledge at the time of their comrades going, or intention to thus escape. In fact, the corroborating narrators heard this bloody-minded, and savage chief, Beneviades, frequently threaten Captain Sheffield with the execution of him, and his men, if they did not prove true to him, and also attentive to their duty, and industrious to his wish ; this threat was to be expected sure, to be put promptly into execution if they failed in their escape. Notwithstanding all this, the discovery of these boats favoured his and the men's wishes for a chance to put into operation their plan for en deavouring to escape from this suffering, iron tyranny. Therefore, in the best judged policy, Captain Sheffield observed to Beneviades, that his soldiers did not understand, nor could the work be done by, or with them, but, if he was TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 245 disposed to furnish him with a nuraber of the erapty tight casks from the whale ships he had previously captured, (an English whale ship, and the Hero, a whale ship of Nantucket,) and with all his crew of seamen and artificers, he believed he could get her afloat again, after a few days' work. To this Beneviades consent ed, (except the Hersilia's carpenter and ar mourer, Messrs. Guard and Gallop,) these two, he said, were so much needed there by the array, that he would not consent to let them go from the array encampment, on any occasion. Captain Sheffield thinking it not good policy to insist on them, did not press it. Accordingly, on the next morning, their crew (except the two retained) were mustered with their captain, and marched down under an officer and guard to the poor, cast-away Hersilia, and by their good captain, set cheerfully at work shovelling the sand away and placing under her bottom the empty casks. They did not hurry in this work, but rather prolonged it, in the wish to gain time to effect a plan of escape, by putting into execution the following daring and very desperate enterprise. Those- entrusted with the secret were Captain Sheffield, the first officer, Mr. D. W. Clark, a Mr. Lane, mate of the Boston brig, captured by Beneviades, and eight others of the Hersilia's crew ; these were 21* 246 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA the number entrusted with their important secret and intention to gain life and liberty, or submit to death. They were urged on to this course principally by hard usage and fare, and all were solemnly pledged to each other to effect their escape, or sacrifice their lives in the trial. Among these determined Americans, stood conspicuous Hoxie and Kellogg, who were appointed on the particular look-out, and to notify and report when a favourable oppor tunity should occur to move on their plan, with the view of escape from their slavery. The soldiers of their guard were quartered in a long shed of a building erected upon the beach near the bank of the river's mouth, adjacent to which lay hauled up five of the eight whale boats, three others were across the river hauled up on the opposite bank of it, the two officers that had charge of, and comraanded the guard, being quartered in a small hut nearly joining to the soldier's quarters. The previous and recent conduct and behaviour of the Americans, had established confidence, aud put greatly at rest all suspicion of any intention to escape, so much so, as to induce the commanding officer to suspend setting his sentries at their different posts on guard during the night, and to let the soldiers now sleep all in their quarters. The two officers only in tum keeping watch, sitting TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 247 at the door of their hut, and only calUng out a patrole guard of the soldiers every four hours, merely to march the rounds, and then direct back into their quarters to sleep. Thus, affairs were proceeding on, when, shortly after raid night, on the 26th of September, 1821, Hoxie and Kellogg reported to Captain Sheffield, that a favourable opportunity had arrived, and all their guard were believed to be now asleep : their party mustered without noise, but, on a second reconnoitre, the officer was discovered to be awake, which caused them to reraain still, but, in great anxiety lest the present opportu nity should pass away, by the breaking of the day ; accordingly, between 3 and 4 a. m., it was proposed to take prisoner the officer awake, so as not to give any alarm that should awake his comrade or the guard. Kellogg, with true Araerican spirit, volunteered for this act, and armed with an uplifted axe, stole softly up to him, and in a low voice of firm sternness, but such as not to awake or rouse the other officer, or guard, informed him that he was his prisoner, and that if he attempted to stir, or speak, he would instantly hew the life out of him ; he remained thus with upheld axe over him, until Captain Sheffield and the others had selected two boats, launched them, procured the oars, and staved all the other boats on the 248 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA bank of the river, and Mr. Clark, with his boat, had crossed and landed Hoxie on the opposite bank, who boldly and quickly staved all the boats hauled up on that bank, this was done to prevent an iraraediate pursuit of them; all be ing now in the two boats ready for the start, with their oars manned ready for the stroke, Captain Sheffield, with the bow of his boat just touched to the shore, gave the daring Kellogg the signal to come and embark, who, caution ing his prisoner, at his peril, to keep still, bid hira a good morning, and alertly stepped for ward and into the boat awaiting hira, when both boats instantly sprung on their oars, swift ly passing down for the mouth of the river ; however, before the boats had got out of sight of the guards' quartersy the officer had awaked and mustered out his soldiers, but by this time the boats had got at so long a gun-shot on their way, that they did not think proper to fire after them. On arriving at the raouth of the river, they crossed the bar with some risk, owing to the then unfavourable time of tide, and surf on it, but their good fortune favouring them, they passed safely over, when they shaped their course across the bay for the Isle of St. Mary's, but before they were able to reach over to the island's shore, a northern gale blew up, which soon increased into a violent storm, that con- TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 249 tinned and detained them on the island until the sixth day. This time was very severely trying to their minds, for although it prevented Beneviades sending at present any detachraent after them, still it gave to him time to repair the stoven boats, and thereby enable him to send in pursuit after them as soon as the storm should sufficiently abate. They were, there fore, very anxious to proceed to a place where they would be surely clear, and out of fear of him and his unfeeling warriors. Also, they cduld here procure nothing to subsist upon but raw seals' flesh, and wild fruits. CHAPTER III. Boats put ont to sea — Their suffering in them during their voyage — Effect a landing at Moula on the coast of Chili — Kind treatment and reception from the inhabitants — Travel to Valparaiso — United States' consul — U. S. fri gate Constellation, kindness of her gallant commander and officers — British flag ship, 74 — And sloop of war — Gene rous and noble proceedings of the British Admiral, Sir T. M. Hardy. However, on the sixth day, the storm having abated, and having provided a quantity of seals' flesh for sea stores, they launched forth and left the island,) steering out to sea in their small and tender craft, holding a course to the north- 250 voyage of the hersilia ward for Valparaiso, but, having a care in not coming near to the Chilian coast until they had well past Talcahuanna, and the Bay of Conception, lest sorae of Beneviades' armed craft should be there watching off that port for them ; being thus at sea in those small boats until the third day, without water, and their meat becoming quite putrid and offensive, with the bad weather and rough sea, caused by the late storm, which kept them almost constantly wet, thus, their sufferings were indeed severe, but were supported in bearing them by the consolation that they had thus escaped. Dur ing the squalls of wind and rain in the second riight the two boats were separated, and on the next day the one in which was the first officer and party, put in for the coast and shore of Chili, and succeeded in effecting a landing near to the small town of Moula, situated on this coast. The other, in which was the captain and party, succeeded in effecting a landing some miles farther northward on the same coast, but some leagues to the south of Val paraiso. Both parties then travelled by land to that city. They were at both places on landing received with much kindness and well treated by the Chilian inhabitants, as also at the towns and viUages on their travel through the country to Valparaiso, the inhabitants freely contribu- TO THE south SEAS. 251 ting to their wants and comfort in provisions (which now tasted to them like a Connecticut thanksgiving treat,) and necessaries ; and to all appearance manifesting much good feeling to wards thera in their late sufferings. On their arrival at Valparaiso they were re ceived with true fatherly kindness and atten tion by the United States' Consul, Michael Hogan, Esquire. There were at moorings in the harbour the United States' frigate Constel lation, the gallant coraraander and officers of which were very kind to them ; and also a British 74, and sloop of war, under Commodore Sir T. M. Hardy, the senior officer now in command of Her Britannic Majesty's squadron on the Pacific station. As soon as Admiral Hardy was informed of the arrival of Captain Sheffield, his officers and men, and of their sufferings, and escape from that barbarian chief, Beneviades, as also their distressful situ ation, he promptly, with the noblest and most huraane feelings, sent an officer on shore with an invitation to Captain Sheffield, saying, that he should be much pleased to receive him on board his ship. With this invitation Captain Sheffield immediately complied, when he was by this venerable and worthy commodore most cordially received into his stately cabin, and gave the detail of his capture, and the suffer- 252 voyage of THE HERSILIA ings they had experienced from Beneviades. After a few minutes consideration, the commo dore asked if his vessel and crew belonged to Stonington, behig answered in the affirmative, this gallant commodore then put the following questions to him : " Would there be, do you think, any probability, if you were assisted by a vessel of war. Captain Sheffield, of recover ing the liberty of the remainder of your men, and your property from Beneviades ?" " With such a force as you speak of, sir, under the orders of Commodore Hardy, I think Bene viades would deliver up the men to me, with the Hersilia's cargo ; at any rate, tbus situated and supported, I should be freely willing to put at risk, and in requisition, my person, tirae, and service, to try the experiment, should Commodore Hardy think the trial worth at tempting." Then, without'further loss of time in deliberation, this highly worthy commander sent an officer for the captain of the sloop of war, Conway, with orders to repair on board the flag-ship. On the captain's entering the cabin, the commodore said, " I have the plea sure to introduce to you, sir. Captain Sheffield, late in command of the Araerican brig, Hersi lia, who has been very unfortunate ;" and then observed to him, thus, " You will, sir, receive Captain Sheffield on board of your ship as a TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 253 passenger, and a friend of mine, with also such of his officers and men as he may choose to designate, and then proceed in your ship with all despatch, up the coast for Arauco, where you will anchor your ship in the road, and then use your best endeavours, consistent with His Majesty's service, in the aid to Captain Shef field to obtain the liberation of the remainder of his men, and also his property, from the royal chief, Beneviades, receiving the same on board your vessel, and report all here to me, when accomplished, or when the trial in ac cordance with this order is made. Further, you will, sir, consider yourself responsible for the return of Captain Sheffield safe back here to me, without the slightest injury." Thus, handsomely and nobly, to the honour of the British navy, did this erainent British com mander proceed, aud act in this case, for the relief of those unfortunate and distressed mariners. 22 254 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA CHAPTERIV. Captain Sheffield sails for Arauco in the British sloop of war, Conway — Anchor at Arauco — Town and store buildings in flames — A bloody battle — Patriot and royal armies — The defeated armies — Courteous and kind conduct of the comraander of His B. M. sloop of war, Conway — Captain Sheffield and men return in the Conway to Valparaiso — Close ofthe narrative. Captain Sheffield took leave of the gallant commodore, and repaired with her able com mander on board the British sloop of war, Conway, which was soon under way on her trip up the coast of Chili for Arauco. After a very agreeable passage, on the fifth day there after, they brought the sloop at anchor in the road of Arauco. But, to their surprise, the town and store buildings at the mouth of the river, and even the beautiful little wrecked Hersilia on the beach, as well as the other vessels captured by the orders and force of this noted chief, Beneviades, were seen in flames, all, all rapidly consuming by the fire. On landing, they found the patriots in com mand, and were informed that a desperate and bloody battle had just been fought and decided between the patriot and royal- armies, in which the latter, under Beneviades, had been defeat ed with rauch slaughter. He had then set fire TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 255 to the town and store buildings which we saw in flames, and had retreated with his surviving force into the wilderness at the foot of the mountains. The store buildings wherein the cargo of the Hersilia, when captured, was de posited, were now burned, and the vessel like wise destroyed. Thus was lost to all concern ed, this fine new American brig Hersilia, to gether with her valuable cargo. Her carpen ter and armourer, Messrs. Guard and Gallop, had, during the confusion and bustle of the battle before-mentioned, deserted over to the patriot army, and were then permitted to re pair on board of one of the patriot vessels of war, from which, by request of Captain Shef field, they were now received on board of the sloop of war Conway, by order of her worthy captain,* who sent his officer and boat for thera, and who, it appears, treated Captain Sheffield, under his misfortune, truly indeed, like a brother in distress. Captain Sheffield, in the hurry of embarking on 'board of his sloop, when at Valparaiso, to sail for Arauco, had gone on board with no other apparel save the suit he had on, but as soon as at sea, this * Here the author would respectfully remark, that it is with much regret he finds the name of this very meritorious British commander omitted in the note of record taken while Captain Sheffield was among the living. 256 VOYAGE OF THE HERSILIA gallant officer of the British navy, not only freely tendered, but even insisted, in the warmth of persuasion, on Captain Sheffield's making free, use of his wardrobe, as if it was his own ; and in addition to his numerous friendly acts of comfort to those bare and distressed Ame rican mariners, he urged Captain Sheffield, when they came to part, to take and accept of a sum of money to provide for his and their passage home; saying, he would take no voucher for it, and that if thereafter it should not be perfectly convenient for hira to retum t, then never to think of it, or let it in the least trouble his mind. Captain Sheffield returned to him his most unfeigned thanks for this very generous tender, and for his raany favours and kindness, saying, that the United States' Con sul had kindly fumished him with all the pe cuniary aid he should require. The embassy to Arauco of the commander of His Britannic Majesty's sloop, being thus, by the goodness and raerit of the adrairal. Sir T. M. Hardy, carried into effect, her anchor was weighed, and she returned back to the port of Valparaiso, where her able commander made his report to his senior in the command of the British squadron on this station ; when that fatherly United States' Consul, M. Hogan, Esq., joined with Captain Sheffield in present- TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 257 ing their heartfelt thanks to the British cofti- modore. Sir T. M. Hardy, for his benevolent and kind assistance in endeavouring to relieve the unfortunate. Captain Sheffield thereon reraarked, in his acknowledgraent, that the kind and handsome manner in which these favours had been conferred by the noble ad miral, and the generous and courteous cora mander of His Britannic Majesty's sloop, Con way, would never be erased frora his heart and memory. In fact, Captain Sheffield now says, that the doings, acts, and treatraent of the admiral to the unfortunate, was praise worthy beyond expression, or any thing he could say. With raany and grateful thanks for the same raeritorious acts, &c., as an Arae rican citizen, and agent of the Hersilia's voy age, the author closes the narrative, simply re raarking, that Captain Sheffield, his officers, and men took passage, and arrived safely at their home in the United States. 22* APPENDIX. AMERICAN NATIONAL SOUTH SEA EXPLOR ING EXPEDITION. New-York, January 3, 1838. — The author being informed by letters frora Washington, that Commodore Thomas Ap C. Jones has re signed the command of the United States' South Sea Exploring Expedition ; and also that it .was in contemplation to reorganize the expedition, as to the vessels, &c. ; and the author having at its first commencement ad dressed and forwarded to His Excellency, President Jackson, a letter containing his plan and views on the expedition, as to the kind of vessels, &c., which should compose the expe dition, to warrant, in his humble opinion, a promise of the greatest benefit and most bril liant result; he therefore felt it now a duty again to communicate the Uke, by letter, of si milar tenor, to His Excellency President Van Buren, and promptly forwarded to his Excel lency the following address : — 260 APPENDIX. New- York, December ISth, 1837. To His Excellency Martin Van Buren, President ofthe United States, Washington City. I have respectfully to observe, that, believ ing it to be the duty of every good citizen, when he has reason to believe his country re quires it, to contribute his aid, if ever so small and humble, as well in the aid by light on any measure of govemment, as otherwise ; — this, with the reported difficulty that appears to have risen on the Exploring Expedition, has caused the idea to corae up to my raind, and with the utmost respect, to again lay before the Presi dent, in recommendation, (if it is to be reorganiz ed,) ray original plan and view, as to what vessels, &c., should best corapose an American National Discovery and Exploring Expedition to the South Seas, &c., to warrant the greatest benefit, and give a promise of the most bril liant result in every view, viz. — In the greatest respectful deference to all others, and their opinions, my practical know ledge would recommend a well constructed and light armed navy-like flag ship, with the most superior corafortable accoramodations for all on board, which would cost, say $100,000, with APPENDIX. 261 two smaU proper exploring ships, with siraUar accoraraodations, and which two would cost, say $80,000. Those three vessels coming at this sura of $180,000, exclusive of their arma ment, which government has on hand at their depots, with a complement of not exceeding 275 persons, scientific and all told ; would, in my humble opinion, compose the raost proper and ef fective South Sea American National Discovery and Exploring Expedition. And thus, all three sailing alike, avould give them great advantage in keeping company, and prevent delay ; and such vessels could, in their out fit, receive on board of each all their main wants for a four years' voyage, with the occasional required re freshments that would come convenient in their route, and therefore be dependent on them selves only while on the voyage, (and not on a victualling ship,*) and would be by far the best squadron of vessels for performance in this pe culiar service, and to ensure the best proraise of constant health to their crews — would also take away all heart-burning from every indivi dual, as to a preference in the vessels to sail in, as the three would be alike comfortable to all. And those would perform the service with the * Which may cause serious disappointment to all depend ent, by being wrecked while on her passage from one ren dezvous to another. 262 APPENDIX. greatest despatch and safety, and certainly in much less time than the present prepared expe dition possibly could ; and it appears to my ex perience, with that of the economy, of less than a moiety of the araount of its expense ; in fact, in every view, does it not appear wise that such a squadron would be the preferable ? and surely it would be truly Araerican, and carry thus with it, special national dignity. And as all the now provided articles, provisions, in struraents, &c., &c., could be transferred over to them, those three most proper vessels* could be completed, and at anchor off our bat- * A wise government should never send a vessel to pene trate into the icy regions towards the South Pole, unless she was able to take and had on board at least eighteen months full allowance of fuel and provisions, to the safety of those on board ; as when she is advanced into these regions, her scene may, in spite of all human precaution, in an hour's time, be changed from that of a clear sky, and free of ice, to being enveloped in a thick dense fog — and before this clears away, she may get beset, and fast, in a vast field of ice, extending beyond the vision, and thus detained through a long winter, and even the next season in extricating her, to the liberty of proceeding on any desired course. And to send her on this route without being thus wisely provided, would seem to be sporting with valuable lives. Also vessels sent on this ser vice should have two decks, and be ofthe most expert work ing, and swiftest sailing vessels. And further, those two smaller vessels are certaiijly not the safest to explore and survey singly among the islands and natives in the Pacific, APPENDIX. 263 tery by, or on the 4tli of July next, at the very farthest, ready for sea at an hour's notice, whenever its gallant coramander should receive his orders for saUing, and which date would be a favourable season for it to saU. And on their return, being the swiftest sailing vessels, and first rate sea-boats, would be the very thing for the relief cruising squadron on our coast in re lieving the distressed vessels, agreeable to the contemplated bill recently before Congress. All which is most respectfully submitted, and have the honour to be, with great respect, The President's Most ob'd't servant, EDMUND FANNING. In answer to which letter, the author, by re turn mail, received from the honourable secre tary of the United States' navy, the following note : — Navy Department, 22d December, 1837. Sir, — Your letter to the President ofthe 18th inst., respecting the South Sea Exploring Ex- as being not higher, or so high out of water, as the platform of their large double war canoes, will be much more likely to invite attack, war, and massacre. 264 APPENDIX. pedition, has been referred to this department, and shall receive a respectful consideration. I am with great respect, your ob'd't servant, M. DICKERSON. Captain Edmund Fanning, New- York. Finally, in closing, the author would re spectfully remark, that the part he has acted, touching on this laudable national enterprise, with the purest intentions and views to serve his country, is herein faithfully recorded ; and he cheerfully leaves it with a generous public, and the candid reader, to judge, and decide, whether he is subject to any blarae, as his aid by knowledge in experience of voyaging to those parts, and seas, has never been called into requisition in its preparations ; also to judge if this omission has not been at least unwise touching its organization, delay, or tending to its failure, (which heaven forbid,) should the expedition entirely fail of ever de parting frora an American port. Let thera de termine whether he has been treated according to his raerits, and patriotic intentions, to serve his country by aid to navigation, commercial trade, the whale and seal fisheries, science, &c., &c., as well as to make it more safe to the voyaging storm suffering mariner, while on APPENDIX. 265 his route traversing those seas and oceans. And whether the author has had his merits so awarded in relation to his acts and doings, touching on this national enterprise, and sub ject, by a just and liberal treatment, &c., as to encourage other citizens to appropriate their choicest time in life, in patriotic acts, and re searches for the general good and benefit of their country. As the author conceives, if this national expedition be worth any thing to the nation, then he has been very unhandsomely and ungratefully treated, in being kept aside, and not admitted to participate in its fit out, even if no benefit should have been derived thereby. The author has deemed it but justice due, to thus place on record before the public, and the world, the part he has acted relative to this national project, lest error, and a false view, should hereafter come up into belief, to the in jury of a plain voyager, and with all respect ful deference, he hopes this will be a satisfac tory apology to those highly worthy gentleraen and citizens whose names he has been under the necessity to use in composing this work. He will only respectfully add, that it ma)' be confidently believed, that had such three ships, properly fitted, have departed from our port on this Discovery and Ejfploring Expedition in 23 266 APPENDIX. due season, under the able talent in our navy, not only a good part of this vei;y laudable ser vice would have now (January 16th, 1838,) been already performed, but, also thus organ ized, the author could have seemingly pledged his life, to its honourable, brilliant, and bene ficial result. Further, to show in evidence the length of time the author's mind and attention has been drawn to such a national enterprise, he would here respectfuUy reraark, that he has the honour still to hold the commission issued and granted to him by President Madison, of date, 17th of March, 1812, as commander of an Exploring and Discovery Expedition to the South Seas, and around the world, consisting of two suitable ships then prepared and fitting out at the port of New- York, for the voyage, which were prevented from sailing on it, by the sudden declaration of war against Great Bri tain by the United States' Congress, to the great regret and disappointment of the author, as well as to many scientific gentlemen, and worthy patriotic citizens that felt a weighty in terest in this laudable and promising enterprise, in which some of the most able nautical and talented mariners had volunteered and engag ed. As the history of the rise and proceedings of the present National South Sea Exploring Expedition is herein particularly related, it is APPENDIX. 267 left with the candid reader to judge what un seen current, or cause, kept the personal ser vices of the author from being eraployed in the constructing of the most proper vessels, as well as to the preparations in its fit out ; after his long and arduous task in aid to the obtaining of its authorization, and volunteering, by earli est tender to his Excellency the President of the United States, of the author's personal ser vices to its organization, &c., by the patriotic aid of practical knowledge in such long tried experience, which gave so fair a promise of tending so much to the credit of the nation, and to the benefit and advantage of our beleved country. Nevertheless, after all, although the author has had the fortune, and been the means of causing millions to flow into the na tion's treasury, by opening and advancing the herein-before mentioried commercial trade to those southern and eastern countries, the South Seas, Pacific, and China, by which it was made unnecessary to take the specie out from ours therefor ; yet, he has never received a dollar frora government for any personal ser vices. Such has been the retum (non-employ ment) to a citizen who has voluntarily dedica ted a Ufe in research and discovery to the be nefit of his country. Havings however, before closing the matter of this volume, received in- 268 APPENDIX. formation from Washington, that government had it under consideration to raake a change of the vessels then prepared for the South Sea Exploring Expedition, by substituting the sloops of v/ar Vincennes and Peacock, with a packet-built ship ; he is confident, from per sonal experience, that sloops of war are not the best, or even well adapted for a flag-ship, or for explorers to such an expedition and service. They can sail around the world, it is true, with the despatch of a vessel of war, by havihg the attendance of a store-ship, or some like re source to attend to their occasional wants and timely supplies of provisions, fuel, &c., but are certainly not the best adapted vessels for a voyage of discovery and exploration in all climes, latitudes, and seas. The author there fore felt it a duty, and promptly forwarded the following letter to His Excellency the Presi dent of the United States. New- York, February Sth, 1838. To His Excellency Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, Washington City. I would respectfully crave once more to ad dress the President on the South Sea Explor- APPENDIX. 2G9 ing Expedition, as I cannot but consider my self the father of the project in its first start and rise into authorization, and which, to my mind, appears so plain and easy to be carried brilliantly into effect, with the proper vessels, &c. Being informed from Washington, that go vernment have it under consideration to make a change in the vessels of the expedition, by substituting two sloops of war, the relief, a packet ship, and a schooner, inthe room of the frigate and her prepared craft ; if this be the fact, with all respectful deference, I should tliink those more illy adapted to perform this service, than the frigate and her small vessels Avere. And if the packet ship is intended to accoramodate the scientific gentlemen, it is not unwise to separate the main of the scientific corps from an immediate and constant associa tion with its commander. I therefore, in the utmost respect, beg to sub mit the following suggestion, viz. — As the Macedonian is prepared, to let her go as the flag-ship, supported by the reUef store-ship, and cause to be promptly constructed by the force of our carpenters, &c. here, two small proper ships as the explorers, let those four depart as the squadron ; my Ufe on it, those 23* 270 APPENDIX. wUl perform to the honour and credit of the nation, its administration, and the navy. If desired, the little schooner Active, could be added as a surveying boat, in attendance on the commodore's ship. With great respect, I have the honour to be. The President's ob'd't servant, EDMUND FANNING. And having voluntarily thus given his aid in the proceedings to this patriotic national enterprise, the author can only say, that ever since the tender of his services, by letter to the President of the United States, which was, it is presumed, the first application, and previous to any appointment being made to the expedi tion ; he has been ever ready, up to the pre sent tirae, (February 1838,) to give his further aid to this very laudable national project, if it had been called for, and that with a patriotic, honest, and zealous view, to benefit his be loved country and raankind. Nevertheless, thus ended the voluntary exertions of years of toil in the best spirit of good intent of the au thor, to aid in his best endeavours to effect this really favourite national raeasure by the most promising fit out to the expedition, &c. Thus, also perished all the long, sanguine and flattering hopes of the author, on which APPENDIX. 271 his heart has so long been set, to a supreme idea of pleasure and gratification, in the hope of seeing this favourite national enterprise saU, and return during his time of life with brilliant success, and honour to the nation, its navy, science, &c., and thereby adding much to the American character. And now, when fate has so singularly and slowly dragged it forward into partial preparation ; still if ever the squad ron proceed on its discoveries and explora tions, its perforraance and result are yet wrapt in the darkness of futurity, and to the author most likely ever will be ; as after its being so long suspended on the wings of doubt, raust defeat his anxious expectation, as should it now, this day, depart from the .shore of Ame rica, there is a very small prospect that the author, by his advanced age, would be found araong the living on its return. The author would not have the reader un derstand by the tenor of his letter, as above to the President, that he would have preferred a frigate to all other vessels as a flag-ship, or to that of a ship built expressly for this particular service and station, which, like the two sug gested exploring ships, could receive before sailing all her main wants on board for her voyage, and therefore, not Uable to disappoint ment and delay, by being dependent on a store- 272 APPENDIX. ship. But, as the Macedonian had been pre pared ready to depart — to prevent any further delay in the sailing of the expedition, he deem ed it best to employ her as the flag-ship, as first intended. A sloop of war being not only much smaller, but single decked, is thus by no means well calculated for a flag and horae ship to such an expedition. If, at the very first, one of our splendid large packet ships, or a vessel modelled and constructed like them, had been selected or decided on to have been employed as the flag-ship to this uncommon new service, frigate rigged, and lightly, navy-like armed, it would, in the author's hurable opinion, have been a wise and good selection. . The author having been honoured in the command of a corvette ship of war of 22 guns, commissioned by the elder President Adams, on an exploring voyage around the world ; and important discoveries having been by him made, to much national benefit — and such voy age havipg been well and safely performed, is it not Ukely that he should by this, and his many other Uke voyages, as well as great ex perience in ship building, be somewhat of a judge, as to what kind of vessels would be the most suitable, and best in promise to perform on a National Discovery and Exploring Expe dition, to all seas and climes ? As also to the APPENDIX. 273 propriety of employing sloops of war on this important national enterprise, either as a flag ship, or as explorers, or as being the best and driest sea-boats, tending thereby to the comfort and preservation of the health of the crew 1 In illustration of this, the author would respect fully refer to the circumstances as related of the Peacock sloop of war, when sailing in the mUd climate under the fortieth degree of south latitude, where, in Roberts' Embassy, page 30, it is thus remarked : — " The ship (the Peacock) was at one tirae rolling her channels in before a strong wester ly wind ; at another, lying with her broadside deeply submerged by severe squalls from the northwestern quarter, the gun-deck being ankle deep in water, and washing from side to side. Life lines were secured from gun to gun to sup port the constant passing of men fore and aft the deck." And again, on the adjoining page 31. " Subsequently, we encountered a very heavy gale, accorapanied by a tremendous swell of the ocean ; during its violence, a sea of uncommon height struck the ship,* and threw her nearly on her beam ends, and buried the * This stroke of the sea was, it is presunied, owing to the deficiency of that duck-like buoyancy in the Peacock, by her uncommon and too heavy frame, &c., in her construe- 274 APPENDIX. first three ratlines of the mizen shrouds under water." The author would most respectfully ask, how could Araerican talent and wisdom deem such vessels the most suitable as flags or ex plorers, especially to navigate on this new and extraordinary service, and in all cliraes and latitudes, such as the regions of the icy seas, where much heavier weather, and more violent gales would be expected to be met with, than in the milder latitudes ? Having at all times in view, and expectation to perform, and ac complish by American perseverance, fortitude, and talent, beyond what has been heretofore perforraed by all other navigators, since the days of Columbus, and thereby to advance the American character; he would inquire, are such vessels (sloops of war,) to be selected, prefer red, and chosen, to thus perform on this new and important service ; and that too, after build ing three other vessels expressly for it, which, after trial, are found unfit. Alas ! my country ; has all thy wisdom and Yankee ^cuteness of character flown to the winds. The following extract of a letter to the Hon. tion when rebuilt, which deadened her buoyant life, and tliereby prevented her prompt rise over the giant sea, like a first rate sea-boat. APPENDIX. 275 John Forsyth, secretary of state for the United States, will give the author's view as to the route, performances, &c., expected, relative to the expedition. As also the difference between a mere surveying expedition ; and that of a magnificent National Discovery and Exploring Expedition. (EXTRACT.) New- York, February 24th, 1838. Sir, — Therein I respectfully would state, it appears that the Exploring Expedition is to spend the main part of its time from the 20th degree of north latitude to the south, in survey ing the islands, &c. in the Pacific* This em ployment would be time well used, to be sure, whenever the squadron were waiting for the season to come around favourable to proceed into a higher latitude, or, if it was intended to be a mere surveying expedition. • In all deference, I should think, to perform any thing like a correct survey of all the islands, reefs, &c., lying in the Pacific, between the tropics, it would give constant and ac tive employment to ten sail, for at least ten years, to well ac complish. This, a Discovery and Exploring Expedition could effect, as only touching on the most prominent objects on their route, and then only as far as time would conveni ently admit of. 276 APPENDIX. But with all respectful deference, relative to its object, I have ever been in the belief, it had in view a more dignified, magnanimous, and important service and performance as a Na tional Discovery and Exploring Expedition, viz. — That its gallant comraander would, as far as possible, in the Northern, as well as in the Southern Pacific, and also in other oceans, cause all unexplored seas, and lands, to be ex plored, the eastern coast of Asia, the extensive islands north of Japan, so Uttle known, &c. ; and may I respectfully suggest, should a per son be on board the flag-ship, having in charge a letter or friendly communication from the President of the United States of America, to the Emperor of Japan ;* on that ship's visiting one of his ports, with the intention of a trial to obtain the freedom of a port, in one of the nu merous harbours on the eastern coast of Japan, to whicli our whale ships might be permitted to resort to, when in want of refreshments, or in case of repairing daraage met with in that sea ; this would be highly important and bene ficial accommodation to those whale ships, and * Our late venerable President Jackson has thus obtained a friendly understanding with the King of Siam, the grexit lord and worshipper ofthe white elephant, and other orieptal nabobs, and why may not the like succeed with the Emperor of Japan? — it certainly cannot be known until tried.' APPENDIX. 277 the enterprising citizens eraployed on board, in that very valuable fishery. And should this be acceded to, and accomplished, who can tell but what it might be the means of opening the gate to an extensive advantageous commercial trade hereafter with that empire. I have the honour to be, dear sir. Very respectfully. Your ob'd't servant, EDMUND FANNING. Herewith the reader has the official Report ofthe honourable secretary ofthe navy, in an swer to a resolution of the honourable the House of Representatives of the American Congress, relating to the National South Sea Exploring Expedition. 24 S5th CONQRBSS, YTinn Mr. 1/17 1 ^o. Ot EkPS. Sd Session. [JJOC. fMO. 14 /.J Eztcutivc. EXPLORING EXPEDITION. MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING The ivformation required by a resolution of the House of Representatives of 7th December last, in relation to the Delay in the Outjit, <^c., for the Exploring Expedition. FEBEHiRT 7, 1838. Read, and laid upon the table. Washington Citt, February 5, 1838. Sir : I have the honour to transmit to you a report frora the Secretary of the Navy, prepar ed in obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th Deceraber last, re quiring information as to the causes which have delayed the outfit and preparation ofthe South Sea Surveying and Exploring Expedition. M. VAN BUREN. To the Hon. James K. Polk, Speaker of the Ho. of Reps. APPENDIX. 279 Navy Departmbnt, February 6, 1838. Sir : I have the honour to transmit to you a report, in obedience to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th December last, in relation to the delay of the sailing of the Exploring Expedition. I am, very respectfully. Your obedient servant. M. DICKERSON. To the President ofthe United States. Navy Dkfartment, February 5, 1838. Sir : In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th Deceraber last, calling for the causes which have delayed the outfit and preparation ofthe South Sea Sur- veying and Exploring Expedition, required by the act of Congress of May, 1836, making ap propriations for the naval service ; and copies of all letters, docuraents, and comraunications, which have passed between the Secretary of the Navy, the Commissioners of the Navy Board, the officer appointed to the chief com mand, and of all other officers or persons, re lative to all matters connected with the prepa ration, outfit, and sailing of the said expedition, and the causes which now delay its sailing ; I beg leave to state that, in rny report of the 2d of December last, I gave a brief detail of the 280 APPENDIX. circumstances which had caused the. delay of the sailing of this expedition up to that time, when I believed that it was about to leave our coast. The vessels of the squadron were at the harbour of New York, nearly ready for sea ; the scientific corps had been directed to report to the coramander, and had done so, and were ready to erabark. My sailing instruc tions were given as early as the 10th of Novem ber ; the seamen, ordinary seamen, marines, and boys, had re-entered, and received their bounty, in whole or in part, to the amount of three months' pay ; when, on being permitted to go on shore, they deserted, to the number of one hundred and fifty-five ; and Coraraodore Jones, harassed with the trouble and labour of preparing his vessels for sea, found his health so entirely destroyed that he could not, either in justice to hiraself or to the country, longer continue in coraraand of the squadron. He transraitted the copy of a letter from Dr. R. Ticknor, fleet surgeon of the expedition, dated at New York, November 30, 1837, stating that the commodore's health had been in a bad state for some tirae ; that, frora the violent cough under which he was suffering, frora the bloody expectoration and soreness in the chest, it was evident that the lungs were diseased to such a degree as to demand serious attention ; and that, considering his predisposition to pulmon* APPENDIX. 281 ary disease, and the unfavourable influence of the cUmate of that place upon such predisposi tion, it was his opinion that a change of climate was the only raeasure from which the desired benefit could be obtained. He therefore strong ly advised the comraodore to leave that climate, and go to his residence in Virginia, as soon as the state of his health and the weather would perrait. Under these circurastances, the coramodore's request to be relieved frora the coraraand of the squadron was iraraediately granted; al though this raeasure could not fail to be attend ed with the most embarrassing circumstances, as it respected the sailing of the squadron- Great difficulty was apprehended in finding a successor to Comraodore Jones, able and wUl ing to take the coraraand of the squadron, as it had been organized, or to reraodel the same. All these difficulties have been fully realized. The comraand has been offered to three distin guished officers, who have declined it ; a fourth has been ordered, who will not be permitted to decline, under whom the squadron will be reorganized on a reduced scale, and through whose agency there is a fair prospect of real izing the iraportant objects of the expedition. I have endeavoured to lay before Congress the important facts connected with the fitting 24* 282 APPENDIX. out of this expedition in my annual report of the 3d of December, 1836 ; in my letter of the 6th of February last, in answer to a call of the House of Representatives for information as to the progress made with regard to the Explor ing Expedition, (Doc. No. 138 ;) in my letter of the 12th of October last, in answer to a call of the House of Representatives in relation to the detention of the sailing of the Exploring squadron, (Doc. No. 50 ;) and in my last an nual report of the 2d of December last. To these documents I beg leave to refer as explan atory of the present report. I will now atterapt to restate the leading facts contained in those documents, with such reraarks and additional information as the present resolution seems to require. In the act ofthe 14th of May, 1836, making appropriations for the naval service, it was pro vided that the President of the United States be authorized to send out a Surveying and Ex ploring Expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas ; and for that purpose to employ a sloop of war, and to purchase or provide such other smaller vessels as might be proper and necessary to render such expedition efficient and useful ; for which the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars was appropriated : and, in addition thereto, if necessary, the Pre- APPENDIX. 283 sident was authorized to use other means in the control of the Navy Departraent, not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the objects required. It is evident that a sloop of Avar, a brig, and a schooner, was as large a force as it was the intention of Congress to employ on this expedition. Had this plan been adopted, the expedition, with a small scientific corps, and such instiuments and books as were to be pro cured in the country, might have sailed before the meeting of Congress of that year ; although this would have interfered with other branches of the naval service, then requiring the imme diate attention of the Navy Departraent. Captain Thoraas Ap Catesby Jones was se lected as the coraraander of the expedition. The confidence placed in this officer, which led to his appointment to this important trust, in duced the President to rely upon his opinion as to the proper force to be employed. He was of the opinion that one frigate of the second class, one store-ship, two barques or brigs, and one schooner, were indispensably ne cessary to the success of the enterprize. In ac cordance wdth which opinion, measures were taken for preparing the vessels and fitting out the expedition. The frigate Macedonian and store-ship Relief were upon the stocks at the 284 APPENDIX. time this measure was adopted, and w^ere or dered to be finished without delay, and the three other vessels were ordered to be built — the whole under the iraraediate superintendence of Coramodore Jones, who was authorized to visit, as often as he should think proper, the different navy yards of Boston, New- York, Phi ladelphia, and Norfolk, for the purpose of giv ing such directions and instructions as he might deem necessary. As this great national enterprise would cost more for its outfit than the whole sum appro priated for the expedition, it was evident that it could not leave our coast until further appro priations should be made. This afforded an opportunity of sending to Europe for books and instruments for the scien tific corps to be attached to the squadron ; and rendered it proper to increase the proposed number for such corps, so as to bear a just proportion to the great scale of the expedition. Lieutenant Wilkes, of the navy, was sent to Europe, with ample funds, to procure the ne cessary books and instruments, and embarked at New- York on the Sth of August, 1836. As at this time it was necessary to fit out a squadron for the Pacific, another for the coast of Brazil, and to add to our squadron in the West Indies, it was evident that great difficulty APPENDIX. 285 would take place in recruiting seamen for the Exploring Expedition. This difficulty was fully understood and stated ; but Comraodore Jones gave assurances that, should he be autho rized to recruit searaen for this particular ser vice, under his own superintendence, and with the aid of such officers as he should designate, he would have a sufficient number of searaen recruited before the ships of the squadron could be prepared. This proposition was assented to, although this mode of recruiting was considered ex tremely detrimental to the service. This raea sure, as was apprehended, raade it necessary to adopt the sarae mode of recruiting for the Brazilian and Pacific squadrons, all interfering with each other ; and the consequence was, that on the first of February last, no more than two hundred and forty-eight searaen, ordinary searaen, and boys, had been recruited for the expedition — more than enough, it is true, for the expedition intended by Congress, but not half enough for the squadron of Commodore Jones, which required crews, officers included, amounting to six hundred and three men, ex clusive of the scientific corps. At the different navy yards every effort was made to complete, agreeably to the suggestions and instructions of Comraodore Jones, the ves- 286 APPENDIX. selb of this squadron, to wit .• the frigate Mace donian, the store-ship ReUef, of 460 tons, the barques Pioneer and Consort, of 230 tons each, and the schooner PUot, of 114 tons. The Re lief was launched on the 14th of Septeraber, 1836 ; the Pioneer on the 26th, and the Con sort on the 29th of October; the PUot about the same time, and the frigate Macedonian on the 1st of November. The barques and schoon er, with the store-ship, were equipped and sent round to Norfolk, from which harbour they might sail at any season of the year. Before this time, a difficulty had occurred as to the appointment of two officers to the com mand of two of the smaller vessels, which, al though it occasioned no delay in the sailing of the squadron, had an unfavourable effect upon the preparations for the expedition. It was my wish to employ such officers of the navy as were distinguished for science, in this expedition, as far as this could conveniently be done ; and to eraploy but a small number of scientific gentlemen not belonging to the navy. Upon such an arrangement I believed the ultimate success of the expedition was to depend, and have not changed that opinion. Lieutenant Slidell, distinguished for his scientific attainraents and elegant literature, seeraed peculiarly well qualified to take a place APPENDIX. 287 in the expedition ; I, therefore, proposed to or der him to the comraand of one of the smaller vessels of the squadron, and to charge him with the duty of writing a history of the voyage. To this Coramodore Jones, after taking tirae for inquiry and consideration, objected in a written coramunication. This I received and considered ; for the rule I had adopted as to this expedition was, not only to perrait Com modore Jones to select his officers, such as coraraanders of squadrons are usually permitted to select, but, of those to be selected by this Department, not to appoint any against whora he raight have well-founded objections ; and such were the instructions to rae frora the Pre sident. The objections to Lieutenant Slidell appear ed to me not only unfounded, but unjust to the professional character and standing of that officer. As he requested a copy of those ob jections, which were made a raatter of record in this Department, it was, with the assent of Commodore Jones coraraunicated to hira ; and he was left to answer the allegations which had been made against him. I proposed to order Lieutenant WUkes to the command of the schooner, from a belief that his knowledge in mathematics and astrono my would be of great service to the expedition ; 288 APPENDIX. with a view to which, he had been selected to go to Europe for instruraents and books, as be fore stated. To him also. Commodore Jones objected in a written communication. His ob jections appeared to rae not to be well found ed; I, however, did not order either of these officers, but reserved the subject for the con sideration of the President, who was then ab sent frora the seat of government. On his re turn, it was laid before hira, and he decided in favour of ordering those officers, as I had pro posed. As, however, the correspondence be tween Lieutenant Slidell and Coraraodore Jones was such as to leave no hope that there could be any harraony of action between them, which raight be attended with consequences unfavourable to the success of the expedition ; and as the objections raade against Lieutenant Wilkes, who had not yet returned frora Europe, were such as to leave no doubt in my raind that he would consider it an act of injustice, under the circumstances of the case, to be or dered in this service, I came to the conclusion that for the interest of the expedition it was better that neither of thera should be ordered. I informed Commodore Jones that they would not be ordered, and requested him to name the officers he wished. After this, I made no further attempts to se cure for this expedition the services of officers APPENDIX. 289 of science ; and frora that time there has been a great reluctance on the part of officers to to serve in the expedition, as is evident from the great number ordered, who, upon their ear nest solicitation, have been excused; a list of whom is annexed to this report. Soon after this, (on the 4th of December,) Congress met. At this time Lieutenant Wilkes had not returned to the United States with the instruraents and books, although daily expect ed. The necessary recruits of seamen had not been obtained, and the appropriation of three hundred thousand dollars was nearly exhausted. The squadron could not sail upon the extensive scale adopted, until further ap propriations should be raade ; and these were not raade until the 3d of March last. In the mean time, it was not considered certain that Congress would, by their appropriations, autho rize the sending out a larger squadron than they had intended by the act of May, 1836. In my annual report of the 3d of December, 1836, I submitted estimates of appropriations required for the expedition, to consist of one frigate, one store-ship, two barques, and one schooner ; and on the 6th of Febraary last, I made, as before stated, a report in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives, in relation to the progress made in fitting out the 25 290 APPENDIX. Exploring Expedition, in which these estimates were fully explained. By these reports it appears that the appro priation of three hundred thousand dollars had been expended, and that the annual expense for the five vessels of the squadron, with pay and provisions for the scientific corps, would amount to $346,431, which, for three years, the proposed duration of the cruise, would amount to $1,039,293. Although the appropriation for the payment of the scientific corps had not been raade, yet their appointment was urged on the ground that it was iraportant to the gentleraen to be select ed, to know it as long beforehand as possible, to enable thera to arrange their business for an absence of three years : and on the 28th of Deceraber, 1836, the larger part of thera were appointed, on liberal salaries, to commence when their services should be required; upon which condition, they accepted their appoint ment. , On the 30th of March last Lieutenant Tatt nall returned from a cruise to the coast of Mexico, which he had made as commander of the Pioneer ; and he reported so unfavourably of the sailing of this vessel, that it was deem ed proper that her condition should be fully examined into, as well as that of the brig Con- APPENDIX. 291 sort and schooner Pilot, which, in point of sailing, had not been considered equal to the Pioneer. The necessary arrangements for such an ex amination were made; and on the 10th of AprU Coraraodore Jones was inforraed that the Comraissioners of the Navy, with the chief naval constructor and the naval architect at Norfolk, were ready to proceed to the perfor mance of this duty ; and he was requested to join thera, which he did. On the 26th of that month, at his own sug gestion, he was instructed to make an experi mental cruise with the Relief, Pioneer, Consort and Pilot, for the purpose of making a full trial of their saiUng qualities, and was directed to retum to Norfolk in twenty days after sail ing. On his return from this cmise, he report ed favourably of the saiUng of these vessels ; but, in other respects, his report might be con sidered as unfavourable, inasrauch as he re coraraended that the barques and schooner should go into dry dock for the purpose of ex amination, and such alterations as a board of officers appointed for that purpose should re coraraend. This could not fail to add to the delay which had already taken place, as the ship of the line Delaware was then in dock, and could not be immediately removed. 292 . APPENDIX. Lieutenant Tattnall, after this experiraental cruise, still entertained the most unfavourable opinion of the sailing qualities of these vessels, and asked to be relieved from the command of the Pioneer. As soon as the Delaware could be removed, Comraodore Warrington, on the 30th of May, was directed to prepare the Pioneer, Consort, and Pilot, for going into dock. On the 8th of June, a board of five officers (Comraodores Chauncey, Morris, Warrington, Patterson, and Wadsworth,) was ordered to make an examin ation of the condition of those vessels ; which seeraed the more necessary, inasmuch as Com modore Jones had demanded another schooner to be added to his squadron ; without which he could not consider the expedition coraplete or efficient. The board was instructed to inquire whether the squadron raight not be reduced in number of vessels and men, with advantage to the country, and without prejudice to the success ofthe expedition. This inquiry was rendered proper in conse quence of the great difficulty of procuring the necessary funds during the suspension of spe cie payments, which had not been foreseen when the last appropriations were made, and be cause it would be in accordance with the ori- APPENDIX. 293 ginal intentions of Congress in fitting out the expedition. It was thought that, should a part of the vessels be found unfit for this service, it would be better that the squadron should sail with a reduced force, than suffer the delay of preparing other vessels. On the 17th of June Comraodore Jones reported that the requisite nuraber of searaen had been recruited. On the 12th of July, the board reported that the occupation of the dock at Gosport, and the eraployraent of sorae of the raerabers of the board, prevented a raeeting until the 30th June ; that the barques and schooner were put into dock and exarained ; and certain altera tions recomraended, which could soon be com pleted, by which the vessels might be made to answer the purpose proposed sufficiently well to justify their employment. The board say that had they been called upon, before any preparations had been made, to state the nuraber and character of the ves sels which, in their opinion, would be best cal culated to secure the attainraent of the propos ed objects, they certainly would not have re commended those which have been prepared. They were of opinion that a smaller nuraber of vessels would have answered the purposes ; yet, from a consideration of the expense incurr ed, the time spent in preparing the force, and 25* :294 APPENDIX. other circumstances, which they enumerate, and as the officer selected to command the ex pedition was satisfied with the vessels, they came to the conclusion that no reduction could be made in their amount at this late period, without prejudice to the success of the expedi tion. They, however, recomraended a reduction of the nuraber of officers and men to about five hundred, exclusive of the scientific corps. To this reduction Commodore Jones strenuously objected, and he was permitted to retain his full force of 603 officers and men. The alterations recommended in the vessels were made with all the despatch that the means at the disposal of Commodore Warrington would permit. But, before they could be com pleted. Commodore Jones discovered that the cooking galleys which had been ordered to be put on board his vessels, by his direction, for burning anthracite coal, would not answer the purpose proposed ; and on the 1st of August he requested that new galleys should be fur nished, to be substituted for those found to be useless. This was a new cause of delay. Or ders were immediately given for constructing the new galleys wanted. They were made without delay, at the navy yard at Washington, under the direction of Commodore Patterson, APP^SNDIX, 295 and the last of them sent to Norfolk on the 6th of October. As I believed the schooner Pilot, notwith standing the alterations made in her, could not be safely eraployed in this expedition, I gave Comraodore Jones the privilege of purchasing another schooner, to be substituted for this. In consequence of which, on the 8th of Septem ber, he purchased the schooner Clara, now called the Active, for eight thousand dollars ; upon which he was authorized to put such re pairs and improvements as he might think ne cessary, at the navy yard at New-York ; and which he has done at a rauch greater expense than the original cost of the vessel. On the 26th of Septeraber I had issued or ders to Coraraodore Jones to proceed with his squadron from Norfolk to New- York, as soon as the vessels could be prepared for removal. He sailed frora Norfolk on the 12th of October, and arrived four days afterwards at New- York. BeforeUeaving Norfolk, Commodore Jones issued a general order, which gives a most flattering account of the condition of the squa dron, leaving no doubt that the expedition would be under sail, in a few days, for the southem hemisphere. The reasons alleged by Commodore Jones for wishing to remove the squadron to New- 296 APPENDIX. York were, that the stores might be" completed, and such apparatus procured for heating thg vessels as might be necessary for the health and comfort of the crews in high latitudes ; all which, it was believed, could be completed in a few days. Wishing to hasten the departure of the squa dron, I instructed the gentlemen of the scienti fic corps, to report to Coramodore Jones with out delay, although he had not inforraed rae that the vessels were ready for their reception, but I inferred this frora the general order, and it was iraportant that their books, instruraents, and furniture should be arranged while the pre parations for the vessels were advancing. Al though the gentleraen of the scientific corps could riot, with propriety, be instructed to re port to the coramander of the expedition before the vessels were in a situation to receive them, yet they were put upon pay from the 4th of July last, and were on duty in preparing books, instruraents, and materials, necessary for their labours on the expedition. Fearing that there might be some difficulty as to accoraraodations for this corps, and the various articles they raight think it necessary to carry with them, I requested Commodore Jones, if his convenience would permit, to meet a large portion of them assembled at Philadelphia, for the purpose of APPENDIX. 297 having with them a free conference and perfect understanding as to these points. This raeet ing took place in July, and such arrangements were made as I understood to be perfectly sa tisfactory to Comraodore Jones and to the gen tleraen of the scientific corps. This arrangeraent, however, seeras to have had no beneficial effect ; for the instruraents, books, furniture, and articles of various kinds, required by these gentlemen for the expedition, are greater in bulk than can be provided for in all the ships of the squadron. To prevent a loss of tirae, I authorized seve ral gentlemen of this corps to purchase such books, instruments, and materials as were ne cessary, and for which previous requisitions could not conveniently be made ; and for a like reason, I placed five thousand dollars in the hands of Commodore Jones, to be disposed of for such articles as he raight. think neces sary ; and twelve thousand dollars were lodg ed with his purser, subject to his drafts for a like purpose. These were variations from the regulations governing expenditures of the navy, but appeared to me to be justified by the circumstances of the case. On the 3d of No veraber Coramodore Jones was inforraed that the chronoraeters for the squadron were ready for deUvery at the depot at Waslungton, and 298 APPENDIX. he was requested to send two competent offi cers to take charge of them; and on the 16th ofthe month, twenty-five chronometers, in good order, were delivered to the officers sent for them. On the 10th of November ray saUing instruc tions had been sent to Commodore Jones, to be carried into, effect as soon as his vessels should, in all respects, be ready for sea. At this time I was not aware of the extent of work to be done upon the vessels after their arrival at New- York ; which required more than two months to complete. This was an unexpected cause of delay. I had given instructions for re-entering the sea men, landsmen, and boys for this expedition, and to give them a bounty equal to three months' pay, which was paid to thera, in v/hole or in part, about the 1st of Noveraber ; soon after which, one hundred and fifty-five of them who had liberty to go on shore deserted. This was an unexpected and extremely em barrassing eause of delay ; but the most seri ous cause of delay is, the withdrawal of Com modore Jones from the command of the squa dron when it was so nearly prepared for sea. It was apprehended that there would be a great difficulty in finding an officer able and willing to take the comraand of this "squadron. APPENDIX. 299 in the condition in which it had been left by Commodore Jones. It was proposed to Cap tain Shubrick to take the comraand, but he ob jected to the frigate as too large a vessel for this service, and to the brigs Pioneer and Con sort, as altogether unfit for it ; and not being satisfied with the nuraber of vessels, or the or ganization of the squadron, he declined the coraraand. The great confidence placed in this officer seeraed to require that the validity of his opinions should be fully exarained. A board, consisting of Comraodore Hull, Coramodore Biddle, and Coramander Aulick, was appointed by a letter of the 12th of De cember, stating that doubts having been enter tained both with regard to the fitness of some of the vessels of the exploring squadron for the service on which they were to be employed, and to the extent of force, nuraber, and size of the vessels, the whole subject was referred to a board of experienced officers, in June last, to consider and report upon the same : that, after personal examination and careful investigation, the board reported, that if the matter had been subraitted to thera originally, they would not have recommended either the extent, size, or composition of the force of the vessels propos ed to be eraployed ; but that, taking into con sideration the delay that would attend a change 300 APPENDIX. in these particulars at that period, and that the commanding officer was satisfied with the num ber, size and qualities of the vessels, they re coramended no change of the vessels, but cer tain alterations in a part of them, which could soon be made : and that the withdrawal of one comraander, and the appointraent of another, to this expedition, raust necessarily be attended with sorae delay ; and presented the case refer red to the board in June last, under circura stances differing from those on which their re port was grounded : that the President had, in consequence, determined to avail himself of the aid of the professional advice of the board now appointed, as to the number, size, and equip ments of the vessels best calculated to succeed in surveying and exploring operations among the islands of the South Pacific ocean, and in high latitudes of the South seas ; and as to the best means of fitting out the same : for the consi deration of which subjects, they were required to raeet at Washington, which they did on the 19th of December. On the 25th of that month they reported, that to carry into effect the ex pedition authorized by the act of Congress of the 14th of May, 1836, there will be required, in their opinion, four vessels. " First, a sloop of war of the second class. To fit a sloop of war for this service, it is recommended that her APPENDIX. 301 rigging, spars, and sails, be reduced ; that in the place of her regular armament, there be substituted an armament of lighter calibre, and fewer in number; and that the estabUshed complement of officers and men be diminish ed, so that the whole number on board shall be about one hundred and thirty. As it may be presuraed that the commander of the expedi tion, in the event of a war during its absence, will be instructed to abstain from all acts of hostility, the miUtary equipments, in the opin ion of the board, need not exceed the wants of a vessel eraployed among the islands of the Pacific. Second : Two .ships or barques, of 300 or 350 tons each, of substantial construc tion, to raount six light guns, to have sixty or seventy men each, including officers ; the spars and sails of both vessels to be of equatdiraen- sions, so as to serve alike for either of them. Third : A store-ship of about 450 tons, mount ing four light guns, and having fifty or sixty men, officers included. For surveying purpos es araong the islands, it is recoramended that the fraraes and other materials for one or two decked boats of fifteen or twenty tons, to be put together when wanted, be furnished to the expedition." The reduction and alteration of the squadron recommended by this board being approved, 26 302 APPENDIX. the command of the expedition was offered to Captain Kearney, who examined the condition of the squadron at New- York. He was not satisfied with the arrangements proposed, and declined the coramand. It was then offered to Captain Perry, who, from the situation of his private concerns, felt compelled to decUne the coraraand, which, un der other circumstances, he would gladly have accepted. Captain Gregory has now been ordered to the command, and it is confidently hoped that the squadron may sail in a short time. Upon the reduced scale recomraended by the late board. Sorae weeks, however, will be required to en able the new coraraander to re-organize the squadron, and to fit it for service. To send hira off without affording hira the opportunity of doing this, would be as unjust to hira, as hazardous to the success of the expedition. As the vessels, with their crews, had reraain ed a long time unemployed in the harbour of New- York, it was deemed proper to send out a part of them (the two brigs and schooner) upon a short experiraental cruise, charged with the duty of affording relief, under a late act of Con gress, to vessels in distress approaching our coast, and which will not retard the sailing of the squadron. APPENDIX. 303 It is believed there can be no irapropriety in ordering the searaen engaged for the South Sea Exploring Expedition upon this experi raental cruise, and of requiring of them, while upon the sarae, the duties proposed ; although a condition of their re-entering for this expedi tion was that they should not be " subject to be transferred to the general or any other branch of the naval service of the United States ; " a condition that, in its consequences, raay be found to be very inconvenient. The changing of the plan of a small expedi tion, intended by Congress, to that of the very large one adopted, will account for all the de lay that took place until the next meeting of Congress. The difficulty of recruiting sea men, and the want of increased appropriations for the extended plan of the expedition till the 3d of March last, will account for the delay un til that time. The unfortunate condition of the vessels built expressly for the expedition; the time necessarily spent in examining and altering them ; the introduction of a new kind of cooking gaUeys for burning anthracite coal, which were found not to answer the purpose proposed, even if anthracite coal had been a fuel easily procured in the Southern regions to be visited by the exploring squadron ; the time necessary for constructing new galleys, 304 APPENDIX. after they were required in August last ; the removal of the squadron to New-York ; the desertion of a large portion of the crews ; the ill-health, and consequent relief, of Commodore Jones from the command ofthe squadron ; and the fact that the vessels, after their arrival at New- York, required preparations that could not be completed before the 20th of Deceraber last, will account for the delay until that time. The difficulty of finding a new comraander, and of reorganizing the expedition, has caused the delay since, and must necessarily cause a further delay for a few weeks. The extraordinary character of the service on this expedition, differing essentially from the duties usually required of the navy, and the preparations for the squadron, so different from those usually required for squadrons on foreign stations, and the power given to Commodore Jones to superintend the preparation of these vessels, have rendered a departure, in some instances, necessary from the regulations of the navy ; and the opinions of Comraodore Jones, and some of the officers acting under him, as to the observance of regulations deera ed necessary by this Departraent and the Navy Board, have been attended with great inconve nience, as will appear by the correspondence called for by this resolution ; copies of which APPENDIX. 305 will be transraitted, as soon as the sarae can be prepared, to be annexed to this report. I regret that these copies have not been cora pleted ; but, from their great extent, and the raass of business pressing upon the clerks of the Departraent, this has been irapossible, without oraitting to perform the daily and in dispensable business of this office. The copy ing will be urged with as rauch despatch as possible ; extra clerks have been eraployed for the purpose ; but sorae weeks must necessarily elapse before the whole can be corapleted. I have the honour to be. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, MAHLON DICKERSON. To the President ofthe United States. 26^ 306 appendix. List qf Officers who have been ordered to the Ex ploring Expedition, and have been excused. Assistant Surgeon, Lieutenant, Passed Midshipman, Do Do Do Do Lieutenant,Midshipman,Lieutenant, Acting Midshipman, Lieutenant, Do Surgeon, Passed Assistant Surgeon, Passed Midshipman, Midshipman, Passed Assistant Surgeon, Do Assistant Surgeon, Passed Midshipman, Lieutenant,Passed Midshipman, James C. Palmer. Josiah Tattnall. David D. Porter. Robert F. Pinkney. Charles W. Morris. Thornton A. Jenkins. Oliver Todd. Henry W. Morris. Nathan Barnes. Jacob Crowninshield. Henry Rolands. William L. Hudson. John Rudd. William Whelan. A. G. Gambrill. E. W. StuU. Thomas H. Patterson, Samuel C. Laurason. John C. Spencer. John Messersmith. Richard C. Cagdel. Guert,Gansevoort. M. G. L. Claiborne. EXPLORING EXPEDITION. EXTRACT FROM REMARKS OF MR. CRARY, OF MICHIGAN, In the House of Representatives, U. S. Congress, April 10th, 1838, On the motion to reduce the amount of the Appropriation for the Naval Service, for the purpose of putting an end to the South Sea Exploring Expedition. Mr. Crary said he did not know what could be the object of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Mercer) in bringing the character of Com modore Jones into this discussion. Frora the correspondence between that officer and the Navy Departraent, every gentleman in the House would form his own opinion. The gentleraan from Virginia might corae to one conclusion, and Mr. C. to a very different one. No one had yet attacked the character of Coramodore Jones; but if the matter of eulogy was to be carried any farther, there were those who would attack it. Mr. C. was of the nuraber ; but in so doing, he had no wish to take frora Coramodore Jones any of the laurels he had won for past services. He 308 appendix. could join in praise of them with as much good will as the gentleman frora Virginia. Mr. C. said that the law of 1836 declared the object of this expedition. It was to visit the Pacific Ocean and the South Seas, and when there, it was to be eraployed in survey ing and exploring. It was advocated by the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. Reed,) on the ground of the immense amount of our commerce in those seas. It was said by that gentleraan, and another gentleraan from the same state, (Mr. Phillips,) that we had con stantly employed there sorae four hundred and fifty vessels in the whale fishery ; that this fleet was manned by upwards of ten thousand men, and cost, with their outfit, about twelve mil lions of dollars, and were estimated to be worth, when their voyages were completed, twenty millions of dollars. This expedition was designed to* aid this coraraerce, by procur ing regular raaps and charts of those regions ; by ascertaining the character of the tides, cur rents, and dangerous reefs ; by establishing permanent relations with places where our trade was now liraited and uncertain ; by seek ing for, and restoring to their homes and fami lies, those Araerican searaen who had been unfortunately left or cast away upon shores inhabited by a race of savages ; and, inciden- APPENDIX. 309 tal to all these objects, it was expected that some attention would be paid to the great cause of natural history and science generally. After much discussion, the advocates of the measure succeeded in convincing the House of its importance. The Executive was authoriz ed to send out " a sloop of war and such other smaller vessels as might be necessary and pro per, to render the expedition efficient and use ful." President Jackson, in consequence of the past conduct of Captain Jones, called him to the comraand. The conduct of this officer from that time plainly manifested that his ob ject was to make this a great and magnificent expedition, such as should secure to him last ing renown, and give him, not only a great and dazzling name araong his own countryraen, but with the whole civilized world. He looked for his recompense in a wreath of amaranth. Had he confined his views simply to the ob jects proposed by the House, the squadron might have been at sea long ago. But this would not satisfy his arabition and his vanity. He must have a body guard of scientific men from all " of the raost celebrated institutions of the country," to catch birds and flies, toads and fishes. This was all very pretty. There were men in the country who would be delighted with an account of the butterflies that sip the 310 APPENDIX. nectar of the flowers that spring up on coral rocks, or of the pluraage of a bird that spreads its wings over a far off sea. It was very well to take advantage of so favourable an oppor tunity to augment the stores of science, but that object should have been only incidental and subordinate to the great purpose of the squadron, which was that of surveying and ex ploring in the latitudes of an almost unknown sea. Mr. C. said that he was not originally in fa vour of this expedition, because he thought we had other and more iraportant objects to attend to nearer horae. Said that the blame for the delay of sailing lay between the Secretary of the Navy and Comraodore Jones. For his own part, he beUeved the fault was chargeable on both. Sure he was that Coramodore Jones had given the expedition a too scientific char acter. (Mr. Mercer here interposed, and said that Coramodore Jones had no more to do in fixing the scientific character of the expedition than the gentleraan frora Michigan.) Mr. C. resuraed, and reminded the gentleman frora Virginia, and the House, that Coramodore Jones had made it a sine qua non that no one ofthe commanders ofthe sraaller vessels should have a scientific duty assigned to him. As APPENDIX. 311 early as the fall of 1836, the Coraraodore threatened to resign, because the Secretary of the Navy intiraated an intention to appoint Lieutenant Slidell to command, and at the same time confer on him the office of historio grapher. At a later period, he had been great ly outraged in his feeUngs because Lieutenant Glynn was offered, and accepted, the appoint ment of geographer and hydrographer. (Mr. Mercer here again insisted that the en largement of the objects of the expedition had not, in any sense, been the act of Coraraodore Jones.) Mr. C. would not say that the Comraodore had been the cause of the change, but such was his opinion. It was certain that it was raade to conform to the views expressed by him in a letter to Mr. Reynolds, written when the expedition was under consideration in this House. There was a wonderful sirailarity be tween the views expressed in that letter, and those which had influence in getting up the squadron. It had been said that the coraraander of the squadron was not chargeable with the defec tive construction of the smaller vessels. This fault had been very unjustly ascribed to the chief naval constructor. This officer acted under special instructions 312 APPENDIX. and he prepared his draughts accordingly. Mr. C. did not know who gave these instruc tions, but he presumed they came from Cora modore Jones, as it was an order of the De partment that his wishes should be consulted, and his suggestions adopted, in every thing pertaining to the construction, arrangement, ar raaraent, and equipraent of the vessels, as far as circurastances would permit. Mr. C. believ ed that it was a matter of record that the two brigs and the schooner were planned agreeably to the suggestions, and built under the superin tendence of Commodore Jones. At any rate, he had exhibited as strong an affection for them as though they were his own children. He had laboured in season and out of season, to convince the public that they were well adapted to th« service in which they were to be employed. He had forced Lieutenant Tatnall to tender his resignation of the command ofthe Pioneer, in consequence of his having express ed the opinion, formed by a cruise among the reefs and currents of the Gulf of Mexico, that she " steered badly when saiUng over six knots," and was unable. " to claw off a lee shore in a short head sea." The sailing quali ties of these bantlings of the coraraodore had been tested during the past winter. The two brigs had formed a part of our coast squadron. APPENDIX. 313 The Pioneer got ashore in the sound, and had a number of her raen severely frost-bitten. The Consort returned to port, after a cruise of fif teen days, with a loss of her raain-yard, top- gallant-raast, and one man killed, who was thrown upon deck by her breaching-to against her helra. Lieutenant Glynn, a gaUant officer, a good searaan, and a man of science, was in coraraand of her, and in his report of the cruise to Commodore Ridgely he says : "- Off the wind with any sea on, the Consort is dangerous, and should never be allowed to go over six knots ; at seven knots she became unmanageable, and, I think, could not possibly be made to go eight knots while drawing more than twelve feet water : for her short and full water lines, particularly abaft, raake so much wake, that frora five knots and upwards the rudder plays in raore or less dead water, and thus its influence is diminishing till it ceases to be the principal directing power. Her full of the body and low transom afford a fair hold for a sea coming up with her, whUe her want of length allows her to be swung round as upon a, pivot. In scudding, therefore, long, before she had attained a velocity sufficient to dimin ish perceptibly the violence of the following sea, she would be breached-to, or brought by the lee. ****** 27 314 APPENDIX. " It would be impossible to drag her off" a lee shore if there was any thing of a sea on. While lying-to on the 29th of January, she pitched every thing beyond the knight-heads under water, and carried away the foretop-gal- lant mast. Any attempt at that time to force the vessel through the water by carrying the square-sails, must soon have terrainated in the loss of her masts ; and I was quite satisfied if she v/as ever fairly caught within twenty miles of a lee shore in a gale of half as raany hours dura tion, she must have been inevitably wrecked." And yet these are the vessels that were to explore and survey the islands and reefs ofthe Pacific, and go among the icebergs of the South Seas ! The first severe gale of wind when off a lee shore would have sent them to destruction. No man can blame sailors for running away from such vessels, or from a commander who could speak in praise of their excellent qualities. He thought the expedition ought to have been at sea a year ago. The Secretary of the Navy, or Commodore Jones, was answerable for the delay. If the former had done his duty, he ought to call the latter to a strict account ; but if the Secretary was in fault, he ought to be placed where his irabecili ty could bring no dishonour upon the country hereafter. APPENDIX. 315 Mr. C. would not now desert this expedition. He would force it to sea with all convenient despatch. He cared not who was sent out as a comraander, if he was only qualified for the station. He was willing that a raidshipman, a lieu tenant, or post-captain should be selected. He was disposed to leave this matter entirely to Executive discretion. He had only to say, that so far as his vote would effect it, the expe dition should go to sea ; he would not desert it ; he would not thus reflect upon the acts of a former Congress. If the measure was proper two years ago, it was equally proper now. Not only w-ere all the reasons for it as good now as they were at that time, but there were additional reasons. We had entered into the plan ; we had made a beginning ; we had gathered together the necessary materials ; we had expended large sums of money, and we had raised great expectations. These would never all be realized ; they had been consider ably lowered by a series of unfortunate events, but the country had not yet lost all its interest in the measure. It was the character of the people to go ahead in every thing ; and they expected to see this character developed by all their public servants. Whenever such servant failed in a great and important measure, or 316 APPENDIX. lagged in the perforraance of his duty, he very soon becarae the subject of animadversion and reprehension. The gentleman from New- York, (Mr. Bron- son,) had said that Congress, by voting the ap propriation, authorized the employment of a frigate. Mr. C. voted for it, not because he approved of the frigate, but because he was unwilling to furnish an excuse, in the event of a failure, for charging that failure upon Con gress- He wished the responsibility to rest on the commander of the expedition, who had in sisted on having a frigate. That commander had had his own way ; he had been indulged with just such a squadron as he asked for ; and he had left it in the harbour of New- York, for the milder atmosphere of a more southern re gion. Mr. C. did not regret this determination. He had long since ceased to have any confi dence in the success of the expedition as it was organized ; and he was glad that an op portunity was afforded of placing it upon a proper footing. He believed that a similar feeling pervaded the whole country. Wasliington Globe, ]9th April, 1838. APPENDIX. 317 As a mere matter of record to talent and character, the following inserted certificate will show, as evidence at an early date, the opinion of President Jefferson (unsolicited) relative to the ability of the author as a commander ; hut he being at the time bound by engagements to valuable friends in a command in the Pacific and China trade, whose support and means had enabled him already to have ob tained the honour of important discoveries; his engage. ment, they being unwilling to grant his release, thus pre vented him from moving, agreeably to his first wish, by accepting the honourable offer tendered, and thereby serv ing the remainder of his life in our gallant American navy. CERTIFICATE. New- York, January 19th, 1837. This certifies that I was personally knowni to Mr. George Warner, on his return from Wash ington, haying brought from President Jeffer son an invitation and tender to Captain Edmund Fanning to the command of either of the new United States frigates, the New- York or Adam.s, as an inducement for him to enter into the naval service of government; his commis sion to take date the day the frigate was launch ed. This was, as my memory serves, between the years 1801 and 1803. W. E. NEXSEN. Attest, John R. Bleecker. 2 7* 318 APPENDIX. The annexed letters to the honourable Chairman of the Naval Comraittee of the House of Representatives of the American Congress assembled, will show the author's anxious regret at the unfortunate delay, and non-sailing of the South Sea National Exploring Expedition, in aiding the authorization of which by Congress he had acted so con spicuous a part. And herewith the public and general reader have the author's justification, which was so sacred ly due to his profession and character, touching this ex ploring subject, after the part he had taken in procuring its authorization. New- York, 21st April, 1838. Dear Sir, In the utmost respect and deference to all others, and their opinions, I cannot but now regret, extremely regret, that my experienced knowledge relating to such a Discovery and Exploring Expedition, in the construction of the proper vessels, its preparations and outfits, so early tendered to President Jackson, had not been accepted and used. In the greatest respectful deference, I can not but presume it would have enabled the ex pedition to have had the raost efficient vessels, and been carried brUliantly into effect, to the great credit and benefit of the nation; as also nobly and shiningly to the Araerican character, and that to an expense (I think) not exceed ing half a raillion of dollars ; but, alas ! fate APPENDIX. 319 had not so decreed to the favour of our much beloved country, I am, very respectfully. Your obedient servant, E. FANNING, To the Hon. S. Ingh-im, M. C, Chairman ofthe Naval Com mittee, H. R., United States' Congress, Washington city. New- York, April 23d, 1838. Dear Sir, I have respectfully to observe that it has oc curred to my mind, since mine of 21st inst, the propriety of an explanation, to prevent mis construction, which I present herewith. That after the great sacrifice of money and time raade by rae in the proceedings in aid to procure the authorization of a National Discov ery and Exploring Expedition to the South Seas, &c., it does, not appear that the omission of calling my experienced knowledge into re quisition, in the construction of the raost pro per vessels, preparations in outfits, &c., was with our late venerable President, or the hon ourable Secretary of the Navy. Why? Be cause, in the correspondence between the latter and Coramodore Jones, the Secretary, in his 320 APPENDIX. lette^r of date Navy Department, September 12th, 1836, has the following passage, viz. " The person with whom you intimate I have corresponded, I presume, is Captain Ed mund Fanning of New-York. Captain Fan ning long since planned a South Sea Exploring Expedition, and has been urging it upon Con gress ever since the administration of Mr. Madison. So far as there is a merit in suggest ing and urging this raeasure, it is due to Cap tain Fanning. He is intimately acquainted with many regions which it is intended to ex plore ; and it is very desirable to have the benefit of his knowledge and experience, both in fitting out and conducting the expedition." Thus it will appear, that it was the desire of the President and Secretary that the humble aid of my practical knowledge in experience should be used to the enterprize, &c. Having the honour to be. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, EDMUND FANNING. Hon. S. Ingham, M. C, Chair man Naval Committee, H. R. Washington city. APPENDIX. 321 Thus, being not admitted to any part or voice in the preparations and outfits of the expedi tion, is not the author entirely clear as to its present unfavourable prospects, or its failure to the nation, should it end in such an unfortu nate and unexpected result 1 This, it is hoped, the candid reader will frankly and generously admit, although the author took such an ardu ous and zealous part in aid of its authorization. At least, what is herein given will, in the opin ion of the author, show what would be the raost proper vessels for best effecting this ex ploring service, and wdiy far preferable and better adapted than a ship of war. In conclusion the author would remark, that the present unhappy situation of this important and popular national expedition again aroused the Yankee spirit ofthe old voy ager, and called forth his voluntary patriotic aid, even at his time of life, once more to the help ofhis beloved country, in the support of this national measure. The following extract ofa letter to His Excellency, the Vice-President of the United States, will show that the author has persevered to the end. But, alas ! feeling, with the strong confidence of experience, that it cannot but be much feared that with ships of war,* all-important and beneficial discoveries will pass to the lot of other nations: — since who, acquainted with the affairs of the turf, would judge it wise for an active butcher to appear on the race-ground, mounted on a ¦^ Except as a flag and home ship to the expedition. 322 APPENDIX. large, fat, slick ox, with a view to take the purse from. Eclipse, or his descendants, when the well-taught slayer of meats for the market, never having seen Eclipse run, de pending on size and strength, had full confidence in his beautiful and noble animal? Such is the difference between a heavy ship of war and the more proper and belter adapted vessel, in navigating and exploring among the numerous ice islands, coral reefs, currents, &c. Hence the, proposal in the extract of letter herein was given to furnish the most proper vessels, &c., for the performance of this new service to Americans. And with an earnest and zealous endeavour, with themost proper vessels as explorers, in room of ships of war, to carry this very favourite and laudable expedition through to a favourable termination, as well as to a most honoura ble and successful result. EXTRACT. New- York, May IWi, 1838. Dear Sir, I have respectfully to remark, that having, as you are aware, taken a zealous part, to the sacrifice of much time and expense, in the aid to the procuring an act, authori zing a National South Sea Exploring Expedition, relating to which, unfortunately, in its preparation and fit out','there" has arisen at a great expenditure, serious disappointment and difficulty, which, in all respectful deference, I cannot but presume to think, that, if my experienaed knowledge, that was so early tendered in good faiih previous to any ap pointment, or the subject being taken up for action, by a note, through your kindness, to our then venerable President, had been acccepted and used, it would have tended to have brought about a quite different result, than the expedition's present situation. I, therefore, after the part I have volun tarily acted to its authorization, have come to the resolution to again respectfully tender all within my humble means, and in all respectful deference to propose to Government the following suggestion and expedient. ***** I know not if, by the clause providing the vessels in the APPENDIX. 323 authorization act, whether this proposal in tender be ad missible; — but if it so be,- then, in the view ofa trial lo aid inthe support of the American character, and to endeavour to accomplish and carry into effect a similar favourite nation al enterprise, this suggested proposal is hereby tendered in the purest zeal, and spirit of real patriotism — in aid to the measure — feeling confident, with only this proposed gov ernmental aid, with the means at the author's control, that there can be fitted out an efficient squadron to excel in performing a Discovery and Exploring Enterprise to those seas. This can, with the right vessels, be organized wilh the primest force our country affords for such service, as a number of themost experienced, able, and talented nautical citizens in the Merchant Marine will readily volunteer in such an expedition. I am confident this will show to the world, that Ameri can seamen, when they engage on a task, if ever so ar duous, know how to accomplish it, to bring honour to the American character, as well as great benefit to the nation. Therefore, if the herein suggested proposal and project be approved and accepted by Government, I herewith pledge all my means, with best exertions, and all that is dear to a citizen, to faithfully use every endeavour to carry the enter prise (the danger ofthe seas and extraordinary occurrences excepted,) with all despatch through, in its intended per formance, and to the best possible effect, by calling to its aid and into requisition, every promising ability, exertion, perseverance, &c., that can tend to bring honour, credit, and benefit to the nation. With high regard, 1 am, dear sir, very respectful 13'-, Your obdt. servt. EDMUND FANNING. ' To FIlS EXCELLKNCT RICHARD M. JOHNSON, Vice-President of the United States, Washington City. 324 APPENDIX. The suggested and tendered proposal -was, after mature consideration of the clause in the authorization act, con sidered not admissible May 28th, 1838. The author would here respectfully add, in explanation to what is contained in this volume, viz ; — The remark, that if he had never existed, or been among the living', the authorization of t&is National Exploring Expedition would not, at its time of passage, have been by Congress au thorized : — that by this, he is far from meaning to convey the idea that he should ever have obtained it, if the zealous co-operation and aid of other worthy citizens had not been given. But that it was by his, and the united perseverance of those other patriotic citizens, that its sanction by Con gress was procured. The author, as related, broke the ice, as it were, and cleared away the prior difficulty. And if this had not firstly been done, the sanction of an E.-c- plorer's law could not- have been obtained. Note. — The American Exploring Expedition consists, as now (June, 1838,) organized, under the comnaand of Lieutenant Com mandant Wilkes, as follows, viz. — Vessels. Men. Vincennes, Sloop of war, - - - 120 Peacock, Do. "do. . . - . 105 Porpoise, Brig do. .... 50 Relief, Store Ship, 70 3 9002 00857 9956