Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite

      Exclusive of many struggling islands, situated to the east and south eastward of the Japan Chain, several of which have been seen and visited by the whalers frequenting those seas; there is also a large group of islands known to the Japanese, but hid from the

knowledge of Europeans, excepting a few whalers, until Captain Beechey, in His Majesty's ship Blossom, explored part of these islands in June, 1827.

      BONIN-SIMA, or ARZOBISPO ISLANDS, were found by this officer, to consist of several groups extending from lat. 27° 44 1/2’ N., to 26° 30’ N.; but the southern limit was not exactly ascertained. The north-west island of the northernmost cluster, called Parry’s Group, is in lat. 27° 43 1/2’ N., lon. 142° 8’ E., which cluster consists of small isles, pointed rocks, and very irregular bottom. Port Lloyd, in lat. 27° 5 1/2’ N., lon. 142° 14' E., situated in one of the largest of the islands of the chain, where the Blossom anchored in 18 fathoms water, has a conspicuous entrance, marked by a bold high promontory on the southern side, and a tall quoin-shaped rock on the other. It is nearly surrounded by hills, crowned with trees of the palm kind, and almost every valley has a stream of water. Green Turtle abound in the sandy bays, with numerous sharks, and fish of several kinds are plentiful. At the upper part of the harbour, a small basin is formed by the coral reefs, convenient for heaving a ship down if requisite; and this port is a very desirable place of resort for a whale ship. Caution, however, is proper in approaching these islands, as the current runs very strong among them, and their rocky shores are very imperfectly known, probably without any safe anchorage outside, as the depths are great at a small distance from the islands.

James Horsburgh, F.R.S. R.A.S. R.G.S.
      India Directory, Or, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, Australia, Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and the Interjacent Ports: compiled chiefly from Original Journals of the Company's Ships, and from Observations and Remarks, Made during Twenty-One years Experience Navigating in those seas.
Volume 2.
Fourth Edition.
London: W. H. Allen and Co., 1836.
pp. 453-454.

Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite