Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite

Inclosure 2 in No. 107.

Remarks on Peel Island, Bonin Groupe, situated in Lat. 27 5' 35" N., Long. 142 11' 30" E., August 9, 1837.

      After Captain Beechey's visit to, naming of this Island and Port, and taking formal possession of the Groupe, as per inscription, in good preservation, on a sheet of copper, as follows:

      "His Britannic Majesty's ship Blossom, Captain F. W. Beechey, took possession of this Groupe of Islands in the name and on the behalf of His Britannic Majesty, George IV., 14th June, 1827."

      The first settlers were Matteo Mozaro, a native of Ragusa, but who had been many years in the employment of Mr. Bennet of Rotherhithe, near London, an owner of whale-ships in the South Sea Fishery, and had also served on board an English sloop-of-war, in the West Indies, named La Morne FortunÉe. With Matteo Mozaro came Richard Millichamp, a native

of Devonshire, his partner; they sailed from Oahie the 21st May, 1830, with two Americans, one Dane, and a party of Sandwich Islanders, viz. men, five in number; women, ten in number – in all twenty persons, under the countenance of Mr. Richard Charlton, His Majesty's Consul for the Sandwich Islands, who supplied Messrs. Mozaro and Millichamp with a Union-Jack, and a Paper describing them as deserving persons, who had, at their sole expense and risk, fitted out the expedition to settle on one of the Bonin Islands, as per accompanying Documents.

      From the schooner that brought them from Oahie, two Sandwich Islanders and one American deserted, increasing their numbers to twenty-three.

1831. – The English whale-ship, Partridge, Captain Francis Stavers, arrived; of her crew seven deserted, viz., –
John Hayes	English.	Drowned.
Joseph Cullens	do.	Resident, August 9, 1837, Port Lloyd.
John Bravo	Portuguese.	do. do. do.
William Gill	English	Three apprentices, returned to the ship.
Nicholas ––	do.
–– Eaton	do.
–– Edwin	do.	Strayed from a party, and lost in the woods.
The English bark, Kent, Captain Laughton, landed two men; viz., –
John Jackson	American.	After a temporary residence,
John Butler	do.	left the Island.

1832. – The English bark, Walmer, Captain Robins, arrived; one of her crew deserted; viz., –
James Martin	English.	Remained twelve months, and then rejoined his ship.
1833. – The English whaler, Amelia Wilson, Captain Wilson, was wrecked on a rock about forty miles to the northward of Port Lloyd; three boats arrived, with twelve men, of which number four remained; viz., –
Thomas Baily	English.	All four resident at Port Lloyd, August 9, 1837.
William Gilly	do.
Joseph Antonio	Portuguese.
John Roberts	do.
The English whaler Cadmus, Captain Snowdon, landed fourteen mutinous seamen, against the remonstrances of the settlers, and who (if a stroke of Providence had not drowned half of them) would in a short time have ruined the infant settlement; some shipped at Sydney, New South Wales; they got other bad subjects, already on the Island, to herd with them, and threatened to supply themselves at the expense of the young community, to fire their dwellings, and retire to the jungle.
1834. – The English bark, Faron, Captain Dale, left 2 men, viz., –
–– ––	English.	After remaining five or six weeks, reshipped in an English bark, belonging to the same owners.
–– ––	do.
English ship, Corsair, Captain Venables, left 2 men; viz., –
–– ––	English.	Left the Island shortly after.
James Marshall	Scotch.	Was left sick on the beach, without any supply, relief, or resource, by Capt. Venables, against the remonstrance of the settlers, and is now resident on the Island, 9th August, 1837.
English bark, Daniel, Captain Duncan; one of her crew deserted; viz., –
John Parker	English.	Who remained six weeks and reshipped, in the Volunteer, American ship.

1834. — American ship, Howard, Captain Worth, left one man sick; viz., —
—— ——	Portuguese.	Who reshipped in the Volunteer.
English bark, Rochester, Captain Price, had one man deserted; viz., —
——	Scotch.	Who remained upwards of twelve months, then reshipped in the English bark, Tory.
1835. — American ship, Amazon, Captain Cressey, had four men desert; viz., —
William Low	American.	Resident 9th August, 1837, Port Lloyd.
Benjamin Eady	do.	}Reshipped in various vessels.
Thomas Mick	do.
—— Avery	do.
English bark, John Palmer, Captain Lawrence, had two men deserted; viz., —
James Smith	English.	Resident 9th August, 1837, Port Lloyd.
—— (cooper)	do.	Remained twelve months, and rejoined his own ship.
English bark, Folkstone, Captain Blisse, had one man deserted; viz., —
William ——	English.	Remained a month, and reshipped in the American brig Diana.
1836. — United States ship, Peacock, Captain Stribling, with the broad pendant of Commodore Kennedy, had two men deserted; viz.,
——	English.	Remained about 12 months, then reshipped in the English bark, Tory.
——	American.
United States schooner, Enterprize, Captain Holding, had one man deserted; viz., —
Richard Ladman	English.	Remained one year, then reshipped in the English bark Tory.
1837. — English bark, Rochester, Captain Kenny, had two men deserted; viz., —
Charles Powell,	English.	Remained one month,then entered His Majesty's service, on board the Raleigh.
Thomas Hawkins	do.
English bark, Mellish, Captain Cowley, had one man deserted; viz., —
Thomas Lewis	Irish	Remained about six weeks, then entered His Majesty's service, on board the Raleigh.
English bark, Caroline, Captain Wheeler, one man deserted ; viz., —
John Jacket (ar.)	English.	Resident, 9th August, 1837. Port Lloyd.
English bark, Admiral Cockburn, Captain Lawrence, one man deserted; viz.,
—— ——	English.	Remained ten days, and reshipped in English ship Mellish.

      The numbers on the Island when the Raleigh left Port Lloyd, 10th August, 1837, were as under,

      I have been thus particular to show how fluctuating has been the state of the population of Port Lloyd. Last May, the period for which the Sandwich Islanders had bound themselves to labour for Messrs. Mozaro and Millichamp was at an end; and from that time, being free agents, they have done little or no work. Messrs. Mozaro and Millichamp are of opinion that 30 more families, say 3 persons in each, could be comfortably and substantially located and fed; having besides a reasonable stock to dispose of to ships arriving, to supply themselves with clothing, tools, and a few dollars per annum. The want of a fixed head, authorized by Government, is severely felt, and from the want of unity among the settlers, frequently occasioned by competition in supplying such whalers as arrive, and frequently by the conduct of their crews; ships which have good crews will not anchor in the Port, fearing their men will desert; others, which have bad men, land them, and disturb the tranquillity of the settlers, by putting them in fear for their lives and properties; as in the instance of the Cadmus, Tory, and Admiral Cockburn. The settlers wanted me to interfere in some of their little local disputes, but as I had no authority, I only listened to their several complaints, and advised unity; hence, the number of affidavits sworn before me.

      The Union Jack given to Messrs. Mozaro and Millichamp by His Majesty's Consul at the Sandwich Islands, being quite worn out, and their flag-staff blown down, I considered it my duty to supply the deficiency, and rigged them out substantially, in order to point out to strange ships on which side of the Port to apply for supplies.

      Peel Island has already, in great cultivation, sweet Potatoes, Taro, Indian Corn, Onions, Yams, Pumpkins, Water Melons, Sugar Cane; Tobacco has been planted, and with such success, that it is likely to give them a great deal of trouble from its spreading so fast, and the want of hands to gather it in, and prepare it; it is said to be of an excellent quality; they have a few excellent lemon-trees planted from seed, which bear well, but are neglected.

      Pigs are in great abundance. For them the Indian corn is cultivated, and they are sold at from four dollars to eight dollars each.^* Wild Hogs are also many in number, and a breed of Dogs, brought from the Sandwich Islands, are so well taught that they will at any time, under the direction of their masters, find, attack, and bring down the largest.

      The Island has also many jungle-fowl, for, on first arrival, the settlers managed to get their poultry adrift; and in a wild state they have increased greatly, to the annoyance of their corn-fields.

      Goats in a wild state are on the southern head, which at high water is an island, and are many in number; no tame ones, save a pair left by the Raleigh.

      There are no noxious animals or snakes on the island; no rats, but many mice. Sharks are numerous but small; these the dogs frequently chase in shoal water, capture, and drag them high and dry on the sandy beaches.

      Although the timber on the Island is in great plenty, there is not more than required, if a larger number were to settle; there is none fit for masts; one sort is in great plenty, called Toomana, which is used for floors and planking; being also ornamental, furniture is made from it. The mulberry-tree is very hard, used for posts or stanchions for their dwellings, and never decays in the ground. There is also a small quantity of sandal-wood, but not sufficient to make a remark; Mr. Mozaro, with eight men, being three months collecting thirty peculs.

      Not the least vestige of previous occupancy has been discovered by the present settlers, who have now been resident since July 26, 1830, and have examined every part of the Island; and I am of the same opinion as themselves, that Peel Island is one of those numerous islands in the North Pacific that has been never occupied.

      The settlers have heard of acts of piracy being committed on the coast of Japan by the whalers, but cannot vouch for the truth of the statements of themselves. They know nothing, and never knew of any plunder being brought to Port Lloyd – in fact, they say "we have no dollars," which piratical persons would require for the stolen property.

      In conclusion, I beg to submit that a Vice-Consul, under either the Superintendent of British Trade in China, or His Majesty's Consul for the Sandwich Islands, would be a sufficient head in the present infant state of the settlement, and protect it from the lawless behaviour of the whalers, as he could report to his superior, who might move His Majesty's Government to direct their Attorney-General to prosecute, on their arrival in England.

      Messrs. Mozaro and Millichamp would be very glad to receive ten China men and their wives; they would place them on productive land on what they term "Halves," viz., that half the produce should be paid to them in lieu of rent, and in full of all demands.

TRANSCRIPTION NOTES

Some tables have been reformatted for clarity in HTML presentation.

authorname, dates

Source:

Michael Quin.
"Remarks on Peel Island, Bonin Groupe, situated in Lat. 27 5' 35" N., Long. 142 11' 30" E., August 9, 1837." in:
      Correspondence Relating to China.
(Sessional Papers, 1840, Volume 8, Accounts and Papers),
    London, 1840,
pp.218-222.

Michael Quin.
"Remarks on Peel Island, Bonin Groupe, situated in Lat. 27 5' 35" N., Long. 142 11' 30" E., August 9, 1837." in Great Britain. Foreign Office.
      British and Foreign State Papers,
Volume 25, Part 1.
    London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1853
pp.549-555

Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite