Passing to the northward of Sugar Loaf island, an E. S. easterly course will bring you to the mouth of the harbor, and to the northward and westward of Kooi island. It is advisable to heave to here, or anchor in twenty or twenty-five fathoms water, until boats or buoys can be placed along the edges of the reefs bordering the channel, for without some such guides, it is difficult for a vessel of large draft to find her way in between the reefs, which contract, in places, to within a cable’s length of each other, and are at all times covered with water.
The ranges and courses for the channel, are first: Hele rock in range with double-topped mountain bearing south thirty-seven degrees east. Steer this course, keeping the range on until Chimney rock bears S. ½ E.; then for Chimney rock, until Point Conde bears south forty-nine degrees east; then for Point Conde, until entering the basin of Oonting, when anchor; giving your ship room to swing clear of the reef making out to the northward of Point Conde, and you will be as snug as if lying in dock; with good holding ground, completely land-locked, and sheltered almost entirely from every wind.
Good water is to be had at the village of Oonting.
SAILING DIRECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS, UPON LLOYD HARBOR, BONIN ISLANDS.
From Reports of Acting Masters Madigan and Bennett, of the U. S. Ships Saratoga and Susquehanna.
The entrance to the harbor of Port Lloyd, on the western side of Peel island, one of the Bonin group, is well defined; so that it can scarcely be mistaken.
A ship bound in, would do well to place a boat on the shoal, that makes off south from the eastern point of Square Rock, as it is called on Beechy’s harbor chart. This shoal can be easily seen from aloft, however, even when there is no swell on. It extends full two cables length from Square Rock to the southward, and is steep. The centre of the shoal is awash with a smooth sea. The tide rises about three feet, and there is a coral rock about one cable’s length north from the northern point of Southern Head, on which I found eight feet water. But a ship entering the harbor would not be likely to approach Southern Head so near as to be upon it. This island, as well as those surrounding it, is chiefly visited by whale-ships, and its products, therefore, are such as to suit their wants.
Potatoes, yams, and other vegetables, fruits of various kinds, together with wild hogs and goats can be procured from the few whites and Sandwich-islanders—thirty five in all—settled there. Wood is good and plentiful, and water can be had, though in limited quantities, and slightly tainted by the coral rocks from which it springs.
The anchorage is fair, though open to the south and west. The reconnoissance made by order of the commander-in-chief, proved the accuracy of Captain Beechy’s chart.
Mr. Bennet, acting master of the Susquehanna, says in his report: “Assuming the position of Napa in Great Loo-Choo island, as established by Beechy, to be correct, I find by the mean of my chronometers, that he has placed Ten-Fathom Hole, in Port Lloyd, five miles too far to the westward, and consequently the whole group is placed that much to the westward of its true position.”