Copy 1, Volume 1

Narrative of a voyage round the world, performed in Her Majesty's Ship Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842. Including details of the naval operations in China, from Dec. 1840, to Nov. 1841 ; published under the authority of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty / by Captain Sir Edward Belcher, commander of the expedition.

  • Belcher, Edward, Sir, 1799-1877.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Narrative of a voyage round the world, performed in Her Majesty's Ship Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842. Including details of the naval operations in China, from Dec. 1840, to Nov. 1841 ; published under the authority of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty / by Captain Sir Edward Belcher, commander of the expedition. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    445/468 (page 385)
    1840. ] QUIT BOW ISLAND. 389 avoided. The two cocoa-nut trees over the western point clear of the bushes notes it, as well as one on the opposite side. These two rocks form the gateway of the channel ; and asall the rocks are plainly visible, they are easily avoided. We now took our leave of Bow Island, shaping a course for Chain Island or Anaa, intending, if landing was practicable, to fix its position. On the morning of the 29th we saw the two groups ; about eight, Melville Island; in the even- ing Bird Island ; on the morning of the 30th Croker Island; and at dawn on the Ist of April Chain Island. About seven we had approached almost within hail, when we were visited by a canoe, from which we took a native pilot, and passing close enough for the native to hail his friends and desire them to bring off pigs, &c., for barter. We rounded to and obtained soundings, one hundred and seventy fathoms sand, at half a mile from the shore. We afterwards tried about one mile off with nine hundred and. forty- six, without gaining bottom. : An old native, who assumed some degree of autho- rity, paid us a visit, and intimated that no pigs would come off unless the boat was sent in for them, as well as to exhibit what we had to traffic with. The cutter was accordingly despatched, but not succeed- ing, and finding the canoes had left me more visitors than I wished, I determined to take them in-shore and try if I could succeed. On reaching the safe water, men, women, and children swam off in great