CHAPTER XXXII.-ISLANDS BETWEEN LATITUDES 10°

AND 20° NORTH, INCLUDING THE LADRONE ISLANDS

Revilla Gigedo Islands ....

Mariana or Ladrone Islands

CHAPTER XXXIV.-THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC.....

Detached Islands and Shoals to the North of Latitude 20°

1102-1120

1103

1107

1120-1158

1148

1154

CHAPTER XXXV.-THE CORAL SEA, AUSTRALIA, ETC. . 1159-1170

SECTION IV.

THE PHENOMENA OF, AND DIRECTIONS FOR, THE

PACIFIC OCEAN.

CHAPTER XXXVI.-THE WINDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN 1171-1220

I. Proposed Communications between the Atlantic and Pacific

Oceans, 1322; II. Coal in the Pacific, 1328; HI. Whales,

1330; IV. Whaling, 1335; V. Biche de Mar, or Sea Slug,

1345; VI. on Coral Reefs, by C. Darwin, Esq., 1348;

VII. Ice Water, 1355; VIII. Russian American Con-

vention, 1356; IX. Fur Seals, 1357.

1220-1259

1260-1275

1276-1321

1322

1359

CONTENTS OF PART I.

SECTION I.

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF POSITIONS, TIDES, MAGNETIC VARIATIONS, ETC.

Page.

vii

XXV

SECTION II.

CHAPTER I.-THE STRAIT OF MAGHALHAENS

1. From the Eastern Entrance to Cape Froward

2. Magdalen Sound, and the Cockburn and Barbara Channels

3. The Strait of Magalhaens, from Cape Froward to the Pacific Ocean

1-38

1

18

23

CHAPTER II.-THE OUTER COAST OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO, FROM

CATHERINE POINT TO CAPE PILLAR, INCLUDING STATEN ISLAND,

CAPE HORN, ETC.

39-68

CHAPTER III.-THE WESTERN COAST OF PATAGONIA, FROM THE STRAIT
OF MAGALHAENS TO THE ISLAND OF CHILOE

69-87

CHAPTER IV.-THE ISLAND OF CHILOE

87-100

CHAPTER V.-THE COAST OF CHILE, FROM SAN CARLOS TO HUESO

PARADO

100-137

CHAPTER VI.-THE COASTS OF BOLIVIA AND PERU, FROM HUESO
PARADO TO THE RIVER TUMBES

137-184

CHAPTER VII.-THE COAST OF COLOMBIA, BETWEEN GUAYAQUIL
AND PANAMA'

185-222

Page.

CHAPTER VIII.-THE COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA, OR GUATEMALA 222-253

CHAPTER IX.-THE WEST COAST OF MEXICO, BETWEEN TEHUANTEPEC
AND MAZATLAN

253-292

CHAPTER X.-THE GULF AND PENINSULA OF LOWER CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER XI.-THE COAST OF UPPER CALIFORNIA .

313-348

CHAPTER XII.-THE COAST OF OREGON, FROM CAPE BLANCO TO

ADMIRALTY INLET

348-388

CHAPTER XIII.-VANCOUVER ISLAND

389-419

CHAPTER XIV.-THE COAST OF BRITISH AMERICA, FROM QUEEN
CHARLOTTE sound to THE PORTLAND CANAL

420-436

CHAPTER XV.-THE COAST OF RUSSIAN AMERICA, FROM PORTLAND
CANAL TO COOK'S INLET

436-490

CHAPTER XVI. -THE KODIACK ARCHIPELAGO, THE PENINSULA of
ALIASKA, AND THE ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO

490-519

CHAPTER XVII.-THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE SEA OF BEHRING,
BEHRING'S STRAIT, AND THE ICY OR POLAR SEA

CHAPTER XVIII.-THE PENINSULA OF KAMTSCHATKA, THE SEA OF
OKHOTSK, THE KURILE ARCHIPELAGO, AND THE SAGHALIN
PENINSULA

CHAPTER XIX.-THE JAPANESE ARCHIPELAGO

ALPHABETICAL INDEX.

INTRODUCTION.

THE present volume, forming the second part of the Nautical Description of
the Pacific, differs in its character from the first chiefly in being confined to
accounts of the islands and archipelagoes which are scattered over the space
between the Old and New Worlds.

In the Introduction to the first part we have given a brief enumeration of the
principal authorities upon which the authenticity of our book rests. It is
unnecessary to allude to this further here, the more especially as the subsequent
pages will show that the original works are carefully quoted for each article.
And the reader will be able to judge as to the degree of dependence, necessarily
very various, which each account may claim.

But there is one broad distinction, generally, in the geographical portion of
the two volumes. In the former, great extent of coasts, as the whole of South
America and a large portion of the Northern Continent, have been well surveyed
and amply described, so that there is little room for scientific improvement by
isolated observations of the commander with limited means. In the present, on
the other hand, there is ample scope for the observations and discovery of every
one. Although many portions of the groups, and in some cases entire archi-
pelagoes, are tolerably surveyed and described, still most of the isolated spots of
land and detached shoals require to be much better known; and very great
extent of ocean must be more closely examined before the ship-master can
traverse the Pacific Ocean with confidence-either that the known dangers are
correctly placed, or that innumerable lurking but undiscovered dangers may not
be encountered. The attention of every one into whose power it may fall to
give information to the world for the benefit and safety of the mariner, is hereby
most earnestly recommended.

One important part of Pacific hydrography is the relative value of the positions
assigned to the various points as detailed in the ensuing tables. Now, there
is every evidence that much remains to be done in this, before the same
connected accuracy will be found that exists in the geography of other portions
of the globe. Many of the regions of the great ocean are now delineated from
the observations of their first discoverers, without any of the amendment in
respect of situation which repeated observation necessarily produces. This
appears more particularly to be the case in the western portion of the Pacific,
where there is abundant room for improvement.

The work itself will give all the details respecting our present knowledge of
each portion of the Pacific Islands, and the following Table of Positions gives.
the authorities upon which each item of the latitudes and longitudes rests. But
it will be seen that from its very nature it can be by no means perfect. And
even with the materials we have at present at command, there is little doubt but
that some improvement might be effected by verifying and adjusting the varied
estimates formed by different navigators. In other parts of the world much has
been done in this field by Lieutenant Raper. Here the principal labourer,
indeed it might be said the only one hitherto, is the great hydrographer Admiral
Krusenstern. His invaluable work, as has been already stated in the introductory
portion of the previous volume, is the labour of many years in reconciling the
discordant materials which have composed the sum of the geography of the
Pacific. It may be stated that the determinations of Admiral Krusenstern have
been generally followed here, except when later observations entitled to more
confidence have superseded the former. This will be found to be the case in
very numerous instances.

This brings us to another point which has been alluded to in the previous

volume, but for the sake of convenience we will repeat the substance of what is

there stated, as the remarks are still more applicable to the tables which follow

this, than to the longitudes of the points of the continental boundaries of the

Pacific.

The latitude of a place is found with much greater accuracy and simplicity than

its longitude, and therefore but little need be said on that point; but the
longitude of places whose meridians are so wide apart as in the Pacific, the
accurate determination of longitude becomes a complex and difficult question.
We need not dilate now on the uncertainty of the longitude determined by astro-
nomic observations alone, except in the long series which have been made in the
fixed or temporary observatories established in a few places. Even they have
been found to be open to doubt to the extent of several minutes, and in perhaps
only one instance that of Paramatta, in New South Wales-is the longitude
accurately and unimpugnably ascertained.

But there is one mode, more especially insisted on by Lieutenant Raper, to

whom so much is owing, by which it is almost in the power of any one possessing a

good chronometer to verify or improve his predecessors' determinations. This is

to connect any new or less known point with one better ascertained, whether the

latter be absolutely correct or not. "The question would thus be narrowed into

the determination of chronometric differences alone, until a favourable oppor-

tunity occurred for the definitive determination of a fundamental position." Any

improvement which is made in this primary point must, therefore, be extended to

all those dependent on it. With this view Lieutenant Raper has selected twenty

points in various parts of the globe, to serve as secondary meridians for the

districts in their vicinity. Five of these refer to the Pacific. And as uniformity

is in every way desirable, we have taken Lieutenant Raper's determinations as

the groundwork; and, in addition to those he has chosen, several other points

have been proposed in the first volume for the same purpose in the Pacific, and

are as follow: :-

In the future determination of longitude by chronometer, it is hoped that the
meridian and particulars of the original station may be stated, and thus remove
much of the vagueness which too often attends the records of what may be
otherwise excellent determinations.