CHAPTER VI

COMMODORE PERRY'S VISIT

No one, I think, can have read the letters in the foregoing chapters without feeling kindly disposed towards Nathaniel Savory and persuaded that, whether he was Englishman or not, he had truest right—especially now that Mazarro was dead and Millinchamp out of the way—to be the head of the Bonin settlement. The situation was a strange and unsatisfactory one—a colony on islands which, though an English possession, England was doing nothing to keep possession of. Nathaniel would have been perfectly happy and content under a proper English governor, but if the settlers were left to themselves not one amongst them had any right to be governor but himself. But how could he, American as he was, be governor in the face of the accepted belief that the islands belonged to Great Britain ? Here was the problem, and providence was so ordering it that a great American from outside was now coming to the 'support of our American friend on the island.

Commodore Perry, having for the time detached his flagship the Susquehanna from the other ships of the United States' squadron under his command, arrived in the Bonin harbour from the Loo Choo Islands on June 14 in the year 1853. This was no accidental visit, nor one paid just from motives of friendliness or curiosity. The Commodore meant business, as we shall see, and he was not a man who easily brooked being thwarted. I must confess to being almost sorry that he did not do a little bombarding and in fine old-fashioned style capture the islands. But he did everything short of this. The idea that the islands belonged to England he would hardly tolerate, and, in the account of his expedition, he describes Captain Beechey as an accidental visitor who with the proverbial modesty of an Englishman freely dowered the islands with English names. He is annoyed at having to use these names himself and claims for the S. Island that it had received the earlier name of Coffin Island from a Captain Coffin of an American whaler. "The English," he writes, "have not a particle of claim to priority of discovery." Further it pleases him to state that "the inhabitants practically disown the paternity of the English sovereign," and that "the right of sovereignty undoubtedly belongs to Japan as the earliest known occupant of the islands. " We have had Alexander Simpson, the British Consul at Honolulu's account of the first founding of the Bonin colony, and we noticed how the only two names given by him of the first colonists were those of Matthew [sic] Mazarro and John Millinchamp. The following, however, is the Commodore's version: "In 1880," so he writes "several Americans and Europeans came to the Bonins from the Sandwich Islands. . . . The leaders of this adventure were five men, two originally from the United States—Nathaniel Savory and Aldin B. Chapin of Massachusetts—one from England of the name of Richard Mildtchamp, one Charles Johnson of Denmark, and the fifth a Genoese known as Matteo Mazara." It will be seen that while Matthew Mazarro, presumably a British subject, and undoubtedly the first recognized head of the settlers, was given the first place by Mr. Simpson; Matteo Mazara, the Genoese, is here placed last in the list by Commodore Perry, and the first place given to Nathaniel Savory, of whom, I am afraid, Mr. Simpson deliberately made no mention. Nathaniel Savory was now the only survivor of the first party of adventurers, and the total number of inhabitants now on Peel Island is given by Commodore Perry as thirty-one in all, made up of four Americans, about the same number of Englishmen, one Portuguese, and natives of the Pacific islands with children actually born on the Bonins. They are reported as being happy and contented and as having no desire to change their condition "leading as they are doing, a quiet and easy life in a climate which is genial and wholesome, and upon a land whose fertility supplies them, in return for but little labour, with all they want for their sustenance." June 14, as mentioned above, was the day of the Susquehanna's arrival. The following day was one of exploring activity and big transactions. The latter Commodore Perry conducted himself; but for the exploring of the islands two parties were formed, one headed by Mr. Bayard Taylor, the well-known traveller, who had joined the Susquehanna at Shanghai; and the other by Dr. Fahs, the assistant surgeon. The island to the south of the harbour fell to the share of Mr. Taylor's party and a full account of their adventures has been chronicled. They fell in with a man called John Marquese, whose services they secured as guide. He seems to have come to the islands as a lad with the original settlers and to have been a native of the Marquesas Islands—hence his nickname. He had a face tattooed light blue and was clothed in a coarse cotton shirt and trousers. He introduced himself to the party by the dignified name of "Judge." They report him to have been in a very flourishing condition with a hut to live in, a plantation to cultivate, and "as making a fair show of livestock with his dogs and four pigs." To one who is familiar with the Bonin Island today the account of the day's adventures is chiefly interesting as showing how vastly the island has changed. We read of "vegetation in tropical profusion," of the "denseness of the woods," of the "wildness of tropical growth," of the "dew dripping from the thick foliage"; the party also lighted on the lair of a wild boar. To-day the feature of the island is rather its barrenness, and on Peel Island not a wild animal of any kind survives. While the two parties in the heat of this mid-summer's day were arduously making their way through the tangled growths and exploring the island, Commodore Perry for his part was busy with Nathaniel Savory, and the following docu-ments and letters, bearing the date of this very day, will sufficiently reveal the nature of the high transactions that had been taking place.

"Title deed of Property.

"NATHANIEL SAVORY to COMMODORE

M. C. PERRY.

“June 15, 1853.

"Be it known that on this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Three I Nathaniel Savory born in the United States of America and Twenty three years a resident of this Island having in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred, and Thirty Six located, staked out and held as my own property according to the usage of the Island, all that certain portion, parcel or piece of ground fronting on what is called the Ten Fathom Hole, the same being a part of the Bay or Harbour of Port Lloyd in the said Island commonly called and known at present as Peel Island including the entire and both sides of the Creek which empties into the said Harbour called Ten Fathom Hole of one thousand yards more or less with a depth from low water mark of Five hundred yards more or less between parallel lines, all of which said piece or parcel of ground together with the Creek hereinbefore mentioned I have and do by these presents sell transfer assign and make over unto Commodore M. C. Perry of the United States Navy here present accepting and acknowledging due delivery and possession thereof for himself his heirs and assigns for ever together with all my right, title and interest whatsoever thereunto appertaining.

"The said sale is made for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Dollars and other benefits and which said sum of Fifty Dollars with other benefits the said Nathaniel Savory hereby acknowledges the receipt thereof and grants acquittance therefor.

“Thus done and signed in the Island known as Peel Island on the Day Month and Year first above written, in the presence of Edwin Fithean Jr. and John Green lawful witnesses above the age of Twenty one.

"M.C. PERRY,

“NATHANIEL SAVORY.

“Witnesses:

“EDWIN FITHIAN

“JOHN GREEN."

“U.S. Steam Frigate Susquehanna.

“PORT LLOYD, PEEL ISLAND,

June 15, 1853.

“SIR,

"I give you charge as my agent of the piece of ground this day purchased of you by me, and request that you will forbid the cutting of timber, or any trespass thereon on pain of the penalties of the law.

"Respectfully your obedient servant

“M. C. PERRY.

“MR. NATHANIEL SAVORY,

“PORT Lloyd, Peel Island."

“U.S. Steam Frigate Susquehanna.

" PORT LLOYD, PEEL ISLAND,

“June 15, 1853.

“SIR,

"I hereby appoint you Agent to look after and take charge of certain live stock landed from the ship for the purpose of improving the breed of animals useful in husbandry, the pasturage of this and the neighbouring islands being abundant. And I have to direct that none of the said animals be killed until after the exploration of five years from this date recommending at the same time that the bulls and cows be permitted to multiply even after that time in view of furnishing to the farmers of the Islands a sufficient number of cattle for the plough and other agricultural and useful purposes. I also appoint you agent for the United States Squadron under my command at the Bonin Islands to look after the comfort and interests of anyone who may land at the Islands from the said Squadron and to take charge of all property belonging to said Squadron or to the United States and you are invested with authority to act accordingly. One man John Smith belonging to the U.S. Naval Service will be landed from this ship to assist you in the duties entrusted to your charge and he will have orders to refer to you for advice and instructions. I have caused your name to be placed upon the books of this ship for pay and provisions and you are consequently attached to the Navy of the United States and possessed of all the privileges and immunities to be derived therefrom.

"Respectfully,

"Your obedient servant,

“M. C. PERRY.

Commander-in-Chief U.S. Naval Forces

East India, China and Japan Seas.

“NATHANIEL SAVORY. ESQ.

"Port Lloyd, Peel Island."

“Instructions to JOHN SMITH Ordinary Seaman.

"You will be left on shore at this place for the purpose of assisting Mr. Nathaniel Savory whom I have appointed Agent for the Squadron and you will be careful to conduct yourself in a manner alike creditable to yourself and the ship.

"It is probable that a ship of the Squadron will be here in three months but in case of any unexpected delay in her coming six months' provisions have been provided for you.

"You will keep a Diary of every event that occurs on the Island noting down the names of every vessel that may arrive or depart or have communication with the Port; also noting the name of the respective masters, the Cargoes of the vessels, where from and where bound, and if whalers, how much oil they have. And you will notify all men who may leave merchant ships or whalers of any nation that they will not be received on board of any ship of this Squadron unless by permission of their Captain.

"And warn all people of the Island not to harbour deserters from the U.S. Squadron under penalty of the law.

"You will consider yourself as under-assistant to Mr. Savory and :will look to him for advice and instructions.

“M. C. PERRY,

Commanding U.S. East Indian Squadron.

"U.S. Steam Frigate Susquehanna,

"PORT LLOYD, PEEL ISLAND. June 1853."

The Commodore had certainly been making good use of his day. If England did not value these islands to the extent of establishing a government on them, why should her sovereignty over them be respected, and America be debarred from deriving any advantages from them that they might offer her? Thus had the Commodore reasoned with himself, and, in anything that he had chosen to do, it had been convenient to him to believe that England had no right to question his actions and that he was really answerable only to the Government of that mysterious country with which he was now on his way to attempt to open negotiations. Fortunately the Commodore had found the person of chief importance on the island to be an American citizen, and this American, Nathaniel Savory, he placed at once, as we learn from the above documents, in a position of authority by appointing him agent on the island to the United States Squadron with a stipulated salary and with one of his trusted seamen, John Smith, to act as his assistant. Further he purchased from the same Nathaniel Savory a considerable tract of land fronting the bay, a property of which the former owner was now to be the guardian. On the two remaining days that the Susquehanna remained in port, the Commodore gathered the leading settlers together and with them made a preliminary draft of a code of rules for their government to which they all with an easyplacidity, which has ever characterized them, gave their serious assent. This code consisted of three articles, and thirteen sections, and was called "Organization of the settlers of Peel Island." It provided for the election of a Chief Magistrate and Council, of two persons to be elected by and from amongst the settlers, the Chief Magistrate and Council to have power to enact rules and make regulations to be binding on the residents provided the concurrence and approval of two-thirds of the whole number of residents had been obtained. Under these rules, which however were not formally adopted until August 28, 1853, Nathaniel Savory was elected as Chief Magistrate and James Motley and Thomas H. Webb as Councilmen. The document was signed by Nathaniel Savory, Thomas H. Webb, James Motley, William Gilley, John Brava, Joseph Cullen, George Brava and George Horton. The rules, however, were never enforced, and the existence of the scheme in a few years' time passed out of remembrance. Quite apart from his political schemes, everything goes to prove, both at the time of his visit and subsequently, that the Commodore was humanely interested in the welfare of these island settlers, and among the acceptable presents he left behind him were four head of cattle, five Shanghai sheep and six goats. It now remains to be told what the purpose of the Commodore was in visiting the islands, and why he was so anxious that America should establish a footing on them. In a letter from Napha, the port of Loo Choo, to the U.S.A. Naval Department, he writes: “As my instructions direct me to seek out and establish ports of refuge and refreshment for vessels traversing these distant seas, I have kept constantly in view the port in which we are now at anchor, and the principal harbour of the Bonin Islands, as well for general convenience of resort as to furnish connecting links or suitable stopping places for a line of mail steamers which, I trust may soon be established between some one of our Pacific ports and China—an event so much to be desired, and, if accomplished, one that will be distinguished, even in the history of these remarkable times, as of the highest importance to the commerce of the United States and of the world." If the choice lay between the Loo Choo port and the port of the Bonin Islands, in a later document, written on his return to America, the Commodore gives forcible reasons for his preference for the latter, and allows himself to indulge in a dream of the future prosperity of the Bonin colony. "Materials should be first transported to the islands for the construction of a large storehouse and a few small dwellings." “In a short time a prosperous colony could be built up, and whaling vessels, American, English and French would resort in great numbers to the port for refreshments and supplies." He even contemplates that “the settlement might form the nucleus of a religious and happy community" and that "a missionary station might be formed from whence missionaries at a proper season might be sent to Japan, Formosa, and other benighted countries in that part of the globe." We can hardly repress a smile when we read these words to-day, but here we have the Commodore's noble dream of the Bonin possibilities. There is not, a little irony in the fact that after his departure from the Bonin Islands the next immediate intention of the Commodore was to discover the position of Disappointment Island. If he could only have known it, he could have bestowed no more appropriate name on the island he was now leaving.