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| 1522 | Spanish ship TRINIDAD of Magellan's fleet, commanded by Gomez de Espinosa, on its attempt to recross the Pacific. May 6: Sighted two small islands in 5� N which they named "San Juan" -- almost certainly Sonsorol. [Sharp 1960: 9-10] |
| 1579 | English ship GOLDEN HIND, commanded by Francis Drake, en route to the Moluccas. Sept 30: Came upon islands at 8`' N. Several canoes came out to the ship and trading was carried on. When the islanders began to steal things, a skirmish broke out and 20 natives were killed. These islands -- seemingly Palau -- were named "Islands of Thieves." [Lessa 1975a: 54-8, 250-5] |
| 1710 | British privateer DUKE OF BRISTOL, Capt Woodes Rogers, en route from Guam to Ternate.
Apr 10: Sighted a low island at 2� 54'N that was probably Tobi. [Rogers 1928: 273; Sharp 1960:
93-4] Spanish patache SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD of Manila, Francisco Padilla, on a voyage to search for the Palaos. Nov 30: Found Sonsorol which they named "San Andreas." Natives traded peacefully and invited Spanish ashore for a feast. Two priests and several soldiers were landed on the next day, but the ship was driven off by the currents and was unable to make the island again to take them off, despite repeated attempts. Dec 11: Sighted Palau and lay off for two days. Several canoes came off with armed natives who came aboard to trade. When some began to pry pieces of iron from off the ship, all were ordered off. They hurled spears from their canoes. More canoes came out the next day, but Padilla did not go ashore as they requested. Good descriptive accounts of the people. [Barras de Aragon 1949: 1076-89; Kramer 1917: I, 36-67; Eilers 1936: I, 1-14] |
| 1712 | Spanish patache SANTO DOMINGO, Bernardo de Egui, left Guam to search for Sonsorol and rescue the two priests left there. Feb 15: Sighted Palau. A dozen canoes came out, but only one caught up with the ship. Two natives came out on deck while the rest threw food and shell belts up to the ship. The two natives were seized and bound, but one escaped a short time after. Left Palau on Feb 17. Feb 19: Sighted Sonsorol, but could find no sign of life. The next day the ship was carried away by strong currents and soon after returned to Manila. [Barras de Aragon 1949 1089-93: Kramer 1917: I, 88-100] |
| 1761 | English merchantmen CARNARVON, Capt Norton Hutchinson, WARWICK, Capt James Dewar, and PRINCESS AUGUSTA, Capt Thomas Baddison, on return from Canton. In Sept sighted island at 434'N, 130� 23'E -- Pulo Anna. Carnarvon also sighted Merir. [Stevens 1808: 636-6] |
| 1763 | British merchantman GOVERNOUR sighted Pulo Anna. [Stevens 1808: 636; Robertson 1791: 104] |
| 1767 | HMS SWALLOW, Capt Philip Cartaret, on exploring expedition of Wallis, discovered islands to southwest of Palau on passage from New Guinea to Manila. Sept 8: Sighted a "very dangerous shout" -- Helen's Reef. Saw island that was named "Hummock" -- Tobi. Oct 12: Sighted island that was called "Bird Island" -- Pulo Anna. Oct 13: Sighted two tiny islands and called them "Current Islands" or later "St Andrew Is" -Sonsorol. [Wallis 1965: 1, 200-3; Eilers 1936: 1, 19-20] |
| 1769 | British indiaman PONSBORNE, Capt John Payne, en route to China. In Feb sighted Pulo Anna and Merir. [Stevens 1808: 635-6] |
| 1773 | Spanish ship NUESTRA SENORA DE CONSOLACION, piloted by Felipe Tompson, may have sighted Helen's Reef. An old map shows the track of Tompson's ship with a reef drawn in near the position of Helen's Reef. [Sharp 1960: 127-8] |
| 1781 | British merchantman LORD NORTH, Capt William Hambly, on return trip to Canton, was driven off course by winds and current. In January sighted Tobi and named it "Lord North's Is" (Purdy gives as date of discovery 14 July 1728. [Stevens 1808: 639; Purdy 1814: 15] |
| 1783 | British indiaman FOX sighted islands in the Palau group (Palaos), perhaps Tobi and southwest
islands. [Dalrymple 1783:14] British indiaman ANTELOPE, Capt Henry Wilson, on return passage from Macao. Aug 10: Ship went aground on the western reef of Palau in a storm. Crew spent three months on Palau and received the assistance of the islanders. Communication was conducted through Malayan interpreters on both sides. Wilson and his men assisted Ibedul in four battles against traditional enemies. The English constructed a small vessel called Oroolong and departed on Nov 12, leaving one of their men behind and taking the son of the high chief. Keate's entire book is an account of Wilson's experiences with excellent, if somewhat romanticized, observations on the islanders. [Keate 1789] |
| 1784 | British indiaman LONDON, Capt Easterbrook,on passage to China, sighted Sonsorol. [Robertson 1791: 105] |
| 1785 | British indiaman TRUE BRITON, Capt Henry Farrer, on passage to Canton, sighted Pulo Anna. [Stevens 1808: 635] |
| 1786 | British merchantman NOOTKA, Capt William Douglas, on voyage to the northwest coast of America, sighted Tobi. [Stevens 1808: 639] |
| 1787 | British indiaman WARREN HASTINGS, Capt J.P. Larkins, en route to Canton. Dec 23: Sighted
Pulo Anna and Merir at 4� 42'N, 131� 10'E and 4� 20'N, 13.1� 35'E. [East India Co 1761-1828:
Log of Warren Hastinqs] British indiaman LONDON, Capt Easterbrook, on passage to China, sighted the northern part of Palau. [Robertson 1791: 108-9] |
| 1788 | British ship IPHIGENIA NUBIANA, Capt William Douglas, of Meares' exploring expedition to
northwest coast of America. Mar 9: Put in at Tobi where natives came aboard to trade. People
were astonished at sight of iron hatchets and discharge of firearms. Left after two days, naming
the island "Johnstone." Apr 3: Arrived at Palau with intention of taking on wood, fresh food &
coconuts. Natives came out to trade, but offered little food in return for ironware given them.
Captain cleared the deck and sailed on the next day. [Meares 1790: 291-9] British transport ships FRIENDSHIP and ALEXANDER, under Lt Shortland, on passage from Port Jackson to Batavia. Sept 10: Put in at Palau to take on fresh food after outbreak of scurvy. Natives swam out carrying bamboo water containers and traded. Boat went ashore, but could obtain only a few coconuts. British noticed iron adzes "of European manufacture" and use of Spanish words by natives. Ship left the next day. [Phillip 1789: 208-12] |
| 1789 | British indiaman DUKE OF MONTROSE, Capt Joseph Dorin, on a passage to China with
companion ships. Jan 1: Sighted Tobi which they named "Neville Island." Canoes came out but
could not catch the ship. [Stevens 1808: 639; Eilers 1936: 11, 4] British merchantman ASIA, Capt John Foulkes, on return trip from China in company with DUKE OF MONTROSE and RAYMOND. June 4: Sighted Merir. People came off in canoes to beg provisions. They were "seemingly very poor and brought nothing with them but fishing lines & hooks." [Stevens 1808: 636-7] |
| 1791 | British East India Co packets PANTHER, Capt John McCluer, and ENDEAVOUR, Capt Thomas Haswell, from Bombay. Jan 19: visited Palau to inform lbedul of his son's death in Britain and to bring gifts to the people in return for their kindness to Capt Wilson and crew of the Antelope. Learned of the death of the British seaman left in Palau by Wilson. Panther left Palau on Feb 17 for China, returning on June 10. The British aided lbedul in a "military expedition against his enemies." On June 27, the ships left with four Palauans aboard to survey the coast of New Guinea. [Hockin 1893: 1-43; Delano 1817: 58-77; McCluer 1792] |
| 1792 | Spanish sloops OTRO VIDA & DESCUBIERTA, under Alessandro Malaspina, sailed past Merir on Dec 24. [Eilers 1936: I, 301] |
| 1793 | British East India Co packets PANTHER & ENDEAVOUR, Capts John McCluer & Procter, after coastal survey of New Guinea. Returned to Palau on Jan 20. Brought seed, grain and cattle for the people. Noticed great and depressing changes among Palauans since their last visit 18 months earlier. Endeavour left for China onresigned his command and remained on Palau to live for the next 15 months. Some good descriptions of conditions on Palau. [Delano 1817: 186-95; Hockin 1803: 48-521] |
| 1794 | British storeship BRITANNIA of London, Capt William Raven, sighted Sonsorol on Jan 9.
Several canoes came off. Natives wore only "girdles of woven cloth." [Murray 1796] British ship HELEN, Capt George Seton, sighted Tobi on April 5. Saw lights on it -- sign of habitation. Also saw a reef which they named "Helen's Reef." [Stevens 1808: 600, 620] British indiaman CARNATIC, Capt James Jackson, en route to China, sighted Pulo Anna on Dec 25. [Stevens 1808: 635-7] British indiamen DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH, Capt Wall, with BODDAM & MACARTNEY on their passage to China, sighted Pulo Anna & Merir. [Stevens 1808: 635, 637] |
| 1795 | British vessel VENUS, owned by Capt McCluer. He returned to Palau in Feb to retrieve his family, personal effects, and six or eight women servants. Left Palau and sailed on to Bombay & Bengal. Shortly thereafter, in Aug 1795, McCluer was lost at sea aboard Venus. [Hockin 1803: 54-5] |
| 1796 | British storeship BRITANNIA of London, Capt William Raven. Mar 23: Saw a low island at 4�
57'N, 133� 29'E -- perhaps Pulo Anna. [Murray 1796] Ship ABIGAIL of Providence, Capt Christopher Thornton, on passage from Canton to Port Jackson. Apr 27: Stood in for Palau. Four canoes came off Babeldaop and traded for iron & fishhooks. Met a Filipino, " a native of Lucona," who was left there by an English ship. Made for Peleliu where a native came off and presented a note written by John McCluer giving sailing directions for the harbor in Koror. More canoes came off to trade. The ship stood out to sea on Apr 28. [Thornton 1796] |
| 1797 | British indiaman THAMES, Capt Robert Williams, in company with CARNATIC, sighted Pulo
Anna on Aug 3. [Stevens 1808: 634] Missionary ship DUFF of London, Capt James Wilson. Nov 5: Arrived at Palau and were met by several canoes. Presented the islanders with a few knives, looking glasses & other goods, receiving in return a few coconuts. The crew were unable to converse with the Palauans, even with the aid of Henry Wilson's vocabulary. The ship left after only two days for China. A short description of natives' physical appearance is given. [Wilson 1799: 305-8] British merchantman CERES, Capt T. Hedley, on passage from Port Jackson to China, sighted Sonsorol on Nov 21. [Journal of Ceres, Naval Records Group No 45, Washington, US National Archives] |
| 1798 | British indiaman DIAMANTE, Lt Samuel Snook, a former crew member of Panther visited Palau on July 14. Brought from Macao three Palauan women -- the survivors of those McCluer had taken to Bombay in 1795. Also left off cattle and other presents for the people. [Hockin 1803: 57-8; Delano 1817: 74-6; East India Co 1798: China Factory Records, 6/12/119] |
| 1800 | Spanish frigate from Manila, commanded by Lt Juan Ibargoitia, put in at Palau on Nov 21, remaining for four days. Traded with the natives who appeared very friendly. Sent seamen ashore to bring back water. [Kramer 1917: I, 128-9; Dumont d' Urville 1825: II, 527] |
| 1801 | British indiaman NEPTUNE, in company with HMS BELLIQUEUX & indiamen BOMBAY CASTLE, COUTTS, DORSETSHIRE & EXETER. Jan 21: Touched at Merir. Canoe with four tattooed natives came out to trade, but the natives could not be persuaded to come on deck. [Stevens 1808: 638] |
| 1802 | Unnamed British indiaman, commanded by Nathaniel Tucker, on passage from Bombay to China, touched at Palau in Feb. Canoes came off, one of them carrying an Englishman who told Tucker that there were three other Europeans living ashore collecting beche-de-mer & shells for the China trade. [Hockin 1803: 58-9: Kramer 1917: I, 130] |
| 1804 | Ship ASIA of Providence, Capt Nathaniel Pearce, on a trading voyage to Canton. Nov 17: Sighted
Merir. Nov 19: Sighted Palau. [Pearce 1805] Swedish ship WASA, Capt Hanson, on its passage to China, sighted Helen's Reef. [Stevens 1808: 600] |
| 1805 | British indiaman ASIA sighted Sonsorol. [Purdy 1814: 151] |
| 1806 | British indiaman MANGLES & ANNA passed the southwestern tip of Angaur, Palau. [Horsburgh 1817: II, 498] |
| 1809 | Spanish ship MODESTO of Manila, Capt Jose Maria Fernandez, visited Palau in search of trepang after stopping at Fais. Governor Medinilla y Pinedo of the Marianas was on board. [Kotzebue 1830: III, 117] |
| 1810 | Ship MARTHA was lost on a shoal "lying northward and eastward of the Island of Gillolo in lat
3� N, 131� 45'E"-- probably Helen's Reef. [Ward 1967: III, 197] Ship AMETHYST, Capt Seth Smith, put in at Palau on Jan 26 to collect beche-de-mer. Girls came out and remained aboard throughout visit. Lengthy description of the people and island customs. Crew took aboard the ship a bullock. Four men deserted and three crew members died. Ibedul and his chiefs visited, accompanied with 200 war canoes, and planned to take the ship. Left Palau on June 3. [Smith 1810] |
| 1823 | Whaleship SYREN of London, Capt Frederich Coffin,put in at Palau on Mar 31. 30 large canoes came out and about a hundred natives boarded. They made a sudden attack, but after a desperate struggle were finally driven off. 37 of the crew were wounded and two officers killed. [Ward 1967: I, 144, 146-9; Kramer 1917: I, 130] |
| 1825 | Ship CITIZEN of NY, Capt E.L. Keen, on a trading voyage to Canton, put in at Palau. Canoes came off and the natives traded fruit, shell, & yams for clothing. [Hunter 1938: 6-7] |
| 1827 | Whaleship HARVEST of Nantucket, Capt Richard Macy, sighted Sonsorol. [Reynolds 1828: 20] |
| 1828 | American ship GLOBE, Capt Thomas Dixey, on a trading voyage to Canton, made the island of
Merir on Feb 11. [Harrold 1828] French frigate ASTROLABE commanded by Dumont d' Urville, on his first expedition into the Pacific. June 7: Sighted Palau and coasted the length of its reef. Could not land because of the poor condition of the ship and the bad health of the crew. Sailed on to Moluccas. [Dumont d' Urville 1833: V, 290; Dumont d' Urville 1835: II, 527] |
| 1830 | An unnamed ship, sailing through the Straits of Dampier, passed Palau on Feb 8. A canoe with six
men & women came out, but was unable to gain the lee of the ship. "Formerly represented as the
mildest & most benevolent specimens of unenlightened men, the natives of this group have lately
lost this character by attempts at violence." [Abeel 1834: 39-41 ] An unnamed Spanish ship from Manila visited the northern end of Palau. [Kramer 1917: I, 133] |
| 1832 | Whaleship MENTOR of NB, Capt Edward Barnard, was wrecked on reef off Palau on May 21. 11 of the 22 crew members survived and lived in Babeldaop for five months. On Oct 27, the captain and eight of the crew left Palau in a makeshift vessel and drifted to Tobi where they were captured, beaten & enslaved. Three survived this mistreatment and lived in Tobi for two years until they were picked up by Britannia. Capt Barnard and one other were rescued two months after their arrival on Tobi by Sabina . Three others who had been left at Palau as hostages were later picked up by the USS Vincennes. Extensive description of the natives of Tobi and Palau found in Holden's writings. [Holden 1836; Lyman 1902; Ward 1967: V, 406-44] |
| 1833 | Spanish merchant ship SABINA, Capt Soames, bound for Macao. Visited Tobi on Feb 3. Picked
up Capt Barnard & Bartlett Rollins, survivors of the shipwrecked Mentor. Presented iron hoop to
their captors as a reward for their release. [Ward 1967: V, 420] American trading brig DASH, Capt Keating, touched at Palau on a trading voyage in the Pacific. Took on turtle shell and provisions there, but hastily left the island without remunerating the natives. [Browning 1836: 219-20] A boatload of survivors from the schooner DASH, shipwrecked at Ngulu, reached Palau From there some of the crew sailed to Samar in a small boat. Capt Keating and others were taken off Palau by a Spanish vessel two months later; another seaman was taken off by the Cabot in 1835. John Davy, one of the crew, remained behind to live on Palau. [Ward 1967: V, 152, 156-8; Browning 1836: 220-4; Shineberg 1971: 233] |
| 1834 | Whaling brig CHARLES DOGGETT of Salem, Capt Batchelder, visited Palau about Apr. Ship
was attacked by hundreds of natives and one boy was killed. [Ward 1967: V, 154; Putnam 1930:
44] British bark BRITANNIA, Capt Henry Short, bound for Canton. Touched at Tobi on Nov 27. Took Horace Holden & Benjamin Nute off the island after two years there. [Holden 1836: 113-7] |
| 1835 | English ship CABOT, Capt Low, visited Palau on Feb 10. Took off one of the survivors of Dash.
Survivors of Mentor were not picked up. [Ward 1967: V, 445-7] Ship MONSOON of Boston, Capt Thomas Remmonds, on a trading voyage to Batavia. Mar 4: Passed near Merir. Five canoes came alongside and traded coconuts, fishing lines & sashes. Islanders were given bread & clothing in return. [Remmonds 1835] US naval sloop VINCENNES, Cmdr John H. Aulick, on a mission to pick up stranded American seamen. Nov 26: Touched at Palau. While at anchor at Koror, trading was carried on. Many interesting comments on Palauan people, their history & culture. Dec 9: Arrived at Tobi. Bartered with natives for iron. Sent an armed party of 80 men ashore to search for survivors of the Mentor, but found only one Palauan chief, who was taken aboard. The ship returned to Palau, and an expedition was sent out against the people of Ngerchelang, forcing them to surrender two Americans they held prisoner. Left Palau on Dec 20 to continue its voyage. [Browning 1836: 209-306; PauIlin 1.971: 69-71] |
| 1838 | Small schooner, commanded by an Englishman, put in at Palau in Feb. The captain and one of his crew were killed by Palauans. The other six crew members, all Malayans, were taken as slaves and sent to different parts of the islands. Two of the Malayans were rescued by Dumont d' Urville 11 months later. [Dumont d'Urville 1841-1846: V, 208-11] |
| 1839 | Unnamed American ship put in at Palau, leaving for Singapore on Jan 11. [Dumont d'Urville
1841-1846: V, 210-11] French corvettes ASTROLABE and ZELEE, under Dumont d' Urville, on his second expedition. Jan 15: Reached Palau and skirted the entire eastern coast. Near Peleliu a few canoes came out and natives traded aboard ship. Some of the islanders wanted to use Spanish coins to pay for their trade. Two Malayans, who had been shipwrecked some months before and since then enslaved by Palauans, asked to be taken away on the ships. The decks were cleared by force and the Malayans given passage home. Slips left for Manila the next day. [Dumont d' Urville 1841-1846: V, 207-11 and 340-5] |
| 1843 | British trading brig NAIAD, Capt Andrew Cheyne, on a cruise for beche-de-mer. Visited Palau
for the first time on July 18. Established a curing station in Koror, but was requested by the
people of Melekeiok to supply them with guns in return for a full cargo of beche-de-mer. Left
Palau on Aug 13, leaving his gunner and 13 lascars there and taking on several Palauans to Yap.
[Shineberg 1971: 231-41] Spanish brig MAGALLANES, Capt Soames, was lying off Koror in July. Had been there for several months collecting beche-de-mer. [Shineberg 1971: 233, 241] |
| 1844 | Schooner ANITA visited Palau in Apr to pick up beche-de-mer collected by one of Cheyne's
overseers on that island. [Shineberg 1971: 322] British trading brig NAIAD, Capt Andrew Cheyne, made a second visit to Palau on May 6. Took aboard the party of 13 he had left there and the little beche-de-mer they had collected. Purchased Malakal Island from Palauans. Left for China May 10. [Shineberg 1971: 321-4] Spanish brig MAGALLANES, Capt Soames, was again at Palau in May collecting beche-de-mer. [Shineberg 1971: 323-4] Schooner WILL 0' THE WISP, chartered by Cheyne to collect beche-de-mer, anchored at Palau in July. Remained for several months. [Shineberg 1871: 334] British trading brig NAIAD, Capt Andrew Cheyne, visited Palau again on Aug 9. Cheyne established another curing station and left Sept 7. [Shineberg 1971: 333-8] |
| 1846 | Schooner STARLING, with Andrew Cheyne aboard, visited Palau on May 21. Left on May 30 for
islands in vicinity of Yap. [Notes on ' Log of the Schooner Starling' in possession of Dorothy
Shineberg, School of General Studies, Australian National University, Canberra] Trading vessel OROTAVA of Sydney, Capt Nail, put in at Palau on Oct 2. Met several Englishmen on the island engaged on collecting beche-de-mer. Crew of the Orotava set up a curing station for beche-de-mer. Left Palau on Jan 13, 1847, for Hongkong. Good description of the town of Koror, with some comments on the natives. [Meeking 1847] |
| 1849 | Trading bark ELEANOR of Hobart, Capt Edward Woodin, put in at Sonsorol on Nov 30 to land a native who had been picked up while drifting in a canoe. [Woodin 1849] |
| 1851 | USS SARATOGA, Cmdr W.S. Walker, on a cruise to the East Indies. Mar 25: Passed by Pulo Anna. "Several native boats in sight, one of which came alongside." Mar 26: Sailed near Sonsorol. "Passed through a large fleet of canoes." [Walker 1851] |
| 1852 | Bark ARCO IRIS, Capt George Coffin, lay off Merir on Feb 9. Three canoes came out, natives
trading coconuts and woven mats for iron. They were also given bread & "porpoise blubber"
which they devoured on the spot. [Coffin 1853: 151-2] Trading bark ELEANOR, Capt Edward Woodin, on a beche-de-mer cruise. Apr 14: Put in at Palau to take on water. Apr 23: Touched at Sonsorol for two days. Landed there two natives who had been picked up by another ship and taken to Hongkong. May 7: Returned to Palau to collect beche-de-mer. Two crew members deserted. The ship left for China on Sept 2. [Woodin 1852] |
| c1853-1854 | Unnamed ship, Capt Eastway, on a trading voyage to Canton. Ship was wrecked at Palau in a storm and the crew remained there for 16 months before finally being taken off the island. [Nautical Magazine, XXV (Jan 1856), 50] |
| 1854 | Whaleship MARTHA of Fairhaven, Capt Meader, lay off Palau on Jan 28 for a day, before
passing Tobi on Feb 2. On Mar 12, the ship stood off Merir for a day and was visited by a canoe.
[Meader 1857] Whaleship YOUNG HECTOR of NB, Capt Peter G. Smith, stood in for Tobi on Mar 25. Eight canoes came alongside and traded. [Smith 1857] Ship SYREN, Capt Charles H. Allen, on a trading voyage from SF to Calcutta, sighted Pulo Anna on May 23. Sighted Sonsorol & Merir on the following day. [Allen 1855] Brig BETAH of Hobart, Capt Edward Woodin, put in at Palau on Feb 6. Took on eight tons of beche-de-mer, coconut oil & some shells. Two men were discharged there. Ship left for Hongkong on Feb 19. [Woodin 1854] |
| 1855 | CHRYSOLITE, Capt A: McClellan, sighted Angaur on Apr 6. It is unclear whether the ship actually put in here or not, but Capt McClellan mentions that he"had a note from Capt Eastway who had been in the island 16 months" after his vessel sank in a hurricane. On July 14, the Chrysolite sighted Merir. [Nautical Magazine, XXV (Jan 1856), 50] |
| 1856 | Whaleship PERUVIAN of Nantucket, Capt Edward B. Hussey, touched at Sonsorol on Mar 24 and "traded with natives who came off in canoes for coconuts, lines, etc." [Hussey 1856] |
| 1857 | Whaleship OCEAN ROVER of Nantucket, Capt Charles A. Veeder, lying at anchor at Palau on
Jan 12. Remained for three days. [Veeder 1858] Whaleship NORMAN of Nantucket, Capt Charles C. Ray, at Pulo Anna on Mar 22. Canoes came alongside with a few coconuts. [Ray 1860] |
| 1858 | Ship LADY RAGLAN was wrecked on Helen's Reef about July. It was found there three months
later by Cordelia Beran. [Annales Hydrograhiques, XVIII (1860), 293-4] Long boat carrying crew members from Belgian ship Constant, wrecked on Oroluk, sighted Palau on Aug 27. They did not land, however, and later arrived in New Guinea. [Seymour 1862] Bark CORDELIA BERAN, Capt M.J. Pederson, lay off Helen's Reef on Oct 4. It had left Singapore to salvage the wreck of Lady Raglan, lost three months before on Helen's Reef. Cordelia remained until Nov 11, taking a cargo of tea off the wreck. [Annales Hydrographigues, XVIII (1860) 293-4] |
| 1859 | Schooner BLACK RIVER PACKET, Capt Andrew Cheyne, was in Palau on Oct 24. There he met Woodin and formed partnership with him. Remained in Palau until Mar 30, 1860, when he left for Manila. [Kramer 1917: I, 136] |
| 1860 | Schooner LADY LEIGH of Hobart, Capt Edward Woodin, lying at anchor off Palau in Mar. There he met Cheyne with whom he formed a temporary partnership. Fished for beche-de-mer until he left for Manila in June. Returned to Palau in mid-Sept. Woodin broke off his partnership with Cheyne and allied himself to the people of Ngabuked. Helped them repulse an attack by Koror. [Kramer 1917: I, 136-7; Stevens 1867: Enc #3 in Letter of Proceedings, 7 May 1861] |
| 1861 | Schooner LADY LEIGH, Capt Edward Woodin, put in at Palau on Apr 23. Remained there
gathering beche-de-mer until Aug. Woodin defended people of Northern Babeldaop against
attacks by Koror. Provided them with swivel guns. Sailed for Manila on Aug 14. [Woodin 1863;
Stevens 1867: Enc#3 in Letter of Proceedings, 7 May 1861] Brigantine ACTS and schooner BLACK RIVER PACKET owned by Capt Andrew Cheyne, at anchor at Koror in Apr fishing for beche-de-mer. Black River Packet sailed to Singapore on June 2, but Acis remained. [Woodin 1863: entry for 13 May 1861] |
| 1862 | British warship HMS SPHINX , Lt Ralph Brown, on a cruise to find the crew of the shipwrecked
Norna. Jan 3: Anchored off Koror. Ibedul came aboard in a Spanish naval uniform. A few days
later the British joined natives of Koror in an expedition against Ngabuked, setting fire to a
village and destroying much property. Ship left Palau on Jan 21. A good description of people,
some of their customs, beche-de-mer fishing, etc. [Seymour 1862; Stevens 1867: Subencl. # 2 to
Enc #2, 9 Sept 1862; Seymour 1911: 101-5; Brown 1862b] Schooner LADY LEIGH,Capt Edward Woodin, put in at Palau on Mar 27. Brought Karl Semper, a German zoologist, as a passenger. Woodin found that his curing shed and house were destroyed by HMS Sphinx. Tension between Cheyne and Woodin continued. Schooner left Palau for Manila on Jan 26, 1863. [Woodin 1863] Spanish schooner from Manila, probably fishing for beche-de-mer, put in at Palau on July 14. [Woodin 1863] Brigantine ACIS, owned by Andrew Cheyne, again visited Palau for beche-de-mer in Oct. Alfred Tetens was aboard the vessel along with Cheyne himself. Tetens was settled at Malakal to carry on Cheyne's trade after the departure of the Acis in the early part of 1863. A lively account of Tetens' experiences in Palau is found in his writings. [Tetens 1958: 3-10, 37-46; Semper 1873: 244-7] Spanish schooner PELAYO in at Palau. Its captain visited Ibedul in Koror. [Kramer 1917: I, 139] |
| 1863 | Ship N. B. PALMER, Capt Charles P. Low, on a trading voyage to China. Feb 5: Ship was
becalmed off Sonsorol and 15-20 canoes came out with 150 natives who traded yams and fruit.
Islanders were given tobacco, as they requested, and articles of clothing. [Low 1905: 163-4] Brigantine ACTS, owned by Andrew Cheyne, returned to Palau from Manila on Dec 16. Cheyne found his coffee and sugar plantations gone to ruin and some of his goods plundered. He replanted his coffee and collected a cargo of beche-de-mer. Sailed for Yap on Feb 11, 1864. [Cheyne 1866] |
| 1864 | Brigantine ACTS, owned by Andrew Cheyne, arrived at Palau on Apr 10. One of the crew discharged there. Traded firearms and gunpowder to the natives. Cheyne suspected treachery on the part of the people. Left for Melanesia on Aug 17. [Cheyne 1866] |
| 1865 | Brigantine ACIS, Capt Andrew Cheyne, on return from Macao and Manila, put in at Palau on Mar 7. Cheyne received a friendly welcome, but overheard a conversation regarding a plot to kill him. Several crew members were discharged at Palau. Ship left for Yap on Mar 23. On June 15, the Acis returned to Palau. Cheyne purchased much unoccupied land in Babeldaop and had the natives there collect beche-de-mer for him. They were paid off in muskets. The Koror chiefs, angered at this, plotted his death. Sailed from Palau for Manila on Oct 24. [Cheyne 1866] |
| c1865 | Whaling bark JAVA II of NB, Capt Nathan S. Smith, lay off Tobi. "Nothing of account to be got." [Smith 1867] |
| 1866 | German steamship VESTA owned by Godeffroy Co,. Capt Alfred Tetens, returning from Europe.
In Jan visited Sonsorol where Tetens was entertained by the natives for a day or two. Proceeded
on to Palau for beche-de-mer, but found an insufficient quantity there. Took on several crew
members in Koror and sailed for Yap. The Vesta returned late in the same year for a day or two.
Tetens found the natives fearful that a warship would come to avenge Cheyne's death. [Tetens
1958: 58-62, 74-5; Stevens 1867] Brigantine ACTS, Capt Andrew Cheyne, put into Palau from Manila on Feb 1. Five days later, Cheyne was killed by Koror natives. The Acis was brought to Manila one month later. [Cheyne 1866; Stevens 1867] Ship SOOLOO of Boston, Capt Charles Beadle, passed by Merir on Mar 5. Three canoes came out and traded coconuts for tobacco. [Beadle 1867] |
| 1867 | German steamship VESTA, Capt Alfred Tetens, made another visit to Palau after his return from
Melanesia, Woleai & Yap. Assisted Ibedul in a successful attack against Melekeiok. [Tetens
1958: 80-7] German steamship VESTA, Capt Alfred Tetens, made another visit to Palau. Tetens asked to buy land in Malakal, but was refused by the chief who feared annexation. Tetens purchased other land and brought 50 Chinese to begin a cotton plantation. Left for islands to the east soon afterwards. [Tetens 1958: 88-9] German steamship VESTA, Capt Alfred Tetens, returned to Palau to take away Chinese at Ibedul's request [Tetens 1958:100-1] British warship HMS PERSEUS, Cmdr Charles E. Stevens, to investigate the murder of Andrew Cheyne. Put in at Palau on Apr 6. Interviewed several chiefs about the circumstances surrounding Cheyne's death. Stevens soon established guilt of Ibedul and had him executed by another Palauan. Ship left Koror on Apr 13. [Stevens 1867] American schooner EAGLE, Capt Bird, at anchor in Koror on Apr 6. Vessel was trading for beche-de-mer at the time. The schooner was later attacked by natives of the Hermit Is. The captain and several Yapese aboard at the time were killed. [Stevens 1867] |
| 1868 | Whaling bark ORLANDO of NB, Capt James M. Clark, visited Tobi on Mar 15. Several canoes came off to trade. Sailed for Pohnpei four days later. [Clark 1870] |
| 1869 | Whaling bark JAVA II of NB, Capt Charles H.S. Kempton. Apr 20: Lay off Tobi. "Got ten of the natives and a few coconuts." Sept 10: Again in at Tobi. Discharged the natives that were signed on in Apr. Two of the ship's officers went ashore and bought mats with pieces of tobacco. [Kempton 1872] |
| 1870 | English bark RENOWN, Capt G.E. Adams, was wrecked off Palau on Feb 9. Crew remained in
Palau almost two months before being taken off by HMS Rinaldo. The crew was "treated with the
greatest possible kindness and hospitality" by natives. [Robinson 1870; Nautical Magazine,
XXXIX (1870), 386-7; Kramer 1917: I, 143] British warship HMS RINALDO, Cmdr F.C.B. Robinson, put in at Palau on Apr 2 to rescue the shipwrecked crew of bark Renown. "Islanders were liberal in their presents of fish and other fresh provisions." Thanked the chief of Koror for his kindness to the three shipwrecked crew and presented him with gifts. Left Palau on Apr 3. [Robinson 1870: Nautical Magazine XXXIX (1870), 386-7; Kramer 1917: I, 143] French ship BUSHRO visited Palau. [Kramer 1917: I, 143] |
| 1871 | Bark EOLE visited Palau for the second time in Apr. [Kubary 1873: 183] Trading schooner AUGUSTITE of Hamburg visited Palau in early Sept. [Kramer 1917: I, 146; Kubary 1873: 184] Trading schooner ISERBROOK, owned by Godeffroy Co, Capt Heinsohn, arrived in Palau on Oct 1. [Kubary 1873: 185] |
| 1872 | German trading brig SUSANNE, Capt John Peters,visited Palau on Jan 23-28. [Kramer 1917: I,
147] Trading schooner ISERBROOK,owned by Godeffroy Co, Capt Heinsohn, anchored in Palau in Apr. [Kramer 1917: I, 146] Trading ketch KATE of Singapore, Capt Benjamin E. Gall, visited Palau in late 1872 or early 1873 to collect beche-de-mer. Ibedul complained to British naval officers that he was cheated by Capt Gall and that three native women were abducted by the ship. [Le Hunte 1883: Enc #5, Judicial Proceedings; Kramer 1917: I, 152] |
| 1873 | Schooner SCOTLAND, Capt C.P. Holcomb, visited Palau en route to New Guinea in Apr or May. [Holcomb 1887: C.P. Holcomb to sister, 27 Jan 1874] |
| 1874 | Schooner COERAN of Hernsheim Co, Capt Edward Hernsheim, arrived at Palau in May. Bought
some land in Malakal and established a trade station there. Also fished for trepang. Left Palau for
Yap in July. Returned Sept 22 and left in November. [Kramer 1917: I, 150-1; Hernsheim 1983:
14-17] Bark HELENE of Hamburg, Capt Levisohn, visited Palau; left on Sept. 22. [Hernsheim 1983: 16] British schooner RUPAK, Capt Benjamin F. Gall, visited Palau on Feb 15. Found the natives there turbulent and quarrelsome and heard that they recently robbed three European traders. Good description of people, material culture, flora and fauna, and trade in the islands. [Robertson 1876: 41-8] Schooner COERAN, Capt Edward Hernsheim, arrived in Palau early April. Franz Hernsheim aboard. [Hernsheim 1983:28] Schooner ARABIA, formerly under the command of Capt Bully Hayes, put in at Palau on May 5. The ship had fled Guam after taking aboard several deportados. In Palau it was taken charge of by Holcomb and brought to Yap. [Holcomb 1887: O'Keefe to US Consul in Manila, 24 June 1887; Clune 1970: 138-9] Schooner SCOTLAND, Capt C.P. Holcomb, arrived at Palau on May 6. Holcomb took over the stranded Arabia and brought it to shore. [Holcomb 1887: O'Keefe to US Consul in Manila, 24 June 1887] |
| 1876 | German warship SMS HERTHE, Capt Knorr, visited Palau on Feb 5. Investigated complaints by
three traders of robbery at the hands of the natives. Left Palau on Feb 22. Description of Palau is
mostly hydrographic, but contains some observations on material culture and clan organization.
[Robertson 1876: 49; Annales Hydrograhigues, XXX IX (1876, 548-56] British trading schooner SEABIRD, owned by 0'keefe, Capt Davis, visited Palau about Mar. [Kramer 1917: I, 152] French ship JEW,Capt Cohen, visited Palau. [Kramer 1917: I, 152] German trading brig SUSANNE, Capt Levisohn, visited Palau. [Kramer 1917: I, 152] Trading vessel GOODLUCK., Capt Edward Hernsheim, visited Palau. [Kramer 1917: I, 152] Spanish schooner ROSARIO in at Palau. The vessel was chartered by Ibedul to destroy Kayangel. [Krtimer 1917: I, 150] Unnamed vessel, Capt Clark, came to Palau for pearl fishing. Brought a girl from Chuuk who remained and married Gibbons. [Le Hunte 1883:Enc #5, Judicial Proceedings] |
| 1878 | Brig QUEEN, Capt O'Keefe, laid over at Palau on Apr 1 to collect copra. O'Keefe intended to recruit laborers for Mapia and other islands. [McGuinness 1882: Hongkong Telegraph, 17 Apr 1885] |
| 1880 | Lorcha WRECKER, owned by Capt O'Keefe, was taken to Palau about Mar to assist in salvaging
the wrecked Lilla. Remained three months in Palau. [Hongkong Telegraph, 17 Apr 1885] Schooner LILLA, owned by O'Keefe, Capt Keats, was wrecked off the shore of Melekeiok on July 28. The vessel was later plundered by natives. [McGuinness 1882] |
| 1881 | British warship HMS LILY, Cmdr Stanhope Groove, visited Palau on Jan 13 to investigate the plunder of shipwrecked Lilla. After meeting with chiefs of Koror, Englishmen sailed to Melekeiok to interview the chiefs there. Reklai hesitantly came aboard the ship and agreed to the terms of restitution drawn up by Cmdr Groove. Four distressed whites were found ashore. After bestowing presents on Ibedul, the English set sail on Jan 27. [Kramer 1917: I, 152; Groove 1881] |
| 1882 | British warships HMS COMUS, Capt James N. East, and HMS LILY, Cmdr Richard Evans, on a
voyage to Palau to collect the indemnity imposed on Reklai for plundering the Lilla in 1880. Apr
5: Anchored at Koror. Engaged James Gibbons as an interpreter. When the British learned that no
money had been collected, they sailed to Melekeiok to visit Reklai. There they received some
turtle shell, pearl shell and beche-de-mer; but after waiting in vain a week for the balance of the
fine, the British set fire to 14 large bai. Ship left on Apr 23 and promised another visit the next
year. [East 1882] Schooner BEATRICE of Shanghai, Capt H.T. Williams, in at Palau in Nov. Ship came from Yap with 62 Yapese who wanted to mine stone money. 400 Yapese already resided in Palau at the time. Kubary was aboard. [Kubary 1889: I, 4-5] German bark KARL, Capt E. Kraft, passed Tobi on Dec 13. Three canoes came off the islands, seized the rudder chain and were towed for a while until the crew cut the lines. The natives discharged muskets at the ship, but without damage. [Eilers 1936: II, 24-5; Kraft 1885] |
| 1883 | Russian man-of-war SKOBELOFF, Adm N. de Kopitoff, visited Palau in May. [Le Hunte 1883]
British warship HMS ESPIEGLE, Capt Cyprian Bridge, visited Palau on Aug 7 to settle damages for O'Keefe's Lilla. Bridge cancelled Reklai's debt and concluded a peace treaty between Ibedul and Reklai. Left for Yap on Aug 12. Bridge gives a sketchy description of some anthropological and demographic interest. [Le Hunte 1883; Bridge 1883] |
| 1885 | Brig SWAN owned by O'Keefe, Capt Henderson, left Yap for the outer islands of Palau. Jan 16:
Reached Sonsorol. Jan 17 & 18: Stood off Merir to pick up visiting Yapese to carry them home.
John Kubary was aboard. [Kubary 1889: I, 79] A boat carrying four men from the Bothwell Castle of Newcastle, NSW, put in at Palau in Jan. Capt Boyer and the other three men were headed for Guam after their vessel sank. They remained on Palau for about two months before they were picked up. [Boyer 1885] Spanish cruiser VELASCO, under command of Don Emilio Butron y de la Serna, visited Palau in Mar for 13 days. Purpose was to find information on West Carolines before establishing Spanish claims,to the area. The report includes a brief ethnographic description of the islands visited as well as information on the extent of trade. [Kramer 1917: I, 154; Butron 1885: 144-62] Schooner BARTOLA, Capt Crayton P. Holcomb, on voyage to the Admiralty Islands. Stopped at Palau in Apr and left off workers to quarry stone money. Holcomb was killed in Admiralty Is a short time after this. [Holcomb 1887: Cmdr John McLindsay, USN, to Manuel Gutierrez, 14 Sept 1886] German man-of-war SMS ALBATROS, Capt Max Pluddemann, visited Palau in Sept to make surveys. Ship charted eastern coast of Babeldaop up to Melekiok. Kubary aboard as interpreter. [Kramer 1917: I, 154] |