Bonin'

Bonin', or (Japanese) OGASAWARA ISLANDS, a volcanic group in the Pacific Ocean, 700 miles SSE. of Japan, stretching between 26° 30'—27° 45' N. lat., and between 140°—143° E. long. Area, 32 sq. m.; pop. about 200. Discovered by Quast and Tasman in 1639, they were taken possession of for Britain in 1827 by Captain Beechey; but in 1878 the Japanese reasserted their sovereignty, with the view of making them a penal settlement. The harbour is named Port Lloyd.