landed near one of their plantations and houses, which
were just within the skirts of the wood, I prevailed
on the man to conduct me to them; but, though they
suffered Mr Forster to go with me, they were unwilling
any more should follow. These houses were something
like those of the other isles; rather low, and covered
with palm thatch. Some were enclosed, or walled
round with boards; and the entrance to those was by
a square hole at one end, which at this time was shut
up, and they were unwilling to open it for us to look
in. There were here about six houses, and some
small plantations of roots,
etc., fenced round
with reeds as at the Friendly Isles. There were,
likewise, some bread-fruit, cocoa-nut, and plaintain
trees; but very little fruit on any of them.
A good many fine yams were piled up upon sticks, or
a kind of raised platform; and about twenty pigs,
and a few fowls, were running about loose. After
making these observations, having embarked, we proceeded
to the S.E. point of the harbour, where we again landed
and walked along the bench till we could see the islands
to the S.E. already mentioned. The names of these
we now obtained, as well as the name of that on which
we were. This they called Mallicollo;* the island
that first appeared over the south end of Ambrym is
called Apee; and the other with the hill upon it Paoom.
We found on the beach a fruit like an orange, called
by them Abbimora; but whether it be fit for eating,
I cannot say, as this was decayed.
[* Or Mallicolla. Some of our people pronounced
it Manicolo or Manicola, and thus it is also writ
in Quiros’ Memorial, as printed by Dalrymple,
vol. ii. p. 146.]
Proceeding next to the other side of the harbour,
we there landed, near a few houses, at the invitation
of some people who came down to the shore; but we
had not been there five minutes before they wanted
us to be gone. We complied, and proceeded up
the harbour in order to sound it, and look for fresh
water, of which, as yet, we had seen none, but the
very little that the natives brought, which we knew
not where they got. Nor was our search now attended
with success; but this is no proof that there is not
any. The day was too far spent to examine the
place well enough to determine this point. Night
having brought us on board, I was informed that no
soul had been off to the ship; so soon was the curiosity
of these people satisfied. As we were coming
on board, we heard the sound of a drum, and, I think,
of some other instruments, and saw people dancing;
but us soon as they heard the noise of the oars, or
saw us, all was silent.
Being unwilling to lose the benefit of the moon-light
nights, which now happened, at seven a.m. on the 23d,
we weighed; and, with a light air of wind, and the
assistance of our boats, proceeded out of the harbour,
the south end of which, at noon, bore W.S.W., distant
about two miles.