W., distant six and a half leagues; the island of
Tanna extended from S. 88 deg. W., to N. 64 deg.
W.; Traitor’s Head N. 58 deg. W., distant
twenty leagues; the island of Erronan N. 80 deg.
E., distant five leagues; and Annatom from S. 1/2 E.
to S. 1/2 W., distant ten leagues. We continued
to stretch to the south till two o’clock p.m.
when, seeing no more land before us, we bore up round
the S.E. end of Tanna; and, with a fine gale at E.S.E.,
ran along the south coast at one league from shore.
It seemed a bold one, without the guard of any rocks;
and the country full as fertile as in the neighbourhood
of the harbour, and making a fine appearance.
At six o’clock the high land of Erromango appeared
over the west end of Tanna in the direction of 10 deg.
W.; at eight o’clock we were past the island,
and steered N.N.W. for Sandwich Island, in order to
finish the survey* of it, and of the isles to the N.W.
On the 22d, at four o’clock p.m., we drew near
the S.E. end, and ranging the south coast, found it
to trend in the direction of W. and W.N.W. for about
nine leagues. Near the middle of this length,
and close to the shore, are three or four small isles,
behind which seemed to be a safe anchorage. But
not thinking I had any time to spare to visit this
fine island, I continued to range the coast to its
western extremity, and then steered N.N.W, from the
S.E. end of Mallicollo, which, at half past six o’clock
next morning, bore N. 14 deg. E., distant seven
or eight leagues, and Three-Hills Island S. 82 deg.
E. Soon after, we saw the islands Apee, Paom, and Ambrym.
What we had comprehended under the name of Paom appeared
now to be two isles, something like a separation being
seen between the hill and the land to the west of
it. We approached the S.W. side of Mallicollo
to within half a league, and ranged it at that distance.
From the S.E. point, the direction of the land is
west, a little southerly, for six or seven leagues,
and then N.W. by W. three leagues, to a pretty high
point or head-land, situated in latitude 16 deg. 29’,
and which obtained the name of South-west Cape.
The coast, which is low, seemed to be indented into
creeks and projecting points; or else, these points
were small isles lying under the shore. We were
sure of one, which lies between two and three leagues
east of the Cape. Close to the west side or point
of the Cape, lies, connected with it by breakers, a
round rock or islet, which helps to shelter a fine
bay, formed by an elbow in the coast, from the reigning
winds.
[* The word Survey is not here to be understood in its literal sense. Surveying a place, according to my idea, is taking a geometrical plan of it, in which every place is to have its true situation, which cannot be done in a work of this nature.]