1827. 



126 VOYAGE TO THE 



master of an American trader landed upon a coral island, 

 nearly in the same longitude, in the latitude 19° 18' 

 ~M^^ N. which is about twenty-three miles to the north- 

 ward of the island in Arrowsmith's chart, and in all 

 probability is the same place. 



With fine weather and a fair wind we pursued our 

 course, without experiencing any inconvenience except 

 that occasioned by a long swell from the northward, 

 which made the ship roll heavily almost all the pas- 

 sage. On the 25th we saw the island of Assump- 

 tion, and the next day passed close to it, in order to 

 determine its position. The island is about a league 

 in circumference, and rises from the sea in the perfect 

 form of a cone to the height of 2,026 feet. Time 

 must have made an agreeable alteration in the appear- 

 ance of this island since it was visited by La Perouse. 

 Instead of a cone covered with lava and volcanic glass, 

 and presenting the forbidding aspect he describes, we 

 traced vegetation nearly to the summit, and observed 

 woods of palm-trees skirting its base ; particularly in 

 the south-west side. We were more fortunate than 

 La Perouse in obtaining a view of the crater formed at 

 the apex of the cone; it appeared to be very small 

 and perfect, and to emit no smoke. La Perouse, in sail- 

 ing to leeward of this island, experienced a strong 

 sulphurous odour. There was none, however, when 

 we visited the spot ; but it is very probable that the 

 volcano may have been in action when he passed, 

 which might also account for the desolation of which 

 he speaks. 



There appeared to be no danger near this island, 

 but, on the contrary, judging from the deep blue 

 colour of the sea, there w^as deep water close to the 

 base of the island. The south-west side is the least 

 abrupt, but even in that direction La Perouse informs 



