BY D. MAWSON. 429 



Later on with the opening of a second vent a mass of dark- 

 coloured smoke rose up rapidly to a height of 26,000 ft. in ten 

 minutes.* 



As soon as matters had calmed down somewhat a party from 

 H.M.S. ' Dart ' made a daring trip to the crater of Mt. Benbow, 

 where, leaning over the edge and viewing the swirling lava in 

 several active vents some 1000 ft. below them, they experienced 

 what Capt Purey-Cust has described in the following words : — 

 ''Far down in the bowels of the earth could be heard a roarinsf 

 like a heavy surf beating on the shore. The crackling of the 

 stones as they struck one another in the air was like a constant 

 heavy roll of musketry fire, with occasional reports and echoes 

 back from the walls of the crater, until it sounded as if a general 

 engagement was taking place. The ground where we sat was in 

 a state of constant tremor, with an occasional rather severe 

 shock." 



At the time of our visit a wreath of smoke could be seen in 

 the daytime curling upwards from the vicinity of Mt. Benbow; 

 at night a brilliant sight was presented for miles to the south- 

 ward, where the reflection of a red glare on the smoke and steam 

 clouds overhanging the crater could be seen perceptibly brightening 

 every three or four minutes, only to diminish gradually until the 

 next period. 



The volcano of Yasowa on the island of Tanna was first 

 visited by Captain Cook, from whose report it appears to have 

 been more active then than now. Though continuously active, no 

 inconvenience is caused to the inhabitants of the island, except 

 for occasional showers of ash. 



Situated on the slope of the main range, about four miles 

 inland from the Mission Station at Port Resolution, it is 

 roughly conical in shape, and surrounded by absolutely barren 

 ground, J-mile to 2 miles wide. The most elevated portion of 

 the rim is on the N.W. side, and is about 1300 ft. in height; just 

 below this point at the foot of the cone is a shallow lake. 



* These figures are interesting, as they are no doubt highly accurate. 



