156 ISLAND OF WAHU. 



spiring the navigator with doubts of its fertility. 

 But how agreeably is he surprised, on reaching 

 the southern shores of these islands, to meet 

 with the most smiling scenery, and most luxu 

 riant vegetation. In the middle of the chan 

 nel, between the islands Muwe and Moro- 

 tai, lie two small uninhabited islands, which, 

 strange to say, are not marked on Vancouver s 

 map. We took some pains to ascertain their 

 exact situation. 



At four o clock in the afternoon, the high 

 yellow rock which forms the eastern point of 

 the island of Wahu, became plainly visible 

 above our horizon. We could not reach the 

 secure harbour of Hanaruro, which lies on the 

 southern side of this promontory, before night 

 fall, and therefore thought it advisable to lay- 

 to between the islands Wahu and Morotai. In 

 the morning, after doubling the conical moun 

 tain called the Diamond Mountain, we suddenly 

 came in sight of the harbour, containing a 

 number of ships decorated with the flags of 

 various nations. 



I must here make a few remarks for the 

 benefit of such navigators as are not well ac- 



