298 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



were not yet in perfecft fafety ; we were for 

 feme time furrounded by other flioals, which 

 forced us repeatedly to alter our courfc ; but 

 we had the good fortune to find a pafTage 

 through fome fmail intervals by which they are 

 feparated. 



Towards noon we were already very far on in 

 the Strait, when we obferved in latitude ^'^ 38' 

 fouth, our longitude being 146 24' eaft. 



The coafl of New Britain then bore from eaft 

 37 fouth to eaft 6 1 north, and we were a demi- 

 myriameter from the ftiore. 



The ifland on which Dampier had perceived 

 2. volcano bore weft 38" north, at the diftance of 

 a myriameter and a half. This volcano Ai^'as 

 now extinguiftied ; but we faw to the weft 

 north-weft half north, a fmall ifland in the 

 fhape of a cone, which had afforded Dampier 

 no indication of fubterraneous fire. A thick 

 fmoke rofe from its fummit at intervals, and 

 about half paft three o'clock there iftued from 

 the botton of the gulfs of the volcano a great 

 quantity cf burning matter, which falling on 

 the eaft coaft fide of the mountain, ran down to 

 its very bafe ; it there met with tlie fea, vhofe 

 waters, which it caufcd to bubble up, immedi- 

 ately rofe under the form of thick clouds of a 

 dazzling whitencfs. At the n^oment of the 

 exploiion, a thick fmoke, tinged M'ith various 



colours. 



