SANTA OnUZ ISLANDS. 243 



CHAPTER XIV. 



SANTA GRUZ ISLANDS. 



(AuousT 25.) 



V.iDikoro Island — Port Graciosa in Santa Cruz — Volcano of Tinakoro — 

 A Swarm of CanofS— B,irter. 



On August 23, a little after midday, the ' Cura^oa ' left the 

 island of Vanua-Lava, taking in tow the ' Southern Cross," 

 which was to accompany her. On om* leaving port, Sugar- 

 loaf Island seemed to us of a form perfectly different from 

 that which it had when we entered it, as often happens 

 when we look at an object from a new })oint of view. We 

 bent our course towards the island of Vanikoro, made 

 famous in geographical annals by the fate of Laperouse's 

 expedition. This mountainous island, remarkable for its 

 picturesque beauties, is almost completely surrounded by a 

 reef, the western part of which goes by the name of the 

 Astrolabe and its unfortunate commander. On the morn- 

 ing of August 24 we touched for a moment at the port of 

 Ocili in the island of Vanikoro, in order to pay a species of 

 homage to the memory of the celebrated navigator, and 

 immediately after left this large, deep, well sheltered, and ex- 

 cellent harbour. In veering round, the Commodore ordered 



