294 THE CRUISE OF THE 'GURACOA: 



CHAPTER XXI. 



EBAMANGA—NEW HEBRIDES. 



(SEriEMBBR 25 TO 2C.) 



View of a fortified Village and a Tree-house— Man overboard — Tedious 

 Navigation— A Gale— Calms— At anchor in Dillon's Bay — News from 

 Land— Trade in Sandalwood — Mr. Henry — Lime from Coral — A Bomb- 

 shell in the Hands of Savages — The Rev. Mr. Gordon — Hostile State oi 

 Things — Two ill-disposed Chiefs— The Master of the 'Curagoa' attacked by 

 Natives — The Village of Sifu bombarded by the 'Curafoa' — A Mi.-i.sionary 

 who never laughed— Notes on the Island — Epidemics — Missionary Labours 

 — Government — Planners and Customs — Religious Creeds — Trade in Wood 

 and Women — Productions — Industry. 



On September 10, early in tlie niorniiig, we left Ysabel 

 Island, liaving the ' Southern Cross ' in tow, which we 

 subsequently bore away from after mutual adieus, and bent 

 o"jr course towards Eramanga distant 900 miles. The day 

 being clear it was possible, with the aid of a glass, to see the 

 village which the Bishop liad visited. It seemed a very 

 compact, closely-built place. The Coiumodore could dis- 

 tinguish with his glass that the village was regularly fortified 

 all round. To me all the houses looked, from the effect of 

 the hght upon them, as if they were l)uilt of stone ; some of 

 tlunu appeared of good size. A little way from the village, 

 and perhaps not more than a mile and a half off, was a tall 



