344 Prof. John Milne — A Cruise among the Kurile Islands. 



fathoms. In consequence of this, it can only be entered by small 

 boats. 



The north-eastern coast of Shimushir, immediately outside the 

 harbour, is bounded by steep hills which terminate in perpendicular 

 cliffs. 



The central mountain, known as Prevost's Peak, is very high, and 

 inform is a well-shaped truncated cone. 



On the north-west side of the peak, which rises at the southern 

 end of the island, there is said to be a crater. 



Brougliton Island or Makanruru. — This island is situated about 25 

 miles from the N.E. end of Urup. As seen from the S.E. it looks 

 like a huge mound. At its N.E. end there are perpendicular cliffs, 

 and at its S.W. end it slopes towards the sea. 



Rebutsiriboi or CMrnoi Island. — These two islands lie about 20 

 miles from the N.E. end of Urup. They each show a well-formed 

 cone. When I saw them, the more northern was apparently giving 

 off a little steam. 



Urup Island. — This is separated from Shimushir by the Boussole 

 Channel, 56 miles broad, and towards the south from Iturup by 

 Vries Strait, which is about 13 miles wide. The island is about 58 

 miles long and 15 miles broad. On the Chart it is drawn as showing 

 along its length 11 mountains. Looked at from the N.W. it shows 

 a mass of mountains, many of which terminate along the coast in 

 formidable cliffs. Amongst them there appear to be three which 

 might be reckoned as volcanic cones. From one of these, which was 

 bare and red, steam was issuing. Towards the south the land, 

 although steep, is much lower; but at the southern extremity it 

 runs up to form a terminal mass of irregular hills. 



Along the S.E. coast from the middle of the island four volcanic 

 cones could be counted. The central one of these, known as Atatsu- 

 Nobori, is remarkable for its steepness, on one side having a slope of 

 50° and on the other of 49°. This is the steepest volcanic cone I 

 have yet seen. The probability is that it is either solid or else it is 

 formed of very fine materials. On this eastern side of the island 

 there is a small harbour. To the south of this there are two peaks 

 known respectively as Pai-wa-nobori and Kaira-nobori. 



Ittrup or Staten Island. — This is separated from Kunashiri by the 

 Pico or Catherine Channel, which is about 15 miles wide. This 

 island, which is the largest in the Kurile group, is 135 miles long 

 and about 25 miles broad. It contains several large blocks of moun- 

 tains separated by intervening spaces of lower ground. 



Commencing at the N.E. and going towards the S.W. I saw the 

 following mountains, which I think might be classed as volcanic 

 peaks. 



1. Atseya-nobori and Moshisi-nayma, together with others, form 

 a rough black group at the N.E. end of the island. From this latter 

 mountain, which, when looked at from the south, shows a conical 

 form, much steam is being given off. 



2 and 3. These mountains form two sharp peaks which lie in 

 juxtaposition. 



