320 AUSTEALASIA. 



Hermit and Admirdlty to New Hanover, which is followed by the elongated 

 island of Tombara, disposed in the direction from north-west to south-oast, in 

 common with all the members of the Solomon Archipelago. The southern curve 

 runs at first parallel with the New Guinea coast, Avhere the extreme limit of the 

 chain is marked by Vulcan Island within ten miles of the mainland. The system 

 is then continued at intervals by Dampier (Kar-Kar), Long and Rook, beyond 

 which the curve, ceasing to follow the New Guinea coast south-eastwards, sweeps 

 round through Birara (New Britain) east and north-east transversly to Tombara. 

 Both curves thus converge and somewhat overlap about York Island in St. George's 

 Channel. 



Like most other insular chains disposed in the form of arcs of a circle, these two 

 ranges of the North Melauesian islands consist in a great measure of volcanic lands. 

 Vulcan, at the western extremity of the southern curve, forms a superb peak 

 from which wreaths of smoke constantly issue. Its shores are festooned with a 

 garland of plantations and its slopes clothed with forest growths to a height of 

 over 3,000 feet, beyond which nothing is seen except a scanty herbaceous vegeta- 

 tion as far as the summit, 5,000 feet above the sea. 



Aris, near this smoking cone, is a long extinct breached crater ; but Lesson, 

 lying farther west, is still active. These waters have often been the scene of 

 violent commotions, and when Dampier penetrated through the strait bearing his 

 name, the atmosphere was charged with vapours and ashes ; flames were reflected 

 from the clouds, and the sea was covered far and wide by floating pumice ; but at 

 present all the numerous igneous cones dotted over this maritime region are 

 quiescent. 



Birara, largest member of all the Melanesian groups, is too little known in its 

 central parts to determine the character of the rocks concealed beneath the 

 uniform mantle of verdure clothing all the mountain slopes. But Cape Gloucester, 

 at the extreme point overlooking Dampier Strait, is known to be a still active 

 volcano, while round about rise numerous eruptive cones with an average height 

 of about 6,500 feet. A low reef in the cluster of the French Islands scattered to 

 the north of Birara is also an upheaved igneous mass, one of whose springs forms 

 a geyser. Farther east a promontory on the mainland, 3,940 feet high, consti- 

 tutes, with two less elevated crests, the group of still-burning mountains known as 

 the "Father" and his two "Sons.'' Lastly, Blanche or "V^liite Bay, at the 

 northern extremity of Birara, appears to be itself a ruined crater encircled by an 

 amphitheatre of hills. In the midst of the waters, which present an almost 

 lacustrine aspect, stands a steep circular eminence, while the peninsula enclosing 

 the bay on the east is surmounted by another triplet of volcanoes, known as 

 the "Mother" (2,100 feet) and her two "Daughters." In the neighbouring 

 seas the water has often been seen to boil up, and some of the islets have even been 

 partly blown away. 



Igneous energy seems to be less active in the western section of the northern 

 curve forming the chief insular chain of North Melanesia. The Exchequer and 

 Hermit groups are vast atolls resting on a rocky bed whose true character has not 



