438 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, is about twenty-three miles to the northward of the island in Arrow- 
smith’s chart, and in all probability it is the same place. 
Mar. With fine weather and a fair wind we pursued our course, without 
experiencing any inconvenience except that occasioned by a long swell 
from the northward which made the ship roll heavily almost all the 
passage. On the £5th we saw the island of Assumption, and the next 
day passed close to it in order to determine its position. The island is 
about a league in circumference, and rises from the sea in the perfect 
form of a cone to the height of 2096 feet. Time must have made an 
agreeable alteration in the appearance of this island since it was visited 
by La Perouse. Instead of a cone covered with lava and volcanic glass, 
and presenting the forbidding aspect he describes, we traced vegetation 
nearly to the summit, and observed woods of palm-trees skirting its 
base; particularly in the south-west side. We were more fortunate 
than Perouse in obtaining a view of the crater formed at the apex of the 
cone ; it appeared to be very small and perfect, and to emit no smoke. 
Perouse in sailing to leeward of this island experienced a strong sul- 
phurous odour. There was none, however, when we visited the spot; but 
it is very probable that the volcano may have been in action when he 
passed, which might also account for the desolation of which he speaks. 
There appeared to be no danger near this island, but on the con- 
trary, judging from the deep blue colour of the sea, there v^as deep 
water close to the rocks. The south-west side of the island is the least 
abrupt, but even in that direction Perouse informs us ships are obliged to 
come very close to the shore before they can find anchorage, and then 
only with a very long scope of cable. This bank is formed of lava and 
scorias, and being on the leeward side of the island has probably been 
raised by frequent eruptions of the volcano. There were no projections 
in any part of the island that we could perceive, sufficient to afford 
protection to a boat attempting to land, and the sea in consequence 
broke heavily against it in every direction. 
1 he day being clear we looked to the southward for the island of 
Agrigan, which on Arrowsmith’s chart is placed within twelve miles of 
the Mangs, but no land could be discerned in that direction, and from 
the state of the weather, I should think there could not have been any 
within twelve leagues distance of us at the least. This would make 
