The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-20

We sailed for Apii. or Tasiko island, which liesdue
north of Matasso distant about sixteen miles.
The south side of Apii is we'll populated. We
laid off and on here for three days, but no one
would 90 with US, they intimatlng that We were
from Fiji. as all the Fiji vessels In the labor trade
are of the same rig as the Julia, and We could not
convince them to the contrary We then sailed
to the west side and came TO anchor, where l signed
two men who came on board, one OF whom mao
been at work IN Havana HarbOr. and had heard OF
Oahu and wanted to go there. Next day worked 20
the northward and anchored at liU p. IN. Ne1tuay
signed three men and sent the boats In weighed
anchor, made sail and went down the coast came
to again at noon. The boats came back at dark
without people. Tasiko lies in a y. Z. and >. l.
direction, triangular IN shape, about - to - miles
in length, and from Is to 10 in the widest part.
There are three or four lofty peaks, ranging from
100 TO 300 feet high. well wooded, and the land
has a fertile appearance. On the south side the
land slopes gently TO the sea, while on the south
west and western sides the land falls in ridges,
forming valleys of no great width, and terminal
ing at the sea in small bays protected on three
sides by land, the fourth by a reef which leaves a
good passage for ingress or egreSs. The Island Is
moderately populated. The productions are vans,
taro, pumpkins and sugar cane, with plenty or
darker than those on the hills, but are treacherous,
and too much caution cannot be used in dealing
with them. There are no other harbors of any ex-
tent except those previously mentioned, but some
very good anchorages on the west side: Temporary
anchorages may be found on the north side inside
of the fringe reef, abreast of a small. islet called
Namuka. This passage is clear of all hidden dan
gers, with a clear channel between the islands.
There are no inhabitants on the islet. Water of a
very good quality may be procured on the west side
between tOreland Head and the north end. mere
Is another small island near the north end, with a
passage of between five and ten fathoms of water
in 1t outside the small island is a shoal of small
extent, but dangerous, as the water seldom breaks
on 1t. On the Sth of September we sailed for Pa
maa, a small island which lies due north of Tasiko.
The land lies nearly north and south, and is about
five or six miles long by two or three miles wide,
and Is thickly inhabited. The land Is well cultl-
waited and produces yams, taro, sugar cane and
some fruit, prominently the cocoanut. The people
here did not appear as turbulent as at Three Hills,
though they were at war with each other, that ap-
pearing to be their normal state. We signed six
people mere VINO "ppeared TO be anxious 10 get
away. There Is a volcano on this island though 1t
WAS not active during our visit. There are several
anchorages on the west side IN ten or twenty fath-
oms of water. We next visited the Island of Lo-
vepi, which Is due east of Parma, with a clear
passage between, with strong currents wi lch run
alternately six hours east and west. The island IS
III form a perfect cone, rising to the height of
from three to four thousand feet. 1t is an active
vote. .o-smoke is continually arising from it's
summit. There Is but one landing on Lovepi, and
thai on the west side there are but few people liv-
ing on it, they were quite friendly but did not want
to go away. The land produces yams and sugar
cane i'll sufficient quantities for the peoples use.
There are cocoanuts and some other tropical fruits
growing there.
After leaving Lovepi we sailed for the Island of
Ambrym, where after arriving L sent the boats IN
To coast the 5. Z. side they came back at dark
without success. Next day boats in again and
obtained eight men. 1 then tried the weather
side but the boats could not land as the sea was
breaking too heavily, so we ran round and came
to at Rood's anchorage. Boats away again at
daylight. Obtained one man and as the prospects
were not very encouraging maze sail IOF the puF-
pose of working to windward. The next day wind
blowing hard from the =. 4. got close under the
land and L sent the boats in. Succeeded in sign
ing six men, the wind still blowing fresh we came
to anchor to the lee of Dip Point. Next day at
daylight sent boats in to prospect, they came back
and reported unfavorably. At 11:30 a. m. made
sail for the Island of Mallicolo where we arrived
and came to anchor the same day a 7:30 p. M. in a
fine bay sheltered from all winds. 1t is called
sandwich Harbor sent the boats up the bay, but
heavy rain coming boats were obliged to come
back tried it again in the afternoon but found
very few people and those we did interview insisted
that we were from Samoa and would have nothing
to do with US. At night one woman swan out to
us and signed, l learned afterwards that there
were two started but the other got frightened and
turned back. There are many women here that
would like to go if they were at liberty to do SO.
On the 10th September made sail to work the
Islands that lay South of Mallicolo. They are
called the Maskelyne Islands, and of which there
are eight or ten of them, not all populated. We
obtained one man and as the people here insisted
that We were from Fiji, there was no prospect for
Immigrants, and so l again sailed for Ambrym.
AS the weather was quite moderate thought we
could work the weather side. We obtained six
men, but as the wind shifted and began to blow
quite fresh could do no more work on Ambrym.
The island of Ambrym is nearly in the form of a
diamond, with its greatest elongation running E.
5. L. and n. n. W., the other two angles N. and >.
Its length is about % miles and about 20 miles
from n. to s. There are several high mountains
on it, the highest being called Crater mountain
which Is estimated to be 1000 or 1000 feet high
situated on the South end Is an active volcano,
which throws up such vast quantities of ashes and
black smoke that tends to give a sombre coloring
TO the sky which gives the weather d threatening
appearance, as for instance to see the sun in the
west of the mountain and through the smoke,
ashes and clouds it has the appearance of n frey
red ball, seeing the sun under any other clrcum-
stances of such a color with such clouds, it would
denote an approaching gaze: Inc ar too is niled
with fine ashes, covering the deck and railing,
binding the eyes and not adding anything to our
comfort. There is some fine land on this island,
composed OF black loan an accumulation OF ages
of decayed vegetation. There are miles of slop-
ing plains and table lands composed of such soil
which | Judge will some day supply sustenance
for thousands. The island is moderately popu-
lated and produces vans, taro and many kinds of
fruit in large quantities. The natives are of the
same race as those of the neighboring islands and
are thorough savages, we'll maintaining the charac-
ter of the Papuan or Melanesian race for treach-
cry and cruelty. On portions of the islands there
is a belt of evergreens and poisonous vines that
extend to the waters edge, so dense that the suns
lent shelter for an ambush which the natives often
avail themselves of to shoot at the boats, they dc
it too without the slightest provocation as l know
by experience. There are tribes living within a
few miles of each other that do not speak the
same language nor can they understand each
other. They have boundary lines marked by
mutual consent which they will not cross for feal
of being shot. There Is a chief to each tribe but
he has but little influence. Ambrym has no har
bors but good roadsteads on the west side, the
best is at Rood's anchorage with from 8 to ID faith.
oms water, and good holding ground. There is al
anchorage at Dip Point but not very desirable as
at times quite a swell setting around the point
here the water shoals a long way out in a WIS
direction, the bottom being composed of blaci
sand. There are no hidden dangers around the
island that / know of; 4 have made two circuits
of the islands and saw nothing. There is q very
strong current on the southeast end with a heavy
swell setting on the land so it would be no desir
able place TO be, IN a calm, as there is bold wate
close up to the fringe reef, and as the weather il
often thick and hay 1t requires great caution
while laying of and on at this side. L feel quite
confident the natives would give any ships crew
that was wrecked on Ambrym a warm reception
in fact l may say a roasting one.
September 18th we sailed for the Island O
Mallicalo where We arrived the next day at noon
and came to anchor; here we got water of an ex
cellent quality. The wind was blowing hard from
the Sc; but as we were well sheltered we coulC
afford to say ''let it blow" The next day obtained
three men, wind still blowing hard from S On
the 23d signed eleven men, oath six and next da,
signed five more, and as there was no prospect o
more at this time we got under way and moveC
down the coast; came to anchor again, wind blow
ing hard from the E Sc. obtained one man thi
day. On the 26th September saw a topsail schoone
the TOHgdtabo, of Samoa, five months out will
forty one people. Hove up anchor and moves
farther down the coast, and came TO anchor tn
25th September at A~urambau, a small island Oh
the NE side of Mallicalo. As we saw no peopl
here that wanted to go away We sailed for the Nv
end where we came to anchor the 4th October
The island of Mallicalo lies in a NV and 81