On Volcanoes in the New Hebrides and Banks's Islands

Abstract

B etween 166° and 170° east long., and the parallels of 13° and 21° south lat., is the chain of volcanic islands called the New Hebrides. The Banks's are another small group to the north, and the Torres are five low islands to the north-west. Of the New Hebrides, Tanna, Lopevi and Ambrym are now active volcanoes; of the Banks's Islands, Santa Maria and Great Banks's Island. At Great Banks's Island there are boiling springs, and a great number of little vents discharging hot sulphureous vapour. At Santa Maria there is only one of these. A great part of the interior of the large island of Ambrym seems perfectly bare of vegetation. The present volcanic action is on the east slope. No crater can be seen, but all the active eruption is in a part two or three miles in extent. It seems to be constant, and violently active. There does not seem to have been any lava-stream recently; but the whole western coast of the island is formed of large irregular masses of lava. There is a fringing reef of coral on the eastern side of Santa Maria, and a short one at the north end of Ambrym. The Island of Lopevi is not more than two miles and a half long, and is upwards of 5000* feet high; from some points it appears as a perfect cone. It was not known to be active until 1863, when its peak, formerly quite sharp, appeared to have been broken off, and