*774*
Ju l y . fhews a great fimilarity between them and the people o f New
Guinea. Dampier obferved exactly the fame fign of amity
at Pulo Sabuda, on the weflern coaft of New Guinea*.
The fhort converfations which we had with the Mallicollefe,
proved them to be a people of quick perception ; their
fenfes are acute, and their intellects very open to improvement.
From their amufements it may be concluded, that
they are chearful and good-humoured ; and if I may venture
another conjecture, they only want the impulfe of an ambitious
individual to bring them into a higher Hate of civilization.
After this detail, it is time to refume the thread
of our voyage.
Having cleared the reefs of Port Sandwich, and Handing
towards the Iile of Ambrrym, we gradually came in fight
of the fouth-eafi extremity of Mallicollo, where four or five
fmall iflands form a kind of bay. Ambrrym, on which
the volcano is fituated, appears to be upwards of twenty
leagues in circuit. The centre of the ifland lies in 1 6° 15'
S. and 1 68° 20'E. Pa-oom, the high peak to the fouth of
it, is of an inconfiderable fize, but we were dubious whether
the land which we faw before, or to the weftward of
it, and which was of moderate height, is connected with it
or not. The whole circuit of both parts, fuppofing them
to form a Angle ifiand, cannot exceed five leagues. The
peak, according to our obfervations, lies in 1 6° i s S. and
* See Dampier’s Voyages, vol. Ill, pi 186.
16 80 3 0' E. Apee, the ifland to the fouth of this peak, d” *;
is large, hilly, and of the fame extent as Ambrrym, being
nearly feven leagues long. Its middle is fituated in j 6°
42 S. and 1680 36' E. The numerous fmokes which
arofe from all thefe iflands, gave us reafon to fuppafe, that
the natives drefs their victuals above ground, by an open
fire. At the Society and Friendly Ifles, where the inhabitants
are accuftomed to flew their food, by means of heated
Hones under the ground, we rarely perceived either fmoke
or fire.
The frefh meal with which all our fhip’s company regaled
themfelves this day, was very near being fatal to
dome of them. All the lieutenants and their meflmates,.
together with one of the mates, feveral midfliipmen, and
the carpenter, having eaten of the red fea breams (fparus
erythrinus) of which two had been caught, were in the fpace
of a few hours, feized with violent fymptoms of being
poifoned. It began with great heat in the face, acute
head-ache, fevere vomiting, and diarrhea ; the arms, knees,
and legs were fo benumbed, that they could fcarcely walk,
or Hand ; the falival glands were dwelled, and a mofi copious
difeharge enfued ; they were alfo troubled with acute
pains, and fpafms in the bowels. A hog, which had eaten
of the garbage was feized with fimilar fymptoms, dwelled
to a great fize, and died at night. Several dogs on board,,
having received a fhare of the entrails, and dome being fed