The Volcano at Tanna.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 229, 19 November 1887, Page 2

The Volcano at Tanna.

On the cruise of the H M.S. Raven in the New Hebrides a visit* was paid by the commander and a few of fchq' officers of fcho ship to the volcano iti the island of Tanha. The volcano was active, and from the description given by the officers it is certainly one of the finest in the South Pacific. Viewed from the sea ib presents a most, wonderful' sight, and might rgadily be taken for a burning ship. The party left the Raven at lfali'-pasb 7 o'clock in the morning, the Rev. Mr Grey acting as guide, and after a most trying walk up a steep incline of some 1,100 ft., along shaded paths and richly-wooded ground, came on to a kind of plateau. Here a grand lake came into view, the grand expanse of water being surrounded by deli vcgetrition and that foliage peculiar to the i&lands ot the Pacific. Passing along close to the lake, the party again ascended and came on to the volcano, and got a beautiful view of the crater, which appeared to be some 1,500 ft deep and a quarter of a mile in diameter, with almost perpendicular side?, thick with lava, The volcano was in full action, and the huge clouds of smoke as. they belched forth into the air, followed by a fine stream of lava, presented a grand spectacle and well repaid the party for their visit. Exploring on the north-west fcide of the mountain the party came across sulphur beds. These are carefully guarded by the natives, who seem to look upon them with great pride. The Tanna natives; we are informed, work the sulphur beds, and under no pietence whatever will they allow other tribes to \ come there. The natives met on the journey were very iriendly Avith the party, and no opposition was met with. The return journey was commenced after lunch and the ship reached at 5.30 p.m., the distance from the crater to the beach, some eight mile-, being covered in about four hours.