[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]
CHAPTER I , THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE The island of Malekula, formerly spelt Mallicolo, extends ï¬Åfty-ï¬Åve miles n0rth»west to south-east, lying between the longitudes 167° 10’ E. and 167° 47' E., and between the latitudes 15° 50' S. and 16° 34' S. It is the second largest island of the New Hebrides group : to the west of it there is open sea, to the east lie Raga, Ambrym, and Epi, and to the north the large island of Espiritu Santo. The small islands of coral formation, Vao, Atchin, Wala, Rano, Norsup, Uripiv, and Uri (passing from north to south) are separated from the east coast by narrow channels; oï¬Å the south-east coast of Malekula is the archipelago called the Maskelyne Islands; fringing the south coast are Lembru, Vito, and Hambi, and at the south-west corner is Tomman Island, called by the natives of the adjoining mainland Our. A mountain chain runs along the entire length of the east coast, and another inland, parallel to the southern coast. In both of these there are noteworthy peaks, of which the two most prominent are Sharp Peak, measuring 2,765 feet, and Mount Penot, measuring 2,925 feet above sea-level. On the w_e_st=',coast the country is less mountainous but by no means flat. Very little isiknown of the-interior. - _,Ther,e.are no large rivers, but several streams of not incon- siderable’ size, and the island possesses some good harbours and many bays, of which the most important are Bushman's Bay on the east coast, Port Sandwich in the south~east, Port Stanleyin the north-east, and South-West Bay, and in all these places to-day there are trading stations. Of the flora and fauna practically nothing has been recorded. The only indigenous mammal appears to be the flying~fox (Pteropus),’but to-day wild pigs, rats, and wild cats are found in the bush and are hunted by the natives. There are also several varieties of lizard and snake. None of the snakes are poisonous save a species of sea-snake, and although some of the 8
