Onascusa
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supposed position of Onascusa Island |
The Onascusa Island in the northwest of Fiji group was on 20 July 1823 by Captain Hunter of the Donna Carmelita at 15 ° 31 ' S , 176 ° 11' O discovered. It was a densely populated, fertile and high volcanic island, which, however, was never found under the specified position after 1823.
The phantom island at this position can be explained by the length specification. There, West was confused with East and a western position undoubtedly results in a sighting of the island of Niuafo'ou . This name is passed down for the year 1791 in the form Onuafaw , from which the Huntersche version Onascusa is explained.
literature
- Meinicke, Carl Eduard: To the hydrography of the Pacific Ocean . In: Petermann's communications. Vol. 15, Gotha 1869, p. 375 ( digitized version )