Tanna

Rape charges were leveled against Mr. Ross Lewin, but he was acquitted in court in early 1869.

Despite this not guilty verdict, he quit Queensland to live full time on his plantation on Tanna in Vanuatu.

But he still controlled the ship Daphne, and with his business partner Mr Pritchard aboard, was still in the kidnapping business.

The ship, which was licensed to carry 58 legally recruited people, came into Lavuca in Fiji in April 1869 with more than 100 kidnapped blackbirds.

The partners would claim they didn't approve of Dr Murray taking a recruiting license.

But because all their cash was tied up in the expedition, they now had no choice but to go along.

With Dr. Murray setting the course and the newly minted Captain Joseph Armstrong commanding the crew, Carl sailed southwest from Lavuca for the island of Tanna.

The ship arrived there around the 19th of July.

And of course, if you're going all the way to Vanuatu, I really do recommend looking beyond Efate if you have the time.

We spent time on Tanna Island as well, including visiting Mount Yasur, and I've written all about that experience as well.

I'll link that in the show notes.

If adventure is calling your name, definitely consider adding Tanna to your itinerary.

So if you're heading to Port Vila in Vanuatu, my biggest piece of advice is this.

Don't just think of Port Vila as the destination.