public roads. Some large spots were seen covered with the paper mulberry-trees, and in general, the plantations were stored with all the variety which the island affords.

Besides these which have been mentioned, there are many other islands in this group, known by the common name of the Friendly Islands; some of these not much inferior in extent and population, and others less extensive and populous: but without being more minute, we shall proceed to give a general account of the group called the Marquesas, which extend from 8 to 10 degrees of latitude, and from 138 to 1404 degrees of west longitude.

Ohittahoo, one of these, is about nine miles long and seven leagues in circumference. Alvaro Mendana de Neyra is said to have discovered this and the three neighbouring islands, in July, 1595, and called them Las Marquesas de Mendoca, in honour of Mendoca, Marquis of Canete, who sent him out. He sent a boat to examine this place, which he named Santa Christina, and took possession of it in the name of the King of Spain. Some imprudent, if not cruel, conduct towards the natives, rendered the communication between him and them less friendly; and leaving that, he died in an adjacent island, without accomplishing the object of his voyage.

In the year 1774, Captain Cook went in quest of these islands, in order to ascertain their longitude, and to obtain farther information concerning them. He anchored in the harbour of Madre de Dios on the 6th of April. Instantly several canoes hastened from the shore loaded with stones; but finding the stranger peaceable, an advantageous traffic commenced.

On this occasion, bowever,

they displayed the same thievish disposition which prevails among most of the inhabitants of the South Sea; and the remembrance of the conduct of the Spaniards, contributed much to increase the jealousy of the natives, and to prevent that comfort which would have been enjoyed by one of the prudence and conduct of Captain Cook.

The inhabited islands which have been discovered are about eight in number. The bays around these afford harbour for shipping, although in some places the access is not pleasant. The natives exceed in beauty, those of the other islands; but both sexes are not so cleanly. They use less clothing, and their chiefs are less distinguished from the rest, than those of the adjacent islands. The soil is not so fertile as at Otaheitee, but this tends to render the natives more active and laborious.

Several recorded facts concerning the natives of these islands conspire to prove, that they are naturally of a strong and vigorous intellect, and that the meliorating hand of civilization, and the benign influence of Christianity would render them a brave, active, laborious, and sober race of people: And it is hoped, that the period is not very distant, when the arts and sciences shall unite with the Gospel of our Redeemer, to render them equally flourishing and happy.

To the north lies Ohevaloa, in length six, and in circumference about fifteen or sixteen leagues. Toward the eastern extremity, the surface is steep and craggy; but there are several deep valleys, and the sides of the hills are clothed with verdure and spontaneous trees, Mendana having discovered it on Sunday, he called it La Dominica. Because of the inconveniency of harbouring,

however, navigators have remained greatly ignorant of its interior situation.

Onateya is also mentioned by Mendana. This island includes an area of three leagues, pleasantly diversified with hills and valleys, shaded by extensive woods, and beautified with pleasant plains.

Mendana also discovered the island of Ohittatoa, which appeared populous, and in circumference about six leagues. The natives came in their canoes, and exchanged the produce of the country; but their pilfering disposition produced some contests with the Spaniards. This island has been coasted by several other navigators, but few of them have landed, or explored the interior.

In this group, Captain Cook mentions another island, called Teebooa, situated in the latitude of nine degrees. The general aspect is not inviting, and its extent is inferior to any of the rest of that neighbourhood.

Captain Brown is also said to have discovered another island, called Nooaheva, the most considerable of all that cluster both for extent and fertility. The country is populous and well cultivated, and the natives of a light colour. Several good harbours are found upon the coasts of this island. The natives have always behaved respectfully to strangers, and many circumstances conspire to pro} mise greater blessings awaiting them.

There is another island called Rooahoga, considerably elevated and fertile; and besides these, Captain Wilson, is reported to have discovered some more. Nor can it be ascertained with any positive certainty, whether or not there may not be several adjacent islands still undis covered.

GENERAL ASPECT, CLIMATE, AND PRODUCTIONS.

THE objects which present themselves to view in the South Seas, are both grand and sublime. Gliding along the immense ocean, where natural appearances are widely different from those in the northern hemisphere, the stranger is agreeably surprised with the appearance of islands, or little worlds, amid the ocean. Thus stationed in his vessel, he beholds the vast watery scene beginning to be diversified by rising mountains seen at a great distance, at first scarcely visible to the eye, but gradually assuming an elevation that renders them perceptible at the distance of sixty miles.

But approaching nearer, instead of beholding these mountains barren and naked, he is surprised with the view of heights almost inaccessible, lined with steep and lofty hills, and crowned with a luxuriant vegetation. Plantains, yams, and a variety of other roots, which afford support to the inhabitants, are found growing spontaneously in these elevated regions. Here also grow trees of various kinds, with which the mountains are clothed to the very summits, presenting to the distant beholder the appearance of a green lawn. The surrounding prospects from the tops of these hills fill the mind with mingled sensations of majestic dread, uncommon pleasure, and inexpressible amaze

ment.

"We hardly believed our eyes," says M, de Bougainville, when we saw a peak covered with woods up to its highest summit, which rises above the level of the mountains in the interior parts of Otaheitee. Its apparent size seemed to be more

than thirty toises in diameter, and grew less in breadth as it rose higher. At a distance it might have been taken for a pyramid of immense height, which the hand of an able sculptor had adorned with garlands and foliage." One of the mates of the Dolphin, with a party of marines and seamen, penetrated into the interior parts of this island; and having ascended a mountain which they supposed to be a mile high, they discovered mountains before them so much higher, that with respect to them they seemed to be in a valley.. Towards the sea, the view was enchanting, the sides of the hills were beautifully clothed with wood, villages were every where interspersed, and the intermediate valleys afforded a still more beautiful prospect; for there the houses stood thicker, and the verdure was more luxuriant. Mr. Forster with other gentlemen ascended to the summit of one of the highest mountains in this island, from whence they had a prospect of the island of Huahcine, and some others Iving at the distance of forty leagues. The view of the fertile plain below them, and of a river making innumerable meanders, was delightful in the highest degree. The vegetation on the upper part of the mountains was luxuriant, and the woods consisted of many unknown trees and plants.

The rivers are both numerous and large. Issu ing from the bowels, or flowing from the tops, of the mountains, they are augmented in their course by the descending rains, and swell into such mighty torrents, that the rocks are sometimes removed by their violence, and the stoutest trees torn up by the roots. But at other times these rivers glide in. singular beauty from their lofty sources, meandering through the fertile valleys, amid the verdant