which he called collaring, with the stolen property in his hand: first giving him a short lecture upon the impropriety of his conduct, which was like throwing pearls to swine, he next deprived him of the knife, and then commenced hammering his thick hide with a hearty good will, until he was tired, when he allowed him to depart apparently not much blacker than when first caught. This wholesome correction was a salutary lesson to the others, and was not the first occasion upon which we found a rogue amongst honest men: the following instance in particular came under my own observation. Whilst in Delagoa Bay, on the east coast, numbers of the natives would come on board daily and form a regular market, bringing all descriptions of stock, which they bartered with the crew, when we sometimes had above an hundred on board at the same time. Upon one occasion as a canoe was leaving us, crowded with natives going on shore, some of their countrymen were looking over the ship's side at them; one of these spectators, whilst speaking to a friend in the canoe, observed something bright in the tye* of another; he instantly descended to the boat, and very soon had a fellow handed on board, upon whom we found a part of the copper binnacle lamp, which had been lying somewhere near the compassbox: the whole of the people from the canoe immediately returned, and about sixty of them fell upon the culprit with any thing that came to hand, and would very soon have dispatched him to the other world, or rendered him of no use in this, had not Capt. Owen humanely interfered to stop their desperate castigation. H. B. R.

(To be continued.)

STAND FOR A MERCURIAL HORIZON.

I BEG to recommend for the consideration of persons in the habit of using the mercurial horizon, a contrivance that suggested itself, and was found from long experience and repeated trials to be most useful, it having been the means of procuring many observations that might otherwise from unavoidable obstacles have been lost.

It consists of a piece of lead nine inches long, by seven and a half wide, and half an inch in thickness, having three legs, each about an inch in length, to stand upon, and placed as per figure.

By which means, however uneven the ground, a place will immediately be found for placing it nearly on a level: in soft or sandy soil, also, it forms a firm bed; and the upper part being covered with chamois leather or cloth, entirely prevents any air from affecting the mercury, as well as any dew appearing on the glasses, from the effect of the sun's rays over a damp surface, as is too often the case when the cover is placed on the ground. THOMAS GRAVES, Lieut. R. N.

* Tye, the piece of cloth worn round the waist is so called. U. S. JOURN. No. 31. JUNE 1831.

A RECENT VISIT TO SEVERAL OF THE

POLYNESIAN ISLANDS.

BY GEORGE BENNETT, MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN LONDON, &c. &c.

DURING a recent visit to several of the beautiful islands of Polynesia, I recorded all the information that I could collect respecting them, and my observations thereupon. The following sketches are an attempt to describe what I beheld of the scenery of these islands, together with the manners, customs, manufactures, &c. of the people. Formerly I had read much respecting the South-Sea Islands, and their scenery, productions and inhabitants, as described in the various works that I perused, captivated my imagination. I had previously visited several parts of India; I had witnessed many remarkable scenes, and the impressions that remained on my imagination were very vivid; the scenery, the inhabitants, oriental pomp and splendour are too captivating to be easily forgotten; but when my route extended to Polynesia, when I viewed its scenery, peculiar customs of the people, the ship crowded with natives, their arts, manufactures, &c. how different were these impressions!

The importance of these islands as respects their capability of producing those articles of commerce which are peculiar to tropical climates, has not sufficiently excited the attention of the mercantile community of Great Britain. As by our commerce we have attained that prosperity which ranks our country so high among European nations, every subject, which is connected with it, ought to be considered of importance; the commerce of the Sandwich Islands alone, by the industry and perseverance of the enterprising people of the United States of America, is calculated at a million and upwards of dollars annually, and may be considered to be gradually on the increase. This commerce, through our neglect, has for years been enjoyed solely by the American merchants; even now, excepting two or three mercantile speculators, but of trivial importance, who are British subjects, the trade is exclusively confined to the merchants of the United States, who have laudably permitted no opportunity to escape by which their commerce might be extended, and it is gradually now on the increase over the Polynesian Islands. Not only in a mercantile point of view are the Sandwich Islands of importance; their geographical situation renders them an acquisition when politically considered, more particularly since the South American States have gained their independence. The Americans view those islands with a jealous eye, and dread seeing them in the possession of a foreign power; they are well aware of their importance, and the visits of their ships of war for the purpose of keeping up a close intercourse with the king and native chiefs has become of late very frequent. The following account of the visit of the American ship of war Vincennes, with the accompanying document sent by the Government of the United States to the King of the Sandwich Islands, sufficiently demonstrates the interest taken by them in these islands.

"The ship of war Vincennes, Capt. Finch, arrived at Hilo Hawaii, on the 2nd, and at Honolulu, Oahu, on the 14th of October. (1829)

On the 15th Capt. Finch and his officers met the king and chiefs at the palace of Kauikeoauli, where they were gratified with a friendly reception.

The commander of the Vincennes then read a communication of his own to the king, and gave him both the original and a translation in the native language. He then read also the communication from the President of the United States to the King of the Sandwich Islands, which he had brought; the same being read also from a translation into the native language, was delivered into the hands of the king.

This being finished, Capt. Finch delivered the presents which the President had sent. A pair of globes, terrestrial and celestial, and a map of the United States, to the King. A silver vase to Kaahumanu, with her name and the American arms upon it. Two silver goblets to Nahienaena, with her name and the American arms. A map of the world to Governor Boki; and also a map of the world to Governor Adams.

The following are the above named communications which are now published by the request of the King and Chiefs, and with the consent of Capt. Finch.

KING TAMAAMAHAH :-The President has confided to my care a written communication for yourself, and such counsellors as you rely upon; accompanying it with various presents for each; in testimony of the good opinion he entertains for you individually, and to evince his desire for amity and confidence, in all intercourse that may subsist between your people and my countrymen.

That the genuineness of the letter may not be questioned, which might have been the case, if the transmission had been intrusted to casual conveyance; and to make it the more honourable to yourself, he has dispatched a ship of war for this and other purposes; and it is enjoined upon me as the commander, to deliver it in person into your keeping; to reiterate the expressions of good will which it contains; and to exhibit by my own deportment, the sincerity of the motives which has actuated him.

The friendly and kind reception afforded to one other national ship, the Peacock, has been most favourably represented by her commander, and doubtless has conduced greatly to the visit which I now make.

The improving state of your people has also been so interestingly described by one of your friends, Rev. Mr. Stewart, now beside me, as to awaken among my countrymen at large, great benevolence of feeling towards you; and it will be my duty, and I trust I shall be warranted on my return among them, to strengthen their prepossessions in your favour, and to confirm the accounts of the good traits of character of our new acquaintances the islanders, subject to your authority.

With your leave I will now acquit myself of the pleasing duty devolving upon me, by reading and handing the document adverted to, which illustrates the light in which the President wishes to hold your nation, and upon which you will, I hope, ponder often, deliberately and fully.

The presents I also ask permission to distribute amongst those of your faithful friends for whom they are intended, trusting that they will tend to enlargement of knowledge, invite to social and rational enjoyments; and farther, secure enduring recollections of the assurances which I give of the disinterested friendship of the President and Government of the United States, and of their inclination to perpe tuate the peaceable condition, happiness, and well-doing, individually and collectively, of those who by your wisdom are supported; and whose support will increase by a sense of their necessities and your justice. W. B. FINCH.

14th October, 1829.

TO TAMHAMEHA III. KING OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. Navy Department of the United States, City of Washington, 20th January, A, D. 1829.

By the approbation and direction of the President of the United States, I address you this letter, and send it by the hands of Capt. William Bolton Finch, an officer in our Navy commanding the ship of war Vincennes.

Capt. Finch also bears to you from the President certain small tokens of regard, for yourself and the chiefs who are near to you, and is commanded to express to you in his name the anxious desire which he feels for your advancement in prosperity and in the arts of civilized life, and for the cultivation of harmony and good will between your Nation and the people of the United States. He has heard with

admiration and interest of the rapid progress which has been made by your people in acquiring a knowledge of letters and of the true religion-the religion of the Christian's Bible. These are the best and the only means by which the prosperity and happiness of nations can be advanced and continued, and the President and all men everywhere, who wish well to yourself and your people, earnestly hope you will continue to cultivate them, and to protect and encourage those by whom they are brought to you.

The President also anxiously hopes that peace, and kindness, and justice, will prevail between your people and those citizens of the United States who visit your islands, and that the regulations of your Government will be such as to enforce them upon all.

Our citizens who violate your laws, or interfere with your regulations, violate at the same time their duty to their own government and country, and merit censure and punishment. We have heard with pain that this has sometimes been the case, and we have sought to know and to punish those who are guilty. Capt. Finch is commanded diligently to inquire into the conduct of our citizens, whom he may find at the islands, and as far as he has the authority to ensure proper conduct and deportment from them.

The President hopes, however, that there are very few who so act as to deserve censure or punishment, and for all others he solicits the kindness and protection of your Government, that their interest may be promoted and every facility given to them in the transaction of their business. Among others he bespeaks your favour to those who have taken up their residence with you to promote the cause of religion and learning in your islands. He does not doubt that their motives are pure and their objects most friendly to the happiness of your people, and that they will so conduct themselves as to merit the protecting kindness of your Government. One of their number, the Rev. Charles Samuel Stewart, who resided for a long time with you, has received the favour of his Government in an appointment to an office of religion in our Navy, and will visit you in company with Capt. Finch. The President salutes you with respect, and wishes you peace, happiness, and prosperity.

[L. S.]

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD,
Secretary of the Navy.

The missionaries at the Sandwich Islands are now solely Americans, and all communication with the government being carried on through them as interpreters, all their acts must naturally tend to benefit that country alone of which they are citizens. Civilization and commerce will gradually advance, if the first undertakings in the latter are not commenced on too extensive and too expensive a system. The value now attached to coco-nut oil, since the late valuable discovery of its capability of being manufactured into candles, will render it an extensive article of commerce, and the tree is abundantly produced over nearly the whole of Polynesia; varieties of flax, Bêche de mer, tortoiseshell, &c. are now procured, and, by attention, sugar, cotton, and other tropical produce might be readily cultivated; the sugar manufactured by Mr. Bicknell and my friend Mr. S. P. Henry, at Tahiti, was of a superior kind and of a remarkably fine flavour, and affords an instance of what these islands are capable of producing.

A great benefit would be conferred on the navigators of the Southern Pacific, studded as it is with an infinite number of islands, reefs, &c. and the anxiety and danger would be diminished, if the British Government would send annually a small vessel of war from Sydney, for the purpose of surveying and ascertaining accurately the positions of the various islands, groups of islands and reefs. The number of new discoveries annually made by the English and American whalers are very numerous, but the situations as laid down by them, are seldom to be depended on. A vessel appointed for the

purpose of survey should touch at Oahu, Sandwich Islands, and Bay of Islands, New Zealand, those being the principal ports of resort for the whalers and other vessels frequenting this sea; every information respecting recent discoveries could be readily obtained at those places, and of which, during my visit to the former port in December 1829, there existed a long list, most of which were not to be found in the charts. A surveying vessel might also correct the latitude and longitude, which are generally very inaccurately laid down in the exist ing charts, of the various islands they might visit, and estimate the commercial advantages to be derived from an intercourse with them. It is for the "Ruler of the Ocean" to take the lead in enterprises of this description; it is for him to render that navigation safe where his flag predominates, and where commerce can be extended it ought to be ever found. It is therefore to be hoped, that the British Government will turn their attention to such a desirable object, and this dangerous sea be rendered safe to the navigator.

I commence with an account of Independence Island, followed with that of Rótuma, one, I believe, but little known, and of which no description, to my knowledge, has been hitherto published; these will be followed by others forming part of the New Hebrides Group, &c.

INDEPENDENCE ISLAND.

On the 19th of February 1830, this island was in sight about 10 A.M. bearing south-south-east, and at noon it bore south by east. It is small, but densely wooded, and one of those apparently

risen from the labours of the industrious but minute tribe of Zoophytes. About 2 P.M. when but a few miles distant, a boat was lowered, and I accompanied the Commander for the purpose of landing and inspecting its productions. We were soon in with the south-west point, but found a landing there impracticable on account of the surf, which broke with tremendous fury over the coral rocks. We pulled round the island with the expectation of finding some opening by which the boat could enter and a landing be effected; no place, however, could be found; a heavy surf rolled over the rocks, by which the island seemed to be surrounded, and which had a reddish colour occasioned by the growth on them of a species of coralline. On the south side of the island, there seemed to be an opening between the rocks, by which a boat might enter when the surf was moderate, but at this time it raged with so much fury, as to render an attempt dangerous. After pulling round the island, and finding the impossibility of effecting a landing, we returned on board. The island is, I should suppose, about two or three miles in circumference, uninhabited excepting by a multitude of various kinds of oceanic birds, among which the magnificent man-of-war hawk, Pelicanus Aquila, and the Booby, Pelicanus Sula, were most numerous, the island affording them an excellent place of refuge for the purpose of incubation, seldom or never disturbed by man. The beach is bold and sandy, and the numerous trees impart a verdant and beautiful appearance to this otherwise insignificant coral reef; some of the trees being of lofty growth, causes the island at a distance to have a slightly elevated appearance, which it does not possess. Among the trees, I could only recognise the Pandanus. Turtle abounded in great quantity on the reefs, and if a landing were