or rocks above water, on which the sea breaks, named Hoth-fakteringa. The first has a remarkable appearance, resembling a rock divided in two portions, excepting at one part, where they are joined by a portion of rock forming a natural bridge. The following diagram gives the appearance of the island, bearing west-south-west, about five miles distant; it has a verdant appearance, with several coco-nut trees growing on the summit.

The others have nothing remarkable in their appearance.

On landing, the beautiful appearance of the island was rather increased than diminished; vegetation appeared most luxuriant, and the trees and shrubs blooming with various tints, spread a gaiety around; the clean and neat native houses were intermingled with the waving plumes of the coco-nut, the broad spreading plantain, and other trees peculiar to tropical climes. That magnificent tree the callophyllum ínophyllum, or fifau of the natives, was not less abundant, displaying its shining dark green foliage, contrasted by beautiful clusters of white flowers teeming with fragrance. This tree seemed a favourite with the natives, on account of its shade, fragrance and ornamental appearance of the flowers. When one was cut down by the carpenter of a ship, a young tree was brought and planted close to the place where the old one formerly displayed its wide spreading branches, thus showing a desire of securing for posterity a similar shade and fragrance to that afforded by the one which had fallen; an example well worthy of imitation in every country. When I extended my rambles more inland, through narrow and sometimes rugged pathways, the luxuriance of vegetation did not decrease, but the lofty trees, overshadowing the road, defended the pedestrian from the effects of a fervent sun, rendering the walk under their umbrageous covering cool and pleasant. The gay flowers of the hibiscus tiliaceus, as well as the splendid huth or Barringtonia speciosa, covered with its beautiful flowers, the petals of which are white, and the edges of the stamina delicately tinged with pink, give to the trees when in full bloom a magnificent appearance; the hibiscus rosa-chinensis, or kowa of the natives also grows in luxuriance and beauty. The elegant flowers of these trees, with others of more humble and less beautiful tints, everywhere meet the eye near the paths, occasionally varied by plantations of the ahan or esculentum, which, from a deficiency of irrigation, is mountain variety. Of the sugar-cane they posse and it is eaten in the raw state; a small variety known by the name of the Rótuma potato, t very abundant; the ulu or bread-fruit, por (spondias dulcis, Parkinson,) or Brazilian kinds, sufficiently testify the fertility of t

mournful toa or casuarina equisetifolia, planted in small clumps near the villages or surrounding the burial-places, added beauty to the landscape. A few days after my arrival I by chance visited a spot which formed a combination of the picturesque and beautiful. I had passed through a village named Shoulnau, and having ascended a hill overshadowed as usual by magnificent trees, I descended towards the beach, when a beautiful view appeared before me; it was a tranquil piece of water formed by the sea, on one side inclosed by a high island covered with coco-nut and other trees, and nearly joining the main land, leaving on each side small passages for canoes, one opening rather more extended than the other; the opposite banks were covered with native houses, intermingled with trees and various kinds of flowering shrubs: the placidity of the water, the tranquillity that reigned around, interrupted only occasionally by the chirping of birds, produced an effect approaching enchantment. After remaining for some time viewing with mingled admiration and delight this interesting spot, I left it with regret; it is situated on the south-east part of the island, and named Shaulcopé by the natives. I subsequently visited this tranquil piece of water in a native canoe; as we passed through the openings before mentioned, the natives commenced singing a monotonous but pleasing song, (consisting of a sentence frequently repeated,) keeping accurate time with the strokes of their paddles; the effect as the voices reverberated around, could be felt, but cannot be described.

The native houses are very neat; they are formed of poles and logs, the roof being covered with the leaves of a species of sagus palm, named hoat by the natives, and highly valued by them for that purpose on account of their durability; the sides are covered with the plaited sections of the coco-nut branches, which form excellent coverings. They have commonly two entrances, one before, the other behind; these entrances are very low, and have a door hung horizontally, which is raised and kept open by a prop during the day, but closed at night. The houses are kept very clean, the floors being covered either with the plaited branches of the coco-nut tree, or the common kind of mat, named ehap, most commonly the former. Near their houses they have generally some favourite trees planted; the tobacco plant also, recently introduced, flourishes luxuriantly, but as yet they have not learned the art of preparing it. The landing is easy, on a sandy beach. Fire-wood can readily be procured at a short distance from the beach; the water is of excellent quality, but from there being no running streams, (excepting a few of very trivial importance situated inland, the supply is procured from wells.

women before marriage have the hair cut close and covered with the shoroi, which is burnt coral mixed with the gum of the bread-fruit tree; this is removed after marriage and their hair is permitted to grow long, but on the death of a chief or their parents it is cut close as a badge of mourning. Both sexes paint themselves with a mixture of the root of the turmeric plant (curcuma longa) and coco-nut oil, which frequently changed our clothes and persons of an icteroid hue, from our curiosity to mingle with them in the villages-theirs to come on board the ship. This paint, which is named Rang by the natives, and which is also the appellation of the turmeric plant, is prepared in the following manner :-The root of the turmeric, after having been well washed, is rasped into a bowl to which water is afterwards added, it is then strained, and the remaining liquor is left some time for the fecula to subside; the water is then poured off, and the remaining fecula is dried and kept in sections of the coco-nut shell or in balls; when required for use it is mixed with coco-nut oil, and when recently laid on has a bright red appearance, which I mistook at first for red-ochre.

(To be continued.)

ON THE EQUIPMENT OF THE BRITISH INFANTRY.

THE reputation of the British infantry stands high among the nations of the earth, and the ideas of excellence and perfection are so intimately connected, that we frequently hear it stated, that this infantry is susceptible of no farther improvement. To differ from public opinion must at all times subject the writer to considerable obloquy; and we find that the Newtonian theory was at first reckoned by many nothing less than the dream of a madman. Yet notwithstanding these difficulties, I shall now proceed to state what I conceive to be the imperfections of our system.

The first view in which the infantry soldier presents himself to our notice, is as that of a beast of burthen, loaded with more than his strength enables him to carry; or if he contrives to wag under it, his powers are so crippled in the day of action, as in a great measure to paralyse his efficiency. How many thousands sunk under their load in the Peninsular war? The Duke of Wellington, the Commander of the Forces, or any officer who served there, may answer the question. The fact I believe to be as clear as any axiom in Euclid, and therefore I take it for granted will not be disputed. The next question that naturally follows is, how is this to be remedied? As I conceive the object to be practicable, I shall now point out what appears to me to be the best means of attaining it.

The Musket.-There is no country where the manufacture of arms is so well understood as in England. The beauty and excellence of our arms for sporting are accordingly unparalleled. When a sportsman examines his arm, the first thing he does is to satisfy himself that the action of the lock is quick and easy; that the piece shoots with the necessary accuracy; that it comes cleverly up to sight; that the bend, length, and thickness of the stock suit him exactly; that the weight is precisely what he requires it to be, and that it is well poised in the

hand. If the arm is deficient in any of these particulars, he immediately rejects it as unserviceable. Let us now try the musket by this standard, and we shall find it deficient in every one of them. They may seem trifles to many, to me it appears that the fate of kingdoms depends much upon them; and that the most extravagant economy that has ever been thought of, is that of giving inferior arms to troops, even upon the score of profit and loss. A member of the Chamber of Deputies lately produced an English and a French musket, to show the superiority of the latter; and although it seems to have caused some surprise to see such a weapon in such a place, his conclusion was quite correct. But it is not enough that we should be equal to other nations in the arming of our troops, we ought to be decidedly superior to them, because we have the means of being so; and the British musket in its present state can be regarded in no other light than as a reflection upon the age in which we live.

Under these circumstances, as the principles upon which a soldier and sportsman act are precisely the same, I conceive that they should be armed as much alike as circumstances will permit. I would therefore give to the former a light percussion gun, thirty inches long in the barrel, and weighing from seven to eight pounds, which experience has proved to be the most handy for an ordinary-sized man. The calibre to be reduced to twenty-two balls to the pound, and loaded with a dram and a half of the best cylinder powder. The ramrod not to be turned in loading, but used as that of a rifle. Instead of a bayonet, I would recommend a very light rifle sword; for as soon as a bayonet is fixed, accuracy of fire is at an end. Also a light water-proof cover, to be drawn over the barrel, and tied round the small of the stock.

The advantages that would result from the proposed plan I conceive to be the following:-The fire of the soldier would be infinitely more accurate; he would fire three rounds instead of two; he would carry one hundred rounds of ammunition instead of sixty; and by using one and a half drams of good powder instead of six of bad, he would see distinctly what he was about, and not be enveloped in a dense cloud of smoke, so as to be under the necessity of firing at random. Both ranks might also load and fire kneeling, by which means they would be less exposed to an enemy's fire.

I am aware it will be immediately objected by many, that by shortening the musket, the efficiency of the bayonet, that irresistible weapon in the hands of an Englishman, is at once destroyed. In reply to this objection, I may at once frankly state, that I have no great faith in the bayonet. To trust to the bayonet, instead of fire, is to go back to an age prior to the invention of gunpowder. I believe that a superiority of fire will carry everything before it, and that a bayonet charge dare. not be attempted against it. I believe also, that what is generally termed a charge, is nothing more than a simple advance of the line, after the effect has been produced by fire: and when a charge does take place, I am satisfied it is the countenance of the troops that produces the effect, and not the bayonet.

Another objection may, perhaps, also be stated to reducing the calibre of the musket. The ball now used of fourteen to the pound, will, no doubt, inflict a more severe wound than one of twenty-two. But we find from experience, that sixty rounds of ammunition is not

women before marriage have the hair cut close and covered with the shoroi, which is burnt coral mixed with the gum of the bread-fruit tree; this is removed after marriage and their hair is permitted to grow long, but on the death of a chief or their parents it is cut close as a badge of mourning. Both sexes paint themselves with a mixture of the root of the turmeric plant (curcuma longa) and coco-nut oil, which frequently changed our clothes and persons of an icteroid hue, from our curiosity to mingle with them in the villages-theirs to come on board the ship. This paint, which is named Rang by the natives, and which is also the appellation of the turmeric plant, is prepared in the following manner :-The root of the turmeric, after having been well washed, is rasped into a bowl to which water is afterwards added, it is then strained, and the remaining liquor is left some time for the fecula to subside; the water is then poured off, and the remaining fecula is dried and kept in sections of the coco-nut shell or in balls; when required for use it is mixed with coco-nut oil, and when recently laid on has a bright red appearance, which I mistook at first for red-ochre.

(To be continued.)

ON THE EQUIPMENT OF THE BRITISH INFANTRY.

THE reputation of the British infantry stands high among the nations of the earth, and the ideas of excellence and perfection are so intimately connected, that we frequently hear it stated, that this infantry is susceptible of no farther improvement. To differ from public opinion must at all times subject the writer to considerable obloquy; and we find that the Newtonian theory was at first reckoned by many nothing less than the dream of a madman. Yet notwithstanding these difficulties, I shall now proceed to state what I conceive to be the imperfections of our system.

The first view in which the infantry soldier presents himself to our notice, is as that of a beast of burthen, loaded with more than his strength enables him to carry; or if he contrives to wag under it, his powers are so crippled in the day of action, as in a great measure to paralyse his efficiency. How many thousands sunk under their load in the Peninsular war? The Duke of Wellington, the Commander of the Forces, or any officer who served there, may answer the question. The fact I believe to be as clear as any axiom in Euclid, and therefore I take it for granted will not be disputed. The next question that naturally follows is, how is this to be remedied? As I conceive the object to be practicable, I shall now point out what appears to me to be the best means of attaining it.

The Musket.-There is no country where the manufacture of arms is so well understood as in England. The beauty and excellence of our arms for sporting are accordingly unparalleled. When a sportsman examines his arm, the first thing he does is to satisfy himself that the action of the lock is quick and easy; that the piece shoots with the necessary accuracy; that it comes cleverly up to sight; that the bend, length, and thickness of the stock suit him exactly; that the weight is precisely what he requires it to be, and that it is well poised in the