ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE islands of the Pacific ocean have been classed by some geographers into two divisions, to which they have given the names of AUSTRAL ASIA and POLYNESIA. In the first division are comprehended NEW HOLLAND was discovered in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and was supposed to be part of a vast southern continent. It lies between 11 and 43 degrees south latitude, and is nearly equal in extent to the habita ble part of Europe The inhabitants, according to Dieman, are the inost miserable people in the world, without houses or clothes. They are black, tall, thin, straight bodied, with small limbs, large heads, and heavy brows the two fore teeth of their upper jaws are wanting in all of them, men and women, old and young; neither have they any beards. They are long visaged, and of a very unpleasant aspect, having not one graceful feature in their faces. In the year 1770, the east coast was visited and explored by captain Cook, who spent four months in examining a distance of 2000 miles. He took possession of this eastern coast in the name of the king of Great Britain, and gave it the name of New South Wales. In the year 1773, Capt. Furneaux discovered it to be an island. NEW-GUINEA lies north of New Holland, from which it it is separated by Endeavor straits. The land is low, but fertile. Most of the trees and plants common to the South Sea Islands are produced here; particularly the cocoa-nut, plantain, and bread fuit trees. Marriage is here consummated by the parties covenanting before wit nesses, A NEW-BRITAIN lies to the north of New Guinea. strait divides it into two islands, the northernmost of which is called New-Ireland. The shores of both islands are rocky, the inland parts are high and mountainous, but covered with trees of various kinds, among which are the nut meg, the cocoa nut, and different kinds of palm. The inhabitants are black, and woolly headed, like negroes, but have not their flat noses and thick lips. NEW-CALEDONIA extends from 19 to 22° south latitude. The inhabitants are strong, active, and well made; their hair is black, and much frizzled, but not woolly; their beards are crisp and thick; and their only covering is a wrapper made from the bark of a tree. They cultivate the soil with some art and industry, but subsist chiefly on roots and fish. Plantains and sugar canes are not plentiful; bread fruit is very scarce, and the cocoa-nut trees but thinly planted; but their yams and taras are in great abundance. Their houses are circular, like a bee hive, and as close and warm; being formed of small spars and reeds, covered with long, coarse grass, and the floor laid with dry grass. They are of a pacific disposition; and their women are much chaster than those of the more eastern islands. The NEW HEBRIDES are between the latitude of 14 and 26° south, and consist of a number of islands, of different names and dimensions. Between 34 and 43° south latitude lies the island of NEW ZEALAND, surrounded by several smaller ones; with productions and inhabitants similar to those above described. VAN DIEMAN'S LAND is separated from New-Holland by a strait 30 leagues wide. It presents a most inhospitable shore; the land is covered with trees. The inhabitants are naked, and have black woolly hair. Opossums and kangaroos are the principal animals. POLYNESIA. The second grand division of the South Sea Isles embraces the following islands.. The Pelew Isles The Ladrones The Carelines The Sandwich Isles The Marquesas THE PELEW ISLES lie between 5 and 9o N. lat. The natives are simple in their manners, delicate in their sentiments, and friendly in their dispositions. Their arms are bamboo darts. Their principal food is cocoa nuts. country is covered with timber trees of a large size. The THE LADRONES or MARIAN ISLES are 15 in number, 3 or 4 of which only are inhabited; some of them are volcanic. The largest contains 30,000 inhabitants. THE CAROLINES are about 30 in number, and very populous. The inhabitants resemble those of the Philippines. Each isle has its chief, but all respect one monarch. Hogolen, the principal isle, is 90 miles long. They extend eastward of the Pelews nearly in the same latitude. THE SANDWICH ISLES are 11 in number, the principal of which is whyhee. The climate is similar to that of the West Indies. The inhabitants are generally above the middle size, with fine open countenances. Their weapons of war are spears, daggers, clubs, and slings. of peo THE MARQUESAS are 5 in number, between 9 and 10° south latitude. The inhabitants are the finest race ple in all these islands; and for good shape and regular features, perhaps surpass all nations They have hogs, fowls, plantains, bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees. INGRAHAM'S ISLES, 7 in number, lie northwest of the Marquesas. They were discovered by Capt. Ingraham of Boston, in 1791. Cotton of a superior quality grows here. The inhabitants are similar to those of the Marquesas. THE SOCIETY ISLES are a cluster lying near the 16th degree south latitude, the principal of which is Otaheite. The vegetable productions of these islands are numerous and luxuriant. The inhabitants of Otaheite alone are estimated at 204,000. The people exceed the middle size of Europeans in stature. In their dispositions, they are brave, open, and generous, without either suspicion or treachery Except a few traces of natural cunning, and some traces of dissimulation, equally artless and inoffensive, they possess the most perfect simplicity of character. Otaheite alone, it is supposed, can send out 1720 war canoes, and 68,000 able inen. The chief of each district superintends the equipping of the fleet in that district; but they must pass in review before the king, so that he knows the state of the whole before they assen.ble to go on service. Different deities are worshipped in different parts of the island. If they see others more prosperous than themselves, they adopt their gods and reject their own. They believe the soul immortal, but have no distinct ideas of rewards and punishments. Though they are the most friendly and amiable pagans in the world, human sacrifices are common To atone for their sins they murder their neighbors, offer them to their gods, and leave their bones on the sand. EASTER ISLAND, generally reckoned one of the Society Isles, is a barren spot, and has no fresh water, except in the crater of an extinguished volcano. The natives are sometimes driven to the necessity of drinking sea water. They are about 2000 souls, a thievish, lewd race of mortals. Their soil is fertile; yams, potatoes, and bananas, are their principal support. THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS were so named by Capt. Cook, from the hospitable disposition of the natives. The isl ands are 150 in number, well planted with cocoa-nut and bread fruit trees, plantains, sugar canes, &c. The inhab itants amount to 200.000. They are active and industrious, acquainted neither with riches, wants, nor oppres sion. FINIS. APPENDIX. series of Questions designed to direct the youthful student to the principal matters contained in each of the late editions of the Abridgement of the American Universal Geography; and also to facilitate the Instructer in the discharge of his duties. The figures direct the student to the pages where the answers to these questions are to be found. What is Geography? How has Geography arrived at its present improved state? 9 By whom was Astronomy first cultivated? Who first laid its foundation? 10 Who is allowed to have fixed the first solid foundation of Geography by uniting it with Astronomy? Where were the greatest improvements made in Astronomy? Who contributed most to its advancement? 11 Who ordered a general survey of the Roman Empire? Who wrote the only system of Geography in use till the beginning of the 17th century? When and by whom was printing invented? 12 Who in modern days have been the most distinguished cultivators of Geography and Astronomy? What does the Solar System suppose? 13 What is the orbit of a planet? How are the planets retained in their orbits? When is a body said to be in conjunction with the sun? when in opposition? Which is the most glorious luminary in the heavens? Its diameter? What is the distance of Mercury from the sun? Of Venus ? 14 When is Venus denominated the morning star? when the evening? How far is our earth from the sun? What is its diameter? Its circumference? How many motions has the earth? In what time is its diurnal motion performed? Its annual revolution? How does the moon shine? 15 What are comets? What is the heat of one when nearest the sun? What are the fixed stars? 18 How are the fixed stars distinguished from the planets? What is a constellation? What is the galaxy, or milky-way? What the number of stars? What is an eclipse? 19 What causes an eclipse of the moon? Of the sun? What are the fundamental principles of Geography? What evidence have you to suppose the earth is round? What is a sphere? 20 How are circles denominated? How many degrees are there in a circle? How do great circles divide a sphere? How do small circles divide it? What is the axis of the earth? What is the equator? The meridian? The ecliptic? Into how many signs is the ecliptic divided? Their names? & G 21 |