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most extensive, consists of two parts, connected by a narrow strip of land. The largest is eighty miles in circuit, and the smallest, forty miles. Captain Cook supposed, that there were probably two hundred thousand people in this island. They subsist, to a great extent, on fish. The inhabitants of all the Society islands have the same religion, manners, and customs. They are on the whole an interesting, and amiable people. In 1797, eighteen missionaries came to Otaheite from England; for many years they had little success in teaching Christianity; but in 1814 the people renounced their idols, and many of them became converts to the Christian religion. Since that time, great progress has been made by the missionaries. In 1818 there were in the several islands sixty-six places of worship, and seventeen missionaries. Many of the useful arts have been introduced, and the condition of the people is rapidly improving.

To the west of the Society islands is a group, called the Friendly isles. There are about

sixty of them. The largest is twenty-one miles in length, and is called Tonga, or Tongataboo. Here the chiefs reside, and this is esteemed the most important island.

The people of these islands resemble those of the Marquesas. The men are tattooed, but the women are not. Their hair is black, but they sometimes color it brown, purple, or yellow.

Northeast of the Friendly islands is a group, called Navigator's islands. They are ten in number. They are so called, because the people navigate their canoes with great skill. The islands consist of high lands, with a very fertile soil. The groves produce bread fruit, cocoa-nuts, bananas, and oranges. The inhabitants are of large stature, and are very industrious and ingenious. At the same time, they are very ferocious, and, on that account, very few voyagers visit these islands.

At a great distance from the Navigator's islands, in a north westerly direction, are the

Caroline isles. This is a very numerous group, but they are not very much known. The Pelew islands are near them.

The inhabitants of the Caroline isles are tattooed, and live in large and comfortable houses, made of palm leaves and bamboo, woven so firmly together as to exclude both wind and rain. They do not worship idols, but pay their adoration to invisible deities. They salute each other when they meet, by touching their noses together.

They are very fond of dancing, which they execute with great spirit and grace. They bore large holes in their ears, and if presents are given to them, such as knives, hooks, and the like, they tie them into these holes in their ears, and wear them.

They are fond of war, and the inhabitants of the different islands are always engaged in strife with each other, with one exception. In the island of Ulea, war is unknown; here the inhabitants are always at peace. I cannot tell

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