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TALES OF ISLANDS

IN

THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

CHAPTER I

About the Pacific Ocean.

I HAVE told my little readers about America, Europe, Africa and Asia. These are called the four quarters of the globe. I have somewhere promised to tell them about the islands in the Pacific ocean.

This ocean is the largest on the globe, and there are a multitude of islands scattered throughout its surface. Many of these are exceedingly beautiful, and

they are all interest

ing. Some of them enjoy a climate of per

What are called the four quarters of the globe? What is the largest ocean on the globe? Give a general description of the islands In the Pacific ocean.

petual summer, always refreshed by soft sea breezes. Some of them abound in beautiful flowers, and the most delicious fruits. Some of them are crowned with volcanic mountains, which pour from their tops volumes of smoke and flame. Some of them are inhabited by · tribes of a mild and gentle character: others people who are marked by the wildest and fiercest traits of savage life.

Among regions distinguished by such variety, it would not be difficult for us to find amusement. But before we set out on our voyage, I must beg my little reader to bestow some attention upon the map at the beginning of the book. It is, you see, a picture of the Pacific ocean. It shows you its shape, its shores, and the situation of the principal islands in it. Before we proceed farther, let me ask you the following questions. When you can answer them correctly, then we will go on with our story.

Which way is the Pacific ocean from America? Which way is the Pacific ocean from Asia? What is the direction of the Sand

wich islands from New Holland? Which way is Easter Island from Java?

What is the direction of the following places from Cape Horn? Sandwich Isles? Society Islands? Friendly Isles? Ladrones? New Hebrides? Marquesas? Spice Islands? Solomon's Isles? New Zealand? New Holland? Borneo? New Guinea? Van Dieman's Land? Java? Phillippine Islands? Sumatra ? Celebes? Gallipagos? Easter Islands? New Ireland? Japan Isles? Juan Fernandez ? New Caledonia ?

Tell the direction of these islands from New York. From Canton in China?

What is the most northern of these islands in the Pacific ocean that I have mentioned? What the most eastern? What the most western? What the most southern? What ocean south of the Pacific ocean? In what direction is New York from Canton? In what direction is Canton from Cape Horn?

In the little map, the Pacific ocean appears quite small, but it is in fact, ten thousand miles across from east to west. It would take a vessel three or four months to sail across it. Asia you perceive lies on the west of it, and America on the east.

If you were to go to the city of Washington, and then should travel westward over the rivers and hills and mountains and valleys, for many months; after passing by many

How far across the Pacific ocean from east to west ?

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