shores of New Holland, its most prominent feature, we find fruitful plains covered with verdure eastward, and on the south and south-western coast nothing but naked hillocks of sand. This island, if such indeed it is to be called, almost equal in size to the whole of continental Europe, presents of itself an unequalled and almost unexplored field for geological

enquiry.

The natives of Australia, are, for the major part, of a negro character, and nowhere is human nature found in a more depraved state. An enor. mous head, flat countenance, and long, slender extremities, mark their physical conformation, together with an acuteness of sight and hearing. Captain Cook's description of this race has been verified by every suc ceeding observer. "The skin," says he, "is the colour of wood soot, or what is usually called chocolate color. Their features are far from disagreeable; their noses are not flat, nor are their lips thick: their teeth are white and even, and their hair naturally long and black; it is, however, cropped short." It seems that a decidedly inferior variety of the human race is found in Australia, and has spread itself a considerable distance north and east among the islands of Polynesia and the eastern archipelago. The Australian is puny and weak compared with the African negro; and his intellectual attainments are quite on as low a scale as his physical powers.

NEW HOLLAND.

The Portuguese and Spaniards appear to have visited this region in the sixteenth century, but it was the Dutch who first made it known to Eu rope. In 1605 they coasted it along the western shore as far as 13° 43 of south latitude; the farthest point of land in their map being called Cape Keer-Weer, or Turn-again. In 1616 the west coasts were discovered by Dirck Hartag, commander of an outward-bound vessel from Holland to India; and in the year 1801 there was found, by some of the navigators by whom that coast was visited, a plate of tin, with an inscription and dates, in which it was mentioned that it had been left by him. In 1618, another part of the coast was discovered by Zeachen, who gave it the name of Arnheim and Dieman; though a different part from what afterwads received the name of Van Dieman's Land from Tasman. In 1619, Jan Van Edels gave his name to a southern part of New Holland; and another part received the name of Leuwen's Land. Peter Van Nuytz gave his name, in 1627, to the coast that communicates with Leuwen; and another part bore the name of De Witt's Land. In 1628, Peter Carpenter, a Dutchman, discovered the great Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1687, Dampier, an Englishman, sailed from Timor, and coasted the western part of New Holland. In 1699, he left England, with a design to explore this country: as the Dutch suppressed whatever discoveries had been made by them. He sailed along the western coast of it, from 15 to 28 degrees of latitude. He then returned to Timor; from whence he sailed again; examined the isles of Papua; coasted New Guinea; discovered the passage that bears his name, and also New Britain; and sailed back to Timor along New Guinea. This is the same Dampier who, between the years 1683 and 1691, sailed round the world, by changing his ships. Notwithstanding the attempts of all these navigators, the eastern part of this vast country was unknown till Captain Cook made his voyages, and, by fully explor ing that part of the coast, gave his country a title to the possession of it; which it accordingly took, under the name of New South Wales, in 1787. An act passed in parliament, in 1779, to establish a colour in it, where criminals condemned to be transported should be sent in past their time of servitude.

NEW ZEALAND.

This is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, which was discovered by Tasman, in 1642. He traversed the eastern coast, from latitude 34 to 43 south, and entered a strait; but being attacked by the natives soon after he came to an anchor, in the place to which he gave the name of Murderer's Bay, he did not go on shore. He called the country Staten Land, in honour of the States General; though it has been generally dis tinguished, in maps and charts, by the name of New Zealand. In 1770, it was circumnavigated by Captain Cook, who found it to consist of two large islands; the northernmost, called by the natives, Aienomawie; and the southernmost, Tovaipoenammoo; separated by a strait which he named after himself. The coast is indented with deep bays, affording excellent shelter for shipping. There are also several rivers, particularly in the northern island, capable of receiving large ships, in which the spring-tide rises ten feet perpendicular.

Captain Cook, in 1773, planted several spots of ground with European garden seeds; and in 1777, in several of these spots, although totally neg lected and overrun with weeds, were found cabbages, onions, leeks, parsley, radishes, mustard, &c., and a few fine potatoes, greatly improved by change of soil. In other places everything had been rooted out to make room for temporary villages. Captain Cook also introduced European poultry; and on his last visit had the satisfaction to find them increased, in a wild and domestic state, beyond all danger of being exterminated. From that period, the coasts were occasionally visited by whalers, and some communication was held with the natives; but until 1815, when a missionary station was established there, no permanent settlement appears to have been made by any people. At the general peace, the right of Great Britain to these islands was recognized; but no constituted authority was placed over New Zealand 1833, when a sub-governor from New South Wales was sent to reside there. Meantime the shores had become infested by marauding traders and adventurers of the worst class, who attempted to obtain from the natives large tracts of land by the most fraudulent means. In order to remedy this evil as far as possible, and to put a stop to such practices in future, New Zealand was, in 1840, constituted a colony dependent on New South Wales, and a governor appointed; a commission was also appointed to inquire into the validity of all claims to land, &c.

The New Zealanders are tall, strong, active and well-shaped; being superior in every respect to the negro race of Australia and the eastern Archipelago. Their colour is in general a dark chestnut, though many bear a resemblance to the gipsy, and some have even the complexion of a European brunette. Were it not for the disgusting practice of occasionally feasting on the prisoners they lake in battle, and the crime of infanticide—both of which barbarities are said to be rapidly on the decline—it might be said the New Zealanders were less addicted to the vices of savage life than most other savages. These islands lie between the 34th and 48th degrees of south latitude, and between the 166th and 180th degrees of east longitude, being the antipodes of London and other parts of Great Britain.—The other isles belonging to the Australian divi. sion are too unimportant to render a description necessary.

POLYNESIA

This name, as we have already observed, is given by modern geogra phers, to various groups of islands in the Great Pacific Ocean, lying east of the Asiatic isles and Australia, and on both sides of the equator; stretching through an extent of about 5100 miles from north to south, and 3600 from east to west. Everything bespeaks their submarine creation, and in many are positive evidences of volcanic agency. They are sometimes divided into Northern and Southern Polynesia, and classed in the following groups —Pelew Islands; Carolines; Ladrones; Sandwich Islands; Friendly Islands; Gallapagos; Admiralty Isles; New Ireland; New Britain, and New Hanover; Solomon's Isles; New Hebrides, and New Caledonia; Queen Charlotte's Islands; Navigators' Islands; Society Islands; Marquesas: Pitcairn Island, &c. Of these we shall only mention a few; as they can hardly be said to come within the scope of a work professedly historical; though their entire omission might be regarded as a defect.

LADRONES, OR MARIANNE ISLANDS.

The Ladrones are a cluster of islands belonging to Spain, lying in ice North Pacific Ocean, between the 12th and 21st degrees of north latitude, and about the 145th degree of east longitude. They were discovered by Magellan, who gave them the name of Ladrone Islands, or the Islands of Thieves, from the thievish disposition of the inhabitants. At the time of this discovery, the natives were totally ignorant of any other country than their own, and, as it is said, were actually unacquainted with the element of fire, till Magellan, provoked by their repeated thefts, burned one of their villages. At the latter end of the 17th century, they obtained the name of the Marianne Islands, from the Queen of Spain, Mary Anne of Austria, mother of Charles II., at whose expense missionaries were sent thither to propagate the Christian faith.

Though plunged in the deepest ignorance, and destitute of everything valued by the rest of mankind, no nation ever shewed more presumption, or a greater conceit of themselves, than these islanders; for to use the words of an old voyager, they looked on themselves as the only sensible and polished people in the world. As Japan lies within six or seven days sail of them, some have been induced to believe that the first inhabitants came from that empire; but, from their greater resemblance to the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands, than to the Japanese, it is more probable that they came from the former. Commodore Anson visited the La drones in 1742, and describes Tirrian, one of the group, as abounding with everything necessary to human subsistence, and presenting at the yame time a pleasant and delightful appearance, where hill and valley, rich verdure and spreading trees, formed a happy intermixture. Subsequent navigators, however, found the island to have been deserted, and become an uninhabited wilderness. The natives of the the Ladrones are tall, robust, and active, managing their canoes with admirable adroitness. Guajan is the largest island in the group, and the population consists of settlers from Mexico and the Phuippine Islands.

FRIENDLY ISLANDS.

The Friendly Islands are a group or cluster of islands, said to be up wards of one hundred in number, in the South Pacific Ocean. They received their name from the celebrated Captain Cook, in the year 1773, in consideration of the friendship which appeared to subsist among the inhabitants, and from their courteous behaviour to strangers. The chief islands are Anamooka, Tongataboo, Lefooga, and Eooa. Abel Jansen Tasman, an eminent Dutch navigator, first touched here in 1643, and gave names to the principal islands. Captain Cook laboriously explored the whole cluster, which he found to consist of upwards of sixty. The three islands which Tasman saw, he named Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Middleburg. Tongataboo is the residence of the sovereign, and the chiefs. These islands are fertile, and in general highly cultivated. Eood is described as a beautiful spot; the land rising gently to a considerable height, presents the eye with an extensive view. Captain Cook and some of his officers walked up to the highest point of the island. "While I was surveying this delightful prospect," says the captain, "I could not help flattering myself with the pleasing idea, that some future navigator may, from the same station, behold these meadows stocked with cattle, brought to these islands by the ships of England; and that the completion of this single benevolent purpose, independent of all other considerations, would sufficiently mark to posterity, that our voyages had not been useless to the general interests of humanity." Of the nature of their government, no more is known than the general outline. The power of the king is unlimited, and the life and property of the subjects are at his disposal; and instances enough were seen to prove, that the lower order have no property, nor safety for their persons, but at the will of the chiefs to whom they respectively belong.

SOCIETY ISLANDS.

THE Society Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, are eight in namber; viz., Otaheite, Huaheine, Ulitea, Otaha, Bolabola, Maurowa, Toobaee, Tabooyamanoo. They are situated between the latitude of 16° 10' and 16° 55 south, and between the longitude of 150° 57′ and 152° west. The people, religion, language, customs and manners, soil and productions, are nearly the same as Otaheite,—which was discovered by Captain Wallis in 1767, who called it King George the Third's Island. Bougainville, a French circumnavigator, next arrived at it, in 1768, and stayed ten days. Captain Cook, in the Endeavour, next visited it, in 1769, in company with Mr. Banks, Dr Solander, and other learned men, to observe the transit of Venus, and staid three months; and it was visited by Captain Cook in his two succeeding voyages; since which time the Spaniards and other Europeans have called there. It consists of two peninsulas, great part of which is covered with woods, consisting of bread-fruit trees, palms, cocoanuts, and all tropical vegetation. The people of this and the neighbour. ing islands, were the most honest and civilized of any in the Pacific Ocean: out it appears certain that the inhabitants have degenerated rather than improved since Cook's time.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE Sandwich Islands, in the North Pacific Ocean, consist of eleven in Qumber. They are called by the natives Owyhee, Mowee, Ranai. Moro

toi, Taboorowa, Woakoo, Atooi, Neeheeneow, Orehowa, Morotinne, and Takoora all inhabited except the last two. They were discovered by Captain Cook in 1777 and 1778. Goats, and European seeds, were left by the English at their departure the first time; but the possession of the goats soon gave rise to a contest between two districts, in which the breed was entirely destroyed. The inhabitants are undoubtedly of the same race as those that possess the islands south of the equator; and in their person and manner, approach nearer to the New Zealanders than to their less distant neighbours, either of the Society or Friendly Islands. Tattooing the body is practised by the whole of them. As these islands are not united under one government, wars are frequent among them. The same system of subordination prevails here as at the other islands, the same absolute authority on the part of the chiefs, and the same unresisting submission on the part of the people. The government is monarchial, and hereditary.

Owyhee, the eastermost and largest of these islands, was discovered by Captain Cook, on the 30th November, 1778, on his return from his voy. age northward. Having circumnavigated the island, and anchored in a bay, called Karakakooa, he found great alteration in the conduct of the natives, and a general disposition to theft. Still no hostilities were commenced, honours were paid the commander, and on going ashore, he was received with ceremonies little short of adoration. A vast quantity of hogs, and other provisions, were procured for the ships; and on the 4th of February, 1789, they left the island, not without most magnificent presents from the chiefs, such as they had never received in any part of the world. Unluckily, they encountered a storm on the 6th and 7th of the same month, during which the Resolution sprung the head of her foremast in such a manner, that they were obliged to return to Karakakooa bay to have it repaired. On the 13th, one of the natives being detected in stealing the tongs from the arinourer's forge in the Discovery, was dismissed with a pretty severe flogging: in the afternoon of the same day, another having snatched up the tongs and a chisel, jumped overboard with them, and swam for the shore, and having got on board of a canoe, escaped. These tools were soon after returned, through the means of Pareah, a chief. But Captain Cook was not satisfied with the recovery of the sto len goods; he insisted upon having the thief, or the canoe which carried him, by way of reprisal. This brought on hostilities. The Indians attacked the sailors with stones, and drove them to their boats. And although the difference appeared to be presently adjusted, the jealousy of the natives subsequently broke forth in a furious assault, on an attempt to induce the King of the Islands to go on board one of the ships. On this occasion, Sunday, 14th February, 1779, Captain Cook was killed.

ICELAND.

THIS is a large island in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, between the 63rd and 67th degrees of north latitude, and between the 16th and 23rd degrees of west longitude from London. It is of a very irregular shape, and contains about fifty-six thousand inhabitants. At what time the island was first peopled is uncertain. The Icelandic chronicles go no farther back than the arrival of the Norwegians, about the year 861, when Naddodr, a pirate, was driven on the coast. In 864, Garder Suafarson, a Swede, encouraged by the account given by Naddodr, went in search of it, sailed round it, and gave it the name of Gardersholmer, or Garder's Island. Having remained in Iceland during the winter, he returned in the