and in one lofty summit, resembling a rudely shaped cone, there is a hole opening through, a few hundred feet from the top. On Tahiti, still loftier summits, with crowns and crests and jagged ridges constitute the surface. The eye follows up one precipitious slope to plunge at once one or two thousand feet to the bottom of another.

"The islands to the north-westward are described as exceeding Tahiti in their bold features, and in the indentations of their shores, which form deep bays, penetrating far among the mountains; they are for their size, the most remarkable in the Pacific. There is great luxuriance of verdure over the Society Islands, and good soil. But owing to the mountainous character of the lands, and especially the remarkably steep declivities, but little of the surface, comparatively, can be brought under cultivation. Yet there are many fine valleys, besides the level areas along the shores which might be tilled to great advantage. The sugar cane and many tropical fruits are already grown in abundance, and to these the coffee plant and other productions of the East Indies might be added.”

TAHITI.

Having cargo for Tahiti, it was our good fortune to remain several days, and of course time for a partial inspection of what has been so much written about. The entrance to the main harbor of Tahiti is rather difficult to navigate, and requires the assistance of some ancient weather-beaten mariner who knows every foot of the channel from boyhood. They are to be found among the natives, who, for a proper consideration, will place your véssel at safe anchorage in the

inner harbor. The trade of these islands with the outside world is considerable, the exports reaching a value of nearly one million of dollars annually, with imports of as much more. Coffee, cotton and sugar-cane, as well as all other tropical plants, do well in the group, giving not only employment to the natives, but many who are brought from other islands and China. The people are intelligent and kindly disposed, and the stranger may revel in all the delights of a tropical climate without let or hindrance. Missionary schools are to be met with on nearly all of the isles, and the strict observance of laws, as customary in our own country, is enforced by the Government. Tahiti, although of wonderful fertility, and better known to the world, has many rivals in extent and rich soil; notably the islands of Raitea and Huahine-both of the Society group— where can be found beautiful valleys, with an abundance of water and a luxuriant vegetation of nearly all the tropical fruits, which clothe the valleys, hills and • mountain sides to their very tops. Much could be written of Tahiti that would prove interesting to the lovers of curious traditions, and a great deal might be said of Captain Cook and his voyage to this island— sent by the English Government to take observations of the transit of Venus. The shade of the tamarind tree planted by Cook may be enjoyed, and relics from the observatory built by himself and companions can be carried away in quantities to suit. But space will not permit many details in a subject so vast as the Islands of the Pacific.

TONGA, OR FRIENDLY ISLANDS.

To the south and west of the Society group lie the Tonga or Friendly islands, nearly one hundred in

number, and, like nearly all isles in this region, are formed on the coral reefs. The archipelago is divided into several groups-Tongatabu, Namuka, Hapai and Katoo being the largest and best known. The islands are very low, the highest ground seldom rising above an altitude of 100 feet. The products are similar to those already described; the natives are peaceable and friendly, nearly all of them professing Christianity.

The number in the group I have placed at one hundred; some authorities state as high as one hundred and fifty; with a total landed area of but 1000 square miles. They were discovered by Tasman in 1643, and visited by Captain Cook many years afterward, who gave them the name they bear to-day.

Of the inhabitants, it is said that they "are intellectually, perhaps, the most advanced of the Polynesian race, and exercise an influence over distant neighbors, especially in Fiji, quite out of proportion to their numbers, which do not exceed twenty or twenty-five thousand. Their conquests have extended as far as Niue, or Savage Island, 200 miles to the east, and to various other islands to the north. In Cook's time, Ponlaho, the principal chief, considered Samoa to be within his dominions. This pre-eminence may, perhaps, be due to an early infusion of Fijian blood. Pritchard (Polynesian Reminiscences) observed such crosses to be always more vigorous than the pure races in these islands, and this influence seems also traceable in the Tongan dialect, and appears to have been partially transmitted thence to the Samoan. Various customs, traditions and names of places point to a former relation with Fiji, but Fijian influence in Tonga is insignificant, compared with that of Tonga in Fiji. Their prior conversion to Christianity gave the

people material as well as moral advantages over their neighbors, and King George, a very remarkable man, and far in advance of his people, has, during a long reign, made the most of these.

'Agriculture, which is well understood, is the chief industry. They are bold and skillful sailors and fishermen; other trades, as boat and house building, carving, cooking, net and mat making, are usually hereditary. Their houses are slightly built, but the surrounding ground and roads are laid out with great care and taste.

"There are some ancient stone remains here, as in the Caroline Islands, burial places (feitoka) built with great blocks, and a remarkable monument consisting of two large blocks with a transverse one, containing a circular basin in the centre.

"The chief articles of export are cocoanut-oil and copra, a little sugar, cotton and coffee, the cultivation of which is encouraged by the king, and fresh provisions for ships, as yams, pigs and poultry. The chief imports are cloth, cotton prints, hardware, mirrors,

etc."

HERVEY OR COOK'S ISLANDS.

A little to the north and east of the Tongas are the Hervey or Cook's Islands; Mangaia, Raratonga, Autaluke and Hervey being the largest. They are all of considerable commercial value, not only on account of their agricultural products, but for the great number of turtles and quantity of beche de mer taken in this group. Their products are coffee, cotton, sugar, tobacco, cocoanuts, oil, fungus, tomano wood and bananas. Nearly all the natives of this group can read and write, and profess the Protestant religion.

A great deal of time and money has been spent in this region, educating and reclaiming the heathen. It is lamentable though that in adopting our more civilized manners and habits, that the good and bad of our civilization could not have been separated. Many of the natives here, as well as among other groups of the Pacific, seem to take to the bad naturally, and in this particular locality it resulted in almost decimating the population.

Raratonga stands high above the sea level, nearly 3,000 feet, and the rich tropical vegetation covers the mountain sides clear to their summits. Streams of pure water flow through its valleys of rich alluvial soil, and highly cultivated plantations are to be met with on every hand. The inhabitants offer a pleasing contrast to some already cited, being a happy, peaceful and industrious race, in a comparatively advanced state of civilization.

FIJI ISLANDS.

Nearly due west from Cook's Islands we come to the great group of Viti, popularly known as the Fijis. They are 250 in number, with an area of some 7,400 square miles, and population of about 120,000. It is said that "a few islands in the northeast of the group were first seen by Tasman in 1643. The southernmost of the group, Turtle Island, was discovered by Cook in 1773. Bligh visited them in 1789, and Captain Wilson, of the Duff, in 1797. In 1827 D'Urville, in the Astrolabe, surveyed them much more accurately, but the first thorough survey was that of the United States Exploring Expedition in 1840." The group was annexed by Great Britain in 1874, and if not justly territory of that country, is practically under