tinguished strangers, they use the expression Lau-Afio, or "Your Majesty;" in speaking to chiefs of lower rank, they address them, Lau-Susu, as we would use the words "Your lordship;" to chiefs of lower degree than those who are thus addressed, the term Ala-Ala is used, and to the common people the salutation is Omai, Sau, simply meaning "You have arrived," or "You are here."

The men only, tattoo, and not on their faces, as the New Zealanders do, but on their bodies from the waist to the knee, entirely black for the most part, except where relieved here and there by graceful stripes and patterns. At a short distance this tattooing gives them the appearance of having on black knee breeches. The clothing of both sexes is a piece of calico or native cloth wound around the waist and reaching to the knees. Some of the women wear a couple of colored cotton handkerchiefs, in the shape of a narrow poncho, over their breasts and shoulders, and hanging loosely down to below the waist. When in the bush, or working on their taro plantations, or when fishing, they wear a kilt of the long, handsome leaves of the Ti (Dracana terminalis). They have a kind of fine mat plaited from thin strips of the leaves of a plant called Lau-ie. These mats are only used on important occasions, and they esteem them more highly than any European commodity. Some of these mats are quite celebrated, having names that are known all over the group; the older they are the more they are valued. The oldest one known is called Moe'efui-fui, meaning "the mat that slept among the creepers.' This name was given to it from the circumstance of its having been hidden away among the creeping kind of convolvolus that grows along the shores; it is known

to be over two hundred years old, as the names of its different owners during that time can be traced down. The best mats are made at Manu'a. They are the most coveted property a native can possess, no labor or enterprise being considered too great to secure them. Both men and women spend a great deal of of time in dressing their hair, and frequently apply lime to it, which is laid on in a liquid state about the consistency of cream, and has the effect of turning the hair to a reddish hue. Both men and women frequently wear flowers in their hair-generally a single blossom of the beautiful scarlet Hybiscus, which is always found growing near their houses. Nature has supplied them so bountifully with food, in the shape of the cocoanut, bread-fruit, banana, native chestnuts, and other wild fruits, and the taro yields so abundant a crop with so little cultivation, that they have no necessity to exert themselves much, and they are, therefore, little inclined to industry, and probably will never be induced to undertake steady labor of any kind. Their houses are neat, substantial structures, generally circular in shape, with high, pitched, conical roofs, supported in the centre by two or three stout posts, and open all around, but fitted with narrow mats made of cocoanut leaves, which are strung together like Venetian blinds, and can be let down in stormy weather.

The Samoans are very expert in the management of their canoes, of which they have five different kinds -the Alia, or large double canoe, some of which are capable of carrying two hundred men; the Tau-maulua, from thirty to fifty feet long-these were first made about thirty years ago, and are fashioned after the model of our whale-boats; the Va-lao, or fishing canoes, with out-riggers-a beautiful craft, and very fast;

then there is the Loatau, out-rigger, dug-out canoe, capable of carrying five or six people; and, lastly, the Paopao, a small dug-out canoe for one person.

RELIGION.

The natives are all professed Christians. Christianity was first introduced into Samoa in August, 1830, by the Rev. J. Williams, who landed a number of native teachers from Tahiti. A few years afterwards (about 1835) five English missionaries, belonging to the London Missionary Society, landed on the islands, and from that time to the present several Congregational missionaries have been constantly resident on the group. In addition to these, there is a Roman Catholic Bishop resident at Apia, and a number of Catholic priests in various parts of the islands. The natives, for many years past, have annually contributed considerable sums towards the support of the mission establishments.

These islands, in their varied productiveness and their great capabilities for immense agricultural returns, if put under a proper system of cultivation, with the habits and manners of the inhabitants, are a fair type of the most of the groups of the Pacific. At the present day they are living proofs of the incalculable benefits that may arise from the gradual American protectorate, with its modern methods and appliances, spreading over these regions.

METEOROLOGICAL.

Extract from the Meteorological Register kept at the British Consulate at Apia, in the Navigator

Islands, which

may

be accepted as about the temperature of all of the tropical islands of the Pacific.

North of the New Hebrides we come to the Banks group, named after Sir Joseph Banks, scientist and naturalist, who accompanied Captain Cook in his voyage to the Society Islands in 1768.

"Vanua Lava, the largest of the group, is fifteen miles in length north and south, and is a remarkable looking island, with several high, rounded mountains, the highest, to the northwest, being some 2,800 feet above the sea. In the Suutamiti Mountain are several hot springs, always steaming, whilst a stream impregnated with sulphur runs down to the sea on the northwest coast, and a similar one falls into Port Patterson

on the Eastern side. There are two waterfalls on the western side-one single and the other double. The population of Vanua Lava is about 1,500; the natives were quiet and friendly.”

This island, with Santa Maria, Mota, Valua, Arau and Ureparapara, with some smaller islets dotting the sea, make up the group. The inhabitants are quite friendly with strangers, although very quarrelsome among themselves. This may be attributed to their desire to trade for the curiosities (to them) in the possession of the whites. Anything, from a small piece of hoop-iron to a chopping-axe, is eagerly bartered for.

The weapons of the natives are bows and poisoned arrows, war-clubs and spears, which they handle with the greatest dexterity. The products are fruit, sugar-cane, taro, potatoes and yams.

SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS.

Still pursuing our northerly course, we arrive at Santa Cruz Islands, composed of seven larger ones, Volcano, Vuerta, Santa Cruz, Edgecombe, Ouvry and Lord Howe, with several smaller ones; Vanikoro is made interesting in a historical way, from having been the scene of the wreck of the two vessels under command of Admiral de la Perouse, the great French voyager. This occurred in 1788, and remained an uncertainty for many years, causing much uneasiness in his native land, and, in fact, all over the civilized world. In 1826 the chains, anchors, cannon and some of the heavier imperishable portions of his vessels were discovered at this island and taken to France, in memory of Perouse.

Of Santa Cruz, Captain Tilly says: "It is about