United States Exploring Expedition. 27 



Much might be said of Samoa, or the Navigator Islands, 

 which, though less extensive, are more beautiful than the 

 Feejees, and contain at least five times as much fertile land, 

 in proportion to their extent, as the Sandwich Islands. But 

 our remarks would lengthen out beyond allowed limits, should 

 we speak even cursorily of the various regions that have been 

 examined. 



A few unknown islands were fallen in with, and one was 

 discovered at midnight, just in time to avoid its reefs. But 

 many such discoveries are not to be met with at this late day. 

 At the island referred to, the natives were so completely ig- 

 norant of white men, as to believe them inhabitants of the 

 sun ; for they thought that the great ship, or " floating island," 

 as they called it, might sail off from the sun when it comes to 

 the surface of the sea at night, or leaves it in the morning. 

 All their little property was brought out by the terrified 

 people, as a peace -ofi^ering to their imagined deities ; and 

 when the boats shoved ofi" from the shore, they pointed to the 

 sun, and asked in their language, " you going back again ?" 



Observations with the magnetic needle, thermometer, and 

 barometer, have been constantly made throughout the cruise. 

 The deep sea lead with a self-registering thermometer at- 

 tached, has been sent down in the various seas passed over, 

 and many interesting facts have been observed, that throw 

 light upon the upper and under currents of the ocean. Ob- 

 servations were also made on shooting stars, the zodiacal light, 

 the aurora australis, tides, the course and rotatory character 

 of gales, &c. &c. 



The manners and customs, mode of life, superstitions and 

 religious observances, traditions, &c. of the people met with 

 in the course of the cruise, received constant attention, and 

 complete collections were made of their implements, ma- 

 nufactures, articles of dress, &c. These collections are now 

 nearly arranged in the Hall or National Gallery at the 

 Patent Office. Separate cases, or parts of cases, are al- 

 lotted to the different islands, or groups of islands; and when 

 labelled throughout, which is now in progress, the condition 

 of the various tribes or races, and the degree of civilization 

 among them, will be at once apparent to the eye. By a walk 

 through the National Gallery, we travel with more than rail- 



