CHAPTER VII. 



(I.) The Paumotu Group. — (2.) Clermont de Tonnerre. Unsuccessful Attempts 

 to Communicate with the Natives. Other Islands. — (3.) Subsequent Explo- 

 rations. — (4.) The Lagoons. Geology. — (5.) Various Theories in regard to 

 the Origin of this Group.— (6.) Productions.— (7.) Birds and Animals. — 

 (8.) Population. Character. Dress. — (9.) Habitations. Canoes. 



(1.) Skirting the Southern Oriental Ocean on the west, 

 between the tenth degree of southern latitude and the Tropic 

 of Capricorn, is a group of low coral islands, sixty-five in 

 number, which, though comparatively little known, form one 

 of the most striking features of Polynesia, " the region," as 

 the name imports, " of many islands." Different navigators 

 visited this group previous to the Expedition under Captain 

 Wilkes; but their observations and reconnoissances were 

 directed rather for hydrogra.phical purposes, than with a view 

 of making valuable contributions to physical geography and 

 ethnology. There is another reason why the information ob- 

 tained in regard to these islands has been so limited ; which 

 is, that the crews of whalers have repeatedly stopped here, 

 and so grossly maltreated the poor and inoffensive inhabitants, 

 that it is with great difficulty they can be brought to have 

 the least intercourse with the whites. 



This cluster was formerly designated on maps and charts, 

 as the Low Archipelago ; but it is now known as the Pau- 

 motu Group, or Cloud of Islands, — the term applied to it by 

 the natives themselves, and by the inhabitants of the Society 

 Islands. 



(2.) It was with considerable reluctance that the officers 

 and men of the Exploring Squadron bade adieu to the glo- 

 rious climate and fertile soil of Peru; yet the prospect of 

 visiting the fairy islands towards which they were fast wend- 



