■ 86 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



tious at least of the Maoris on finally leaving their Pacific home. 

 It is not intended to enter into this question here, further 

 than to state that the more it is studied in all its bearings, the 

 more certain is the conclusion that Earotonga, and perhaps 

 the neighbouring islands, were the homes of some of our 

 Maoris, from whence they came here to New Zealand, though 

 they were well acquainted with most of the islands forming 

 the Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Tahitian groups as well. 



Penrhyn Island, or group, situated in 9° of south latitude 

 and 157'^ 10' vvest longitude, is a true atoll, thirty-five miles in 

 circuit. It is composed of a ring of small islands, foin-teen in 

 number, surrounding a lagoon, which is some twelve miles 

 long and eight broad. At two places there are deep entrances 

 leading into the lagoon, which, according to Sterndale, forms 

 a splendid harbour, suitable for ships of any di-aught. The 

 islands are all formed of coral and sand, and nowhere rise 

 more than 50ft. above the sea. They are generally covered 

 with cocoanut, pandanus, and a few other trees, one of which, 

 called to, is used for building canoes ; and underneath them is 

 found a tall rank grass, called by the natives hara. The 

 lagoon was at one time noted for its pearl-fishery ; but the 

 (juantity of shell has been much diminished of late years, and 

 little is now said to be found there. 



The island w^as first made known to Europeans by Lieu- 

 tenant Watts, of H.M. transport "Lady Penrhyn," who 

 discovered it in August, 1788, on his way from Tahiti to 

 China. 



The United States surveying-vessel " Porpoise," forming 

 one of Com.modore "Wilkes's fleet, visited the island in Feb- 

 ruary, 1841. From the account of the expedition given by 

 Wilkes I abstract the following notes, principally to show 

 how thickly populated the island was at that time: "The 

 ' Porpoise ' stood off and on all night, and on the morning of 

 the 15th February, at sunrise, canoes were discovered ap- 

 proaching the brig in great numbers, many of them large. At 

 seven o'clock two came alongside, and others soon followed 

 them. As the number of the visitors increased they became 

 more bold, and clambered up the sides, uttering loud and 

 savage cries. They were the wildest and most savage- 

 looking beings we had ever seen, vociferating in a frightful 

 manner, and accompanyivig their exclamations with the most 

 violent contortions and gesticulations : they seemed frantic 

 with excitement. These natives were quite naked, except a 

 few, who had a small maro of cocoanut-leaves. . . . On 

 tlie north-west side of the island there appears to be a con- 

 tinuous village, with cocoanut groves throughout its whole 

 extent, and the island is evidently thickly populated. The 

 ferocity of the savages prevented the possibility of landing." 



