252 VOYAGE TO THE 



Feb. 

 1826. 



chap, habitants of the great islands to the westward, leaves 

 no doubt of frequent emigrations from thence; and 

 we naturally look to those countries as the source 

 from which they have sprung. The difficulty, how- 

 ever, instantly presents itself of proceeding so vast 

 a distance in opposition to the prevailing wind and 

 current, without vessels better equipped than those 

 which are in possession of the above-mentioned people. 

 This objection has so powerfully influenced the minds 

 of some authors that they have had recourse to the cir- 

 cuitous route through Tartary, across Beering's Strait, 

 and over the American continent, to bring the emi- 

 grants to a situation whence they might be drifted by 

 the ordinary course of the winds to the lands in ques- 

 tion. But had this been the case, a more intimate re- 

 semblance would surely be found to exist between the 

 American Indians and the natives of Polynesia. 



All have agreed as to the manner in which these 

 migrations between the islands have been effected, 

 and some few instances have actually been met 

 with ; but they have been in one direction only, 

 and have rather favoured the opinion of migration 

 from the eastward. The accident which threw in 

 our way Tuwarri and his companions, who, it may 

 be recollected, were driven six hundred miles in a 

 direction contrary to the trade- wind in spite of their 

 utmost exertions, has fortunately enabled us to re- 

 move the objections which have been urged against 

 the general opinion. The fact being so well at- 

 tested, and the only one of the kind upon record, is, 

 consequently, of the highest interest, both as re- 

 gards its singularity, and as it establishes the pos- 

 sibility of the case. Though this is the only in- 

 stance that has come to our knowledge, there is no 



