294 THE RADACKERS. 
In the year 1816, in the ship Rurik, I dis- 
covered the chain of islands called by their . 
inhabitants, Radack. It consists of several 
groups lying near each other, and these again 
of many small islands united by reefs and sur- 
rounding great basins of water. All these being 
formed by the coral insect, are very low, and 
still but thinly covered with soil, so that they 
want the luxuriance of vegetation usual in this 
climate; their population is scanty; and the 
most important island of a group commonly 
gives its name to the whole. 
The Radackers are tall and well made, of a 
dark brown complexion; their black hair 1s 
neatly bound up, and that of the women de- 
corated with flowers and strings of muscle- 
shells. Their features are soft and agree- 
able, and many of both sexes may be consi- 
dered beautiful. They attain a great age, and 
though less robust than some other South Sea 
islanders, and subsisting wholly on fish and 
vegetables, are generally healthy. In gentle- 
ness and good-nature they excel them all, even 
perhaps the Tahaitians. 
The chief or sovereign of all these islands is 
