398 United States Exploring Expedition. 



gerous way among its thousand reefs. The whole number of 

 islands in the group, is about one hundred and fifty ; one of these 

 contains about four thousand square miles, and another is but lit- 

 tle smaller. They are rich and fertile, and will one day rank 

 first in the Pacific for resources, as they are now first in extent 

 and number. The harbors are numerous and convenient. 



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 cur- 

 sorily of the various regions that have been examined. ^iwi 



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

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

 such discoveries are not to be expected at this late day. At the 



island referred to, the natives were so completely ignorant 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-offering to 

 their imagined deities ; and when the boats shoved off from the 

 shore, they pointed to the sun and asked in their language, " you 

 going back again?" 



Observations with the magnetic needle, thermometer, and ba- 

 rometer, have been constantly made throughout the cruise. The 

 deep-sea lead with a self-registering thermometer attached, has 

 been sent down in the various seas passed over, and many inter- 

 esting facts have been observed, that throw light upon the upper 

 and under currents of the ocean. Observations were also made 

 on shooting stars, the zodiacal light, the aurora australis, tides, 

 the course and rotary character of gales, &c. &c. 



The manners and customs, mode of life, superstitions and re- 

 ligious 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, manufactures, 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 



