202 Miscellanies. 
of Terra del Fuego, and the northern coast of Staten Island, and 
then about the end of December, sailed for the southern polar regions. 
They were, however, unfortunately prevented by barriers of ice from 
proceeding as far south as had been done by many preceding navi- 
gators. Disappointed here, they occupied the rest of their stay in 
that region in exploring the New South Orkney isles, some of the 
New South Shetland isles, and also for about eighty leagues, a terri- 
tory of great extent, which they named Terres de Louis Philippe. 
They then proceeded to Talcahuano, in Chili, for the restoration of 
the health of the crew. This place they left May 22, and passed three 
days at Valparaiso, and about the beginning of August dropped an- 
chor at the Mangariva (Gambier) islands. They cursorily surveyed the 
isles Minerva and Serles, and passed some days in the isle of Nouhiva- 
The natives are a fine race of Polynesians, handsome, tall, well made, 
agile, and robust. On the 9th Sept. they arrived at Tahiti; they sur- 
veyed all the isles of the Tahitian archipelago, then the isles Mopelia 
and Scilli, and carefully took the bearings of the coasts of the isles 
which compose the archipelago of Samoa. A short stay in the island 
of Opovlon, added to their collections in every department. They 
next visited the isles of Vavao and Hapai, and afterwards the isle of 
Ovalaou. Subsequently they explored the islands of Arviare and 
Pic de l’Etoile, and also the Banks group, which had never been seen 
since its discovery by Bligh,—likewise the isles of Vanikoro, (cele- 
brated for the shipwreck of La Perouse,) Lopona, Nitendi, Mendana, 
and the voleano of Tinakoro; and about the middle of November, 
they reached the Solomon islands. This extensive archipelago was 
the object of a special survey. They laid down with care the bear- 
ings of two hundred leagues of its coasts, and resolved the doubts 
which have divided the opinions of the most distinguished hydro- 
graphers, regarding the number and the relative situation of ‘the isles 
of which it is constituted. They remained several days in the neigh- 
borhood of the large isle Isabella, the natives of which are of the 
small Melanesian race, feeble, averse to labor, and cannibals; but 
who stiil sometimes showed themselves mild and peaceable, and rath- 
er honest. Among the Caroline islands, they surveyed the Nougour 
_ and Louassap groups, and came to anchor over against the great 
Rook cluster. The natives of the latter appeared to be suspicious 
and hypocritical. The year 1839 they entered upon while at Umata, 
isle of Guam, where they refreshed themselves with some relaxation- 
On the 10th Jan. they set sail, and surveyed the Pelew, Gouap, and 
: isles, and laid down forty leagues of the southern coast of 
Bens They fixed with care the position of the isles lying be- 
adanao and Celebes. By the end of January they resumed 
we 
