42 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



ting, from periods anterior to the most ancient records 

 of the nation ; for to them alone can be ascribed the 

 repeated discoveries, at great depths, of jewels and 

 manufactured objects, totally distinct from the present, 

 and noticed by all the native literati as more ancient 

 than the existing creation. On the line of volcanic 

 agitation, south of Japan, and near a crater in constant 

 activity, is the island of Assumcion (or Ascension) one 

 of the Marian group (?) now, like many others of this 

 and neighbouring clusters, low and small : here there 

 was lately discovered, by the officers of H. M. Sloop 

 Raven, the ruins of a city, still, it seems, known by the 

 name of Tamen. It stands so far in the wash of the 

 waves, that a boat is necessary to land at the buildings, 

 which are composed of very large blocks of stone, some 

 being twenty feet in length. Other reports were sub- 

 sequently brought to Sydney, stating, that one or two 

 other cities, of similar work, were extant on other 

 islands, and equally submerged. One, indeed, seated 

 on an island, named Pouznipete or Seniavane, is men- 

 tioned by Mr. C. Darwin, in his volume on the struc- 

 ture and distribution of coral reefs, but he supposes it 

 to be the same as the first mentioned. * Tinian, how- 

 ever, is not far remote, and there, when Lord Anson 



* The most recent maps are unsatisfactory with reference 

 to these islands ; and as both Mr. Darwin's account and 

 our own were derived from the Sydney papers, it may be 

 well to remain somewhat in doubt on the truth of the 

 reports. We are obliged to that scientific observer for a 

 note on this subject. 



