I i h.:v 



SOCOTRA. 



696 



i tea. Kiuieo i* supposed to 



be about miles In circumference; Huahin* probably more than 

 SO Bile* Mtd Kaiaiea U somewhat larger. The other* are of mailer 

 A corresponding reeembl.no* prevails in the geological 

 of the principal cluster* and .urrounding island* ; the com- 

 abetanoe* being the came in all, although each ha* some 

 ng peculiarity of iU own. . There seem* no reason to sup- 

 it any of these island* are of altogether volcanic origin, like 

 the Sandwich lalanda. In the Society Island* then are banlU, whin- 

 tone dyke*, and homogeneous earthy lava, retaining all the convo- 

 lution* which cooling lava i* known to a**ume; there are also kinds of 

 homstone, limialnajii. 'l^ breccia, *"* other *ub*tauoe*, which uuder 

 the action of fire do not appear to hare altered their original form. 

 Some are found in detached fragment*, others in large masses. All 

 the Society bland*, and many other* in the Pacific, are surrounded by 

 a belt of coral rook, from two or three to twenty yard* in width, and 

 situated at distances from a few yards to perhaps two miles from the 

 bore. Against this barrier the long rolling waves of the wide Pacific 

 are driven with terrific violence by the trade-winds, and, arrested by 

 it, often rise 10, 12, or 14 feet above its surface. These reefs protect 

 toe low land* from the violence of the sea ; for while beyond them 

 the surface of the water U agitated by the slightest breeze, all within 

 U smooth water. There i* usually a break or opening in these marine 

 barrier*, which offuraan easy passage for shipping. The soil is various. 

 The sides of the mountains are frequently covered with a thin layer of 

 light earth; bat the summits of many of the inferior hills present a 

 thick stratum of stiff red ochre or yellow marl. This is usually found 

 on the lower hill* that rise between the interior mountains and the 

 shore. The natives use it a* a piguieut for staining or painting their 

 doors, window-shutters, canoe*, Ac., and, when mixed with lime, the 

 wall* of their house*. The level tracts along the coast are the most 

 valuable part* of the land. The soil of those tracts is a rich alluvial 

 deposit, with a considerable mixture of vegetable mould, and is 

 exceedingly prolific. 



The climate, products, character, and condition of the inhabitants 

 of the other island* are similar to those of Tahiti, as above described. 



In the Society Islands the rainy season, the only variation of the 

 tropical year, occur* when the sun is vertical, and generally continues 

 from December to March : during this time the climate is more 

 insalubrious and the sickness of the inhabitants greater than at any 

 other period. Thunder and lightning are frequent, especially in the 

 rainy season. 



Hog* and dogs, and sometimes rats, were the only animals whose 

 flesh wa* formerly eaten by the natives. The missionaries have 

 introduced all our domestic Animal^; and all have succeeded very 

 well, except the sheep. Many of the natives now possess hundreds of 

 cattle, which, with their other produce, they sell, with mutual advan- 

 tage, to the ships which touch at the islands for refreshments. 

 Babbits could not be preserved ; cats have become common in houses, 

 and are great favourites. The birds of these and the neighbouring 

 island* are not distinguished by brilliancy of plumage or melody ol 

 song. There are however several varieties, and some of them in 

 immense number*. The most numerous class are the aquatic fowl. 

 The albatross, the tropic bird, several kinds of petrel, with others, 

 abound in all the islands, especially in Borabora and Mauarua. Among 

 the lakes are several kinds of heron ; and wild ducks resort to the 

 lagoons and marshes. There are several kinds of birds of prey, and 

 a number of the woodpecker tribe, with some small paroquets of rich 

 and iplendid plumage. The turtle-dove is found in the inland parts 

 of some of the islands, and pigeons among the mountains. Among 

 the few singing-birds the most conspicuous is that called by the natives 

 'omaomao,' which hi appearance and note much resembles the thrush 

 Domestic fowl an abundant, and were found iu the islands when 

 cmnally discovered. 



The Society Islander* are generally above the middle stature, but 

 their limb* are much leas muscular and firm than those of the Sand 

 rich Islander*, whom in many respects they resemble ; but they arc 

 more robust than the Marquewns, who are the most light and agile o 

 the inhabitant* of Eastern Polynesia. In size and physical power they 

 an inferior to the New Zealaoden. The countenance of the Societ; 

 Islander* i* open and prepoMeming, though the features are bold and 

 sometime* prominent The facial angle is frequently as elevated as in 

 Ike European. The prevailing complexion is an olive, a bronze, o 

 reddish-brown. 



The mental capacity of the Society blander* ha* hitherto been onl; 

 partially developed. They an remarkably curious and inquisitive', 

 and, compared with other Polynesian nations, may be said to possess 

 MMiderable ingenuity, mechanical invention, and imitation. Th 

 f feature* of their civil polity the imposing nature 

 Of observance*, and diversified ramifications of their super 

 titioo the legend* of their gods the historical songs of their bard 

 the beautiful, figurative, and impassioned eloquence sometimes 

 displayed in their national assemblies and, above all, the copiousness, 

 TrnrieU, precision, and purity of their language, with their extensiv 

 u*e of number*, warrant the conclusion ttiat they posses* no meat 

 mental capabilities. 



By disease*, win, infanticide, and the use of ardent spirite, tb 

 Urge population which these island* formerly contained was reduce 



o a mere remnant when the missionaries came among them. The 

 general adoption of Christianity put a stop to the evils in which this 

 eclina had originated; but for some yean after the number of deaths 

 Considerably exceeded the births. About the yean 1819 and 1820, 

 :i birth* were nearly equal to the deaths, and since that period the 

 >opulation ha* been rapidly increasing. The latest information esti- 

 nates the inhabitant* of these islands at 18,000 or 20,000. Most of 

 lie natives can now read and write. Their moral conduct has 

 Mcome more regular, and their social condition much improved ; they 

 ave acquired the knowledge of various useful arts, and profitable 

 ranches of commerce have been opened. Numerous vessels of from 

 to 80 tons burden are usefully employed in trade, and in maiufciin- 

 ng an intercourse between the several islands. A press has for many 

 ears been actively engaged in supplying the natives with publications 

 n their own language, suited to their wants and their condition. 



(Ellis, Polynesian Researches ; Voyages of Wallis, Cook, and Wilson ; 

 'yerman and Bennet, Voyage round the World ; Williams, Missionary 

 Enterprises; the Reports and Magazine of the London Missionary 

 Society, &c.) 



SOCORKO. [NEW GRANADA] 



SO'COTRA, u an island iu the Indian Ocean, situated about 

 200 miles from Cape Guardafui, the most eastern poiut of Africa. 

 It lies between 12 16' and 12 45' N. lat, 53" 26' and 57 34' K. 

 ong., and extends about TO miles from west to east, with an average 

 width of 15 miles. It contains 1100 square miles. 



Socotra consists chiefly of a table-laud, which is between 700 and 

 $00 feet above the level of the sea. North and south of the t:iU - 

 and are two plains. The surface of the island is in many parti l-v.'l 

 or a considerable extent; many hills are dispersed over it, and a 

 granitic range of mountains stands on the northern edge of the tablc- 

 and. This mountain mass may have a general elevation of about 

 3000 feet, but some of its numerous peaks rise to 5000 feet On the 

 more level parts of the table-land there are many wide depressions, 

 which generally extend south and north, and form long valleys. The 

 able-laud descends to the plains generally with a steep declivity, but 

 u a few places it comes close to the sea, as at Has (Cape) Shuab, the 

 western extremity of the island, and at lias Kattany: near lias 

 Feling, on the southern coast, the cliffs skirt the shores for 8 miles. 



In the southern plain, the force of the south-west monsoon, to 

 which the coast is exposed, has carried the sand from the sea coast 

 ;o some distance inland, where it forms a continuous range of sand- 

 lills parallel to the beach, and hence it has spread over the plain, up 

 a the very base of the table-laud. The shores run in a continuous 

 ine without being broken by any inlet The northern plain is not 

 so low as the southern, nor so level, the surface being intersected by 

 Bat valleys in many places, and in others some masses of hills rise 

 from 300 to 600 feet. The western districts of this plain, though less 

 sterile than the southern plain, are more adapted for pasture than for 

 cultivation, but the eastern districts have a superior soil, which is a 

 reddish-coloured earth, covered at certain seasons with abundaut 

 jross, and well adapted for the cultivation of grain, fruit, and vege- 

 tables. With the exception of a few rivulets the streams on the island 

 do not contain water all the year round. The inhabitants therefore 

 collect rain-water in reservoirs. In most parts of the northern ploiu 

 water is found at a distance of from 8 to 10 feet below the surfacu. 

 The climate of Socotra is sultry. During the north-east monsoon 

 there is an almost daily fall of rain. The south-west monsoon brings 

 a clear and cloudless sky, and while it continues the stars generally 

 shine with remarkable brilliancy. 



The principal commercial products ore derived from the aloe and 

 dragon's-blood tree. The aloe plant (Aloe tpicata or Socotrina) in the 

 western districts covers the hills for many miles, at an elevation of 

 from 600 to 2000 feet above the plains. The dragon's-blood tn-u 

 grows in the same part of the island, at an elevation of from 800 to 

 2000 feet These two plants are very abundant. There are several 

 forest-trees, but none fit for timber. Yams, wild orange-trees, and 

 date-trees are among the products of the island. Agriculture is 

 limited to the cultivation of dukkum, a species of millet, beans and 

 tobacco, with a little cotton and indigo. 



There are no horses. The camel is the only animal of burden, and 

 is nearly as sure-footed as the mule. The cows are small, and few in 

 number. Sheep and goats iu the western districts constitute the 

 principal wealth of the inhabitants. The sheep are small, but yield 

 good wool, of which thick cloaks are made. There are several kinds 

 of goats, and one of them is found iu a wild state ou the mountains. 

 There are civet-cats all over the island, rats, mice, and chameleons. 

 There are several kinds of vultures, and also the flamingo. Turtles 

 are found on the southern coast. Fish abound in several parts of the 

 coast, and some families live on the produce of their fishing. 



The population is estimated by Wellsted at 4000 individuals. It 

 consists of two different nations, of which one called Socotran Arabs, 

 is foreign, and the other called Beduins, is apparently aboriginal 

 The Arabs are the only cultivators of the ground ; they also make 

 ghee. They ore zealous Mohammedans. The aborigines are called 



lieduins in consequence of their pastoral habits and their wandering 

 mode of life. Their language appears to differ considerably from 

 that of the Arabs. They ore tall, with strong, muscular, and remark- 

 ably well-formed limbs; a facial angle like that of Kuropeans, the 



