240 PACIFIC AND 



on the east, the Marian islands on the north, and the Pelew isl- 

 ands on the west. The group does not contain less than two hun- 

 dred islands. The soil is fertile, but the country is subject to hur- 

 ricanes. 



Of the Mulgrave islands, (from O 6 to 8 S., and 171 to 175 

 E.,) we know their name and position. This chain is connected 

 with the Caroline group by the Pescadores ; and probably with 

 the other archipelagos of Polynesia by chains still unknown. 



All the seas west from Navigator's islands to Solomon's group, 

 are speckled with detached islands ; some of them remarkably 

 fertile and productive. 



Feyjee islands, or archipelago, from 16 30' to 19 48' N., and 

 from 175 5' to 179 19' W. 



Sailing eastward, we fall in with the hills and plains of the 

 Friendly islands. Allowing this cluster to extend as far as the 

 Feyjees in the west, the Cocoa and Traitor's islands in the north, 

 to Savage island in the east, and to Pytstaert in the south, it will 

 include more than one hundred islands. 



The Society islands have been the theme of more writing than 

 some kingdoms of Europe. Who that has read and not admired 

 the charms of Queen Oberia, and viewed in imagination the fes- 

 tivals of Potomare. The Otaheitans are better known to us than 

 the inhabitants of Sardinia or of Corsica. Otaheite is indeed en- 

 titled to the appellation of Queen of the Pacific. 



To the southwest and southeast of the Society islands, -a long 

 chain of widely-separated islands extends, beginning with Palmer- 

 ston, and ending with Easter islands. To the northeast and east 

 are Gloucester, St. Paul's, Conversion, Michall, and many others 

 but little ,known. 



In passing from Easter island to the Marquesas, the whole 

 ocean is sprinkled with small islands, low, sandy, and encircled 

 with coral reefs ; and here the navigation is exceedingly danger- 

 ous. At the north of these low islands we find the lofty Marque- 







