NEW CALEDONIA. • 3-17 



encourage it as mucli as they can ; tlieir interest in it 

 arising from their desire to l)e furnished with tlie liands 

 of tlie enemies, wliicli are tlieir perquisites. When the 

 supply falls off, they threaten the people with disease if war 

 be not renewed or actively carried on. Another illustration 

 this of the mischievous use to which I'eligion has been, and 

 is sometimes, put by those authorised to direct it. It would 

 appear from what Mr. Hood tells us, that a more advanced 

 civilisation must have at one time existed on this island. 

 Eemains of ancient aqueducts are to be found ; one eight 

 miles in length ; also of paved roads and fortifications. 

 ' We are not,' they say, ' like our ancestors ; we cannot build 

 large houses as they did ; they were numerous and wise, we 

 are neither the one nor the other.' It is evident that the 

 skilful irrigation wliich has so much surprised those who 

 saw it, must be a practice that has been transmitted from 

 better times. 



On September 8, at half-past seven a.m., we took leave of 

 Port-de-France, on our return to Sydney, which we reached 

 on the 13th, after rather a stormy passage. 



Thus came to a close om- interesting cruise. It had 

 extended in time over nearly nineteen weeks, and in dis- 

 tance some 9,284 miles. I looked back upon it with 

 pleasure not unmingled with regret, — pleasure at having 

 had the opportunity of seeing what I saw, — regret that the 

 opportunity had been so fleeting and bi'ief In my various 

 wanderings I had met witli many rude, inert, and im- 

 perfectly developed races ot men. I had seen the 



