203 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 Series, 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 Opoulon, 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 I'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 volcano 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- 

 gi-aphers, 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 still 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 

 Palmas isles, and laid down forty leagues of the southern coast of 

 Mindanao. They fixed with care the position of the isles lying be- 

 tween Mindanao and Celebes. By the end of January they resumed 



