NUW CALEDONIA. 347 



encourage it as much as they can ; their interest in it 

 arising from tlieir desire to be furnished with the hands 

 of the enemies, which are their 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 religion 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 which has so much surprised those who 

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

 better times. 



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

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

 on the loth, after rather a stormy passage. 



Thus came to a close our 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 

 opportimity had been so fleeting and brief In my various 

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

 perfectly developed races ot men. I had seen the 



