THE HUMAN SPECIES. 117 



ancient than the existing creation. On the line of volcanic 

 agitation, south of Japan, and near a crater in constant activity 

 is the island of Assumcion, (or Ascension,) one of the Marian 

 group (?) — now, like many others of this and neighboring 

 clusters, low and small : — here there was lately discovered, 

 by the officers of H. M. Sloop Raven, the ruins of a city, still, 

 it seems, known by the name of Tamen. It stands so far in 

 the wash of the waves that a boat is necessary to land at the 

 buildings, which are composed of very large blocks of stone, 

 some being twenty feet in length. Other reports were subse- 

 quently brought to Sydney, stating that one or two other cities 

 of similar work, were extant on other islands, and equally sub- 

 merged. One, indeed, seated on an island, named Pouznipete. 

 or Seniavane, is mentioned by Mr. C. Darwin, in his volume 

 on the structure and distribution of coral reefs, but he supposes 

 it to be the same as the first mentioned.^ Tinian, however, is 

 not far remote, and there, when Lord Anson landed, were 

 found two parallel rows of squared upright stones, in the form 

 of obelisks, each surmounted by a coping block, immediately 

 recalling to mind the colossal pillar-idols of Easter Island, which 

 are known to have been the work of a departed population, 

 probably of the same race that once inhabited Pitcairn's, the 

 late well-known retreat of the mutineers of the Bounty. These 

 antique and now forsaken cities must have been constructed by 

 a people totally distinct from the present inhabitants, and much 

 more numerous than the existing locality could now supply 

 with food. The group is entirely composed of volcanic cones, 

 and of low coral reef islands ; and we agree with Mr. Darwin 

 in opinion, that they are the remains of land once much greater 

 in extent, but sunken beneath the sea's level, by the effect of 



* The most recent maps are unsatisfactory with reference to these 

 islands ; and, as both Mr. Darwin's account and our own were derived 

 from the Sydney papers, it may he well to remain somewhat in doubt on 

 the truth of the reports. We arc obliged to that scientific observer for a 

 n"Ji on this subject. 



