LATE DISCOVERIES. 561 



with the pleasing idea, that some future navigator may, from the 

 same station, behold these meadows stocked with cattle brought to 

 these islands by the ships of England; and that the completion of this 

 single benevolent purpose, independent of all other considerations, 

 would sufficiently mark to posterity that our voyages had not been 

 useless to the general interests of humanity." 



THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS. 



THESE islands were first discovered by Quiros in 1595 : their si- 

 tuation was better ascertained by captain Cook in 1774. They are 

 five in number, and named St. Cristina, Magdalena, St. Dominica, 

 St. Pedro, and Hood. Captain Cook, in his second voyage, lay some 

 time at the first of these, which is situate in 9 degrees 55 minutes 

 south latitude, and 139 degress 9 minutes west longitude. St. Do- 

 mingo is the largest, about 16 leagues in circuit. The inhabitants, 

 their language, manners, and clothing, with the vegetable produc- 

 tions, are nearly the same as those of the Society Isles. 



THE NEW HEBRIDES. 



THIS name was given by captain Cook to a cluster of islands, the 

 most northerly of which was seen by Quiros, the Spanish navigator, 

 itt 1606, and by him named Terra del Espiritu Santo. From that 

 time until captain Cook's voyage in the Endeavour, in 1769, this land 

 was supposed to be part of a great southern continent, called Terra, 

 Australis Incognita. But when captain Cook had sailed round New 

 Zealand, and along the eastern coast of New Holland, this opinion, 

 was fully confuted. On his next voyage, in the Resolution, he re- 

 solved to explore those parts accurately; and accordingly, in 1774, 

 besides ascertaining the extent and situation of these islands, disco- 

 vered several in the group which were before unknown. The New 

 Hebrides are situated between the latitudes of 14 degrees 29 mi- 

 nutes, and 20 degrees 4 minutes south; and between 166degrees41 

 minutes, and 170 degrees 21 minutes east longitude. They consist 

 of the following islands, some of which have received names from 

 the different European navigators, and others retain the names which 

 they bear among the natives, viz. Terra del Espiritu Santo, Malli- 

 collo, St. Bartholomew, Isle of Lepers, Aurora, Whitsuntide, Am- 

 brym, Immer, Appee, Three Hills, Sandwich, Montagu, Hinchin- 

 brook, Shepherd, Eorromanga, Irronan, Annatom, and Tanna. 



Not far distant from the New Hebrides, and south-westward of 

 them, lies New Caledonia, a very large island, first discovered by 

 captain Cook in 1774. It is about eighty-seven leagues long, but 

 its breadth does not any where exceed ten leagues. It is inhabited 

 by a race of stout, tall, well-proportioned Indians, of a swarthy oe 

 dark chesnut brown. A few leagues distant, are two small islands s 

 called the Island of Pines, and Botany Island. 



