iv Preface. 



knowledge of others to whose notice they may come will assist in correcting the existing mistakes. 

 Those in charge of this Museum will welcome any addition to their information in these matters. 



Although the modern war vessel is sadly unfit for the purposes of scientific exploration, it is 

 hoped that England, America, Germany or France may ere long find national ships to survey the 

 Pacific anew and accurately. The life that Magellan, Mendana, Cook, Vancouver, and even Wilkes 

 found has almost disappeared; a new and far less interesting order has replaced it. Even the out- 

 lines of the coral islets have changed, and in the volcanic region the very bottom of the bays in 

 which the great explorers anchored has sunk or risen as the submarine forces have acted. Europe 

 and America have divided the islands among them, let them now, like wise proprietors, carefully 

 survey and study their new possessions. Here in the midst of the Pacific Ocean we would store for 

 common use all that we may gather from the vast extent of the "Great Ocean". 



WILLIAM T. BRIGHAM. 



Director of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Mitseum. 

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