TOPOGRAPHY. 17 
Yap, and Hunter forming one line, having the same trend with the 
southern extremity of the Ladrones, or about N. 22° E.; and the 
Pelews, with perhaps the islands to the southward, to Aiou, another 
line ranging N. 25° E. 
s. Feejee Islands—The Feejee Islands constitute a large cluster of 
scattered islands; but amid the apparent irregularity we observe a 
fact, which we shall hereafter show to be of much interest, that the 
easternmost islands range parallel with the Tonga Group, or N. 23° E., 
while on the west the two large islands constitute a line running 
N. 40° E. 
The linear arrangement thus traced out over the ocean, and marked 
out by lines on the preceding map of the Pacific, is more distinctly 
apparent the larger the chart or globe on which it is observed; 
and any appearance of hypothesis which the reader might suspect 
from the study of a small map will wholly disappear on the exami- 
nation of one of sufficient size to exhibit the exact positions and forms 
of the islands. ‘The enlarged charts of the several groups illustrating 
this volume, evince clearly this fact. We shall further consider in 
another place certain particulars to be derived from a more minute 
study of the positions of islands in particular groups. The facts de- 
tailed show certainly a most remarkable uniformity of direction. 
Running parallel, or nearly so, with the Sandwich Islands, we observe 
the Fanning Group, the Marquesan, Paumotu, Tahitian, Atiu, Sa- 
moan, Salomon, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Vanikoro, Vaitupu, 
Kingsmills, Radack and Ralick Groups. Nearly every island of the 
ocean, over an area whose breadth is five thousand miles from north 
to south, may be shown to conform to this system, excepting a few 
groups pointed out as characterized by a transverse trend. ‘The facts 
brought forward are here presented in a tabular form for the con- 
venience of comparison and future reference. 
1. Northwestward trend. 
Hawaiian Group - - - trends - : - N. 64° W. 
Nukuhivan - - : - ge - - N. 60° W. 
Fanning’s - - - - a - - - N. 60° W. 
Paumotu - - - - - ce - : : N. 60° W. 
Tahitian - - : - - ee - - - N. 62° W. 
Atiu—Atiu line - : : = “e : - - N. 66° W. 
Rarotonga line - - a - - - N. 65° W. 
Samoa - - - - - ge - - - N. 68° W. 
Fakaafo - - - - - ae - - - N. 58° W. 
