THE MALAY RACE. 



59 



standing the geographical distance, may be established with the 

 Penrhyn Islanders; especially as there exists strong analogy in the 

 manufactures. 



Penrhyn Island, situated nearly half way between the Marquesas 

 and Union Groups, was subsequently visited by the Porpoise. " It 

 was covered with cocoa palms, and was densely inhabited by the 

 wildest set of natives that had been met with during the Voyage. 

 These natives had no hesitation about coming on board, but it re- 

 quired some vigilance to prevent them from pilfering everything they 

 could lay hands on." They agreed with the Disappointment Island- 

 ers, in " wearing the beard, and in the absence of tattooing ; and their 

 canoes, though much larger, were equally destitute of sails." The ar- 

 ticles obtained from them, show further resemblance ; as the mats 

 used for clothing, the fish-hooks of pearl-shell, the oar-shaped clubs, 

 and the rasped woodwork. But we observe, in addition, large wooden 

 shark-hooks; an article known likewise at the Vaitupan or Ellice 

 Group : while the fine cords made of human hair, and the " bunch of 

 feathers seen," remind us of the Serle Islanders. 



Even where insignificant in point of numbers, the inhabitants of the 

 more secluded coral islands are formidable in cases of shipwreck; 

 holding as they do, shores lashed by a heavy surf The tide of civi- 

 lization may finally reach them, but they hardly seem in danger of 

 being robbed of these lonely reefs, by the substitution of any different 

 race of men. 



In order, however, to a better appreciation of the circumstances 

 attending a home on the Coral Islands, some account of their vegeta- 

 ble productions may be here inserted. A remarkable uniformity was 

 found everywhere to prevail; the same set of plants recurring, what- 

 ever the geographical distance. The species did not amount to more 

 than thirty in all; none of them, perhaps, altogether peculiar. Tliese 

 facts are of importance in Geographical Botany, for it will be per- 

 ceived, that the coral islands do not connect the vegetation of the 

 rocky groups.* 



Often, a small proportion only of the soil, is sufiiciently elevated for 

 a vegetable growth ; which is, besides, more or less scattered, and 

 consists of trees, shrubs, and some detached herbaceous plants. The 

 species unequivocally indigenous, contribute in a very slight degree to 



* Elevated coral islands, like Mctia, and those consisting of an extensive plain, as 

 Tongataboo, form an exception to llie above remark. Another exception takes place, 

 when a coral island is in close proximity to a high and rocky group. 



