THE MALAY RACE. 



65 



apprehension was entertained, lest in their gambols, one might chance 

 to fall upon the boat. 



Some days afterwards, I landed on HulVs Island ; where the pre- 

 sence of cocoa palms attested the former visits of Polynesians ; but 

 in this instance, the Pandanus appeared to be wanting. A French- 

 man, with a party of Taheitians, had been left here " for the purpose 

 of procuring turtle ; and during the four months of their residence, 

 but one ship had visited the island." 



A party from the Vincennes landed on Enderhifs Island, which is 

 small, and destitute of a proper lagoon. The Pandanus was again 

 observed to be absent, and there were no large living trees : but drift- 

 wood was found ; which had possibly furnished the means of trans- 

 port to the rats and lizards (Scincus). The latter animals, it should 

 be observed, have doubtless, in many instances, accompanied the 

 voyages of the Polynesians. 



About a year afterwards, the Vincennes visited Wake's Island ; 

 which is situated nearly midway between the Hawaiian and the La- 

 drone or Marian Islands. It is larger than the islands seen in the 

 Phoenix Group, being apparently about six miles in diameter. On 

 landing, I could find neither the cocoa palm, Pandanus, nor the 

 house-fly ; but rats and lizards were the only, and uncertain signs of 

 aboriginal visiters. Fishes were abundant, and in greater variety 

 than before observed around the Coral Islands. There were no large 

 trees, except a single dead trunk, lying prostrate. 



A friend of mine once passed several months on Fanning's Island, 

 in company with a party of Hawaiians. Cocoa palms were abundant;* 

 an important fact, taken in connexion with the central position of this 

 island, in regard to the Hawaiian, Union, Kingsmill and Marquesas 

 Groups. Indeed, after the above examples, it would seem that few, 

 if any of the Tropical isles of the Pacific, have escaped aboriginal 

 discovery. 



Jervis' Island, situated to the southward of Fanning's Island, and 

 nearly under the Equator, was visited by the Peacock. No attempt 



* In a medical point of view it may be of interest to .state, that an exclusive cocoa-nut 

 diet was complained of, a.s producing a species of urethritis. 



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