MIGRATIONS BY SEA. 



289 



to the impulse given to civilized Europe through the novel Enter- 

 prise of Columbus; Polynesians, v/ere accustomed to undertake sea- 

 voyages nearly as long, exposed to equal dangers, and in vessels of 

 far inferior construction. However incredible this may appear to 

 man3^ there is sufficient evidence of the fact. 



The Tonga people, are known to hold intercourse with Vavao, 

 Samoa, the Feejee Islands, Rotuma, and the New Hebrides. But 

 there is a document, published before those seas were frequented by 

 whalers and trading-vessels, which shows a more extensive aboriginal 

 acquaintance with the islands of the Pacific. I allude to the map, 

 obtained by Forster and Cook from a native of the Society Islands ; 

 and which has been shown by Mr. Hale, to contain not only the Mar- 

 quesas and the islands south and east of Taheiti, but the Samoan, 

 Feejee, and even more distant groups. 



Again, in regard to the principles of Navigation, the Polynesians 

 have been found to possess a better knowledge of the subject, than is 

 commonly supposed ; as appears from recent discoveries at the Ha- 

 waiian Islands. One of the Hawaiian headlands, has been found to 

 bear the name of "the starting-place for Taheiti;" the canoes, accord- 

 incj to the account of the natives, leaving in former times "at a certain 

 season of the year,* and directing their course by a particular star." 



The two blackish races, inhabiting the extensive archipelagoes be- 

 tween the Feejee Islands and New Guinea, are often skilful enough 

 in canoe-management; but the absence of a wandering disposition, 

 and peculiarities in civil institutions, would seem greatly to impede 

 diffusion and colonization. The Feejeeans, hold no intercourse with 

 their brethren of the New Hebrides; and a similar state of things, 

 appears to prevail at the more western groups : though the existence 

 of intercommunication of some sort, is shown by the use of betel 

 having reached the Santa Cruz or Nitendi Group, and even Ti- 

 kopiaf and the New Hebrides. 



North of the Papuan archipelagoes, the Micronesians, like their 

 brethren the Polynesians, are a migratory people; and 1 hey are re- 

 ported to traverse, even in small canoes, the widely extended archi- 

 pelago of the Carolines. There is yet, no direct intercourse with 

 the East Indies; notwithstanding the advantage of the monsoons, for 

 a good part of the distance. 



It will be perceived then, that there are actually (though not so 



* On the autliority of the missionaries. 



t Sec D'Urvillc, and others. 



