CHAPTER VII. 



AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. FIRST DIVISION : THE ISLAND REGIONS, 

 POLYNESIAN AND EAST INDIAN. 



On the morning of the 30th, the wind was Southwest, but with this 

 slight exception, continued fair ; and our course being West slightly 

 inclining Southward, thirty-one days' sail, brought us across the inter- 

 vening tract of ocean between the American coast and the coral- 

 producing portion of the Pacific. 



a. The Paumotii ArcMpelacjo of Loio Coral-islands. 



On the 13th of August, we were preparing for new scenes, having 

 entered a portion of the ocean avoided by navigators, and termed the 

 " Low" or " Dangerous Archipelago ;" comprising the whole space 

 between three distant rocky and volcanic groups of islands, the Gam- 

 bier, Taheitian, and Marquesas Groups. 



1. Clermont-Tonnerre Coral-island. At length, " land" was 

 announced ; and late in the afternoon became visible from the deck. 

 It was however unlike land, and seemed rather a fleet of vessels 

 anchored in mid ocean ; tree-tops rising into view for a moment, and 

 then sinking out of sight, from the alternating swell of the ocean. 

 As we sailed on, the tree-tops seemed to acquire stability, and were 

 tinged with green ; at their base, the pale clay-colored coral-strand 

 next became visible ; and soon afterwards, the snow-white surf In 

 the mean time, the discovery was made from aloft, that there was 

 only a narrow rim of land encircling an expanse of ocean. 



This coral island was found to be " ten miles long by one and a half 



5G 



