POLYNESIA. 



989 



of which great quantities have been sent to China ; but this is now becoming scarce. Sugar 

 is made and exported to California ; yams, bread-fruit, and cocoa-nuts abound, and the islands 

 are well stocked with cattle and swine. Whale-ships fishing in the northern seas commonly 

 touch here for supplies. 



Honolulu., the residence of the king, has a fine harbor, and is situated in a beautiful plain, hi 

 the fertile island of Oahu. It is defended by two forts armed with cannon ; the king's palace 

 is built of stone, and richly furnished in the European style ; there is also a church here. Popula- 

 tion, 7,000. This group was discovered by Captain Cook in the latter part of the last century, 

 and that distinguished navigator here met with his death from the hands of the natives, who were 

 roused to fury by some supposed insult to their chiefs. The idolatrous worship of the island- 

 ers was abolished by the king Riho Riho, in IS 19, and his predecessor, Tamahama, had madt 

 great efforts to introduce European civilization among his subjects. These favorable events have 

 opened a wide field to missionary enterprise, and the harvest now promises to reward the toils 

 and sacrifices of our countrymen, who have devoted themselves to this work. 



5. Georgian hies. King George's Archipelago consists of a long series of low coral forma- 

 tions, composed of numerous groups, many of which are inhabited, but others are without 

 inhabitants. 



6 JS\kahioa. To the north of the preceding lie the Nukahiva Islands, comprising the two 



groups of the Washington and Marquesas 

 Isles, which consist of a number of small 

 islands. 



7. Society hlands. This cluster of isl- 

 ands is composed of two groups, the one com- 

 prising Tahiti and Eimo, and the other Raia- 

 tea, Huahinay Tiibai, and some others. Like 

 the Sandwich islanders the inhabitants have 

 adopted the Christian rejgion, and with it the 

 arts of civilization. The English missionaries 

 have established schools and printing presses, 

 taught the natives to read and write, and 

 translated the Bible and other books into 

 their language Tahiti (Otaheile) is the larg- 

 Boats of the Society Islands. of these islands and Contains several good 



harbors. It is about 100 miles in circuit, and has about 10,000 inhabitants. Two high peaks 

 in Tahiti have an elevation of about 10,000 feet. Eimeo is remarkable for its fertility, beauty 



Otahcite. 



Otahcitans. 



of scenery, excellent harbors, and Industry of its inhabitants. The Society Islands were dis 

 covered by the vSpanish navigator, Quiros, at an early period, but they were first explored by 

 Cook in the last century. The English missionaries landed here in 1797, but, although kindly 

 treated, they could not boast of a single convert during ten years nf exertion ; they were al- 



