4 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
splendid and stupendous discoveries in the New Worlds 
and directing it to the clustering islands spread over the 
Pacific; exhibiting them in all the loveliness of their 
natural scenery^ the interesting simplicity^ and novel 
manners^ of their inhabitants. The influence of Cook’s 
discoveries appears to have been felt by voyagers and 
travellers of other countries^ as well as by those of his 
own. Humboldt, speaking of his laborious researches 
in South America, remarks, that, ^^the savages of 
America inspire less interest, since the celebrated 
navigators have made known to us the inhabitants of 
the South Sea, in whose character we find such a 
mixture of perversity and meekness: the state of half¬ 
civilization in which these islanders are found, gives a 
peculiar charm to the description of their manners. 
Here, a king, followed by a numerous suite, comes and 
presents the fruits of his orchard; there, the funeral 
festival embrowns the shade of the lofty forest. Such 
pictures, no doubt, have more attraction than those 
which portray the solemn gravity of the inhabitants of 
the Missouri or the Maranon.” 
Since the death of Captain Cook, several intelligent 
and scientific men from England, France, and Russia, 
have undertaken voyages of discovery in the South Seas, 
and have favoured the world with the result of their 
enterprises. Their accounts are read with interest 
by the philosopher, who seeks to study human na¬ 
ture under all its diversified forms; and by the natu¬ 
ralist, who investigates the phenomena of our globe, and 
the varied productions of its surface. Voyages of dis¬ 
covery are also favourite volumes with the juvenile reader. 
They impart to the j^outhful mind many delightful and 
glowing impressions relative to the strange and interest- 
