POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
CHAP. I. 
Historical notice of the discovery of the Pacific—Extent 
and limits of Polynesia—Voyages of Cook—Discovery 
of the Georgian and Society Islands—Origin of their 
designation—Number, names, and relative situation of 
the islands—Key to the pronunciation of native names— 
Extent and apparent structure of the islands—Beauty 
of the scenery—First approach to the shore of Mata- 
vai—Inland scenery — Description of Eimeo—Coral 
islands—Tetuaroa, the fashionable watering-place of 
Tahiti — Harbours — Islets on the reefs—Soil in the 
islands—Climate—-Winds—Rains—and Tides. 
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 
The Pacific, the largest ocean in the world, extend¬ 
ing over more than one-third of the surface of our 
globe, was discovered in the year 1513, by Vasco 
Nugnez de Balboa, a courageous and enterpris¬ 
ing Spaniard, governor of the Spanish colony of 
Santa Maria, in the isthmus of Darien. 
The desire of finding a more direct communica¬ 
tion with the East Indies had prompted Columbus 
to the daring voyage which conducted him to the 
borders of the new world. In that immense and 
unexplored region, his followers pursued their 
career of enterprise, until Balboa, by discovering 
the great South Sea, accomplished what Columbus, 
notwithstanding his splendid achievements, had 
B 
