42 Scientific Reviews. 
we would say, we wish there were many such. Few men have more 
splendid opportunities, as a body, to improve our knowledge of fo- 
reign parts, than those individuals who sacrifice the companionship 
of early life, and the ties of family, to transfer the scene of their 
exertions to the unfrequented shores of distant continents, or the 
islands scattered over the ocean. But the education which is at pres 
sent given to men previous to their thus being sent abroad, is insuffi- 
cient not only for any improvement in our knowledge of the coun- 
tries which they may visit, but also for the important duties with 
which they are intrusted ; for it is certain that when the lawful 
aristocracy, derived from the rational or intellectual advantages 
which flow from a religion adapted to the highest state of civiliza- 
tion, is not displayed in the professors of that creed, its influence 
is less immediate, and the faith less resolute ; for after the human- 
izing influence of a benevolent philosophy, comes the sway of its 
intellectual march, without which, fortitude in trial, and integrity 
in morals, will never be securely gained. 
We are certain that any examples borrowed from the history of 
-Continental Missionaries, known by the name of Jesuits, cannot 
have given origin to the supposition, that ambition is always con= 
nected with intellectual superiority ; and we are still more certain, 
that the education of our missionaries has not been curtailed on any 
such account. The author of this work is, however, of a different 
cast,—a volunteer with knowledge to discern, and benevelence to 
guide,—well known as the intelligent author of a Tour through 
Hawaii, and a Journal of a Residence in the Sandwich Islands,— 
and equally known for the interesting information respecting the 
manners and customs of the islands of the South Sea, which cha- 
racterize his addresses at public meetings; and we recommend his 
present work to the perusal of our readers, as containing much in- 
formation on islands little visited, and on the manners of neglect- 
ed, outcast races of men. The work, illustrated by wood-cuts and 
engravings from drawings by Captain R. Elliot, R. N. promises 
much, and on some points, as the history of the missionary enter- 
prize, fulfils its promise; but of physical descriptions, and of re- 
marks on those great kingdoms of nature—below the lord of ani- . 
mals—not so striking to his comprehension, but affording the best 
materials for confirming a reverence of an omniscient Maker, the 
work is very deficient ; and thus his assertion, that an increased 
geographical acquaintance with the Pacific is principally useful in 
affording a new field for missionary labours, we think very so- 
phistical. 
The accounts given by the natives of the introduction of the an- 
imals found on the islands by the first European visitors, are inte- 
resting. Some say that pigs and dogs were brought from the west 
by the first inhabitants ; but others refer their origin to man. One 
of their traditions states, that after Taarou had made the world and 
mankind, he created the quadrupeds of the earth, the fowls of the 
air, and the fishes of the sea; but one of their accounts, which our 
