favourable to the character of the islanders, whom Captain Beechey deliberately considers to be imbued with dispositions which make them, at least for the present, unfit for civilized intercourse. Indeed he proves, beyond all doubt, that they are only restrained from aggression and violence by a fear of the consequences, which it is always essential to keep, by some manifestation or another, in terrorem before them. In the neighbourhood of this group, Mount Duff can be, without difficulty, descried, and it will serve the future navigator as a guide to the site of numerous coral islands through which he will have to thread his perilous way. The rugged formations, which are such striking objects in the Gambier Group, and which are the produce of volcanic action, wear no appearance of the cause of their origin, but are clothed with verdure, and contrast, in the most impressive manner, with the low islands in the midst of which they rear their lofty tops. These islands are the slow construction of the almost invisible lithopites, which, having the faculty of separating the calcareous matter from the waters of the ocean, erect these vast structures, and next surround them with walls, as if they required the protection of ramparts! Here, then, is literally seen, in one prospect, changes of a geological nature, in which the process of construction has been performed, as well by the aqueous as the plutonian agency. It is curious to remark, that the works of these submarine animals are always found unequal in their depth-one portion being sometimes completely above, the other considerably below the level of the sea. The eastern, or

weather side of the building is always most advanced; and when by some accident resulting from their own labour, perhaps, the coral animals find a theatre where, exempt from violence, they can pursue their incessant employment with comparative tranquillity, there the fairy scenes which they build up in galleries and grottos, beneath the waters, exceed in beauty any thing which the imagination can conceive. The whole of the scientific information respecting this group, is quite admirable.

The Blossom proceeded to Lord Hood's island, and thence to the island called Clermont Tonnere, off which the vessel and crew had a very narrow escape from a water-spout.

While we were off Clermont Tonnere, we had a narrow escape from a water-spout of more than ordinary size. It approached us amidst heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, and was not seen until it was very near the ship. As soon as we were within its influence, a gust of wind obliged us to take in every sail, and the topsails, which could not be furled in time, were in danger of splitting, The wind blew with great violence, momentarily changing its direction, as if it were sweeping round in short spirals; the rain, which fell in torrents, was also precipitated in curves with short intervals of cessation. Amidst this thick shower the water-spout was discovered, extending in a tapering form from a dense stratum of cloud, to within thirty feet of the water where it was hid, by the foam of the sea being whirled upwards with a tremendous giration. It changed its direc

tion after it was first seen, and threatened to pass over the ship; but being diverted from its course by a heavy gust of wind, it gradually receded. On the dispersion of this magnificent phenomenon, we observed the column to diminish gradually, and at length to retire to the cloud, from whence it had descended, in an undulating form.

Various causes have been assigned for these formations, which appear to be intimately connected with electricity. On the present occasion a ball of fire was observed to be precipitated into the sea, and one of the boats, which was away from the ship, was so surrounded by lightning, that Lieut. Belcher thought it advisable to get rid of the anchor, by hanging it some fathoms under water, and to cover the seamen's muskets. From the accounts of this officer and Mr. Smith, who were at a distance from the ship, the column of the water-spout first descended in a spiral form, until it met the ascending column a short distance from the sea; a second and a third were afterwards formed, which subsequently united into one large column, and this again separated into three small spirals, and then dispersed. It is not impossible that the highly rarefied air confined by the woods encircling the lagoon islands may contribute to the formation of these phenomena.

'A canoe near the ship very wisely hastened on shore at the approach of the weather, for had it been drawn within the vortex of the whirlwind, it must have perished. We had the greatest apprehension for our boats, which were absent during the storm, but fortunately they suffered no injury.

Neither the barometer nor sympeisometer was sensibly affected by this partial disturbance of the atmosphere; but the temperature underwent a change of eight degrees, falling from 82° to 74°; at midnight it rose to 78°. On the day succeeding this occurrence, several water-spouts were seen in the distance, the weather being squally and gloomy.'-pp. 148, 149.

In prosecuting his voyage amongst the Polynesian islands, Capt. Beechey was often struck with the variety of traits of character which he met with. The inhabitants of the Lagoon Island, with whom his men engaged in traffic, exhibited a most punctilious honesty in their dealings. Their looks were remarkably prepossessing, and they seemed to hold their women in great respect and affection, a fact which is always characteristic of a step towards civilization. The strange admiration which all the islanders of the Polynesian district uniformly manifest for iron, or as they call it, toki, is the talisman by which their confidence is instantly elicited in favour of Europeans. For bits of nails, hooks, &c., they will exchange any material of which they are possessed, one article however being always refused. This was a stick with a bunch of black tern suspended to it, and appears to be carried as an emblem of distinction. In latitude 20° 45′ 07′′ S. and longitude 4° 07' 48" West of Gambier Island, Captain Beechey landed on a small uninhabited island, to the discovery of which he lays, what we cannot but think is, a very doubtful claim, and which he has named Barrow Island, a compliment especially due to Mr. Barrow of the Admiralty, for his services in the cause of geographical science.

The party visited another island, supposed to be that called Carysfort, which bears no mark of having ever been inhabited, except by birds, lizards, soldier-crabs, and occasionally the turtle. The birds were so unacquainted with fear that they allowed themselves to be lifted out of their nests. Another discovery of an island rewarded the patience of Captain Beechey, in latitude 19° 40' S. and longitude 140° 29' W. to which he gave the name of Byam Martin. As the ship approached the shore, fires were lighted by the islanders, and three of them, launching a canoe, paddled eagerly to the vessel. These persons spoke the Otaheitan language, and they appeared to have originally come from Otaheite. The colony was discovered to be for the most part Christian. Tuwarri, one of those persons, was finally taken on board. He was a native of one of the coral islands, which are subject to Otaheite, and his adventures, as related by Captain Beechey, are of the most romantic description. He was subsequently left at his native island at which the Blossom touched. The inhabitants of Bow Island, the first place the ship visited after leaving Byam Martin, are described as being most unfavourably distinguished from most of the islanders, by their broad flat noses, thick lips, mouths turned down at the corners, wrinkled countenances, and long bushy hair matted with dirt and vermin. The women were still worse off as to appearance, being made so by the slavery in which they are kept by the males. This people have only lately discontinued the practise of cannibalism. The only proof of humanity manifested by the women was their biting in two the heads of the live fish which they were about to eat.

Of the thirty-two islands of the Polynesian Archipelago, which were visited by Captain Beechey, only twelve were inhabited, and the amount of the aggregate population of these twelve is computed not to exceed 3,100 souls. There is little difference between the islanders in language, religion, manners, or even appearance, except that the inhabitants of the volcanic islands are a taller and fairer race than those of the coral islands. The difference is explained by the fact, that whilst the former are capable of yielding vegetable productions, the coral surface is altogether barren, and therefore the physical superiority of the one people over the other, depends on the effects of the food on which they respectively live.

The romantic island of Otaheite was the next object of interest, and here Captain Beechey passed a very agreeable time, owing to the advanced state of civilization which the inhabitants had acquired from long intercourse with Europeans. We cannot follow our author into the very interesting details which he presents us of the natural history, character, and manners of the Otaheitans; but upon a subject which we own is very dear to us, we very willingly transcribe the conclusions of an able, acute, and disinterested traveller.

'I cannot avoid repeating my conviction that had the advisers of Po2 s

NO. IV.

marre limited the penal code at first, and extended it as it became familiar to the people; had they restricted instead of suppressed the amusements of the people, and taught them such parts of the Christian religion as were intelligible to their simple understandings, and were most conducive to their moral improvement and domestic comfort, these zealous and really praiseworthy men would have made greater advances towards the attainment of their object.'-p. 226.

After departing from this island, dysentery broke out in the ship, and caused much alarm, which, however, was not realized. We must pass over the description of the friendly reception of the party at the Sandwich Isles, from which the Blossom was steered towards Kamschatka. Thence they proceeded, on their way to Kotzebue-sound, to Behring's Island, the sight of which was completely prevented by a dense fog. On the 19th of July, 1826, the ship had advanced so far northward as to allow its people to pursue their operations by the light of a midnight sun! The sky was without a cloud, and the sun at midnight, scarcely his own diameter below the horizon, tinged, with a bright hue, all the northern circle, the deepest silence reigning every where around, so as that the flight of the lummes and dovekies in the atmosphere could be traced by the ear. The Blossom entered Kotzebue-sound on the 22d July, Captain Beechey having satisfied himself of the accuracy of the position assigned by Captain Cook to the Dromeda Islands. The rendezvous with Captain Franklin was appointed to take place at Chamisso Island, which the Blossom reached on the 25th July, five days after the specified time. But it was early enough, as nothing had been heard of that navigator. Captain Beechey employed his time in surveying the neighbouring coasts, the report of his observations on and visits to which, is very valuable and interesting. In this meantime a boat had been sent in quest of Captain Franklin: this expedition, though vainly undertaken as to its object, was attended with some valuable collateral advantages, which are amply set forth in this volume by Mr. Smyth, mate of the Blossom. In the course of the northern survey, Captain Beechey visited the Missions of San Francisco, in California, of which he gives a pretty full description. The Missions were minutely examined, and the author very candidly allows that the Missionaries are of the highest importance to California, and that the government cannot do too much to promote their welfare.

Captain Beechey has some excellent observations upon the encroachment of the Russians on the territory of California, which well deserve the attention of the government. He has also collected some curious information concerning the Indians inhabiting upper California.

From the bay of Monterey, in California, Captain Beechey steered southward to the Sandwich Islands, of the inhabitants of which we have recently had so many and such excellent descriptions. Whatever may by possibility be left defective in the account of

these islands by Captain Beechey and other explorers, we have no doubt will be amply supplied, by and bye, by the author of the Polynesian Researches. The Blossom proceeded to Loo Choo, and cast anchor in the bay of Napa. Here the negociations with the Chinese authorities afforded the usual proportions of annoyance and amusement to the strangers, who, however, were treated on the whole much more respectfully and kindly than they had reason to expect. A permission to land was given, and several of the officers went as far as Potsoong, under however a careful surveillance. The house occupied by Sir Murray Maxwell, at that place, was shown as an object of curiosity to the visitors. The notices of the manners and customs of the Loo Chooians, are very interesting, and in general accord with the descriptions of Captain Hall, and the late Mr. Mc Cleod. From Loo Choo the Blossom proceeded eastwards, in which course she fell in with a considerable number of islands, some of which, it appeared, were not visited by Europeans before. After various adventures, and not a few dangers, the Blossom arrived in safety at Chamisso island, whither Lieutenant Belcher had been previously sent with a barge from the ship, to look out for the ships of either of the expeditions. Here the Exquimaux behaved tolerably well until the Blossom arrived, by which time the savages appear to have meditated the destruction of the barge's crew. They were, however, prevented from making any general movement for some time, still showing every hostile intention. At last, an attack of the savages caused the immediate necessity of a recurrence to arms, and the aggression, as might be expected, recoiled but too fatally on the unfortunate natives.

It is well known that the object of Captain Beechey's expedition failed, and that he reached and returned from Behring's Strait without meeting with Captain Franklin, or receiving tidings of him. The Blossom returned to Spithead, in September, 1828, after a voyage of three years and a half, during which she sailed no less than seventy-three thousand miles, through every vicissitude of climate.

We cannot part with this volume without acknowledging the great degree of delight which the perusal of it has afforded us. Of all the elaborate records of adventure or geographical discovery with which modern literature has been so much enriched, we do not know of any production that recalls so much of the excitement, enthusiasm, deep and affectionate interest, which we used to take in Captain Cook's memorable narrative, as the work before us. Totally divested of all traces of art, which perhaps may be itself the result of consummate art, the story of this seventy thousand miles' adventure amongst the fairy scenes of the Polynesian deep, seizes upon us with all the charming force of the best of the oriental tales, and ceases to engage our feelings and imagination only when the delusive history itself is exhausted. The maps and engravings are in the very best style of art, and are numerous.