from Madagascar. The island is difficult of access. St. Denis is the principal port. It has lately been taken by the English. Its first inhabitants were pirates, who planted themselves here in 1657. The island has now, according to St. Pierre, 60,000 blacks and 5000 other inhabitants: lon. 55 30 E. lat. 20 52 S.

MAURITIUS, is 150 miles in circumference, lies E. N. E. of Bourbon, and 400 miles E, of Madagascar, was discovered and settled by the Dutch, in 1598, and relinquished in 1710. The French took possession soon after, and retained it till 1810, when it was taken by the English. The climate is healthy; but the soil not very fertile. There are many mountains, some of which are so high, that their tops are covered with snow: They produce the best ebony in the world The vallies are well watered

with rivers, and are made very productive of cultivation, of which indigo is the principal object. The town and harbor are called Port Louis, and are strongly fortified; but in the hurricane mouths, the harbor cannot afford shelter for more than 8 vessels.

The number of inhabitants on the island exclusive of the military is 8000 whites, and 12,000 blacks.

COMORA ISLANDS, a cluster of islands in the Indian ocean, between the coast of Zanguebar and the N. part of the island of Madagascar. They are 4 in number, viz. Johanna, Mayotta, Mobilla, and Comora, which last is 6 leagues long and 3 wide; and gives its name to the group. It has no safe harbors. Its high mountains are richly covered with verdure and fruit trees, and give rise to numerous fertilizing streams, on which are many beautiful cascades. The vallies between the mountains are extensive and in richness and beauty are exceeded by none in the world These islands produce rice, peas, yams, Indian corn, purslain, cocoa nuts, plantains, oranges, lemons, citrons, limes, pine apples, cucumbers, tamarinds, sugar canes and houry.

The AZORES, or WESTERN ISLES, lie about midway between the two continents, in about 37 degrees north latitude. They are nine in number, Tercera, St. Michael, Fayal, Gratiosa, St. George, Pico, Corvo, Flores, and St. Maloes, fertile in corn, and wine, and a variety of fruits. The climate is remarkably salubrious. It is said that fo poisonous or noxious animal can live on the Azores.

ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.'

THE islands of the Pacific ocean have been classed by some geographers into two divisions, to which they have given the names of AUSTRAL ASIA and POLYNESIA. I the first division are comphehended

New-Holland

Papau, or New-Guinea
New-Britain
New Ireland

.

New-Caledonia
New Hebrides
New-Zealand

Van Dieman's Land.

NEW HOLLAND was discovered in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and was supposed to be part of a vast southern continent. It lies between 11 and 43 degrees south latitude, and is nearly equal in extent to the habitable part of Europe. The inhabitants according to Dieman, are the most miserable people in the world, without houses or clothes. They are black, tall, thin, straight bodied, with small limbs, large heads, and heavy brows; the two fore teeth of their upper jaws are wanting in all of them, men and women, old and young; neither have they any beards. They are long visaged, and of a very unpleasant aspect, having not one graceful feature in their faces. In the year 1770, the east coast was visited and explored by captain Cook, who spent four months in examining a distance of 2000 miles. He took possession of this eastern coast in the name of the king of Great Britain, and gave it the name of New South Wales. lo the year 1773, Capt. Furneaux discovered it to be an island.

NEW-GUINEA lies north of New-Holland, from which it is separated by Endeavor straits. The land is low, but fertile. Most of the trees and plants common to the South Sea Islands are produced here; particularly the cocoa-nut, plantain, and bread fruit trees. Marriage is here consummated by the parties covenanting before wit

nesses.

NEW BRITAIN lies to the north of New-Guinea. A strait divides it into two islands, the northernmost of which is called New-Ireland. The shores of both islands are rocky, the inland parts are high and mountainous, but covered with trees of various kinds, among which are the nat

meg, the cocoa-nut, and different kinds of palm. The inhabitants are black and woolly headed, like negroes, but have not their flat noses and thick lips.

NEW CALEDONIA extends from 19 to 22° south latitude. The inhabitants are strong, active, and well made; their hair is black, and much frizzled, but not woolly; their beards are crisp and thick; and their only covering is a wrapper made from the bark of a tree. They cultivate the soil with some art and industry, but subsist chiefly on roots and fish. Plantains and sugar canes are not plentiful; bread fruit is very scarce, and the cocoa-nut trees but thinly planted; but their yams and taras are in great abundance. Their houses are eircular. like a bee hive, and as close and warm; being formed of small spars and reeds, covered with long, coarse grass, and the floor laid with dry grass. They are of a pacific disposition; and their women are much chaster than those of the more eastern islands.

The NEW-HEBRIDES are between the latitude of 14 and 26° south, and consist of a number of islands, of different names and dimensions.

Between 34 and 43° south latitude lies the island of NEW-ZEALAND, surrounded by several smaller ones; with productions and inhabitants similar to those above described. A mission has lately been established on this island

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND, is separated from New Holland by a strait 30 leagues wide. It presents a most inhospitable shore; the land is covered with trees. The inhabitants are naked, and have black woolly hair. Opossums and kangaroos are the principal animals.

POLYNESIA. The second grand division of the South Sea Isles embraces the following islands.

The Pelew Isles

The Ladrones

The Sandwich Isles

The Carolines

The Marquesas
Ingraham's Isles
The Society Isles
The Friendly Isles.

The

THE PELEW ISLES lie between 5 and 9° N. lat. natives are simple in their manuers, delicate/in their sentiments, and friendly in their dispositions. Their arms are

bamboo darts. Their principal food is cocoa nuts. country is covered with timber trees of a large size.

The

THE LADRONES or MARIAN ISLES, are 15 in number, 3 or 4 of which only are inhabited; some of them are volcanic. The largest contains 30,000 inhabitants.

THE CAROLINES are about 30 in number, and very populous. he inhabitants resemble those of the Philippines. Each isle has its chief, but all respect one monarch. Hogolen, the principal isle, is 90 miles long. They extend eastward of the Pelews nearly in the same latitude.

THE SANDWICH ISLES are 11 in number, the principal of which is Owhybee. The climate is similar to that of the West-Indies. The inhabitants are generally above the middle size, with fine open countenances. Their weapons of war are spears, daggers, clubs and slings. Several youths from these islands are receiving an education in this country, at the expense and under the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions —with a view to return to their native isles--and to carry with them the religion and improvements of this country.

THE MARQUESAS are 5 in number, between 9 and 10° south latitude. The inhabitants are the finest race of people in all these islands; and for good shape and regular features, perhaps surpass all nations. They bave hogs, fowls, plantains, bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees.

INGRAHAM'S ISLES, 7 in number, lie northwest of the Marquesas. They were discovered by Capt. Ingraham of Boston, in 1791. Cotton of a superior quality grows hure. The inhabitants are similar to those of the Marquesas,

THE SOCIETY ISLES are a cluster lying near the 16th degree south latitude, the principal of which is Ciaheite. The vegetable productions of these islands are numerous and luxuriant. The intrabitants of Otahuite alone are estimated at 204,000. The people exceed the middle size of Europeans in stature. In their dispositions, they are brave, open, and generous, without either suspicion or treachery. Except a few traces of natural cunning, and some traces of dissimulation, equally artless and inoffensive, they possess the most perfect simplicity of character. Otaheite alone, it is supposed, can send out 1720 war canoes, and 68,000 able men. The chief of each district

superintends the equipping of the fleet in that district; but they must pass in review before the king, so that he knows the state of the whole before they assemble to go on service. Different deities are worshipped in different parts of the island. If they see others more prosperous than themselves, they adopt their gods and reject their own. They believe the soul immortal, but have no distinet ideas of rewards and punishments. Though they are the most friendly and amiable pagans in the world, human sacrifices are common. To atone for their sins they murder their neighbors, offer them to their gods, and leave their bones on the saud. Through the instruction and influence of missionaries sent here some years ago by the London Missionary Society, Pomare, one of the Chiefs, and his people, have lately "changed their gods," and embraced the Christian religion.

EASTER ISLAND, generally reckoned one of the Society Isles, is a barren spot, and has no fresh water, except in the crater of an extinguished volcano. The natives are sometimes driven to the necessity of drinking sea water. They are about 2000 souls, a thievish, lewd race of mortals. Their soil is fertile; yams, potatoes, and bananas, are their principal support.

THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS, were so named by Capt. Cook, from the hospitable disposition of the natives. The islands are 150 in number, well planted with cocoa-nut and bread fruit trees, plantains, sugar canes, &c The inhabitants amount to 200,000. They are active, and industrious, acquainted neither with riches, wants, nor oppression.

FINIS.