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erritory has been wrested from the fierce Arabs in whose possession it had so long remained unmolested.

The government is at present administered by the commander-in-chief of the French forces in Algiers, who holds the rank of governor-general. It was previously vested in a dey, or pacha, who was at the head of the Turkish soldiery, and who exercised absolute power. The religion of the state is now Roman Catholic, and many mosques have been converted into Christian churches; but the great bulk of the people profess Mohammedanism; and although the French have established schools of instruction in all the principal towns, the Moors show no desire to read any other book than the Koran. The language is mostly Arabic, but mixed with Moorish and Phoenician words. What effect the introduction of European laws, arts, and sciences into this part of Africa may have, time alone can show; but if we consider how great were its population and influence in distant ages, and how formidable it has since proved under the domination of a brutal horde of pirates, we may fairly expect that the fruits of a superior civilization will, ere long, appear.

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AUSTRALIA

UNTIL the last century it was believed that a great continent existed in the Southern Ocean, to which the name of Terra Australis was given; it being inferred that the different points of land discovered to the south of the islands of Java and Celebes, and of the Cape of Good Hope, afford ed ample proof of such a theory. The discoveries of modern geographers, however, go to invalidate the hypothesis that there is any continent south of America.

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Under the name of Australia (or Australasia) and Polynesia, is comprehended a maritime division of the globe, in contradistinction to the older terrene divisions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, being altogether a classification of islands, including no one continent under a general name, like the other divisions of the world, in which various kingdoms are circumscribed by one shore; and so far it is an anomaly in geographical classiffication. We shall first speak of the more important division, now known as AUSTRALIA.

This includes the semi-continental mass of land hitherto known as New Holland, and the islands of New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Queen Charlotte's Islands, Solomon's Archipelago, New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover, Admiralty Isles, and Papua or New Guinea. In no part of the globe can greater extremes of barrenness and fertility occur, than in the various islands comprehended in Australia. On the

shores of New Holland, its most prominent feature, we find fruitful plains covered with verdure eastward, and on the south and south-western coast nothing but naked hillocks of sand. This island, if such indeed it is to be called, almost equal in size to the whole of continental Europe, presents of itself an unequalled and almost unexplored field for geologica! enquiry.

The natives of Australia, are, for the major part, of a negro character, and nowhere is human nature found in a more depraved state. An enormous head, flat countenance, and long, slender extremities, märk their physical conformation, together with an acuteness of sight and hearing. Captain Cook's description of this race has been verified by every succeeding observer. "The skin," says he, “is the colour of wood soot, or what is usually called chocolate color. Their features are far from disagreeable; their noses are not flat, nor are their lips thick: their teeth are white and even, and their hair naturally long and black; it is, however, cropped short." It seems that a decidedly inferior variety of the human race is found in Australia, and has spread itself a considerable distance north and east among the islands of Polynesia and the eastern archipelago. The Australian is puny and weak compared with the Africán negro; and his intellectual attainments are quite on as low a scale as nis physical powers.

NEW HOLLAND.

THE Portuguese and Spaniards appear to have visited this region in the sixteenth century, but it was the Dutch who first made it known to Europe. In 1605 they coasted it along the western shore as far as 13° 45′ of south latitude; the farthest point of land in their map being called Cape Keer-Weer, or Turn-again. In 1616 the west coasts were discovered by . Dirck Hartag, commander of an outward-bound vessel from Holland to India; and in the year 1801 there was found, by some of the navigators by whom that coast was visited, a plate of tin, with an inscription and dates, in which it was mentioned that it had been left by him. In 1618, another part of the coast was discovered by Zeachen, who gave it the name of Arnheim and Dieman; though a different part from what afterwads received the name of Van Dieman's Land from Tasman. In 1619, Jan Van Edels gave his name to a southern part of New Holland; and another part received the name of Leuwen's Land. Peter Van Nuytz gave his name, in 1627, to the coast that communicates with Leuwen; and another part bore the name of De Witt's Land. In 1628, Peter Carpenter, a Dutchman, discovered the great Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1687, Dampier, an Englishman, sailed from Timor, and coasted the western part of New Holland. In 1699, he left England, with a design to explore this country; as the Dutch suppressed whatever discoveries had been made by them. He sailed along the western coast of it, from 15 to 28 degrees of latitude. He then returned to Timor; from whence he sailed again; examined the isles of Papua; coasted New Guinea; discovered the passage that bears his name, and also New Britain; and sailed back to Timor along New Guinea. This is the same Dampier who, between the years 1683 and 1691, sailed round the world, by changing his ships. Notwithstanding the attempts of all these navigators, the eastern part of this vast country was unknown till Captain Cook made his voyages, and, by fully exploring that part of the coast, gave his country a title to the possession of it; which it accordingly took, under the name of New South Wales, in 1787. An act passed in parliament, in 1779, to establish a colony in it, where criminals condemned to be transported should be sent to pass their time of servitude.

NEW ZEALAND.

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THIS is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, which was discovered by Tasman, in 1642. He traversed the eastern coast, from latitude 34 to 43 south, and entered a strait; but being attacked by the natives soon after he came to an anchor, in the place to which he gave the name of Murderer's Bay, he did not go on shore. He called the country Staten Land, in honour of the States General; though it has been generally dis tinguished, in maps and charts, by the name of New Zealand. In 1770, it was circumnavigated by Captain Cook, who found it to consist of two large islands; the northernmost, called by the natives, Aienomawie; and. the southernmost, Tovaipoenammoo; separated by a strait which he named after himself. The coast is indented with deep bays, affording excellent shelter for shipping. There are also several rivers, particularly in the northern island, capable of receiving large ships, in which the spring-tide rises ten feet perpendicular.

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Captain Cook, in 1773, planted several spots of ground with European garden seeds; and in 1777, in several of these spots, although totally neg lected and overrun with weeds, were found cabbages, onions, leeks, parsley, radishes, mustard, &c., and a few fine potatoes, greatly improved by change of soil. In other places everything had been rooted out to make room for temporary villages. Captain Cook also introduced European poultry; and on his last visit had the satisfaction to find them increased, in a wild and domestic state, beyond all danger of being exterminated. From that period, the coasts were occasionally visited by whalers, and some communication was held with the natives; but until 1815, when a missionary station was established there, no permanent settlement appears to have been made by any people. At the general peace, the right of Great Britain to these islands was recognized; but no constituted authority was placed over New Zealand till 1833, when a sub-governor from New South Wales was sent to reside there. Meantime the shores had become infested by marauding traders and adventurers of the worst class, who attempted to obtain from the natives large tracts of land by the most fraudulent means. In order to remedy this evil as far as possible, and to put a stop to such practices in future, New Zealaud was, in 1840, constituted a colony dependent on New South Wales, and a governor appointed; a commission was also appointed to inquire into the validity of all claims to land, &c.

The New Zealanders are tall, strong, active and well-shaped; being superior in every respect to the negro race of Australia and the eastern Archipelago. Their colour is in general a dark chestnut, though many bear a resemblance to the gipsy, and some have even the complexion of a European brunette. Were it not for the disgusting practice of occasionally feasting on the prisoners they take in battle, and the crime of infanticide-both of which barbarities are said to be rapidly on the decline-it might be said the New Zealanders were less addicted to the vices of savage life than most other savages. These islands lie between the 34th and 48th degrees of south latitude, and between the 166th and 180th degrees of east longitude, being the antipodes of London and other parts of Great Britain. The other isles belonging to the Australian division are too unimportant to render a description necessary.

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POLYNESIA

THIS name, as we have already observed, is given by modern geogra phers, to various groups of islands in the Great Pacific Ocean, lying east of the Asiatic isles and Australia, and on both sides of the equator; stretching through an extent of about 5100 miles from north to south, and 3600 from east to west. Everything bespeaks their submarine creation, and in many are positive evidences of volcanic agency. They are sometimes divided into Northern and Southern Polynesia, and classed in the following groups-Pelew Islands; Carolines; Ladrones; Sandwich Islands; Friendly Islands; Gallapagos; Admiralty Isles; New Ireland; New Britain, and New Hanover; Solomon's Isles; New Hebrides, and New Caledonia; Queen Charlotte's Islands; Navigators' Islands; Society Islands; Marquesas: Pitcairn Island, &c. Of these we shall only mention a few; as they can hardly be said to come within the scope of a work professedly historical; though their entire omission might be regarded as a defect.

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LADRONES, OR MARIANNE ISLANDS.

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THE Ladrones are a cluster of islands belonging to Spain, lying in the North Pacific Ocean, between the 12th and 21st degrees of north latitude, and about the 145th degree of east longitude. They were discovered by Magellan, who gave them the name of Ladrone Islands, or the Islands of Thieves, from the thievish disposition of the inhabitants. At the time of this discovery, the natives were totally ignorant of any other country than their own, and, as it is said, were actually unacquainted with the element of fire, till Magellan, provoked by their repeated thefts, burned one of their villages. At the latter end of the 17th century, they obtained the name of the Marianne Islands, from the Queen of Spain, Mary Anne of Austria, mother of Charles II., at whose expense missionaries were sent thither to propagate the Christian faith.

Though plunged in the deepest ignorance, and destitute of everything valued by the rest of mankind, no nation ever shewed more presumption, or a greater conceit of themselves, than these islanders; for to use the words of an old voyager, they looked on themselves as the only sensible and polished people in the world. As Japan lies within six or seven days sail of them, some have been induced to believe that the first inhabitants came from that empire; but, from their greater resemblance to the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands, than to the Japanese, it is more probable that they came from the former. Commodore Anson visited the Ladrones in 1742, and describes Tirrian, one of the group, as abounding with everything necessary to human subsistence, and presenting at the same time a pleasant and delightful appearance, where hill and valley, rich verdure and spreading trees, formed a happy intermixture. Subsequent navigators, however, found the island to have been deserted, and become an uninhabited wilderness. The natives of the the Ladrones are tall, robust, and active, managing their canoes with admirable adroitness. Guajan is the largest island in the group, and the population consists of settlers from Mexico and the Philippine Islands.

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FRIENDLY ISLANDS.

THE Friendly Islands are a group or cluster of islands, said to be up wards of one hundred in number, in the South Pacific Ocean. They received their name from the celebrated Captain Cook, in the year 1773, in consideration of the friendship which appeared to subsist among the inhabitants, and from their courteous behaviour to strangers. The chief islands are Anamooka, Tongataboo, Lefooga, and Eooă. Abel Jansen Tasman, an emment Dutch navigator, first touched here in 1643, and gave names to the principal islands. Captain Cook laboriously explored the whole cluster, which he found to consist of upwards of sixty. The three islands which Tasman saw, he named Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Middleburg. Tongataboo is the residence of the sovereign, and the chiefs. These islands are fertile, and in general highly cultivated. Eooa is described as a beautiful spot: the land rising gently to a considerable height, presents the eye with an extensive view. Captain Cook and some of his officers walked up to the highest point of the island. “While I was surveying this delightful prospect," says the captain, "I could not help flattering myself with the pleasing idea, that some future navigator may, from the same station, behold these meadows stocked with cattle, brought to these islands by the ships of England; and that the completion of this single benevolent purpose, independent of all other considerations, would, sufficiently mark to posterity, that our voyages had not been useless to the general interests of humanity." Of the nature of their government, no more is known than the general outline. The power of the king is unlimited, and the life and property of the subjects are at his disposal; and instances enough were seen to prove, that the lower order have no property, nor safety for their persons, but at the will of the chiefs to whom they respectively belong.

SOCIETY ISLANDS.

THE Society Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, are eight in namber; viz., Otaheite, Huaheine, Ulitea, Otaha, Bolabola, Maurowa, Toobaee, Tabooyamanoo. They are situated between the latitude of 16° 10′ and 16° 55' south, and between the longitude of 150° 57' and 152° west. The people, religion, language, customs and manners, soil and productions, are nearly the same as Otaheite, which was discovered by Captain Wallis in 1767, who called it King George the Third's Island. Bougainville, a French circumnavigator, next arrived at it, in 1768, and stayed ten days. Captain Cook, in the Endeavour, next visited it, in 1769, in company with Mr. Banks, Dr Solander, and other learned men, to observe the transit of Venus, and staid three months; and it was visited by Captain Cook in his two succeeding voyages; since which time the Spaniards and other Europeans have called there. It consists of two peninsulas, great part of which is covered with woods, consisting of bread-fruit trees, palms, cocoanuts, and all tropical vegetation. The people of this and the neighbour, ing islands, were the most honest and civilized of any in the Pacific Ocean; but it appears certain that the inhabitants have degenerated rather than improved since Cook's time.

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SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE Sandwich Islands, in the North Pacific Ocean, consist of eleven in number. They are called by the natives Owyhee, Mowee, Ranai, Moro

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