indebted to their labor, according to an English writer, "it may yet be doubted whether or not the value of their forced industry is not more than counterbalanced by the moral contamination which they have communicated to the whole society."

SYDNEY, the capital, is situated partly in a narrow valley and partly on the sides of gentle slopes rising from the shores of two of the branches of Port Jackson, named Sydney Cove and Darling Harbor. The town has an English appearance, but with little of splendor. It has a fine harbor, fifteen miles long, and ships come to the wharves and discharge their cargoes into the warehouses. The present population is 62,000.

The executive power of the province is vested in a governor and council, consisting of the colonial secretary and treasurer, and the bishop of Australia. The legislative council consists of the governor and executive council, the chief-justice, attorney general, the chief officers of the customs, the auditor general, and seven private gentlemen of the colony, who are appointed by the crown for life. The laws of England govern the colony, except so far as they may be affected by the acts of the local legislature.

South Australia was, in 1834, granted by an act of parliament for the purpose of establishing a colony of honest and industrious emigrants; but after vast expense on the part of the company, and immense privation on the part of the immigrants, the whole scheme proved abortive, on account of the inefficiency of the soil for agricultural purposes; and the commissioners were at length reduced to the necessity of applying to government for assistance, which was given them in a vote of credit for £155,000; and although the province has not been abandoned, its existence is little more than nominal.

Western Australia was established as a province in 1829, but in 1839 its whole population amounted to but 2,154, of whom 1,302 were males. Its existence is of even less importance than that of the southern division. North Australia forms the northern part of the continent, extending from the Gulf of Carpentaria westward. The only settlement yet established is at Port Essington, on the north side of Coburg Peninsula, where the town of Victoria was founded in 1838.

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND, or TASMANIA, an island south of the south-east point of Australia, lies between 41° 20′ and 43° 40′ S. latitude, and 144° 40′ and 148° 20′ E. longitude; area 24,000 square miles, or a little less than Ireland. This has been employed as a penal station by Great Britain. The island is much broken with irregular and isolated mountains, and diversified with lofty table-lands and extensive and fertile valleys and plains. In the south the scenery is rugged and bold; hills rising on hills, and all densely covered with trees and verdure. The middle of the island is more softened in its aspect; vast and beautiful plains, intersected with streams, spread out for a great distance, and on the north the country is diversified with hill and dale, woodland and cultivated plains. The west has been as yet but little explored, but it is said to be rugged and mountainous. The geology of the island exhibits large quantities of silicious matter and petrifactions: fossil vegetable remains entirely converted into silicious matter and susceptible of the finest polish, are sometimes found, and petrified wood is taken from the head of the Tamar river. Flint, hone-stone, schistus, wood-opal, bloodstone, jasper and cat's-eye are found in many places. The climate is temperate, though it sometimes happens that the thermometer reaches for a

short time in the summer (December, January, and February,) 100°, and even 1100; this, however, never lasts long, and is generally followed by refreshing showers. The sea-breeze also lessens the summer heat, and produces an agreeable temperature. In June, July and August, which constitute the winter months, frosts often occur, and considerable snow falls, but it never lies long on the ground. The climate is considered salubrious. The aborigines of Van Dieman's Land are even beneath the Australians in intellectual capacity; and physically more nearly resemble the African negro, especially in the black complexion and woolly hair; they are, however, gradually disappearing, and will probably soon become extinct. white population in 1838, was, of free settlers, 26,055; of convicts, 18,133 -Total population, including aborigines, 45,846.

About two-thirds of the population are engaged in agriculture, the remainder in commerce, arts, and manufactures. The import tonnage of the

island in 1838, was 64,454, and the export 63,392.

Hobart Town, the capital and port of entry, is situated on the right bank of the Derwent, about 20 miles from Storm Bay; it is handsomely situated, with a good bay for the largest vessels. Population, in 1838, 14,382.

The government of the province is precisely similar to that of New South Wales, having a lieutenant-governor instead of a governor.

NEW-ZEALAND.

THIS group consists of two large islands, and one smaller one, lying in the South Pacific Ocean, between 34° 25′ and 47° 19′ S. latitude, and 166° and 179° E. longitude, about 1,400 miles south-east from New South Wales-Total area, about 87,400 square miles. The northernmost island, called New-Ulster, or Eaheinomawe, is about 540 miles long; but the northern half is broken into a series of irregular and narrow peninsulas. The southern portion is more compact, and varies from 50 to 200 miles in breadth. The next island, lying south-west, is about the same length, of more regular form, and varying from 50 to 150 miles in breadth. It is called New-Munster, or Tavai Poenamoo. The southernmost island is called New-Leinster, or Stewarts' Island: it is about 50 miles long, and 40 broad.

A continuous mountain chain skirts the south-eastern coast of the northern and the western coast of the middle islands, intersected by beautiful valleys, and watered by fine rivers. There are also several detached mountains in various parts, two of which-Mount Egmont and Mount Edgecumbe are volcanic. Most of the mountains are clothed with forests of evergreens; but some are barren, or covered only with ferns. Between the mountains and the sea, on both sides, are vast plains of good land, interspersed with forests, and accessible by numerous bays and navigable rivers; the coasts of the northern islands are, however, bounded by a belt of sandhills, within which is an extent of low land covered with reedy vegetation, and in wet weather swampy.

The climate is constantly humid, but the temperature on the coasts is very equable, the thermometer seldom rising above 850 in summer, or falling below 450 in winter. The rains generally fall throughout the year in refreshing showers, especially in New-Ulster and New-Munster; they are rather more prevalent in winter, but never continue long. At this season westerly winds prevail-they commence in the morning, and gradually increase to a gale, but subside by sunset to a placid calm. These winds

render the western coast dangerous, consequently they are little frequented by shipping.

The forests of New-Zealand are superbly beautiful, on account of their thrift, as well as the variety of their trees. There the pine, of every variety, grows to its utmost perfection; also the palm-trees, and others. The indigenous fruits are few, but many have been introduced with success. There are several varieties of the sweet potato, which the natives hold in religious veneration. The common potato, which was introduced by Captain Cook, and many other European residents, is now cultivated successfully. Indian corn and wheat thrive exceedingly; as also grapes, strawberries, and raspberries. Flowers are very numerous and various, some of which are of great beauty.

The New-Zealanders are a branch of the Malay family, but are divided into three classes: white, or copper-colored, brown, and black. The firstnamed form a noble race, often above six feet in stature, strong and active, well-formed, of dignified appearance, pleasing countenance, approaching the European in feature, and with glossy black, curling hair. The women are graceful, and sometimes very beautiful. The other classes, and particularly those adjoining the East Cape, are short in stature, with lank, frizzly hair, a brown complexion, almost approaching black, and of unpleasing countenance-their women are masculine in appearance.

In their general character, the New-Zealanders combine with their savage vices many of the fairest virtues which grace the human mind, and exhibit a natural intelligence and fineness of sentiment unknown to any other race of savages. This imparts to them a natural politeness and dignity of manners, and enables them to appreciate the beauties of poetry, music, and the fine arts, in all of which they are enthusiasts; they possess extraordinary qualities of wit and eloquence, and their language is rich and sonorous. They possess a keen sense of self-respect, and resent the slightest insult offered to their persons; but unfortunately revenge is with them the highest point of honor, and this they pursue with the utmost cruelty and ferocitymaking a meal of their slain enemies. As communities, they are almost constantly engaged in ferocious war, seeking always the extermination of their enemies; yet, as individuals, their attachment to kindred is unbounded, and the rudest savage among them will melt to tears on meeting a friend after a long or dangerous separation. Their war canoes exhibit fine specimens of carving; yet they are ignorant of most of the common arts, and know little of agriculture. Astronomy is quite a study with them; they have given names to the stars, and divided them into constellations; they are free from idolatry, believe in a future existence, in a Supreme God, and a devil-to the latter of whom they attribute the evils of life. Since 1814, several Christian missions have been attempted, and some successfully established on the islands; and the British government is now making strenuous efforts to extend her authority over the whole, having, by the aid of joint-stock companies, already established several settlements.

The native population is estimated at above 160,000, of whom at least 100,000 are on the northern islands.

NEW-GUINEA.

Is situated between 0° and 10° S. latitude, and 131° and 149° E. longitude. It is of irregular form, indented with deep bays; and the western portion forms a considerable peninsula. It is very mountainous, especially about the northern coast; yet it is said to possess a large extent of rich and

magnificent country. No civilized colony has yet been planted upon it, and the interior is almost unknown. The people are of the Papua, or Malaysian negro race, and are described as hideously ugly-with large eyes, flat noses, thin lips, woolly hair, and black, shiny skin; by way of ornament, they pass bones, or pieces of wood, through the cartilage of the nose, and entangle their curly locks, like a mop, to an immense size-they build habitations, and wear wrappers around the waist. It is said that there are miserable Haraforos in the interior, who live in trees, but who cultivate the ground, and bring their produce to the coast. The trade of the coast is monopolized by the Ceramese, (from Ceram, a neighboring island,) who have inspired the natives with a hatred to all other foreigners; and they obtain for a nominal price, massoy-bark, nutmegs, trepany, tortoise-shell, pearls, edible birds'-nests, birds of paradise, and other articles. The coast is surrounded by vast numbers of small islands, all occupied by the same race, except in the north-west, where the Chinese and brown Malays have introduced themselves.

THE ARRU ISLES, &c.

The Arru Islands lie about 40 miles south-west; they are a considerable group of small islands, closely packed together, and inhabited by a mixture of the brown and black Malaysians, of industrious habits, mild disposition, and honest. They are larger and stronger than the Javanese or Malays; their hair is short and curled, but not woolly; they are mostly Pagans, but there are also many Christians and Mahomedans among them. West of these is a group called the Key Islands, the largest of which is 45 miles in length by four in breadth, mountainous, and covered with trees.

The remaining islands of Australasia are in groups north-east and southeast from New-Guinea, but are of little importance; the former are inhabited by varieties of the same negro races, but in those of the south-east, the negroes are mixed with the Polynesians. These groups include the Admiralty Islands, New-Hanover, New-Ireland, New-Britain, Bougainville, New-Georgia, Louisiade, Queen Charlotte's Archipelago, New-Hebrides, and New-Caledonia. The latter is 250 miles long by 30 broad, and resembles Australia in its topography, having many barren and rocky mountains, interspersed with fertile valleys. The people are represented as a better race, apparently mixed; they are strong and well made, courteous and friendly. Between New-Caledonia and Australia is the Coral Sea, filled with reefs, low islands, and shoals.

III.-POLYNESIA.

THIS portion of Oceanica includes the numerous islands scattered over the Pacific Ocean from Asia, Malaysia, and Australasia on the west and south-west to the western shores of America. They are divisible into three classes the mountainous, the hilly, and the low coralline; but with this exception, there is a general similarity of character throughout the whole. The mountainous islands are generally extremely beautiful; the bases of the mountains are adorned with fertile valleys, where grow the stately breadfruit tree, the cocoa nut, and other topical productions. The mountains are mostly volcanic, some of which are constantly active; their elevations vary from 2,000 to 13,000 feet, and upon the highest summits, the evidence of their having been once beneath the waters of the ocean, is found in numerous coral formations, shells, and other marine substances. The second

class of islands is hilly, the highest elevations reaching about 500 feet, and all extremely beautiful and luxuriant. The third, or coralline class, the bases of which are formed by the coral insect, is low; generally but a few feet above the level of the sea, with thin soil and little vegetation. The Friendly Islands are, however, exceptions to this general character of sterility, for, although they are of the same formation, the soil is better, and vegetation more luxuriant. They are generally small, though Tongatabou is 100 miles in circumference.

Though the greater part of these islands are within the tropics, and the climate necessarily warm and little subject to change, the heat is softly tempered through the influence of the vast body of water that surrounds them, and the temperature thus rendered delightful. And the soil, especially in the volcanic islands, is so fertile and productive, as to yield almost spontaneously all that is requisite for the subsistence of man. The bread-fruit tree supplies food, timber, gum, and cloth, which is made from the fibres of its bark. The cocoa-nut affords food, drink, cloth, and oil; there are plantains, bananas, yams, sweet potatoes, taro-root, sugar-cane, and various other roots and fruits abundant and nutricious. There are few native animals, but birds of various kinds, and fish in profusion.

The Polynesians seem to have sprung from the Malay family, and a general resemblance pervades them all, varying necessarily with climate, habits, &c. They are generally short and robust, with large limbs, but small hands and feet, face tapering from the cheek bones to the forehead and the chin, eyes black, small and obliquely set, like the Chinese, nose broad but not flat, mouth wide, hair straight, coarse and black, and complexion varying from a sallow white, through various grades of olive and brown to nearly a black. The custom of tattooing, or working indelible figures into the skin, is prevalent with them all, and sometimes the complexion is almost absorbed, so completely do they cover their faces in the process. A similarity of habits, customs, religion, language, &c., has been found to exist among them all; addicted to the usual vices of the child of nature, and carrying on their clannish wars with savage impetuosity, yet in many instances possessing a gentleness of manners, and exhibiting great ingenuity and taste in the construction of their implements and canoes. They have all the same form of government, the authority of which, is generally divided among a number of hereditary chiefs, though there are also sometimes a sort of kings, or superior chiefs to whom the others are subject, and to whom they pay great respect, and even reverence. In all cases, the chiefs and their families are excessively haughty, and hold the people in the most abject humility.

In their religion, they are exceedingly superstitious; every family has its idol, or guardian spirit, independent of the supreme, whom they call Atooa, and to whom they apply only in times of great moment, believing him to be too exalted to be troubled with matters of small importance. To this deity they sometimes make human sacrifices. They generally believe in a future existence, the felicity of which is regulated according to the good works of the individual while on earth; but they have no idea of a future hell; sickness and accidents they regard as judgments, and employ their priests in such cases to pacify the deity.

The numerous islands embraced in this portion of the globe are mostly collected in groups, yet many are scattered and isolated in the vast expanse of ocean. The following classification includes them all :-1st. The Bonin or Arzobispo Islands. 2d. The Ladrone or Marian Islands. 3d. The CaroVOL. II.

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