leaves no doubt of frequent emigrations from thence, and we naturally look to those countries as the source from which they have sprung. The difficulty, however, instantly presents itself of proceeding so vast a distance in opposition to the prevailing wind and current, without vessels better equipped than those which are in the possession of those people. This objection is so powerful in the minds of some authors, that they have had recourse to the circuitous route through Tartary, across Behring’s Strait, and over the American continent, to bring them to a situation whence they might be drifted by the ordinary course of the winds to the lands in question. But had this been the case, a more intimate resemblance would surely be found to exist between the American Indians and the natives of Polynesia. The accident which threw in our way Tuwarri and his companions,” (a party found on Byam Martin’s Island) “who were driven 600 miles in a direction contrary to the trade-wind, in spite of their utmost exertions, has fortunately enabled us to remove the objections which have been urged against the general opinion. Though this is the only instance that has come to our knowledge, there is no reason why many other canoes may not have shared a similar fate; and some few of many thousands, perhaps, may have drifted to the remotest islands of the archipelago, and thus peopled them.
“The subject of the formation of these islands is one of great interest, and will require a numerous and careful collection of facts before any entirely satisfactory conclusion can be arrived at. I regret that my time did not permit me to inquire more particularly into this curious matter; but having to survey about fifty islands, some of which were of great extent, in the space of about four months, I could not accomplish more than was absolutely necessary for the purposes of a safe navigation of the Archipelago.”
We cannot follow our talented author into the very interesting details which he presents us, of the character and manners of the Otaheitans, among whom he remained, passing his time very agreeably, from March 18th until April 26th, 1826. In the beginning of the following month, his officers and ship’s company generally were afflicted with dysentery, and he had the misfortune to lose Mr. John Crawley, a young gentlemen of very good abilities, who died much regretted by all on board. On the 6th, the captain’s steward sunk under the same complaint; and next day, great apprehensions were entertained for Mr. George T. Lay, the naturalist. On the 19th, the Blossom anchored outside the reefs of Honoruru, the principal port of the Sandwich Islands; on the 31st, she sailed from thence for Oneehow,
