A.—3a

9

blue marks on the lips. The only apparent difference between what we saw and read in early accounts was the conduct of the women, all of whom wore a becoming robe of tappa or native cloth, and were very modest in demeanour, whatever their morals may be." San Christina Island was sighted on June 10th. The " Topaze" remained here two days without experiencing any difficulty from the swell or squalls from the mountains. There is no doubt, however, that a heavy swell sets in from the S.W. The landing-place, constructed by the Prench authorities at considerable expense, was washed away, and there were other marks of destruction by the waves. It was also reported that vessels had been driven to sea by the force of the violent gusts down the valley, and altogether the bay has such a bad character that whalers seldom visit it, although it is believed to be the only place where it would be advisable for ships to anchor. The formation of the island, with its steep shore on the east and numerous valleys on the west sides, closely resembles Magdalena Island, and the facilities for watering and obtaining supplies are about the same. There are wild cattle on the mountains, but difficult to get at, and still more difficult to carry away when shot. The inhabitants of this island are far inferior in appearance and manner to those of Magdalena Island ; they do not number more than 300, and from disease and other causes are fast decreasing. The Prench had a considerable settlement here some few years since, but they have now entirely abandoned it, and fort, house, and gardens have fallen into a state of decay. Dominica Island. —Whilst the " Topaze " remained in Resolution Bay, Commodore Powell proceeded to Dominica Island with two boats. After skirting the shore around Tava Bay without being able to land, the boats made for a small round island (not marked in the charts) at the entrance of Taogon Bay, and, passing to the eastward of it, a small land-locked harbour was discovered, known to the Prench as Traitor's Bay, where the landing is good, and water can be obtained with great facility ; ships of 1,000 tons could here refit with great security. The Prench have no settlement on Dominica, but there aro two or three priests on the island, one of whom stated that they had entirely failed in making converts, and that in his opinion there was not a native Christian. He also described the inhabitants as being inveterate cannibals, always at war with each other, much addicted to drunkenness and other bad habits. The priests had succeeded in cultivatiii£ cotton, and had lately sold their produce for £2,000. The island has some well-watered, beautiful valleys, and was described as being extremely rich, and well suited for coffee, sugar, and other tropical productions. It was extremely difficult to arrive at any correct estimate of the number of inhabitants, but they are said to amount to about 1,500, and decreasing. The men are tall and able-bodied, but the women are depraved and ill-looking. Nouka-Hwa, or Marchand Island. —The " Topaze " left San Christian Island on the 12th June, and sighted Cape Martin, Nauka-Hwa, at daylight the following morning. The Prench have reduced their establishment hero to a resident, four soldiers, and a captain of the port, who also acts as pilot. The Prench authorities insist upon vessels taking the pilot, although ho cannot possibly be of any service, as the only difficulties to contend with are baffling winds. The payment amounts to 200 francs going in, and the same sum going out; and this charge has effectually kept out whalers that formerly were accustomed to frequent the bay. The island of Nuka-Hwa offers great resources for cultivation, for its valleys are broad, well watered, and possess rich soil. Tropical fruits abound, as in the other islands ; but the guava, recently introduced, is fast overrunning the land, and destroying tho broad-fruit and many other valuable trees. In 1864-65 the small-pox raged here with great virulence, and carried off all but a few hundreds of the Natives; in the Happar and Taipi Valleys, where the population numbered nearly 2,000, only about 150 arc left. These valleys have been purchased by an English land company, but as yet no s-iteps have been taken to people or cultivate them. New Caledonia and LoTALTr Islands. New Caledonia belongs to the Prench. It lies .about 720 miles EN.E. of the coast of Queensland, in Australia, in lat. 20° to 22° 30' S., long. 164° to 167° E. It is about 200 miles in length, 30 miles in breadth, and has a population estimated at 60,000. It is of volcanic origin, is traversed in the direction of its length, from north-west to south-east, by a range of mountains, which in somo cases reach the height of about 8,000 feet, and is surrounded by sandbanks and coral reefs. There are secure harbours at Port Balade and Port St. Vincent, the former on the north-east the latter on the south-west part of the island. In the valleys the soil is fruitful, producing the cocoa-nut, banana, mango, breadfruit, Sec The sugar-cane is cultivated, and the vine grows wild. The coasts support considerable tracts of forest, but the mountains are barren. The inhabitants, who resemble the Papuan race, consist of different tribes, some of which are cannibals. New Caledonia was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. In 1854 the Prench took official possession of it, and it is now comprised under the same government with Otaheite and the Marquesas Isles. The Loyaltt Islands May be considered as part of the New Caledonia group, running parallel with the trend of that island at a distance of fifty to sixty miles. They consist of three principal islands, Mare, Lifu, TJea ; between the former two are five smaller islets. New Hebetdes Islands. This group extends from lat. 13° 16' S. to 20° 15' S., and from long. 166° 40' to 170° 20' E., and includes the following islands : —Aneiteum, Tana, Erromango, Vate or Sandwich Island, Api, Ambrym, Whitsun, Aurora, Lepers, Mallicollo, and Espiritu Santo. The last named is the largest of the group. It is twenty-two leagues in length, and about half that breadth. Mallicollo is eighteen leagues in length and eight leagues broad. 2—A. 3a.