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others are remarkable for fierceness and cruelty. Their languages are various dialects of the Malay. The Papuan negroes are of a lighter color than Africans, with slender bodies and thin hair. In point of intellect and character, they are reckoned among the weakest and most degraded of the human family.

QUESTIONS.

What islands are known under the name of Oceanica? What are their general extent and population? How is the Pacific ocean bounded? What name is given to the North-Western isles or those near to Asia? Which are called Australia ? Which are classed together under the name of Polynesia or Eastern Oceanica ? What is said in general of the surface? Of the mountains? Volcanoes? Of coral rocks? What of the climate? Of the heat? Of the union of spring and summer? Of the trees, vegetables, &c.? Of the most valuable products? How is the palm tree described? The bread fruit tree and plantain ? In what fruit does Oceanica abound? What shrubs ? What gums and spices? Are there many huge animals as in Asia and Africa? What animals are natives here? What is said of the birds? What of the inhabitants? Into what two races divided? In what islands are the Malays prevalent? Where is the Papuan race common? What of the persons of the Malays? Their genius and character? Their languages? What is the description of the Papuan negroes ?

N. WESTERN OCEANICA, OR THE EAST INDIA ISLANDS.

These isles are near the borders of Asia, and in climate, soil and productions, they resemble the southern portions of the continent. They embrace lofty mountains in the more central parts, and are exposed to the eruptions of volcanoes, and the desolating effects of hur. ricanes and earthquakes. The parts near the coast are low and swampy, and the atmosphere to a great extent is sickly and pestilential. In the rainy season there are dreadful inundations. so that it is not unusual to erect buildings and towns upon posts, or upon floating rafts, as a security against the floods. Cotton, rice, pepper and spices, are the most common and valuable products of these islands, which may be classed under five divisions: First, The Sunda isles, Second, The Bornean, Third, The Celebezeans. Fourth, The Moluccas or Spice islands, and Fifth, The Philippine isles. The Sunda isles are Sumatra and Java, with smaller ones adjacent.

Sumatra has an extent of 180,000 square miles, and a population of 4,000,000, pagan in religion, and uncultivated and savage in manners. There are Malays on the coast, and a race of cannibals in the interior. It is crossed by the equator, and traversed lengthwise by a range of mountains, of which mount Ophi, the highest peak, is more than 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. The intervening plains are extensive and elevated, fertile and populous. The climate of the island is temperately warm. The soil is a black mould, upon a stiff clay, producing perpetual verdure and a luxuriant vegetation. Cotton, rice, pepper, and camphor, are abundant. There are many beautiful birds in the forests and groves; and herds of elephants, bears, wild boars and other wild animals range in the mountains.

Bencoolen is the chief European settlement, lately ceded by the Eng.

lish to the Netherlands. It has produced 1,000 tons of pepper in a year.

Java belongs to the Dutch. It has an extent of 50,000 square miles, and a population of 6,000,000, composed of Javanese, Malays and Chinese. The two former are lax Mahometans. The interior is mountainous, and blessed with a salubrious atmosphere. The northern coast is low, swampy, and sickly. The south coast is rugged and hilly, and hardly accessible. This island is distinguished for its variegated surface and pleasant scenery, and is almost unrivalled for fertility of soil, richness of vegetation, and the facility with which the wants of the people may be supplied. The plantations of rice, sugar, pepper, indigo, cotton and coffee, are flourishing in a high degree. Ten mil. lions pounds of sugar are annually produced.

Batavia is the metropolis, and is a very commercial city. Its situation is unhealthy, and its climate often fatal to Europeans. Its popula tion embraces some of almost all nations, but the Chinese are the most numerous, industrious and wealthy. Pop. 50,000.

QUESTIONS.

Near what continent are the East India isles? In what part of the Pacific ocean are they? What is their general climate, soil and productions? How is their surface in the centre? To what are these islands exposed? What parts of them are the most low and sickly? Why do the people often build upon posts or rafts? What are the most valuable products of these isles? How may the East India islands be divided? Which are the Sunda isles? What are the extent and population of Sumatra? What are the religion and manners of the people? Who inhabit the coasts? Who the interior? By what is the island crossed? By what traversed? How high is mount Ophi? What of the climate? Of the soil? The products? The birds and animals? Chief town? To whom does Java belong? What separates it from Sumatra? Of what extent and population? Who are the inhabitants? How is the interior? What of the north coast? The south coast? For what is the island distinguished? What plantations are flourishing? What is the capital and how described?

CELEBEZ.

The form of this island is very irregular. Its extent is about 90,000 square miles, and its population 3,000,000 of Malay origin, and Ma homedan religion. The poisonous upas tree is found here. The - people are bold navigators and noted pirates. Macassar is the Dutch settlement. The island is separated from Borneo by the strait of Macassar. There are several small isles in its neighborhood.

Borneo, in size, is the second island on the globe, containing 300,000 square miles, with 4,000,000 of inhabitants, chiefly Malays, Javanese and natives from Celebez. The centre is mountainous, the coasts swampy, and the climate infected and dangerous. The Chinese are the principl atraders. The exports are gold, diamonds, and a kind of glutinous birds' nests, which are highly prized in China for food, and esteemed a great luxury. In this island are found the bird of paradise, and that singular animal the ourang-outang, whose form and ap. pearance so much resemble the human. Borneo is the chief town,

There is a diamond in the possession of a native prince of this island, estimated in value of more than a million of dollars.

The Philippine isles are very numerous, and belong to Spain. Their number is estimated at more than 1000, and their population at 3,000,000. These islands contain volcanoes and are subject to earthquakes; but are very rich in their natural resources and furnish an inexhaustible store of commercial articles.

The largest island is Luzon, which contains Manilla, the Spanish capital. This port possesses great commercial advantages and has been celebrated for a rich trade with Mexico.

The Moluccas, or Spice islands, belong to the Dutch, and are espe cially distinguished for the abundance of nutmegs, cloves, mace and other valuable spices which they produce.

QUESTIONS.

What is the form of the island of Celebez? Its extent and population? The ori gin and religion of the people? What is the chief town? What strait divides this isle from Borneo? What is said of the size and population of Borneo ? Who are the inhabitants? What is said of the centre of the island, the coast, and the climate? To whom do the Philippine islands belong? What are their number and population? What is said of volcanoes and earthquakes, and natural resources? What are some of the products and treasures of these isles? On which island is Manilla, and for what has this port been noted ?

AUSTRALIA OR CENTRAL OCEANICA.

Extent, 3,500,000 sq. ms.

The principal islands which collectively bear this name, are New Holland, Van Diemen's land, Papua or New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Solomon's Isle, Louisiade, New Caledonia, New He. brides and New Zealand.

These islands as yet, have been but little explored, and of course we are able to take but a very indefinite and imperfect view of them. Their vegetable and animal productions are represented as abundant, and in a great measure peculiar. Ferocious animals are comparatively rare. Those of the kangaroo species are the most common and prevalent. This is the region of the Papuan race of men, whose original seat is Papua or New Guinea, and who are the most numerous people in these islands.

New Holland is remarkable for its magnitude; it being the largest island in the world, and deserving of the name of continent. Its extent is about 3,000,000 square miles, and is nearly equal to the whole of Europe. It has a central situation, being located between the Indian and Pacific oceans. In general it exhibits a sterile and forbidding aspect. On the east is a range of mountains running parallel to the sea shore. It is remarkable that this vast island discharges no rivers of any considerable length, into the ocean. And it is conjectured that the interior is either an immense mediterranean sea, or a wide extent of swamps and marshes, absorbing the rivers which flow down toward the centre, from the more elevated parts nearer the coast.

The natives are represented by Mr. Dawson as a good natured race of savages, wearing little or no clothing, peaceable and kind among themselves, and harmless to strangers.

The colony of New South Wales or Botany Bay, was established by the English in 1788. Its climate is very salubrious; the surface beautifully diversified with hill and dale, and the soil in general rich, and clothed with luxuriant herbage. The capital is Sidney, a flourishing settlement. Numbers of English convicts have been sent to this colony, many of whom, it is said, have in their exile become reformed and virtuous. Paramatta, 15 miles west of Sidney, appears like a village in England, with a church and a cloth manufactory, and contains a mission school for the civilization of the aborigines.

Vandieman's land also belongs to the British, whose chief settle. ment here is Hobart's town. The natives resemble the north Hollanders.

New Guinea or Papua, has been very little explored. It is 1,200 miles long. It is the seat of the Papuan negroes, who are diffused over the islands of Australia.

Louisiade is an archipelago, 400 miles in length, and is inhabited by a savage and warlike people.

New Zealand consists of two large islands, each 500 or 600 miles in length. The soil is fertile and favorable to European productions. There are lofty mountains and extensive and noble forests of pine. The natives are represented as a superior and heroic race, passionately fond of war. They are known to be cannibals or devourers of human flesh. Here are several missionary establishments, whose situation and prospects are encouraging. Mount Egmont, in this island is 12,000 feet above the sea.

The New Zealanders have been estimated in number at about 500,000, and are supposed to have had their origin from Assyria or Egypt.

QUESTIONS.

What are the principal islands of Australia? What is said of their vegetable and animal productions? What species of animal is common? What race of men? On the borders of what two oceans does New Holland lie? For what is it remarkable? What its extent ? What great division of the globe does it compare with in size? What tropic intersects it? What strait divides it from New Guinea on the north? What strait divides it from Van Dieman's land on the south? Are there any mountains? Any large rivers emptying from this island into the sea ? How are the natives described by Mr. Dawson? When and by whom was a colony planted? What is it called? What of the climate, surface and soil? What is the capital? What is said of English convicts or criminals? What other town is mentioned and how described? Which way from it is Van Dieman's land? To whom belonging? What is the chief town? What of the natives? Which way from New Holland is Papua or New Guinea? How long is it? Of what is it the seat? How long is the Archipelago of Louisiade, and what of the people? Of what does New Zealand consist? What of the soil? How are the natives represented? Are they cannibals? What is said of the mission stations here ?

POLYNESIA OR EASTERN OCEANICA.

Polynesia is a name denoting a multitude of islands; and is applied to those numerous groups which are situated in the more central or eastern parts of the Pacific ocean, on both sides of the equator. They extend 5,000 miles from north to south and 3,600 from east to west. The principal are the Sandwich isles, the Pelew, Carolines and La. drones north of the equator and the Society isles, Friendly, Naviga. tor's and Marquesas, south of the equator.

The Sandwich Isles were discovered by Captain Cook in 1778. They are 10 in number, embracing an area of about 6,000 square miles, of which 4,000 square miles are contained in the single island of Owhyhee, or Hawaii, which is by far the largest of the group and equal in extent to the state of Connecticut. This island is very moun. tainous in the centre, and its two highest summits, Mouna Kaah and Mouna Roah, rise to an elevation of 16,000 feet. The volcano of Kirauea is described as having 20 craters in perpetual operation.

The Sandwich isles are in the latitude of Mexico and the West Indies, lying within the tropic of Cancer. The climate is agreeable and the soil fertile, and suited to the production of sugar cane, cocoa nuts, sweet potatoes and the bread fruit. Sandal wood is here abundant and is an important article in the trade with China. These islands are fre quented by the whale ships. The natives, in number about 150,000, are intelligent and active, agricultural in their pursuits, and ingenious in some European arts and manufactures. They are evidently rising as a people, from the darkness and degradation of their savage state, to the enjoyment of the privileges of knowledge, civilization and chris. tianity.

The American Christian mission was established here in 1819, and the same year, previously to the arrival of the missionaries, the natives had been led with one consent, to abandon their idols, in imitation of the example of the Society islanders, The chiefs take the lead in European improvements and customs, and in a professed attachment to the gospel; and their example is followed by multitudes of their subjects. The mission in its several departments is prosperous. There are above 400 native members in the several churches, 960 schools and 50,000 pupils.

The Pelew Islands, 18 in number, are remarkable for a fine climate and fruitful soil, and for the chastity and hospitable disposition of the inhabitants. They have plenty of yams, bread fruit and cocoa, and often afford refreshments to ships sailing in these seas.

The Caroline isles are numerous, with a favorable climate and soil, and a large population, of whom it is stated that they are destitute of temples and idols, and every appearance of religion, or forms of worship.

The Ladrones, or Isles of Robbers, are so named, in indication of the predatory or piratical character of the people who inhabit them.

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