effected, a quantity could no doubt be obtained, which would be valuable as a refreshment for the numerous whalers and other ships frequenting this sea. During the time the ship lay off and on, a bank of coral rocks was discovered by Mr. W. Warden, the chief officer, on which soundings were obtained of from twelve to seventeen fathoms, the centre of the island then bearing south-west, about four miles distant. This island was made by our observations in latitude 10° 41′ south, and longitude by chronometer 179° 15′ east. It is placed in the late charts in latitude 10° 25′ south, longitude 179° 0' east. Our observations we consider correct, as on the day preceding, (Feb. 18th,) Mitchell's group was seen bearing from south by east to south-south-east, about seven or eight miles distant, and on the second day, (Feb. 21st,) we made the island of Rótuma. Independence Island was discovered a few years ago by an American ship, whose Commander so named it. When at Rótuma, I saw an American who had left a whaler and was residing there; he informed me that he had visited this island, and described its appearance accurately; he gave me also the following information respecting it. The ship to which he belonged having killed a whale off the island, and during the time that she lay-to for the purpose of "cutting in," as it is technically termed, one of the boats went to endeavour to land: the first attempt, from the surf raging with great fury, did not succeed; but on a second attempt, at high water, the surf being quite moderate, they succeeded in discovering a passage between the reef by which the boat could enter, and a landing was effected, (on which side of the island he did not recollect); there was at the time hardly any surf; they procured a quantity of turtle and sea birds' eggs.

THE ISLAND OF RÓTUMA.

This interesting and fertile island was discovered by the Pandora in the year 1791, and has been since occasionally visited by English and American whalers, and a few other ships, for the purpose of procuring water and a supply of vegetable productions, with which it abounds. It is situated in latitude 12° 30′ south, and longitude 177° 0′ east, and is distant about 260 miles from the nearest island of the Fidji group. It is of a moderate height, densely wooded, and abounding in cocoa-nut trees, and is about from thirty to thirty-five miles in circumference. Its general appearance is beautifully picturesque, verdant hills gradually rising from the sandy beach, giving it a highly fertile appearance. It is surrounded by extensive reefs, on which at low water the natives may be seen busily engaged in procuring shell and other fish, which are abundantly produced on them, and constitute one of their articles of daily food. At night, they fish by torch-light, lighting fires on the beach, by which the fish are attracted to the reefs. The torches are formed of the dried spathes or fronds of the cocoa-nut tree, and enable them to see the fish, which they take with hand-nets. It is by these lights that the fish are attracted, but not so in the opinion of the natives, who say, "they come to the reef at night to eat, then sleep, and leave again in the morning." The numerous lights flickering about have a beautiful effect during a dark night, and might resemble the illuminated halls of Pandemonium. On these reefs, an infinite variety of fish is pro

cured, but generally of small size; a display of colours of the most vivid description, as well as extraordinary forms, also occur amongst them. We made this island on the 21st of February 1830; it bore west by south-half-south, about twenty-five miles distant; at 11 A.M. when close in, standing for the anchorage, we were boarded by several natives, who came off in their canoes, and surprised us by their acquaintance with the English language; this it seems they had acquired from their occasional intercourse with shipping, but principally from the European seamen, who had deserted from their ships and were residing on the island in savage luxury and indolence. One of the natives acting as pilot, we rounded the islets named Owa by the natives, and anchored in Onhaf Bay, (which is situated on the north-east side of the island,) in fifteen fathoms, sand and coral bottom, about two miles distant from the shore. When at anchor, the extremes of the land bore from east by north to west by compass. An island rather high, quoin shaped, and inhabited, situated at a short distance from the main land, (between which there is a passage for a large ship,) was at some distance from our present anchorage, and bore west-half-north by compass; it was named Ouer by the natives. Close to us were two rather high islands, or islets, of small extent, planted with coco-nut trees, and almost connected together by rocks, and to the main land by a reef; they shelter the bay from easterly winds. Their bearings are as follow:-the first centre bore east-half-north; the second centre bore east-half-south, extreme of the main land east-south-east by compass. One of the chiefs, on our anchoring, addressing the Commander made the following very humane observation, " If Rótuma man steal, to make hang up immediately." Had this request been complied with, there would have been a great depopulation during our stay, and it is not improbable that a few chiefs might have felt its effects.

On a second visit to this island in March 1830, we anchored in a fine picturesque bay, situated on the west side of the island, named Thor, in fourteen fathoms, sand and coral bottom, about three miles distant from the centre; but I should strongly recommend ships not to anchor here during the months of February, March, April, and the early part of May, the prevailing winds blowing strong from west and north-west, which we had the misfortune to experience, being driven on shore during a gale on the 30th of March, an account of which will be given in the course of the narrative. Ships should prefer lying off and on at the lee-side of the island, where they will be able readily to procure their supplies. A reef extends out some distance from the beach at this bay, almost dry at low water, and with much surf at the entrance, from which cause the procuring of wood and water is attended with more difficulty than at Onhaf Bay. There is another place on the south side of the island named Fangwot, the residence of the king, or principal chief. It affords anchorage for shipping, but from its exposed situation, a ship should prefer lying off and on to anchoring; this is the best part of the island for procuring a large supply of provisions. About five or six miles distant from the main land to the south-west, are several small uninhabited islands, or islets, which are occasionally visited by the natives from the main, for the purpose of procuring from and in their vicinity, shell and other fish. These islets bear the native appellations of Offiwa, Athana, Hothahoi; and a rock

or rocks above water, on which the sea breaks, named Hoth-fakteringa. The first has a remarkable appearance, resembling a rock divided in two portions, excepting at one part, where they are joined by a portion of rock forming a natural bridge. The following diagram gives the appearance of the island, bearing west-south-west, about five miles distant; it has a verdant appearance, with several coco-nut trees growing on the summit.

The others have nothing remarkable in their appearance.

On landing, the beautiful appearance of the island was rather increased than diminished; vegetation appeared most luxuriant, and the trees and shrubs blooming with various tints, spread a gaiety around; the clean and neat native houses were intermingled with the waving plumes of the coco-nut, the broad spreading plantain, and other trees peculiar to tropical climes. That magnificent tree the callophyllum inophyllum, or fifau of the natives, was not less abundant, displaying its shining dark green foliage, contrasted by beautiful clusters of white flowers teeming with fragrance. This tree seemed a favourite with the natives, on account of its shade, fragrance and ornamental appearance of the flowers. When one was cut down by the carpenter of a ship, a young tree was brought and planted close to the place where the old one formerly displayed its wide spreading branches, thus showing a desire of securing for posterity a similar shade and fragrance to that afforded by the one which had fallen; an example well worthy of imitation in every country. When I extended my rambles more inland, through narrow and sometimes rugged pathways, the luxuriance of vegetation did not decrease, but the lofty trees, overshadowing the road, defended the pedestrian from the effects of a fervent sun, rendering the walk under their umbrageous covering cool and pleasant. The gay flowers of the hibiscus tiliaceus, as well as the splendid huth or Barringtonia speciosa, covered with its beautiful flowers, the petals of which are white, and the edges of the stamina delicately tinged with pink, give to the trees when in full bloom a magnificent appearance; the hibiscus rosa-chinensis, or kowa of the natives also grows in luxuriance and beauty. The elegant flowers of these trees, with others of more humble and less beautiful tints, everywhere meet the eye near the paths, occasionally varied by plantations of the ahan or taro, arum esculentum, which, from a deficiency of irrigation, is generally of the mountain variety. Of the sugar-cane they possess several varieties, and it is eaten in the raw state; a small variety of yam, more commonly known by the name of the Rótuma potato, the ulé of the natives, is very abundant; the ulu or bread-fruit, pori or plantain, and the vi, (spondias dulcis, Parkinson,) or Brazilian plum, with numerous other kinds, sufficiently testify the fertility of the island. Occasionally the

mournful toa or casuarina equisetifolia, planted in small clumps near the villages or surrounding the burial-places, added beauty to the landscape. A few days after my arrival I by chance visited a spot which formed a combination of the picturesque and beautiful. I had passed through a village named Shoulnau, and having ascended a hill overshadowed as usual by magnificent trees, I descended towards the beach, when a beautiful view appeared before me; it was a tranquil piece of water formed by the sea, on one side inclosed by a high island covered with coco-nut and other trees, and nearly joining the main land, leaving on each side small passages for canoes, one opening rather more extended than the other; the opposite banks were covered with native houses, intermingled with trees and various kinds of flowering shrubs: the placidity of the water, the tranquillity that reigned around, interrupted only occasionally by the chirping of birds, produced an effect approaching enchantment. After remaining for some time viewing with mingled admiration and delight this interesting spot, I left it with regret ; it is situated on the south-east part of the island, and named Shaulcopé by the natives. I subsequently visited this tranquil piece of water in a native canoe; as we passed through the openings before mentioned, the natives commenced singing a monotonous but pleasing song, (consisting of a sentence frequently repeated,) keeping accurate time with the strokes of their paddles; the effect as the voices reverberated around, could be felt, but cannot be described.

The native houses are very neat; they are formed of poles and logs, the roof being covered with the leaves of a species of sagus palm, named hoat by the natives, and highly valued by them for that purpose on account of their durability; the sides are covered with the plaited sections of the coco-nut branches, which form excellent coverings. They have commonly two entrances, one before, the other behind; these entrances are very low, and have a door hung horizontally, which is raised and kept open by a prop during the day, but closed at night. The houses are kept very clean, the floors being covered either with the plaited branches of the coco-nut tree, or the common kind of mat, named ehap, most commonly the former. Near their houses they have generally some favourite trees planted; the tobacco plant also, recently introduced, flourishes luxuriantly, but as yet they have not learned the art of preparing it. The landing is easy, on a sandy beach. Fire-wood can readily be procured at a short distance from the beach; the water is of excellent quality, but from there being no running streams, (excepting a few of very trivial importance situated inland,) the supply is procured from wells.

The natives are a fine-looking and well-formed people, resembling much those of Tongatabu in their appearance; they are of good dispositions, but are much addicted to thieving, which seems indeed to be a national propensity; they are of a light copper colour, and the men wear the hair long and stained at the extremities of a reddish brown colour; sometimes they tie the hair in a knot behind, but the most prevailing custom is to permit it to hang over the_shoulders. The females may be termed handsome, of fine forms, and although possessing a modest demeanour, flocked on board in numbers on the ship's arrival; their garrulity when there sufficiently prove that even in this remote part of the globe, there was no deficiency of volubility of the lingual organ, amongst the fair portion of the creation. The

women before marriage have the hair cut close and covered with the shoroi, which is burnt coral mixed with the gum of the bread-fruit tree; this is removed after marriage and their hair is permitted to grow long, but on the death of a chief or their parents it is cut close as a badge of mourning. Both sexes paint themselves with a mixture of the root of the turmeric plant (curcuma longa) and coco-nut oil, which frequently changed our clothes and persons of an icteroid hue, from our curiosity to mingle with them in the villages-theirs to come on board the ship. This paint, which is named Rang by the natives, and which is also the appellation of the turmeric plant, is prepared in the following manner :-The root of the turmeric, after having been well washed, is rasped into a bowl to which water is afterwards added, it is then strained, and the remaining liquor is left some time for the fecula to subside; the water is then poured off, and the remaining fecula is dried and kept in sections of the coco-nut shell or in balls; when required for use it is mixed with coco-nut oil, and when recently laid on has a bright red appearance, which I mistook at first for red-ochre.

(To be continued.)

ON THE EQUIPMENT OF THE BRITISH INFANTRY.

THE reputation of the British infantry stands high among the nations of the earth, and the ideas of excellence and perfection are so intimately connected, that we frequently hear it stated, that this infantry is susceptible of no farther improvement. To differ from public opinion must at all times subject the writer to considerable obloquy; and we find that the Newtonian theory was at first reckoned by many nothing less than the dream of a madman. Yet notwithstanding these difficulties, I shall now proceed to state what I conceive to be the imperfections of our system.

The first view in which the infantry soldier presents himself to our notice, is as that of a beast of burthen, loaded with more than his strength enables him to carry; or if he contrives to wag under it, his powers are so crippled in the day of action, as in a great measure to paralyse his efficiency. How many thousands sunk under their load in the Peninsular war? The Duke of Wellington, the Commander of the Forces, or any officer who served there, may answer the question. The fact I believe to be as clear as any axiom in Euclid, and therefore I take it for granted will not be disputed. The next question that naturally follows is, how is this to be remedied? As I conceive the object to be practicable, I shall now point out what appears to me to be the best means of attaining it.

The Musket.-There is no country where the manufacture of arms is so well understood as in England. The beauty and excellence of our arms for sporting are accordingly unparalleled. When a sportsman examines his arm, the first thing he does is to satisfy himself that the action of the lock is quick and easy; that the piece shoots with the necessary accuracy; that it comes cleverly up to sight; that the bend, length, and thickness of the stock suit him exactly; that the weight is precisely what he requires it to be, and that it is well poised in the