the body, very slender, and ending in a tuft:  the Golden Throat, which has three long and straight feathers proceeding from each side of the head.  These birds are considered the best, but they are all arrayed in brilliant colors, and all superbly magnificent.  They are caught chiefly in the Aroo Isles, either by means of bird-lime, or shot with blunted arrows.  After being dried with smoke and sulphur, they are sold for nuts or pieces of iron and carried to Bunda.”

EMMA.  “The New Hebrides are in my course, but the Friendly Isles are allotted to me.”

MRS. WILTON.  “Nevertheless, the New Hebrides claim a few words.  They were discovered in 1506, and so named by Captain Cook.  They are considerably hilly, and well clothed with timber.  The valleys are extremely abundant, producing figs, nutmegs, and oranges, besides the fruits common to the rest of Polynesia.  The inhabitants present the most ugly specimen extant of the Papuan race; the men wear no covering, and the women, who are used as mere beasts of burden; wear only a petticoat, made from the plantain leaf.  Their canoes are more rudely constructed than in most of the other islands; and, on the whole, these people seem to be among the most degraded of the islanders of the Pacific.”

EMMA.  “I should not like to live with such people; therefore we will pass on to my Friendly Islands.  They are low and encircled by dangerous coral reefs; the soil is almost throughout exceedingly rich, producing with very little care, the banana, bread-fruit, and yam.  The population may amount to about 90,000; but the natives, though favorably mentioned by Captain Cook, appear to be as treacherous, savage, and superstitious as any in the worst parts of Polynesia.  The Wesleyan Missionaries established themselves in these islands in 1821, and are reported to have met with considerable success.  The leading island is that which is called Tongataboo, or the ‘consecrated island.’  The name is properly two words ’Tonga Taboo,’ signifying ‘Sacred Island,’ the reason of which appellative will appear, when I tell you that the priest of this island, whose name was Diatonga, was reverenced and resorted to by all the surrounding islands.  Earthquakes are very frequent here; but the islands display a spectacle of the most abundant fertility.  The foundations of this group are coral rocks, and there is scarcely any other kind of stone to be found.  Tongataboo has a large and excellent harbor, which admits of being well fortified.”

GRANDY.  “You wisely passed the Feejees, Emma; and I will explain why I say wisely.  They have the reputation of being cannibals; but they are industrious, and at times kindly; and their islands are tolerably fertile.  A missionary ship was nearly lost here, in broad daylight and calm weather, by coming in contact with a reef, of which no previous warning was presented.  George, my child, you are next; what have you selected for your display?”