Now this answer, when applied to the geographical details regarding the distribution of land and sea in the great Oceanic area, indicates the following line--New Guinea, New Ireland, the New Hebrides, the Figis, and the Tonga group, &c. From hence the Navigators' Isles, the Isles of the Dangerous Archipelago, the Kingsmill, and other groups, carry the frequently-diverging streams of population over the Caroline Islands, the Ladrones, the Pelews, Easter Island, &c. This view, however, so natural an inference from a mere land-and-sea survey, is complicated by the ethnological position of the New Guinea, New Ireland, and New Hebrides population. These are _not_ Protonesian, and they are _not_ Polynesian. Lastly, they are _not_ intermediate to the two. They _break_ rather than propagate the continuity of the human stream; a continuity which exists geographically but fails ethnologically. The recognition of this conflict between the two probabilities, has determined me to consider the Micronesian Archipelago, as that part of Polynesia which is the part most likely to have been first peopled; and hence comes a reason for taking it first in order. THE MICRONESIAN BRANCH OF THE POLYNESIAN STOCK. _Area._--The Pelew, Caroline, Marianne Islands. The Tarawan group. As far south as about 7° S. L. _Physical Conformation._--More Mongolian, in the limited sense of the term, than the proper Polynesian. Varieties both of hair and complexion. _Language._--Dialects, probably, mutually intelligible. Probably unintelligible to the Proper Polynesians. _Political relations._--Partly independent; partly subject to Spain. _Religion._--Paganism and Romanism. _European intermixture._--Chiefly Spanish. _Negative characters._--Absence of the _tabu_ under the form in which it appears in Polynesia. Use of the drink called _kava_ either restricted, or modified. Considered to be differential points between Micronesia and Polynesia. In these negative characters (of which, however, it is doubtful whether the exact extent has been ascertained), superadded to the fact, of the Micronesian dialects forming a separate language unintelligible to the Polynesian, and to the difference--real or supposed--in their physical appearance, lie good and sufficient reasons for considering the Micronesians to form a separate division. To which may be added, considerable differences in the way of creed and mythology. LORD NORTH'S ISLAND. _Locality._--Latitude 3° 2´ N. Longitude 131° 4´ E. _Population._--About three or four hundred. _Physical conformation._--Complexion, light copper, lighter than that of the Malays or Pelew islanders. Face broad, cheek-bones high, nose flattened. _Pantheon._--Chief deity _Yaris_. Progenitor _Pita-kat_.