From the feeling of pedigree, and from the belief that the nobler families become spirits after death, we have the belief in ghosts, and the reverence for the dead. Whoever studies the details of the Polynesian creeds and traditions will find abundant instances of this; and in such detail they should be studied. To exhibit them (as has just been attempted) in a _general_ point of view, can only be done by applying terms adapted to a different system, and, as such, only partially appropriate. It can only be done at the sacrifice of those special elements which give life and individuality to a description. Such, however, as it is, the previous sketch is the only one that could be admitted into a work like the present. * * * * * Beginning with the fourteenth degree S. L., the distribution of the Polynesian islands runs off in three different directions. 1. From west to east; _i.e._ from the Navigators' Islands to Easter Island. 2. North-east; to the Sandwich Islands in 20° N. L. 3. South-west; to New Zealand in 35° S. L. NAVIGATORS' ISLANDS. _Synonym._--Archipelago of Samoa. _Islands._--Opoun, Leone, Sanfoue, Maouna, Oiolava, Pola. _Complexion._--Dark bronze. _Numbers._--According to Captain Wilkes, 56,000: of which 14,850 are Christians. Majority of the remainder attending the missionary schools. _Pantheon._--Tangaloa-lagi, Tamafaiga, Sinleo, Onafanna, Mafuie, Salefu, Merua Fuana, Tinitini, Lamanau, Tuli, &c. _Real or supposed peculiarities._--Use of the bow; which is used also in De Peyster's island. Rare elsewhere. THE TONGA GROUP. _Synonym._--The Hapai Islands; the Friendly Islands. ISLANDS. POPULATION. Eooa 200 Hapai 4,000 Vavao 4,000 Keppell's Islan 1,000 Boscawen's Islan 1,300 Tonga-tabú 8,000 ______ Total 18,500 ______ Said to be on the increase. Number of Christians, about 4,500. _Pantheon._--Múoi.--The Hotooas, Táli-y-tobú, Higooléo, Tooboo-toti, Alaivaloo, Ali-ali, Tangaloa--Tangaloa's sons, Toobó, and Váca-ácow-ooli, &c. Bolotoo=the Happy Island. Term for the Tonga chiefs--_Egi_. " " councillors--_Mataboulai_. " " king--_How_. " " lower classes--_Mooa_. " " lowest--_Tooa_. _Real or supposed peculiarities._--Infant sacrifices; the cutting off of a finger on the death of relatives; domestic architecture on a scale approaching that of Borneo. Remains of stone architecture; probably the tombs of the chiefs. HERVEY ISLES. _Names._--Rarotonga, Atiu; Mangaia, Aitutaki, Mauke, Mitiaro, Manuai. _Population._--About fourteen thousand; of which one-half belongs to Rarotonga. AUSTRAL ISLANDS.