0CF
«rafA
390
plored, In the ycar 1841 the American Exploring Expedition visited
many of the islands in these sens.
5. The islands of Occanica are situated prineipally within the tro-
pics, and are exposed to a considerable degree of heat, "The tempera
ture, however, i8 various, Some of them enjoy & delightful climate,
and arc among the most favoured and fertile countries on the globe,
6. Nearly all the large islands are elevated. Some contain moun-
tains of great altitude. Volcanoes are numcrons, and occasionally
cause dreadful ravages. The smaller jslands arc low, many of them
scarcely rising above the surface of the water, and arc oflen destitute
of vegetation and inhabitants: some again are covered with groves of
cocoanut and other trecs, and are well peopled.
7. Most of the animals found in these islands are similar to those of
the gouth of Asia; but there are several varieties peculiar to this quas-
ter. "The orang-outang abounds in Borneco, and thıe Malay tapir in
Java and other islands. "The kangaroo, emeu, duckbill, and black
awan, exist only in Australia,
8. The natives of Oceanica are various in manners, customs, and
sondition. "They consist, for the most part, of two distinct races, the
Malays, or brown variety of the human family, and the Papuan, Ori-
ental, or Melanesian Negrocs,
9, The Malays are found in different stages of civilization, and com.
prise two distinct classes, nobles and slaves. Some of them are compä-
ratively improved; others are extremely barbarous, and in many in-
atances they are cannibals, The people of Polynesia are prineipally
pagans; those of Malaysia are partly Mahomedans and partly pagans
10. The Papuans constitute a varicty of the black race, but are,
for the most part, smaller in person, and not so dark in complexion, as
the African negraes. "lhey are generally destitute of clothing or dwell.
ings, often live on the most disgusting food, and are gsupposed to have
no definite ideas of a Supreme Being.
A.
1. Manaysıa dorives its name from the Malays, the most
numerous people in this region, It is also called the East
India Archipelago; and contains the islands of Sumatra,
Java, and Borneo, usually called the Sunda Isles, together
with the island of Celebes, the Moluccas, or Spice Islands,
the Philippine Islands, and some smaller groups,
47... ccurred since his time? In 18411
RT ırzer islands” . Animals?
8 1° ?apuans !
“ **1t does it contain *
is said of Captain (nl
5, What is 8°‘
8, Natives o?
Malayc}2.
