which came here with Captain Dampier, who told me that this was the best man in her; so I immediately agreed with him to be mate on board our ship. It was he that made the fire last night, judging our ships to be English.

Rogers continued his voyage from Juan Fernandez, by way of Guayaquil, the Galapagos, and the North American coast, making several valuable captures of Spanish galleons. From California, the expedition sailed across the Pacific to the Phillippines, and through the Molluccas, anchoring at Batavia. From thence, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, reaching the Thames, October 14th, 1711. Captain Rogers wrote an account of his voyage around the world, of which he says: This voyage being only designed for cruising on the enemy, it is not reasonable to expect such accounts in it, as are to be met with in books of travels relating to history, geography, and the like. Something of that, however, I have inserted, to oblige the booksellers, who persuaded me that this would make it more grateful to some sort of readers. He died in 1732.

SAAVEDRA, ALVARO or ALONZO DE.-Was born about the beginning of the sixteenth century. A relative of Hernando Cortez, whom he accompanied to Mexico, he was alike a daring soldier and experienced navigator. Was sent in command of a small squadron, by Cortez, in 1526, for minor explorations in the South Sea, and afterwards ordered by Spain to cross the Pacific to the Spice Islands, on a voyage of discovery. Although the main object assigned, was the relief of Garcia de Loaisa, who had sailed from Corunna, in the track of Magellan, in 1525. He made some impor

CHAPTER XX.

ISLAND MISCELLANY, AND DEPTHS OF THE SEA.

T

Skill'd in the globe and sphere, he gravely stands,
And, with his compass, measures seas and lands.

DRYDEN (Sixth Satire of Juvenal).

HERE are many points of interest to be glanced at, still, on the Pacific Ocean, a few of which I note below, before concluding with the depths of the sea.

NORFOLK ISLAND.

This island, located in latitude 28 deg. 58 min. south, and longitude 167 deg. 46 min. east, something over one thousand miles northeast from Sydney, has a population, at present, of not over five hundred people, and an area of about fifteen square miles. It is the principal of a group of small islets, known as the Bird Islands. It is put down as one of Cook's discoveries, in 1774- The surface is extremely rugged, standing high above the ocean level. In fact, so precipitous are its sides, that but two landing places are to be found, indenting the shores, and these dangerous, from the baffling currents and heavy surf. A portion of the lands, back from the coast, is very fertile, nearly all the products of tropical and temperate

regions growing luxuriantly. The island was not made a point of interest till 1787, when it was settled by convicts and ticket-of-leave men from Australia. In 1825, it was made a penal colony by that country, but finally abandoned in 1855. It was granted to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers, in 1857. A part of their number (about one hundred) became dissatisfied, and returned to Pitcairn. I am told that, on some parts of the island, there is a perfect network of underground workings, such as tunnels, shafts, etc., made by the prisoners, more to occupy the time of a horrible existence, than for any other purpose.

THE CHATAM GROUP.

Between latitudes 43 deg. 30 min., and 45 deg. 20 min. south, and longitudes 176 deg. 10 min., and 177 deg. 20 min. west-about six hundred miles to the east of New Zealand, and under the same rule, are the Chatam Islands. There are fifteen in the group, if we count the islets, with an area of about eight hundred square miles, and a population not exceeding five hundred. Chatam, Southeast and Pitt, are of some importance, growing all the products of temperate climes, when properly cultivated.

Through wars with the Maoris of New Zealand, the inhabitants have almost disappeared, and agriculture neglected, leaving little to be found of interest, outside. of the bleak comforts of a South Sea whaling station.

The geological formation is that of New Zealand ; the soil very fertile, but without the extensive floral growth of the former. Some curious lakes and lagoons, of brackish water, are found here-often many miles. in extent, and separated from the sea, at some points,