Towards the end of the year 1805, Mr Savage vi sited the Bay of islands in New Zealand, situated in 35° 6' S. latitude, and 174° IT E. longitude. From his narrative we may infer, that the inhabitants, of that part at least to which his observations were chiefly directed, are in a state of civilization far supe rior to those in many other portions of Australasia. The principal town consists of about an hundred huts, partly on an island, partly on the main land. Each habitation on the latter is surrounded by a small patch of cultivated ground; but those on the former are oc: cupied by the chief and his people, and are without any appearance of cultivation.
The numerous voyages between our Australasian colonies, and the mother country or the eastern set tlements, are occasionally productive of discoveries in their route. These, we must regret, are not preser ved, and regularly communicated to the public, from which, we are satisfied, many geographical illustra tions would ensue.
An infinity of unknown objects, well deserving the attention of naturalists, are• produced in the seas and on the shores of Australasia. Three new quadru peds, all singular, and some of them far removed from those of the old world, have been discovered ; the kangaroo, the wombat, and the ornythorincus para doxes. The first resembles a huge rat three or four feet high ; it leaps on its hind legs, or supports itself solely on the root of its tail: the second is a creature of the utmost docility, which, in its wildest state, may be seized and i carried away without struggle or re sistance : and n the third, nature, by a strange as sociation, has elongated the snout of a quadruped in to the bill of a bird, furnished with two real and perfect mandibles. The wombat is already domesti cated, and dwells in the English cottages as tame as a dog. Numerous beautiful birds are produced in Australasia:, the bird of paradik, which was so long celebrated in Europe as wanting feet ; parroquets, cockatoos, a singular species of cassowary inhabiting Decres' island and the continent ; and above all, the a bird which, until discovered the're, was •deemed of fabulous existence. Whales of immense size, seals, and dolphins, line the shores, often ap pearing in such extensive shoals as to be mistaken for a reef covered with dangerous breakers. Many Kr:: pents of different species are seen floating on the sur face of the sea, and an enormous cuttlefish, rolling like a cask on the waves, stretches out its mon strous teiitacula seven or eight feet in length. The mollusca tribe appears in peculiar variety and bril liance. New vegetables are found in every quar ter. One marine fucus reaches from 'the bottom of the sea to the surface, 250 or 300 feet deep, on a single stem, which is supported in an admirable man ner through its whole extent by vesicles filled with airs Detached by the violent agitation of storms, this gi gantic weed floats in so great an abundance as almost to impede the navigator in advancing towards the neighbouring shores. On various islands, and also on the continent, are trees above 200 feet high, or much more according to some narratives, and seven or eight in diameter. Without entering more minutely into this part of our subject, a general idea of the novel ties of Australasia may be formed, by learning that the French transmitted from Port-Jackson no less than 40,000 animals of all different classes. By their • united labours, they have enriched the National Mu seum with above 2500 species absolutely new ; and, what cannot fail to be deeply interesting to the con templative philosopher, some animals have been found alive in these regions, which were previously known only in a fossil state.
Descending the different gradations of society, man is exhibited to us in his most savage state in Australasia. His physical constitution, the struc ture of his person in an enormous head and slender extremities, distinguish him from all other nations. His sight is more acute, and his hearing more perfect, but his strength is less than that of natives belonging to civilized countries. Regions so extensive and far
removed are inhabited by various races of people, whose appearance, as well as manners and customs, differ according to their respective tribes. Popula tion, however, from many reasons, is scanty ; which well illustrates how much a kingdom is strength. ened by civilization, and the ready means of sub sistence.' Savages rest their security principally on personal superiority ' • for the right of appeal from injury is rare. In Australasia, where supplies of food are precarious, the natives are sometimes forced to swallow large portions of a kind of soft earth to appease the cravings of hunger ; and this is said to be of easy digestion. The affections of the Austral. asians arc blunt when compared with those of the in habitants of other countries. Parental love may be assimilated to the attachment of an animal for its young, and conjugal affection centers more in con venience than regard. Mothers not only, procure abortions by violent means, but lamentable instances arc told, and those too well authenticited, where, to be freed of the plaints of their infants, they bury them alive : a horrible expedient, and unexampled in any other part of the world. Yet their own sufferings must infallibly tend to lessen the poignancy of feeling. The rude and brutal men tyrannize over them; they are exposed to insult and indignity ; and their condi tion is little better than that of slaves. Tho"union of the sexes, though apparently matrimonial, is, in many cases, only a temporary association. The court ship of the men does not consist in smiles or solicitation, but in stealing behind the object of desire, felling her to the earth with a club, and carrying her off while in a state of insensibility. She is kept by the man as his wife so long as he finds it convenient : he then deserts her to form a new alliance, accompanied by equal violence. The Australasians are universally to be distrusted; they are cruel, treacherous, and commonly guided by the impulse of the moment. Nothitig but the consciousness of inferiority awes them into submission ; and they never lose sight of that in stant when the vigilance of others may be lulled asleep. All are brave, suffer pain with fortitude, and among some tribes an injury is retaliated to the precise ex tent that it has been inflicted. Every sentiment of delicate reserve is unknown among these people : which amply proves that modesty is an acquired sentiment, and not implanted by the hand of nature. Investiga tions into the disposition of the Australasians has removed a doubt, which was only made such, because revolting to our feelings, that many tribes are canni bals. But this is now so fully ascertained, that it will never be again called in question: for the inha bitants of these regions are greedy of human flesh. -Viewing the fact with a philosophic eye, perhaps it ought not to appear so strange that men can devour cach other. We ought first to consider how low the Australasians rank in the chain of society : probably they are removed only one link from the brute crea tion: Many of their tribes are situated in bleak and barren districts : they are strangers to the art of cultivating the earth ; few,vegetables of natural growth are adopted for food ; and animals are rarely within their reach. While prosecuting their frequent wars, they are exposed to additional privations, augmenting in proportion to the continuance of hostilities. But in devouring the bodies of their enemies, they not only gratify revenge, and possess an unequivocal token of superiority, but, by an easy means, the pressing calls of nature are satisfied. Neither ought a banquet of human flesh to appear incredible. Have we not known repeated calamitous occasions, some even of recent date, where, among our own countrymen, the survivors fed on their deceased companions mere ly to protract existence? nay, where the flesh of one, sacrificed to preserve the lives of others, was greedily devoured, and his warm blood drunk. with pleasure.