FEEJEE, the name of a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, the most northerly of Which were discover ed, in 1643, by Tasman, who gave them the name of Prince William's Island. In 1789, Captain Bligh, the third day after his escape from Toofoa, fell in with the easternmost of them in Long. 178° West, and he found that the group ex tended 4° to the west of the first island. Several of them, which he saw, had 30 or 40 leagues of coast, and were va riegated with hills and wallies; but his defenceless situa tion prevented him from having any intercourse with the inhabitants. When he returned from Otaheite in August 1792, he passed to the north of those which he had for merly visited, and having crossed his former track, he doubled the most southern of the group, in East Long. 178", and South Lat. 19° or 15°. The islanders, apparently with hostile intentions, attempted in vain to overtake his ship.
In the year 1794, Captain Barber saw six islands in the western part of the group; and having anchored in a bay on the western side of the largest one, his ship was attack ed by the natives in a number of canoes, which were soon repulsed. Ile found the navigation very difficult and dan gerous. Captain Cook was informed that Feejee was a high but fertile island, abounding in hogs, dogs, fowls, and all kinds of fruits.
The Feejeans are a distinct race from the inhabitants of •ongataboo, speaking a different language, and making use of bows and arrows in battle, besides clubs and spears. The inhabitants had a high reputation both for mechanical skill and military prowess. Their clothing and their earth en vessels were made with great ingenuity. They arc said to cat the bodies of those whom they slay in battle. (1-)