this group of the South Pacific lie
between the Society and Feejee groups, three of them being among the
largest in Polynesia. Their names are Savaii, Upolu, Tutuila, Manua,
Manono, and Apolima. Savaii has a circumference of a hundred and forty
miles, and is literally covered with forests of tropical trees from
shore to mountain-top. Upolu measures nearly fifty miles from east to
west, and is the most fertile and populous of the group. Apolima is the
most remarkable for its cones and craters, giving unmistakable evidence
of former volcanic action, by clearly-defined vents and fire-shafts
among its hills. There are few rivers on these islands, but Upolu and
Savaii have several crystal lakes among their mountains. Gales,
cyclones, and earthquakes occur quite often enough to vary the monotony.
We have said that there are six of these islands; there are also others,
scarcely more than islets, however. The highest land in the group is on
Savaii,--a lofty peak in the middle of the island, the top of which is
nearly always hidden in clouds.

Tutuila was the island which was first sighted, and as it lay sleeping
upon the bosom of the southern ocean it presented a beautiful picture of
tropical verdure,--an oasis in the great desert of waters. And yet it
did not present a very inviting aspect by its wave-lashed and rock-bound
shore. It was calm weather,--that is, comparatively so; but there is
always a long swell in these latitudes, which when it meets the
impediment of shore or reefs is sure to express its anger by a wild
display of force.

The island is remarkably mountainous, but the foliage rose to its lofty
sky-line, and came down to where the breakers chafed the coast with
tremendous fury. There was the azure of the sky, the deep green of the
vegetation, the light blue-green of the shoal water, and the snow-white
spray tossed high in air, to vary the richness of the coloring, which
was finer than that of Oahu. We were told of a safe landing-place in a
sheltered cove, and made out the slender spire of a wooden church, but
could not see any opening in the long line of dashing spray which leaped
twenty feet high as each successive swell broke upon the rocks. Just
behind them the palm-groves, bananas, and cocoanut-trees formed a dense
breastwork, flanked here and there by low native huts, grass-thatched
and brown. In no other region does the cocoanut-tree thrive in greater
luxuriance and fruitfulness than here; and were it not