Daily American Organ

Navigator's Islands.
Interesting information regarding this group of Pacific Islands, of which so little is known, appears in a private letter communicated to the California Chronicle.
There had been but four arrivals of vessels at Upolu, for three months.
In thirty-four consecutive days, ending April 12th, there had been but two days without rain, and a greater part of the time it came down in floods.
These islands are green, mountainous, and picturesque, abounding in all the productions of tropical climates. Nature has done so much for them, that the natives need but do little more. They are, accordingly, a good-natured, indolent, well-disposed people-hospitable to the stranger, though not always entirely disinterested in their hospitality, and appearing to attach considerable importance to the doctrine of reciprocity, in their attentions and presents. The men are of good size and personal appearance. The women are generally stout, and may be called handsome.
The population of the entire group of islands is estimated at 33,000. The foreign population numbers but 120.
The Samoans are now almost entirely under the influence of the missionaries, and reading and writing are very common accomplishments. In natural intellect, they will not suffer in comparison with the whites. What they lack mainly is energy. and the acquirements of civilization-not the Capacity.
Upolu is a beautiful spot for a temporary residence: but to one who places much account on his morning newspaper, or his semi-monthly letters, it is not the place for a permanent abode. It is a peaceful, monotonous island, whose waters are yet to be disturbed by the first steamer, and- happy land!-where editors are yet at a discount.
There is a Missionary paper published about once a twelvemonth. To the invalid the climate is genial and restorative. I can confidently recommend a residence here to persons of weak lungs. or delicate health generally. The mildness, and particularly the uniformity of the temperature, adapt it to such constitutions. Eighty degrees Fahrenheit is the average from six A. M., to twelve P. M. The wet season extends from September to March; the dry season from March to September-when there are only occasional showers.— There is little difference in the temperature, however, in the respective seasons; neither is there much in this respect to distinguish the nights from the days. One can, with impunity, and indeed must have his apartments always open to the air.
And there is no lack of good fresh-water bathing. places, where the water is almost always of the right temperature. One must not mind it, indeed, if a Samoan woman or girl comes along occasionally, casts off her "Java, lava," honors him with her company in the water, and afterwards makes her toilet before him. in primitive style. Such things are never noticed, except by strangers.
Another item which renders these islands a suitable place of sojourn for the valetudinarians, is the small expense of the necessaries of life. There are no boarding houses which offer a fit home for such an one; yet a native house can be built at no great expense, in a manner to answer every purpose in this climate. And one can, with a little "trade,"(cotton cloth, tobacco, knicknacks.) with which it is well for every one to be provided, procure fruit and vegetables at an actual cost, which is very trifling. We got no fresh meat but pork, and no potatoes that are raised here except a few sweet potatoes. Pigs can be purchased in most places for two or three cents per pound; but there is a "taboo" put on the sale of these animals, (those raised by the natives,) which increases the price to about five cents. Fowls, 25 cents each; ducks, 50 cents; turkeys, $1. For yams there is an established price, which is equal to about one cent per pound. The islands are covered with taro and bread fruit. There can be no food more fit for the human stomach. All kinds of fruit are now plenty,
and can be purchased for "a song." Fresh milk, six or eight cents per quart.

There is no end to the coco nut. From it is obtained the oil which is manufactured into candles, soap, etc., and which forms the main article of export of these islands.

The mosquito figures too extensively here to escape notice in my letter. These creatures are the bane of the island, and there is no such thing as sleeping without "bars" for protection from their ravages. But it is graciously ordained that they bite only at night.

The only great natural curiosity which is common here is the "flying fox," (so called by the residents,) an animal with the wings and arms of the bat, and the head of the fox. I had an opportunity of examining one which was killed a few days, and found it indeed worthy of the name of a curiosity. There are few birds here besides pigeons, which are plenty. And of quadrupeds, I do not now bear in mind that there are any which are native—unless some small kinds, as the lizard.