NOOAHEEVA, NOUHEVA, or NOUKA-HIVA, the largest of the Marquesas Islands, is in S. Lat. 8. 53., W. Long. 139. 49.; and has a length of about 18 miles. The surface is rugged and mountainous, and the coasts steep; the whole island being apparently of volcanic origin. The soil is rich and deep in the valleys, but on the hills it is thin, producing only tufts of coarse grass. Bananas and cocoa-nut trees grow in abundance; but as the inhabitants, who are very lazy, are supplied with food by the spontaneous productions of the soil, the only article that is cultivated is tobacco. The people are of a dark copper colour, and live in huts of wood or cane raised above the ground on a platform of stones. There are several tribes in the island, who are very warlike, and are believed to be cannibals. No trace of any religion is to be observed; and the utmost licentiousness seems to prevail. The population is variously estimated from 8000 to 18,000.