Polynesia

(pol-ene'zhah.) [FromGr. polys, and ne a, an island.] (Geog.) The name given to the various archipelagoes lying in the Pacific Ocean, E. of Austral asia and the Philippines; or extending 30 deg. on each side the equator, bet. E. Lon. 35º and W. Lon. 135°. N. of the equator, the chief insular groups are those of the Sandwich, Pelew, Ladrone, Caroline, and Gilbert islands; S. of the equator, the principal are the Marques as,Friendly, Feejee, Navigator's, and Society islands. [s. 721]