We compare the spectrum of chiral multiplets in the N = 1 vacua of the
heterotic string on a Calabi-Yau together with an E-8 x E-8 vector bu
ndle and F-theory on a smooth Calabi-Yau fourfold. Under suitable rest
rictions we show agreement using an index-computation. (C) 1997 Elsevi
er Science B.V.