A HISTORY OF TAHITI 



405 



stragglers, rarely in extended frontal attacks, or sieges of fortified posi- 

 tions. Thus in the two years 186J:-'65, due to smallpox, the popula- 

 tion of Happoa and Taipi valleys in the Marquesas Islands sank from 

 2,000 to 150. Well might the Samoan father pray to Tangaloa "drive 

 away from us sailing gods [white men] wiio bring disease and death." 

 Infinite mischief was wrought during this early chaotic period when 

 every evil invention of civilization was placed in the hands of the natives 



Caladiums IX A Tahitian Valley. 



without check or hindrance to its abuse. The most degraded of our 

 race exerted their demoralizing influence to satiety upon the defenceless 

 natives, and accounts of old voyages bristle with disgusting narratives of 

 debauchery. It became a common thing to kidnap the natives of the 

 New Hebrides and carry them to Australia to work as "indentured 

 laborers" upon plantations. Thus did Chile practically exterminate 

 the population of Eastern Island for the development of her nitrate 

 deposits. 



Then in March, 1797, when things were at their worst, a ship whose 



